| | Greetings Fellow Family History Sleuths,
I first wrote about Bruno Mars's roots way back in 2012, and even today, that article continues to be one of my most popular, and since he's just announced a new album and tour, it seems a good time to share it again. This month, you'll find that along with a random, but timely milestone I've reached with my Army cases, a moving video about from the opening of the Statue of Liberty museum, an updated tool for Irish research (John Grenham at it again!), a summary of all that Reclaim the Records did for us in 2025, an article about dedicated genealogists helping all of us with their chosen projects, a discussion of maiden names, and more. Phew! I hope you'll find a few items that capture your attention and imagination, especially if you're one of the many snowed in at the moment. Until next time, stay warm!
| | The Multicultural Family Tree of Bruno Mars Bruno Mars next to one of his grandfathers. This apple didn’t fall far from his family tree. (credit for photo on right: PR Photos) Which of the following describes the heritage of Peter Gene Hernandez, better known as Bruno Mars? - Ukrainian
- American
- Filipino
- Hispanic
- Jewish
- Hawaiian
- Puerto Rican
- European
- Hungarian
- Asian
- Spanish
The correct answer is all of the above. And though I haven’t been able to prove it through the paper trail, he may well have some Taíno and African roots through his Puerto Rican ancestry. As a genealogist who’s been delving into the past for most of my life and playing with DNA for almost two decades, I’ve climbed the branches of several thousand family trees, and the more branches I explore, the more apparent the growing “melangification” of America becomes. Continue reading Back to top^
| | | Genealogy Roundup, January 21
I recently hit a random but timely milestone with my work with the US Army as I’ve now researched 1776 soldiers. That seems fitting given this is our 250th year. Statue of Liberty Museum Opening – This is a video I put together back in 2019 from the opening of the Statue of Liberty museum, and I find it’s more relevant than ever. If you watch, be sure to check out what Oprah says about our ancestors. And Gloria Estefan’s spontaneous and heartfelt singing at the end. #genealogy #freedom
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| | | Genealogy Roundup, January 7 Photo by Thomas Kinto on Unsplash New Jersey State Archives – Good news for New Jersey genealogists! WWII soldier missing since Bataan Death March identified, finally returning home – Local news piece about one the soldiers I researched who’s been identified. While I appreciate that they told this story, it sort of insinuates that the family couldn’t be found or wasn’t all that involved, and I can tell you that they definitely were and are. My guess is that they couldn’t get one of them to interview so took this fellow-veteran approach, and while that’s fine, I wish they had mentioned that James McKinley Walker’s family is very much in the mix. In fact, they were the ones who decided to bury him there. #genealogy Reclaim The Records Year in Review 2025 – Worth taking a few minutes to see all that Reclaim the Records has done for us just in 2025! #genealogy 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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