Finally decided to try Ancestry’s Pro Tools. One key interest was their reports. They claim to offer a Register descendancy report. The numbering system is not accurate though. They start over with 1 on every family grouping. I can’t be the first to notice. It should be fixable. #genealogy

The administration has announced that they will not be filling the Veterans Claim File FOIA requests. They will only provide minimal genealogical information. I filed several requests in December. I received notifications they were being processed but I have not yet received any of the files.

Graves Tombstones Skeletons Cemeteries Emily Dickinson fan fantasy. Genealogist’s Sunday afternoon. Cemeteries Skeletons Research Trees #Tetractys #poetry

In honor of #NationalPoetryMonth I have shared on my #OnePlaceStudy Substack a poem written by a resident of the OPS and published in 1920. Some may feel it is still timely today. I also share a little research conducted on the author. A Cry of the Foreign-Born by Leah Rachel Clara Yoffie

I found these images online as possible #photographs of my third great-grandparents. The woman died in 1880 and the man in 1873. The photographs would have been taken in Canada. I know photography was unusual in the #1870s, and was wondering if these are similar to other 1870s photos.

I used Ancestry’s search features to break down some demographics for my One Place Study. I used The 3rd Ward of St Louis City in the 1900 census as my starting point.

Romance in Little Jerusalem - 1895🔗 is the latest post by John Newmark @transylvaniandutch.com for his #OnePlaceStudy of Little Jerusalem and Carr Square Tenements in St Louis, #Missouri. It's a 19th-century love story transcribed from the St Louis Post Dispatch of Oct 13, 1895. #OnePlaceWednesday

1) How we imagine our ancestor’s arrival on these shores 2) Closer to the truth #genealogy

What heirlooms have your family passed down? This is perhaps my most unique family heirloom. Currently approximately 63 years old.

Today my legacy.com obituary alert notified me of an obituary from seven years ago.

Another genealogical pet peeve. The use of “Mrs. husband’s name” on documents. I want to know HER name. But it’s not just genealogy. In 2025 my wife still gets mail addressed to her in this fashion. It really needs to stop.

The look on a genealogist’s face when examining a census record.

Update: BIRLS.org has now sent 12,400+ #FOIA requests in just the ~63 days since launch. That's ~20% of what the VBA (the relevant sub-agency within the VA) usually gets in a single *year*! And yet the letters *are* going out, and some people are starting to get their C-Files too. Kudos to the VA!

Don’t forget to backup your data.

Another meme I created a few years ago. (This one in 2019 if my FB memories app is accurate) #genealogy #research #science #politics #everything

I have added a page to my #OnePlaceStudy listing in alphabetical order the residents of the tenements I’m researching. It’s incomplete as I have not finished going through the 1900 census for the neighborhood. I will update as I continue. open.substack.com/pub/transylv...

This #cat is smart #Caturday #genealogy (Image came from Pixabay 12 years ago. Text added by me)

Today I received four more notification letters, so now I know 5 of those 6 FOIA requests are being processed. Of course…as slow as I knew the process would be…with the recent layoffs at the DVA I expect it to be even slower.

I thought I’d experiment with posting on Substack so I imported my One Place Study from blogspot. Only 10 posts to import, all from 2022, but I have continued researching so I have more to write. open.substack.com/pub/transylv...

My 2nd great grandfather lived in the tenement section of St Louis in 1900. His block went by many names including 8th Street Yard, Castle Thunder, and Wild Cat Chute. It was a hotbed of criminal activity before he moved in. #genealogy #stl #tenements blog.transylvaniandutch.com/2025/02/a-pl...

A new blog post concerning a new-to-me free website containing digitized community archives. #genealogy #history

On Dec 24 @reclaimtherecords.org announced their Vererans C-File database. I didn’t submit my first 6 FOIA requests until Dec 26. I just got my first notification letter that they’ve received 1 of those 6 requests and are processing it. It will likely be several months for the docs. I can wait.

Since this article is 10 years old I wonder if anything has changed.

Today I put in an FOIA request for an unrelated famous author. Just out of curiosity. I also requested the file for a distantly related (3rd cousin twice removed) author. Mostly out of curiosity as well.

Thanks to ReclaimTheRecords it’s now free and easy to order US Veterans Benefit Claim files (aka C-Files). I have submitted a half dozen FOIA requests since the announcement. It may take months to actually get the docs but im looking forward to what I learn www.reclaimtherecords.org/records-requ...

Today’s NYT Strands game was designated for #FamilyHistory and #genealogy buffs

In March, 1848 the #Niagara River & #NiagaraFalls, dried up due to an ice jam. I just ran across this #poem by John Newmark @gavroche.org about that event. I've included a link to information about the day Niagara Falls ran dry. #poetry #poetrycommunity niagarapoetry.ca/2024/12/14/n...

Zoom only meeting. I’m registering.

Speaking of accessibility, did you know you can add closed captions to thevideos you post? 1/2 (click/tap "cc" icon to activate)

#genealogy - just because a “fact” fits the available records doesn’t mean it’s true.

For the first time in months I have a new blog post. I found my great grandfather in a new database this weekend, and put an approximate date on a photograph. #genealogy #research #stl #stlouis

Are you looking for fellow genealogists on Bluesky? Genealogy on Bluesky #1 Starter Pack go.bsky.app/GMfGrzr Genealogy on Bluesky #2 Starter Pack go.bsky.app/AqMGpsd A third might be necessary soon. Thanks to @danielloftus.bsky.social for his work in creating these.

#Copy&Paste to introduce yourself to #genealogy Bluesky Years researching: since 2007 Hobbyist or pro: Hobbyist Fun fact/Wildest discovery: Found my 2nd great grandfather in the US patent database My niche/s: St Louis/Missouri research; turning family history into poetry

St Louis County Library has announced a digital archives - browsable and searchable #genealogy #stl slcl.recollectcms.com

#FamilyHistory Will your descendants remember the story behind that precious family heirloom? These objects can be an important part of the ancestral narrative, but they lose their meaning if the story is forgotten or if details are unclear. 1/

It’s a fascinating piece, and not only because my spouse is a descendant of the same woman

I had no idea their staff was that small. They deserve applause.

A poem I wrote back in 2008 about my family history research. Full poem in the Alt Text.

Here’s an official post from the BlueSky developer dated today about outages and things you may expect to see.

Family surnames I’m researching: Newmark Cruvant/Kruvand Blatt Dudelczak Deutsch Lichtman Vanevery Denyer My ancestors came from: Warka, Poland Losice, Poland Volhynia, Ukraine Buciumi, Transylvania Margitta, Transylvania Cekiske, Lithuania Hampshire, England Netherlands #genealogy

I’m using an audio to text app to transcribe some family interviews. Some of the errors are funny, but also perhaps useful. The surname “Deutsch” is transcribed as “George” in most cases. I wonder if any human census takers could make that mistake. D and G are not similar, but… #genealogy

I’ve lived at my current address for 5 years and just learned today there’s an LDS family history center within walking distance. (1.2 miles). It’s very easy to focus on internet sources and not see what’s available elsewhere if you’re willing to put on some shoes and leave the house. #genealogy

Happy 150th to #RobertFrost A set of lipograms composed last year. medium.com/handcuffs-hi...

Saw a production of Funny Girl last night. (First time seeing the play, had seen the movie) This is just a genealogical reminder. The name “Sadie” on a census, or elsewhere, can be a nickname meaning “Married Lady” As a name, it is a diminutive of Sarah, meaning “Princess.” #Genealogy

Given that they're so incredibly wrong about genealogy not being fulfilling, we can obviously ignore the rest of this nonsense. 😏

After a long hiatus I’ve added a lot of names this weekend to my #OnePlaceStudy of the St. Louis Carr Square tenement neighborhood of 1900. #genealogy #stl littlejerusalem1900.blogspot.com

I could really use some help from Mr. kool-aid about now. #genealogy #BrickWalls #OhYeah

If a cousin shares family information I try to return the favor - filling out their information for our branch of the tree & I try to maintain at least equal degree of quality with respect to documentation. This is usually easy. I received a register from a professional. Im enjoying the challenge.

I am going through a database of unindexed record images. Page by page. The records are in Polish script, which I can’t read. I’m searching for an ancestor’s name. The internet connection is slow. What are you doing today? #genealogy

One thing a genealogist has to keep reminding themselves is to never assume. Of course we try not to. But we’re often fighting against our own human nature. Some assumptions are so ingrained in our minds. #genealogy