10 Million Names: A Conversation About African American Family History & Healing
On the eve of Juneteenth 2025, you are cordially invited to witness the power of family history. Together, we will honor the lives of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America before emancipation.
Hear from Marc H. Morial, President & CEO of the National Urban League, as he reflects on his family history with renowned genealogist Kenyatta D. Berry and learn about the work of 10 Million Names—a groundbreaking project undertaken by American Ancestors and our partners. Learn More
Upcoming Webinar, May 28
Free Virtual Open House
Do you want to make real headway in your family history research? The genealogists, databases, and unique collections at American Ancestors can help! Join us for a special online discussion that highlights the many benefits and services available to members.
Tucked within Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, is a surprising historic gem: a pet cemetery with gravestones for the beloved dogs of the Moseley family. In the latest Vita Brevis article, Researcher Kate Gilbert explores how these markers offer genealogists a glimpse into the lives of past generations, while also revealing the timeless bond between people and their pets. Read More
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
Relatives Who Moved Due to a Health Condition
Share your thoughts about the survey! Please limit submissions to 150 words or fewer. Your submission may be featured in an upcoming newsletter or shared on social media; please note in your email if you do not want your story to be shared. Published responses may be edited for clarity and length.
59%, At least one of my ancestors or relatives was buried in a military cemetery in the United States.
18%, At least one of my ancestors or relatives was buried in a military cemetery outside the United States.
74%, The military service of at least one of my ancestors or relatives was acknowledged on his or her gravestone.
11%, I have a different example of military burial or commemorative stone or plaque.
12%, The body of at least one of my ancestors or relatives who served in the military was not recovered.
10%, No, I am not aware of any of my ancestors or relatives being buried in a military cemetery or having reference to military service on a gravestone.
Readers Respond
Pat Molloy, Naples, Florida: My uncle Daniel Molloy is buried in the American Cemetery in Cambridge, England. Danny enlisted in the infantry and participated in D-Day. He wrote his parents that he was transferring to the 101st Airborne. I imagine he was pretty excited because it meant more money to send home to his mom and dad in Lowell, Massachusetts. He died in early August 1944. He was the middle son and 23. There is no longer anyone alive who knew him, so I keep his memory by saying his name—Uncle Danny Molloy.
Kay Haden, Birmingham, Alabama: I have obtained military grave markers for two ancestors: a third great-grandfather who served as a lieutenant colonel in the War of 1812 and whose original marker had been washed away in a flood, and a great-grandfather who served in the Civil War and whose grave had never been marked. One does need to have the proper documentation of service and lineage, and a guarantee of a cemetery plot for the marker. The only cost is for the placing of the marker.
Richard Putnam, Milford, New Hampshire: My father, Lawrence Putnam, served in the 3042nd Graves Registration Company, which was part of the Quartermaster Corp of General Patton’s Third Army in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. He was most proud of his work on St. James Cemetery in Brittany in northern France. He remembered being in close proximity to General Patton at the dedication of this cemetery.
Carol Thacker, Layton, Utah: My paternal grandparents are buried in Arlington National Cemetery and my father and my son are buried in the Florida National Cemetery. My 2nd great-grandfather is buried in Proctor Cemetery in Andover, New Hampshire. His grave marker notes that he served in the Civil War. I've very proud of my military heroes.
Linda Willis, Soquel, California: My uncle Clarence Baker served in the US Army Air
Forces in World War II. He was killed in November 1944 during a reconnaissance mission when his plane was shot down over Hungary. Clarence was buried by locals in the Catholic cemetery in Baykonybel, Hungary, with the propeller from his plane as a grave marker. In June 1946, Clarence was reburied in the American Military Cemetery in Budapest. That September, he was reburied in the Saint Avold Military Cemetery in France. Finally, at the request of his mother, Belinda Baker, Clarance was repatriated and buried in the Mountain View Cemetery, in San Bernardino, California, on October 2, 1948.
What We’re Reading
A Museum of Migration Celebrates People on the Move “A new institution in the harbor of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, combines art and artifacts to underscore that migrant journeys are part of a universal human experience.”
The Old, Old, Very Old Man: Thomas Parr and the Longevity Trade “As the story goes, Old Tom Parr was relatively healthy for 152 until a visit to London in 1635 cut his long life short. Katherine Harvey investigates the early modern claims about him and the fraudulent longevity business that bore his name in the 19th century.”
Stamp of a Young Girl: Lucia Wadsworth Goes Global “On January 24, 2025, the US Postal Service issued a global stamp bearing the compass rose drawing that Lucia Wadsworth—Henry Wadswoth Longfellow’s aunt— created in as a child in Portland, Maine.”
Spotlight: Community History Archive of the Moore Memorial Library, New York
by Valerie Beaudrault
The town of Greene is located in Chenango County in south central New York. The Moore Memorial Library has made a number of databases available in its Community History Archive. There is a newspaper collection that comprises more than 76,000 pages from five newspapers, including The Chenango American (1855-1960), The Chenango American and Whitney Point Reporter and The Oxford ReviewTimes (1987-2018), The Chenango American and Whitney Point Reporter (1960-1987), and Chenango American (1862-1866). The other resources consist of more than 10,000 pages from twelve school yearbooks between 1902 and 2017 and U.S. Federal census images for New York (1790-1860). The databases can be searched by keyword or browsed. Search Now
Annual Stakeholder Report Now Available
Our annual stakeholder report is now available online. Highlights include ”A Year in Review“ by President and CEO Ryan J. Woods, new research projects and databases, increases in online programming and in-person events, our national Family History Curriculum, the completion of our historic Cornerstone Project headquarters expansion, the new Family Heritage Experience, institutional accomplishments of the last year, and upcoming projects for FY2025. Please email Advancement to receive a printed copy. View Now
We’re announcing a major update to Suffolk County, MA Probate File Papers. This addition includes case numbers 62000-69999—a total of 182,322 new file papers. This collection now has a total of 1,407,486 pages. It was created from digital images and an index contributed to American Ancestors by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. The probate cases include wills, guardianships, administrations, and various other types of probate records. This database is available to all American Ancestors members. Search Now
Your Legacy. Your Peace of Mind. Your Free Will.
As a family historian, you know that wills are important in your research—but have you created a will for yourself? Free Will, an easy and free online will creation tool, will guide you step-by-step through identifying beneficiaries for your assets, supporting the causes that are important to you, and planning for the preservation of your research. Learn More
