Louise Penny: June Newsletter – Love all Louise Penny books, but check this from the first review of her next one. Paris, librarian, research skills. Could be the best one yet!

“Series devotees will revel in both Penny’s evocation of Paris–every bit as sumptuous as her rendering of Three Pines–and in the increased role she allots to librarian Reine-Marie, whose research skills are crucial to untying the Gordian knot at the mystery’s core.”

2020 History Section

Photo Credit: Tom Gill under Creative Commons license

The post Genealogy Roundup, June 3 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

How eBooks lost their shine: ‘Kindles now look clunky and unhip’ – I’ve got lots of both physical and ebooks, but this makes me happy.

PBS’s ‘Victorian Slum House’ takes family history to a new level – I remember when they were casting for this. Curious to see.

Underground Railroad Memorial at McDonald’s

Photo Credit: Ron Cogswell under Creative Commons license

The post Genealogy Roundup, May 3 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

From the attics and shoeboxes of Virginia, a trove of historical gold – More of this, please.

The post Genealogy Roundup, November 9 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

A grandmother’s trove of Civil War photos goes to Library of Congress

Genealogy lesson from Michelle Obama on Twitter . . .

Forgotten Lives Remembered in Special Funeral Service – Love this. Ann Lacertoso-Berardelli, who works with the Lackawanna County Coroner’s Office, was the one who sent it to me. Lackawanna was the first county I ever worked with on Unclaimed Persons cases. They’re the ones I cold-called after reading an article about this phenomenon that was entirely new to me at the time. They invited me to visit and entrusted me with cases when no one else was even thinking of genealogists in this capacity. So ultimately, they were the impetus behind the creation of the volunteer Unclaimed Persons group. Lovely to hear of local students getting involved this way.

Trace the face: how tech has changed the way we find missing people – “Google for refugees”

Photo Credit: The James and Sophia Clemens Farmstead, one of the oldest and last remaining landmarks in Longtown, Ohio. The Clemens house is listed by the National Register of Historic Places and Longtown is recognized by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Photo by Nyttend | Public Domain

The post Genealogy Roundup, June 1 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Jersey Boys: Irish Soldiers in World War I

War Numbers: Counting the Irish-born Dead in WWI

150th Anniversary of the USS Monitor: Meet Civil War Naval Heroes Robert Williams and William Bryan

Men of the USS Monitor – the mystery of the 2 skeletons

A Memorial Day Tribute to Dad for his Service in Vietnam

A postal ‘piggybank’ from the 17th century sheds light on the culture of that time – Oooh . . . imagine finding a letter or two by your ancestors in this collection!

Image Credit: New York National Guard under Creative Commons license

The post Genealogy Roundup, November 11 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Ikea family trees!

Long-Lost Honeymoon Photos From 1939 Will Take Your Breath Away

The post Genealogy Round Up, May 19 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Daughter of Civil War veteran passes away

Hey, y’all – have joined Goodreads and welcome your company!

Wow – check out these photos from a wedding reception held on Ellis Island!

Great detective work and priceless result

18th-century London paintings meet Google Street View – in pictures

Hey, where was my invitation?!?

Family Treasure: Hand-painted box finds its way back home to Madison via Philadelphia

Overdue Angel Island counterpart to Ellis Island’s “Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears.” Same mood and just as touching.

Love this kind of then-and-now images

Any of my fellow genealogists on RebelMouse? If so, here’s my landing page

This 4-Year-Old Makes Paper Dresses With Her Mom — And They Keep Getting More Amazing

charitybuzz auction to have lunch with Lisa Kudrow and Dan Bucatinsky to talk about “Who Do You Think You Are?” Check it out!

Myles is my hero – a “gold star kid” in every respect. “Ohio 8-year-old turns $20 into priceless gift”

Generous piece on me by Sheila Langan in Irish Central – The genealogical detective and champion of our ancestors

The post Genealogy Round Up, March 4 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Preview video – amazing that 6 of 8 great-grandparents were alive when she was born!

From a secret barrel, a family’s forgotten Civil War history.

Wow, reminds me of when some Russian archives used old documents because they ran out of paper. No Death/Birth Certs Issued Because Detroit Has No Paper.

The post Genealogy Round Up, September 2 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

In case you’re interested in the Annie Moore webinar, here’s the direct link:
Annie Moore of Ellis Island – A Case of Historical Identity Theft

More cabins for the Legacy Family Tree Panama Canal cruise in 2013! Please consider joining us!
http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/CruiseInfo_2013.asp

Hey, y’all, This is different than the one from the last couple of days. The 150th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Monitor is next Monday, which is why I’m writing so much about it right now. This one features Welsh and Scottish heroes of the Monitor. And again, no clue what’s up with the irrelevant image of old letters, but there are a couple of interesting images (including an old letter) in the article itself.
150th Anniversary of the USS Monitor: Meet Civil War Naval Heroes Robert Williams and William Bryan

Vegas, baby! Who’s coming?
National Genealogical Society Annual Conference

RIP, Monitor crew. Today is the 150th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Monitor – articles for those interested
USS Monitor – Megan’s research identifying sailor’s remains recovered from the USS Monitor

I had the honor of attending the service for SSGT Dobovich, one of the heroes I’ve researched for the Army, last week.
Haddonfield genealogist helped Army identify remains of airman killed in 1946

OK, this is rather bizarre. For some reason, a video review of my very first book, In Search of Our Ancestors, was just published last October. This is a book of 101 tales of genealogical serendipty, and while it’s out of print, I’ve been considering reprinting it myself. What do you think? Should I do it?
Education Book Review: In Search of Our Ancestors by Megan Smolenyak

The post Genealogy Round Up, January 3 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

I’d love to hear your reactions and would be especially grateful if you could share your comments with fellow genealogists, history buffs, and mystery lovers, as well as post reviews on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. “Likes,” Tweets and retweets, +1s and so forth also much appreciated.

Finally, I’d also love it if you’d consider joining me at one of my upcoming events in NJ, PA, MD, VA, AZ, TX, OH, IN, CA and even online (thanks to Legacy Family Tree) – and please let your genealogical buddies know, too! The book, video and my speaking schedule are all available on my freshly hatched website, MeganSmolenyak.com.

Download America_Roots_Showing_Smolenyak_vid.mp4

 

Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing

Part forensic scientist, part master sleuth, Megan Smolenyak² has solved some of America’s oldest and most fascinating genealogical mysteries. You’ve read the headlines, now get the inside story as the “Indiana Jones of genealogy” reveals how she cracked her news-making cases, became the face of this increasingly popular field—and redefined history along the way.

How did Smolenyak² discover Barack Obama’s Irish ancestry and his relation to Brad Pitt? Or the journey of Michelle Obama’s family from slavery to the White House? Or the startling links between outspoken politicians Al Sharpton and Strom Thurmond? And why is Smolenyak²‘s name squared? Test your own skills as she reveals her exciting secrets. Whether she’s scouring websites to uncover the surprising connections between famous figures or using cutting-edge DNA tests to locate family members of fallen soldiers dating back to the Civil War, Smolenyak²‘s historical sleuthing is as provocative, richly layered, and exciting as America itself.

“Watch out Watson and Crick! Megan Smolenyak decodes our
fascinating, complicated past in this tour de force of detective work.”
— Ken Burns

“Thank you for taking the time to lay out our family map…
You’re practically family. You certainly know more about us than we do.”
— Stephen Colbert

“This splendid book makes genealogy come alive in the most vivid and compelling manner.”
— from the Foreword by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

“Megan is a genealogist’s dream, a forensic investigator who can also tell a great story.”
— Sam Roberts, The New York Times

“Megan is a blessing to cold-case detectives and a master genealogist.”
— Julie M. Haney, Special Agent, NCIS Cold Case Homicide Unit

“Megan . . . is, hands down, America’s greatest genealogist, and this book is proof of it.”
— Andrew Carroll, editor of the New York Times bestsellers War Letters and Behind the Lines

“The Indiana Jones of genealogy…Megan Smolenyak is a national treasure.”
— Buzzy Jackson, author of Shaking the Family Tree

“Megan Smolenyak is the genealogist’s genealogist – the go-to person for building
your family tree and solving stubborn historical mysteries.”
— Dr. Spencer Wells, Director of the Genographic Project, National Geographic

“In this breezy narrative, Smolenyak allows us to look over the shoulder of a relentless genealogist as she works the puzzle pieces of her craft. Whether unearthing evidence from Internet databases, newspaper offices, court houses, libraries and cemeteries, consulting translators, historians or her vast network of fellow genealogists, pioneering the use of genealogical DNA testing, solving the mystery or occasionally hitting a brick wall, Smolenyak remains wholly committed, curious and cheery, eager to share her methods and excitement.”
— Kirkus Reviews, “Bottom-up history from a top-shelf researcher”

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