Coincidence?

Recently I went to New Orleans for a girls’ weekend, and geek that I am, I took a few hours for myself to sneak over to the New Orleans library to research my family in the Times-Picayune. My grandfather was a real estate developer in the area, so I knew there...

Mapping Answers

One of the genealogical mysteries I’ve had is how to figure out from where people come. On my father’s side, he was always told his grandmother’s family was from Vilna. But that same grandmother had a half-sister who told her grandchildren that they...

Dead Ends, Shmead Ends

Why is it all my good finds come after 11 p.m.? I’m following trails that lead to dead ends, frustration after frustration, and then, right when I say, “It’s late! Screw this, I’m going to bed!” WHAM! A find that keeps me up another hour...

The Family Tree Blooms

This past weekend I went to New York for a getaway with friends. Once a year, my parents get together with my dad’s fraternity buddies, leaving the apartment for me and my friends. I try to go up a day earlier to see them and to spend a day in the city on my...