Several years ago, Dr. Candace Kruttschnitt traveled to Mount Isa to visit Casa Grande, the architecturally significant house built by her grandfather, Julius Kruttschnitt, Jr., general manager of the Mount Isa Mine. A grand house designed by the prominent Brisbane firm of Donoghue, Cusick, and Edwards reflected the influence of Kruschnitt’s time spent in Arizona and Mexico. […]
Philip Benjamin: Portrait of a Small-Time Con
The life of Philip Benjamin (1779-1852) remains a mystery. But a review of his legal woes in the 1820s, when he was trying to raise a family, paints a clear portrait of him as a swindler. The first-generation Jewish American was in and out of court, losing case after case, with the exact ineffectual attorney, […]
John Kruttschnitt Played a Bizzare Practical Joke at His Sister’s Wedding Reception
Newspapers in New Orleans and other cities carried breathless accounts of Rebecca Kruttschnitt’s (1889-1975) wedding in 1911 to English suitor Henry C. Woodhouse. The reports focused on the glorious venue, the glamorous dresses the bride and maids wore, and the bountiful flowers that adorned the scene. They missed the most exciting event. “The wedding reception,” […]
Charting My Jewish Roots Along a Misleading Path
I got woefully lost tracing my family’s Jewish roots and fell into a familiar trap. Like many family history researchers trolling the Internet, I wanted to believe I was related to the great Moses Levy, a New York merchant who commissioned museum-quality portraits for most of his family members. My fifth grandmother was a Levy, […]
Stop the Presses: Marie Gingras Mystery Solved
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
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.