This week on Vita Brevis, the mysterious origins of a ring kept in the archives of the Dorchester Historical Society are unexpectedly revealed within a collection of Civil War letters written by the ring's maker. Read More
Virtual Research Tour
Spring Stay-At-Home
Make real headway in your research! This three-day online experience will give you the necessary skills and knowledge to advance your family history research from home. June 8-10 Learn More
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
For Which Family Connection Do You Know the Least Family History?
Share your thoughts about the survey at weeklygenealogist@nehgs.org. Responses may be edited for clarity and length and featured in a future newsletter.
Last Week's Survey:
Ancestors or Relatives on the Radio or on TV
Total: 3,169 Responses
25%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors or relatives was on the radio.
21%, I have been on the radio.
27%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors or relatives was on TV.
36%, I have been on TV.
42%, No, I don’t think any of my ancestors or relatives have been on the radio or on TV.
Readers Respond
Jennifer Pedro, Methuen, Massachusetts: My grandfather Gene Cokeroft sang tenor in the Miami-based barbershop quartet The Suntones. The Suntones appeared on the Jackie Gleason Show several times. A few years ago, I was finally able to view pictures and video clips of these performances on the internet. With my grandfather being gone for several years, it has been such a gift. Here's to technology!
Scott Fisher, St. George, Utah: My father was a child prodigy on saxophone and clarinet and played in his much older brother's band from the early 1920s to mid-1930s. They lived in northern New Jersey just as radio was becoming popular, and eventually the band wound up on network radio. Dad later played in the CBS orchestra and arranged music for the Ed Sullivan Show and the Jackie Gleason Show. My mother had her own talk show on KNBC in San Francisco in 1947, and later in Reno. And me? I've been a radio personality for over 50 years, now hosting and producing Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show. Thanks, Dad and Mom!
Valerie Beaudrault, Cambridge, Massachusetts: My father, Captain Valmore (Val) J. Beaudrault, a P-47 pilot during World War II, was interviewed from an airfield in France by Blue Network (NBC) journalist Gordon Fraser. You can hear P-47s taking off and landing in the background. The interview was broadcast on the Coca Cola Spotlight Bands radio program. Captain Beaudrault’s mother and girlfriend (my mother) were driven to the local radio station in Manchester, New Hampshire, to hear the broadcast. They were given a glass record of the interview, which was transferred to an 8-track tape, and later to a CD.
Robert Battle, Tacoma, Washington: My great-grandmother Lillian (Roberts) Culver (1896-1999) was an aspiring movie actress in her late teens. After marrying real-estate developer Harry Culver, Lillian limited her acting to stage productions and a radio program called Smart Women. After her husband’s death, Lillian began acting as on the stage, in movies, and on television. She had a regular role as society lady “Mrs. Schooner” in Dennis the Menace, and appeared as Barney Fife’s mother on The Andy Griffith Show.
Peter French, Ithaca, New York: For many years, my mother was a coffee shop volunteer in a local hospital. When I was eight years old, the hospital produced a televised fashion show to raise money. I was given the opportunity to model clothing, with the promised reward of a “free Sunday” at the coffee shop. I had visions of all-you-can-eat soup, sandwiches, and milkshakes—whatever I wanted. After dutifully appearing on the broadcast, I discovered to my extreme disappointment that my reward was a single ice cream sundae.
Burial Hill’s Historic Gravestones Are Coming to Your Screen Kerri Klein plans to photograph the more than 2,300 gravestones on Burial Hill in Plymouth, Massachusetts, then stitch the 2D photographs together to create detailed digital models and 3D prints.
Class Production “A collection of high school yearbooks from Cleveland captures the rise, fall, and uncertain future of the American middle class.”
10 Things to Remember About Memorial Day This Mental Floss article offers some historical background on Memorial Day, which began as a response to the Civil War.
Spotlight: Community Archive, Casa Grande Public Library, AZ
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Casa Grande is located in Pinal County, in south central Arizona. The website of the Casa Grande Public Library hosts a newspaper database comprising over 420,000 pages from six newspapers, including Casa Grande Dispatch (1912-2022), Bulletin (1913-1927), Casa Grande Times (1912-2006), Tri Valley Dispatch (2014), Wampum Saver (2015), and Cotton and Agriculture (2001-2002). Search by keyword across all titles or select a single newspaper, and limit your search by date range. Individual newspapers can also be browsed. The library website also provides a collection of high school yearbooks (1937-2016) comprising over 14,000 pages. Search Now
New from Courses on Demand
Building Your Genealogical Skills
Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your family history research? This comprehensive course is designed to take your genealogical journey to the next level, whether you're a novice or experienced researcher. Now available on demand, you can access course materials at any time and learn at your own pace. Learn More
The Great Migration series has helped countless family historians discover ancestral connections to some of the earliest settlers in our country’s history. These books are essential resources for any genealogist, historian, or descendant with early New England interests and connections. Save 20% on all Great Migration titles through the end of May with discount code GMMAY23. Discount applied at checkout.Shop Now
Free Resources from American Ancestors
Family Charts and Research Templates
Family historians rely on a number of organizational tools, including commonly used forms, to record research efforts and findings. Our free charts and templates will help you save time, organize your research, and present your information in a consistent and accurate way. Learn More
Planning for the Future?
Name Your Beneficiaries 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 non-probate assets. Learn More
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