Ancient DNA and 23andMe Are Rewriting the Story of Some of America’s Earliest Colonists – cool application of genetic genealogy

Why Rob McElhenney Changed His Name to ‘Rob Mac’ – Wrexham Owner’s Decision Explained – Oh, no! Wrexham partners with Ancestry and Rob McElhenney (aka Rob Mac) is still spreading the name-changed-at-Ellis-Island myth. Mind you, I love Wrexham, but c’mon!

Photo by Stephen Walker on Unsplash

The post Genealogy Roundup, May 20 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash

The post Genealogy Roundup, April 9 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.

I wrote a novel about my family. What could go wrong?

Genealogy site MyHeritage says 92 million user accounts compromised – Change your password if you’ve got an account with MyHeritage.

Photo Credit: Brunnhilde, 1936. photographer unknown. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

The post Genealogy Roundup, June 6 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Ian McKellen reflects on being ‘the last McKellen’ during appearance on Who Do You Think You Are? – He’s the last in the McKellen line, but he’s a memorable last

Colonial America Tavern Signs Collection – So this evening, I might just get nimptopsical…

Family Fight Over WWI Medal of Honor Recipient’s Grave Goes to High Court

The Vast Library of Congress Card Catalog Is Gathering Dust in the Basement – “Despite the advent of the internet, Library of Congress employees fought hard to keep the old cards around as a backup.:

Good for them!

A Letter from Langston Hughes regarding Sgt. Henry Johnson – 1958 letter from Langston Hughes re: Henry Johnson who finally received Medal of Honor for WWI in 2015.

Derry women discover heirlooms of heroic aunt who defied the Nazis and died in Auschwitz

Photo Credit (Gustave Eiffel’s secret apartment): Serge Melki under Creative Commons license

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

Bean Puzzle Tombstone

The Library of Congress Is Putting Its Map Collection Online – Yes!

National Park Service photographer captures “essence” of American history – Thanks to Jan Brandt for telling me about this! Interesting piece with official Ellis Island photographer.

The post Genealogy Roundup, December 14 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.