Can't get enough family history and genealogy? Check out these ancestry, family history, and genealogy stories that have been in the news recently:
Bad heart to bad habits: Blame your Neanderthal DNA Washington Post
When Ancestry search led to escaped slave (Author interview) NPR
6 Rising Genealogy Apps Forbes
DNA, Genealogy and the search for who we are NPR
Can you tell your ethnic identity from your DNA? NPR
Understanding DNA testing in family history Deseret News
Why does my Lebanese dad have African DNA when I don't? The Root
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Ancestor of the day: Elsie Alice Walton (1895 - 1933)
Elsie Alice Walton was born in Chicago Heights, Cook County, Illinois on May 22, 1895. She was the daughter of Adolph Robert Walton (1861 - 1925) and Bertha Catherine Borst (1876 - 1906). Both of her parents were first generation Americans and all four of her grandparents were born in Germany. Not much is known about her grandparents before they arrived in the United States, but her maternal grandfather, Wendelin Borst, was born in Baden-Wurttemberg and his wife, Catharina, was originally from Bavaria. Adolph and his family moved from Chicago to Champaign, Illinois in 1903 where Adolph became employed as an Upholsterer for Mittendorf & Kiler.
Elsie was the eldest of four children: her only brother Frank Julius Walton was born in 1896, her sister Grance Florence Walton was born in 1904 (died 1966), and her youngest sister Helen Rose Walton was born in 1906. Unfortunately, Helen Rose died shortly after her birth and Elsie's mother, Bertha died at their home shortly thereafter due to what her obituary called "puerpereal convulsions." It was also said that Bertha had been a "vigorous and healthy" woman. Elsie was 11 when she lost her mother.
Aroung 1918 Elsie married William Hugh Guthrie (1886 - 1967) and the couple moved briefly to Raymond, Rice, Kansas, USA. Hugh already had three children from a previous marriage: William Henry b. 1908, Branch b. 1912, and Evert b. 1915. Elsie's first daughter, Goldia "Goldie" Marie Guthrie was born January 15, 1919. Her second daughter, Cleota Elizabeth was born in Kansas as well, in 1921.
The family relocated to Mahomet, Champaign, Illinois, USA sometime between Cleota's birth and the birth of the couple's third daughter, Eunice Alice Guthrie in 1924. Elsie and Hugh's fourth child, and only son, Floyd Jack Guthrie was born in 1926.
Elsie's life was cut tragically short when she received a scratch from a rusted nail. The wound became infected and Elsie died of blood poisoning ten days later on April 23, 1933. According to a news article that accompanied her obituary, Elsie was not brought to the hospital until April 23 and was in critical condition upon her arrival. I can only imagine what her life could have been if she had arrived at the hospital before her injuries became so critical!
Elsie Alice Walton Guthrie was buried in Mahomet Cemetery in Mahomet, Champaign, Illinois. At the time of her death she was 47 years old.
Elsie was the eldest of four children: her only brother Frank Julius Walton was born in 1896, her sister Grance Florence Walton was born in 1904 (died 1966), and her youngest sister Helen Rose Walton was born in 1906. Unfortunately, Helen Rose died shortly after her birth and Elsie's mother, Bertha died at their home shortly thereafter due to what her obituary called "puerpereal convulsions." It was also said that Bertha had been a "vigorous and healthy" woman. Elsie was 11 when she lost her mother.
Aroung 1918 Elsie married William Hugh Guthrie (1886 - 1967) and the couple moved briefly to Raymond, Rice, Kansas, USA. Hugh already had three children from a previous marriage: William Henry b. 1908, Branch b. 1912, and Evert b. 1915. Elsie's first daughter, Goldia "Goldie" Marie Guthrie was born January 15, 1919. Her second daughter, Cleota Elizabeth was born in Kansas as well, in 1921.
The family relocated to Mahomet, Champaign, Illinois, USA sometime between Cleota's birth and the birth of the couple's third daughter, Eunice Alice Guthrie in 1924. Elsie and Hugh's fourth child, and only son, Floyd Jack Guthrie was born in 1926.
Elsie's life was cut tragically short when she received a scratch from a rusted nail. The wound became infected and Elsie died of blood poisoning ten days later on April 23, 1933. According to a news article that accompanied her obituary, Elsie was not brought to the hospital until April 23 and was in critical condition upon her arrival. I can only imagine what her life could have been if she had arrived at the hospital before her injuries became so critical!
Elsie Alice Walton Guthrie was buried in Mahomet Cemetery in Mahomet, Champaign, Illinois. At the time of her death she was 47 years old.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Genetics: What does your blood type say about your ancestry?
For some reason I have always been interested in blood types. Maybe it's because my grandma always had this gigantic looking book in her living room called "Eat Right 4 your type" or maybe it is because my own blood type is O negative, which makes me a universal blood donor. Whatever the reason, my fascination with blood types led me towards a little research that relates blood types to ancestry.
A Brief Science Lesson
Have you ever donated or received blood? Chances are you have discovered your own blood type based on one of those transactions. The reason being that doctors have to ascertain your blood type before giving your donated blood to someone else or before you receive blood to ensure compatibility between the two blood types.
From a simplistic point of view, there are four blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Your blood type depends on the antigens that are present in your red blood cells and the types of antibodies that your blood makes. For example, those with type A blood have red blood cells with A antigens present and their blood makes antibodies that fight type B antigens. Those with type B are the opposite. Type AB individuals, therefore, have both sets of antigens in their red blood cells and produce no antibodies; type Os have no antigens and produce antibodies that fight both types of antigens. Here's a chart that is probably easier to understand:
Blood Types and Ancient Humans
That's nice. But this is a genealogy blog, so what the science lesson? It turns out that your blood type is inherited from your parents, and that means it has been passed down through the generations, perhaps for tens of thousands of years. That's pretty cool (or maybe it's not cool and I'm a bigger nerd than I thought)!
The evolution of blood types throughout human history can be broken down into a few categories, which I will call: Hunter-Gatherers, Nomads, Agrarians, and Collection. Please keep in mind that I have read several articles and am condensing that information into a few paragraphs. Lots of other folks on the web, especially nutritionists and dietitians, have explained each blood type and their origins more thoroughly than I have.
Enjoy!
Type O: The Hunter-Gatherers
If you have Type O blood, congratulations. You possess the most ancient of modern blood types. It is also the most common blood type: 37% of Americans have type O+ and 6% have O- blood type. Cro-Magnon, or Early Modern Humans are our first direct ancestor. They ate a protein-rich diet and began hunting big game with tools and weapons. Their O blood type supported this hunter-gatherer lifestyle and people today with type O blood often secrete more stomach acid and have an easier time metabolizing animal proteins.
Since I am type O, I can attest that for a six month period I became a vegetarian and suffered from anemia, general fatigue, and I was hungry all the time no matter how much non-animal protein I consumed. I finally broke that diet and am now omnivorous and happy. I also have the stomach problems associated with the blood type and have acid re-flux disease, am prone to ulcers, and must, must, must exercise at least 5 times per week to counteract a lot of those symptoms. The more I run, the better I feel!
Type A: The Agrarians
At the beginning of the Neolithic Period, about 30,000 BCE, people began to domesticate animals and created farming communities. The move from hunter-gatherers to farmers also saw the beginning of a new ABO blood type, A, in Caucasian people between 25,000 and 15,000 BCE. The new blood type group evolved from a new diet based on plants rather than meats. About 13,000 years later, the Indo-Europeans carried the A blood type into populations in Russia and Eastern Europe. My daughter is type A and she prefers a diet of fruits, vegetables, and a little grain and protein.
Type B: The Nomads
The end of the Neolithic Period, about 10,000 BCE, saw the emergence of yet another blood type: B. This blood type originated in parts of India, Pakistan, and southwestern Asia. And, as the Mongolians moved throughout Eurasia, the B blood type became firmly established throughout the region as well. Because these peoples depended on domesticated livestock, type Bs can more easily digest animal proteins and lactose: type Bs are the only blood types that can easily digest dairy products after the age of 2 years old. They are also more likely to be adaptable and malleable.
Type AB: The Collective
AB is the rarest and newest of all four blood types--it is only about 1000-1200 years old! Type A and B are co-dominant and result from a mixed inheritance of A and B alleles, unlike all of the other blood types that evolved from environmental aspects over thousands of years. Type ABs can take on either or both traits of type A and B, sometimes creating health problems such as weight gain. For example, type AB may have the ability to digest meats because of its nomadic type B blood, but lack the stomach acid to properly break down and process those meats, thus rendering most of the protein into fat rather than metabolizing it.
I am married to an AB type and he can and will eat just about anything! This characteristic reflects the mixed inheritance of the co-dominant alleles that evolved under very different circumstances.
Conclusions
No matter what your blood type, you inherited those alleles from your ancestors. It is also nice to reflect upon the evolutionary circumstances that surrounded the appearance of different genes. To learn more about the evolution of the four blood types see the links above or check out the following:
A brief history of human blood types National Library of Medicine
Why do we have blood types? Carl Zimmerman for BBC Future
This answer to a forum question on Standford at The Tech's website contradicts the theory of O as the first blood type.
And here is an article from the Institute for Creation Research that argues all the blood types were introduced into the genome at essentially the same time (when Adam and Eve were created).
A Brief Science Lesson
Have you ever donated or received blood? Chances are you have discovered your own blood type based on one of those transactions. The reason being that doctors have to ascertain your blood type before giving your donated blood to someone else or before you receive blood to ensure compatibility between the two blood types.
From a simplistic point of view, there are four blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Your blood type depends on the antigens that are present in your red blood cells and the types of antibodies that your blood makes. For example, those with type A blood have red blood cells with A antigens present and their blood makes antibodies that fight type B antigens. Those with type B are the opposite. Type AB individuals, therefore, have both sets of antigens in their red blood cells and produce no antibodies; type Os have no antigens and produce antibodies that fight both types of antigens. Here's a chart that is probably easier to understand:
Blood Types and Ancient Humans
That's nice. But this is a genealogy blog, so what the science lesson? It turns out that your blood type is inherited from your parents, and that means it has been passed down through the generations, perhaps for tens of thousands of years. That's pretty cool (or maybe it's not cool and I'm a bigger nerd than I thought)!
The evolution of blood types throughout human history can be broken down into a few categories, which I will call: Hunter-Gatherers, Nomads, Agrarians, and Collection. Please keep in mind that I have read several articles and am condensing that information into a few paragraphs. Lots of other folks on the web, especially nutritionists and dietitians, have explained each blood type and their origins more thoroughly than I have.
Enjoy!
Type O: The Hunter-Gatherers
If you have Type O blood, congratulations. You possess the most ancient of modern blood types. It is also the most common blood type: 37% of Americans have type O+ and 6% have O- blood type. Cro-Magnon, or Early Modern Humans are our first direct ancestor. They ate a protein-rich diet and began hunting big game with tools and weapons. Their O blood type supported this hunter-gatherer lifestyle and people today with type O blood often secrete more stomach acid and have an easier time metabolizing animal proteins.
Since I am type O, I can attest that for a six month period I became a vegetarian and suffered from anemia, general fatigue, and I was hungry all the time no matter how much non-animal protein I consumed. I finally broke that diet and am now omnivorous and happy. I also have the stomach problems associated with the blood type and have acid re-flux disease, am prone to ulcers, and must, must, must exercise at least 5 times per week to counteract a lot of those symptoms. The more I run, the better I feel!
Type A: The Agrarians
At the beginning of the Neolithic Period, about 30,000 BCE, people began to domesticate animals and created farming communities. The move from hunter-gatherers to farmers also saw the beginning of a new ABO blood type, A, in Caucasian people between 25,000 and 15,000 BCE. The new blood type group evolved from a new diet based on plants rather than meats. About 13,000 years later, the Indo-Europeans carried the A blood type into populations in Russia and Eastern Europe. My daughter is type A and she prefers a diet of fruits, vegetables, and a little grain and protein.
Type B: The Nomads
The end of the Neolithic Period, about 10,000 BCE, saw the emergence of yet another blood type: B. This blood type originated in parts of India, Pakistan, and southwestern Asia. And, as the Mongolians moved throughout Eurasia, the B blood type became firmly established throughout the region as well. Because these peoples depended on domesticated livestock, type Bs can more easily digest animal proteins and lactose: type Bs are the only blood types that can easily digest dairy products after the age of 2 years old. They are also more likely to be adaptable and malleable.
Type AB: The Collective
AB is the rarest and newest of all four blood types--it is only about 1000-1200 years old! Type A and B are co-dominant and result from a mixed inheritance of A and B alleles, unlike all of the other blood types that evolved from environmental aspects over thousands of years. Type ABs can take on either or both traits of type A and B, sometimes creating health problems such as weight gain. For example, type AB may have the ability to digest meats because of its nomadic type B blood, but lack the stomach acid to properly break down and process those meats, thus rendering most of the protein into fat rather than metabolizing it.
I am married to an AB type and he can and will eat just about anything! This characteristic reflects the mixed inheritance of the co-dominant alleles that evolved under very different circumstances.
Conclusions
No matter what your blood type, you inherited those alleles from your ancestors. It is also nice to reflect upon the evolutionary circumstances that surrounded the appearance of different genes. To learn more about the evolution of the four blood types see the links above or check out the following:
A brief history of human blood types National Library of Medicine
Why do we have blood types? Carl Zimmerman for BBC Future
This answer to a forum question on Standford at The Tech's website contradicts the theory of O as the first blood type.
And here is an article from the Institute for Creation Research that argues all the blood types were introduced into the genome at essentially the same time (when Adam and Eve were created).
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Spring 2016: Upcoming Topics
One more week until our Tuesday morning posts resume! In February, we will publish posts on Archival Resources, Genetics, Ancestor of the Day, and Family History Case Study. Below is a description of some upcoming topics for Spring 2016.
Please take advantage of our new poll posted to the right. Get your votes in by February 10th.
Below are some topics we look forward to posting about this spring:
History and Genealogy -- This is a new series that will begin this spring. When you begin to research your family history, there is an inherent curiosity regarding the historical context
Beginner Genealogy -- because there is so much to cover when starting your research, we will continue this series throughout the winter and into the spring. The cold weather months are a perfect time to start your genealogical research in a warm, cozy library or archive, or at home!
Archival Resources -- In this series we will profile different record types and include examples and visuals when available.
Family History Case Study -- Sometimes the best way to begin your own research is by taking a look at someone else's. Family History Case Study presents some of Tangled Branches Genealogy's family history research.
Ancestor of the Day -- An always popular topic and very fun way to spend time researching! Probably more like "Ancestor of the Week."
Genetics -- The human genome is filled with information about our ancestors! We will begin to explore why genetics is becoming so important to family historians and genealogists.
Please take advantage of our new poll posted to the right. Get your votes in by February 10th.
Below are some topics we look forward to posting about this spring:
History and Genealogy -- This is a new series that will begin this spring. When you begin to research your family history, there is an inherent curiosity regarding the historical context
Beginner Genealogy -- because there is so much to cover when starting your research, we will continue this series throughout the winter and into the spring. The cold weather months are a perfect time to start your genealogical research in a warm, cozy library or archive, or at home!
Archival Resources -- In this series we will profile different record types and include examples and visuals when available.
Family History Case Study -- Sometimes the best way to begin your own research is by taking a look at someone else's. Family History Case Study presents some of Tangled Branches Genealogy's family history research.
Ancestor of the Day -- An always popular topic and very fun way to spend time researching! Probably more like "Ancestor of the Week."
Genetics -- The human genome is filled with information about our ancestors! We will begin to explore why genetics is becoming so important to family historians and genealogists.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
New Poll!
Please take advantage of our new poll located to the right. It is a way for us to take your interests into consideration while we work to generate interesting, informative content. Get your votes in by February 10th!
Monday, January 18, 2016
Hello!
It's been a while since we've posted and we're hard at work on some new content. Juggling work, family, and volunteer commitments can be a bit overwhelming at times. We'll be back to posting weekly on Tuesdays in February. For now, enjoy these genealogy and family history stories that have been in the recent news. Happy searching!
Were you adopted? Learn tips for searching your genealogy The Davis Enterprise
Genealogy: Digging deeper into newspapers Examiner.com
We the People: Archaic terms often stump genealogists NewsOk.com
Genealogy Records at Intersection of Faith, Family History Voice of America News
Irish Roots: Why Genealogy is Seasonal The Irish Times
Were you adopted? Learn tips for searching your genealogy The Davis Enterprise
Genealogy: Digging deeper into newspapers Examiner.com
We the People: Archaic terms often stump genealogists NewsOk.com
Genealogy Records at Intersection of Faith, Family History Voice of America News
Irish Roots: Why Genealogy is Seasonal The Irish Times
Friday, December 4, 2015
Holiday shopping for a genealogist
This post is just for fun! Since holiday season is rapidly approaching, consider buying something genealogy related for the family historian in your life. Below are a few examples I've collected, but I'm sure there are lots of other great gift ideas out there!
Family tree charts
Most of the genealogists I know go through a lot of family tree charts, pedigree charts and family group sheets and prefer to gather most of those for free online or at their local libraries. However, there are specialty items, poster sized charts, and other goodies that may be perfect for a genealogist.
Scrap-booking materials
Archival quality preservation materials
Eccentric genealogist clothing
Family themed home and office gifts
Books! Because I am a librarian by trade, I always love receiving books as gifts. And looking through thrift stores for books. And looking through commercial bookstore for books. Consider buying a book about genealogy or a certain local history book for your friendly genealogist!
Family tree charts
Most of the genealogists I know go through a lot of family tree charts, pedigree charts and family group sheets and prefer to gather most of those for free online or at their local libraries. However, there are specialty items, poster sized charts, and other goodies that may be perfect for a genealogist.
Scrap-booking materials
Archival quality preservation materials
Eccentric genealogist clothing
Family themed home and office gifts
Books! Because I am a librarian by trade, I always love receiving books as gifts. And looking through thrift stores for books. And looking through commercial bookstore for books. Consider buying a book about genealogy or a certain local history book for your friendly genealogist!
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