Unless we have sources, genealogical research is reduced to unconfirmed stories and myths. Our memories are wonderful and faulty. People change “facts” to fit their worldview or some idealized perception of the past. Why sources are important Stories are great, as long as you situate the story in context by citing the source. There’s no […]
I usually assume that if a man and a woman are memorialized on the same grave marker that they were married. More recently, the same conclusion could also apply with same-sex couples. There’s a saying about the danger of “assume”… (it does not always impugn the other person!) The question arose because of a few
Husband-Wife or Brother-Sister? Read More »
With video now as easy as pulling out your phone, it is essential to preserve video as a part of documenting a person’s life. Memorial or tribute videos are one of the standard services now offered by funeral homes. These videos are often no more than a collection of family-provided photos panned and zoomed across
Remembering people via video Read More »
While most instances of “instant” may be easy to discern the meaning from the context, my first encounter many years ago with this unfamiliar usage was quite befuddling to me. Here’s an example from a 19 October 1904 wedding announcement: Miss Bessie Cleghorn and Mr. Forrest Additon of Flowery Branch, were married by ‘Squire Walter
We can often connect family members via newspaper articles. Here’s a recent example. A Death Notice and a “Visit” item Here is a Death Notice and a “Visit” item from Dahlonega, Georgia from 1884. It was in The Daily Signal 8 June 1884 Vol 1 No 1 page 2. This is before family-placed obituaries were
Connecting family via newspapers Read More »
This is from the Atlanta newspaper, The Daily Intelligencer, 6 November 1867, page 3. (PDF) To the Honorable Mayor and Council of the City of Atlanta: The committee to whom was referred the petition of many citizens, asking for the re-naming of streets and the numbering of houses, &c. beg leave to report: That, having
Atlanta 1867 Special Committee Report on Street Naming Read More »
There are many companies who offer DNA analysis for purposes of discovering family members. Deciding on getting tested is a complex decision. Let me help you decide. As you might infer from the image above, I feel DNA testing is over-rated for genealogical research. There is a place for it, as long as you do
Paper degrades, photos fade and all physical records are subject to damage from fire or flood. With inexpensive scanners available, it is possible to digitize all old paper records. While it can be time-consuming, it isn’t insurmountable (I teach people how!). Almost everyone now carries a high-quality digital camera with them in their smart phone.
Trusted information repositories Read More »
The Family Bible Preservation Project does great work in getting non-standard genealogical sources indexed and connected to the records of the people recorded. They also issue interesting and fun genealogical challenges – usually finding someone in an obscure reference, such as people mentioned in an embroidered sampler. I took on a challenge, from the attached
Fake news is not new Read More »
{compiled from several sources with added entries and updates} altar tomb – A solid, rectangular, raised tomb or grave marker resembling ceremonial altars of classical antiquity and Judeo-Christian ritual. ashes – the cremated remains of a body after cremation, mostly dry calcium phosphates with some various minor minerals such as salts of sodium and potassium,
Terms Associated with Cemeteries and Memorials Read More »
