Greetings Fellow Family History Sleuths,

Recently came back from the wonderful experience of seeing all my fellow genealogists at NGS in Las Vegas where I also had the pleasure of being the opening act for Mark Hall-Patton of Pawn Stars fame at the banquet! And now, I'm immersing myself in new wave of genealogical TV programming, starting with HBO's Family Tree, soon to be followed by TLC's Who Do You Think You Are? Read on to learn about these two – and get this, two more – genealogy shows heading to air before long!

Celebrity Roots Series "Who Do You Think You Are?" Returns

Good news for all those who mourned the cancellation of the American version of Who Do You Think You Are?, the popular celebrity roots series that's enjoyed success around the globe. It's coming back!

TLC picked up the show and has announced its relaunch on July 23rd. Among those slated for this season are lots of talented women, including Christina Applegate, Cindy Crawford, Zooey Deschanel, Chelsea Handler, and Kelly Clarkson.

Those needing a family history fix in the interim can't go wrong with HBO's hilarious Family Tree, a gem of a show that lovingly mocks all that's weird and wonderful about the quirky genealogical world.

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HBO's Family Tree First of Four Genealogy Series to Air in U.S.

Though there's been a bit of a vacuum in genealogical programming in the U.S. over the last year or so, that's happily about to change. First up is Christopher Guest and Jim Piddock's mockumentary series, Family Tree (HBO, premiered May 12th, 10:30 p.m.), starring Chris O'Dowd as Tom Chadwick. Having lost both his job and girlfriend, Chadwick seeks his roots as a way to find himself.

Fellow genealogists will recognize themselves in this trailer, meandering cemeteries, meeting far-flung cousins, and fancying connections, physical and otherwise, to long gone forebears. Though I expect the mirror being thrust in our faces to provoke a fair number of "oh, man, I did that" winces, it's also something of a badge of honor to be the subject of a Guest mockumentary, so I'm bracing myself in anticipation. Slated to launch in both Canada and the U.S., this show will also run on BBC, though a date has not yet been announced.

Read full article.

And read this related article: Family Tree's Chris O'Dowd Threatens to Show Up at Your House

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Mark Hall-Patton of Pawn Stars

Hanging with Mark Hall-Patton of Pawn Stars at #NGS2013

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Genealogy Round Up, May 9

DIY Historic Abandoned Homes For Sale!

So what you're saying is you're not keen on genealogy, eh?
It's All Relative, Mum | The Flack

Celebrity Roots - President Barack Obama, Annie Moore, Top Chef, USS Monitor and other celebrities 

Well, this documentary should be interesting!
TWINSTERS 

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Genealogy Round Up, April 25

Joey from Scranton (digital edition), mouse over bottom and go to p. 56
Irish America April May 2013

161 genealogy grants awarded so far!
Seton Shields Genealogical Research Grants - Apply for a Grant - Current Grants Awarded

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Genealogy Round Up, April 18

Seriously? There's an app for that?
How a genealogy project unintentionally produced an incest avoidance app

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Seton Shields Genealogical Grants

Congrats to our recent grant recipient! You can apply for a Seton Shields Genealogical Grant here.

April 2013
The Du Quoin Historic Preservation Committee was established in Du Quoin, IL in 2005 to encourage local homeowners and business owners to improve upon and/or renovate their properties in the name of historical significance. The organization showcases homes and shops, and through this exposure, they are preserving the genealogy of the town through its people, business owners, and those who have helped to place their imprint on the community. The grant award will be used to toward a project to have the 1953 Centennial edition of the Du Quoin Evening Call reprinted to celebrate the town's 100th anniverary this year. The 60-page newspaper includes biographies, human interest stories, and pictures of the community. 

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Upcoming Events

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, Huffington Post 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.

• September 22 - October 7, 2013 - Legacy Family Tree 2013 Genealogy Cruise - Panama Canal Cruise
• November 9, 2013 - Pensacola, FL - West Florida Genealogical Society - "Right Annie, Wrong Annie," "Trace Your Roots with DNA," "Find That Obituary! Online Newspaper Research" and "Honoring Our Ancestors"

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