The following was written by Susan Weinberg, President of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS):

The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS), on behalf of its member societies around the world, expresses its sorrow to learn of the death of Gary Mokotoff. Gary was a central figure in the history of IAJGS with many firsts attached to his name. From 1989 to 1995 he served as the founding president of IAJGS, and in 1998 he was the first recipient of the IAJGS Lifetime Achievement Award. The international network of Jewish genealogical societies that we have today grew in large part out of his early efforts.

The Falkland Islands Government has announced that Chloe Anderson-Wheatley, Corporate Records and National Archives Manager, has been named Record Keeper of the Year by the Archives & Records Association UK & Ireland (ARA).

The award, decided by public vote during the 2025 ARA Conference in Bristol, saw Anderson-Wheatley secure 74% of the votes, making her the first person from the Falkland Islands to win the accolade.

She was nominated by a peer in recognition of her efforts to raise the profile of the Jane Cameron National Archives, her direct involvement with ARA, and her success in expanding both local and international engagement with the Falklands’ archival collections. Over the past 18 months, she has built new partnerships and strengthened awareness of the Islands’ heritage.

“This award is richly deserved and reflects the outstanding contribution Chloe has made,” said MLA Roger Spink. “Her work has ensured that the Falkland Islands’ story is preserved, shared and better understood – both at home and abroad.”

The ARA awards aim to highlight excellence and innovation in the archives sector across the UK, Ireland, and beyond.

History comes alive in Jonesborough as the Genealogical Society hosts its annual Heritage Fair.

The Jonesborough Genealogical Society’s annual Heritage Fair is on Saturday, and it promises to provide entertainment for all ages, according to a press release from the nonprofit.

The release said the event aims to showcase the heritage of the area through reenactors, artisans and exhibition booths that will bring history to life. New to this year’s festival is traditional music by Bratfolk, “A Conversation with History” series and a kid’s crafting area.

The historical timeline will span stories from Indigenous communities through the Revolutionary War, the Lost State of Franklin and up to World War II. The release said visitors will be able to visit reenactors and learn about life during a different period. Guests will also hear Native American style flutes, learn about colonial land surveying and meet a black powder maker.

Artisans and vendors will display traditional crafts for sale as well, according to the release.

The 2025 History and Genealogy Fair in Watertown will be at the Jefferson County Historical Society. The staff at the historical society will give people an opportunity to connect with experts in the field.

This will be on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. People will be able to share research stories while exploring the local resources and asking the experts questions. Attendees are also welcome to explore the newly renovated Historical Society.

No research experience is necessary to attend. This event is open to anyone with an interest in family history, no matter where they fall on the research journey.

There is a $5 admission fee with two local history talks included in the price of admission. You can purchase food items from the Mike & Colleen Hancock Food Truck.

Desi L. Campbell, respected historian, published author, and executive director of the Harnett County African American Heritage Center, is set to take the national stage at the 2025 Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society National Conference in Charleston, South Carolina this October.

Campbell will present the workshop, “Canva for Genealogy: Creating Family Trees and Keepsakes,” showcasing how technology and creativity can come together to preserve African American family histories. Using Canva, a web-based graphic design tool, Campbell has transformed how family stories are shared — creating family tree charts, memorial programs, reunion keepsakes, and visual histories that bring the past to life.

“Genealogy isn’t just about dates and names — it’s about storytelling,” Campbell explained. “When families see their history displayed beautifully, it strengthens pride, identity, and connection across generations.”

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Campbell will also receive the On-The-Spot Award, given to members whose recent accomplishments significantly impact society’s mission.

A member of the Afro-American Historical Genealogical Society since 2017, Campbell first joined the Charlotte Chapter before founding the Sandhills Chapter in Harnett County, where he served as its inaugural president. Today, he is an active member of the Raleigh Triangle Chapter, under the leadership of Wanda Cox Bailey.

Campbell’s impact extends far beyond chapter leadership. Over the last decade, he has become a sought-after presenter at local, regional and national conferences. His work has been featured on several local media outlets. In 2024, he earned the North Carolina Genealogical Society’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to North Carolina Genealogy, the highest recognition the organization bestows.

With more than 25 published genealogy books and nearly 130 unpublished family histories compiled from across North Carolina, Campbell has preserved invaluable records for future generations. He also maintains an obituary database of more than 8,000 entries from the Carolinas, a vital tool for researchers and families seeking to reconnect with their roots.

In addition to his role as a historian, Campbell has devoted over 20 years to education, serving as a teacher in the Harnett County School System at Lillington-Shawtown Elementary School. His dual passions for education and genealogy have shaped his mission to ensure African American stories are remembered, honored, and celebrated.

“Desi Campbell’s work is a reminder that family history is living history,” said Wanda Cox, the chapter president of AAHGS Raleigh Triangle Chapter. “His ability to merge technology, creativity, and scholarship makes genealogy accessible and exciting for all ages.”

As Campbell prepares to step onto the national stage this fall, his work continues to resonate — bridging past and present, and inspiring future generations to discover their own stories.

The Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. (AAHGS) is the premier national organization dedicated to preserving African American history, genealogy, and culture. With chapters nationwide, the society promotes scholarly research, fosters community engagement and encourages the preservation of family legacies.

Thanks to our partner Caswell County Public Library, we now have a wealth of family history and genealogy materials accessible online from their collection. The materials which range from large family trees to family history files, to published family histories can be found on DigitalNC here. For anyone doing family genealogy research and have Caswell County relatives or ancestors, the Library’s collection is a fantastic place to start. 

One of the more fascinating items we scanned for Caswell County was a set of very very large family trees, one of them over 4 feet long! The family tree is for the Descendants of Captain Robert Blackwell (1742-1813) and wife, Zillah Rice (1746-1818) through their son Carter Blackwell (1775-1835) and wife, Isabella Bracken (1779-1835). Robert Blackwell was a captain in the Revolutionary War and was a member of the NC House of Commons from 1796-1797. He owned 1,394 acres of land which was called “Stony Fork”, on Moon’s Creek in Caswell County.

To learn more about Caswell County Public Library’s local history and genealogy collections, visit their website here. To learn more about what they hold on DigitalNC, visit their partner page here.

A list of over 800 books translated from Ukrainian is now available for viewing. It includes works by Ivan Bahryany, Ivan Kotlyarevsky, Oksana Zabuzhko, Artem Chekh, Maria Matios, and other Ukrainian authors.

Users can filter publications by language and find literature available to foreign readers in their native language.

The writer and popularizer of the Ukrainian language Natalia Mysyuk, mentor and project manager Iryna Udovenko, as well as the staff of the Ukrainian bookstore in Prague "Vusa Shevchenko" took an active part in filling the database. The catalog of publications is being updated.

The database also contains books published thanks to the Translate Ukraine program, which the UBI has been implementing since 2020 to support translations.

The new tool will be useful to cultural and educational institutions, embassies, cultural centers, organizers of international events, libraries, bookstores, teachers, and reading promoters.

Forensic genealogists in the United States have solved one of the oldest criminal cases in the country’s history. Specialists identified the murderer of a 75-year-old double homicide using DNA samples.

New and Updated

New and Updated

I received some sad news today: the death of James L. Hansen, He influenced so many of our genealogical lives with his insightful lectures. His genealogical articles and editorial services were major contributions to the genealogical community.

James L. Hansen, age 76, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2025. He was born on October 3, 1948, the eldest son of Leonard and Theresia (St.Louis) Hansen of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin.

He acquired his BA from Marquette University in 1970 and his MLS from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1974. That fall he was hired as Reference Librarian by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Jim spent a wonderful 40 years answering questions, giving lectures (all around the country), writing genealogical articles and editing for several major genealogical journals. In 1995, Jim was named a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists, an organization limited to 50 members. He retired from the Wisconsin Historical Society in 2014.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jane (Johnson) Hansen and 2 sons, Ron and Dave of Madison; daughter-in-law, Ginger (Field) Hansen; and granddaughter, Daphne Hansen. He is further survived by his brothers, Tom (Nancy) Hansen & Ray (Cathy) Hansen of Turtle Lake & Steven Hansen of Duluth; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and youngest brother, Martin Hansen.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Ryan Funeral Home, 2418 N. Sherman Avenue, Madison. A visitation will be held from 5:00PM until 7:00PM on Friday, July 11, 2025 at the funeral home and again on Saturday from 10:00AM until time of service.

The family would like to thank Rebecca and Danielle from Agrace and Lakeisha and other staff from Cornerstone Caregivers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Jim’s name to Agrace Hospice, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI, or at agrace.org/donate, or to Wisconsin State Historical Society, attn: Joe Kollar, PO Box 260050, Madison, WI, 53726. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com