The following is a press release from the (U.S.) National Archived and Records Administration:

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. You can see iconic images from the conflict in "Casting Light: Photographs of the Vietnam War" at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. This new exhibit is on display at both the Library in Ann Arbor and the Museum in Grand Rapids until December 14, 2025. Pictured by the opening exhibit panel are members of the Ford Museum staff who are veterans. From left to right: Sales Operations Manager Brian Billett, Administrative Officer Peter Kalogiros, and Exhibits Specialist Kyle Perkins. National Archives photo by Andrea Mantakounis Presidential Libraries Paintings by former President George W. Bush are now on exhibit at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas. To see "A Shining City on the Hilltop," purchase your tickets in advance online. Painting by President George W. Bush showing the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in 2013. Image provided courtesy of President George W. Bush   Can You Read Cursive? In the billions of records in the National Archives, not everything is spelled consistently—and that can make Catalog searches challenging. Become a Citizen Archivist, join the National Archives' new tagging mission, and help tackle this challenge!    Watch the video below to see how easy it is to add tags to Revolutionary War Pensions. VIP Visitors Utah Gov. Spencer Cox tweeted about fulfilling his dream of visiting the Reagan Library this week—and he did! Governor Spencer Cox and his wife Abby Palmer Cox in front of a portrait of President Reagan.

A study published in the book Genìa Da Vinci revealed that Leonardo da Vinci has at least six living male descendants who share his Y chromosome, according to Il Giornale. For the first time, an international team of scholars managed to identify the Y chromosome shared by these descendants of the paternal line of the da Vinci family.

Through meticulous analysis of sources and archival documents, researchers Alessandro Vezzosi and Agnese Sabato reconstituted branches of the family to which Leonardo belonged. By identifying 15 descendants in the direct male line, they traced genealogical links to Leonardo's father and half-brother, Domenico di ser Piero da Vinci.

The analysis revealed that these descendants have common portions of the Y chromosome, an essential marker for determining male inheritance. This confirms the genetic continuity of the male line of the da Vinci family starting from the 15th generation.

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The book Genìa Da Vinci documents a family tree that dates back to 1331, encompassing 21 generations and including more than 400 individuals. The volume provides an account of the da Vinci family lineage, offering readers a journey through genealogy, history, geography, documents, places, and historical figures to rediscover the environment that shaped Leonardo.

"Studying Leonardo's DNA can lead us to discover the biological bases of his genius, his visual acuity, creativity, and perhaps even his health and the causes of his death," said Vezzosi, a Leonardo scholar and co-author of the volume, according to Il Giornale. This discovery opens the way to the possible reconstruction of the genetic profile of the Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci.

"A more detailed analysis is needed to determine if the extracted DNA is sufficiently preserved," said David Caramelli, President of the Museum System of the University of Florence and coordinator of the project for anthropological and molecular aspects. "Based on the results, we can proceed with the analysis of Y chromosome fragments to compare them with current descendants."

Archaeological excavations have started in the Church of Santa Croce in Vinci, historically documented as the burial place of the da Vinci family. The authors confirmed the existence of a da Vinci family tomb in the church, which may be the burial site of Leonardo's grandfather Antonio, his uncle Francesco, and several half-brothers: Antonio, Pandolfo, and Giovanni. The excavation is being conducted in collaboration with the University of Florence.

Anthropologists Alessandro Riga and Luca Bachechi from the University of Florence, leaders of the excavation, made progress in efforts to identify the DNA of Leonardo da Vinci and his ancestors. They recovered bone fragments, some of which were dated by radiocarbon. Preliminary investigations conducted by Martina Lari and results from Caramelli indicate that the recovered fragment belongs to a male individual compatible with the age of Leonardo's presumed relatives.

A specimen, whose age corresponds to that of the supposed relatives of Leonardo, was submitted to paleogenomic analysis. The next step in the project is to compare the DNA taken from the remains with that of individuals considered to be the living descendants of Leonardo da Vinci. If the Y chromosome of living descendants is also found in the older remains from the tombs in the da Vinci churches, this would support the accuracy of the paternity records and allow a more in-depth examination of the biological material attributed to Leonardo.

Launched in 2016, the Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project is supported by the Municipality of Vinci and is coordinated by Rockefeller University in New York, involving institutions such as the University of Florence and the J. Craig Venter Institute in California. The research aims to shed light on the biological traits of the Renaissance master.

"Leonardo is not just the creator of the Mona Lisa. He is a challenge to redefine the limits of historical and cultural knowledge," said Jesse H. Ausubel of Rockefeller University, according to Il Giornale. The research will also be the basis of an international documentary and a future film production.

The guiding principle of the project is the traceability of the Y chromosome, which has remained unchanged for centuries. If successful, the sequencing of DNA fragments could reveal biological traits such as left-handedness, visual perception, diet, health predispositions, and physical appearance. This would also support the historical reconstruction of the lineage established through death records.

Credit: Othram

In 2006, a man who had gone by the name "Steven A. Mason" for at least 10 years before his death, died of natural causes in his home in Apopka, a northern suburb of Orlando, Florida. He was identified visually by his wife, and his identity was confirmed with fingerprints. However, after he died, it was discovered that he was living under a fake name and his real identity was unknown.

He was described as a white man with blue eyes and short graying hair.He was between 45 to 65 years old when he died and his left earlobe was pierced twice and his right ear was not pierced. On his right forearm, he had a tattoo of "Yosemite Sam." On his left forearm, he had a tattoo of the "Tazmanian Devil" and near his left wrist, he had a tattoo of a heart with an arrow through it. Despite efforts by investigators to determine who he was, his real identity was a mystery and details of the case were entered into NamUs as UP9397.

In 2024, the Orange County Sheriff's Office teamed with Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile that can be used for forensic genetic genealogy analysis. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) team used this profile to conduct extensive genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement to identify the man.

Using those leads, the Orange County Sheriff's Office continued to investigate and were able to locate possible relatives of the unknown man. Investigators then interviewed some of those possible relatives. One person submitted a reference DNA sample which was compared to the unidentified man's DNA profile using KinSNP Rapid Relationship Testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man as David D’intinosanto, who was born September 12, 1958. He was estranged from family in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and had been known to use fake identities.

The identification of David D’intinosanto is the 41st case in the State of Florida where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Florida cases, where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

On the eve of Juneteenth, American Ancestors® and the National Urban League® present the profound, free virtual program 10 Million Names: A Conversation About African American Family History and Healing, on Wednesday, June 12, 5:00 to 6:30 pm EDT. 

This online gathering features a compelling conversation between two prominent figures: Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, and Kenyatta D. Berry, acclaimed genealogist, entrepreneur, television host of PBS’s Genealogy Roadshow, and author.  Registration for the virtual event is open at tinyurl.com/2pz3uauf.

This isn’t just an event. It’s a homecoming.  This special event honors the lives, stories, and legacies of the 10 million enslaved African American men, women, and children whose names and histories were systematically erased by slavery—and celebrates the modern descendants reclaiming those stories today.  Together, we will Recover. Restore. Remember.

10 Million Names is a collaborative project dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America (specifically, the territory that would become the United States) between the 1500s and 1865. The project seeks to amplify the voices of people who have been telling their family stories for centuries, connect researchers and data partners with people seeking answers to family history questions, and expand access to data, resources, and information about enslaved African Americans.

There are at least 44 million descendants of enslaved individuals living today, but slavery separated families, erased names, and obscured facts. The 10 Million Names Project, launched by American Ancestors and its partners in 2023, aims to connect the family stories of these descendants to the 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in the U.S. prior to emancipation and to restore their names to history.

Featured Guests and Highlights:

Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, will share personal reflections on his own ancestry, identity, and legacy in a live conversation with Kenyatta D. Berry, a pioneer in African American genealogy and a passionate advocate for the power of knowing one’s roots.  The conversation will culminate in a special live reveal by Kenyatta Berry—sharing new research into Marc Morial’s personal family history.

The evening will also feature the debut of a short impact reel showcasing the progress of 10 Million Names, including the more than one million names already recovered.

About 10 Million Names

10 Million Names is a collaborative project dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America (specifically, the territory that would become the United States) between the 1500s and 1865. The project seeks to amplify the voices of people who have been telling their family stories for centuries, connect researchers and data partners with people seeking answers to family history questions, and expand access to data, resources, and information about enslaved African Americans.  For more information, visit 10millionnames.org.

About American Ancestors   

American Ancestors® is a national nonprofit center for family history, heritage & culture based in Boston, Massachusetts that has been setting the gold standard for genealogical research since its founding in 1845. Today, American Ancestors serves 400K+ members and subscribers through AmericanAncestors.org, one of the world’s largest online collections of family history resources. In 2025, American Ancestors launched the Family Heritage Experience, an interactive, state-of-the-art exhibition that introduces visitors to the joy of family history research, located at 97 Newbury Street at our headquarters in Boston. American Ancestors is also home to the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center, which preserves New England’s Jewish history, and 10 Million Names, a project dedicated to finding the names of the enslaved men, women, and children in pre- and post-colonial America before emancipation.   For more information,

visit americanancestors.org.

About National Urban League

The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment, equality, and social justice.  Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the Urban League collaborates at the national and local levels with community leaders, policymakers, and corporate partners to elevate the standards of living for African Americans and other historically underserved groups. The organization spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research, and advocacy. Today, the National Urban League has 92 affiliates serving 300 communities in 37 states and the District of Columbia, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than two million people nationwide.  The League promotes economic empowerment through education and job training, housing and community development, workforce development, entrepreneurship, health, and quality of life.  

For more information, visit nul.org.

Photo credit: Marc H. Morial

The following is a press release from Inside Genealogy:

Inside Genealogy’s United States Checklist is an interactive research tool designed to help genealogists stay organized and ensure they don’t miss key sources. It covers over 350 U.S. record collections, research strategies, and tools—from Ancestry and FamilySearch to smaller, lesser-known websites—and it works as both a to-do list and a research log.

I’m also offering a free FamilySearch-only edition, which focuses on the often-overlooked resources available at FamilySearch.org. The full version includes everything in the FamilySearch edition, plus much more.

Here’s a quick look at what sets this checklist apart from other genealogy checklists:

• Organized into 35+ categories with clickable links
• Includes expert tips for using record types and modern tools like AI chatbots
• Designed for digital use: check off sources, add notes, and track your progress
• Available as a PDF that works with any standard viewer

More information is available at: http://www.insidegenealogy.com. 

After 35 years of waiting, Jackie Meggison could see someone face a jury for the death of her sister-in-law. 

“It’s a relief,” Meggison told MLive/The Ann Arbor News outside the courtroom of Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Jinan Hamood on Tuesday morning. 

Moments before, Hamood had ruled Buster Robbins should stand trial for felony murder in the death of Beverly Ann Wivell. The ruling overturned a lower court decision from District 14-A2 Judge Karl Barr.

Barr declined to send the case to trial after a March 18 preliminary examination, saying the evidence failed to show Robbins was responsible for her death. 

“I think (Barr) was conflicted with what he should do,” Hamood said from the bench. “…That in itself should have been an indicator that the standard of exam was met.” 

Officials allege Robbins abducted Wivell, 31, from a Canton park and sexually assaulted her before taking her to Superior Township and shooting her. She was found around 10 a.m. Sept. 18, 1989, near Gotfredson Road and Ford Road in Superior Township, testified Ronald Smith, a Superior Township firefighter at the time. A nearby resident also testified to hearing a gunshot and seeing someone matching Robbins description leave the scene. 

Although detectives originally suspected Wivell’s boyfriend, they found he was at work at the time, testified Paul Wade, then a Washtenaw County Sheriff’s detective.

Swabs taken from Wivell’s body revealed DNA from her boyfriend and an unidentified man, according to testimony.

“We had no suspect at that time,” Wade said.

Other leads were exhausted, and the case sat cold until January 2024.

The virtual program, “Focus on Free Resources for New York Genealogical Research,” will be offered Tuesday, May 27 by the Southington Genealogical Society. This free event will take place at 7 p.m. at the Southington Historical Center, 239 Main St. People are welcome to view in-person with others or receive the Zoom link.

Speaker Marian Burk Wood will present the program which provides free resources from throughout New York State to investigate ancestors’ lives and family history context. Wood is the author of the genealogy book, “Planning a Future for Your Family’s Past,” and a long-time blogger about family history methodology and issues. She takes special interest in researching, preserving and sharing family history for the sake of future generations.

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 at 7 p.m. at the Southington Historical Society. To receive the link for the virtual programs, email southingtongenealogicalsociety@gmail.com.

The following is a press release issued by the Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies:

Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies are delighted to share news of a new scholarship opportunity open to students embarking on the dissertation level of the MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic, and Heraldic Studies.

Who is Eligible to Apply? 

• The scholarship is open to students embarking on the dissertation level of the MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic, and Heraldic Studies.
  
  
• Students must have successfully completed the PG Diploma level of the MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic, and Heraldic Studies by September of the current academic year.
  
  
• There is a preference for residents of the United States of America.

Applications for the 2025-26 scholarship should be submitted by Tuesday 22nd July 2025. Find out more on our website > Borders and Shires Scholarship | University of Strathclyde

Aisling Bea opens up on the emotional experience of discovering the stories of her ancestors while heavily pregnant with her own first child in her episode of Who Do You Think You Are?.

The comedian and actor was in the late stages of pregnancy whilst filming her episode of the BBC One genealogy show, where she discovered both sides of her family had been involved in some key moments of Irish history.

Her journey through Ireland on the trail of her family tree before her daughter was born in August 2024 can be seen tonight, Tuesday 20 May, on BBC One at 9pm.

Aisling Bea's family tree discoveries

Aisling Bea's great-grandfather Padraig O'Brian was at the centre of the 1916 Easter Rising. (Breda O'Sullivan/BBC)

Bea is proud of her Irish heritage and so she is thrilled to discover that her relatives were present at some key moments in Irish history, although there is an uncomfortable piece of news about one of them.

Exploring more about her three-times great-grandmother, she finds out that she actually ended up with more land to her name after the 1845 Great Famine, after other tenants were evicted.

Bea admits: "That is hard to hear...it does make me feel a little bit shameful, to be honest." She adds: "It doesn't leave me with a very proud feeling, at all."

The comedian showed a childhood photo of herself. (Helen O'Sullivan/BBC)

However, the comedian's family pride is reignited once more when she finds out the fascinating story of her great-grandfather's role in the 1916 Easter Rising. He had protested over British rule in Ireland by filling out a census in the Irish language, one of just two men of hundreds with his surname to do so. He was also involved in campaigning and marches that put him at the centre of the rising.

"Oh wow, that makes me so proud," she says.

Another family story that leaves Bea beaming is the tale of her great-great-grandmother who moved to the remote Blasket Islands to become one of its first teachers, continuing to teach into old age after bringing up her own children.

A pregnant Bea smiles as she says: "You see, people do keep working when they have children!"

Aisling Bea reflects on pregnancy and family history

Reflecting on what she has found out during the episode, Bea says proudly: "I feel like on this journey, there have been such specific points in history that I learned about as a kid during school - the famine, the 1916 rising, the revival of the Irish culture. And now suddenly, I have all of these personal connections and stories within all those moments in history, whether it was my three-times great-grandmother surviving on her own as a widow through the famine period, or my great-grandfather being directly involved in the build-up towards the 1916 rising. Or even my great-great-grandmother who ends up on the Blasket Islands as one of the first teachers to go out there and educate the kids out there.

"It's just sort of blown my mind and given me a really interesting different point of view on so many moments that I felt I knew so well and no know so personally."

She continues: "They all fit into two things that I carry passionately about me in life, which is feminism and the placement of women and their voices, and Ireland and our culture. I can't believe how much of that voice has come into the stories and I just feel so lucky to be exploring this journey while being about to create my own little line."

Looking at her bump, she jokes: "So hopefully you don't disappoint us all!"

Who Do You Think You Are? airs on BBC One at 9pm on Tuesday, 20 May.

The DNA testing firm 23andMe says it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for $256m (£192m).

It comes two months after the company filed for bankruptcy protection in the US.

23andMe said Regeneron had committed to comply with its privacy policies as part of the deal, and that Regeneron has security controls in place to protect user data.

Last month, the firm agreed to have an ombudsman oversee the protection of user data in response to demands by several state attorneys general in the US.

The officials expressed concern over the potential for unscrupulous buyers to wield the data against consumers.

Regeneron will acquire nearly all of 23andMe's assets, the company said in a statement.

Its subsidiary Lemonaid Health will be wound down under the agreement.

23andMe will continue to operate as a wholly-owned unit unit of Regeneron, which said it would use the firm's data for drug development.

"We are pleased to have reached a transaction that maximizes the value of the business and enables the mission of 23andMe to live on, while maintaining critical protections around customer privacy, choice and consent with respect to their genetic data," said 23andMe's board chairman Mark Jensen.

The deal was made through auction last week as part of the company's bankruptcy proceedings.

The company declined to comment further when approached by the BBC.

A company's struggles

23andMe was co-founded in 2006 by Anne Wojcicki who served as CEO until stepping down in March.

Over the years, the company received high-profile endorsements from celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Eva Longoria and Snoop Dogg.

23andMe went public in 2021, which saw its value top $6bn - but it never turned a profit.

The once-celebrated company has struggled amid weak demand for its testing kits and never managed to redefine its business model.

A subscription service failed to gain traction with customers and efforts to use its massive trove of data to move into drug development also faltered.

Then in 2023 the company experienced a data breach that exposed the genetic data of millions of users.

The firm ultimately settled a lawsuit alleging it failed to protect the privacy of nearly seven million customers whose personal information was exposed.

Hackers gained access to family trees, birth years and geographic locations, by using customers' old passwords, but the company maintains the data stolen did not include DNA records.

Two months after the settlement, it slashed 200 jobs - about 40% of its workforce.

Ms Wojcicki tried to take the company private but was not open to a third-party takeover.

Legacy of Data

When 23andMe filed for bankruptcy protection in March, attorneys general from multiple US states advised its customers to purge their information from the firm's database.

At the time, the company said it would continue to protect customer data as laid out in its privacy policy, and any buyer of the company would have to abide by laws that apply to how customer data is treated.

But its privacy policy also included language which allowed for personal information to be accessed, sold, or transferred if it was "involved in a bankruptcy, merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets".

23andMe agreed to a court-appointed overseer of customer genetic data after several states alleged the company was failing to take data security seriously enough.