Genealogy is more than a search for names and dates; it is an endeavor to understand our ancestors’ daily lives and our family’s role in human history. To piece together our ancestors’ experiences, we must think like historians and add context to our findings.This five-week online course will demonstrate how the principles, tools, and strategies of historians can be applied to your own family history research.
For the first time ever, the world’s largest family history conference will be entirely virtual and completely free. American Ancestors is excited to participate in this first-ever virtual RootsTech Connect conference with presentations from staff genealogists David Allen Lambert, Melanie McComb, and Ann Lawthers. Don’t forget to visit the American Ancestors and NEHGS virtual booth for special promotions, content, and more. Reserve your spot today!
Richard Thompson Ford with Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History
For centuries, clothing has been a wearable status symbol, and changes in fashion have marked historic social and political movements.Dress Codes provides an insightful and entertaining history of the laws of fashion, from the Medieval era to the present day. Join us Thursday, 6 p.m. ET, for a discussion with law professor and cultural critic Richard Thompson Ford about his latest work.
Published since 1977, The Maine Genealogist is the quarterly journal of Maine Genealogical Society. We've just added Volume 37 for the year 2015 to The Maine Genealogist database. This update adds over 230 pages and nearly 4,500 searchable names. Become a member of American Ancestors to search this and many more exclusive databases.
Spotlight: Vital Records Database, Rochester Public Library, New York
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Rochester is located in western New York. It is the seat of Monroe County. The Rochester Public Library has made a vital records database, titled Life Records, available on its website. The index comprises birth, marriage, and death records extracted from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle and the Times-Union. Currently, the indexes cover deaths from 1960 to 2016, births from 1977 to October 10, 2014, and marriages from 1965 to 2009. The database is a work in progress. The indexes can be searched by name(s) and limited to a particular year. All of the search results include name(s), date of the vital event, newspaper title, and date of publication.
Valentine's Day was this past Sunday, but we hope yours never ends. Do you have a romantic keepsake or family heirloom to share? Send stories and images to stories@americanancestors.org for a chance to be featured on our social media.
For inspiration, check out this story from Ellen Maxwell about her family heirloom: children's valentines from over a century ago. Read More at Vita Brevis
“A teenaged couple was torn apart for more than 50 years after a pregnancy and adoption, but they managed to find each other again then went on a search for the little girl they had to give up.”
Last week's survey asked about your ancestors' experiences with love and marriage. We received 2,987 responses. The results are:
12%, At least one of my ancestors had an arranged marriage.
17%, At least one of my ancestors had a broken engagement.
29%, At least one of my ancestors had a fiancé or spouse who was killed in a war.
12%, At least one of my ancestors had a spouse who died within six months of their wedding day.
25%, At least one of my ancestors died within six months of a spouse's death.
13%, At least one of my ancestors was involved in a bigamous marriage.
39%, At least one of my ancestors was married more than three times.
5%, At least one of my ancestors was reunited with a long-lost love.
2%, At least one of my ancestors had a known same-sex partner.
50%, At least one of my ancestors was married 60 years or more.
12%, I have a different story about ancestors’ experiences with love and marriage.
16%, None of my ancestors fit any of the above categories.
This week's question asks about your ancestors or relatives who practiced medicine. Take the survey now
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: Love and Marriage
by Lynn Betlock, Editor
Last week's survey asked about your ancestors' experiences with love and marriage. Thank you to everyone who replied. Below is a selection of reader responses.
Frances Taylor of San Francisco, California: My paternal grandmother, Frances Ensign Elder, was unmarried at 34. Living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, she was a college graduate but had not found a career to pursue or a man to marry. She was headed toward becoming a permanent housekeeper for her parents and sister. Friends suggested she start writing to Hartley Wright Taylor, who had attended her college but whom she hadn’t met. He had moved from Michigan to Montana for his health. Frances intended to marry at any cost and soon after they began their correspondence in December 1903, their exchange of letters became a courtship by post. They met in person for the first time in Kalamazoo on August 29, 1904 and were married the next day. I inherited those letters.
Robin Hurwitz of San Jose, California: Growing up, I lived near an elegant lady I always called “Aunt Lillian.” She had been engaged to my mom’s grandmother’s youngest brother, Harold Williamson. He had died in 1928 at age 23, three days before their wedding. Even though she’d married and raised a wonderful family, Harold’s photo was on her dresser more than 50 years later. Their love lasted beyond a lifetime.
Joyce Hodges of Basehor, Kansas: My ancestors Jacob Lounsbury and Sarah Jane McCombs were married August 4, 1842 in Burford, Brant County, Ontario. They were both 22. Their 60th wedding anniversary was in 1932. Sarah Jane died of pneumonia and influenza a year and a half later on February 9, 1934, in Ridgetown, Kent County, Ontario. Her funeral was held on February 12. After it was over, Jacob went home to bed and the next morning he was found dead. The death certificate gave the cause of death as pneumonia, which was probably made worse by attending the funeral. We believe that he also didn’t want to live without her.
Ginger Gurchiek of Washington, Michigan: Two years ago, my 92-year-old father told me how his parents met. My grandfather was engaged to my grandmother's sister who was three years older than my grandmother. The night before the wedding, my grandfather eloped with my grandmother, who was "in the family way." He left his betrothed standing at the altar the next day. My grandmother's sister later married someone else and I'm not sure what kind of relationship the two sisters had. I had never heard this story before and neither had any of my cousins.
20% Off Experts' Choice Books
Now is a great time to expand your genealogical library! Our experts have curated choices just for you, highlighting books every family historian should own. Throughout the month of February, purchase any title from our Experts' Choice collection at 20% off.
