Ancestral Findings

The long, cold month of January is here, and with it, an excellent opportunity to do some new and interesting genealogy projects that are just perfect for this time of year. Just because it's freezing and possibly snowy outside doesn't mean you don't have plenty of things to do with your genealogy research to keep you busy. In fact, some projects are more suited to January than any other month. He...

Elizabeth "Betty" Bloomer Ford was our thirty-eighth First Lady, the wife of President Gerald Ford. As First Lady, she was an outspoken advocate for feminist causes and women's rights, as well as for breast cancer awareness, after suffering from it herself and surviving. She is also well known for the creation of the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse treatment. Here is her story. Podcast Show...

Thelma Ryan was called "Pat" from an early age, and eventually became Pat Nixon, the thirty-seventh First Lady of the United States. A farmer's daughter, she worked her whole life until her first child was born, doing whatever she could to get by. Her husband, Richard Nixon, fell in love with her on their very first date. Here is her amazing and fascinating story. Podcast Show Notes: https://ances...

So, you've decided that you want to investigate your family tree and discover what your relatives did during World War II. It's a great idea, of course, because the war is slowly fading from living memory as the last of those who lived and fought through it die off. In another 28 years, it will be a century since the end of the conflict and there will be just scattered survivors left to tell their...

Santa Claus is sometimes referred to as St. Nicholas or Chris Cringle. It turns out, St. Nicholas was a real person who was known for kindness, his love of children, and for helping the needy, the ill, and sailors. Here is his true story, as well as how he transformed into our modern day Santa Claus. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/st-nick-aka-santa-claus    

Jimmy Stewart is an American actor best known for playing George Bailey in the classic Christmas movie, It's a Wonderful Life. Yet, there was way more to Jimmy Stewart than just a famous movie role and a successful acting career. Jimmy Stewart was a distinguished member of the US military during WWII, where he won several awards for his service, and achieved the highest military rank of any US act...

If you live in or near to Cincinnati — or if you're planning to visit—then you should definitely check out the Dixie Terminal when you have the chance. Some locals are well aware of this building's existence, but for many, it's one of Cincinnati's best-kept secrets. On the outside, it can come across as an unassuming building nestled in among office buildings and skyscrapers. But inside, you'll fi...

Christmas trees are an expected part of Christmas now, but how did they occupy such a special place in the Christmas celebrations of the western world? Some believe the answer can be found back in ancient Egypt. Here is the story of the modern Christmas tree. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/history-christmas-tree #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Sharon Baird was one of the original Mouseketeers on The Mickey Mouse Club. She was an experienced performer with professional credits before being cast on the show when she was eleven. She also had a full and intriguing career in children's TV after The Mickey Mouse Club ended. This is her story. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/sharon-baird-the-mickey-mouse-club-part-8/    

Doreen Tracey was a Mouseketeer on the original Mickey Mouse Club TV show. She appeared in all three seasons of the original show. She went on to have a brief career in TV guest spots on other shows and as the lead singer of a band that toured American military bases in Vietnam. She did some other interesting and even eyebrow-raising things after her time as a Mouseketeer. Podcast Show Notes: http...

Claudia "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson was the wife of US President Lyndon B. Johnson and the daughter of a wealthy Texas family with roots in Alabama. Her childhood was unconventional, as did her school career and her courtship with Lyndon. Here is Lady Bird's intriguing and, quite frankly, remarkable story. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/americas-first-ladies-36-claudia-lady-bird-...

Jacqueline "Jackie" Bouvier Kennedy was the 35th First Lady of the United States, married to John F. Kennedy. She came from a wealthy socialite family from New York City and went on to become one of the most recognizable, admired, and influential First Ladies of all time. Here is her unique story. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/americas-first-ladies-35-jacqueline-bouvier-kennedy...

Kolache! Ever wonder about that baked bread and fruity smell wafting from your grandmother's kitchen or the local church or farmer's market? You're in luck. Your neighborhood is either a community featuring Czech immigrant heritage, or there are Czech immigrant descendants—or people who so thoroughly enjoy this culture and cuisine that they're taking part in it. Let's start with the pronunciation,...

Mamie Doud Eisenhower was the 34th First Lady of the United States. From a wealthy Iowa family, she became an Army wife to Dwight D. Eisenhower, and then First Lady of the USA, and the 1st First Lady to be a fashion icon, too. Here is her story. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/americas-first-ladies-34-mamie-doud-eisenhower/ #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

The Traditional Dish from Central and Eastern Europe... Pierogi aren't just a Polish tradition. They have a long history entwined with Eastern and Central European culture. Learn all about it here! Podcast Show Notes:  https://ancestralfindings.com/pierogi-the-traditional-dish-from-central-and-eastern-europe/  

Main Street USA is the "opening act" at all Disney parks, being the part of the park guests walk through before going through the castle to the primary part of the parks, including the rides and shows. It originally appeared at Disneyland in California, and all the other Main Street USA sections or their equivalents are similar to the first one at Disneyland. This is the story of Main Street, USA....

Do you recall the name, Karen Pendleton? She was a founding member of The Mickey Mouse Club's Mouseketeers. She remained with the program for its television run before quitting acting. She went on to live a pretty normal life, but she never forgot her Mickey Mouse Club days and was always excited to go to reunions. This is her story... https://ancestralfindings.com/karen-pendleton-the-mickey-mouse...

Have you ever ridden on the Disney monorail? From the moment my family boarded the monorail, it was always a fantastic adventure for me. Walt Disney was the one who initially had the idea for the Disney monorail. It opened on June 14, 1959, and was the first monorail system in the Western Hemisphere to run daily. In Walt's opinion, a monorail is a practical mode of public transportation that could...

Looking for some new genealogy projects for November? Here are ten "must-do" projects for this month. You will love them. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/10-must-do-genealogy-projects-for-november/    

Bess Wallace Truman was the 33rd First Lady of the United States. The wife of Harry Truman, Bess never wanted the publicity and public scrutiny that came with being the First Lady, but she did what was expected of her with grace and politeness. Here is her story... Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/americas-first-ladies-33-bess-wallace-truman #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #Genealog...

Are you interested in the history of the Salem witch trials of 1692? Do you wonder if you have a genealogical connection to any people involved? It's a unique distinction since not everyone in New England was involved. If you have an ancestor, you can connect to Salem Village of Danvers in some way; you may have a witch trials connection. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/witches-i...

Eleanor Roosevelt was more than just the 32nd First Lady of the United States. She was a force of nature. From her hard childhood to the unconventional nature of her relationship with her husband, Eleanor re-defined what it meant to be First Lady. Here is her story... Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/americas-first-ladies-32-eleanor-roosevelt  

Did you know first names can be big clues in your genealogy research? Here's how they can be helpful, as well as an example of how to use them in your research. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/given-names-can-help-identify-ancestor/  

Lou Henry Hoover was the 31st First Lady of the United States. The wife of Herbert Hoover was First Lady when the Great Depression began. She was athletic and confident and introduced some innovations to the office of the First Lady. Here is her story... Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/americas-first-ladies-31-lou-henry-hoover/    

Grace Goodhue Coolidge was our 30th First Lady. Wife to US President Calvin Coolidge, she was known for her vivacious, outgoing personality and her simple, dignified White House dinners and social events. A passionate advocate for education for deaf children, she was the 1st First Lady to have a four-year college degree. Here is her story... Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/grace-...