From Serious to Jokester in 3 Generations: Jim Gaffigan’s Supreme Court Justice Grandfather
Comedian Jim Gaffigan’s Grandfather, Richard Mitchell, Iowa Supreme Court Justice during the 1930s
Mr. Unsinkable: The Man Who Survived the Sinking of Titanic and 3 Others
Arthur John Priest witnessed four ships sink before he turned 29 in 1917. Captains refused to hire him and he was forced to retire.
An Ancestral Hunt: “Raised by Her Grandmother”
“Angelita was raised by her grandmother, Genara Lujan, in Jaconita, NM.” This sentence kicked off a two-hour genealogical hunt to find Angelita’s parents. She was my close friend’s great-grandmother. Angelita’s obituary only mentioned her grandmother, but no parents.
Legs of NBA Centers: Conan O’Brien, Samuel Morrison, and Visualizing Your Ancestors
Maybe, your ancestor sang, played baseball, or had long beards. You can find these details in newspaper articles, draft cards, and family memorabilia.
The Grocery Fortune My Family Had No Idea We Missed Out On
If you have ever been to New England, specifically Maine, you probably saw at least one Hannaford Brothers grocery store. Until today, I had no idea that my family narrowly missed out on being Hannaford. What did your relatives witness? Did they compete with any brands that you see or use daily? Chances are, they might have.
Ernie Johnson’s Grandfather: A Cabinet Maker for an Organ Company
It is my favorite time of the year: the NBA playoffs. But only 50% of the reason is because of the actual basketball. The other 50% is because NBA playoffs means that Inside the NBA on TNT is on almost every night of the week! After the Inside the NBA postgame show last Thursday, I had an idea. A few minutes later, I found Ernie’s father, Ernst T. Johnson Sr., in the 1940 census: A cabinet maker for an organ company.
One Way You Could Find Out If Your Ancestors Had Dogs 100 Years Ago
Among my favorite discoveries is one of the simplest. Finding out in the newspaper that my great-great-grandfather, Jacob Westermeyer, had a dog in 1908 when he was just 19! Did your ancestors have dogs? Here’s a way you could find out!
The 18-Year-Old Cartoon Artist in the 1920 Census: Walt Disney
On a winter day in 1920, a census taker knocked on a door in Kansas City. The home owner was a 31-year-old U.S. Postal Carrier, Herbert Disney. An 18-year-old cartoon artist — Herbert’s younger brother — lived at that house, too. His name? Walter E. “Walt” Disney.
What Ancestral Discoveries in Your Family Tree Are Hiding In Plain Sight?
Maybe your ancestors walked down Main Street in your town a hundred years ago when it was a dirt road. A house they built from scratch could still stand. Did your ancestors leave a legacy in your area that you might not know yet?
The Shared Experience Between Zion Williamson and Coach K You Probably Didn’t Know About
Coach K and Zion Williamson had similar experiences during their teenage basketball careers. They both jumped so high that they hit their heads during games. Zion hit his on the backboard during a Duke game in 2018. Coach K — allegedly, it’s in his high school year book — hit his on the ceiling during a Weber High School (Chicago) game in 1963.