Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter Latest News Articles

I have been offline

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:27:12 GMT

A lot of things have changed recently...

In short, I sopped writing the blog.

First, the hosting service changed the log-in procedure and it didn't work for me. I couldn't log-in to my own blog.

Next, I had surgery and the recuperation took a lot longer than I expected (and I am still not fully recuperated but I am finally doing better now).

Then, to add insult to injury, my email provider went offing abruptly. No warning, they simply were not there one day.

So... I have stopped writing the blog (at least for the time being) and i have a new e-mail address.

Now the old sign-in for the blog started working again.

If you do want to e-mail me, my new email address is: richardeastmanpm.me@proton.me

- Dick Eastman

National Archives Museum Opens Immersive Signature Exhibit Ahead of Nation's 250th Anniversary

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:15:18 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

On Friday, November 21, the National Archives Museum will open its new flagship exhibition, The American Story, after a multi-year reimagination of its museum galleries, just in time to celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial.

Innovative, engaging, and powered by artificial intelligence, The American Story brings more than two million historic records to life and offers visitors opportunities to personally connect their lives to our nation’s storied past.

Jim Byron, Senior Advisor to the Archivist of the United States, appointed to manage the National Archives day-to-day, said: “The American Story is boldly presented in this exciting new exhibition that blends 250 years of history with the latest technologies to create a one-of-a-kind museum experience. Millions of records in the National Archives shine light on America’s exceptional people—from the founding to present day—now digitized and waiting to be explored. We encourage visitors from across the United States and around the world to add this new museum to their Washington, DC itineraries and experience The American Story.”

The American Story immerses guests in an interactive exploration of the people, ideas, and events that shaped 250 years of U.S. history through nine captivating galleries that spotlight categories of records in the National Archives. After selecting the topics of interest through AI-driven portals, visitors will be presented with historical content tailored to their individual interests that they can later revisit online.

This exhibit features several dozen historic, original artifacts, documents, patents, and film slips, including:

George Washington’s annotated draft Constitution
The Louisiana Purchase Treaty
Notable patents, including Thomas Edison’s lightbulb, Barbie, and Yoda from Star Wars
Declassified records from the Cuban Missile Crisis and UFO sightings
The first government sponsored film capturing the Wright Brothers' test flight
State gifts to Presidents, including horseshoes gifted by Queen Elizabeth II to President George H.W. Bush

Immediately adjacent to the museum galleries is a reimagined Discovery Center, featuring educational arcade games and a classroom with hands-on civics education activities for children and families.

The American Story and Discovery Center are part of an extensive $40 million renovation, marking the first major transformation of the National Archives Museum in two decades.

“We are proud to support a groundbreaking exhibit that harnesses innovative technology to bring history to life for the American public and generations to come," said Patrick M. Madden, Executive Director of the National Archives Foundation. "Thanks to the support of the U.S. Congress and generous contributions of many donors to the National Archives Foundation, this public-private partnership lifts our nation’s story to new and compelling heights.

The National Archives Museum renovation is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of its lead donors: the U.S. Congress and the American People, Ancestry, Governor Jim and Janet Blanchard, The Boeing Company, Tracey and Steve Caple, Comcast Corporation, Elva and Lawrence O'Brien Family Trust, Ambassador Fay Hartog-Levin, The Hearst Foundations, Marilynn Wood Hill and John A. Hill, John and Christie Johnson, Mars Family, Microsoft, Mary C. Moynihan and Alexander Schmandt, P&G, Deborah and Michael Salzberg, Seedlings Foundation, Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation, David E. Weisman & Jacqueline E. Michel, Tom and Carol Wheeler, and the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund.

# # #

About the National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration is a federal agency that serves the American people by preserving and making available the records of the United States Government through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries. The National Archives is the custodian of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, on display for all to experience in Washington, DC. Learn more about the holdings of the National Archives at archives.gov.

About the National Archives Foundation
The National Archives Foundation is an independent nonprofit foundation that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage, and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The Foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records to people around the U.S. and the world. Learn more at archivesfoundation.org.

Czech Acaådemy of Sciences Launches a Digital Archive of 15,000 Folk Songs

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:44:45 GMT

Nearly fifteen thousand songs from all regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia are now freely available through a new online library called Písňovna.cz. The project was created by the Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, whose archives hold most of this unique collection. The digital catalogue is also aimed at teachers, making it easier to bring folk songs into the classroom. I discussed the project with the Institute’s musicologist and ethnologist, Matěj Kratochvíl.

What inspired you to create this online library, and why did you decide to launch it now?

"This project is the result of a very long development and a very long history of our institute — the Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences — which is full of archival records of folk songs dating back to the 19th century.

"The main inspiration was our feeling that we should make all those records available, as they represent an immense richness of what we can call cultural heritage, something that should be made accessible to the broadest possible scope of users.

"Another important motivation was the need to protect those sources, which are very old and exist mostly on paper. We needed to digitize them, and once they were digitized, we felt they should be made publicly available.

"That was the reason for the creation of what we called Písňovna, which could be translated as 'songbrary,' or song library."

The songs date back to the early 19th century. Can you highlight some of the most interesting or important ones from that period?

"Coincidentally, the launch of our database comes exactly 200 years after the publication of the so-called Rittersberg Collection, which was published in 1825.

"We also have this collection included in our database. It is the oldest printed collection of folk songs published in Czech, and there we can find some of the earliest examples of Czech folk music.

"Another important collection is that of Karel Jaromír Erben, which is also very large. Together, these early collections form the basis of what we call today the Czech folk song."

If I visit Písňovna.cz, what kind of information or materials will I find there?

"We tried to make the website as intuitive as possible. There is the option to browse particular collections — for example, the Erben collection or collections by almost unknown collectors from the early 20th century.

"You can browse through the songs as if you were paging through a book, or you can search by lyrics — just type in the first words of a song, and it will show you if we have it in our database.

"You can also input a tune, either by clicking on a virtual keyboard or whistling into the microphone of your phone or computer. Thanks to the digitization of the tunes, the system can compare what you whistle or play with our database and tell you if we have something similar.

"You can also search by musical content and geographically — for example, if you want to find songs from your home region or village, you can browse by locality and see if we have anything from that area."

You have your phone here in the studio — so could you walk us through, step by step, how to use Písňovna on a phone or on a computer?

"If you go to písňovna.cz, the first thing you will see is the ‘song of the day.’ We decided to go through the entire year using the calendar and find an appropriate song related to the current date.

"For example, today is St. Martin’s Day, so we recall the birthday of the famous folk singer, song collector, and dancer from Moravia, Martin Holý, and feature one of the songs he collected. Tomorrow, a different song will appear, related to whoever was born, died, or whatever saint’s day or important event falls on that date.

"Otherwise, on your phone, you’ll see the typical magnifying glass — the search symbol — and you can go to the label písně (songs), where you’ll find the full list of songs. You can either search in the search bar or simply browse through the list.

"Then you can go to the personalities section, where we have created custom portraits for our database, and read about the collectors. For instance, one of the first is Josef Aul, a lesser-known folk song collector and teacher from the Plzeň region. He collected about 27 songs, which are in our archives and had never been published before. You can open his virtual collection and look at the songs."

And as you mentioned, if I only remember the melody but not the title, the website can still help me find the song. All I have to do is whistle or sing it into the microphone — is that right?

"Yes, there is a tab or button called Zapískej hledej — ‘whistle and find.’ You just activate your microphone and whistle a simple melody, like a major triad, and the system will show you how many songs match that tune.

"This is the beginning of the famous Ovčáci čtveráci song, but there are hundreds of songs that may pop up, and it will show you which collections they come from and which melodic shape they contain."

The website also includes resources for teachers. What prompted you to create these, and how can teachers use them in practice?

"We met several times with groups of teachers. We organized workshops to show them what we have, but we also wanted to learn about the current situation with folk songs in schools — how they are used and what teachers need.

"We found that folk songs are still very useful, especially for small children, but the available material is often limited to commercially published songbooks. Teachers also told us they would appreciate having ready-made activities, since school time is limited and they cannot spend too much time preparing lessons.

"So, we prepared activities that show how to use specific folk songs in music or art education, but also in Czech language lessons, history, or even zoology — since many songs are about animals — and botany, since we have songs about flowers and their dialectal names or symbolic meanings.

å"We also have historical ballads that refer to real historical events, which can be used in history classes. Teachers can download PDFs, song recordings, and classroom-ready materials.

"We even invited child singers to record selected songs for use in the classroom, knowing that not every teacher has a piano or can play and conduct at the same time. We also created karaoke versions, so children can sing along with instrumental accompaniment."

Is the website currently only available in Czech, or are you also planning an English version?

"Currently, the main page of Písňovna is only in Czech. However, we have another version of the site called Badatelská Písňovna, which could be translated as the 'Researcher’s songbrary', and which is aimed more at academic users.

"It includes detailed analyses of the songs, including structural, lyrical, and dance analyses when available. This research version is already available in both Czech and English, so it can also serve international users."

Free Genealogy Invite to Castlebar Library

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:38:01 GMT

Genealogists from Mayo’s two Irish Family History Foundation accredited research centres invite everyone to a free event hosted by Castlebar Library this Saturday, the 22nd of November.

Ger Delaney (South Mayo Family Research Centre) and Brendan Walsh (North Mayo Heritage Centre) will be in attendance to help with people’s family history research.

The free event is open to all levels, whether you are just starting your research or have questions from your own research to date.

Mayo County Library Service will host this free event in Castlebar Library, with 30 minute slots available from 10am until 3pm on Saturday.

Booking is essential, as walk-ins cannot be accommodated on the day.

Booking is essential for this free event, and spaces are strictly limited. To book your place, phone 096 31809 between 10am-4pm Mon – Thurs & 10am-1pm Fridays.

Pinal County Medical Examiner's Office Teams with Othram to Identify a 2024 John Doe

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:34:14 GMT

In February 2024, the skeletal remains of an unknown individual were found in Gold Canyon, Arizona. The remains were in a desert area about one mile from US Hwy 60 and one mile from the Arizona Renaissance Festival property on the eastern outskirts of Phoenix. Both the Pinal County Sheriff's Office and Pinal County Medical Examiner responded and began collecting evidence but could not identify the man. The Pinal County Medical Examiner's Office anthropology study determined that the remains belonged to an adult male between the ages of 20 and 65 whose ancestry was estimated as either Hispanic/Latino or Native American. It was estimated that the man died anywhere from 2022 to 2023. Due to the limited skeletal remains recovered, investigators were unable to estimate the person's height or weight. Despite extensive investigative efforts, the man remained unidentified and became known as Gold Canyon John Doe (2024). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP116077. A DNA specimen from the remains was uploaded to CODIS, funded by the Missing and Unidentified Human Remains Grant through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, however no matches were made in the CODIS system.

Recently, the Pinal County Medical Examiner's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

Bertschinger grew up in Apache Junction, AZ and frequented that city, as well as Gold Canyon, where he had previously held a seasonal job near the property where the remains were found. His family attempted to find him for two years, and reported him missing in July 2024. The cause and manner of death remain undetermined.

A portion of Othram's casework costs associated with the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy completed in this case were contributed by donors through a DNASolves® crowdfund. We are grateful to everyone that helped crowdfund this case and other DNASolves cases. The remaining cost of Othram's casework was paid by NamUs, a national program that assists the criminal justice community with the investigation and resolution of missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases across the United States and its territories. NamUs is funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and is managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International. We are grateful for the support of RTI, NamUs, and the NIJ as well as to those who helped crowdfund this case and other DNASolves cases.

The identification of David Bertschinger represents the 14th case in the State of Arizona where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Arizona cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

Unlock Your Past: Molino Library Offers Free Ancestry Access On Monday

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:45:51 GMT

The Molino Library is offering local residents a unique chance to delve into their family history this on Monday with free access to the .

Patrons can dive into records—including census data, vital statistics, and historical documents—to discover their family’s history, all at no cost.

The Ancestry.com access will be available at the Molino Branch Library on Monday, November 17 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. The library is located at 6450 Highway 95A, in the Molino Community Center.

Library staff will be available throughout the day to provide guidance, whether guests are new to genealogy or simply need technical assistance.

Expanded Archives of The Dickinson Press are Available Online

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 16:58:01 GMT

Newly digitized, the archives of The Dickinson Press are now fully digitized and available for perusal through Newspapers.com . Subscribers, history enthusiasts and those searching for genealogy data will be able to access almost every edition from the 142 years of the Press online in the site's comprehensive, easy-to-navigate database.

The very first issue of The Press was released on March 31, 1883. The left column of the front page reads, “The Dickinson Press is published every Saturday at Dickinson, [Dakota Territory]. It will be found a valuable medium through which to reach the farmers and stockmen in the surrounding country. The pioneer paper of Stark Co. it represents, the best farming and stock raising district west of the Missouri.”

Newspapers.com is an online news database owned by Ancestry. According to the website, it houses nearly 30,000 different publications and over 1 billion newspaper pages, with those of The Dickinson Press now among that number.

A popular use for The Dickinson Press archive is finding information about family members. Through Newspapers.com , one can easily search for old articles about ancestors and cataloged obituaries for loved ones. Additionally, it is an excellent source for both personal and academic research.

Newspapers.com requires a subscription to access, but visitors onsite at the Dickinson Area Public Library are able to access the archives at no additional charge.

Articles published during the most recent five months are only available online at thedickinsonpress.com, and many archived articles are still available to readers on the website.

The Press will also continue to republish archived content on a regular basis for those readers interested in the history of the paper and southwestern North Dakota.

Body Found in Lake Michigan in 1988 Identified 37 Years Later

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:12:28 GMT

A body pulled from Lake Michigan nearly four decades ago has finally been identified as 71-year-old Dorothy Glanton, a Chicago woman who disappeared in December 1987. The Michigan State Police, together with the DNA Doe Project, announced the breakthrough on Wednesday.

Glanton’s remains were recovered on April 8, 1988, near the small lakeside city of New Buffalo, Michigan. At the time, investigators were unable to identify her despite extensive efforts. She became known for decades as “New Buffalo Jane Doe,” with authorities believing she was a white woman in her 40s or 50s. Her cause of death could not be determined, News.Az reports, citing ABC News.

The case shifted dramatically in 2023 when investigators partnered with the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit specializing in advanced genetic genealogy. A team of genealogists began reconstructing the unidentified woman’s family tree, eventually determining that early assessments from 1988 were incorrect. The victim was actually African American and in her early 70s.

As the genealogists worked through DNA matches and historical records, they found a potential lead: a missing woman named Dorothy Glanton. She had been born in Alabama and moved to Chicago with her family in the 1920s during the Great Migration. Glanton left her home on Dec. 9, 1987, and never returned.

The breakthrough came when researchers found a newspaper advertisement from August 1988, placed by a relative on behalf of Glanton’s mother. The ad pleaded for Dorothy to come home, saying her mother was “ill, lonely & afraid” and needed her. By that point, Glanton’s body had already been discovered, though still unidentified.

Investigators said the decades-long mystery was resolved through persistent detective work and the genealogical expertise of the DNA Doe Project. Michigan State Police thanked all those involved, noting that the identification brought long-awaited answers to the case.

Portage County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:49:45 GMT

Portage County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society will meet on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at the Portage County Historical Society, 6549 N. Chestnut St in Ravenna Ohio at 10:00 a.m.

The guest speaker will be Brian Rhinehart, who will present “Uncovering an Unlikely Civil War Story through Federal Records, about a 60 year-old soldier, originally from New Hampshire.

The next genealogy program will be February 7, 2026.

The program is free and open to anyone interested in genealogy or historical research. For up-to-date information please visit our web site at https://www.portagecountyohioogs.org/ or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Portage-County-Ohio-Genealogy-Society-635440526851524.

Major Update to Theory of Family Relativity™ — 103 Million New Theories Added

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:41:57 GMT

Great news! The MyHeritage team just rolled out an update to Theory of Family Relativity™, adding an impressive 103 million new theories — a 44% increase that brings the total to over 336 million.

Theory of Family Relativity™ is the ultimate tool for smashing brick walls and solving DNA-Match-related mysteries. It’s the only DNA tool on the market that leverages historical records as well as family tree and DNA data to suggest how a given DNA Match may be related to you. Because of the vast amounts of data involved, Theories of Family Relativity™ are calculated and refreshed on a periodic basis. With this update, 3.5 million DNA kits now have at least one Theory of Family Relativity™ — a 20% jump since the last time the data was refreshed.

Look for the purple banner at the top of their DNA Matches page that indicates that they’ve received new theories! For those who don’t get any new theories, this is a great reminder to build out their trees as much as they can to increase their chances of receiving new theories next time. More information on the update is on the blog. Feel free to use the image above when spreading the word!

By the way, we just launched our Early Black Friday DNA Sale — another great opportunity for all to stock up ahead of the holidays.

Library Brings Ancestry.com Library Edition to Patrons

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:36:57 GMT

The Tillamook County Library is proud to announce the launch of Ancestry Library Edition, a powerful genealogy resource now available to the public in all library branches. This new service replaces the library’s previous genealogy tool, Heritage Quest, and offers dramatically expanded access to historical records from around the globe.

Ancestry Library Edition is the largest online family history resource available, providing access to more than 20 billion historical records. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned genealogist, this collection allows users to uncover personal histories through documents that span centuries and continents. Records include U.S. census data, military records, birth and death certificates, immigration and passenger lists, and so much more.

“This is an incredibly exciting upgrade for our genealogy researchers,” said Danielle Meininger, Systems Librarian. “Ancestry Library Edition makes it easier than ever for community members to research their family history. Whether you’re tracing your roots or digging into local heritage, the library is proud to provide access to such a valuable and comprehensive tool.”

Ancestry Library Edition is available inside the library only, either on public computers or on personal devices connected to the library’s Wi-Fi network. Patrons can explore global records from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and beyond. The database includes unique primary source documents and enhanced images, along with user-friendly search tools and extensive indexing to help patrons get started quickly and confidently.

In addition to Ancestry Library Edition, Tillamook County Library continues to support family historians with a growing collection of genealogy resources on its website at www.tillabook.org and in the Local History Collections located at each library. In the coming year, community members can look forward to these collections being revitalized and offered in a whole new way.

Whether you’re interested in tracing your immigrant ancestors, discovering military service records, or building a complete family tree, Ancestry Library Edition is a one-stop destination for exploring your heritage. Visit a Tillamook County library location to get started on your family history adventure.

Spokane Police Solve 1997 Cold Case Murder Through Forensic Genetic Genealogy

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:57:04 GMT

Photo credit: City of Spokane Police Department

After nearly three decades, Spokane Police detectives have identified the man responsible for the 1997 murder of 34-year-old Margaret Anselmo.

Anselmo’s body was found on the morning of January 3, 1997, in an alley near 700 East Pacific Avenue. Investigators determined she had suffered severe head tårauma and signs of sexual assault. The Spokane County Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.

Despite years of investigative effort, detectives were unable to link a suspect to the case until recent advances in forensic genetic genealogy provided a breakthrough.

The Spokane Police Department announced that Brian J. Anderson of Pend Oreille County—now deceased—has been identified as Anselmo’s killer. Evidence collected at the scene was sent to Othram, a Texas-based forensic laboratory specializing in genetic genealogy. There, a DNA profile was developed and analyzed with the help of volunteer genealogist Lynda Keenan, who assisted Spokane detectives by tracing relatives connected to the profile.

Family members of Anderson provided DNA samples and family context, expressing sympathy for Anselmo’s surviving family and a desire to bring closure to the case. Othram’s kinship analysis confirmed that one relative was Anderson’s child and another his half-brother, making Anderson the only possible suspect.

Had he still been alive, the Spokane Police Department stated it would pursue charges of first-degree murder and first-degree rape.

Anyone with additional information related to the case is encouraged to contact Crime Check at (509) 456-2233 and reference case number 97-2325.

1-on-1 Genealogy Consultations

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:52:33 GMT

Need help with family history or genealogical research? Stop by the Campbell County Public Library reference desk and get some one-on-one assistance from our volunteer family history consultants!

Drop-In

The first Wednesday of each month 6-8pm; first come, first served; no sign up required.

One-on-One

Thursdays each week, 2-4pm. By appointment; sign up today.

Upcoming dates

Schedules

Starting Thursday, September 4th, 2025, repeated every week on Thursday @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Venue

Campbell County Public Library

Calgary Woman Missing Since 1966 Identified as Murder Victim in Nevada Cold Case

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:09:20 GMT

After more than half a century, investigators have finally identified the remains of a Calgary woman found murdered in Nevada in 1970. The victim has been confirmed as Anna Sylvia Just, who was 29 years old at the time of her death.

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Just’s remains were discovered on June 7, 1970, by children playing in the desert. Her body had been buried in a shallow grave. A medical examination determined her cause of death was a homicide caused by a skull fracture.

A Cross-Border Mystery

Just was first reported missing from her Calgary home on August 17, 1966. Two years later, she was also listed as missing from Nevada after personal belongings believed to be hers were discovered in the desert near Henderson. Investigators located her suitcase, purse, passport, a plane ticket, and strands of human hair inside the purse. Clothing and a blood-stained sheet were found nearby, but no trace of Anna herself was discovered at the time.

Reports from the late 1960s linked Just to Thomas Hanley, a well-known union figure in Las Vegas. Some accounts alleged she went to him seeking money and that associates of Hanley may have taken her into the desert, where she was killed. However, no evidence was ever found to confirm his involvement, and Hanley was never charged before his death in 1979 while in federal custody.

DNA and Genealogy Breakthrough

The Clark County Coroner’s Office worked with the Las Vegas police cold case unit and Calgary Police Service to pursue new leads. In October 2024, Calgary investigators were contacted by their Nevada counterparts to locate surviving family members. A DNA sample was collected from Just’s biological sister in Alberta, leading to a match through genetic genealogy.

“Through genetic genealogy, it was confirmed that the remains located in 1970 were those of Anna Sylvia Just,” Las Vegas police said in a public statement. The confirmation officially closes a case that spanned 55 years across two countries.

What You Can Do

Cold cases like this show the importance of DNA technology and cooperation between international agencies. Share this story to help raise awareness about long-term missing persons cases that still await answers.

Ireland's Historical Transport Records Now Available Online

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:03:50 GMT

A new online resource opens Ireland’s transport heritage to the public with a genealogical database of almost 7,000 names.

Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, officially launched the CIÉ Group Archives Online Catalogue at the Salesforce Building, North Wall Quay, Dublin, a building which once formed part of Dublin’s historic railway infrastructure.

Following an ambitious programme of conservation, cataloguing, and digitisation, over 166,000 pages of material, dating back to the early 19th century, have been digitised, and thousands of historical documents are now accessible to the public.

The platform includes a map-based search tool and a genealogical database of almost 7,000 names, enabling users to explore the stories of those who worked within, or were connected to, Ireland’s transport network.

The online catalogue, charting more than two centuries of Ireland’s transport, industrial, and economic development, features the corporate records of 68 railway companies and 10 canal, tram, and road transport companies, as well as CIÉ’s own board and corporate archives from 1945 onwards.

Among the highlights is the first minute book of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway Company, the organisation that built Ireland’s first railway line in the 1830s, a rare record of Ireland’s earliest railway history.

While these records have long existed, few were aware of their scale, depth, or national significance.

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, said: “It is an honour to be here today to launch the CIÉ Group Archives Online Catalogue. The archives provide an invaluable record of Ireland’s transport development and the people who helped build it. By digitising and sharing this nationally significant collection, CIÉ has ensured that generations to come will be able to explore, learn from, and build upon our transport and industrial heritage. This project honours our past while embracing a future rooted in accessibility, education, and innovation.”

In 2023, CIÉ appointed Kevin Forkan as the organisation’s first Group Archivist to lead this major heritage-preservation project. He brings almost two decades of experience in archival and cultural-heritage management, having previously worked with the National Archives, UCD Archives, the National Museum of Ireland, and M+ Museum in Hong Kong.

Reflecting on the archival process, Kevin Forkan, CIÉ Group Archivist, said: “Since 2023, we have undertaken a significant programme of conservation, cataloguing, and digitisation to ensure this important collection is preserved and accessible for generations to come.

"This work has involved creating detailed catalogue records and digitising thousands of pages so they can be explored online for the very first time. Together, these materials reveal new insights into how transport shaped Ireland’s social, industrial, and economic development, while the genealogical resources allow families to trace the lives of those who worked across the network”

As CIÉ opens its historic collections to a wider audience, Aidan Murphy, CIÉ Board Chair, welcomed the launch and its contribution to understanding Ireland’s past: "This project marks an important moment for CIÉ as these records give new insight into how rail, canal, tram and road transport connected towns, supported industry, and shaped everyday life. Their availability online will be invaluable to researchers and families alike, helping preserve stories that form part of Ireland’s national identity.”

Underscoring CIÉ’s commitment to broadening access, Fiona O’Shea, Interim CEO, CIÉ, highlighted the significance of making the catalogue available online: “Putting this archive at the public’s fingertips opens up a rich resource for learning and discovery. The platform allows people everywhere to explore the people, places and engineering behind Ireland’s transport network. We look forward to continuing this work and ensuring the collection evolves as a meaningful tool for future generations.”

A collection of national significance, the CIÉ Group Archives offer an unparalleled record of Ireland’s transport and industrial history, providing new insights into our economic and social development over two centuries. The initiative received investment from the CIÉ Sustainability Fund and is aligned to the CIÉ Group’s Sustainability Strategy to protect and safeguard cultural heritage.

The CIÉ Group Archives Online Catalogue can be viewed at here.

How to Find Your Family’s Shtetl: One Map at a Time

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:58:28 GMT

The old town of Sibiu – Romania

If you’ve ever wondered where your family’s story began, this month’s Jewish Special Interest Group event offers a new way to trace it. As part of its continuing focus on Jewish genealogy in St. Louis, the group will host a Zoom-only session Sunday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. titled “How to Find any Shtetl on Topographic Maps.”

The featured speaker, Andrew Kapochunas, is an internationally recognized expert in historical cartography who has spent years mapping Jewish communities across Central and Eastern Europe.

His talk will guide participants through the process of identifying ancestral towns, villages, and regions using detailed topographic and historical maps—tools that can reveal far more than names or dates alone.

Why maps matter to Jewish genealogy

For many descendants of European Jews, the search for ancestral shtetls is a challenge wrapped in myth and migration. Borders have shifted, records have vanished, and entire towns have changed names or disappeared. Kapochunas’s work helps researchers make sense of those changes by showing how geography and history intertwine.

His presentation will include examples of how maps can confirm family stories, locate nearby synagogues or cemeteries, and even identify migration routes taken generations ago. Attendees will also learn how to use free online resources to explore their own family’s origins.

A local link to a global story

The Jewish Special Interest Group, or Jewish SIG, operates within the St. Louis Genealogical Society and has become a consistent resource for anyone exploring Jewish roots. Recent programs have covered topics from reading cemetery symbols to documenting migration paths, all designed to help both beginners and experienced genealogists build stronger connections to their heritage.

While the group’s programs often draw participants from across the country, its leaders, Phyllis Faintich, Ilene Murray, and Carol Waggoner, continue to emphasize the St. Louis connection, showing how local genealogical work ties into global Jewish history.

How to join the program

The Dec. 7 session will be held online only, allowing participants from anywhere to attend. Registration is free and available on the Jewish SIG page of the St. Louis Genealogical Society website at stlgs.org.

For those keeping a calendar, the group’s 2026 schedule will be posted this week, including new meetings for both general genealogy and Jewish SIG members.

Event details:
What: How to Find any Shtetl on Topographic Maps
When: Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, 1 p.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
More info: Visit stlgs.org or email jewishsig@stlgs.org

DNA Breakthrough Closes 27-Year-Old Murder Mystery in Cheverly, Maryland

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:51:36 GMT

After nearly three decades of uncertainty, investigators have finally identified the man responsible for the 1998 murder of 50-year-old Sheryl Crandell inside her office at Prince George’s Hospital Center.

Police said the suspect, Baari Shabazz, died in 2019 at the age of 69.

The breakthrough came through investigative genetic genealogy, a method that has helped close numerous cold cases nationwide.

Key Points

Investigators identified Baari Shabazz as the suspect in the 1998 murder of Sheryl Crandell.
Genetic genealogy led to the discovery after a renewed investigation in 2021.
Shabazz lived about a mile from the hospital where the victim worked; the motive remains unknown.

DNA technology provides long-awaited answer

On January 13, 1998, Crandell was found dead in her Family Health Center office around 8:30 p.m. by a maintenance worker. An autopsy revealed she had been strangled and sexually assaulted. Despite a broad investigation, detectives at the time were unable to find a suspect.

The case went cold for more than two decades until December 2021, when Prince George’s County Police Cold Case Unit detectives obtained court approval to use genetic genealogy. Working with the FBI’s Baltimore Investigative Genetic Genealogy Team, investigators began tracing DNA evidence collected from the crime scene.

FBI and local detectives trace DNA to deceased suspect

After months of analysis, the FBI team matched the genetic material to Shabazz in late October. Officials said he had lived about one mile from the Cheverly hospital at the time of the murder.

There is no evidence indicating that Crandell and Shabazz knew each other, and investigators have not determined a motive.

Police seek public input despite case closure

Although the suspect is deceased, police are encouraging anyone with information about Shabazz’s background or possible connections to other crimes to contact the Prince George’s County Police Homicide Unit at 301-516-2512.

Anonymous tips can be shared through the Crime Solvers website, the “P3 Tips” mobile app, or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Detectives ask callers to refer to case number 98-013-1118.

A family’s decades-long wait for justice ends

Crandell’s murder shocked hospital staff and the Cheverly community in 1998. The new DNA match brings long-awaited closure to her family and colleagues who endured years of unanswered questions. Police said the investigation represents another example of how emerging technology can help deliver justice even decades after a crime.

PGPD Cold Case Unit Identifies Suspect in 1998 Murder of Sheryl Crandell

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:41:26 GMT

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Section Cold Case Unit identified the suspect responsible for killing Sheryl Crandell in 1998. Ms. Crandell was found murdered in her office at Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly. The suspect is Baari Shabazz. He died in 2019 at the age of 69.

On January 13, 1998, a maintenance employee discovered the 50-year-old victim in her Family Health Center office at approximately 8:30 pm. An autopsy determined her cause of death was strangulation. She had also been sexually assaulted. Despite an extensive investigation at the time, no arrests were made in the immediate aftermath of her murder.

PGPD Cold Case Unit detectives sought and obtained court authorization to begin investigative genetic genealogy in connection to this case in December of 2021. FBI Baltimore’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy Team initiated investigative genetic genealogy and was able to ultimately identify the suspect in late October of this year. At this time, there is no known connection between the victim and suspect. He did live approximately one mile from the hospital back in 1998. The motive for the murder is unknown.

If anyone has information relevant to this investigation and would like to speak to a Homicide Unit detective, they are asked to please call 301-516-2512.

Anyone with information may also contact Crime Solvers online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device) or call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous. Please refer to case number 98-013-1118.

If you would prefer to translate this release into another language, please find the translation window on the right side of this webpage. Please select your preferred language from the available list.

Rare Mayflower Family History Books Donated to Steubenville Library

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:39:03 GMT

It’s a new chapter for history lovers and family researchers in the Ohio Valley.

The Steubenville Public Library just received a donation of 53 rare volumes from the Society of Mayflower Descendants in Ohio.

Each book serves as an encyclopedia for Mayflower descendants tracing family lineages back five or more generations to the passengers who arrived on November 11th, 1620.

Library staff say the donation comes just in time with holidays around the corner and with the anniversary of the Mayflower just around the corner.

There were 53 volumes that were donated and you know these can be difficult to find so having them here in the library is going to be really of great help to people who are researching their family. We are very grateful of them for donating these to our library.”
Erica Grubbs, Head of Local Genealogy, Steubenville Public Library

The collection is now available for the public to explore at the Schiappa Branch in the local history and Genealogy department in Steubenville.

NextGEN: Call for Presentations

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:52:20 GMT

Society of Genealogists and Family History Federation are jointly arranging an online conference to be held Saturday 14 November 2026.

Those aged 16 to 35 years of age on 14 November 2026 are invited to submit proposals for presentations.

Topics

We are looking for a variety of genealogy and family history topics on the theme of "New Connections". A focus on topics of interest to younger genealogist is preferred.

Format

Presentations should be 20 minutes. They may be presented live or pre-recorded, though live is preferred, and all speakers should be present for a Q&A session following their presentation. They should be delivered in English. They may be individual or joint by 2 or more presenters.

Terms

We expect to be able to pay presenters through sponsorship, details to be confirmed. Accepted presenters under 18 years of age will be required to submit evidence of parental approval to take part prior to the event.

Submit

Proposals should be emailed to events@sog.org.uk and should include:

The presenters name(s), email address(es) and age(s).
Brief bio (approx. 50 words)
Draft title
Short summary of presentation

Dates

Deadline for submission of proposals: Sunday 12 July 2026

From Passion to Presentation: How to Share Your Genealogy Story Like a Pro: 8pm BST Tuesday 7 July 2026: Book here. This free Zoom session is designed to help you prepare your proposal.
Notification of acceptance: Friday 14 August 2026
Conference: Saturday 14 November 2026

Society of Genealogists: https://www.sog.org.uk/

Family History Federation: https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com/

Open Day at Heritage Centre, Cooroy, Australia

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 18:56:44 GMT

On Saturday 22 November from 9am to 12.30pm, the Cooroy-Noosa Genealogical and Historical Research Group is holding an open day and Christmas Market. Visitors will be welcome at the Heritage Centre, 17 Emerald Street Cooroy.

A selection of potted plants at bargain prices, hand crafted jams, chutneys and relishes lovingly made by our members, and a variety of Christmas gifts will be on sale.

Volunteers will be available to answer questions about the Cooroy-Noosa Genealogical & Historical Research Group. Take the opportunity to see firsthand the resources available at the centre to undertake your ancestry and family history research.

If you are interested in digitising your old family photos, we invite you to bring a print along for a free demonstration of the centres digitising facilities.

The organisation was formed in 1996 by a group of friends who shared a keen interest in family history and that small group has now grown to over 130 members. In January 2016 the group moved into their purpose-built Heritage Centre that contains a modern research area, meeting space and family history research library that is open for the community to use.

The Heritage Centre is open to the public from 9.30am to 1pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. You can drop in for a free session. Membership provides great value for money access to the research facility and library as well as special functions and expert assistance.

Call 3129 0356 in the above office hours. More information can be found on the website www.genealogy-noosa.org.au

Estes Park Genealogical Society Offers Family History Workshop

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 15:00:21 GMT

Have you ever wanted to find out more about your ancestors? The Estes Park Genealogical Society can show you how to fill in the missing pieces of your family history. Come to the EPGS Family History Workshop at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in the library’s Hondius Room. Our experienced genealogists will answer your questions.

Are you interested in doing your own research? We will show you how to use the library’s free Ancestry.com subscription. Other helpful genealogy tips and websites will be discussed. If you would like to get started on your family history and pick up genealogy research tips, this is the workshop for you.

All Genealogical Society meetings are open to the public — no membership is required, but if you enjoy our meetings and wish to regularly attend, we would love to have you join us, and membership is only $30 annually. Come join us for interesting programs, lively discussions, and help with your genealogy research. The society meets monthly except for the month of December, at 1 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month in the Hondius Room of the Estes Valley Library, offering a wide variety of programs and workshops.

More information about the society, including how to become a member, can be found on its website, estesparkgenealogicalsociety.weebly.com. All who are interested in genealogy and family history research are welcome to attend these free public programs.

New Digital Archive Brings Sweden’s WWII Rescue Mission to Life

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 13:09:10 GMT

Marking the 80th anniversary of the White Buses rescue mission, the Swedish Red Cross and the Swedish Holocaust Museum have launched a new digital platform bringing together stories, photographs and documents from one of the most significant humanitarian operations of the Second World War.

During the final months of the Second World War, the Swedish Red Cross led the White Buses mission, which brought around 15,000 people — many rescued from Nazi concentration camps — to safety in Sweden.

“The White Buses operation is one of our largest and best-known humanitarian efforts. Through this collaboration, we can share important stories from both those who were rescued and those who made the operation possible,” says Ulrika Modéer, Secretary General of the Swedish Red Cross.

The new website also includes educational resources and was accompanied by a public program series that was hosted at the Swedish Holocaust Museum.

“The White Buses are a key part of Sweden’s history. Making these stories accessible helps us understand both the courage and complexity of humanitarian action during wartime,” says Katty Hauptman, Director of Swedish Holocaust Museum.

Explore the material

Clinton Public Library to Unveil Memory Lab in Genealogy Dept. in Clinton, Iowa

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 12:56:40 GMT

The Clinton Public Library will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil its new Memory Lab: The Maker Space of Memories, beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14.

The Memory Lab is a community resource designed to help preserve personal and recorded histories.

This addition was made possible through a grant from the Clinton County Development Association and support from the Friends of the Clinton Public Library.

The library is at 306 8th Ave. S.

The ceremony is scheduled for 5-6 p.m., with light refreshments.

Guests are invited to explore the Genealogy Department and preview the Memory Lab equipment during a lock-in from 6-8 p.m.

Registration is required.

Call 563-242-8441.

DCDL Project Honors County Veterans

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 12:26:26 GMT

I’ve lived in Delaware County for more than 15 years. Many of the regular events of the area are traditions my family has adopted, as well. I have never missed a December First Friday tree lighting, even one year when a bad bout of winter illness threatened it. Farmers Market is a must-do for those beautiful summer Saturdays. But one tradition has remained on my to-do list until this year – attend the Veterans Day parade.

The Delaware Veterans Parade drove, walked, marched, and cycled through downtown Delaware on Saturday, Nov. 2. I was pleased to see hundreds of marching band members, service organizations, community members and businesses supporting and driving the veterans through our downtown. It was incredibly worthwhile to take a mere hour of my day to thank the brave souls whose selfless sacrifices last a lifetime.

This Tuesday, Nov. 11, we celebrate Veterans Day at the Delaware County District Library. Our locations will close for the holiday, but our resources are available 24/7 and are worth a look.

The Delaware County District Library has an ongoing project called Delaware County Veterans and Heroes, which seeks to gather, preserve, and make accessible the experiences of all county veterans. If you, a relative, or someone you know has served in any branch of the armed forces and has a connection with Delaware County, add your story to our collection at www.delawarelibrary.org/services/veterans. The growing collection currently hosts over 600 records of service for Delaware County men and women.

Additionally, the library subscribes to Fold3, an online subscription service powered by Ancestry.com that provides a vast collection of military records, documents, photos and stories. Fold3 will help you discover and share stories about your heroes and the families that supported them. With DCDL’s access to Fold3, you can combine records found on the site with what you have in your own albums and shoeboxes to create an online memorial for someone who served.

A search of Fold3 with my grandfather’s name brought back his WWII draft registration card. It’s amazing what this one, double-sided piece of information can tell me about my grandfather from a single moment in time.

To learn more about veterans and understand the experiences of military veterans, try one of these stories.

• “The Ballad of Roy Benavidez: The Life and Times of America’s Most Famous Hispanic War Hero” by William Sturkey. The dramatic life of Vietnam War hero Roy Benavidez, revealing how Hispanic Americans have long shaped U.S. history.

• “Soldier Girls: The Battles of Three Women at Home and at War” by Helen Thorpe. Describes the experiences of three women soldiers deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq to reveal how their military service has affected their friendship, personal lives and families, detailing the realities of their work on bases and in war zones and how their choices and losses shaped their perspectives.

• “Tuesday’s Promise: One Veteran, One Dog, and Their Bold Quest to Change Lives” by Luis Carlos Montalván. A highly decorated captain in the U.S. Army, Luis Montalván never backed down from a challenge during his two tours of duty in Iraq. After returning home from combat, however, his physical wounds and crippling post-traumatic stress disorder began to take their toll. Then Luis met Tuesday, a sensitive golden retriever trained to assist people with disabilities. This is the story of how two wounded warriors, who had given so much and suffered the consequences, found salvation in each other.

• “Unbroken Bonds of Battle: A Modern Warriors Book of Heroism, Patriotism, and Friendship” by Johnny Joey Jones. Suffering a life-changing injury while deployed in Afghanistan, Jones faced a daunting recovery. But coming home would have been much harder without the support of his brothers and sisters in arms. Through unfiltered and authentic conversations with American heroes in every branch of service, Joey tackles the big questions about life, loss, and, of course, hunting.

• “Service: A Navy SEAL at War” by Marcus Luttrell. The author turns his focus from his own experiences as a combat-trained Navy SEAL to the nature of service on America’s battlefields and the soldiers who give their lives to defend their nation and each other.

• “The Hello Girls: America’s First Women Soldiers” by Elizabeth Cobbs. In 1918, the U.S. Army Signal Corps sent 223 women to France. They were masters of the latest technology: the telephone switchboard. General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, demanded female “wire experts” because without communications for even an hour, the army would collapse. Against the political backdrop of 1918, these competent and courageous young women swore the Army oath.

If you have a question that you would like to see answered in this column, mail it to Nicole Fowles, Delaware County District Library, 84 E. Winter St., Delaware, OH 43015, or call us at 740-362-3861. You can also email your questions by visiting the library’s web site at www.delawarelibrary.org or directly to Nicole at nfowles@delawarelibrary.org. No matter how you contact us, we’re always glad you asked!

Wake County, NC – Cold Case Solved: Woman in 1968 Homicide Identified After 57 Years

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:31:56 GMT

After 57 years, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office has finally identified the victim in a 1968 homicide case that baffled investigators for decades. Officials confirmed that forensic genealogy led to the identification of the woman as Myrtle Holcomb, born in 1919.

According to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, deputies discovered the burned remains of a woman in a field near Lake Wheeler Road and Ten Ten Road on April 28, 1968. Witnesses had reported a fire in the same area the night before. Despite extensive investigations and later DNA testing, the woman’s identity remained unknown for more than half a century.Investigators renewed efforts in 2004 when new information pointed to a local resident, Robert Reagan, as a suspect, though no arrest was made due to his death in the 1990s. In 2024, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office partnered with Astrea Forensics and First Genes LLC, submitting a DNA sample that led to the identification of Holcomb through genetic genealogy.

Sheriff Willie Rowe said the discovery “provides long-sought answers” for Holcomb’s family and “reassurance that she has not been forgotten.” The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also assisted in the decades-long case.

Officials emphasized that the findings not only close a historic case but also showcase how forensic advancements continue to bring justice to unresolved crimes.

Genealogy Workshop: Research Huddle in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:27:09 GMT

Presented by the library’s Special Collections staff and members of the Ranger Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), these events are free, open to the public, and appropriate for all levels of interest and experience. All levels will learn something new!

Join us for a Research Huddle in the Special Collections Room! In sports, a huddle is when players gather in a circle to strategize, motivate, or celebrate. We think genealogists should do the same!

This is the perfect opportunity to dig into your personal history and tell your family’s story. Use the library’s print collections and research databases to progress with your fact-finding. We’ll gather to use library resources, share our successes, learn from fellow researchers, and overcome our research stumbling blocks!

The huddles will be held in the Special Collections Room. Bring your research, questions, and willingness to help others! We will also be offering our usual genealogy lectures throughout the year.

Registration is not required. All ages and experience levels are welcome.

Questions? Email Katie Czajkowski at cfczajkowski@cityofportsmouth.com.

TheGenealogist Marks Remembrance Sunday With the Release of Over 1 Million WWI Casualty Records

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:16:51 GMT

To commemorate Remembrance Sunday, TheGenealogist has released 1,090,293 new Casualty List Records from The First World War, covering the period 8th April 1918 to 4th March 1919, completing their coverage of the War Office Casualty Lists. This significant addition helps researchers and families trace those who were killed, wounded, reported missing, or taken prisoner in the later part of the First World War.

TheGenealogist's Head of Content, Mark Bayley, commented:

“On Remembrance Sunday, as we honour the fallen, it’s also a time to think of those who returned with wounds both seen and unseen. This release enables researchers to follow relatives throughout the conflict, right up to its end and trace the impact it had on them and their families.”

This release includes:

• Comprehensive coverage: 1,090,293 records spanning 8th April 1918 to 4th March 1919.

• Searchable detail: Name, rank, regiment/unit, and (where recorded) service number, place, and nature of casualty, such as killed, wounded, missing, prisoner of war, and died of wounds.

• Derived from the official War Office Weekly Casualty Lists published at the time, with later corrections where available.

• This completes the collection of War Office Weekly Casualty lists and brings the total Casualty List records on TheGenealogist to over 4.5 million

The new records are available now to Diamond subscribers at TheGenealogist.co.uk.

These newly added records include a number of notable names, among them the author C. S. Lewis. Read more about his wartime experience here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/cs-lewis-8787/

Don’t miss out! For a limited time, you can subscribe to TheGenealogist for just £129.95 - Save Over £100

Not only will you get a lifetime discount, but you'll also receive a 12-Month Subscription to Discover Your Ancestors Online Magazine worth £36 and a research pack worth over £30 containing a Regional Research Guide Book, Seven Generation Log Book, Relationship Calculator, Census Age Calculator and a ticket to The Family History Show Online 2026.

Explore these new records and start your genealogical journey today with TheGenealogist by claiming this offer here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBCL1125

Offer expires 31st January 2026.

About TheGenealogist

TheGenealogist is an award-winning online family history website, who put a wealth of information at the fingertips of family historians. Their approach is to bring hard to use physical records to life online with easy to use interfaces such as their Tithe and Lloyd George Domesday collections.

TheGenealogist’s innovative SmartSearch technology links records together to help you find your ancestors more easily. TheGenealogist is one of the leading providers of online family history records. Along with the standard Birth, Marriage, Death and Census records, they also have significant collections of Parish and Nonconformist records, PCC Will Records, Irish Records, Military records, Occupations, Newspaper record collections, amongst many others.

TheGenealogist uses the latest technology to help you bring your family history to life. Use TheGenealogist to find your ancestors today!

Lost War Diary Unearthed by Fraser and Fraser Reveals Remarkable Life of London Mother During the Blitz

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 12:15:32 GMT

As the nation prepares to mark Remembrance Day, a newly uncovered wartime diary is shedding light on the extraordinary courage of ordinary civilians who lived through the Blitz.

The diary, written by Marion Marden, a mother from East London, was discovered by leading probate and genealogy firm Fraser and Fraser during their investigation into an unclaimed estate.

The London-based firm specialises in tracing missing heirs, identifying rightful beneficiaries and reconnecting unclaimed estates with family members. Beyond offering fascinating insights into life during the Second World War, the diary’s discovery also enabled surviving relatives to be traced, revealing previously unknown family connections.

Ben Cornish, a Case Manager at Fraser and Fraser, said: “When we began this case, we expected a routine investigation into an unclaimed estate.

“What we found instead was a personal record of the Blitz from the perspective of an ordinary London family. It is a rare and valuable insight into civilian life during the war.”

The diary offers a vivid and deeply personal account of wartime life on the home front. Spanning 1941 to 1944, Marion’s writing captures the daily realities of raising a young family under the constant threat of bombing.

“I wish this war was over,” she wrote in one entry. “We lost 28 planes with men. The children full of Vim. Frank has a very bad cold. Did my washing.”

Her words reveal the ordinary human side of the war that official records rarely capture. She describes sleepless nights in air raid shelters, the struggle to find food during rationing, and the devastating bombing of a dance hall in Palmer’s Green that killed 43 people.

The diary was uncovered while Fraser and Fraser researchers were tracing the heirs of Myrta Marden, Marion’s daughter, who died in 2019 with no known relatives.

Through detailed genealogical work, the team identified living beneficiaries across the UK, France and Australia. During their research, they discovered references to Marion’s wartime writing, which had survived in archival collections and online through excerpts shared by a war diary enthusiast.

Isha Adams, Research Manager at Fraser and Fraser, said: “Personal accounts like Marion’s remind us that history is not only written in official records.

“Her diary captures the endurance of those who held families and communities together in extraordinary circumstances.”

Valerie Smith, a war diary collector who has studied hundreds of wartime journals, said: “Marion’s writing reflects what many people experienced but few recorded.

“It is both matter of fact and emotional. Her words show the balance between ordinary domestic life and the constant awareness of danger.”

As Remembrance Day approaches, the rediscovery of Marion’s diary serves as an important tribute to the millions who endured the war from their homes, often without recognition.

“Documents like this remind us why what we do matters,” Isha added. “Our work is about reconnecting families, but it’s also about preserving memories. Stories like Marion’s ensure that ordinary people are remembered for the extraordinary things they lived through.”

The story will also feature in an upcoming episode of Lineage, airing on 6 November, which follows Fraser and Fraser’s work uncovering remarkable personal histories.

Fraser and Fraser regularly undertakes similar genealogical and historical research on a pro bono basis. This includes their work featured in The Fallen Soldier, which explored the story of a Second World War serviceman.

DNA, Genealogy Sites Help Solve Decades-Old Sex Assault in Belleville, Ontario

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 12:07:15 GMT

It was a vicious attack that has haunted Belleville, Ont., for more than two decades: a woman sexually assaulted and beaten inside a hotel change room during a festival weekend in the summer of 2000.

Nearly 25 years later, DNA evidence found on a cigarette butt helped police identify the man responsible.

William Dale, 54, was arrested in Kewsick, Ont., in April. On Sept. 18 he pleaded guilty to assault and sexual assault, receiving a sentence of more than 12 years in prison.

A crime woven into the city's fabric

Insp. Jeremy Ashley said the Belleville Police Service never gave up on the case, praising the tenacity of investigators while acknowledging the shadow it cast over the city for years.

"It was so such an incredibly violent attack on a stranger and in ... what you would think would be a safe place," he said in an interview with CBC.

"It's just one of those really unique cases in the sense of it weaved itself into the history and fabric of this police service and the community at large."

Some of those threads and their ties to Belleville are "pretty remarkable," according to Ashley.

He first covered the attack as a reporter at the local newspaper, interviewing detectives before becoming an investigator himself.

Then there's Grant Boulay, the forensics officer who collected DNA evidence at the crime scene in 2000.

Twenty-five years later, Boulay's daughter, Det.-Const. Andrea Boulay, led the team that arrested Dale, according to Ashley.

The case is a testament to the persistence of investigators and the power of new technology to solve crimes. It's also evidence of the lasting impact the brutal attack has had on a person's life.

Victim tried to forgive

According to a victim impact statement, the survivor of the assault had tried to forgive the man who attacked her. People had advised her to consider him dead, and she said it was easier that way.

"[H]ere he is come back to life and the worst of the fear is right here with him," her victim impact statement reads. A publication ban prohibits reporting of any information that could identify the victim.

The attack happened on the morning of July 9, 2000, during a waterfront festival in Belleville, according to an agreed statement of facts read in court.

The woman went for a swim at the Ramada Inn around 6:10 a.m. While doing laps in the pool, noticed a man — later determined to be Dale — smoking and watching her from a nearby balcony.

He had made me feel that any random stranger might hurt me, but it was him I feared the most.- Victim impact statement

After finishing her workout, the woman saw the man again, this time inside the hotel's fitness area. She asked if he was a guest there, and he replied that he was.

The woman headed to the change room, turned on the shower and heard the door open behind her as Dale entered.

She tried to get past him, but Dale grabbed her and hit her in the head six times as she started to yell and fight back.

During sentencing, Dale disagreed with the number of blows, arguing through his lawyer that he'd only hit the victim once.

Court heard he then dragged her to the lockers and tore off her bathing suit. The woman pretended to pass out in hopes Dale would leave, but he pulled her into a toilet stall where he sexually assaulted her.

He sexually assaulted her a second time before stealing the watch off her wrist and leaving, according to court documents.

The woman wrapped herself in a towel and ran to the front desk where she collapsed. Emergency crews arrived to find her with a cut lip and abrasions and bruises on her arms, legs and back.

Police found palm prints on the stall door, and DNA on a cigarette butt found on the stairs near where Dale had been smoking. There was more DNA on toilet paper left at the scene of the attack.

Then, decades passed.

The case has haunted the community Belleville for 25 years, according to an investigator. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

A break in the case

In 2018, Ashley heard how DNA had been used to track down and capture the Golden State Killer, one of California's most prolific serial murderers and rapists.

Ashley, a forensic officer at the time, wondered whether the same technology could help solve the cold case in Belleville.

He got in touch with a lab called Othram Inc. and a not-for-profit called Seasons of Justice, which funds investigations after all other options have been exhausted.

According to a news release from Belleville police, it was the first time the organization had ever bankrolled an investigation outside the continental U.S.

In 2021, police began using genetic genealogy to identify the man whose DNA they’d found.

That led them to a distant relative of Dale's who had uploaded their DNA to genealogy sites, and who had given consent for law enforcement to compare their DNA to DNA taken from crime scenes.

Police were able to identify Dale as a person of interest in November 2024.

Police surveilled him, eventually securing a fresh cigarette butt he’d discarded. DNA from the butt was compared to the material recovered at the hotel years earlier, and investigators determined it was "one trillion times" more likely that Dale was the source than someone unrelated to him.

Dale was arrested, and a month later police matched his palm prints with those left on the bathroom stall years earlier.

The victim impact statement filed by the woman he attacked describes the lasting impact of that crime.

“I am in prison,” the woman wrote, explaining that the attack left her feeling shame, anger, bewilderment and sorrow over lost relationships — but most of all, fear.

"He had made me feel that any random stranger might hurt me, but it was him I feared the most." she wrote.

Police hope outcome offers comfort

Ashley, the Belleville police inspector, said he wants the victim to know she was "front and center of every investigator's thoughts when we took this on and when we kept with it."

He said it's only the first or second time these methods have helped solve a case in Canada while the victim is still alive.

"I can't speak to what closure is, but hopefully it gives her some measure of comfort to know that this person was identified, arrested, charged, convicted and now is in jail for a very long time," he said.

Vivid-Pix Honors Caregivers’ & Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in November with $100,000 in Donations

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:51:07 GMT

Discounted Vivid-Pix Memory Station and Caregiver Bundles Help Families Scan, Reminisce, and Reconnect During the Holidays

Savannah, GA, November 5, 2025 — Vivid-Pix www.vivid-pix.com, a leader in AgeTech that helps people relive and preserve memories, is supporting caregivers, individuals living with memory loss, and organizations that support those communities during November National Family Caregivers’ and Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Vivid-Pix is donating $100,000 in software, photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) education, and Memory Cards™ to senior centers, senior living communities, libraries, archives, museums, and related organizations across the U.S. The company is also offering holiday discounts for its most popular caregiver solutions with coupon code: Holiday2025.

“Caregivers describe how a single photo or familiar song can turn a quiet afternoon into a shared story,” said Rick Voight, CEO of Vivid-Pix. “Our goal is to make those moments easier to spark and simpler to save—so families can reconnect, again and again.”

“I can’t tell you how many people come into the Thrive Center and say, ‘I never captured those stories of my dad or my grandfather and I wish I had done that,’” said Sheri Rose, CEO of the Thrive Center, a nonprofit innovation center focused on wellness and aging in Louisville, Kentucky.

Vivid-Pix is donating:

400 Caregiver Holiday Packages.
Software and Education: Vivid-Pix Memory Station™ Software and the pRT Education & Training Course for Families & Friends, as well as CEU training for Nurse and Dementia Caregivers, based on ongoing research conducted by Vivid-Pix in collaboration with the National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE) Standards of Excellence Council, CERTUS Institute, and others (see: https://nid.education/nide-publications.html).
Memory Cards: Printed cards that pair meaningful images with memory prompts to encourage conversation and connection (learn more at: https://www.vivid-pix.com/memorycards/).

How to register for donations:

Go to: https://www.vivid-pix.com/caregiver-giveaway/ and complete entry form.
300 donations will be given to not-for-profit organizations.
100 giveaways will be given to for-profit organizations.
Donations will be received by year-end.

Organizations and communities collaborating:

Allen County Public Library/Senior Living: https://www.vivid-pix.com/acpl-agingwell/
National Genealogical Society/Aging Well Initiative: https://www.vivid-pix.com/ngs-symposium/
International African American Museum/Community Centers: https://iaamuseum.org/event/iaam-history-free-document-scanning-day-wadmalaw-island/

Holiday discounts for families and caregivers – enter code in cart Holiday2025:

Caregiver Holiday Package: $50 off (regular price: $249.95) includes Vivid-Pix Memory Station Software that works with most scanners/all-in-one printers, pRT Education & Training, and Memory Cards for 10 printed cards.
Memory Station Scanner and Home/Standard Software Bundle: $50 off (regular price: $899.95). Simple intuitive design allows older adults and others to scan, restore, and record audio memories, saving photos, documents, and memorabilia for their use and future generations.
Memory Station Software Home/Standard Edition: $40 off (regular price: $199.99).
Memory Cards: $10 off (regular price: $39.99) 10 cards to pair meaningful images with memory prompts.
Offers valid: 11/1/25 –1/5/26.

“This holiday season, a single photo can bridge what memory forgets. When used as a cue, it doesn’t just recall the past, it rekindles connection, emotion, and belonging,” said Dr. Joshua J. Freitas, Ph.D., M.Ed., BC-Ded.

Holidays are when families gather, and when photos, songs, and keepsakes can unlock memories. Vivid-Pix solutions are used in 1,000+ U.S. shared-use locations and tens of thousands of homes in 120+ countries, helping individuals and organizations revive faded memories. For more information, see: https://www.vivid-pix.com/giftguide/ or https://www.vivid-pix.com/.

About Vivid-Pix

Vivid-Pix invents and harnesses technologies, making it simple for individuals, families, and organizations to relive memories. Their motto, “Don’t Let Your Memories Fade™,” describes the importance of photos and activities that nurture brain health, improve cognition, assist family historians and caregivers, and create connections. Vivid-Pix integrates their photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) research and family history activities into products and services for simple operation, to have fun, and age well. Vivid-Pix software is installed in over 1,000 libraries in America and in use in over 120 countries, improving faded photos and documents and securing memories. Vivid-Pix CEO Rick Voight has been involved in memory industries for four decades. For more info, see https://www.vivid-pix.com, https://www.vivid-pix.com/pocketrn/, https://vivid-pix.com/reminisce, https://vivid-pix.com/education, and https://vivid-pix.com/memorystation.

Lawrence County Historical Society Expands Membership Program

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:11:20 GMT

The Lawrence County Historical Society launched its newly expanded membership program, introducing enhanced benefits for individuals and families along with a new business membership option.

Members have access to archives and genealogy resources, including Ancestry.com and NewspaperArchives.com; complementary mansion tours; the Time Travelers program; a discount on purchased items and a quarterly newsletter.

Individual and family memberships now include free or discounted admission to exhibits and events; early access to special programs; invitations to member-only receptions; and discounted or free annual rental of the mansion or annex.

Businesses receive print and digital public recognition, benefits for employees, and event sponsorship opportunities.

“These new membership levels allow us to say thank you in more meaningful ways to our supporters,” said David Dean, board president of the Historical Society.

For more information or to become a member, call (724) 658-4022 or visit www.lawrencechs.org.

“We are especially excited to welcome business partners who can play a vital role in preserving our shared heritage while connecting their business to the community in a lasting way.”

Walgreens Launches Enhanced Respiratory Index to Track Flu and COVID-19 Hotspots

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:37:46 GMT

Walgreens has launched the 2025-2026 Respiratory Index, an interactive online tool that tracks flu and COVID-19 activity nationwide using prescription, testing and over the counter (OTC) product purchase data from Walgreens locations nationwide. This unique tool builds on more than a decade of insights from the Walgreens Flu Index to now offer a more comprehensive view of respiratory illness trends across the U.S., helping the public, healthcare providers, and health officials make more informed decisions throughout the respiratory virus season.

The Walgreens Respiratory Index will be updated weekly and will allow users to search by state to see where their geographic area ranks for both flu and COVID-19 activity.

“The updated Index provides a clearer view of current virus trends, helping individuals make informed decisions to protect their health,” explains Rick Gates, Walgreens chief pharmacy officer. “Virus activity is expected to pick up as we head into the holidays, so now is the time to protect yourself and your loved ones by getting a flu shot and other recommended vaccines if you haven’t already. Vaccination remains the safest and most effective way to prevent highly contagious illnesses like flu, RSV, and COVID-19.”

It is not too late to protect against respiratory viruses. Walgreens is offering flu, COVID-19, and other recommended vaccines for eligible individuals ages 3 years and older at stores nationwide.* Individuals and families can walk into their nearest Walgreens pharmacy or schedule an appointment by visiting Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine, through the Walgreens app, texting “Flu” to 66879 or by calling 1-800-WALGREENS. Vaccines are covered by most insurance plans.

Currently, myWalgreens members will receive 20% off their next eligible purchase with any vaccination received—making it even more rewarding to stay healthy.**

Individuals who are experiencing respiratory symptoms should consider getting tested. Walgreens offers a variety of convenient, low-cost, in-store and at-home testing options for flu and COVID-19. A Walgreens pharmacist may also be able to prescribe oral antiviral treatment for flu or COVID-19 with a positive in-store test. And for those who don’t feel well enough to leave home, Walgreens offers virtual care consults and at-home tests, along with OTC symptom relief options such as Walgreens Sugar-Free Cough Drops, Walgreens Cough Mucus Relief DM, Walgreens Ibuprofen, and Walgreens Severe Sinus Congestion, are available for delivery in as little as 1 hour.

As respiratory season evolves, Walgreens pharmacists remain one of the most accessible, trusted healthcare providers across communities. Individuals can talk to their Walgreens pharmacist to learn more about how they can stay safe and get the care they need all season long.

About the Walgreens Respiratory Index

The Walgreens Respiratory Index is an online, interactive tool that ranks the top states for flu and COVID-19 activity in the United States, including Puerto Rico. The Index is updated weekly and is available through an online interactive map linked here. Users can view national activity or search by state to see where their geographic area ranks in any given week and how current activity compares to last season.

Data for the Walgreens Respiratory Index is sourced from multiple places across the Walgreens store footprint and network, including diagnostic testing data for influenza and COVID-19, prescription data related to respiratory illness treatment, and over the counter (OTC) purchases of flu- and cold-related products. For additional context, the Index also incorporates CDC wastewater viral data when available.

The index is not intended to illustrate virus severity, but rather, based on this methodology, to show which populations are experiencing the highest incidence of respiratory diseases. Walgreens continues to refine this surveillance platform with available data streams.

About Walgreens

Founded in 1901, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) proudly serves nearly 9 million customers and patients each day across its approximately 8,500 stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Walgreens has approximately 220,000 team members, including nearly 90,000 healthcare service providers, and is committed to being the first choice for pharmacy, retail and health services, building trusted relationships that create healthier futures for customers, patients, team members and communities.

*In some states, a prescription from a healthcare provider is required to receive an RSV vaccine at Walgreens. No prescription required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

** One coupon issued per vaccination up to a limit of three during offer period 8/01/2025 – 2/28/2026. Offer coupon will be provided after vaccination is administered. Offer not valid in AR, NJ or NY. Must be a myWalgreens member and submit offer coupon at time of purchase. Single use offer valid in store only for 14 days from issue date. Offer valid on in-store purchase of eligible items up to $100. Maximum discount per coupon is $20. Limit 1 store coupon redeemed per transaction. Void if copied or transferred. Offer cannot be redeemed on alcohol, dairy, tobacco, gift cards, clinic services, prescriptions, pharmacy items or services, sales tax and items sold by third-party partners. This offer is solely made by Walgreens and not connected with any vaccine manufacturer.

Arizona Startup Revolutionizes Family Memories with QR Code-Enabled Photo Magnets That Play Personal Videos

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:31:15 GMT

Magnet Maker Studio LLC, a newly launched Arizona-based company, is revolutionizing how families preserve and share memories through innovative photo magnets that seamlessly blend physical keepsakes with digital storytelling. The family-owned business has introduced a groundbreaking product line that embeds QR codes into custom photo magnets, allowing each piece to trigger personal videos, voice messages, or digital photo albums when scanned with a smartphone.

The concept addresses a growing desire among families to maintain tangible connections to their memories while embracing digital convenience. In an era where thousands of photos remain trapped in phones and cloud storage, Magnet Maker Studio provides a solution that brings selected memories into daily view while maintaining access to expanded digital content. Each magnet becomes a portal to deeper stories, whether it's a grandparent's voice sharing family history, a child's first words, or video highlights from a special celebration.

The company's product line extends beyond family photos to include scripture collections and faith-based designs, reflecting the founders' spiritual inspiration and commitment to creating meaningful connections. Churches and faith communities have already begun partnering with Magnet Maker Studio to create custom magnets that share inspirational messages, promote events, and build stronger congregational bonds. These partnerships demonstrate the versatility of the QR code technology, which can link to sermon recordings, prayer requests, event registrations, or community resources.

Small businesses and schools are discovering creative applications for these interactive magnets. Educational institutions use them to share student achievements with families, linking to performance videos or digital portfolios. Local businesses incorporate them into marketing campaigns, creating memorable promotional items that connect to special offers, company stories, or product demonstrations. The tactile nature of magnets ensures they remain visible in homes and offices, providing ongoing brand exposure while delivering genuine value to recipients.

The handcrafted production process takes place entirely in Arizona, where each magnet is individually created with attention to quality and durability. The company uses premium materials designed to withstand years of handling while maintaining vibrant photo reproduction. The QR codes are seamlessly integrated into the design, ensuring they enhance rather than detract from the aesthetic appeal of each piece. This commitment to craftsmanship reflects the founders' belief that memory preservation deserves the same care as the moments being preserved.

The timing of Magnet Maker Studio's launch coincides with increased awareness about the importance of family connections and memory preservation. Recent studies indicate that displaying family photos contributes to children's self-esteem and family cohesion. By adding an interactive digital layer, these magnets create opportunities for storytelling and connection that static photos alone cannot provide. Grandparents separated by distance can record birthday messages, military families can share deployment videos, and parents can preserve their children's voices at different ages.

The company's faith-inspired approach influences both product development and business practices. Scripture magnets feature carefully selected verses designed to provide daily encouragement, while QR codes can link to devotional content, worship music, or prayer resources. This integration of faith and technology offers churches new ways to maintain connections with congregants between services and provides families with tools for spiritual growth within their homes.

Find Forgotten Heroes With Free Access to Findmypast’s Military Records This Remembrance Day

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:20:18 GMT

• To mark Remembrance, Findmypast is offering free access to military records* over the Remembrance period (7-13 November)

• Delve into ancestors’ wartime experiences in millions of military records and ensure that no story is left behind

• Delve deeper into their stories within historical newspapers and understand the effects of global conflict on communities, families and individuals

• Use your research to help Findmypast’s Pals campaign by submitting the details of your First World War Pals ancestor to create the first ever collection of records for these forgotten heroes

To mark Remembrance and honour those who served, Findmypast is offering free access to millions of military records from 7–13 November.

This special access gives family historians and researchers the opportunity to explore detail-rich records, uncover personal stories, and truly understand their ancestors’ lives. Whether they joined up as a Pal, served on the front lines, became a prisoner of war, helped on the home front, or worked as a Red Cross volunteer, Findmypast’s military records can paint a vivid picture of your family's wartime experiences and offer a powerful way to remember those who served.

Those with British & Irish roots can explore the largest collection of British Army records anywhere online, including regimental records, army lists, roll calls and the details of those who served with particular regiments, military nurses, volunteer soldiers and army deserters, as well as the British in India collection, covering nearly 350 years from 1656 right up to 1993.

Then delve deeper to understand what life was really like for those who experienced war within Findmypast’s unrivalled collection of historical newspapers. You might find an image of your fallen ancestor within Findmypast’s brand new ‘Faces of the Fallen’ collection, extracted from the pages of British & Irish newspapers, or a story of heroism in your local community. Trace major milestones of the war as they happened – and spot those that were left out by the wartime press.

Plus, Findmypast has created a helpful set of resources and features to help you get further with your military research, faster. Use powerful research tools like Collections to clip and file your favourite newspaper articles, and Workspaces to collate your research on individual ancestors in one place and preserve the stories that matter most. Within the family tree builder, you’ll discover helpful information giving you the context around your ancestor’s military service, including details of regiments and battles. You can also uncover our expert tips, guides and even a video tutorial on our Remembrance hub.

Jen Baldwin, Research Specialist at Findmypast said: “We believe that uncovering and understanding the stories of all those who served is a powerful act of Remembrance. This year, we’re encouraging our genealogy community to help shed light on one of the darkest wartime chapters: the Pals regiments of the First World War. Research military ancestors for free this weekend and help to ensure that no story is left behind.”

Join Findmypast’s Pals Campaign

Findmypast has launched an ongoing campaign to build the first and only definitive record collection dedicated to the Pals—groups of brothers, friends, and workmates who enlisted, fought, and often fell together in the First World War. From Caernarfon to Cambridge, Glasgow to Grimsby, these comrades answered Kitchener’s call and stood shoulder-to-shoulder in trenches thick with mud.

Yet, despite their sacrifice, there is no single roll that holds every name of the Pals. Too many stories remain scattered or forgotten. Findmypast is calling on the genealogy community to help change that.

Find a Pal, delve deeper, and share your findings at www.findmypast.co.uk/pals Together, we’ll remember, record, and reunite the Pals.

*Exclusions apply. Free access to selected military records runs from 10:00 GMT on Friday 7 November (November 7 for US) to 23:59 GMT on Thursday 13 November (November 13 for US). After the free access ends, you can only view most records and features with a valid subscription. For more information, including our fair usage policy, read our free access terms and conditions.

DNA Tests Reveal Identity Of Victim In El Cajon Cold Case Murder

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 15:54:16 GMT

Nearly three decades after her death, a murder victim whose partially decomposed body turned up in a brushy ravine in eastern San Diego County has been identified.

DNA testing has confirmed that the remains discovered in an open area off the 1300 block of Avocado Avenue in El Cajon on Aug. 13, 1998, were those of 30-year-old Alicia Ledezma Sanchez, according to police.

Investigators believe she had been dead for as long as six weeks.

Sanchez's death has been classified as a homicide, though no cause-of-death ruling in the case has been made public.

The initial investigation into the woman's death led to no arrests, and attempts to identify her were fruitless.

In 2003, cold-case homicide detectives with the El Cajon Police Department revived the investigation, sending Sanchez's skull to a forensic artist who used it to create a sculpture approximating her facial features as they were in life.

Photographs of the rendering were released to the public, but no viable leads resulted.

Five years later, a DNA sample was obtained from the decedent's remains, and a genetic profile was developed, but the effort led to no matches, according to police.

Then, over a two-year period beginning in 2023, members of an ECPD volunteer cold-case unit worked with several laboratories to conduct genetic genealogy and advanced DNA-analysis techniques that can reveal decedents' characteristics and potential family members.

Three months ago, the El Cajon Police Department posted an update on the investigation on its social media pages in another bid to find out who the victim was.

The cold-case unit was then contacted by a potential family member who believed she knew the victim's identity, and a genetic test with DNA obtained from Sanchez's son confirmed a familial match, finally revealing her identity.

DNA Solves 1985 Arlington Cold Case Highlighted at State of the City

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 15:51:06 GMT

A decades-old Arlington murder case has been solved thanks to advances in DNA technology and the persistence of detectives who never gave up.

Nearly 40 years after 26-year-old Terri McAdams was found beaten to death in her Arlington apartment, police identified her killer in 2024 through investigative genetic genealogy — a breakthrough featured during Mayor Jim Ross’ 2025 State of the City address.

McAdams was discovered Feb. 14, 1985. Despite an extensive investigation, the case went cold for decades. In 2021, new DNA testing produced a suspect profile but no match in national databases. Two years later, Arlington Police partnered with the FBI Dallas Field Office to apply genetic genealogy, which led investigators to Bernard Sharp — who died by suicide months after committing a double murder in a separate case in 1985. A DNA sample from one of Sharp’s relatives later confirmed the match.

The case was featured in a City of Arlington Office of Communication video highlighting how innovative technology and collaboration continue to help Arlington Police bring long-awaited answers to families.

“Terri’s family never gave up hope, and our detectives never wavered,” Arlington Police Chief Al Jones said. “After nearly four decades, we can finally provide closure.”

Epp and the Jesup unveil Creating Acadia National Park Research Archive

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:11:24 GMT

After more than a decade of preparation, a digital collection of 30,000 primary documents related to the creation of Acadia National Park is now available to the public through the History Trust as the Creating Acadia National Park Research Archive. The Jesup Memorial Library is grateful to Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D. for undertaking the Herculean task of collecting documents from federal, public and academic libraries and making the physical copies available to the public through the Jesup’s new archive.

Ronald H. Epp is the celebrated author of Creating Acadia National Park: The Biography of George Bucknam Dorr, published by Friends of Acadia in 2016. Public demand and the author’s desire for wide distribution led to preparation of the research archive, which includes manuscripts, interviews, and correspondence as well as transcriptions, maps, diverse news clippings, and a robust collection of relevant documents from the Rockefeller Archive Center. The timeframe covers the early 19th century through mid-20th century. Since no administrative history of Acadia National Park existed, the biography was undertaken as an important contribution to the 2016 centennials of Acadia and the National Park Service.

The 40 feet of paper manuscripts covers the breadth and depth of early 20th century pioneering land conservation in New England. The philanthropic efforts of Dorr, Charles William Eliot, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. also dovetailed with the establishment of the National Park Service.

As many of these documents return to their origins in Hancock County, they highlight the historic importance of the Deasy and Lynam law firm of Bar Harbor and the Hale and Hamlin law firm in Ellsworth. These firms provided to Dorr and Rockefeller legal counsel that was "lost" for decades in the attics and basements of these institutions.

Both the paper and digitized archives were donated by Dr. Epp to the Jesup where they were catalogued. Former Jesup Director Matt DeLaney and his staff worked with the History Trust to add this content to their digital archive. The developing goal is to embrace new technologies and enable students, scholars, and the public at-large to explore beyond the old and new walls of the Jesup Memorial Library. The physical collection will be housed in the new climate-controlled archive of the Jesup’s expansion, scheduled to open to the public in 2026. In addition to preserving these resources for future generations, the expansion will provide for greater access to the library’s special collections and facilitate amateur and professional researchers to explore local history and genealogy and to contribute to the living body of scholarship on and about Mount Desert Island.

To access go to jesuplibrary.org/epp-archive; or google “Epp and Acadia.”

Dover Library to Host “Finding Your Roots” Genealogy Workshop Nov. 10

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:05:33 GMT

Local history librarian Kim Jurkovic will lead a session titled Finding Your Roots Monday, Nov. 10, at 6:30 p.m. Jurkovic will give demonstrations of websites available at the Dover Public Library, including Ancestry, Fold3 and Newspaper Archive. She will also highlight several popular free genealogy sites such as Find a Grave and FamilySearch.

Jurkovic will help attendees navigate these resources, offer tips for researching family history and share a few of the books available in the Local History Room that contain local genealogy information.

The program will be held in the community room at the Dover Public Library, 525 N. Walnut St. To register, visit www.doverlibrary.org/events or call 330-343-6123.

Tennessee Man Arrested Nearly 30 Years After 1996 Indiana Rape, DNA Technology Links Him to Cold Case

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:00:11 GMT

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY — A 53-year-old Tennessee man has been arrested and charged in connection with a 1996 rape case in southern Indiana, after new DNA technology helped investigators identify him nearly three decades later, according to the Indiana State Police (ISP).

Sammy Wayne Riley, of La Follette, Tennessee, was taken into custody on Saturday, Nov. 1, by the Scott County Sheriff’s Department and charged with one felony count of rape. Officials confirmed Riley formerly lived in Scott County, Indiana, where the assault occurred.

Case Dates Back to 1996 Rape in Austin, Indiana

In 1996, a woman reported being sexually assaulted after leaving the former Austin Lounge in Austin, Indiana, with two men. The victim provided detectives with a name she believed belonged to her attacker, but DNA testing at the time failed to produce a match.

For decades, the case remained unsolved — until recent advances in genetic genealogy and DNA analysis reopened the investigation earlier this year.

DNA Technology Leads Investigators to Riley

According to ISP, a new forensic DNA match made in June 2025 connected the sample from the 1996 case to a close genetic relative of Riley. After identifying him as a suspect, detectives learned he had recently returned to Scott County for a family matter.

Police obtained an arrest warrant on Oct. 29 and located Riley two days later. He was booked into the Scott County Jail on Saturday, where he remains in custody.

“This arrest demonstrates how advancements in forensic science continue to bring justice to victims, no matter how much time has passed,” said a spokesperson for the Indiana State Police.

Justice After Nearly 30 Years

The arrest marks one of the oldest cases to be solved through genetic genealogy in southern Indiana. Authorities said the victim has been notified of the arrest and thanked investigators for never giving up on the case.

Riley faces one felony count of rape and will appear in court later this month. Officials say additional charges could follow as prosecutors review the case evidence.

For updates on this and other cold case investigations across Indiana and Kentucky, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.

Make 2026 Your Year of Discovery – Special Offer Ends 30 November

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 11:16:42 GMT

The Society of Genealogists is offering an early-booking opportunity to secure 2025 prices on three standout 2026 courses — plus special bonuses for early registrants.

With nearly 12,000 event bookings this year, SoG continues to help family historians worldwide strengthen their research skills and connect with expert tutors.

Featured 2026 Courses:

Advancing Your DNA Skills (5 Jan–25 Mar 2026): Deepen your DNA expertise with leading UK specialists including Mia Bennett, Debbie Kennett, and Michelle Leonard. Bonus: Gold Membership for the course duration.
➤More info
Crime and Punishment for Family Historians (8 Jan–26 Mar 2026): Trace criminals, victims, and justice records across centuries with Angela Buckley, Nathan Dylan Goodwin, and others. Bonus: Three exclusive talks on detectives, forensic genealogy & sleuthing.
➤More info
Family History Skills – Stage 1 (13 Jan–31 Mar 2026): A perfect starting point to research like a pro, guided by SoG’s expert tutors. Bonus: 20% discount on Stages 2 & 3.
➤More info

Book by 30 November 2025 to lock in current prices and enjoy these added rewards.

It is the First Day of the Month: Back Up Your Genealogy Files

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 11:13:08 GMT

Today is the first day of the month. That is a good time to back up your genealogy files. Then test your backups!

Your backups aren't worth much unless you make a quick test by restoring a small file or two after the backup is completed.

Actually, you can make backups at any time. However, it is easier and safer if you have a specific schedule. The first day of the month is easy to remember, so I would suggest you back up your genealogy files at least on the first day of every month, if not more often. (My computers automatically make off-site backups of all new files every few minutes.)

Given the events of the past few months with genealogy websites laying off employees and cutting back on services, you now need backup copies of everything more than ever. What happens if the company that holds your online data either goes off line or simply deletes the service where your data is held? If you have copies of everything stored either in your own computer, what happens if you have a hard drive crash or other disaster? If you have one or more recent backup copies, such a loss would be inconvenient but not a disaster.

Of course, you might want to back up more than your genealogy files. Family photographs, your checkbook register, all sorts of word processing documents, email messages, and much more need to be backed up regularly. Why not do that on the first day of each month? or even more often?

Another Try at Solving Holly Piirainen’s Cold Case

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:52:16 GMT

The unsolved Central Mass. murders of Holly Piirainen and Molly Bish — deaths separated by seven years but occurring within a few miles of each other — have long vexed law enforcement.

There’s been longstanding speculation of a link between Holly’s killing and that of 16-year-old Molly in neighboring Warren in June 2000.

More than 32 years have passed since 10-year-old Holly left her grandparents’ home in Sturbridge to see a litter of puppies, never to be seen alive again.

Her disappearance in the summer of 1993, and the discovery of her remains that October in a wooded area off Five Bridge Road in Brimfield, shattered a community.

Decades later, the question remains: who took Holly’s life?

To honor Holly and continue efforts to solve her cold case, the Hampden District Attorney’s Office will again host a Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy event in Brimfield on Nov. 9 at the Public Safety Complex, 34 Wales Road, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Any community member can take part by providing a simple cheek swab, which could help generate new investigative leads. This marks the second FIGG event the office has hosted in hopes of advancing Holly’s case.

Through FIGG, DNA collected from crime-scene evidence can be compared against publicly available genealogy databases to identify distant relatives of unknown suspects — sometimes reaching fourth, fifth, or even sixth cousins. Investigators then use those connections to build family trees, narrow down possibilities, and, in some cases, identify offenders who have eluded justice for decades.

It’s proven to generate results in cases that have stumped investigators for years.

Participants in the Nov. 9 event will not only help expand this critical database, but will also receive their own full ancestry and family-tree information free of charge.

“Each new DNA sample has the power to bring us closer to the truth. Holly deserves justice, and her family deserves answers. This effort is about remembering her and using every available tool to find the person responsible,” said District Attorney Anthony Gulluni.

Holly’s case remains open and active. She was last seen around 11:45 a.m. on Aug. 5, 1993, near the intersection of Allen and South Shore roads in Sturbridge. That day, she told her father she was going to visit a neighboring home to see puppies.

About one hour later, Holly was reported missing by her father. A search began, with her father subsequently finding one of her sneakers along South Shore Road. Police were notified and a massive search began by local and state police, sheriff’s departments, and law enforcement contingents from Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The search stretched on for weeks with no results.

On Oct. 23, 1993, a few months after her disappearance, hunters discovered her remains in a wooded area off Five Bridge Road in Brimfield.

While there have been suspects, no one has been formally charged in the case over the past 30 years.

Investigators encourage anyone with information related to Holly’s murder to contact Holly’s Tip-Line at 413-426-3507.You may also use Text-a-Tip by texting the word CRIMES (2-7-4-6-3-7) and typing the word SOLVE into the body of the message, followed by your tip.

Given the passage of time, the identity of the person(s) responsible for Holly’s death might be all that her loved ones can reasonably expect.

Museum Of Fulton County Hosting Genealogy Workshop “Searching Veteran Records”

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:46:14 GMT

The Fulton County Genealogy Group is hosting a free genealogy workshop on Monday, November 10 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Museum of Fulton County in Wauseon. “Searching Veteran Records” is the third workshop in a free series open to registered participants.

Presented by members of the FCGG, the upcoming genealogy workshop will offer a variety of information about using veterans’ records for research. This free workshop is open to the public and historical society members.

“We are pleased to have Matthew Roesel, Director/CVSO of the Fulton County Veterans Service Office joining us for our November workshop,” shared Carolyn Stilwill, FCGG workshop coordinator.

“Mr. Roesel will be talking about veterans’ records in relation to genealogical and historical research.”

While the beginning genealogy workshop is free, pre-registration is required. The class is limited to the first 40 registered participants.

To learn more about the workshop and view the genealogy research plan that will be used during the class, visit www.museumoffultoncounty.org/upcoming-events.

Interested individuals can register at the museum, call 419.337.7922 or send a message to info@museumoffultoncounty.org

The Fulton County Genealogy Group’s collection consists of more than 1,300 books and over 200 rolls of microfilm located at the Evergreen Community Library, 253 Maple Street, Metamora, Ohio. Research appointments at the library are available with advance notice by contacting www.fultoncoogs.org/contact-us.

TheGenealogist Adds 1871 Burke’s Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland to Its Online Collections

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:26:15 GMT

TheGenealogist is pleased to announce the release of the 1871 Burke’s Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland, now fully searchable online.

This important reference work contains hundreds of thousands of names linked to the principal landed families of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, often tracing lines back several centuries. Researchers will find detailed pedigrees, family connections, heraldic information and references to estates, a rich resource for anyone with roots in the British and Irish gentry.

Adding these records further strengthens TheGenealogist’s growing collection of classic genealogical reference books, giving family historians more ways to bridge gaps in the civil and parish records.

TheGenealogist's Head of Content, Mark Bayley, commented:

“Burke’s is one of those cornerstone sources that helps you understand not just who your ancestors were, but how they were connected. Making this available online and searchable will save researchers hours of work.”

The new records are available now to Diamond subscribers at TheGenealogist.co.uk.

The Family of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, the master of gothic suspense and author of Carmilla, the story of a mysterious female vampire that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, can be found in these records - read his story here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/ghosts-in-the-family-tree-8783/

Don’t miss out! For a limited time, you can subscribe to TheGenealogist for just £129.95 - Save Over £75

Not only will you get a £40 lifetime discount, but you'll also receive a 12-Month Subscription to Discover Your Ancestors Online Magazine worth £36!

Explore these new records and start your genealogical journey today with TheGenealogist by claiming this offer here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBBLG1025

Offer expires 31st January 2026.

About TheGenealogist

TheGenealogist uses the latest technology to help you bring your family history to life. Use TheGenealogist to find your ancestors today!

Jane Arnold, Archivist at Cape Breton University, Receives Outstanding Alumni Award

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:10:24 GMT

Jane Arnold (MLIS’08) Archivist at Cape Breton University, says there’s great joy in being recognized by her peers for her commitment to her profession. The recipient of the Dalhousie Library and Information Alumni Association’s (DLIAA) Outstanding Alumni Award for 2025 adds that it's also a reminder to provide the next generation of archivists, librarians and information professionals, with realistic expectations about their careers.

She explains that sometimes, "you don't have the resources to generally carry out your job that you're so passionate about. You must be persistent, and you have to be adaptable."

Arnold says this doesn’t diminish the significance of the profession, because the need for their skills is at a critical juncture. “It’s important to have information professionals help students understand credible sources, truth in a post-truth society, and how to navigate artificial intelligence.”

AI as it exists today didn’t exist when Arnold came to Halifax to study in 2006. A mature student, she knew it wasn’t going to be easy for her, her 10-month-old, or her husband who left his job to live here too. But the richness of the program, and the inspiration that she drew from the profession and the faculty, far exceeded any hardship.

With a background as a heritage professional, Arnold weighed the pros and cons of the various disciplines being taught in the program, but returning to Cape Breton Island was her priority.

Since graduating and joining the Beaton Institute at Cape Breton University, she’s helped the organization adapt to broader expectations on accessibility of information. Digitizing their collections and building relationships with the communities on the island to see them as partners are a few of her successes. And she’s given back to the larger community of archivists.

As said in the presentation of the award, “A former, President, Vice-President, and Executive member of the Council of Nova Scotia Archives, Director and Chair of the Old Sydney Society’s Museum Committee, President of Heritage Cape Breton Connection and Chair of the Library and Cultural Resources Council at CBU, Arnold has dedicated herself to advancing the visibility and value of archival organizations across the province.”

With an enduring love for her occupation, Arnold wishes there were more positions for archivists. She adds, “I have a fierce love of the island and there's no end to the work. There's so much work to be done in terms of cultural preservation and transmission.”

Family History Research Classes: Three Sessions Designed to Assist You in Becoming the Historian of Your Family

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:26:47 GMT

These sessions are suggested for novice and intermediate researchers

Session 1: Reasons for Immigration, Basic Ancestry Research Plan, Exploration in Usage of 3 Research Websites, and Description of Research Software. Virtual Zoom class scheduled for Wednesday, November 5th, 2025, from 01:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time.

Why did our ancestors venture to America? Their important reasons drive research to find out more about them. Understand the research process and learn the steps! This class presents four research websites, real time how-to usage, as well as a look into one helpful research software for maintaining your tree. Class handouts will be highlighted during the presentation so participants can access them later at home. Ask questions any time during the presentation.

Join the Pastfinders of the South Lake County Genealogical Society for an online class. Family History Research classes are made up of three distinct sessions. Each session operates independently of the others, allowing you to participate in one or all three. These classes are available to you at no charge. Register Today!

Session 2: Family History Research: Digging into Vital Records, Uncovering Census Basics, Avoiding Research Errors, etc. Virtual Zoom class scheduled for Wednesday, November 12th, 2025, from 01:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time.

In this class, become acquainted with types of vital records, learn how to recognize first and second sources, interpret census, naturalization and military draft registration data. You will see how to avoid common research mistakes and see varieties of simple family tree publications. Class handouts will be highlighted during the presentation so participants can access them later at home. Ask questions any time during the presentation.

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Session 3 – Family History Research: Obituary Notes, Steps in the Naturalization Process, Government Website Sources. Virtual Zoom class scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th, 2025, from 01:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time.

This class will cover the various types of obituary notices and their genealogical value. The phases of the US Naturalization Process and their connection to the US Census will be explored. We will look at Alien Files in the National Archives Database, the history of US Visas needed/used by ancestors, and understand how the US Archives Publication List can uncover sourcing for research. Ask questions any time during the presentation.

Learn How to Use Ancestry at the Waverly Public Library in Waverly, Iowa

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:17:11 GMT

The Bremer County Genealogical Society is presenting an Ancestry.com program Saturday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m. at the Waverly Public Library, offering training on how to navigate its genealogical tools to trace family history, including marriage, birth and death records and so much more.

Lindsey Kuhlmann, WPL librarian, will be showing how to get started with researching your ancestors with the library edition of Ancestry at the Waverly Public Library. This program is only available for use through a library that has a subscription.

The Bremer County Genealogical Society welcomes guests. Membership is $10 per year and includes two newsletters during the year. Programming is March-May, field trips are during the summer, then there is programming again September-December.

Explore 1.5 Billion Death Records for Free This Halloween

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:05:18 GMT

This Halloween, MyHeritage is offering free access to over 1.5 billion death, burial, cemetery, and obituary records from October 30 through November 2, 2025.

These records are rich with genealogical details, such as names, places, dates, and family connections, and can open doors to new family history breakthroughs. Since last Halloween, 18 collections in this category have been added or updated, making the chances of finding something new even better.

By the way, the MyHeritage DNA kit is now on sale for Halloween as well — it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of our new Whole Genome Sequencing technology (which, is now the exclusive processing method for all new MyHeritage DNA kits).

County Archivist Honored for Civil War Records Preservation

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 12:51:56 GMT

Henry County archivist Stephanie Routon Tayloe was honored by a state historical organization earlier this month for her efforts to preserve records from the American Civil War.

Tayloe received the Jefferson Davis Historical Gold Medal from the United Daughters of the Confederacy of Tennessee. The award, which is one of the organization’s highest honors, was presented Oct. 11 at the UDC Tennessee Convention in Greeneville.

A Paris native, Tayloe has headed the Henry County Archive and Genealogy Library for the past 18 years.

During her tenure, Tayloe and the archive’s volunteers have cleaned, indexed and prepared records to be microfilmed that span 180 years of the county’s history. The records start with the county’s founding in 1821 and continue through the year 2000.

Tayloe has compiled more than 70 genealogy and history books, including 14 focusing on the Civil War period. These comprise the obituaries, letters and biographies of Henry County’s Confederate veterans.

In addition, she authored 38 articles in The Post-Intelligencer’s “Tennessee Trailings” column about the county and state’s history before, during and immediately after the Civil War.

Tayloe is the recipient of two previous awards for her work in historic preservation. She received the UDC’s Judah P. Benjamin Medal in 2013 and was honored with the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Excellence in Historic Preservation Award — its highest national award for preservation of historic records — in 2015.

Nevada State Archives to Hold Celebration of Life for Former Nevada State Archivist Guy Rocha

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 12:48:53 GMT

Nevada State Archives to hold a celebration of life event after the former Nevada state archivist Guy Rocha died on September 18, 2025.

The event will be held on Friday, October 31 at the Nevada State Library, Archives, and Public Records in Carson City.

According to Nevada State Archives, the program begins at 10 a.m. and attendees are invited to stay afterward to look at the Archives Reading Room which will have photos and other Rocha artifacts.

The Nevada State Archives also says checks donations can be mad through the forms of checks and cash.

Both checks and cash should include a note that specifies the donation is for the Nevada State Archives in honor of Guy Rocha.

Organizers say there will be a donation box at the memorial.

Checks and cash can also be mailed to Nevada State Archives, 100 N Stewart Street, Carson City, NV 89701.

Sno-Isle Genealogy Presents Japanese Gulch – a Home From Time Immemorial Nov. 5

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:30:22 GMT

Housing in Japanese Gulch, circa 1922. (Photo courtesy Mukilteo Historical Society)

The Sno-Isle Genealogical Society (SIGS) continues its “Our Nation, Our Families: The Tapestry of Us” series in November by welcoming Dr. Alicia Valentino from the Edmonds College Anthropology Department to share insights from their archaeological dig at Japanese Gulch in Mukilteo.

The SIGS November meeting is on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Wickers Building in Heritage Park in Lynnwood. The event includes a pre-meeting social hour starting at 6:30 p.m. where guests can meet SIGS members, enjoy refreshments and get answers to their questions about how to start family research. Don’t worry if you’re new — no experience is needed, just curiosity. There will be activities designed to spark conversation and help you discover your own connections to history.

At 7:30 p.m., the main presentation begins in-person and online. Japanese Gulch has been an important locale since the first human habitation of Puget Sound. Used by Native Americans for its resources, its vicinity later became the site for the signing of the Point Elliott Treaty and eventually home to Japanese mill workers.

Today it remains a quiet plot with trails and a fish-bearing stream, but buried below the surface are remnants of the immigrant community that thrived for 30 years. Edmonds College explored the remnants of the Japanese Gulch community during the summer of 2025 and Dr. Valentino will trace the gulch’s history from local Tribes to modern trails.

The meeting is free and open to the public. For more details, including live-stream information, visit the SIGS calendar page.

Tracing your Ancestors: Researching Cape Verdean Genealogy

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:26:56 GMT

Researchers and archivists will share experiences tracing family histories. Participants will learn tips and tools on how to find family branches. The free online program focuses on Cape Verdean-descended families. It connects to the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s Cape Verdean Contemporary project. The event is Tuesday, Nov. 12, from noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom.

Speakers include Carl J. Cruz, a Cape Verdean historian who studies local family lines. Cynthia Evans is Director of Research for the 10 Million Names project and specializes in African American genealogy. James L. Lopes has worked in museum education and researched Cape Verdean American family networks.

Police Identify Human Remains as Missing Olean, Pennsylvania Woman

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:25:22 GMT

Human remains discovered in Walnut Creek belonged to an Olean woman who was reported missing last year.

According to the Milcreek Township Police Department, the remains belonged to Rebecca (Foley) Hakes. Relatives reported Hakes missing during the third quarter of 2024.

The remains were discovered on Oct. 24, 2024, near the northern edge of the Millcreek Mall property.

An autopsy determined that the remains were those of an adult female who showed no sign of trauma or natural disease.

Millcreek police partnered with Othram Inc., a Texas-based company specializing in forensic genetic genealogy. DNA extracted from the remains was analyzed and compared to publicly accessible DNA profiles. Genealogists at Othram and investigators from Millcreek Township Police and the Erie (Pa.) Police Department collaborated to build potential genetic networks connected to the remains.

As possible relatives were identified, investigators conducted numerous phone interviews in search of individuals willing to provide DNA samples. A genetic network centered around McKean and Potter counties in Pennsylvania and Cattaraugus County in New York was eventually identified. Following additional interviews, two DNA samples were submitted to Othram by potential relatives.

Those samples allowed Othram to conclusively identify the remains as belonging to Hakes.

Texas Rangers, Local Authorities Identify Serial Rapist in Bastrop Co. Cold Cases

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:21:55 GMT

After nearly three decades of investigation, law enforcement officials have identified the now-deceased suspect who they believe raped several elderly women in Bastrop Co. between 1997 and 2005. The suspect, Emory Earl McVay, of Smithville, died in 2010 at 48 years old.

Back on March 27, 2004, an elderly woman was asleep in her bed when an unknown man broke into her Bastrop Co. home and sexually assaulted her. After reporting the assault to local authorities, investigators collected DNA and submitted it to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) — a national database used to check for possible DNA matches between arrestees and unsolved cases nationwide — through the Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Crime Laboratory Division. Later that year, in October 2004, the DPS Crime Laboratory in Austin notified the Texas Rangers of a possible DNA match between the 2004 case and another sexual assault from July 1997 involving a male suspect breaking into an elderly woman’s residence in Smithville.

The following year, DPS’ Crime Laboratory notified the Texas Rangers of a possible DNA match with a third sexual assault cold case with a similar narrative from July 2005. It was clear there was a serial rapist in Bastrop Co. Investigators continued to collect several DNA samples from potential suspects, but none yielded a positive match.

Then, in 2021, the Texas Rangers identified the case as eligible for testing and comparison through DPS’ Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program. The program is funded by the Department of Justice/Bureau of Justice Assistance (DOJ/BJA), which provides investigative funding for agencies across the United States to further unsolved sexual assaults and sexually related homicides, aiming to bring justice to the victims and their families. On Aug. 11, 2021, Bode Technologies began conducting additional Advanced DNA testing and genealogy research on the samples obtained from the 1997, 2004 and 2005 sexual assaults.

Finally, in August 2025, after several years of advanced testing and research, investigators received a positive match with a male suspect from Bastrop Co.: Emory Earl McVay. It was later learned that McVay had been deceased for more than a decade, and no arrests were made. Of note, McVay had a lengthy criminal history in Central Texas, which included multiple convictions for burglary.

The Texas Rangers would like to thank the Bastrop Co. Sheriff’s Office, Bastrop Co. District Attorney’s Office, Smithville Police Department, Bode Technologies and members of DPS’ Austin and CODIS Crime Laboratories for their dedication, which ultimately led to McVay’s identification. Cases like this highlight the importance of collaborative investigative work between the Texas Rangers and our partner law enforcement agencies to keep unsolved cases alive, ultimately bringing closure to victims’ families and the community.

Hampden DA’s Office Sets DNA Collection to Aid Investigation of 1993 Holly Piirainen Murder

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:17:40 GMT

For the second time, the Hampden District Attorney’s office is asking people in the Brimfield area to contribute DNA samples to help solve a 32-year-old murder.

On Nov. 9, the office will set up in the town’s Public Safety Complex, at 34 Wales Road, and take DNA samples of willing residents through cheek swabs.

The goal is to use information gathered to generate new leads into the murder of Holly Piirainen. She was 10 when she went missing in the summer of 1993 from her grandparents’ home in Sturbridge. Her body was found that October in woods off Five Bridge Road in Brimfield.

The cold-case approach being taken is called Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy, or FIGG.

By using an expanded DNA database, investigators can compare DNA gathered from a crime scene to publicly available genealogy databases. That enables them to ID distant relatives of as-yet unknown suspects. Materials discovered with Holly’s remains have been maintained by the Massachusetts State Police.

In a statement, the DA’s office said investigators “use those connections to build family trees, narrow down possibilities, and, in some cases, identify offenders who have eluded justice for decades.”

By participating, people will receive information on their own family ancestry.

“Each new DNA sample has the power to bring us closer to the truth,” District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said in a statement. “Holly deserves justice, and her family deserves answers. This effort is about remembering her and using every available tool to find the person responsible.”

The office said the case remains open and active.

Anyone with information related to Holly’s murder can contact Holly’s Tip-Line at 413-426-3507. People can also use Text-a-Tip by texting the word CRIMES (2-7-4-6-3-7) and typing the word SOLVE into the body of the message, followed by the tip

Wassabec Genealogy Chapter Meeting

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 13:16:06 GMT

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Wassabec Genealogy Chapter will be holding a meeting on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. at the Thompson Free Public Library. There will be a small business meeting and program presented by Estella and Wayne Bennett on researching military veterans.

The public is welcome to attend and light refreshments will be provided. If further information is needed contact the Bennetts at 207-876-3073.

Augusta Genealogical Society November 15 Virtual Progam

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:41:21 GMT

The folloowing is a press release written by then folks at the Augusta (Georgia) Genealogical Society:

Augusta Genealogical Society

Augusta, Georgia

November 15, 2025, Virtual Genealogical Program

Ship Manifests: An In-Depth Look

Presented by Rich Venezia

Ship manifests are the “go-to” record to find immigrant arrivals in the 1800s and 1900s. Discover all the different information they can tell us.
Audience Level: All

This lecture provides a deep dive into some of the most commonly used records in immigrant research and how they may surprise us – including how subsequent notations on ship manifests and an overview of the various indexes available could lead to more discoveries.

Rich Venezia is a New Jersey native who now calls Philadelphia home and specializes in twentieth-century immigration research. He has coordinated for IGHR, GRIP, and SLIG, is a TEDx alum, and records access advocate. He founded Rich Roots Genealogy in 2013. He was a member of the research team of Genealogy Roadshow (PBS) for two seasons and also consulted on Follow Your Past (Travel Channel). He is an expert in the research of 20th-century immigrant ancestors, especially underutilized record sources and federal records. He also specializes in Italian and Irish research. Additionally, he assists clients with dual citizenship applications for Ireland and Italy and is a proud Italian dual citizen. He holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. He lectures nationwide and spoke at TEDx Pittsburgh 2017.

When: Saturday, November 15, 2025

Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm EST

Where: Online

Price: FREE to AGS members and $10 for nonmembers

The registration deadline is Thursday, November 12

AGS November Program - Augusta Genealogical Society

Click the above link to register for the program

Limited seating is available to view the virtual presentation at the Adamson Library in Augusta, Georgia. To reserve a seat, please call (706) 722-4073.

JOIN AGS NOW and enjoy the benefits of programs that are free to members.

The Augusta Genealogical Society is a non-profit organization founded in Augusta, Georgia , in September 1979

North Carolina State Archives to Host Virtual Program on the American Indian Heritage Commission Oral History Project

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 13:30:12 GMT

Celebrate American Indian Heritage Month by listening to some of North Carolina’s American Indians discuss their history in their own voices during an upcoming virtual Lunch and Learn program “Listening to our Elders: the American Indian Heritage Commission Oral History Project” hosted by the State Archives. The State Archives is part of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

In December 2022, the American Indian Heritage Commission, with the State Archives of North Carolina, embarked on capturing the living memory and experiences of American Indians throughout the state. Project staff will present that project, weaving what they learned from the elders with what they took from the process. Discussions will include how to set up an oral history project and conduct interviews.

The event is scheduled Nov. 5, from noon to 1 p.m. Register in advance, https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_aA9ml57tQzSPK9VM5idAUw For more information, contact Danielle Shirilla, dani.shirilla@dncr.nc.gov; 919-814-6881.

About the State Archives
The State Archives serves as the custodian of North Carolina's historical records, preserving and providing public access to a wealth of archival materials. Through its diverse collections, educational programs, and exhibitions, the State Archives plays a crucial role in promoting an understanding and appreciation of North Carolina's rich historical legacy. Learn more at archives.ncdcr.gov.

About the American Indian Heritage Commission
The North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission advises and assists the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources in the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of American Indian history, arts, customs, and culture. Explore projects and resources at aihc.nc.gov.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

Dedication Ceremony Recognizes Woodland Cemetery as Part of National Underground Railroad Network

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 13:17:21 GMT

A Des Moines cemetery that was recognized as part of the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom received a special honor Saturday morning that organizers hope will educate others and share a piece of history.

Back in 2021, the Woodland Cemetery in Des Moines was formally accepted into the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

On Saturday, a special grave marker was dedicated to memoralize that. It says "At rest in Woodland Cemetery are 15 escaped slaves and conductors--all part of the Underground Railroad. They risked everything to claim their liberty or so others could do so".

Ricki King, a genealogist historian, worked with two students back in 2019 on the project that led to the cemetery being accepted into the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. She says since then, they've been able to connect with some families of those buried at the cemetery. However, she would like to continue connecting with more.

"We found the history. We have to find living heirs to we can recgnize them and let them know what their family history is," said King. "They might not even know their family is even buried here or...it's slavery, you know. People don't want to talk about it. They might not even know that they were runaway slaves to begin with."

King and others involved in the project hope the marker and the site will provide an educational experience for anyone who passes by.

"If you go to their headstones, you can scan a QR code and get their full story or you go to the National Park Services online and get the actual paperwork we filled out with the full story on the enslaved here," said King

Army Vet Confesses to Murder After Three Decades ... DNA Testing Led Cops to Him

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 13:10:03 GMT

Fairfax County Police Department

Robin Warr Lawrence was 37 years old in 1994 when someone broke into her Virginia home and stabbed her 49 times ... killing her and leaving her 2-year-old daughter alone for two days until a neighbor discovered her body.

For years, police couldn't find a culprit ... until new DNA testing led them to a man who claims he would've been a serial killer if not for his wife and children.

Warr and Lawrence Family

The whole story's being laid out in a new episode of "48 Hours" which will introduce the world to Stephan Smerk ... the man who last year pled guilty to murdering Robin and was sentenced to 70 years in prison in March 2025.

At the original crime scene in November 1994, DNA evidence was collected -- specifically blood from a bathroom towel. DNA science was still in its relative infancy -- this is before the O.J. Simpson trial, for example -- and the evidence brought back no immediate suspects.

Fairfax County Police Department

However, Parabon NanoLabs -- a company making huge leaps in genetic genealogy and DNA phenotyping -- and investigators were able to generate a suspect profile that matched a relative of Smerk's.

Cops met Smerk outside his home in New York while he was taking out the trash ... and, they asked him for a DNA swab which he voluntarily provided. Shortly after he called them and turned himself in for the murder.

According to Smerk, he was an active-duty soldier stationed near Northern Virginia who felt compelled to kill. He left the barracks, chose Robin's house randomly, broke in and murdered her.

He stunningly told cops ... "I honestly believe that if it wasn't for my wife and my kids, I probably would be a serial killer." Smerk later moved to the Empire State and lived a quiet life as a software engineer.

After he killed Robin, Smerk told cops he took a shower, got rid of his clothes ... then just continued on with his life as if nothing happened. Smerk also told cops he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the murder.

Fairfax County Police Department

Robin's husband asked a neighbor to check on her after not hearing from her for several days ... and, when they arrived, the neighbor found the back door open and called for Robin's daughter. The daughter was treated for dehydration after she was found.

Smerk pleaded guilty to first degree-murder in Virginia last year and received his 70-year sentence. At this point, 70 years is essentially a life sentence considering Smerk is now in his 50s.

New Korean War Era Draft Cards!

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 13:44:52 GMT

As part of our ongoing effort to digitize Korean War draft cards, we are pleased to announce the addition of newly digitized Korean War Era Draft Registration Cards from the following states:

Arizona
Indiana
Kentucky
New Jersey
New York
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Washington

In 1948, President Harry S. Truman reinstated the Selective Service Act, requiring all men aged 18-25 to register for the draft. Thus, a draft registration card from this era does not necessarily indicate that the registrant served in the war.

Korean War era draft cards contain information for registrants, including:

Name, birthdate, place of birth
Residence
Next of kin (someone who will always know your address)
Marital status
Previous military service
Occupation
Physical description

Explore these newly released Korean War Era Draft Registration Cards, 1948-1959, on Fold3 today!

Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library to Host Genealogy Symposium

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 13:34:31 GMT

The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library is holding a free genealogy symposium to explore how DNA testing can uncover family history, trace stories and connect people with relatives.

The event will feature professional genealogist Kathleen Brandt who, in addition to being an international genealogist, is also a private investigator, consultant and published freelance writer. Brandt is the author of blog.a3Genealogy.com, an educational and skill building blog that explores carious cultural and ethnic folk life traditions, as well as history and genealogy research tips.

Attendees can expect to learn how DNA testing works, what kind of results to expect and how to use them to discover relatives and ancestors that would have otherwise been unknown. The symposium will be from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15 in the library’s Marvin Auditorium.

Ontario Ancestors Conference 2026 - Call for Speakers

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 13:10:08 GMT

Ontario Ancestors is currently accepting proposals for its 2026 Virtual Conference: From Steamships to Microchips to be held June 12-14, 2026. We will be running two streams over the course of two days: one for ‘Microchips’:

Artificial Intelligence and other technology and the other for ‘Steamships’:

Immigration and Transportation. In following with our two themes, we welcome proposals that can enrich the knowledge of either or both of these interesting subjects. We are also open to submissions on other unique topics that would be of interest to family historians. The presentations are to be 45-50 minutes in length with 10 minutes allowed for Q & A and given over the Zoom platform. We also ask that the speaker provide a handout of 3-5 pages for their session.

Topics: Speakers can submit up to 5 proposals for consideration. For each proposal, please provide the title (of 10 or less words), a summary/description of your talk, and identify the intended audience (beginner, intermediate, advanced or all levels) as well as a short bio. Please submit your proposals at: https://ogs.on.ca/conference-speaker-submissionpage/

Be sure to include your full name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, website URL and social media profiles (if applicable). Speakers will receive an honorarium and complimentary Conference registration. Deadline for Submissions: Monday, December 1st 2025. Please direct any questions to Kim Barnsdale at speaker_liaison@ogs.on.ca. Those chosen will be notified by Monday December 15th, 2025

Deadline for Submissions: Monday, December 1st 2025. Please direct any questions to Kim Barnsdale at speaker_liaison@ogs.on.ca. Those chosen will be notified by Monday December 15th, 2025

About Ontario Ancestors The Ontario Genealogical Society, founded in 1961, is the leading society in all aspects of Ontario-related family history research, preservation and communication. Our mission is to encourage, bring together and assist those interested in the pursuit of family history and to preserve our Ontario genealogical heritage. The Ontario Genealogical Society is the largest genealogical society in Canada. Visit us at https://ogs.on.ca

Human Remains Found in Pennsylvania Creek Identified as Missing Olean Woman

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 20:22:41 GMT

Authorities say they have identified the human remains that were discovered one year ago in a creek in Pennsylvania as those of a missing Olean woman.

On October 24, 2024, Millcreek Township Police responded to a Millcreek Mall property after the remains were discovered in Walnut Creek.

An autopsy reportedly showed no signs of trauma or natural disease and the remains were sent to a local university for forensic anthropological analysis.

The police department then began working with Othram, a company that specializes in forensic genetic genealogy.

Othram was able to extract DNA from the remains and analyze it. Genealogists and investigators with the police department then worked together to conduct phone interviews as potential relatives were identified, looking for someone who would be willing to submit their DNA.

These samples helped authorities determine that the human remains were those of Rebecca Hakes of Olean. Police say she had been reported missing in the third quarter of 2024.

32 Years After Holly Piirainen's Murder, Massachusetts Investigators Hope DNA Event Generates New Leads

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:21:39 GMT

Investigators in western Massachusetts will hold a DNA swabbing event hoping to find new leads in the cold case murder of Holly Piirainen. The 10-year-old girl left her grandparents' home in 1993 and never returned. Her body was found months later, but no one has ever been charged in her death.

Thursday, Oct. 23, marks 32 years since Holly's remains were found in the woods off Five Bridge Road in Brimfield, Massachusetts, 65 miles southwest of Boston.

Holly Piirainen in a family photo.Hampden County District Attorney

Who was Holly Piirainen?

Holly was last seen on Aug. 5, 1993 when she left her grandparents' home in Sturbridge, telling her father she was going to visit a neighbor to see a litter of puppies. An hour later, she didn't return and her father reported her missing after finding her sneaker on South Shore Road in Sturbridge.

That October, hunters found Holly's remains in nearby Brimfield.

In 2023, the Hampden District Attorney released a photo of a white shirt found near Holly's remains. The white tank top says "Boston" on the front in pink and purple.

Investigators are looking for information about this shirt found in Brimfield in October 1993.Hampden District Attorney's Office

New push for DNA

The Hampden DA will host a Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) event in Brimfield, Massachusetts next month in hopes of advancing the case.

People are encouraged to provide a cheek swab, which could help investigators generate new leads. With the help of FIGG, DNA collected from crime scenes can be compared against genealogy databases to identify relatives of suspects.

"Each new DNA sample has the power to bring us closer to the truth. Holly deserves justice, and her family deserves answers. This effort is about remembering her and using every available tool to find the person responsible," Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said in a statement Thursday.

The FIGG event will be held on November 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Public Safety Complex on Wales Road in Brimfield. The Hampden DA said participants will also receive their own ancestry and family tree information for free.

"People have been very generous and participatory in providing their DNA for these events," said Gulluni. "I think with the shared hope that we have, that we can provide answers to Holly's remaining family and hold someone accountable for doing something unspeakable to an innocent 10-year-old girl."

Anyone with any information on Holly's disappearance and murder is encouraged to contact her tip line at 413-426-3507.

Blount County Cold Case: 43-Year-Old Skeletal Remains Sent for DNA Genealogy Testing

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:14:01 GMT

In Blount County, Tennessee, investigators are leveraging a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) initiative to identify partial skeletal remains discovered on April 4, 1981, in the East Miller’s Cove area. The remains, believed to belong to a man aged 18 to 35, were missing the head, one or more limbs, and at least one hand, and had likely been at the site for one to three years.

Assigned to a cold case investigator at the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, the case originally involved assistance from Dr. Bill Bass and the University of Tennessee Department of Anthropology. In March, the sheriff’s office contacted the TBI, which submitted a sample to Othram, Inc., a Texas-based lab specializing in forensic genetic genealogy (FGG).

Under the TBI’s 2023 Unidentified Human Remains Initiative, funded by the Tennessee General Assembly, FGG testing has already identified eight sets of remains statewide. Othram extracts DNA, builds profiles, and searches databases like FamilyTreeDNA and GEDmatch Pro for relatives who have opted into law enforcement use.

The process depends on the availability of matching family DNA and subsequent reference testing. Othram is also aiding other East Tennessee cases, including “Baby Wyatt” found in Melton Lake in 2020, Oak Ridge’s “Lady in the Lake,” and a woman’s remains discovered in Knoxville this year.

Breakthrough DNA Technology Solves 2007 Florida Sexual Assault Case, Authorities Say

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 20:16:41 GMT

Nearly two decades after a brutal nighttime assault, a Florida woman finally got answers.

Those answers were possible thanks to advances in genetic genealogy and DNA technology.

What we know:

Roughly 20 years after a violent home invasion, a 65-year-old woman finally received answers.

On October 22, 2007, Lake County deputies responded to a call where a woman was reportedly sexually assaulted for two hours. Despite collecting significant DNA evidence at the time, the case remained unsolved for years.

Advancements in genetic genealogy and DNA technology helped break the case.

Parabon Nanolabs created a DNA composite predicting physical traits, which eventually led to identifying Larry Franklin Tucker Jr. Tucker had a warrant for violating probation on a domestic violence charge and was linked to the crime through nationwide DNA database searches.

Authorities say Larry Franklin Tucker Jr. has been linked to a a nearly 20-year-old sexual assault case in Lake County, through nationwide DNA database searches.

Tucker was extradited from Ohio to Florida and now faces charges of sexual battery, burglary, and kidnapping. While the statute of limitations had expired, Florida law permits prosecution based on DNA evidence.

What we don't know:

The full scope of Tucker’s criminal history or whether he may be connected to other crimes remains unclear. Authorities are still investigating if this assault was an isolated incident or part of a pattern.

Details about the victim’s identity remain private, and specific information about the legal process moving forward has not been disclosed.

The backstory:

For nearly two decades, the victim and law enforcement were left without answers. The 2007 attack involved a brutal, prolonged assault during a home invasion. Early DNA collection failed to identify the attacker due to limitations in technology and database resources at that time.

What they're saying:

The partnership between the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Parabon Nanolabs marked a turning point.

"We’re definitely putting some attention into that and trying to figure out if there’s anything else there," said Corporal Zachary Williams, Major Crimes Supervisor, Lake County Sheriff’s Office. "She took a really big deep breath, and she told us that that was the first time that she's been able to take a deep breath in so many years."

Using cutting-edge genetic genealogy, the case was reopened with fresh leads, exemplifying how new forensic methods are solving cold cases.

"Knowing that you have brought answers to somebody that was victimized so brutally is really a rewarding feeling," explained Misty Gillis, Genetic Genealogist, Parabon Nanolabs:

Blount County, Tennessee Cold Case: 43-Year-Old Skeletal Remains Sent for DNA Genealogy Testing

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 20:10:17 GMT

Family of Pope Leo XIV Honored in St. Landry Parish

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:26:04 GMT

The family of Pope Leo XIV, who has roots in Saint Landry Parish, will be celebrated at the Election and Archive Center in Opelousas on Oct. 25.

Larry Callier, Jr., St. Landry Parish Archivist said the event will highlight the Lemelle family’s deep historical ties to the area, with lineage tracing back to 1792. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the family’s history and contributions to the parish.

“We can actually trace the Pope’s lineage all the way back to this area, going all the way back to 1792,” Callier said.

Charles Jagneaux, St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court, noted, “His folks were the Lemelles and the Baquies and they owned where the Steamboat Warehouse is in Washington.”

Multiple members of the Lemelle family are expected to attend the celebration, including Zydeco artist Morgan Lemelle, who will perform his music.

The Election and Archives Center, which opened earlier this year, provides a valuable resource for tracing family histories in St. Landry Parish. Jagneaux emphasized the importance of the center, and stated, “St. Landry has a treasure trove of records and easily researchable.”

The Lemelle family celebration offers a unique opportunity for individuals to connect with their heritage and explore the rich historical records available at the Election and Archive Center.

Tragedy in Bulgarian Village: Young Man Planned and Executed the Murder of His Family Members

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:22:09 GMT

Twenty-five-year-old Fahri Mustafa is accused of murdering his mother, his 13-year-old sister, and his 39-year-old aunt in a brutal attack that took place early Tuesday in Bulgaria's Ruen area. According to investigators, the young man used both a firearm and a knife, first shooting his victims before attacking them with a cold weapon. The victims are believed to have been awake at the time, and the bodies showed multiple stab and slash wounds. Fahri’s seven-year-old brother was also injured with a knife but managed to survive and alert the authorities.

At a briefing, Burgas District Prosecutor Georgi Chinev and Burgas Regional Police Director Vladimir Marinov revealed that the killings were reported to the Ruen Regional Police Department at 4:14 a.m. A police team arrived quickly at the scene, finding the house engulfed in flames. The fire was extinguished by a crew from the Aytos Fire Department, who discovered three charred bodies inside.

The suspect fled the scene and hid in a nearby forest before being captured around 9:30 a.m. He was detained for 72 hours, and prosecutors will seek permanent custody as the investigation continues. Authorities also confirmed that Fahri has been charged and that a forensic psychiatric evaluation will be conducted due to a family history of mental illness. His father suffers from schizophrenia, though there is no evidence that Fahri himself has been treated or monitored by psychiatric services.

Prosecutor Chinev stated that the investigation had determined the attacker fired seven single shots over a span of two to three minutes. Surveillance recordings reviewed by the investigators suggest the killings were carried out with extreme calm and cruelty. “The facts show a very deliberate and targeted crime. The way he obtained the rifle and broke into the house through a window gives us every reason to believe the murders were premeditated and carefully planned,” Chinev said.

According to police, Fahri entered the home by breaking a glass window, despite not having access to the property. The search for the two weapons used in the crime remains ongoing, even though initial reports indicated that a hunting rifle had been recovered.

Senior Commissioner Marinov added that Fahri’s communication with investigators is difficult but that he appears mentally present. “He speaks slowly, stutters, but behaves adequately. However, he does not admit to the crime,” Marinov said.

Authorities also confirmed that both Fahri and his father had been under restraining orders for domestic violence issued by the Aytos District Court in August. Police records show a previous report of verbal threats made by Fahri and an incident in which he damaged his sister’s bicycle in an outburst of aggression.

The triple homicide has shocked the region, with investigators describing the case as one of extreme brutality and cold-blooded intent. For now, police and prosecutors continue to collect evidence and locate the weapons used in what they say was a calculated and deliberate act of violence.

Infant Found Dead in California Park in 1981 Finally Identified Through Forensic Genetic Genealogy

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:16:08 GMT

The San Bruno Police Department announced a breakthrough in a decades-old homicide investigation, identifying the infant found deceased in Buckeye Park more than 40 years ago.

In November 1981, San Bruno police officers were called to Buckeye Park after the remains of an unidentified infant were discovered. Despite an extensive investigation at the time, detectives were unable to determine who the child was or who was responsible for the death. The case remained unsolved for over four decades.

That changed when investigators turned to forensic genetic genealogy, a technology that has helped law enforcement agencies across the country reopen cold cases. Working with the Texas Department of Public Safety, law enforcement forensic partners, and specialized laboratories, San Bruno detectives were able to identify the infant’s family.

“While the police department knows the identity of both parents, their names are not being released at this time,” the San Bruno Police Department said. “This identification represents a major step forward in the case and has renewed efforts to bring this case to justice.”

The department emphasized that the investigation remains active and that public assistance could be crucial in solving the case. Detectives are seeking anyone who may have information about the events that took place in Buckeye Park in November 1981 or who might have knowledge related to the infant or their family.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the San Bruno Police Department at (650) 616-7100 or email sbpdtipline@sanbruno.ca.gov. Tips can also be provided anonymously.

Breakthrough DNA Technology Solves 2007 Florida Sexual Assault Case, Authorities Say

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:09:01 GMT

Nearly two decades after a brutal nighttime assault, a Florida woman finally got answers.

Those answers were possible thanks to advances in genetic genealogy and DNA technology.

What we know:

Roughly 20 years after a violent home invasion, a 65-year-old woman finally received answers.

Advancements in genetic genealogy and DNA technology helped break the case.

Authorities say Larry Franklin Tucker Jr. has been linked to a a nearly 20-year-old sexual assault case in Lake County, through nationwide DNA database searches.

What we don't know:

Details about the victim’s identity remain private, and specific information about the legal process moving forward has not been disclosed.

The backstory:

What they're saying:

The partnership between the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Parabon Nanolabs marked a turning point.

Using cutting-edge genetic genealogy, the case was reopened with fresh leads, exemplifying how new forensic methods are solving cold cases.

"Knowing that you have brought answers to somebody that was victimized so brutally is really a rewarding feeling," explained Misty Gillis, Genetic Genealogist, Parabon Nanolabs:.

DNA Breakthrough Helps ID Infant in 1981 San Bruno Cold Case

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:02:17 GMT

Police in San Bruno have identified the parents of a deceased infant whose body was discovered in a city park more than four decades ago, marking a major breakthrough in a cold case through the use of forensic genetic genealogy.

The infant’s remains were found in Buckeye Park in November 1981, but investigators at the time were unable to determine the child’s identity or who was responsible for the death. The case remained unsolved for more than 40 years despite repeated reviews.

In a statement Tuesday, the San Bruno Police Department said that by using modern DNA analysis and forensic genealogy, its officers, along with the Texas Department of Public Safety and other forensic partners, have identified the infant’s family.

Forensic genetic genealogy is a modern investigative technique that combines DNA analysis with genealogical research to identify unknown victims or suspects. Investigators compare DNA from crime scenes or unidentified remains with profiles shared on public genealogy databases, tracing possible relatives to build family trees and narrow down identities.

While detectives have confirmed the identities of both parents, police said their names will not be released for now as the investigation continues.

“This identification represents a major step forward in the case and has renewed efforts to bring this case to justice,” the department said.

Detectives are appealing to the public for information about the events in Buckeye Park in November 1981 or anyone who may have knowledge about the infant or the family.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the San Bruno Police Department at (650) 616-7100 or email sbpdtipline@sanbruno.ca.gov. Tips can be left anonymously.

Bringing the US Navy’s 250-Year History to Life

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:39:35 GMT

Joseph-James “J.J.” Ahern spends his days sorting through remarkable materials: files, folders, and documents in the University Archives and Records Center. As senior archivist, he manages Penn’s historic collections, including processing and appraising notable records and papers.

Away from work, Ahern has applied his expertise as a volunteer, most recently as a guest curator for an exhibition on the history of the U.S. Navy at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in connection with Homecoming 250, the Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary. “To Provide a Naval Armament: U.S. Navy & Marine Corps History, 1775 – 1958,” which runs through Jan. 9, offers insight into the lives of those who served in and supported the Navy and Marine Corps through materials in the Society’s collections.

“The Navy is more than just ships and planes,” he says. “It’s the people who build the ships, who maintain the ships, who work on the ships. It’s the average seamen all the way up to admirals.”

Among the items Ahern selected for display are an order for sails from James Forten, a wealthy Black businessman and sailmaker in Philadelphia, found by co-curator Selena Austin; an orders book kept by early American naval figure Stephen Decatur; and a physician’s journal from World War I. It also features the prize money ledger from the USS Alliance dating from the frigate’s service during the American Revolution, under the command of Captain John Barry, which outlines pay for the crew for capturing ships, as well as an 1870s sick call list for ill or injured sailors.

View large image

Rear Admiral Ken Blackmon, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, with Joseph-James “J.J.” Ahern at the opening for an American Swedish Historical Museum exhibit in June 2025. (Image: Courtesy of J.J. Ahern)

“It’s been a fun job,” says Ahern, who went through the Historical Society’s collection seeking documents focused on the stories of regular sailors and workers. “The human side of the story of Philadelphia and the Navy goes all the way back to the beginning,” he says, referencing the date Oct. 13, 1775, when the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and authorized a fleet that became America’s first Navy.

Ahern attributes his interest in history to “finding the odd connections, the threads that run through history, how when you find one thing it connects to another.” His passion—military and naval history—grew from childhood summers spent with his grandfather in Virginia in the 1980s visiting Civil War battlefields and historic sites, and was further sparked by the 1986 film “Top Gun.” That film, Ahern says, “led to an interest in the Battle of Midway.

“You start learning one thing and it branches out. It goes forward, it goes backwards, and it all gets connected from there,” adds Ahern, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Rutgers University-Camden. He also authored a book on the Philadelphia Navy Yard’s history after discovering records during a post-graduate internship at the National Archives and has written for journals including American Neptune and the International Journal of Naval History. Before coming to Penn in 2006, he worked for the former Atwater Kent Museum and for the American Philosophical Society.

Ahead of the opening of the exhibition at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Ahern spoke about Homecoming 250 to a group of staff gathered on campus to discuss America 250 at Penn. That effort is a broad interdisciplinary initiative which brings together colleagues from across the University to recognize the nation’s semiquincentennial through events and programs marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Teams with Othram to Identify a 2021 John Doe

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:28:44 GMT

In December 2021, the remains of an unidentified individual were found inside of an abandoned residence on Wolfe Street in Brunswick, Georgia. Brunswick is a small town with a population of approximately 15,000 residents located just south of Savannah near the Turtle River. The Brunswick Police Department responded to the scene and collected evidence in hopes of identifying the unknown individual.

It was determined that the remains were that of a Black male who was between the ages of 45 and 60 years. The man was estimated to be 5'9" to 5'11" tall. Near the man's remains, investigators found a baseball cap, red sweater, cargo shorts, and a sock. No identifying information was discovered at the scene. The Brunswick Police Department requested that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) assist with the investigation and identification.

Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP122003 in May 2024. Despite investigators' efforts, the man could not be identified, and he was classified as Glynn County John Doe.

In 2023, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Christopher Lamont Williams. Christopher Williams was reported missing in June 2021. The case is not under investigation as the autopsy and investigation revealed no signs of trauma or foul play.

Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can aid ongoing forensic investigations by joining the DNASolves database. Expanding the pool of available DNA data increases the likelihood of successful identifications, helping to reunite families with their missing loved ones and resolve cases that have remained unsolved for years.

The identification of Christopher Williams represents the 25th case in the State of Georgia where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Georgia cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

Hopkins County Genealogical Society 2025 City Cemetery Walk to be Held November 2nd in Texas

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:22:57 GMT

The Hopkins County Genealogical Society presents, “If Headstones Could Talk” 2025 City Cemetery Walk. A walk among the headstones of pioneer Hopkins County citizens residing at Sulphur Springs City Cemetery. Hopkins County Genealogical Society members will bring these pioneer Hopkins County citizens back to life through stories, costumes, and props. The guided tour will be held at Sulphur Springs City Cemetery November 2nd, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00pm. Cost is a $10 donation. Reserve your spot by calling 903-885-8523, or by stopping by 611 North Davis Street, Sulphur Springs, Texas.Hopkins County Genealogical Society 2025 Cemetery Walk November 2nd 2025

Learn How to Uncover the Past at the Warren County Genealogical Society Open House in Illinois

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:20:14 GMT

Digging into your family history can bring to light long-lost relatives, hidden secrets, and even surprising connections. The volunteers with the Warren County Illinois Genealogical Society can help uncover those family roots you didn’t know existed, explains Lynn Devlin:

“The Warren County Genealogy Society and Library was started about 45 years ago by a group of wonderful people who did a great job of building and supporting, which is now being carried on now by volunteers. In this age of tracing your ancestors, that is what we do, and we have volunteers to help people get started, answer questions; plus, class opportunities on how to get started, what things you need to start with, and how to go about recording.”

The Warren County Illinois Genealogical Society is hosting a Genealogy Open House on Saturday, October 25th from 1 to 3 pm, located on the second floor of the Warren County Public Library in Downtown Monmouth, for the entire public to stop by and learn more about the available services.

Free Research Event Planned for Veterans Their Families at RV Genealogical Society in Oregon

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:12:35 GMT

Veterans and their families are invited to a free Veterans Day research event coordinated by the Rogue Valley Genealogical Society.

The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at the genealogical society’s library, 3405 S. Pacific Hwy., Medford. Highlights of the event include: Search Fold3’s vast collection of historical U.S. military records. (Fold3 is normally a paid site.)

Search ancestry and family search sites for documents related to your ancestor. Search the extensive resources of the genealogical society’s library. Free volunteer research assistants will be available to help visitors. For more information, call 541-512-2340 or visit www.rvgslibrary.org.

Kansas Historical Society Connects Thousands to Their Family History

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:06:38 GMT

The Kansas Historical Society is celebrating American Archives Month by connecting thousands of people to their family history.

Since 2006, American Archives Month has given archivists across the country an opportunity to tell the stories of items and information preserved in state archives. This, combined with Family History Month, has created a very busy month for archivists and researchers at the Kansas Historical Society.

“We help genealogy researchers almost daily here at the archives,” said State Archivist Megan Burton. “Genealogists and family history research make up the majority of in-person researchers that visit us. We typically see about 2,500 to 3,000 research requests by phone or email every year, and I would say that at least a third of those are related to genealogy. That’s probably a really conservative estimate.”

Archivists like Burton spend their time collecting, preserving and providing access to the government record of Kansas, going as far back as 1855. She works with all executive branches of the Kansas government, all 105 counties and every city and municipality to offer support for records management. Her staff proves in-person training and consultation services to help agencies manage their records and establish records retention schedules, which are required to be in compliance with Kansas records laws.

“Beyond that, I help the Head of Reference Services, Adam Hodge, with research room operations, do outreach programs across the state (and sometimes beyond), and promote all our collections here in the archives,” said Burton. “We have a section within our State Archives Division devoted to special collections, which include the records, papers, photos and other materials of private individuals, businesses and groups. Our collections are diverse and provide excellent resources related to the rich history of Kansas.”

Burton wants the public to know that archives are for everyone. While her work may appear more academic in nature, she and her office can help anyone make a connection to anything related to Kansas history, and she encourages anyone interested to visit in-person, or make an online appointment to see what they have to offer.

The Kansas Historical Society recently created this genealogical research guide, if you or your family are interested in uncovering family history in the state.

One Maryland, One Book, and Maryland Emancipation Day Event at Historic Sotterley on November 1st, 2025

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:33:02 GMT

In Honor of Maryland Emancipation Day on November 1st, Historic Sotterley is proud to be partnering with Maryland Humanities and their One Maryland One Book initiative to host a full day of programming that celebrates ancestry, literature, and the power of storytelling.

The event will highlight the impact of descendant voices in preserving, sharing, and interpreting ancestral histories, while inspiring others to embark on their own genealogical journeys.

One Maryland One Book brings our community together across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book.

This year’s selection, Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford, with illustrations by Jeffery Boston Weatherford, is a powerful blend of poetry, history, and personal genealogy.

The book chronicles the authors’ journey into their ancestral roots, uncovering ties to some of Maryland’s earliest settlers and offering a deeply moving exploration of identity and legacy.

The themes and journey of Kin: Rooted in Hope mirrors the journey many of our Sotterley Descendant community and we’re excited for this event to take a deeper dive into what that journey can look like and how our visitors can explore their own ancestry and experiences through storytelling.

Highlights of the event include:

Keynote Address by Olivia Smith, St. Mary’s County Library
Sotterley Descendant Panel featuring Gwen Bankins, Dante Eubanks, Kelsey Bush, Tre Lancaster-Smith, and Nocola Williams, moderated by Merideth Taylor
Creative Writing Workshops with author Caitlyn Hunter
Living History Performances by Ms. Story
Author Presentation & Q&A with Dave Brown, author of The Barber Family and his latest work on Agnes Kane Callum
Open Mic Session for poetry and creative writing
Food & Refreshments:Aunt Titty’s Food Truck will be onsite with delicious offerings available for purchase. Boxed lunch pre-orders will be available soon.

Admission to the event is free, but registration is required. Seats are limited. Registration for the event can be found at

Event Schedule

9:00 – Doors Open
9:30 – Program Start, Welcome from Nancy Easterling
9:40 – Land Acknowledgement
9:50 – Keynote from Olivia Smith of St. Mary’s Public Library
10:05 – Living History Chapter 1 performance by Ms. Story
10:40 – Sotterley Descendant Panel with Gwen Bankins, Dante Eubanks, Kelsey Bush, Tre Lancaster-Smith, and Nocola Williams, Facilitated by Merideth Taylor
11:25 – Creative Writing Workshop 1 with Caitlyn Hunter
12:00 – Lunch/Free Time, Manor House Tours and Exhibits Open
1:15 – Living History Chapter 2 performance by Ms. Story
1:40 – Creative Writing Workshop 2 with Caitlyn Hunter
2:15 – Open Mic
2:40 – Presentation by Dave Brown
3:15 – Living History Chapter 3 performance by Ms. Story
3:45 – Final remarks, opportunity to purchase books and book signings

Join us for a day of remembrance, creativity, and community as we honor the past and inspire the future through the power of story.

Kelowna and District Genealogical Society

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:27:09 GMT

Monday, November 3, 2025 6:15 PM

KDGS, Zoom Meeting, Kelowna

Every Source Matters: Using a variety of clues to find distant family members.

Researching your family history has never been easier, thanks to an ever-increasing number of records available as well as DNA information you can unlock from your saliva.

Dave Obee is a journalist and genealogical researcher who has written a dozen books and given more than 700 presentations at conferences and seminars in Canada, the United States and Australia since 1997. He is Editor and Publisher of the Times Colonist in Victoria, BC. He has received numerous awards and acknowledgements for his work as both a genealogist and journalist.

Bite-size presentation: My Mom: World War II Veteran, with KDGS member, Claire-Smith Burns.

Pre Registration required (see link)

Price: KDGS members Free; non-members $10; (PayPal or e-transfer)

For more info visit kdgs.ca . Join us this year and watch our guest speakers give expert advice on how to research your family history.

https://kdgs.ca/updates/meetings/

Dates, Times & Tickets

Monday
Nov 3

06:15 PM

Learn How to Uncover the Past at the Warren County (Illinois) Genealogical Society Open House

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:20:53 GMT

Reclaim the Records - Appealing to a Higher Power

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:34:23 GMT

www.ReclaimTheRecords.org View this e-mail in your browser

our fifty-fifth how to argue with the government newsletter

Appealing to a Higher Power

We have four new suggestions you can use right now to write a FOIA Appeal to the VA, to get copies of the unique veterans' files they're suddenly refusing to turn over to the public

Hello again from the little government gadfly group Reclaim The Records. Last time we were in your inbox, it was to tell you the good news that we released 1.5 million brand new records online for free, but also to relay the very annoying news that the US Department of Veterans' Affairs (the VA) had suddenly started withholding the full versions of these records from our (and your) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

This is very annoying.

We've been helping genealogists and researchers make FOIA requests for these incredible never-before-online VA files through our new BIRLS.org website for almost a year now. Hundreds of lucky, early requesters got DVDs sent to their homes with newly-scanned images of these benefits claims files (C-Files or XC-Files), sometimes containing hundreds of pages of material which have been amazing resources for genealogists, journalists, and researchers. And then suddenly the federal government decided that they just didn't want to do that anymore, and started sending out these weird "genealogy letters" instead of DVDs with PDFs on them.

(This suddenly did not have any warning or public comment period about the VA's change in public records policies, but it coincidentally happened at the same time as thousands of federal workers at the VA getting the axe a few months ago. Funny how that worked.)

Luckily, FOIA has a built-in appeal process. An appeal is your request to the agency, generally to an attorney on staff there, to review its initial determination. It could result in more records being released to you, or the agency affirming its initial response. And appealing a FOIA denial is easy, free, and best of all it preserves your right to (potentially) sue the government for up to six years after the date of your appeal...if suing stubborn government agencies under FOIA is something you might be interested in doing someday -- and for us it often is!

So, with the help of our trusty attorneys, we at Reclaim The Records have put together four new lawyer-vetted FOIA Appeal Texts you can choose and reuse today, so you can fight for the release of your relative's (or research interest's) C-File from the VA!

This language is now available on our website at BIRLS.org/appeals . There are four different situations covered:

Situation 1: You're seeking a Claims File for your deceased parent or grandparent or spouse; or You are otherwise the next-of-kin of the deceased veteran; or You are a legal representative (select this option even if some of the other situations listed below also apply)
Situation 2: You're seeking a Claims File of a Civil War era or Spanish-American War era veteran (e.g. their file should have been transferred to NARA years ago, but probably was not)
Situation 3: You're seeking a Claims File of a World War I, World War II, or Korean War era veteran, someone who was discharged from service more than 62 years ago (e.g. their file may contain a copy of their OMPF)
Situation 4: All other Claims File requests

Check out the text of the four suggested FOIA Appeal letters, and send them out to the VA today! You have ninety days from receiving a FOIA denial to write an Appeal of the denial, but once you do that, you have six years from your Appeal to decide whether or not you want to try suing the VA under FOIA.

And given how many thousands of us have been denied our FOIA requests for these identical types of C-Files in the past few months, it's possible we could even pull together our first ever class action FOIA case against the VA at some point in the future...stay tuned. But to even maybe consider doing that, you will need to have made a FOIA Appeal in a timely manner. So send those Appeal e-mails!

Help Us Keep Fighting – Donate Today!

The VA is trying to close the door on public copies of millions of cubic feet of unique historical material; we’re going to pry it back open. If you can, please help us pay for the crowbar. Turning this around will, at best, take a lot of work from our lawyers. None of this is going to be cheap. If you can, please make a tax deductible gift today to underwrite our efforts. Otherwise, these records may languish in warehouses for decades, and the stories they hold will remain unknown.

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Celebrate Black History Month, Free Dinner, CVA, Oct 22, Croydon, United Kingdom

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:28:24 GMT

Free Family History Research Course for Beginners Launches in Rathfriland, United Kingdom

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:15:49 GMT

Have you ever wondered about your roots or wanted to trace a bit of your family history?

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is delighted to offer a free, step-by-step beginner’s course in tracing your family history, designed specifically for those new to genealogy.

This practical course will run for three sessions, be led by the ABC Family History Association and will guide participants through the essential steps of researching their family tree, exploring historical records, and uncovering their unique heritage.

The course will take place over three consecutive Tuesdays: 11th, 18th, and 25th November, from 10:30am to 12:30pm at Rathfriland Regeneration Community Hub.

Spaces are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants must be able to attend all three sessions to register.

This programme is funded by The Executive Office’s District Councils Programme.

To book your place, click here: https://form.jotform.com/252673895824371

For more information contact diane.stinson@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk

Minerva Public Library (in Ohio) Offers Lineup of Fall Programs for All Ages

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:09:48 GMT

Monday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m., the library will present “William McKinley: Governor, Friend,” the next installment in the McKinley Series. File

Minerva Public Library has a full lineup of creative and educational events planned for October, offering something for everyone from hands-on crafts to local history and spooky stories. Registration is required for most programs and can be completed online at minervalibrary.info or by calling 330-868-4101.

On Monday, Oct. 20, at 1 p.m., the Minerva Public Library Genealogy Group will meet to explore how to start a family tree using FamilySearch.org. Jennifer will guide participants through discovering and recording family history. The session is designed for beginners as well as those already tracing their lineage. Registration is required.

That evening, Monday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m., the library will present “William McKinley: Governor, Friend,” the next installment in the McKinley Series. The program introduces audiences to Charles M. Bawsel, the trusted aide who stood by McKinley from his days in Congress through the presidency, and includes stories from the president’s personal and political life — from his own “Black Friday” to quiet moments by a fishing hole. Registration is required.

Families with children ages 4 and older are invited to Family Fun Night Thursday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. Participants will create a Halloween bag just in time for trick-or-treating. The event encourages family creativity and togetherness. Registration is required and may be completed by phone at 330-868-4101.

The library’s board of trustees will hold its regular meeting Thursday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend and may address the board in accordance with the library’s policy on public participation.

Rounding out the month, the library will host an evening devoted to the chilling works of Edgar Allan Poe on Monday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. Actor and Poe impersonator Jim Knight will bring the author’s stories and poetry to life in an eerie, immersive performance. Registration is required and can be completed online or by phone.

Discover Your Roots With a Genealogy Workshop in Saugus, Massachusetts

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:04:55 GMT

The Parson Roby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) invites the public to a Genealogy Workshop on Friday, Nov. 15 from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the Saugus Public Library.

Have you ever wondered if one of your ancestors helped shape America’s history? This workshop is the perfect opportunity to explore your family tree and to trace your lineage back to a patriot who either gave aid to the cause or fought in the American Revolution.

Members of the Parson Roby Chapter, along with experienced DAR genealogists, will be available to guide participants through the process of researching their ancestry and documenting the records needed for possible DAR membership. Attendees will receive one-on-one assistance to help uncover their personal connection to America’s founding.

The DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical women’s service organization whose members are dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children. Through projects that honor our nation’s heritage and support our communities, DAR continues to celebrate the spirit of those who helped build our country.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned researcher, this workshop will help you connect the dots — and maybe even discover that a Revolutionary War patriot is part of your own story!

For more information or to register, email Regent Gail Cassarino at parsonroby.saugusdar@gmail.com.

New Study May Open Doors for Families With Parkinson's

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 14:11:52 GMT

Three generations of Amelia Dowe's family have been diagnosed with Parkinson's and while she harbours some worry for herself and her brothers, the 18-year-old isn't scared.

"There's no point for us to live in fear of what may or may not happen," she told AAP.

"At the moment, there's no tests, no anything to know if or when it will express.

"But hopefully there's still a lot of time."

Ms Dowe's family can take heart from a new study that will investigate the impact of a common familial gene mutation associated with the disease.

Its cause is largely unknown but about 15 per cent of those diagnosed have a family history and this can result from genetic mutations, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Most humans have two copies of every gene but mutation issues can result in some having three.

A triplication of the SNCA gene leads to too much of the protein alpha-synuclein, which clumps up in the brain cells.

This affects the energy produced by them and is a key sign of Parkinson's disease.

Using reprogramming techniques, a team of researchers led by University of Wollongong Professor Lezanne Ooi will turn regular human cells into the specific brain cells impacted by Parkinson's.

This will allow them to analyse the activity and energy levels in the brain cells, pointing them to how SNCA gene triplication affects them and contributes to the protein clumping.

The study could help identify the best ways to model Parkinson's in the lab and diagnose people much earlier.

It took five years for Ms Dowe's mother to receive a diagnosis, despite her family history.

Many neurologists didn't believe Lindy Dowe because she didn't present as a typical patient: an elderly white man with tremors.

Parkinson's is better known for its motor symptoms like tremors, balance problems and limb stiffness,

However non-motor symptoms like loss of smell can occur almost two decades before a person shows signs of a movement disorder.

If it can be identified at these early stages, better models of Parkinson's could then help accelerate the development of new therapies to stop, slow or reverse progression.

"So you could live with your Parkinson's for the rest of your life but you're never actually going to develop the disease," said Vicki Miller, CEO of Parkinson's foundation Shake It Up.Â

Ms Dowe hopes the research will mean she won't have to endure the same process as her mother, should she have to cross that bridge.

But a clear diagnosis has paved the way for Lindy Dowe to take control of her life.

"It's a degenerative disease, so there's definitely uncertainty about the future and fear," Amelia said.

"But for now, the diagnosis has opened doors to new medication and exercise regimes that have completely transformed mum's movement and confidence."

German-Russian Professor Uncovers Family’s Lost History in Kazakh Steppe

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 12:04:10 GMT

It took more than a decade for Michael Brown, a German-Russian professor and director of graduate studies at the University of Wyoming (UW) in the United States, to trace his family roots in Kazakhstan.

His connection with Kazakhstan began in 2012, when he came to Almaty as a visiting professor at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Over the years, a strong academic partnership and lasting personal ties have developed between UW and KazNU.

From the Volga to the steppe

Many ethnic Germans settled in Russia’s Volga region in the mid-1700s, invited by Catherine the Great to develop agriculture. They were allowed to preserve their language, religion, and culture, were exempt from taxes for years, and were not required to serve in the czar’s army.

But by the late 1800s, these privileges were revoked, prompting many Volga Germans to emigrate.

“My relatives were Volga Germans who lived in the village of Bauer, or Karamyshevka, starting in 1766. Because of changes in the status of Germans in Russia, my great-grandfather and his children came to the United States in 1912, while most relatives stayed behind,” said Brown.

Those who stayed endured the First World War, the Bolshevik Revolution, and the famine of the early 1920s. During Stalin’s collectivization in the late 1920s, many German farmers were labeled kulaks and exiled to Kazakhstan. When Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, all ethnic Germans were deported to Kazakhstan and Siberia. Many were sent to special settlements or Gulag labor camps under the NKVD (People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs) system. The Karlag camp in Dolinka near Karagandy became a central administrative site for exiled peoples.

“By the late 1920s, we lost contact with our German-Russian family when the Soviets restricted communication and began a campaign of repression against them. We know some starved during the famine, some were executed, and others were exiled to ‘Western Siberia’, which included northern Kazakhstan. I did not know any of this when I first visited KazNU in 2012,” said Brown.

Discovering a hidden past

In 2014, Brown visited the Dolinka Museum of Victims of Political Repression near Karagandy, housed in the former Karlag administrative building. The experience was eye-opening.

“I was shocked to learn that more than 440,000 Germans were sent to Kazakhstan,” he said.

Michael Brown, a German-Russian professor and director of graduate studies at the University of Wyoming visited Karamyshevka village, now called Shubaragash in 2024. Photo credit: Myssayeva’s personal archive

On a return visit in 2016, Brown discovered that Karagandy had been one of the main centers of German settlement. With the help of Askhat Yerkimbai, a former UW graduate student and now a faculty member at Suleyman Demirel University in Almaty, he learned about a village called Karamyshevka in northern Kazakhstan, founded by Germans in 1906, before the Soviet era.

“I was surprised because I did not expect that any of my relatives would be among those Germans exiled after 1906. Now I suspected my relatives might have been among those who started this village, but I was unsure how to find information,” said Brown.

To learn more, Brown joined the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR), an organization dedicated to preserving the history of Germans in Russia. Most AHSGR members are descendants of those who immigrated from Russia and want to learn about their family history and the fate of their relatives.

He later became editor of the AHSGR journal, which led him to collaborate with Professors Arailym Mussagaliyeva and Roza Mussabekova from the Eurasian National University, who study the history of Germans living in Kazakhstan both as exiles and settlers.

“During my conversation with Professor Mussagaliyeva, I mentioned my family name, Bruch or Brug, and said that if she went to Karamyshevka village, she might look for that name. At the time, she was working with archives about Karamyshevka and sent me a 1920 census with the names of several Bruch relatives. It was quite an exciting moment for me. I hoped to visit the village on one of my trips to Kazakhstan, but travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic delayed my visit to the village,” said Brown.

Preserving a shared history

In September 2024, Brown returned to Kazakhstan with his colleague Professor Cindy Price Schultz to strengthen ties between the UW and KazNU. This time, he was offered a trip to Karamyshevka village, now called Shubaragash, where no Germans remain today.

“We visited the cemetery and found many graves of my relatives. The grave markers had pictures, names, and the dates my relatives lived in the village. It was a powerful personal experience to realize I was standing among relatives that my current family never knew existed,” said Brown.

“I found over 20 graves. Parts of the cemetery were too old to have visible markers, so I know there are many more of my relatives buried there. A resident talked to us and remarked that the Bruch name was particularly prominent in the village,” he added.

Karamyshevka is just one of many settlements that once held Kazakhstan’s large German population. Interest in the German population is increasing both within Kazakhstan and among descendants abroad.

“The visit was more than I expected. It completed a missing piece of my family puzzle. I share my experience with many German-Russian organizations in the United States. Many asked if I encountered the names of their relatives, and some have asked if it is possible to visit, and I say ‘yes, it is possible’. For me I have a better understanding of my family background and a stronger feeling of connection to Kazakhstan. I had no idea this would be the outcome of my visits to Kazakhstan that started 13 years ago,” said Brown.

Brown’s story is more than an academic exchange. It is a personal quest for identity, memory, and belonging.

Altoona Used Book Sale

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 11:52:48 GMT

The Friends of the Altoona Area Public Library will hold its fall used book sale from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, on the ground floor of the library.

A $5-a-bag sale will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27. There are no Sunday hours.

For Friends members, the Members’ Pre-Sale will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. Friends members preparing for the sale include: front — Pat Callahan; and from left, back — Gloria Bille-Dugan, Helen Gorsuch, Linda Bistline, Barb Brunhuber and Leonard Alwine. The book sale offers books of all kinds from adult fiction, children’s books, bestsellers to classics, non-fiction such as travel, art, history, home repair, genealogy, health, science, crafts, language and true crime books. The sale also includes puzzles, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, patterns, games and more. All money raised benefits the library.

Learn About X-DNA Research in Southington, Connecticut

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 18:14:42 GMT

The Southington Genealogical Society will present a program on X-DNA research Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Robin Michel, on behalf of the Southington Genealogical Society, said the program will be held in-person at 6:30 p.m. at the Southington Historical Society at 239 Main St. A Zoom option will also be available. The program will feature X-DNA expert Mary Beth Krafcik.

“Krafcik’s presentation on X-DNA was initially written for a family newsletter and revised for publication in both the Italian Genealogical Society of America and Italian Genealogical Group newsletters,” Michel said. “It represents years of original research pulled from numerous sources and will be presented in this format.”

The program will include a description of the biology of X-DNA and information about X-DNA recombination, X-DNA inheritance patterns, X-DNA inactivation and how to use X-DNA in genealogy research. Krafcik will also include examples from her own X-DNA.

Michel said Krafcik, a former long-time resident of Southington, has roots in the U.S. which extend back to the beginning of the 20th century.

“While researching her ancestry in Italy and Slovakia, she became interested in DNA and its applications in genealogy research,” Michel said.

Krafcik is a former board member of the Italian Genealogical Society of America and a member of the Italian Genealogical Group. She has contributed articles to the newsletters of both groups.

“Her IGG newsletter articles on ‘Affinity’ and ‘How I Found a 6th Great-Grandfather Using the Antenati Website’ were among those reviewed by the National Genealogical Society for its 2025 Large Society Newsletter award,” Michel said.

Michel added that one of Krafcik’s interests in future research is the immigration patterns of ancestors to America at the beginning of the 20th century and how residents of Southington are related to each other.

The Southington Genealogical Society Inc., founded in 1984, is a nonprofit organization that promotes the accurate recording, research and preservation of family history. The organization meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Southington Historical Society.

Those wishing to attend the program on Zoom are asked to email southingtongenealogicalsociety@gmail.com for the link.

Reparations Program Gives Black Detroiters $25K Toward Home Ownership and Genealogy Tracing

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:00:24 GMT

Reparation Generation is helping Black Detroit residents purchase a home and trace their ancestral roots.

A growing reparations initiative in Detroit, Michigan, is helping Black residents access funding for homeownership and trace their ancestral roots.

After appointing its first executive director, Christian Harris, last year, Reparation Generation — a group dedicated to building Black wealth and supporting data for a potential federal reparations program — is expanding its impact. The organization recently selected six new recipients for its third round of homeownership grants, with each receiving $25,000 in down payment assistance, home-related expenses, and genealogy research support.

“I’m looking to build a legacy through home ownership and build generational wealth,” Stephanie Coney, a 2023 recipient, told the Detroit Free Press. “What better way to do it than with home ownership?”

The program helped Coney overcome the challenges of buying a home and achieve a major milestone. Along with purchasing her first house, she was able to trace her family lineage back to the late 1800s and learn just how close her ancestors were to slavery.

“You’re the recipient for not just you, but for your ancestors who paid the price for you to be here,” Coney said.

Founded in 2020 after George Floyd’s murder, Reparation Generation is a national nonprofit helping Black descendants of enslaved people in metro Detroit achieve homeownership and trace their ancestry. Initially self-funded, it now raises money from individuals, foundations, and corporations, redistributing wealth from those who’ve benefited from systemic harms to Black homebuyers.

One contributor, Joni Tedesco, a white Detroit native, saw her family build generational wealth through her father’s military service and the GI Bill — a privilege often denied to Black veterans, contributing to a lasting racial wealth gap. After learning about Reparation Generation last year through a church group, she became actively involved, hosting home meetings to raise awareness and, with her husband, Jim, contributing monthly to the organization’s $25,000 homeownership grants.

“This really struck home to me, the whole idea of helping with reparations in a way that helps provide people the opportunity to obtain housing,” Tedesco said.

Since 2022, 12 metro Detroit residents have become homeowners through the program. The third-round application ran from Sept. 1–10. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, Black descendants of enslaved people (with ancestry traceable in the 1870–1900 census or linked to the South through the 1940s), identify as Black in the 2020 census, reside in Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb counties, and commit to buying a home in the area.

Accepted applicants complete orientation, including homebuyer education and a financial readiness assessment, and apply via an official link. Applications are sorted by Detroit median family income to ensure income diversity, then randomly selected within categories. Selected participants schedule genealogy and financial consultations, while others join a waitlist. Enrollees have 120 days to purchase a home, after which the $25,000 grant is wired to an escrow account. Participants also commit to two years of program evaluations.

“Families will see a different future for themselves and for their children and I think that it will also have a broader impact on the community,” said Glenda Price, a Reparation Generation’s board member.

Board Awards $25,000 Each to Green Bay, Wisconsin Brothers Released After Decades in Prison

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:56:03 GMT

Robert and David Bintz, the brothers released after serving nearly 25 years in prison for a Green Bay murder, were each awarded $25,000 amount from the State of Wisconsin Claims Board.

$25,000 is the maximum statutory compensation the Wisconsin Claims Board can award.

Also, the Bintz brothers were awarded money for their attorney fees, which were around $130,000 each.

Compensations greater than $25,000 need to be approved by state legislature. Both brothers were seeking $2 million each from the legislature. The claims board recommended the legislature to further compensate $1 million to each brother.

In 2000, the Bintz brothers were found guilty in connection to the 1987 murder of Sandra Lison and were sentenced to life in prison.

In 2019, The Great North Innocence Project stepped in with hopes of proving the brothers' innocence.

In 2023, the organization reached out to Ramapo College for assistance in analyzing the evidence through Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG).

Within two days, a team involving six students found a lead revealing now-deceased William Hendricks as the potential suspect. According to criminal records, Hendricks had a violent criminal history.

The IGG center, using public DNA testing, found genetic connections through Hendrick's cousins. Hendrick's body was exhumed, tested and a match was found.

The Bintz brothers were set free in September of 2024.

Michael Carbo Sentenced for Nancy Daugherty’s Murder for a Second Time in Duluth, Minnesota

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:50:32 GMT

Michael Carbo, age 57, has again been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty by a second jury for the 1986 rape and murder of Nancy Daugherty according to St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki.

Carbo was first indicted by a Grand Jury in April 2022, for the rape and murder of Daugherty in her home in Chisholm after genetic genealogy pointed law enforcement to Carbo through his DNA left at the crime scene, explained the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office.

“In a divided opinion dated May 8, 2024, the Minnesota Supreme Court reversed Mr. Carbo’s conviction, finding that Mr. Carbo should have been allowed to present limited alternative-perpetrator evidence,” further explained the office.

A second jury trial was conducted in January 2025, and this jury also found Carbo guilty on both counts.

The jury determined that Carbo, when was 18-years-old, attacked 38-year-old Nancy Daugherty at her home wehre she lived alone.

“When questioned by law enforcement, Mr. Carbo denied knowing Ms. Daugherty or ever being inside her residence. However, during the second trial he testified that he must have had a consensual sexual encounter with Ms. Daughtery, despite having no memory of it,” continued a release from the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office.

Carbo’s sentencing was delayed when Carbo challenged the jury’s conviction in district court.

“The family of Ms. Daugherty has shown the greatest strength and courage throughout this process, even though it has been extraordinarily long and painful,” said County Attorney Maki. “They endured uncertainty, frustration, and hardship, yet their resolve never wavered.”

“While no sentence can erase the harm done, this outcome marks a meaningful step toward justice. It sends a clear message that delays do not equal impunity: those who commit crimes will be held responsible,” continued County Attorney Maki.

MyHeritage Adds 1.2 Billion Records

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 01:05:20 GMT

MyHeritage’s ever-growing historical record count has recently jumped by an incredible 1.2 billion — with records added across 24 new and updated collections from the U.S., Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, the U.K., Spain, and Poland.

What makes this update especially exciting is how many of the new records are newspaper-related. Newspapers are full of rich stories, elusive vital record substitutes, and names that might not show up anywhere else. These records are packed with searchable details like relationships, residences, occupations, and full article summaries.

Check it out at https://myheritage.com.

Grantsburg Area Historical Society to Present Program on Genealogy

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:38:22 GMT

The Grantsburg Area (Wisconsin) Historical Society (GAHS) invites all to attend a program on genealogy by guest speaker, Jill Fuller, from the Wisconsin Historical Society at the Grantsburg Public Library, at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16.

Do you want to find out about your family's history but don't know where to start? This program will present the basics of genealogy research so you can confidently start your own family history project.

Fuller will walk through the research process, demonstrating how to set a research goal, locate records, analyze evidence, and share your findings.

Find out how the Wisconsin Historical Society's collections can also help those involved in genealogy research.

There will be short presentation at the end of Fuller’s program about the resources available in the GAHS History Room and how GAHS volunteers can help those seeking information on family genealogy and the history of the community.

Refreshments will be served after the program.

33-Year-Old Cold Case Solved

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:25:59 GMT

A 33-year-old cold case in Portland has been solved. Workers clearing brush near the St. Johns Bridge in North Portland found skeletonized human remains. Testing over the years failed to identify the remains until DNA genealogy was conducted. Investigators identified the person they thought might be the brother and a DNA test confirmed the remains were Bryant Deane. He was around 39-years-old when he died. His parents died in 2017 and 2019, not knowing what happened to their son. They left a space for him on their headstone, so he can now be laid to rest with his family.

Genealogist’s Talk Looks at Mexican Genealogy Research

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:16:22 GMT

Lisa Medina

The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society invites the community to hear a presentation titled Mexican Genealogy Research: Civil & Church Records and Beyond, 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.

The talk, which is free to attend, will be given by Lisa Medina, a professional genealogist and lecturer, at the Genealogical Society meeting,

Participants will discover the essentials of Mexican genealogy research including language resources, naming conventions, and key civil and church records, while exploring lesser-used sources, such as newspapers, immigration files, and colonial records, according to the Genealogical Society.

Examples from early Santa Barbara families will illustrate how these resources bring family history to life.

Medina is a professional genealogist, who applies her background in teaching to all of her presentations. She is an alum of several genealogical institutes and education programs (ProGen, SLIG, Gen-Fed); her research expertise is in Mexican genealogy.

Medina is the director of admissions and university registrar at a California State University.

Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for refreshments and informal discussions with the society’s special interest groups, covering a variety of topics from getting started in genealogy to writing family histories.

A short business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by Medina’s presentation.

The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society helps people discover, document, share, and preserve their family histories. An all-volunteer organization, the society operates a research library with 16,000+ books and a computer lab offering access subscription genealogy websites.

Annual memberships start at $40. Learn more and join at SBGen.org.

Family History Fair at Central Library, Edinburgh, Sctoland

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 23:02:37 GMT

FRIDAY 24th OCTOBER from 10am – 4pm

Join us for a Family History Fair at Central Library on Friday 24 October 2025, between 10am and 4pm!

Come along to talk to experts from the following organisations who will be on hand to introduce their collections and answer questions about using materials to search for missing details in your family history.

We’ll be joined by:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Edinburgh Central Library – Edinburgh and Scottish Collection and Digital Teams

Edinburgh City Archives

Historic Environment Scotland

National Library of Scotland

National Records of Scotland and Scotland’s People

National War Museum Library

Scottish Genealogy Society

and The Royal Scots

There will also be a series of presentations held throughout the day. Both the day and talks are free to attend, but the talks should be booked in advance via TicketSource.

Read the full Family History Fair programme on the blog at https://zurl.co/mQieA

We hope to see you there!

Image: Photograph of group of children, Newhaven, c. 1921, © The City of Edinburgh Council Museums and Galleries

Nassau County Office of the Medical Examiner and the FBI Team with Othram to Identify the Suspect in a 1984 Homicide

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:55:48 GMT

In December 1984, the body of 16-year-old Theresa Fusco was found buried under leaves in a wooded area near the roller-skating rink where she had worked in Lynbrook, in Nassau County, New York. Several law enforcement agencies responded and began collecting evidence and investigating. They determined her body had been there for weeks and she had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Three men were later convicted of the murder, but DNA testing unavailable in the 1980s found that someone other than the three had committed the killings and they were exonerated in 2005.

In 2023, the Nassau County Office of the Medical Examiner, working with the FBI, submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the suspect. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown suspect.

Once the profile was created, it was provided to the FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team, who worked to develop new leads in the case using forensic genetic genealogy.

With this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the suspect. This investigation led to the positive identification of the suspect, who is now known to be Richard Bilodeau, 63, of Center Moriches, a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York. He was indicted on two counts of murder on October 14, 2025.

Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can aid ongoing forensic investigations by joining the DNASolves database. Expanding the pool of available DNA profiles increases the likelihood of successful identifications, helping to reunite families with their missing loved ones and resolve cases that have remained unsolved for years.

The identification of Richard Bilodeau represents the 16th case in the State of New York where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other New York cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

Albany Police, FBI, Othram ID Suspect in 1964 Homicide

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:49:10 GMT

Credit: Othram

In September 1964, 50-year-old Catherine Bik Blackburn was sexually assaulted and murdered in her home on Colonie Street in Albany, New York. Several law enforcement agencies responded, including the Albany Police Department, and a homicide investigation was opened. Investigators collected a significant amount of evidence, including blood samples, a footprint in the yard, and slips of paper believed to be connected to the killer. Blackburn, a foreman at the Fuller Brush Company, rented out a room in her home and was separated from her husband, who was an Air Corps veteran working in Japan.

Investigators learned that Blackburn had recently cancelled newspaper ads to rent out the room and painted the rental unit the same weekend she was killed. Investigators found a slip of paper with the same numbers as the house, "117" and receipt torn from Catherine's receipt book. Investigators were able to read the name on the missing receipt by examining pen impressions on the next sheet of paper in the book. That name did not lead to any known person and was determined to likely be fictitious. Despite an extensive investigation that went on for years, the case went cold and no suspect was identified.

In 2023, the Albany Police Department, working with the FBI, submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the suspect. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the suspect. Once the profile was created, it was provided to the FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team, who worked to develop new leads in the case using forensic genetic genealogy.

With this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the suspect. The potential suspect, who had died in 1998, was exhumed and DNA was collected and compared to the DNA from the 1964 crime scene. This investigation led to the positive identification of the suspect, who is now known to be Joseph Nowakowski, born in 1931.

Nowakowski died in 1998 after several stints in prison, according to officials. He was convicted of a similar assault of an elderly woman in Schenectady in 1973 and officials believe that Nowakowski is likely connected to other criminal cases in the area.

Advanced DNA testing at Othram was made possible through a grant from Season of Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to providing funding to investigative agencies and families to help solve cold cases.

This case is a reminder that every piece of preserved evidence has the potential to unlock long-awaited answers. If you would like to support efforts to solve more cases like this, consider contributing your DNA data to the DNASolves database which aids law enforcement in identifying suspects and giving families the answers they deserve.

The identification of the suspect represents the 14th case in the State of New York where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram.

Solving Crimes with Investigative Genetic Genealogy in Montclair, New Jersey

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:44:42 GMT

Event Info: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/10fa64b5-afc7-4c10-91dd-bf40edae1d90

The Montclair Women’s Club’s Friday Afternoon Speaker Series presents Cairenn Binder, Asst Director of the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center. She will talk about the burgeoning new field of investigative genetic genealogy.

Montclair Women's Club

82 Union St, Montclair, New Jersey 07042, US

Free for MWC members, $10 nonmembers

Genealogy Expert to Speak at Mesquite Family Search Workshop

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:39:51 GMT

Lynzi Coffey of Salt Lake City, Utah, will be the keynote speaker at the Mesquite Family Search Day on Saturday, Oct. 18.

This free event will take place at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 110 N. Arrowhead Ln., Mesquite. The workshop begins at 8 a.m. and includes classes and family history displays as well as a continental breakfast.

Coffey’s presentation, entitled “Expect Miracles in Your Family History Journey,” will focus on her personal successes researching her own ancestors.

She is the operations manager of the largest 15 Family Search Centers the LDS church maintains in North America and assists in the operation of the other 2,000 plus centers around the US and Canada.

Classes include instruction on using new Family Search Mobile Apps to add documents, photos, audio and more to Family Search accounts.

Other topics taught are using FamilySearch Wiki to find genealogy databases, websites and other resources as well as personal, one-on-one coaching sessions, using full text search/AI and learning to use the Family History program on Chrome OS, the system to which Family Search Centers are migrating.

Rowan Public Library's Genealogy Conference Returns to RPL West

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:40:34 GMT

On Saturday, October 18, from 9:30 am to 4 pm, everyone is invited to attend a genealogy conference at Rowan Public Library’s West Branch, located at 201 School St. in Cleveland, North Carolina.

This free conference is designed for ages 16 and up and researchers of all skill levels and backgrounds – from the beginner who’s looking for lost information about relatives to skilled enthusiasts and academics. All attendees are asked to register by calling 704-216-8232 or visiting bit.ly/GenealogyCon25.

Lunch will be provided for pre-registered attendees, courtesy of the N.C. Genealogical Society.

This year’s conference theme is “New Directions,” and Gretchen Witt, RPL's History Room Supervisor and Conference Coordinator, hopes the day will introduce new directions for research and learning to each person who attends: “My hope is that everyone who participates will leave with new knowledge that will serve them well in the future,” she said.

The day’s agenda includes specialized sessions, a tour of a local historic site, a tour of RPL West, a vendor room, and a display of research posters. Vendors include groups like the North Carolina Genealogical Society and poster subjects offer information such as how to navigate the Rowan County Register of Deeds' website and how to record an oral family history. Poster applications may be submitted via bit.ly/GenealogyConPoster through October 3.

“The conference strives to be just as interesting and useful to those who are ‘dipping a toe’ into local history and genealogy as it is for those who are knowledgeable researchers,” said Witt. “It is truly suitable for a broad audience, and it’s just a fun time!”

RPL West opens its doors at 9 a.m. on Saturdays, and conference check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. The day will feature four sessions led by professional genealogist Diane L. Richard, the owner and president of Mosaic Research and Project Management and a listed researcher with the State Archives of N.C., University of N.C. Chapel Hill’s Wilson Library, and Duke University’s David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. She is currently editor of the North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal and a regular contributor to the online publication now known as “Internet Genealogy.” She is the author of “Tracing Your Ancestors — African American Research: A Practical Guide,” published in 2019. Richard has also performed research for the US version of the TV show “Who Do You Think You Are?” and appeared in the Bryan Cranston episode.

“Richard is wonderful about sharing her expertise and teaching others how to locate family records,” said Witt. Attendees will also learn about genealogical research techniques, tools, strategies, and more.

Retired Catawba College History Professor Gary Freeze, Ph.D., will also present a short session on early settlement in Rowan County. “People don’t always realize that early Rowan County made up nearly half of the state. The popularity of “Outlander” has raised awareness of this, but Dr. Freeze delves into what really drew people to this area and helped make Rowan a central player in nineteenth-century N.C. economics and politics,” explained Witt.

At Noon, attendees will have the option to travel on their own convoy-style to Cleveland’s Third Creek Presbyterian Church, located at 2055 3rd Creek Church Rd. The church cemetery was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic places in 1983; its earliest surviving gravestone is dated 1776. According to Witt, “Folklore has it that local nineteenth-century schoolteacher Peter Stuart Ney was really Marshal Michel Ney, who served in Napoleon Bonaparte’s army. The church has a famous tombstone enclosed in brick and viewing glass that is rumored to be his.” The tombstone’s plaque reads, "In Memory of Peter Stewart Ney a native of France and soldier of the French Revolution under Napoleon Bonaparte who departed this life November 15th, 1846, aged 77 years."

Lunch (either provided or on-your-own), a poster session, and two more presentations round out the day. Past conferences have been attended by people from all over N.C., and Witt expects the same this year. “We are working towards a record turnout,” Witt said. “We purposely strive to decrease barriers to attendance, like registration fees, enabling a day of education and community that really supports RPL’s mission of lifelong learning.”

To learn more about the conference, contact Witt at Gretchen.Witt@rowancountync.gov or 704-216-8232 or visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org. More details about Richard and her work are available at www.mosaicrpm.com.

Tulsa Begins Fifth Excavation at Oaklawn Cemetery to Uncover 1921 Race Massacre Victims

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 01:28:30 GMT

The City of Tulsa, in collaboration with field experts, is set to commence a fifth excavation at Oaklawn Cemetery on Tuesday, Oct. 14, as part of the ongoing investigation into the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre graves.

This follows the latest summary report and proposed next steps from the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey.

The excavation aims to uncover more victims of the massacre, with two victims, James Goings and C.L. Daniel, already identified. Another individual, George Melvin Gillispie, has been identified, though it remains undetermined if he was a massacre victim.

The 2024 Field Season Summary Report, available at www.cityoftulsa.org/1921graves, outlines recent findings from forensic anthropologists. The report suggests expanding excavations in Blocks K and F, located along the cemetery's westernmost fence line, after previous excavations did not yield the expected number of victims.

On Monday, Oct. 13, Oaklawn Cemetery was closed to the public for the duration of the excavation, which is expected to last several weeks. Drones and aircraft are prohibited during the excavation.

The City of Tulsa is coordinating with Greenwood, North Tulsa, and 1921 Race Massacre descendants to allow community volunteers to assist with the excavation. Interested individuals can sign up at https://forms.office.com/g/cCbiYcE5Sn.

The 2024 field season has already uncovered substantial evidence of trauma victims in Section 20 of Oaklawn Cemetery, with remains of four additional individuals with gunshot wounds recovered. Among the six confirmed gunshot victims, five displayed evidence of multiple gunshot wounds from at least five different calibers.

The City of Tulsa, in partnership with Intermountain Forensics and the Greenwood Cultural Center, is also hosting Community Engagement Genealogy Workshops on Nov. 7 and 8. These workshops aim to empower community members, especially descendants of the massacre, to explore their genealogies. Registration is required at www.greenwoodculturalcenter.org/genealogy-workshop.

This excavation and the genealogy project are part of Mayor Nichols' "Road to Repair," announced on June 1, 2025, to address the multigenerational wounds from the massacre. The plan includes the Greenwood Trust, a privately funded charitable trust aiming to secure $105 million for the benefit of Greenwood and North Tulsa residents.

For more information on the Road to Repair, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/RoadtoRepair.

Orillia Public Library Celebrates Canadian Library Month With 'Engaging' Events for All Ages

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 01:19:25 GMT

October is Canadian Library Month, and Orillia Public Library in Ontario is celebrating with a variety of engaging events designed to educate, inspire and connect the community. From genealogy to decluttering, author talks to creative workshops, there’s something for everyone this month.

Among this month’s highlights as the Genealogy Club’s 20th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 1 p.m. Professional genealogist Linda Corupe will present Selling the Past: Advertising in the 1800s, offering a fascinating look at vintage ads and the everyday life of two centuries ago — plus, cake.

Next, clear your calendar for The Hidden Stress of Stuff on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. Professional organizer Laura Davidson will delve into why clutter feels so overwhelming and how small changes can have a big impact. Registration is required for this session.

Mystery lovers won’t want to miss author Iona Whishaw’s visit on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m., presented in partnership with Manticore Books. Whishaw will discuss her latest novel, A Season for Spies: A Lane Winslow Prequel, a tale of wartime espionage and family intrigue inspired by her own family history.

For a creative outlet, join The Artful Way to Wellness on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Therapeutic arts practitioners Lindsey and Molli will guide participants through a hands-on evening of painting and collage. No artistic experience needed.

OPL is also hosting activities for children, teens and families. Teens can get into the spooky spirit with Scary Snacks on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., while families can enjoy the Family Boo Bash on Friday, Oct. 30, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., featuring Halloween crafts, games and treats. Kids aged nine to 12 can take on a challenge in the Tween Escape Room on Monday, Oct. 27, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Plus, don’t miss the Hotel Transylvania-themed PA Day program on Friday, Oct. 24, for some monstrous fun.

October is also the perfect time to join or renew your library membership during OPL’s membership drive. Sign up for a new card or renew an expired one for a chance to win a $200 prize pack. Already a member? Refer a friend, and both of you could win a $50 local restaurant gift card. Can’t make it into the library? Catch OPL at Zehrs on Friday, Oct. 17, from noon to 2 p.m., and at the Orillia Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market on Saturday, Oct. 25.

Finally, OPL is looking for input on its future digital services through the Digital Strategy Survey, open until Monday, Oct. 20. Share your thoughts and be entered to win one of three $50 Downtown Orillia gift cards.

There’s always something happening at OPL — why not see what sparks your interest? Visit the library’s website or call 705-325-2338 for details and registration information for upcoming programs and services.

Rowan Public Library's Genealogy Conference Returns to RPL West

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 01:11:52 GMT

On Saturday, October 18, from 9:30 am to 4 pm, everyone is invited to attend a genealogy conference at Rowan Public Library’s West Branch, located at 201 School St. in Cleveland, North Carolina.

Lunch will be provided for pre-registered attendees, courtesy of the N.C. Genealogical Society.

Discover Your Roots with FamilySearch’s Free October Webinars

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:51:35 GMT

FamilySearch is announcing its free October 2025 webinars. Topics include tips for getting the most out of the FamilySearch Family Tree, using cemetery records, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, a virtual tour of the FamilySearch Library, and a livestream of the arrival of the Crossings 200 Norwegian sloop in New York City. All webinars are presented by specialists from the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and offer engaging ways to make meaningful discoveries. Find and share this announcement in the FamilySearch Newsroom.

The October 2025 webinars began with a session on how to effectively use the FamilySearch Family Tree (Watch now on demand). Chandra Schmidt shared techniques to help individuals correct information in family relationships. Join Angela Thorup as she demonstrates the best types of records, hints, sources, and how to link them to individuals in Family Tree. Julia A. Anderson will discuss using United States cemetery records to enrich your FamilySearch family. Learn more about what cemetery records are, their genealogical value, and how to find them.

This month, FamilySearch has 3 livestreams. Join FamilySearch on a livestream covering the arrival of the Norwegian immigrant ship Restauration in New York City harbor on 16 October 2025, at 12:15 p.m. mountain time, celebrating the sloop and its 52 passengers after their historic transatlantic voyage 200 years ago. The broadcast will be co-hosted by a descendant of an original Slooper (immigrant on the ship), capturing the arrival and associated festivities that honor the legacy of Norwegian family heritage and the enduring spirit of those who crossed oceans to build new lives for themselves and future generations.

On 23 October, a special livestream will highlight the FamilySearch Library. The live event will be streamed on FamilySearch social media platforms and features a virtual tour, the fantastic history of the library, and an interactive panel discussion with some of the library’s research specialists.

The final livestream, on 30 October, will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. It will honor heritage, share experiences, reflect the richness and diversity of cultures, and help people connect through stories that matter.

FamilySearch Webinars October 2025 Schedule

Date Webinar and Link Presenters

Watch Now FamilySearch Family Tree: Correcting Relationships Chandra Schmidt

Thursday, 16 October,
11:00 AM
FamilySearch Family Tree: Records, Hints, and Sources Angela Thorup

Thursday, 16 October
12:15 PM
Norwegian Ship Arrives After a Historic Journey FamilySearch

Thursday, 23 October,
11:00 AM
FamilySearch Library Livestream FamilySearch

Thursday, 23 October,
12:00 PM
Using U.S. Cemetery Records to Fill in Gaps on Your Family Tree Julia A. Anderson

Thursday, 30 October,
11:00 AM
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with FamilySearch FamilySearch

Social Media

Follow FamilySearch social on Facebook| Instagram | YouTube | X (formerly Twitter)

About FamilySearch

FamilySearch International is the world’s largest genealogy organization. We are a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use our records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 125 years. People can access our services and resources online for free at FamilySearch.org or through over 6,500 FamilySearch centers in 129 countries, including the central FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Volusia Detectives Seek Help Identifying John Doe Found 43 Years Ago in Ormond Beach

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:44:28 GMT

Volusia County detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying a John Doe whose skeletal remains were found in the Ormond Beach area in 1982.

According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies are collaborating with FHD Forensics to help identify a man who was found deceased in Ormond Beach on March 12, 1982. His skeletal remains were discovered in a wooded area by two boys who were camping.

Since the man was found without any clothing, jewelry, or any personal effects, his death was ruled “suspicious.” He was a white male who stood approximately 5’7” tall, weighed around 150 pounds, and was likely born between 1935 and 1947.

“We need your help to give this John Doe his name back!” said the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in a social media post on Monday. In that post, VCSO shared two forensic portraits of the man, which have been AI-enhanced to show what he may have looked like.

VCSO stated that John Doe’s DNA profile has revealed that most of his ancestral ties are French Canadian, with more than 50% of his admixture being Irish, Scottish, and English.

In addition to Ontario and Quebec, John Doe also has genetic ties to distant matches in Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan. Investigators believe that John Doe, or his family before him, may have lived in one of these areas before moving to Florida.

“(John Doe’s) identified common ancestors are still very distant (1750s) after 18 months of research and related DNA testing,” said VCSO. “In memory of Volusia County residents and murder victims Dean and Tina Linn Clouse, Genealogy For Justice is sponsoring a reference DNA testing program of the descendants of those distant ancestors to help identify him.”

For more information, including how to contribute a DNA sample, visit the Genealogy for Justice’s 1982 Volusia County John Doe webpage.

If anyone has information about this John Doe that could help investigators, please contact the VCSO Cold Case Unit via email at: ColdCaseUnitTips@volusiasheriff.gov.

"Landing" Your Ancestors: A Land Records Workshop in Jackson, Missouri

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:37:11 GMT

Please join the Missouri State Genealogical Association, Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society, and Cape Girardeau County Archive Center for a workshop on using land records, from 10 AM to 2 PM Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center, 112 E. Washington St., Jackson, Missouri.

Presented by Bill Eddleman, MoSGA & The State Historical Society of Missouri; Marybeth Niederkorn, Cape Girardeau County Archivist; and Drew Blattner, Cape Girardeau County Recorder and President of the Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society

Topics covered will include:

• Intro to land record types

• Metes and bounds survey system

• Researching Missouri Spanish/French land grants

• United States public land system

• Using deeds to uncover relationships

• Online research with land records

Participants will have the opportunity to apply learning using “hands-on” exercises. A laptop is recommended to get the most out of the sessions. Research time is available. Please come with questions and as much information as you have.

Limit 14 participants. Contact the Archive Center, (573) 204-2332, to register.

Cape Girardeau and Jackson have numerous hotels if you are coming from out of town and need to stay the night.

Fee to attend: $5 to cover cost of supplies.

Prior to the event, we recommend participants view Dr. Eddleman's webinars on the basics of topic at the State Historical Society of Missouri’s website. Basic information on land records are in two webinars, available at: https://shsmo.org/on-demand/basic-genealogy/part-5
https://shsmo.org/on-demand/basic-genealogy/part-6

Cape Girardeau County Archive Center

$5.00

10:00 AM - 02:00 PM on Sat, 8 Nov 2025

Event Supported By

Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society

capegenealogy@gmail.com

capegenealogy.org

Skeletal Remains of Portland, Oregon John Doe ID’d After 33 Years

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:33:30 GMT

Portland police and forensic experts have identified a man whose skeletal remains were discovered near the St. Johns Bridge in North Portland more than three decades ago.

Bryant Edward Deane, who was about 39 years old when he died, was positively identified through advanced genetic genealogy techniques.

Workers first found Deane’s fully skeleton on Aug. 17, 1992, while clearing brush near the bridge. Forensic experts determined he was a white male, between 5-foot-2 and 5-foot-5, with significant physical challenges including arthritic changes and leg length differences that would have caused a noticeable limp.

The medical examiner’s investigation revealed Deane was wearing a maroon fleece-lined jacket, dark jeans, MacGregor ankle boots, and cotton gloves when he died, suggesting the death occurred during winter. Fractures on the left side of his body raised questions about whether he fell from the bridge or was struck by a vehicle.

After years of unsuccessful identification attempts, the DNA Doe Project helped break the cold case. In 2024, they partnered with the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office to extract and sequence advanced DNA profiles. By August 2025, volunteers had identified potential family matches.

Deane’s presumed brother, who had not been in contact with him since the mid-1970s, provided a DNA sample for comparison. The medical examiner’s office confirmed Deane’s identity in October 2025.

“Bryant’s parents passed away in 2017 and 2019, never knowing what happened to their son,” said Hailey Collord-Stalder, forensic anthropologist. “His family left a space for him on their headstone; now he can finally be laid to rest with his family.”

MyHeritage Upgrades Its Consumer DNA Tests to Whole Genome Sequencing

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:12:57 GMT

MyHeritage becomes the first major DNA testing company to fully adopt Whole Genome Sequencing; the upgrade leverages technology by Ultima Genomics and processing at the Gene by Gene lab

TEL AVIV, Israel & LEHI, Utah & HOUSTON & FREMONT, California October 14 , 2025 — MyHeritage, the leading global platform for family history and DNA testing, announced today a landmark move to Whole Genome Sequencing for its at-home DNA test, MyHeritage DNA. Leveraging cutting-edge sequencing technology from Ultima Genomics and processing at the Gene by Gene lab, MyHeritage is the first major consumer DNA testing company to adopt Whole Genome Sequencing at a scale of more than one million tests per year. The enriched data will empower MyHeritage to deliver more accurate ethnicity analysis and DNA matching, and unlock opportunities for future innovation in consumer genomics and genetic genealogy.

Whole Genome Sequencing reads almost the entire human genetic code, covering around 3 billion base pairs (nucleotides). This is superior to the standard genotyping arrays used by most consumer DNA tests, including MyHeritage until recently, which read only about 700,000 base pairs. More data enables deeper insights across all types of genetic analysis. Whole Genome Sequencing is now being applied to most new MyHeritage DNA kits currently being processed at the lab, and to every new MyHeritage DNA kit sold moving forward. MyHeritage DNA kits already processed with the older genotyping array technology will not be reprocessed with Whole Genome Sequencing. Customers whose MyHeritage DNA kits are processed with Whole Genome Sequencing will be able to download their entire genome from MyHeritage at no cost, in CRAM format. They may also unlock additional insights by uploading their data to other trusted genetic service providers that support such uploads.

Due to its high technological potential, MyHeritage has been eying Whole Genome Sequencing for years. A pioneering study by the MyHeritage Science Team published in 2020 validated Whole Genome Sequencing for reliable relative matching at scale. Following that study, MyHeritage has been collaborating closely with Ultima Genomics since its emergence from stealth mode in mid-2022, and later jointly with Gene by Gene, to prepare the scientific and logistical foundation for upgrading the MyHeritage DNA processing pipeline to Whole Genome Sequencing using Ultima’s technology. The upgrade was completed successfully and creates new opportunities for MyHeritage to deliver deeper insights into ethnic origins, family connections, and genetic genealogy, without any price increase to consumers. Even before this upgrade, MyHeritage was consistently the most affordable DNA test on the market among the major DNA testing companies. The upgrade to Whole Genome Sequencing makes the MyHeritage offering even more compelling.

“This is a pivotal moment for genetic genealogy,” said Gilad Japhet, Founder and CEO of MyHeritage. “We are proud to take this pioneering step into Whole Genome Sequencing together with Ultima Genomics and with our longstanding partners at Gene by Gene. MyHeritage customers will enjoy the fruits of this technological upgrade for years to come, through increased accuracy, deeper insights, and exciting new products.”

“MyHeritage’s move to Whole Genome Sequencing marks a major milestone for consumer DNA testing,” said Dr. Gilad Almogy, Founder and CEO of Ultima Genomics. “It demonstrates the scalability and maturity of Ultima’s innovative technology and accelerates the immense value that Whole Genome Sequencing can bring to consumers. It has been a pleasure collaborating with MyHeritage over the past few years, and we are proud to work together with them and Gene by Gene to bring genetic genealogy to new heights for millions of consumers worldwide.”

“The transition to Whole Genome Sequencing represents the most ambitious project in our years-long partnership with MyHeritage,” said Dr. Lior Rauchberger, CEO of Gene by Gene. “We are proud to help set a new standard in consumer genomics and support the growth of what will soon become the world’s largest database of whole genomes. The rollout is centered at Gene by Gene’s state-of-the-art laboratory in Houston, Texas, which will house a large fleet of Ultima UG100™ sequencing instruments.”

Privacy Commitment

MyHeritage is committed to the privacy and security of its customers' data. All genetic data is encrypted and stored securely, and MyHeritage does not sell or license data to third parties. MyHeritage strictly prohibits the use of its platform by law enforcement. All genetic samples are automatically destroyed by the lab after processing, except those stored securely for customers who have enrolled in the MyHeritage DNA BioBank service. This provides customers with peace of mind not offered by most other major DNA testing companies.

About MyHeritage

MyHeritage is the leading global platform for family history. It enriches the lives of people worldwide by enabling them to uncover more about themselves and where they belong. With a suite of intuitive products, billions of historical records, AI-powered photo tools, and an affordable at-home DNA test, MyHeritage creates a meaningful discovery experience that is deeply rewarding. The MyHeritage platform is enjoyed by more than 62 million people around the world who treasure and celebrate their heritage. MyHeritage is committed to the privacy and security of its customer data and is available globally in 42 languages.www.myheritage.com

About Ultima Genomics

Ultima Genomics is unleashing the power of genomics at scale. The company's mission is to continuously drive the scale of genomic information to enable unprecedented advances in biology and improvements in human health. With humanity on the cusp of a biological revolution, there is a virtually endless need for more genomic information to address biology's complexity and dynamic change—and a further need to challenge conventional next-generation sequencing technologies. Ultima's revolutionary new sequencing architecture drives down the costs of sequencing to help overcome the tradeoffs that scientists and clinicians are forced to make between the breadth, depth and frequency with which they use genomic information. The new sequencing architecture was designed to scale far beyond conventional sequencing technologies, lower the cost of genomic information and catalyze the next phase of genomics in the 21st century. www.ultimagenomics.com

About Gene by Gene
Gene by Gene is a world leader in genetic testing services with over 20 years of experience. Its laboratory holds accreditation from multiple agencies, including CAP, CLIA, New York State Department of Health, California Department of Public Health, and AABB. With a cutting-edge laboratory and highly trained team of experts, Gene by Gene is committed to excellence in the field of genetic analysis. www.genebygene.com

Tipp City Public Library (in Ohio) Preserves Local History Through Newspaper Digitization Project

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 15:25:54 GMT

The Tipp City Public Library is proud to announce the launch of its newly digitized newspaper archive, now available online at https://tippcity.historyarchives.online. This exciting resource preserves invaluable local history and makes it accessible to residents, researchers, students, historians, and genealogy enthusiasts alike.

Unlocking Local Heritage

The Library will be providing access to The Tipp Herald (1933–1935) and The Tippecanoe City Herald (1869–1871). These publications offer a richly detailed chronicle of Tipp City and surrounding communities—capturing daily life, community events, local government, businesses, and social history across generations.

“Preserving old newspapers is crucial because they provide irreplaceable, firsthand accounts of historical events, societal attitudes, and cultural shifts,” said Lisa Santucci, Director of the Tipp City Public Library. “They serve as a vital primary source for historians, researchers, genealogists, and the public. We are so excited to share this resource with Tipp City and beyond.”

Grant Support from the Wahl Family Fund & Tipp City Foundation

This ambitious project was made possible through a generous grant from the Wahl Family Fund, awarded via the Tipp City Foundation. Their support covered the costs of digitization, metadata creation, quality control, and the hosting infrastructure required to serve the archives online. We are deeply grateful for their vision in ensuring our community’s heritage is safeguarded for future generations.

Goals & Benefits

Preservation: Protect fragile original newspapers from further wear and damage.
Access: Enable remote access to all by making the collection searchable and browsable online.
Research & Education: Provide primary-source material for historians, students, genealogists, teachers, and writers.
Community Engagement: Reconnect residents with Tipp City’s past—its people, businesses, culture, and stories.

How to Use the Archive

Visitors to the site can:

Go to https://tippcity.historyarchives.online.
Search by date, keyword, or newspaper title
Browse full issues or individual pages
Download high-resolution PDFs for personal or research use
Cite original articles in academic or local history work

Future Plans

The Archives team intends to continue expanding the digital holdings, incorporating additional newspapers and local publications. Outreach efforts, such as workshops and history programs, will help citizens learn how to explore and utilize the collection effectively.

George Memorial Library to Host Genealogy Lock-In on Oct. 17

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 15:19:41 GMT

In recognition of Family-History Month in October, Fort Bend County Libraries’ Genealogy & Local History Department at George Memorial Library will join the Genealogy Network of Texas (GNT) in a state-wide, collaborative Genealogy Lock-In for family-history buffs on Friday, October 17, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in Room 2C of the library, 1001 Golfview in Richmond.

A series of teleconferences with topics of interest to family-history researchers will be streamed throughout the day. Participants may attend to view all the sessions, or they may choose to view individual sessions. The schedule is as follows:

• 10:30-11:30 a.m. – "The Stories of Our Lives: Beginning Your Family-History Research," presented by Curt Witcher, Director of Special Collections at Allen County Public Library. Discover (or review) simple steps to take when starting your family-history research. Get tips on comfortably gathering as much information as possible and then organizing it in a way that makes it quick and easy to share or access. Developing an efficient organizational process in the beginning makes future steps and new discoveries even more possible.

• 11:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m. – “From Names to Narratives: A Simple Guide to Writing,” presented by Hannah Kubacak, Librarian at Waco-McLennan County Library’s Genealogy Center. Learn the art of biographical writing by weaving historical context, personal anecdotes, and family lore into one’s ancestors’ stories. Review tips on maintaining accuracy while crafting a compelling narrative to preserve and share your family history. This presentation will help researchers transform their genealogy research into captivating biographical sketches cherished by future generations.

• 1:05-2:05 p.m. – “Following a Civil Case Through Documents Filed in Court,”presented by J. Mark Lowe, FUGA, Ky-Tn Research Associates Researcher. Learn the basics of the legal system and gain a better understanding of the process of following a case through court, including dockets, orders, depositions, and more. Find the key to solving a problem using these records.

• 2:20-3:20 p.m. – “All in the Family: Using Collateral Research to Build Your Family Tree,” presented by Sandra Crowley, Director of Development for the Texas State Genealogical Society. Collateral research is a powerful genealogical method that extends beyond direct ancestors to investigate the broader family network. Explore strategies to find additional records, reconstruct family dynamics, and navigate challenges post by missing direct ancestor documentation. This approach is useful when primary records are scarce, offering contextual clues, migration patterns, and unexpected biographical details. Learn to transform fragmented family history into a rich and comprehensive narrative.

• 3:35-4:35 p.m. – “Family Trees Get Smart: AI as Your Genealogy Assistant,” presented by Sherri Taggart Ahmadzadeh, Chief Genealogist at Family Tree Tracer, LLC. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how people discover, analyze, and connect family-history records. Join us to explore the emerging ways AI tools are revolutionizing genealogical research – from document analysis to pattern recognition to breakthrough research techniques. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just getting started with digital research, this presentation will help you harness AI’s potential in uncovering your family’s story.

Additional video presentations will be available for viewers to enjoy at their convenience. These bonus videos will not be shown at the library because to time constraints, but links to the videos will be available to everyone who registers for this event. The links to the videos will expire and only be viewed on the day of the event, for a 24-hour period.

“Researching Your Scandinavian Ancestors,” presented by Carl Smith, Manager of the Family-History Research Center at the Clayton Library campus in Houston. The countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden did an excellent job of recording and preserving their church and government records -- from early-modern history until the present – many of which are accessible online. Learn about record sources and strategies for researchers who are ready to uncover their Scandinavian family roots.

“Research Road Trips: Productive for You, Fun for Family,” presented by Jessica Horne Collins, President of the Clayton Library Friends. Uncover your family’s past with a balance of research and family fun. Learn how to prepare yourself for research trips to libraries, courthouses, archives, and other repositories. Explore ways to take completed and in-progress research and craft a road trip that showcases your family history to loved ones of all ages.

“Resources for New Orleans-Area Genealogical Research,” presented by Stephen Stuart, President of the Genealogical Research Society of New Orleans. Family historians can access a wealth of libraries, archives, and other resources to learn more about their roots in Southeast Louisiana. This presentation provides an overview of those resources – both prominent and lessor known – and key features of their collections. Participants will also receive contact information to get started.

Lunch is not included, but those attending the workshop are welcome to bring a lunch with them.

Co-sponsored by the Central Texas Genealogical Society, the Texas State Genealogical Society, and the Genealogy Network of Texas, the workshop is free and open to the public.

Seating is limited, and reservations are required. To register online at Fort Bend County Libraries’ website (www.fortbendlibraries.gov), click on “Classes & Events,” select “George Memorial Library,” and find the program. Participants may also register by calling the library’s Genealogy & Local History Department (281-341-2608). Those registering may choose to view the presentations at the library, or they may opt to receive the link to view them at home.

Discover Early American History with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 15:54:39 GMT

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is pleased to announce the launch of 11 new stories on Google Arts & Culture. This collection builds on our joint commitment to share immersive stories about early America with a global audience, making the country’s rich history more accessible than ever.

This new release is a testament to the power of digital innovation in connecting audiences with the narratives that shaped our nation. Highlights from the stories include:

Virtual guided tours: For the first time, you can take a virtual guided tour of several sites in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. Favorites include the George Wythe House, the original 18th-century home of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence; the Williamsburg Bray School, where hundreds of enslaved and free Black children received an education between 1760 and 1774; and Colonial Williamsburg’s Courthouse, an original 18th-century center for law, business and community life.
Historical stories: Travel alongside 18th-century traveler Adam Cuninghame on his sea voyage from England to Virginia, learn about the history of the 20th-century Bruton Heights School and learn how Colonial Williamsburg’s research library preserves these and many other stories.
Object stories: Uncover the fascinating stories behind an early piece of American silverwork, discover how early Americans kept time and get up close to artworks by 20th-century artist Eddie Arning.
Large-scale curation from our Collections: Leveraging Google Arts & Culture’s large scale data program, we’re making our vast collections of art, artifacts and historical objects more accessible, including an 18th-century map published on the eve of the American Revolution; an early engraving of Tomochichi, chief of the Yamacraw Indians; and a circa-1742 needlework sampler that may be Virginia’s oldest surviving example.

Uncover narratives in Colonial Williamsburg’s vast library collections by examining primary sources like Scotsman Adam Cuninghame’s 18th-century travel journal

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US Hair Museum Finds New Homes for Its Eerie Art in Independence, Missouri

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 15:35:16 GMT

Century-old wreaths made from human hair fill the walls of Leila’s Hair Museum, and glass cases overflow with necklaces and watch bands woven from the locks of the dead. There also are tresses purported to come from past presidents, Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe and even Jesus.

For about 30 years, this hair art collection in the Kansas City suburb of Independence attracted an eclectic group of gawkers that included the likes of heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne.

But the museum's namesake, Leila Cohoon, died last November at the age of 92. Now her granddaughter, Lindsay Evans, is busy rehoming the collection of more than 3,000 pieces to museums across the country, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.

"Every time I come here, I feel her here,” Evans said Monday while touring with representatives of the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston who left with around 30 pieces. "This place is her. And so I feel like this process of rehoming her collection has helped me grieve her in a way that I didn’t even realize I really needed.”

It all started in 1956 when Cohoon, a hair dresser, was shopping for Easter shoes. Inside an antique store she found a gold frame filled with strands of hair twisted into the shape of flowers.

"She said forget the Easter shoes,” Evans said. "My granddad always said that this was the most expensive piece of the museum because look at what it started.”

Evans is keeping that one for herself.

This form of art peaked in popularity in the mid-1800s as women coiled the hair of the dead into jewelry or told their family history by intertwining the curls of loved ones into wreaths.

But hair art had fallen out of favor by the 1940s, as memories were captured in photos, Evans said. Additionally, "this artwork was not celebrated because it was mostly done by women. And so in larger museums, they don’t have a lot of this.”

Her grandmother saved some from being trashed, wrote a book and taught classes on the art form, training a new generation of artists.

Often the hair art was housed in elaborate frames with original glass, so when her grandmother started haggling with antique dealers for the frames, they frequently offered to get rid of the hair.

"And she’d say, ‘No, no, keep that in there,’” Evans said.

Then her grandmother would hand them her business card and tell them to be on the lookout. Soon dealers across the country were calling.

"If it had hair, she got it,” said Evans, who sometimes accompanied her grandmother as she hunted for new additions.

The collection grew to include a wreath containing hair from every woman in the League of Women Voters from Vermont in 1865. A pair of crescent-shaped wreaths contain the tresses of two sisters whose heads were shaved when they entered a convent. A couple pieces even feature taxidermy.

The frames filled the walls of her home and the beauty school she ran with her husband. She shoved them under beds and in closets. Eventually, the couple snatched up this building - a former car dealership - nestled between a fast-food restaurant and car wash.

Celebrities caught wind of the attraction. Actress and comedian Phyllis Diller donated a hair wreath that had been in her family for generations. TV personality Mike Rowe filmed an episode of "Somebody’s Gotta Do It” here. There might also be a few strands from Osbourne inside. When he came to visit, Cohoon snipped a lock, although Evans has yet to find it.

Evans said her grandmother was tight-lipped on what she spent over the years, but she anticipates the worth of the art may top $1 million.

As Genevieve Keeney, the head of the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston, waded through the collection, she eagerly eyed the jewelry that memorialized the dead, including a small pin containing the locks of a 7-year-old girl who died in 1811.

"I always felt it was important to educate people about death,” said Keeney, also a licensed mortician. "Our society does such an injustice on getting people to understand what the true emotions are going to feel like when death happens.”

Evans herself is struggling with a mix of emotions as she slowly rehomes her grandmother's legacy.

"I want people to see all of this because that’s what she wanted," Evans said. "But when this is empty it’ll break my heart a little bit.

Online Registration Closing on Oct. 17 for NERGC 2025 Genealogical Conference in Manchester, NH

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 15:28:18 GMT

October 17 is the last day to register online for the 18th New England Regional Genealogical Conference (NERGC), “New Englanders – Here, There, and Everywhere,” which will be held Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Manchester. Onsite registration for the main conference will be available on Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 if tickets are still available.

Presented by the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, the biennial conference is designed for researchers at all experience levels, from beginners to professionals. The four-day program includes more than 70 educational sessions, workshops, expert consultations and networking opportunities.

NERGC 2025 will feature presentations on a wide range of topics, including DNA, immigration, military and land records, social history, artificial intelligence in genealogy, and ethnic research, with sessions focused on Irish, French-Canadian, African American and Jewish ancestry.

Three nationally recognized speakers will headline the conference:

Annette Burke Lyttle, CG, specializing in Quaker research and ancestral migrations;
Diahan Southard, a pioneer in genetic genealogy education; and
Cari Taplin, CG, who focuses on Midwestern and Great Lakes research.

In addition to the main conference, a full day of pre-conference activities will be held Wednesday, Oct. 29. These include two bus tours to genealogical research centers and historical institutions in Manchester and Concord, and three themed research tracks led by expert instructors. Pre-conference programming also includes five hands-on workshops on topics such as genealogical methodology and writing, photo identification, and mapping family history using Google’s My Maps. Participants may register for these activities without registering for the full conference.

For full conference details, pricing, and registration, visit www.nergc.org.

Bring Your Genealogy Research Problems to Free Session in Lynnwood, Washington Oct. 18

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 15:23:29 GMT

Margaret Summitt

Are you struggling with a family history research problem? The Sno-Isle Genealogical Society is offering a free opportunity to bust through those genealogical Brick Walls on Saturday, Oct. 18 in person at the Humble House Library in Heritage Park, 19827 Poplar Way, Lynnwood.

Bring your questions, challenges, and stumbling blocks. You’ll meet with an experienced genealogy researcher, Margaret Summitt, who will share her insights, tips and knowledge to help you.

To reserve one of the four 40-minute sessions, call 425-775-6267 to leave a message. Your call will be returned later to confirm your appointment

MyHeritage Launches a Spanish-language Webinar Series

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 18:01:34 GMT

Legacy Family Tree Webinars — proudly part of the MyHeritage family since 2017 — did it again! expanding also into Spanish! Starting October 14, a new series of live genealogy webinars will be offered entirely in Spanish, alongside 30 Spanish-language sessions available on demand.

This is an exciting addition for Spanish-speaking genealogists worldwide, and a great resource to share with anyone in your community who speaks Spanish or researches in Spanish-language records.

The first 5 live sessions (all free to attend) are:

Cómo utilizar la Nueva Búsquedas de Texto en FamilySearch with Francisco Javier Gomez, employed by FamilySearch, on Tue, Oct 14, 2025 at 2 P.M. GMT / 10 A.M. EST
¿Qué busca un adoptado durante la búsqueda de orígenes? with Iván Gastañaga, the first Russian adopted in Spain, on Tue, Oct 28, 2025 at 1 P.M. GMT / 9 A.M. EST
Claves para localizar a nuestro primer antepasado de España with Antonio Alfaro de Prado, Spanish genealogist and researcher specializing in Hispanic genealogy, on Tue, Nov 11, 2025 at 1 P.M. GMT / 9 A.M. EST
Búsquedas eficaces en FamilySearch with Debbie Gurtler AG, employed by FamilySearch at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, on Tue, Nov 25, 2025 at 1 P.M. GMT / 9 A.M. EST
¿Como se deletrea tu Apellido? with Sonia Meza, Graduate in Genealogy, Heraldry and Nobility, on Tue, Dec 9, 2025 at 1 P.M. GMT / 9 A.M. EST

See the full Spanish webinar schedule and register here

TheGenealogist Adds Over 900,000 Individuals to Its Irish Parish Record Collection

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 13:47:56 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at TheGenealogist:

TheGenealogist is delighted to announce the release of an exciting new collection of Irish parish records from Waterford, Ireland. These newly transcribed records offer researchers a fresh opportunity to explore their Irish roots and uncover family connections in one of the country's most historically significant counties.

Among the records is Thomas Francis Meagher, a leading voice in the Young Ireland movement and later a Union General in the American Civil War. Following in his father’s footsteps, he was a successful merchant and the former Mayor of Waterford, remembered for his influence and standing in the early 19th century.

TheGenealogist's Head of Content, Mark Bayley, commented:

“We are thrilled to add these parish records to our growing Irish collections. Waterford is the home of Ireland’s oldest city and is the birthplace of Thomas Francis Meagher. These records offer family historians an opportunity to connect their past to a truly historic part of Ireland.”

The release is part of TheGenealogist’s continuing commitment to make Irish records more accessible for family historians around the world. Whether you're tracing ordinary ancestors or uncovering links to Ireland's revolutionary past, these records offer an invaluable resource.

These records are now available to Diamond subscribers of TheGenealogist, adding to its comprehensive collection of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials.

Thomas Francis Meagher can be found in this release - read his story here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/thomas-francis-meagher-8629/

Don’t miss out! For a limited time, you can subscribe to TheGenealogist for just £119.95 - Save Over £85

Not only will you get a £50 lifetime discount, but you'll also receive a 12-Month Subscription to Discover Your Ancestors Online Magazine worth £36!

Explore these new records and start your genealogical journey today with TheGenealogist by claiming this offer here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBPRS1025

Offer expires 31st December 2025.

About TheGenealogist

TheGenealogist uses the latest technology to help you bring your family history to life. Use TheGenealogist to find your ancestors today!

Statue of Sir Arthur Doughty Officially Installed at Library and Archives Canada’s Preservation Campus

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 12:19:42 GMT

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce that the statue of Sir Arthur Doughty is now accessible to members of the public walking the interpretative trail around LAC’s Preservation Campus in Gatineau, Quebec.

Originally erected in December 1940 in front of the former National Archives of Canada building at 330 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, Ontario, this statue pays homage to the second Dominion Archivist (1904–1935). In the 1960s, the statue was moved behind 395 Wellington Street, then the location of the National Library and the National Archives of Canada.

As part of the preparations for the opening of Ādisōke—the new facility that LAC will be sharing with the Ottawa Public Library as of 2026—LAC begin restoring this piece of heritage in February 2024 to give it a new home in Gatineau.

Since the end of summer 2025, the statue of Sir Arthur is an integral part of the interpretative trail around the Preservation Centre and the Preservation Storage Facility, the two buildings that make up LAC’s Preservation Campus.

About Library and Archives Canada

The mandate of Library and Archives Canada is to acquire and preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations and to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada. Library and Archives Canada also facilitates cooperation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge and serves as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions.

Quotes

“The relocation of the Sir Arthur Doughty statue represents a continuation of where it has previously stood. A prominent figure in the history of LAC and Canada, Sir Arthur takes up his rightful symbolic place once again. Having also rediscovered his lustre and his pen, he can continue his work: keeping watch over the country’s memory, a mission that guided him throughout his career.”

– Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada

“I am pleased that the statue of Sir Arthur Doughty has returned home, close to where carefully preserved documents bear witness to the many experiences, stories and cultures that have shaped—and continue to shape—our country's identity as well as our Canadian culture.”

—The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages

Quick facts

We owe the statue’s creation to former prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, who was a close friend of Sir Arthur Doughty.
Sir Arthur Doughty was designated a person of national historic significance in 1991.
The statue of Sir Arthur Doughty is one of only two statues dedicated to public servants in the National Capital Region, and the first one installed on the Quebec side.

Associated links

ACPL Genealogy Center’s John D. Beatty Elected Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:51:51 GMT

ACPL Genealogy Center’s John D. Beatty elected Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) shares that John D. Beatty, Senior Genealogy Librarian at its Genealogy Center, has been elected as a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists.

According to the library, the honor is one of the most prestigious recognitions in the field of genealogy and is conferred only to 50 leaders worldwide who have made significant contributions to genealogical research.

“Being elected a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists is the capstone of my career,” said Beatty. “I have dedicated my career to advancing the field of family history research, and this honor is a point of distinction that leaves me humbled and deeply grateful.”

Beatty has served at the ACPL Genealogy Center since 1984.

The library says he is widely known for his service, expertise, and published works and has been instrumental in building the Genealogy Center’s robust collections at ACPL.

For more information about the ACPL Genealogy Center, visit https://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy.

Schemel Forum Programs to Explore Medieval Books, History of Finland at the University of Scranton

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:21:57 GMT

The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum will offer Collaborative Programs exploring medieval books and Finland’s history, culture and economy.

On Thursday, Nov. 13, the Schemel Forum will partner with Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library for the lecture, “From Manuscript to Print: The Journey of Medieval Books,” presented by Professor Michael Knies, special collections librarian and university archivist.

This fall, the McHugh Family Special Collections at the Weinberg Library unveiled its earliest printed book — a circa-1470 editio princeps of De Dignitate Sacerdocii (Dialogue on the Dignity of the Priesthood) by St. Johannes Chrysostomus, as part of an exhibit of the Library’s medieval collections. Donated by University benefactor Edward R. Leahy ’68, H’01, this rare incunabulum, printed by Ulrich Zell, links directly to the legacy of Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of printing.  It is one of about 10 known copies of this book worldwide and is the earliest printed book in the Weinberg Library’s collections.

According to Knies, the book was produced by the first printer in cologne, Germany, Ulrich Zell, who learned the craft from Gutenberg’s partners. An especially interesting feature is the inclusion of a hand-painted initial, something not found in all early printed books.

“The main text of the book was printed and space was left for painted initials added later by a specialized scribe called a rubricator,” said Knies.

Along with the recent donation, the exhibit will include other early printed books, three complete medieval manuscripts and many individual pages from other manuscripts. The manuscripts are unique by definition as they were written by hand and many have decorated initials and decorative borders. Additionally, less than 5% of manuscripts created from this period are still in existence. What remains are “the survivors,” said Knies. These books offer a rare window into a 1,000-year period of Western history, both secular and religious.

“Each piece embodies the preservation and transfer of information and knowledge, as well as artistry and craftsmanship that went into making the book,” said Knies.

During his presentation, Knies will trace the transition from handcrafted medieval manuscripts to the mechanical press, featuring the Library’s complete manuscripts, manuscript leaves and incunabula (early printed books) from before 1500.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library. The lecture, exhibit and light refreshments are complimentary and open to the community, courtesy of the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library. The accompanying exhibit will be on display in the Weinberg Library’s Heritage Room through December 12.

“Finland: History, Culture, Economy,” a collaborative program with the Jay Nathan, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar Lecture Series, will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in the PNC Auditorium and Atrium of the Loyola Science Center.

The ninth presentation in the Jay Nathan, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar Lecture Series will welcome the distinguished Ambassador, Her Excellency Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, of Finland, to The University of Scranton. The evening will offer the campus and broader community an enriching exploration of Finland’s fascinating history, vibrant culture and dynamic economy through the ambassador’s presentation. Following the lecture, attendees will be treated to an authentic cultural performance that will showcase the rich artistic traditions of this Nordic nation. The program will conclude with a reception, providing an opportunity for informal conversation and cultural exchange between the ambassador, performers, students, faculty and community members.

This event continues the lecture series’ mission of bringing international perspectives to Scranton while fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation for Finland's unique contributions to world history, arts, and global commerce.

The lecture, cultural performance and reception will be complimentary and open to the community, courtesy of the Jay Nathan, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar Endowment.

For additional information or registration information, contact Rose Merritt at 570-941-4740 or rose.merritt@scranton.edu.

Additional Schemel Forum events can be found on the Schemel Forum’s webpage.

Free BCG-sponsored Webinar

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 05:20:23 GMT

FREE BCG-SPONSORED WEBINAR

“James C. Ward’s Eldorado: A Coast to Coast Identity Case”

by Nicole Gilkison LaRue, CG, AG

Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 8:00 p.m. (EDT)

One James C. Ward was born in the 1820s and his life is documented in Massachusetts and New York. One James C. Ward served in the Mexican War and left sketches and a diary detailing his adventures in California in the 1840s. Could they be the same man? This is a case of identity solved through correlation.

Nicole Gilkison LaRue, CG, AG, is a full-time professional genealogist with articles in NGS Magazine and NGS Quarterly. Nicole has served on the board of directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She has presented at national conferences, in addition to teaching at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). Her special interests include researching women, “brick-wall” obstacles, and paleography.

BCG’s next free monthly webinar in conjunction with Legacy Family Tree Webinars is “James C. Ward’s Eldorado: A Coast to Coast Identity Case” by Nicole Gilkison LaRue, CG, AG. This webinar airs Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. EDT.

When you register before October 21 with our partner Legacy Family Tree Webinars (https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/james-c-wards-eldorado-a-coast-to-coast-identity-case/?ref=586500), you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Anyone with schedule conflicts may access the webinar at no charge for one week after the broadcast on the Legacy Family Tree Webinars website.

“BCG promotes continuing education as essential for competent family history research,” said President David Ouimette, CG, CGL. “We appreciate this opportunity to provide webinars focused on standards that help genealogists and family historians build their knowledge and skills and hone their craft.”

Following the free period for this webinar, BCG receives a small commission if you view this or any BCG webinar by clicking our affiliate link (https://familytreewebinars.com/bcg/?ref=586500).

To see the full list of BCG-sponsored webinars for 2025, visit the BCG blog SpringBoard (https://bcgcertification.org/free-bcg-sponsored-2025-webinars). For additional resources for genealogical education, please visit the BCG Learning Center (https://bcgcertification.org/learning).

Albany, New York Police Solve 61-Year-Old Murder of Catherine Blackburn Through DNA and Genealogy

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:36:47 GMT

A murder mystery that haunted Albany for more than six decades has finally been solved.

Albany Police announced they’ve identified Joseph Stanley Nowakowski as the man responsible for the brutal 1964 killing of Catherine Blackburn inside her home on Colonie Street.

Blackburn was struck in the back of the head and stabbed her in the neck. She was also sexually assaulted and burned on her lips and chest. She died as a result of blood loss. Blackburn’s apartment was not burglarized or damaged.

For 61 years, Blackburn’s family waited for the day they would learn who killed her.

“Sixty-one years ago, evil entered my aunt’s house and changed our lives forever,” said Sandra Carmichael, Blackburn’s niece. “We’ve prayed for this day.”

Police Chief Brendan Cox said the case has spanned generations of detectives.

“That started a 61-year process of trying to investigate a crime, determine the motivation of the suspect, and ultimately bring justice for Catherine and her family,” Cox said.

In 2018, a determined detective, Melissa Morey, opened Blackburn’s case file and teamed up with Dr. Christina Lane, who launched a forensic genealogy program at Russell Sage College. Together with the FBI, the Albany Police Department used genetic genealogy to identify Nowakowski as the likely suspect.

Joseph Stanley Nowakowski (Albany Police)

“Throughout our partnership with Dr. Lane and the students, we were introduced to the FBI’s ability to use forensic genealogy,” said Detective Melissa Morey of the Albany Police Department. “Due to the diligent efforts of our partners, we were able to identify our suspect as Joseph Nowakowski.”

“We reached out to his relatives as part of the investigation,” Morey said. “Without their help and cooperation, we would not be here today.”

Nowakowski died in 1998, but to confirm the findings, investigators needed his DNA.

Investigators were granted permission from the court to exhume his body from Albany Rural Cemetery to a DNA sample.

"We all stood around the gravesite at Albany Rural Cemetery a couple of weeks ago on a Monday morning as we exhume the body," said Lee Kindlon, Albany County District Attorney.The DNA matched evidence recovered from the 1964 crime scene — specifically, a handkerchief found under Blackburn’s body.

Police say there is no evidence that Blackburn knew Nowakowski.

“All indications from that day were that she did not know him and that they were strangers,” Cox said.

Nowakowski had a violent criminal history. In the 1970s, he was convicted of assaulting an elderly woman in Schenectady and had multiple arrests dating back to the 1950s.

He was released from prison in 1980, and lived a quiet life until his death in 1998.

Wharton County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Rangers Team with Othram to Identify a 2021 Homicide Victim

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:31:18 GMT

In June 2021, skeletal remains were discovered along County Road 225 in Wharton County, a rural area southwest of Houston, Texas. The Wharton County Sheriff’s Office, along with other law enforcement agencies, responded to the scene and launched an investigation. The remains were determined to belong to a teenage girl, estimated to be between 14 and 17 years old and approximately 4’8” to 5’2” in height. At the time of discovery, she was wearing a “Lilo and Stitch” t-shirt and was found with a watch and several rings. To aid in identifying her, investigators commissioned a forensic artist to create a composite sketch of her likeness, which was widely distributed to the public.

Despite am exhaustive investigation, the girl could not be identified and became known as Wharton County Jane Doe (2021). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP82601.

In 2023, working with the Texas Rangers, the Wharton County Sheriff's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the young girl. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the Jane Doe. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team began working to on the case, providing new investigative leads to investigators.

As the investigation continued, authorities received a tip from a woman searching for a missing relative. She voluntarily provided a DNA sample and a direct comparison to the profile of the unidentified person confirmed that the remains belonged to 16-year-old Yeimy Maciela Beltrand. Beltrand had been reported missing to the Houston Police Department by her mother on April 30, 2021. Investigators believe she was killed in Harris County and that her body was subsequently transported and left in neighboring Wharton County.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has now opened a homicide investigation. During the course of the inquiry, a witness came forward and reported seeing the teen’s boyfriend shoot her. In August, a murder charge was filed against the suspect, 27-year-old Luis Omar Beltran-Mendoza. However, he has not yet been apprehended and remains at large.

The casework costs associated with advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy at Othram were contributed by Project Justice, a philanthropic effort to reduce the backlog of unsolved cases. We are grateful for this funding which allowed us to assist law enforcement in working this case.

Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can support ongoing forensic investigations by uploading their DNA data to the DNASolves database. This is especially important in cases where the unidentified person may come from a biogeographical background that is underrepresented in existing genetic genealogy databases.

The identification of Yeimy Beltrand represents the 23rd case in the State of Texas where officials have publicly identified an individual in collaboration with Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Texas cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

Mark James Denger Honored for Contributions to Military History Preservation

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:11:35 GMT

Mark James Denger has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mark Denger is recognized for his many years of dedicated military service, leadership, operational excellence and expertise. With a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years, Mr. Denger is a recognized subject matter expert in his field, currently serving as the chief historian heading up the Military History Office for the California Military Department. Prior to assuming this role in 2024, he has been responsible for preserving and interpreting the military history of California, inclusive of ensuring that California's National Guard's legacy and heritage is accurately documented, preserved and accessible for future generations.

In addition to this primary role, Mr. Denger also serves as a cultural property protection professional. In this capacity, he provides expert guidance as both a consultant and resource advisor to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services on safeguarding California's many archaeological sites, historic monuments and structures, objects of antiquity, historic landmarks, artifacts and other objects of historic or scientific significance pertaining to the military history of California.

Leveraging decades of expertise in military history, archives, and museum curation, he now leads program development for the Heritage Emergency Response Team (HERT) within the California Military Department. Under Mr. Denger's leadership, HERT has been established as California's first non-firefighting, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional Type 3 All-Hazards/All-Artifacts Incident Management Team (IMT) and Cultural Property Protection Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT). Although a new and evolving concept in California's emergency management and homeland security disciplines, the HERT's mission is to rapidly respond, support, and assist museums, libraries, archives, and other cultural institutions in safeguarding collections and heritage resources during and immediately after natural disasters or emergencies.

Mr. Denger's longstanding commitment to the preservation and protection of California's military history is further demonstrated by his ongoing service as a Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4) for the Military Museum Command, California State Guard. In this context, he is also being recognized for his earlier tenure as both an archival technician and field historian with California Military Heritage Command, having assisted in the oversight of the California National Guard's museum activities and historical programs under the U.S. Army Museum Enterprise. From 1996 to 2015, he served in similar roles within the California Center for Military History, focusing on the preservation and restoration of critical historical documents and records.

Mr. Denger's expertise in museum management and operations was honed during his time as curator and archivist at the California State Military Museum from 2013 to 2014. During this period, he also served as the artifact responsible officer for the U.S. Army's Center of Military History, managing the stewardship of state and federal military artifacts located throughout the state. His earlier work in this field includes serving as archivist and registrar at the American Heritage Library and Museum from 1995 to 2010, and as a research historian with Tetra Tech under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Formerly Used Defense Sites Program from 2005 and 2007, conducting in-depth investigations into military sites across California.

Mr. Denger's early career has also featured positions in procurement and supply chain management. His background in project management has included roles as a materials manager and project coordinator with Plexus Corporation from 2000 to 2002 and serving as a special project manager and in procurement roles with Rockwell International / Boeing's Space Systems and Space Transportation Systems Divisions, and the Jensen-Kelly Corporation. This professional journey in aerospace is deeply rooted in his earlier military service having served in submarine satellite communications with the U.S. Navy from 1977 to 1983.

Academically, Mr. Denger's military education includes completion of the Warrant Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, along with significant coursework at the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Combat Studies Institute, and the Naval War College's Stockton Center for International Law. He holds certifications in Crisis, Emergency and Disaster Management from the California Specialized Training Institute, as well as additional certificates in emergency management from the Department of Homeland Security and the National Fire Academy as well as various other credentials in criminal justice and management.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Denger has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to patriotic, civic, and community service. He is President Emeritus of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California and Senior Advisor to the Children of the American Revolution. He is also a past President of the Society of the War of 1812 in California, where he additionally served as Vice President General of the General Society. His memberships include the Sons of the American Revolution and the Military Order of the Carabao.

In 1997, he founded the Los Angeles-Pasadena Base of United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated, serving as its first base commander until 2003, and he also represented the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II as a relief crew member. From 1996 to 1998, he served on the Los Angeles Veterans Advisory Council. He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and American Legion. Mr. Denger's volunteer work includes long-standing involvement with the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross, reflecting his strong belief in giving back to his community.

In his personal life, he is deeply devoted to his family and community, and is the proud father of one son, Steven Michael. Reflecting on his career, Mr. Denger attributes much of his success to effective networking, a skill that has enabled him to build lasting professional relationships and advance collaborative projects throughout his career. In the upcoming years, he plans to retire with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Five, after completing a distinguished career devoted to preserving California's military history and supporting veterans' causes.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

State Historical Society of Missouri to Host Lecture Series on Desegregation

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:05:14 GMT

The State Historical Society of Missouri is partnering with Missouri University of Science & Technology to host an in-person and virtual lecture series about desegregation in higher education.

The series kicked off Tuesday with an opening reception at the Curtis Laws Wilson Library in Rolla, and will host lectures on Oct. 14, 21 and 28.

Hosted in honor of the 75th anniversary of desegregation in higher education, Missouri S&T was home to some of the first Black students integrated in a Missouri university in 1950.

"Our two students, George Everett Horne and Elmer Bell Jr., were the very first Black students in one of the public universities in Missouri," Missouri S&T archivist Debra Griffith said. "Since it was those two people who came here and it's the 75th anniversary, we decided this was a good time to honor them."

Horne and Bell enrolled following a lawsuit filed in 1950. When they enrolled, the Rolla community was still segregated and was home to only 42 Black residents. Both transferred after their first semester at Missouri S&T to the University of Missouri, where there was a larger Black population.

Gary Kremer, executive director of the State Historical Society of Missouri, will host the first lecture on Oct. 14. His lecture will focus on the challenges faced in the fight for desegregation of Missouri public schools after the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. From this case, the court ruled that separating children in public schools based on race was unconstitutional. Kremer's discussion will include insight into the white and Black resistance to desegregation.

The next lecture, hosted on Oct. 21 by Larry Gragg, covers the process of desegregation at Mizzou and Missouri S&T from 1950-63. Gragg, the Missouri S&T university historian, plans to cover the efforts that played a role in the integration of Black students into the culture at both universities.

Horne and Bell were joined by Gus Ridgel in filing the 1950 lawsuit that allowed Black students to attend universities other than historically Black colleges or universities. However, the road for desegregation at Mizzou started 12 years earlier with Lloyd Gaines.

Gaines, a prospective law student, filed a lawsuit for admission to Mizzou's law school in 1938. One of Missouri's HBCUs, Lincoln University, did not have a law program. In the 12 years that followed, multiple lawsuits, from Gaines and other students, were filed to grant admission to Black students with no success.

The 1950 lawsuit filed by Horne, Bell and Ridgel through the NAACP was the final piece to the puzzle and allowed Black students to enroll at MU if Lincoln University did not have their preferred major.

Four years later, the decision from Brown v. Board of Education cemented desegregation in the American school system.

The series' final lecture will be hosted by Harvest Collier, Missouri S&T's first African American faculty member. Collier, hired by Missouri S&T in 1982 as an assistant professor of chemistry, went on to serve as vice provost of undergraduate studies before retiring in 2012. Collier will provide his insight on faculty desegregation at Missouri S&T and his experiences as a STEM student, research scientist and professor from over three decades with the university.

When looking at the importance of the history of desegregation, Griffith said she emphasizes remembering it.

"It's important because we tend to think now that Black students were always allowed to go to public universities, and that isn't true," Griffith said. "People have forgotten that history, that this is a fairly recent development."

Each lecture will be hosted in-person at the Curtis Laws Wilson Library in Rolla and virtually over Zoom from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The registration link for Zoom can be found at shsmo.org/calendar.

Roving Archivist Program to Host Quick Tips Session on Preserving Nitrate Film

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:01:27 GMT

Nitrate film poses a dangerous risk to archives, museums and other cultural institutions. But, how are these organizations preserving this flammable film? The Wyoming State Historic Records and Advisory Board (SHRAB) invites the public to this month’s Quick Tips, which will share the preservation strategies of the Wyoming State Archives and the American Heritage Center. In a collaborative panel, Cindy Brown, Bill Hopkins and Emmaline Velasquez will discuss their techniques, tips and tricks for preserving nitrate film.

The session will be held Oct. 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. via Google Meet at meet.google.com/bgr-reit-tkr or by dialing (US) +1 319-449-2718, PIN: 581 688 137#.

Our speakers

University of Wyoming American Heritage Center Assistant Director and Head of Collections Management Bill Hopkins and Wyoming State Archives Digital Archivist Cindy Brown collaborated on researching and developing their institutions’ nitrate-negative solution.

Emmaline Velasquez is the primary processor for the Carrigen Nitrate Negative Collection and has previously worked as a registrar, docent, and scanning technician. She will provide practical, hands-on advice for working with these materials.

The speakers will share their experiences and practical solutions from their ongoing work with nitrate film through their presentation. Participants will learn about the challenges and hands-on strategies involved in working with this highly flammable material.

Attendees will learn:

Challenges and Strategies for Preserving Nitrate Film and Negatives
Freezer Storage Preparation, Monitoring, and Safety Practices
Project Planning and Resource Needs for Nitrate Projects
Practical Handling and Digitization Tips for Nitrate
Supporting Wyoming's Cultural Heritage Mission

The Roving Archivist Program Quick Tips series represents SHRAB's ongoing commitment to providing accessible professional development for Wyoming's cultural heritage community. These sessions support institutions statewide in improving their preservation practices and collections care.

For more information about the Roving Archivist Program, visit rovingarchivist.wyo.gov/home or email spcr.rovingarchivist@wyo.gov.

Albany Police Department and the FBI Team with Othram to Identify the Suspect in a 1964 Homicide

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 22:05:42 GMT

After six decades, the suspect in the assault and murder of Catherine Blackburn of Albany, New York has been identified.

In 2023, the Albany Police Department, working with the FBI, submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the suspect. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the suspect. Once the profile was created, it was provided to the FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team, who worked to develop new leads in the case using forensic genetic genealogy.

Advanced DNA testing at Othram was made possible through a grant from Season of Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to providing funding to investigative agencies and families to help solve cold cases.

The identification of the suspect represents the 14th case in the State of New York where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other New York cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

‘Stark Horror’: Man (Bradley Britton) Who Raped 2 GTA Women Decades Ago Sentenced in Historic Genetic Genealogy Case (Ontario, Canada)

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:43:23 GMT

A warning to readers, this story contains graphic content.

A man has been a sentenced in one of Canada’s first genetic genealogy cases, where a victim remains alive.

Bradley Britton, 62, from Innisfil, pleaded guilty to two historical sexual assault offences against 20-something women in the GTA between 1987 and 1993.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison, five for the initial Toronto incident and three for a second Oakville matter, during which the judge commented on the “stark horror” the victims must have felt during the incidents.

On May 23, 1987, Britton snuck into a woman’s Toronto bedroom around 3 a.m., put his hand over her mouth and held a kitchen knife at her neck, telling her to remain quiet so that he would not hurt her.

The woman, whose identity is protected by court order and is only known in legal documents as N.G., had a one-year-old child sleeping beside her in bed.

On that night, Britton removed his tank top, covered the woman’s eyes with it and penetrated her, telling her to say the sex was better than her husband, who was sleeping in the next room with two older daughters aged five and nine.

Britton asked her to have an orgasm.

In “stark fear,” she complied.

On his way out, Britton, 24 at the time, demanded she not tell anyone about the incident, noting that he knew who she was and where she lived.

Police would later identify pry marks on the front door, court documents said.

A little over five years later, Britton ran up on a petite woman, aged 20, known as A.N., grabbed her by the neck and pushing her under a highway alcove.

Britton undid his pants, masturbated himself and then penetrated her with both his hands around her neck.

“He told her not to tell anyone and that he would be watching her,” court documents said.

The victim was crying and telling Britton she did not want to have sex. Afterwards, A.N. was forced to wave down a passing car for help.

Justice Clayton Conlan told the court that Toronto and Halton police had engaged in a “dogged, determined” investigation with the help of Othram, a genetic genealogy laboratory in Texas to solve the first Canadian sex assault case using this technology.

Britton was arrested in 2023, some 30 years after the second attack.

N.G. is now deceased, but Conlan told the court her daughters’ victim impact statements were heart-wrenching, explaining how N.G. was never the same person again.

“Not physically,” he said. “Not mentally. Not in any way.”

As for Britton, the court heard how despite him holding a lengthy criminal record, not including any convictions for sex assault, assault or weapon offences, he’d been off the books in terms of crimes since 1989.

He is divorced, has a son and comes from a dysfunctional background, where he was exposed to violence, substance and sexual abuse.

The mitigating factors in the case include Britton taking responsibility for his crimes, advising that he’s been drug and alcohol free for years and his ongoing remorse for his crimes.

The defence recommended house arrest for two years and three years probation, but the court also heard the maximum sentence for these crimes was 14 years for the crime against N.G. and 10 years for the crime against A.N.

Conlan laid out the aggravating factors in stark terms.

“Britton vaginally penetrated two complete strangers, one who was sleeping in the sanctity of her own home and with her infant beside her in the bed and the other who was simply walking back home from the movie store,” he wrote. “Britton used violence against these women. He threatened them. He disrespected, demeaned, humiliated and violated them in ways that are difficult to understand.”

If you’ve been a victim of sexual assault please contact 911, your local police or 1-888-579-2888 for the 24/7 Victim Support Line to get connected with resources.

NMU Cold Case Program Takes on Michigan Woman Missing for 44 Years

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:15:07 GMT

Helen Dymond of National Mine went missing on June 28, 1981, vanishing without a trace. This is the case Northern Michigan University and the Michigan State Police are working on together; both hope the public can help as well.

Holly Letson, granddaughter of Dymond, visited the NMU cold case class Thursday to provide information to the students and the context of the area as well as family history.

“You are giving us a little hope again,” Letson said.

Meeting a family member related to the subject of the cold case and being in the same county is eye-opening to the students working in the cold case program.

“It is a breath of fresh air and it provides the motivation behind it,” said cold case student Jalin Halcome. “The whole reason we do this cold case thing is to help the families and the victims. So meeting with someone is super rewarding.”

August saw the NMU cold case program solve its first case, a 39-year-old sexual assault in Delta County. The program has worked on 12 other cases and provided assistance to MSP in those cases.

“Any information you may have,” said Lt. Benjamin Eckola of MSP. “If you are a resident or anywhere in the National Mine area back then when she went missing, or you went there, please share information if you have it.”

Dymond was last seen walking along Marquette Country Road 496 from the then Tilden Township Hall, now the private Tilden Township Club. She was 48 years old, white, 5 feet 2 inches in height, weighed about 125 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She would be 92 years old today.

Any information on the disappearance of Helen Dymond should be given to the MSP at 906-475-9922.

“Family Ghosts” Genealogy Resources Workshop at the Oswego, Illinois Public Library

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:08:26 GMT

Discover your family’s history at the “Family Ghosts” Genealogy Resources Workshop at the Oswego Public Library! Join us on Thursday, October 9th, from 4 to 5 PM in the library’s community room.

Put together the pieces of the past and explore vital information to uncover the roots of your family tree. This workshop will introduce you to valuable resources available at the library, including Ancestry.com, microfilm archives of the Palladium Times and other newspapers, as well as online resources like NYHeritage.org, NYSHistoricNewspapers.org, and FindAGrave.com.

These tools will equip you with the skills needed to navigate various resources and conduct your family research, helping you reconnect with and rediscover your family’s history.

The workshop will take place at 120 E 2nd Street in the library’s community room on the lower level. This program is free and open to the public. If you have any questions, please contact us at 315.341.5867 or email oswlib@ncls.org.

The Oswego Public Library is a vibrant community hub where people of all ages can learn, connect, and grow. With a wide array of books, digital resources, and engaging programs, the library is proud to serve as a cornerstone of lifelong learning in Oswego County. To learn more, visit https://oswegopubliclibrary.org/services/.

Ohio Cold Case Solved After 36 Years Through Forensic Genealogy

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:03:20 GMT

The skeletal remains of a white male discovered 36 years ago in Franklin County have been identified as Ernest Emerson Carter, born in 1923.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Franklin County Coroner Dr. Nate Overmire announced the breakthrough, crediting the success to a collaborative effort involving advanced forensic genealogy.

"Solving a cold case takes teamwork, technology and tenacity – all of which were on display in this case," Yost said. The remains were found on Nov. 3, 1989, on Walcutt Road, but little is known about Carter's life or death.

Dr. Overmire emphasized the importance of dignity and respect for the deceased, stating, "Our patients can no longer advocate for themselves so we must on their behalf." He praised the efforts of his office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and community partners in solving the mystery.

BCI became involved in 2000 through Project LINK, an initiative collecting DNA samples from unidentified remains and missing persons. Despite advanced DNA testing, no leads emerged until last year when the nonprofit Porchlight Project funded further testing by Othram, a Texas-based forensics company.

I am hopeful the identification of Mr. Carter brings long-awaited answers and a step toward closure for all involved," said Val Bogart, The Porchlight Project’s genetic genealogist.

Genealogists and BCI's Criminal Intelligence Unit built a family tree, leading to a match with a male relative whose DNA confirmed the remains as Carter's. Kristen Mittelman, Chief Development Officer for Othram, highlighted the role of technology in providing answers to families, stating, "We’re proud to work with law enforcement who are working every day to solve cases and help families."

Laurens County Museum (in South Carolina) Hosting Lecture on Genealogy Using Artificial Intelligence

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:00:10 GMT

The Laurens District Genealogy Society will host Colleen Knights, who will speak about “The Future in Genealogy Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)” on Thursday, October 9, at 7:00 pm, at the Laurens County Museum, located at 116 South Public Square, Laurens, SC.

Knights is vice chair of the SC Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Lineage Committee. She was recently featured in an article about a new memorial wall for American Revolution heroes in Greenville, SC, where she focused on soldiers who settled in the area. The lecture is free to the public.

For more information, contact the Laurens County Museum at (864) 681-3678, or go to LaurensCountyMuseum.org or Facebook.

University of Strathclyde Conference Call for Presentations

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:27:23 GMT

Conference Title: 2-day Academic Conference - Beyond the Family Tree: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on AI, DNA, Education, and Community in Genealogy

Conference Dates: 25–26 June 2026

Location: University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland (Hybrid Format)

The Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies (SIGS) will hold an international academic genealogy conference in Scotland at the University of Strathclyde, June 25-26, 2026. The conference will be hybrid. While most sessions will be accessible online, some activities, including evening receptions, will be available in person only.

In addition, on June 24, a separate symposium on professional genealogy practice hosted by the Association for Professional Genealogists (APG) will be held on campus and via hybrid access. (Please note, speakers for the APG Professional Genealogy Symposium are by invitation only).

Call for Presentations

All proposals must be submitted via email by December 08, 2025. Acceptance decisions will be sent out by end of December 2025.

Speakers & poster presenters will receive free registration for the conference.

Full details, including themes and submission guidelines are available on the event website page > https://www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/centreforlifelonglearning/genealogy/beyondfamilytreeconference2026/

We look forward to your participation and contributions to this exciting event!

IDENTIFIED: 1989 Franklin County, Oho John Doe

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:56:14 GMT

In another victory for forensic genealogy, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Franklin County Coroner Dr. Nate Overmire announced today that the skeletal remains of a white male found 36 years ago have been identified.

“Solving a cold case takes teamwork, technology and tenacity – all of which were are on display in this case,” Yost said. “This type of public-private partnership has a direct impact on so many and brings real results to loved ones.”

The remains – discovered on Nov. 3, 1989, on Walcutt Road in western Franklin County – are those of Ernest Emerson Carter, who was born in 1923. Very little is known about Carter’s life or death.

“We believe each person is worthy of dignity and respect,” Overmire said. “Our patients can no longer advocate for themselves so we must on their behalf. I am extremely proud of the compassionate, talented staff who worked on this case from my office, BCI and our community partners. Together, we were able to utilize science to solve a mystery.”

Investigators from Overmire’s office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, part of Yost’s office, had long worked to solve the mystery of the remains.

BCI became involved in 2000, when the Franklin County coroner at the time submitted the remains to BCI’s Project LINK (Linking Individuals Not Known), an initiative that collects DNA samples from unidentified human remains and from people with missing loved ones in hopes of turning up a match. No leads were generated.

In the ensuing years, BCI conducted additional, advanced DNA testing on the remains – but, again, no leads were generated.

Last year, the nonprofit Porchlight Project, which funds forensic genealogy for families of the missing and the murdered, became involved, paying for the testing conducted by Othram, a Texas-based forensics technology company.

“I am grateful to Ohio BCI, the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, and Othram for their collaboration and dedication throughout the process of solving this decades-old mystery,” said Val Bogart, The Porchlight Project’s genetic genealogist. “I am hopeful the identification of Mr. Carter brings long-awaited answers and a step toward closure for all involved.”

Genealogists and BCI’s Criminal Intelligence Unit worked collaboratively to build a family tree to locate a close relative. This process turned up a match with a male relative, whose DNA was used to confirm the remains as those of Ernest Emerson Carter.

“There is technology here today that works, and it is able to give answers to a lot of families, like in this case,” said Kristen Mittelman, Chief Development Officer for Othram. “We’re proud to work with law enforcement who are working every day to solve cases and help families.”

Explore the Past Through Digital Yearbooks at Reinhardt College

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 11:43:00 GMT

Memories, milestones, and traditions fill Reinhardt yearbooks throughout the decades. From 1948 to 2004, these nostalgic issues captured and preserved cherished classmates, favorite professors, and the evolution of campus life.

Through digital versions now available on the lower portion of the University’s alumni page, the yearbooks offer a celebratory window to explore and remember the people, traditions, and rich history that shaped Reinhardt. We also invite all alumni to share their favorite moments and celebrate their legacy.

Click here to view yearbooks on the Alumni Page

Thousands of Images From Amgueddfa Cymru Now Available to Access Online

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 11:31:39 GMT

Amgueddfa Cymru has released over 2000 images into the public domain making them freely available on a new platform.

It puts Wales at the forefront of open access and on par with global museums such as the Natural History Museum, Smithsonian, Rijksmuseum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Images available to browse on the new platform, Amgueddfa Cymru Images, include galleries of artworks by Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir, historic photographs of people and places, and images of objects from the national collection, all of which have special relevance to Wales.

Images on the platform represent the natural world, as well as archaeological, social and industrial history. The wide range of images reflects the breadth of items which are part of Wales’ national collection.

The museum’s Open Access Policy means that anyone can now download medium resolution images from the site free, for both commercial and non-commercial use. This allows them to be freely used whether that be for scholarly research, a website for a local pub, or television and film, all without fees or additional approvals.

A selection of Amgueddfa Cymru Images

Coal strike colliers in Cwmbach – by permission of Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales

Some of the images available through the digital library include the museum’s collection of Blaschka glass models of sea creatures, historic images of the north Wales landscape, and a collection of Monet’s Waterlilies which were bequeathed to the museum by the Davies Sisters.

There are also hundreds of images of items reflecting Welsh history and life including lovespoons, clothing and quilts, and many historic images of Wales taken by some of the earliest photographers.

Dr Kath Davies, Director of Collections and Research at Amgueddfa Cymru said: “The national collection belongs to everyone, and we are thrilled to launch Amgueddfa Cymru Images which offers another way we can share the national collection and stories of Wales. We particularly hope that schools and educational institutions following the Curriculum for Wales will use this free tool to support their work, and we look forward to seeing how it will be used.

“This is only the beginning. We’re delighted to be launching with more than 2000 images, and will be continuing to add more images to the platform and to digitise new content. We’re also keen to collaborate with other institutions to reach as many people as we can and continue to share and encourage learning and enjoyment through the national collection.”

Amgueddfa Cymru Images can be accessed HERE.

Rutherford County, Tennessee Sheriff's Office Teams With Othram to Identify a 1978 Homicide Victim

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 11:17:40 GMT

In August 1978, a homicide victim was found burned in a fire at a boat ramp fire at the Poole Knobs Recreation Area in LaVergne, Tennessee. Rutherford County Sheriff’s deputies responded to find the remains of an unidentified male. The homicide victim was wrapped in a blanket and had been shot four times, twice in the face. Investigators suspect he was shot at another location before being dragged to the campsite and burned. Investigators determine the victim was a white male between 30 and 40 years old. He stood 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed approximately 160 pounds, and had medium length brown hair. The only clues to his identity were a partial set of dentures and scars on his chest from a possible heart surgery. He also had a quarter-sized mole on his torso, about two inches from his waistline.

Investigators undertook a decades-long search to determine who the man was and what happened. Fingerprints, from one hand that was not burned, were collected but generated no matches to an identity. A traditional DNA profile was created but did not produce a match in CODIS. In 2018, a facial reconstruction and a sketch of the victim were generated but, to date, have not produced any leads. More than forty years later, investigators are still looking for leads that might point to the identity of the victim and those that might be responsible for his death. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP1585.

In 2020, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the victim. At Othram, scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence, which presented significant challenges given the burnt condition of the man's remains. After the successful extraction of DNA, Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the victim. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the victim. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the murder victim, who is now known to be 52-year-old Jessie Lee Williamson. An investigations into Williamson's death is ongoing. Anyone with information about the victim is encouraged to contact Detective Sgt. Richard Brinkley with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office at (615) 904-3045.

A portion of Othram's casework costs associated with the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy completed in this case was contributed by donors through a DNASolves® crowdfund. We are grateful to everyone that helped crowdfund this case and other DNASolves cases. Remaining costs for the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy used in this case was provided by NamUs, a national program that assists the criminal justice community with the investigation and resolution of missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases across the United States and its territories. NamUs is funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and is managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International (RTI). Othram is grateful for the support of RTI, NamUs, and the NIJ.

Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can aid ongoing forensic investigations by contributing their DNA to the DNASolves database. Expanding the number of available DNA profiles increases the likelihood of successful identifications, helping to reunite families with their missing loved ones and resolve cases that have remained unsolved for years.

The identification of Jessie Lee Williamson represents the 27th case in the State of Tennesse where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Tennessee cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

Ahnenfest 2025: Free Access to German Records October 3-10!

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 20:45:59 GMT

October 3 is Tag der Deutschen Einheit — German Unity Day — and October 6 is German-American Day. Let’s celebrate “Ahnenfest” – Geneanet’s German ancestor festival – with free access for American members to our Premium German collections from Oct. 3-10!

Do you have roots in Germany? October 3 is Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Germany Unity Day), a national holiday in Germany since 1990 which celebrates the reunification of the country at the end of the Cold War. And October 6 is German-American Day, when 40 million Americans celebrate their German heritage. At Geneanet, we have decided to celebrate these two holidays together as “Ahnenfest” – Ancestor Festival –, with a full week of free access to our Premium German records and collections from October 3-10 inclusive!

The upper Midwest has the highest percentage of German-Americans! Many German settlers bought through tickets from US railroad agents in German cities; passengers disembarked in Eastern seaboard ports and boarded trains West directly. Data source: US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, image: Abbasi786786 at Wikimedia Commons, license CC

Geneanet is available in German and we have over 54 million birth, marriage, and death register records in our collections — 155 million indexed individuals! –, usually reserved for Premium members, available free during Geneanet’s Ahnenfest. Search them through our German vital records search engine or our portal for all German documents or our main search screen with all options enabled or through our brand-new Collections Catalog page. You can even upload your family tree to Geneanet — perhaps you will connect with your German cousins!

Just getting started in German genealogy? It can be complicated: fluid borders, the impact of wars, records held mostly at local level, documents written in Kurrent or Sütterlin script or Fraktur typefaces, not to mention strict privacy laws! Read our comprehensive guide Resources for German Genealogy. Ancestors from Alsace-Lorraine? Read our in-depth guide Finding Your Ancestors From Alsace-Lorraine.

Take advantage of our rich collections with advanced Premium search options such as search by couple, by occupation, by parents, by events, as well as spelling variants, geographic area and wildcards. And search our Genealogy Library with millions of pages of books and newspapers. Tap into our archival records, books and newspapers and grow your tree!

Scott Political Ephemera from Alamance Community College Now Available on DigitalNC

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:57:37 GMT

Thanks to our partner, Alamance Community College, a batch of Scott Family ephemera is now available to view on DigitalNC. The ephemera includes everything from former North Carolina governor W. Kerr Scott’s campaign materials to photographs to medals.

Poster from W. Kerr Scott’s campaign for North Carolina Governor [1948].

From a farming family and a farmer his whole life, W. Kerr Scott is well-known for being an agricultural leader and champion of rural North Carolinians both in and outside the political roles he held during his life. After graduating from North Carolina State College in 1917 with a degree in agriculture and serving as an artilleryman during World War I, Scott worked as agricultural agent in Alamance County from 1920 to 1930. He then served as Master of the State Grange, an organization that is still active today, from 1931 to 1933. And then, in the two years before entering into politics, Scott was a regional director of the Farm Debt Adjustment Program of the Resettlement Administration.

Making good on a promise to his father (“Farmer Bob”), Scott began his political career in 1936 when he ran for and was elected State Agriculture Commissioner. He continued to hold that position until 1948 when he resigned to run for Governor of North Carolina. Scott was elected and served as Governor of North Carolina from 1949 to 1953. At the end of his term as governor, Scott made the decision to run for United States Senator. The campaign ephemera in this batch from Scott’s run for senate—such as the “Kerr Scott: Tar Heel Building” pamphlet pictured here—unsurprisingly highlights Scott as a man who comes from a family of successful farmers and politicians, united town and country, successfully advocated for rural North Carolina farmers, and never let the State’s money idle.

Over his two decade political career, Scott introduced a new era of progressive reforms. He was a leading proponent of rural electrification, led the fight to get rid of Bangs disease among cattle in the state, forced manufacturers of feed and fertilizer to eliminate sawdust and sand from their products; appointed the first Black member of the State Board of Education, Harold Trigg; appointed the first female Superior Court judge, Susie Sharp; paved more roads in his four years as governor than had been paved up to 1949.

To learn more about or view more materials from Alamance Community College, visit their contributor page linked here.

Information about W. Kerr Scott was gathered from NCPedia, DNCR, and materials from this batch.

To learn about the North Carolina Grange, visit their website, or browse our newspaper collection to read about their development in the state, going as far back as June 28, 1873.

Blackstone Explores $10B IPO or Sale for Ancestry.com

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 15:21:23 GMT

Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) is one of the best American stocks to buy and hold for the next 3 years. On September 25, Reuters reported that Private equity firm Blackstone is currently exploring strategic options for Ancestry.com, the popular genealogy and DNA testing platform. These options include pursuing an Initial Public Offering/IPO or an outright sale of the company.

Sources familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity, indicated that Blackstone has invited banks to submit proposals for an IPO, with requests being submitted earlier in the week of September 25. A public listing for the Lehi, Utah-based company could potentially value it at approximately $10 billion, although the discussions are in the early stages and details remain subject to change.

Blackstone is also considering the alternative option of selling the asset. However, the private equity firm has not finalized any decision and may opt to hold onto the asset for a longer period. Both Blackstone and Ancestry.com representatives have declined to comment on the matter.

Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) is an alternative asset management firm that specializes in private equity, real estate, hedge fund solutions, credit, secondary funds of funds, public debt & equity and multi-asset class strategies.

MyHeritage Launches French-language Webinar Series

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 15:10:38 GMT

Legacy Family Tree Webinars — proudly part of the MyHeritage family since 2017 — is expanding into French! Starting October 7, a new series of live genealogy webinars will be offered entirely in French, alongside more than 100 French-language sessions now available on demand.

This is an exciting addition for French-speaking genealogists worldwide, and a great resource to share with anyone in your community who speaks French or researches in French-language records.

The first three live sessions (all free to attend) are:

Filae : la maison des archives originales françaises with Yann Guillerm, Community Manager and Editor at Filae, Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 2 P.M. GMT / 10 A.M. EST
Explorer vos racines en France : méthodes et ressources en ligne avec les collections de MyHeritage with Marie Cappart, historian and professional genealogist, Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 2 P.M. GMT / 10 A.M. EST
Explorer vos racines au Luxembourg : archives locales et ressources MyHeritage with Liliane Hierro, professional genealogist and author, Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 2 P.M. GMT / 10 A.M. EST

See the full French webinar schedule and register here

Tuscarawas County, Ohio Library hosts Local History & Genealogy Faire Oct. 11

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 14:54:09 GMT

The Tuscarawas County Public Library System will hold a Local History & Genealogy Faire at its Main Library and Operations Center Saturday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The four-hour event is free and open to anyone interested in local or family history.

“Genealogy research is not always easy because it can be hard to know where to start,” said Tabitha Johnson, adult and teen services manager. “This event gives everyone the chance to learn about the resources available at their library and to reach out to organizations with a local history and genealogy focus.”

Johnson said informational tables will include local author and historian Noel Poirier; the Ohio Genealogical Society; the Bolivar Area Historical Society; the New Philadelphia Rotary Club and RTY Inc.; the Reeves Victorian Home and Carriage House Museum; Schoenbrunn Village; the Tuscarawas Genealogical Society; the Tuscarawas County Heritage Homes Association; the Tuscarawas County Historical Society; and the Canton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, among others.

At 12:30 p.m., RTY board members Carey Gardner and Rich Geib will present a program on the history of Tuscora Park.

The library’s genealogy collection and resources will also be showcased, with staff available to demonstrate the library’s microfilm machine and preservation station.

“Participants will also be able to sign up for mini Book-A-Genealogist sessions with a library genealogy specialist,” said Gina Merrill, public services associate. “The library’s technology training coordinator will offer 20-minute demonstrations on databases that are free to use with your library card.”

Demonstrations will include Ancestry Library at 11:15 a.m., Fold3 at 1:45 p.m. and Newspaper Archives at 2:30 p.m.

In addition, there will be a self-guided tour of the library’s local history and genealogy collections, including family histories, cemetery records, city directories and high school yearbooks.

“We hope people come away excited about discovering their own family stories and knowing that the library offers free genealogy resources to help them every step of the way,” Johnson said.

Registration is requested and can be completed by visiting the library’s event calendar at tusclibrary.org or by calling 330-364-4474. The Main Library and Operations Center is at 121 Fair Ave. NW in New Philadelphia.

DNA Test Kit Market: Innovations, Growth, and Future Outlook 2025-2032

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 23:44:02 GMT

The DNA Test Kit Market has emerged as a transformative segment in biotechnology and personal healthcare, offering individuals insights into ancestry, genetic health risks, and personalized wellness. DNA test kits allow users to collect samples at home and receive detailed genetic reports, empowering informed health decisions and personalized lifestyle choices. The growing consumer interest in genetic testing, coupled with advancements in genomics, has propelled the market forward.

Increasing awareness of hereditary diseases, preventive healthcare, and personalized medicine is driving demand. Moreover, declining costs of DNA sequencing and rapid technological improvements in testing accuracy are contributing to broader adoption. Both direct-to-consumer (DTC) kits and clinical-grade DNA testing solutions are witnessing rising traction across regions.

Click for sample report – https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/7259

Market Overview

The global DNA Test Kit Market is projected to experience robust growth, fueled by rising consumer awareness, technological advancements, and supportive healthcare policies. Key drivers include:

Increasing adoption of direct-to-consumer genetic testing
Rising demand for personalized healthcare and wellness solutions
Technological advancements improving test accuracy and reducing cost
Growth in online platforms facilitating easy kit delivery and result access

Market Statistics (2024–2032):

2024 Market Size: USD 1.84 billion
2032 Forecasted Market Size: USD 6.26 billion
CAGR (2025–2032): 16.56%

Major applications include ancestry testing, health risk assessment, pharmacogenomics, and lifestyle recommendations.

Growth Insights

The DNA Test Kit Market is poised for strong expansion over the coming years:

Health & Wellness Applications: Consumers are increasingly using DNA kits to identify hereditary risks, optimize diets, and guide fitness routines.
Ancestry & Genealogy: Rising curiosity about personal heritage is a key growth driver for ancestry-focused DNA kits.
Clinical Adoption: Hospitals and diagnostic centers are incorporating DNA testing for preventive health screening and personalized treatment planning.
Technological Innovations: Advanced sequencing technologies, AI-driven analysis, and improved sample collection methods are enhancing reliability and user experience.
Regional Trends: North America leads the market with high consumer awareness and advanced healthcare infrastructure, while Asia-Pacific is witnessing rapid growth due to expanding awareness and rising disposable incomes.

Market Stats:

2024: USD 1.84 billion
2032: USD 6.26 billion
CAGR: 16.56%
Direct-to-consumer kits expected to account for over 60% of market revenue by 2030
Asia-Pacific projected to grow at 18% CAGR due to healthcare accessibility and awareness campaigns

Key Market Segments

By Product Type:

Saliva-based DNA test kits
Blood-based DNA test kits
Buccal swab test kits

By Application:

Ancestry & Genealogy
Health Risk & Disease Prediction
Lifestyle & Fitness Guidance
Pharmacogenomics

By Region:

North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Latin America
Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Leading players in the DNA Test Kit Market focus on product innovation, partnerships, and regional expansion. Strategies include:

Developing faster, accurate, and easy-to-use kits
Expanding direct-to-consumer channels and online sales platforms
Collaborating with healthcare providers for clinical applications
Offering AI-powered genetic insights and personalized reports

Conclusion

The DNA Test Kit Market is projected to grow from USD 1.84 billion in 2024 to USD 6.26 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 16.56%. Rising consumer interest in personalized health, ancestry exploration, and preventive medicine is driving widespread adoption. Technological advancements, cost-effective solutions, and increasing accessibility are further enhancing market growth. The future outlook remains highly positive, positioning DNA test kits as an essential tool in personalized healthcare and wellness.

Colorado Cold Case Solved: Arrest Made In 2022 Colorado Homicide

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:54:21 GMT

Leon Pantoya

After a tenacious three-year investigation that employed modern forensic science, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) in Colorado has announced an arrest in connection with the 2022 homicide of Steven Robinson, a man whose remains were discovered in a shallow grave.

On Thursday, September 26, 2025—exactly three years and a day after the initial discovery—PCSO detectives and the U.S. Marshals Task Force arrested Leon Pantoya, a 43-year-old Pueblo man, on a warrant for first-degree murder. Pantoya was also charged with identity theft and theft, and has been booked into the Pueblo County Jail.

The complex case, led by Detective Vanessa Simpson, began on September 25, 2022, when a property owner in the 3500 block of 36th Lane reported finding possible human remains in a field. Forensic analysis confirmed the remains were human, and an autopsy later determined the victim had died from blunt force and sharp force trauma, ruling the manner of death a homicide.

Genetic Genealogy Key to Identification

For over a year, the victim remained unidentified, despite being entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System database and having a forensic artist’s reconstruction image publicly shared.

The major breakthrough came after the victim’s DNA was submitted to a genetic genealogy database with assistance from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In late 2024, a match with a relative led to the positive identification of the victim as 39-year-old Steven Robinson, originally from South Carolina, who had moved to Pueblo in 2017.

Financial Fraud Uncovered

Investigators soon discovered that Robinson had been living with Pantoya at the time of his death in early January 2022. Detectives learned Pantoya had informed Robinson’s friends and landlord that Robinson had died of pneumonia on January 22, 2022. Further investigation determined Robinson’s remains were buried on property owned by one of Pantoya’s relatives.

Crucially, the investigation also revealed that Pantoya had withdrawn more than $75,000 from Robinson’s bank account. This financial theft continued for over a year after Robinson’s death, as the victim’s military disability payments continued to be deposited into the account.

Sheriff David J. Lucero publicly praised the lead investigator, Detective Simpson. “Detective Simpson has been dedicated and committed to solving this case for years… She worked tirelessly not only to identify the victim but also to investigate the homicide and identify a suspect,” Sheriff Lucero said. “Bringing closure to this case is a testament to modern science and solid investigative police work.”

The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with further information related to this case to contact Detective Simpson at (719) 583-6436.

Police Still Trying to ID Man Found Dead in Toronto’s Humberwood Park More Than 20 Years Ago

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:50:38 GMT

It’s been 23 years, but Toronto police are still asking for help identifying a man who was found dead in a park.

The man was found May 22, 2003 in Humberwoods Park. An autopsy revealed his death was not suspicious, but police still don’t know who he is.

He is described as 50 to 60-years-old at the time of his death and therefore, was likely born in the 1940s or 50s.

Investigative Genetic Genealogy has shown the man was from Grenada, likely from the Birch Grove area in the parish of St. Andrew.

For more information, including his picture, click here.

Anyone with information can call police at 416-808-7411 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477 (TIPS).

Nassau County, New York Detectives Searching for Suspect Linked to Decades-Old Cold Case

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:48:05 GMT

Homicide detectives in Nassau County shared new information about a decades-old cold case.

Susan Mann was 15 years old when she was last seen in Queens back in May 1980.

Two years later, her decomposing body was found in a dumpster in Freeport.

Detectives believe Mann was buried and moved from a location where she was buried sometime in 1980 and brought to the dumpster where she was found in 1982.

After her body was found, she was buried as a 'Jane Doe,' but police say her body was recently identified with 'investigative genealogy.'

Detectives say Mann was last seen wearing a striped top, blue jeans and sandals, and riding a bike that was never recovered.

Detectives want to hear from anyone who may have seen her in the Freeport area between 1980 and 1982 or who would have information that would lead to a suspect.

"We're looking for anybody that would have known her, would have been in the Freeport area during that time in '80 to '82 or anybody that thinks they have some kind of information that would lead to a suspect or an investigative lead to an arrest," Commanding officer of the Nassau County homicide squad, Stephen Fitzpatrick, said.

DNA Breakthrough Solves 36-Year-Old Mystery of Missing California Sisters

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:12:24 GMT

Two California sisters have been found alive and well. Jasmin and Elizabeth Ramos were located 36 years after they vanished as infants. They were discovered living under new names in their home state.

The breakthrough came from advanced DNA testing. This finally closed a decades-old missing persons case that began with the murder of their mother.

From Desert Tragedy to a New Life

The case dates back to 1989. The sisters’ mother, Marina Ramos, was found murdered in an Arizona desert. She was unidentified for over 30 years.

Authorities confirmed her identity in 2022 using fingerprint technology. This discovery triggered the search for her two missing daughters. According to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, the girls were just one month and 14 months old at the time.

A Loving Home and a Cold Case

Investigators revealed the sisters were abandoned in a public bathroom in Oxnard, California. This happened just two days after their mother’s body was discovered. A passerby heard crying and found the babies on a wet floor.

Police were called. The girls were placed into foster care and later adopted. They were raised together in what officials described as a loving home.

The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office stated the foster parents were unaware of the children’s status as missing persons. The sisters were located on August 27, 2025, after a DNA match.

The discovery of Jasmin and Elizabeth Ramos brings a bittersweet conclusion to a heartbreaking chapter, yet the search for their mother’s killer continues as a top priority for investigators.

Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism Boost the Local Economy in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:07:59 GMT

A local study of the economic impact of Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism was released today during a public presentation at the Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd.

The report, “Preservation is About the Future: The Economic Impact of Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism in Fort Wayne,” was presented by Donovan Rypkema of PlaceEconomics, an internationally recognized firm that provides analysis of the economic impacts of historic preservation. The event was part of the Indiana State Historic Preservation Conference, “Preserving Historic Places,” taking place September 30 - October 3 in Fort Wayne.

Key findings of the study include:

Since 2001, investments in local historic tax credit rehabilitation projects reached $340 million and supported 258 jobs annually.
In 2024, heritage visitors spent more than $313 million in Fort Wayne, supporting approximately 3,000 year-round jobs.
In 2024, the average home value in local historic districts was 13 percent higher than the rest of the city.
Housing in historic districts have a range of types and costs, making them accessible to households of all incomes. For example, 61 percent of households in local districts earn less than the city’s median income.
Even excluding the banner year of 2024 with the Electric Works project, over the last 15 years an average of 139 direct jobs and an additional 90 indirect and induced jobs were created by investment in Fort Wayne’s historic districts. If historic rehabilitation were a single business, it would be among the largest 50 industries in Fort Wayne.

“Fort Wayne’s commitment to historic preservation has fostered job creation, tax revenue and investment while also supporting diverse, affordable housing options in walkable, high-density neighborhoods,” said Rypkema. “Fort Wayne’s heritage tourism destinations add to the quality of life for residents and boost the local economy.”

The Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism study was made possible by funding from the City of Fort Wayne, the Efroymson Family Fund, the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center and Visit Fort Wayne.

The full study can be found at https://engage.cityoffortwayne.org/economic-impacts-historic-preservation-heritage-tourism-study or visit https://Engage.CityofFortWayne.org and search for historic preservation study. A summary with key facts is attached, as is a photo of the cover of the report.

Identified: The Suspect in a 2006 Sexual Assault in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:03:04 GMT

In November 2006, a woman was sexually assaulted by an unknown man in the Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina. The victim was working after-hours at a local business when a man she did not know attacked her in the parking lot and forced her inside a building. Once inside the building, the woman was sexually assaulted by the man. The Horry County Police Department responded, launching an investigation and the collection of evidence.

DNA evidence was collected and an STR profile was developed for the unknown suspect. The STR profile was uploaded to CODIS, but no match was found to any known individual. However, the profile did match to multiple other unsolved crime scene profiles that had been previously submitted to CODIS, linking the suspect to several unrelated crimes, though their identity remained unknown.

In December 2020, with no leads on the suspect’s identity, the Horry County Police Department submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists developed a DNA extract from the evidence and applied Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile of the man. Using this profile, Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team conducted a genetic genealogy search and generated new investigative leads, which were returned to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted by the law enforcement agency, which led investigators to identify the suspect as 60-year-old Randy Barnhill of Conway, South Carolina. Barnhill was arrested and on September 30, 2025, he pleaded guilty to rape, kidnapping, and burglary. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

The identification of Randy Barnhill marks the seventh publicly announced case in South Carolina solved with the help of technology developed by Othram. Although Barnhill’s DNA profile had been in CODIS for years, tied to multiple unsolved crimes, he could not be identified because his identity was not already in the database. This case illustrates why advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy are so critical: if a suspect’s identity is not in CODIS, traditional methods cannot provide answers. Barnhill was a serial predator who posed an ongoing threat, and solving this one case instantly helped resolve several other cases.

Visit DNASolves to learn about other South Carolina cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

Thanks to DNA: McLean County, Illinois, Jane Doe Identified as Linda Cecilia Haddad

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:52:56 GMT

Moxxy Forensic Investigations, in partnership with the McLean County Coroner's Office and the McLean County Sheriff’s Office, has positively identified a woman whose remains were discovered in rural McLean County in 1982. The individual, previously referred to as “McLean

County Jane Doe,” has been confirmed through investigative genetic genealogical analysis to be 39-year-old Linda Cecilia Haddad. Linda’s remains were discovered on February 2, 1982, along US Route 136 between LeRoy and Bellflower.

Despite dedicated investigative efforts at the time and over the decades since, her identity remained unknown for more than 40 years. Using advanced DNA technology and investigative genetic genealogy, investigators were finally able to identify the body of “McLean County Jane Doe.”

On February 2, 1982, at approximately 1:50 PM a McLean County Sheriff's deputy heard a member of District 6 of the Illinois State Police dispatched a trooper to the area of Rt 136, 1.5 miles east of Rt. 150, for a reportedly deceased individual. Upon the deputy's arrival, he met with LeRoy Police, LeRoy Rescue and an ISP Crime Scene Technician, who was traveling on Rt 136, when the dispatch went out. At the scene there was an unidentified deceased female. Additional

ISP and McLean County Coroner's and Sheriff's Office investigators arrived and ultimately "Jane Doe" was transported to the former Brokaw Hospital in Normal, IL, for a postmortem examination. Subsequent investigation would determine that no foul play was involved, and "Jane Doe", as she would become known, died as a result of suicide.

She was initially described as being approximately 38-40 years old, 5'10" tall, with hazel eyes and black hair, and weighed approximately 150 pounds.

Investigators located and interviewed numerous people regarding “Jane Doe.” Results of those interviews indicated multiple people gave her rides, or attempted to assist her in some manner, dropping her off when requested, at numerous locations between Clinton, Bloomington,

Heyworth and Leroy, IL. Those who gave rides or tried to assist “Jane Doe” stated some of the things she talked about seemed unusual and her behavior seemed erratic. Some felt she was agitated.

At approximately 1:35 P.M., a passerby located the body of “Jane Doe” off Rt. 136, approximately 1.5 miles east of Rt. 150 hanging near the base of the utility pole, her feet on the ground and knees bent. The passerby stopped a IDOT snowplow after which the snowplow driver and passerby cut "Jane Doe" from the pole and called for assistance.

Additional investigation by MCCO, MCSO and ISP investigators followed up on considerable leads and tips from the public. A locksmith in New York was identified from a key on her keychain, but the lead ended there. Throughout the remainder of 1982, the investigation continued, including the involvement of a forensic anthropologist from the University of Oklahoma, along with additional media releases. Unfortunately, no new leads or information as to whom "Jane Doe" was developed. She was buried on December 7, 1982, in a rural Bloomington cemetery. The investigation slowly wound down, due to a lack of additional information.

In 2016, the McLean County Coroner's Office was contacted by an individual who was researching the case and presented some information they had developed. The case was reopened and this information was investigated by MCSO detectives, but did not lead to the identification of "Jane Doe". Her DNA was uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), and an entry for the McLean County "Jane Doe" was submitted to NamUs. No hits or leads were developed from either upload, and the investigation was suspended due to a lack of new information.

In January of 2021, the Coroner's Office received a communication from another individual who was researching the case. Based on the strength of the information for a possible candidate, the case was reopened and investigated by MCSO detectives. Ultimately, it was determined through comparison of DNA samples that "Jane Doe" was not the missing person from the tip. A review of the 1982 reports compiled by the involved law enforcement agencies was undertaken, and a timeline was developed to gain a better understanding of her movements prior to her death. In March of 2021, investigation of the case was suspended due to a lack of new information.

In August of 2023, MCSO Criminal Investigation Department was contacted by an investigative genetic genealogist with Moxxy Forensic Investigations regarding this case. After several conversations with Moxxy and MCSO Command Staff, a meeting was held, and it was decided to reopen this investigation and pursue it further.

Through their work in investigative genetic genealogy, Moxxy Forensic Investigations has identified a number of previously unidentified deceased individuals and perpetrators of violent crimes, in addition to their advocacy for unreported missing person cases. A fundraising campaign was initiated by Moxxy Forensics and in November of 2024, the project goal was reached. In February 2025, Moxxy Forensic Investigations commenced genealogical analysis, and by late March, had developed a potential candidate for “Jane Doe”. Living genetic relatives of “Jane Doe” were identified, and a sample from one was taken and directly compared to “Jane Doe’s” profile, with their close genetic relationship confirming the identity of “Jane Doe”.

On August 1, 2025, following a final round of comparative testing, it was determined that “Jane Doe” was, in fact, Linda Cecilia Haddad, born August 27, 1942 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She would have been 39 years old at the time of her death.

The breakthrough came as a result of a collaboration with Moxxy Forensic Investigations, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization specializing in investigative genetic genealogical analysis, the McLean County Coroner's Office and the McLean County Sheriff’s Office.

By partnering with Atlanta, Georgia-based organization Genologue to sequence an existing DNA profile and Parabon NanoLabs of Reston, Virginia to conduct bioinformatics, a digital kit was developed and uploaded to the public DNA database GEDmatch. Seven of Moxxy’s

investigative genetic genealogists conducted a month-long investigation before developing a viable lead that ultimately connected Linda’s DNA profile with relatives who were able to assist in confirming her identity.

“Due to recent immigration in Linda’s ancestry from Lebanon, Ireland, and Québec, which are greatly underrepresented demographics in public DNA databases used for investigative genetic genealogical research, our team is very appreciative that some of her DNA matches were willing to assist us in sharing their family history, which helped lead us to Linda,” said Bryan Worters, assistant case lead. “This could have been a case that took years to resolve, but thanks to help from her extended family and unique ancestry, Linda was able to be identified much sooner.”

“Linda’s case is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when science, compassion, and determination come together,” said Kaycee Connelly, case lead and co-founder of Moxxy Forensic Investigations. “Despite the challenges posed by the underrepresentation of her paternal DNA, our team persevered and built a strong connection through her maternal line. We are truly honored to have helped bring her home.”

Linda’s family has been notified and has provided the following statement:

Linda grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her parents, older sister, and golden retriever Michael. Her father brought home fish and chips every Friday evening, which her family would often eat together on the banks of the Charles River near their home. Like her mother and sister, Linda had great style and dressed elegantly. She attended the same all-girls prep school as her older sister, where she made many close friends, some of whom are still in contact with her family today. The family spent summers at their cabin in Spencer, Massachusetts, where Linda enjoyed many hours playing with her sister, swimming in the lake, and appreciating the outdoors.

Linda’s family and friends love her and have missed her greatly. We want to express our deepest gratitude to the dedicated individuals at Moxxy Forensic Investigations, McLean County Coroner’s Office and the McLean County Sheriff’s Department, who went to great lengths to identify and locate us. We also want to thank the people of Le Roy, Illinois, who helped and cared for Linda in her time of need. After 42 years of searching and wondering, we are relieved to finally have some answers.

“I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the skilled professionals at Moxxy Forensic Investigations and their partners,” said Sheriff Matt Lane. “Their expertise and dedication were instrumental in helping us bring resolution to this case and, most importantly, closure to the family and everyone impacted. I also want to recognize the outstanding investigators from both the Sheriff’s Office and the Coroner’s Office, past and present, who worked tirelessly to retrace Linda’s steps and ultimately uncover her identity. Their commitment to resolving this investigation and compassion for the victim will not be forgotten.”

The McLean County Coroner's Office, McLean County Sheriff’s Office and Moxxy Forensic Investigations extend their deepest condolences to Linda Haddad’s loved ones and thank all who supported the efforts to raise funds to cover the costs to identify and restore her name.

Genealogical Society in Modesto, California Offering Fall Workshop

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:48:08 GMT

The Genealogical Society of Stanislaus County will present its 2025 Fall Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 1600 Carver Road, Modesto.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the registration fee is $40. There is an optional $15 luncheon, with a choice of a hero sandwich or chef salad.

The workshop is an introduction to genealogy for anyone who wants to start a family tree and begin their research. There will also be presentations for anyone who would like a refresher or pick up more resources.

Topics include Genealogy 101, information found on census records, how to organize your records, finding church records on FamilySearch, and several other topics. Check the Genealogical Society of Stanislaus County, GSSC, website for a registration form and a list of presentations. The website is stanislausgenealogy.org.

College of Southern Maryland Celebrates Reopening of the Southern Maryland Studies Center

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 11:44:13 GMT

Nearly 100 faculty, staff, and community members gathered at the College of Southern Maryland’s Dr. Elaine Ryan Library in the Learning Resource Building on the La Plata Campus on September 17, 2025, to celebrate the reopening of the Southern Maryland Studies Center, a resource dedicated to preserving and sharing the region’s history.

The day’s historical significance was echoed throughout the program. With the college opening its doors on September 17, 1958, the program not only celebrated the ribbon-cutting of the Southern Maryland Studies Center but also recognized the college’s 67 years of history.

The Southern Maryland Studies Center is an archival repository and research center that seeks to collect, preserve, and provide access to materials that document the history and culture of Southern Maryland. Founded in 1976, the center includes materials about Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties, together with the southern portions of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. It contains more than 200 collections of manuscripts, photographs, rare books, maps, and oral histories, as well as reference books and periodicals, subject files, and microfilmed county records, church records, and local newspapers from the 18th century to the present.

CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson welcomed attendees, highlighting the community’s generosity and support of the center. Dr. Wilson noted that the renovation was made possible by a $500,000 legislative bond initiative introduced by the late Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller Jr. and generous support from community leader Marianne Harms.

“Today’s program dedicates the reopening of the Southern Maryland Studies Center at the College of Southern Maryland in its new location on the lower level of this LR Building,” Dr. Wilson said. “Senator Miller’s leadership, paired with Marianne’s generosity, provided the resources necessary to complete the renovation and ensure that Southern Maryland’s stories, records, and cultural treasures remain accessible for generations to come.”

Dr. Wilson also recognized Sally Barley, a devoted champion of CSM and former trustee, whose passion for preserving Southern Maryland’s history shaped the center from its earliest days. “Sally served as the center’s very first archivist, laying the foundation for the treasured collections we preserve and share today. When she passed away in 2022, Sally ensured that her commitment to CSM and our community would continue by remembering the college in her estate. Her generosity through this legacy gift helped make today possible,” said Wilson.

Melanie Miller, daughter of the late senator, attended the ribbon-cutting. Dr. Wilson thanked her for helping make the project possible, and recognized Dr. Stephanie McCaslin, dean of Learning Resources, for her leadership.

Trustee Emeritus Wm. Daniel Mayer reflected on his journey with the college that began in 1959, when he enrolled in the second class of what was then called Charles County Junior College. After graduating in 1962, he went on to the University of Maryland and then the Army. Upon his return, he helped establish both the alumni association and the CSM Foundation. His service included 15 years as a trustee, as well as roles as a county commissioner and state delegate, where he advocated for the growth of the college. “This College from its very first day of classes in 1958 has been all about providing access for our local communities,” Mayer said.

Delegate Edith Patterson, chair of the Southern Maryland Delegation, brought greetings on behalf of the delegation. Patterson previously served at the college as a counselor from 1974 to 1991 and as the Director of Educational Talent Search from 1991 to 2012. She recalled the old center as just a room in the corner of the library, but noted the commitment of Sally Barley, who worked to make sure history remained relevant in the region.

Trustee Emeritus Dorothea Smith described the renovation as a dream come true, where research developed through collaborations of the African-American heritage Society, Charles County Retired School Personnel Association, Charles County Planning and Growth Management, Southern Maryland National Heritage, and Maryland historical trustees can be housed for public access. She noted that what was once “a cubbyhole overflowing with materials” has become a proper space with ventilation, climate controls, and staff support to help unearth the region’s heritage.

Dr. Janice Talbert Walthour, former trustee and past president of the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions (UCAC), recalled working with former CSM president Dr. Brad Gottfried in 2008 to donate UCAC’s oral history collection. “We were thrilled to be able to provide greater public access to the oral histories and the associated documentation that our UCAC had compiled at that time,” she said. Alma Jordan, chair of the UCAC History and Research Committee, added: “As this archive reopens its reading room today, it will be a tremendous resource for students, educators, historians, and community members alike to hear these histories. Together we can honor our shared legacies and build a greater community.”

Mark Wilkins, curator of maritime history at the Calvert Marine Museum, spoke about the importance of preserving history, citing the museum’s Bernie Fowler collection as an example. He shared that in 2014 the museum partnered with Maryland Sea Grant College and Watershed Productions to record oral histories with Senator Fowler. The collection, which also includes Fowler’s famous white shoe, is available to the public on the museum’s website. “Research is a treasure, it’s magical,” Wilkins said. “You never know where it’s going to lead you, and you really cannot find that treasure unless it’s well-organized like in a facility such as this.” The SMSC holds several of Fowler’s manuscripts and materials reflecting his environmental interests.

The program concluded with CSM Library Director Mary Johnson introducing Mallory Haselberger, archivist for the SMSC. Haselberger, a 2016 CSM alumna, curated a collection detailing the center’s history from its origins in 1976 through today. Following the program, attendees gathered in the lower level of the Learning Resource Building for the official ribbon cutting and to visit the Reading Room.

The ribbon-cutting signaled the reopening of the Southern Maryland Studies Center to patrons either through walk-in hours or by appointment. For more information, visit the SMSC website.

THRAB Names 2025 Archival Awards Recipients

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 11:41:36 GMT

The Texas Historical Records Advisory Board (THRAB) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Archival Awards. THRAB has named former Vice-President for Digital Media Production at NBC5/KXAS Television Brian Hocker as the recipient of the Advocacy for Archives Award. The David B. Gracy II Award for Distinguished Archival Service has been awarded to John H. Slate of the Dallas Municipal Archives.

The Advocacy for Archives Award acknowledges an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to ensure the preservation and availability of the historical record of Texas. Brian Hocker was instrumental in helping to preserve the extensive media collection of the first television news station in Texas (NBC/5/KXAS-formerly, WBAP-TV) and ensuring the historic footage would be made available to the public. Hocker identified the University of North Texas (UNT) as a partner in this endeavor and coordinated with the University Libraries’ Special Collections to archive and digitize decades worth of footage of events in the North Texas area. He went on to serve on the UNT Libraries Advocacy Board after retirement from NBC5 and engages with various community and business groups to promote the archive.

THRAB has awarded John H. Slate the 2025 David B. Gracy II Award for Distinguished Archival Service. The award recognizes an individual or organization that has provided outstanding leadership, service and/or contributions to the archival profession in Texas. Slate began his professional career in archives in Austin and San Antonio and has served as archivist for the City of Dallas since 2000. In his current role, Slate has led by example and raised awareness about the relevance of municipal archives. The book he co-authored, Managing Local Government Archives, has become a key resource. Slate has contributed to the profession through service on committees and leadership in organizations at every level, including as a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists (SAA), the highest honor offered by that group. Slate has presented and written on archival subjects throughout the years and has generously mentored many others in the field.

THRAB congratulates the 2025 archival award recipients and will present each of the awards during Texas Archives Month in October.

About the Texas Historical Records Advisory Board (THRAB):
THRAB serves as an advisory body for historical records planning and supports efforts to preserve and provide access to archival collections throughout the state. Funding for THRAB is provided by the National Historical Publications Records Commission (NHPRC), the grant-making arm of the National Archives and Records Administration. The state archivist is appointed by the governor to preside over the nine-member board.

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The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides Texans access to the information needed to be informed, productive citizens by preserving the archival record of Texas; enhancing the service capacity of public, academic and school libraries; assisting public agencies in the maintenance of their records; and meeting the reading needs of Texans with disabilities. For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov.

Free German Records for Unity Day

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 23:20:27 GMT

Unity Day is coming up in Germany, and to mark the occasion, MyHeritage is offering free access to all German historical records from October 2–6, 2025!

Explore the German records for free

It’s a fantastic opportunity for anyone with German family history to dig into their roots and make new discoveries. MyHeritage hosts 283 million records across 77 German collections, including vital, church, and emigration records. Some collections from key regions like Prussia, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and southwestern Germany are exclusive to MyHeritage.

MyHeritage DNA Tests: Unlock Your Family History and Trace Your Ancestry With a Simple Test

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:04:51 GMT

MyHeritage DNA’s one-swab test could connect you with relatives you never knew existed.

If you’ve ever thought about taking a DNA test to see where your heritage stems from, or to see if you have a long-lost, ideally famous, cousin you didn’t know about, then there’s no better time than the present.

MyHeritage DNA makes the process super simple. A quick cheek swab sent off in a prepaid kit is all it takes to unlock your genetic story. Within weeks, the results appear in your private online dashboard, ready to explore.

What exactly do you learn? MyHeritage DNA goes beyond a percentage breakdown. Its advanced technology analyses your genetic markers, comparing them against one of the world’s largest DNA databases. The result is a detailed picture of your heritage, including regional ethnicity estimates, migration paths and even unexpected connections that may have become lost over generations.

The real game-changer in MyHeritage DNA is its DNA-matching feature. As MyHeritage has a global network of 7.7million users, it can connect you with those relatives you never even knew existed – be it across the country or on the other side of the world (just think of all the couches you may soon be able to surf on).

Each match comes with varying degrees of closeness, from distant cousins to immediate family, and the platform makes it easy to reach out and connect safely.

Century-Old ‘Woman in the Well’ Mystery Solved by DNA Breakthrough

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:01:00 GMT

In June 2006, human remains were found from a site in Sutherland, Saskatoon.

Canadian authorities have officially solved the mystery of “woman in the well” who died around 100 years ago through DNA technology.

The investigators identified the remains who they discovered in June 2006 as Alice Spence, nee Burke, by using DNA testing.

As per official reports, she was born in September 1881 and believed to move to Canada from Minnesota in 1913.

Her remains were found during the excavation of the former gas station site in 2006. The bones were discovered in a sack inside a wooden barrel that was retrieved from a well, according to Dr. Ernie Walker, a forensic anthropologist.

The well-preserved nature of remains allowed the police officials to perform DNA testing and they collected the DNA sample from hair and two teeth.

"Unknown to the individual that dropped it, a piece of cribbing of the well had broken loose and blocked the barrel from going all the way down to the bottom,” Walker said.

Law enforcement officials identified Spence after developing family histories and tracking living relatives. The search led to Spence's closest living relative, her great granddaughter, Cindy Camp.

According to police investigation, Alice’s death was not natural, in fact it was suspected to be ridden with foul play.

“We have circumstantial evidence that we believe we know who did it, but it's 100 years old. That person does not have the right to defend themselves in court today so we're going to leave it at that,” Sgt. Darren Funk said.

This “woman in the well” case is believed to be the oldest one in Canada which is solved with the help of Investigative Genetic Genealogy.

Mercer County, Ohio Recorder’s Office Launches New Online Cemetery Resource in Collaboration With Miami University GIS Students

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 11:52:43 GMT

The Mercer County Recorder’s Office is proud to announce the launch of an exciting new digital resource focused on the cemeteries of Mercer County. This project, initiated in May 2025 through a partnership with GIS students from Miami University, is now live and available to the public on the Mercer County Recorder’s website.

www.mercercountyohio.org/elected-officials/recorder

The project’s objective was to create a comprehensive and user-friendly digital tool that provides detailed information about cemeteries throughout the county. Under the guidance of Recorder Julie Peel, and with assistance from Janell Weiss of the Tax Map Office, the student-led project has been carefully reviewed and refined to meet the needs of local researchers, genealogists, and the general public.

Recorder Julie Peel

“We’re thrilled to see this project come to life. It’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in local history, genealogy, or honoring veterans. We’re grateful to the Miami University students for their hard work and to Janell for her collaboration.”

New Online Features Now Available:

Visitors to the Recorder’s website can now explore two new features:

1. Cemetery Records Search

Located under Search Records → Cemetery Records, this section includes:

• Veteran Grave Registration

• Genealogy Society Cemetery Volumes

2. Cemetery Map Search

An interactive GIS-based map is available under Search Records → Cemetery Map Search. Users can click on individual cemetery markers to access:

• Cemetery names (including alternate names)• Location details

• Direct links to resources such as Find a Grave, WPA plats, and Genealogy Society volumes

• Historical notes and interesting facts (when available)

To explore these new features, visit:

www.mercercountyohio.org/elected-officials/recorder

Stark Library (Ohio) to Host Genealogy Workshop With Author Sunny Jane Morton

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 11:44:35 GMT

Daylong event Oct. 11 at Jackson Branch features four sessions on family history research and storytelling.

Sunny Jane Morton

Stark Library's Jackson Branch will present “Telling Our Stories: A Journey Through Family History” on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, offering a full day of genealogical lectures and workshops led by family-history educator Sunny Jane Morton.

Running from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event features four sessions designed to help participants dig into their roots, craft narratives and preserve family legacies. The morning begins with “A Wild Ride: Ohio River Travel Stories, Songs and Scenes” at 9:30, followed at 11 a.m. by “From Documents to Sentences to Stories: Rebuilding a Family’s Stories.” After lunch, Morton will deliver “Fable or Fact? Verifying Old Family Stories” at 1:30 p.m., and the day concludes at 3 p.m. with “Plan Your Next Family History Writing Project: Hands-on Workshop.”

Morton, content director at Your DNA Guide and a contributing editor at Family Tree Magazine, is known nationally for her expertise in genealogy research, writing and editing. She has co-authored How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records, a book recognized by the National Genealogical Society for its contribution to family-history studies.

Attendees register once for the program, which covers all four lectures, but may choose to attend the sessions that fit their schedules. The event is aimed at adults and older adults interested in genealogy, memoir writing or uncovering their family stories.

More information and registration details are available at starklibrary.org.

It is the First Day of the Month: Back Up Your Genealogy Files

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 11:39:19 GMT

Today is the first day of the month. That is a good time to back up your genealogy files. Then test your backups!

Your backups aren't worth much unless you make a quick test by restoring a small file or two after the backup is completed.

Provincial Archives of New Brunswick Releases Digitized Crown Land Grant Records Collection

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:41:47 GMT

Soon after the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick yesterday quietly launched digitized Crown land grant records on its website, excitement started to grow on social media.

If your ancestors lived in New Brunswick, this is a collection worth searching.

The New Brunswick Land Grants web section contains information on more than 55,000 individuals and corporate bodies who acquired Crown land between 1784 and 2007.

The quality of even the oldest documents is very good, and they are easy to download.

In the Search box, simply enter a name to see if a relative purchased Crown land. Too many results? Then enter a first name, county name, and/or range of years. The results appear quickly.

Now, doesn’t this make you wish you had more ancestors — if any — from New Brunswick?

Snapchat Introduces Memories Storage Plans

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:32:26 GMT

The following is a press release issued by Snapchat:

Since we launched Memories in 2016, Snapchatters have saved more than 1 trillion Memories. Unlike the camera roll full of duplicates and screenshots, Memories on Snapchat are special because Snapchatters choose to save the moments that really matter.

When we first launched Memories, we never expected it to grow to what it has become today. We want to make sure that our community can continue to store all of their Memories over the long term, so we are introducing new Memories Storage Plans to support Snapchatters with more than 5GB of Memories.

For the vast majority of Snapchatters, who have less than 5GB of Memories, nothing will change. For Snapchatters with more than 5GB of Memories, meaning thousands of Snaps, we are rolling out new options to upgrade and increase storage. The introductory Memories Storage Plans offer 100GB, 250GB with Snapchat+, or 5TB with Snapchat Platinum.

We’ll provide 12 months of temporary Memories storage for any Memories that exceed the 5GB storage limit. Snapchatters can upgrade to a Memories Storage Plan at any time, and as always, will be able to download their Memories directly to their devices.

It’s never easy to transition from receiving a service for free to paying for it, but we hope the value we provide with Memories is worth the cost. Thank you for trusting us with some of your most precious moments. These changes will allow us to continue to invest in making Memories better for our entire community.

Team Snapchat

Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society Hosts Family History Month Event

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:21:24 GMT

The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society (SBCGS) will host its annual Family History Month Open House, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Sahyun Genealogical Library, 316 Castillo St., Santa Barbara.

Admission is free, and all are welcome.

Guadalupe church-Santa Barbara, circa 1927 with congregation members standing outside the church.

The event will feature the debut of a special exhibit: Santa Barbara Hispanic Family Histories, 1850–1970, highlighting the stories, photographs, and legacies of local families whose histories are woven into the cultural fabric of Santa Barbara.

Guests can also receive special assistance with Hispanic genealogy research, offering practical help to start or expand their own family history journey.

The Open House will also offer a variety of activities:
• Family Search Discovery Experiences – Find famous relatives, explore your family in the 1950 census, record family memories, and take home a personalized family tree fan chart (free FamilySearch account required).
• Library Tours and Research Help – Explore Sahyun Library’s collections with guidance from experienced volunteers and special interest groups.
• Community Organizations and Lineage Groups – Connect with local partners dedicated to preserving history and heritage.
• Free Computer and Database Access – Use library computers and subscription genealogy websites at no cost during the event.
• Light refreshments and networking – Enjoy refreshments while connecting with fellow genealogy enthusiasts.

“Our Open House is about more than research, it’s about connection,” said Holly Snyder, SBCGS outreach chair.

“Every family has a story worth preserving, and this event offers the tools, resources, and inspiration to help uncover and share those stories,” she said.

For more information, visit SBGEN.org or contact Outreach@SBGEN.org.

Free to the Public Family History Conference Oct. 18 in Los Alamos, New Mexico

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:11:49 GMT

Saskatoon Police Identify “Woman in the Well” as Alice Spence After 19-Year Investigation

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:06:02 GMT

Saskatoon Police now know who the woman in the well was in life. She was identified thanks to a combination of determined investigative work and genealogical and DNA testing.

We now know that she is Alice Spence (nee Burke). Alice moved to the town of Sutherland, SK, in 1913 from St. Louis, Minnesota. The Spence family consisted of Alice, her husband Charles and young daughter Idella. A 1916 Census is the last record investigators have found indicating Alice was alive. A fire in 1918 destroyed the family’s home and later information lists Charles living with his daughter, a housekeeper and her son in 1921. Investigators believe foul play occurred resulting in Alice’s death, sometime between 1916 and the fire in 1918. Through the development of family trees, Alice’s descendants have been located. Most of them were unaware of her and her tragic death.

The mystery began for investigators on June 29, 2006 when a site at the corner of Central Avenue and 108th Street was being excavated. Crews located an old well and a barrel containing preserved female remains. An autopsy determined the death was suspicious in nature and provided information that may help identify her. It was a miracle according to investigators. The odds of recovering the body of someone in that condition, who died so long ago are not good. “I used to say that she wanted to be found”, says Dr. Ernie Walker, a professor of anthropology and archaeology who brought his expertise to the investigation.

Over the last 19 years a number of investigators have been assigned to the case, utilizing a variety of tools including DNA testing and historical archive information to try to determine Alice’s identity. The Saskatoon Police Service also relied on a variety of partners, from the Department of Archaeology at the University of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Coroner’s Service, the Western Development Museum, City of Saskatoon Archives and the City of Saskatoon Infrastructure Services. The critical break came when members of the Toronto Police Services’ Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) team assisted in exploring genetic relatives and developing family trees.

“This investigation is a testament to the determination and innovation of investigators throughout all these years”, says Chief Cameron McBride. “As a Constable who assisted immediately after Alice’s remains were discovered, this is an especially satisfying outcome.”

It is believed this is the oldest investigation in Canada to be solved with the assistance of IGG.

What You Can Do

Cases like Alice Spence’s show how perseverance and new technologies can bring answers, even after more than a century. Share this story to raise awareness about the importance of investigative genetic genealogy in solving historic cold cases.

ACPL’s Genealogy Center to Offer Free Programs in Celebration of Family History Month

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 11:59:01 GMT

October is Family History Month, and the Allen County Public Library’s Genealogy Center is offering programs to celebrate.

ACPL and its renowned genealogy center are hosting free events throughout the month. Highlights of this year’s celebration include:

Chasing Ghosts: The Story of the Ghost Army
Transform Your Activity Calendar & Really Stand Out: Innovative Tools to Boost Joy, Engagement, and Reminiscence in Eldercare
Making the Records Talk

“Family History Month is a wonderful time to engage in finding more of our families’ stories, that are the fabric of our lives, the stories that make us who we are. We are excited to provide resources and programs that bring history to life, whether through personal discovery, networking, or learning from experts.”

- Director of Special Collections and Genealogy Center Manager Curt Witcher said.

Organizers say all activities will be open to the public and held at the main library branch in downtown Fort Wayne, unless otherwise noted.

To learn more about what the library will offer this Family History Month, visit Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.

23andMe Announces a New Version of Ancestry Composition

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 11:24:16 GMT

This update is currently in the process of rolling out to all eligible customers on the latest, V5, genotyping chip.

The 23andMe Ancestry Team has been working hard on a major update to the Ancestry Composition report, and results are now available! Our goal is to provide the most accurate and meaningful genetic ancestry results in the industry. We ground our models in rigorous science, guided by established population genetics research, to ensure your results are consistent, reliable, and can help guide your personal journey of discovery.

What changes you’ll see

New granularity in your ancestry percentages: 33 new populations in Europe and 6 in the Americas to explore. Plus we’ve updated our algorithm to eliminate “Broadly” and “Unassigned” categories in the default results view.
More accurate results: A new state-of-the-art DNA phasing pipeline reduces errors and gives a more accurate estimate of your percentages, even if your ancestry isn’t from Europe or the Americas.
New features: A new “Version History” section lets you compare your new results to your previous result, and 23andMe+ Premium™ members can also access all previous versions of their results at different confidence thresholds.

This update powers your Ancestry Composition, Ancestry Timeline, Parental Inheritance, DNA Painting, and more.

Our focus for this update

For this update we focused on improving the entire Ancestry Composition pipeline integrating the latest research. Throughout the rounds of development we look at two major metrics: precision and recall. Precision lets us know how often we correctly predict that a piece of DNA is from a specific population. Recall tells us how much DNA from a specific population we can correctly identify. Working to maximize both precision and recall is critical to making Ancestry Composition and other ancestry features as accurate as possible.

The final models in this update had good precision and recall across the new populations, ensuring the accuracy of the ancestry breakdown predictions while also expanding the specificity and granularity of the populations. One example of the improvements gained by this update is the reduced amount of North Asian ancestry predicted for some Indigenous North American customers. You can learn more about the development process and see precision and recall metrics for each population in the Ancestry Composition Guide.

While this update focused on increasing granularity in Europe and the Americas, customers from other parts of the world will still benefit thanks to the improvements to the science and the removal of broadly and unassigned ancestry.

Not yet a 23andMe member? Learn more about what 23andMe has to offer.

Some questions you might be wondering about

Why are certain populations combined?

To define the 78 Ancestry Composition populations, we analyzed the reference datasets, chose candidate populations that appeared to cluster together, and then evaluated whether we can distinguish those groups in practice. Some populations tend to cluster on their own, but most country-level populations overlap to some degree. In these cases, we experiment with different groupings of country-level populations to find combinations that we can distinguish with high confidence. Check out the Ancestry Composition Guide to learn more.

Does this mean that the people in those groups are the same? No. Each group has its own history, culture, and often different languages. These groupings are a reflection of our current genetic understanding and scientific methods, not a statement about cultural identity.

Does this mean DNA that is assigned to these populations is from all groups? Not necessarily. For example, DNA assigned to the Belarusian, Polish & Ukrainian group might mean your ancestors were from one, two, or all three of those country-level populations. Sometimes other information from your DNA, such as your Genetic Groups, might help you identify more specific locations your ancestors may have come from.

Why are some reference panels smaller than before?

A reference panel, or a reference population or reference dataset, is a collection of DNA samples from people with some common connection. We compare your DNA to these reference panels to determine which ancestry most closely corresponds to your DNA. We often use 23andMe research participants who tell us they have four grandparents all born in the same country for reference panels.

However, sometimes when we look at the ancestry prediction for individuals in a reference panel for a specific population a few individuals don’t end up being predicted to have a reasonably large percentage of their DNA from that population. These individuals are considered outliers. As part of this update we systematically reviewed our reference panels around the world to remove these outliers. But don’t worry; even though some reference panels might be smaller, we still check that the models perform as well as (or better than) before for people with ancestry from these regions.

Why is there no Indigenous Caribbean population?

To define a new ancestry population we need reference panels made up of individuals who have deep genetic roots from one place. However, many individuals from the Caribbean are highly admixed (“admixture” refers to places where there was mixing of previously separate populations). This makes it incredibly difficult to identify a sufficient number of individuals with primarily indigenous DNA from the Caribbean. The reference panels for the new Indigenous American populations are almost entirely unadmixed, which is why we are able to provide ancestry percentages for these populations.

So where does Indigenous Caribbean ancestry show up? We tend to see that Indigenous American ancestry in individuals from the Caribbean is spread among several of the new Indigenous American populations (especially North American, Southern Mesoamerican, Central Andean & Amazonian, and Northern Andean).

Does this mean Indigenous Caribbean ancestors came from those places? Not necessarily. It simply means that of the options available today, those populations are the closest genetic match.

Why weren’t other parts of the world updated?

While we would love to be able to make major updates around the world more frequently, each new population requires new reference data and major updates in the prediction models. Throughout the years we have increased the number of populations across the rest of the world; however, we have not updated the populations in Europe since 2012. This update was an important opportunity to provide more detail in Europe and the Americas.

We will continue to work towards providing more specificity and granularity around the world in your ancestry percentages as well as Genetic Groups (keep an eye out over the next few months for new Genetic Groups in Africa), Historical MatchesSM, and other features.

Why did the colors change?

Adding 39 new colors to the color palette was quite the task for the 23andMe Design Team. The team took this opportunity to think about the colors holistically, coming up with a new system that provides a gradient across the world, allowing for nearby populations that are closer together geographically to be represented by more similar colors, while at the same time providing a system that can work for more populations in the future.

Who will get this update?

All customers genotyped on the current (V5) chip and with access to the ancestry service will see this update. A genotyping chip (or array) tests for a fixed set of genetic variants (SNPs) across the genome. Different chip versions (V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, etc.) test for different sets of SNPs. More recent chips often include better coverage for certain populations, recently discovered variants, or better genetic markers that help improve ancestry?composition algorithms or detect health?associated variants.

Ancestry Composition is trained on specific genotyping chip versions, and these latest models were only trained on the latest chip version. The models are incompatible with data from older genotyping chips, as older chips don’t include most of the genetic markers used by these new ancestry models. More recent chip versions are also designed with better coverage for diverse populations.
If you’re on an older chip version (or not sure which chip version you have) learn about chip upgrades here.

What happens if my family deleted data and I want to connect with them?

When you connect with a biological parent through Your Connections, we use the additional information we learn from your parents’ DNA to improve the resolution of your Ancestry Composition results. You will also be able to see the proportions of each ancestry that you inherited from each parent in the Parental Inheritance section in your Ancestry Composition report. If a family member has deleted their account they will need to purchase a new kit and create a new account before you can connect with them.

Genealogy Sources for Pre-Modern Britain: August Webinar Now Online

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:15:50 GMT

Our second in a series of educational helps and tips to assist those interesting in joining our society…”The Royal Bastards…

royalbastards.org

ByteDance Expected to Maintain Big Role in New US TikTok, Sources Say

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:04:14 GMT

TikTok's China-based owner ByteDance will maintain ownership of TikTok's U.S. business operations and will cede control of the app’s data, content and algorithm to the newly formed joint venture, three sources familiar with the matter said.

ByteDance's bigger-than-expected role in the new TikTok entity lays out the continued and significant involvement of the China-based global tech giant.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a plan to sell the China-based company's TikTok U.S. operations to a consortium of investors that include Oracle, Silver Lake and others to satisfy national security requirements.

The details about the ownership structure under discussion may raise questions in Congress and among critics about whether the deal approved by Trump represents a qualified divestiture of all of TikTok’s U.S. assets as required under a 2024 law, which required ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban.

On Friday after a Reuters report, the chair of the House Select Committee on China John Moolenaar, a Republican, said he will conduct full oversight over the deal, adding that the deal should "preclude operational ties between the new entity and ByteDance."

"The law also set firm guardrails that prohibit cooperation between ByteDance and any prospective TikTok successor on the all-important recommendation algorithm," Moolenaar said.

The structure is still under discussion and could yet change, these sources said.

The White House did not reply to a request for comment. ByteDance did not reply to a request for comment after Asia business hours. TikTok in the U.S. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sources said the new U.S. TikTok would be divided into two companies. The joint venture that was announced by Trump will serve as the backend operations to the U.S. company and handle U.S. user data and algorithm. ByteDance is expected to be the single largest minority shareholder in the joint venture, sources said.

A separate division that will continue to be wholly owned by ByteDance will control the revenue-generating business operations such as e-commerce and advertising, these sources said.

The new U.S. company will be valued at around $14 billion, Vice President JD Vance said.

Reports in Chinese media published on Friday described a two-part structure in which ByteDance will continue to own the part of TikTok U.S. that will be responsible for e-commerce, branding operations and interconnection with international operations, while a separate new joint venture will handle the user data and algorithm. The reports by Chinese media outlets LatePost and Caixin were taken down later on Friday.

Saving TikTok in the U.S. is important to Trump. He talks about TikTok often and how it has helped him reach young voters. He has credited TikTok, which has 170 million U.S. users, with helping him win reelection last year, and has 15 million followers on his personal TikTok account. The White House also launched an official TikTok account last month.

Campbell to Present at Family History Fair Saturday in Raleigh, North Carolina

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:53:58 GMT

Local historian and genealogist Desi Campbell will give a presentation at the 2025 Family History Fair Saturday in the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources building in Raleigh. The theme of this year’s fair is African American Genealogy and History and will focus on experiences with and tips for researching African American ancestry and history.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 109 E. Jones St. and is free and open to the public.

Tennessee State Library & Archives hosts Family History Day on Oct. 11

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:48:59 GMT

Genealogy enthusiasts invited to learn how to trace Revolutionary War patriots, transcribe history, and explore family roots

The Tennessee State Library & Archives invites the public to its free annual Family History Day on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., offering an engaging day of historical discovery, hands-on activities, and expert research assistance to help connect patrons to their family history and heritage.

This year’s featured speaker is MerryAnne Pierson, a nationally recognized genealogist and longtime Tennessee resident, who will present “Researching Your Revolutionary War Patriot.”

In her talk, Pierson will guide attendees through a wide range of resources available for discovering Revolutionary War ancestors—including digital archives, military records, land grants, published genealogies, and more.

Her presentation will emphasize research strategies for identifying patriots from the original 13 colonies and will highlight contributions from Indigenous peoples, enslaved and free Black soldiers, and other often-overlooked figures of the Revolutionary era.

“As the premier genealogical resource center in Tennessee, TSLA offers a pathway for patrons to not only discover their ancestors, but also uncover their stories,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “Getting to learn about the research process with Ms. Pierson will help connect Tennesseans with the tools and resources available to them through the Library & Archives that can support their research endeavors.”

Pierson’s credentials in genealogical research are extensive. A retired surgical nurse and Ohio native, she has pursued genealogy with scholarly rigor, earning certifications from the National Genealogical Society, Boston University, and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

She currently serves as the Tennessee DAR Lineage Research Chair and is active in several other heritage organizations, including the Mayflower Society and the United States Daughters of 1812.

Family History Day is more than just a lecture—it’s a celebration of discovery. Throughout the day, attendees can participate in a “Transcribe-a-thon,” helping to make digitized historical records more accessible to researchers by transcribing original documents from the Library & Archives’ vast collections.

“Our team is ready year-round to support researchers in their search for knowledge about their ancestors,” said Tennessee State Librarian and Archivist Jamie Ritter. “We are looking forward to seeing what special mementos and records people bring along with them, so we can help share preservation tips that help protect their items.”

Public Services staff and volunteers will also be on hand to assist guests with their genealogical research, offering personalized guidance and access to unique Tennessee records and databases.

New this year, visitors can also take part in “Ask an Archivist,” an opportunity to bring questions about Library & Archives collections or their own family treasures.

While staff cannot provide appraisals, they will share practical advice on preserving photos, letters, and other cherished materials for future generations.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration for the presentation is required. To reserve your seat, access Eventbrite by clicking here.

The Library & Archives is located at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way North on the northeast corner of Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, across from the Tennessee State Museum. Parking is available for guests in the Library & Archives garage on Junior Gilliam Way.

The Library & Archives is also open for research throughout the year, Tuesday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. The interactive exhibit lobby is open to the public Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT.

For more information, visit: Plan Your Visit | Tennessee Secretary of State (tn.gov). For more information about the Library & Archives, call 615-741-2764, email ask@tsla.libanswers.com, or visit https://sos.tn.gov/tsla.

200 Years Later, Beethoven’s DNA Reveals a Surprising Truth

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 21:29:53 GMT

A few strands of hair have uncovered secrets no one saw coming. Nearly two centuries after Ludwig van Beethoven’s death, a genetic analysis of his DNA has shed new light on his health—and sparked fresh questions about his family tree. What do these historic locks reveal about the man behind the music?

In March 2023, an international team of scientists released the findings of a comprehensive DNA study based on hair samples taken from Beethoven. Their goal: to unravel long-standing mysteries about his medical history and genetic background. What they found not only added new layers to our understanding of his final years—it also raised unexpected questions about his ancestry.

What Beethoven’s hair reveals

The genetic testing revealed several surprising insights into Beethoven’s health:

His likely cause of death? Hepatitis B, worsened by heavy alcohol use.
One theory dismissed: lead poisoning didn’t kill him.
One puzzle remains: the cause of his deafness and stomach issues is still unknown.

These findings offer a clearer picture of the composer’s final chapter. The evidence suggests that hepatitis B, combined with alcohol consumption, may have led to his early death at age 56. That conclusion challenges the long-held belief that he died of lead poisoning—a theory that had persisted for decades due to 19th-century medical practices.

DNA analysis of Beethoven’s hair has solved many mysteries, some two hundred years after his death. © iStock

A family mystery in the genes

But the biggest surprise wasn’t about his health—it was in his DNA. When scientists compared Beethoven’s Y chromosome (passed down along the paternal line) with the Y chromosomes of living relatives, the results didn’t match. In other words, somewhere between 1572 and Beethoven’s birth in 1770, a child was born outside the official family line.

Timeframe	Discovery
1572–1770	A non-paternal event altered Beethoven’s direct male line

This revelation adds a fascinating twist to Beethoven’s family history. Somewhere between the birth of Hendrik van Beethoven in Belgium and Ludwig’s in Germany, the genetic line was disrupted. It’s a very human detail—one that reminds us that even the lives of legends are filled with unexpected turns.

What we still don’t know

Despite these breakthroughs, many questions about Beethoven’s health remain unanswered:

What caused his gradual hearing loss, which began in his twenties?
Why did he suffer chronic abdominal pain?
What was behind his ongoing digestive problems?

These mysteries continue to fascinate researchers and fans alike. His deafness—he became functionally deaf around age 48—is perhaps the most tragic. It’s a haunting paradox: a man who composed some of the world’s most powerful music, unable to hear it himself.

When a lock of hair rewrites history

There was one more twist: a lock of hair long thought to be Beethoven’s turned out to belong to an unknown woman. That mix-up underscores how tricky it is to authenticate historical artifacts—and why science matters when uncovering the past.

In the end, the genuine strands of Beethoven’s hair—taken after his death on a stormy March day in 1827—have revealed more than anyone could have guessed. They’ve offered new clues about his health, his ancestry, and the deeply human story behind a musical legend.

Cold Case in Austin Solved After 34 Years With DNA

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 12:01:10 GMT

One of America’s most disturbing cold cases has been solved after more than 30 years of no answers. This week, police in Austin announced that the guilty party of the 1991 Yoghurt shop murders is Robert Eugene Brashers, a convicted felon, who died by suicide in 1999. The case left a lasting scar on the city and haunted it for years.

On December 6, 1991, four teenage girls, Amy Ayers (13), Eliza Thomas (17), Jennifer Harbison (17) and Sarah Harbison (15) were viciously murdered in a yoghurt shop. Their bodies were found bound, shot, and set on fire. The terrible crime traumatized Texas and led to numerous arrests and wrongful convictions, but ultimately no resolution in the case.

As time passed, advances in DNA technology, coupled with genetic genealogy, changed the case. Evidence that the fire had damaged was retested, and advances in methods allowed the extraction of usable genetic material. From genealogy databases, forensic genetics established a familial connection between the DNA and Brashers.

Brashers, who had a history of violent felonies, including sexual assaults and attempted murder in the Midwest, took his own life in 1999 while already involved in a police standoff. Although he will never face justice in the form of a trial, investigators emphasize that this identification provides closure after a long wait. For the families of the victims, this is a relief, but it is also immeasurably painful. One family member said, “We’ve waited 34 years for answers and finally, science has provided us with the truth.”

Investigators identified this case and how forensic science has prevailed, stating that with time and technology, justice can be served even 34 years later.

Thomas Balch Library Hosting Virtual Genealogy Presentation

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:30:19 GMT

The Thomas Balch Library (of Leesburg, Virginia) will host Joseph Roby for a virtual presentation on “Moving Beyond Tree Hints: Using the Ancestry & FamilySearch Catalogs” on Thursday, October 2, beginning at 7 p.m.

Do you use tree hints on websites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org? Roby, a professional genealogist with deep Loudoun County roots, will demonstrate how to use the Ancestry and FamilySearch catalogs, a more calculated genealogical strategy. These catalogs are gateways to millions of records you may miss if you only use tree hints. Records will be easier to locate using the tools and skills learned in this session. Understanding how to use the catalogs will also make it much easier to take your research to libraries, archives, and other repositories. This presentation is primarily for beginner and intermediate level researchers, but every attendee will likely learn at least one new skill or tidbit of information.

Roby is a professional genealogist and member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). He has served as Chapter Representative and Program Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of APG, and is also a past board member of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. Roby is currently a member of the Black History Committee of the Friends of the Thomas Balch Library, as well as a member of the Howe House Historians, part of the Friends of the Howe House in Montclair, New Jersey. He has spent hundreds of hours researching on-site in Virginia. Besides Virginia, Roby specializes in African American and slavery-era research. His current research focuses on the people his Dulany ancestors enslaved at Oakley, a farm outside of Upperville, Fauquier County. Roby lives in Stow, Massachusetts.

Pre-registration is required for this virtual event. Please call 703-737-7195, email balchlib@leesburgva.gov, or register online.

Digital Collection Announced by Trail Museum and Archives, Teck Trail Operations

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:52:01 GMT

One of the most cherished print publications of the Consolidated Mining & Smelting Company of Canada, Ltd is now a digital publication.

The Trail Museum and Archives and Teck Trail Operations announced Wednesday that the “famed” Cominco Magazine — first issued in February 1940 until 1971 — will remain a valuable record of company operations, staffing and culture but in a digital format.

“The Trail Museum and Archives is thrilled to finally make this important collection digitally available,” said museum and archives manager, Sarah Benson-Lord, in a statement.

“Through our supportive partnership with UBO Okanagan Library’s archivist team and their B.C. Regional Digitized History program, the Cominco Magazine is another addition to our growing collection of digital assets made available for public research and enjoyment.”

Teck Trail Operations is happy that the Cominco Magazine collection is now available online, said Matt Parrilla, general manager.

“This remarkable archive is a window into the company’s history and showcases innovation, progress, and community across sites including Trail, Yellowknife, Pine Point, Kimberley and Potash (Saskatoon).

“For many, it will be a nostalgic resource offering opportunities to explore family connections and to see how jobs and the operations have changed and evolved. The collection offers a broad view of the company’s foundation and the legacy we continue to build on, now accessible to families, historians, and anyone interested in our shared past.”

The Trail Museum and Archives said Teck Trail Operations granted online access and funding for the digitization of 356 issues of the magazine, which occurred in summer 2024.

The collection can be viewed and searched within the Trail Museum and Archives pages on the B.C. Regional Digitized History website at https://bcrdh.ca/islandora/object/kcdh%3Aroot.

Cominco Magazine

First published in February 1940 in the S.G. Blaylock era, The Employees’ Magazine was a journal intended to document, feature and celebrate Consolidated Mining & Smelting Company of Canada Ltd. (CM&S/Cominco) employees, their families, and company operations.

It also served as supportive outreach to the many military service members overseas during the Second World War, of whom CM&S sent thousands. Adopting the title Cominco in April 1940, it finally took the name Cominco Magazine in August 1945. The magazine grew from 18 pages to as many as 32 pages over the years.

Cominco published the magazine monthly with a dedicated staff. Familiar names like Lance Whittaker, James Cameron and Craig Weir are just a few of the many editors, while renowned photographers Mickey Brennen and Jack LaRocque visually documented the era.

Joe Cushner’s unique safety posters are also prominent features.

Beginning in spring 1968, publication reduced to bi-monthly. Only one issue was published in 1971, the final edition of a storied legacy. In total, 356 issues of the publication were printed and distributed over 31 years.

Peterborough, New Hampshire Town Library Presents Family Archiving Workshop

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:22:11 GMT

The Peterborough Town Library will host “Family Archiving: Essentials Edition” on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 5:30 p.m. at 2 Concord St.

The free workshop, led by Program and Outreach Librarian Rebecca Enman, is designed to help participants organize and preserve their family’s history. Adapted from the library’s three-part “Family Archiving 101” series, the condensed session will provide practical strategies in a single evening.

Enman will cover how to sort through collections, decide what to keep or donate, preserve documents and photos and explore digitization. Participants will leave with an action plan tailored to their family archives.

Enman holds an MLIS in Archives Management from Simmons University and worked for 10 years as a professional archivist before joining PTL. She also draws on personal experience clearing family homes to offer practical advice.

Space is limited and registration is required. To sign up, visit peterboroughtownlibrary.org or call 603-924-8040.

RootsTech 2026 Registration Now Open

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:13:48 GMT

Registration for the 2026 RootsTech Conference opened Wednesday, Sept. 24, FamilySearch announced.

The annual family history conference will take place March 5-7, 2026, both online and in-person in Salt Lake City, with select content available in multiple languages, according to a news release.

Early-bird tickets are $99 for a three-day pass and $69 for a one-day pass. Individuals can also tune in online for free. Register for the in-person conference on the RootsTech website or register for the free online option.

Apply Now: BJA Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (US)

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:09:17 GMT

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced a funding opportunity aimed at increasing the prosecution of violent cold case crimes in the United States where suspect DNA has already been identified.

With an anticipated budget of $6.5 million, this program seeks to help law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies resolve cases that have remained unsolved for years, bringing justice to victims and their families.

The funding supports investigative and prosecutorial activities, along with advanced forensic and crime analysis that can directly contribute to the successful prosecution of violent cold cases. Eligible uses include traditional law enforcement work, the formation and sustainment of multidisciplinary case review teams, advanced DNA testing, forensic genetic genealogy, and other specialized analyses. It also provides resources for prosecutors, including training, expert witness support, and trauma-informed services for victims and families.

By focusing on cases with existing DNA profiles, the initiative leverages scientific evidence to move stalled investigations forward. Forensic techniques such as genetic genealogy, mitochondrial DNA analysis, and digital evidence analysis are expected to play a key role. These tools, combined with enhanced investigative approaches, create opportunities to connect the evidence to suspects and resolve complex cases.

The program makes up to sixteen awards, with each award capped at $500,000. The period of performance will extend for up to three years, beginning October 1, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to propose budgets that are realistic and aligned with their project goals while ensuring they have the capacity to manage funds responsibly.

Eligibility extends to a wide range of applicants, including state, county, city, and township governments, federally recognized and non-recognized Tribal governments, prosecuting agencies, and law enforcement agencies. U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are also eligible.

Priority consideration will be given to projects that demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing public safety, protecting children, supporting victims of violent crime and trafficking, and aligning local efforts with federal law enforcement initiatives. The program’s design reflects an effort not only to solve cold cases but also to strengthen trust in the justice system by holding offenders accountable.

This opportunity provides law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and their partners with vital resources to revive unsolved cases. It emphasizes the importance of combining advanced forensic science with investigative and prosecutorial expertise, offering hope to families who have long awaited justice and closure.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.

Blackstone Weighs Options for Ancestry.com, including Sale or IPO

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:36:12 GMT

Reuters has just published an article written by Echo Wang which will be of interest to many genealogists. It seems that Blackstone is weighing strategic options, including an initial public offering or a sale, for Ancestry.com.

If you are interested, "Exclusive: Blackstone weighs options for Ancestry.com, including sale or IPO, sources say" my be found at: https://tinyurl.com/38s42spw.

After Several Months of Development, Elephind 2.0 Has Just Launched

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:26:17 GMT

It's faster, smarter, and packed with new search features to help researchers and family historians uncover history like never before.

The new Elephind has already indexed over 13 million pages, with another 15 million being added next month and 15 million more before the end of the year. Beyond that, another 150+ million pages are queued for inclusion.

Elephind can be a great FREE resource for anyone who wishes to search old newspapers. The purpose of elephind.com is to make it possible to search all of the world's digital newspapers from one place and at one time. Elephind.com allows you to simultaneously search across thousands of articles using key words and phrases.

Elephind presently contains millions of items from thousands of newspaper titles. You can find a list of libraries that have contribute their archives on the site by clicking on "List of Titles." It is a very long list! Clicking on any library's name displays the newspapers in that collection.

Elephind.com is much like Google, Bing, or other search engines but focused only on historical, digitized newspapers. By clicking on the Elephind.com search result that interests you, you'll go directly to the newspaper collection which hosts that story.

Of course, newspapers can be a great resource of genealogy information. Birth announcements, marriage announcements, court news, and more can be searched within seconds. If your ancestor was a merchant, you probably can also find his or her advertisements placed in the newspaper.

Elephind can be found at: https://www.elephind.com/.

Press Release: Augusta (Georgia) Genealogical Society October 18 Virtual Program

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:08:56 GMT

Augusta Genealogical Society

Augusta, Georgia

October 18, 2025 Virtual Genealogical Program

DNA Basics: Getting Started with Genetic Genealogy

Presented by Dr. Adina Newman, EdD

Have you just taken a DNA test? Can't make sense of your results? Still considering taking the plunge? This presentation is for you! Learn about the different types of DNA testing, how the testing process works, what to expect from your results, and best practices to incorporate DNA into your traditional research.

Dr. Adina Newman, EdD, the creator of My Family Genie, is a professional genealogist and educator. Her specialties include Jewish genealogy, genetic genealogy, social media, and New England, and she presents on these topics in a variety of venues, from major genealogy conferences to local genealogy societies. Her findings have received international media attention, such as mentions in The Daily Mail, Washington Post, AP News, TODAY, Us Weekly, People, and The Times of Israel, and she has made appearances on several news outlets, such as NPR and I24NEWS. She co-founded the Holocaust Reunion Project, a program to raise awareness about the potential of DNA testing within the Holocaust survivor community and provide survivors and their children with free commercial DNA tests and consultations. She volunteers as a Team Lead for the DNA Doe Project, which uses investigative genetic genealogy to identify unidentified deceased persons, and as a moderator for a popular Jewish genetic genealogy Facebook group. She was also a 2020 recipient of the AncestryProGenealogists scholarship.

When: Saturday, October 18, 2025

Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm EST

Where: Online

Price: FREE to AGS members and $10 for nonmembers

The registration deadline is Thursday, October 16.

AGS October Program - Augusta Genealogical Society

Click the above link to register

Limited seating is available to view the virtual presentation at the Adamson Library in Augusta, Georgia. To reserve a seat, please call (706) 722-4073.

JOIN AGS NOW and enjoy the benefits of programs that are free to members.

The Augusta Genealogical Society is a non-profit organization founded in Augusta, Georgia , in September 1979.

Anniversary of the Preliminary Emancipation, precursor to the 13th Amendment on Display at the National Archives in Washington, DC; Burma Launches America250, Features 10-ft Replica of the U.S. Constitution with Support from the National Archives; Public Interest Declassification Board October 2025 Public Meeting

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:02:09 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Lincoln issues the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation (1862)

On September 22, 1862, after the Union’s victory at the Battle of Antietam, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This proclamation formally alerted the Confederacy of his intention to free all persons held as enslaved people within the rebellious states.

One hundred days later President Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation.

Lincoln recognized that the Emancipation Proclamation needed to be followed by a constitutional amendment to guarantee the abolition of slavery. This resulted in the passage and ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865.

The National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, has all 27 amendments, including the 13th Amendment bearing Lincoln's original signature, on display until October 1, 2025. Plan your visit to see the full U.S. Constitution.

Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, page 1, September 22, 1862. NAID: 350916735

Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, January 31, 1865.

NAID: 1408764

Burma Launches America250 with Support from the National Archives

Burmese students interact with a 10-ft replica of the U.S. Constitution, created using high-resolution scans of the original document from the National Archives, with Burmese translations, at the U.S. Embassy in Yangon to celebrate U.S. Constitution Day, September 17, 2025.

On September 17, 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Yangon hosted over 500 participants at the American Center Yangon (ACY) to celebrate U.S. Constitution Day and launch the year-long America250 campaign.

The event featured a 10-foot replica of the U.S. Constitution, created using high-resolution scans of the original document from the National Archives, with Burmese translations. This event showcased the international celebration of America 250, and emphasizes the important role of the National Archives in making records available to the public.

Public Interest Declassification Board Announces October 2025 Public Meeting

The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) is pleased to announce its fall public meeting, which will take place on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m ET. The PIDB public meeting will be held in the Senate Visitor Center, located within the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC.

Additional details about in-person and virtual attendance at the PIDB Public Meeting are available via PIDB’s Transforming Classification blog and by following the PIDB on X.

About the Public Interest Declassification Board: Established by Congress, the PIDB is an independent advisory board that advises the President and executive branch on the identification, review, and release of historically significant records, with a mission to advance transparency while safeguarding national security.

How to Organize Your Genealogical 'Stuff'

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:56:14 GMT

The Placer County Genealogical Society is holding its general meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at the LDS Church, 1255 Bell Road in Auburn: What do I do with all this STUFF?

Are you the collector or keeper (willing or unwilling) of all your family's treasures? Do your kids tell you they don't want any of your stuff? Get some ideas on how to organize, preserve and maybe (gasp!) dispose of some of that stuff, along with ideas on how to preserve it for future generations, whether our kids want it or not

Betty Lemley has loved genealogy and family history since her grandmother introduced her to it when she was a teenager. Lemley has a certificate from BYU-Idaho in Family History Research and thoroughly enjoys helping others discover their roots and preserve their family stories. Her favorite thing about family history is collecting stories and memories and then sharing them with her eight children and 20 grandchildren. She also enjoys teaching and attending Family History classes.

Everyone is welcome to attend in person or by Zoom. Refreshments provided. Please enter from the back of the main building.

For further information on the society, meeting location, or to obtain Zoom access information for any meetings, check the society's website at www.placergenealogy.org.

Ancestry in Legal Bid to Access Scottish Family Records

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:50:39 GMT

DNA testing web site Ancestry has begun legal action to access millions of family records held by National Records of Scotland (NRS).

The Scottish government body has refused to enter into a financial agreement to provide access to more than 400 years of birth, death and marriage records.

Ancestry - the world's largest commercial genealogy website - operates on a subscription model, while NRS records are publicly available for a small fee.

At a hearing held in London, NRS said granting Ancestry access would cost £3.7m a year in lost income and be "catastrophic" for its finances.

The NRS archive includes about 25 million images and 98 million index entries.

According to a report in The Times, the Information Commissioner withheld the release of records under legislation covering the re-use of public sector information.

Ancestry's appeal against the Information Commissioner's notice was partly upheld at a tribunal.

But it was told a further hearing would be required to decide on whether the records could be released.

'Severe impact'

Janet Egdell, former interim chief executive of NRS, told the tribunal: "Allowing re-use would result in additional cost both in financial and human resources for NRS.

"This was expected to have a severe impact on the income stream of NRS and its ongoing ability to carry out its public function."

The NRS holds Scottish records spanning the 12th to the 21st centuries and is responsible for the registration of life events such as births, deaths and marriages, as well as the country's census.

It also regularly provides reports on the Scotland's population, as well as drug deaths and other significant moments affecting the country and its residents.

Ancestry's request excludes birth records after 1921 and deaths after 1971.

It said this would "protect the privacy of individuals whose personal data is contained in any of the categories".

In a statement Ancestry said: "We are reviewing the tribunal's ruling carefully and will determine our next steps in due course."

NRS said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on live legal action.

DNA Gives New Info About Woman Whose Body Was Found 21 Years Ago

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:31:50 GMT

A genealogy profile has been obtained for a woman whose remains were found in Mount Laurel in 2004, potentially providing a crucial clue to identify her.

The so-called Burlington County Jane Doe is likely of the Turkic ethnic group and is possibly from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, or another country in central Eurasia, according to the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center.

The genealogy center said the breakthrough came following many attempts by Astrea Forensics to obtain the woman’s DNA profile.

She was estimated to be 25 to 35 years old when she was found Oct. 26, 2004 in a wooded area off Fellowship Road, authorities said.

She was wearing a leopard print scarf, Tommy Hilfiger jean shorts or skirt and white Nike youth sneakers size 5.5. A black purse or black pocketbook containing Kleenex pack and nail file was found near her remains, the genealogy center said.

While clearing the site of the former Malibu Grand Prix entertainment center, an excavation crew discovered the woman’s remains. The remains were located close to the back property line, near the Interstate 295 overpass,behind the Doubletree Guest Suites.

State Police estimated the woman died around Jan. 1, 2003. She was about 5-foot-1, and weighed 100-125 pounds. The woman had black hair and black or brown eyes, according to investigators.

“Getting her face and the details of her case out to the public, especially groups where people from her community may see her, will be the key to bringing Burlington County Jane Doe ‘home’ to her loved ones,” the center said Monday.

The Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center says is works to resolve cases involving violent crime, unidentified human remains, and wrongful convictions

Half Price Family History: Findmypast Extends 50% Sale

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 19:34:16 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at Findmypast;

By popular demand, Findmypast announces an extension to their major sale offering up to 50% off subscriptions, now ending 30 September

• Delve deeper into your British & Irish roots than ever before for less with 50% off 12-month Everything subscriptions on Findmypast, down to just £8.34 per month, a saving of £99 per year

• Plus, get 25% off history's headlines with an offer on British Newspaper Archive subscriptions

Leading UK & Irish family history website Findmypast has extended its major subscription sale, giving family historians even more time to explore their past in unprecedented depth for half the usual price.

Now running until 30 September, researchers can enjoy 50% off a 12-month Everything subscription – a saving of £99 per year – giving them unlimited access to Findmypast’s entire collection of exclusive records, rich historical newspapers, and easy-to-use family tree tools – all designed to unlock stories that can’t be found anywhere else.

As the specialist in British & Irish family history, Findmypast is uniquely placed to help trace the lives of ancestors across the UK and beyond, offering a deeper understanding of the moments that shaped their lives and the world in which they lived.

At a reduced rate of just £8.34 per month or £99.99 annually, the Everything subscription offers an access-all-areas pass to:

• Billions of records spanning centuries you won’t find anywhere else, including unique parish registers, military, travel and crime records, extensive non-conformist collections, and the most detailed 1939 Census data available anywhere online.

• Exclusive newspaper archives dating back to the 1700s. Thanks to major partnerships with the likes of the British Library, you can deep dive into over 95 million pages for rich details and emotional discoveries. Clip and connect these to your tree and share with family and friends.

• Powerful research features to uncover, visualise, connect, and share your family story like never before, including the new Workspaces feature, allowing you to compile and organise your research projects in one place. Build your tree quickly with the simple tree builder, and use the helpful hints and storytelling features to understand more about your ancestors’ lives and the world around them.

For those wishing to concentrate their research within historical newspaper pages, Findmypast’s sister website, the British Newspaper Archive, is offering a 25% discount on subscriptions. From salacious scandal to family folklore and local legend, discover the past's most colourful stories within millions of newspaper pages.

Updated offer details:

• 50% off 12-month Everything subscription on Findmypast now ends 30 September. Code automatically applied at checkout.

• 25% off all British Newspaper Archive subscriptions now ends 30 September. Use code: SEPT2525 at checkout to claim your discount.

• Ts & Cs apply.

Red Letter Day For Norwegian-Americans

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 18:10:34 GMT

Friday, Oct. 9th, 2025 is a red letter day for Norwegian-Americans in North Iowa and elsewhere. To the very day, it is the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the first boatload of Norwegians to the United States. It is the bicentennial of the start of one of the greatest mass migrations in history. It is how North Iowa was settled. It is why there are so many Norwegian Lutheran churches and communities stretching from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Northwest.

On July 4, 1825, the schooner Restauration left Stavanger, Norway with 52 passengers on a one way trip to the Port of New York. The wind-powered vessel reached New York on Oct. 9, 1825. One newborn was added on route. No one died on route. Over the next one hundred years, almost 900,000 of their countrymen followed and thousands and thousands found their way to Iowa.

This bicentennial has already been celebrated with coffee parties in Belmond, a Kumla feed in Thor, a gala banquet in Lake Mills, parades in Decorah and Spring Grove and scores of events nationwide. Indeed Crown Prince Haakon of Norway will be in Decorah to celebrate the anniversary in October.

A re-enactment of the 1825 voyage is underway. A re-created schooner left Norway on July 4, 2025. It will dock in New York on Oct. 9, 2025. The arrival will be celebrated to say the least.

This bicentennial is an opportunity for parents to share some family history. After all, not all immigrants came on the Mayflower. Share some stories. Dust off that old family photo album. Family heritage is worth sharing and celebrating.

Huge Collection of Historic Shropshire (England) Newspapers Now Viewable Online

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 18:06:12 GMT

Shropshire Council has announced that a huge collection of historic Shropshire newspapers, dating back to 1772 have been digitised and made available for people to view online, thanks to a project delivered by Shropshire Archives and Shropshire Libraries, in partnership with Findmypast and the British Newspaper Archive.

The collection of local newspapers documents the everyday life of communities, with reports on everything from village fetes and town council meetings to entertainment listings, sporting fixtures and reports on crimes and sentencing.

They also feature details relating to birth, marriage, and deaths, often accompanied by lengthy obituaries and reports on society weddings, so an ideal hunting ground for family historians.

In all, 288,672 images have been added to the British Newspaper Archive. This includes a significant increase in the number of copies of the Shropshire Star and Newport and Market Drayton Advertiser that are already included in the archive, as well as the addition of new titles such as the Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Times, the Shropshire Mercury, the Oswestry Herald, Bridgnorth Beacon and many more.

The digitised newspapers are available to view for a subscription fee via the British Newspaper Archive or can be accessed free of charge by visitors to Shropshire Archives or any of the 21 Shropshire Libraries. The addition of the new collection makes it simpler than ever to uncover stories, trace family roots, and connect with the county’s history.

James Owen, Shropshire Council Portfolio holder for Housing and Leisure commented:

“Newspapers are a treasure trove for anyone interested in social, local, and family history, offering vivid insights into the lives, events, and communities of the past. Until now, accessing these records required painstaking searches through fragile originals or scrolling through reels of microfilm.”

More details about the value of historic newspapers will be revealed during a free talk at the Shropshire Archives on Thursday 25 September at 2pm. For details check out https://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk/blog/event/off-the-shelf-newspapers/

Got Pennsylvania Germans?

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 17:53:52 GMT

Kenneth Zimmerman is a highly experienced genealogist focusing mostly on Germans who settled in Pennsylvania. He has now written an article in his blog that will interest many others who research Germans who settled in Pennsylvania. He writes:

"Got Pennsylvania Germans? Here’s a series for you! You can view it from this link: https://www.roots-branches.com/got-pennsylvania-germans-heres-a-series-for-you/"

WikiTree Announces 10th Annual Genealogy Marathon

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 17:33:25 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at WikiTree:

In 2016, the WikiTree community created something new: an around-the-clock genealogy research marathon. Since then, there have been many similar events, but the Source-a-Thon remains the original and most popular event of its kind. The 10th annual Source-a-Thon will be held October 3–6, 2025.

The Source-a-Thon focuses attention on the importance of citing sources. Inexperienced genealogists don’t always record their sources, or their tree has been handed down to them. Second-hand family history deserves to be preserved and shared, but it needs to be verified. In the Source-a-Thon, hundreds of genealogists work side-by-side in teams – such as the Flying Dutchmen, French Fries, Germany Genies, Kiwi Crew, Mighty Maple Leaves, Team Massachusetts, Team Virginia, Toddlin’ Tortoises, and Wizards of Aus – to add sources to as many profiles as possible.

Of a previous Source-a-Thon, high-scoring participant Charlotte Shockey wrote, "Despite little sleep in 72-hours I had a lot of fun working towards a common goal with my fellow WikiTreers in a competitive spirit! The cherries on top were the real sense of community with loads of laughs and friends that were made.”

To encourage participants, individuals and organizations from around the genealogy community are donating prizes to be awarded at random. Over $2,000 in prizes have been donated and more are expected. To donate a prize, please contact eowyn@wikitree.com. To register for the event and be eligible for prize drawings, join WikiTree (it’s free!) and then choose your team.

WikiTree has been growing for 17 years, from the grassroots up. Our community now includes over one million members and over 42 million person profiles. Our tree is considered the most accurate and trusted global tree because of WikiTree’s collaborative culture, sourcing requirements, and incorporation of DNA. See this 90-second animated explanation.

Beman Dawes’ Manuscript Collection is Now Digitized and Accessible

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:11:47 GMT

The following is a press release written. by the folks at the Dawes Arboretum:

Thanks to partial funding by an Ohio Local History Alliance (OLHA) Digitization Grant, The Dawes Arboretum is excited to announce that the collection of our co-founder, Beman Dawes, has been scanned and is now available online for you to explore!

With the support of the OLHA grant, The Dawes Arboretum’s archive was able to purchase a new flatbed scanner, scanning software, storage and photo editing software which were used to complete the digitization of this project. These new tools will continue to support future efforts as we work to grow our digital archive. Currently, about 45% of our entire archival collection has been digitized. There is still much work to be done, but we are eager to see what hidden treasures we will uncover next!

The goal of digitizing Beman Dawes’ manuscripts was to ensure the accessibility of Dawes’ personal and business papers relating to Ohio. By digitizing this collection, we ensure that those interested in Ohio’s history regarding gas, petroleum, politics and environmental conservation can learn from Dawes' legacy.

This collection features correspondence and documents spanning from 1876 to 1953. The manuscripts in this collection consist of letters, shares, investments, properties owned by the Dawes family, trust information and more. Together, these manuscripts highlight Dawes' impact on Ohio’s industrial growth and environmental stewardship, making his collection substantial not only to The Arboretum but also to the state of Ohio. Much of the information in this collection is one-of-a-kind and cannot be found in any other repository!

We invite you to explore this online collection and discover the remarkable legacy our co-founder, Beman Dawes! If you have any questions about archival collections available, contact our Archivist at zkthomas@dawesarb.org.

View the collection

Interested in helping us expand our digital collection or assisting with other archival projects? Please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at mgconklin@dawesarb.org.

A Path Toward Prevention for Sudden Cardiac Death in the Young

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:52:15 GMT

Sudden cardiac arrest and death among children and young people can happen to anyone at any time. Experts say improving prevention efforts, such as a national screening program, is an ambitious but achievable goal that could save lives. New recommendations put forth by experts establish a path toward a new paradigm for primary and secondary prevention.

The consensus statement was led by the Cardiac Safety Research Consortium (CSRC), a group of experts and stakeholders from public, private and academic sectors, that first convened two decades ago to solve vexing issues in cardiovascular medicine. The group’s third and most recent think tank in 2024 builds on the momentum of the previous ones. In a full report, published in the American Heart Journal, the authors describe sudden cardiac death in the young (SCDY) and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) as public health issues, discuss challenges in screening, posit new prevention strategies, and call for increased collaboration.

Challenges with screening

Current screening methods are falling short. So says, Peter Aziz, MD, a pediatric electrophysiologist at Cleveland Clinic and an author of the report. While economical, reasonable and endorsed by medical organizations, like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association, healthcare professionals must contend with several issues.

Currently, screening is assessed by obtaining a detailed family history and physical as a sports clearance measure. “As long as there are no red flags, then the patient is cleared to play,” says Dr. Aziz. “While that’s all well-intended and cost-effective, which is certainly part of the equation, this approach isn’t capturing everyone.”

Unknown or incomplete information about family cardiac history can complicate the clinical picture. And the bigger question: what if the child doesn’t participate in sports? Current screening is rooted in this assumption. With these issues in mind, the CSRC made the following consensus statements/recommendations.

Consensus statements and recommendations

Recognize sudden cardiac death and arrest in the young as a public health issue

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in children occurs more than 20,000 times per year, the authors note, with only about 10% surviving to hospital discharge. SCDY tends to capture a greater share of public attention and awareness, but Dr. Aziz stresses it’s a public health issue that can affect any child at any time. Improved primary and secondary prevention strategies are critical.

Establish a comprehensive national screening approach

Efforts must focus on inclusivity: athletes and nonathletes, the symptomatic and asymptomatic, those with a positive family history and those without. Countries like Italy and Japan have implemented a national screening processes that are comprehensive and longitudinal. While there is no one-size-fits -all approach and each country is different, Dr. Aziz lauds the effort and adds, “If it’s going to be universal and uniform, this function would require a group of healthcare professionals to lead the initiative and make screening accessible long term, either through the school system or routine well visits.”

Utilize emerging technology to automate screening

AI-based tools, like automated screening of electrocardiograms (ECGs), may help address an existing roadblock for a national screening initiative. Use of ECGs could contribute to a higher screening quality, but also introduce unintended and, frankly, untenable consequences, like increased costs, additional time and managing false positives.

Dr. Aziz notes that the group is partnering with organizations like Who We Play For, to help cultivate and integrate such tools into practice. “With a repository of ECG data on kids, we are exploring how we use that data to inform our practices, figure out what's normal, what's not normal, and then hopefully feed an AI system to be able to solve that problem for us, too,” he explains.

Create tailored education/response plans for community readiness

While a national screening program would address primary prevention, the CSRC also notes improving secondary prevention efforts. We need to be asking, “Is the community equipped to manage a child who goes into cardiac arrest? The outcomes for pediatric cardiac arrest are dismal outside of the hospital,” notes Dr. Aziz.

Providers, educators and others who work closely with children and who may be likely to encounter a SCA or SCDY event should be adequately trained to handle a cardiac emergency. High-profile media attention on sudden cardiac arrest events, like in the case of NFL player DeMar Hamlin during a televised game, highlights a positive outcome in secondary prevention efforts. Dr. Aziz is hopeful that people learn from this positive outcome and others like it, adding that CPR training and accessible AEDs are key aspects of effective secondary prevention.

Strengthen collaboration among all stakeholders

Finally, the authors assert that stronger partnership is needed to connect the work happening in the silos of academic and organized medicine, governmental, nonprofit and industry groups to develop a unified front for this effort. This will help usher in widespread consensus and adoption of new guidelines and practices, bringing prevention of SCDY and SCA into a new era.

Postcard Sent in 1953 Finally Delivered to Illinois Family After 72 Years

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:45:33 GMT

A postcard mailed more than 70 years ago from the United Nations headquarters in New York has finally found its way home, closing a mystery decades in the making.

The card, postmarked June 17, 1953, was addressed to “Rev. F.E. Ball and family” in Ottawa, Illinois. But it never arrived—until it suddenly resurfaced at the Ottawa post office this August. Postal officials believe it had been misplaced at the UN for the past 72 years before being rediscovered and sent out.By then, the Ball family no longer lived at the address.

Ottawa’s postmaster, Mark Thompson, refused to let the artifact be lost again. He reached out to the community, and soon local reporters, genealogists, and volunteers at the LaSalle County Genealogy Guild joined the hunt.

Their research pointed to Dr. Alan Ball, now 88 and living in Sandpoint, Idaho.Ball had been just 16 years old when he mailed the postcard during a stopover in New York. He was en route to Puerto Rico, where he planned to spend the summer with his Aunt Mary on her coffee plantation. He had saved for years by mowing lawns and shoveling snow to afford the trip, describing it later as his first true step into adulthood.

The postcard, which simply let his parents know he had made it as far as New York, never reached them. Instead, it remained in limbo for decades.

Last week, Ball finally received the long-lost message, delivered with a smile from a Sandpoint postal worker who told him, “Sorry it’s so late.”Ball laughed at the surreal twist, saying it was astonishing to hold a card he had written as a teenager. Thanks to a postmaster’s persistence and a team of genealogists, the postcard’s journey—spanning more than 2,500 miles and seven decades—was finally complete.Credit: CNN NewsourceExplore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.

Hopkins County Genealogical Society (in Texas) to Hold Next Lunch & Learn September 24th

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:39:29 GMT

We are so excited to have the opportunity to bring to you an in-person and professional speaker for our Lunch & Learn next week. It is not often we are able to do that and we cannot thank MIchele Bailey enough for agreeing to take the time from her very busy schedule to bring this talk to us. She is President of East Texas Genealogical Society, Director of Education for Texas State Genealogical Society and the Event Coordinator for the 23rd Annual Family History Conference – East Texas, being held in Tyler on October 11, 2025, to name only a few of her commitments.

Lunch & Learn will be held this coming Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 611 North Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Tx. The Hopkins County Genealogical Society invites anyone who wants to learn more about doing genealogical research to join us. You are encouraged to bring your laptop or tablet, and your sack lunch, salad or drive-through meal.

Michele will be bringing us a program entitled, “Next-Level Genealogy: AI Innovations from FamilySearch and Beyond.” You will discover how AI – within FamilySearch and from other leading innovators – is revolutionizing how we locate and analyse records. You will learn practical ways to integrate these tools into your research process. Research faster, smarter, and BETTER! Reveal records that you didn’t even know existed! This is NOT just a video, although the talk will be accompanied by a slideshow!

So, please make a note of this date and time and plan to join us. Michele is driving from Tyler to bring us this 1-hour program and we want to show her how much we appreciate that and how much we appreciate the opportunity to learn something new and exciting!

Genealogy Fair Brings Speakers, Exhibits to Toledo's Main Library

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 12:42:37 GMT

A full day of genealogy workshops and exhibits will help family history enthusiasts Oct. 4 at the Main Library in Toledo.

The Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s genealogy fair runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the atrium and throughout the library at 325 Michigan Ave.

Participants will be able to connect with local and regional genealogy organizations, authors, and services, a library announcement says.

Author and genealogist Michael John Neill, who hosts annual trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, will lead four lectures: strategies that may be hindering your research, techniques for using Facebook for family history, how to research beyond direct family lines, and a broad discussion on his website and book Top Genealogy Tip of the Day.

Other presentations and activities include: Mounds on the Maumee: Exploring Maumee River’s First Peoples by Taylor Moyer, historic programs manager at the Black Swamp Intertribal Foundation; a program by Peter Ujvagi, a former Toledo city councilman known as the “mayor of East Toledo” on the Hungarian, Slovak, Italian, and Moravian immigrant workers who settled the Birmingham neighborhood; a discussion on research strategies and finding the genealogical records of disabled ancestors by University of Toledo history professor Kim E. Nielson; and a presentation on Holocaust survivor and Toledo businessman Philip Markowicz by Hindea Sohn Markowicz, director of the Holocaust resource center in Toledo and associate producer of the documentary Bearing Witness.

The day also includes programming for kids, half-hour tours of the library’s local history and genealogy department, one-on-one assistance, and a pizza lunch for participants.

Activities are free and registration isn’t required. For more information, go to toledolibrary.org/genealogyfair.

Georgia Historic Newspapers Update Summer 2025

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 12:19:22 GMT

This past summer, the Digital Library of Georgia released several new grant-funded newspapers to the Georgia Historic Newspapers website. Included below is a list of newly available titles.

Titles funded by the Burke County Genealogical Society

- True Citizen (Waynesboro), 1926-1959

Titles funded by the Charter Foundation of Valley, Alabama and the Chipley Historical Center of Pine Mountain

- Harris County Journal (Hamilton), 1920-1963

Titles funded by the Chattooga County Historical Society

- Summerville News, 1971

Titles funded by the City of Covington

- Covington News, 1969-1977

Titles digitized with a donation from Harry Thompson and Chris Jones

- Thumb Tack Tribune (Athens), 1954-1959

Titles funded by the National Digital Newspaper Program with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in partnership with the Auburn Avenue Research Library

Titles funded by the Jack Tarver Library, Mercer University

- Mercer Cluster (Macon), 1991-2022

Titles digitized in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA)

Titles funded by a donation from the Oconee Historical Society

- Oconee Enterprise (Watkinsville), 1920-1977

Titles funded by a donation from the Wilkinson County Historical Society with a grant from the Oconee EMC Foundation

- Wilkinson County News (Irwinton), 1925-1988

Titles digitized by the UGA Libraries

- Community Enterprise (Macon), 1964-1965
- Savannah Tribune, 1981-1995

Titles made available as part of UGA’s Libraries Digital Newspaper Preservation Project

(Online) Tracing Your Railway Ancestors – the National Archive in England

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 12:09:30 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the National Archive in England:

Delve into The National Archives’ collection of railway records to help you trace your family history.

To mark the 200 anniversary of the first passenger train on the Stockton Darlington railway, join Jessamy Carlson, family history specialist at The National Archives as she delves into their extensive collection of the surviving records of private railway companies before nationalisation in 1947.

Discover a collection that includes maps, plans, stock registers, staff files and accident reports. You’ll also learn how to use records to gain insights into the working lives of railway workers to help you with your family history research.

This webinar comprises a pre-recorded film followed by a live Q&A with Jessamy Carlson, so come prepared with your questions.

When

Friday 17 October 2025, 2pm – 3pm

Tickets

Free, book at eventbrite.co.uk.

Dame Judi Dench Explores Her Shakespearean Lineage in a Personal History Doc for Channel 4 in England

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 12:04:28 GMT

Dame Judi Dench is perhaps our greatest Shakespearean actor.

In Shakespeare, My Family and Me, the Oscar winning star turns history detective to solve a great mystery in her family’s past. Did one of her ancestors actually meet her hero, William Shakespeare?

Made by Proper Job Films, this 1x60’ film will see Dame Judi follow the clues buried deep in the Danish archives and find out if her eight times great-grandfather may have met Shakespeare in 1606, the year he wrote three of his greatest plays, plague returned to England and Londoners were reeling from the Gunpowder Plot.

Having played nearly every key female part in the Bard’s canon, Dame Judi will look back on the special place the words and worlds of Shakespeare have had throughout her luminous career on stage and screen.

Dame Judi Dench says: “It has been such an adventure to explore the possibility that an ancestor of mine might just have got within touching distance of my hero William Shakespeare. All the years I’ve spent playing Shakespeare and feeling a genuine, genuine passion for him and his work, to be on a journey where you might be stepping closer to him, it’s beyond my wildest dreams.”

Harvey Lilley, CEO of Proper Job Films says: “To be able to ask Judi if she remembers anything from a Shakespeare play she last performed in nearly 40 years ago and for her then, completely unrehearsed, to perfectly deliver a complete soliloquy illustrates for me what it was like to get to make this film. Unforgettable.”

Emily Shields, Commissioning Editor at Channel 4 says: “It’s been a real privilege to work with Dame Judi Dench and the team at Proper Job on this beautiful and very personal film exploring the ways Judi’s career and family history have intertwined with those of her literary hero. The result is an utter treat.”

A Woman’s Remains Were Found in Oregon in 1976. They’ve Been Identified 49 Years Later Thanks to DNA

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 11:59:20 GMT

Valerie Nagle spent decades wondering what happened to her older sister who was last seen in Oregon in 1974. She searched online databases of unidentified persons cases looking for her and sent DNA to a popular ancestry website in the hopes of finding a match.

That all changed in June when authorities in Oregon called Nagle “out of the blue” to ask about comparing her DNA to a cold case known as “Swamp Mountain Jane Doe,” she said. Nagle’s DNA ultimately helped confirm that the remains of a woman found near a mountain creek in Oregon’s Central Cascades in 1976 were that of her sister, Marion Vinetta Nagle McWhorter.

Oregon State Police publicly released the news this week after the remains were identified in June.

“I was very surprised that they called,” Nagle, a 62-year-old who lives in Seattle, told The Associated Press. She was 11 when her sister went missing. “I was really glad that they found me through DNA.”

McWhorter was last seen at a shopping mall in the Portland suburb of Tigard when she was 21.

She was the oldest of five siblings, and Nagle was the youngest. Their mother was Alaska Native of the Ahtna Athabascan people, Nagle said, and her big sister had been named for an aunt who died in a boarding school for Indigenous children in Alaska in 1940.

High rates of disappearances of Indigenous people, particularly women, have festered for generations amid inadequate public safety resources.

Nagle, who lived in New York with her parents and one of her brothers at the time of her sister’s disappearance, said her mother may have contacted authorities but that she wasn’t sure of the exact extent of the efforts made by her parents to find her sister.

“I mean, there were, you know, efforts to search, but it was limited,” she said. “We didn’t have that much to go on.”

She does know her sister had come from California to Oregon with plans to continue on to Seattle and eventually Alaska when she called an aunt who lived near the Tigard shopping mall for a ride in October 1974 — but the aunt didn’t end up meeting up with her, Nagle said.

Nearly 20 years later, the aunt shared another detail with Nagle: When McWhorter called her that day, she told her that a man in a white pickup truck had offered to give her a ride. It was unclear why her aunt waited that long to share that information.

Nagle said that when she learned this puzzle piece, she “started in earnest with more searching,” including by checking databases with unidentified persons cases.

“I remember spending a lot of time on those pages, just scrolling through and trying to look,” she said.

In 2010, a bone sample from McWhorter’s remains was sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, and a profile was created in the national missing persons database NamUs, state police said. An additional bone sample was submitted for DNA extraction in 2020, allowing for a unique genetic marker profile to be produced.

In 2023, Nagle did a DNA test when she signed up for Ancestry, a genealogy company with a DNA database, hoping it would yield a clue about her sister, she said.

But the breakthrough came in April when a first cousin once removed uploaded their genetic profile to FamilyTreeDNA, another genealogy company with a DNA database, Oregon State Police spokesperson Jolene Kelley said in an email Thursday. That allowed genealogists to get a better idea of McWhorter’s family tree and led them to find that Nagle was a surviving family member.

“This case was cold for 49 years. That means that family members lived and died without ever knowing what happened to their missing loved one,” State Forensic Anthropologist Hailey Collord-Stalder said in a statement, adding that McWhorter “likely did not go missing voluntarily.”

Learn How to Use Learn How to Use Genealogy Tools to Research Your Family Story

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 11:47:08 GMT

Wondering how to research your family story? Join Carol Litchfield, genealogist with the Haywood County Historical & Genealogical Society in Haywood County, North Carolina, for an overview of genealogical resources and tools available at the Haywood County Public Library.

There will be two opportunities to attend the workshop. The first will be from 2-3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30, in the Waynesville Library auditorium, and the second will be from 3-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, in the Canton Library auditorium.

Archivist Fired by Trump Launches a National Effort to Strengthen Democracy

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 11:25:41 GMT

SUMMARY

Colleen Shogan made history when she became the first woman to serve as archivist of the United States in 2023, until February, when President Trump fired her with no warning or reason given. Now Shogan has a new challenge, which she unveiled during our exclusive interview. On Constitution Day, she launched a national bipartisan effort, part of an alliance of 34 presidential centers and some 100 groups, called More Perfect, working to strengthen our democracy.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

Who is Colleen Shogan?
What are the goals of In Pursuit?
When does the U.S. celebrate its 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence?
How does the National Archives help tell the story of America?
Why did Shogan say she was fired by President Trump?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

Why do you think it is important to preserve American history?
How is the work Shogan is doing now with More Perfect's In Pursuit a continuation of her work at the National Archives?

Media literacy: Shogan said she was not given a reason for her firing from the National Archives. How was Shogan's firing different and similar to the many of thousands of federal workers who have lost their jobs under the Trump administration? Why do you think her story was covered and not others?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Learn more about the National Archives and the initiatives carried out by this government agency. Take a look at Milestone Documents on the National Archives website or scroll through the timeline. According to the National Archives website, "The primary source documents on this page highlight pivotal moments in the course of American history or government. They are some of the most-viewed and sought-out documents in the holdings of the National Archives."

What documents do you recognize? Which document do you see as a milestone in history and why?

Taney County Coroner’s Office and Missouri State Highway Patrol Team With Othram to Identify a 2023 John Doe

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 23:04:30 GMT

In February 2023, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found in a tree line adjacent to the Veterans Administration Center in Taney County's Branson, Missouri. Investigators found clothing including blue shorts, a discolored shirt, red Crocs shoes, and a safari hat. Eyeglasses, toiletry items, a glucose meter, and an insulin pen were also found alongside the remains. The Taney County Coroner's Office determined that the remains were likely a White man between the ages of 45 and 60 years old who was 5'5" to 5'9" tall.

Officials conducted an extensive investigation into the man's identity, including publishing an artist's rendition of what the man may have looked like when he was alive. Despite investigator's efforts, the man could not be identified and he became known as Taney County John Doe (2023). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP134364 in December 2024. A composite sketch was developed and released to the public in hopes that it would assist in generated new leads in the case.

Working with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Taney County Coroner’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

The casework cost associated with this case were funded by legislation sponsored by State Representative Tricia Byrnes of Wentzville. In 2024, Rep. Byrnes secured $1.5 million in state funding to support the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s efforts to identify unidentified human remains through forensic genetic genealogy.

The identification of Robert LaFaire, represents the 22nd case in the State of Missouri where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Missouri cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

Orange Mound Library in Memphis, Tennessee Wins National Award for Genealogy Records

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:47:05 GMT

The Orange Mound Library and Genealogy Center at 5094 Poplar Ave.
Memphis, TN has been honored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Earlier this week, the library was given the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award.

It’s a national award given each year by the Trust.

NGS Announces Inaugural Cohort of the James Worris Moore Leadership Academy

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:20:12 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at NGS:

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) has announced the inaugural cohort of participants in the newly established James Worris Moore Leadership Academy.

The Academy honors the legacy of James Worris Moore (1934–2007), a pioneering African American archivist whose career spanned forty-two years at the United States National Archives. In 1960, Moore's membership application to NGS sparked controversy when he and other African Americans were denied admission to what was then an all-white organization. NGS has since acknowledged and apologized for this wrong.

Despite barriers, Moore rose to senior leadership at the National Archives, where he tirelessly championed the preservation of, and public access to, genealogical records—particularly underutilized collections. In recognition of his groundbreaking contributions, he was inducted into the National Genealogy Hall of Fame in 2025.

The Academy was founded to carry forward Moore's vision and values. Its mission is to:

Develop future leaders equipped with the skills, knowledge, and experience to guide the genealogical community forward.
Enhance diversity and inclusion by opening doors for those from underrepresented backgrounds.
Encourage practical engagement through capstone projects, committee service, and professional presentations.
Build strong professional networks linking emerging leaders with established genealogists and NGS committees.

NGS congratulates and welcomes the following eight people who recently started their cohort journey.

Dr. kYmberly Keeton (Texas) Director and chief library curator of the Art Library Gallery, Keeton holds a doctorate in information science and interdisciplinary studies. She has served as faculty librarian and African American community archivist and organized Growing Your Roots, Austin’s first African American genealogy conference. Founder of ART | Library Deco and the Black COVID-19 Index, she blends genealogy, storytelling, and digital innovation as a form of scholarship and activism.

Denise Miller (Michigan) A Black, queer leader with a strong background in nonprofit leadership and genealogy education, Miller serves as director of education at the Institute of Public Scholarship. She has created programs and curricula focused on genealogy, co-founded two nonprofits, and designed intergenerational forums for Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. Her work fosters collaboration and historical reclamation through inclusive genealogical education.

Oyuga George Nyaure (Nyanza, Kenya)
Nyaure is a genealogist and community leader who digitized and preserved key historical records in Kenya, making them publicly accessible. As a facility administrator for a Kenyan orphanage, he improved workflow and morale while training volunteers in archival methods and community engagement. His work has empowered families and researchers alike and left a lasting impact on local genealogical access and education.

Kassidy Price (Utah) An active member of NGS, Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), Utah Genealogical Association (UGA), and International Society of Genetic Genealogy, Price serves on the UGA Board of Directors where she has driven growth in social media engagement. With a background in leadership and management, she has led genealogical initiatives in her church congregation and focuses on accessible, community-based genealogy. Her thoughtful approach to organizational change continues to strengthen genealogical outreach and education.

Luís Rívera (New York) Rívera is a member of the Sociedad Puertorriqueña de Genealogía, NGS, and APG. His genealogical journey began with tracing his Puerto Rican roots and expanded into pro bono research tracing Jewish ancestry across Eastern Europe. A Posse Scholar, he spent nine years as a foreign language educator, serving as Spanish department curriculum leader and DEIJB committee co-chair. He is committed to using genealogy as a tool for cultural identity and justice.

Dayna Terrell (Ohio) A passionate genealogist and experienced leader, Terrell has served in key roles with NGS, Mahoning County Genealogical Society, and the Ohio Genealogical Society. She has organized four large family reunions incorporating deep genealogical research. Her work exploring schools, neighborhoods, and cemeteries fosters stronger family connections. Skilled in overcoming research challenges with DNA testing, she is eager to expand her own history and support others.

Alexander Trapps-Chabala (Louisiana) Founder and director of KinConnector, Trapps-Chabala is advancing African American and Afro-Indigenous genealogies through public research and education. He is the lead genealogist for the Sold Down River project at Norfolk State University and has served as an archivist at the African American Museum and Library at Oakland. He has presented nationally via PBS and KQED and is committed to descendant-centered research and equitable access to genealogical resources in the Gulf South.

Terri Ward (Florida) An accomplished genealogist and cultural historian, Ward specializes in African American genealogy and Coastal Georgia history. She has presented for the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Georgia Genealogical Society (GGS), and Coastal Georgia Historical Society. As director of publicity for GGS, she has significantly increased membership and engagement. Through her business, The Front Porch Genealogist, she launched creative initiatives like 'Harmonizing the Heritage' and 'Journaling the JAMZ,' blending music and genealogy. She is a recipient of Midwest African American Genealogy Institute and Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research Frazine K. Taylor scholarships.

Montreal Police Have Solved a Nearly 17-Year-Old Cold Case Thanks to DNA

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 20:38:27 GMT

The SPVM announced Wednesday that they solved the murder of Catherine Daviau, a 26-year-old woman killed in her home in the Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough in Dec. 2008.

Police say the DNA of Jacques Bolduc, who died of natural causes in 2021 at the Archambault Institution, where he was serving a sentence for two robberies and attempted murders, matches that of what was collected on the scene.

Photo of Catherine Daviau

The force made the revelation in collaboration with the Forensic Sciences and Legal Medicine Laboratory (LSJML) of the Quebec Ministry of Public Security and the use of genetic genealogy.

On Dec. 11, 2008, Daviau was found brutally murdered in her apartment on 5th Avenue, near Masson Street — believed to have taken place in the evening.

Photo of Jacques Bolduc.

The murderer then allegedly attempted to cover up the evidence of his crime by setting fire to the apartment before fleeing.

Traces of his DNA were collected during investigators’ examination of the crime scene.

Police confirmed Bolduc was not a relative of the victim and he reportedly contacted Daviau a few days before the murder, after she had listed her car on an online classifieds site.

As Bolduc is not alive, the SPVM’s confirmation of his identity closes the cold case and won’t be in court.

“Over the years, several investigative strategies have been deployed and hundreds of pieces of information have been processed to solve the murder of Ms. Catherine Daviau,” said the head of the Major Crimes Section, Commander Mélanie Dupont.

“We never gave up, and genetic genealogy finally allowed us to definitively identify the perpetrator of this horrific crime,” she added.

“Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones, and we hope that today’s announcement will bring them some peace of mind in their grieving process.”

The long-term investigation was helped by genetic genealogy, which allowed investigators to establish family trees to target a family of interest and cross-reference the suspect’s DNA with DNA profiles found in genealogy databases.

“For the past 17 years, the Laboratory’s scientists have worked in collaboration with the SPVM to complete this investigation,” said Suzanne Marchand, Senior Executive Director of the LSJML. “The arrival of innovative DNA technologies has helped solve the murder of Catherine Daviau. This can be seen as a source of hope for all those still waiting for answers.”

“Our goal in the coming years is to solve other unsolved murders by leaving no stone unturned and taking advantage of the new tools at our disposal. What motivates investigators is to bring justice to the victims and provide answers to grieving families,” said Dupont.

Skeletal Remains Found in Oregon Nearly 50 Years Ago Confirmed to Be Missing Woman

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:05:40 GMT

The family of a woman who has been missing for more than 50 years is getting some closure after Oregon State Police says investigative genetic genealogy helped identify her remains found in Linn County.

A moss hunter initially found the skeletal remains on July 24, 1976 in the Wolf Creek area near Swamp Mountain. However, it would be nearly half a century years before a team of detectives, medical examiner staff, and forensic genetic genealogists would confirm they belonged to Marion Vinetta Nagle McWhorter.

Along with the remains, Linn County Sheriff’s Office investigators found a clog-style shoe, a fraying fringed leather coat, a leather belt with Native American-style beadwork, two metal rings, and a pair of degraded Levi’s jeans.

The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office examined the evidence back in 1976, and while a dental examination noted several restorations, they were unable to confirm an identity.

Decades later in 2010, the Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History made an anthropology report and estimated that the remains were of a white woman under 35 years old at the time of her death. Later that year, a bone sample was submitted to establish a DNA profile.

The following year a forensic artist with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office created a possible rendering of her face.

Another decade passed, and thanks to a National Institute of Justice grant, researchers used advanced DNA techniques to get a new profile analyzed.

There was a breakthrough in the case in April of 2025, when someone uploaded their genetic profile to the Family Tree DNA database, opening up a connection to the unidentified woman.

After following some leads, they determined the remains were likely those of McWhorter.

“Forensic genetic genealogy allowed us not only to assist Oregon law enforcement and medicolegal personnel in identifying a woman who likely did not go missing voluntarily, but it also helped provide her family with answers and help relieve the uncertainty of what happened to Marion McWhorter,” Collord-Stalder said.

Investigators say McWhorter, who was born January 7, 1953, had one surviving younger sister who lived in the Seattle area. She provided a DNA sample, confirming that it was her long-lost sister found all those years ago.

The Linn County Sheriff's Office is working to find out more about what led up to McWhorter’s death.

Southington, Connecticut Genealogy Program at Historical Society

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:02:30 GMT

The Southington Genealogical Society will examine how localized expressions can provide clues into researching family history Sept. 23 at the Southington Historical Society.

The free program will be held Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at the historical society at 239 Main St. For those unable to attend in-person, a Zoom option will also be available.

The program will discuss how words and expressions used in families can reveal details about their personal histories and origins.

“Certain words and idioms can pinpoint where someone has lived, their occupations or simply the times they lived in,” said Robin Michel, on behalf of the Southington Genealogical Society. “People often use different words to refer to the same item such as ‘grinder,’ ‘hoagie,’ or ‘sub’ for a sandwich on a hard roll. Another example: The strip of grass between the street and sidewalk is called the ‘devil’s strip.’ The term used to be more widespread but now, it’s only used in Akron, Ohio.”

The Southington Genealogical Society Inc., founded in 1984, is a non-profit organization located in central Connecticut that “promotes the accurate recording, research and preservation of family history.”

The Southington Genealogical Society meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Southington Historical Society.

To receive the link for the virtual meeting, email southingtongenealogicalsociety@gmail.com or message the Facebook page “Southington Genealogical Society, Inc.”

For more information on the Southington Genealogical Society, visit southingtongenealogicalsociety.org.

Toledo Lucas County Public Library to Host Free Genealogy and Local History Fair Oct. 4

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:59:07 GMT

The Toledo Lucas County Public Library will be hosting its annual genealogy and local history fair on Oct. 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Main Library.

The event allows visitors to explore their family histories and the Toledo area’s past.

“The Genealogy and Local History Fair is one of the Toledo Library’s most anticipated annual events,” said Jason Kucsma, executive director of the Library. “It’s a day for families, researchers and history buffs to explore the stories that shaped Toledo and their own family histories.”

At the event, there will be several presentations by nationally recognized genealogist Michael John Neill.

For more information about the event, click here.

Projectkin Adds to 2025'S Celebrations "All About That Place" (#AATP25) With Livestream Series

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:46:35 GMT

The following was written by Projectkin:

At the heart of every family story is a tale about a place. It could be a county, city, town, village, or the simple hearth of a home. The study of place is a natural complement to genealogy. This year, as with last, Projectkin is joining Society of Genealogists, the Society for One-Place Studies, and the British Association for Local History (BALH) to celebrate the study of place in a mini-series, “All About That Place,” or #AATP25, from September 24 to October 3rd, 2025. Projectkin.org is contributing a "mini" program with a series of casual, live-streamed talks during the 10-day program. Each talk will highlight surprising details about artifacts, resources, and records about places around the world.

Learn more at Projectkin.org/aatp25 or search for #AATP25.

Halifax Residents Invited to Municipal Archives Events

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:27:08 GMT

The Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting residents to attend events promoting the Municipal Archives this fall.

The municipality will be hosting an Ask an Archivist pop-up at Scotia Square food court (5201 Duke Street, Halifax) on Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Archivists will be available to answer questions and provide residents with information on finding municipal records, donating materials and locating genealogical sources.

The Municipal Archives will also be hosting two Scan-A-Thon events:

Saturday, Oct. 25, 1 to 4 p.m. – Halifax Central Library (5440 Spring Garden Road, Halifax).
Saturday, Nov. 14, 1 to 4 p.m. – Cole Harbour Public Library (17-51 Forest Hills Parkway, Cole Harbour)

Residents are encouraged to bring photographs, slides or negatives of their neighbourhoods to these events. Archivists will record essential information, then carefully scan them so residents and researchers will have access to a digital copy. Contributors can either keep or donate the original.

The Municipal Archives are particularly interested in preserving photos from the Cogswell District area, as the project prepares to complete substantial construction later this year. If residents have records related to this neighbourhood, they are encouraged to bring them to the Halifax Central Library Scan-a-thon.

The Municipal Archives is the official repository for historical municipal government records from Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and the former County of Halifax. It also holds community records from the region. The Municipal Archives include a guide of buildings and properties, historical Council minutes from 1841 to 1996 and over 4,000 historical images of downtown Halifax before massive urban renewal projects of the 1960s – and much more.

Archivists are available to help residents by phone (902-490-4643) or email (archives@halifax.ca) Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments can then be made to consult or donate records at the Municipal Archives at 81 Ilsley Avenue, Unit 11, Dartmouth.

For more information, visit halifax.ca/archives.

National Archives Displays U.S. Constitution with All 27 Amendments for the First Time

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:18:07 GMT

The following is a press release written by the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

National Archives Displays U.S. Constitution with All 27 Amendments for the First Time

For the first time in U.S. history, the entire United States Constitution is on display, to celebrate 250 years of American Freedom.

The four-page U.S. Constitution and the original Bill of Rights are surrounded by 17 Constitutional amendments, filling the Rotunda at the National Archives in Washington, DC in a dramatic, highly visual, and unprecedented display.

This historic, special display will also include the rarely displayed fifth page of the Constitution. This original document outlines a set of instructions to the States on how to implement the Constitution, signed by George Washington as President of the Constitutional Convention.

To give visitors more opportunities to see the special display, the National Archives Museum will have extended hours until 7:00 p.m. ET the weekends of Saturday, September 20 - Sunday, September 21, and Saturday, September 27 - Sunday, September 28.

To learn more about this exhibit, visit the National Archives Museum website.

The National Archives Museum's historic Rotunda will display the full U.S. Constitution with all 27 amendments until October 1, 2025.

Is the Civil War Part of Your Ancestry?

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:01:48 GMT

The Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Statesboro Regional Library will conduct a Civil War Genealogy Workshop Saturday for anyone interested in learning if they had an ancestor who fought in the war.

The workshop will be held in the genealogy section of the library from 10 a.m. to noon.

Most experts believe there’s a good chance any one can find a Civil War veteran in their family tree if they search long enough and hard enough.

But according to Hu Daughtry, commander of the Dixie Guards Camp #1942 in Metter, and the genealogy officer for the Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, most are often overwhelmed by the volumes of information available about Civil War veterans and find themselves intimidated by the task of sorting through innumerable pages to locate a small fact about their ancestor.

“It’s often a case of knowing where to look, what to look for and how to look for it,” Daughtry said. “Census records, old newspaper clippings, obituaries, land records, court dockets, marriage license records and muster rolls of regiments are good places to start, but you have to know what you have when you find something interesting and where to go next. Finding an ancestor is like a jigsaw puzzle. You have to have all the pieces fit together in the right order.”

Mike Mull, a member of the Ogeechee Rifles Camp #941, Sons of Confederate Veterans in Statesboro, and division lieutenant commander for the southern section of Georgia, said the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War is causing people to want to know if they had members of their family involved in the conflict.

“You must realize that we’re only about two and a half generations removed from the War,” Mull said. “There are people living today who in their youth probably talked with a veteran of the War. The last Civil War veteran passed away in 1959 and even today there are sons and daughters of veterans still living. The last widow of a Confederate veteran passed in 2003. We’re not talking about ancient history here.”

Although a Confederate heritage organization is one of the sponsors, the workshop will not be limited to descendants of those soldiers who fought for the South.

Daughtry also will provide insight on how to locate descendants of Union soldiers and also those of the United States Colored Troops.

Call Daughtry at (912) 687-6153 or Mull at (912) 618-3613 for more information.

Mammoth Cave National Park to Host “Echoes of the Past” Genealogy and History Event

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 11:57:25 GMT

Mammoth Cave, Ky. — Mammoth Cave National Park invites the public to attend Echoes of the Past, a special event designed to explore modern connections to the generations of people who once called the Mammoth Cave region home. The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT in the Rotunda Room of the Lodge at Mammoth Cave.

Attendees will have the chance to connect directly with historians, archivists, and genealogists, and explore tools that can help them trace their own family histories. Whether you have ancestral ties to the park or are simply curious about the region’s past, Echoes of the Past offers a meaningful opportunity to uncover personal connections to the history of Mammoth Cave and the communities that surround it.

“Echoes of the Past is more than a history event. It’s a chance for people to connect with the stories and history that shaped this landscape,” said Superintendent Barclay Trimble. “We’re proud to offer a space where community members and visitors alike can explore the deep cultural and genealogical ties to this region.”

This event is open to the public and no registration is required. Seasoned and aspiring genealogy enthusiasts alike are welcome to attend. Informative sessions will include:

Booth-style sessions at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. where visitors can interact one-on-one with representatives from local historical societies and organizations. These experts will share research insights, help attendees identify genealogy resources, and connect them with local archives and specialists.
Guest speaker presentations at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. offering practical guidance and inspiration for those interested in genealogy research and regional history.

Featured Guest Speakers:

11 a.m. — Sam Terry, IV : A native of Barren County, Kentucky, Sam Terry is a historian and author with deep roots in the region. He is the creator of Sam Terry’s Kentucky, a popular platform celebrating the state’s heritage, and has contributed to radio and podcast programs such as Think History and Uncommon History of the South. Terry has held leadership roles in several historical organizations and continues to lead educational tours and programs in his community.
1 p.m. — J. Mark Lowe : A professional genealogist and lecturer, Mark Lowe specializes in Southern U.S. records and has taught at major genealogy institutes across the country. He has contributed to television series like Who Do You Think You Are? and African American Lives 2 and is a past president of the Association of Professional Genealogists. His work is widely published, and he is recognized for his engaging and accessible approach to family history research.

In addition, National Park Service staff will offer demonstrations on how to access cemetery records and archival photographs from the park’s curatorial collection.

This event commemorates National Public Lands Day, a nationwide effort to honor and care for the lands we all share. In the spirit of this year’s theme Our Home Outdoors,visitors are invited to explore the many stories that have shaped Mammoth Cave National Park. Known around the world for its vast, interconnected cave system and natural wonders, the park is also a place of deep personal connection — where generations of families once lived, worked, and built community.

For questions about the event, please e-mail us or call 270-758-2180.

Genealogy Company Family Wise Named One of UK’s 100 Most Inspiring Small Businesses

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 20:33:23 GMT

One of the UK’s leading genealogy companies, Family Wise, has been named among the UK’s 100 most inspiring businesses for 2025 by the Small Business Saturday campaign. The Wiltshire-based firm helps people & organisations to explore their heritage

One of the UK’s leading genealogy companies, Family Wise, has been named as one of the UK’s 100 most inspiring small businesses for 2025 by the Small Business Saturday campaign.

Family Wise, founded by Kirsty Gray and based in the town of Calne in Wiltshire has been selected as part of this year’s SmallBiz100 line-up, which showcases the most innovative and admired small businesses across the nation, as part of the count-down to Small Business Saturday on December 6.

Running for over a decade, Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign, which encourages the public to support and spend with independent firms throughout the autumn, winter and over Christmas.

“We’re delighted to have been selected this year as one of many amazing UK small businesses as part of this annual campaign,” Kirsty said.

“We are an unusual High Street business! We take pride in being part of our community in Calne and also nationally and internationally in showing that heritage plays an important role in our everyday lives.”

Family Wise will be profiled by the campaign on Monday September 22 as part of the 100-day countdown to Small Business Saturday UK.

“Small businesses are the nation’s favourite businesses – bringing immeasurable value to our local communities and powering the wider economy,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK.

“Firms like Family Wise represent some of the UK’s most-loved small businesses. It is so important we encourage public support for small businesses up and down the country, as many are still facing a host of challenges as they enter this critical final stretch of the year.”

Small Business Saturday is a grassroots non-commercial campaign that was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010, and the brand remains the campaign’s principal supporter in the UK.

Dan Edelman, General Manager, UK Merchant Services at American Express, said: “We are proud to champion the UK’s small businesses. Congratulations to this year’s SmallBiz100, which once again showcases the incredible vibrancy and innovation of small firms and the valuable contribution they make to local communities.”

Since the campaign started, millions of people have been involved and billions of pounds spent with small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday itself.

On Saturday December 6, many small businesses will be hosting events and offering promotions.  The Family Wise team will be no different. Family Wise will be opening the office for visitors to come in and experience what we do. Visitors will have the chance to meet our case managers, take advantage of exclusive promotions, and hear some of the incredible stories we’ve uncovered over the past 13 years!

Last year, the campaign saw support from the Prime Minister and the Mayor of London, as well as the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Over 90% of local councils also supported the campaign, which trended across social media on the day. To learn more about Small Business Saturday’s SmallBiz100, visit https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com

Scientists Are Closing In on Leonardo Da Vinci’s DNA

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 20:27:49 GMT

Scientists are closer than ever to reconstructing Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA, thanks to a 30-year genealogical study, descendant DNA testing, and excavations of a Da Vinci family tomb. The findings could illuminate the genius’s life in ways never before possible.

For over five centuries, Leonardo Da Vinci has been celebrated as a visionary artist, scientist, and inventor, known for his extraordinary talent and groundbreaking experiments. Today, an international collaboration known as the Leonardo DNA Project is closer than ever to uncovering the biological secrets of the greatest genius of the Renaissance.

In their new book "Genìa Da Vinci. Genealogy and Genetics for Leonardo's DNA," published by Angelo Pontecorboli Editore, experts Alessandro Vezzosi and Agnese Sabato of the Leonardo Da Vinci Heritage Association, Vinci, present findings from 30 years of genealogical research that have culminated in groundbreaking insights. Published with the support of the Municipality of Vinci, the book documents an elaborate family tree tracing back to 1331, spanning 21 generations and involving over 400 individuals. The work lays the groundwork for one of the most advanced historical-genetic investigations ever undertaken: the reconstruction of Leonardo's genetic profile.

Through meticulous analysis of sources and archival documents -- now published in the book -- Vezzosi and Sabato successfully reconstructed branches of the family to which Leonardo belonged, including the identification of 15 direct male-line descendants related genealogically to both Leonardo's father and to his half-brother, Domenico Benedetto.

This allowed David Caramelli, the Leonardo DNA Project's coordinator for anthropological and molecular aspects, and Director of the Department of Biology at the University of Florence, along with forensic anthropologist Elena Pilli, to subject six of these descendants to DNA testing. Their analysis revealed that segments of the Y chromosome -- used for individual identification -- matched across these men, confirming the genetic continuity of the Da Vinci male line, at least since the 15th generation.

The authors also confirmed the existence of a Da Vinci family tomb in the Church of Santa Croce in Vinci, currently under archaeological excavation in collaboration with the University of Florence. This may be the burial site of Leonardo's grandfather Antonio, uncle Francesco, and several half-brothers -- Antonio, Pandolfo, and Giovanni.

The excavation leaders, University of Florence anthropologists Alessandro Riga and Luca Bachechi, recovered bone fragments, some of which have been radiocarbon dated. One specimen, consistent in age with Leonardo's presumed relatives, has undergone paleogenomic analysis. Preliminary results from Caramelli and molecular anthropologist Martina Lari indicate the individual was male.

"Further detailed analyses are necessary to determine whether the DNA extracted is sufficiently preserved," says Caramelli, who is also President of the University Museum System. "Based on the results, we can proceed with analysis of Y chromosome fragments for comparison with current descendants."

If the Y chromosome of the living descendants is also found in the older remains in the Vinci church tombs, it would support the accuracy of paternity records, the historical reconstruction of the lineage established through death registers, and would allow for a more in-depth examination of the biological material attributed to Leonardo, as well as traces left on his original manuscripts or other works, potentially leading to the reconstruction of his DNA.

Launched in 2016 and coordinated from The Rockefeller University, New York, the Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project involves the J. Craig Venter Institute of California, the University of Florence and other institutions, with support from the Achelis and Bodman Foundation (New York), the Richard Lounsbery Foundation (Washington, D.C.), and other public and private partners.

The team's scientific starting point was a hypothesis as simple as it is crucial: to trace the Y chromosome, which is passed unchanged from father to son.

"Our goal in reconstructing the Da Vinci family's lineage up to the present day, while also preserving and valuing the places connected to Leonardo, is to enable scientific research on his DNA," says Vezzosi. "Through the recovery of Leonardo's DNA, we hope to understand the biological roots of his extraordinary visual acuity, creativity, and possibly even aspects of his health and causes of death."

"Even a tiny fingerprint on a page could contain cells to sequence," says Jesse H. Ausubel of The Rockefeller University and director of the project. "21st-century biology is moving the boundary between the unknowable and the unknown. Soon we may gain information about Leonardo and other historical figures once believed lost forever."

Surprising revelations

The book's revelations extend beyond genetics. In 21 chapters, it takes readers on a rigorous and fascinating journey through genealogy, history, and geography to rediscover the environment that shaped Leonardo.

Through analysis of ancient land registries, the authors identified seven Da Vinci family homes in Vinci's village and castle, as well as two properties owned by Leonardo himself, inherited from his uncle Francesco and contested in a long dispute with his half-brothers.

The authors devote special focus to two key figures in Leonardo's life: His paternal grandfather Antonio -- not merely a farmer but a merchant who traveled between Catalan Spain and Morocco -- and Leonardo's mother, Caterina. Through careful examination of existing research, sources, and archives, a clearer, non-romanticized picture of Caterina emerges. Increasingly plausible is her identification as a slave in the service of wealthy banker Vanni di Niccolò di ser Vanni. A series of wills and donation records from 1449 onward document the relationship between Vanni and his executor, the young notary ser Piero, Leonardo's father.

A "Unicorn Dragon" ... by Leonardo?

Among the most intriguing revelations: The authors publish for the first time a study hypothesizing that a mysterious charcoal drawing of rare expressive intensity may be attributed to Leonardo. It was discovered on the fireplace mantle of an old building in Vinci (formerly the Bracci house), now owned by the Municipality.

The fantastical creature features several striking iconographic elements, though worn by time: A spiral horn on the head, elongated snout and curved beak, hooked teeth, flaming tongue, clawed limbs, pointed ears, pronounced scales on the back and neck, and a fan-like membranous wing with fingered extensions -- anticipating Leonardo's later studies of bird and bat flight -- along with a serpentine tail.

Due to these features, Vezzosi and Sabato have named the work "Unicorn Dragon." Particularly compelling is a comparison with a detail from Windsor sheet RL 12370, dated to the 1470s.

The attribution hypothesis is currently supported by Roberta Barsanti, Director of the Leonardian Museum and Library, and by Vinci's Mayor, Daniele Vanni. The Municipality has planned scientific analysis and restoration of the large drawing (about 80x70 cm), under the supervision of the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Florence and the provinces of Pistoia and Prato.

Leonardo: Epigenetics Pioneer?

The book suggests that Leonardo may have intuited concepts we now call "epigenetic." In his writings on heredity, he reflects on the influence of diet, blood, and parental behavior on offspring -- observations still relevant today.

"Leonardo questioned the origins of human life not only biologically: in his studies on generation, conception becomes a complex act where nature, emotion, and fate intertwine -- anticipating themes now central to the genetics-epigenetics debate," explains Agnese Sabato.

Towards a genetic portrait

The final chapter explores evocative similarities between some current descendants and Leonardo's famed self-portrait, offered as a reflection. Nonetheless, the project's scientific ambitions remain paramount. If enough DNA fragments can be sequenced, researchers could reveal new insights into Leonardo's genetic heritage, physical traits, and perhaps even vulnerabilities that shaped his life and work.

"This is not just about the author of the world's most famous painting," concludes Ausubel. "It's a challenge to redefine the limits of historical knowledge and cultural heritage."

Reconstructing Leonardo's genetic profile represents a milestone of international significance -- for both science and the valourization of historical identity.

For the small Tuscan town of Vinci, which once welcomed a very special illegitimate child named Leonardo, the echo of his "genetic voice" across the centuries is now a source of deep pride and renewed wonder.

The historical research will also support an upcoming documentary and an international film production.

And one thing is increasingly clear: our understanding of Leonardo Da Vinci is far from complete.

Key Points:

Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project: The first scientific project aimed at reconstructing Leonardo's genome, through indirect and comparative biological sources
Art meets genetics: DNA found on manuscripts or drawings could confirm artwork authenticity, and techniques developed through the project could revolutionize how contested works are verified
Forensic analysis: Leonardo's genetic profile could reveal biological traits like left-handedness, visual perception, diet, possible health predispositions, and physical appearance
21 documented generations: The reconstructed family tree has been updated from 1331 to the present, including the documentation of extinct family lines
Rediscovered heritage: Over 400 individuals analyzed, including 219 Da Vinci/Vinci (119 males and 100 females)
15 male descendants identified belonging to the direct patrilineal line, crucial for the study of the Y chromosome
Y chromosome: 6 direct male-line descendants successfully involved in comparative DNA analyses
The "Unicorn Dragon": The hypothesis that a large drawing in Leonardo's hometown may be attributed to him
Archaeological excavation in Vinci: First effort to identify remains in a Da Vinci family tomb documented in the Church of Santa Croce
Digital Archive "GenìaDaVinci": A genealogical and documentary database for scholars, genealogists, and enthusiasts, based on traceability and historical verification criteria
Residences of Leonardo's family: A new map of Da Vinci homes in Vinci village and countryside, including two of Leonardo's own properties
Maternal mystery: A historically updated reconstruction of the hypotheses about Leonardo's mother's identity

Archives Month Open House | Tour of the Library of Virginia

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:15:54 GMT

Explore an archival institution near you in October for American Archives Month, starting with a tour of the Library of Virginia! Archives Month celebrates those institutions and individuals that help to preserve and make accessible the important records of our actions as residents, businesses, religious groups, government and society. This work can give us a sense of being part of a larger picture and helps us begin to recognize our connections to others — family, community, nation or a group defined by ethnicity, religion, work or play.

This tour is offered at 2 p.m. Reserve your spot soon! Archives Month tours are also offered on Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. and on Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.

This year’s Virginia Archives Month theme is “Oh Snap: Photography in the Archives.” We invite you to arrive early to take part in additional Open House programs:

11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (hourly) | Archivist Talks
Library staff members will share information about photographs, their care, and where to find them in collections. You’ll have the opportunity to engage directly with archival material.

12:00 & 2:00 p.m. | Workshop: Creating Cyanotypes With Em White
Separate registration required. [link to Calendar events]

10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (ongoing) | Makers Station Activity
Get creative at our makers station using images found in archival collections from across the Commonwealth.

Programming assistance is provided by the Friends of the Virginia State Archives, a 501(c)(3) organization.

For more information, contact Mary Ann Mason at maryann.mason@lva.virginia.gov or 804.692.3648. This tour is free, but registration is required. Limited free parking is available underneath the Library at 800 East Broad Street.

NMSU Archives Acquires Frederick Nolan Papers, a Treasure Trove on Lincoln County War, Billy the Kid

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:48:26 GMT

New Mexico State University’s Archives and Special Collections has acquired the papers of Frederick Nolan, the pre-eminent historian of Lincoln County, the Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid.

The collection, shipped from London to Las Cruces, marks a highly anticipated addition to the university’s holdings on the history of the American West.

The collection was received in early August and arrived in carefully organized boxes containing correspondence, research files, manuscripts, photographs and copies of Nolan’s many published books. Now open to researchers, scholars and the public, the materials highlight Nolan’s lifelong dedication to the Lincoln County War, Billy the Kid and the history of southern New Mexico.

“The NMSU Library Archives department has long been an important repository for primary source information related to the Lincoln County War, one of the most colorful and well-known episodes in the history of the West,” said Dennis Daily, department head. “The addition of Frederick Nolan’s papers makes NMSU the essential destination for researchers in this field.”

Nolan’s papers take their place among other recently acquired collections that focus on Lincoln County, including the papers of Nora Henn and Lewis Ketring.

“Fred Nolan spent a lifetime researching and publishing on New Mexico's Lincoln County War and especially the life and death of the charismatic young outlaw William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid,” said historian and author Mark Lee Gardner. “His numerous published writings on the violence in 19th century southern New Mexico and the Kid's short but action-filled career have benefited countless later historians and authors, including myself, and now that his voluminous research papers and correspondence will be at NMSU, they'll benefit countless more in the future.”

Nolan, who was born in England, wrote more than 20 Western novels in addition to his historical research and non-fiction publications. His work included groundbreaking access to the letters of John Henry Tunstall, a key figure in the Lincoln County War.

“Frederick Nolan is widely considered one of the leading experts on Billy the Kid and the cast of characters who played roles large and small in the Lincoln County War,” said Rick Hendricks, former New Mexico State Historian. “The acquisition of his papers with a focus on the American West will constitute a very significant addition to the Archives and Special Collections department’s already unrivaled holdings of materials that document the history of livestock raising in the Southwest.”

For many, Nolan’s impact was both scholarly and personal.

“Frederick Nolan was – and is – a notable authority on Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War,” said Richard W. Etulain, historian and author. “And those of us who had the opportunity to hear him speak and journey with him through the town of Lincoln will never forget those experiences. Nolan's manuscripts and research materials are of monumental importance for those who want to study and write about the Kid and Lincoln County.”

The acquisition has generated excitement among historians and enthusiasts alike.

“Fred Nolan was the nimble prince of the Billy the Kid field,” said Bob Boze Bell, executive editor of True West magazine. “Generous to a fault, gracious and kind, he gave a decorum and first-rate scholarship to our efforts that is sorely missed.”

Nolan’s papers are now available at NMSU’s Archives and Special Collections. For more information, visit https://lib.nmsu.edu/archives/.

Lewes (Delaware) DAR to Host Genealogical Research Expert Oct. 4

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 18:02:37 GMT

The Col. David Hall Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will host a program on genealogical research at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, at Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes.

Guest speaker Joe Sullivan of the Delaware Public Archives will offer expert insights on lesser-known resources for researching family trees, including supply tax records, oaths of allegiance and pay schedules that may identify women and African Americans or Native Americans who contributed to the revolutionary cause.

Space is limited. The deadline to register is Saturday, Sept. 27. To reserve a seat, send a name, phone number and email address to Mary Alice Kelly at makelly.dar@gmail.com.

The program is part of the chapter’s initiatives to commemorate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. The chapter also recently procured the Library Edition license to Ancestry.com, now available at no charge to the public at the Lewes library. Community members are encouraged to take advantage of this resource to explore their family histories.

Genealogists from the DAR chapter will be available following Sullivan’s presentation to assist attendees with research on the Ancestry platform.

“The upcoming 250th anniversary is not only an opportunity to celebrate America’s founding, but also to reflect on the diverse stories and contributions that shaped our nation,” said Beth Bowersock, Col. David Hall Chapter regent. “Through this series, we hope to inspire curiosity and learning while offering meaningful tools for genealogical research.”

Bones Found in Canadian Forest ID’d as Northeast Ohio Man Who Went Missing in 1973

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 11:22:14 GMT

One single day.

That’s all it took for citizen scientists to solve a cold case that left police stumped for more than 40 years.

Using revolutionary new technology, a team of volunteer genealogists recently connected a set of bones found in a Canadian forest to a Northeast Ohio man who went missing more than a half century ago.

Eric “Ricky” Singer was just 22 years old when he vanished without a trace in the fall of 1973.

Before he went missing, the Berea native had moved back in with his parents and younger sister after spending time traveling abroad.

“October 3, 1973, was the last time I saw him,” said Merry Singer Lugasy. “Ricky had been exploring Canadian options after dropping out of college in 1970 and receiving his draft card for Vietnam. He did not get drafted, but he continued to spend time in Canada over the next few years. Suddenly, he disappeared on his bike with a backpack and we never heard from him again.”

Eric "Ricky" Singer with father and sisters, Ruth and Merry

(Ontario Provincial Police)

Singer’s family filed a missing persons report and hired a private investigator to try to find him. They even conducted their own searches through various missing persons organizations without any luck.

In April 1980, a hiker found a human skull after veering off a trail in Algonquin Park in Canada.

Investigators searched the area and uncovered more bones, along with some camping gear and clothes.

Forensic experts determined the remains belonged to a young white male, likely between 18 and 21 years old, and they placed his time of death between 1971 and 1978. Despite public appeals, nobody came forward to identify the John Doe.

On July 26, 2017, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) unveiled a three-dimensional, clay reconstruction of the unidentified male’s face. Tips poured in but no match was found.

After exhausting all other available investigative techniques, the OPP submitted the male’s DNA to the DNA Doe Project in 2022.

The non-profit organization uses investigative genetic genealogy to identify unidentified remains.

DNA Doe Project took up the case in 2023 and in just 24 hours their volunteers were able to match the John Doe’s genetic profile to DNA from distant relatives, leading to the his presumptive identity as Eric “Ricky” Singer.

Investigators needed to locate Singer’s family members to confirm his identity. They were able to track down his sisters, Ruth and Merry, in the United States.

“On September 19, 2023, I was contacted by an unidentified caller,” said Ruth Singer. “Feeling strongly guided to take the call, the caller introduced himself as a detective from the OPP. He said he had some difficult news for me and asked whether I had time to listen. Immediately, my tears began to fall and I knew that they had found him.”

“The next step was to submit our DNA samples, after which more information could be shared with us from police files collected over the past five decades,” Merry said. “This turned out to be a lot more complicated than just matching DNA. It took almost two years, the exchange of many emails, texts and phone calls with our dedicated detective and various members of the forensic team.”

Algonquin Park John Doe was officially identified as Eric “Ricky” Singer on February 14, 2025.

Over the summer, Ruth and Merry traveled to Canada to retrace their brother’s final steps alongside some of the investigators who worked on his case.

“Eric Singer’s remains were found before I was even born. The fact that I’m involved in supporting his family in understanding what happened to him feels a little surreal... This was one of the most rewarding investigations of my career,” said OPP Detective Sergeant Philip Holmes, the lead investigator on the case.

“I’m grateful to stand here right now and I hope that this gives somebody hope,” Ruth said.

“Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up,” said Merry. “You just don’t know what other people are capable of and technology changes. You know, he was eventually found, he was identified, and we were able to put him to rest and put ourselves to rest.“

Right now there are dozens of John and Jane Does in Ohio who are still waiting to get their names back.

Check out our ongoing Unidentified series to see if you recognize anyone and find out how you can help solve cold cases like Eric Singer’s by uploading your DNA profile to public websites.

Century of Student Journalism Now Online

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 11:11:21 GMT

DIGITIZED EDITIONS OF ‘THE QUILL’ AVAILABLE THROUGH S.J. MCKEE ARCHIVES AT BRANDON UNIVERSITY

Brandon University’s S.J. McKee Archives has completed a landmark project to digitize more than a century of The Quill, the student newspaper at Brandon College and Brandon University. Alumni, researchers, and the campus community can now browse issues dating back to December 1910 online through the Archives’ website.

The project makes 1,733 editions of The Quill freely available to the public. This includes not only The Quill itself but also related publications such as The Feather, The Daily Quill, The unQuill, and The Swill. In total, the collection represents approximately 19,000 pages of student writing, photographs, and artwork.

“The Quill is a remarkable achievement,” said Christy Henry, University Archivist. “For more than 110 years the students of Brandon College and Brandon University have successfully produced a student publication regardless of external events or internal upheaval. As such, The Quill is the single greatest record of the student experience at Brandon College and Brandon University.”

Founded in 1910, The Quill is (by a whisker) the second-oldest student newspaper in Western Canada. As a publication from both the Brandon College and Brandon University eras, it is invaluable when it comes to understanding the history and development of the institution. Historical issues also provide a rare perspective on co-educational student life during a formative period for higher education — a time when women were just being admitted into most men’s universities in English Canada.

The digitization project took more than four years and nearly 1,000 hours of archival work to complete. Each issue was microfilmed, scanned, described, and assessed for long-term preservation.

The McKee Archives is unveiling the project during BU’s Homecoming, a fitting occasion for alumni who contributed to The Quill over the decades. The Archives hopes the online release will spark memories and encourage Quillies and other former students to help fill gaps in the collection.

“Leafing through old editions of The Quill always brings back fond memories for me. More than memory, it’s no exaggeration to say that The Quill changed the trajectory of my life,” said Grant Hamilton, currently BU’s Director of Marketing and Communications, but off-and-on Editor of The Quill in the late 90s and early 2000s. “My grades suffered, but I learned a tremendous amount. When we talk about the lifelong connections that students make on BU’s compact, cozy campus, we’re talking about student groups like The Quill — freewheeling, open, and energetic in memorable ways.”

While BU’s S.J. McKee Archives holds the most complete run of The Quillknown to exist, some issues remain missing or survive only in fragile condition. Alumni and community members who have old copies are encouraged to contact the Archives.

Issues can be accessed by visiting Archives.BrandonU.ca, checking the “Special Collections” box, and searching for The Quill. Individual PDF files can be searched by keyword.

This latest milestone follows other major digitization projects completed by the McKee Archives, including the first 50 years of The Alumni News(1930–1971) and the Westman Oral History collection, which features more than 300 interviews with Brandon College faculty, alumni, and local residents.

The Archives’ next large-scale project will focus on the first 45 years of The Manitoba Co-operator, a critical collection for understanding rural Manitoba’s development in the 20th century.

As a busy archive with substantial collections and ambitious goals but only a single staff person, the McKee Archives rely heavily on grants, donations, and community contributions to undertake large-scale preservation projects. Financial donations can be made through BU’s Office of Advancement & Alumni Affairs, while offers of records or Quillcopies or other records that might be worth preserving can be directed to the Archives at McKeeArchives@BrandonU.ca or 204-727-9634.

“Archives are sites of memory,” Henry said. “They preserve the voices and experiences of past generations, and make them available to enrich our present and future. This project ensures that The Quill and the student voices it carried will always be accessible.”

ABOUT THE MCKEE ARCHIVES

The S.J. McKee Archives is committed to acquiring, preserving and making accessible records of long-term value that are related to the history of Brandon College/Brandon University, as well as records related to the city of Brandon and the southwest region of Manitoba, and Manitoba Pool Elevators. These historical traces speak to the world about life on the eastern prairies since 1880.

The McKee Archives are located in the McKee Archives on the mezzanine floor of the John E. Robbins Library and their collections can be searched online at Archives.BrandonU.ca.

‘THE QUILL’ THROUGH THE YEARS

Read any edition of The Quill since 1910 online at the S.J. McKee Archives — simply search “The Quill” in the Archives’ special collections.

Street Genealogy at PARK(ing) Day Philly 2025

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 19:31:05 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania:

Street Genealogy at PARK(ing) Day Philly 2025

Who: Genealogy QuickStart TV in partnership with African American Genealogy Group, The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
What: Genealogists will give free 15-minute consultations to anyone interested in growing their family trees plus resources from the partners to help visitors to find their family.
When: Friday, September 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Why: As part of an annual global event called PARK(ing) Day in hundreds of cities on 10 continents, metered parking spaces become mini parks as businesses and organizations reimagine these spaces for creating, socializing, and educating.
How: Visitors can bring their questions and even family documents to experts who will help them on their family history journey.
Genealogy QuickStart TV was created in 2017 at PhillyCAM, Philadelphia's Public Access station, to provide the public with easy steps to tell their families' stories. That is why these groups and institutions are partnering to heighten awareness of the multitude of free resources available to find enslaved, immigrant, military, religious, and other types of ancestors whose stories are often muted or left untold.

TheGenealogist Launches Sussex Lloyd George Domesday, in Partnership With the National Archives

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 19:09:30 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at TheGenealogist:

Available online for the first time, discover properties, owners and occupiers across Sussex, with linked books and maps

TheGenealogist today announces the release of Sussex Lloyd George records in partnership with The National Archives, bringing together the Valuation Office Survey field books (“Lloyd George Domesday”) and georeferenced historical maps for Sussex in a single, searchable resource.

This significant addition allows family and local historians to pinpoint where ancestors lived or owned property in Sussex in the early 1910s, then click straight through to the corresponding survey book entry for details such as ownership/occupancy, property description and assessed value.

Bateman’s Kiplings Sussex Home

What’s included

269,211 Occupiers, Owners & Organisation
Georeferenced historical maps that link properties to the exact location on the ground
Owner and occupier details, addresses, plot numbers and descriptive notes (where recorded)
Map-to-book and book-to-map links for seamless research across records

Among the newly released entries is Rudyard Kipling, whose Sussex home appears in the records. To mark the launch, TheGenealogist has published an accompanying feature article exploring Kipling’s connection to the county and how these records illuminate his footprint in Sussex.

“From the Downs to the Weald, this addition reveals Sussex in remarkable detail. You can explore a county of independent smallholders, traders, and householders rooted to their place.” said Mark Bayley, Head of Content at TheGenealogist.

Working with The National Archives, TheGenealogist continues to expand access to this landmark property survey for England and Wales, rolling out county coverage with both digitised books and linked, layered maps.

Why this matters

Place your ancestors on the map: Identify the precise plots where families lived or held property.
Context at a glance: Understand neighbourhoods, land use and changing streetscapes in the years just before the First World War.
One-click discovery: Move effortlessly between a mapped property and details of the owner and occupier.

The Sussex Lloyd George records are available now to TheGenealogist’s Diamond subscribers.

Don’t miss out!

For a limited time, you can subscribe to TheGenealogist for just £118.95

Not only will you get a lifetime discount, but you'll also receive a 12-Month Subscription to Discover Your Ancestors Online Magazine - a total saving of over £75!

Explore these new records and start your genealogical journey today with TheGenealogist by claiming this offer here:https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBLGD925

Offer expires 31st December 2025.

About TheGenealogist

TheGenealogist is an award-winning online family history website, who put a wealth of information at the fingertips of family historians. Their approach is to bring hard to use physical records to life online with easy to use interfaces such as their Tithe and newly released Lloyd George Domesday collections.

TheGenealogist’s innovative SmartSearch technology links records together to help you find your ancestors more easily. TheGenealogist is one of the leading providers of online family history records. Along with the standard Birth, Marriage, Death and Census records, they also have significant collections of Parish and Nonconformist records, PCC Will Records, Irish Records, Military records, Occupations, Newspaper record collections amongst many others.

TheGenealogist uses the latest technology to help you bring your family history to life. Use TheGenealogist to find your ancestors today!

I'm Not Dead (Yet)

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:11:33 GMT

If you read a lot of online obituaries, here is one you should be aware is not what it seems. The obituary at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/richard-eastman-obituary?id=59414134 for Richard Wayne Eastman. You see, that is also my name but it's not for me.

I read a lot of online obituaries and that one was really a surprise for me. That's my name, even the correct middle name. But I can assure you that's not me. I am still alive and kicking.

What really surprised me is the name of (this other) Richard Eastman's nephew as listed in the obituary: "He was preceded in death by ..., a nephew, Christopher Eastman." That's the name of my son (who also preceded me in death).

So please disregard this obituary (unless you are a friend, acquaintance , or relative of this other Richard Eastman). I plan on sticking around this old world for a long time yet.

As Mark Twain said, "The reports of my death were an exaggeration"

Irish-American Communities Thriving in the Digital Age

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:50:43 GMT

Irish-American communities have always been known for their resilience, adaptability, and strong sense of heritage.

As technology continues to shape how people connect, celebrate, and share their stories, Irish Americans are finding new ways to honor tradition while embracing the opportunities of the digital era. From online gatherings to innovative cultural projects, the digital age is helping Irish identity flourish across the United States and beyond.

Connecting across generations and borders

One of the most profound changes in recent years has been the way Irish Americans stay connected with both their roots and each other. Social media platforms, video calls, and community forums have made it easier than ever for families to bridge the Atlantic, keeping relationships strong between relatives in Ireland and the US. Virtual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, online genealogy workshops, and digital storytelling events have become mainstays, allowing even those far from traditional Irish hubs to participate in the culture. These digital tools are not just for the young—many older Irish Americans are using technology to reconnect with long-lost cousins, share family histories, and keep the Irish language alive in their homes.

Digital Trends Shaping Irish-American Leisure

Entertainment and leisure habits within Irish-American communities have also evolved with technology. Streaming platforms now offer access to Irish films, music, and sports, helping people stay in touch with contemporary culture from home. Book clubs, music sessions, and even traditional dance classes have found new life online, connecting enthusiasts from Boston to San Francisco. The rise of digital platforms has introduced new forms of entertainment as well, with some Irish Americans exploring innovative spaces like online gaming. For example, the emergence of cryptocurrency in digital leisure is notable, with platforms such as bitcoin casino illustrating how technology is shaping modern pastimes and connecting diaspora communities in unexpected ways.

Preserving Heritage in a Modern World

While technology offers new ways to connect, it also plays a crucial role in preserving Irish heritage for future generations. Digital archives, virtual museum tours, and online language courses make it easier for Irish Americans to access and contribute to the collective memory of their community. Local societies are using apps and websites to organize events, share recipes, and teach traditional crafts, ensuring that the richness of Irish culture remains vibrant and accessible. When planning your next visit, exploring the top travel destinations 2025 in Ireland reveals a variety of unique accommodations and scenic locales that showcase the rich heritage and natural beauty Irish travelers seek. This blend of tradition and innovation is helping Irish Americans stay rooted in their identity while looking confidently toward the future.

Looking Ahead with Community Spirit

As Irish-American communities continue to adapt to the digital age, their commitment to heritage, connection, and innovation remains strong. Whether through virtual gatherings, new forms of entertainment, or digital preservation efforts, the spirit of the Irish diaspora is thriving. The digital world has become another gathering place—one where stories are shared, traditions are celebrated, and the bonds of community grow ever stronger. The journey of Irish Americans in the digital era is a testament to their enduring adaptability and the timeless value of staying connected, no matter where in the world they may be.

The Da Vinci Bloodline: Living Descendants Provide Clues to the Genius’s Genetic Secrets

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:44:47 GMT

For centuries, Leonardo da Vinci’s genius has fascinated historians and scientists alike, but now researchers are closer than ever to uncovering his true biological legacy. A decades-long genealogical investigation has traced Leonardo’s family line across 21 generations, opening the door to cutting-edge DNA analysis that may reconstruct his genetic profile. Credit: Stock

Scientists confirmed genetic continuity in Leonardo da Vinci’s male descendants. Work is underway to compare ancient remains and possibly recover his DNA.

For more than five hundred years, Leonardo da Vinci has been admired as a brilliant artist, scientist, and inventor, celebrated for his unmatched creativity and experimental spirit. Today, an international effort known as the Leonardo DNA Project is closer than ever to uncovering the biological legacy of the Renaissance master.

In their recent book Genìa Da Vinci. Genealogy and Genetics for Leonardo’s DNA, published by Angelo Pontecorboli Editore, researchers Alessandro Vezzosi and Agnese Sabato of the Leonardo Da Vinci Heritage Association in Vinci share the results of three decades of genealogical study. With the support of the Municipality of Vinci, the book traces an extensive family tree reaching back to 1331, covering 21 generations and more than 400 individuals. This genealogical framework provides the foundation for one of the most ambitious historical-genetic projects ever attempted: the reconstruction of Leonardo’s genetic profile.

Confirming male-line descendants

Through detailed examination of historical records and archival material — now compiled in the book — Vezzosi and Sabato were able to rebuild family branches linked to Leonardo. Their research identified 15 direct male-line descendants connected genealogically to both Leonardo’s father and his half-brother, Domenico Benedetto.

Launched in 2016, the Leonardo DNA Project involves The Rockefeller University (New York), the J. Craig Venter Institute (California), the Department of Biology at the University of Florence, and other institutions, with support from the Achelis and Bodman Foundation (New York), the Richard Lounsbery Foundation (Washington, D.C.), and other public and private partners. Credit: Leonardo DNA Project

This discovery enabled David Caramelli, coordinator of the Leonardo DNA Project’s anthropological and molecular studies and Director of the Department of Biology at the University of Florence, together with forensic anthropologist Elena Pilli, to conduct DNA tests on six of these descendants. Their findings showed that specific segments of the Y chromosome — a marker commonly used for genetic identification — were shared among the men, confirming continuity of the Da Vinci male lineage for at least 15 generations.

The researchers also verified the presence of a Da Vinci family tomb in the Church of Santa Croce in Vinci, which is currently being excavated in partnership with the University of Florence. This tomb is believed to hold the remains of Leonardo’s grandfather Antonio, his uncle Francesco, and several of his half-brothers, including Antonio, Pandolfo, and Giovanni.

Potential comparison with ancient remains

During the excavation, University of Florence anthropologists Alessandro Riga and Luca Bachechi recovered bone fragments, some of which have been dated using radiocarbon analysis. One of the remains, consistent in age with Leonardo’s relatives, was subjected to paleogenomic testing. Preliminary results from Caramelli and molecular anthropologist Martina Lari indicate that the individual was male.

“Further detailed analyses are necessary to determine whether the DNA extracted is sufficiently preserved,” says Caramelli, who is also President of the University Museum System. “Based on the results, we can proceed with analysis of Y chromosome fragments for comparison with current descendants.”

International collaboration and goals

The team’s scientific starting point was a hypothesis as simple as it is crucial: to trace the Y chromosome, which is passed unchanged from father to son.

In their new book “Genìa Da Vinci. Genealogy and Genetics for Leonardo’s DNA,” experts Alessandro Vezzosi and Agnese Sabato of the Leonardo Da Vinci Heritage Association, Vinci, present findings from 30 years of genealogical research that have culminated in groundbreaking insights. Credit: Leonardo Da Vinci Heritage Association

“Our goal in reconstructing the Da Vinci family’s lineage up to the present day, while also preserving and valuing the places connected to Leonardo, is to enable scientific research on his DNA,” says Vezzosi. “Through the recovery of Leonardo’s DNA, we hope to understand the biological roots of his extraordinary visual acuity, creativity, and possibly even aspects of his health and causes of death.”

”Even a tiny fingerprint on a page could contain cells to sequence,” says Jesse H. Ausubel of The Rockefeller University and director of the project. “21st-century biology is moving the boundary between the unknowable and the unknown. Soon we may gain information about Leonardo and other historical figures once believed lost forever.”

Historical revelations from genealogy

The book’s scope extends beyond genetics. Across 21 chapters, it examines genealogy, history, and geography to shed light on the environment that influenced Leonardo’s life and work.

Through analysis of ancient land registries, the authors identified seven Da Vinci family homes in Vinci’s village and castle, as well as two properties owned by Leonardo himself, inherited from his uncle Francesco and contested in a long dispute with his half-brothers.

The authors devote special focus to two key figures in Leonardo’s life: His paternal grandfather Antonio — not merely a farmer but a merchant who traveled between Catalan Spain and Morocco — and Leonardo’s mother, Caterina. Through careful examination of existing research, sources, and archives, a clearer, non-romanticized picture of Caterina emerges. Increasingly plausible is her identification as a slave in the service of wealthy banker Vanni di Niccolò di ser Vanni. A series of wills and donation records from 1449 onward document the relationship between Vanni and his executor, the young notary ser Piero, Leonardo’s father.

“Genìa Da Vinci,” by Alessandro Vezzosi and Agnese Sabato, is published by Angelo Pontecorboli Editors with the support of the Richard Lounsbery Foundation and under the patronage of the Municipality of Vinci, as part of the “Leonardo DNA Project.” Credit: Angelo Pontecorboli Editors

A “Unicorn Dragon” … by Leonardo?

The fantastical creature features several striking iconographic elements, though worn by time: A spiral horn on the head, elongated snout and curved beak, hooked teeth, flaming tongue, clawed limbs, pointed ears, pronounced scales on the back and neck, and a fan-like membranous wing with fingered extensions — anticipating Leonardo’s later studies of bird and bat flight — along with a serpentine tail.

Due to these features, Vezzosi and Sabato have named the work “Unicorn Dragon.” Particularly compelling is a comparison with a detail from Windsor sheet RL 12370, dated to the 1470s.

The attribution hypothesis is currently supported by Roberta Barsanti, Director of the Leonardian Museum and Library, and by Vinci’s Mayor, Daniele Vanni. The Municipality has planned scientific analysis and restoration of the large drawing (about 80×70 cm), under the supervision of the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Florence and the provinces of Pistoia and Prato.

Leonardo: Epigenetics Pioneer?

The book suggests that Leonardo may have intuited concepts we now call “epigenetic.” In his writings on heredity, he reflects on the influence of diet, blood, and parental behavior on offspring — observations still relevant today.

“Leonardo questioned the origins of human life not only biologically: in his studies on generation, conception becomes a complex act where nature, emotion, and fate intertwine — anticipating themes now central to the genetics–epigenetics debate,” explains Agnese Sabato.

Towards a genetic portrait

The final chapter explores evocative similarities between some current descendants and Leonardo’s famed self-portrait, offered as a reflection. Nonetheless, the project’s scientific ambitions remain paramount. If enough DNA fragments can be sequenced, researchers could reveal new insights into Leonardo’s genetic heritage, physical traits, and perhaps even vulnerabilities that shaped his life and work.

“This is not just about the author of the world’s most famous painting,” concludes Ausubel. “It’s a challenge to redefine the limits of historical knowledge and cultural heritage.”

Reconstructing Leonardo’s genetic profile represents a milestone of international significance — for both science and the valorization of historical identity.

For the small Tuscan town of Vinci, which once welcomed a very special illegitimate child named Leonardo, the echo of his “genetic voice” across the centuries is now a source of deep pride and renewed wonder.

And one thing is increasingly clear: our understanding of Leonardo Da Vinci is far from complete.

Remembering 9/11: Never Forget

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 20:59:42 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Remembering 9/11

Today marks the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The National Archives holds many records related to 9/11, including those of the 9/11 Commission, the 9/11 Federal Aviation Administrationrecords, and the records of the George W. Bush Presidential Library, including those on display in the virtual exhibit, “9/11: The Steel of American Resolve.”

The 9/11 special topics page also includes: children’s letters received by the American Red Cross September 11 Recovery Program; World Trade Center photographs from the Documerica project; and videos, articles, and artifacts commemorating the 20th anniversary of the tragedy.

Most of us remember where we were and how life changed that day. As an agency with facilities in Washington, DC, and throughout the United States, the immediacy of the events felt that much closer to our homes and workplaces.

Firefighters look on as President George W. Bush surveys the destruction left by terrorist attacks on New York City, September 14, 2001. NAID: 5997302

The new National Archives museum, opening October 23, 2025 - will highlight the story of Michael Bardo, who recognized his father, Paul Bardo, among the firefighters at ground zero in an image from the holdings of the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

We will never forget 9/11, nor how we are united as Americans.

University of Warwick (Between the West Midlands and Warwickshire, England) Opens Its Doors for Heritage Open Days 2025

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 20:36:45 GMT

The University of Warwick is offering a behind the scenes opportunity to explore its history, archives and campus buildings as part of Heritage Open Days 2025.

The events provide an opportunity to learn how the University has developed since its founding 60 years ago, and to see the collections and spaces that reflect six decades of growth and impact.

Modern Records Centre: Exploring 60 Years of History

As part of Heritage Open Days 2025, the University of Warwick’s Modern Records Centre (MRC) invites visitors to explore more than 60 years of collections documenting the University’s evolution alongside key moments in modern British history.

Archivist-led talks will revolve around this year’s national theme of architecture, covering the University’s founding and growth, and highlighting major milestones and fascinating features, as well as student life and the wider social context of the 1960s.

New for 2025 is ‘Finding Family in the Archives’, a practical workshop led by genealogist Paul Wilkins. The session introduces participants to selected sources held by the MRC for researching family history. From trade union records to political papers, the collections offer rich material for uncovering personal and ancestral stories.

Whether you’re interested in the University’s history, Britain’s social past, or tracing your own family, the sessions offer hands-on access to the MRC’s collections and the chance to uncover the stories they hold.

Dates & Times:

- Friday 12 September 2025: 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM

- Wednesday 17 September 2025: 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Pre-booking is required. Please email archives@warwick.ac.uk to confirm your place.

Maths Houses: Architectural Heritage on Gibbet Hill Campus

As part of the University of Warwick’s 60th anniversary celebrations, the Grade II listed Maths Houses are opening for Heritage Open Days for the first time. These innovative houses, designed by Bill Howell in 1969 for visiting mathematicians, offer a unique glimpse into the University’s architectural and academic history.

Visitors can explore one of the houses, view original design documents from the Modern Records Centre, and take part in maths-themed craft activities suitable for all ages, led by Dr Helena Verrill of Warwick’s Maths Department.

The Maths Houses feature their famous ‘wiggly walls’, lined with chalkboards for visiting mathematicians to use during their stay. Awarded a RIBA Architecture Prize in 1970, the houses remain a striking example of the University’s commitment to innovation, pioneering research, and experimental teaching.

Professor Helen Wheatley, Academic Director of the Warwick Institute of Engagement, which is supporting this event, said: “We're delighted to have this opportunity to welcome people to campus for our Heritage Open Day at the Maths Houses. Very few people (who aren't mathematicians!) have seen inside these wonderful buildings.

“As someone passionate about twentieth century architecture and making campus more welcoming for all, I couldn't pass up this opportunity to share the Maths Houses with everyone.”

Date & Time:

- Sunday 21 September 2025: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Both venues are fully accessible, with parking, accessible toilets, and facilities for assistance dogs and families.

For more information on the Modern Records Centre, the Maths Houses, and Heritage Open Days, please visit the event website: heritageopendays.org.uk

NHPR’s Bear Brook Returns as 40-Year Mystery is Solved

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 20:29:56 GMT

New Hampshire Public Radio today released a new episode of its critically-acclaimed true crime podcast Bear Brook as the cold case that changed how murders are solved comes to a close – and a new mystery emerges.

The episode, titled The Middle Child, details how investigators solved the final mystery surrounding four bodies discovered in barrels near New Hampshire’s Bear Brook State Park.

Named one of Time magazine’s 100 best podcasts of all time and featured in Apple Podcasts’ Series Essentials collection,Bear Brook has been downloaded more than 37 million times and recognized as one of the most influential true crime podcasts ever produced. Author Stephen King praised both seasons of the series as “the best true crime podcasts… Brilliant. Involving. Hypnotic.”

Host Jason Moon has followed the story of the Bear Brook murders for the last decade. In 1985, the first barrel was found with two sets of human remains inside. Police found a second barrel with two more bodies in 2000. The victims were a woman and three children. The mystery of who they were and who killed them baffled investigators until 2017, when a new forensic technique known as genetic genealogy identified the culprit: a serial killer named Terry Peder Rasmussen.

Then, in 2019, an amateur investigator heard Bear Brook and discovered three of the victims’ identities – just as a genetic genealogist was closing in on the identifications as well. But the fourth victim, known as “the middle child,” remained a mystery.

Now, six years later, that mystery has finally been solved. Four decades after the first barrel was discovered, all four victims’ names have been revealed. But this new discovery has raised new questions.

Since Bear Brook first debuted in 2018, NHPR created the Document team, which is dedicated to making more longform investigative and narrative podcast series. The team’s work also includes The 13th Step, which was a finalist for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize and winner of the duPont-Columbia Award.

The new episode of Bear Brook is available now at NHPR.org and wherever you listen to podcasts.

Angelina Jolie Reflects on Family's Medical History Before ‘Couture’ Premiere

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 13:25:36 GMT

Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie had a strong message about hope and living her best life as she reflected on her family's history of cancer before the world premiere of "Couture" on Sunday.

The "Salt" and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" actor was at the Toronto International Film Festival promoting her film "Couture," the story of an American film director navigating the Parisian fashion industry while she is given a serious medical diagnosis and is in the midst of a divorce.

"I'm 50 now. My mother and grandmother by this age were in chemo," Jolie said, walking down the red carpet with her co-stars.

"We all have these things we worry about or people we love. And it's either going to make us slow down and almost feel we can't move, take a step, or we're going to make the most of this life before it's over."

Jolie underwent a preventive double mastectomy in 2013 after learning she had inherited a high risk of breast cancer and said she hoped her story would inspire other women fighting the life-threatening disease.

She went through with the operation in part to reassure her six children that she would not die young from cancer, as her own mother did at age 56.

"She has a personal connection to the subject of illness and what that does to a body and being confronted to that. And I believe she talks the best about that," co-star Ella Rumpf said.

Family History Research: Beginning Genealogy Classes- Session 3 (October 1)

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 13:19:49 GMT

Session 3 – Family History Research: Obituary Notes, Steps in the Naturalization Process, Government Website Sources. Virtual Zoom class scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, 2025, from 01:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time.

East European Genealogical Society September Meeting

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 13:08:49 GMT

Vladimir Julian Kaye’s trilogy, Dictionary of Ukrainian Canadian Biography, is an indispensable resource for those researching their Ukrainian immigrant ancestors who settled in the Canadian Prairie provinces.

In this presentation, attendees will first be introduced to the books, i.e., what information it contains and how the author determined who would be included. Using settler biographies found in the books, presenters Chris Bukoski and Marni Domolewski will each present a short case study of how research can be furthered when using the biography as a jumping-off point.

This meeting is Zoom only, open to the everyone. Not a member? Contact publicity@eegsociety.org if you are interested in attending. Attendance is limited to 100 people.

DETAILS

Date: September 17 Time:

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Cost: Free Website: https://eegsociety.org/events?id=68b9f6ff9a76ec673cdbd0eb

VENUE

Online via Zoom

Longview (Texas) Police Department Teams with Othram to Identify a 1998 Baby Jane Doe

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:56:11 GMT

In June 1998, the remains of an unidentified infant were found near Fisher Lake in Longview, Texas, which is a city in Gregg County in northeast Texas. The Longview Police Department responded to the scene and found a newborn female infant in a trash bag who appeared to have been born healthy with evidence that she had been beaten to death, including injuries to her skull. Detectives began collecting evidence and opened a homicide investigation. Despite an exhaustive investigation, neither the baby nor the parents could be identified and the baby became known as Gregg County Baby Jane Doe (1998). She was buried at Grace Hill Cemetery in Longview. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP13675 in March 2015.

In May 2025, with funding provided by Project 525, the Longview Police Department submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the child. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the newborn. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

This investigation led to the positive identification of the mother of the baby, who is now known to be Misty Marie Mitchell. Mitchell was interviewed by detectives and admitted to being the child's mother. Mitchell has been charged with murder. The case remains under investigation and anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the Longview Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 903-237-1110.

This is the 8th case resolved as part of Othram's Project 525 initiative. Project 525, launched on May 23, 2024 in collaboration with RTI, the organization that manages the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), aims to bring resolution to five hundred twenty-five juvenile cases published in NamUs.

The identification of the infant represents the 22nd case in the State of Texas where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Texas cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

Family History Research: Beginning Genealogy Classes- Session 3 (October 1)

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:52:24 GMT

Session 3 – Family History Research: Obituary Notes, Steps in the Naturalization Process, Government Website Sources. Virtual Zoom class scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, 2025, from 01:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time.

Woman Found Dead in Houston Woods Identified 3 Decades Later

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:35:42 GMT

A woman who was found dead in a wooded area near Houston has been identified more than 30 years later.

Jane Doe identified

Joann Zamora (Courtesy: Moxxy Forensic Investigations)

Moxxy Forensic Investigations announced that the woman was identified as Joann Zamora, who was born on August 27, 1963.

The backstory:

A passerby discovered her remains in Harris County on September 8, 1992.

Zamora, described as a loving mother who wanted to live life to the fullest, had last been seen in Houston.

What they're saying:

"Words cannot fully express what it means to finally have answers after more than 32 years," said Joann's daughter, Spencer Zamora Graham. "While the outcome is not what we had hoped for, we are deeply grateful to those who cared enough to seek the truth about a stranger who had no name and stood alone for so long."

Joann Zamora (Courtesy: Moxxy Forensic Investigations)

What's next:

According to Moxxy Forensic Investigations, Zamora’s death was a homicide that remains under investigation by the Houston Police Department. Criminal Coffee Co. is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible for her death. Call Crime Stoppers with information.

How she was identified

Dig deeper:

According to Moxxy Forensic Investigations, they initiated an Investigative Genetic Genealogy effort in 2024 that was made possibly by a public crowdfunding campaign. Criminal Coffee Co. provided financial support.

According to Moxxy Forensic Investigations, Intermountain Forensics was able to extract DNA from the woman’s remains and generate a viable DNA profile for the genealogical research.

Joann Zamora (Courtesy: Moxxy Forensic Investigations)

What they're saying:

"Our entire team poured their hearts into this case," said Katie Thomas, co-founder of Moxxy Forensic Investigations. "Joann was never just a case number to us—she was someone’s mother, someone’s daughter, someone who mattered. Every person deserves to have their name returned, and we are honored to have helped bring Joann home."

"This accomplishment underscores the power of genetic genealogy in modern investigations, opening new doors for solving even the most challenging cases," said Derrick Levasseur, founder of Criminal Coffee Co. "This investigation is a powerful example of what can happen when passionate people and purpose-driven companies come together."

The Source: The information in this article comes from a news release from Moxxy Forensic Investigations.

Southern Arizona Jewish Genealogical Society Wins International Award

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:31:25 GMT

The Southern Arizona Jewish Genealogical Society won the Member of the Year Award at the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies’ 45th International Conference on Jewish Genealogy held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, from August 10-14, 2025. The IAJGS represents more than 90 Jewish genealogical societies worldwide. Rich Schlesinger and Nancy Grayson, co-presidents of the Southern Arizona Jewish Genealogical Society, announced the award at the group’s monthly membership meeting on Sept. 7.

The Southern Arizona group was recognized for its efforts over the past year to revitalize the original genealogical organization formed in 2009. Noteworthy accomplishments included fostering collaboration with other local Jewish organizations, developing an in-person and virtual speakers series, and sponsoring field trips, study groups, and other outreach initiatives. The group also expanded its board of directors, increased membership, reincorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and relocated membership meetings to the more centralized Tucson Jewish Community Center location.

“Winning the Member of the Year Award was the result of a lot of work put in by the entire board, and I was honored to receive the award on behalf of our membership,” Schlesinger said.

Likewise, Grayson was ebullient about the recognition, adding, “I am inspired to do even more for everyone in Southern Arizona, and those out of state, researching their Jewish heritage and starting their genealogical adventure.”

Grayson also announced that on Sunday, Oct. 5, genealogist and family history researcher Jordan Auslander will discuss “Global Genealogical Research Without Airfare or Postage” via Zoom. On Sunday, Nov. 16, Crista Cowan, The Barefoot Genealogist, will deliver an in-person lecture entitled “Jewish Records on Ancestry,” and on Sunday, Dec. 7, DNA expert Gil Bardige will present “Help! I Got My DNA Results and I’m Confused” via Zoom. Meetings begin at 2 p.m. at the Tucson JCC.

For more information or to arrange an introductory presentation for your organization, email info@sajgs.org.

National Archives to Display Entire U.S. Constitution Including All 27 Amendments for the First Time in U.S. History

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 18:26:48 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

National Archives to Display Entire U.S. Constitution Including All 27 Amendments for the First Time in U.S. History

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC – For the first time in history, the entire United States Constitution will go on display, to celebrate 250 years of American Freedom.

The four-page Constitution and the original Bill of Rights will be surrounded by 17 Constitutional amendments, filling the Rotunda at the National Archives in Washington, DC in a dramatic and highly visual display.

Jim Byron, Senior Advisor to the Acting Archivist of the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said: “As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, the National Archives is playing a major role in the coast-to-coast commemorations by providing the American people access to their history. This extraordinary installation welcomes all Americans to celebrate the bedrock of our national life: our Constitution.”

The display will open to the public in the Rotunda on Tuesday, September 16 and remain open through Wednesday, October 1. Visitors can view and experience the entire Constitution during regular museum hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Those visiting within those dates should anticipate longer than usual wait times. Visitors are encouraged to reserve timed-entry tickets at Recreation.gov.

To give visitors even more opportunities to see the special display, the National Archives Museum will be open extended hours until 7:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21, as well as Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28.

The display of the entire Constitution is part of the National Archives’ celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Other upcoming activities at the National Archives include the opening of a new permanent exhibition space, The American Story and Discovery Center, in October 2025. The new galleries at the National Archives Museum will be the first and only museum experience in Washington, DC to use artificial intelligence to bring visitors individualized opportunities to explore American history.

# # #

What’s New, BillionGraves? 10 Great New Features!

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 18:16:58 GMT

BillionGraves has announced lots of new features. Rather than announcing each and every one of them here, I’ll simply provide a link to all of them:

https://blog.billiongraves.com/whats-new-billiongraves-10-great-new-features/

Treaty of Paris, Remembering the 369th Infantry Regiment, Celebrating Music America at Bush Library

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:15:36 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, between the American colonies and Great Britain, ended the American Revolution and formally recognized the United States as an independent nation.

The three American negotiators – John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay – proved themselves ready for the world stage, achieving many of the objectives sought by the new United States. Two crucial provisions of the treaty were British recognition of U.S. independence and the delineation of boundaries that would allow for American western expansion.

As the National Archives Museum prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, we will debut a new museum experience. The American Story, opening October 23, 2025, will give insight to several important moments throughout our nation's history.

Treaty of Paris, September 3, 1783, page 15. NAID: 299805

Remembering the 369th Infantry Regiment

On September 3, 2025, World War I soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 369th Infantry Regiment, commonly referred to as the Harlem Hellfighters, were posthumously honored during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony for their duties and service.

The history of this regiment is well researched and documented. The 369th proved the skeptics wrong and went on to achieve a remarkable combat record: they served more time in continuous combat than any other American unit (191 days on the front), the longest of any unit; never lost a man captured; never lost a foot of ground to the Germans; and was the first Allied unit to cross the Rhine River during the Allied offensive.

The National Archives holds a collection of information related to the 369th Infantry Regiment. To learn more, visit the National Archives website.

The 369th Infantry Regiment, commonly referred to as the Harlem Hellfighters, seen on board the USS Stockholm on February 12, 1919, as the soldiers awaited disembarkation in New York City. NAID: 2643128

2025 Summer Film Series Celebrating Music America Exhibit Concludes at George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum

The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum is wrapping up its 2025 Summer Film Series on Friday, September 12 at 7 p.m. ET with a showing of the musical animated movie, “Sing” (2016). The 2025 Summer Film Series has featured family-friendly musical movies to coincide with the Library’s latest exhibit, Music America: Iconic Objects from America’s Music History.

Music America tells the story of how music has informed, interpreted, and inspired America’s identity since its founding, as part of the National Archives’ celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Visitors can view legendary objects from icons such as Johnny Cash, Sam Cooke, Jimi Hendrix, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Tupac Shakur, and more. Along with interactive audio recordings from throughout history, the numerous one-of-a-kind artifacts demonstrate the depth, breadth, and great productivity of American musicians.

This exhibit will be on display in the Ansary Gallery of American History through January 5, 2026.

Your Family Folklore: A Writing Workshop in Tacoma

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:04:25 GMT

Join us for a writing workshop presented by up-and-coming local author Lily Meade. Using her book The Shadow Sister as an example, Lily will guide participants through the process of using personal family history as inspiration for writing fictional stories.

Lily has two published works to date, The Shadow Sister and her most recent book, The Hex Girls: A Rogue Thorn, a Scooby Doo novel.

Space is limited. Admission is $10. This workshop is suitable for ages 16 years and up.

For questions please email info@tacomahistory.org or call (253) 472-3738.

This workshop is generously sponsored by Tacoma Creates.

Tickets on sale now: https://tacomahistory.ludus.com/20049702

40 Years Later, Cobb Police Identify Woman Found Dead Near Chattahoochee River

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:56:50 GMT

More than 40 years after a woman's body was found near the Chattahoochee River, Cobb County Police said its cold case detectives have finally identified her.

Veronica Jane Miller, of Mableton, was about 20 years old when she died, police said. Her death has been ruled a homicide by the Cobb County Medical Examiner.

In 1984, authorities discovered a body in the river, but investigators were not able to identify her or determine the cause of her death. DNA testing also didn't yield any results.

Cobb Police said detectives worked with Othram Labs, using advanced genetic genealogy. They were able to find a possible half-sister, which led investigators to a break in the case, confirming Miller's identity.

According to Othram, forensic evidence was submitted in 2022. Scientists were able to build a DNA profile. Its website states genealogists work to come up with leads to identify Miller.

As for Cobb Police, the department said the case remains under investigation.

New Hampshire Cold Case Victim Identified After 25 Years

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 23:51:17 GMT

New Hampshire State Police say the final unidentified victim in the 1985/2000 Allenstown homicide case -- or the Bear Brook Murders -- has been identified.

The final unidentified victim, previously known as the “middle child” has been identified a Rea Rasmussen.

Rasmussen was born in 1976 in Orange County, California.

She was the biological daughter of Terry Peder Rasmussen, the man responsible for the murders and who died in prison in 2010, and Pepper Reed, who has not been seen since the late 1970s.

New Hampshire State Police Cold Case Unit partnered with the DNA Doe Project in 2024 to reinvestigate the unidentified child using advanced genetic genealogy. Through extensive DNA analysis and genealogical research, she was identified as Rea Rasmussen.

This identification wraps up a more than 40-year search to give names to all four victims found in Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire.

“This case has weighed on New Hampshire and the nation for decades. With Rea Rasmussen’s identification, all four victims now have their names back. This development is the result of extraordinary perseverance by law enforcement, forensic experts, and our Cold Case Unit,” N.H. Attorney General John Formella said in a press release. “Our commitment to uncovering the truth, no matter how long it takes, remains unwavering. We continue to seek answers about the disappearance of Pepper Reed.”

In 1985, the remains of an adult woman and a young girl were discovered in a barrel in Bear Brook State Park. In 2000, a second barrel containing the remains of two more girls was found nearby. The victims were determined to have been killed in the late 1970s or early 1980s.

The case was unsolved until 2017 when investigators linked a genetic genealogist’s clues to Terry Rasmussen, also known as Bob Evans, a serial killer who died in a California prison years earlier.

In 2019, three of the victims were identified as Marlyse Honeychurch and her daughters, Marie Vaughn and Sarah McWaters, last seen in California in 1978. The fourth victim, Rasmussen’s biological daughter, remained unidentified until now.

New Hampshire State Police say though all four Bear Brook victims have now been identified, the investigation into the disappearance of Pepper Reed, Rea’s mother, remains active. Authorities believe she may have also been one of Rasmussen’s victims.

Investigators are asking for any information about the whereabouts and fate of Pepper Reed, who was last seen in the 1970s, and Teddy Rasmussen’s movements between 1974 and 1985, particularly in New Hampshire, California, Arizona, Texas, Oregon and Virginia.

Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact:

New Hampshire Cold Case UnitPhone: (800) 525-5555 / (603) 271-2663Email: coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)Phone: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)Email: ncmectips@ncmec.org

Family History Walk -2025

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 12:49:41 GMT

The Madison County Historical Society’s Annual Family History Walk will take place along St. Louis Street in Edwardsville, Illinois, on Saturday, September 13. Participants will meet at the West End Service Station at the corner of St. Louis and West Streets in Edwardsville, at 10 a.m. The restored station is now the City of Edwardsville’s Route 66 Tourist Information Center. Parking is available at First Baptist Church at 534 St. Louis Street.

After a brief introduction, a guide will lead participants to ten St. Louis Street homes where actors portraying former residents of the houses will greet them. The first stop after the West End Service Station will be at Hadley House where Julia Hadley Griffin will talk about the “Marriage Triangle,” consisting of three generations of homes on the same corner, the E. M. West House, the Hadley House, and the Burley-Griffin House. The walk does not include entrance to any of the houses.

The History Walk began many years ago as a program for Edwardsville second graders. The students would tour Edwardsville’s Main Street. In 2022, MCHS brought back the tradition and invited families to participate in the walks which are held in different neighborhoods each year. This year, St. Louis Street was chosen because it is a National Historic District recognized for its beautiful and varied architecture. This is a free event offered by MCHS to build awareness of and interest in the community around us.

Allow two hours to complete the walk.

For more information, contact the Madison County Historical Society at 618-656-1294 or visit the MCHS website at https://madcohistory.org/.

When

Saturday, September 13 2025 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Where

Venue: Madison County Historical Society

801 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025

23andMe Seeks Approval of Larger, $50 Million Data Breach Settlement

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 20:14:10 GMT

The genetics testing company 23andMe asked a federal bankruptcy judge to approve a $50 million settlement to resolve claims from a 2023 data breach that exposed genetic and other personal information of about 6.4 million U.S. customers.

A preliminary settlement was filed late Thursday night in St. Louis bankruptcy court, where 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in March.

Lawyers for the company said the settlement would set up a $30 million to $50 million fund and resolve a "substantial majority" of U.S. claims from the data breach, which began in April 2023 and lasted about five months.

More than 250,000 claimants, mostly in the United States, submitted proofs of claim, the lawyers said. The settlement also lets class members enroll for five years in a program known as Privacy & Medical Shield + Genetic Monitoring.

A $30 million settlement had been reached last September, before the bankruptcy, and won conditional approval from a San Francisco federal judge in December.

According to court papers, the revised settlement "closely tracks" that accord, but adds $20 million after a nonprofit controlled by founder Anne Wojcicki bought, opens new tab 23andMe's assets for $305 million in July, resulting in more assets.

Proceeds from the sale "remain the only source of monetary recovery" for data breach victims, a factor weighing "heavily" in favor of settlement approval, 23andMe's lawyers said.

The settlement also resolved accusations that 23andMe did not tell customers with Chinese and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry that the hacker appeared to have targeted them, and posted their information for sale on the dark web.

The case is In re 23andMe Holding Co, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Missouri, No. 25-bk-40976.

New Bern Historical Society Launches Digital Archive, Unlocking Access to Over 2,500 Historical Images

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 11:30:00 GMT

The New Bern Historical Society is proud to announce the launch of its new Digital Archive, now available through the Society’s website. This exciting resource provides the entire community with unprecedented access to more than 2,500 items from the Society’s collection, which currently includes rare images and in the near future will include historic documents and treasured artifacts.

For the first time, students, researchers, educators, genealogists, and history enthusiasts can explore New Bern’s past from anywhere, at any time. The Digital Archive represents a major step forward in the Society’s mission to preserve and share the stories of our community.

“We are thrilled to open this archive to the public,” said Anthony Giardino, Executive Director of the New Bern Historical Society. “This project allows us to connect more people to New Bern’s rich history and ensures that these valuable resources are preserved for generations to come.”

The archive is designed to serve as a hub for research, education, and discovery. Users can browse and search the collection, gaining deeper insight into the people, places, and events that shaped New Bern and Craven County. This project is the result of a shared vision from the Historical Society Board of Directors, hundreds of hours of volunteer work and expertise, and a generous start-up grant contribution from the Craven County Independent Insurance Agents Association.

The Historical Society invites the community to explore this valuable resource and encourages donations to support the ongoing growth of the Digital Archive. Contributions will allow the Society to continue adding materials, enhancing image quality, and improving the user experience for future generations.

The Digital Archive is accessible now at: [archives.newbernhistorical.org/s/Archive/page/welcome]

For more information about the Digital Archive, or to make a donation, please visit the link or contact the New Bern Historical Society at 252-638-8558 or adminoffice@newbernhistorical.org.

Arkansas State Police Teams with Othram to Identify a 1977 John Doe

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 11:19:59 GMT

In January 1977, the partial skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found in Lee County, Arkansas. Lee County is a rural area along the Mississippi River on the east side of Arkansas and is near Tunica, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee. Several law enforcement agencies responded to the scene and began collecting evidence and investigating. The remains were determined to belong to a man, likely between 16 and 30 years old, who likely died between 1972 and 1977. Despite a lengthy investigation, the man could not be identified and became known as Lee County John Doe (1977). In May 2009, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP5181.

In 2024, the Arkansas State Police submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Charles Howard Wallace. If he had been alive when his remains were found, he would have been around 21 years old. Arkansas State Police officials said the last contact Wallace’s family had with him was in the fall of 1974 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was in his late teens when he disappeared and had been seeking treatment at a halfway house in downtown Memphis.

The identification of Charles Wallace represents the 7th case in the State of Arkansas where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Arkansas cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

New Irish History Archive Launched by Dr Éamon Phoenix Foundation

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:34:12 GMT

Belfast: The Dr Éamon Phoenix Foundation, a charity established to preserve and build upon the legacy of the late historian, today launched a new archive of On This Day articles on Irish history – including the use of AI to allow readers to listen to Dr Phoenix ‘reading’ his columns.

The daily archive series, in partnership with the Irish News, republishes historical On This Day columns created by Dr Phoenix over more than three decades.

It also features a new innovation – the use of artificial intelligence cloning technology to recreate Dr Phoenix’s distinctive voice. It is hoped this will help bring the articles to life and reach new audiences.

On This Day is an ongoing daily column in the Irish News looking back either 50 or 100 years. It was compiled by Dr Éamon Phoenix from the mid 1980s until autumn, 2022.

The articles will be published daily on the Foundation’s website and promoted across social media.

Éamon’s wife, Alice Phoenix, said: “We’re very excited to begin republishing Éamon’s On This Day columns starting from today.

“We’re starting from columns originally published in 2020 that look back at 1920 and 1970, two critical years in Irish history. Other years will be added in the future.

“This means Éamon’s editing and analysis of the key stories of each day will now be available and searchable on the internet for students, researchers and the public to inform their knowledge and understanding of Ireland’s history.”

Speaking at the launch in the Irish News offices in Belfast city centre, Mrs Phoenix added: “We are very grateful to the Irish News for not just giving permission to reproduce Eamon’s columns, but to actively assist us in publication.

“Knowing that Éamon’s On This Day work will now be reaching a wider audience means so much to myself, the Phoenix family and the Foundation.

“As the published content builds day by day, it will add greatly to the publicly available research material on Irish history and will help the Foundation’s objective to promote mutual understanding and reconciliation in Ireland through the study of history.”

The Foundation has received funding from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust for the project.

Mrs Phoenix, who is chair of the Foundation, added: “Eamon had a distinctive voice that was much loved by many, and we are delighted to use AI voice cloning to bring these articles to readers in his unique ‘voice’.

The voice cloning was trained using hours of recordings of Éamon’s voice and has been greeted as a faithful reproduction of his soft but expressive tones.

Paul Connolly, of SmartVideo Ltd in Belfast, worked with the Foundation to deliver the On This Day and voice cloning project.

He said: “A written column is very valuable; an audio voice adds intimacy and enriches the experience.

“It will also allow us to reach new audiences – not least as we can curate and package his work, for example a podcast of all On This Days from 1920, or we can choose historical themes.

“In a world where information can be manipulated, the role of trusted institutions has never been more crucial.

“By combining technology with respect for primary sources and scholarly integrity, we can show that history remains both trustworthy and alive.”

The Foundation’s website – www.eamonphoenixfoundation.com – features tributes, images and videos of Dr Phoenix, other archive records of his work and details the Foundation’s mission.

The Irish News, with whom Dr Phoenix had a close relationship, had already donated material from its archives, including photos and articles.

The plan is to add further to the archive of Dr Phoenix’s work over time, to build a substantial body of his legacy.

Rock County (Wisconsin)nGenealogical Society to Hold 7th Annual Scholarship Conference, ‘Genealogy Basics’

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:20:34 GMT

RCGS' 7th ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOP

Secure Register Online: Registration Link
Date & Time: Saturday, October 4th, 2025, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM p.m. WI time.
Cost: Paid Registration Required - all proceeds go to RCGS' scholarship fund.
Location: Join us at the Milton House Museum or view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app

(see Zoom presentation link, below).

Program Presenters:

  Genealogy 101 - The basics plus expert pointers and 10 traps to avoid
Dave Bradford, RCGS board member & webmaster
  Goodrich & Davis Families - Finding & using records to document lives
Keighton Klos, Executive Director, Milton House Museum
  UW-Whitewater Archives - Exploring and using historical Rock County area photos, files & documents
Jennifer Motzko, Archivist, Anderson Library, UW-Whitewater
  Fifty Fun Genealogy Activities - Family Fun, Famous Kin & Look-alikes & A.I. Photo Frolics

Dave Bradford, RCGS board member & webmaster

How to Attend

: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, and handout link below also allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.

Zoom Link & Passcode: Provided with paid registration
Register Securely Here: Registration Link

A video recording of this presentation may be seen later in the Members-Only area of the RCGS website.

Download the full Workshop Brochure below in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format:

https://www.rcgswi.org/uploads/6/4/0/0/64001321/rcgs_scholarship_workshop_brochure_oct_4_2025.pdf

Murrieta (California) Public Library to Host Genealogy Meet-Up

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:18:18 GMT

The Murrieta Public Library is inviting community members to explore their family history at upcoming Genealogy Meet-Up on select Thursdays, September 25, October 23, November 20, and December 18, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Designed for adults 18 and older, the meet-up will provide guidance for beginners interested in getting started with genealogy research. Participants of all experience levels are welcome to attend and share tips, resources, and techniques with others who share an interest in tracing family roots.

The program is free to attend, and registration is not required.

The Murrieta Public Library is located at 8 Town Square.

Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:07:12 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum
Little Rock, AR

Friday, September 19, 2025 - 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CDT

Join us for "Presidential Portraits: The Photographs That Inspired" on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Clinton Library and Museum for our next "Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator" event. In celebration of our new exhibition, "Portraits from a Presidency," we will dive into Presidential photographs that served as potential inspirations behind the artwork, not only looking at the art of photography but also the history of the Presidential portrait itself from President George Washington onwards. The "Ask an Archivist and Converse with a Curator" program takes place on the third Friday of every month at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. While admission to the library is required, the program itself is free of charge.

All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted.

Geneticist Dr Lara Cassidy Secures ERC Starting Grant to Bring a Millennium of Hidden Human History to Life

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 20:26:02 GMT

Dr Cassidy’s success makes her the eighth researcher in Trinity’s Department of Genetics (School of Genetics and Microbiology) to secure a prestigious ERC award. Those eight individuals have secured a total of ten such awards between them.

Dr Lara Cassidy has secured European Research Council (ERC) funding of €1.5 million to lead a new Starting Grant research project, LIFETIMES, which will utilise thousands of ancient and modern genomes to tell the story of three medieval Irish communities, whose burial grounds remained in use for almost a millennium.

Building on key innovations in ancient DNA analysis, Dr Cassidy and her team aim to reconstruct a set of unbroken family trees, spanning dozens of generations. Such pedigrees can provide exceptional temporal resolution to the archaeological record – by situating individual burials within larger genealogies, a millennium of human history can be viewed as a series of interconnected lifetimes.

Medieval Ireland is the perfect setting to carry out such an ambitious project; it has a remarkably rich historical and archaeological record, as well as excellent ancient DNA preservation and the long-term local population continuity needed to carry out genealogical analysis at this scale.

Dr Lara Cassidy said: “I’m still pinching myself and feel truly honoured to have received this award. It is a dream to be able to carry out this research. We are only just beginning to appreciate the potential of genealogical approaches in ancient genomics and I am so excited to help push the field in new directions.”

“There is a lot of inspiring work happening at the moment, both in ancient DNA and archaeological science more broadly. This project builds on this momentum and I’m very grateful to my peers, mentors and collaborators.”

The genealogical approach taken in LIFETIMES will allow the researchers to follow individual communities across centuries of cultural and demographic transformation, opening up new windows onto the medieval world. They will explore how the life histories of men and women changed through the generations.

Genetic data inform on both mobility and reproductive behaviour, providing insights into systems of marriage, fosterage, inheritance and even political alliance and upheaval. The pedigrees will also be used to trace shifts in population health, from genetic disease risk to infectious diseases that leave behind their own DNA signature. The researchers are even hoping to catch some of the culprits behind infamous epidemics recorded in the medieval Irish Annals.

The team will then ask how these evolving community and life histories relate to the deeper demographic tides of the island. They will examine how changes in individual fertility, mobility and lifespan relate to broader patterns of population growth, decline and migration. In doing so, it will not only address longstanding issues within insular history (e.g. language dispersals, disease risk, past pestilence, gender dynamics) but provide fresh insights into the fundamental interactions between genes, culture and the environment.

Dr Linda Doyle, Provost & President, Trinity, said: “I want to offer my warmest congratulations to Lara. She has always been an amazing scientist and her research is absolutely fascinating, having already made international headlines on several occasions, appearing in Nature and The New York Times. Not alone is there rigorous academic research behind this particular work, there is also huge public interest. I am delighted it will be enabled to expand further with this ERC Starting Grant.”

Prof. Sinead Ryan, Dean of Research at Trinity, added: “I offer my warm congratulations to Lara on securing this prestigious ERC Starting Grant, which recognises both her exceptional talent and the originality of her research. The School of Genetics and Microbiology at Trinity College Dublin continues to attract and nurture the very best early career researchers in the field.”

The ERC, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. It funds creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based across Europe. The ERC offers four core grant schemes: Starting Grants, Consolidator Grants, Advanced Grants and Synergy Grants.

ERC Starting Grant awards support excellent Principal Investigators in starting their own independent research teams or programmes. These grants, which support five-year projects, are among the most sought-after and competitive in the world of research.

Since the inception of the ERC, Trinity has participated in 92 projects with a value of roughly €149 million. This new award will join 40 active projects hosted at Trinity, including Starting,Consolidator, Advanced and Synergy Grants. For more information on Trinity’s past and present projects, see ERC Awards at Trinity.

The “Greatest Generation” at the Ford Presidential Museum, The First Continental Congress and the Articles of Association, Desert Shield/Desert Storm 35th Anniversary Series

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 20:03:13 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

The “Greatest Generation” at the Ford Presidential Museum

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum is honoring the “Greatest Generation” at the Museum in Ann Arbor, MI, featuring a new, limited-time pop-up exhibit.

This exhibit, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Celebrates the Greatest Generation, runs until September 7, 2025, using original artifacts, photographs, and text to highlight military service, life on the home front, and presidents who served. Visitors will learn about President Ford’s Naval service, including his role as editor of the USS Monterey’s newsletter. A Navy mess table, made by Steelcase, will also reveal Grand Rapids’ surprising connection to the Japanese Instrument of Surrender.

This pop-up exhibit is free and open to the public in the Museum lobby. To learn more, visit the Ford Library and Museum website.

A collection of some of the artifacts on display as part of Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Celebrates the Greatest Generation. (Courtesy of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum)

The First Continental Congress and the Articles of Association

The First Continental Congress met beginning September 5, 1774, in Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia, PA. 56 delegates from 12 colonies (Georgia was absent) assembled to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, the largest city in British North America at that time.

While many major accomplishments came out of this Congress, including the passing of a Declaration of Rights against Great Britain, it also resulted in developing and establishing the Articles of Association, urging all colonists to boycott British goods- unless the British government rescinded the Intolerable Acts.

Visitors to the National Archives Museum can see the original Articles of Association, on display as part of Opening the Vault, a new temporary exhibition series that displays some of the most historically valuable and iconic artifacts in American history for the first time in many years.

Click here to learn more about the First Continental Congress, or visit the National Archives Museum website to see the virtual exhibit for Opening the Vault: The Beginning of Our Union.

Page three of the Articles of Association. NAID: 6277397

George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Kicks Off 35th Anniversary of Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-2025) Series

On Thursday, August 28, the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum launched a series honoring the 35th anniversary of Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-2025).

The kick off event, “From the Abyss of War to the Bliss of Freedom,” featured a reception and program with former CIA intelligence executive Eman Blair. Blair shared her journey to become a proud U.S. citizen, following the leadership of President Bush that facilitated her family’s survival amidst the Iraqi invasion, occupation, subsequent liberation by coalition forces, and the rebuilding of Kuwait.

The 35th Anniversary of Desert Shield/Desert Storm series is free and open to the public. The next program will feature Ambassador Ryan Crocker on September 23, 2025. Click here to learn more about the events exploring various aspects of the conflict throughout Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.

Eman Blair speaking at the “From the Abyss of War to the Bliss of Freedom” program as part of the Desert Shield/Desert Storm 35th Anniversary Series at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Courtesy of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum)

After 27 Years, Investigators Have Identified a Homicide Victim Whose Remains Were Found in Collin County, Texas as Penny J. Gunn

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:14:47 GMT

In April 1998, the body of an unidentified Black female were discovered in Lake Ray Hubbard in Collin County, Texas. At the time of the discovery, the woman was wearing black Adidas jogging pants, gray socks, and black Adidas athletic shoes. The woman's height was estimated to be 5'7" and her weight was approximately 170 pounds. Her age could not be determined. With few leads to go on, the woman became known as Collin County Jane Doe. Details of the case were entered into National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP3612. A forensic sketch depicting the woman's likeness was developed and released to the public in hopes that it would generate leads about her identity.

In 2024, the Collin County Medical Examiner's Office partnered with Othram to use Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® and forensic genetic genealogy to develop new leads in the case. Forensic evidence was delivered to Othram's laboratory where scientists successfully developed a DNA extract and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the woman. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a forensic genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the woman. A reference DNA sample was collected from a possible relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified woman using KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the woman, who is now known to be Penny Gunn, who was also known as Penny J. Morris, born in August 1962. Penny would have been 35 years old at the time that her body was found.

The investigation into Penny Gunn's last days and death continues. Anyone with information about Penny Gunn should contact the Dallas Police Department Cold Case Supervisor Sergeant Jeffrey Hunter at jeffrey.hunter@dallaspolice.gov or call (214) 671-3661.

The identification of Penny Gunn represents the 21st case in the State of Texas where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Texas cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

Using AI to Work With Genealogy Documents in Elyria, Ohio and Online

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:11:00 GMT

The Lorain County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society is welcoming Thomas MacEntee, as guest presenter for its upcoming meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 8.

MacEntee, author, educator, student, advocate, marketer, storyteller and entrepreneur, will show guests how to harness the power of artificial intelligence to assist in translating, transcribing and summarizing a variety of genealogy records, according to a news release. His presentation will cover the best AI platforms as well as how to craft a solid prompt to get you the results you need.

This free online Zoom program is open to the public. To receive the ZOOM link for the meeting, email meetings@loraincoogs.org.

Legacy Tree Genealogists Honored as One of Utah's 100 Fastest Growing Companies for the Seventh Year in a Row 2025

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:46:52 GMT

The Utah 100 Award event is the first and best of its kind. We recognize Utah’s 15 largest revenue companies, 100 fastest growing, and a select list of newer, Emerging Elite Companies. This is MountainWest Capital Network’s flagship event, with over 1,000 business leaders in attendance.

The Top 15 Annual Revenue Companies are ranked according to the highest total dollar growth from last year. The Utah 100 Companies are ranked according to a weighted average calculation of percentage and dollar growth. Companies are only eligible to be included in 1 award category. First consideration will be given to the Top 15 Annual Revenue category

Paper Trails and Legal Tales: Analyzing History One Record at a Time

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:41:41 GMT

The following announcement was written by the BCG Education Fund:

The BCG Education Fund is pleased to announce our Fall 2025 Putting Skills to Work event which will be held virtually Saturday, 8 November 2025, beginning at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern) / 8:00 a.m. (Pacific) and ending at 7:00 p.m (Eastern)/4:00 p.m. (Pacific) including breaks. The cost to register is $95.

Registration opens Thursday 4 September at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern)/ 9:00 a.m. (Pacific) at https://bcgedfund.org/putting-skills-to-work

Attendance is capped at 60 attendees. The event will not be recorded or live-streamed.

Instructors: Carolyn Ladd, JD, CG, AG and Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, FUGA

Detailed Workshop Description:

Finding historical records about our families is just the first step to telling their stories fully and accurately. Genealogists and family historians must understand every word of those records in the context of the law that applied at that time and place. This workshop will guide participants through the skills of source citation, transcribing handwritten records, abstracting key details from those records, and analyzing the meaning of the records through the prism of the law with the aim of reconstructing a family’s history. Hands-on exercises in source citation, transcription, abstracting, evidence analysis and legal research and analysis will be key elements.

Attendee Prerequisite Knowledge:

None required.

Pre-Workshop assignment:

Students should carefully read the first two chapters of Elizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence Explained (3d edition, 3d edition revised, or 4th edition).

Please note, this workshop is an updated version of the 2021 Putting Skills to Work workshop, “Understanding the Records, Understanding the Law” led by Stefani Evans, CG, and Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, FUGA.

Instructor Bios

Carolyn Ladd, JD, CG®, AG® holds a Certified Genealogist® credential from the Board for Certification of Genealogists® and has been accredited in African American genealogy by the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). She is a published author -- a book based on her Kinship Determination Project is in the FamilySearch Library. She is passionate about identifying ancestors, learning their stories, and preserving them for future generations. Carolyn is a practicing lawyer and works in-house at a Fortune 100 company.

Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist®, is a genealogist with a law degree who provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. An internationally-known lecturer and award-winning writer, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer® from the Board for Certification of Genealogists® and is a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association. Her blog is at https://www.legalgenealogist.com.

Stratford-Perth Archives (Stratford, Ontario, Canada) Sees Record-Breaking Year of Activity

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:37:02 GMT

It’s been a record-setting year at the Stratford-Perth Archives.

Staff and summer students have worked to preserve the region’s history while opening new avenues for public access. County council will hear the full update on September 4, when the latest activities report comes forward for review. Staff have already handled 1,357 queries this year as of mid-August. The requests came from municipal governments, local organizations, the media, and residents searching for family history.

This summer proved especially productive thanks to two student employees, Rory Drygas and Ashley Staines, who helped expand drop-in hours to Saturdays and tackled digitization projects. Between May and mid-August, the pair scanned more than 40,000 newspaper pages from nearly 5,000 issues, setting a new seasonal record.

Beyond digitization, the archives accepted 42 donations of records in 2025, including Rotary Club of Stratford documents, Women’s Institute programs, and a collection of historic photographs from the Adolph family of Listowel. Staff also completed their annual inspection of more than 12,000 archival boxes, cleaning and checking for mould or pests. Only one box required minor follow-up.

The archives also took part in Stratford’s “History Alive” cultural pop-up event in July, where staff showcased local history through photographs and displays. Roughly 150 people visited their booth in just a few hours.

County council will be asked to receive the report and forward it to the municipal shared services committee meeting on September 18.

2025 Annual Washington County (Tennessee) Heritage Fair

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:22:16 GMT

Washington County was established in 1777 as part of North Carolina. This vast area, designated as the Washington District, stretched well beyond today’s county borders. In later years, the area became known by various names: State of Franklin, Southwest Territory, and in 1796 part of a new state named Tennessee. Over the years, this larger area has been divided into multiple counties. However, we all have a shared heritage of hard-working, resilient, patriotic, and industrious people who built amazing mountain communities.

The Jonesborough Genealogical Society, in partnership with other regional heritage organizations, will host the 6th Annual Heritage Fair on Saturday, September 6th, 2025, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The Annual Heritage Fair’s purpose is to bring local heritage to the public through various regional heritage related groups gathering for a common cause. This event has multiple aspects that when brought together offer an engaging and educational experience for all ages.

For more information, look at https://www.jgsoftn.org/annual-heritage-fair.

Gary Mokotoff, R.I.P.

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:14:18 GMT

The following was written by Susan Weinberg, President of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS):

The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS), on behalf of its member societies around the world, expresses its sorrow to learn of the death of Gary Mokotoff. Gary was a central figure in the history of IAJGS with many firsts attached to his name. From 1989 to 1995 he served as the founding president of IAJGS, and in 1998 he was the first recipient of the IAJGS Lifetime Achievement Award. The international network of Jewish genealogical societies that we have today grew in large part out of his early efforts.

Gary’s enthusiasm for Jewish genealogy coupled with his technical skills as a computer software pioneer led to the creation of many genealogical innovations such as JewishGen’s Family Finder and the Daitch-Mokotoff Soundex system.

His vision and drive took him into the world of communications as both an author and as publisher of the journal Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy.

Gary also served in leadership roles for JewishGen, the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). In 2006, FGS honored him with its Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Humanitarian Ward and APG, in 2008, granted him an Honorary Life Membership.

Gary opened the door to genealogy research for many in the Jewish community through organized trips to the FamilySearch Library and the Arolsen Archives. His passion for genealogy ignited that passion in others as well.

Falklands Archivist Wins Record Keeper of the Year in UK & Ireland

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:07:58 GMT

The Falkland Islands Government has announced that Chloe Anderson-Wheatley, Corporate Records and National Archives Manager, has been named Record Keeper of the Year by the Archives & Records Association UK & Ireland (ARA).

The award, decided by public vote during the 2025 ARA Conference in Bristol, saw Anderson-Wheatley secure 74% of the votes, making her the first person from the Falkland Islands to win the accolade.

She was nominated by a peer in recognition of her efforts to raise the profile of the Jane Cameron National Archives, her direct involvement with ARA, and her success in expanding both local and international engagement with the Falklands’ archival collections. Over the past 18 months, she has built new partnerships and strengthened awareness of the Islands’ heritage.

“This award is richly deserved and reflects the outstanding contribution Chloe has made,” said MLA Roger Spink. “Her work has ensured that the Falkland Islands’ story is preserved, shared and better understood – both at home and abroad.”

The ARA awards aim to highlight excellence and innovation in the archives sector across the UK, Ireland, and beyond.

Jonesborough (Tennessee) Genealogical Society Heritage Fair Returns

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 23:06:16 GMT

History comes alive in Jonesborough as the Genealogical Society hosts its annual Heritage Fair.

The Jonesborough Genealogical Society’s annual Heritage Fair is on Saturday, and it promises to provide entertainment for all ages, according to a press release from the nonprofit.

The release said the event aims to showcase the heritage of the area through reenactors, artisans and exhibition booths that will bring history to life. New to this year’s festival is traditional music by Bratfolk, “A Conversation with History” series and a kid’s crafting area.

The historical timeline will span stories from Indigenous communities through the Revolutionary War, the Lost State of Franklin and up to World War II. The release said visitors will be able to visit reenactors and learn about life during a different period. Guests will also hear Native American style flutes, learn about colonial land surveying and meet a black powder maker.

Artisans and vendors will display traditional crafts for sale as well, according to the release.

Sept. 6: History and Genealogy Fair in Watertown, NY

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 23:03:30 GMT

The 2025 History and Genealogy Fair in Watertown will be at the Jefferson County Historical Society. The staff at the historical society will give people an opportunity to connect with experts in the field.

This will be on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. People will be able to share research stories while exploring the local resources and asking the experts questions. Attendees are also welcome to explore the newly renovated Historical Society.

No research experience is necessary to attend. This event is open to anyone with an interest in family history, no matter where they fall on the research journey.

There is a $5 admission fee with two local history talks included in the price of admission. You can purchase food items from the Mike & Colleen Hancock Food Truck.

Desi L. Campbell, a Local Historian, Educator Honored at National Genealogy Conference

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 22:53:56 GMT

Desi L. Campbell, respected historian, published author, and executive director of the Harnett County African American Heritage Center, is set to take the national stage at the 2025 Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society National Conference in Charleston, South Carolina this October.

Campbell will present the workshop, “Canva for Genealogy: Creating Family Trees and Keepsakes,” showcasing how technology and creativity can come together to preserve African American family histories. Using Canva, a web-based graphic design tool, Campbell has transformed how family stories are shared — creating family tree charts, memorial programs, reunion keepsakes, and visual histories that bring the past to life.

“Genealogy isn’t just about dates and names — it’s about storytelling,” Campbell explained. “When families see their history displayed beautifully, it strengthens pride, identity, and connection across generations.”

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Campbell will also receive the On-The-Spot Award, given to members whose recent accomplishments significantly impact society’s mission.

A member of the Afro-American Historical Genealogical Society since 2017, Campbell first joined the Charlotte Chapter before founding the Sandhills Chapter in Harnett County, where he served as its inaugural president. Today, he is an active member of the Raleigh Triangle Chapter, under the leadership of Wanda Cox Bailey.

Campbell’s impact extends far beyond chapter leadership. Over the last decade, he has become a sought-after presenter at local, regional and national conferences. His work has been featured on several local media outlets. In 2024, he earned the North Carolina Genealogical Society’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to North Carolina Genealogy, the highest recognition the organization bestows.

With more than 25 published genealogy books and nearly 130 unpublished family histories compiled from across North Carolina, Campbell has preserved invaluable records for future generations. He also maintains an obituary database of more than 8,000 entries from the Carolinas, a vital tool for researchers and families seeking to reconnect with their roots.

In addition to his role as a historian, Campbell has devoted over 20 years to education, serving as a teacher in the Harnett County School System at Lillington-Shawtown Elementary School. His dual passions for education and genealogy have shaped his mission to ensure African American stories are remembered, honored, and celebrated.

“Desi Campbell’s work is a reminder that family history is living history,” said Wanda Cox, the chapter president of AAHGS Raleigh Triangle Chapter. “His ability to merge technology, creativity, and scholarship makes genealogy accessible and exciting for all ages.”

As Campbell prepares to step onto the national stage this fall, his work continues to resonate — bridging past and present, and inspiring future generations to discover their own stories.

The Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. (AAHGS) is the premier national organization dedicated to preserving African American history, genealogy, and culture. With chapters nationwide, the society promotes scholarly research, fosters community engagement and encourages the preservation of family legacies.

Family History Materials from Caswell County (North Carolina) Public Library

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 14:03:37 GMT

Thanks to our partner Caswell County Public Library, we now have a wealth of family history and genealogy materials accessible online from their collection. The materials which range from large family trees to family history files, to published family histories can be found on DigitalNC here. For anyone doing family genealogy research and have Caswell County relatives or ancestors, the Library’s collection is a fantastic place to start.

One of the more fascinating items we scanned for Caswell County was a set of very very large family trees, one of them over 4 feet long! The family tree is for the Descendants of Captain Robert Blackwell (1742-1813) and wife, Zillah Rice (1746-1818) through their son Carter Blackwell (1775-1835) and wife, Isabella Bracken (1779-1835). Robert Blackwell was a captain in the Revolutionary War and was a member of the NC House of Commons from 1796-1797. He owned 1,394 acres of land which was called “Stony Fork”, on Moon’s Creek in Caswell County.

To learn more about Caswell County Public Library’s local history and genealogy collections, visit their website here. To learn more about what they hold on DigitalNC, visit their partner page here.

The Ukrainian Book Institute Has Opened an Online Database of Translations of Ukrainian Literature Into Other Languages

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:55:24 GMT

A list of over 800 books translated from Ukrainian is now available for viewing. It includes works by Ivan Bahryany, Ivan Kotlyarevsky, Oksana Zabuzhko, Artem Chekh, Maria Matios, and other Ukrainian authors.

Users can filter publications by language and find literature available to foreign readers in their native language.

The writer and popularizer of the Ukrainian language Natalia Mysyuk, mentor and project manager Iryna Udovenko, as well as the staff of the Ukrainian bookstore in Prague "Vusa Shevchenko" took an active part in filling the database. The catalog of publications is being updated.

The database also contains books published thanks to the Translate Ukraine program, which the UBI has been implementing since 2020 to support translations.

The new tool will be useful to cultural and educational institutions, embassies, cultural centers, organizers of international events, libraries, bookstores, teachers, and reading promoters.

1956 Cold Case Cracked Open with DNA Breakthrough

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:36:07 GMT

Forensic genealogists in the United States have solved one of the oldest criminal cases in the country’s history. Specialists identified the murderer of a 75-year-old double homicide using DNA samples.

Cold Case DNA Unraveled

Texas airman Lloyd Duane Bogle and a high school girl Patricia Kalitzke were shot dead in 1956 in Great Falls, Montana. The women were killed after being shot in the head, and the killer raped the young woman. Investigators considered several suspects at the time of the murder, but no evidence was enough to point to the killer. The police eventually closed the case without finding out who killed the young man and the woman. The identity of the murderer remained unknown until recently, according to the New York Times. American public radio station NPR published an interview with Sergeant Jon Kadner, who took over the investigation in 2012.

He revealed that he first thought that DNA was the only hope of learning the truth.During Patricia Kalitzke’s autopsy in 1956, a swab was taken from the woman’s vagina. The sample was put on a microscope slide and preserved. In 2001, the laboratory analyzed the substance and concluded that it contained no sperm from the boyfriend of the young woman, Lloyd Duane.

Constructing the Family Tree In Reverse

When Sergeant Jon Kadner took a look at the analysis results from 2001, he decided to test his luck with forensic genealogy. An emerging forensic science that uses genetic information from companies to identify suspects or victims of crimes, forensic genealogy is gaining more and more recognition and increasingly helps in solving criminal cases, including those that have been cold for decades. Accessing the archives, genealogists can construct a reverse family tree, which leads directly to the suspect.

Forensic genealogy worked and investigators identified a man named Kenneth Gould. He lived near Great Falls at the time of the double homicide. Sergeant Jon Kadner was delighted to have a solid lead, a match and, most importantly, a name for the first time in sixty-five years. However, Kenneth Gould died in 2007 and was cremated, so the only way for the detectives to finally solve the crime was to test the DNA of the suspect’s relatives. The children, who live in Missouri, agreed to help the investigators. In the end, it turned out that Kenneth Gould was the killer of Lloyd Duane and Patricia Kalitzke. The sergeant then contacted the families of the victims. Understandably, the relatives’ reaction to the story was mixed, relief and grief in equal measure.

Recently Added and Updated Collections on Ancestry

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:48:06 GMT

New and Updated

UPDATED Nebraska, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1904-2022	08/29/2025
UPDATED Nebraska, U.S., Index to Marriages, 1909-2022	08/29/2025
UPDATED U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2020	08/28/2025
UPDATED Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852-1965	08/28/2025
NEW Rhode Island, Custom House Papers, 1790-1888	08/28/2025
UPDATED Idaho, U.S., Death Records, 1890-1973	08/26/2025
UPDATED Idaho, U.S., Divorce Records, 1947-1974	08/26/2025
UPDATED Idaho, U.S., Birth Records, 1861-1924, Stillbirth Index, 1905-1974	08/26/2025
UPDATED Idaho, U.S., Marriage Records, 1863-1973	08/26/2025
NEW Arkansas, U.S., Confederate Veteran Records, 1861-1956	08/25/2025
UPDATED Ohio, Roster of Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in World War I, 1917-1918	08/22/2025
UPDATED Utah, U.S., Naturalization and Citizenship Records, 1858-1959	08/21/2025
UPDATED Web: Kent County, Michigan, U.S., School Census, 1903-1925	08/13/2025
UPDATED U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016	08/13/2025
UPDATED U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1952	08/11/2025
UPDATED Texas, U.S., Marriage Index, 1824-2021	08/06/2025
UPDA

James L. Hansen, R.I.P.

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:31:59 GMT

I received some sad news today: the death of James L. Hansen, He influenced so many of our genealogical lives with his insightful lectures. His genealogical articles and editorial services were major contributions to the genealogical community.

James L. Hansen, age 76, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2025. He was born on October 3, 1948, the eldest son of Leonard and Theresia (St.Louis) Hansen of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin.

He acquired his BA from Marquette University in 1970 and his MLS from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1974. That fall he was hired as Reference Librarian by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Jim spent a wonderful 40 years answering questions, giving lectures (all around the country), writing genealogical articles and editing for several major genealogical journals. In 1995, Jim was named a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists, an organization limited to 50 members. He retired from the Wisconsin Historical Society in 2014.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jane (Johnson) Hansen and 2 sons, Ron and Dave of Madison; daughter-in-law, Ginger (Field) Hansen; and granddaughter, Daphne Hansen. He is further survived by his brothers, Tom (Nancy) Hansen & Ray (Cathy) Hansen of Turtle Lake & Steven Hansen of Duluth; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and youngest brother, Martin Hansen.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Ryan Funeral Home, 2418 N. Sherman Avenue, Madison. A visitation will be held from 5:00PM until 7:00PM on Friday, July 11, 2025 at the funeral home and again on Saturday from 10:00AM until time of service.

The family would like to thank Rebecca and Danielle from Agrace and Lakeisha and other staff from Cornerstone Caregivers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Jim’s name to Agrace Hospice, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI, or at agrace.org/donate, or to Wisconsin State Historical Society, attn: Joe Kollar, PO Box 260050, Madison, WI, 53726. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Findmypast Launches Major Sale With Up to 50% Off Subscriptions

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:27:57 GMT

The following announcement was written by the folks at Findmypast:

Delve deeper into your family story than ever before for less – but hurry, offer ends 15 September
Enjoy half price family history for a year, with 50% off 12-month Everything subscriptions on Findmypast, down to just $12.50 per month
Plus, get 25% off history's headlines with an offer on British Newspaper Archive subscriptions

Family history website Findmypast has announced its biggest-ever subscription sale, offering family historians the chance to explore their British & Irish roots in unprecedented depth for half the usual price.

For a limited time only, researchers can enjoy 50% off a 12-month Everything subscription, now just $12.50 per month, representing a saving of $150 per year, giving them unlimited access to Findmypast’s entire collection of exclusive records, rich historical newspapers, and easy-to-use family tree tools – all designed to unlock stories that can’t be found anywhere else.

As the specialists in British & Irish family history, Findmypast is uniquely placed to help those with UK heritage trace the lives of ancestors across the globe, offering a deeper understanding of the moments that shaped their lives and the world in which they lived.

The Everything subscription offers an access-all-areas pass to:

Billions of records you won’t find anywhere else spanning centuries, including unique UK & Irish parish registers, military, travel and crime records, extensive non-conformist collections, and the most detailed 1939 Census data available anywhere online.
Exclusive newspaper archives dating back to the 1700s with global reach, offering over 95 million pages to delve into for rich details and emotional discoveries. Clip and connect these to your tree and share with family and friends.
Powerful research features to uncover, visualize, connect, and share your family story like never before, including the new Workspaces feature, allowing you to compile and organize your research projects in one place. Build your tree quickly with the simple tree builder, and use the helpful hints and storytelling features to understand more about your ancestors’ lives and the world around them.

For those wishing to concentrate their research within historical newspaper pages, Findmypast’s sister website the British Newspaper Archive is offering a 25% discount on subscriptions. From salacious scandal to family folklore and local legend, discover the past's most colourful stories within millions of newspaper pages.

Offer details:

50% off 12-month Everything subscription on Findmypast ends 15 September. Code automatically applied at checkout.
25% off all British Newspaper Archive subscriptions ends 15 September. Use code: SEPT2525 at checkout to claim your discount.
Ts & Cs apply.

Explore How Your Personal Story Contributes to National Heritage During Sept. 10 Meeting in Lynnwood, Washington

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:19:02 GMT

The Sno-Isle Genealogical Society (SIGS) invites the public to uncover the personal stories that shape our shared national heritage at their September meeting. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, SIGS is launching a year-long exploration of how individual family histories — whether rooted in colonial America or shaped by recent immigration —contribute to the American story.

SIGS’s September meeting is on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at the Wickers Building in Heritage Park in Lynnwood. The event includes a pre-meeting social hour starting at 6:30 p.m. Guests can enjoy refreshments, meet SIGS members and ask questions about how to get started with family research. Don’t worry if you’re new — no experience is needed, just curiosity. Visit the “My American Story” table to see how one member’s ancestors left a mark on history and learn how your family might have, too.

At 7:30 p.m., the evening’s main presentation begins, available both in person and via Zoom. SIGS Vice President Corey Smith will introduce this year’s new theme and upcoming programs, including the “First Footprints” and “Tapestry Talks” initiatives. If you’re just beginning your family history journey, Smith will also walk you through how to start a simple family tree.

The meeting is free and open to the public. For more details and the Zoom link, check the SIGS calendar.

Clark Atlanta University Receives $140,000 Getty Foundation Grant to Preserve Black Visual Arts Archives

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:09:45 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at: Clark Atlanta University:

Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is proud to announce its inclusion in the Getty Foundation’s prestigious Black Visual Arts Archives program. The university has been awarded $140,000 as part of Getty’s $2.6 million investment to support libraries, museums, and universities across the United States in preserving and increasing access to archival collections documenting the work of Black artists.

The grant will enable Clark Atlanta University to establish an official institutional archive for its museum, with a focus on assessing and inventorying significant records related to the Museum’s history, exhibitions, and artist and object files, which are currently stored in non-archival filing cabinets.

“This grant represents a transformative opportunity for Clark Atlanta University to properly preserve our rich artistic heritage and make these invaluable resources accessible to scholars, students, and the community for generations to come,” said Danille Taylor, Ph.D., executive director of the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum. “We are honored to be among the select institutions chosen for this important initiative.”

CAU Art Museum History

The CAU Museum’s core collections were built through the venerated Atlanta Art Annuals, which played a significant role in showcasing and supporting major African American artists who were often excluded from mainstream art institutions, such as Henry O. Tanner, Elizabeth Catlett, and Charles White.

Clark Atlanta University joins six other institutions receiving funding in this grant cycle, including Amistad Research Center in New Orleans, California State University Los Angeles, Emory University in Atlanta, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum in Washington D.C., and Visual AIDS in New York City.

“We need a fuller understanding of the influence of Black artists, architects, and cultural institutions to tell a more complete history of American art and culture, and we can work towards achieving this by investing in Black archives,” said Miguel de Baca, senior program officer at the Getty Foundation. “Black Visual Arts Archives delivers critical support to make these archives and the stories of creativity, resiliency, and community they hold more accessible to researchers and the general public.”

The Black Visual Arts Archives program is designed to increase access to archival collections across the country that hold vital information about work created by Black artists. A major goal of the program is to increase visibility of archives to the public through exhibitions, community programming, and digital projects.

Results from the pilot phase of Black Visual Arts Archives will be presented during the annual Society of American Archivists conference, taking place in Anaheim, California, from August 24-27, 2025.

About Clark Atlanta University

Clark Atlanta University was formed with the consolidation of Atlanta University and Clark College. Atlanta University, established in 1865 by the American Missionary Association, was the nation’s first institution to award graduate degrees to African Americans. Clark College, established four years later in 1869, was the nation’s first four-year liberal arts college to serve a primarily African American student population. Today, with nearly 4,000 students, CAU is the largest of the four institutions (CAU, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Morehouse School of Medicine) that comprise the Atlanta University Center Consortium. It is also the largest of the 37-member UNCF institutions. CAU offers a wide range of bachelor, master and doctorate degree programs in business, education, public administration, and social work and in innovative fields such as cyber-physical systems. Notable alumni include: James Weldon Johnson, poet, and songwriter of Lift Every Voice and Sing “The Black National Anthem”; Ralph David Abernathy Sr., American civil rights activist; Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia District 4; Kenya Barris, American award-winning television and movie producer; Kenny Leon, Tony Award-winning Broadway Director; and Jacque Reid, Emmy Award-winning Television Personality and Journalist. To learn more about Clark Atlanta University, visit www.cau.edu.

It is the First Day of the Month: Back Up Your Genealogy Files

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 10:51:01 GMT

Today is the first day of the month. That is a good time to back up your genealogy files. Then test your backups!

Your backups aren't worth much unless you make a quick test by restoring a small file or two after the backup is completed.

Reclaim the Records Announces 1.5 Million New Names in the BIRLS Database of Deceased US Veterans!

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:49:49 GMT

The following is an announcement written by the folks at Reclaim the Records:

www.ReclaimTheRecords.orgView this e-mail in your browser

our fifty-fourth what happens when a car salesman fires the FOIA workers newsletter

NOW ONLINE: 1.5 million NEW names in the BIRLS database of deceased US veterans!

SUDDENLY NOT IN YOUR MAILBOX: their files!

COMING SOON: probably another lawsuit!

Hello again from your excited and very annoyed records reclaimers at Reclaim The Records. Today we're simultaneously announcing a big new free database update, about 1.5 million new names and more basic biographical information about deceased American veterans from the 2020-2023 period! It's the first public update to our big BIRLS database, a dataset that we originally released late last year, bringing the new grand total to over nineteen and a half million names of US veterans, the largest dataset of its kind that we know of.

And we're also discussing how the very same government agency we won these records from in a multi-year FOIA lawsuit, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA), is now, as of just a few weeks ago, suddenly refusing to process thousands of FOIA requests from the public for these exact kind of amazing files -- including, very likely, many of your own FOIA requests!

A quick recap about BIRLS

If you've been using our new BIRLS.org website over the past year to make free FOIA requests for copies of the C-Files (benefits claims files) for your relatives or research interests, you may have gotten to see some incredible never-before-available records, scanned for the very first time, and sent right to your house. People have gotten C-Files for everyone from barely-known relatives to Hollywood movie stars to Hall of Fame baseball players to WWII POWs in the Pacific and everyone in between.

Many of these benefits claims files really should have been moved out of the VA warehouses and over to the National Archives (NARA) years ago, but they were not. And for years it was also almost impossible to get the VA to properly respond to a FOIA request for the materials -- unless, as we discovered, you sent in your FOIA request by fax. So we at Reclaim the Records built the BIRLS.org website so you could file a FOIA request and fax it to the VA right from your web browser, all for free.

And boy oh boy, did people like that! In the past nine months, since the website went live, we're proud to say that we've enabled more than 8,000 researchers to submit more than 20,000 FOIA requests to the VA for these amazing but barely-known and previously-unavailable files!

Dude, where's my (grandpa's) file?

Well, the government giveth and the government taketh away -- or is trying to. In late July, suddenly the envelopes of amazing DVDs stopped showing up at people's houses. Instead, researchers have suddenly been getting different response letters, ones now saying that only bare bones textual genealogical information will be released, not actual scanned files! These new genealogy forms, as paltry as they are, are usually mostly blank in the first place, or filled with errors. Basically, the VA has decided it doesn't want to fulfill our FOIA requests at all! We suspect that the limited information they are deciding to give us is not even being properly transcribed from the underlying file, and we even wonder if it’s being created by artificial intelligence scanning the file.

We've created a new page at BIRLS.org/updates where we are sharing everything we know (so far) about this new FOIA-denying policy change by the VA, including samples of the new "genealogical" form letters they have started sending out to researchers. We're actively working with our attorneys to explore our options for fighting back against this sudden change to a policy of providing these files for genealogy research that started in 1948.

And we have to say it: there is probably another pressing reason for the VA to suddenly want to find a way to stop responding to FOIA requests now, in mid-2025. We know that thousands of employees of the VA have been fired, laid off, or pressured into early retirement in just the past few months, through the work of a certain car salesman and his friends. And that reduction in workforce has been hitting the agency at the exact same time that they have been receiving over 20,000 FOIA requests (so far!) from our new website. It would certainly be easier for the agency to simply avoid the tedious process of finding and scanning and sending all these records if it did not want to, or if it could no longer provide the manpower to do so...

So what are we doing about it?

Well, we want our records back. We're working with our legal team on other ways to reinstate our right, and your right, to access these amazing files without new and unnecessary "genealogical" redactions that strip all the good stuff out. We’re scoping our next steps, but this is going to likely be a long, complicated, and expensive venture. In the meantime, we’ll keep publishing guidance at BIRLS.org/updates and tracking any further VA policy shifts. Stay tuned for updates...

And what can YOU do about it?

While we're making our game plans, and even though the VA is still being ridiculous about all this, you should definitely keep searching and keep making FOIA requests for new C-Files, especially from the newest batch of 1.5 million more names that we just posted online this week. Because all of these veterans are deceased, you will likely find recent information in there that simply isn't available anywhere else, including in state death indices, death certificates, or the somewhat-outdated public version of the Social Security Death Master File.

And also in the meantime, if you did happen to get a disappointing "genealogy letter" from the VA instead of an awesome DVD with a PDF, YOU SHOULD APPEAL IT.

The VA seems to have classified all recent requests submitted through BIRLS.org as "genealogy" requests. However, we suspect that a large share of these requests were submitted for immediate relatives’ files. If this is you, you may have even more options! If you are the widow(er), child, or legal next-of-kin of the veteran, appeal the response! 38 C.F.R. § 1.504, a different section of the regulation, provides for disclosure to next-of-kin. You have ninety days to appeal the VA’s denial letter to ogcfoiaappeals@va.gov . Cite 38 C.F.R. § 1.504, include your denial letter, proof of death, and proof of your relationship.

And if you’re not a next-of-kin of the person whose file you sought, you should still appeal, too -- but you may want to hold off a little longer for our "model arguments", which we are still working out with our lawyers. You have ninety days from your letter date to appeal (or not), and we’ll share recommended language on our website as soon as it’s ready, hopefully by mid-September.

We hope that the VA will at least provide full files to close relatives, but frankly, we suspect they are making up new policies in response to our every move, so we have no idea what will happen. However, even if your appeal is denied, you’ll preserve a six-year window to litigate the issue. And whatever happens,we will keep fighting.

Help Us Keep Fighting – Donate Today!

Reclaim The Records is a small but mighty organization that fights for public access to historical records. We don’t take government funding — we rely on grassroots support from people like you.

If you believe in open records, transparency, and genealogical rights, please make a donation today.
Every dollar goes directly toward legal efforts, public awareness campaigns, and the fight against record closures — and the fight forawesome new records acquisitions, like this one!

Here’s how you can support us, and our work. Thank you!

Because history should never be padlocked,

your annoyed but determined friends at Reclaim The Records

Virtual Session to Explain Wyoming's Roving Archivist Program

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 14:35:17 GMT

The Wyoming State Historic Records and Advisory Board (SHRAB) is reintroducing the Roving Archivist Program (RAP) with a special session on Sept. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. via Google Meet. This initiative aims to share valuable insights with cultural institutions across Wyoming.

During the session, attendees will hear from Marcie Blaylock, reference historian at the Wyoming State Archives, and Morgan Stence, the state's new Roving Archivist. The program will cover the history of RAP, its current functions, the process for site visits and how institutions can access its resources.

Participants can join the meeting at meet.google.com/bgr-reit-tkr or by phone at 319-449-2718, PIN: 581 688 137#.

This informative session will help participants:

Discover the origins of the Roving Archivist Program and the story behind its creation.
Understand the program's vital role today and how it supports cultural institutions across Wyoming.
Learn how site visits are conducted and the simple steps to apply for personalized archival assistance.
Gain access to a wealth of free resources covering key collection management topics, such as digitization, conservation and outreach.
Explore ongoing connection opportunities, including monthly "Quick Tips," Roam & Preserve blog posts, and more ways to stay informed and engaged.

The Roving Archivist Program is part of SHRAB's efforts to provide professional development for Wyoming's cultural heritage community, helping institutions improve preservation practices and collections care.

For more information about the Roving Archivist Program, visit rovingarchivist.wyo.gov/home or contact spcr.rovingarchivist@wyo.gov.

The Wyoming SHRAB is dedicated to the identification, preservation, and dissemination of the state's historical records. It supports training programs for state, tribal, and local governments, repositories, and organizations involved in records care throughout Wyoming. Grants are administered by the Wyoming State Archives (WSA), of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

For more information, contact Wyoming State Archivist Sara Davis at wyarchive@wyo.gov or 307-777-7826. You can also learn more about the Wyoming State Archives at wyoarchives.wyo.gov.

Submit Proposals by 3 September 2025 for the NGS 2026 Family History Conference

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 02:08:58 GMT

There are just a few days left to submit innovative proposals for the National Genealogical Society (NGS) 2026 Family History Conference scheduled for 27–30 May in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Our theme—America at 250—encourages reflection on the stories, communities, and research strategies that help us understand the nation's past and how genealogists can preserve it for the future.

In addition to traditional lectures, NGS welcomes formats that spark conversation and interaction such as 25-minute sessions that highlight a focused idea, panel discussions that bring multiple perspectives to the table, and hands-on or discussion-based sessions that invite attendees to actively participate. These approaches offer fresh ways to connect with the audience and are an important part of the conference program mix.

Get all the details on proposal requirements, options for session formats, and more on the conference website. Submit by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on 3 September 2025 or share this with someone who may be interested.

View the Call for Proposals

Terry Metter to Lead Genealogy Talk Sept. 3 in Cleveland, Ohio

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:55:02 GMT

The Jewish Genealogy Society of Cleveland will host “Genealogy at Cleveland Public Library with Terry Metter” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 3 at Congregation Mishkan Or at 26000 Shaker Blvd. in Beachwood or on Zoom.

As subject department librarian of the Center for Local and Global History at Cleveland Public Library, Metter will describe ways researchers of Jewish genealogy can use the library’s resources.

Participants may ask questions, and both JGSC members and nonmembers are welcome to register.

For more information or to register, visit jgscleveland.org.

Abilene, Kansas to Host 2025 Seeley Genealogical Society Reunion at Historic Seelye Mansion

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:47:52 GMT

Photo Courtesy of Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau

Abilene will welcome visitors from across the country September 4-6, 2025, for the 60th Anniversary Seeley Genealogical Society (SGS) Reunion. This marks the first time in a decade the reunion has returned to Abilene, which last hosted the event in 2015.

The three-day reunion will be based at the historic Seelye Mansion, a nationally recognized landmark built in 1905 by Dr. A.B. Seelye. The mansion, still filled with its original Edison light fixtures and furnishings, offers a rare glimpse into early 20th-century life and continues to serve as a focal point for the Seeley family story.

Attendees will enjoy family history research sessions, workshops, group tours, and meals together, including a barbeque on the mansion grounds and a train excursion aboard the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. A cherished tradition, the 2025 Reunion Quilt Raffle, will also take place during the event.

Terry Tietjens, longtime caretaker and historian of the Seelye Mansion, said the reunion is a fitting tribute to the family who built the home.

“Dr. and Mrs. Seelye and their daughters, Marion and Helen, were remarkable people whose influence can still be felt in this community. They welcomed innovation, valued family, and left behind a home that continues to tell their story. Hosting the Seeley Genealogical Society reunion here is a tribute to their legacy and the family’s history.”

Julie Roller Weeks, Director of the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau, said Abilene is proud to serve as host city.

“The Seelye Mansion is one of Abilene’s most cherished historic sites, and it is an honor for our community to once again host the Seeley Genealogical Society reunion here. It’s gatherings like these that keep the mansion’s story alive and remind us why Abilene has been recognized by USA Today as one of the Best Historic Small Towns in America.”

For more information visit www.seeley-society.org/2025-reunion

African American Museum, Dallas, Announces $3 Million Grant From State of Texas and Support From Google to Advance Conservation Efforts

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:57:43 GMT

The African American Museum, Dallas today announced major funding support from the State of Texas and Google to preserve and digitize the Museum’s extensive collection gathered over the institution’s 50-year history. The Texas Historical Commission has awarded a $3 million grant, alongside support from Google, to launch a long-term commitment to safeguarding the material collected by the museum over its 50-year history.

These funds will help enhance the accessibility of the Museum’s collections and strengthen the Museum’s role as a vital resource for education and research for the Dallas community and beyond. The Museum’s collection—spanning fine art, folk art, decorative arts, archival materials, and artifact – features work by renowned artists such as Romare Bearden, Clementine Hunter, Mose Tolliver, Reverend Johnnie Swearingen, among others, and archeological materials from The Freedman’s Cemetery.

“This investment is about more than just conservation,” said Margie Johnson Reese, MFA, Chief Program Officer of the African American Museum, Dallas. “It’s about making history accessible to a global audience. We are thrilled to work with the Texas Historical Commission and Google to preserve the works of art and the historical documents in our care. It is our responsibility to ensure that this irreplaceable material will endure to educate and inspire current and future generations.”

Currently, portions of the collection are stored in non-climate-controlled facilities, leaving them vulnerable to environmental damage. The funds will ensure the collection’s long-term survival while making it more widely available to the public.

“Google is committed to making a positive impact in the communities where we operate, and we welcome opportunities to support the sharing of powerful stories,” said Traci Thomason, Global Community Development Strategy Manager at Google. “By working with the African American Museum, Dallas, we are proud to be part of the effort to ensure that this rich cultural history remains available to inspire and educate people around the world.”

The museum’s extensive collection showcases significant historical documents, including early Dallas-based African American newspapers and rare photographs and papers from influential leaders such as Juanita Craft, Mamie McKnight and the late U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson.

Among the highlights are 40,000-plus images from Sepia magazine, a nationally recognized photojournalistic publication that chronicled African American life and culture for decades. The collection captures the power, pride and progress of a generation, featuring striking images of government leaders like Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and U.N. Ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young; civil rights icons Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X; and legendary entertainers including Aretha Franklin, Cicely Tyson and Ray Charles.

King County Medical Examiner's Office and Thurston County Sheriff's Office Team with Othram to Identify a 2009 John Doe

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:47:14 GMT

The following announcement was written by Othram:

On April 30, 2009, human remains were discovered in a field near Meadows Elementary School in Lacey, Washington. The remains were determined to be skeletal and were found with Levi’s jeans, boxer shorts, and knee-high white athletic socks bearing a green Nike logo. Despite the recovery of clothing and the application of traditional forensic methods, authorities were unable to identify the unknown man. A DNA profile was developed and searched in CODIS, but no matches were found. The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP8888 on June 29, 2011, and remained open.

In February 2025, Thurston County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with the King County Medical Examiner's Office submitted skeletal remains from the unknown man to Othram, in The Woodlands, Texas a forensic sequencing laboratory specializing in human identification from the most challenge forensic inputs, such as degraded skeletal remains. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a high-resolution DNA profile suitable for forensic genetic genealogical research. The profile was then delivered to Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team, which conducted the necessary forensic matching to identify potential relatives of the unknown individual.

Critical funding to enable forensic genetic genealogy testing in this case was made possible by Governor Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, and the Washington State Legislature. We are so grateful for their support in providing this funding.

A follow up investigation by law enforcement ultimately led to the identification of the unknown man as Donald Myrel Nelson. Born on April 18, 1960, Nelson had been reported missing to the Lacey Police Department in February 1989, just weeks before his 29th birthday. His family cooperated closely with investigators throughout the identification process and has been formally notified of the outcome. His disappearance had gone unresolved for over 35 years.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Nelson’s death. Authorities are asking that anyone with information related to his disappearance contact the unit directly at TCSOColdCase@co.thurston.wa.us, referencing case number 09-002677.

Connect with Family History Through Genealogy in New York City

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:22:41 GMT

The following is an announcement written by AARP:

Genealogy offers a meaningful way to connect with family history and cultural heritage. This fall, AARP New York and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) are presenting two free programs that introduce the basics of researching Hispanic and Italian ancestry.

Discover Hispanic Genealogy

AARP New York and the NYG&B will host a session focused on Hispanic genealogy led by Luis Ariel Rivera. A Bronx native, Rivera has been researching his family’s Puerto Rican roots since 2004 and has worked in genealogy since 2020. His research includes Puerto Rico, Latin America, the Spanish and French Caribbean, and Western and Southern Europe.

UPDATE:

Register here: https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/events/italian-genealogy-michael-cassara

Location: NYG&B, 36 West 44th Street, Suite 711, New York, NY
Also available live on Zoom
Thursday, October 30, 2025 6:30-7:30 PM

Getting Started with Italian Genealogy

The second program will be led by Michael Cassara, a New York City–based genealogist and lecturer specializing in Italian and Sicilian family research, New York and New Jersey research, and genealogical technology. He has presented at national conferences including RootsTech, FGS, and OGS, as well as numerous local and regional societies. Cassara is the past president of the Italian Genealogical Group and currently serves as president of the Metropolitan Postcard Club.

Register here: https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/events/italian-genealogy-michael-cassara

Location: NYG&B, 36 West 44th Street, Suite 711, New York, NY
Also available live on Zoom
Date: October 20, 2025
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Both events are free and open to AARP members and guests. Whether you attend in person or online, these programs provide an opportunity to learn about family history research and explore cultural heritage.

Stay Connected with AARP New York:
Discover more events and opportunities to engage with AARP New York and your community by visiting aarp.org/local.

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AHA Sends Letter in Support of the State Historical Society of Iowa Research Center

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:06:49 GMT

The following was written by Sarah Weicksel, Executive Director of the American Historical Association and sent to Governor Kim Reynolds opposing the planned closure of the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) Research Center in Iowa City, which collects, preserves, and provides access to thousands of historical records, images, and objects created and used by Iowans throughout the state’s history:

August 28, 2025

Governor Kim Reynolds
Des Moines, Iowa

Dear Gov. Reynolds:

The American Historical Association expresses deep concern over the planned closure of the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) Research Center in Iowa City. At this research center, the SHSI collects, preserves, and provides access to thousands of historical records, images, and objects created and used by Iowans throughout the state’s history. Local access to these materials is vital to both historians and the public. I write on behalf of the AHA to urge Iowa officials to prevent the closure of this facility and to allocate adequate funding to the SHSI to maintain the building and to manage, expand, and provide access to its collections. Doing so is essential to the continued preservation of, and access to, Iowa’s history.

The collections preserved in the SHSI, which was established in 1857, are essential to how Iowans learn about their individual and collective pasts. Genealogists, students, historians, journalists: all require access to these collections to participate in the documentation and practical use of their state’s past. Situated at the edge of the University of Iowa campus, the SHSI is used daily by students, faculty, and members of the public, all of whom rely upon not only the collections of the SHSI, but also on the expertise of its staff.

The decision to close the research center has been made without sufficient public input and without concrete plans for conserving, preserving, and providing continued access to the entirety of the SHSI’s collections. We urge Iowa officials to halt the planned closure and to undertake a full review of the needs of the SHSI and the communities it serves. Such a review must include input from various stakeholders, among them historians, educators, museum professionals, archivists, and other members of the public.

Future generations rely upon public officials to defend the institutions that preserve our heritage and to support programs that promote history education and public interest in the past. The SHSI’s collections are a vital resource for Iowans to understand their history. The planned closure places those collections and the history they preserve at risk.

The American Historical Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1884 and incorporated by the United States Congress in 1889 for the promotion of historical studies and the dissemination of historical research. As a disciplinary association representing more than 10,700 historians, including Iowans, we support and encourage Iowa’s efforts to be a responsible steward of the state’s important historic resources. If there are ways in which the AHA can be of assistance as the state considers the future of the SHSI Research Center and its collections, please contact us.

Sincerely,

Sarah Weicksel
Executive Director

cc: State Archivist Anthony Jahn
SHSI Administrator Valerie Van Kooten

Japanese Instrument of Surrender now on display at the National Archives Museum, The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Last Chance to See the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 21:31:24 GMT

The following is a press release issued by the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Japanese Instrument of Surrender Now on Display at the National Archives Museum

80 Years Since the End of World War II, featuring the Japanese Instrument of Surrender is now on display at the National Archives Museum’s historic Rotunda as part of the museum’s Featured Document series. This record, along with an Imperial Japanese Reprint, will be on display beginning today, August 28, 2025, through September 30, 2025.

Timed entry tickets are encouraged but not required. To learn more about the museum and see all exhibits currently on display, visit the National Archives Museum website.

The Instrument of Surrender that secured an unconditional surrender of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and all Japanese armed forces to the Allied Powers and ended World War II. NAID: 1752336

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

On August 28, 1963 a quarter million people came to the nation’s capital to petition the government in a demonstration known as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Frustrated by the inaction of a gridlocked Congress, the marchers called for Congress to pass the Civil Rights bill and featured the iconic “I Have A Dream" speech by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

While the March did not immediately change the balance of power in Congress in support of civil rights, it did accomplish two very important things. First, it prompted many Americans to reconsider their perspective on the Civil Rights Movement. Second, it reaffirmed the strength of American liberal institutions. For many Americans, the confirmation that our nation and government institutions were resilient enough to withstand a non–violent mass protest on a deeply divisive issue was reason enough to hope for democracy to prevail.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the March on Washington. NAID: 237616620

Last Chance to See the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

Visitors have until September 2, 2025 to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, as this world-class exhibition comes to a close.

This exhibit features eight authentic Dead Sea Scrolls and more than 200 artifacts from the Second Temple period. Embark on this unforgettable journey through history before it's gone!

To purchase tickets and learn more about what you will see on display, visit the Reagan Library and Museum website.

A visitor looks at the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

Decades of Military History Documents Acquired by CSU Archive

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 16:48:43 GMT

In the Columbus State University archive, a hallway is filled with dozens of boxes. According to the school’s archivist and it’s military history chair, those boxes could hold some of the most historically significant military documents from the post-Vietnam War era.

Earlier this summer, CSU acquired 20 pallets worth of documents and materials from the longest serving Secretary of the Army John “Jack” Marsh and military social worker James “Jim” Martin.

“To look into the papers of Jack Marsh or into Jim Martin’s papers is really to see the history of the Army over the past 30-, 40-, 50 years,” said Dr. David Kieran, CSU’s Richard R. Hallock distinguished chair in military history.

Though Kieran had seen a few of Marsh’s documents previously, the morning of Aug. 27 marked the first time he had an opportunity to glimpse the contents of some of the boxes since they arrived at the archive.

“Every box you open, you find something and see that it’s part of a larger story of the history of that institution, the transformation of that institution,” Kieran said.

It will be the job of CSU archivist David Owings, along with team of student helpers and a visiting military archivist, to sort through the multiple decades-worth of memos, photos, memorabilia and more.

Owings estimates it will take more than a year to catalogue, organize and digitize the contents. The team will also need to take time to redact personal information, like soldier social security numbers contained in the documents.

“It’s just an honor to have the privilege to be the stewards and caretakers of it,” Owings said. “To make sure that it’s open and available to the public and that it’s saved for future generations to look at.”

Now that they are at CSU, the documents are in a temperature-controlled environment. The archival team will also use preservation techniques to maintain the documents for future study.

According to Owings, the acquisition may be the biggest CSU’s archives has ever received. He said the undertaking is worth it.

“I think it’s such a huge part of our national history, national memory, national identity,” Owings explained.

A brief first look into the boxes revealed photos from across Marsh’s service, a speech recognizing 100 years since the death of Ulysses Grant and cassette tapes, one of them containing a speech he would have given to Fort Benning soldiers more than 30 years ago.

Martin’s documents are important for studying military culture and mental health, Kieran said. Some contain first-hand accounts of what soldiers experienced, their worries and other issues they may have faced.

“There’s really no parallel—certainly in the southeast, probably in Georgia, maybe not in the nation—to the history we’re able to tell here of the post-Vietnam Army,” Kieran said. “It’s thrilling to think about the possibilities of what we can do.”

The documents add to the growing collection of military history materials in CSU’s archive, including papers from Richard Hallock, the namesake for the school’s military history endowment.

From MyHeritage: Cousin Finder™ Now Available for All Individuals in the Family Tree

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:57:35 GMT

Earlier this year MyHeritage introduced Cousin Finder™, which makes it easy to discover and connect with blood relatives on MyHeritage — no DNA test required. Since launch, it’s quickly become a favorite among family history enthusiasts for uncovering long-lost relatives and strengthening family connections.

Now the company is excited to share that there’s a major update: you can now view Cousin Finder™ results not only for yourself, but for any individual in your family tree. That means you can run it for a great-grandparent, a spouse, or even a more distant relative and see their list of cousins, how they’re related, and opportunities to connect.

This update makes Cousin Finder™ even more powerful:

Discover blood relatives tied to a specific ancestor or family member
Learn exactly how they’re related to that person
Complement DNA Matches by finding cousins who haven’t tested
Zero in on the most relevant Smart Matches™ through a simpler, more focused view

The feature is free to use, available from any profile page in the family tree, and already generating enthusiastic feedback from users. You can read more about it in the MyHeritage blog.

Investigators Identify Decomposed Human Remains Found in Tennessee Woods in 2020

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:44:05 GMT

Using genetic genealogy, investigators recently identified the decomposed remains of a man found in a wooded area in 2020.

In May 2020, the Knoxville Police Department reached out to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center to help investigate a deceased person found near a home. Authorities noted the remains were in an "advanced stage of decomposition."

According to genetic genealogy company Othram Inc., the man, who they believe was between 55 and 70 years old, was found with pieces of clothing, and authorities said his cause and manner of death were undetermined. Officials reportedly compared multiple missing persons reports to find a match, but the case went cold.

The remains were submitted to Othram in 2023. According to the forensic center, earlier this month, Othram scientists developed information suggesting the deceased man had family members in Michigan. Relatives reportedly said they hadn’t seen him in 22 years, and they provided a DNA sample. Further testing helped investigators positively identify the remains as Gerald Forsman’s.

According to Othram, Forsman was originally from Michigan and lived in Knoxville. Investigators haven’t determined when he disappeared.

Nicodemus (Kansas) Historical Society Welcomes New Leadership, Staff

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:36:24 GMT

The Nicodemus Historical Society is proud to announce recent leadership and staffing updates as part of its continued efforts to preserve and uplift the legacy of one of the nation’s most historically significant Black town established during the Reconstruction era.

Ashley Adams. Courtesy photo

Dr. Ashley C. Adams now serves as president of the Nicodemus Historical Society Board.

A Nicodemus descendant and nationally respected public policy scholar, Adams brings over a decade of research and leadership experience in African American genealogy, descendant engagement, and reparative preservation planning. She previously served as board secretary beginning in 2016.

Her long-standing research on Nicodemus has produced several scholarly publications, and her forthcoming manuscript, Advancing Descendant Engagement in Nicodemus, Kansas: A Reparative Approach to Preservation and Stewardship, builds on her commitment to community-led preservation, healing, and education.

As part of its recent organizational restructuring, the Society also announces that Donna Rae Pearson is no longer serving in the role of Executive Director. The board thanks Ms. Pearson for her time with the organization and wishes her well in her future endeavors.

To support daily operations and long-term development, the Society has also welcomed two new team members:

Marilyn Gray, a Nicodemus descendant and retired administrator, has joined as the office manager. With years of experience supporting the Society’s work, Gray brings valuable organizational knowledge and deep community roots to her role.

She currently provides part-time support in the Nicodemus Historical Society Museum and assists with hospitality at the Nicodemus National Historic Site visitor center. Her presence provides additional interpretive support for visitors and strengthens the organization’s commitment to descendant-led engagement.

Jessica Wright. Courtesy photo

Jessica Wright also joins as the Society’s new fundraising associate. A nationally recognized grant strategist, philanthropy consultant, and program analyst, Wright brings over 24 years of experience in nonprofit development, government contracting, and strategic planning.

She has helped secure over $7.5 million in funding for grassroots and national initiatives focused on education, housing, and social justice. Her role at the Historical Society includes advancing fundraising, building partnerships, and supporting sustainable preservation efforts.

These new appointments reflect the Society’s renewed commitment to descendant leadership, strategic growth, and cultural preservation.

Together with the Society’s Board of Directors, this team will continue the important work of safeguarding the historical legacy of Nicodemus and promoting a sustainable future for the community and its preservation efforts.

Investigative Genetic Genealogy Helps Identify Two Arizona John Does After Years of Uncertainty

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:27:27 GMT

Across Arizona, people die without a name. Sometimes it can take authorities years to identify decedents, and sometimes not at all. It can be even more challenging when the decedents are unhoused.

For two cold cases in Maricopa and Yavapai Counties from 2006 and 2018, that was the challenge for county officials. With help of students and staff in the Ramapo College of New Jersey Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center (IGG), some 2,500 miles across the country in Mahwah, NJ, the identities of John Does have been confirmed.

Maricopa County

On May 24, 2006, a man was struck by a vehicle near Dunlap Road and the I-17 frontage road in Phoenix, AZ. He later died at the hospital, but not before providing a possible name, John Dradel. The spelling could not be verified before his death, leaving his possible name unconfirmed. He was estimated to be 50-70 years old at the time of his death.

The case was referred to the Ramapo College IGG Center in September of 2024 by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office (MCOME) after traditional means of identification did not yield a confirmed name. A blood card for Gradel was received by Genologue who then sent completed data to Parabon Nanolabs for bioinformatics on September 30. In October, a genotype profile was successfully created and uploaded to GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA. The Maricopa Attorney General’s Office was also able to provide a potential date of birth for John Gradel, who was known to frequent homeless shelters in the area where he was struck.

A team of volunteer investigative genetic genealogists, all graduates of the Ramapo College IGG Certificate Program, built a family tree with all available data.The IGG team was able to identify a niece of the candidate Jon Gradl, who said Gradl had not been in contact with the family for years. The niece agreed to provide a reference sample, and her DNA led to Gradl’s identity being confirmed by MCOME in June of 2025, bringing closure to this eight-year old cold case.

Yavapai County

The remains of Verde River John Doe were found March 22, 2018 in Yavapai County, AZ. The man was found inside of a sleeping bag after a flood. He was believed to be an unhoused transient person based on the items found with him.

The case was referred to the IGG Center by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and the Yavapai County Medical Examiner’s Office in August of 2023 after traditional means of identification did not yield a candidate. In October of 2023, Doe’s femur was sent to Intermountain Forensics for DNA extraction, whole genome sequencing, and bioinformatics. In May of 2024, the genotype profile was uploaded to GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA. In June, students in the IGG Center Bootcamp Program developed a potential candidate, Ronald Raymond Tate, born in San Bernardino, CA.

Tate’s sister, his only living full sibling, was also an unhoused individual. Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office worked with community resources to connect with the woman. She agreed to a DNA test that confirmed Tate’s identity one year later in June of 2025.

Identifying the deceased who were homeless can be difficult. Finding reliable public records and information for people who do not have identification on their persons, who cannot be connected to an address or phone number, who are not in touch with their families or on social media, make developing leads even more challenging. This is where IGG technology, which combines traditional and genetic genealogy and relies on informed consent and publicly available data to provide investigative leads, can help make unknown decedents known again.

“Only the DNA brought us to what we know about these individuals today,” said Cairenn Binder, assistant director of the Ramapo College IGG Center and director of the IGG Certificate Program.

To learn more about Ramapo College and the IGG Center, please visit ramapo.edu.

Othram Identifies Skeletal Remains Found in 2020

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 19:03:21 GMT

Credit: Othram

In May 2020, the skeletal remains of an unknown individual were discovered in a wooded area in the 200 block of Overbrook Drive in South Knoxville, a section of Knoxville, Tennessee that lies south of the Tennessee River. Several law enforcement agencies responded, including the Knoxville Police Department, which contacted the Knox County Regional Forensic Center and they began investigating and collecting evidence to try to determine the person's identity.

The remains were sent to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center, where forensic experts determined that the individual was a man who was likely between the ages of 55 and 70. He stood between 5'5" and 5'8" tall. He was found with several pieces of clothing including a pair of windbreaker pants, a pair of dark dress pants and a pair of Wrangler brand jeans. He had a navy zip-up hoodie, a remnant of a glove with a John Deere logo and a wallet with torn and degraded paper and a Big Lots logo. Multiple missing persons reports were compared for potential matches over the next five years. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement investigators to identify the man, no matches were found, and the case went cold. The details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP71379.

The Knox County Regional Forensic Center submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man in Michigan. Knox County Regional Forensic Center death investigators made contact with those relatives, who stated they had not seen the man in 22 years. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man using KinSNP Rapid Relationship Testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Gerald John Forsman. Gerald Forsman was originally from Livonia, Michigan and apparently lived in Knoxville, according to public records. It is unclear when he disappeared.

Forensic genetic genealogical testing on this case was made possible as a result of U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett’s 2024 Community Project Funding request through the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Knox County Regional Forensic center is grateful to all the agencies listed that assisted in identifying Mr. Forsman. This is the eighth cold case identity solved from this initiative.

Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can aid ongoing forensic investigations by joining the DNASolves database. Expanding the number of available DNA profiles increases the likelihood of successful identifications, helping to reunite families with their missing loved ones and resolve cases that have remained unanswered for years.

The identification of Gerald Forsman represents the 26th case in the State of Tennessee where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Tennessee cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

Family History and Genealogy Fair in Gastonia, North Carolina

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:18:32 GMT

Date & Location

Sat, 23 Aug, 2025 at 10:00 am to 02:00 pm (EDT)

Gaston County Public Library

1555 E Garrison Boulevard, Gastonia, North Carolina, United States

View on map

About the event

Family History and Genealogy Fair

Visit the Main Library on Saturday, August 23, 2025 (08/23/2025) for the Family History and Genealogy Fair!

Drop in and meet representatives from genealogy, family history, and local history organizations between 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. No reservation is required.

Professional Genealogist Diane L. Richard will present two programs on August 23, 2025, at the Gaston County Public Library in Gastonia, N.C. Sponsored by Friends of the Gaston County Public Library.

EVENT SCHEDULE

10:00 - 11:00 Meet representatives from local historical societies, genealogy or family history organizations, and museums

11:00 - 12:00 Presentation by Diane L. Richard. (Topic To Be Announced) [You may also continue to meet with organizations]

12:00 - 1:00 Meet representatives from local historical societies, genealogy or family history organizations, and museums

1:00 - 2:00 Presentation by Diane L. Richard. (Topic To Be Announced)

Diane L. Richard is a nationally recognized Professional Genealogist with special expertise in researching North Carolina records of all types. She is the owner of Mosaic Research and Project Management, and co-leader of Tar Heel Discoveries, which provides guided North Carolina genealogical research support one-on-one or via a weeklong program.

Diane has M.Eng. and M.B.A. degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She has been doing genealogy research since 1987 and since 2004 professionally focused on the records of North Carolina, other Southern States and migration paths to the Mississippi River.

Since 2006 she has authored almost 300 articles on genealogical topics for a variety of publications including Internet Genealogy and Your Genealogy Today (was Family Chronicle). From 2010-2017, Diane served as the editor of Upfront with NGS, the blog of the National Genealogical Society and published over 2000 posts. She is current editor of the North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal and past editor of Wake Treasures, the journal of the Wake County Genealogical Society. She is a member of the national and local chapters of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the National Genealogical Society. She has researched NC roots for the popular TV show Who Do You Think You Are? and appeared on the Bryan Cranston episode. She also appeared on The Dead Files season 12, episode 7 “Detox”.

She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG) and as a speaker she has done webinars (coast-to-coast), conference presentations (FGS, NGS, TxSGS, FxGS, NERGC, SCGS Jamboree, etc), workshops, and local meeting programs about the availability and richness of records documenting North Carolinians, genealogical research techniques and tips, under-utilized resource collections and much more.

Another Virtual Genealogy Program

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:31:22 GMT

The community is invited to another Virtual Genealogy Program presented by Terri Meeks at 9 a.m. Sept. 6, hosted by the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center, via Zoom. No, not Lincoln Logs! Did you know you could buy a home from a catalog and build it yourself? This is an opportunity to research to see if your family lived in one of these homes or if they worked in an industry that provided the materials to build a kit home. This program is free and open to the public. To register for this program, go to the museum’s calendar at https://www.canoncity.org/Museum. Register online or contact the museum at 719-269-9036 for more information.

Kennedy Family Collection Online, Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum named Best Presidential Attraction, six NARA Presidential Libraries recognized, The Lee Resolution

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:10:47 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Kennedy Family Collection Online

All photographs, scrapbooks, and albums in the Kennedy Family Collectionhave been digitized in full and are now accessible online through the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s digital archives. The collection contains approximately 6,000 items that document the life and times of the Kennedy and Fitzgerald families from 1878 through 1980. Click here to learn more.

Front of the Kennedy family Christmas card for 1928. (Courtesy of John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum)

Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum named Best Presidential Attraction, six NARA Presidential Libraries recognized

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Homehas been recognized as the top winner in the Newsweek 2025 Readers' Choice Awards for Best Presidential Attraction, underscoring its vital role in preserving and promoting the legacy of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, and John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum were also honored by Newsweek readers as top-ten Presidential destinations.

Visitors to all of NARA's Presidential Libraries are encouraged to track their progress through our Passport to Presidential Libraries program.

The Lee Resolution

On June 7, 1776, in the Second Continental Congress, Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution proposing independence for the American colonies and stating "that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states." The Lee Resolution contained three parts: a declaration of independence, a call to form foreign alliances, and "a plan for confederation."

On July 2, 1776, the Congress adopted the first part of Lee’s Resolution (the declaration), and its words are echoed in the Declaration of Independence.

As the National Archives Museum prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, we will debut a new museum experience. The American Story, opening October 23, 2025, will give insight to several important moments throughout our nation's history.

The Lee Resolution records the July 2, 1776, vote in which the Continental Congress agreed to independence. NAID: 301685

More National Archives News

Free for Labor Day: U.S. And Canadian Censuses From MyHeritage

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:46:54 GMT

In honor of Labor Day in the U.S., MyHeritage is opening up access to a massive collection of historical records — over 892 million U.S. and Canadian census records — completely free starting tomorrow, August 27–September 2, 2025.

Search U.S. Census records on MyHeritage

Search Canadian Census records on MyHeritage

The free records include every U.S. federal census from 1790–1950, plus state censuses and Canadian national censuses. It’s a great opportunity to trace the occupations of your ancestors, see where they lived, and follow how their families grew over time.

Open Library Is a Massive Digital Card Catalog

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:37:00 GMT

Open Library is like a gigantic online card catalog. The Internet Archive (one of the most underrated entertainment sites on the Web) is working on the ambitious project to have one web page for every book ever published. The catalog is made up of millions of titles of fiction, nonfiction, textbooks, and children’s books.

You can read many of them instantly in your browser. Others are available by borrowing with a free account. (It’s not too different from checking out real books at your local library. They have waiting lists for the popular stuff, but there are so many books, you’ll always have plenty of choices.) I like the Reading Goal and Virtual Library features, too. And if you’ve ever thought you might be a librarian in another life, the site allows for all kinds of open source, collaborative ways to get involved.

https://openlibrary.org/

Recently Added and Updated Collections on Ancestry

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:17:35 GMT


UPDATED Ohio, Roster of Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in World War I, 1917-1918	08/22/2025
UPDATED Utah, U.S., Naturalization and Citizenship Records, 1858-1959	08/21/2025
UPDATED U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016	08/13/2025
UPDATED Web: Kent County, Michigan, U.S., School Census, 1903-1925	08/13/2025
UPDATED U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1952	08/11/2025
UPDATED Texas, U.S., Marriage Index, 1824-2021	08/06/2025
UPDATED Maine, U.S., Church Records, 1811-1911	07/29/2025
UPDATED Palatine German Immigration to Ireland and U.S., Hank Z Jones collection, 1654-1878	07/28/2025
UPDATED Hawaii, U.S., Birth Certificates and Indexes, 1841-1949	07/28/2025
NEW U.S., WWII Alien Registration, 1940-1955	07/23/2025
UPDATED U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current	07/21/2025
UPDATED U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current	07/21/2025
UPDATED Vermont, U.S., Marriage Records, 1909-2008	07/07/2025
UPDATED South Carolina, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1868-1991	07/07/2025
NEW Vermont, U.S., Divorce Records, 1861-2003	07/07/2025

Ancestry.com Partners with the WWII Veterans History Project to Preserve the Stories of 80 WWII Veterans and Help Uncover Countless Others

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:11:45 GMT

To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Ancestry, the global leader in family history, today announced a partnership with the WWII Veterans History Project to preserve and share the stories of those who served. Timed with Veterans Day 2025, Ancestry is honoring this historic milestone by introducing Thank You For Your Story, a commemorative storytelling effort complete with a WWII discovery and preservation hub featuring curated record collections, preserving the firsthand accounts of 80 WWII veterans, and helping countless others unearth their own. It's our way of saying, "Thank You For Your Story."

Credit: WWII Veterans History Project

This initiative aims to preserve and share the experiences of those who served during one of history's most defining moments so they are not forgotten. With less than 1% of WWII veterans still alive today, as noted by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, this initiative comes at a crucial time.

"There's never been a more important time to honor our ancestors' WWII-era stories and lived experiences and to preserve the memory of some of America's most remarkable heroes," said Crista Cowan, Ancestry Corporate Genealogist. "Every family has a World War II story waiting to be discovered, and this initiative is a powerful way to remind people to uncover their personal connections to this chapter in history. These veterans' sacrifices not only deserve remembrance, but their wisdom and experiences offer invaluable lessons that can guide our lives today."

For the last ten years, the WWII Veterans History Project has spearheaded a nationwide effort to film and document the personal stories of WWII veterans. As part of this effort, a collection of these stories will be made available for free on Ancestry websites, where anyone can learn from the lived experiences of these American heroes – ensuring their voices are heard, remembered and passed down for future generations.

"This anniversary is a powerful reminder that the opportunity to hear directly from those who lived through it is disappearing fast," said Benjamin Mack-Jackson, Founder of the WWII Veterans History Project. "By partnering with Ancestry, we're able to make these vital human stories more widely accessible than ever before and ensure they're never forgotten."

Over the coming months, Ancestry and the WWII Veterans History Project will be uploading and preserving these powerful veteran stories. While the full experience will debut in early November, visitors can explore military records and resources now at www.ancestry.com/wwii to begin uncovering their own family's history and connection to this defining era.

About Ancestry:
Ancestry, the global leader in family history, connects everyone with their past so they can discover, preserve, and share their unique family stories. With our unparalleled collection of more than 65 billion records, over 3 million subscribers and over 27 million people in our growing DNA network, customers can discover their family story and gain a new level of understanding about their lives. Over the past 40 years, we've built trusted relationships with millions of people who have chosen us as the platform for discovering, preserving and sharing the most important information about themselves and their families.

About the WWII Veterans History Project:
The WWII Veterans History Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to give the past a future, one story at a time. We're dedicated to educating and inspiring future generations to better appreciate the sacrifices made by the greatest generation through documentary films, traveling museum exhibitions, and educational programs. Founded by Benjamin Mack-Jackson in 2015, our organization has impacted veterans and students alike, preserving countless war stories and encouraging students to reflect on the past and its lasting impact.

The Best Genealogy Courses Available Now

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:03:47 GMT

Enrolling on a genealogy course is a great way to gain additional family history skills, and perhaps even take a step towards becoming a professional genealogist. The good news is that many genealogy courses are now available online or by correspondence, which means you can take the first step into family history or build on your skills from the comfort of your own home.

Best online and correspondence genealogy courses available today

Pharos Tutors

Pharos Tutors specialise in online genealogy courses. They have on-demand courses covering topics such as how to get started with your family tree and how to get kids interested in family history (£19.99 – £45.99) and a two-part ‘Foundations of Family History’ course teaching you how to start your family history research. They also have a full programme of courses covering a variety of different aspects of family history research. Available courses with spaces include ‘Introduction to One-Name Studies’ (starts 8 September, 5 week course, £70) and ‘Old Handwriting for Family Historians’ (starts 8 September, 4 week course, £84).

University of Strathclyde

The Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies in Glasgow has flexible learning pathways suitable for beginner to advanced to help you build the skills needed to take your family history research to the next level. You can choose from a series of eight week online classes (costing £176.00) starting in January, April and October each year. Or try one of their free online MOOCs, which can be studied at any time and from anywhere in the world.If you already have an existing interest and experience in genealogy, then you can further your research with their flexible online postgraduate degree in Genealogical Studies or even go on to take a PhD in History with Genealogical Studies!

Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies

The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (IHGS) is an independent charitable trust devoted to the education and research of family history and genealogy. They offer a wide range of correspondence genealogy courses, which you can complete in your own home at your own pace.

Celia Heritage

Celia Heritage is a professional genealogist, author and regular contributor to Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, who offers a range of genealogy courses. From a one-off video tutorial on using wills for £12.99 to her comprehensive 7-module family history e-course for £447.

Best genealogy courses to become a professional genealogist

If you are a keen and experienced family historian, you may have thought about setting up as a professional genealogist. There isn’t a single genealogy course that will make you a professional genealogist. However, if you wish to join a professional body for genealogists in the UK, like the Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG) or the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA), then a qualification may be one of the requirements for membership.

Full membership applicants for the RQG need to have a postgraduate diploma level qualification, which is currently only available from either:

• The IHGS Higher Certificate & Diploma in Genealogy

• The University of Strathclyde Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical, Paleographic and Heraldic Studies

AGRA applicants are exempt from certain parts of the membership assessment process if they have passed one of the following genealogy courses:

• The IHGS Higher Certificate & Diploma in Genealogy

• The University of Strathclyde Postgraduate Certificate in Genealogical, Paleographic and Heraldic Studies

• Pharos Tutors Family History Skills & Strategies (Advanced) Distance Learning Course (run in association with the SoG)

Illinois Newspaper Project Receives NEH Grant

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 11:47:29 GMT

The Illinois Newspaper Project (INP) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library has received a grant of $324,189 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), to digitize 100,000 pages of historical Illinois newspapers, as part of the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP), a partnership between the NEH and the Library of Congress. The Illinois Newspaper Project has been an NDNP partner since 2009, and has contributed over 600,000 pages of digitized newspaper content to Chronicling America, the digital newspaper collection of the Library of Congress. All Illinois newspapers digitized by the INP are also freely available on the Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections (IDNC) website, which includes additional newspapers digitized thanks to other grants and generous patron donations.

The 2025-2027 grant will focus on Illinois newspapers that document the history of relations between Native American communities and settlers, from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century. The INP will partner with other Illinois cultural heritage repositories including the Newberry Library. Celestina Savonius-Wroth (head of the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library) and William Schlaack (Digital Reformatting Coordinator for Preservation Services) will lead the project. In addition to the project leads, the Illinois Newspaper Project team includes Jessie Knoles, Geoffrey Ross, and Chris Prom.

'Finding Your Roots' Host Says Show Will Go on Despite Loss of Federal Funding for Public Television

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 11:34:40 GMT

In addition to revealing the celebrity guests to be featured in the new season, Gates also made a promise that “Finding Your Roots” would not be among the PBS programming disappearing from the airwaves in light of Congress’ recent decision to recapture over $1 billion in federal funds for public broadcasting, including the American Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), National Public Radio (NPR) and hundreds of local and regional radio and TV stations.

“It’s especially important to all of us at ‘Finding Your Roots’ that our viewers know, despite the loss of federal funding for public television, our show and PBS are not going anywhere,” Gates said in his statement. “We encourage everyone to support PBS by becoming a member of your local PBS station if you aren’t already, and continuing to spread the word about the great work PBS is doing.”

The 12th season of “Finding Your Roots” is a production of McGee Media, Inkwell Media and Kunhardt Films in association with WETA, a PBS member TV station in Washington, D.C. In addition to Gates, Dyllan McGee and Peter Kunhardt serve as executive producers. Sabin Streeter is the senior producer; Natalia Warchol, the series producer; Deborah Clancy Porfido, the supervising producer; Kevin Burke, the producer; and Robert L. Yacyshyn, the line producer. Streeter, Krista Whetstone and Warchol are directors.

Emmett Till Records Release, Hawaii - The 50th State, Off the Record at the Clinton Presidential Library, Dr. Oz and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Visit the National Archives

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 17:32:19 GMT

The is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Emmett Till Records Release

Many new records—now digitized—were released today regarding the tragic murder of Emmett Till. They are available here. This release is in response to the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018.

This release consists of materials from the Justice Department (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the United States Commission on Civil Rights. This is an initial release of federal records related to the case. Records created during later federal investigations are not included, and will be part of later releases.

The National Archives partners with the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board to review many civil rights related records.

This month marks 70 years since this tragic, watershed moment in American history. Our thoughts are with the Till family.

Memorandum to Assistant Attorney General Warren Olney III, page 1

NAID: 603432

Hawaii - The 50th State

Despite protests from Native Hawaiians, Hawaii was annexed by the U.S. on August 12, 1898, after the passing of the Newlands Resolution, making it a U.S. territory. More than 60 years later, on August 21, 1959, President Eisenhower signed the Hawaii Admission Act admitting Hawaii as the 50th state.

Visit the National Archives online to learn more and view many of the historical documents created on Hawaii’s path to statehood.

Statement on Hawaii statehood by Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton. NAID: 16607081

Off the Record at the Clinton Presidential Library

Join the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, in Little Rock, AR, on August 26, 2025, at 6 p.m. CT, to welcome Stephanie S. Street to the latest session of “Off the Record.” Stephanie will be pulling back the curtain on her time in the West Wing — sharing personal stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and what it was really like to help shape the schedule, strategy, leadership, and legacy of a presidency.

Dr. Oz and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Visit the National Archives

The National Archives welcomed Dr. Mehmet Oz and staff from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, to view America’s Founding Documents in the historical Rotunda and Lincoln autopsy documents in the “National Vault.”

Dr. Oz and the CMS team tour the National Archives Museum.
View the photos on X.

Cattaraugus County Museum (in Little Valley, NY) to Host Genealogy Lecture ‘Between the Census Years’

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 13:50:58 GMT

The Cattaraugus County Museum’s annual “Summer at the Stone House” event series will conclude its 2025 season on Thursday, Aug. 28, with a presentation by an expert in genealogical research.

The talk, titled “Between the Census Years,” will be given by Jeanette Sheliga, an educator, blogger, lecturer and librarian from Lockport.

“In addition to city directories and newspapers, there are many other records that you may find your ancestors listed in to help bridge the gap between censuses. This presentation will explore numerous sources such as: maps, voter lists, church records, membership directories, local government proceedings and more,” Sheliga explained.

Sheliga began genealogical lecturing in 2011 and soon after formed the North Tonawanda Library Genealogy Club, which she managed for 10 years. In 2013, she became a board member for the Niagara County Genealogical Society. She is also the society vice president, NGS Delegate and the program chairperson.

Sheliga is a member of many lineage societies, including the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, First Families of Pennsylvania, National Society Descendants of American Farmers and the National Society of Mayflower Descendants.

In addition, in the fall of 2020, she became the Virtual Genealogical Society’s (VGA) corresponding secretary and was elected to become a member of the board of directors for the Western New York Genealogical Society (WNYGS). While serving on the board for WNYGS, she became a contributing editor for the WNYGS’s quarterly publication, The Journal and was selected as the programming chair.

For more information on Sheliga, visit jeanettesgenealogy.com.

The program will begin at 7 p.m. and will take place under a tent on the museum lawn, rain or shine. Some seating will be available, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs if they wish. This event is free and open to the public.

The program will be livestreamed on the museum’s YouTube channel for those who are unable to attend in person. A link to the livestream will be posted on the museum’s Facebook page closer to the date of the event.

The Cattaraugus County Museum is located in the Stone House, 9824 Route 16, in Machias.

For more information, visit www.cattco.org/museum or call 716-353-8200.

Help Wanted - Archivist - in London, England

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 13:34:11 GMT

Handel Hendrix House is seeking a Project Archivist to work on a fixed-term, part-time basis (0.8 FTE). The role is based in London with a salary of £24,000 per annum (pro rata of £30,000). The archivist will catalogue, research, conserve, and oversee the digitisation of approximately 1,000 items from the Anim Records archive, which includes material relating to Jimi Hendrix, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and other groups from the 1960s and 1970s.

Applicants should hold an appropriate qualification in archive management (such as a Level 7 ARA archives apprenticeship) and have experience of conservation, storage, cataloguing, and public access standards. Experience of working with the public, managing budgets, and liaising with contractors is also required.

Closing date: Friday 5 September 2025

See full details at https://handelhendrix.org/work-for-us/project-archivist.

Moose Jaw and Regina Co-Organizing First Provincial Genealogy Conference Since 2019

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 20:24:29 GMT

For the first time in six years, the Saskatchewan Genealogy Society (SGS) is hosting a conference that will include topics such as artificial intelligence and using DNA to support research.

“Past Meets Future” is the name of this year’s conference, which the Moose Jaw and Regina branches are co-hosting at the Atlas Hotel at 4177 Albert Street in Regina on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Early bird registration is $100 and must be paid by Friday, Aug. 29, while regular registration is $125 and must be paid by Monday, Sept. 15. The registration form can be found at www.saskgenealogy.com or email saskgenealogy@sasktel.net for more information.

This year’s speakers include Gordon McBean, whose topic is “Artificial Intelligence: Is it really new?”; Dave Obee, with “DNA: Squiggly Lines and Spit,” to be presented via Zoom; Thomas MacEntee, with “Genealogy Do-Over,” which focuses on changes in research and beginner information, to be presented over Zoom; and Tammy Vallee, with “Uncovering Identity: The Role of Genealogy in Indigenous Ancestry.”

Marge Cleave, president of the Moose Jaw branch, said it’s a great feeling to co-host the conference since both branches collaborate well, although she wished it were happening in The Friendly City. Still, it’s positive that this event is happening since the SGS hasn’t held one — typically held annually — since 2019.

Continuing, she said it’s been a “learning curve” for the co-hosts to organize the conference since it’s been a while since the last one and many things have changed in six years. She pointed out that the conference is a hybrid with two presenters speaking online and two speaking in person.

“Personally, I like to have all of the presenters in person, but it’s so costly to have them travel now that it’s great just to have them by Zoom,” Cleave remarked.

The Moose Jaw branch president said the four speakers are “really good” and qualified to discuss their topics. Furthermore, the presenters have told the organizers that they are excited to speak.

Meanwhile, the organization of the conference is going well, while organizers are hoping to attract at least 60 people, said Cleave. She noted that, for whatever reason, people seem to wait until the last minute before registering; with this event, she thinks some people may still be leery post-pandemic about crowds.

Cleave added that the best reason to attend the event is to network with other like-minded genealogists and family history buffs while learning new information and tips to be a better genealogist and researcher.

For more information, visit www.saskgenealogy.com.

Genealogy Takes Centre Stage in Glasgow, Scotland in June 2026

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 20:09:19 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies (SIGS) and the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG):

Genealogy Takes Centre Stage in Glasgow, June 2026.

Join Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies (SIGS) for a 2-day academic conference on the 25 and 26 June 2026; Beyond the Family Tree: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on AI, DNA, Education and Community in Genealogy.

Explore a variety of topics, including genetic genealogy, history, and genealogy, with parallel streams featuring keynote presentations and guest lectures—giving you the freedom to choose the sessions that inspire you most.

The conference will be preceded by a one-day Professional Genealogy Symposium in on the 24 June 2026, hosted by the Association of Professional Genealogists in partnership with SIGS.

Symposium sessions will be led by industry experts and will cover topics such expanding your genealogy business, client deliverables, financial considerations, productivity tools, cross-border marketing, ethical and legal issues, and much more.

Both events will be held at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow UK.

Most sessions will be available online, allowing you to join from anywhere in the world.

Three days. Two events. A unique and immersive experience bringing together genealogists, educators, and enthusiasts from connected disciplines.

Hold the date (24–26 June 2026 - both events) and get the latest updates by registering your interest on our website >https://www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/centreforlifelonglearning/genealogy/beyondfamilytreeconference2026/

New: National Desertion Bureau (1911–1935) & United Hebrew Charities of New York (1869–1877) — two free genealogy databases

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 19:33:19 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at: JewishBoard.org:

• National Desertion Bureau Card Catalog (1911–1935)
https://150yearsofcare.org/ndb-database/
An index to cases pursued by the National Desertion Bureau, an agency that helped women track down husbands who had abandoned their families. Each entry typically includes the husband’s and wife’s names, the date a case was opened, the referring agency, the recorded “cause of desertion,” the case disposition, and a case/file number. From the database, readers can request the corresponding case file from the YIVO Archives at no cost.

• United Hebrew Charities of New York: Recipients & Donors (1869–1877)
https://150yearsofcare.org/uhc-recipients/
A dataset of 1,231 recipients and 368 donors from New York City’s United Hebrew Charities. Fields include names, street addresses, amounts of aid, and contemporary “worthiness” notations; entries also appear on aninteractive map that helps place families on specific blocks and visualize neighborhood patterns in the 1870s.

Both resources live at 150yearsofcare.org, a new digital exhibit marking The Jewish Board’s 150th anniversary.

An inside look at how PBS host Henry Louis Gates Jr. met Pope Leo

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:51:08 GMT

An interesting article at: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/an-inside-look-at-how-pbs-host-henry-louis-gates-jr-met-pope-leo

Online Meeting: Kelowna and District Genealogical Society

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:45:41 GMT

Monday, September 8, 2025 6:15 PM

Kelowna and District Genealogical Society, Zoom Meeting

"Taking Advantage of Google Translate on Foreign Language Databases for Better Results," with Vera Ivanova Miller

So much information is offered for genealogy research on foreign websites. Vera Ivanova Miller will show how to use several databases for Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish and Belarusian, genealogy with the Google Translate web browser app step-by-step. In addition viewers will see how to search in foreign languages on Google with the app. Her presentation will also include how the Russian-Ukrainian war is affecting research in Russia and Ukraine and how to work around the challenges due to the war. This presentation will give your genealogy research an extra boost by showing how to find more useful information, resulting in saving time and money, where ever you are researching for your genealogy.

Vera Ivanova Miller, a former newspaper reporter, has been researching her ancestry from Ukraine, Russia and Poland since 2006. Her journey was the inspiration in 2011 to start a blog "Find Lost Russian and Ukrainian Family, (https://lostrussianfamily.wordpress.com/) that was honoured as a 2023 Family Tree Magazine "101 Best Websites". Thanks to learning how to use Russian-and Ukrainian- language resources online, Vera has been able to trace her Eastern European family tree back to the 1600's. She is the author of "Genealogy at a Glance: Ukrainian Genealogy Research" and "Genealogy at a Glance: Russian Genealogy Research", publications of Genealogical Publishing Co.

Bite-size presentation to follow: Searching the KDGS Central Okanagan Obituary Database, by KDGS member, Xenia Stanford.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Price: KDGS members Free; non-members $10

Kelowna and District Genealogical Society annual membership fee is: Single-$50 or Family-$60.

For the 2025/26 year we have a schedule of speakers with a variety of backgrounds and experience in genealogical research.

Join us! New Members Welcome! Get to know your Ancestors!

For more info visit KDGS.ca

Texas Rangers and Mineral Wells Police Department Announce Arrest in Cold Case Sexual Assault

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:39:58 GMT

The Texas Department of Public Safety, Ranger Division, working in conjunction with the Mineral Wells Police Department, has arrested William Henry Lowery (W/M, 60 YOA, photograph included at left) for an Aggravated Sexual Assault that occurred on December 10th, 2016.

On December 10th, 2016, the Mineral Wells Police Department responded to a call for service in the 300 block of 27th Street. At the time, investigators learned that a female victim had been sexually assaulted by an unknown male in her home. The suspect fled the scene before police arrival. During the investigation, law enforcement collected DNA evidence from the crime scene.

In 2023, this case was adopted by the Texas Ranger Sexual Assault Kit Initiative program (SAKI) under a grant from the United States Department of Justice. This grant provides funds for advanced DNA testing, including genealogy. Evidence was sent to BODE technology for SNP testing and genealogy research. Through this testing, a possible suspect was identified.

Evidence collected from the crime scene was compared to a possible suspect, identified as William Lowery. An arrest warrant for Aggravated Sexual Assault was issued, and Lowery was arrested on August 7th, 2025.

The Texas Department of Public Safety thanks the Mineral Wells Police Department for their continuous efforts to bring justice for the victim in this case. The Texas Rangers appreciate the grant funding from the United States Department of Justice.

DNA Provides New Info on 1998 Homicide Victim Found in El Cajon, California: Police Seek Help to Identify Her

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 17:21:32 GMT

The El Cajon Police Department needs your help; DNA may hold the key to uncovering the identity of a woman lost to time—and justice.

On August 13, 1998, the body of an unidentified woman was found in the brush near the 1300 block of Avocado Ave in El Cajon, CA. The victim, believed to be a white or Hispanic female in her 30s, stood around 5’2” and weighed approximately 110 lbs. She had brown hair and signs of at least one prior pregnancy.

She wore a silver herringbone bracelet, black shoes, and a blue t-shirt that read: “Woodruff Warriors 20 Year Reunion 1971–1991.”

She is believed to be a victim of a homicide.

Thanks to advancements in forensic technology, her DNA was submitted to Othram Labs for genetic genealogy and Parabon Labs for phenotyping — revealing ancestral roots in Michoacán, Mexico and a possible relative in the San Diego area.

Someone out there knows who she is. More than two decades have passed, but her story is still waiting for an ending.

If you recognize this person or have any information on this homicide, please contact the El Cajon Police Department’s Cold Case Unit at 619-593-5774 or coldcaseunit@elcajon.gov(link sends e-mail).

Online Genealogy Class Slated

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 17:12:10 GMT

The Local History Center of Rockbridge Regional Library System will offer a free online Zoom class on FamilySearch.org Tuesdays, Sept. 9 through Oct. 7, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. FamilySearch. org is the world’s largest free genealogy website.

Kerri-Ann Prince, an outreach program specialist, will lead the Zoom classes. Volunteers will help with one-on-one projects during the last part of each session.

Space is limited, so register by Sept. 2 by emailing Penny Dudley at pdudley@rrlib.net. For additional information, email her or call (540) 258-2509.

London Health Sciences Centre (in London, Ontario, Canada) Historic Archives Find a New Home at Western Libraries (in London, Ontario, Canada)

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 12:10:28 GMT

The sky-high shelves in Western's climate-controlled Archives and Research Collections Centre now house a remarkable gift: more than 150 years of medical history, entrusted to Western by the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).

This donation marks a meaningful chapter in the collaboration between two institutions with deep roots in London’s medical and academic history. Comprising 152 boxes of photographs, handwritten letters, medical records, and other artifacts, the collection traces the evolution of health care in the region.

“These records are a major part of London’s history and health care in Canada,” says Anne Quirk, Archivist in Archives and Special Collections at Western Libraries. “Bringing them into a secure, professionally managed archival environment means we can preserve them and eventually open them up to researchers. It’s a celebration of this community’s health-care legacy.”

A Century and a Half of Stories

The donated materials span institutions such as Beck Memorial Sanatorium, South Street Hospital, War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Westminster Hospital, and the London General Training School for Nurses—one of the earliest nursing programs in the region. Among the collection are items that speak to the lived experiences of health-care workers: letters from nurses, including one expressing frustration over not receiving time off for Christmas and hinting at a potential strike; a nurse’s uniform; a ceramic device for steam inhalations; and a wide range of medical records and administrative documents.

Darren Hamilton, Clinical Librarian Specialist at LHSC, led the initiative to ensure the archives were preserved for future generations.

“I connected with archival experts from across Ontario,” says Hamilton. “Anne Quirk and the team at Western Libraries were excited to develop this collaboration that maintains LHSC’s history at home in London at Western. These items are invaluable to those researching health care in London, and I am pleased that they will be well kept by the Western team.”

Research Potential: Unlocking New Narratives

While the materials have not yet been processed, the potential for research is already clear. Plans are underway to create a finding aid, enter descriptive information into Western’s searchable archives database, and explore digitization for broader access.

“We’re excited about the possibilities,” says Quirk. “These materials could support research in medical history, public health, nursing education, and even local business and social history. The scope is vast.”

Western Libraries has a strong track record of supporting research through its archival holdings. A recent example is the Bucke-Grosh expedition project, where a team of endurance athletes retraced a 19th-century gold-seeking journey using documents from the Dr. Richard Maurice Bucke and Family fonds. Bucke, a co-founder of Western’s medical school, survived the harrowing trek and left behind journals and maps that helped modern history enthusiasts reconstruct the route.

"That project shows how archival materials can help in bringing history to life,” says Quirk. “We scanned over 600 documents for the team, and they used them to correct and enrich the story of Bucke’s journey. That kind of impact is exactly what we hope to see with the LHSC collection.”

Looking Ahead

As Western Libraries begins the careful work of processing the LHSC archives, the academic community can look forward to new opportunities for interdisciplinary research, public engagement, and historical insight.

“This is more than a donation—it’s an invitation to explore, question, and understand,” says Quirk. “We’re honoured to be the stewards of this legacy.”

National Archives Recovers & Preserves Rare Pearl Harbor Navy Logbook

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:58:49 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Thanks to an historically-conscious couple in California, the Pearl Harbor Navy (PHNY) Logbook from March 1941-June 1942 —which records and documents the December 7, 1941 attack as it occurred— was recovered by the U.S. government, resides in the National Archives and is now available to the American people.

Read About The Recovery Efforts In The Washington Post

Jim Byron, Senior Advisor to the Acting Archivist, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said: “This special item is one of the few surviving records that helps tell the story of the ‘date which will live in infamy.’ Thanks to the efforts of an historically-conscious California couple, it is now available to the American people, allowing everyone to better appreciate their history --- and especially the sacrifice and heroism of December 7, 1941.”

The Logbook contains regular, handwritten entries from March 1941 —when war in Europe was raging but prior to the entry of the United States— to June 1942 at the Battle of Midway. It shows the daily happenings at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, including vessel movements and which ships were under repair.

The devastating attack of December 7, 1941 by Japan brought the United States into World War II; a lesser-known, second attack on Pearl Harbor on March 4, 1942, known as Operation K is also recorded in this logbook, as is the repair of the USS Yorktown (CV 5) following the Battle of Coral Sea.

Enlarge

Entries from Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Pearl Harbor Navy Yard Logbook, December 6-7, 1941.

LDS Church Will Pull Down SLC Hotel to Put Up a Parking Lot

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:34:48 GMT

NOTE: Here’s an article that is not about any of the "normal" topics of this newsletter: genealogy, history, current affairs, DNA, and related topics. However, it describes news about the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel (and the FamilySearch Library) which has always been a very popular hotel for genealogists visiting Salt Lake City:

The Salt Lake Plaza Hotel has stood for 50 years in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, but it’s going to be closed and razed, according to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ land development company.

The midrise hotel at 122 W. South Temple, one of downtown’s more affordable lodging options, will be demolished, according to a statement Tuesday from the church-owned Property Reserve. The teardown also will include the long-shuttered JB’s restaurant on the corner of West Temple and South Temple.

The plaza will become a parking area to help with traffic for the open house to mark the reopening of the Salt Lake Temple in April 2027.

The 13-story hotel building features 150 rooms, according to the hotel’s website. The building, which opened in 1973, is nestled between Abravanel Hall and the FamilySearch Library, which was previously the Family History Museum.

The decision to demolish the hotel was made due to the “costs to maintain, operate and update its aging structure continue to rise,” the release stated.

Guests will not be able to stay at the hotel after Nov. 1, according to the release.

“Property Reserve will provide financial support and job-searching assistance to hotel employees to help them transition to new employment, as the hotel prepares to close in November,” the release stated. Property Reserve did not respond to a question on how many employees work at the hotel.

The release noted that there will be 7,421 remaining hotel rooms within a mile of downtown Salt Lake City following the Plaza Hotel’s demolition.

The plaza landscaping “will complement” the nearby Temple Square and FamilySearch Library, the release stated. Plans for the parking area after the 2027 open house have yet to be determined.

Breast Cancer and Inherited Gene Mutations

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:19:30 GMT

Breast cancer, the most common cancer in women, makes up roughly 30% of new female cancers each year. The American Cancer Society reports nearly 317,000 new breast cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2025, with more than 42,000 women dying from the disease.

A significant amount of these cases is due to genetic mutations from parents passing defective genes down to their children.

"We inherit DNA material from our parents, both mother and father, and sometimes these genes can have a defect," says Jamin Addae, MD, a breast surgeon with OSF HealthCare. "This means the gene would not work very well, like a normal gene would."

A significant family history of breast cancer is found in about 25% of patients with the disease. Up to 10% of all persons with a new diagnosis of breast cancer will have an “identifiable genetic mutation” that caused or increased the risk of developing breast cancer, Dr. Addae says.

"For women with male relatives who have prostate cancer, these women in the family may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The gene mutation could increase the risk of several types of cancer, for instance in the case of BRCA 1 mutation, it increases the risk of breast, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancers,” Dr. Addae says. “Males in the family may not develop any cancers ("silent carriers) or may develop prostate cancer if they have the gene mutation. They can then pass this defective gene to their daughters who would later develop breast cancer. The disease itself is not what is passed down to the child, it is the defective gene that increases the risk of breast cancer that is passed down"

Several gene mutations can be passed down from parent to child.

BRCA 1: Angelina Jolie carries this mutation, which she has spoken publicly about. This increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
BRCA 2: Increases the risk of breast, prostate and other cancers.
PTEN mutation, which can lead to PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS). PHTS increases risk for breast, endometrial, thyroid, and colon cancers.
TP53 mutation
STK11 mutation: Linked to Peutz-Jegher's syndrome
PALB2 mutation: Very rare. Linked to a higher risk of breast cancer and hereditary pancreatic cancer.
CD81 mutation

These gene mutations can increase your risk of developing breast cancer significantly over an 85-year lifespan, Dr. Addae says.

So how do you know if you have a gene mutation? Most of the time, you wouldn’t.

"With BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, you might have people in your family with prostate cancer, breast cancer or ovarian cancer. With this combination of cancers and young people developing these cancers, that serves as a red flag, which tells you with this strong family history, there might be something going on,” he adds.

To qualify for genetic testing, Dr. Addae says medical professionals must follow specific guidelines first.

You don't have breast cancer, but you come to your oncology team with a strong family history of cancers.
There are people with known mutations in your family.
You come with a diagnosis of breast cancer under the age of 50 (some guidelines say 65).
You have triple-negative breast cancer.
You have Stage 4 breast cancer. Genetic testing might show your cancer team certain types of helpful treatment that are only available for people with that type of gene mutation.
You have other family members with breast, prostate or ovarian cancer, and you develop breast cancer.

Additionally, Dr. Addae says there are modifiable risk factors, or things we can control, that increase the risk of breast cancer.

Waiting longer to have a child
Taking oral contraception
Post-menopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy
Radiation for certain cancers (like lymphoma): Dr. Addae notes that if the medical team deems radiation for lymphoma necessary, it’s important to receive the treatment
Post-menopausal weight gain

There are proactive things you can do to decrease your risk of breast cancer as well

Cut out smoking
Decrease the amount of alcohol you drink
Know your family history

Making an appointment with your doctor for a screening, along with self-examination of your breasts, are good ways to keep an eye on things, Dr. Addae adds.

For more information on breast cancer and programs and services available, head to the OSF HealthCare website.

O'Donovan Clan gets together Sept 5-7 in Cork

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:14:01 GMT

The O'Donovan Clan Cultural Association Assembly will take place Sepember 5-7, 2025 in Clonakilty and Skibbereen, West Cork. Descendants of O'Donovan and Donovan ancestry will gather for history and genealogy lectures, roundtable discussions, social and sporting events, a gala film screening, Sunday banquet and visit to Castle Donovan. More details are at: odonovanclan.org.

The Cattaraugus County Museum County (Machias, New York) Hosts Genealogy Lecture, ‘Between the Census Years’

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 01:19:30 GMT

The Cattaraugus County Museum’s annual “Summer at the Stone House” event series will conclude its 2025 season Thursday, Aug. 28, with a presentation by an expert in genealogical research.

The talk, “Between the Census Years,” will be given by Jeanette Sheliga, an educator, blogger, lecturer and librarian from Lockport.

“In addition to city directories and newspapers, there are many other records that you may find your ancestors listed in to help bridge the gap between censuses,” Sheliga explained. “This presentation will explore numerous sources such as maps, voter lists, church records, membership directories, local government proceedings and more.”

In the fall of 2020, she became the Virtual Genealogical Society’s (VGA) corresponding secretary and was elected to become a member of the board of directors for the Western New York Genealogical Society (WNYGS). While serving on the board for WNYGS, she became a contributing editor for the WNYGS’s quarterly publication, The Journal, and was selected as the programming chair.

For more information on Sheliga, visit eanettesgenealogy.com.

The program will be livestreamed on the museum’s YouTube channel for those who are unable to attend in person. A link to the livestream will be posted on the museum’s Facebook page closer to the date of the event.

The Cattaraugus County Museum is located in the Stone House, 9824 Route 16, in Machias.

For more information, visit www.cattco.org/museum or call (716) 353-8200.

Darren Criss, Kristin Chenoweth, More Will Explore Their Genealogy in Finding Your Roots

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 01:13:58 GMT

PBS' genealogical history series Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr., which will launch its 12th season next year, has assembled a number of Broadway favorites to join host Gates and learn about their surprising ancestry. The season begins airing on PBS stations January 6, 2026.

Featured in episodes this season will be Broadway alum Kristin Chenoweth, Liza Colón-Zayas, Darren Criss, Tracy Letts, Spike Lee, Sanaa Lathan, Barry Diller, and Delroy Lindo, along with Lizzy Caplan, Danielle Deadwyler, America Ferrera, Flea, Rhiannon Giddens, Wiz Khalifa, Lizzo, Spike Lee, Brittney Griner, Chris Paul, Sara Haines, and Hasan Minhaj.

The series invites celebrities to learn about their family backgrounds, with a team of genealogical experts digging into the people that came before them and uncovering the often untold stories from their past.

“I am thrilled to announce another season of Finding Your Roots filled with inspiring stories from our wonderful guests that further show us that at the level of the genome, we are all 99% the same despite the forces that try to divide us," says Gates in a statement. "It’s especially important to all of us at Finding Your Roots that our viewers know, despite the loss of federal funding for public television, our show, and PBS are not going anywhere. We encourage everyone to support PBS by becoming a member of your local PBS station if you aren’t already, and continuing to spread the word about the great work PBS is doing.”

Rare Pearl Harbor Navy Logbook Available to the Public, 19th Amendment, Ford Trivia Night

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 01:07:04 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives amd Records Administration:

Rare Pearl Harbor Navy Logbook Recovered & Available

Read About The Recovery Efforts In The Washington Post

Entries from Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Pearl Harbor Navy Yard Logbook, December 6-7, 1941. NAID: 552663772

19th Amendment

Today in history: 105 years ago —on August 18, 1920— the 19th amendmentwas ratified. The 19th amendment legally guarantees all American women the right to vote. Achieving this historic milestone required decades of advocacy, which will be explained and documented in the National Archives’ upcoming new museum experience, The American Story, set to open on October 23, 2025 at the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C.

Joint Resolution of Congress proposing a constitutional amendment extending the right of suffrage to women. NAID: 596314

Ford Trivia Night

All are invited to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET, for Ford After Five: Trivia Night! Enjoy rounds of themed trivia covering history and pop culture with fun audio and visual clues with Matt Eickhoff of Here's Your Host! The games will be played in teams (up to four members) so come with a group or join a team on the spot.

Click here to register for this free event.

Ford After Five Trivia Night Flyer

The “Lost” 1820 U.S. Census Records Have Been Found

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:40:00 GMT

The U.S. Census records for the extreme northern strip of land in Maine have been missing for more than 150 years, but now have been found. In fact, a transcription of those missing census records is even available on the World Wide Web. I found some of my ancestors listed on the Web site, more than 40 years after I first looked for them in the National Archives microfilm! (That was before the microfilms became available online.)

In 1820, the land of the Saint John River Valley in what is now Maine and New Brunswick was disputed territory, claimed by both the United States and Great Britain. A government official, such as an American census enumerator, could be arrested and incarcerated by the British authorities if he dared to enter this disputed territory. Likewise, British authorities who entered the disputed land also were in danger of arrest and even imprisonment.

When I found the towns were not listed in the 1820 U.S. census records on National Archives microfilm no. M33, reel no. 38, I assumed that the census takers (enumerators) never set foot in the disputed territory. It seems that I was wrong.

When looking at the same microfilm, Chip Gagnon noticed that, at the end of those same records, enumerator True Bradbury listed the total number of people in each of the towns in the Upper Saint John River Valley, including even those towns missing on the microfilm copy. If Mr. Bradbury knew exactly how many people lived there, Chip realized, then he must have visited each household and recorded the information. So, what happened to his hand-written records?

As explained on Chip’s Web site, one must consider the history of the area in 1820 and about twenty years thereafter. This disputed land was a cause of much difficulty and many negotiations between the governments of the United States and Great Britain. Remember, too, that this was only a few years after the War of 1812; these two governments still maintained an adversarial relationship. Eventually, the King of the Netherlands arbitrated a decision that determined the exact boundary between the United States and Canada in 1831. Following on this decision, the 1842 Webster-Ashburton Treaty finally settled the border between Maine and New Brunswick without bloodshed.

THE GREEN BROKEN LINE SHOWS THE RESULTS OF THE WEBSTER-ASHBURTON TREATY.

As part of the process of determining the boundary, someone apparently decided to document how many people were involved in this land dispute. After all, citizenship and property were involved. The only records of the residents were those of the U.S. census. It appears that the census records of the Saint John River Valley were separated from the rest of the census records, probably in 1828, to be used as part of the arbitration process. Apparently, the records were never returned to the original repository.

As Chip Gagnon states on his Web site:

“I recently went to Washington DC to look for the original returns in the National Archives. I searched through the records of the State Department related to the border dispute. In the documents related to that dispute I found the handwritten manuscript copy of the published document that I cite below. Included was the copy of returns for Madawaska, New Limerick and Houlton. The copy was made in 1828 by the Clerk of the US Court for the District of Maine (where the 1820 census returns were deposited). This copy was then sent to Washington for inclusion in the documentation being prepared for submission to the arbitrator.

“The document is a handwritten copy made from the original and certified as such. I have included the text of the certification at the end of the transcription of Madawaska. What we learn from this certification is that an original copy of the returns was present in the District Court of Maine as late as 1828. But we also learn that the State Department did not have the original version of the census returns, relying rather on this copy. I would also hazard to guess that the British government too had requested a copy of these returns in its preparation for its own arguments on the border.

“Given these facts, it seems probable that when the returns were pulled in 1828 in order to make a copy for the arbitration document, they were not returned to their original place. Thus when the returns were all sent to Washington, the Madawaska, Houlton and New Limerick returns were not included. The question remains, however, whether they are somewhere in Maine. I am currently trying to determine that fact.”

NOTE: The records Chip Gagnon refers to are for the towns of Madawaska, New Limerick and Houlton. However, those three townships covered many square miles in 1820. They have since been subdivided many times, and new towns formed. These records cover what now comprises several more towns in the Upper Saint John River Valley.

Not only are U.S. towns covered, but even several communities now in Canada were enumerated. In some cases, these may be the only census records of those Canadian towns at any time before 1851. Not many of us would think to look for residents of Canadian towns in “missing” U.S. census records.

I was delighted when I learned of Chip Gagnon’s hard work. His published listing contained the names of several of my ancestors that had not been listed in the U.S. census.

Much more information is available on Chip Gagnon’s website, including his transcriptions. You can find his excellent site at: http://www.upperstjohn.com/ and especially (in English and in French) at http://www.upperstjohn.com/1820.

Mineral Point Library Archives (in Mineral Point, Wisconsin) wins Governor’s Award for Archival Achievement

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:09:47 GMT

MINERAL POINT, WI — [August 14, 2025] — The Mineral Point Library Archives (MPLA), a community cornerstone dedicated to preserving local history for over 45 years, has been named the recipient of the Wisconsin Historical Society Governor’s Award for Archival Achievement. The award will be presented to Archivist Shan Thomas by Abbie Norderhaug, Deputy Director of Collections & State Archivist at the Wisconsin Historical Society. The public ceremony will be held at Mineral Point Library Park on Wednesday, August 20 at 1:00 PM. (If inclement weather, the event will be held in the lower level of the Mineral Point Library). Free tours of the Archives will follow the ceremony.

This prestigious recognition celebrates a transformational four-year effort led by Thomas to bring the MPLA to national archival standards, ensuring the long-term preservation and accessibility of Mineral Point’s rich and diverse historical record.

“This award recognizes the dedication of so many people—past and present—who have contributed to preserving Mineral Point’s legacy,” said Shan Thomas, who has served as archivist since 2020. “It’s an extraordinary honor, and one we share with the entire community.”

A Local Archive of National Significance

Mineral Point’s story is as layered as its limestone bluffs, shaped by Cornish and Welsh miners, African American settlers, immigrant entrepreneurs, frontier women, farmers, artists, and civic leaders. The MPLA preserves and tells these stories through 135 collections encompassing over 10,000 photographs, 225 maps, architectural drawings, oral histories, diaries, and family papers.

The Archives began in 1964 with a donation of 136 personal letters between President Woodrow Wilson and two Mineral Point brothers, David Benton Jones and Thomas Davis Jones—classmates and confidants from the Princeton Class of 1879. A second foundational gift arrived in 1980 from Bob Neal, local preservationist and co-founder of Pendarvis Historic Site, whose collection included maps, photographs, papers, and volumes on regional history.

Over the decades, the holdings grew steadily with subsequent acquisitions including, the Allen Ludden Papers, the Civil War Letters and Diaries of Sidney Shepard, the Women’s Club Records (founders of the Library), the Iowa County Fair Records, the Dr. Lawrence Graber Papers, the Early Family Papers (a freed black man and his children), and numerous smaller collections, diaries, oral histories, maps, and architectural plans. The MPLA also became the repository for records of permanent value of the City of Mineral Point.

Once housed in the basement of the Library, in 2012 the Archives moved to a renovated top-floor space, but lacked formal organization or trained oversight—until Shan Thomas took the helm.

A Four-Year Transformation

A professional archivist trained at Oberlin College, Thomas brought expertise from her previous role as Director of the Luther College Archives. Under her direction and with support from Library leadership, the MPLA was completely reorganized:

Collections were properly arranged, described, boxed, and inventoried
Modern finding aids, accession logs, and policy manuals were created
Digitization efforts expanded, with metadata standardized using Dublin Core
A newly designed website is being developed to share digitized images and media online
A reference library of 534 volumes was cataloged into the South West Library System
New archival storage systems and flat files were installed
Hundreds of research queries are answered annually, serving local residents, national scholars, and family historians

In addition to preserving documents and photographs, Thomas has curated a growing permanent collection of original artwork by Mineral Point artists, now on display throughout the Library. With 97 works by 51 local artists, this visual archive celebrates Mineral Point’s long-standing role as an arts colony and cultural hub. The collection has become the “Museum of Mineral Point Art” within the Library—dedicated to honoring the town’s remarkable artistic legacy.

Today, the Archives are open 12 public hours per week, 52 weeks a year, totaling over 600 staffed hours annually—an effort that is effectively doubled thanks to the dedication of a skilled team of volunteers. The Archives support local storytelling, historical scholarship, architecture research, and cultural institutions including Mineral Point Historical Society, PBS, Wisconsin Historical Society publications, and Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts.

Event Details

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | 1:00 PM
Mineral Point Library Park (next to the Mineral Point Library, 137 High St.)
Free and open to the public. All are welcome to celebrate this achievement.

This award not only honors the work of Shan Thomas and the MPLA but also affirms the value of local history and community memory. Join us as we recognize this important milestone in Wisconsin archival preservation.

Genealogy IDs 1986 Missing Woman Whose Boyfriend was Jailed for 2 Murders

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 22:46:09 GMT

Carol Ann Riley

On May 16, 1987, a person rounding up steers around Bonelli Landing at Lake Mead found a human skull on the ground. A further search of the area resulted in the discovery of additional remains buried in a shallow grave, wrapped in a yellow blanket.

The remains were those of a female thought to be between 20-40 years, 5’3”-5’7”, 105-120 pounds with light brown hair. Attempts to identify her at the time were unsuccessful, but a forensic odontologist was able to complete an NCIC Unidentified Person Dental Report and enter it into NamUs. The Jane Doe was listed as NamUs UP9836 and assigned MCSO DR#87-1943.

In 2011, MCSO detectives were contacted by investigators in Austin, Texas, believing that Jane Doe was a missing person from their jurisdiction. A comparison conducted by NamUs with her dental records proved to be a negative match. MCSO detectives were then able to send bone remains to the University of North Texas (UNT), where a DNA profile was obtained and entered into CODIS and remaining extract was secured and stored for future examination.

In April 2024, investigators from the MCSO Special Investigations Unit (SIU), who were now assigned the case, contacted UNT to determine if the remaining extract was of sufficient quality and amount in which to conduct a forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) investigation. They were told the sample was too degraded for analysis of this type.

In February 2025, SIU investigators sent portions of the victim’s clothing and the blanket in which she was wrapped to the DPS Lab in Flagstaff to attempt to obtain a DNA extracted sample sufficient and suitable for FGG. This was also unsuccessful. In addition, attempts to identify her were further hindered when investigators learned that her skeletal remains had been cremated in 2016 and her ashes scattered at an unknown location.

On July 15, 2025, SIU investigators were contacted by personnel at the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office. An email indicated that a forensic odontologist and staff from the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit, California Department of Justice, had worked on a dental comparison of the Jane Doe victim and Carol Ann Riley, a person missing in 1986 from San Diego County, California, case # 86-030036, NamUs MP9411. As a result of their comparison, they positively identified Jane Doe as Carol Ann Riley, DOB 12-13-1943.

Riley was a nurse who worked at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego. At the time of her disappearance, she was dating a man known to her as Robert Howard Smith. She had a dinner date scheduled with him on the date of her disappearance and told friends that she was planning to break up with him.

When interviewed, Smith told police that Riley had canceled the date. Two days later, Smith left town and dropped out of sight. Detectives investigating Smith discovered that his real name was Robert Dean Weeks and had a history of going by false names. They also found out that his ex-wife, Patricia Weeks, disappeared from Clark County, Nevada, on April 25, 1968, a few weeks after their divorce was finalized. He had also dated a real estate agent who disappeared, a woman by the name of Cynthia Jabour. She had a dinner date scheduled with him and intended to end their relationship. She was last seen on Oct. 5, 1980. To add to these cases, Weeks’ business associate, James Shaw, was last seen on Oct. 5, 1971. He disappeared after having an argument with Weeks and his bloodstained vehicle was found abandoned in a Las Vegas parking lot. Their bodies were never found.

In April 1987, the investigation involving Weeks was aired on the television show Unsolved Mysteries. A warrant had been issued for his arrest due to fraud and embezzlement charges from his business. As a result of viewer response, Weeks was located and arrested in Tucson, Arizona.

In April 1988, Weeks was convicted of the murder of his wife, Patricia Weeks and Cynthia Jabour, despite their bodies never being found. He was never charged with the murder of Riley and Shaw. He was sentenced to life in prison in Nevada and died there on Sept. 20, 1996.

Genealogy Virtual Mentor Session

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 22:43:36 GMT

Get assistance with your genealogy research from a member of the Northern Arizona Genealogy Society. Please come prepared with a specific question or problem and a genealogy mentor will help guide you in your research.

This is a virtual session via Zoom and registration is required. Zoom information will be sent after registration. For tips and tricks on using Zoom, please see our guide.

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) announces NGS 2026 Family History Conference—America at 250 Call for Proposals

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 22:23:32 GMT

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is pleased to announce the theme for the NGS 2026 Family History Conference—America at 250. The conference is scheduled for 27–30 May 2026 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Our theme, America at 250, invites us to consider the full span of stories and experiences that have shaped this nation—not just its founding moments, but the generations that followed. We envision a program of sessions, workshops, and interactive experiences that reflect the many ways individuals, families, and communities have lived through, contributed to, and been affected by the unfolding American story.

Deadline to submit: September 3, 2025, 11:59 PM EDT

Call for Proposals – NGS 2026 Family History Conference

Theme: America at 250

The National Genealogical Society invites innovative proposals for its 2026 Family History Conference, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, our theme—America at 250—encourages reflection on the stories, communities, and research strategies that help us understand the nation’s past and how genealogists can preserve it for the future.

What We’re Looking For

We welcome proposals that reflect the diversity of approaches, experiences, and records used to explore American family history. We especially encourage sessions that:

share compelling case studies, clear methodologies, or strategies for tackling common research challenges;
introduce tools, methods, or sources that attendees can try right away;
help genealogists navigate complex or conflicting records;
illustrate and interpret historical and social context;
bring fresh perspectives or creative solutions to family history research;
encourage thoughtful discussion, collaborative learning, or audience engagement; and
tie into the conference theme of “America at 250” such as through historical context, civic memory, or reflection on generational change.

Session Formats

We welcome proposals for the following formats:

Traditional Lecture (60 minutes)

A structured, one-hour presentation including time for questions and answers. Ideal for methodology, historical context, record analysis, and case studies. Lectures should include practical takeaways.

Interactive Session (60 minutes – limited capacity of about 75 people)

Held in our dedicated interactive learning room. These sessions emphasize practice, collaboration, or hands-on learning using worksheets, case packets, maps, visual tools, or guided discussion. Please note: Power and computers are not provided.

Spotlight Session (25 minutes)

Short, focused talks of 25 minutes or less (think “Tik Talks”) that introduce a case, tool, concept, or provocative question. Ideal for new voices, intriguing projects, or focused topics tied to the conference theme. Think about combining TED Talk principles with the engaging, direct style of TikTok as you consider your proposal (see https://publicwords.com/2013/04/30/how-to-prepare-a-20-minute-ted-like-talk/).

Panel Discussion (25 minutes or 60 minutes)

A moderated conversation among two to four panelists offering different perspectives on a shared topic related to the conference theme, America at 250. Panels should emphasize thoughtful dialogue and include time for audience interaction. Panel discussions can be proposed as either a 60-minute interactive session or a 25-minute spotlight session. We also welcome suggestions for a spotlight talk paired with a spotlight panel discussion.

James Dent Walker Memorial Lecture Series

NGS and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) seek proposals for (a) African American/black family history research lectures, and (b) lectures on any topic by lecturers of color. AAHGS members receive preference, but everyone is encouraged to submit proposals for inclusion in this series. Proposals may take the form of a traditional lecture, interactive session, or spotlight session.

Sponsored Lectures

We will accept a limited number of lecture proposals from sponsoring organizations and companies. Sponsors pay speakers directly and must have a sponsorship agreement with NGS.

Pre-Conference Workshops

We welcome proposals for pre-conference workshops that offer in-depth, hands-on learning aligned with the topics listed above. Workshops should emphasize applied skills and active participation. Two formats are available:

Traditional hands-on workshops (1.5 hours or 3 hours) Three-hour workshops will include a short break at the midpoint to align with the overall schedule and allow for room transitions. These sessions will be held in a standard classroom setting with tables; participants may be encouraged to bring their own devices.

Computer lab workshops (1 or 2 hours; max 18 participants)

We have access to a small computer lab at the Allen County Public Library for short-format, hands-on computer sessions. Proposals should include specific details about the activities and any required software or online access.

All pre-conference workshops require separate registration and fees.

IMPORTANT: Before submitting a workshop proposal, you must email the program co-chairs to discuss potential requirements, including equipment needs, registration caps, space design, registration fees, and revenue sharing.

Other Creative Session Proposals

Do you have an innovative idea that doesn’t fit our standard formats? We welcome proposals for creative, in-person-only experiences that bring fresh approaches to genealogical learning. Whether it is a unique interactive format or a creative presentation approach, we want to hear your ideas. Please contact the program co-chairs to discuss such ideas before submitting your proposal through the online system.

Session Themes & Topic Areas

All sessions must tie into the “America at 250” theme, which focuses on the entire 250 years of American family history, not just the Revolutionary period. Proposals, for example, could address (but are not limited to) American family history through:

examining migration and mobility across centuries;
using land, military, tax, and court records as storytelling tools;
uncovering the stories of enslaved persons, indigenous communities, immigrants, and overlooked populations;
engaging in genealogy as civic practice to address memory, justice, and reparative work;
applying DNA and 21st-century tools to explore 250 years of family history;
writing, preserving, and sharing family and community stories; and
sharing technology and methods that enhance historical discovery.

How to Propose

Use the submission portal to submit proposals for main conference sessions (28–30 May), pre-conference workshops (27 May), or sponsored sessions for the main conference.

NGS members receive first consideration as speakers.

Speakers may submit up to six proposals electronically. Each submitted proposal should include the following information:

Session Title: (max 14 words)

Session Summary: (max 160 characters) A short summary for the program brochure.

Session Description: (max 2,000 characters) Your description should:

clearly explain the session’s focus and main topic(s)

describe what attendees will learn or be able to do after the session

explain how you will structure the session to support learning and engage your audience

identify how your topic connects to the “America at 250” theme

(for interactive sessions only) describe how you will structure your session to actively engage participants.

Optional Outline: (max 1,500 characters) You may include a short, bulleted outline (3–5 points) summarizing the structure or major themes of the session.

Session Format: (select one)

Audience Level: (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, or All Levels). If you select All Levels, your proposal should explain how the session will offer meaningful takeaways for both newer and more experienced genealogists. For intermediate and advanced sessions, we encourage proposals that include entry points or context to help motivated beginners engage with the material—without diluting the content or limiting depth.

Speaker Biography: (max 160 characters)

Speaker’s Recent Teaching Experience: A list of national or regional conferences, in-person workshops, or institute or other online courses where the speaker has presented in the past three years.

NOTE FOR NEWER SPEAKERS: We encourage newer speakers to submit proposals for the conference, however we may ask you to provide a recording of an earlier presentation for review.

We seek fresh, innovative sessions that bring new ideas, approaches, or case studies to our attendees. Our goal is to offer content that participants are unlikely to have seen elsewhere in a similar format.

Please tell us on the proposal form if your presentation (or a substantially similar version) has been presented, proposed, or scheduled elsewhere before May 2026. This includes presentations given at regional, state, or national conferences, recorded for widely accessible platforms (such as Legacy Family Tree Webinars), offered online with free public access, or available free online.

While priority will be given to new and original presentations, we may also consider sessions that have been significantly updated from earlier versions or adapted for this conference’s audience.

Speaker Honorarium and Expense Reimbursement

Speakers receive a $300 honorarium, complimentary conference registration (appx. $350 value), and up to $500 in reimbursable travel expenses (receipts required) for a total compensation value of approximately $1100 for a one-hour session. If you are selected to present more than one session, you will receive a $300 honorarium and additional travel expense reimbursement of $200 for each additional session

Spotlight Session speakers will receive a flat rate of $200 per 25-minute session. Expense reimbursement and conference registration not included.

Workshop presenters negotiate revenue sharing with NGS based on total capacity, registration fee, and other factors, including NGS expenses and a management fee.

Speaker Selection Process

The program committee will review proposals through a multi-step evaluation process. In the initial phase, we evaluate proposals without submitter names to support fairness and prioritize content quality, clarity, and relevance to the conference theme. The final program will reflect a balance of session types, experience levels, and perspectives, all connected to the conference theme, America at 250. Final selections are based on the following criteria:

relevance to the conference theme
quality and clarity of learning outcomes
applicability to genealogists at one or more levels
format fit and potential for in-person engagement
presenter expertise relevant to the proposed topic
contribution to diversity in voice, region, and perspective.

Proposal Preparation

We have a free webinar, Becoming a Better Conference Speaker: Proposals and Preparations, on our YouTube channel. We encourage you to view the video before beginning the proposal process. Topics covered include lecture proposals, presentations, syllabus materials, communications, and delivery.

Proposal Acceptance

We will send acceptance notifications and speaker contracts in the fall of 2025. Syllabus material, due 1 March 2026, is required for each main conference lecture, spotlight presentation, and interactive session, and will be included in the compendium distributed to all conference registrants.

Session Recordings

Like the 2025 conference, NGS will provide lecture recordings via the conference app to paid registrants until mid-August, allowing us to provide every attendee with every lecture. All speakers agree to have their slides and audio (no speaker video) recorded live from the Grand Wayne Convention Center. Speakers who wish can allow NGS to market those recordings after mid-August 2026 for additional compensation.

Questions?

Contact Lauren Henretty (lhenretty@ngsgenealogy.org) with questions about session formats, the theme, or the submission process.

Deadline to submit: September 3, 2025, 11:59 PM EDT

Unseen WWII Letters and Diaries Released for VJ Day's 80th Anniversary

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 14:00:53 GMT

A powerful collection of wartime letters, diaries, and photographs – never before shared with the public – has been unveiled online today to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

The Watson Collection, released as part of the Their Finest Hour project at the University of Oxford, tells the story of Frank Watson, an RAF serviceman captured by Japanese forces in 1942, and his wife May, who waited more than four years for his return. Frank’s journey took him from the fall of Singapore to a brutal POW camp in Japan, where he endured forced labour, beatings, and near-starvation. Back in Orpington, May wrote to Frank almost daily, not knowing if he was alive. While Britain celebrated VE Day, Frank remained in captivity. His long-awaited return came months later, to a country eager to move on.

The story is told through more than 2,600 scanned items, including diary entries, official documents, handwritten memoirs, photographs, mementos from captivity, and May’s letters – many never sent or intended for others to read.

Dr Matthew Kidd, who prepared the materials for publication, said: ‘The Watson Collection offers an unusually complete picture of wartime life, both overseas and at home. It is incredibly rich, honest, moving, and full of material that will be of interest to anyone interested in the human side of the war.’

The digitisation was funded by Andrew Watson, the couple’s son, who generously made the materials publicly accessible through the Their Finest Hour Online Archive. The collection is freely available to explore online from today.

2025 Family History & Genealogy Fair Saturday, August 23, 2025 in Gastonia, North Carolina

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:52:29 GMT

Visit the Main Library on Saturday, August 23, 2025 (08/23/2025) for the Family History and Genealogy Fair!

Drop in and meet representatives from genealogy, family history, and local history organizations between 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. No reservation is required.

Professional Genealogist Diane L. Richard will present two programs on August 23, 2025, at the Gaston County Public Library in Gastonia, N.C. Sponsored by Friends of the Gaston County Public Library.

EVENT SCHEDULE

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Meet representatives from local historical societies, genealogy or family history organizations, and museums

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM A “Hand-out” for Your Poor Ancestors: Local Parishes, and Counties Stepped Up. Presentation by Diane L. Richard. [You may also continue to meet with organizations]

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Meet representatives from local historical societies, genealogy or family history organizations, and museums

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Let’s Focus on Colonial Records – Off-the-Beaten-Track Resources and Documenting Our Female Ancestors. Presentation by Diane L. Richard.

Diane L. Richard is a nationally recognized Professional Genealogist with special expertise in researching North Carolina records of all types. She is the owner of Mosaic Research and Project Management, and co-leader of Tar Heel Discoveries, which provides guided North Carolina genealogical research support one-on-one or via a weeklong program.

Diane has M.Eng. and M.B.A. degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She has been doing genealogy research since 1987 and since 2004 professionally focused on the records of North Carolina, other Southern States and migration paths to the Mississippi River.

Since 2006 she has authored almost 300 articles on genealogical topics for a variety of publications including Internet Genealogy and Your Genealogy Today (was Family Chronicle). From 2010-2017, Diane served as the editor of Upfront with NGS, the blog of the National Genealogical Society and published over 2000 posts. She is current editor of the North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal and past editor of Wake Treasures, the journal of the Wake County Genealogical Society. She is a member of the national and local chapters of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the National Genealogical Society. She has researched NC roots for the popular TV show Who Do You Think You Are? and appeared on the Bryan Cranston episode. She also appeared on The Dead Files season 12, episode 7 “Detox”.

She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG) and as a speaker she has done webinars (coast-to-coast), conference presentations (FGS, NGS, TxSGS, FxGS, NERGC, SCGS Jamboree, etc), workshops, and local meeting programs about the availability and richness of records documenting North Carolinians, genealogical research techniques and tips, under-utilized resource collections and much more.

A “Hand-out” for Your Poor Ancestors: Local Parishes, and Counties Stepped Up. Presentation by Diane L. Richard.

11:00 AM

Providing relief to those in need is not a modern concept. Throughout history, the records reflect the provision for assistance or relief to those in need. Whether one received food, a dispensation to not pay taxes, support money for a bastard child, was apprenticed, hospitalized in a sanitarium, or facing other struggles, they may have been the recipient of some form of relief for the poor.

Let’s Focus on Colonial Records – Off-the-Beaten-Track Resources and Documenting Our Female Ancestors.

1:00 PM

Details on “where” to look for colonial records and the gaps that exist in them. Includes examples of places where women “would” be documented in the colonial era.

Discover Doctors, Nurses & Medical Staff in TheGenealogist’s Latest Release

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:29:28 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at TheGenealogist:

TheGenealogist is pleased to announce the release of a fascinating collection of historic occupational records for medical and nursing professionals, opening new research opportunities for family historians.

These newly added publications cover doctors, surgeons and nurses from the mid-19th to mid-20th century and contain nearly 200,000 names. Researchers can now explore details such as qualifications, training, addresses and career histories, invaluable for building a fuller picture of an ancestor’s life.

Included in this release is Sophia Jex-Blake, one of the most influential figures in British medical history. As the first female doctor to practise in Scotland and a leader in the fight for women’s access to medical education, her entry sits alongside those of thousands of other medical professionals from the era. Read her story here:www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/from-victorian-roots-to-medical-pioneer-8732/.

[ Sophia Jex-Blake in the newly released Medical Records ]

Mark Bayley, Head of Content at TheGenealogist, says:

“These directories provide a detailed snapshot of the lives of medical professionals, from the pioneers who broke barriers to the everyday practitioners who served their communities. For family historians, they offer an invaluable source of biographical detail that can bring your ancestor’s story to life.”

The new records are available now to all Diamond subscribers at TheGenealogist.co.uk.

The new records include: The Medical Register 1897; The Medical Register 1906; The Medical Register 1939; Medical Directory for Ireland 1856; Register of Nurses for Scotland 1947; Register of Nurses for Scotland 1948.

Don’t miss out! For a limited time, you can subscribe to TheGenealogist for just £118.95 - Save Over £75

Not only will you get a lifetime discount, but you'll also receive a 12-Month Subscription to Discover Your Ancestors Online Magazine!

Explore these new records and start your genealogical journey today with TheGenealogist by claiming this offer here:https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBMED825

Offer expires 30th November 2025.

About TheGenealogist

TheGenealogist uses the latest technology to help you bring your family history to life. Use TheGenealogist to find your ancestors today!

####

State of Delaware: Explore the Archives’ New Interactive Historical Markers Map

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 12:13:16 GMT

The Delaware Public Archives is excited to announce the launch of an enhanced State of Delaware Historical Markers Map, now available on our website. Built on ArcGIS in collaboration with DE FirstMap, this dynamic tool brings Delaware’s rich history to your fingertips.

With just a few clicks, users can explore all the state’s official historical markers, discover detailed information about each site, and easily navigate to related content on our website. The map offers powerful filtering options, allowing you to search by marker category, city, and Historical Categories such as America’s 250th anniversary, Black History, Hundreds, Native American heritage, and Women’s History.

Whether you’re planning a road trip, researching local history, or simply curious about the stories that shaped the First State, the State of Delaware Historical Markers Map is your gateway to exploring Delaware’s past in an interactive, user-friendly format.

Discover it now at: https://archives.delaware.gov/delaware-historical-markers/

If you have questions, or for more information, please email historicalmarkers@delaware.gov.

About the State of Delaware Historical Markers Program:

The State of Delaware Historical Markers Program traces its origins to 1929, when Governor C. Douglass Buck appointed a committee to review Delaware’s notable historic sites and develop a way to identify them. In 1931, the General Assembly of Delaware passed an act establishing a commission to erect historical markers throughout the state. The markers in each county were numbered sequentially as they were proposed, preceded by NC (New Castle), K (Kent), and S (Sussex) to note the county in which they were located. Since the 1930s, the State of Delaware has erected over 700 markers. The Delaware Public Archives has administered the Historical Markers Program since 1990.

For more information about the Delaware Public Archives or to learn more about events and other items of interest at the Archives, visit the website at archives.delaware.gov.

78-Year-Old Gets Life for Stabbing Teen 59 Times in 1982

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 11:59:39 GMT

A California man has been sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl 40 years ago. Gary Gene Ramirez, 78, entered a no contest plea in May to the murder of Karen Stitt, who was stabbed 59 times after she was left waiting at a bus stop in Palo Alto in 1982.

Karen was on a date with her boyfriend David Woods on September 2, 1982, where they played video games and mini-golf before he dropped her off at the bus stop just after midnight. Woods left the teen, who was waiting for the route 22 bus to take her the 10-mile (16km) journey home to Sunnyvale, after he became anxious about being late and his parents finding out.

A delivery driver found the girl’s naked body behind a blood-stained cinder block wall just 100 yards from the bus stop the next morning. She had been stabbed in the neck, abdomen and chest and had her wrists tied with her shirt, with her jacket tied around her ankle.

Breakthrough After Decades

Police had been baffled by the crime for almost 40 years until a tip-off in 2019 told them Karen’s killer was one of four brothers from Fresno, California. Detectives then started working with genetic genealogy experts who compared DNA found at the crime scene with samples from the brothers’ children.

This led them to Ramirez, who was arrested at his home in Maui, Hawaii on August 2, 2022. The 75-year-old simply replied: “Oh, my gosh” when police approached him.

Ramirez had led an unassuming life with no prior criminal record and had various jobs, including working as an exterminator in Hawaii after serving in the US Air Force. He had been married twice and had two children and nobody had ever suspected he was involved in one of the West Coast’s most notorious unsolved crimes.

Emotional Sentencing Hearing

At his no contest plea, Ramirez sat motionless in the courtroom as victim impact statements were read out. Karen’s best friend Tracy Lancaster said: “Since Karen was brutally taken from us, there have been many unanswered questions - ‘why’ being the biggest.”

Friend Michael Calhoun added: “Just because you’ve been caught, finally, and you will start serving your sentence - your punishment for your brutally gruesome crime - there will still never be closure. Karen is gone. We will never get her back.”

Karen’s boyfriend David Woods, who was on that final date with her, was in court with his wife for the hearing. He told the court: “His heinous crime, that ended her life in such a horrific way, has caused deep heartache and continued suffering for the many that loved Karen Stitt.”

Ramirez was sentenced to life in prison and will only be eligible for parole after 25 years. Karen’s father and sister had died before seeing justice done, but her remaining family members expressed relief at finally getting answers after more than four decades of uncertainty.

New Roving Archivist to Help Preserve Wyoming’s Historical Treasures

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 11:51:14 GMT

Wyoming’s museums, historical societies, archives and cultural heritage institutions can access free, professional archival expertise through the Wyoming Roving Archivist Program.

The program is welcoming Morgan Stence as the new roving archivist, ready to visit institutions across the state to help preserve and share Wyoming’s irreplaceable historical collections.

“We know that many of Wyoming’s cultural heritage institutions want to better care for their collection, but may not know where to start or lack the resources for professional consultation,” Marcie Blaylock, reference historian and archivist for the Wyoming State Archives, said in a news release. “The Roving Archivist Program brings that expertise directly to you — at no cost to your institution.”

The program offers comprehensive, on-site assessments that help institutions understand their collections’ needs and develop realistic improvement plans.

Applications are now open, and institutions across Wyoming are encouraged to apply. The program serves museums, historical societies, archives, libraries with special collections, tribal cultural centers and any organization caring for historical materials.

Apply online at tinyurl.com/wyo-roving-archivist-app.

For more information about the Roving Archivist Program, visit online at rovingarchivist.wyo.gov.

Library Exhibit Highlights Local League of Women Voters History - Ohio University

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 11:13:29 GMT

Throughout the fall, visitors at Ohio University’s Alden Library will have an opportunity to view historical materials collected by the League of Women Voters of Athens County (LWVAC) in a student-curated exhibit. The exhibit will be on display on the 4th floor and will be celebrated with an opening reception on September 16th at 6pm in the 4th floor lounge.

The exhibit, Venturing Into Voting , includes publications, pamphlets, and ephemera which document the League’s history of activism and outreach since the Athens County chapter formed in April 1949. While the materials cover a wide range of issues spanning 70+ years, they also underscore the organization’s steadfast mission to promote informed voting.

Materials featured in the exhibit are sourced from the LWVAC records, an archival collection housed in the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections. Since 1972, LWVAC organizers have donated local League records, publications, research files, and memorabilia to the Libraries’ archives where they can be accessed by students and researchers.

During the spring 2025 semester, Manuscripts Archives Intern, Alexis Reynolds, was tasked with processing the LWVAC records. Under the supervision of Manuscripts Archivist, Greta Suiter, she reviewed, arranged, and documented more than 30 boxes of content to be added to the collection finding aid so that future users can navigate it with ease. Reynolds reflects on this experience in a blog post, noting the connection between past and present through LWVAC’s 75-year legacy and continuous involvement here in Athens.

Reynolds, a junior studying English and World Religions, also curated the exhibition which highlights some of the unique artifacts she uncovered while processing the collection. In addition to national publications, the display features documents, reports, and print materials produced by the League’s local chapter.

Items selected for display illustrate the broad range of issues addressed by LWV throughout the years, including civil rights, climate action, health care reform, foreign policy, and more. According to Reynolds, “anyone who sees these pamphlets will understand just by looking at them that LWV was involved in various different issues across the years, some or all of which are still relevant today.”

The exhibit opening planned for September 16th coincides with National Voter Registration Day and will feature remarks from Professor Emerita Dr. Katherine Jellison about her involvement with the League.

For more information, please contact Greta Suiter at suiter@ohio.edu.

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) pamphlets and sticker, circa 1971

"The Negro in Athens" civil rights survey booklet, 1964

Ontario Ancestors 2026 Webinar Series Call For Speakers

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 11:00:09 GMT

Ontario Ancestors is currently accepting proposals for our monthly 2026 Webinar Series. Our live webinars will take place on the first Thursday of the month at 7pm ET using the Zoom platform. These sessions are open to everyone.

Topics of Interest

We invite proposals on a wide range of topics, but the most popular topics for our members are:

Methods and Tools for Research - AI use in Genealogy, Where to Research - Archives, Digital Collections,

Municipalities, Public Libraries, Universities, Organizing & Storing Digital & Physical Records, Research

Methodology & Procedures (proof standards, citation, copyright...), DNA/Genetic Genealogy –

Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced, Research Planning/Execution – effective & efficient

Preserving and Communicating Our Family History - Writing/Publishing Your Family History, Preserving

Family Heirlooms & Photographs, Personal Legacy & Genealogy Will, Contributing to Your Genealogy

Community (indexing, transcribing, donating, volunteering, mentoring, researching), Writing/Publishing

Using Digital Media – Blogs, Social Media, Websites

Records for Research - Land Records (Ontario & Canada), County-specific Research Resources,

Immigration Records, Newspapers, Cemeteries, Religious Records

Researching Ethnic, Religious and Cultural Communities - Protestant Ancestors, Female Ancestors /

Women’s History, Catholic Ancestors, Quaker Ancestors, Indigenous Ancestors.

We are looking for topics on basic, intermediate and advanced levels. Selected speakers need to be prepared to provide Ontario and/or Canadian specific examples in their presentations as applicable.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: Monday, September 15, 2025 at 11:59pm ET. To submit your proposal please follow this link: https://ogs.on.ca/webinar-submissions/.

Further Information

Speakers may submit up to 3 proposals for consideration.

All submissions will be reviewed but only those chosen will be contacted by Monday, October 1st.

All other submissions will be retained and reviewed throughout the year for potential series, mini-conferences or special topic webinars in the future.

Those chosen speakers will receive an honorarium for their webinar presentation.

About Ontario Ancestors

The Ontario Genealogical Society, founded in 1961, is the leading society in all aspects of Ontario-related family history research, preservation and communication. Our mission is to encourage, bring together and assist those interested in the pursuit of family history and to preserve our Ontario genealogical heritage. The Ontario Genealogical Society is the largest genealogical society inmCanada. Visit us at https:/ /ogs.on.ca

If you have any questions, please contact: Kim Barnsdale at webinar@ogs.on.ca.

Stephen White, World's Foremost Expert on Acadian Genealogy, Has Died

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 23:07:05 GMT

Stephen White, who wrote the definitive publication on the early Acadians, "The Genealogical Dictionary of Acadian Families," died Aug. 13.

He was 78 years old and died in a nursing home.

White was born in Massachusetts and is of Acadian descent. He was a resident of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

After becoming a lawyer, he spent 49 years fulfilling his life's work as a full-time genealogist at the Anselme-Chiasson Centre for Acadian Studies at the University of Moncton.

White "dedicated his whole life to preparing the genealogy of every Acadian in the world," Warren Perrin of Lafayette said.

Perrin, an author, attorney and advocate for preserving the Acadians' heritage, said White was "the foremost expert on Cajun genealogy in the world."

White visited Louisiana several times, Perrin said, and would help anyone who asked with their genealogy.

He was awarded many honors for his work, including the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and in May was named an Honorary Member of the Order of Canada, the second-highest award of merit in Canada. He also belonged to several Acadian family associations, including the Fédération Associations de Familles Acadiennes.

The first Acadians were residents of France who, in the 1600s, settled first in Port-Royale, Nova Scotia, then colonized other parts of Canada's Maritime region.

In the mid-1700s, the British gained control of the region called Acadia and deported the Acadians in what is now called the Great Upheaval or Le Grand Dérangement. Many made their way to Louisiana where their descendants today are called Cajuns.

Official Opening of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland Museum and Local History & Archives

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 20:43:07 GMT

A new museum telling the story of Clydebank through a range of never-before-displayed objects was officially opened today.

The facility – located in the basement of Clydebank Library – features displays on the town’s proud industrial past from the world-famous Singer Sewing Machine production to the iconic shipbuilding legacy of John Brown’s and Beardmore Yard .

It also commemorates the bravery and resilience of the people of Clydebank during World War II, when the town was hit by one of the worst bomb strikes in Europe, as well as remembering those who lost their lives during those two days, now known as the Clydebank Blitz.

Members of the public, including two survivors of the Clydebank Blitz, were joined by elected members at the museum today to mark its official opening, while also marking the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Day when WWII ended on 15 August 1945.

Councillor William Rooney, Convener of Corporate Services, said: “We’re proud to officially open Clydebank Museum, and it is all the more poignant that we are also marking the anniversary of VJ Day, which signalled the end of World War II, today.

“The Clydebank Blitz has shaped this town, and the museum provides a fantastic opportunity and insight into the strength and spirit of its people in the aftermath, so it’s fitting that we are marking both occasions today.

“This is an absolutely fantastic space which has something of interest for everyone — whether you're looking to trace your family history, explore the town’s industrial roots, or simply enjoy learning more about the place we call home. It's an important part of how we preserve our shared story for future generations.”

The space features a wide range of objects, photographs and artwork reflecting life in the community as well as offering digital access to historical newspapers, maps, and family records.

It has been designed to be welcoming and easy to use, with helpful staff on hand and facilities including digital terminals and a dedicated research room. Community groups and schools are also encouraged to make use of the new centre, with group visits and workshops available to book through the Council.

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, Vice-Convener of Corporate Services, added: “This new space brings history to life in a way that’s accessible and engaging. It’s not just about looking back—it’s about helping people connect with the stories and heritage that continue to shape Clydebank today.”

The museum and archive is open Monday to Saturday, with late opening on Thursdays. Admission is free.

To find out more about opening hours, current displays, and how to book a group visit, go to https://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/leisure-parks-events/museums-and-galleries/clydebank-museum-and-local-history-archives/

Family Day at Carter Library, The Boy Next Door, The Cartoons of Clifford Berryman

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 18:46:35 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Family Day at Carter Library

Bring your little ones to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, in Atlanta, GA, on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 10 a.m. ET for a Family Day in honor of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Free children's books will be provided and authors will be there to read their books to the kids. A meet and greet to follow and free crafts will be available.

The Boy Next Door

On Tuesday, August 19, at 6 p.m. CT, come celebrate President Bill Clinton’s 79th birthday with Carolyn Staley and the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, AR, during a special event entitled “The Boy Next Door.” During the talk, Staley will reflect on her remarkable 60-year friendship with President Bill Clinton, beginning as neighbors and classmates in high school and continuing through years of near-constant correspondence during his time as governor and president.

The Cartoons of Clifford Berryman

The visual nature of political cartoons are unlike any other form of political commentary, and the creative license offered often captures unique historical perspectives.

Running for Office: Candidates, Campaigns, & the Cartoons of Clifford Berryman, an online exhibit from the National Archives, highlights pieces by renowned cartoonist Clifford K. Berryman, that illustrate the campaign process from the candidates’ decision to run for office to the ultimate outcome of the election.

As an added bonus, all the cartoons and images in the virtual exhibit can be downloaded and printed!

This cartoon, printed before the 1948 Presidential election, shows Progressive Party candidate Henry Wallace "flip-flopping"- that is, changing positions - on defense policy.

NAID: 306115

Born In Two Places? Solving Conflicting Evidence

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:43:39 GMT

The following is a press release issued by the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Public Library:

Levenson Room

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Anyone who delves into their family history soon discovers a common frustration: records don’t always tell the same story. Names diverge, dates contradict, place names don’t make sense. When the paper trail splits in two, how do you decide which path leads to the truth? Fortunately, there are a handful of effective strategies that can help you sift through the inconsistencies and find the facts about your ancestors.

No registration required! Just drop in.

About the Presenter

For nearly three decades, B.J. Jamieson has pursued the stories hidden in her family tree, with research adventures that have taken her from local archives to Scotland and Ireland. She has been helping others track down their wayward relatives for almost as long. Along the way, she has earned graduate degrees in both library science and genealogy to improve her research skills.

Lowest Price This Year Extended: MyHeritage DNA for Just $29!

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:46:33 GMT

Just a quick update — the $29 DNA kit sale has been extended through August 17! This is the lowest price this year, and there are just a few more days to grab it.

MyHeritage DNA is just $29

If you have been curious about DNA testing, now’s a great time to explore it. MyHeritage offers:

An ethnicity breakdown across 79 ethnicities and 2,114 regions
A global DNA database of over 9 million users
Powerful DNA tools to understand how matches are related
Ancient Origins: a unique feature that traces origins back 10,000 years

Access to advanced DNA tools and Ancient Origins is available with a Complete or Omni subscription, or a free trial.

http://myheritage.com

New Roving Archivist Ready to Help Preserve Wyoming's Historical Treasures

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:30:09 GMT

Wyoming's museums, historical societies, archives and cultural heritage institutions can access free, professional archival expertise through the Wyoming Roving Archivist Program.

The program is excited to welcome Morgan Stence as the new roving archivist, ready to visit institutions across the state to help preserve and share Wyoming's irreplaceable historical collections.

"We know that many of Wyoming's cultural heritage institutions want to better care for their collection, but may not know where to start or lack the resources for professional consultation," said Marcie Blaylock, reference historian and archivist for the Wyoming State Archives. "The Roving Archivist Program brings that expertise directly to you – at no cost to your institution."

The program offers comprehensive, on-site assessments that help institutions understand their collections' needs and develop realistic improvement plans.

Apply online at tinyurl.com/wyo-roving-archivist-app.

Learn more about the Roving Archivist Program by visiting rovingarchivist.wyo.gov.

Vanessa St.Oegger-Menn Receives Spotlight Award From Society of American Archivists

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:17:28 GMT

Vanessa St.Oegger-Menn, Pan Am 103 archivist and assistant university archivist in the Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center, has been announced as the 2025 recipient of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) Spotlight Award.

Created in 2005, the award acknowledges contributions made by those who work in service to the profession and archival collections and whose work may not usually receive public acknowledgment.

St.Oegger-Menn earned an M.A. in 20-century British literature at California State University, Long Beach and she also has a master of library and information science with an emphasis in archives and cultural heritage preservation from the School of Information Studies.

In SAA, St.Oegger-Menn has served in a crucial role in SAA’s efforts to support archivists and communities who collect in times of crisis. In 2018, she was a member of the initial Tragedy Response Initiative Task Force which was convened to create and compile resources for archivists dealing with sudden tragedy.

The Task Force later grew into the Crisis, Disaster and Tragedy Response Working Group (CDTRWG) with responsibility to maintain and update SAA’s “Documenting in Times of Crisis: A Resource Kit,” develop immediate and on-going resources for archivists facing crises and develop partnerships with organizations whose relief efforts focus on cultural organizations.St.Oegger-Menn was invited to serve as one of the co-chairs of the first incarnation of the working group.

In this capacity, she has had an enormous impact on the work of this group.She has led essential efforts to build organizational infrastructure and to identify workflows to keep projects on track and worked with committee members and council liaisons to surmount obstacles.

St.Oegger-Menn has also served as one of the group’s most steadfast advocates by representing CDTRWG through speaking engagements and at regional, national and international conferences. She has co-presented on the working group to a host of internal and external organizations, including the Art Libraries Society of North America and the Australian Society of Archivists.

She co-authored an article in 2023 for SAA’s magazine, Archival Outlook, that detailed the working group’s efforts and has facilitated the working group’s ongoing speaker series. Upon her time for transitioning out of the role of co-chair, St.Oegger-Menn developed a plan for a post-chair transition to provide support to incoming co-chairs and she also agreed to remain on the working group and co-lead the Collaboration and Outreach subcommittee.

The hard work and empathy St.Oegger-Menn has brought to her work has not gone unnoticed by her colleagues. Through her work with trauma-informed archives, she has worked indefatigably to support archivists in times of crisis. As her nominator, Kara McClurken, pointed out in her nomination letter, “Her passion, her empathy and her experiences through the working group and through her position as the Pan Am 103 archivist at Syracuse University have been essential to the creation of a supportive and sustainable low-cost support network to archivists and communities experiencing trauma … Long after her time on the working group is over, the infrastructure, the tools, and the community she has fostered will serve as a legacy to her dedication to the cause.”

First Families of Muskingum County, Ohio

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:19:18 GMT

How long has your family lived in Muskingum County? Could they have been among the first to call Zanesville home? Brooke Anderson from the Muskingum County Genealogical Society will give a presentation about how to discover if your ancestors were among the first residents of Muskingum County, and how to join First Families of Muskingum County.

Wednesday, August 20
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Ohio University Zanesville – Herrold Hall1425 Newark Road, Zanesville, OH, 43701

www.muskingumcountyhistory.org

www.muskingumcountyhistory.org/muskingum-250

www.ohio.edu/zanesville & www.muskingumlibrary.org/

https://www.historyplace.com/specials/calendar/august.htm

Coconino County, Arizona Creates Unidentified Remains Task Force

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 22:27:48 GMT

Coconino County has officially established an Unidentified Remains Task Force, a specialized team dedicated to identifying unknown deceased individuals and reconnecting them with their families.

The task force includes experts from the Medical Examiner’s Office, Health and Human Services Department, Information Technology Department, Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney’s Office who reexamine historical cases involving unidentified remains with modern investigative tools.

“We’re not just solving cold cases — we’re restoring identities, returning dignity to those who have died without a name, and getting answers families have waited years to find,” County Attorney Ammon Barker said.

For decades, some families in Coconino County have lived with unanswered questions about missing loved ones. Advances in forensic science including DNA sequencing, forensic genealogy and digital facial reconstruction, now make it possible to revisit these cases with fresh hope.

The task force is reviewing a backlog of unidentified remains dating as far back as the 1960s, combining physical evidence with modern databases like the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System or NamUs, Combined DNA Index System, and Forensic Genetic Genealogy to begin matching remains to missing persons reports.

“Technology is evolving at an extraordinary pace,” Chief Information Officer Matt Fowler said. “Having the ability to analyze significantly larger number of genetic markers compared to traditional forensic DNA profiling enables the identification of relatives, even distant ones, through shared genetic information. We are excited to bring closure to families by leveraging today’s technology.”

The success of the task force will also rely on the community. County officials are urging families with missing loved ones to come forward, particularly those who have never submitted a DNA sample.

“You might hold the one detail that connects the dots,” County Sheriff Bret Axlund said. “We’re asking for your stories, your photos, your DNA to help solve these cases.”

To support this effort, the County will host a series of free DNA collection events, open public forums, and informational sessions to encourage participation and foster trust. A dedicated team of family liaisons and victim advocates will also be available to assist those navigating the process.

With this initiative, Coconino County is leading with both science and empathy, proving that even decades-old cases can still be solved when the right people, tools, and commitment come together.

Visit coconino.az.gov/unidentifiedremains or e-mail URTF@coconino.az.govfor more information or to contribute to the initiative.

UK Charity Starts Crowdfunder for Free Probate Records Website

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:17:06 GMT

A crowdfunding campaign is seeking donations to help pay for a new website to transcribe probate records.

UK-based charity Free UK Genealogy, which runs websites FreeBMD (civil birth, marriage and death records), FreeREG (parish registers) and FreeCEN (census records), has announced that it is planning to create a new website, FreePRO, to host free transcriptions of probate records.

CEO Denise Colbert said that the charity is looking to digitise a collection of 800 volumes of probate calendars, which date from 1853 (a year before civil registration of probate was introduced, in 1858) to 1943.

Richard Light, who is leading the project and volunteers to handle technical aspects of website development, said the 800 volumes would be transcribed using optical character recognition (OCR), before being checked by human volunteers.

“We are trying to keep very close to our slogan of ‘Human transcription for family history data’”, Denise Colbert said. “We feel like that’s something that sets us apart from the bigger boys. It’s always a human that has eyes on the record before it’s published. While we are using OCR to process these images, each record will have had eyes on it by a transcriber who knows what they’re doing and tidies each record up. I think that’s quite topical in this age of AI.”

Denise Colbert also said that FreePRO will offer a more flexible search facility than the government’s Find a Will website, allowing searches on points of entry such as the deceased’s occupation, the value of the estate and the date of death down to the exact day and month.

Free UK Genealogy is currently eyeing a tentative launch date of 2026 for FreePRO.

The charity is aiming to raise £40,000 to pay for the initial digitisation of the 800 books.

An initial online crowdfunder set a target of £10,000 to be reached by a deadline of 5pm on Friday 29 August, and has so far raised £2600.

Denise Colbert said the aim for the initial crowdfunding round is to raise £10,000 in pledges, then to raise a further £10,000 in match funding from charitable initiative The Big Give’s Champion partners. The charity would then try to raise the remaining money through The Big Give’s Christmas Challenge fundraising campaign at the end of the year.

Free UK Genealogy is also actively seeking corporate donors, especially businesses that use probate records, and those that have an older demographic in their customer base. Rewards offered to corporate donors include promotion on campaign pages, emails, newsletters and social media accounts.

Ancestry Partners with the WWII Veterans History Project to Preserve the Stories of 80 WWII Veterans and Help Uncover Countless Others

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 14:56:31 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at Ancestry.com:

About the WWII Veterans History Project:

The WWII Veterans History Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to give the past a future, one story at a time. We're dedicated to educating and inspiring future generations to better appreciate the sacrifices made by the greatest generation through documentary films, traveling museum exhibitions, and educational programs. Founded by Benjamin Mack-Jackson in 2015, our organization has impacted veterans and students alike, preserving countless war stories and encouraging students to reflect on the past and its lasting impact.

London law firm Edwin Coe

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 14:42:03 GMT

London law firm Edwin Coe has snapped up Hoopers (G B Hooper & Son Limited), an established genealogical research business.

The acquisition is part of Edwin Coe’s strategy of developing a multi-disciplinary practice with barristers, chartered tax advisers and trade mark attorneys among its staff. The firm said the deal also reflects the trend amongst some law firms to have independent businesses owned alongside the legal practice.

Colombian Presidential Hopeful Uribe Dies Two Months After Shooting

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:36:20 GMT

Colombian Senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe, who was shot in the head at a campaign event two months ago, died in the early hours of Monday, his family and the hospital treating him said. He was 39.

Uribe, from the right-wing opposition, was shot in Bogota on June 7 as he was giving a speech at a rally, in an attack that shocked the nation.

His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, announced his death on social media. “I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you,” she wrote. “Rest in peace, love of my life, I will take care of our children.”

The capital’s Santa Fe Foundation hospital – where supporters held regular vigils during his treatment – said over the weekend his condition had worsened because of a hemorrhage in his central nervous system.

Former President Alvaro Uribe, the leader of the senator’s Democratic Center party and no relation to the deceased Colombian Senator, wrote on X that “evil destroys everything; they killed hope”.

“May Miguel’s fight be a light that illuminates Colombia’s right path,” added the former president, who was sentenced by a judge earlier this month to 12 years of house arrest for abuse of process and bribery of a public official.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X he was deeply saddened by the news. “The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible.”

Six people are under arrest over the Colombian Senator shooting, including two men that the attorney general’s office says met in Medellin to plan the assassination.

A 15-year-old accused of carrying out the shooting was arrested within hours of the crime, but police have said they are pursuing the “intellectual authors” of the attack.

In a video of the boy’s June arrest, independently verified by Reuters, he can be heard shouting that he had been hired by a local drug dealer.

FRAUGHT FAMILY HISTORY

There is reward of up to 3 billion pesos (about $740,000) for information leading to the identification and capture of those responsible, the defense minister has said. The United States, Britain and the United Arab Emirates are helping with the investigation.

The death of Senator Miguel Uribe, a father and stepfather, adds further tragedy to his family’s fraught history.

His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in 1991 during a botched rescue mission after she was kidnapped by the Medellin Cartel, headed by drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Miguel Uribe himself enjoyed a rapid political rise, becoming a recognized lawmaker for the right-wing Democratic Center party and presidential hopeful known for his sharp criticism of leftist President Gustavo Petro’s administration.

At 25, he was elected to Bogota’s city council, where he was a prominent opponent of Petro, then the capital’s mayor, criticizing his handling of waste management and social programs.

In the 2022 legislative elections, Uribe led the Senate slate for the Democratic Center party with the slogan “Colombia First,” winning a seat in the chamber.

His maternal grandfather, Julio Cesar Turbay, was Colombia’s president from 1978 to 1982, while his paternal grandfather, Rodrigo Uribe Echavarria, headed the Liberal Party and supported Virgilio Barco’s successful 1986 presidential campaign.

Besides his wife, son and stepdaughters, Miguel Uribe is also survived by his father and sister.

Opening the Vault: The Beginning of Our Union, 70th Anniversary: The Presidential Libraries Act of 1955, Behind the Musical: Alexander Hamilton Documents

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:12:47 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Opening the Vault: The Beginning of Our Union

France played a critical role in supporting the United States as it fought for independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War and the Marquis de Lafayette was a key broker in this bilateral relationship.

The National Archives invites you to view the latest rotation of Opening the Vault: The Beginning of Union, now on display at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, through November 6, 2025. Explore Marquis de Lafayette's Oath of Allegiance, the Articles of Association, the Treaty of Alliance with France, and more.

Articles of Association, page 3, October 20, 1774

NAID: 6277397

70th Anniversary: The Presidential Libraries Act of 1955

On August 12, 1955, Congress passed the Presidential Libraries Act, which established a federal system for preserving the papers, records and other historical materials of U.S. Presidents. Such materials include letters written by citizens to Presidents (and vice versa) as well as many artifacts. The Act was later amended in 1986.

Gold tiara decorated with colored stones from the Atlas Mountains. Presented to Eleanor Roosevelt on January 22, 1943, by the Sultan of Morocco, Sidi Mohammed.

FDR Library Museum Collection, MO 1943.191.3.

Behind the Musical: Alexander Hamilton Documents

August 6, 2025 was the 10th anniversary of the opening of “Hamilton,” the Broadway musical. Discover primary resources in the National Archives, such as Alexander Hamilton’s Oath of Allegiance, George Washington’s nomination of Hamilton as Secretary for the Department of the Treasury, and Hamilton’s Statement of Property and Debts on the DocsTeach website.

Alexander Hamilton's Oath of Allegiance, May 12, 1778

NAID: 2524343

More National Archives News

Contact the National Archives: public.affairs@nara.gov

National Archives and Records Administration, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408

National Association of Black Bookstores Officially Launches to Champion Black Literary Culture

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 13:57:58 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the National Association of Black Bookstores:

Inspired by the legacy of the country's first Black-owned bookstores and the remarkable individuals behind them, the official launch of the National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2) took place today. As a first-of-its-kind national organization, NAB2 has been built to unify, elevate, and empower Black-owned bookstores across the country.

NAB2 is a nonprofit collective created to promote literacy, amplify Black voices, and preserve Black culture by increasing the visibility, sustainability, and impact of Black bookstores and booksellers. The organization represents a powerful step toward creating long-term infrastructure and collective advocacy for one of the most vital cultural cornerstones of Black America.

"For decades Black bookstores have been the connective tissue in communities across the nation. Many of us have talked for years about the power of collective action and now, with the founding of NAB2 we have the ability to institutionalize policies and practices that will allow for the further growth and flourishing of these important institutions"— Blanche Richardson, Founding Board Member and Owner, Marcus Books

The organization's inaugural board includes trailblazers from some of the country's most historic and impactful Black bookstores. Many of these are now being led by third, fourth and fifth generation family member bookstore owners including Marshall's Music and Books (Jackson, MS), Hakim's Bookstore (Philadelphia, PA), Marcus Books(Oakland, CA), and Source Booksellers (Detroit, MI). NAB2's multi-tiered membership model invites bookstore owners, professional booksellers, and at-large industry allies, authors, publishers, and distributors, to join in shaping a national agenda rooted in equity, culture, and commerce.

"My mother, Mother Rose, founded and ran Underground Books in Oak Park. My involvement in the National Association of Black Bookstores is deeply personal. It's a way for me to honor her legacy and ensure that the stories, voices, and spaces she cherished continue to thrive," said Kevin Johnson, Founder, National Association of Black Bookstores.

The core priorities of the organization are as follows:

Elevating the Black bookstore community by offering professional resources, increased visibility, and a strong network of support;
Expanding representation in the bookselling industry by supporting long-term financial sustainability and growth;
Leveraging economies of scale to benefit both current and future Black bookstores and booksellers;
Serving as a collective voice for Black bookstores through advocacy and public engagement;
Educating the public about the rich history and enduring legacy of Black bookstores in America.

Structured with a full board of directors, advisory board, and general membership body, NAB2 plans to convene virtually and in person throughout the year, with key events slated during Black Lit Weekend in New York (August 15–16) and the Sacramento Black Book Fair (September 12–13).

For more information, to become a member, or to support NAB2, visit www.nab2.org or follow @nab2blk on social platforms.

About the National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2)

The National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2) is the first and only national organization dedicated to empowering Black-owned bookstores and booksellers. Founded in 2025, NAB2 exists to promote literacy, amplify Black voices, and preserve Black cultural heritage by strengthening the visibility, sustainability, and impact of Black bookstores across the United States. Through advocacy, education, strategic partnerships, and a unified membership network, NAB2 supports Black literary spaces as engines of community, commerce, and cultural change. Learn more at www.nab2.org and follow @nab2blk on social platforms.

CariGenetics Launches Genealogy Consultation Service

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 13:31:52 GMT

CariGenetics has launched MyLineage a “genealogy consultation service that empowers Bermudians to trace their ancestry as far back as the 1600s, through a powerful database of over 140,000 Bermudians.”

A spokesperson said, “Launched at the ‘Bermudian Heartbeats’ Law to Legacy Unravelling the Narrative’ series on August 7, the debut of MyLineage gave attendees the opportunity to speak directly with the team, ask questions, and sign up for the service on the spot.

“In a strategic partnership with Dane Simmons Sr., one of Bermuda’s leading genealogist, MyLineage offers clients unprecedented access to deep family history and identity restoration, rooted in both genetic data and a comprehensive Bermudian family database built over two decades.

What Makes This Service Unique:

Draws from a robust, privately curated Bermudian database of 140,000 individuals, 45,000 marriages and over 18,800 photos

Trace back up to 8 generations — connects clients to family lines previously lost to migration, slavery, or adoption

Private and culturally sensitive

Service Features:

Exclusive launch offer — enjoy a 2-hour private genealogy consultation for the price of 1, now just $299

Optional follow-up sessions

Clients receive personalised reports

None public family-matching with no data-sharing

“Of note, persons who want to use the service do not need to provide any sensitive personal information.”

“Tracing your family line back up to eight generations can be a life-changing moment,” said Dr Carika Weldon, Founder and Director of Research at CariGenetics. “For so many Bermudians, including those of African, Azorean, European, or Native American descent, the stories of who we are have been fragmented. MyLineage is about putting those pieces back together.”

“For over 20 years, I’ve been piecing together the story of Bermuda — one name, one family, one generation at a time. What we’ve found is powerful: every Bermudian is connected, regardless of background. Through this partnership with CariGenetics, we now have the platform to share these connections, allowing any Bermudian to tap into their rich historical record. It’s a pathway for Bermudians to discover where they truly come from and how we’ve always been woven together. MyLineage is more than a family tree — it’s a living archive.”

The spokesperson said, “For further details about the MyLineage service or to schedule a consultation, visit www.carigenetics.com/mylineage.”

From Bronze Age to Byzantium: Ancient DNA Maps 5,000 Years of Life in the Caucasus

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 21:27:06 GMT

A peer-reviewed article released in Cell reconstructed 5,000 years of population history in the Southern Caucasus through ancient DNA from 230 individuals recovered at 50 sites in present-day Georgia and Armenia. The investigation, led by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Tbilisi State University, and partner institutions within the Max Planck - Harvard Research Center for the Archaeoscience of the Ancient Mediterranean, generated a genome-wide dataset spanning the Early Bronze Age (about 3500 BCE) to the early Middle Ages (about 500 CE).

“The consistency of a deeply rooted local gene pool over numerous changes in material culture is extraordinary,” said population geneticist Harald Ringbauer.

The authors reported that, despite successive shifts in political control and material culture, the region retained a largely stable ancestry profile. Limited gene flow occurred during the Bronze Age, with partial contributions from Anatolia and the Eurasian steppe, but local continuity dominated.

Late Antique urban centers such as Mtskheta and Samshvilde displayed marked genetic diversity. “Historical sources mention how the Caucasus Mountains served both as a barrier and a corridor for migration during Late Antiquity. Our study shows that increased individual mobility was a key feature of the emerging urban centers in the region,” said co-lead author Xiaowen Jia, according to Medievalists.net. Many city dwellers carried ancestry from Central Asia, the Levant, and Anatolia, and shared few close biological ties with one another, while residents of rural villages were often closely related, reflecting endogamy.

One striking result involved early medieval burials from the Iberian Kingdom (eastern Georgia) that showed intentional cranial deformation. “We identified numerous individuals with deformed skulls who were genetically Central Asian, and we even found direct genealogical links to the Avars and Huns, yet most of these individuals were locals, not migrants. This is a compelling example of the cultural adoption of a practice that was likely disseminated in the area by nomadic groups,” said lead author Eirini Skourtanioti.

Historical sources described the Darial Pass as a key corridor through which steppe groups such as the Alans entered the region, sometimes at the invitation of Iberian rulers. These movements, together with trade, pilgrimage, and diplomacy, reinforced the Southern Caucasus as a junction between Europe and Asia.

The study concluded that while cities remained open to newcomers—especially after the later phases of the Bronze Age—rural areas preserved tighter social networks, illustrating how genetic diversity collected in urban hubs without displacing long-standing local ancestry

Celebrity Site Says All MacLeods 'Linked to Trump'

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 13:20:52 GMT

In a sweeping claim guaranteed to rankle famed island genealogy expert Bill Lawson, a UK celebrity news website says if your surname is MacLeod, you're likely related to US President Donald Trump.

Tyla.com, part of the LADbible Group, not renowned for its background in family tree research, says MacLeod is one of the key surnames that could reveal a link to Donald Trump, whose mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, hailed from Tong in Lewis.

Tyla.com, which describes itself as an entertainment and lifestyle website, states MacLeods could be distantly related to the USA's Commander in Chief.

They allege: “Despite the Republican’s severe views on immigration in the States, the father-of-five himself comes from a family that hailed from Scotland.

"His mother, Mary Anne Macleod, moved from the UK to New York in 1930, but was born in the village of Tong on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides in 1912.

“In the States, she worked as a house servant until she met and married property developer Fred Trump.

“To this day, however, ‘MacLeod’ is still one of the most prevalent surnames in Scotland.

“There are also several different variations to the moniker, including McLeod, M’Leod, McCloud, Macleod, as per Stuff [a New Zealand website].”

They continue that Trump has never attempted to deny his UK-immigrant roots, and “actually owns a number of golf courses and resorts across his mother’s homeland.”

The piece by writer Rhianna Benson authoritatively concludes: “If you’re a Drumpf, or a MacLeod, you could have blood ties to the Oval Office occupier himself.”

The Trump surname article follows a recent article highlighting surnames linked to the UK Royal Family.

Read the full Tyla.com article.

In the event you are inspired to find a family connection to Donald John Trump, the best bet is to contact the Hebrides People Visitor Centre in Harris, which houses Bill Lawson’s 60-year archive of island family trees.

Bill Lawson is considered the foremost authority on Hebridean genealogy, and his work has helped thousands trace their roots back to the Outer Hebrides.

Qwant and Ecosia Debut Staan, a European Search Index That Aims to Take on Big Tech

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 20:42:46 GMT

European search engines Qwant and Ecosia said on Wednesday that they have both started serving search queries through an index they developed together, Staan, which aims to be a cheaper, more privacy-focused alternative to Google and Bing.

Last year, French privacy-focused search engine Qwant struck a joint venture with German non-profit search engine Ecosia to develop a European search index. Called European Search Perspective (EUSP), the JV now aims to serve around 50% of French queries and 33% of German queries by the end of the year.

Qwant said it is using the new index to power some of its features, like AI summaries for search, and Ecosia has plans to add some AI features soon to its platform, too.

EUSP is also in talks with companies to spur the adoption of its index for enabling search within apps. Notably, it is targeting chatbots, presenting Staan as a cheaper alternative to Google and Bing.

“If you’re using ChatGPT or any other AI chatbot, they all do knowledge grounding with web search … our index can power deep research and AI summary features. Google and Bing’s solutions are also pricey, and our index can offer power search features at a tenth of the cost,” Christian Kroll, CEO of Ecosia, told TechCrunch.

EUSP, like Proton, is pushing to develop a European tech stack that doesn’t rely on technology from the U.S. or China.

“The timing could not be more urgent. The outcome of the 2024 U.S. election has reminded European policymakers and innovators just how exposed Europe remains when it comes to core digital infrastructure. Much of Europe’s search, cloud, and AI layers are built on American Big Tech stacks, putting entire sectors — from journalism to climate tech — at the mercy of political or commercial agendas,” the companies said in a statement.

Kroll added that through this index, combined with European privacy laws, EUSP can offer a more privacy-friendly search solution as compared to its U.S. counterparts.

Free BCG-Sponsored Webinar

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 20:21:54 GMT

FREE BCG-SPONSORED WEBINAR

“From Statutes to Stories: Finding the Law for Family History”

by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, FUGA

Tuesday, August 19, 2025, 8:00 p.m. (EDT)

The laws our ancestors lived by can tell us a great deal about life in earlier times. Finding those laws, and the stories they tell, can be a daunting task, but—from colonial statutes to today, from the halls of Congress to the statehouses of 50 states—the choices legislators made about what laws were needed give a rich and deep context to family history.

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, FUGA. A genealogist with a law degree, Judy G. Russell is a lecturer, educator, and writer who enjoys helping others understand a wide variety of genealogical issues, including the interplay between genealogy and the law. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a law degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark. She holds the Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Lecturer credentials from the Board for Certification of Genealogists. She has worked as a newspaper reporter, trade association writer, legal investigator, defense attorney, federal prosecutor, law editor, and, until her retirement, was an adjunct member of the faculty at Rutgers Law School. Judy is a Colorado native with roots deep in the American South on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side.

BCG’s next free monthly webinar in conjunction with Legacy Family Tree Webinars is “From Statutes to Stories: Finding the Law for Family History” by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, FUGA. This webinar airs Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. EDT.

When you register before August 19 with our partner Legacy Family Tree Webinars(http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=9370), you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Anyone with schedule conflicts may access the webinar at no charge for one week after the broadcast on the Legacy Family Tree Webinars website.

Following the free period for this webinar, BCG receives a small commission if you view this or any BCG webinar by clicking our affiliate link (http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=6803).

To see the full list of BCG-sponsored webinars for 2025, visit the BCG blog SpringBoard(https://bcgcertification.org/free-bcg-sponsored-2025-webinars). For additional resources for genealogical education, please visit the BCG Learning Center (https://bcgcertification.org/learning).

Genealogy Event to Explore Inishowen’s Natural Heritage

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 20:15:07 GMT

The Clonmany Geneaology and Heritage Group is to hold a special event later this month celebrating the connection between the people of Inishowen (Ireland) and the natural world around them.

Celebrating Inishowen’s Natual Heritage will feature a fascinating exhibition of local photographs, historical artefacts and natural items that will tell the story of how local communities in the area have always depended on the rich flora and fauna of the region for survival, pleasure and peace of mind.

The exhibition will be held from midday until 4pm on Saturday the 23rd of August, and from 1pm to 4:30pm on Sunday the 24th of August – and entry is free.

It will also explore traditional practices such as farming, fishing, turf cutting, thatching, and the gathering of medicinal plants. Visitors will also learn how local people used the land and sea not just for food and shelter, but also for trade, warmth, and healing.

One of the most crucial parts of folklore in Inishowen that will be explored is the role of animals and plants.

According to the Clonmany Geneaology and Heritage Group, one such important story is the role of the robin.

“Many people believed the appearance of a robin soon after a bereavement was a sign that the departed person had come to give reassurance that he or she was at peace and happy. The appearance of another animal, however, was taken as a warning sign. Many fishermen would not go to sea if they encountered a fox on the road to the pier. Interestingly, the fishermen were equally worried if they met a red-haired woman on the road!”

The event includes a Walk & Talk in Straid at 12.00 noon, meeting at the Urris GAA car park at 11.45 am, and will include a visit to the Old Church. Topics for the talk will include the history of Straid and the Old Church, local ‘Big Houses’, Glenfield Army Camp, the nearby Souterrain, Straid’s connections to the British Royal Family, local wildlife folklore, and much more.

An added attraction will be another Walk and Talk in Clonmany Village, taking place immediately afterwards, provided by Clonmany Walking Tours (€7).

Anyone interested in that walk and talk can contact (083) 3875724 for further details.

Clonmany Genealogy & Heritage Group PRO, Hugh Farren, is encouraging people to come along to the Market House and enjoy the event.

“The exhibition will include scenic and wildlife photographs of the local area and from across Inishowen,” he said.

“Visitors will also see a collection of old objects and tools and learn about how they were used in everyday life. This is an opportunity to be reminded how important nature and natural resources were in the past, and how vital it is to protect them for future generations.”

For further information please contact:

Email: clonmanygenealogygroup@gmail.com.

Phone: (087) 0000938

Funding Sought for New Open Source Searchable Database of UK Probate Records

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:04:51 GMT

A free, charity-funded genealogy search service is launching a new probate service and is looking for financial support for the venture.

Free UK Genealogy is a registered charity dedicated to making historic UK family history records freely accessible online. The current websites, which include FreeBMD, FreeCEN, and FreeREG, provide access to historical records to help people discover their heritage and deepen their connection to the past.

Now the charity is aiming to launch FreePRO; a new searchable database of UK probate records providing the only free-to-access probate index of its kind, searchable by deceased and executor names, date, address, occupation, and more. The charity says it has the potential to unlock a ‘treasure trove of insights for genealogists, academics, solicitors, and heir hunters alike.’

“FreePRO brings together everything our charity stands for: innovation, public access, and the power of community,”

said Denise Colbert, Chief Operating Officer of Free UK Genealogy.

“By backing FreePRO, you’re not just supporting your business’s research potential and visibility; you’re helping thousands of people uncover their stories, connect with their roots, and preserve our shared heritage.”

The websites and content have to date been built by a passionate community of global volunteers, and our commitment to open data ensures that access to this information remains free for all. FreePRO is aiming to raise £40,000 to complete the launch. To access £20,000 in match funding, it must raise £10,000 in pledges by 30 August.

At this stage no money will be taken by the charity… pledges won’t be collected until December, only if Free UK Genealogy hit their full fundraising target.

In return for financial support, Free UK Genealogy can offer:

High visibility to a niche audience – Over 100 users per minute use the family history platforms. These are people actively researching their past — many of them looking for probate information.
Strong brand alignment – Reach solicitors, probate professionals, genealogists, and researchers in a trusted, relevant context.
Support a sector-leading project Be visibly associated with a flagship open data initiative — helping improve public access to information and powering thousands of personal stories.
Be part of something first – FreePRO will be the most detailed and searchable probate index in the UK.

Visibility Packages for Business Pledgers

Pledge Amount	Your Visibility
£300	Name + link featured on campaign pages, emails and newsletters
£500	Above, plus rotating logo placement on FreeBMD during the campaign
£1,000	Featured partner status — includes long-term visibility on the FreePRO website, spotlight on our socials, and press opportunities
Over £1,000	Contact Free UK Genealogy to discuss further options (ASAP to meet pledge deadline)

The deadline for pledges is the 29th August. More information on pledging can be found on The Big Give page.

Springfield (Missouri)'s Genealogy Library Will Close, but Society Members Say Mission Will Continue

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:52:56 GMT

The Ozarks Genealogical Society Library in Springfield announced it is closing its building and moving its collection to the Emerson Local History & Genealogy Center in St. Louis.

Reasons for the move, the library explained in an email to its members, is in part due to “an obvious trend that in-person use of our brick and mortar library has diminished as people access genealogy information online.”

OGS, however, will continue to provide free genealogy help through its programs and classes and member opportunities.

Micki Dischinger sat at the small desk in the Ozarks Genealogical Society Library on Aug. 1 watching fellow OGS members pack up books from the shelves into boxes. It was the desk she has sat at every Wednesday and Saturday for more than a decade.

She will no longer be at the library, which will be sold soon. The books and periodicals that lined the shelves are being sent to the Emerson Local History & Genealogy Center in St. Louis.

While the move makes Dischinger sad, she understands the reasons for the change. When she started volunteering at the library she would see three or four people each day. “Now we are lucky to have one person in a week,” she admitted. “There was a time when we would have a whole line of tables here and they would be full.”

One of the main reasons for those changes is the way people access genealogical information today with many increasingly turning to various online sources.

“Before the internet, genealogists were entirely reliant on either in-person visits to the locales where their ancestors lived or the published books that contained abstracted information from important records. Now that we have access to genealogical resources on the internet, our research has shifted,” explained Patti Hobbs, OGS president, in an email explaining the move to members.

While in-person visits to local courthouses and archives are still essential and published books that provide information are not always available online, having the new Ozarks Genealogical Society Collection available through inter-library loan will serve those needs, Hobbs added. Among those resources are probate records, land records, court records, tax records and military records, she explained. “The information abstracted into the books provide a shortcut to the research, particularly when traveling to the location is difficult.”

When OGS opened its library in a former church building on West Catalpa in 1985, it provided those important resources, including abstracts of those records. The building also served as a location for classes and conferences.When it is sold, the proceeds will go toward education and helping people with their genealogy and possibly providing additional database access, things OGS has been unable to do because its funds were devoted to supporting the aging building, Hobbs said.

Joe Fry knows firsthand about the needs and cost of maintaining the library building. An OGS member for 20 years, Fry has done much of that work. As an electrician, he installed the lighting. But he also did basic maintenance for years. He also did a lot of work on research for others. In fact, he is what is known as a “DNA Angel,” helping adoptees find their birth families through DNA and genealogical searches.

60th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, President Hoover’s Birthday, Progressing Toward Fully Electronic Records

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 19:21:15 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

60th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act

August 6, 2025, marked 60 years since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

The Voting Rights Act is now on display through August 27, 2025, at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC. In addition, visit the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum online to view photos from the signing of this historic piece of legislation.

The Voting Rights Act of August 6, 1965. NAID: 299909

President Hoover’s Birthday

Born on August 10, 1874, in West Branch, Iowa, Herbert Hoover would later found the Commission for Relief in Belgium during World War I, serve as Secretary of Commerce, and go on to become the 31st President of the United States.

Visit the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum online to learn more.

Herbert Hoover, President of U.S., ca. 1929. NAID: 523744202

Progressing Toward Fully Electronic Records

Federal agencies have made important strides in digital records management. About 71 percent of federal agencies reported meeting the deadline for managing their permanent records in an electronic format, according to William Fischer, Acting Chief Records Officer at the National Archives.

NARA recently issued a new guide for managing federal records that better accounts for electronic recordkeeping.

A researcher views an electronic record in the National Archives Catalog, September 21, 2018. NAID: 493463432

LHSC Donates 150 Years of London Healthcare History to Western Archives

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:17:17 GMT

London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has officially donated 152 boxes of historical records to Western University, preserving 150 years of local healthcare history in a public archive.

The materials, which date back to the late 1800s, include handwritten letters, photographs, documents, and artifacts from the region's earliest hospitals, such as South Street Hospital, the Beck Sanatorium, and the War Memorial Children's Hospital. They also contain records from Victoria and University Hospitals, and one of the earliest nursing training schools.

"This is a great acquisition for Western," Western archivist Anne Quirk said. "It tells the story of early healthcare in London through training notebooks, photos, correspondence, and even land purchase agreements for the tuberculosis sanatorium."

The donation marks a significant milestone for the hospital network, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

"It's a legacy of healthcare, not just locally, but across our region," said Deborah Wiseman, Vice President of Clinical Services at LHSC. "We were pioneers back in the 1800s, and we're still pioneers today."

The archives include records that were stored at Victoria Hospital and Children's Hospital for decades, often scattered across departments. According to LHSC, clinical librarian Darren Hamilton spearheaded the effort to gather and preserve the material before transferring them to Western's archives and research collection centre.

"There's a lot more to be discovered once we go into the boxes in more detail," said Quirk.

Archivists will now begin the painstaking process of organizing the collection, placing items in acid-free folders, and creating a searchable finding aid. Eventually, elements may be digitized for broader public access. Until then, the collection is available for in-person viewing in Western's reading room.

Items of note include training certificates from the Victoria Hospital School of Nursing dating back to 1883, photographs from tuberculosis sanatoriums, and vintage newsletters such as Vic Life, which in 1958 highlighted updates to the pharmacy department.

The records complement Western's existing holdings on medical history, including documents from the London Psychiatric Hospital and the London Regional Cancer Centre.

For Londoners curious to see some of the history now, a curated exhibit of LHSC's 150th anniversary is on display at the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame at 100 Kellogg Lane.

Lunch and Learn: Americanafest: Becoming a Collector, Curator, and Archivist (Nashville)

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:12:02 GMT

Part of the AmericanaFest lineup, this Lunch and Learn panel delves into the fascinating world of acquiring, preserving, and showcasing music related artifacts at museums, exhibits, and libraries. The discussion offers valuable insights into the multifaceted roles of collectors, curators, and archivists along with providing insights into building your own personal collection. Each panelist will share their perspectives and experiences so that anyone can learn how to create a new collection and donate to an existing institution. For scholars, educators, or individuals that have collections of their own, they'll get a chance to hear ways to utilize their collections for creative exhibits and future collaborations. Panelists include Dom Flemons, Vania Kinard, Holling Smith-Borne, Dr. Bryan Pierce and Tranae Chatman.

RSVP on Eventbrite

This Lunch and Learn event is in-person in the Museum's Digital Learning Center at 12:00 p.m. No RSVPs are required to attend this free event. It will also be livestreamed on the Museum's website at TNMuseum.org/Videos. If you have any questions, please email Public.Programs@tn.gov. Boxed lunches made by Apple Spice Nashville are available for purchase for $12.24 to enjoy during the event. The lunches will include a sandwich, chips, and a cookie. Lunch orders must be placed by noon on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Please order your boxed lunch on the ticket registration page.

MyHeritage DNA on Sale

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:35:25 GMT

This is a great opportunity for anyone who hasn’t tested yet to discover the power of DNA. MyHeritage offers a unique combination of global reach and powerful tools:

A detailed ethnicity breakdown across 79 ethnicities and 2,114 geographic regions
A growing international DNA database with over 9 million users
Advanced DNA tools that can help you understand how your matches are related to you
Ancient Origins, a unique feature that allows you to trace your origins back 10,000 years and discover the ancient civilizations you descend from

*Note that access to the advanced DNA tools and Ancient Origins is available as part of a Complete or Omni subscription or free trial.

International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies Comes to Fort Wayne, Indiana

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:30:04 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies:

FORT WAYNE, IN (August 6, 2025) – Visit Fort Wayne is excited to welcome the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) to Fort Wayne for their 2025 Annual Conference, August 10 – 14 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center. Most recently held in Philadelphia in 2024 and London, England in 2023, the group comes to Fort Wayne with an expected 1,000 attendees.

Registration is still open and IAJGS invites anyone interested in Jewish genealogy to sign up for the educational conference “to learn, to research, and most importantly, to share.”

The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library is world-renowned for its physical collection of genealogical items as well as its professional Genealogists on staff, led by Curt Witcher, Director of Special Collections and former president of both the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the National Genealogical Society (NGS), and the founding president of the Indiana Genealogical Society.

This asset in the Fort Wayne Community was the linchpin to hosting this highly acclaimed conference here in our city. “IAJGS is no stranger to the Genealogy Center at ACPL with its global status and reputation, so presenting the complete package with the award-winning hosting capabilities at the Grand Wayne Convention Center made a strong case for bringing their 2025 event to Fort Wayne,” said Josie O’Donnell, Senior Sales Manager at Visit Fort Wayne, who started talks with the organization in 2021 to secure this year’s conference.

Special thanks to the local Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogist Society (NEIJGS) Chapter with representative Irv Adler, who was instrumental in bringing this event to Fort Wayne. Adler says, "Embark on a transformative journey at the 45th IAJGS International Jewish Genealogy Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where the past comes alive. Delve into the rich tapestry of your ancestry, gain exclusive insights from world-renowned experts, and connect with a dynamic community dedicated to preserving the legacy of Jewish heritage. This is your chance to turn curiosity into discovery and stories into treasured memories."

Keynote Speaker CeCe Moore - Sunday, August 10: 7:00PM - 9:00PM
The 2025 keynote speaker will be CeCe Moore, a prominent American genetic genealogist, most recently known for her work on Finding Your Roots. Moore is also recognized for assisting law enforcement agencies in over 300 cold cases of high-profile human identification cases using DNA and genetic genealogy — even helping to solve the local April Tinsley case in 2018, 30 years after the homicide. The public is welcome to attend and can find tickets here. Advanced ticket sales are required. Ticket sales will end at 9:00PM on August 8. There will be no tickets sales at the door.

Learn more and sign up for the conference at IAJGS2025.org.

Genetic Testing Identifies Missing Boy With Ties to Philadelphia, Solving Decades-Old Cold Case

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:19:49 GMT

A cold case, involving the death of a 4-year-old boy with ties to the Philadelphia area, may now be solved after five decades.

Police in Fairfax County, Virginia, say genetic testing has identified the body of Carl Matthew Bryant.

A cold case, involving the death of a 4-year-old boy with ties to our area, may now be solved after five decades.

On June 13, 1972, the little boy's body was found under a bridge in Lorton, Virginia, according to Fairfax County police. The boy was was labeled a John Doe.

It was determined that he died from blunt force trauma and the case was ruled a homicide, police said.

For over 50 years, police worked to find his name and what caused his tragic murder.

Authorities said the breakthrough came thanks to genetic genealogy, which uses an unknown person's DNA to trace his or her family tree. His DNA profile was obtained from just a few millimeters of hair, police said, and then genetic genealogy helped detectives track the little boy's family to Philadelphia.

Through a relative, detectives zeroed in on Vera Bryant as the mother, police said.

In June 1972, detectives say Vera and her boyfriend James Hedgepeth -- who was a convicted murderer -- were traveling from Philadelphia to Hedgepeth's relatives in Middlesex County, Virginia, with Carl and his six-month-old brother.

However, when the couple arrived, they didn't have her sons with them, police said.

Then, over Thanksgiving in 1972, when the couple visited Vera Bryant's family in Philadelphia, Vera allegedly told them the children were in Virginia with Hedgepeth's family, police said. The couple never reported the boys missing, police added.

Vera died in 1980; her body was exhumed and DNA confirmed she was Carl's mom, police said. Hedgepeth has also since died.

Although Carl has a name, police are now searching for his little brother, James Bryant.

James has never been found.

Detectives believe the missing baby was killed around the same time as his older brother, police said.

At a news conference on Monday, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis praised the detectives who did the "hard work" to identify Carl.

"You still knock on doors, you still talk to family members, you still talk to potential witnesses," Davis said. He also highlighted the power of genetic genealogy, which he said allows the department to "bring closure far, far more often than we ever have."

"To see the extent of that boy's injuries and what he had suffered through, I'm happy to be here today announcing that at least we've identified him," detective Melissa Wallace added. "He can have his name, we can get him his name back on his gravestone and the family can have some semblance of closure or resolution."

The homicide investigation is ongoing. The Fairfax County Police Department urges anyone with information to call its Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2.

Williamsburg, Virginia Genealogy Conference will Tie Past With Present

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 12:48:04 GMT

The Williamsburg Area Genealogy Society will host its first-ever conference in September.

The Williamsburg Area Genealogy Society will host its first genealogy conference, “Discovering Your Ancestry Can Be Revolutionary,” Sept. 20 at the Reserve at Williamsburg Clubhouse.

After becoming a nonprofit this past spring, the WAGS team decided that the community was ready for a genealogy conference.

“Our theme is Discovering Your Ancestors Can be Revolutionary. As we are into the America 250! celebration, and there is perhaps greater interest in finding your ancestors, we thought this might be a great time to share resources, to learn about what work is being done in this community, to share ideas and help others with their own journey of finding their ancestors,” Debbie Misiag, president of WAGS, shared.

Multiple sessions are planned for the conference. William & Mary will present a panel discussion about the school’s research into The Bray School. There will also be a presentation on updates to Ancestry.com, a beginner class, a discussion on planning research trips and more.

The WAGS team has also booked a keynote speaker. Stuart Butler, a retired archivist from the National Archives, will discuss resources that the D.C.-based archives have available.

“We are excited to share our organization with the greater community of Williamsburg. We have members just starting their genealogy journey, and some that have been doing research for 20 or more years. What we do have is fun, interesting and caring members that support each other on their journeys to find their ancestors and to break down ‘brick walls.’ We love to celebrate a member who has found something they have been looking for for quite a while. It makes us all happy. I am proud to be a part of this group as we share our ideas, research strategies, new resources and knowledge with each other. We all have grown in our skills and our friendships,” Misiag shared.

The event will also feature vendors and lunch is included with the $60 registration fee.

Registration for the conference is open to the public and is ongoing until all 70 spots are filled or Sept. 1. For more information, visit wagsva.org/2025-wags-conference.

Free Genealogy Class: Using the News to Discover Family Events (Medford,Oregon)

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 23:42:28 GMT

Newspaper articles can provide a wealth of information to help round out your family history. Kim Thurman will offer guidance in how to find publications and news items that may include your ancestor.

Class is from 10:30 – Noon followed by an optional hands-on help session from 1:00-3:00. In person at the RVGS Library and Via ZOOM.

All Classes during GENEALOGY WEEK are FREE to all.

Date & Time:

September 27, 2025 @ 10:30 am - 3:00 pm

Cost:

Free

Rogue Valley Genealogy Library

3405 S. Pacific Hwy
Medford,OR,97501

+ Google Map

541-512-2340

Library of Congress Unveils Major Upgrades to Chronicling America Website

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 12:55:30 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the Library of Congress:

Library of Congress Unveils Major Upgrades to Chronicling America Website

Enhanced Platform Improves Accessibility and Research Capabilities for Historic Newspapers

The Library of Congress has launched a significant upgrade to its Chronicling America website, the nation’s leading free resource for historical U.S. newspapers. The updated platform now integrates fully with the Library’s broader loc.gov digital collections, offering enhanced accessibility, modern design and powerful research tools across all devices.

The redesigned interface introduces numerous user-focused improvements, including a fully responsive design that ensures seamless use on computers, tablets and smartphones; enhanced image viewing for improved readability; and intuitive browsing options with refined filters. An upgraded advanced search tool provides greater precision, and a new interactive map allows users to explore digitized newspaper titles geographically.

All newly digitized newspapers will now appear exclusively on the upgraded site. Content uploads to the previous site have been discontinued, and existing URLs now automatically redirect to the updated platform. Users can explore the new features with the help of the Library’s Research Guide on using Chronicling America.

“Upgrading Chronicling America into the loc.gov platform allows us to share newspapers more broadly and connect them with books, maps, photographs, and other resources,” said Deborah Thomas, chief of the Serials & Government Publications Division. “We’re excited to see this long-planned project improve public access to historical newspapers and related collections.”

The National Endowment for the Humanities “has long partnered with the Library of Congress to preserve U.S. newspapers,” said National Endowment for the Humanities Acting Chairman Michael McDonald. “We are excited that this new platform will enhance broad public access to these invaluable primary sources about America’s past from any device. The ability to search historical newspapers alongside the Library’s vast digital collection will open new avenues for research for all of Chronicling America’s users.”

Launched in 2007 and last updated in 2011, the Chronicling America collection has expanded to include more than 23 million newspaper pages from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The website is a product of the National Digital Newspaper Program, a partnership between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The National Digital Newspaper Program continues to support newspaper digitization efforts in cultural institutions across the United States.

The public is invited to explore the new interface through notable newspaper stories, such as:

Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech (Anti-Slavery Bugle, June 21, 1851)
“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” (The Sun, Sept. 21, 1897)
Titanic disaster coverage (New-York Tribune, April 16, 1912)
Equal Suffrage article by Alice Stone Blackwell (The Commoner, Aug. 1, 1913)
U.S. entry into World War II (Ypsilanti Daily Press, Dec. 8, 1941)
“Supreme Court Bans School Segregation” (Key West Citizen May 17, 1954)
“A Letter From the Birmingham City Jail: King’s Explanation of Non-Violent Approach,”(Evening Star, June 16, 1963).
“Some Quaint Halloween Customs and Their Origin,” (The Evening Star, Oct. 26, 1913).
“Girls Organize Sure ‘Nough Ball Club—Know How to Play,” (The Day Book, Jan. 6, 1916).

For more information and to access the collection, visit chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.

Digitized Collection of Black New Orleans Nightlife Posters, 1979-1980, Published

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 12:52:58 GMT

Tulane University Special Collections (TUSC) is pleased to announce a digitized collection of Black New Orleans nightlife posters, 1979-1980, newly published via the Tulane University Digital Library.

The collection consists of posters representing concerts and other music and dance events presented in New Orleans and the surrounding region for young participants who made up the primary target audience for R&B, funk, disco, DJ and dance culture, and hip hop in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The posters reveal happenings, locations, events, businesses, photographs, and both locally and nationally known artists of Black New Orleans popular culture and youth culture of the time.

Notable local artists listed include Johnny Adams, Chocolate Milk, The Creators (featuring Branford Marsalis and Wynton Marsalis), DJ Sabu, the Electrified A. G. B. (All Girls Band), Earl King, Bobby Marchan, The Meters, the Sugar Hill dancers, Patsy Valdez, Walter Wolfman Washington, and more. Notable locations for events or tickets include the Autocrat Club, City Park Stadium, Crash Landing, D.H. Holmes, Dooky Chase, I.L.A. Hall, Municipal Auditorium, Our Lady of Lourdes School Gym, Prout’s Club Alhambra, Saenger Theatre, Werlein’s, and more.

The selected posters are a sub-collection from the Hogan Archive poster and calendar collection, HJA-095, of the Hogan Archive of New Orleans Music and New Orleans Jazz, a unit of Tulane University Special Collections.

The digitized collection of Black New Orleans nightlife posters, 1979-1980, is accessible at this link: https://library.search.tulane.edu/discovery/collectionDiscovery?vid=01TUL_INST:Tulane&collectionId=81478083450006326

For more information, contact Hogan Archive curator Melissa A. Weber at mweber3@tulane.edu or 504-247-1807. To learn more about Tulane University Special Collections, visit the TUSC website at library.tulane.edu/tusc, email specialcollections@tulane.edu, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

The Ocracoke Observer Makes A Splash Debut On DigitalNC

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 23:54:36 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at: DigitalNC.

Thanks to the owners and publishers, we are excited to announce that the Ocracoke Observer (Ocracoke, N.C.) is now available on DigitalNC! This latest addition includes 154 issues, spanning from May 1999 to May 2025. The island newspaper is published monthly from March to December, and covers news about Ocracoke Island and its residents. Featured below is an example of the exciting stories that can be found in the Ocracoke Observer, but DigitalNC visitors should be sure to check out more issues, linked here, to discover more stories making waves across the island.

A front page story from the March 2021 issue of the Ocracoke Observer (Ocracoke, N.C.)

To search through all available issues of the Ocracoke Observer (Ocracoke, N.C.), click here.

Information about the Ocracoke Observer (Ocracoke, N.C.) can be found on their website here.

Notre Dame Australia Historian Offers New Insight Into Kennedy Family

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 23:44:14 GMT

The University of Notre Dame Australia’s internationally-renowned expert on the Kennedy political dynasty, Associate Professor Leigh Straw, has authored a fascinating new book that reveals how one summer in the 1940s shaped the trajectory of the famous political family.

The Kennedys at Cape Cod, 1944: The Summer That Changed Everything tells the overlooked story about a time when the Kennedy family, already stressed by an inter-faith marriage “scandal”, is broken by the human tragedy of war.

The book gives an insight into a devastating turning point faced by the Kennedy family before they become the larger-than-life, heroic and tragic figures depicted in both history books and popular culture.

It takes the reader back to a time when the US was on the cusp of becoming a superpower and invites reflection on central characters within American political history.

Associate Professor Straw has spent years working in the archives at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston to bring to life the Kennedy’s summer of 1944 for the first time.

Backed by leading global publisher Bloomsbury, the book is international recognition of her standing as a researcher into a topic typically dominated by American scholars.

“This is a story that resonates today in terms of looking back on significant American political families in what many would regard as a more settled time in political affairs domestically for the US,” Associate Professor Straw said.

“It’s a fascinating book about the ‘what ifs’ of the past. What if JFK’s older brother, Joe Jr, hadn’t been killed in WWII? He was the first political hopeful of the family. Would he have been successful in politics? He was far more conservative than JFK and may have divided more people.”

Associate Professor Straw has been invited to Boston, Hyannis and Washington D.C. to launch the book this month.

She has been invited to take part in the Summer Author Series at the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum during the Labor Day weekend in the US, which draws big crowds to the Cape Cod region.

The book has been endorsed by three best-selling Kennedy scholars, including Harvard University’s Pulitzer Prize winning historian, Professor Fredrik Logevall.

“The summer of 1944 was an extraordinary time for the Kennedys and for America, and Leigh Straw captures the moment wonderfully in this absorbing narrative,” Professor Logevall wrote.

“With nuance and sensitivity, she deepens our understanding of a fraught – and consequential – moment in a family’s history.”

The publication of this book highlights Associate Professor Straw’s contribution to understanding the past not merely to document historical events, but as a means to uncover the lived experiences that shape our understanding of society today.

The Kennedys at Cape Cod, 1944: The Summer That Changed Everything will be released worldwide on 7 August.

Japanese Instrument of Surrender

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 19:34:46 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Japanese Instrument of Surrender

The Japanese Instrument of Surrender ended World War II on September 2, 1945. In the surrender, Japan formally agreed to the terms set forth in the Potsdam Declaration, and ordered a cessation of hostilities of all Japanese forces.

There are additional instruments of surrender that were carried out at other areas under Japanese control, including South Korea, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and other Pacific islands.

The Japanese Instrument of Surrender will go on view as a Featured Document Display at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

Japanese Instrument of Surrender, page 1, September 2, 1945.
NAID: 1752336

We Can Do It!

This iconic poster presents a powerful image of a woman war worker's strength and determination during World War II.

In 1942, the Westinghouse Company's War Production Coordinating Committee hired Pittsburgh artist J. Howard Miller to create a series of posters for the war effort. His "We Can Do It!" poster was initially used only internally by Westinghouse; it resurfaced decades after the war and soon became associated with the "Rosie the Riveter" moniker.

Click here to explore more historical posters and graphic works held by the National Archives.

“We can do it!” poster, ca. 1942. NAID: 535413

Pieces of History: USS Indianapolis

July 30, 2025, marked the 80th anniversary of the sinking of USS Indianapolis (CA-35), a Portland-class heavy cruiser secretly tasked with delivering parts of the first atomic bomb to the Pacific Island of Tinian during World War II.

With its task completed, on the night of July 30, 1945, two weeks before the end of the war, while sailing from Guam to Leyte, the Indianapolis was torpedoed twice by a Japanese submarine. The crew of 1,199 men ended up in the waters of the Pacific. Accounts of the disaster are preserved in oral histories of those who survived.

USS Indianapolis (CA-35) - Cruiser. NAID: 496082659

Michelle Henry, New York State Research Historian, Receives Award

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 12:40:00 GMT

Michelle Henry, a research historian with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is being recognized by the state’s Genealogical and Biographical Society. The Preservation in Action: The Power of One award honors leaders and trendsetters whose “cutting edge” work inspires, educates and has a lasting impact on the genealogy and family history field.

Michelle Henry began her history career as the director of the Chautauqua County Historical Society in Westfield. In 1996 she was hired by County Clerk Sandra Sopak to organize the historical records maintained by the county. With the help of numerous federal, state, and local grants, a state-of-the-art archival program was established.

Chautauqua County became the first county in the United States to receive an award of Merit from the National Genealogical Society for making historical records available to researchers. In 2000, Henry was named County Historian, a post she held until she retired in 2023.

Henry was the recipient of the Julia Reinstein Awarded for Excellence in the Field of Public History in 2011 and in 2012 she received the Wheeler B. Melius Award for Excellence in Establishing a Records Management Program for the county. Michelle is one of only two historians in Chautauqua County that is a certified Registered Historian. She has served as a consultant for the state’s Museum Collection Assessment Program, working with and advising small museums in Western New York.

The county’s history has been featured in many articles written by Henry, published in state and regional magazines, and she has given talks throughout New York and Pennsylvania on local history and historical records.

Founded in 1869, The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) is the oldest and largest genealogical society in New York State.Researchers can search records on the Society’s website at: www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org

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Oxford County, Ontario Turns 175 With a New Book of Stories From Its Past

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 12:24:43 GMT

Folklore, true crime, buried treasure and Elvis.

These are among the stories Oxford County residents have recounted as the southwestern Ontario regional municipality celebrates its 175th anniversary.

To mark the special milestone, Oxford County has launched a new book titled, Growing Stronger Together: A Celebration of Oxford County's Past. The project was born during the COVID pandemic, when the county's archivists started a blog to gather stories of the region's past. As the blog continued to grow, they decided to put it all into a unique local history book.

CBC's Afternoon Drive guest host Kate Adach spoke to Oxford County archivist Liz Dommasch to learn more about the project.

The following has been edited for length and clarity:

Kate Adach: What has it been like to see these stories pour in, and to work on this project?

Liz Dommasch: Honestly, this has been a long time coming and since the pandemic, essentially when we started our blog, we kind of knew we wanted to pull it together into a book. But we also knew that although we're experts of the county's history, I wouldn't say we know everything about it. Hence why we reached out to others to collaborate on this project.

There were some we knew, there were some that were obviously new to us, which is always exciting because we're always learning new things. And I just think overall it's a great representation of the county as a whole and some of the really unique stories within it.

KA: Can you tell me how it works? People submit a story and then, as an archivist, do you look for documents to kind of verify their story?

LD: We left it up to the contributors. Many were already in the heritage field — local museums or heritage groups — so they kind of already knew what they were doing. And then some of the articles are honestly people's personal recollections of growing up in the county. So we kind of left it to them to provide the accuracy. But we have an inkling about most of the stories, so we knew we were on the right track.

KA: What surprised you the most about what you heard?

LD: There's definitely a lot of really quirky stories, which are kind of neat things that you wouldn't necessarily think about. I mean, we had a supposed pond monster in Ingersoll in the 1800s. We have not one, but two stories of buried treasure. Obviously we have a lot of stories about some of the crimes that happen in the county — some really gruesome — and then some on the funnier side.

And then we also have generic histories of the county itself, so the county's government, buildings like the courthouse and the jail, and famous people, or maybe not-so-famous that will hopefully become famous after people read the book.

KA: You mentioned two stories of buried treasure?

LD: Yes! We have one story of alleged buried gold near Springford, which is in the south part of the county, and then another similar story but up near Beachville. Both claim that there was gold during the War of 1812 that was buried by soldiers. Another one was gold that was stolen sometime during the night when soldiers were supposed to be looking over it.

Over the years, people have claimed to come look for it. We had one gentleman with a story about 1929 who claimed he had psychic abilities and one of the deceased soldiers told him where the treasure was buried if he ever were to find it. I don't know if it's ever been found or if it's still there.

KA: It's funny, on one hand you left the stories up to people to share. But at the same time, I hear you say "alleged," as if the archivist in you wonders about the stories' credibility?

LD: Well, when it comes to the folklore stories, they're great just as stories. But again, a lot of them are kind of up there with the facts. For example, the one we've been teasing with the book is about Elvis. And people often think, what does Elvis have to do with Oxford County? But in our county courthouse, in the tower, there are hundreds of signatures on the wall from people who visited the courthouse over the years. And one of those so-called signatures up there is "Elvis Presley," and it's dated September 1957.

Now, we know for a fact that he actually was in Canada in 1957, he had a show in Toronto. However, the signature says Elvis Presley September 1957, but he performed in Toronto in April. So, I mean, it's a very far stretch to think that he stopped in Oxford. The fable has gone so far as to say that he came in town in his pink Cadillac, had been arrested for speeding and spent the night in jail. But again, there is no way of knowing, but it's a fun story to share.

KA: For people who want to check out the book, where can they do that and learn more?

LD: The book is for sale at the archives as well as the Ingersoll and Tillsonburg branches of the Oxford County library, and then it's also on sale at our county administration building.

Wyoming State Archives Updates Fees to Strengthen Access, Preservation

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 13:56:04 GMT

For the first time in more than 30 years, the Wyoming State Archives is updating its service fees to support the long-term preservation and accessibility of Wyoming’s irreplaceable public records.

The new fee schedule, which takes effect Sept. 1, reflects rising operational costs and decades of technological advancement, according to a news release. Archives officials said the adjustments are modest, carefully considered, and essential to maintaining the high level of service, security, and stewardship the public expects from the state’s official repository.

“While much has changed in how we preserve and share records, our fees have not kept pace,” Wyoming State Archivist Sara Davis said in the release. “These updates allow us to meet today’s needs while planning for tomorrow’s access.”

Since the early 1990s, the State Archives has provided reliable access to essential records, from property deeds and court documents to historical photographs and oral histories, serving researchers, legal professionals, government agencies, and the general public. Over that time, utilities, insurance, technology, and staffing costs have increased significantly, while the State Archives’ fee structure remained largely unchanged.

The updated fees will help sustain critical services such as digitization, research assistance, and document reproduction, all while keeping core offerings affordable and accessible. Self-service copying options, including microfilm reader prints, will remain at 25 cents per page. More specialized services, such as high-resolution digital scans or in-depth research assistance, will see modest increases aligned with peer institutions nationwide.

Under the new schedule, staff-made black and white copies will cost $1.25 per page, digital photograph scans will be $15 per image, and research assistance beyond an initial 30 minutes will be available at $40 per hour. The State Archives emphasized that fees continue to operate at cost-recovery levels and that public funding still covers a large portion of access and preservation efforts, the release states.

Revenue from these updates will help modernize digital preservation systems, improve public access tools, and support staff expertise, ensuring the State Archives can serve Wyoming citizens for decades to come. It will also sustain outreach programs such as the State Archives Speaker Series and the Roving Archivist Program, which help local communities care for their historical collections.

“We’re committed to providing accessible, meaningful connections to Wyoming’s past,” Davis said. “These changes support that mission while keeping our services responsive, sustainable, and rooted in public value.”

The full fee schedule is available online at wyoarchives.wyo.gov/index.php/get-a-copy/copy-prices-and-rules, and State Archives staff will assist patrons during the transition.

The Wyoming State Archives, a division of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, is the permanent repository for state government records and provides access to materials documenting the lives, landscapes, and legacy of Wyoming and its people.

Wyoming State Archives is located at 2301 Central Ave. in the Barrett Building in Cheyenne. For more information, visit wyoarchives.wyo.gov.

Heinz History Center to Offer Workshops

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 14:32:17 GMT

The Detre Library and Archives, located at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, will launch a new series of genealogy workshops, with the first scheduled to take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 12.

The workshops will focus on family histories of blue-collar workers — steel mills, glass factories and beyond.

The first installment will be entitled, Blue-Collar Ancestry: Tracing Your Steelworker Roots. Each segment will explore a specific industry, with a focus on locating key genealogical records to illuminate the working lives of blue-collar ancestors, officials stated.

The first session will focus on Western Pennsylvania steelworkers and the rich, often underutilized, historical sources that can help reconstruct their lives. Professional genealogist Kate Townsend will guide participants through essential records and research strategies, including how to find employment files, union records, company newsletters, historic photographs and more. Local archivists will deliver lightning talks showcasing lesser-known resources within their collections that hold significant genealogical value related to the steel industry.

The program will highlight the center’s multi-year partnership with Ancestry.com, to digitize more than 100,000 employee files from the Jones and Laughlin Steel Pittsburgh Works. A significant portion of these records is searchable online, offering a rare opportunity to explore the individual experiences of steelworkers across generations. Admission will be $5 for history center members and $10 for non-members.

This will be a hybrid program. Attendees can participate online or in-person.

For information or to purchase tickets, visit heinzhistorycenter.org/events.

How Wiltshire Is Your Surname?

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 10:44:56 GMT

Wiltshire folk are rightly proud of their roots – and now residents can find out just how Wiltshire their surname truly is.

A comprehensive new study from UK family history website Findmypast uses millions of digitised local census and parish records dating back to the 1500s.

The study reveals which surnames have the deepest historical roots, which are now rarely seen, and offers insights into jobs and movement over time.

Some surnames go back centuries and appear frequently in parish records from as early as the time of Henry VIII.

Smyth, Whatley, Pinchine (or Pinchin) and Marchant are some of the surnames that have strong links to our county.

Wiltshire’s ancient trades are etched into its names. In the 1500s, surnames like Stone, Baker, Carter, and Cooper reflected occupations that built the region — from masonry and agriculture to food and barrel-making.

The surname Stone, for instance, nods to the long history of quarrying and stonecraft around Salisbury Plain.

By the 19th and 20th centuries, names like Jones, Williams, Thomas, and Davis surged into Wiltshire’s top rankings.

These are classic Welsh surnames, and their increasing presence points to migration from Wales and the border counties — likely drawn by opportunities in railway works, agriculture, and the cloth industry.

Jones, for example, moved from 16th in rank in the 1500s to 2nd most popular by 1911.

Some surnames, such as Tucker, Tompson, Stephens (or Stevens) are sadly in decline, however, due to migration and marriage patterns over time, with more localised names eroding as generations move away to find work.

Yet some surnames have increased in popularity over time in Wiltshire. One striking example of this is Webb – which rose in rank from 19th most popular in the 1500s to become its eighth most prevalent by 1911 and further to 6th by 1921.

Jen Baldwin, research specialist at Findmypast, said: “This research gives us more than just name statistics — it’s a map of cultural change through Wiltshire’s rich and varied past.

“Surnames carry the voices of our ancestors, the geography of forgotten villages, and the legacy of occupations, dialects, and kinship.

“Tracing their rise and fall offers a fresh window into Britain’s evolving identity, as well as unlocking clues in piecing together your own family’s story.

“Now, it’s as easy as typing in your surname on Findmypast to start delving into your roots.”

Explore Your Wiltshire Surname

To see how your surname ranks across time — or where it first appears — visit www.findmypast.co.uk/surname

Simply type in your surname and explore billions of historical records in an instant.

Landon Capital Partners Exits iMemories in Strategic Sale to Ancestry

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 10:34:44 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at Landon Capital Partners:

The acquisition marks a milestone for iMemories and brings high-quality digitization and subscription-based apps to Ancestry’s 3.7 million subscribers.

Landon Capital Partners (“LCP”), a leading lower-middle-market private equity firm, alongside its partner Greens Farms Capital, announced on July 31, 2025, the sale of iMemories to Ancestry.

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, iMemories has digitized more than 100 million memories for over one million families across the U.S. and is the market leader in this space. Ancestry, based in Lehi, UT, is the world leader in family history and consumer genomics. The acquisition brings together two category-defining platforms with a shared mission: to help families preserve special moments across generations.

Since LCP’s investment in 2022, iMemories has doubled EBITDA, expanded internationally and upgraded its technology, operations and customer reach. LCP added value through its active, strategic advisory role at board level, while iMemories’ best-in-class management team was instrumental in the successful execution of the strategy.

Sundip Murthy, Managing Partner at LCP, said: “We are pleased with our partnership with the iMemories team and the company’s tremendous value creation. This is another successful exit for LCP in a challenging M&A environment, which speaks to the quality of the business and the strength of the management team. Ancestry is an ideal and complementary buyer for iMemories, and we are excited for the future of the combined businesses.”

Mark Rukavina, Founder & CEO of iMemories, said: “We’re grateful to Landon Capital Partners and Greens Farms Capital for their support and strategic guidance. As part of Ancestry, we can now weave every photo, film reel, and videotape we restore into the broader story of where a family comes from – bringing historical discoveries to life in vivid color and motion. By combining iMemories’ AI-enhanced media platform with Ancestry’s unrivaled historical data and DNA insights, we will give millions of families an end-to-end heritage experience that both preserves their memories and brings them powerfully to life for generations to come.”

Michael Kessler, Founder and Managing Partner at Greens Farms Capital, who served as Chairman of iMemories during the investment period, said: “Since Landon Capital Partners’ and Greens Farms Capital’s investment, the exceptional team at iMemories – led by Mark Rukavina and Steve Krell – made strategic investments in infrastructure, international expansion, and AI-focused product innovation to scale the business and elevate the consumer experience. The results have been impressive, with the company exceeding its planned growth objectives while continuing to build momentum for the future. It has been a privilege to work alongside such visionary entrepreneurs during this period of transformational progress.”

Landon Capital Partners invested in iMemories in partnership with Greens Farms Capital and iMemories’ management, bringing institutional credibility and deep operational experience to an already successful business. From day one, the firm worked closely with iMemories’ leadership team, to provide strategic input while empowering existing management to lead day-to-day execution. Throughout its 3.5-year investment period, LCP maintained an active role as majority board representative on behalf of the firm’s family-office investors, contributing financial and strategic guidance and helping the business exceed its financial goals.

The buyer, Ancestry, is the global leader in family history and consumer genomics. The company sees the acquisition of iMemories as a natural extension of its existing offerings, allowing its 3.7 million subscribers the opportunity to further enrich their family storytelling experience through preserved visual media.

Howard Hochhauser, President and CEO of Ancestry, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome iMemories to the Ancestry family. Their technology and customer-first approach align perfectly with our mission to help people discover, preserve and share their family stories. Together, we’ll give millions of families the ability to bring their cherished memories to life in a whole new way.”

JEGI CLARITY + LEONIS acted as exclusive financial advisor to iMemories in connection with the transaction. Lowenstein Sandler LLP and Goulston & Storrs served as legal advisors to the Company. Each of these firms played a pivotal role in running an efficient and competitive process that culminated in a successful outcome for all parties.

About iMemories

iMemories is the largest and most trusted digitizer of analog home movies and photos. A pioneer in streaming personal memories on any device via its iMemories Cloud, the company pairs industry-leading scanning with proprietary AI enhancement to revive decades-old reels, tapes, and prints in stunning clarity and resolution. Honored among Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies 2023, iMemories has safeguarded more than 100 million memories since 2005 from its Scottsdale, Arizona headquarters. Discover how iMemories preserves, enriches, and shares life’s moments at www.imemories.com.

About Landon Capital Partners

Landon Capital Partners is a U.S.-based private equity firm with offices in Boston, Palm Beach and London. Founded in 2015, LCP is backed by a network of global family offices and focuses on control investing and scaling lower-middle market companies across North America. LCP’s patient and flexible approach allows it to be an ideal investor for founders, entrepreneurs and other sponsors that are seeking an active partner to guide long-term strategic growth. Since inception, the firm has made 18 platform investments, with a consistent focus on operational value creation and strategic partnership.

[www.landoncapital.com]

About Greens Farms Capital

Greens Farms Capital, based in Westport, CT, is a private investment firm that partners with founders and management teams of high-potential businesses to drive growth and long-term value. Greens Farms makes control and non-control investments in growing lower-middle market companies in business services, software and technology, and media and marketing services.

[https://www.greensfarmscapital.com/]

It is the First Day of the Month: Back Up Your Genealogy Files

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 10:27:04 GMT

Today is the first day of the month. That is a good time to back up your genealogy files. Then test your backups!

Your backups aren't worth much unless you make a quick test by restoring a small file or two after the backup is completed.

LiveMemory™ Brings Your Photos to Life, Now with Fun New Effects and Improved AI Technology

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 22:39:15 GMT

The following announcement wass written by the folks at MyHeritage:

LiveMemory™ just got even cooler — and I think you’ll love what’s new!

We’ve added 11 creative new effects to the feature that turns your family photos into short, animated video clips. From Selfie with Lincoln to Deep-sea Diver and Synchronized Dance, these additions bring even more personality and fun to your old family snapshots. Plus, the AI tech behind LiveMemory™ has been upgraded, so the animations now look more lifelike and stay truer to facial features.

Whether you're in the mood for silly or sentimental, there's something here that will spark a smile — and maybe even go viral. We’ve reset the free uses, so even those who have tried out LiveMemory™ before can give it another go at no cost.

Give the updated feature a spin and share it with your readers or followers. We’ve included some fun examples in the blog post.

An Unsolved Mystery from the Sky, Dead Sea Scrolls, Passport to Presidential Libraries

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 22:24:11 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

From the Stacks: An Unsolved Mystery from the Sky

The National Archives at Seattle holds the 1971 FBI report for one of the most high-profile U.S. District Attorney’s Cases for the Western District of Washington: Case CR-0451, the infamous skyjacking case involving the alias “D.B. Cooper.”

On Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 bound for Seattle from Portland, OR, Cooper handed a flight attendant a note indicating that he had an explosive device. He demanded $200,000 in exchange for the safe return of all the passengers on board. After receiving the money, he jumped from the back of the plane with a parachute somewhere between Seattle and Reno, NV. Optimistic that the case would be solved quickly, the U.S. Attorney’s office opened the file under this placeholder name, and D.B. Cooper was never found.

The investigative case file contains photographs and the initial sketch of the suspect. There are also detailed experiments conducted by the U.S. Air Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to determine how the theft was pulled off.

A document from U.S. Attorney’s Case File for the skyjacking case involving the alias “D.B. Cooper,” dated 1971. NAID: 325594129

Dead Sea Scrolls

In 1947, a Bedouin shepherd stumbled upon a remarkable discovery in the Judaean Desert–the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Over the next decade, this chance finding would lead to the unearthing of thousands of manuscript fragments from 11 caves near the ancient site of Qumran, dating back two millennia.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, invites you to its Special Exhibit: Dead Sea Scrolls, featuring eight authentic Dead Sea Scrolls and over 200 artifacts from the Second Temple period. The exhibit will remain on display until September 2, 2025. Come see these unique artifacts while you can!

More than 200 artifacts–along with eight authentic scrolls–are on display as part of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum's Special Exhibit: Dead Sea Scrolls.

Passport to Presidential Libraries

The Passport to Presidential Libraries is a special keepsake booklet you can take with you on your travels to Presidential Libraries across the nation. Collect a commemorative stamp from the library at the time of the purchase and collect stamps from every Presidential Library visited in the future.

The Passport can be purchased for $10 in person at any Presidential Library within the National Archives system via either the admissions desk or museum store. Alternatively, visitors can purchase the Passport via some NARA Presidential Library online stores.

National Archives and Records Administration, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408

The Next Exploring Your Roots Genealogy Course

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 22:15:03 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at Roots Revealed, a professional genealogist service in County Antrim, Northern Ireland:

The next Exploring Your Roots Genealogy Course will commence on 25 September 2025 and will run for 2 hours each week for 10 weeks, finishing on 27 November 2025. The course is delivered via Zoom.

Comprehensive course materials are provided and you will have access to course recordings for 3 months.

This is the 14^th course delivered by Natalie Bodle of Roots Revealed, a professional genealogist based in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

The course focuses on Irish and Northern-Irish records; it is suitable for novices as well as those who have more experience in research.

Early Bird pricing of £140 applies until 31 August and thereafter the cost will be £160.

Places are limited to allow for plenty of interaction and time for questions. For more information and to register your interest, please visit https://rootsrevealed.co.uk/genealogy-courses/

Librarian and Archivist of Canada

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 11:40:40 GMT

Leslie Weir

Leslie Weir became the Librarian and Archivist of Canada on August 30, 2019. She is the first woman to be appointed to the position since the National Library of Canada and the National Archives of Canada merged to form Library and Archives Canada (LAC) in 2004.

Under Ms. Weir’s leadership, LAC embarked on a major transition in 2020 to improve its services to Canadians and to better fulfill its mandate of acquiring, preserving, making accessible and sharing Canada’s documentary heritage, specifically through significant service and technological shifts. To focus its efforts, LAC developed Vision 2030, a strategic plan unveiled in 2022 that is intended to foster reconciliation, reflection, analysis and planning to chart the institution’s course over the next 10 years, and beyond.

Providing access, supporting democracy and working in partnerships endure as some of the Librarian and Archivist of Canada’s main focuses as LAC sets out to remain a world leader among memory institutions. During Ms. Weir’s tenure, LAC has been able to plan for a future that reflects the collective ideas of the documentary heritage community, shaped by the needs of its users, the realities of the institution and the benefits of its experience.

In her role as Librarian and Archivist of Canada, Ms. Weir has guided LAC to several significant and innovative achievements, including the opening of its Preservation Storage Facility in the National Capital Region in 2022. This state-of-the-art building is the first net-zero carbon archival preservation facility in the Americas and the largest automated archival facility in the world.

In addition to increasing its preservation capacity under Ms. Weir’s leadership, LAC is revolutionizing its services to the public with a second major infrastructure project: Ādisōke, the joint facility that will be home to LAC and Ottawa Public Library in 2026. The result of an ongoing collaboration in the spirit of relationship building, decolonization and reconciliation, Ādisōke represents an unprecedented partnership between governments. It promises to be a cultural showplace for the country’s heritage and a prime example of the federal government’s commitment to building sustainable infrastructure.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Weir was University Librarian at the University of Ottawa from 2003 to 2018. She also held positions at the National Library of Canada, the Statistics Canada Library and the Côte Saint-Luc Public Library in Montréal.

Over the course of her career, Ms. Weir has demonstrated vision, dedication and outstanding service by encouraging connections both within and outside the world of librarianship. She guided many transformative moments at the Canadian Research Knowledge Network and research libraries in Canada. Ms. Weir is one of the founding architects of Scholars Portal, the state-of-the-art research infrastructure in Ontario universities that brings together information resources and services in support of research and learning. Ms. Weir served as President of Canadiana.org, where she oversaw the introduction of the Heritage Project, in collaboration with LAC, to digitize and make openly accessible some 60 million heritage archival images. As well, she was President of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries from 2007 to 2009 and the Ontario Library Association in 2017.

Ms. Weir is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the Forum of National Archivists, Vice Chair of the Conference of Directors of National Libraries, and President-elect (2023–2025) of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 11:36:19 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum
Little Rock, AR

Friday, August 15, 2025 - 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CDT

"Presents for the President: Happy Birthday, President Clinton!" Join us on Friday, August 15, 2025, for our next "Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator" event at the Clinton Library and Museum. In celebration of President Clinton's 79th birthday, we will highlight the gifts and birthday cards given to him during his administration. The program "Ask an Archivist and Converse with a Curator" is held on the third Friday of every month at 11 am and 2 pm. Admission to the library is required, but the program is free.

All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted.

Ancestry Acquires iMemories

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 13:17:07 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at Ancestry:

Ancestry, the global leader in family history, today announced its acquisition of iMemories, a pioneer in media digitization and cloud-based content preservation. This is an important next step in enabling Ancestry to deliver on its mission to connect everyone to their past so they can discover, preserve and share their unique family stories.

iMemories transforms analog media—including home movies, films, videotapes, photos, slides and negatives —into high-quality digital formats that can be streamed on your smartphone, tablet, computer, or Smart TV with the iMemories app.

The acquisition brings powerful capabilities into Ancestry's ecosystem, accelerating the growth of user-generated content to enhance personalized, AI-powered storytelling, and directly complements Ancestry's family history–focused strategy, providing added value to current subscribers while expanding appeal to new customer segments.

"We're thrilled to welcome iMemories to Ancestry as we make family history more visual, emotional, and accessible," said Howard Hochhauser, President & CEO of Ancestry. "By combining Ancestry's leadership in family history with iMemories' expertise in media digitization, we're empowering people to preserve their most meaningful moments and bring their family stories to life in powerful new ways."

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, iMemories has built a trusted reputation for over 20 years, serving over one million customers and digitizing more than 100 million assets. Their expertise brings advanced preservation tools and a scalable media platform to Ancestry's global audience.

"Joining forces with Ancestry opens an exciting new chapter for iMemories," said Mark Rukavina, Founder and CEO of iMemories. "Together, we're redefining how families experience their history—making it easier than ever to preserve treasured memories and pass them on for generations to come."

Looking ahead, with iMemories, Ancestry will not only digitize family photos, videos, slides, and films, but enable customers to seamlessly add them to their family tree, enhancing discoveries with a new layer of emotional richness. And with the help of AI-powered tools, those family stories will become even more vivid, dynamic, and personal.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed. JEGI CLARITY + LEONIS represented iMemories in this transaction.

About Ancestry

Ancestry, the global leader in family history, connects everyone with their past so they can discover, preserve, and share their unique family stories. With our unparalleled collection of more than 65 billion records, over 3 million subscribers and over 27 million people in our growing DNA network, customers can discover their family story and gain a new level of understanding about their lives. Over the past 40 years, we've built trusted relationships with millions of people who have chosen us as the platform for discovering, preserving and sharing the most important information about themselves and their families.

About iMemories

iMemories is the largest and most trusted digitizer of analog home movies and photos. A pioneer in streaming personal memories on any device via its iMemories Cloud, the company pairs industry‑leading scanning with proprietary AI enhancement to revive decades‑old reels, tapes, and prints in stunning clarity and resolution. Honored among Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies 2023, iMemories has safeguarded more than 100 million memories since 2005 from its Scottsdale, Arizona headquarters. Discover how iMemories preserves, enriches, and shares life's moments at www.imemories.com.

US Jewish Communal Leader Among Victims in Manhattan Mass Shooting

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 13:00:45 GMT

Wesley LePatner, board member for UJA-Federation of New York and The Abraham Joshua Heschel School, mourned by loved ones as ‘uniquely brilliant’

US Jewish institutions in New York City are in mourning after a well-known and beloved communal figure was one of the victims of a mass shooting Monday in Midtown Manhattan.

Wesley LePatner, 43, was a board member for UJA-Federation of New York and The Abraham Joshua Heschel School, where her name is now inscribed with the Hebrew acronym for “may her memory be a blessing” in memoriam. She also was the recipient of UJA’s Alan C. Greenberg Young Leadership Award in 2023.

A few weeks ago, LePatner went to lunch with her synagogue’s co-founder and rebbetzin, who on social media wrote they were catching up about “the future, our children, women’s leadership, Torah, our love for Israel and all of the uncertainty of this moment in time.”

No one could have imagined that LePatner would be gunned down, in a mass shooting at the office building in Manhattan where she had climbed to one of the city’s most elite investment firms.

The office building and shooting target was home to the headquarters of the NFL and Blackstone. The alleged shooter, identified by authorities as Shane Tamura of Las Vegas, killed four people, including a LePatner and a New York City police officer, and wounded a fifth before killing himself.

While a motive has not been officially announced, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said police were investigating a note from the suspected gunman that reportedly referred to potential links to the NFL and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease associated with head trauma.

“We’re still investigating, this is relatively new,” Adams said. “There’s no more than just a note at this time and as you indicated he talked about CTE.”

In the aftermath of LePatner’s murder on Monday, many who knew her are mourning the loss of a Jewish leader who had demonstrated care for everything she and her luncheon companion had been discussing.

“There are no right words for this unfathomable moment of pain and loss,” head of school Ariela Dubler and board president Ben Archibald wrote in an email to the community of the Abraham Joshua Heschel School, the Upper West Side school where LePatner was a parent and a board member.

“It was a rare z’chut, a rare privilege, to know Wesley and to learn from her,” they continued. “She was a uniquely brilliant and modest leader and parent, filled with wisdom, empathy, vision, and appreciation. Quite simply, Wesley made the world — and all of the institutions that she touched, including the Heschel School — a better place.”

LePatner was also a board member for UJA-Federation of New York and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as one of the highest-ranking women at Blackstone, where she led the Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust.

“She was the most loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and relative, who enriched our lives in every way imaginable,” her family said in a statement.“To so many others, she was a beloved, fiercely loyal and caring friend, and a driven and extraordinarily talented professional and colleague. At this unbearably painful time, we are experiencing an enormous, gaping hole in our hearts that will never be filled, yet we will carry on the remarkable legacy Wesley created.”

LePatner had deep roots in New York’s Jewish community, where she grew up and returned after college to make an impact on religious, educational and charitable organizations.

In December 2023, shortly after she led a solidarity mission to Israel in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attacks, UJA honored her with the Alan C. Greenberg Young Leadership Award at its annual Wall Street Dinner. The award recognized LePatner for her commitment to the Jewish community “and her remarkable achievements, all the more notable as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field,” the organization said in a statement.

“She lived with courage and conviction, instilling in her two children a deep love for Judaism and the Jewish people,” UJA added.

For her part, LePatner said at the time that UJA had been central in her development as a business executive with a thriving Jewish identity.

“As one of the only female analysts in my investment banking group at Goldman Sachs and as a liberal arts major who studied the Ming and Qing dynasties of China in college and Pre-Raphaelite art in Great Britain, rather than complex accounting and excel models like the rest of my adult class, I felt different and alone in the early months of my career,” she said in her comments at the 2023 dinner. “UJA stepped in early and fixed my feeling out of place by connecting me with senior Goldman Sachs women who were further along in their careers and personal lives, but equally committed to their Jewish community and identity.”

First responders gather on 52nd Street outside a Manhattan office building where four people were killed in a shooting, including a New York police officer, July 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Born Wesley Meredith Mittman, LePatner was an alumna of the Horace Mann School in the Bronx, where she remained engaged in various fundraising campaigns after graduating.

She went to Yale, graduating in 2003 with a degree in history and working as head of tour guides for the admissions office while a student. She met her husband, Evan, on the first day of student orientation at Yale, according to the couple’s 2006 wedding announcement in The New York Times.

LePatner remained involved with her alma mater after graduating. She served on the Yale University Library Council, which fundraises for the library, along with writer Bruce Feiler, who mourned her loss in a post on Facebook.

“At 43, she was the most effortless and impressive person — you wanted to follow her wherever she went,” Feiler wrote. “A mentor to young women and generous friend to everyone who knew her, she was on the board of her children’s Jewish day school, recently joined the board of The Met, and just felt in every way like the kind of leader we all want and need in these unsettling times. I howled when I heard the news and haven’t stopped shaking since. Godspeed to her family. God helps us all.”

Upon graduating from Yale, LePatner became an investment banker working at Goldman Sachs, where she remained for 11 years before heading to Blackstone in 2014. There, in addition to rising in the real estate division, she became the chair of Blackstone’s Women’s Initiative.

“Words cannot express the devastation we feel,” the company said in an emailed statement to NBC News New York. “Wesley was a beloved member of the Blackstone family and will be sorely missed. She was brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected within our firm and beyond. She embodied the best of Blackstone. “Our prayers are with her husband, children and family. We are also saddened by the loss of the other innocent victims as well, including brave security personnel and NYPD.”

LePatner and her husband settled on the Upper East Side, where they had two children. Benny Rogosnitzky, cantor at Park East Synagogue, recalled in an interview that she was “a very active, very involved parent” when her children attended the school affiliated with his congregation. In 2019, the congregation and school bestowed their annual “Youth Enrichment Center Award” on the couple.

“She was very practical, down to earth, very much wanted to make a difference, not just in giving ideas, but to actually realize them,” Rogosnitzky said. “She was someone we could rely on. She was someone that we could call even when the children graduated.”

Rogosnitzky recalled that LePatner once told him she felt at home when she came into the Park East Day School building.

“This is where she took her kids every day, and she dropped them off on the way to work,” he said. “And it was just — it was home. It was a second home. And we’ll miss her terribly.”

More recently, LePatner was involved in launching the Altneu synagogue on the Upper East Side, according to co-founder Avital Chizik-Goldschmidt, who described the recent lunch and called her a “dear friend, mentor, community member & builder” on social media.

“Daughter, wife, mother, leader in so many ways,” Chizik-Goldschmidt added. “The kindest & sharpest human being. A nightmare that we can’t wake up from. No words. Holding her family in our aching hearts.”

The family remained members at Park East, Rogosnitzky said, as well as at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue, which announced that it would dedicate a week of learning in her honor.

LePatner also brought her children with her to volunteer locally, said David Greenfield, CEO of the Met Council, a Jewish social services nonprofit.

“Wesley was an amazing person who was also [a] tremendously talented leader,” Greenfield shared on X. “She volunteered with her kids @MetCouncil to feed those in need. Heartbroken that she was murdered yesterday in the midtown shooting rampage. Thoughts and prayers with her family. Baruch Dayan HaEmes.”

LePatner is survived by her husband, Evan, their two young children, and her parents, attorneys Ellyn and Lawrence Mittman.

Wartime Weekend at Windsor Castle to Mark 80th Anniversary of VJ Day

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 23:33:27 GMT

History will come to life at Windsor Castle during the family weekend 'Windsor at War' in time for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

The living history display will allow visitors to experience what life was like at Windsor Castle during the Second World War on Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17.

As Friday, August 15, marks Victory over Japan Day – the end of the war – the Castle's precincts and grounds will open for the public to celebrate the momentous milestone.

Windsor at War is part of a summer series of themed family history weekends where between 11am and 4.30pm daily, costumed educators will offer a glimpse into 20th-century castle life.

Drop-in activities throughout the weekend, included in the price of an admission ticket to Windsor Castle, are as follows:

A living history camp for families to explore and displays of WWII-era objects and replica weapons.
Performances of wartime music.
1940s vehicles, including a Morris C8 truck, the same type that Queen Elizabeth II would have repaired when she served as a mechanic in the war, and a WWII-era ambulance, like the one pictured with then-Princess Elizabeth during the war.
Home-Guard drills for visitors to take part in and demonstrations with an Anti-Aircraft Gun and historical reenactors.
Arts and crafts activities in the Quadrangle.

All activities are included with standard admission to the Castle, and a range of concessions are available.

These include half-price entry for children aged 5–17, free entry for under-5s and a Young Person discount for 18–24-year-olds.

Families attending Windsor at War can convert their admission ticket into a 1-Year Pass, offering unlimited re-entry to Windsor Castle for 12 months for upcoming historical family weekends.

For more information, visit www.rct.uk/event/history-weekends-windsor-at-war-08-2025

Learn About Genealogy at August 2nd Workshop in San Antonio

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 23:29:54 GMT

Interested in your genealogy but unsure where to begin? Come to an informative workshop on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the World Heritage Center, 3106 Roosevelt Ave. in San Antonio.

At the workshop — free and open to the public — representatives from the San Antonio Public Library’s Texana/Genealogy Department will provide tips and guidance to kick-start your family history research.

For more information, visit WorldHeritageSA.com.

The World Heritage Center serves as an information gateway for the historic Spanish missions in San Antonio and the Rancho de las Cabras near Floresville.

Ancestry Wants Your Dusty VHS Tapes—and Here’s Why

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:45:47 GMT

By buying iMemories, Ancestry is betting on a future where DNA, old home videos, and AI create personalized family films.

Home-movies-and-photos digitizer service iMemories was scooped up by genealogy company Ancestry, a bet by the ancestry giant that subscribers who already spend their money on DNA kits and pour their time into building family trees will be further enticed by visual storytelling that weaves all those details together.

The transaction will merge Ancestry, with more than 3.7 million subscribers and $1 billion in annual subscription revenue, with iMemories, which bills itself as the “Netflix” of old family memories, with more than 100,000 paying subscribers and has digitized more than 100 million VHS videotapes, photo prints, DVDs, and other video formats over the past 20 years. IMemories was also named to the 2023 list of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies.

“The goal is to bring all family storytelling together into one spot,” Howard Hochhauser, Ancestry’s president and CEO, tells Fast Company in an interview.

Terms of the transaction weren’t disclosed, although Hochhauser says it is Ancestry’s largest acquisition in terms of revenue.

STITCHING TOGETHER RECORDS AND MEMORY
With its integration of iMemories’ content into the Ancestry platform, the enlarged company will expand on a strategy already championed by Hochhauser to connect 10,000 terabytes of Ancestry data on the nitty-gritty of birth records, marriages, deaths, military service, and immigration with archival family photos and videos.

In the future, Ancestry says it will lean on artificial intelligence to stitch together video clips from iMemories and Ancestry’s own user-uploaded trove of archival materials, along with AI-generated images, to create short films that tell the tales of family lore.

“When a consumer sees a photo versus say, a U.S. census, they retain better, higher engagement, higher retention,” says Hochhauser, who joined Ancestry in 2009 as chief financial officer and has served in an executive capacity at the company for the initial public offering in 2009, a going-private transaction in 2012, and the 2020 sale to asset manager Blackstone.“Visual content is compelling, much more so than reading a document.”

TURNING PARCHED RECORDS INTO AUDIO VISUALS
This week, and separate from the iMemories deal, Ancestry is also rolling out a beta AI-enabled pilot program to 500 users that can generate audio files from the documents uploaded to Ancestry. Hochhauser says these assets can be a gateway for younger consumers especially.

He recounts how his own 18-year-old son wasn’t too keen to read about an ancestor who fought in World War II. But when the text was converted into audio, Hochhauser says his son was on the edge of his seat when he got to the part of the tale that featured a great uncle in battle, where he talks about lobbing grenades at the enemy and the Purple Heart that he received as a result of his bravery. “That’s pretty powerful,” Hochhauser says. “And so that’s the direction we are taking the company.”

Hochhauser says before the iMemories deal, Ancestry had conducted research that found 40% of its users said they wanted the company to offer a digitization and storage service. It also found a third of non-Ancestry users expressed a similar wish.

AI SPEEDS DIGITIZATION OF HISTORICAL RECORDS
AI is also already being leaned on by Ancestry to speed the digitization of census records. Back in 2012, when the U.S. Census Bureau first released files for every living person in the country that were taken in the year 1940, it took Ancestry nine months and millions of dollars to digitize all that information. But when the government agency released the 1950 files in 2022, technology had advanced to the point where Ancestry could employ computer vision and AI to transcribe those files in nine days without any manual labor.

The company is using AI in a similar way to parse through records from France, Belgium, and other foreign markets as it looks to speed up the work of digitization.

CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVACY ALSO LOOM
The Ancestry-iMemories transaction does come at a time of heightened consumer concern over the data privacy of personal DNA information held by genomics companies. The 2023 data breach of rival 23andMe, which later went bankrupt, inflamed fears over who would end up with control of genetic information if one of these genealogy companies went belly up.

“People’s confidence has been shaken, in Big Tech overall, and also in consumer genomics,” says Dr. Brandon Colby, the founder and CEO of Sequencing.com, a biotech company that does whole genome sequencing.“The need to be extra obvious about transparency is really important.There’s no room for people to go and assume that we’re trying to do something shady.”

Sequencing is big on transparency in telling consumers of its “Privacy Forever” commitment to never sell any data to pharma companies, government agencies, or other outside parties, which is how some genomics companies have made money.

Colby says Sequencing makes money from monthly subscriptions and by selling reports it produces based on genome sequencing that can show consumers how they might react to medications, or offer advice on better sleep or nutrition strategies.

Hochhauser at Ancestry makes a similar pledge around DNA. Users control their own biological samples and DNA data, and have the freedom to delete that information from the service if they like. The same approach will be applied with AI-related content that is generated from iMemories data. It’s up to users how they want to share it, he says.

“We are a family history company,” Hochhauser says. “Consumers own their data, control their data, and we have multifactor authentication, as an example, and lots of different security protocols in place to protect and preserve data.”

Hidden Object Puzzles Reveal More Than the History They Depict in New Issues of The Taylorsville Times

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:45:09 GMT

Thanks to funding from our partner, Alexander County Library, over 3,000 issues of The Taylorsville Times (Taylorsville, N.C.) spanning from 1927 to 1996 are now available to peruse on DigitalNC. This weekly newspaper has focused on informing readers of local, national, and global news for around a century. Around the 1920s, The Mountain Scout and Taylorsville Times newspapers merged to form The Taylorsville Times and Mountain Scout. The merged paper published until August of 1933, when “Mountain Scout” was removed from its name. Since then, the paper has continued to publish under The Taylorsville Times title.

The earliest issues from this batch from 1927 and 1928 provide a look into the period’s perspective of American history through short hidden object puzzles they call “American History Puzzle Picture.” The puzzle is formatted with a drawing depicting a critical or well-known event related to American history, a short description of said event, and the hidden object the player needs to find. Though published as a simple, educational puzzle, these snippets provide a complex gleam into America’s period of conformist nationalism by showing who and what was considered pivotal in the late 1920s; interpretations of how people and places looked, language usage, etc. Take a look at and try finding the hidden objects in the—expected and, some not—depictions of American history below.

To learn more about and view other materials contributed by Alexander County Library, visit their contributor page linked here.

View all issues of The Taylorsville Times (Taylorsville, N.C.) on DigitalNC, linked here.

To view more newspapers from across the state, view our North Carolina Newspapers Collection linked here.

Smythe-Wood Newspaper Collection Now Online

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:32:26 GMT

The Irish Genealogical Research Society is launching a new database created from a card index compiled several decades ago by the now late Patrick Smythe-Wood. It notes biographical information from Irish, and a small number of Canadian, newspapers. Although the range of newspapers covers all of Ireland, the data tends to mainly represent the nine northern counties which form the province of Ulster: Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Derry/Londonderry, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Monaghan, and Tyrone,

A sample page from the list

There are approximately 11,600 index records, referencing about 20,000 individuals. The earliest dates from 1772 and the latest 1900, though the majority fall into the period 1800 to 1860. Patrick’s interest in the history of members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, military personnel, and other uniformed services (customs and excise officers for instance), is widely represented in this database.

Ian Alastair Patrick Smythe-Wood (1914-1997). was a distinguished genealogist who was elected a Fellow of the IGRS in 1993, just four years before his death. His father's family came from Bushmills in Co. Antrim. Patrick was known for his extensive work on parochial records, monumental inscriptions, Canadian families of Irish descent, Irish links with the Isle of Man, and Irish and Canadian newspapers. He went on to donate the results of most of his work to the Society and this latest launch by the IGRS represents the fruit of some of his work.

Non-members can access this database for free to check for the prevalence of particular first name and surname combinations by clicking HERE. Logged-in members can access the full database through the UNIQUE RESOURCES page.

A typical entry in the database might note as much as an individual's name, address, spouse, parent(s), date/year of birth, death or marriage, religious denomination, and names of other family members and relations.

Genealogy Gives Name Back to 1968 Indigenous Victim

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:15:59 GMT

The Will County Coroner’s office details the positive identification of a woman whose remains were discovered in Will County, Illinois, in 1968, closing a cold case that lingered for over half a century. Through the combined efforts of law enforcement, forensic scientists, genealogists, and the support of family and community, the identity of Martha Bassett—a 33-year-old Native American woman originally from Wapato, Yakima, Washington—was finally restored. This case is emblematic not only of advances in forensic science but also of the enduring determination of families and officials to bring closure to long-unsolved tragedies.

On Sept. 30, 1968, the remains of a female were found in the brush near the intersection of I-55 and Blodgett Road in unincorporated Will County. The woman was a murder victim whose identity would remain unknown for decades. At the time, investigative resources and forensic technology were limited, and despite efforts, authorities were unable to make a positive identification. The unidentified victim was interred in Oakwood Cemetery in Wilmington, Illinois.

Background of the Victim

Martha Bassett was born in Washington State and was a member of the Native American community from Wapato, Yakima. In 1960, she relocated to the Chicago area as part of the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, a federal initiative that sought to encourage Indigenous peoples to move from reservations to urban centers. By 1967, Martha lost contact with her family, who, concerned for her welfare, traveled to Chicago in a determined effort to find her. Unfortunately, their exhaustive search was unsuccessful, and the family returned home without answers.

For decades, the case of the unidentified woman found in Will County remained unsolved. The lack of leads, limited means of communication between jurisdictions, and absence of technological tools like DNA testing kept the identity of the victim a mystery.

Reopening the Case: Renewed Forensic Efforts (2009)

In 2009, Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil established a cold case unit to address lingering mysteries such as this one. The investigation was led by experienced law enforcement professionals, including retired Romeoville Investigator Eugene Sullivan and the late Will County Sheriff’s Investigator James Cardin.

That year, the team exhumed the remains buried in Oakwood Cemetery, seeking to leverage advances in forensic science to finally bring answers. Portions of the skeletal remains were sent to the University of North Texas and the Smithsonian Institute Paleontology Department. Their initial analyses determined that the remains were possibly of Native American descent, a detail that provided a crucial clue to the victim’s identity.

Advancement in Forensic Anthropology (2017)

Further study was conducted in 2017 by Dr. Cris Hughes and the University of Illinois Forensic Anthropology Department. Their analysis corroborated the earlier conclusion, indicating that the remains could be of both Asian and Native American descent. This additional detail further narrowed the potential pool of missing persons, guiding investigators toward new avenues.

Outreach and Collaboration

Recognizing the unique cultural background suggested by the remains, current Cold Case Investigator William Sheehan and Investigator Joe Piper, both retired Lockport Police Detectives, took an innovative approach. They reached out proactively to Native American tribes in Illinois and Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, inquiring about any missing person reports from the late 1960s that matched the victim’s description. Cooperation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs was instrumental, fostering the creation and dissemination of a flyer about the case that was published on social media and distributed within Native communities. This led to a lead that was generated, and we contacted Emily Washines out of Washinton State who is a distant relative of Martha, Emily created a background on Martha and this office was able to make contact with a niece of Martha who provided the necessary DNA to make the match. This was accomplished by cooperation from the community, family and the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Washington.

Renewed Exhumation and DNA Analysis (2024)

On Sept. 13, 2024, Coroner Laurie H. Summers authorized another exhumation that was undertaken by the Will County Coroner’s cold case unit in partnership with the Will County Sheriff’s Police. The purpose was to extract additional DNA from the remains, hoping that more advanced gene sequencing techniques could yield a definitive match. Portions of the skeleton were sent to Othram, a forensic genetic genealogy company in Woodlands, Texas. This organization specializes in using cutting-edge DNA analysis to provide genealogy matches that could identify victims or perpetrators in cold cases. Coroner Summers has made the identification of this case and others a priority since taking office in 2020.

The forensic investigation was made possible by funding from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS), an initiative of the Department of Justice. NAMUS provides critical resources for the identification of missing and unidentified persons, ensuring that cases like this one receive the attention and tools necessary for resolution.

Breakthrough and Identification

Through the concerted efforts described above, a breakthrough was finally achieved. Genetic genealogy provided a match, confirming that the remains were those of Martha Bassett, the 33-year-old woman from Wapato, Yakima, Washington, who had moved to Chicago in 1960. After more than 50 years, Martha was no longer a nameless victim, and her family was finally given closure.

This case highlights several important themes:

• The Power of Persistence: The unwavering dedication of Martha Bassett’s family, who never stopped searching, and the determination of law enforcement and forensic experts, made resolution possible.

• Advances in Forensic Science: The use of DNA analysis and genetic genealogy has revolutionized the way cold cases are solved, turning what were once impassable barriers into pathways for discovery.

• Collaboration Across Agencies: The successful identification was the product of cooperation between local law enforcement, federal agencies, Native American communities, universities, and private forensic companies.

• The Importance of Support Networks: The funding and logistical support from organizations like NAMUS and the Department of Justice are indispensable for the complex process of resolving cold cases.

The resolution of the 1968 Will County cold case represents a triumph of scientific progress, interagency cooperation, and human perseverance. Martha Bassett’s identity, lost to history for more than half a century, has been restored, allowing her family and community to honor her memory and finally lay her to rest. The case stands as a testament to what can be achieved when modern technology is applied with compassion and resolve—and it offers hope to the families of other missing persons that answers, though sometimes delayed, can still be found.

MLK Records #1 Downloaded Across Government, 60th Anniversary of Medicare & Medicaid, Winston Churchill Descendent Visits National Archives

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 19:04:31 GMT

The following is a pess release written by employees of the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

MLK Records #1 Downloaded Across Government

The National Archives—in partnership with several other government agencies—recently released over 230,000 pages of records related to the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In the first few days after their release, the MLK assassination records were the most downloaded files across any U.S. federal government website --- even more than passport applications. Learn more in this National Archives News story.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (detail) by Jack Lewis Hiller, 1960, Gelatin silver print, used with permission of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Jack Lewis Hiller.

60th Anniversary of Medicare & Medicaid

On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare and Medicaid Act, also known as the Social Security Amendments of 1965, into law. It established Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly, and Medicaid, a health insurance program for people with limited income.

The Medicare and Medicaid Act, also known as the Social Security Amendments of 1965, was signed into law on July 30, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson. NAID: 299908

Winston Churchill's Descendent Visits National Archives

On July 22, 2025, Edward Churchill–a descendent of Sir Winston Churchill–and new International Churchill Society (ICS) Executive Director Dr. Adam Howard got a behind-the-scenes look at some of the National Archives' holdings regarding Winston Churchill at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Archivist Trevor Plante (left) shows Edward Churchill (center; in suit) documents related to Sir Winston Churchill's attendance at a meeting to go over the final plans for Operation Overlord in May 1944.

More National Archives News

Contact the National Archives: public.affairs@nara.gov

National Archives and Records Administration, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408

US Woman, Missing Since 1962, Located after Decades in Wisconsin

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:33:43 GMT

In a bizarre incident in the US state of Wisconsin, a woman named Audrey Backeberg, who had been missing for 60 years, was finally located.

However, she has expressed her desire to keep her identity and current location confidential.

Audrey Backeberg left her home in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, in 1962 at the age of 20 and disappeared. Allegedly, due to a forced marriage and domestic violence, she decided to leave home. Reports of physical abuse were documented with the police.

In January 2025, Investigator Isaac Hansen reopened the case, digitized documents, and conducted interviews with relevant individuals. Using family data obtained from Ancestry.com, he identified a possible address.

A deputy was sent to the related area, and the woman was traced. Within 10 minutes, Audrey spoke with Hansen for 45 minutes, during which she confirmed her identity and stated that she is now happy and has "no regrets".

Audrey chose to keep her identity hidden for the sake of her prosperous life. She expressed her wish to keep her current location a secret, and the police have respected her request.

Projectkin.org Just Announced a Novel New Series

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:27:08 GMT

The following is a press release written by Projectkin.org:

Projectkin.org just announced a novel new series that brings together its diverse Anglophone genealogy community to share stories about the roles members’ ancestors played during the period leading up to and following the American Revolution nearly 250 years ago. Each month, a member’s guest post will be featured, and the author will be the focus of a livestream conversation.

Learn more at Projectkin.org/stories250.

TheGenealogist Releases Over 330,000 Historic Wills and Probate Records Spanning 500 Years

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 12:54:23 GMT

The following is a press release written by the folks at: TheGenealogist

TheGenealogist has just added a substantial new release to its growing collection of historical records, making over 330,000 names available from a variety of wills and probate sources across England and Scotland. These valuable records are great for historians trying to push their tree back, with records spanning 500 years from the 14th century up to the 19th century. They provide a remarkable glimpse into the lives, legacies, and legal affairs of past generations.

Among the notable figures in this collection is George Buchanan (1506–1582), the Scottish historian, humanist scholar, and tutor to King James VI. His testament appears in the Commissariot Record of Edinburgh (1514–1600), offering researchers a direct connection to one of the great minds of the Scottish Renaissance.

[ George Buchanan shown in the new records on TheGenealogist ]

Read more about George Buchanan’s fascinating life in our latest article, “The Scholar Who Tutored a King and Defied a Queen”: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/george-buchanan-8698/

The new collections now available to search on TheGenealogist include:

Archdeaconry of Cornwall Wills and Administrations 1569-1699
A Calendar of Wills, Gloucestershire 1541-1650
Calendars of Lincoln Wills 1320-1600 (covering Lincoln, Leicester, Rutland, Northampton, Huntingdon, Bedford, Buckingham, Hertford, and Oxford)
Wills and Administrations Preserved in the District Probate Court of Lewes 1541-1652 (covering East Sussex)
Dougal's Index Register to Next of Kin, Heirs at Law, and Cases of Unclaimed Money
Commissariot Record of Edinburgh, Register of Testaments, 1514-1600
Commissariot of Inverness, Hamilton & Campsie Testaments, 1630-1800
Abstracts of Probates and Sentences in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 1620-1624
Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills Index 1653-1656

These records are fully searchable and form part of TheGenealogist’s ongoing effort to bring hard-to-access historical documents into the hands of family historians, academic researchers, and local history enthusiasts.

Mark Bayley, Head of Online Content at TheGenealogist, said:
"These records span centuries of history, from the 1300s through to the early modern era. Whether you're uncovering humble tradespeople or historical figures like George Buchanan, this collection can help you push your tree back before the time of parish records."

Available now to all Standard and Diamond subscribers, these wills and probate collections are part of TheGenealogist’s commitment to preserving and sharing the stories of the past through original records, expertly indexed and easily searchable online.

Don’t miss out! For a limited time, you can subscribe to TheGenealogist for just £139.95 - Save Over £100

Not only will you save £30 with our Lifetime Discount, but you'll also get a research pack worth over £70!*

12-Month Subscription to Discover Your Ancestors Online Magazine
Seven Generation Research Logbook
Researching and Locating Your Ancestors by Celia Heritage
10 Generation Relationship Chart
Birth Date Calculator
Ticket to The Family History Show London, Midlands or Liverpool
Ticket to The Family History Show Online

Explore these new records and start your genealogical journey today with TheGenealogist by claiming this offer here:https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBWLP725

Offer expires 31st October 2025.

*UK delivery only, overseas customers will receive a digital equivalent.

About TheGenealogist

Remains Found in Massachusetts in 1992 Identified as Teen Reported Missing 4 Years Earlier

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 12:46:57 GMT

Skeletal remains found in Massachusetts in 1992 have now been identified as Anthony Angelli Rea, a teen who was reported missing four years earlier. Investigators are now asking for the public's help for more information.

Anthony was born in 1973 and lived part of his childhood in Malden with his mother, according to the Essex District Attorney's Office. He was reported missing from the Harbor School in Newbury in August 1988.

In November 1992, skeletal remains were found partially buried in marsh grass off Route 95 South in Newburyport. An autopsy determined the body was a teenage boy, but no cause of death was declared.

"For 32 years the State Police assigned to the Essex District Attorney's Office and the Newburyport Police attempted to identify the remains," the Essex DA said. "Although investigators developed significant leads, due to the limitations in DNA identification, they were unable to make a positive identification."

On Thursday, the Essex DA announced that with the assistance of a private forensic laboratory in Texas using advanced DNA testing, the remains were positively identified as Anthony Angelli Rea.

Scientists used forensic genetic genealogy

"Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from skeletal remains and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive DNA profile," the Essex DA said.

"Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genealogical search to generate new investigative leads in the case, including the identification of potential relatives of the decedent."

Anyone with information about Anthony Angelli Rea is asked to call the State Police Unresolved Case Unit at 855-MA-SOLVE.

Irish Heritage Hosts Its Annual Summer Concert in London, England

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 12:40:41 GMT

THE IRISH Heritage Summer Concert took place in the beautiful surroundings of Leighton House in Holland Park, London.

The evening attracted a large attendance and featured performances from flautist Sinead Walsh, pianists Georgina Cassidy and Alfred Fardell, tenor Owen Lucas and violist Eve Quigley.

Irish Heritage is a registered charity whose objective is to advance public education and appreciation of the arts, particularly those of Irish and Anglo-Irish music, arts, literature and drama to the benefit of the community.

The next Irish Heritage event in the calendar is a collaboration with the London Yeats Society celebrating the era of William Butler Yeats with an evening of poems and music on October 22.

Click here for more information.

These 7 Free Tools Can Help You Avoid Malicious Links to Stay Safe

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:04:20 GMT

NOTE: Here’s an article that is not about any of the "normal" topics of this newsletter: genealogy, history, current affairs, DNA, and related topics. However, I will suggest that every computer user should be aware of the issues mentioned here and probably should bookmark the following article: https://www.howtogeek.com/free-tools-to-help-you-identify-and-avoid-malicious-links/

Family History Shapes Psoriatic Disease Onset in PsA (Psoriatic Arthritis)

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 23:50:01 GMT

TOPLINE:

Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who had a family history of psoriatic disease were diagnosed with psoriasis and PsA earlier and showed more entheseal involvement than those without such family history.

METHODOLOGY:

Researchers enrolled 843 patients with PsA (mean age, 50.8 years; 50.6% men; 76.4% White individuals) from the New York University (NYU) Psoriatic Arthritis Center and associated clinics in an observational, longitudinal registry to study familial aggregation and differences in disease onset and phenotype.
They collected data on demographics, medical and family history, and psoriatic phenotype and activity.
Patients were categorized on the basis of family history, with 379 participants having one or more first-degree or second-degree relatives with psoriatic disease (301 had relatives with psoriasis, and 78 had relatives with PsA) and 464 having no history.
Disease measures included the age at which psoriasis and PsA were diagnosed, types and locations of psoriasis, and areas affected by PsA.

TAKEAWAY:

Patients with a family history of psoriatic disease were diagnosed with psoriasis and PsA earlier than those without (mean age, 27.6 vs 32.2 years and 37.6 vs 40.3 years, respectively; P < .01 for both).
Patients with first-degree or second-degree relatives with PsA were diagnosed with psoriasis and PsA earlier than those with relatives with psoriasis alone or no family history (P < .01 and P = .01, respectively).
Patients with a family history of psoriatic disease were more likely to have a history of enthesitis than those without (36.7% vs 30.0%; P < .05) and active enthesitis at baseline (30.1% vs 21.6%; P < .01).
The transition time between the diagnosis of psoriasis and PsA was longer among patients with two or more first-degree or second-degree relatives than among those with only one relative or those with no family history (mean time to diagnosis, 14.1 vs 8.0 vs 8.8 years; P < .01).

IN PRACTICE:

“Additional studies integrating molecular and immune features are needed to elucidate how genetic, environmental, and epigenetic elements influence the progression from psoriasis to PsA, as well as PsA’s clinical presentation, severity, and therapeutic response,” the authors of the study wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Catherine Howe, MD, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City. It was published online on July 14, 2025, in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Africville (Nova Scotia) Family Reunion Returns with New Safety Measures

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:44:41 GMT

Improved lighting, additional security and a registration system will be in place at the Africville Family Reunion this coming weekend, in response to a shooting that left five people injured at the event last July.

The new measures have been implemented as the result of a safety audit organizers requested after unprecedented gun violence at the event, which reunites former residents and descendants of the historic Black community.

Running for more than 40 years, the weekend festival is one of the most important of the year for many people who return to what is now a National Historic Site, after the neighbourhood was torn down by the city of Halifax in the 1960's.

"We want people not only to be safe, but we need them to feel safe so that they return back out here and join with us," said Irvine Carvery, president of the Africville Genealogy Society, which hosts the annual event.

Carvery said some attendees had felt apprehensive about returning, but he is confident they're feeling better knowing precautions have been put in place.

"I want them to come here, feel comfortable and enjoy the fellowship and renew old acquaintances and introduce new generations to their families," he said.

People from across Canada and parts of the U.S. attend each year with as many as 5,000 people passing through the park during reunion weekends, he said.

It was around 10 p.m. and dark when shots were fired last year, Carvery said, so the safety review suggested lighting throughout the park.

That will be done this year using portable lights.

"All of the grounds should be well illuminated for people throughout the weekend," he said.

'I am not going to be afraid to go to Africville'

Participants will also be registered and given a park pass as they arrive which must then be displayed while they're in the park.

Additional security is being hired and police presence has been secured for the weekend.

In a statement, Halifax Regional Police confirmed officers will be on site and patrolling the surrounding area.

"We want the community to feel like they can celebrate their history and culture without fear. We encourage anyone who sees anything concerning to flag down an officer or call police," the statement said.

Paula Grant-Smith, who grew up in Africville and has never missed a family reunion, will return this weekend.

"I'm going because that is something that we've always done and I am not going to be afraid to go to Africville," Grant-Smith said.

Paula Grant-Smith says she is looking forward to returning to an event that is part of her family's tradition, and getting together with other former residents to celebrate the spirit of Africville. (Gareth Hampshire/CBC)

She said last year's tragedy hurt her heart, and has shaken some of her younger family members.

A niece and nephew who are around the age of ten are reluctant to go back.

"To have that gunfire, they were traumatized then and they're traumatized now," she said. "If they do come down there, they won't stay."

She supports the new safety measures but planned on returning regardless to continue her family's tradition of honouring the spirit of Africville.

Police have not made any arrests in the case, and have said they believe people have information that could help their investigation.

In April, the Nova Scotia government announced it is offering a reward of up to $150,000 to try to find those responsible for the shooting.

There have been no further tips as a result of the incident being added to the Major Unsolved Crimes Program, police said, adding they are still hoping someone comes forward.

People are expected to begin arriving on Thursday with reunion's events running from Friday through Sunday.

National Archives Works With Federal Partners to Release more than 230,000 Pages of MLK Assassination Records

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:08:58 GMT

The following is a press release witten by the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Release marks new “business as usual” for identifying, digitizing, reviewing, and releasing files at the National Archives

Enlarge

Martin Luther King, Jr. (detail) by Jack Lewis Hiller, 1960, Gelatin silver print, used with permission of the National Portrait Gallery , Smithsonian Institution; gift of Jack Lewis Hiller.

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2025 – The National Archives and Records Administration coordinated with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and other federal agencies —including the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and Department of State—to identify, digitize, review and release more than 230,000 pages of records related to the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This historic release occurred on Monday, July 21, 2025 and was done in accordance with Executive Order 14176, Declassification of Records Concerning the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., signed by President Donald Trump on January 23, 2025.

The Acting Archivist of the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said: “Today’s record release marks a historic step in the Trump Administration’s ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability. Preserving, protecting, and releasing the records of the U.S. government is at the core of NARA’s mission. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and a coordinated interagency process, NARA was able to review and release the records at an unprecedented speed.” 

The National Archives began releasing records related to the tragic assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in March 2025. These releases have been among the largest in the history of the National Archives, and are the result of around-the-clock work of archival staff and the web services team in coordination with an interagency group led by the ODNI.

Across these three releases, the National Archives published in five months what would usually take more than two years. This process has highlighted NARA’s capacity when the agency is streamlined and prioritizing records digitization, reviews and releases. NARA is now implementing operational process changes across the agency to continue to post newly-released records at an accelerated pace.

This Monday’s release includes FBI records related to the investigation into the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (codename: MURKIN), records that the CIA deemed responsive to E.O. 14176, as well as State Department records concerning the extradition of James Earl Ray from the United Kingdom.

In accordance with the National Archives’ statutory role as the final repository of the records of the United States federal government, these records are now available to the American people at https://archives.gov/mlk.

While some of these documents were made public through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in the past, this release marks the first time these records are posted online in one place with minimal redactions at https://archives.gov/mlk.

Uncover Family Stories during Genealogy Fair in Fergus, Ontario

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 11:13:36 GMT

Family history enthusiasts will have comprehensive access to genealogical expertise when Wellington County Museum and Archives hosts its Genealogy Fair on Saturday, Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day-long event brings together renowned experts, specialized resources, vendors, and hands-on learning opportunities designed for researchers at every skill level.

“Many people don't know where to start when researching their family history," said Karen Wagner, Archivist at Wellington County Museum and Archives. "This fair connects our community with professional guidance and research tools that can transform a frustrating search into meaningful discoveries about their heritage."

The fair addresses a gap in local genealogical education by providing direct access to techniques and tools typically available only through expensive courses or distant conferences. Five distinguished speakers will share their expertise across diverse genealogical topics:

Manuel R. Sanhueza, Regional Manager of FamilySearch International, will demonstrate how to maximize the popular FamilySearch platform for family history research.
Emily Benedict, Conservator at Wellington County Museum and Archives, will provide essential guidance on preserving precious family documents and materials for future generations.
Susan Arness, PLCGS Certificate, with Perth Hill Genealogy: House and Family Research, will unlock the potential of ONLAND.ca, showing attendees how land records can reveal surprising family discoveries.
Catharine Wilson, F.R.S.C., retired University of Guelph professor and Director of the Rural Diary Archive, will explore how historical diaries can illuminate family stories and daily life of past generations.
Tracy Cain, educator and performer, will present on Black Canadian History in Wellington County, highlighting often-overlooked narratives in local genealogical research.

Vendor Marketplace

Seven vendors will offer specialized books, research services, and expertise in niche genealogical areas, including British Home Children research, Scottish ancestry, and local Wellington County connections through the Wellington County Branch of Ontario Ancestors.

Registration

Pre-registration is required due to limited capacity at wellington.ca/form/genealogy-fair. The $20 registration fee includes access to all presentations, vendor interactions, and museum resources. Lunch will be available for purchase on-site.

Participants are encouraged to bring specific research questions and family information to maximize their experience with experts and vendors.

Genealogy and Family History Symposium 2025 in San Francisco

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 11:08:34 GMT

at Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Public Library (10:00 AM)

July 22-23, 10am to 5pm both days

Join San Francisco Public Library for a Genealogy and Family History Symposium, a two-day conference designed for individuals interested in uncovering their family history. This event will feature esteemed speakers from SFPL and local genealogy organizations, who will cover a diverse range of topics to enhance your research skills.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about valuable resources available at the library, both physical and electronic, that can aid in their genealogical research. The symposium will also provide insights on how to effectively search for specific ancestors, including those from Chinese, Irish, Jewish, Japanese, LGBTQIA and other backgrounds.

The symposium is perfect for both novice and experienced genealogists looking to deepen their understanding of family history research. Participants will leave with practical knowledge and tools to assist them in their journey of discovery.

Don't miss this chance to connect with fellow genealogy enthusiasts and gain access to expert advice and resources. Mark your calendars and prepare to embark on a rewarding exploration of your ancestry at the Genealogy and Family History Symposium.

Free

Presented by San Francisco Public Library.

Uncover Family Stories During Genealogy Fair in Fergus, Ontario

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 23:58:51 GMT

Manuel R. Sanhueza, Regional Manager of FamilySearch International, will demonstrate how to maximize the popular FamilySearch platform for family history research.
Emily Benedict, Conservator at Wellington County Museum and Archives, will provide essential guidance on preserving precious family documents and materials for future generations.
Susan Arness, PLCGS Certificate, with Perth Hill Genealogy: House and Family Research, will unlock the potential of ONLAND.ca, showing attendees how land records can reveal surprising family discoveries.
Catharine Wilson, F.R.S.C., retired University of Guelph professor and Director of the Rural Diary Archive, will explore how historical diaries can illuminate family stories and daily life of past generations.
Tracy Cain, educator and performer, will present on Black Canadian History in Wellington County, highlighting often-overlooked narratives in local genealogical research.

Vendor Marketplace

Registration

Participants are encouraged to bring specific research questions and family information to maximize their experience with experts and vendors.

Community Event - Celebrate 60 Years of Medicare

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 10:28:53 GMT

The following is a press release written by the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum

500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, MO 64050

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. CDT

July 30, 2025, marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of Medicare and Medicaid—a key milestone in American life and public health.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed this critical legislation at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri, with President and Mrs. Truman seated at his side. It was a nod to Truman’s determined fight for national healthcare. Although unsuccessful during his presidency, President Truman created the blueprint for legislation in 1965. It’s a living legacy currently enjoyed by every American citizen.

To celebrate this “sweet” milestone, Museum visitors can enjoy complimentary Betty Rae’s ice cream and celebration cupcakes, while they last (1-3 p.m.).

In the galleries, get up close and personal with historic artifacts, including pens used to sign Medicare into law and Medicare cards #1 and #2, personally issued to Harry and Bess Truman by President Johnson. Artifacts will be on display throughout the day; the presentation will take place at 11 a.m.

All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted

2025 New York State Family History Conference

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 10:25:51 GMT

The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (NYG&B) and other genealogy experts will meet for New York’s largest statewide family history conference this September.

This year’s theme is Echoes of New York and will feature livestreamed presentations in Kingston, New York, as well as on-demand sessions to watch at your own pace. All in-person programs will be livestreamed and subsequently made available on demand.

From the essentials needed for navigating New York research to understanding immigration and migration patterns to accessing the myriad records for tracing ancestors, the conference offers a rich array of sessions to help participants hone their skills.

The livestreamed portion of the conference will be held on Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Old Dutch Church in Kingston (272 Wall Street, Kingston, NY 12401). Special activities for in-person registrants will be held on September 18 and September 19 in Kingston (see more details in the full program and schedule below).

All the conference programming and sessions will be available to registrants for on-demand viewing from September 3rd through November 16, 2025.

What to Expect:

More than 20 of the top voices and experts in the genealogy field will lead sessions and answer your questions, including Skip Duett, Annette Burke Lyttle, Pam Ricciardi Paschke, D. Joshua Taylor, Jane E. Wilcox, and more.

More than 35 sessions and events (13 in person/livestreamed and 23 on demand), all for less than $10 a session.

A rich array of programming — whether it’s mastering the basics or refining research to break through brick walls — on a variety of topics like accessing arrival, court, marriage, military, and probate records; using DNA tools; exploring connections between different states; finding maiden names; and much more.

Plus, networking and learning opportunities with the wider genealogy and family history community.

You can learn more and register here.

Dining & Diplomacy, From the Stacks: The Spruce Division, The Great Transcription Challenge

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 21:19:40 GMT

The following is a press release written by the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Dining & Diplomacy

Presidents have long used dining events to foster diplomatic ties. Have you ever wondered what is served at these events?

Dining and Diplomacy, an online exhibit from the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, utilizes original menus and photographs to illustrate the wide range of social events hosted by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the White House, Camp David, and Prairie Chapel Ranch.

White House residence staff prepare desserts for a social lunch honoring President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. NAID: 193426476

From the Stacks: The Spruce Division

In 1917, when the United States entered World War I, the Germans ruled the skies. America and the other Allies desperately needed a reliable supply of airplanes, and the U.S. Pacific Northwest had just the thing to help: wood, specifically Sitka spruce.

To this purpose, the U.S. Army Signal Corps Aviation Sector took control of the logging industry in the Northwest and created the Spruce Production Divisionto manage it. The division was headquartered in Vancouver, WA, and by Armistice Day, had nearly 30,000 soldiers assigned to the division. These soldiers served their country far from the battlefields of Europe, and their work changed the course of the air war.

5,000 soldiers worked and lived at the Vancouver Spruce Mill.

(National Park Service photo)

The Great Transcription Challenge

Two years ago, NARA set an audacious goal to transcribe the more than 2.5 million pages found in the Revolutionary War Pension Files by America’s 250th on July 4th, 2026. In our first year, Citizen Archivists transcribed 65,000 pages. During the project’s second year, record transcription saw exponential growth, and we’ve been so excited to see the stories of America’s first veterans as they have been uncovered.

We invite you to help transcribe these records to unlock the details and stories found within these rich records.

New to the Citizen Archivist program? Learn how to register and get started.
Be sure to review the video How to Transcribe in the National Archives Catalog, our tutorial Get Started Transcribing and how-to videos on the Resources page.

The stories of over 80,000 men and women who lived through the American Revolution are waiting to be told. Will you help us tell them?

More National Archives News

Contact the National Archives: public.affairs@nara.gov

Watch the Premiere of "Naming the Dead" Aug. 2 on National Geographic. Stream next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:05:24 GMT

Wondering where to watch the new series "Naming the Dead" this summer?We've got you covered.

"Naming the Dead" premieres Aug. 2 on National Geographic and streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

Across the United States, more than 50,000 bodies remain unidentified—un-mourned and unnamed, but not forgotten. NAMING THE DEAD, a riveting new six-part investigative series from National Geographic, brings these untold stories to light.

The series follows the groundbreaking work of the DNA Doe Project, a trailblazing nonprofit that uses genetic genealogy to help law enforcement crack the country's most confounding cold cases.

With unprecedented access to active investigations, NAMING THE DEAD captures the relentless pursuit of truth by a dedicated team of genealogists, detectives, coroners and journalists. Each episode plays out as a high-stakes mystery, where the clues are fragmented, the timelines span decades, and the emotional stakes couldn't be higher. Through distant DNA matches, fragile paper trails, and sheer determination, these forgotten victims are finally given what they deserve: a name, a history, and a chance at justice.

Blending cutting-edge science with deeply human storytelling, NAMING THE DEAD is a gripping testament to the power of identity and the people who refuse to let the lost be forgotten.

Genealogy Fair returns to Wellington County, Fergus, Ontario

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:57:28 GMT

The Wellington County Museum and Archives is inviting residents to dig into their roots with a full day dedicated to uncovering family histories, exploring local heritage, and learning how to preserve the past for future generations.

The Genealogy Fair takes place Saturday, September 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum in Aboyne, offering access to expert speakers, hands-on tools, and resources for everyone from first-time family historians to seasoned researchers.

"We’ve held a genealogy fair in the past, before the pandemic, and we really felt it was time to bring it back," said Karen Wagner, Archivist at the Wellington County Museum and Archives. "There’s an Ontario-wide genealogy event hosted by Ontario Ancestors, but we wanted something more local, something that gives our community direct access to helpful speakers and resources."

The event will feature five expert presentations, each focused on a different aspect of genealogy and family history research. Topics range from free online search tools to rare archival materials and techniques for preserving family heirlooms.

Among the featured speakers is Manuel Sanhueza, Regional Manager of FamilySearch International, who will walk participants through how to make the most of FamilySearch.org, a free international genealogy platform that also includes Ontario-specific data.

Local conservator Emily Benedict, who works at the museum, will give practical advice on how to preserve family treasures, everything from old letters and photographs to digital images and sentimental objects like handmade furniture or wedding dresses.

Susan Arness, a certified genealogist, will offer a session on using ONLAND.ca, a free platform containing Ontario land registry records that can reveal where ancestors lived and how long they stayed on a particular property.

Retired University of Guelph professor Catharine Wilson will highlight the Rural Diary Archive Project, which digitizes personal diaries from Ontario’s past to offer a day-to-day look at what life was really like. Wagner says those entries can add "color and flavor" to family stories and help researchers connect names and dates with real-life experiences.

Finally, educator and performer Tracy Cain will present on Black Canadian history in Wellington County, spotlighting the contributions of families who settled in areas like Peel Township (now part of Mapleton) in the mid-1800s.

"These are often overlooked narratives in local genealogical research and they’re an essential part of our shared history," Wagner said.

In addition to the presentations, a vendor marketplace will feature books, research services, and local genealogical societies, including representatives from the Wellington County branch of Ontario Ancestors. Attendees are encouraged to bring specific family questions and documents to make the most of the fair.

While many resources are increasingly available online, Wagner emphasized the continued importance of archives.

"People are more interested in genealogy than ever before, but there are still many records, especially local ones, that will never be online. That’s why archives matter. That’s why events like this matter," Wagner said.

The museum is also working to digitize local newspapers, one of the most valuable resources for family research.

"No matter who you are, at some point your name shows up, maybe for a birth, death, school event, or community involvement," Wagner noted.

Pre-registration for the fair is required due to limited space. The $20 fee includes access to all presentations, vendors, and museum resources. Lunch will be available for purchase on-site. To register, visit: wellington.ca/form/genealogy-fair.

Augusta (Georgia) Genealogical Society Symposium

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:32:44 GMT

2025 AGS Genealogical Symposium - Build New Genealogy Skills

Featuring programs by
Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist

Virtual Presentation

and Erick Montgomery

Executive Director- Historic Augusta and Past President AGS

In Person and Virtual Presentation

Saturday, August 16, 2025
10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST (sign in at 9:45)

Join the program virtually from home
or participate in person at Brandon Wilde
Georgia Room— 4275 Owens Rd, Evans, GA 30809

Hosted by Brandon Wilde, the Augusta Premier Retirement Community

Registration Fee
Virtual Program at Home: $34.00
Attend the Virtual Program at Brandon Wilde, with Lunch: $49.00
Registration Deadline: August 11, 2025

Programs

Session 1:
Erick Montgomery
Finding Our Fathers (and Mothers): Using Artificial Intelligence in Genealogical Research

Artificial Intelligence is constantly in the news, but how can it assist genealogists in furthering family history research and in breaking down brick walls? Gain a very basic understanding of what AI is and how it can aid in your genealogical research. Specific step-by-step instructions will be demonstrated for using the new “FamilySearch Labs” tool to search their massive collection of digitized records that are freely available online. The handout will include an illustrated guide to ensure easy access when you try it on your own after the symposium.

Session 2:

Judy G. Russell
GENEALOGY & LEGAL RECORDS
NARA Mythbusters:

Your Family IS in the Archives

“All the military records were burned in the fire.” “There isn't any birth, marriage, or death information in federal records.” “There aren't any details about ordinary families at the National Archives.” These kinds of myth-statements stop genealogists from breaking down all kinds of brick walls using the wealth of information in NARA records. Join the Mythbusters with the treasures the National Archives holds for your family.

Session 3:

Judy G. Russell

GENEALOGY METHODOLOGY

When Worlds Collide: Resolving Conflicts in Genealogical

Records

Genealogical Proof Standard says to resolve conflicts in data... but like so many things that sound good, it’s easier said than done. What exactly are we supposed to do when we encounter conflicting evidence? What are the basic types of evidence conflicts and the methods – and tips and tricks – we can use to resolve them?

Session 4:

Judy G. Russell

GENEALOGY METHODOLOGY

Linking the Generations with Court and Land Records

It’s the single biggest issue genealogists face: how do we connect one generation to the next with evidence we can rely on? Vital records are excellent documentation, but they often don’t exist for the time and place we’re researching. That’s when we have to find workarounds to make sure we’re not simply putting people into family lines because they share the same names. Using court and land records, we can often find the evidence we need to link the generations accurately.

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL(sm), FUGA

Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist®, is a genealogist with a law degree. She writes, teaches, and lectures on a wide variety of genealogical topics, providing expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. A Colorado native with roots deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side, she holds a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a law degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark. Before she retired, she worked as a newspaper reporter, trade association writer, legal investigator, defense attorney, federal prosecutor, law editor, and, for more than 20 years, as an adjunct member of the faculty at Rutgers Law School.

She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, and numerous state and regional genealogical societies. Named a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association in 2025, she received the 2015 UGA Silver Tray Award and the 2017 Award of Excellence from the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, where she now serves as a member of the NGSQ editorial board.
An internationally-known lecturer and course coordinator and faculty member at numerous genealogical institutes, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠ from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. Her award-winning blog appears at The Legal Genealogist® website (https://www.legalgenealogist.com).

Erick Montgomery, Executive Director– Historic Augusta, Past President– AGS

Erick Montgomery is the Executive Director of Historic Augusta, Inc., a position he has held since 1989. Historic Augusta is an organization dedicated to the preservation
of historic sites and structures in Augusta and the Central Savannah River Area, providing technical assistance and consultation on historic rehabilitation and restoration. Genealogically, he has been an avid family historian since childhood and has published genealogical and historical articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), The American Genealogist (TAG), Augusta-Richmond County History, the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly (APGQ), and the Franklin County (Tennessee) Historical Review. He formerly served as President of the Augusta Genealogical Society and was once President of the Savannah Area Genealogical Association. To advance his research skills, he has attended the Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR) several times over the years, as well as other genealogical conferences, seminars, and workshops.

AGS Genealogical Symposium - Augusta Genealogical Society

Click the above link to register online.

A flyer and a registration form are also attached.

Marshall Public Library (Idaho) Partnering with Local Nonprofit for Oral History Event

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 12:57:59 GMT

The following is a news release from the city of Pocatello.

The Marshall Public Library is excited to announce an upcoming oral history event designed to help residents begin their journey into family history and personal storytelling. The event will take place Tuesday, July 29 at 6 p.m. in the Library’s Community Room.#@#_WA_-_CURSOR_-_POINT_#@#

The Library will welcome Idahocemetery, a nonprofit organization based in Pocatello that specializes in assisting individuals with genealogy and preserving oral histories. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how to start a family tree, record and preserve family stories, and schedule future one-on-one sessions with Idahocemetery volunteers for personalized guidance.

“It’s never too early or too late to begin exploring your roots,” said Jack Garrett, Library Specialist at Marshall Public Library. “We’re proud to partner with Idahocemetery to offer this valuable resource to the community.”

IdahoCemetery is “a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing memorial services for the improvement of communities, historical preservation, cemetery revitalization and family history research in the state of Idaho,” its website says.

The event is free and open to all ages. Whether you’re a beginner in genealogy or looking for ways to preserve cherished family memories, this event will provide the tools and support to get started.

For more information, contact Marshall Public Library at (208) 232-1263 or visit the website.

Lafayette Co. Historical and Genealogy Society (Wisconsin) Works on Plans for 2025 Night (and Day) at the Museum

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 12:54:14 GMT

There’s a lot of summer still ahead, but the hot and humid weather brings on thoughts of crisp fall days. The Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society is contacting participants for the three day Darlington Event — “Night (and Day) at the Museum, 2025,” Sept. 19-21.

As in the past there will be historical re-enactors from the Fur Trade Era, and the Civil War Era, displays of ancient artifacts, hands- on activities, and specific historically significant figures from Lafayette County’s past. Everyone that has participated in the past is encouraged to contact the Museum at 608-776-8340, or Barb at 608-482-2483 to make sure they are on the contacts list for coordinating efforts for this year’s event.

The Society has arranged for live music on Saturday with The First Brigade Band in the afternoon, and The Blackbridge Boys in the evening. There will be food vendors including the Darlington Optimists, The Lions Club, and Lucky Cow Coffee and Gelato, and there is room for more.

It is challenging to communicate with county schools being close to the start of a new school year, but LCHGS will reach out to all the schools with the opportunity to have some hands-on local history education on Friday, Sept. 19. The event can enhance Wisconsin history education and inspire students. LCHGS can pay school transportation expense thanks to a grant from Wiegel Strong Foundation.

This is a free event. Free to attend and free to participate. Crafters, food vendors, and charitable organizations looking to publicize their efforts or raise funds for their causes, are all welcome with no fee. Contact the Museum or Barb to make sure your space is reserved.

Although it is “free,” there are expenses to make this happen. LCHGS is grateful to the Darlington Community Fund, Woodford State Bank, and Apple River State Bank for financial assistance. Any other area businesses or people that would like to contribute are encouraged to send donations to the Museum at 525 Main Street, Darlington.

For additional information call 776-8340 or 482-2483.

Milton Historical Society (in Massachusetts) Opens New Research Center

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 23:29:37 GMT

The Milton Historical Society announced the opening of a new research center with an educational family tree workshop on July 12 at the historic society on Union Street. The new resource space is devoted to helping researchers looking for historical information or working on family history research. The research center includes library books (some rare, some local and some specific to Milton history), online family tree databases, printers, laptops and trained volunteers to lead researchers through their history questions.

To mark the opening of the research center, the historical society hosted a family tree workshop on July 12 led by CJ Gail, a summer intern and history student from Trinity College in Ireland. Gail is studying in the U.S. this summer to gain a new perspective on history research from a different cultural view.

The family tree workshop introduced participants to the basics of genealogy research including how to get started, what resources and websites to use and how to stay organized. The workshop also introduced a new monthly workshop series on different historical research topics. One of the upcoming workshops will be on historic home research.

The research center is open to the public by appointment only. Fees for research are by donation and determined by the level of research. The space is intended for a pure educational use and is not affiliated with any regulations or restrictions. The new research center will help individuals research their personal or local history with confidence.

The Milton Historical Society is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. For research appointments or to register for an upcoming workshop, please call 302-684-1010 or email visit@historicmilton.org. For more information, visit miltonhistoricalsociety.org.

Family Pioneer Day coming to Sherburne History Center in Becker, Minnesota

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:43:44 GMT

Locals are invited to step back in history during Family Pioneer Day at the Sherburne History Center this month.

With historic clothes available to take photos in, along with the chance to churn butter, spin wool, dip candles, play historic games and try out other activities from our pioneering past, this free family event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 26.

Families can complete all of the history adventure stations to win a prize. These activities will include candle-dipping, butter-churning, a photo booth with historic clothing, wool-spinning, laundry and ironing, along with historic games, crafts and snacks.

The Sherburne History Center is located at 10775 27th Ave. SE in Becker.

For more information and to register, visit https://shorturl.at/aeekR.

Karneval Comes To German Fest Milwaukee, Inc 2025

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:38:11 GMT

Celebrate like never before at German Fest Milwaukee, returning to Henry Maier Festival Park July 25–27 for a weekend of KARNEVAL, authentic GERMAN and AUSTRIAN music, hearty German fare, and beloved family traditions.

Since 1981, German Fest has brought Milwaukee's German-American heritage to life against the backdrop of Lake Michigan. This year marks the 43rd annual celebration, continuing a legacy sparked when Mayor Henry Maier challenged the German societies in 1980 to start a festival—and they delivered!

What to Expect at German Fest 2025:

Dates & Hours
• Friday, July 25: 3?PM–Midnight
• Saturday, July 26: Noon–Midnight
• Sunday, July 27: Noon–7?PM (German Fest)

Food + Drink
Indulge in SPANFERKEL, chicken, bratwurst, schnitzel, pretzels, sauerkraut—and enjoy German-style beers, Wein, and Weinkuehlers are back!

Traditional & Contemporary Music
From Polka to folk-pop, enjoy performances by bands from Germany and Austria, including voXXclub and Juhe aus Tirol, performing on the Miller Stage!

Culture + Heritage
Explore the Cultural Village: German Language Center, genealogy tent, clubs pavilion, and live craft demonstrations. Don't miss the Glockenspiel, Trachtenschau, MARDI GRAS SHOW, storytelling, and the beloved Dachshund Derby on Sunday.

Family Fun
STIHL Timbersports is back again! More info and schedule on germanfest.com Enjoy Pretzel Park's crafts, a vibrant Karneval parade and costume contest, and interactive zones for kids.

Admission & Specials
• Free Admission for Active Military Personnel All Day, Any Day – In support of the United States' service personnel, German Fest is pleased to offer free admission to all branches of the Military and a companion with an active Military ID. Active Military status includes all Armed Forces, National Guard Reserves, Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian and Military.
• Free Admission for all Veterans – and a companion ALL weekend with proper I.D., at all gates.

Proudly Supporting Hunger Task Force!
We are honored to continue our partnership with Hunger Task Force and give back to the community. This year, we're offering FREE admission to anyone who donates three (3) cans of healthy fruits or vegetables or makes a cash donation.

Join us in making a difference—your generosity helps provide nutritious food to those in need!
WHEN: Sunday, July 27, 2025
TIME: Noon – 3pm - SOUTHGATE ONLY

Why It Matters
German Fest is more than an event—it's a celebration of Gemütlichkeit, reconnecting generations with Milwaukee's German roots. As North America's largest German heritage festival, it welcomes thousands of visitors annually, showcasing centuries-old traditions through food, music, craftsmanship, and community spirit.

How to Join the Festivities
• Purchase tickets and review the entertainment schedule at germanfest.com.
• Follow updates and sneak peeks on Facebook (@milwgermanfest) and Instagram.
• Stay tuned for special promotions, including student and military discounts.

About German Fest Milwaukee, Inc.
Founded in 1981 at the behest of Mayor Henry Maier and initially composed of 18 German-American societies, German Fest Milwaukee has grown into a major cultural fixture featuring 38 member clubs and thousands of volunteers. The festival remains committed to preserving German language, culture, and heritage through education, scholarships, and community outreach.

German Fest Milwaukee, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the vibrant traditions, culture, and heritage of Germany and German-speaking regions. Since 1981, we have proudly hosted German Fest, one of the largest German festivals in North America, on Milwaukee's beautiful lakefront each July.

Our mission goes beyond a single weekend of celebration. We foster cultural understanding, support local German-American societies, and engage the community through music, food, dance, education, and authentic experiences that honor centuries-old traditions while embracing the future.

German Fest Milwaukee, Inc. is led by a dedicated team of volunteers, partnering with local and international performers, artists, and cultural leaders to ensure every event offers a true taste of Gemütlichkeit. Whether you have German heritage or simply want to explore the rich customs of German-speaking cultures, you're welcome to join us as we keep these traditions alive in the heart of Milwaukee.

How Researchers are Mapping Genetics in New Brunswick to Detect Inherited Diseases Sooner

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:32:21 GMT

Researchers at Vitalité Health Network imagine a health-care system where patients are screened early for a disorder or disease they inherited from their parents, and mothers know exactly what health problems they could pass down to their children before ever getting pregnant.

But first, medical teams need to know which genetic variants are common in specific regions of New Brunswick. Luckily, we are built of microscopic indicators that researchers in Moncton are studying so they can figure that out.

"We have thousands of genes," Jean Mamelona, who runs the provincial program of medical genetics, said. "We are going, specifically, to analyze the genes to see if there is a defect or … a default on the gene."

Mamelona and his research team at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont Hospital are touring the province to map people's genes to build the first database of its kind for each of the seven health zones in the province.

You can read the details at: https://tinyurl.com/cprf3r3v

Applications Due for NARA’s Voluntary Internship Program, Picture This!, Desegregation at Little Rock Central High School

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:59:25 GMT

The following is a press release written by the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration;

Applications Due for NARA’s Voluntary Internship Program

Students and recent graduates, have you applied for the National Archives' Voluntary Internship Program yet? Explore opportunities and submit your applications for the fall 2025 semester by tomorrow, Friday, July 18, 2025. Opportunities are available at facilities across the country.

Picture This!

Stop by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, AR, tomorrow, Friday, July 18, 2025, at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. CT, for "Picture This!" our next "Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator" event. In celebration of our new exhibition, "Portraits from a Presidency," we will showcase gifts presented to the Clinton Family during his administration.

The "Ask an Archivist and Converse with a Curator" program takes place on the third Friday of every month at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. While admission to the library is required, the program itself is free of charge.

Desegregation at Little Rock Central High School

In 1954, in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools were "inherently unequal". The next year in Brown II, the high court found that segregation in public schools must end "with all deliberate speed."

In response to these rulings, in 1957, the Little Rock school board unanimously voted in favor of a plan to integrate the Little Rock schools beginning with the high school. However, the Arkansas governor had other plans and sent the National Guard to prevent entry of the African-American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, into Little Rock Central High School.

Desegregation at Little Rock Central High School, an online exhibit from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, tells the full story of this crucial moment in the struggle for civil rights in America. Check it out today!

Executive Order 10730, which was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on September 23, 1957, addressed the Little Rock Crisis. NAID: 17366749

Smythe-Wood Newspaper Database (1772-1900)

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:52:52 GMT

The following announcement was written by the Irish Genealogical Research Society:

The Society is launching a new database created from a card index compiled several decades ago by the now late Patrick Smythe-Wood. It notes biographical information from Irish, and a small number of Canadian, newspapers.

Although the range of newspapers covers all of Ireland, the data tends to mainly represent the nine northern counties which form the province of Ulster: Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Derry/Londonderry, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Monaghan, and Tyrone,

Non-members can access this database for free to check for the prevalence of particular fist name and surname combinations by clicking HERE. Logged-in members can access the full database through the UNIQUE RESOURCES page.

Link to online news item: https://www.irishancestors.ie/smythe-wood-newspaper-database

Ancestry to Add 5.8 Million Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire Records

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:01:07 GMT

Family history website Ancestry has said it will add a major new collection of nearly 5.8 million records from Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire.

The website has published 2,731,356 1538-1812 baptism, marriage and burial records; 1,091,738 1754-1940 banns and marriage records; and 413,911 1813-1996 burial records. A set of 1,544,406 1813-1924 baptism records will be added in the near future. The records are taken from Cambridgeshire Libraries and Archives and also cover the historical county of Huntingdonshire.

Before the introduction of civil registration of births, marriages and deaths, religious baptism, marriage and burial records are the main way to trace key events in our ancestors’ lives. The new collection marks a major step forward for tracing Cambridgeshire ancestry online. The records include the baptism record of Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector of Britain from 1653 to 1658. The record shows that he was born on 25 April 1599 and baptised four days later at the church of St John’s, Huntingdon. His parents were Robert and Elizabeth Cromwell.

Whole Population Census of England and Wales Commissioned in 2031

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:41:40 GMT

His Majesty's Government has commissioned the Office for National Statistics to conduct a mandatory, questionnaire-based, whole-population census of England and Wales in 2031.

This follows the UK Statistics Authority's recommendation to Government last month for a census as part of system of population and migration statistics which combines the power of data collection and builds on the use of administrative data. a Census Taskforce which has started scoping plans for 2031. The Taskforce will focus on delivering a census that builds on the successes of Census 2021, working with devolved governments to support coherent UK outputs and maximising the benefits from our work with administrative data to date.

A public consultation will be launched later this autumn. This consultation will gather views on topics that users need from a system of population statistics and inform the development of the census questionnaire.

For any questions please contact outreach.engagement.comms@ons.gov.uk

To read the announcement go to:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKONS/bulletins/3e967fc

HM Government commissions census in 2031

FHF Really Useful Family History Show 2025

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:34:57 GMT

The following was wriiten by the North of Ireland Family History Society:

Join us at the FHF Really Useful Family History Show 2025 for a fun and informative day exploring your ancestors!

More than 15 exhibitors attending, this show is organised by the North of Ireland Family History Society and sponsored by the Family History Federation and the Public Record Office (PRONI), where it is being held.

Come along and discover more about researching your family tree.

Entry will be free and no need to book.

Don't miss this!!

Don't miss the presentations!!

A presentation from the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland who have just released The Population Portal, which brings together tens of thousands of names, and detailed census reports, from Ireland between the 17th and 19th centuries, allowing you to search them as one collection. Come along and find out what it is all about.

12.00 pm Prize Draw

Some wonderful prizes – be there before midday to go in the draw.

12.30 The Incredibly Useful Introduction to PRONI’s Family History Records

Discover some of the records that are available at PRONI and how to access them.

2pm We know who you are, John Linehan!!

John is a Belfast actor and comedian and absolute icon, having appeared in panto for over 30 years as May McFettridge. He is our latest celebrity to agree to have his DNA tested and to allow the North of Ireland Family History Society to analyse it and create his family tree. He has not been given any access to the information so come along and see what happens when we reveal everything to him for the first time.

Vivid-Pix, NIDE, & PocketRN Partner to Support Dementia Patients through GUIDE - No Cost for Medicare Patients

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:07:20 GMT

The following annoiuncement was written by Vivid-Pix:

View in browser

VIVID-PIX, NIDE, & POCKETRN PARTNER

TO SUPPORT DEMENTIA PATIENTS THROUGH GUIDE

photo Reminiscence Therapy Included in PocketRN’s National Launch at

No Cost for Medicare Patients

Release: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11TeNBxyaP8eEysrfH8dRWvR6362bvHk_/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108034730091211394530&rtpof=true&sd=true

July 16, 2025, Savannah, GA – The National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE), Vivid-Pix, and PocketRN announced today that they are partnering to support dementia patients through PocketRN and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, which is no-cost for qualifying Medicare beneficiaries.

With the fast-growing population of aging baby boomers and rise in dementia, the need for affordable, non-pharmacological AgeTech to assist the aging and their caregivers is more important than ever. PocketRN announced they will use NIDE’s interactive prescribed dementia procedures and Vivid-Pix Education and Memory Station Software to enhance care. Nurses will employ photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) through photos, household items, and music to reminisce, connect, and share memories.

PocketRN provides no-cost dementia care for Medicare members and their families in conjunction with the CMS GUIDE program. PocketRN offers virtual nursing support 24/7 in coordination with in-home care that proactively engages and builds trusted, high-touch, one-on-one relationships with patients and families. The GUIDE program focuses on comprehensive, coordinated dementia care to improve the quality of life for people with dementia. GUIDE is also designed to reduce the strain on family caregivers and help keep patients in their homes and communities longer. The program covers care coordination, care management, caregiver education and support, and respite care for qualifying families.

Vivid-Pix works with NIDE and healthcare facilities to research and create education for families and professionals through pRT, utilizing photos, mementos, and cognitive memories to create a connection with dementia patients through conversation, resulting in profound improvements in socialization, reducing isolation, loneliness, depression, and agitation. Learn more about PocketRN offerings at: https://www.pocketrn.com/ and receive free education and secure family stories at: https://www.vivid-pix.com/pocketrn/.

Further information regarding Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS.gov, and GUIDE is available at: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/guide.

About Vivid-Pix

Vivid-Pix invents and harnesses technologies, making it simple for individuals, families, and organizations to relive memories. Their motto, “Don't Let Your Memories Fade™,” describes the importance of photos and activities that nurture brain health, improve cognition, assist family historians and caregivers, and create connections. Vivid-Pix integrates their photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) research and family history activities into products and services for simple operation, to have fun, and age well. Vivid-Pix software has sold in over 120 countries, improving faded photos and documents and securing memories. Vivid-Pix CEO Rick Voight has been involved in memory industries for four decades. For more info, see http://www.vivid-pix.com, https://www.vivid-pix.com/pocketrn/, https://vivid-pix.com/reminisce, https://vivid-pix.com/education, and https://vivid-pix.com/memorystation.

About National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE)’s Standards of Excellence Council

The National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE)’s Standards of Excellence Council is led by Dr. Joshua Freitas, the Chief Education Officer and Chair of the Board. The Council focuses on bridging the gap between research, education, and advocacy to improve the quality of life for those with dementia. NIDE works with organizations to share industry trends and enhance quality care, advocating for quality education and resources for those living with dementia and their families. The council comprises industry professionals, researchers, advocates, and practitioners. To learn more, visit nid. education.

About PocketRN

PocketRN gives patients, families, and caregivers a Nurse for Life. Its mission is to close the gap between home and healthcare by enabling nurses to care proactively and continuously at the top of their license, enabling caregivers with peace of mind and the confidence to support others, and enabling patients to access whole-person, trusted, empathetic care when and where they want it. PocketRN is the glue that holds together fragmented experiences in care so that partners, clinicians, patients, and families get back more of what they need: quality time. For more information, visit www.pocketrn.com or engage with PocketRN on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Cumberland County, Tennessee, Celebrates Reopening of Archives Facility

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:14:59 GMT

Cumberland County Archivist, Joyce Rorabaugh, and Assistant Archivist, Lori Bowers, cheered loudly Friday afternoon during the ribbon cutting and grand reopening of the Cumberland County Archives and Family Heritage Center.

The Archives at 95 E. First St., hosted a celebration for the much ballyhooed county project that has been underway for many years.

The archives staff and many volunteers have worked for the past two months to get the facility ready to reopen.

“Today is a proud day for Cumberland County. After years of discussions, planning, and more than a few detours along the way, we officially open the doors to our newly renovated county archives facility … Along the way, there were disagreements about location, design, and funding, but what matters most is that through it all, we never stopped working together. Even in debate, we remained neighbors. Even in disagreement, we remained friends … This building stands as more than just a home for records. It is a symbol of perseverance, of compromise, and of a community that values its heritage enough to invest in its future …,” Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster said.
Foster also recognized former 3rd District Cumberland County Commissioner Rebecca Stone for her years of dedicated effort to starting and improving the archives facility.

Foster also recognized and thanked former Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill, who attended the ceremony, for his early role in working out the details for the county to purchase the former church building.

A portion of the structure was in the rear that had been added to the original building was demolished due to it being beyond repair. It was replaced with a 6,000 square-foot new building attached to the rear of the original structure.
The original structure was also renovated and updated with several upgrades.
The new vault also features rolling rack system and a dumbwaiter elevator for hauling and lifting documents from one level to the next at the Cumberland County Archives and Family Heritage Center.

“You are standing on history here,” Rorabaugh said. “This is a day we have worked hard for and have waited for a long time.”

Refreshments were served, courtesy of the Crab Orchard Daughters of the American Revolution.

A time capsule containing letters and photos from local organizations, businesses and governmental officials was also sealed and placed during the event.

Several people attended the celebration including county commissioners; Kevin Chamberlin, architect with Upland Design Group; and early volunteers such as Ron Pulley, who played a critical role in establishing the genealogy portion of the facility. Tennessee State Librarian and Archivist James Ritter and Assistant State Archivist Jami Awalt also attended the event.

The Cumberland County Archives and Family Heritage Center also offers hundreds of books, microfilm and computer files on county history and genealogy research. The facility offers free classes and seminars throughout the year.

The county, under state law, is required to keep certain inactive county records for years. The county clerk’s office, circuit court clerk and clerk and master’s offices and several other departments have brought inactive records to the archives facility for storage.

During the renovation, the archives had been relocated to the library during construction of the addition and renovation of the existing building.

Prior to the establishment of the Cumberland County Archives facility, many of the county records were stored in boxes in the basement beneath the Milo Lemert Building — and many were damaged when the basement was flooded.
Although the building opened a few years prior, the Cumberland County Commission officially established the Cumberland County Archives and Family Heritage Center in July 2011.

For more about the Cumberland County Archives and Family Heritage Center, visit them at 95 E. First St., call 931-456-2006, or email archives@artcirclelibrary.info. The hours of operation are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Hearst Networks UK Announces Sponsorship Partnership for Sky History with Ancestry

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:04:20 GMT

The following is. a press release written by Hearst Networks UK:

London, 15 July 2025: Hearst Networks UK have announced a new sponsorship partnership for Sky HISTORYand Sky HISTORY2 with Ancestry, the global leader in family history and consumer genomics. As a previous client of the brand, this renewed collaboration between the two iconic brands will once again blend the power of storytelling to inspire audiences to explore their heritage and uncover their personal histories.

As part of this new partnership, Ancestry will be the channel sponsor for Sky HISTORY and Sky HISTORY2, enriching the experience of both brands’ audiences by connecting historical events featured in our programming to their very own family stories. This collaboration will create a deeper connection to history, inspiring curiosity and exploration into personal legacies.

The sponsorship will include elements across both linear and VOD platforms, and targeted digital activity designed to deepen audience engagement, which will amplify Ancestry’s presence among UK audiences who are enthusiastic about history, heritage, and human stories.

"We are delighted to partner with Ancestry, a brand that shares our passion for history and storytelling," said Marianna Kritikos, VP Commercial Advertising and Partnerships at Hearst Networks EMEA. "Together, we aim to bridge the gap between historical narratives and personal discovery, empowering individuals with insights into their past."

“We’re delighted to renew our previously successful partnership with Sky HISTORY,” said Russell James, UK Country Director at Ancestry. “There is an obvious and powerful connection between our brands, and this represents a great opportunity to tell an engaged audience about the personal stories Ancestry can reveal.”

The partnership was developed in collaboration with Sky Media, reflecting the strong relationship and shared commitment to impactful brand integrations across the Hearst Network portfolio. The campaign will launch from July 2025, and run till the end of the year, across Sky HISTORY’s linear and on-demand platforms, with extended reach via Hearst’s powerful digital and social ecosystems.

-END-

Registration opens for October’s 18th Annual New England Regional Genealogical Conference

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 10:43:00 GMT

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Registration is open for the 18th New England Regional Genealogical Conference (NERGC), “New Englanders – Here, There, and Everywhere,” which will be held Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Manchester.

Three nationally recognized speakers will headline the conference:

Annette Burke Lyttle, CG, specializing in Quaker research and ancestral migrations;
Diahan Southard, a pioneer in genetic genealogy education; and
Cari Taplin, CG, who focuses on Midwestern and Great Lakes research.

In addition to the main conference, a full day of pre-conference activities will be held Wednesday, Oct. 29. These include two bus tours to genealogical research centers and historical institutions in Manchester and Concord, and four themed research tracks led by expert instructors. Pre-conference programming also includes five hands-on workshops on topics such as genealogical methodology and writing, photo identification, and mapping family history using Google’s My Maps. Participants may register for these activities without registering for the full conference.

Early registration is encouraged, particularly for those requesting accessibility accommodations or planning to reserve rooms at the conference hotel.

For full conference details, pricing, and registration, visit www.nergc.org.

31 Years Later, Police Identify ‘Baby Hope’ and her Parents

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 21:09:24 GMT

After more than three decades, investigators have identified “Baby Hope” and her parents.

The newborn was found stabbed to death in a trash can at Franklin, Indiana’s Temple Park around 5 p.m. on April 13, 1994. Two boys who were gathering recyclables came across her remains and called police.

An autopsy found the baby died from multiple stab wounds; the coroner ruled her death a homicide. Police and the community named the unknown infant “Baby Hope” and donations ensured she received a proper burial and a headstone. Investigators preserved her DNA in hopes that it would one day provide some answers.

For 31 years, no one knew the baby’s true identity or the identities of her parents. In 2025, thanks to advances in DNA technology and the dogged pursuit of investigators, the public finally has some answers.

Police identified the baby’s mother as Cheryl D. Larson. Her husband, however, was not the baby’s father.

Testing and genealogy determined that Paul R. Shepherd was the baby’s biological father.

Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran and other investigators revealed the information during a news conference on Monday at Greenlawn Cemetery, where Baby Hope has been laid to rest for the last three decades.

According to police, Shepherd was unaware he was the girl’s father. He decided to name her Hope Shepherd, taking inspiration from the name the community gave his daughter. Police said Shepherd has cooperated with the investigation and submitted a DNA sample.

Cochran said the case was reopened in 2019 so detectives could go through the investigation with a fresh set of eyes. Information from public DNA databases—not private and commercial ones like 23andMe—helped them identify Baby Hope’s biological parents.

“Only data from the users who had given permission for law enforcement matching was used, ensuring respect for their privacy and consent,” said Lt. Chris Tennell, investigations commander for Franklin PD. “No private or restricted genetic database was accessed.”

While that mystery has been solved, several questions remain unanswered and may remain that way. The baby’s mother died in 2018 and could not be interviewed.

Investigators were unable to determine her level of involvement in Baby Hope’s death. For now, there are no criminal charges being brought in the case. That could change if new information comes to light.

“This is not a closed case,” Tennell said. “But we needed to share this information with the community. While we remain deeply saddened by the tragic and unjust loss of Baby Hope, we are grateful to finally achieve some degree of closure after 31 years.”

Johnson County Coroner Mike Pruitt said DNA is a significant piece of the puzzle. However, there are still things about the case investigators don’t know or understand.

“We still have open questions,” Pruitt said. “DNA is not going to answer those questions for us. If this stimulates any information, any thoughts that you can bring to law enforcement to help us bring complete closure to this case, that would be the biggest closing point.”

Tennell, Pruitt and Cochran credited the tireless work of investigators and advances in DNA and forensic technology for Monday’s significant update.

“I know these are not 100% the answers we wanted,” Cochran said. “But we are here today with some closure for the community.”

National Archives News

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:39:16 GMT

The following is a press release written by the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

“Off the Record" Event at the Clinton Presidential Library

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 6 p.m. CT, the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, AR, will welcome Minyon Moore, former Assistant to the President and Director of White House Political Affairs during the Clinton Administration, for an “Off the Record” talk. Moore will go behind the scenes, sharing stories from her time in the West Wing and offering insights into the political strategy, leadership, and legacy that shaped a generation.

Register online for your tickets to attend this in-person event.

Great Seal of the United States

Just a few hours after the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the first committee to design a seal for the United States was appointed and began its design. After undergoing numerous changes, on June 20, 1782, the seal was officially adopted by the Continental Congress.

Apart from slight alterations made by Philadelphian William Barton, and appearance updates every few decades—the Great Seal of the United States remains largely unchanged.

Design for the Verso of the Great Seal of the United States. NAID: 595257

Presidential Libraries: Truman

Since its opening in 1957, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, in Independence, MO, has offered a research library and galleries that preserve and share the history of President Harry Truman's life and presidency. Truman personally worked to build the library and maintained an office there, which has been preserved and serves as one of the highlights of the tour. Today, the library helps bring the late President's life and legacy to light for modern scholars and everyday Americans through exhibits and a vast archival collection of documents from the Truman Administration.

Now, the National Archives is using technology to bring the President’s history to you! Take a walk through the galleries of the Truman Presidential Library with this virtual tour.

President Harry S. Truman personally oversaw the creation and direction of his library and archives. (Photo courtesy of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum)

Date	Webinar and Link	Presenters
Watch Now	FamilySearch Family Tree: Correcting Relationships	Chandra Schmidt
Thursday, 16 October, 11:00 AM	FamilySearch Family Tree: Records, Hints, and Sources	Angela Thorup
Thursday, 16 October 12:15 PM	Norwegian Ship Arrives After a Historic Journey	FamilySearch
Thursday, 23 October, 11:00 AM	FamilySearch Library Livestream	FamilySearch
Thursday, 23 October, 12:00 PM	Using U.S. Cemetery Records to Fill in Gaps on Your Family Tree	Julia A. Anderson
Thursday, 30 October, 11:00 AM	Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with FamilySearch	FamilySearch