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

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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! To learn more please visit our website: PastfindersSLC.org.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/…/reg…/OH840mxBQnuE6yhObt_i6g

 

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

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. 

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. 

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.

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! To learn more please visit our website: PastfindersSLC.org.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/…/reg…/OH840mxBQnuE6yhObt_i6g

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.

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.

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. 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.  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.  # # # 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 www.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 www.archivesfoundation.org.