ancestors
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1800s Photos – No Smiles
Aug 1
So many of your early family portraits, no one is smiling. There are several reasons. Back in the 1800s, wide-mouthed, toothy grins were considered inappropriate for a portrait. People in normal life still smiled and laughed but not for a portrait, including a painting. Here is a quote by Mark Twain about smiling for a photo. “A photograph...
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Slang Phrases Your Ancestors Used in the 1950s
Jul 31
The decade of the 1950s saw many changes and good times had by young people. Your relatives and ancestors who grew up during the decade would have grown up with some of these popular slang words and phrases of 1950s. Include some in your family history. A new word became popular, it was “Unidentified Flying Object” or UFO. Rockets and space...
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Inventions that Date Back to 1770-1790s
Jul 29
Many items we take for granted today and for many decades as used by our ancestors originally were invented in the late 1700s (American Revolutionary era). Here are a few. The beginnings of the Telegraph started with the optical telegraph operated visually via a set a relay stations and signals, viewed with a telescope. The semaphore telegraph ...
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Foods started by Thomas Jefferson
Jul 23
Many popular food dishes loved by Americans and your ancestors had their beginning with a former US Presdient. US Presdient Thomas Jefferson was one of the most influential figures in our presidential history. But strides toward social and political freedom were not the only things he made relevant during his two terms. We have Jefferson's uniq...
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Library on Horseback
Jul 17
Everyone has heard of FDR's New Deal series of programs and projects to get Americans back on their feet during the 1930s Great Depression. Well, there was one special project many may not have heard of except for the people of Kentucky. It was named 'New Deal-funded Pack Horse Library Project'. What it involved was female librarians would ride...
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Transcontinental Railroad
Jul 13
You can assume for sure that many of your ancestors, even from decades ago, traveled on the railroad- short distances or long distances. With the development of the steam engine in the United States in 1830 with most of its use in the years to come in areas east of the Missouri Territory. But this new innovation was great for moving goods and p...
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A Look at Details in 1950s Census
Jul 7
Yes, it is great the US Federal Census is now available. Especially now we can find family and friends we knew or are still living. Yet there is one special item on that 1950 census you should not overlook. During that year's census taking, the enumerators were told to make notes of unusual entries or irregular situations. So what were some of ...
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Soldiers’ Life during American Revolutionary War
Jul 5
If on your family tree you were able to trace the lineage of an ancestor who lived during the start of the American Revolutionary War – 1776 to its conclusion of 1783, here is some information of life during those times would have been like – especially those who served in the milita. Some who served already had experience prior to 1776 wit...
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Some Crazy Ladies’ Clothing Styles
Jul 3
Bloomer Suits - named after the women's rights activist Amelia Bloomer, emerged during the 1850s, as a more comfortable alternative to other trendy fashion items of the era. They featured baggy trousers worn under a knee-length skirt with a vest. While bloomer suits weren't necessarily bad for women’s health, they could’ve had a negative impac...
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Kitchen Sink by a Window
Jun 27
Think about it, don't most home kitchens have the sink right by an outside window? How did that happen? Well, kitchen sinks have traditionally been placed under the window is obviously, that is an outside wall. Using as short a waste pipe as possible from the sink to the drains is not only the most effective but also the cheapest solution. Also...