Category Archives: General

Juneteenth 2023: Part Two

Recall, last month America celebrated Juneteenth (i.e., June 19th, the date the Emancipation Proclamation was announced in Texas)  as a federal holiday for the third year.  I wrote during that week that my family had a few questions that we wanted to research, and I want to share with you what we discovered.  First I’ll give a shortContinueContinue reading “Juneteenth 2023: Part Two”

BookTalk Chapter 2: No couverture here…”I belong to de Mistis”

It’s been a long time since I’ve done a BookTalk, and I really need to get a move on so that I can start reading the other books on my list. I like to write about, take notes on, and draw my thoughts about what I read. Lucky you, that means you get to readContinueContinue reading “BookTalk Chapter 2: No couverture here…”I belong to de Mistis””

Reconstructing the Life of George Wheaton: Part I

 Extract from the Reconstructed Constitution of the State of Louisiana with Portraits of the Distinguished Members of the Convention and Assembly; Lithograph, 1868; The Historic New Orleans Collection, 1979.183. Retrieved from http://hnoc.minisisinc.com/thnoc/catalog/1/17819. Recently, my family and I took a vacation that we called our “Civil Pursuits Trip”.  We visited Civil War and Civil Rights sites in Mississippi, Alabama,ContinueContinue reading “Reconstructing the Life of George Wheaton: Part I”

I Know You Are, But What Am I? Race, Identity, and DNA

When I mentioned my idea for this blog post’s title, my 12 year-old daughter looked at me quizzically. She had no idea what I was referencing and chalked it up to “lame”, 1970’s speak. But, if you are somewhere in the vicinity of my generation, you might remember giving this playground retort to other children’sContinueContinue reading “I Know You Are, But What Am I? Race, Identity, and DNA”

What does the Bible have to say about family history?

Traditionally, people have tried to avoid religion and politics in their daily conversations because, even with the most respectful and friendly participants, attitudes and moods often take a turn for the worst when there are disagreements. In these days of economic and social turmoil, however, people tend to be pretty open about their political opinions.ContinueContinue reading “What does the Bible have to say about family history?”

Chronologizing and Chronicling Your Ancestors: A Case Study of John Rem

I read an article that NGS tweeted several weeks ago in which the author, Aaron Goodwin, discussed this idea of exploring a particular ancestor by documenting their life events year by year. As a side note, I was surprised to discover that the word “chronologize” is apparently a legitimate one to describe this valuable researchContinueContinue reading “Chronologizing and Chronicling Your Ancestors: A Case Study of John Rem”

Y’all know black folks owned slaves, too, right? A discussion of genealogy, privilege, and power

https://thisiswhiteprivilege.tumblr.com/post/44733676865/setfabulazerstomaximumcaptain Recent conversations about racial injustice, inequality, and inequity often refer to the notion of white privilege, which refers to the idea that whites have greater access to power and resources than people of color do and that they might not even be attuned to this “leg up” they have. Some people believe that whiteContinueContinue reading “Y’all know black folks owned slaves, too, right? A discussion of genealogy, privilege, and power”

BookTalk Chapter 1: “Mistresses in the Making” and False Faces

They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South Washington, D.C., 1916. “Convention of former slaves. Annie Parram, age 104; Anna Angales, age 105; Elizabeth Berkeley, 125; Sadie Thompson, 110.” National Photo Company Collection glass negative. (Shorpy). Retrieved from https://evblog.virginiahumanities.org/2013/04/shell-be-wid-ole-missus-one-o-dese-days/ I made it through another chapter of the book They WereContinueContinue reading “BookTalk Chapter 1: “Mistresses in the Making” and False Faces”

Recollections of Grand Coteau, Louisiana: How Interviewing Living Relatives Can Help You Make Sense of Your Ancestors

One of the best ways to understand our ancestors’ lives better is to talk to them and ask them questions about how life was where they lived, worked, and played.  I know, I know.  You’re going to say, “How do I do that when so many of the ancestors I’m most interested in are deceased?”  Well,ContinueContinue reading “Recollections of Grand Coteau, Louisiana: How Interviewing Living Relatives Can Help You Make Sense of Your Ancestors”