My Family, the Berlin Wall and Context
November 9th marks the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. It has been on my mind a lot lately. Over the last month I’ve read a few books to get the “modern” perspective on the events that led to one of the most momentous events in my lifetime. As a genealogist I
Meeting Uncle Friedrich
In 1986 my family was contacted about a celebration that was to occur two years later in Germany. It seems we were related to a notable German. Here is my story of “meeting” Uncle Friedrich. It came in the mail one day in May 1986. A brown envelope full of questions and a few “new”
Remembering Ellis
Thirty-three years ago today my paternal grandfather Ellis Spencer left this earth. I was in college at the University of Missouri, not far from Ellis and Grace’s hometown of Tipton, Missouri. I was the first to arrive at the house and for a couple hours Grace and I reminisced. Ellis had been in ill health
Six Things You Can Learn about your Ancestor’s Neighborhood from this Sanborn Map
Sanborn Maps, developed for the fire insurance industry, can provide a boon of information about the neighborhood in which your ancestor lived. Founded in 1867 by Daniel A. Sanborn, the company’s success overcame many competitors to rule the fire insurance industry. Maps can generally be found online at the Library of Congress or at your
A Little-Known Source for Your Family History
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) can be a goldmine of family information What is it? The National Register of Historic Places was authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The Register lists nearly 100,000 properties (or group of properties) that range from wagon tracks on the Oregon Trail to large districts
Being German in America Series: Part 1
I have been fascinated with my immigrant ancestors for much of my life. Like many people I wonder about their motivations for leaving their homeland and taking that chance for a more prosperous and fulfilling life in a new land. Their journeys sometimes were challenging and even life-threatening, but most made it here in the