Honoring Our Ancestors Newsletter
June 15, 2009
By Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak
Greetings Fellow Family History Sleuths,
Wow, things go fast. As I read the postings below, it jumps out at me that the Unclaimed Persons volunteer group has gone from 72 cases solved to 86 in under a month. Pretty amazing. Right now, I’m gearing up to speak at the National Archives (D.C.) and in Wichita, KS this week (hope to see some of you there!), and then settling in for an intensive summer of genealogy activities. Not a bad alternative for when it gets too hot outside, eh? Here's wishing you plenty of fresh discoveries in your own family trees!
Megan
In this newsletter. . .
- Genealogical Round Up, May 7
- Genealogical Round Up, May 14
- Genealogical Round Up, May 21
- Genealogical Round Up, May 28
- Honoring Our Ancestors Grants
- Upcoming Events
Title is slightly misleading, but this is still interesting - Obama to Trace Family History in Germany:
Planned Visit to Dresden: Obama to Trace Family History in Germany - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - Interna
I had a lot of fun chatting with Susan on her new radio show a couple of weeks ago and bet that she and Myra will have a blast!
Where genealogy and spirit connect with Myra Vanderpool Gormley
The private version of Unclaimed Persons is now up to 197 members. Request access if you're interested in helping on our cases.
Unclaimed Persons - Private
So James Bond had his beginnings in Scottish jute mills, eh?
Fleming: from jute mills to dry martinis - Scotsman.com News
I was nodding my head at all this until I got to the part re: African American DNA -- don't understand how they did this and the math doesn't add up!
Expansive Genetic Diversity In Africa Revealed / Science News
Interesting -- identification made of "ancient" remains apparently using autosomal DNA
Remains officially declared to be explorer Everett Ruess - Standard.NET - Standard-Examiner
New York Marble Cemetery Opening
New Genealogy Videos: Google Your Family Tree, Graphoanalyst, Genealogy Today: This week's New Roots Tuesday
Roots Television | Og Blog: New Genealogy Videos: Google Your Family Tree, Graphoanalyst, Genealogy
My kind of couple! Hope I'm like that when I'm 89!
Mayo Clinic atrium piano, charming older couple...
Ancestry hits a billion profiles in its 10 million user-contributed family trees.
Ancestry.com Marks Milestone in User-Generated Family History Content
Warning: Some of these aren't that odd, but some are cringe-worthy.
awkwardfamilyphotos...
Look! Another Megan in the genetic genealogy world! And she's Steve Morse's daughter! Wish I could be there.
California Genealogical Society and Library blog: DNA and Genetic Genealogy: A Morse and Morse Prese
Namath Reflects on His Immigrant Forebears - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com
Something I never thought I'd say. Here's my google wonder wheel
smolenyak - Google Search
une bonne idée!
Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter: Celebrate Your Ancestry on Your License Plate
Sadly, this is nearly a national epidemic. Check out www.unclaimedpersons.org. We've solved 72 cases in under a yr. #genealogy
Unclaimed Persons - locate the next of kin for unclaimed persons - every life is worth remembering
If you haven't seen the Ancestors episode with Susan Hadler yet, you're going to want to watch it. She lost her father in WWII and uses genealogy to get to know the father she never met.
Roots Television | Og Blog: New Genealogy Videos: Burial Preservation, Canadian Genealogy Centre and
This is so nice, but RootsTelevision.com has to stop being the best kept secret in genealogy! Tell your friends!
New Zealand Genealogy News: Roots Television - Pretty cool!
The winning article: Who would be King of America if Geo Washington had been king instead of president
tinyurl.com
Randy shares what's new on www.RootsTelevision.com.
Free Genealogy, Family History Videos on Roots Television
Disappointed press release for new immigration bk has errors re: Annie Moore, 1st thru Ellis Island:
The Associated Press: Book navigates crosscurrents of immigration
Scotland tracing its own:
Shirley Manson “too old” to be Bond babe « Deadline Press & Picture Agency
Congrats to our recent grant recipient! Don't forget that you can apply here.
May 2009
Save Our Cemeteries is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Louisiana's historic cemeteries, and to fostering a public appreciation for their historical and cultural significance. They are currently working with Xavier University students to compile a record of those buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 in New Orleans. The cemetery is the largest New Orleans' creole cemetery, spanning three square blocks. The grant award will be used in support of this project.
If you plan to be near any of the events where I'll be speaking, I would love to meet you. It's always a kick for me when folks mention that they read this newsletter, my blog, Ancestry Daily News or whatever, so don't be shy about introducing yourself!
For more information on these events, please see my Events Calendar. And if you're interested in scheduling me, just click here.
- June 17, 2009 - Washington, DC - 75 Years: The National Archives from a Community Perspective - Panel discussing the National Archives of the past and future
- June 20, 2009 - Wichita, KS - Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies - "Trace your Roots with DNA," "Welcome to Roots Television," "Reverse Genealogy" and "Find that Obituary!"
- February 6, 2010 - San Luis Obispo, CA - San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society - "Reverse Genealogy: Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones," "Online Newspaper Research," "Trace Your Roots with DNA" and "Right Annie, Wrong Annie"
- March 20, 2010 - Round Rock, TX - Williamson County Genealogical Society - Topics TBD
- July 8, 2010 - Toms River, NJ - Ocean County Library "Cases That Made My Brain Hurt" - 6:30 p.m.
- October 16, 2010 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Genealogical Society - Topics TBD
Please forward this newsletter to your family and friends who are interested in genealogy -- thank you!
Wishing you an abundance of genealogical serendipity!
Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak
www.honoringourancestors.com
www.rootstelevision.com
Note: You are receiving this because you have demonstrated an interest (e.g., you have a story in one of my books, applied for a grant, attended previous events, etc.) or subscribed via my website, but please let me know if you do not want to receive any further emails, and I will promptly remove you from my list. And rest assured, this is my personal list and not shared with anyone else! Thanks, Megan