Resting in pieces: Cemetery neglect

For most genealogists, the most tangible evidence they will ever find of their ancestors is a headstone. They are both a marker to designate where a body was interred, and a lasting memorial to a person who otherwise may have left no other mark. It is a magical moment when you kneel in front of the headstone of someone who has long since left this earth, reading the inscription and touching something that was certainly also touched by other ancestors that grieved over their lost loved ones. Many families cared for these plots lovingly until they passed away and the...

Making your cameo appearance

Prior to the invention of photography, capturing the likeness of a person and preserving it for posterity took incredible skill, a lifetime of diligent practice and years of apprenticeship. Artists worked with clay, stone, canvas and tapestry and the subjects of their art were almost without fail royalty, dignitaries or the otherwise very wealthy. One of the most beautiful and portable ways of preserving an image throughout history is in cameo form. This beautiful art form has inspired well-known products of our time, one of the greatest examples being Wedgwood‘s...

Family trees: When genealogists branch o...

I’m always amazed by the creativity you find demonstrated on the internet. It takes some digging, and you have to kiss a lot of frogs, but there are definitely treasures to be found. I first became motivated to launch Geneartistry when I was creating a new filing system for my genealogy research and realized that my 16 years of hard work was hidden in file folders and binders. I wanted a beautiful display to showcase my research so I scoured the net for an art quality tree chart that I could frame and hang on my wall. There are numerous charts out there in different...

Medicine shows: When laughter was (almos...

In this era of remarkable medical and pharmaceutical innovation it is easy to take for granted the miracle that is the common medicine cabinet. With therapies for everything from toothache to bee sting readily available, we often forget that there was a time when the slightest twinge of sore throat or stomach-ache could be the initial symptom of a debilitating or even deadly illness. In fact, most of us have more potent medicines long forgotten and gathering dust in our night table drawer than were available to the richest land baron or powerful party boss of one-hundred...

Disasters and Tragedies: the events that...

This is the first of a series of suggested resources that go beyond names and dates and help us discover what life was really like for our ancestors. If you have researched your family for a while, chances are you’ve collected birth, death, marriage, land, military or immigration records. You have numerous dates, locations, forms and files but have you gotten to the heart of what life was like for your ancestors? The richest genealogies incorporate the real nitty-gritty details of life in the towns our ancestors lived in. Recall the devastating images of the...

When Wikipedia comes up short

The first place many genealogists turn when researching a new location or event is Wikipedia, the on-line community encyclopedia we’ve all come to love (well yes, and maybe hate just a little bit, too). With over 22 million articles written by volunteers from over the world, it’s an amazing resource. In fact, it is so often a “go-to” resource for learning about a topic that it can be disheartening when a Wikipedia search comes up empty. Just recently, while researching a deadly tornado that ripped through Mount Carmel, Illinois in 1887, I sought out the...

Mug shots: Bringing your black sheep to ...

Any genealogist that has unearthed a major family scandal will tell you that it’s a fine line we walk between tell-all historians and protectors of our family’s reputation. If exposing the skeletons in your family closet makes you nervous (and let’s face it, every family has them), then let this posting be your coming-out inspiration. Before there was Jerry Springer and reality-tv, reputations were the obsession of our ancestors. There were rules for social engagement so detailed that simply forgetting to bring calling cards on a visit could stain your...

Family Reunions V: Wrapping Up

This is the final installment of my multi-part article on planning the perfect family reunion. In this series I take you through all the things you will need to know to pull off a rewarding and fun family reunion. Your reunion has been a huge success. Games were played, stories told, great food enjoyed—all while strengthening family ties and enriching your understanding of family history. But you’re not done yet! The mark of a great family reunion is that guests are asking when the next event will be before the current one ends. Here are some ways to channel that...