This week: A look at some of the highlights from Who Do You Think You Are? over the years, in which "participants often come away with a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in their world". Various guests explore the appeal of genealogy on The Why Factor.
In this week's Roundup: See how librarians came to the rescue of books and records damaged in a fire started by a 19 year-old Naval Reservist who feared being sent to war in Korea and thought that “a little fire” would gain him probationary status, check out how the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is commemorating the upcoming 100th anniversary of the United States entry into World War I, discover a unique museum in Venice, and more . . .
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.
This week: old wedding photos recreated, preserving the smell of history, raise a glass at 10 of the remotest bars on the planet, the cave where Nat Turner hid, and more.
Lots of inspiration this week! Start with a look at a memorial which had as its genesis this thought: "The character of a nation as a people of great deeds is one, it appears to me, that should never be lost sight of." Explore the story of Lucy Lee Shirley, a woman who transcended the shadows of slavery and domestic abuse and who, among other things, was able to educate herself and her family and leave her children more than $23,000 in today’s money; check out the update on the DNA of long-lived Italians which was previously reported as stolen, and more.
Lots of goodies in this week's Roundup! British celebrities highlight their "refugenes" in an effort to help refugees. We also have two stories around DNA, two stories in which blacksmiths play a part -- one forging awards from pieces of the Statue of Liberty and the other performing marriage ceremonies(!) -- two stories about segregation in cemeteries, and more.
This quarter, I'm awarding a grant to Mac Titmus and his co-volunteers of Long Island Genealogy. Long Island research can actually be quite challenging, so I'm really happy to support a resource I've found to be so helpful. Since they never charge for information, the group would like to file for not-for-profit status, which has a number of costs associated with it. The post explains how you can join me in supporting them.
In this week's Roundup, get your funny bone tickled with an Ellis Island cartoon, explore a tattoo shop formerly frequented by medieval pilgrims (and still in the same business!), check out two family sagas you might enjoy reading, and more.
