For half a decade, I’ve been working with relatives to try to figure out where the bedeviling Marie Gingras (1861-1937) came from. I’m pleased to report that, thanks to the hard work of cousin Sue Wolfe, the mystery has been solved
Former Editor Keeps Old Mug Around House, Much to Wife’s Chagrin
It’s anyone’s guess why Boyce Thompson, the founding editor of ProSales magazine, still keeps an old Modem to Load ‘Em mug around the house. The mug, dating back to 1992, has survived several moves and innumerable kitchen purges designed to reduce kitchen inventory to only essential items. Thompson appears to have a lasting sentimental attachment […]
My Six Most Awful Discoveries — So Far
Beware of what you might find when researching your family history. My family in particular seems to have more than its share of ghosts in the closet. Here are a few that I’ve discovered so far.
Family Research Confirms Link Between Wealth and Obesity
Have you ever wondered why some of your relatives were fat and others weren’t? Thanks to the results of an admittedly shallow survey, we now have the answer: It’s because they had the money to buy more food.
Five Bad Pieces of Genealogy Advice
I’ve been at this family history business long enough, six years (the equivalent of 56 years in Internet terms), to be considered an expert. So I thought I’d jot down some of the worst advice I received during my quest, for the benefit of neophytes who want to embark on a family history project in […]
Remembering Some Pioneering Inventors
Some families are lucky to have a single relative who invented something famous, like the Egg McMuffin, the fins on Cadillacs, or, more importantly, the electric fork, which my father used in conjunction with an electric knife to carve a holiday turkey. I consider myself very fortunate to have had five highly enterprising ancestors who […]
Bar Set High for Alder Manor Historic Rehab
The Goren Group recently purchased William Boyce Thompson’s Alder Manor mansion on the Hudson River with the intent to restore it to its former glory. That will be a difficult mountain to climb.
The Colonel Makes Surprise Appearance at BTI 90th Anniversary Celebration
One visitor stood out last week among the many attendees at the 90th anniversary of the Boyce Thompson Institute: William Boyce Thompson, who came back from the dead to participate in the ceremony. He was, needless to say, hugely impressed with what the Institute had accomplished in the 84 years since last visiting the research […]