This week: explore DNA travel, the George Peabody Library, a fun history mystery book, the story of the researcher who discovered and mapped out more than 3,000 burials of black people in nearly 30 cemeteries, most hidden in secluded woods near sugar cane fields, and more.
As a tribute to the 125th anniversary of Ellis Island and Annie Moore's arrival there, I have awarded a grant to The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation to assist with the building of the new Statue of Liberty Museum. The post explains how you can join me in supporting this project.
This week: Commemorating the 125th anniversary of Annie Moore and Ellis Island, a hoard of gold found inside a donated piano, two genealogy-themed TV series to air soon, and much more!
On January 1, 1892, 17-year-old Annie Moore from Cork, Ireland became the first immigrant to ever arrive at Ellis Island, so both Annie and Ellis Island celebrated their 125th anniversary on January 1, 2017. Now is an especially relevant time to reflect on the Annie Moores in our own family trees – those pioneers who made a leap that so drastically altered the trajectories of their descendants’ lives for the better.
In this week's Roundup: A tribute to Annie Moore on the 125th anniversary of her immigration to the U.S., explore Fort Washington, encouragement to dig into family roots, and more.
This week, check out an article on diaspora tourism that explores what it means to "return to a place you’ve never been" as well as an article about the search for missing WWII airmen in India.
Lots of great reads this week: a true WWII POW escape story, a most intriguing tombstone, and news from the Library of Congress. We finish up with an interesting interview with a photographer commissioned by the National Park Service, who, when asked why the assignment was important, responded, "Because I think a lot of people forget about where we came from all too easy. It’s what shapes us. It’s how we know where we got to.”
This week: The oldest existing Ellis Island ferry to be sold at auction, two formerly missing soldiers laid to rest, an adoption mystery solved, and more...
Get ready to time-travel this week: past, present, and future! To start, cemeteries face special challenges in densely-populated urban areas. Check out the fascinating history of a Hong Kong cemetery where lie diplomats, missionaries, opium smugglers, soldiers, revolutionaries and local Christian converts and then concept art for a light-filled potential cemetery in New York City. Next, enjoy a story in which DNA plays a role in introducing two half-siblings to each other. Round off this week's exploration with more on the 2016 Ellis Island Family Heritage Awards.
In this week's Roundup: an ancient cemetery, an in-depth conversation with Bruce Springsteen, and the Ellis Island Family Heritage Awards.
