Tracing Ancestors: STEM / STEAM Education

Waiting for Court Date Did you know there were paternity suits in Early America 1800's? This is one more reason why your y-DNA tests does not match the expected surname.  I know we always want to hide the ugly truth, but paternity questions have always been a monkey wrench in an otherwise perfect family tree. The DNA is off, the surname of your matched y-DNA cousins is a surprise, you aren't a Campbell after all!  It doesn't help that as you are researching through legal records the courts, in its direct speech, just calls your ancestor a "bastard child."  But, the good news is records are everywhere .  The trick is to be sure to follow the proposed mother on both the papertrail and via autosomal DNA tests, not the biological father. So yes, more work, but you will be uncovering your full family story. In some cases, we see where the father is identified in court records. This is especially true f the mother was taken advantage of, sexually assaulted, or forced w...

If you want to share your race-based stereotypes, know that I am prepared to respond.  I know your issue is not my race but your ignorance of history.  I know the American education system has given you permission to embrace half-truths of America's history; while disregarding the parts of history that do not benefit you.  I know it gives you the power to share your uninformed knowledge because to accept the facts, to learn the truth, somehow hurt you, instead of lifting me.  I know this is your choice.  But I am prepared to respond. I am an eager eraser of ignorance. If you know the truth, share the truth. If not, I will.  It's my gift. Albeit, obnoxious, unbearable, and sometimes annoying. It's my gift.  Help your brother when they are weak, I was told. Lift up the misfortunate , they said. Do good and share with others, I've heard.  Be generous with your time and treasure, it is written  Well, My Friend, I've been blessed...

We often use city directories to quickly locate a person, or family in a town or to confirm their occupation. But, for every quick research endeavor, there are issues.  City directories are a great resource, as long as you know that they may not have been created for the year you are researching. It took months to even a year to create a city directory. So you must adjust your City Directory research time frame. Searching for someone in 1918, check out the 1918 city directory and the 1919 directory.   This is to say, if the effort began Jan 1918, a city directory depending on the data collection process and size of the city, may have come off the press in Oct of 1918.  Conversely, if the process for 1918 data collection began in June, after planting season, or at a time when the weather allowed for door to door collections of ads to support the directory, your 1918 person may really be in the 1919 city directory.  For our ancestors to produce a city directory, t...

 Wichita Beacon,  25 Apr  1975  The Western Expansion Sometimes I wonder if I was raised in an alternate USA. The Black Cowboy's importance to westward expansion has ALWAYS been a part of my ancestral history. I went to a "black rodeo" before the age of fifteen. My maternal ancestors are seven (7) generations Western Kansans, my father's line was five. Here's a photo of my Great-Grandma's second husband, Arthur White at the Hutchinson Diamond Pow Wow. (For G-GP Arthur, this event was not tied to Native Americans.) Photo: 1946, Hutchinson Diamond Pow Wow. William Arthur White (Arthur), mulatto, born 23 September 1890 in Trenton, Missouri, died 15 May 1973 in Hutchinson, KS. Hopefully, this was just a git-up, especially the gun, since Arthur was blind in his right eye. The seventy-fifth anniversary of Hutchinson, KS celebrated its founding with the “Diamond Pow Wow.” This four-day celebration was held May 15 - 18,1946, and featured street entertainment, parades,...

From The Culver Citizen, Culver, Indiana, Apr 20, 1960

  It's end of Family History Month, but we actually have Family History every day, year round.  So I'm sharing some ideas that were mentioned in the October Mailbag podcast. Let's continue sharing our   heritage and fostering a deeper connection to the past!  In 2001, the United States Congress passed a resolution making October, Family History Month. This was in hopes to to encourage Americans to celebrate their heritage and family through research and education. The importance of Family History Month:  Preserving Legacy  using documents, sharing stories, scanning photographs, and protecting heirlooms for safe-keeping  Understanding Identity  connecting them to their ancestors' experiences, struggles, and triumphs. It can give deeper meaning to cultural and ethnic traditions, shaping personal identity Learning from the Past  learning valuable lessons from our ancestors' decisions, challenges, and lives. Strengthening Family Bonds  ...