Researching Maine: The Best Family History Sources
American Ancestors magazine celebrates Maine’s bicentennial with a feature on “The Best Genealogical Resources for Maine,” plus articles on transcribing Maine vital records, two Maine research cases, an organization that documents Maine Jewish life, and Maine resources on our website and in our R. Stanton Avery Special Collections. Other articles profile two musician brothers and a “fighting Quaker” from New Jersey. This issue should arrive shortly in your mailbox—or you can start reading online now!
Nearly 250 years ago, the American colonies declared independence from Britain. Did your Ancestor serve the cause? This online conference will explore demonstrate how you can prove your descent from an American patriot.
Vita Brevis, American Ancestors' blog, offers essays by our expert staff on their own research, as well as news of the greater genealogical community. Here’s a roundup of blog posts for November:
In November, Hallie Borstel applied her genealogical research skills to a worthwhile study: the history of Detroit-style pizza, developed in the mid-twentieth century by Gus Guerra (b. 1908). Ellen Maxwell offered up a glimpse of the work behind two 2020 illustrated NEHGS histories; Jeff Record leaned into kin-of-kin research; Chris Child contemplated the prospects of presidential progeny (or the lack thereof); Bill Griffeth and Libby Copeland previewed an online DNA program (with Chris), the first American Inspiration "Conversations" event was announced; Amy Whorf McGuiggan continued her series on Cape Cod as an "Outdoor classroom," with a variety of places to visit while marking the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower's arrival; and Scott Steward served up stories of unexpected and unsuspected Livingston family murderers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Newspaper Resources: Ohio County Public Library, WV
By Valerie Beaudrault
Ohio County is located in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. The city of Wheeling is its seat. The Ohio County Public Library has made a newspaper database that includes the following newspapers and more: The Intelligencer (1961-2020), Wheeling Intelligencer (1903-1961), Wheeling News-Register (2010-2020), Wheeling Daily Intelligencer (1852-1903), Daily Intelligencer (1859-1865), Intelligencer Wheeling News Register (1980-1982), and Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register (1980-2019). Search Now
Database News: New volumes for Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920
This week we’re announcing the addition of 23 new volumes and 12 updated volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920 from Our Lady Help of Christians (Newton), St. Columbkille (Brighton), St. Joseph (Boston), St. Joseph (Wakefield), and St. Mary (Boston). This update is part of our multi-year collaboration with the Archdiocese of Boston. We’re digitizing sacramental registers from 1789-1920. The most common records in this database are baptisms, marriages, and confirmations. Many thanks to all of our volunteers who contribute to this project! If you have questions about how to navigate this browsable database, be sure to watch our webinar. This database is available to guest members for free. Search Now
FREE Author Event: David S. Reynolds with Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times.
On this day in 1955, activist Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, AL city bus, sparking a boycott that was crucial to the Civil Rights movement.
For decades, often using a fake identity, Norbert Schild stole antique maps worth thousands of dollars each.
How a Marin County Woman Found her Birth Parents Wendy Gallagher, 54, grew up in Sausalito, California, knowing her parents adopted her as an infant. She met her birth mother and other family members in 2016.
The Clotilda was burned and sunk in an Alabama river after bringing 110 imprisoned people across the Atlantic in 1860. Two years ago, its remains were found.
“The Mayflower Society has teamed with American Ancestors and FamilySearch International on an online resource that makes tracing Pilgrim roots simpler than ever.”
“A Colonial-era house is the largest exhibit inside the National Museum of American History. It originally stood in Ipswich, Mass., and was disassembled in 1963 and moved to the Smithsonian museum.”
In the early twentieth century, two brothers left their home in Warsaw to seek new lives. They never saw each other again. A hundred years later, Moscow-born Nadia Ragozhina rediscovered the missing side of her family.
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
Last week's survey asked about Thanksgiving celebrations. We received 3,066 responses. The results are:
65% Due to the pandemic, my Thanksgiving plans this year are much different than usual.
23% My Thanksgiving plans this year are similar to those of previous years.
77% I will celebrate Thanksgiving at home.
8% I will celebrate Thanksgiving away from home.
28% I will celebrate Thanksgiving with relatives.
19% I will participate in a virtual Thanksgiving celebration this year.
72% I will eat classic Thanksgiving food: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, etc.
17% I will eat at least one family dish (not widely considered a Thanksgiving classic) made from a family recipe.
16% I will discuss family history with my relatives.
9% I will look at family photographs.
17% I will reflect on my Mayflower or Wampanoag ancestors and their experiences.
6% I will participate in activities that are long-standing family Thanksgiving traditions.
20% I will watch or participate in a football game or other sporting event.
8% I have Thanksgiving plans that are not mentioned above.
2% I celebrated Thanksgiving in Canada in October.
Want to share your thoughts on the survey with us? We are always happy to hear from our readers. Email us at weeklygenealogist@nehgs.org. Responses may be edited for clarity and length and featured in a future newsletter.
Readers Respond: Thanksgiving Plans by Lynn Betlock, Editor
Last week's survey asked about your Thanksgiving plans. Thank you to everyone who replied. Below is a selection of reader responses.
Kathy Pasko of Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania: My plans are different this year, since the in-person Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was cancelled. As a balloon handler I generally leave home at 3 a.m. to drive to Manhattan. I’m home by 1 p.m. and finish making dinner in time to host family at 4. Typically, we then leave on Saturday for Boston, to see Handel’s Messiah performed at Symphony Hall and spend a day at NEHGS. This year, it will two of us, traditional foods, a long walk, and maybe some yard work. I will miss seeing my local family, and all of you at NEHGS this year. I am grateful for the excellent courses you have set up to keep me connected!
Janice Healy of Aloha, Oregon: The one option you didn’t provide is whether you will be celebrating Thanksgiving alone. Many of us widows and widowers will be doing just that. Most of us are in the high-risk group and our children and grandchildren do not think it is wise to have a family dinner as in the past. I for one will be home alone as I’m sure many others will be.
Debbi Lawson of Clayton, California: This year, we will be spending Thanksgiving in our family cabin in Lake Tahoe, which was built by my grandfather when I was six. The fifth generation of our family is now enjoying making memories in this wonderful place. We will safely celebrate with our daughter and her family, playing games and watching Christmas movies. I will be telling the Thanksgiving story of the Pilgrims, with details about Edward Doty, our ancestor who came over on the Mayflower and was quite a character!
Roger Barnes of Webster Groves, Missouri: My wife works the 3-11 p.m. shift as a chaplain at a hospital. The two of us will eat Thanksgiving dinner at noon time. Our children are far flung and in a normal year at least one of them would come to visit but this year is different. We have scheduled a family Zoom meeting for Thanksgiving morning. I frequently think about the places and people that I know and love that I can't visit, from my 90-year-old uncle on one coast to our darling grandchildren on the other coast. We have high hopes that next year will be one full of hugs and kisses.
