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).

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.

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.”

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.

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, 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.

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’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.”

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 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 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.

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.”

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 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 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. 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