Indulge me, if you will, because I have a family story to share this 4th of July about my great-great-grandmother and her daughter. It could certainly be called coincidence, or it could be called a pretty special 4th of July story. What is certainly true is that July 4th, 1892, was a momentous occasion forContinue reading “July 4th: An Immigrant Birthday Story”
Category Archives: General
Do I really need a professional genealogist?
Maybe! I suppose the better question is when do you need a professional genealogist? And what exactly makes a professional genealogist a professional? The best reason to hire a professional genealogist is because your time is valuable. Genealogy is a slow process. Few people aren’t at least a little bit interested in “where they cameContinue reading “Do I really need a professional genealogist?”
“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does sometimes rhyme.” – Mark Twain (maybe)
I heard this oft-repeated quote in an NPR story the other day, and thought it was brilliant. As a historian, I have always found the phrase “history repeats itself” too simplistic. This quote sums it up perfectly: history never exactly repeats itself, but eventually everything old is new again. This quote has long been attributedContinue reading ““History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does sometimes rhyme.” – Mark Twain (maybe)”