The Ancestorist

12/15/2025

2025 Ancestry Year in Review!

12/05/2025

After years of watching it online, I'm actually going in person this year! I'm so excited!

11/27/2025

One of the many reasons I Love Vermont!

It doesn't feel like Thanksgiving until we've shared the story of Rebecca the raccoon. In 1926, Mississippi supporters of President Calvin Coolidge sent him a raccoon to kill and serve for Thanksgiving dinner.

Instead, the first family adopted her.

The Coolidge family, who also kept dogs and canaries, were kind pet owners and quickly built her a little house of her own. They let her roam the trees on the White House property. Her adventures were routinely reported in newspapers and she gained quite a bit of fame, making a star appearance at the 1927 Easter Egg Roll at the White House, for example.

Otherwise, she often wandered around the White House at will. Her favorite activity, the first lady reported, was playing in a half-filled bath with a bar of soap. When Rebecca went out on the town with the first lady, she sported bling – an embroidered collar identifying her as the “White House Raccoon.” She vacationed with the first family, escaped often, and pretty much ruled in the way she saw fit until heading off to a graceful retirement at the Rock Creek Zoo (now the National Zoo) when Coolidge left office in 1929.

Image: Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, half-length portrait, standing, facing front, holding her pet raccoon Rebecca. Published between 1921 and 1923. National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!

Here is a little something I made for my husband today! He loves it!

09/30/2024

This for all the children who had their culture, family and some of their lives ripped away from them. In North America, we will remember.

🟠 Join First Nations in wearing orange on Monday! 🟠

Monday, September 30, is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Originating in Canada and adopted in the U.S. as the National Day of Remembrance – the annual event is a time to remember and honor all those who attended Indian boarding schools and their families and communities.

We encourage you to wear orange on Monday, and learn more about how to participate: https://bit.ly/3ZExKIE

09/11/2024

You know, DNA isn't just to find out your ethnicity?
When you share your DNA with GED Match, it can be used by forensic genealogist to help some of these cold cases!

Why not do good while doing something cool?

Twenty-five John and Jane Doe cases, of unidentified individuals, previously cases covered in smaller episodes. The cases covered are:The Las Vegas 1986 Jane...

08/26/2024

If you're curious about your heritage and want to find out if any of your ancestors were Mayflower passengers, please contact me, and we'll begin the investigation!

07/14/2024

If your ancestors could time-travel to the present day, what would they think of your Netflix binge-watching habits?

06/24/2024

Uncovering your ancestry can be a fascinating journey. As an expert in genealogy, I possess the skills and resources to help you explore your family history and unearth new details about your heritage. Let me guide you through the process of discovering your ancestors.

If you know someone who is interested, please share this post with them!

05/16/2024

I have discovered that my ancestors play a significant role in shaping my identity.

Contact me to learn more!

05/11/2024