“Charlie’s conversation is filled with casual and admiring reflections about his bees, as if he were speaking of eccentric but determined neighbors.”

Why Ireland’s Pub Owners Have Long Moonlighted as Undertakers – There’s nothing not to like about this article. Also, this tradition needs to be resuscitated.

Joe Biden’s Irish clan hopes for White House triumph – Nice dive into Joe Biden’s Irish roots and cousins! Lovely to get a shout-out as well.

Joe Biden could return to Irish roots as US president – BBC asked me about Joe Biden’s Irish roots, but wound up quoting me about what sort of fellow he is, and I rather like that:

“And that right there gives you a little taste for Joe, he treats everybody the same. It doesn’t matter what your station is in life. He really is the caring person that you see when you watch television.”

Cuomo Unveils Statue of Mother Cabrini – patron saint of immigrants

Mary and the Púca – Where my fellow Irish Americans at? Or for that matter, anyone who just enjoys a good yarn? Give yourself a break and take a dive into this what-happened-next, Irish folk tale by Brendan Farrell! And while you’re there, why not give him a follow on Medium, if you’ve joined?

Genealogy mask of the day #48: Tracing My Ancestors

Genealogy mask of the day #49: Seasonal offerings from an Irish millinery Little Rose Design

Genealogy mask of the day #50: Ancestor Whisperer

Photo Credit: AFPMB under Creative Commons license

The post Genealogy Roundup, October 21 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Best Babyhood Ever – So I wrote a thing for my big 6-0. Hope you’ll enjoy it.

Irish locals show their colours in Biden’s ancestral home – Another fun piece on Joe Biden’s Irish roots featuring his cousin, Laurita Blewitt.

Genealogy mask of the day #45: Sorry Can’t Genealogy

Genealogy mask of the day #46: Nuyorican

Genealogy mask of the day #47: Lotus – (Thai)

Photo Credit: Seth Anderson under Creative Commons license

The post Genealogy Roundup, October 14 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Genealogy mask of the day #40: DNA Test Says I’m 100% That Witch

Genealogy mask of the day #41: German Lederhosen

Genealogy mask of the day #42: Silently Judging Your Genealogy Skills

Genealogy mask of the day #43: Italian + Irish Perfection – (for my NJ peeps)

Genealogy mask of the day #44: Ghanian designs

The post Genealogy Roundup, October 7 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Genealogy mask of the day #36: Custom Flag Masks – (for my fellow Rusyns)

Genealogy mask of the day #37: Yukiwa (from vintage kimono)

Genealogy mask of the day #38: Where There’s a Will There’s a Genealogist

Genealogy mask of the day #39: Embroidered Flowers

The post Genealogy Roundup, September 30 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Greenway Conservancy Executive Director to become CEO of Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation – After 38 years, Ellis Island has a new CEO. As far as I’m concerned, Stephen Briganti is a miracle worker so I’m sad to see him go, but he’s certainly earned his retirement. I wish Jesse Brackenbury much success.

In Lackawanna, a labor martyr’s tombstone rises from the earth – Lovely update on one of Sean Kirst’s stories.

Passenger Ship Posters – Cool! For those who subscribe to FindMyPast, they have a passenger ship poster search.

Genealogy mask of the day #30: Genome-01

Genealogy mask of the day #31: Tutankhamun – (for those with seriously deep roots)

Genealogy mask of the day #32: Eat Sleep Genealogy Repeat

Genealogy mask of the day #33: I Am My Ancestors Wildest Dream

Genealogy mask of the day #34: Woven Italy Flag

Photo Credit: Robert Ruffin Barrow, Jr., Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, La. / Public Domain

The post Genealogy Roundup, September 23 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Lessons from a viral obituary – What makes a good obit?

Genealogy mask of the day #26: Miracle Worker

Genealogy mask of the day #27: Bootleggers

Genealogy mask of the day #28: Who Tells Your Story?

Genealogy mask of the day #29: Indian Heritage Toile

The post Genealogy Roundup, September 16 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

On Witness and Respair: A Personal Tragedy Followed by Pandemic – I once had the privilege of being on a book festival panel with Jesmyn Ward and a handful of other authors. It was so early in her career that she didn’t realize that *she* was the gifted one. Read this and you’ll understand.

Reclaiming a hero who tried to save President McKinley – Please read (and consider sharing) this thoughtful piece on Jim Parker, a Black man whose heroism was erased – and the efforts to restore him to memory. Thanks to Sean Kirst for inviting me to do some sleuthing on this.

Through some internet sleuthing, a stranger from Maryland was able to track down my grandmother to send her something he found while volunteering at a used book drive: a telegram of her birth announcement…from 1928. – For those on Twitter, I got to help out with the coolest orphan heirloom reunion!

Explaining genetics:

(source: @jayvanbavel | Twitter)

Genealogy mask of the day #17: Future Tribe Kente

Genealogy mask of the day #18: Disturb The Dead

Genealogy mask of the day #19: Great Grandmother’s Recipes

Genealogy mask of the day #20: Emme Richny Creations

Genealogy mask of the day #21: DNA Tree

Genealogy mask of the day #22: Irish Linen

Genealogy mask of the day #23: Angel in the Morning

Genealogy mask of the day #24: Heritage of Isfahan Iranian carpet print

Genealogy mask of the day #25: Tartan

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

Why Pharrell Almost Didn’t Exist – Since this is the anniversary of 1831 Nat Turner Rebellion, I’m sharing this piece about the roots of Pharrell Williams. You’ll find a tangential connection in his family tree – as well as a more direct link to Liberia.

Words We’re Watching: ‘Nibling’ – Hey, genealogists! Let’s make this a thing. Merriam-Webster says, “The more you use it, the sooner it’ll get in” their dictionary.

Danny DeVito discusses his Irish connections – Fun genealogy tidbit – Italy in Ireland!

Genealogy mask of the day #12: Dia De Los Muertos Skull Mask

Genealogy mask of the day #13: DNA Chakra Circle of Life

Genealogy mask of the day #14: Pink Kokeshi Dolls

Genealogy mask of the day #15: Quarantined But Willing To Discuss Genealogy

Genealogy mask of the day #16: Irina and Friends

Top Photo Credit: Mark Bonica under Creative Commons license

The post Genealogy Roundup, August 26 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

England’s Immigrants – Cool resource for those deep English roots

Genealogy mask of the day #7: Sexy Genealogist

Genealogy mask of the day #8: Swedish Roots

Genealogy mask of the day #9: 3% Neanderthal

Genealogy mask of the day #10: Old World Charm

Genealogy mask of the day #11: Mayflower Descendant

Photo Credit: Gavin Sheridan/CC BY-SA 4.0

The post Genealogy Roundup, August 19 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Blue Jays make big league history in Buffalo, even if few see it – Did a bit of sleuthing with my friend Sean Kirst again. Fun baseball tale!

Genealogy mask of the day #1: I want 1890 back!

Genealogy mask of the day #2: Ellis Island

Genealogy mask of the day #3: Humorous Headstones

Genealogy mask of the day #4: Chromosomes

Genealogy mask of the day #5: Ancestors

Genealogy mask of the day #6: History Has Its Eyes On Us

Photo Credit:New York’s Little Italy, c. 1900–10. Library of Congress/LC-D418-9351

The post Genealogy Roundup, August 12 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.