The SS-5 form was more valuable to me than the SSDI (Social Security Death Index) in my quest to prove my great-grandfather’s date of birth. Why? Because it had been completed by the subject of my search. Not to mention the oodles of additional information the form added to my understanding of Alfred’s life. Remember…
Child #2 tells me I am a genealogy addict. I counter with my attendance of meetings, ostensibly looking for a cure. Child patiently explains the concept of 12 step programs; they are supposed to help one kick a habit, not provide another fix. After some thought, I developed my own 12 Step Program. Rather than looking for…
For decades, I thought I was 50% Swedish and 50% German. Never mind that my maternal grandfather was somehow English. I’m not sure how we overlooked that bit of information, but I continued to believe I was half one ethnicity and half another long after I should have known better. I started my genealogical exploration…
How quickly can you retrieve a genealogy file from your computer? Could you find a specific document in 20 seconds or less? In two minutes? Still looking? I fluctuate between “20 seconds or less” and “still looking”. Too often the file I seek is named incorrectly or worse yet, not named at all. I’m on…
An entire month to celebrate genealogy? Sign me up! Even Congress understands the importance of family history: On June 27, 2003 a resolution introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch was agreed to in the Senate without amendment and with a preamble by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8846-8847; text as passed Senate: CR S8846-8847). We should all…
Do you think of a death notice as the last time your ancestor may appear in the newspaper? Think again! Probate and will notices aside, there may be memorial notices posted by grieving family members. While sad and touching, remembrances also provide clues for the family history researcher. How many years after death should a genealogist search? There is…
A couple of my favorite trick-or-treaters:
My second great-grandfather Jacob Koebe Mueller was buried at Chicago’s Oak Woods Cemetery one hundred and four years ago today. During our trip to Chicago last weekend, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit Oak Woods Cemetery and see Jacob’s grave site in person. I had called ahead to ask for the section and…
Happy anniversary Husband ~ thank you for 15 wonderful years! May I have this dance?
Fifty four names appeared in the “marriage licenses” column of the October 10, 1894 issue of the Chicago Daily News; do you recognize any of them?
where2look4ancestors 