Honoring Our Ancestors Newsletter
February 15, 2009
By Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak
Greetings Fellow Family History Sleuths,
I had a blast in Auckland, New Zealand speaking at the Australasian Federation of Family History Organizations Congress. Be sure to keep an eye on RootsTelevision.com for videos from the conference. Next up is Who Do You Think You Are Live! in London where I'll be talking about genetic genealogy (I know, it's a rough life, eh?). So 2009 is definitely off with a bang! Here's hoping that the coming month brings lots of excitement for each of you as well -- especially terms of family history discoveries!
Megan
In this newsletter. . .
- Genealogical Round Up, January 2
- Genealogical Round Up, January 8
- Genealogical Round Up, January 15
- Talking Roots with Robin Roberts
- Honoring Our Ancestors Grants
- Upcoming Events
Genealogical Round Up, January 2
The Sound of Music
used to be an annual event in my home. Back when I was about 9 years old, my
parents came into a little cabaret in Ireland one evening to find their
daughters (just two of us) singing all the songs from the movie (they had left
us with a little cash so we would learn to eat out in restaurants alone). They
couldn't get us off the stage. I also remember as a teenager cross-country
skiing from Bolton Valley, VT to the area of the Von Trapp lodge.
If it's nostalgic for me, think about Sam Von Trapp. Talk about a legacy -- and
some responsibility!
www.mercurynews.com
Warning: the following may induce
crypt-envy.
The Genealogue: A
Monumental Ego
Recording personal stories keeps life experiences alive | Arizona living, dining, travel, gardening,
JewishGen Blog: Updates on USCIS Genealogy Program
Michelle Obama's Family Quilt » The Georgetown Times / Georgetown County, SC Community News Paper
Anyone with Cuban roots is going to want to
check out this database from the Miami Herald.
Search the
Freedom Flights database - The Cuban Revolution - MiamiHerald.com
Dr. Marjolein Kriek, First Woman to Have Her DNA Sequence Determined
Check out these
photos of Osturna, Slovakia, the village all the Smolenyaks come from. Looks
like a sort of global google map that all sorts of folks contribute to.
Panoramio - Photo of [Untitled]
See you in Auckland!
Eastman's
Online Genealogy Newsletter: AFFHO Congress 2009
Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation and International Scientific Team Show Prehistoric Foragers
For your 2009 resolution to improve your
genealogical skills
Boston
University Launches New Certificate Program in Genealogical Research
We're still commercial-free on
RootsTelevision.com! Happy holidays!
Roots
Genealogical Round Up, January 8
I wasn't familiar
with the Pardee family, but I hope the home is saved.
Oakland's
Pardee Home could close down
Another good read from Blaine Bettinger.
Using
Genetic Genealogy to Solve the Mystery of Benjaman Kyle » The Genetic
Genealogist
I would have been interested in a book
called "The Stuff of Life: A Graphic Guide to Genetics and DNA"
regardless, but when one of the authors was quoted as saying, "I liked
drawing the alien sea cucumbers, and Neanderthals. Man, Neanderthals were
fun." -- well, suffice it to say, I've ordered it!
www.comicbookresources.com
Pretty cool. I've dealt with the New York
Foundling a few times over the years on my Army cases. Wonderful to hear that
they're still doing good work 140 years later -- and better yet, having a
homecoming.
The New York
Foundling - 140 Homecoming Information Request
Lucky woman benefits from an orphan
heirloom rescue.
Treasure
trove sheds light on family history - Shields Gazette
What's new on RootsTelevision.com this
week!
Roots
Television | Og Blog: New Roots Tuesday, January 6
Schwimmer roots -- but is this for the UK
show? maybe he has British roots like Jerry Springer?
Teletext
Entertainment News - Schwimmer's TV family history
Ah, yes . . .
walking, wildlife and genealogy
BBC
NEWS | UK | Scotland | Tayside and Central | Tourism project in jobs boost aim
Useful
genealogy links - Liverpool Daily Post - Pool of Life
I'll be speaking on
DNA at WDYTYAL this year, so hope to see you there!
Eastman's
Online Genealogy Newsletter: Who Do You Think You Are? Live! 2009
Who
Do You Think You Are?
The latest issue of the newsletter of the
International Society of Genetic Genealogy. Check it out!
ISOGG Newsletter December
2008
Blazers given the "genealogy of their
first name" as gifts . . .
What's
in a name? Blazers find out - Behind The Blazers Beat - The Oregonian -
OregonLive.com
Check out this interview with Sen. Benoit
about her own adoption experience: http://rootstelevision.com/players/player_conferences.php?bctid=1840812394
Maine Adoptees Get Birth
Records - Portland News Story - WMTW Portland
Whoever wrote this doesn't know much about
genealogy, but they're probably right about the growth in genealogical travel.
Genealogy
Vacations - Holiday Destinations of Past-Life Discovery (VIDEO)
Anyone know Kelly and Elle Louise?
Are
you missing a vital piece of family history? (From Worcester News)
Many thanks to Craig for his describing
Unclaimed Persons as "the single most important development in the
genealogical community in 2008." Wow. That's all I can say. Wow.
GeneaBlogie
Genealogical Round Up, January 15
Another fun online
toy!
Welcome to the official 1911 Census website
The Sweet (Online) Hereafter : NPR
Eight generations
on one farm in GA! Now that's family history!
Family still down on
the farm since 1792
This is interesting in a couple of
respects. First, you have to wonder if they tried conventional Y-DNA testing
with other family members. And second, in France, this kind of exhumation is
fairly routine. Curious how different countries respond to different aspects of
DNA testing.
The
Associated Press: Judge rejects exhuming country singer for DNA test
This is seriously cool! Ronan Tynan sang
"Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears" at Annie Moore's memorial dedication,
and RootsTelevision.com captured some of it here: http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_immigration.php?bctid=1854969886.
He has the most amazingly powerful voice. Let's just say that I suspect a
number of the more than 3 million permanent residents of Calvary Cemetery could
hear the song about Annie, along with her! At any rate, he's added a link to
his website to this video, and I'm delighted.
RonanTynan.net - Press
Talking Roots with Robin Roberts
I get to do a lot of fun sleuthing, such as the time I got to look into the roots of Robin Roberts of Good Morning America.
She wasn't that excited about the prospect until she walked in the footsteps of one of her ancestors, a woman who had lived in West Virginia back in the mid-to-late 1800s. It also surprised her to see her Roberts line traced back to the 1790s. If you've got a few minutes, check out this video.
Congrats to our recent grant recipients! Don't forget that you can apply here.
January 2009
The First International Black Genealogy Summit is a momentous event that involves all of the black historical and genealogical societies in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean coming together to celebrate the joys and challenges of black genealogy. The grant award will be used to sponsor the 2009 Summit, taking place at the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne October 29-31, 2009.
If you plan to be near any of the events where I'll be speaking, I would love to meet you. It's always a kick for me when folks mention that they read this newsletter, my blog, Ancestry Daily News or whatever, so don't be shy about introducing yourself!
For more information on these events, please see my Events Calendar. And if you're interested in scheduling me, just click here.
- March 7, 2009 - Surrey, BC - Surrey Public Library - "Trace Your Roots with DNA," "Reverse Genealogy: Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones," "Introduction to Ancestry.com" and "Cases That Made My Brain Hurt"
- April 18, 2009 - Anchorage, AK - Anchorage Genealogical Society - "Introduction to Ancestry.com," "Reverse Genealogy: Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones," "Find that Obituary! Online Newspaper Research" and "Cases That Made My Brain Hurt"
- April 22-26, 2009 - Manchester, NH - The New England Regional Genealogical Conference 2009 - Topics TBD
- May 30, 2009 - Marion, IN - Marion Public Library - "Trace Your Roots with DNA," "Beyond Y-DNA: Your Genetic Genealogy Options," "Reverse Genealogy: Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones," "No Man Left Behind" and "Mini-Film Festival"
- June 20, 2009 - Wichita, KS - Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies - "Trace your Roots with DNA," "Welcome to Roots Television," "Reverse Genealogy" and "Find that Obituary!"
- September 11-13, 2009 - Spokane, WA - Eastern Washington Genealogical Society - Topics TBD
Please forward this newsletter to your family and friends who are interested in genealogy -- thank you!
Wishing you an abundance of genealogical serendipity!
Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak
www.honoringourancestors.com
www.rootstelevision.com
Note: You are receiving this because you have demonstrated an interest (e.g., you have a story in one of my books, applied for a grant, attended previous events, etc.) or subscribed via my website, but please let me know if you do not want to receive any further emails, and I will promptly remove you from my list. And rest assured, this is my personal list and not shared with anyone else! Thanks, Megan