Free American Inspiration Author Event—Last Chance!
An Insider’s Look at Hollywood’s First Family
Film industry professionals in the family discuss the lives and legacies of the famous New York-born Mankiewicz brothers, who dazzled audiences during the mid-20th century. Don't miss this look at Nick Davis's Competing with Idiots: Herman and Joe Mankiewicz, a Dual Portrait. February 10 at 6 p.m. (ET). Register Now
In-Person Seminar in 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. Includes five lectures, lunch, and reception.
Today there are an estimated 7.6 million Jewish Americans living in the country, the majority of whom descend from diaspora Jewish populations from Central and Eastern Europe. This four-week online seminar will provide you with the key records, repositories, and strategies for making real headway in your Jewish family history research. Live Broadcasts: March 2, 9, 16, and 23 at 6 p.m. (ET). Members save 10%!Register Now
Spotlight: British Columbia Historical Newspapers
by Valerie Beaudrault
British Columbia is Canada’s westernmost province. The University of British Columbia has made the BC Historical Newspapers database available on its website. The digital collection comprises 168 titles that published between 1859 and 1995. Scroll down to view the alphabetical list of newspapers and a map that pinpoints the home of each publication. The search box for the entire collection is located above the alphabetical list. Click the shortcut icon to the right of a newspaper title to search a particular title. From there you can conduct a search or browse the issues. Page images can be downloaded and saved. Search Now
Free 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).
For Black History Month, spend some time investigating your own African American family history. Researching the histories of enslaved ancestors can be difficult but rewarding work. Get started with our newly updated research guide, compiled by the experts at American Ancestors.
Free Online Lecture Researching African American Ancestors in New England
This online lecture will highlight useful collections for researching African American ancestors, including court and account records, local histories, original manuscripts, rare documents, and more. February 17 at 4 p.m. (ET).
The U.S. Census's 72-year Confidentiality Rule Has a Strange History The question of why census records are kept confidential for 72 years has stumped researchers, including Jessie Kratz, the historian of the National Archives, which is in charge of making census records public.
1950 Census News—NARA Site Now Live! Although the census search function will not be available until April 1, the 1950 site is live and contains a wealth of information about the upcoming release.
Genetic Marker Discovered for Descendants of Bruce Clan Researchers at the University of Strathclyde have found a distinct genetic marker in male line descendants of the Bruces of Clackmannan, who were related to Robert the Bruce, King of Scots from 1306 to 1329.
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
Last week's survey asked if you or any of your ancestors have made a permanent move due to climate or weather-related issues. We received 2,848 responses. The results are:
16%, Yes, I relocated due to climate/weather.
12%, Yes, at least one of my parents relocated due to climate/weather.
11%, Yes, at least one of my grandparents relocated due to climate/weather.
7%, Yes, at least one of my great-grandparents relocated due to climate/weather.
7%, Yes, at least one of my earlier ancestors relocated due to climate/weather.
61%, No, I am not aware of any of my ancestors relocating for climate/weather.
56%, No, I have not relocated due to climate/weather.
6%, No, I have not relocated due to climate/weather but I am considering it!
This week’s survey asks about first and last names used together in your family over consecutive generations. 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.
Last week's survey asked about relocating due to climate or weather-related issues. Thank you to everyone who replied. Below is a selection of reader responses.
Megan Montgomery of Waynesboro, Virginia: My dad's family was in Nebraska and South Dakota for a couple of generations, and my dad was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. At the tail end of the Dust Bowl era, my grandparents decided to move their twelve kids from Nebraska to Idaho. Their reason for moving was that some friends who had moved there told them, "The wind never blows in Idaho."
Betsy Scott, Salem, Oregon: My husband's grandparents and extended family lived in Rolla, North Dakota, in the late 1800s, homesteading and trying to scratch out a living on the land. Finally wearying of the hard winters, Grandpa and his brother-in-law set out to find somewhere else for their families to live. In March 1896, the local paper reported that James Scott and Hamilton Piper were heading south to Louisiana and if they did not find a place to their liking, they would be going on to Florida. They settled in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and made a living in the furniture business, with a side gig as undertakers. When the economy in the area had a hard downturn, they left and were in Oregon by 1909. That has worked ever since.
Linda Whitmore, The Villages, Florida: My father, Olof Fabian Johnson, emigrated from Sweden as a young adult. He went to St. Paul, Minnesota—a typical destination for Swedes—to stay with an uncle there. But after a short while, he packed up again and moved to an aunt’s house in San Francisco. My father, who had been raised in Sweden’s Arctic region, said it was too cold in Minnesota!
Steve Perkins, Springfield, Missouri: My great-grandparents emigrated from Denmark in 1911 and 1912 and settled in Kronborg, Hamilton County, Nebraska, where many other Danes lived. They had seven daughters between 1914 and 1935. Two of them, Astrid and Dagney, developed complications from tuberculosis. The condition was probably exacerbated by Nebraska’s harsh winter weather. So, the family—except for my grandmother— moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, in the mid-1930s. My great-grandfather and his two daughters with health problems died there in the early 1940s. The other daughters married, had families in Mississippi, and lived into their eighties. My great-grandmother, Anna Kirstine Hansen Larsen (1889–1983), was a wonderful woman. She was a "mother away from home" for Danish airmen who were in Mississippi for Air Force training in the 1950s and 60s.
Database News
New Volume Added to Rhode Island Roots
Volume 42 from 2016 adds over 2,400 new records. The Rhode Island Genealogical Society publishes this journal that features many Rhode Island records, such as cemetery and tax lists, General Assembly petitions, civil and military records, and genealogical articles—all focusing on Rhode Island families. Search Now
