Monthly Archives: October 2012

Sandy’s wrath

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

Hurricane Sandy… What can anyone say? For The Legal Genealogist, it’s been frightening first awaiting the storm, then terrifying when the storm made landfall and the winds hit, then annoying to deal with the aftermath — no power, no heat, … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 22 Comments

The stormy past

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

Our namesakes Some families pass names down from generation to generation. Some give their own names to their children. Some give their parents names’ to their children as middle names. Some give a mother’s maiden name to a child as … Continue reading →

Posted in General, My family | 6 Comments

Recap: The Genealogy Event

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

What a blast!! DNA — and genealogy in general — came to New York City in a big way this weekend with the big two-day show The Genealogy Event at the Metropolitan Pavilion on 18th Street. And boy was it … Continue reading →

Posted in DNA, General | 8 Comments

Happy birthday, Emma

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

Emma Graumüller Geissler She was born just about noon that Friday, the 27th of October, 157 years ago today. The year was 1855, the place most likely the little village of Bad Köstritz in what is now the German State … Continue reading →

Posted in My family | 6 Comments

NYC’s Genealogy Event opens

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

It’s here! Big time genealogy gets underway today in New York City! It’s The Genealogy Event — a first of its kind two-day genealogy extravaganza at the Metropolitan Pavilion (125 West 18th Street, between 6th and 7th). The show opens … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Leave a comment

The mothers’ pension laws

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

Public aid for needy women and children Her full name was Dorcas Nellie (Cummins) Briggs and she was 39 years old when she went before the Probate Court in Cassia County, Idaho, on 9 May 1923, and said she needed … Continue reading →

Posted in Resources, Statutes | 11 Comments

Gaining a state, losing records

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

Records loss in West Virginia One hundred and fifty-one years ago today, voters in 41 counties of what was then Virginia went to the polls to cast ballots on an extraordinary question: should those counties secede from the then-Confederate State … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Resources | 8 Comments

Photos and the family homestead

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

More on photography for genealogy A question from reader Amber Tauscher reached the desk of The Legal Genealogist just about the same time as yesterday’s reader question about photography in cemeteries. But Amber’s question is a bit broader. “I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Copyright, General | 12 Comments

Cemetery photos: permission required?

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

Reader Timothy Campbell in Elmira, Ontario, Canada, and a cousin of his in Grand Rapids, Michigan, have encountered some problems in taking gravestone photographs. “As an active genealogist I have taken part in transcribing and photographing headstones in cemeteries,” Tim … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Statutes | 90 Comments

DNA: the basics and way beyond

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

ABCs and so much more So it’s DNA Sunday around here, and The Legal Genealogist‘s inner DNA geek is having a wonderful day. Because today is a day for getting ready to share the basics of DNA with other genealogists, … Continue reading →

Posted in DNA | 11 Comments