Classical architecture, derived from the principles of Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, dominated architectural design in the Western world from the Italian Renaissance until World War II. This three-week course will examine outstanding and influential public and private buildings throughout history that helped create the modern world. Live broadcasts: February 8, 15, and 22 at 4 p.m. (ET) Register Now
Online Lecture—Last Chance!
Wanted! Dead or Alive: Researching Criminal Ancestors
Genealogist Melanie McComb will provide an overview of key resources that can be used to research the criminals in your own family tree, including newspapers, jail registers, prison records, court records, and more. February 10 at 3 p.m. (ET)
On February 10, Nick Davis will discuss his dual portrait of Hollywood’s famous brothers in Competing with Idiots: Herman and Joe Mankiewicz, bringing to life New York’s literary world in the 1920s and the start of the movie business. On February 28, author and lawyer Linda Hirshman presents The Color of Abolition: How a Printer, a Prophet, and a Contessa Moved a Nation. Learn More
Spotlight: Mount Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Winchester, seat of Frederick County, is located in northern Virginia. Mount Hebron Cemetery, which was established in 1844, has made a burial records database available on its website. Click the Burial Records link to begin your search. The database can be searched by first name, middle name, last name, date born, and date died. Click a name in the search results to pinpoint a grave on the cemetery map. Clicking a name will also bring up more details about the deceased, including grave location information and the names of other occupants of the plot. There are a number of online cemetery tours you can access from the search page by clicking the Tour Information link. Search Now
New Issue of American Ancestors Magazine
Access Now with Your American Ancestors Membership
The winter issue of American Ancestors is now available online. This issue features articles on beginning German genealogy, researching German immigration to the U.S., and essential resources for family research in Germany as well as the former Kingdom of Prussia. Plus, a family mystery solved by DNA testing, a useful resource for New Netherland research, information on upcoming events and research opportunities, and more. We hope you enjoy this new issue! Access Now
Online Lecture Generations: Artistic Expressions of Heritage and Identity with Helina Metaferia
Interdisciplinary and research-based artist Helina Metaferia talks about using collage and video to explore her relationships with family, history, and heritage. February 11 at 4 p.m. (ET)
Mayflower Descendant Winter 2022 Issue Available Now
Mayflower Descendant is a highly regarded source of scholarship for Mayflower families and related genealogies. Subscribe for 2022 today to get your copy of the new issue!
In-Person Seminar Denver, Colorado From Pilgrims to Patriots: Researching Early New England Ancestors
Discover essential records for colonial New England research, learn how to verify connections to the Mayflower, and more. March 26, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (MT)
Can Medieval Sleeping Habits Fix America’s Insomnia? “The history of ‘first sleep’ and ‘second sleep’ holds surprising lessons about preindustrial life, 21st-century anxiety, and the problem with digging for utopia in the past.”
Last week's survey asked about genealogical mentors. We received 3,176 responses. The results are:
55%, I have or had at least one genealogical mentor.
35%, I have never had a genealogical mentor.
51%, I have been a genealogical mentor for at least one other person.
15%, I have never been a genealogical mentor.
4%, I am not sure.
This week’s survey asks about relocating due to climate or weather-related issues. 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: Genealogical Mentors
By Jean Powers, Senior Editor
Last week's survey asked about genealogical mentors. Thank you to everyone who replied. Below is a selection of reader responses.
Bob Kenney, Framingham, Massachusetts: I've been researching my family tree for more than 35 years and have amassed a very large amount of relevant information on CDs, as well as a sizable library of printed material. My son has taken a strong interest in my research, and has started tracing his maternal line. He and I have enjoyed many a day visting libraries, historical societies, and graveyards together. When the time comes, he'll be the happy recipient of all my research.
Paula Gravelle Scheiwe, Orland Park, Illinois: My father began researching in the 1940s when my grandfather, William Gravelle, was about to retire and could not prove his birth. With my dad's assistance, my grandfather learned that the name he had been using all his life was incorrect. My grandfather went from "William Gravelle" to "Louis Pierre Clavel." In the 1990s, my father showed me a box filled with papers and photos from the 1890s through 1920s and described everything in detail. I was intrigued, and he became my genealogy mentor.
Roger Barnes, Webster Groves, Missouri: My mother was my mentor. She told me stories of people I didn't know and about almost every object in her house. As I review and read the many papers she left behind, I realize that she was only the latest in a long line of family historians. Her mother and grandfather also had stories. And my maternal great-great-grandfather, William Little, helped found the Newbury (MA) Historical Society. I give thanks to all of them every day.
Elizabeth Ekstrom Richards, Durham, North Carolina: A wonderful man in Sweden named Benny Ekstrom reached out to me to nearly 20 years ago, based on my online tree. Benny taught me to use Swedish church records in my research, and assisted me with reading and translation. In exchange, I helped find his immigrant relatives who had come to North America from our shared parish of interest. We never found a common ancestor, but we call ourselves cousins. His mentorship also taught me that records in other languages need not be scary.
Database News
New Volume Added to Vermont Genealogy
We’ve recently updated our database, Vermont Genealogy, adding Volume 20 from 2015. This database is available thanks to our partnership with the Genealogical Society of Vermont. This update adds over 3,900 new records. Vermont Genealogy is an essential resource for genealogists interested in this region. Search Now
