Ancestral Findings

Barbara Pierce would one day become our forty-first First Lady as the wife of US President George H.W. Bush. Before that, she was the third of four children in a prominent New York City family, and had a privileged upbringing. Here is her interesting story from society girl to First Lady. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/americas-first-ladies-41-barbara-pierce-bush  

Iowa was part of the Louisiana Purchase, and has a long Native American history going back before that. There is a lot of folklore here to explore. Here are some of the highlights of it. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/american-folklore-iowa/    

Indiana is the 19th state admitted to the union, with a Native American history going back centuries farther than that, and it borders the Great Lakes. There is plenty of fodder here for Indiana folklore tales, and the state has its own unique and ample supply of them. Here are some of the lore's highlights. Podcast Notes:  https://ancestralfindings.com/american-folklore-indiana    

Illinois is home to quite a few interesting legends and folklore stories. It has had centuries of human habitation to develop them. Some tales are old and some are newer, but all are uniquely Illinois. Here are some of the highlights of the folklore of the 21st state in the United States. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/american-folklore-illinois    

Idaho has some interesting folklore stories going back centuries and even thousands of years. From nearly every body of water in the state being haunted or having a monster to mysterious creatures to the question of Idaho's existence, here are some of the highlights of Idaho folklore. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/american-folklore-idaho    

Denver is the capital of the state of Colorado, and it is a prosperous, popular, and intriguing place. From humble beginnings as a gold mining camp, the city quickly became the dominant economic power in the American west. It continues to dominate today. Here is its story. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-state-capitals-colorado    

Sacramento is the state capital of California. With a history of human habitation going back thousands of years with Native Americans, its European habitation is relatively recent. Here is the story of how Sacramento became a city, and then the capital of the state of California... https://youtu.be/lCi79eQkczk Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-state-capitals-california    

William Ellery is one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, although he is not as well known as some of the others. He was a prominent politician in his time, and was an especially important and active one in the state of Rhode Island, where he was born and lived. This is William Ellery's unique story... https://youtu.be/kHpVTfqQ6UI Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/william...

Abraham Clark is not one of the best known signers of the Declaration of Independence. In fact, he was well known for his rejection of artifice and pretense during his life, being the only member of the Continental Congress to dress plainly, without wigs, ruffles, or lace. His constituents trusted him to give good and honest advice. Today, he is known as an advocate for the common man. This is the...

Carleton Watkins was a well-known American photographer of the mid to late 1800s. Carleton is most famous for his use of mammoth plate photography in photographing Yosemite, as well as the giant sequoia trees of California. Let's learn more about this talented man and the interesting and innovative photographic technique that he is best known for using. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com...

William Henry Jackson was a famous American artist and photographer. Most known for his work photographing Yellowstone before anyone else, William proved to the world that the wonders of the natural world in this part of the country really existed and were not just stories. William's work directly let to Yellowstone capturing the public imagination and becoming a national park. This is his story.....

February is deep in the coldest part of winter. While the days are starting to get longer, it's not exactly spring-like yet. With Valentine's Day, along with this unique annual weather, February is the perfect time to tackle a bevy of genealogy projects, like these 10 "must-do" ones. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/10-must-do-genealogy-projects-for-february    

Anne Frances Robbins, who later changed her name to Nancy Davis, married fellow actor Ronald Reagan, and enjoyed a Hollywood life that later became a political one. She went from First Lady of California to First Lady of the United States, and is one of our most popular and best known ones. Here is her story... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/americas-first-ladies-40-nancy-robbins-dav...

Rosalynn Smith Carter was our thirty-ninth First Lady, wife of former President Jimmy Carter. Growing up in poverty as the daughter of a farmer and a dressmaker, she entered the political sphere when her Naval officer husband got elected to the Georgia State Senate in 1962. She has been involved in politics and social causes ever since. Here is her story… Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.c...

The Bodie Island lighthouse is an important historical landmark in the Outer Banks region of North Carolina. It is actually the third lighthouse to sit on that island, and has recently undergone extensive restoration work to make it safe for the public to visit. This is its story. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-history-of-the-bodie-island-lighthouse/    

Do you know about Bodie? It is one of the best-preserved examples of the original Old West in the United States. Here's what you need to know about Bodie. Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-intriguing-bodie-ghost-town/    

Samuel Chase was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Yet, it was not signing that important document that made him famous to history. It was his later career as a US Supreme Court justice. As the only Supreme Court justice to ever be impeached (so far–and he was acquitted in the Senate), his position on the nation's highest court helped set some important legal precedents for that august...

Charles Carroll of Carrollton is one of the lesser known signers of the Declaration of Independence. He is best remembered for adding "of Carrollton" after his name on the Declaration, but was well known for other things at the time. In addition to being a passionate supporter of the cause of independence for the American colonies, Charles was one of the wealthiest men in the colonies at the time....

Erdman Penner was a screenwriter, songwriter, and associate producer for the Walt Disney Company. Born in Canada to a Mennonite father and a Roman Catholic mom, he was an only child with a penchant for artistic pursuits. Moving to America as a young man, he quickly became a valued member of the Disney team. This is his story. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/erdman-penner-walt-disney-i...

Margaret Christine Otis Baker is a local heroine in the town of Dover, New Hampshire. Her amazing colonial American story of captivity, conversion (three times), and a love story that saw her leave behind everything she ever knew to return to the town she'd been abducted from as an infant, is not well known to most Americans. Yet, in Dover, her story has hardly been forgotten. It is the stuff nove...

Little Rock is the capital of Arkansas. It has a long history of human habitation, as well as a rich and varied history of European exploration and settlement. Here is the story of how Little Rock became a town, then a city, and then the state capital of Arkansas. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-state-capitals-arkansas/   #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips  

Phoenix is the capital of Arizona. How did it get to be such a distinguished city? From a seasonal residence for Native hunter/gatherers to a permanent home for farming Natives, Phoenix was not explored by European settlers until the mid-19th century. Now, though, it is a bright, bustling city, and in a short amount of time, too. Here is Phoenix's story... Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfind...

Carter Braxton may not be a well-known signer of the Declaration of Independence, but he was an important one, playing a huge role in Virginia politics for decades before and after the Revolution. A brief tenure at the Continental Congress gave him historical fame, but Carter did much more than sign the Declaration in his long and distinguished career. This is his story… Podcast Show Notes: https:...

Josiah Bartlett was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was born in Massachusetts, but spent most of his adult life in Kingston, New Hampshire. That is where he was living when he was asked to be a delegate to the Continental Congress where the Declaration was signed. A physician, politician, and devoted family man, Josiah Bartlett was a unique person. This is his intriguing...

James Dodd was the host of The Mickey Mouse Club TV show, and also wrote the show's famous theme song. The son of a music store owner and a stenographer, he became interested in music at a young age, and pursued a career in both music and acting. This is the story of his life, his career, and how he came to be the host of one of the most famous children's TV shows of all time. Podcast Show Notes:...