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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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:

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.

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.

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, 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.

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 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