Family Treasures Receives New England Society Book Award
Our book Family Treasures: 175 Years of Collecting Art and Furniture at the New England Historic Genealogical Society has received the 2021 New England Society in the City of New York Book Award in the Art & Photography category. Given annually, the awards recognize books of merit that celebrate New England and its culture. Written by American decorative arts expert and MFA, Boston senior curator emeritus Gerald W. R. Ward, with a foreword by American Ancestors President and CEO D. Brenton Simons and a preface by American Ancestors Curator of Special Collections Curt DiCamillo, this lavishly illustrated publication examines some of our art collection’s most intriguing objects, many of which tell fascinating stories about American, English, and Native American history. Purchase Now
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New Sketches: Early New England Families, 1641-1700
The Early New England Families Study Project highlights families who immigrated to New England from 1641 through 1700. Today we're featuring six recent sketches: George Blake (m. 1641), Eleanor (Batter) (Phelps) Trusler (m. ?-1639), Hannah (Baskel) (Phelps) (Phelps) Hill (m. 1645-1695), Edward Phelps (m. 1646), Nicholas Phelps (m. 1645) and Henry Phelps (m. 1664). The sketches are researched by Alicia Crane Williams. Search Now
American Inspiration Author Event
Peter S. Canellos with The Great Dissenter
Learn more about Kentucky’s famous political families and American culture at the time of the Missouri Compromise and the Civil War when journalist Peter S. Canellos discusses his new biography of U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan, Harlan's life and prescient views on civil rights during America’s Gilded Age. Join us on Thursday, July 8 at 6 p.m. ET. Register Now
Free Webinar
Reimagining Historic House Museums
Curt DiCamillo hosts the legendary Ken Turino, long-time curator and educator at Historic New England, for an illustration-rich lecture that draws upon Reimagining Historic House Museums: New Approaches and Proven Solutions, his seminal 2019 book which examines issues facing historic houses in these rapidly changing times. Join us on July 9 at 4 p.m. ET. Register Now
Spotlight: Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, Lansing, Iowa
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Lansing is located in Allamakee County, in the northeastern corner of Iowa. The Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library has made a newspaper database available on its website. The newspaper collection comprises nineteen titles including the following: The Allamakee Journal (1882-1922), Lansing Mirror (1874-1902), North IowaJournal (1872-1879), The Allamakee Journal and Lansing Mirror (1922-1924), Lansing Journal (1880-1882), The Weekly Union (1863-1866), Mirror and Chronicle (1872-1874), The North Iowa Journal (1872-1874), The Lansing Mirror (1866-1871), Lansing Chronicle (1869-1871), and The Allamakee Democrat (1870-1871). Search Now
Do you have ancestors who served during the Colonial Wars, the American Revolution, or the War of 1812? Watch our webinar on early military resources at NEHGS to get started in your research.
The Golden Age of Sandwiches “It was the trend toward lighter mid-day meals in the early decades of the 20th century, spurred by the growth of cities, that gave sandwiches their big boost.”
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
Last week's survey asked if any of your female ancestors belonged to a club or organization for women. We received 2,995 responses. The results are:
19%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to a college sorority.
22% Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to a women’s educational or literary club.
37%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to a women’s service club that focused on community improvement.
16%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to a women’s club organized around a single social or political issue, such as woman’s suffrage or Prohibition.
8%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to a women’s club affiliated with one political party.
11%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to a club for women professionals/women in business.
23%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to a women’s club organized around history or lineage.
47%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to a women’s religious club or organization.
4%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to a women’s club organized around an ethnicity.
4%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to a women’s club organized around a sport or physical pursuit.
17%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to a women’s club organized around a craft, such as quilting.
27%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to the women’s counterpart of a fraternal organizations, such as the Elkettes.
16%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors belonged to a type of club for women not mentioned above.
11%, No, I am not aware of any of my ancestors belonging to a club for women.
7%, I’m not sure if any of my ancestors belonged to a club for women.
This week's question asks if your ancestors were involved in the American Revolution. 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: Womens' Clubs
By Jean Powers, Senior Editor
Last week's survey asked about your female ancestors who belonged to a club or organization for women. Thank you to everyone who replied. Below is a selection of reader responses.
Kathy Meneghin, Croswell, Michigan: My ancestors Hester Schuyler Dey and her daughter-in-law Hannah Pierson Dey were active members of the New Jersey Women’s Aid Society during the spring and summer of 1780. They are listed as being supporters and taking subscriptions (donations) in Bergen County, New Jersey. I admire the fact that they did what they could in service of the war effort, and subsequently raised a considerable sum to buy clothing for soldiers.
Mary Olive Herzog, Napa, California: My female ancestors were members of many women’s groups, including Eastern Star, the Merced Woman’s Club, and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. For 54 years I have been a member of the United Methodist Women (UMW), which celebrated its 150th Anniversary in 2020. My great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother were also members; I have their UMW pins.
Debbie Neff Clark, Decatur Illinois: My grandmother was a member of the Army Mothers during World War II. This group of women sent care packages to the troops fighting in Europe, Africa, and Asia. On April 1, 1945, my grandmother became a member of the Gold Star Mothers, an organization that she did not join willingly but in which she was very active in for the next 32 years. Gold Star Mothers lost sons or daughters who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. I recently presented our local genealogical society with her scrapbooks from these two organizations.
Terri McCurdy Hildreth, Madison, Alabama: My husband's great-grandmother, Sarah Ellen Stephens-Trotter Hildreth, was the Alabama state president of the Women's Suffrage Association. As the “instigator” of a suffrage club in Decatur, Alabama, she wrote numerous newspaper articles on the subject (published in her husband's newspaper The New Decatur Advertiser). Her friends Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman Catt visited Decatur in 1894 to speak at a suffrage rally at her request. Ellen was honored with a William G. Pomeroy plaque commemorating her untiring work for women's suffrage in Alabama.
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