I can’t believe we’re already 2/3 of the way through October—a very special October—that marks the 25th anniversary of the first 𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉. I love how this annual tenth-month-of-the-year observance, established by the U.S. Congress in …
Tag: family
A First-time Challenge for the DNA Sleuth
Mid-summer found this DNA sleuth tackling a first-for-me challenge, involving Karrie, her adopted mother, and a monumental revelation. Karrie’s mother Judy who’d been adopted as a ten-month-old infant, died in 1975, decades before direct-to-consumer (DTC) DNA testing …
Sleuthing Successes and Inspirations
The slower pace of January and February coupled with the wintry conditions encouraged this DNA sleuth to indulge in many cozy nights tucked snuggly under a thick, soft throw while delving deeply into genetic mysteries. Sorting DNA …
Clues + DNA = Solved Paternal Mystery with a Side of History
For almost half of his life, Paul Gilgen has pondered a family mystery. In the late 1980s, Paul’s nephew Kim Eisenhut shared news of a long-held family secret, one that had tumbled out of hiding while family …
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4 Ways to Celebrate Family History this Thanksgiving
The things we love most about Thanksgiving— the family gathered from far and near, the dining table overflowing with favorite foods, and the cherished, passed-down traditions—create a lovely backdrop for a day spent reveling in family history. …
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The Scrapbook
My latest sleuthing adventure has sent me on quite an interesting and thought-provoking journey. It all began with an early morning email message on a Wednesday in July. “I have something I want to run by you,” …
How will you Celebrate National Cousins Day?
There may forever remain multiple who, when, and where questions about the origins of the lesser-known July holiday celebrated on the 24th—National Cousins Day. While some admit the history of this commemoration is “shrouded in mystery,” others …
Bargain Hunting at Its Finest
I am admittedly a thrifty person. Cost-conscious. Quick to reuse or repurpose. Economically careful. Penny-wise. Even frugal. While I prefer the term thrifty, on occasion, similar yet less kind adjectives such as tight or cheap may apply. …
Two Family Mysteries and their Journeys Toward the Truth
The search for a grandfather Mike Holloway, of Willshire, Ohio, is a man on a mission—a genealogical mission, that is. In recent years, his interest in a long-time family mystery found him taking up the search …
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Lessons Learned . . . And the moral of the story
(DNA Sleuth column - March 2025) For the past month, I’ve been neck-deep in a writing project that has claimed much of the time I usually spend burrowed deep in search angel mode. I’m still popping into …
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