Airman Accounted For From World War II (Akers, L.) – Welcome home, Private Lowell Craig Akers. Honored to have researched your family

A Guide to the 1926 Census of Ireland – handy article for those anticipating the release of the 1926 Irish census

Photo by Mark Rasmuson on Unsplash

The post Genealogy Roundup, April 8 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

The Quest for Annie Moore of Ellis Island – As this is the last day of March which is both Women’s History Month and Irish-American Heritage Month, I’m sharing links for my book about Annie Moore, the Irish teenager who was the first to arrive at Ellis Island. If you enjoy sleuthing for pockets of history, I think this might appeal to you!

The Woman Who Refuses to Let History Disappear – Whoa! So grateful for this lovely profile by Christina Stanton! Henceforce, please refer to me as “the woman who refuses to let history disappear”!

Photo by Nahrizul Kadri on Unsplash

The post Genealogy Roundup, April 1 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

This case was tough because the soldier was both an immigrant and foster child, but I did indeed find relatives from his birth family who could provide DNA reference samples, so I think there’s probably more to the story than is shared here.

Regardless, welcome home Sgt. Roger Laurent Raoul Duquesne. Honored to have researched your family. #hero #KoreanWar

Photo by Joe Richmond on Unsplash

The post Genealogy Roundup, March 11 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Soldier Accounted For From World War II – Welcome home, Pvt. Donald Roger Lichty. Honored to have researched your family. #hero #WWII

Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash

The post Genealogy Roundup, February 25 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Statue of Liberty Museum Opening – This is a video I put together back in 2019 from the opening of the Statue of Liberty museum, and I find it’s more relevant than ever. If you watch, be sure to check out what Oprah says about our ancestors. And Gloria Estefan’s spontaneous and heartfelt singing at the end. #genealogy #freedom

The post Genealogy Roundup, January 21 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

WWII soldier missing since Bataan Death March identified, finally returning home – Local news piece about one the soldiers I researched who’s been identified. While I appreciate that they told this story, it sort of insinuates that the family couldn’t be found or wasn’t all that involved, and I can tell you that they definitely were and are. My guess is that they couldn’t get one of them to interview so took this fellow-veteran approach, and while that’s fine, I wish they had mentioned that James McKinley Walker’s family is very much in the mix. In fact, they were the ones who decided to bury him there. #genealogy

Reclaim The Records Year in Review 2025 – Worth taking a few minutes to see all that Reclaim the Records has done for us just in 2025! #genealogy

Photo by Thomas Kinto on Unsplash

The post Genealogy Roundup, January 7 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Hadn’t looked at reviews for “The Quest for Annie Moore of Ellis Island“ for a while, and was delighted to read this! Thanks so much, Christina Ray Stanton! So glad you enjoyed it!

Airman Accounted For From World War II – Welcome home, Tech. Sgt. Donald Arthur Dorman. Honored to have researched your family. #hero #WWII

The post Genealogy Roundup, December 17 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Inside the Surprisingly Intense World of Competitive Steinholding – Have my German & German-American friends been holding out? Why have I never heard of steinholding before?

I’m pleased to say that 215 of the soldiers I’ve researched over the years have been identified. This represents roughly 12% of my cases to date and that percentage is slowly inching upward for a variety of reasons. #nomanleftbehind

Photo: John Klemmer, United States Senate Photographic Studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The post Genealogy Roundup, November 26 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Thinking of my grandfather, James V Shields, today and pulled up this letter he wrote home from France during WWI. Never spoke of his service in later days, so feel very fortunate to have this trace. He’s the fellow standing in the middle in the photo. #VeteransDay

New Jersey State Archives – For those with NJ roots! #genealogy

Suncoast Genealogy Society – Just a reminder that I’ll be talking #genealogy – in person for the first time in a long time! – on Nov 22nd in Palm Harbor, FL! Hope you can join us!

Photo: Osioni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The post Genealogy Roundup, November 12 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

We Assist Slovak-Americans & Rusyn-Americans to Reconnect with Their Roots – For my fellow Rusyn- and/or Slovak-Americans! If you need help in Slovakia with genealogy research (in archives or on-site in your villages of origin), finding your cousins, with translations, getting photos/videos of your family homestead, tombstones, etc., I can HIGHLY recommend Martin Hyross!

He’s a recently retired business executive who has been SO helpful with my efforts in Slovakia, especially on the two occasions when we brought 40 Americans who had roots in Osturňa over there. He worked side by side with me on the world’s first geographical genetic genealogy project, serving as an actual translator, but more to the point, a cultural translator. He also helped with all the troubleshooting that comes along with large group travel in a foreign country (this person missing their flight, that car accident, this person going in the hospital, etc.).

I promise that if you’ve been thinking of hiring someone on the ground in Slovakia, you’ll be more than happy if you choose to work with Martin!

Weird Relative At Family Reunion Knows How Everyone Related To Each Other – #Genealogy

PFC Vincent A. Vega – For reasons alluded to in this obituary, this family was daunting to find. Welcome home, PFC Vincent Angelo Vega. #KoreanWar #Hero

Photo by Barefoot Beach Designs on Unsplash

The post Genealogy Roundup, October 8 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.