As a volunteer at my county museum, I am currently cataloging table linens. There is plenty of variety in this category, everything from decades-old redwork pillow shams to tatted tablecloths. This week I came across a set of crepe paper table napkins, dating probably to the early 20th century. They were delicately thin and fragile,…
I have recently had the great good fortune of seeing my grandfather’s Soldier’s Service and Pay Book for his service in the British Army. It was loaned to me by my uncle, his only son. I will have a short time to examine it and even to ask my uncle some questions about the notations…
My second day here at the conference started with an inspiring keynote from Curt Witcher of the Allen County Public Library in Indiana. He spoke knowledgeably and with passion about the technology-fueled future of genealogy. All of the day’s sessions were good, but two stand out especially. I heard some good news, that is, not…
One week from today I’ll be on my way south, but not for the weather. I’m going to RootsTech, my first international genealogy conference. This one appeals to my enthusiasm for technology that is useful, especially if it works well for non-tech people, while feeding my appetite for genealogy research. Up to now, I’ve been…
This headstone may or may not be that of my great uncle and his widow. It has some suggestive connections, but I need to track down real evidence, and put to rest our long hunt for lost Uncle George. The clues we have are mostly family anecdotes: he married a woman named Annie, he went…
As an amateur genealogist, I welcome the opportunity to share my discoveries as I travel back into my family’s past. This site is dedicated to my maternal line: my mother, who shares this passion, my grandmother, who gave up the home, family and friends she loved to follow her children across an ocean, and my…
