Fellow Family History Sleuths,

Not that I expect you to have downtime over the holidays, but if by chance you find a few minutes to spare, perhaps you can treat yourself to a browse through this batch of genealogy-world links. There's good news – such as Curt Witcher getting well-deserved recognition as one of the best librarians in America and Reclaim the Records dropping yet another set of incredible records (hello, Maryland!). And the not so good – such as the real threat to English and Welsh wills (by their own government) as well as what amounts to an on-going hostage situation with the British Library.

On balance, though, the good wins out: Europe's now joined us on Threads, New Englanders have lots of 1800s images to explore thanks to a discovery of glass negatives, and Holocaust survivors are being reunited with family they didn't know they had! Amazing!

Here's hoping that this same pattern plays out with your 2024 research and explorations – a few brick walls along the way perhaps, but loudly out-shouted by all your genealogical discoveries!

Happy Holidays and Happy Sleuthing!

Meg Ryan’s Rusyn Roots

Photo Credit: David Shankbone under Creative Commons License

If I mention the movie When Harry Met Sally and your brain whispers “I’ll have what she’s having,” I’ve got good news for you. Meg Ryan, longtime rom-com queen thanks to her unforgettable performances in this and other favorites such as Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, is back with What Happens Later, a film she co-wrote, directed, and stars in. While in countdown mode, I couldn’t resist peeking into her past by exploring her ancestry because, well, that’s what I do.

When she embarked on her acting career, Meg adopted her maternal grandmother’s maiden name of Ryan, but her birth name of Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra hints more broadly of her heritage. Ultimately, I ascertained that she is 31.25% Irish, 25% Rusyn (from present-day Poland), 25% Polish (from present-day Lithuania), 12.5% German, and 6.25% English. As a fellow Irish-Rusyn American, this delighted me because there are so few of us, so I wrote about her Irish roots and am turning now to her Rusyn portion.

Click here to continue reading.

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Genealogy Roundup, December 20

Photo Credit: Alan Cleaver under Creative Commons license

Ministry of Justice plan to destroy historical wills is ‘insane’, say experts – In case you haven't heard about the intent to destroy English & Welsh, this is seriously insane - even more so when you consider what's going on with the British Library. It's as if they're actively trying to destroy their history.

A Cow’s Moo Killed a Child and Other Strange Victorian Deaths – So many strange ways to go.

Hierarchical Index of Verbs and Objects in Historic Coroners' Inquests – In case you were wondering how people died in London in the late 1700s. Also, a useful index approach for those doing locality-based research or studying particular clusters of people in general.

ACPL’s Curt Witcher honored with National I Love My Librarian Award – So well deserved! 👏👏👏 He's earned it a thousand times over. And it's just like Curt Witcher to donate his prize to Allen County Public Library's Genealogy Center's gift fund.

Fun day over on Threads seeing our European genie friends joining! Used AI to make this to welcome them:

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Genealogy Roundup, December 13

Photo Credit: Caroline Davis2 under Creative Commons license

A DNA project’s mission: Connect Holocaust survivors with family they lost – You're all going to love this! Important and wonderful work being done by Jennifer Mendelsohn & My Family Genie! (gift link)

He lost his wedding ring. A group of strangers showed up to find it. – Helpful neighbors and a happy ending!

Restored Glass Negatives Capture Daily Life in 19th-Century New England – Lucky New Englanders!

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Genealogy Roundup, December 6

Photo Credit: Nuno Cardoso under Creative Commons license

Holy Cannoli! Epic, Foot-Long Dessert Is Just One Holiday Highlight at Lyndhurst Pastry Shop – I just love learning about multi-generational businesses, and with fond memories of specific Italian bakeries in New Jersey myself, this one struck a special chord.

Vibrant Mixed-Media Collages Give a Fresh Perspective on African American Ancestry – Always enjoy seeing examples of genealogy and art colliding, and this is no exception. You can check out more of Stan Squirewell's work on his Instagram account (link in the article).

6 Things You Didn’t Know about Hannah Waddingham’s Roots – Seems a good time to share this again. 🎶 🎄

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Genealogy Roundup, November 29

Image Credit: EpicTop10.com under Creative Commons license

The Maryland Motherlode: Births, Marriages, Deaths, and Naturalizations – Reclaim the Records and Michael W. McCormick, working miracles for genealogists!

No time to talk. Off on another genealogy adventure!

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