Greetings Fellow Family History Sleuths,

This month, I took some trips down memory lane including sharing 1 of 37 rejections I received for what would become "Trace Your Roots with DNA" (still in print today!) way back in the early genetic genealogy days of 2003. Check it out. You'll likely be amused by the reason the editor gave!

I also hope you'll take the time to read about little Percy who came to America all by himself at the ripe old age of 8 back in 1890 - and exceptionally for the time, wound up being photographed upon arrival. Curiosity got the better of me, and I had to figure out what had become of the little boy in the photo.

Aside from that, there's a lovely update to the real-life "It's a Wonderful Life" tale from several months ago, a new play about Annie Moore of Ellis Island, a genealogical Ukraine story with a happy ending, and so much more!

Happy browsing!

Captured in Time: 8-Year-Old Percy Hemingway upon Arrival in America in 1890

Percy Hemingway was a little boy with a big tag and minimal luggage when he made the journey from England to America by himself at the advanced age of eight. Fellow passengers on the S.S.Teutonic said he showed no fear and required little assistance.

Ellis Island was under construction, so when he arrived in New York on November 6, 1890, he was processed at the Barge Office. The tag attached to his coat explained that he was to be forwarded to his father in Philadelphia, so that may be how he came to meet E.W. Austin, the money changer whose station was near the booth for railroad tickets.

Click here to find out what happened next.

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Genealogy Roundup, May 18

Photo Credit: Arseni Mourzenko under Creative Commons license

Musical about the first person to ever be processed through Ellis Island in New York coming to Kildare's Moat Theatre – Anyone in the vicinity of County Kildare might be interested in this musical version of Annie Moore's life, a labor of love by one of Annie's Irish relatives!

The 15 Best Genealogy Books According to Readers – ☺️ “Goodreads users appreciated the sound genealogy advice served alongside Smolenyak’s good humor.” 📖

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Genealogy Roundup, May 11

Ah, the joys of being a genetic genealogy pioneer. 1 of 37 rejections for what would turn into "Trace Your Roots with DNA" - still in print 18 years later. 🧬

Looks as if I have another entry for my collection of butcherings of the Smolenyak name. 😆

Always so strange cold-calling a twin and asking whether they were born first or second. 😐

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Genealogy Roundup, May 4

Image Credit: Roberlan Borges under Creative Commons license

A census snapshot of one block in 1950 segregated Washington – A stroll down a street in DC in 1950 thanks to the recently released 1950 census

Should I tell my brothers that one of them has a son? Carolyn Hax readers give advice. – We've all been there, right? 🧬

Our Obsession with Ancestry Has Some Twisted Roots – Quite a depressing view of genealogy. These days, it's all about connection, and genealogists understand better than most how intertwined we all are. Wish the writer had spoken to some of us to learn how much more inclusive it's become this century. Still very much a work in progress, but as someone who's been doing this for the last half century, I can't begin to tell you how far we've come.

Unearthing the past with artificial intelligence – Excellent application of artificial intelligence - still with human assistance, though!

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Genealogy Roundup, April 27

Photo Credit: Roel Wijnants under Creative Commons license

MyHeritage Employee Escapes Ukraine Thanks to His Grandfather’s Heroic Rescue of Jewish Refugees During WWII – An astounding, full circle tale that makes us ponder how our actions today might make all the difference for our future descendants.

Meet the world's new oldest person — a French nun who enjoys chocolate and wine – Anyone else notice in the course of their genealogy research how many nuns have long lifespans?

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Genealogy Roundup, April 20

Photo Credit: Sean Kirst

Sean Kirst: 'From death comes life, and that's Easter': For West Falls woman, emotional meeting on bridge – Please enjoy this Easter chapter to this (perhaps the original) "It's a Wonderful Life" tale. Thanks as always for inviting me to play, Sean Kirst!

Soldier Accounted For From World War II (Heffernan, J.) – Welcome home, 1st Lt. John J. Heffernan. Honored to have researched your family.

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