Today is the anniversary of the Federal Civil Service, which was created on 16 January 1883. It was an act created to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States. This anniversary holds personal significance for me. In 1948, my grandmother, Angelina “Angie” Campanile, worked as a bookkeeping machine operator for the State…
Week 3: Nickname
This year, I am participating in Amy Johnson Crow’s 2025 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, weekly prompts to tell your ancestors’ stories. She recently released the prompt for January 15-21: The theme for Week 3 is “Nickname.” Nicknames can hint to a person’s personality, occupation, or appearance. Which of your ancestors had a nickname? Do you know…
Week 2: Favorite Photo
This year, I am participating in Amy Johnson Crow’s 2025 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, weekly prompts to tell your ancestors’ stories. She recently released the prompt for January 8-14: This week, tell the story of a favorite photo: who is in it, where and when was it taken, and – just as important – why was it…
Wishing All a Happy & Prosperous 2025!
May this year be filled with much joy and happiness! I hope 2025 brings you new gene-finds, connections, and stories. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to read my blog. It means everything to me. -Jen
Week 1: In the Beginning
This year, I am participating in Amy Johnson Crow’s 2025 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, weekly prompts to tell your ancestors’ stories. She recently released the prompt for January 1-7: Who was the first person you wanted to find when you started your genealogy journey? I love this prompt because the person who kickstarted my…
Part II – Ancestor Profile: Mollie Monroe Brand
This is part two of a two-part post series diving into the story of my great-grandmother, Mollie Macephius Monroe Brand. Please head over to part one if you have not yet read it. Note: This post is not meant to be a complete genealogical study, though it has been completed and documented. It is just…
Part I – Ancestor Profile: Mollie Monroe Brand
Mollie Macephius Monroe Brand was my great-grandmother on my father’s paternal side. I never had the opportunity to meet her, but she always felt like an enigma to me as a child, and I craved to know her story. I only knew of one picture of her and the stories my grandmother shared. My grandfather…
Photographs & the Stories They Tell
Have you ever looked at a photograph and wondered about the story behind it? Some pictures capture moments we have personally experienced, allowing us to understand the story they tell. Others depict events we were not part of, leaving us curious about what happened and the context surrounding the image. The Evolution of Photography Photography…
Was Aunt Dora a Shopaholic?
This public notice was posted in the Jennings Daily News on Saturday, February 05, 1921, and ran several days from what I could find, and it makes me wonder what prompted him to put the notice in the paper in the first place. Was she a closet shopper and a lousy driver? Enter Coverture During…
Christmas Traditions
Reflecting on family Christmas traditions, I realized that Christmas Eve was always the event I most looked forward to. As evening approached, my mother would hurry my sister and me to get ready in our Christmas dresses despite our excitement about presents and seeing our cousins. The evening would begin with my mother’s family at…
