Throwback Thursday – October 19, 1903

Today would have been my maternal grandmother’s 114th birthday. Rose Spiegel Lichtenthal was born on October 19, 1903 in Java (Indonesia) to Herman Spiegel and Sophie Weiss. Here are a few pictures her descendants (other than me!) have never seen. Rose (right) and her mother, Sophie – The Haag – 1921 Rose (left), sister Claire […]

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Opinions Wanted!!

What do you think? I’m “crowd-sourcing” for an answer! I know what I think, but I may be just seeing what I want to see. Compare these two NY censuses. Do you think these are the same family? Both censuses are for the city of Albany in New York. Unfortunately (and strangely) I haven’t located a […]

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Tombstone Tuesday- Rosehill Cemetery – Chicago, Illinois

If you have spent more than two minutes with me lately, you are most likely aware of my current project – the fascinating story of my husband’s great-grandmother, Catherine Seeley FitzAllen. Every time I think I found all that can be found, I am proven wrong. I recently became aware of a new blog: Chicago and […]

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Why I Go To Genealogy Presentations

Today’s presentation at the JGSCT (Jewish Genealogical Society of Connecticut) was given by Ron Arons. I have heard Ron speak no less than five times and every time I come away with a new idea. The presentation, “Sex, Lies, and Genealogical Tape”, was an updated version of a talk Ron gave a few years back. […]

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Oh! That’s Why We Have a Census?

I was wondering what I would post about today. (Have you noticed I’ve kept my promise so far – a post every day this month?) An article in the local paper provided me with inspiration. The article was about impending issues with the upcoming 2020 US Census, which could become a national debacle. Apparently, the department […]

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JGSCT Presentation – Sunday Oct. 15 – "Sex, Lies, and Genealogical Tape"

I am really looking forward to Sunday’s talk at the JGSCT (Jewish Genealogical Society of Connecticut.) Ron Arons will be giving his talk “Sex, Lies, and Genealogical Tape. Ron tours the country giving educational and entertaining presentations on Jewish criminals and Jewish genealogy. (I stole that description straight from his website.) One my favorites was on Mind Mapping – using a graphic organizer to […]

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Then and Now – Virtual Field Trips!

Today’s post is inspired by Marian Burk Wood. Yesterday on her blog, Climbing My Family Tree, Marian suggested taking “virtual field trips. ” Using Google Maps, this is pretty easy. Of course, you do need to have an idea of where your ancestor lived. Below are then (1938-ish) and now shots of the apartment house my […]

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My "Golden Rules of Genealogy"

In January 2015, I decided to participate in the Genealogy Do-Over sponsored by Thomas MacEntee. (Info on the 2017 version here.) One of the first assignments was to create our own “Golden Rules of Genealogy.” Here’s my list: * PICKHOLTZ’ RULES: “…to prevent jumping to conclusions, when you don’t have full documentation…. even when you are sure you know, don’t record it […]

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Teaser: Soon to be Finished Story – "Slick Swindler or Sweet Grandma?"*

Yesterday I mentioned that I was very busy working on a project about my husband’s great-grandmother, Catherine Seeley FitzAllen. Here is a teaser, from the first paragraphs of the book: ~         “She had an inordinate desire to be prominent in society,” testified Catherine’s soon-to-be ex-husband, William Seeley, “and my limited salary was […]

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