Greetings Fellow Family History Sleuths,

Interesting days with so much going on! This month, you'll find changes at the FamilySearch Library, trench art from WWI (leaves - they used leaves!), my 25th anniversary as a professional genealogist, and a thought-provoking article about middle names. 

But much of my attention of late has gone to unclaimed persons (people whose identities are known, but whose relatives can't be found or aren't interested) due to the recently released book: The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels. 

I'm admittedly biased since I've been dealing with this quiet epidemic since 2005 and assisted with some research for this book, but if you're not familiar with it, please consider watching the featured video below. We filmed it a long time ago, but I watched it for the first time in years and it stands the test of time. And even though I'm intimately acquainted with it and the cases shown, I still got choked up. My hope is that some of you will be inspired to read the book - or better yet, call that cousin you haven't heard from in ages!

Until next time!

Genealogist Megan Smolenyak assists coroners and medical examiners with cases involving "unclaimed persons" - essentially "lost and found," but for people, rather than gloves and umbrellas. The response to this video prompted Megan to establish the Unclaimed Persons organization of volunteer genealogists which has subsequently helped coroners across the country with hundreds of cases.

Click here to watch.

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Charlene N Simmons under Creative Commons license

FamilySearch Library: Microfilm, Microfiche, and CDs - Big changes afoot at the FSL and you're probably not going to be too happy about them.

How I Found My Elusive John Murphy - In case you didn't catch it earlier, this piece might give you some ideas for finding that elusive John Smith/Murphy/Schmidt in your family!

There Is More Good Than Evil in This Country - Thoughtful take on The Unclaimed, the new book about unclaimed persons

A Family Tree: Hippolyte Hodeau’s Trench Art (ca. 1917) - A family tree of a very different kind. Trench art from WWI. 🍂

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Photo: AI-rendered image generated from the author’s prompts

This week is my 25th anniversary as a professional genealogist!

Easter and Family Traditions – There are a few differences in my family, but much of this was familiar. Suspect the same may be true for others, especially Catholics. Happy Easter!

Opinion: Why are more Americans dying alone? – Got a shout-out in the LA Times describing unclaimed persons phenomenon as a quiet epidemic. Please call that cousin you haven’t heard from in a while.

Middle Names Reveal More Than You Think – Excellent article on middle names. My mom was a Jersey City girl but went by her middle name her whole Life. I hope it gets passed on in the family in the next generation! 🤞

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Top Photo Credit: MitchellShapiroPhotography under Creative Commons license

Airman Accounted for from WWII – Welcome home, Tech. Sgt. Robert Allen. Honored to have researched your family.

Photo credit: DPAA

P.S. Maybe worth mentioning that this was a seriously challenging case, and that he is at least the 70th soldier I’ve had the privilege of researching who has been identified.

Unsettling Ancestry.com Report Informs Man Genghis Khan Descended From Him – 😆(The Onion, so please don’t take this seriously!).

The Peasants – Those with Slavic roots might want to watch “The Peasants” based on Nobel-winning book. Intense, but familiar.

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