Photo: cabinet-card portrait of brain-injury survivor Phineas P. Gage (1823-1860), shown holding the tamping iron which injured him. Credit: from the Gage family of Texas photo collection; Wikimedia Commons.

Amazing Story: Man Survives Iron Bar Blasted through His Head!

By Tony Pettinato on September 13, 2016

An article about the astonishing accident of Phineas P. Gage in 1848, who had an iron bar blasted through his head – and lived!.. (Read More)

Illustration: German peasant with scythe, c. 850. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Moral of the Story: Use the Right Tool

By Thomas Jay Kemp on September 9, 2016

An article about an astonishing accident that happened with a scythe, as reported in an 1860 newspaper... (Read More)

Photo: scene from the Star Trek episode "Spock's Brain." From left: Marj Dusay (Kara), Leonard Nimoy (Spock) and William Shatner (Kirk). Credit: Paramount Television; Wikimedia Commons.

1966 ‘Star Trek’ Debut Changes TV – and Popular Culture

By Tony Pettinato on September 8, 2016

An article about the debut of the TV show “Star Trek” 50 years ago, on 8 September 1966... (Read More)

Photo: Common Burying Ground and Island Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island. Credit: Matt H. Wade.; Wikimedia Commons.

Genealogy Tip: Out-of-Town Obituaries

By Thomas Jay Kemp on September 7, 2016

This article encourages genealogists to do a broad search for birth, marriage and death notices – don’t limit your search to just the local newspaper... (Read More)

Illustration: the first American Labor parade held in New York City on 5 September 1882 as it appeared in Frank Leslie’s Weekly Illustrated Newspaper’s 16 September 1882 issue. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Labor Day & Our Ancestors

By Gena Philibert-Ortega on September 2, 2016

In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers to learn more about the holiday we’re about to celebrate: Labor Day. .. (Read More)

Photo: stuffed male passenger pigeon, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois. Credit: James St. John; Wikimedia Commons.

End of Her Kind: Martha, the Last Passenger Pigeon, Dies

By Tony Pettinato on September 1, 2016

An article about the extinction of the passenger pigeon when the last of its kind, Martha, died in the Cincinnati Zoo on 1 September 1914... (Read More)

A Genealogist’s Delight: Epitaphs from the 18th Century

By Mary Harrell-Sesniak on August 31, 2016

In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak searches old newspapers to find memorable epitaphs from the 18th century... (Read More)

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Deviled Ham but Were Afraid to Ask

By Gena Philibert-Ortega on August 30, 2016

In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers to learn more about deviled ham and other deviled foods, including recipes... (Read More)

Photo: postcard from the Paris restaurant “La Tour d’Argent.” Credit: Mary Harrell-Sesniak.

Use Newspapers to Supplement Genealogical Memories

By Mary Harrell-Sesniak on August 26, 2016

In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak uses old newspaper articles to help tell the story of one of her treasured pieces of memorabilia... (Read More)