| | Greetings Fellow Family History Sleuths, Well, this month's issue is more like a month-and-a-half. I was on the road for a while, so am playing catch-up now. You'll find a dose of military (soldiers identified, the Irish in WWI, and a detailed letter my grandfather wrote home from France in WWI), Irish (did you know there's a Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco?), genealogy news (Ancestry for sale, a terrific researcher for those with Slovak and/or Rusyn roots, and more records at the NJ State Archives), and a bit of nostalgia (a feature article about our beloved Betty White's unusual roots). Here's hoping there's a little something to amuse each of you during any quiet moments you might have while celebrating Thanksgiving! Until next time, happy sleuthing!
| | | The Roots Recipe for Betty White (credit: Angela George) Betty White, now 96 years old, graced us all with her presence at the Emmys. Mischievous and beautiful as ever, she was honored for her remarkable eight-decade career in show business which includes classic series such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Golden Girls. But it was one of her more recent shows — Hot in Cleveland — that puts me most in mind of her own life. In it,White played a wisecracking, Midwest caretaker of a house a trio of Los Angelistas landed in upon impulsively fleeing their California lives. An Illinois native, White moved to Los Angeles while still a child, so this series was a version of her life in reverse. Continue reading Back to top^
| | | Genealogy Roundup, November 19 Photo: Robert LeRoy Knudsen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Princess Grace Irish Library – Did you know that there’s a Princess Grace IRISH library in Monaco? Link to article I wrote about it here. Suncoast Genealogy Society – Last minute reminder that I’ll be talking #genealogy – in person for the first time in a long time – this Saturday (Nov 22nd) in Palm Harbor, FL. In the past now, but we sure had fun! Thanks to all who joined us!
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| | | Genealogy Roundup, November 12 Photo: Osioni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Remembrance Sunday: Nearly 1,000 Irish died serving US army in World War I – It’s so weird to stumble across something written about yourself, but I just found this about some research I did about a decade ago. It pertains to Irish soldiers who lost their lives in WWI serving for America. I’ll bet a lot more could be found on the topic now! #genealogy #VeteransDay Thinking of my grandfather, James V Shields, today and pulled up this letter he wrote home from France during WWI. Never spoke of his service in later days, so feel very fortunate to have this trace. He's the fellow standing in the middle in the photo. #VeteransDay New Jersey State Archives - For those with NJ roots! #genealogy
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| | | Genealogy Roundup, October 8 Photo by Barefoot Beach Designs on Unsplash We Assist Slovak-Americans & Rusyn-Americans to Reconnect with Their Roots – For my fellow Rusyn- and/or Slovak-Americans! If you need help in Slovakia with genealogy research (in archives or on-site in your villages of origin), finding your cousins, with translations, getting photos/videos of your family homestead, tombstones, etc., I can HIGHLY recommend Martin Hyross! He’s a recently retired business executive who has been SO helpful with my efforts in Slovakia, especially on the two occasions when we brought 40 Americans who had roots in Osturňa over there. He worked side by side with me on the world’s first geographical genetic genealogy project, serving as an actual translator, but more to the point, a cultural translator. He also helped with all the troubleshooting that comes along with large group travel in a foreign country (this person missing their flight, that car accident, this person going in the hospital, etc.). I promise that if you’ve been thinking of hiring someone on the ground in Slovakia, you’ll be more than happy if you choose to work with Martin! Weird Relative At Family Reunion Knows How Everyone Related To Each Other – #Genealogy PFC Vincent A. Vega – For reasons alluded to in this obituary, this family was daunting to find. Welcome home, PFC Vincent Angelo Vega. #KoreanWar #Hero Back to top^
| | | | | | The Quest for Annie Moore of Ellis Island: Uncovering the True Story of the First Immigrant to Arrive at America’s Isle of Hope On January 1, 1892, Annie Moore of Ireland tripped into the pages of history and became the poster child of immigration by being the first to arrive at Ellis Island. And then she disappeared. Adding insult to injury, a different Annie Moore usurped her place in history decades later. Now – 150 years after her birth and 100 years after her death – a determined genealogist finally sets the record straight and reveals the true story of Ellis Island’s first. | | | | | Megan Smolenyak | | St Petersburg, FL
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![unattributed by source, appears to be the same portrait attributed to S [Stefano?] Caruson, active 1831-1843 by the Frick Art Library](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eliza_Kortright_Monroe_Hay.jpg){kind=link}