Debby Applegate with Madam: The Biography of Polly Adler, Icon of the Jazz Age
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author comes a story of the Roaring Twenties and New York’s notorious madam who played hostess to every gangster, politician, writer, sports star and Cafe Society swell worth knowing. Debby Applegate uses her story as the key to unpacking just what made the 1920s such a corrupt yet glamorous and transformational era. She shows how the collision between high and low was—and is—the unique ingredient that fuels American culture. January 19 at 6 p.m. (ET) Register Now
Online Seminar
Virtual Preservation Roadshow
Chances are you have a stack of family papers and photo albums tucked away that you don’t know what to do with. This virtual preservation roadshow will teach you best practices for surveying, handling, and storing family materials, and provide you with expert advice on how to care for items in your collection. January 22 at 2 p.m. (ET). Register Now
Virtual Winter Family History Benefit 2022
The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream, Honoring David M. Rubenstein
We will honor philanthropist, author, and Carlyle Group co-founder David M. Rubenstein with a Preservation and History Award. Rubenstein will discuss his new book, The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream, which explores the diverse makeup of our country through interviews with historians, diplomats, music legends, and sports giants. Following his presentation, Rubenstein will be in conversation with author and historian Stacy Schiff. Hosted by D. Brenton Simons and Ryan J. Woods, January 27 at 6 p.m. (ET). Register Now
Spotlight: Fairfax County Library Historical Newspapers, Virginia
by Valerie Beaudrault
Fairfax County is located on the northeastern border of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Fairfax County Library has made an index to ten historical newspapers available on its website. The newspapers were published in various years between 1785 and 2000. The database can be searched by keywords and limited by search type, date range, and article type. Article types include birth and marriage announcements, obituaries, comics, editorials, news items, photographs, place names, poems, and recipes. Transcribed article text and digital images have been included for a limited number of the newspapers in the collection. Search Now
Annual DiCamillo Rendezvous
In this illustration-rich lecture, Curt DiCamillo, Curator of Special Collections at American Ancestors, explores the jaw-dropping art, storied history, and exquisite palaces associated with Britain's Royal Collection. January 20 at 3 p.m. (ET).
Shop new listings of unique and hard-to-find books and save 10%! No need to enter a coupon code—the 10% discount will automatically appear at checkout. Act now before these titles fly off the shelves!*
Advance your research skills from home! Includes one-on-one consultations, lectures, live demonstrations, extended Q&As with our experts, and access to recorded content. Members save 10%! February 24–26, beginning at 9 a.m. (ET) each day. Register by February 4.
Last week's survey asked if any of your ancestors or relatives cut hair. We received 2,670 responses. The results are:
16%, Yes, at least one of my male ancestors or relatives cut hair professionally.
16%, Yes, at least one of my female ancestors or relatives cut hair professionally.
20%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors or relatives cut hair at home and did not charge for their services.
1%, I have cut hair professionally.
22%, I have cut hair at home.
50%, No, none of my ancestors or relatives cut hair professionally or at home.
This week’s survey asks how much time you spend on genealogical pursuits in a typical week. 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: Cutting Hair
By Lynn Betlock, Editor
Last week's survey asked if any of your ancestors or relatives cut hair. Thank you to everyone who replied. Below is a selection of reader responses.
Kathy Astrom, Wheeling, Illinois: My great-great-grandmother, Carrie Martin McMaster, lived with her second husband in a house on Chicago’s Halsted Street, across from the Union Stockyards. Inside, she ran a barbershop, also providing “first-class laundry” and “fine cigars and tobaccos,” according to her business card. Her youngest son (my great-grandfather), Jesse Dunston, became a barber with his own shop on the city’s Far South Side.
Lorraine Maloney, North Syracuse, New York: My great-grandfather was a barber. At home he must have also cut a lot of hair, as he was the father of 16 children—all with the same wife. He taught at least one of his daughters (my grandmother) to cut hair, and the story is that she was the first woman barber in Syracuse. I now have her barber shears. (In the mid-’60s I learned to cut hair, too, but only for ladies.)
Wendy Negley, Beaverton, Oregon:I found my ancestor Matthew Blunt (1735–1819) listed in English directories as a hairdresser or barber. He lived in Islington, now part of London. Some hair passed down in the family is said to be the hair of George III. This seemed possible to me since Matthew was working in London during the right period. An English TV show was going to do an episode on the hair, but they discovered it was artificial so didn't proceed. Since wealthy and noble men wore wigs then and a hairdresser handled wigs, the hair might be from one of George III's wigs!
Melanie McGrath, Portsmouth, Rhode Island: Michael McGrath, my Scottish-born great-grandfather, was a barber in Forest City, Pennsylvania, from about 1880 until his death in 1943. By the early 1900s, Michael owned a shop and other barbers rented chairs from him. I found these barbers were often noted in the Forest City News or Scranton Tribune. A 1909 article in the Montrose Democrat on Forest City barber shops featured “McGrath's Tonosorial Parlors.” (There was only one shop!) When Michael died, many shop relics were passed on to his children. His youngest daughter, Crescentia, inherited some of the shaving mugs, which her daughter now has. Several cousins have shaving tokens and mirrors. I think the best item is a 1919 National Cash Register brass register with Michael's name on it, which was inherited by my brother Shawn.
Database News
New Database: Dartmouth, MA: Quaker Records, 1699-1920!
We've partnered with the Dartmouth Historical and Arts Society to offer transcriptions of the original record books for the Dartmouth Monthly Meeting of Friends (Quakers) from 1699 to 1920. These meeting records provide valuable insight into the lives of early New England Quakers. The removal records will be particularly helpful to genealogists looking to trace the geographic movements of their ancestors. Search seven volumes of men's and women's meeting minutes now—more coming soon! Search Now
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Dig Deeper into Globe-Spanning Primary Source Material
NEW! Explore 90 Unique Collections of Historical Material from Around the World
For a limited time, American Ancestors members can access millions of pages of primary source collections featuring content from the 15th century to the present. Collection titles include Colonial America, American Indian Histories and Cultures, African American Communities, London Low Life, America in World War Two, and more! Make sure you're logged into the site, and scroll down to "AM Explorer": Explore the Collections
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*Promotional discount will automatically be applied at checkout. Membership discounts do not apply to this promotion. Prices valid through 01/31/22, while supplies last.
