Map: Insulae Capitis Viridis (1598), showing Cape Verde. Credit: Bibliothèque nationale de France; Wikimedia Commons.

This 1860 Obituary Tells a Gripping Story

By Thomas Jay Kemp on June 24, 2016

An article about the 1815 saga of Captain James Riley and his crew, shipwrecked off the coast of Morocco, who were captured and enslaved... (Read More)

Using Obituaries for Genealogy: FAQ

By Gena Philibert-Ortega on June 23, 2016

In this blog article, Gena Philibert-Ortega answers some of the frequently-asked questions about how to use obituaries in genealogy research... (Read More)

Every Obituary Tells a Story

By Thomas Jay Kemp on June 22, 2016

An article showing how obituaries give us more information about our ancestors and often the details and clues we need to better understand their lives... (Read More)

Painting: "Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor," by William Halsall, 1882. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

I Didn’t Know Marilyn Guedesse – but, She’s My Cousin

By Thomas Jay Kemp on June 20, 2016

An article about how obituaries can help fill in your family tree by listing ancestors of the deceased that tie into your own family history... (Read More)

Photo: Father's Day personal ads. Source: Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 21 June 1981, page 44

Father’s Day Celebrations from the Past

By Gena Philibert-Ortega on June 17, 2016

In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers to learn about how our ancestors celebrated Father’s Day... (Read More)

Photo: Abraham Lincoln and his son Tad looking at an album of photographs, 9 February 1864. Credit: Anthony Berger; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

Obscure – but Fun – Historical Quotes

By Mary Harrell-Sesniak on June 16, 2016

In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak searches old newspapers to find some quotes from and about historical figures that you never read in a text book... (Read More)

Illustration: a close-up of Sherlock Holmes

Genealogy Sleuthing: Looking for Clues

By Duncan Kuehn on June 15, 2016

In this article, Duncan Kuehn tells how she researched a crime that occurred over 100 years ago, even though all the original records had been destroyed... (Read More)

Photo: American flags on the National Mall. Credit: Lipton sale; Wikimedia Commons.

Flag Day: ‘Under God’ Added to Pledge of Allegiance

By Tony Pettinato on June 14, 2016

An article about President Dwight Eisenhower signing a bill on Flag Day, 14 June 1954, inserting the words “under God” into the Pledge of Allegiance... (Read More)

Jersey City Wedding Ends with Priest Punching Brother of Bride

By Thomas Jay Kemp on June 14, 2016

An article about a 1918 wedding in New Jersey in which something went wrong: the priest punched the brother of the bride!.. (Read More)