Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.
~ William S. Burroughs
Monthly Archives: July 2006
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Weekly Planner: Walk Away from a Problem
Take a cue from today’s quote. Look at one of the most vexing problems in your family history research. Review it and then walk away. Grab a glass of lemonade or whatever you like and sit someplace cool and comfortable. Relax and ponder. Repeat as necessary.
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Creators of Family Heirlooms, by Paula Stuart-Warren, CG
IÂ was just watching Antiques Roadshow and sat there thinking about whether the ceramic handprint one of my children made years ago would be valued at the same level as a piece of pottery shown on this episode. I have to admit that in reality, the monetary value of such things made by our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews is not going to equal such amazing dollar levels as we often see on that show, but the true value is so much more. So, what does this have to do with this column?
What’s in Your Family History?
Much as I love my family, I don’t think their elementary school creations will make the history books. Your’s either? But, what if Great Grandpa’s brother was a potter, made clocks, created exquisite glass objects, built sought-after furniture, or crafted beautiful silver items? Could you find out more about that person? Maybe you have a creation from that person. You will find many magazines, books, and websites devoted to identifying the objects and the creator, but in this case we want to learn much more about the person. Continue reading
Genealogical Books in Disguise, by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak
Over the last few months, I’ve been on another of my book binges – helplessly buying and reading countless books of a genealogical nature. I reported some of my reactions in Curl Up With a Genealogical Mystery and in Genealogical Cozies. Many of you were kind enough to share your remarks as well, so now I’m at it again.
Genealogical Non-Genealogy Books
Over the years, I’ve written a fair bit about actual genealogy books, mostly of a how-to nature. But this binge is different. I’m on a quest to find books that aren’t overtly genealogical, but that feature stories and themes that resonate with roots-seekers.
The good news is that there are a lot more books of this sort out there than I expected. Perhaps I was blind to them before, but I’m delighted to find so many that appeal in different ways. Recently, I’ve covered several genealogical cozies (lighthearted mysteries, for those who are new to the world of cozies), but for a change of pace, I thought I’d tackle a couple of non-fiction books. Continue reading
Tips from the Pros: Reality Check, from Sherry Irvine, CG, FSA (Scot)
from Sherry Irvine
Perhaps you don’t think about how many years of researching you may have left, but I do, constantly. It is what is behind my interest in teaching research methods and tutoring online. What do you want to achieve in the next few years and how can you realistically make significant progress? Reality checks, big and small, will get you to your goals. Continue reading
Your Quick Tips
Checklist Cover
Adding to the quick tip about going through folders to see what you have and don’t have (http://www.ancestry.com/s23560/t7810/rd.ashx), in addition to a card catalog, how about keeping a list of sorts on the front of the folder and marking down each document you are enclosing. No need to shuffle papers each and every time you need to look for something to see if you have it or not.
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Diane
Levittown NY Continue reading
The Year Was 1969
The year was 1969 and America was embroiled in the Vietnam War. The new president, Richard M. Nixon, calls for a “peace with honor” as a divided U.S. sees a year of anti-war demonstrations, including the “Mobilization” demonstration in Washington, D.C., where it is estimated that over 250,000 people gathered, making it the largest anti-war protest in U.S. history.
In another large gathering (one that turned out to be larger than expected), over 500,000 fans turned up in an alfalfa field in upstate New York to hear music from Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, the Who and other famous acts from the ‘60s in a three-day concert known as the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. Images of the concert live on in a host of websites including this one containing QuickTime video clips.
A much smaller group made history as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon through NASA’s Apollo space program. The world was captivated as these space pioneers took that “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.†Later that year, thousands of people would line up at the Smithsonian Institute to see the exhibit of moon rocks that the astronauts brought back with them. Continue reading
Photo Corner
Contributed by Sondra Prowett
Sondra’s 2nd great-grandmother, Christina VonSchömberg Schreiner Tarnow, born 1838, Hesse Germany, died 1920, Hewitt, Minn., USA. She was a physician and midwife who immigrated with her brother, and lost her first husband in the Civil War.
Click on the image to enlarge it.
Contributed by Margaret Gaven, North Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Margaret’s 2nd great grandparents George Pope Henderson and wife Betsy Bruce. They emigrated from Helmsdale, Sutherland, Scotland to Teeswater, Ontario, Canada in 1871 with five children.