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1950 Census – How It was Done in 1950
Apr 3
The official date for the Federal census in 1950 was April 1st. But no way could all households be contacted in one single day. Instead, it took a full month. There were about 140,000 census enumerators (census takers) employed during April 1950 to go across the nation during April of 1950. They went to households, knocked on doors and spoke to...
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Survey: Half of Americans Can’t Name All Four Grandparents
Apr 3
A new survey from Ancestry, the leader in family history, found more than half (53%) of Americans can’t name all four grandparents - demonstrating a knowledge gap in key information about more recent family history. Released every 10 years, census records are one of the most valuable ways people can learn about their family’s past, as they...
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April Fools’ Day – April 1st
Apr 1
This one day of the year has become the day you 'trust NO ONE' They will try to play a trick on you. Going back to Roman times, at the end of March. During a holiday called Hilaria, people participated in all kinds of games, processions, and masquerades. One of the most popular activities was for commoners to dress up as nobility to 'prank' peo...
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Cost of Items in 1950
Mar 31
With the 1950 Federal Census becoming available soon, it would be interesting to see the average cost of household items that your ancestors / relatives paid 72 years ago. The average cost of a gallon of gasoline was 27 cents. An average new car would cost $1,300 and $1,500. One night at a hotel was about $5.90. To purchase a loaf of bread was ...
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Sayings Referring to Clothing
Mar 29
Many of your ancestors used words or phrases related to their clothing. It is interesting to recall these terms and what they meant. It would be good to include a few in your family history. There is the phrase 'fancy pants'. This started as an advertisement from Maine in the 1840s that referred to “fancy” pants made from cashmere. This fab...
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Fruit Salad Jewelry
Mar 27
For years women wore matched sets of earrings, brooch or bracelet, and necklace. Then there was the trend of being bold, bright and colorful in the jewelry. Some of this bold style of using colorful fruit started in the 1890s. Then in the 1930s the style became very popular because Carmen Miranda the famous singer, dancer wore elaborate fruit h...
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Use of Middle Names
Mar 25
When did the use of giving a baby a 'middle name' begin? It may have started in ancient Rome (yet not universally across the Roman Empire) when males were given three names., There was the family name, a personal first name and then a nickname, one of which had been passed from father to son. This three-name practice was not used for women. The...
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Basic Keyboard Shortcuts
Mar 23
We all use a computer keyboard, especially for our family history research, but knowing some keyboard shortcuts can make the work easier. One of the most useful and easy shortcuts is for copying and pasting text in your document. Highlight what you want to copy by placing your cursor at the beginning of what is to be copied and then at the end,...
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Morton Salt Logo
Mar 21
Everyone recognizes the little girl with her umbrella in one hand and an upturned container of salt. This special logo of the Morton Salt Company has been around for more than 100 years. The Morton Salt Company started in Chicago in the 1800s and was originally called Richmond & Company. In 1889, a man named Joy Morton acquired a major inte...
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US Census Available 72 years
Mar 19
Due to Federal law, the Federal US Census has the “72-year' rile. It states that personal information on those listed in a census can not be publicly viewed by the public after the census was taken for 72 years. The reason: is to protect the privacy of the individuals on that census and their families. However, information to a certain individua...
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Murano Glass
Mar 17
This is a very special type of glass with wonderful designs that origins from Murano / Venice, Italy. It has remained for centuries a true art form, handmade (not machines). Some traditional styles that are most recognizable are goldstone, which looks like bits of gold floating in stone, and millefiori, which means “a thousand flowers” in Ital...
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Everyone’s Favorite – Chocolate
Mar 17
Doesn't matter if it is white, milk or dark chocolate, everyone loved chocolate. Beginning with the cacao bean (the source of chocolate). It was first a drink form with various sweetness levels. It would be decades before the chocolate of today would emerge. It began with the Native Americans, the Aztecs of Central America. They created a bitte...
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How Come Celebrating Birthdays with a Cake?
Mar 15
A long-standing tradition is celebrating birthdays with a 'birthday cake.' The ancient Romans did celebrate high-status men's birthdays with cakes made from nuts, honey, flour and yeast. They were very much an indulgence but not at all sweet. No ancient Roman women's birthdays were celebrated with any type of cake. During the 1700s, in Germany ...
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Classic Children’s Games
Mar 13
We can all remember the childhood games we played outside and that would also apply to our ancestors, no matter how long ago it occurred. The game of Dodgeball was done during recess at school and in any neighborhood playgrounds. It began as a general free-for-all-ball throwing game. Of course, there was a dangerous element like being clobbered...
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Old-Fashion Manners
Mar 11
No matter when your ancestors grew up, they more than likely were taught what was considered 'Good Manners.' You might be surprised at what was considered good manners decades ago. A long-standing sign of good manners was saying 'Please' and 'Thank you'. That still holds true today. Some manners 'lost' over time include: A child saying 'M...
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