A sequel to the retired CNBC anchor's remarkable first book about a DNA discovery that rocked his world, Strangers No More looks at identity and family, and how DNA testing has forced us to rethink the meaning of these words. Signed book included with event registration. July 14 at 6 p.m. (ET). Register Now
In-person Research Tour
Day Trip to the New Hampshire Historical Society
Join American Ancestors experts at the New Hampshire Historical Society for a day of genealogical research! Explore collections related to New Hampshire and greater New England including family histories, vital records, church records, diaries, military records, and more. July 22 at 9:30 a.m. (ET). Register Now
Spotlight: Québec Cemeteries Inventory
by Valerie Beaudrault
The Québec Cemeteries Inventory database lists over 3,500 cemeteries and other burial grounds across the Canadian province of Québec. Click "Find Cemeteries" to search the database. Search by towns/wards, counties, MCRs (County Regional Municipalities), regions, types/confessions (religious affiliations), maps, archeology/history, and ghost towns. Results include the cemetery name and location information, plus links to various geo-location websites. Other resources on this website include a number of celebrity obituaries, a list of cemetery owners, and a list of cemetery vandalism reports. Search Now
Free Online Lecture
Anniversary of the Four Courts Fire in Dublin
Centuries of Irish history were lost in the 1922 Four Courts Fire in Dublin. Learn about the destruction of these records and find out what alternatives are available.
Family History Refresh: How to Become a Better Researcher
We're coming to Chicago! This in-person seminar will help you get the most out of your family history research and teach you to tackle brick walls like a pro.
DNA Evidence Reveals Where the Black Death Began Authors of a recent study analyzed remains buried in 1338 and 1339 at cemeteries in what is now northern Kyrgyzstan and claim to offer historical proof that the late medieval bubonic plague began in Central Asia.
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
Last week's survey asked about your family’s connection to pianos. We received 3,252 responses. The results are:
60%, At least one of my ancestors was an amateur piano player.
12%, At least one of my ancestors played the piano professionally.
28%, I play the piano.
60%, I grew up with a piano in my house.
29%, I currently have a piano in my house.
31%, My family has or had a piano that was passed down through more than one generation.
39%, My family had a piano that was eventually given away to a non-family member or an institution, or discarded.
10%, My ancestor was a piano tuner, teacher, or craftsperson.
1%, I am a piano tuner, teacher, or craftsperson.
10%, I have some other connection to pianos not mentioned above.
12%, I don’t think anyone in my family ever played or owned a piano.
This week’s survey asks if any of your ancestors or relatives made furniture. 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: Family Connections to Pianos
By Jean Powers, Senior Editor
Last week's survey asked about your family’s connection to pianos. Thank you to everyone who replied. Below is a selection of reader responses.
Alan Smith, Thomson, Georgia: My great-grandmother Mattie believed that chickens produced more eggs with music. Every day she brought her flock into the parlor to play piano for them. They were then returned to the chicken yard. I have always wondered what pieces she played.
Steven Althoen, Dexter, Michigan: My mother was known as “the piano lady” in late-1950s Dayton, Ohio. She matched people who had pianos to donate with people, schools, churches, etc. who wanted pianos. I don't know how she came into this role—we never had a piano in our house.
Janice M. Sellers, Gresham, Oregon: My father, Lynn Sellers, played piano with a swing band called Court’s Jesters. He told me the band appeared on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour, coming in second to “a female singer.” After contacting the curator for the Amateur Hour collection, I learned that the female singer to whom the band lost was none other than Gladys Knight, in her first televised appearance. Unfortunately, no recording exists of the episode.
Jean E. Buckhout, Ellicott City, Maryland: My grandfather owned a piano store in Syracuse, New York. He would take a piano on the train from Syracuse to Watertown, New York, and play it at every stop until he sold the piano!
Patricia McCrossan, North Kingstown, Rhode Island: My grandfather used his World War I bonus to buy my grandmother a player piano built by the C.C. Harvey Company of Boston. They lived in Boston’s West End with their seven children until, in 1959, the notorious “urban renewal” of that area forced them from their apartment. They were unable to move the piano to their new apartment, and gave it to my mother, who was married and living in a nearby suburb. Twenty-five years later, I inherited the piano and had it refurbished. My four children all took lessons and practiced on this family treasure.
Linda McNamara, Sacramento, California: My mother and paternal grandfather came into possession of an upright honky-tonk piano that survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. They restored it, leaving the thumbtacks in place so that the piano stayed true to its past. I remember my father's stepmother, Grandma Mae, shimmying her shoulders, lighting a cigarette, and sitting down at that piano while my father accompanied her on harmonica. Grandma Mae’s gravelly voice filled our house with old tunes and we couldn't help but sing along with her.
Database News
New Browsable and Searchable Catholic Records Volumes
This week we’re announcing the addition of 29 new volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920 from St. Joseph (Kingston), Sts. Peter and Paul (Lawrence), St. Casimir (Maynard), St. Anthony of Padua (Revere), St. Joseph (Salem), St. Peter (South Boston) and St. Joseph (Waltham). We’ve also added 15 new browsable volumes to our image-only database from St. John the Baptist (Quincy), St. Joseph (Quincy), St. Joseph (Salem), and St. Joseph (Woburn). This update is part of our multi-year collaboration with the Archdiocese of Boston. Search Now
Planning for the Future?
Name Beneficiaries for Your Non-Probate Assets Today
Non-probate assets such as an IRA, 401(k), or life-insurance policy are not covered in your will or trust—you must name beneficiaries separately. Our friends at FreeWill.com have provided a free and secure online tool to guide you through naming beneficiaries for your assets in one easy place. Preserve your legacy, make sure your loved ones are provided for, and support the causes most important to you—get started today! Learn More
