The 1881 U.K. Census lists a man as chimney sweep and grinder. From having seen Mary Poppins and having my home’s chimney cleaned, I had a pretty clear image of a man with large brooms cleaning the soot out of chimneys. I was less clear about what a grinder’s occupation …
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! This photograph is of a dress up day at a New Canaan, Connecticut school. (CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER) It was likely taken more than a hundred years ago because it is from Clara Simon, born 1909 and a lifelong resident of New Canaan. We’ve had fun …
I spent the last week in Salt Lake City at the FamilySearch Library. It was a good trip with great people and several very interesting finds, lots of documented negative search results (sometimes those are the best ones), and confirmation that some of my previous finds were on the right …
If you’re interested in genealogy you know that feeling when you are dying to share a great find but you have not found anyone who shares the interest. Maybe you belong to a genealogical organization that see a lag in membership among the young or flailing new membership. How do …
New York City native Dr. James McCune Smith (1813-1865) was a noted black activist, abolitionist and the first black physician to hold a medical degree in the United States. While Smith was active in his community, he was also making smart real estate deals. For example, he purchased in 1865 …
