Family Tales & Trails

10/27/2025

10/27/2025

Love this! It's why we do what we do!

10/24/2025

The other day I took a field trip to the NJ State Archives & Library in Trenton. Always curious to hear from staff (I was there with members of APG) what is available and how resources can be accessed.
It turns out that, due to legislative restrictions, most documents can't be posted on-line. While there are a lot of "finding aids" on-site, they aren't posted either. This makes "pre-planning" for a trip nearly impossible.
On the other hand the library is more "normal" in that there is an on-line catalog of its holdings. Searching it I found 2 entries of particular interest; one was for a "Godfrey Chart" and the other for a Memorial (book) to E.L.B. Godfrey (not a lineal, but close enough).
I was totally amazed when the "chart" was pulled! Never expected to see anything like it for any of our lines. The book provided additional insights as it was a biography of Dr. Godfrey written by his widow. It provides not only detailed information about his medical career, but also his military and FAMILY! As it is fairly long I did not photograph all of the pages, just those felt most relevant.
(I had hoped to find some Pitcher info, but...)
It was an exhausting day that proved very satisfying!

08/26/2025

Interested in Genealogy or your Family History? Main Line School Night is offering 2 classes this fall! Both are appropriate for folks with all levels of interest. To learn more and register for "Genealogy: Organizing Your Family History" and "Genealogy: Getting Started" go to: https://courses.mainlineschoolnight.org/wconnect/ace/QuickSearch.awp

Hope to see you there!

08/24/2025

Here's an example of why you want to find out as much about family members and ancestors as possible. All sorts of organizations, entities, etc. may have collections and/or archives. These may help you add personality and interest to those dry old documents we commonly gather to prove "lineage." What groups existed during your family's time in an area? Check city directories, county histories, with librarians, newspapers... and the list goes on!

🔥🚒 Delaware’s Fire Service Legacy, Preserved in Time 🚒🔥

Big news for the First State! We’re excited to announce the launch of the Delaware Historical Fire Society, a brand-new organization dedicated to honoring and preserving the rich history of Delaware’s fire service.

For too long, Delaware has been one of the few states without a dedicated organization to safeguard its firefighting history. That changes today. From historic fire apparatus and equipment to the stories of the men and women who served, our mission is to make sure this legacy is never forgotten.

Our mission: “The Delaware Historical Fire Society exists to protect and celebrate the history of firefighting in the First State. Guided by our belief in ‘Delaware’s Firefighting Legacy Preserved in Time,’ we preserve, restore, and display historical firefighting apparatus, equipment, and memorabilia for the benefit of present and future generations.”

Follow us here and on Instagram to stay updated, share our story, and help us preserve Delaware’s Fire Service Legacy.

Website: DelawareHistoricalFireSociety.org

08/15/2025

You never know when that "crumb" might turn up. Read documents closely. Search newspapers regularly.

07/23/2025

There's nothing new. What's your story?

Source For more information www.miamillefoglie.com

07/15/2025

Interested in your Ukrainian/Eastern European history? Attending cultural events like this one up in Schuylkill Co. gives you an opportunity to talk with like-minded folks who might be able to provide you with hints and leads.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1XM8dmodk6/

It's picnic and block party season! In today's Trips Around Schuylkill, here is a shot from Saint Nick's Picnic in Minersville in July 1988. These Ukrainian Sword Dancers from Frackville were a frequent sight at such ethnic celebrations across the county.

07/10/2025

Eastern European Ancestry

Whenever I teach a class someone will say that their family came from [insert name of country] in Eastern Europe. They feel stymied by the presumed lack of records from the area due to numerous wars, border changes, you name it. When it comes to family history, we all have challenges, some greater than others, but this is not a cause for despair. You still need to follow the standard research processes, but rely more on newspapers and family stories.

Get as many documents and stories as you can from family members. Visit them, if you can. Ask to see their "archives" (letters, photos, clippings). Note any return addresses on envelopes/letters. For you, the "stories" are part of your history. Research the time period and location. Try to determine the "truth" behind them.

Remember, after conflicts families tried to find one another. This is where newspapers come in. Can't read the language? You can try on-line translators, but you may also want to connect with a local organization or the Church of the Latter Day Saints Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Both would have folks more than happy to help with translations.

You might be surprised what folks managed to save/salvage/rescue from disaster zones. Contact possible family/libraries/churches in the area from which your family came. Nothing to be lost, but a whole lot to be gained!

Join Facebook groups specific to your area of interest. Find one where the folks are willing to answer your questions, that provides knowledgeable information about the area, maybe even a family specific group. There are many out there.

Webinars are another way to learn what "experts" are finding. This one from the MyHeritage Blog discusses "Being Polish: Traditions and Genealogy."

Best of luck on you journey!

06/29/2025

"Destroyed" Records

Sooner or later we all seem to run into this situation. It could be as a result of the fires at NARA (1890 census & WWII Army records), storms or, for a lot of folks with Eastern European ancestry, war. What, if anything, can you do?

To begin with, interview any and all family members. Their stories are a start! Yes, memories changes with the years and age but, somewhere in there, is a grain of truth. It is our job as family historians to winnow it out. If you are lucky, pieces of one will interlock with those of others.

The Internet is full of all sorts of resources from individuals telling their stories, groups and organizations recording the stories of people and places, images of documents, etc. that have managed to survive. Remember, efforts were made to save as much as possible, but it might be in someone's attic or basement, forgotten to time. Maybe you will be the one to encourage them to pull it out or recall that they even have it.

You may be surprised at what you find and that you are not alone on your journey! You also have to share your story so that it doesn't get lost. Write it up, record it, then donate it to a repository, school, archive that specializes in the area, culture, ethnicity, so that others down the line can benefit from your knowledge. Don't ASSUME that what you know is "nothing."

Best of luck!

06/26/2025

THANK YOU!!!

Rose Ruggieri of the Delaware County (PA) Paralegal Assoc., Nancy Ward (Delaware Co. (PA) Bar Assoc.) and Kristi Dick (Realtor) for allowing me to present "Genealogy, DNA and the Law" yesterday.

A thanks, also, to all of those who attended. Still waiting for the "numbers" but it was very well attended and received.

Please feel free to contact Family Tales & Trails at: susanevanspacp@gmail.com or 610-622-1899, if you'd like it or any other presentation to your organization.

06/25/2025

All TEMPORARILY good at NARA.

There was a very poorly worded announcement made by the National Archives yesterday that caused a lot of confusion (and anger) among the general public.

Let me address the rumors: No, the National Archives is NOT restricting access to the records at College Park, Maryland, or at any of the National Archives facilities.

I’m at the National Archives in Washington DC today, and have heard from supervisors here that there are no plans to shut things down there, or anywhere. The announcement (that was very poorly worded) was about their parking policy. Some of the parking in College Park, Maryland is no longer accessible to the general public. That was the key detail missing from their announcement.

Their post has since been taken down, but the uproar on social media is still going. I’ve gotten several emails from people who are concerned about my ability to access the records moving forward.

Nothing is changing. Everything is fine. I'm literally sitting in the research room of the National Archives as I'm writing this, so I can still access the records.

Let me know if you need anything from the National Archives! Our team is onsite every week, helping to get these records in your hands! www.CivilWarRecords.com