On April 1st, 2022, the National Archives released the 1950 Census. A law passed in 1978 requires 72 years before the census is released to the public. The official count date for the 1950 Census was 1 April 1950. Because of the need to return and gather information from people that the census taker missed … Continue reading 1950 Census: I Think They Missed a Brownstone
Family history
Just Because Something Is Written In Stone
While I was taking the introductory course (online) in genealogy from Boston University, it was pointed out that you can't always take things at face value when you are searching for information about your ancestors. There are a few reasons for this. People don't always remember facts and stories correctly; some information passed down may … Continue reading Just Because Something Is Written In Stone
Share this:
The old Brownstone is for rent…
The "Siblings & Dad" thread on my phone pinged a few weeks ago on a Sunday morning. Bob, my brother, forwarded a link about the brownstone on 4th Street in the Park Slope neighborhood in Brooklyn that was home to my family in the 60s and early 70s. It is for rent. Wouldn't it be … Continue reading The old Brownstone is for rent…
Share this:
Small World…
The universe has a way of reminding us that we live on a small planet. I work in a government office in Southeastern Virginia. I am part of an eight-man team; six are government civilians, two are active-duty military officers. Of the eight, three have childhood roots in Brooklyn or Nassau County on Long Island. … Continue reading Small World…
Share this:
2019 was a Challenge, I am looking Forward to 2020
I was looking at my blog this morning, thinking it was time to dust off my brain and get back to writing. 2019 was a challenging year, personally and professionally. I had to confront, head-on, some old demons, deal with a minor medical issue and adjust to a promotion at work for which I did … Continue reading 2019 was a Challenge, I am looking Forward to 2020
Share this:
Family Genealogy: Anthony Cooke and the Photo of BFD Ladder 10
When it came to me, it was a copy. It was probably a copy of a copy. At some point, my maternal great-uncle, Edward O'Connell, sat down and drafted several pages of notes on the Cooke, Boyle, O'Connell, and Kelly families. I am not sure what his motivation for doing this may have been. When … Continue reading Family Genealogy: Anthony Cooke and the Photo of BFD Ladder 10
Share this:
I am getting back to work here
I have not posted on the blog since last summer. In the interim I have been working on my other blog. If you know about that blog, you know about it. If you don't, let's just say I do not want to cross contaminate between the two blogs. This is the lighter of the blogs, … Continue reading I am getting back to work here
Share this:
Serendipity, Thy Name is Goat
The text of the email read as follows: "Don't ask how I got to your page but I may have what you are looking for..." Sometimes the universe surprises me. Something incredible happens, and I have no explanation for it. My father would call that a miracle. I will call it serendipity. We all have … Continue reading Serendipity, Thy Name is Goat
Share this:
Brooklyn Tour
It was my youngest sister's idea. In recognition of our parents' 60 years of marriage, we would return to where it all started. Brooklyn! The plan was pretty simple, Mom and Dad would come down from their home in Massachusetts with my sister and meet up with the rest of their children in Brooklyn. I … Continue reading Brooklyn Tour
Share this:
Addressing My Past
If you know anything about me, you will know I like to research and discover things about my ancestors. I do because, until a few years ago, I did not know all that much about them. Either side of the family was pretty much a mystery except for the O'Connells. For me, the O'Connells were … Continue reading Addressing My Past
Michael's Monologue 