Dr Cassidy’s success makes her the eighth researcher in Trinity’s Department of Genetics (School of Genetics and Microbiology) to secure a prestigious ERC award. Those eight individuals have secured a total of ten such awards between them.

Dr Lara Cassidy has secured European Research Council (ERC) funding of €1.5 million to lead a new Starting Grant research project, LIFETIMES, which will utilise thousands of ancient and modern genomes to tell the story of three medieval Irish communities, whose burial grounds remained in use for almost a millennium.

Building on key innovations in ancient DNA analysis, Dr Cassidy and her team aim to reconstruct a set of unbroken family trees, spanning dozens of generations. Such pedigrees can provide exceptional temporal resolution to the archaeological record – by situating individual burials within larger genealogies, a millennium of human history can be viewed as a series of interconnected lifetimes.

Medieval Ireland is the perfect setting to carry out such an ambitious project; it has a remarkably rich historical and archaeological record, as well as excellent ancient DNA preservation and the long-term local population continuity needed to carry out genealogical analysis at this scale.

Dr Lara Cassidy said: “I’m still pinching myself and feel truly honoured to have received this award. It is a dream to be able to carry out this research. We are only just beginning to appreciate the potential of genealogical approaches in ancient genomics and I am so excited to help push the field in new directions.”

“There is a lot of inspiring work happening at the moment, both in ancient DNA and archaeological science more broadly. This project builds on this momentum and I’m very grateful to my peers, mentors and collaborators.”

The genealogical approach taken in LIFETIMES will allow the researchers to follow individual communities across centuries of cultural and demographic transformation, opening up new windows onto the medieval world. They will explore how the life histories of men and women changed through the generations.

Genetic data inform on both mobility and reproductive behaviour, providing insights into systems of marriage, fosterage, inheritance and even political alliance and upheaval. The pedigrees will also be used to trace shifts in population health, from genetic disease risk to infectious diseases that leave behind their own DNA signature. The researchers are even hoping to catch some of the culprits behind infamous epidemics recorded in the medieval Irish Annals.

The team will then ask how these evolving community and life histories relate to the deeper demographic tides of the island. They will examine how changes in individual fertility, mobility and lifespan relate to broader patterns of population growth, decline and migration. In doing so, it will not only address longstanding issues within insular history (e.g. language dispersals, disease risk, past pestilence, gender dynamics) but provide fresh insights into the fundamental interactions between genes, culture and the environment.

Dr Linda Doyle, Provost & President, Trinity, said: “I want to offer my warmest congratulations to Lara. She has always been an amazing scientist and her research is absolutely fascinating, having already made international headlines on several occasions, appearing in Nature and The New York Times. Not alone is there rigorous academic research behind this particular work, there is also huge public interest. I am delighted it will be enabled to expand further with this ERC Starting Grant.”

Prof. Sinead Ryan, Dean of Research at Trinity, added: “I offer my warm congratulations to Lara on securing this prestigious ERC Starting Grant, which recognises both her exceptional talent and the originality of her research. The School of Genetics and Microbiology at Trinity College Dublin continues to attract and nurture the very best early career researchers in the field.”

The ERC, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. It funds creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based across Europe. The ERC offers four core grant schemes: Starting Grants, Consolidator Grants, Advanced Grants and Synergy Grants.

ERC Starting Grant awards support excellent Principal Investigators in starting their own independent research teams or programmes. These grants, which support five-year projects, are among the most sought-after and competitive in the world of research.

Since the inception of the ERC, Trinity has participated in 92 projects with a value of roughly €149 million. This new award will join 40 active projects hosted at Trinity, including Starting,Consolidator, Advanced and Synergy Grants. For more information on Trinity’s past and present projects, see ERC Awards at Trinity.

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

The “Greatest Generation” at the Ford Presidential Museum The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum is honoring the “Greatest Generation” at the Museum in Ann Arbor, MI, featuring a new, limited-time pop-up exhibit.  This exhibit, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Celebrates the Greatest Generation, runs until September 7, 2025, using original artifacts, photographs, and text to highlight military service, life on the home front, and presidents who served. Visitors will learn about President Ford’s Naval service, including his role as editor of the USS Monterey’s newsletter. A Navy mess table, made by Steelcase, will also reveal Grand Rapids’ surprising connection to the Japanese Instrument of Surrender.  This pop-up exhibit is free and open to the public in the Museum lobby. To learn more, visit the Ford Library and Museum website. A collection of some of the artifacts on display as part of Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Celebrates the Greatest Generation. (Courtesy of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum) The First Continental Congress and the Articles of Association The First Continental Congress met beginning September 5, 1774, in Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia, PA. 56 delegates from 12 colonies (Georgia was absent) assembled to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, the largest city in British North America at that time. While many major accomplishments came out of this Congress, including the passing of a Declaration of Rights against Great Britain, it also resulted in developing and establishing the Articles of Association, urging all colonists to boycott British goods- unless the British government rescinded the Intolerable Acts. Visitors to the National Archives Museum can see the original Articles of Association, on display as part of Opening the Vault, a new temporary exhibition series that displays some of the most historically valuable and iconic artifacts in American history for the first time in many years.  Click here to learn more about the First Continental Congress, or visit the National Archives Museum website to see the virtual exhibit for Opening the Vault: The Beginning of Our Union. Page three of the Articles of Association. NAID: 6277397 George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Kicks Off 35th Anniversary of Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-2025) Series On Thursday, August 28, the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum launched a series honoring the 35th anniversary of Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-2025).   The kick off event, “From the Abyss of War to the Bliss of Freedom,” featured a reception and program with former CIA intelligence executive Eman Blair. Blair shared her journey to become a proud U.S. citizen, following the leadership of President Bush that facilitated her family’s survival amidst the Iraqi invasion, occupation, subsequent liberation by coalition forces, and the rebuilding of Kuwait.  The 35th Anniversary of Desert Shield/Desert Storm series is free and open to the public. The next program will feature Ambassador Ryan Crocker on September 23, 2025. Click here to learn more about the events exploring various aspects of the conflict throughout Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.  Eman Blair speaking at the “From the Abyss of War to the Bliss of Freedom” program as part of the Desert Shield/Desert Storm 35th Anniversary Series at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Courtesy of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum)

In April 1998, the body of an unidentified Black female were discovered in Lake Ray Hubbard in Collin County, Texas. At the time of the discovery, the woman was wearing black Adidas jogging pants, gray socks, and black Adidas athletic shoes. The woman's height was estimated to be 5'7" and her weight was approximately 170 pounds. Her age could not be determined. With few leads to go on, the woman became known as Collin County Jane Doe. Details of the case were entered into National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP3612. A forensic sketch depicting the woman's likeness was developed and released to the public in hopes that it would generate leads about her identity. 

In 2024, the Collin County Medical Examiner's Office partnered with Othram to use Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® and forensic genetic genealogy to develop new leads in the case. Forensic evidence was delivered to Othram's laboratory where scientists successfully developed a DNA extract and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the woman. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a forensic genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the woman. A reference DNA sample was collected from a possible relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified woman using KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the woman, who is now known to be Penny Gunn, who was also known as Penny J. Morris, born in August 1962. Penny would have been 35 years old at the time that her body was found.

The investigation into Penny Gunn's last days and death continues. Anyone with information about Penny Gunn should contact the Dallas Police Department Cold Case Supervisor Sergeant Jeffrey Hunter at jeffrey.hunter@dallaspolice.gov or call (214) 671-3661.

A portion of Othram's casework costs associated with the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy completed in this case was contributed by donors through a DNASolves® crowdfund. We are grateful to everyone that helped crowdfund this case and other DNASolves cases. Remaining costs for the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy used in this case was provided by NamUs, a national program that assists the criminal justice community with the investigation and resolution of missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases across the United States and its territories. NamUs is funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and is managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International (RTI). Othram is grateful for the support of RTI, NamUs, and the NIJ.

The identification of Penny Gunn represents the 21st case in the State of Texas where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Texas cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

The Lorain County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society is welcoming Thomas MacEntee, as guest presenter for its upcoming meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 8.

MacEntee, author, educator, student, advocate, marketer, storyteller and entrepreneur, will show guests how to harness the power of artificial intelligence to assist in translating, transcribing and summarizing a variety of genealogy records, according to a news release. His presentation will cover the best AI platforms as well as how to craft a solid prompt to get you the results you need.

This free online Zoom program is open to the public. To receive the ZOOM link for the meeting, email meetings@loraincoogs.org.

The Utah 100 Award event is the first and best of its kind. We recognize Utah’s 15 largest revenue companies, 100 fastest growing, and a select list of newer, Emerging Elite Companies. This is MountainWest Capital Network’s flagship event, with over 1,000 business leaders in attendance.

The Top 15 Annual Revenue Companies are ranked according to the highest total dollar growth from last year. The Utah 100 Companies are ranked according to a weighted average calculation of percentage and dollar growth. Companies are only eligible to be included in 1 award category. First consideration will be given to the Top 15 Annual Revenue category

The following announcement was written by the BCG Education Fund:

The BCG Education Fund is pleased to announce our Fall 2025 Putting Skills to Work event which will be held virtually Saturday, 8 November 2025, beginning at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern) / 8:00 a.m. (Pacific) and ending at 7:00 p.m (Eastern)/4:00 p.m. (Pacific) including breaks. The cost to register is $95. Registration opens Thursday 4 September at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern)/ 9:00 a.m. (Pacific) at https://bcgedfund.org/putting-skills-to-work Attendance is capped at 60 attendees. The event will not be recorded or live-streamed.  Instructors: Carolyn Ladd, JD, CG, AG and Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, FUGA Detailed Workshop Description: Finding historical records about our families is just the first step to telling their stories fully and accurately. Genealogists and family historians must understand every word of those records in the context of the law that applied at that time and place. This workshop will guide participants through the skills of source citation, transcribing handwritten records, abstracting key details from those records, and analyzing the meaning of the records through the prism of the law with the aim of reconstructing a family’s history. Hands-on exercises in source citation, transcription, abstracting, evidence analysis and legal research and analysis will be key elements. Attendee Prerequisite Knowledge: None required. Pre-Workshop assignment: Students should carefully read the first two chapters of Elizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence Explained (3d edition, 3d edition revised, or 4th edition). Please note, this workshop is an updated version of the 2021 Putting Skills to Work workshop, “Understanding the Records, Understanding the Law” led by Stefani Evans, CG, and Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, FUGA. Instructor Bios Carolyn Ladd, JD, CG®, AG® holds a Certified Genealogist® credential from the Board for Certification of Genealogists® and has been accredited in African American genealogy by the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). She is a published author -- a book based on her Kinship Determination Project is in the FamilySearch Library. She is passionate about identifying ancestors, learning their stories, and preserving them for future generations. Carolyn is a practicing lawyer and works in-house at a Fortune 100 company. Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist®, is a genealogist with a law degree who provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. An internationally-known lecturer and award-winning writer, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer® from the Board for Certification of Genealogists® and is a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association. Her blog is at https://www.legalgenealogist.com.

It’s been a record-setting year at the Stratford-Perth Archives.

Staff and summer students have worked to preserve the region’s history while opening new avenues for public access. County council will hear the full update on September 4, when the latest activities report comes forward for review. Staff have already handled 1,357 queries this year as of mid-August. The requests came from municipal governments, local organizations, the media, and residents searching for family history. 

This summer proved especially productive thanks to two student employees, Rory Drygas and Ashley Staines, who helped expand drop-in hours to Saturdays and tackled digitization projects. Between May and mid-August, the pair scanned more than 40,000 newspaper pages from nearly 5,000 issues, setting a new seasonal record. 

Beyond digitization, the archives accepted 42 donations of records in 2025, including Rotary Club of Stratford documents, Women’s Institute programs, and a collection of historic photographs from the Adolph family of Listowel. Staff also completed their annual inspection of more than 12,000 archival boxes, cleaning and checking for mould or pests. Only one box required minor follow-up.

The archives also took part in Stratford’s “History Alive” cultural pop-up event in July, where staff showcased local history through photographs and displays. Roughly 150 people visited their booth in just a few hours.

County council will be asked to receive the report and forward it to the municipal shared services committee meeting on September 18.

Washington County was established in 1777 as part of North Carolina. This vast area, designated as the Washington District, stretched well beyond today’s county borders. In later years, the area became known by various names: State of Franklin, Southwest Territory, and in 1796 part of a new state named Tennessee. Over the years, this larger area has been divided into multiple counties. However, we all have a shared heritage of hard-working, resilient, patriotic, and industrious people who built amazing mountain communities.

The Jonesborough Genealogical Society, in partnership with other regional heritage organizations, will host the 6th Annual Heritage Fair on Saturday, September 6th, 2025, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The Annual Heritage Fair’s purpose is to bring local heritage to the public through various regional heritage related groups gathering for a common cause. This event has multiple aspects that when brought together offer an engaging and educational experience for all ages.

For more information, look at https://www.jgsoftn.org/annual-heritage-fair. 

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.
 
Gary’s enthusiasm for Jewish genealogy coupled with his technical skills as a computer software pioneer led to the creation of many genealogical innovations such as JewishGen’s Family Finder and the Daitch-Mokotoff Soundex system. 
 
His vision and drive took him into the world of communications as both an author and as publisher of the journal Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy. 
 
Gary also served in leadership roles for JewishGen, the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). In 2006, FGS honored him with its Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Humanitarian Ward and APG, in 2008, granted him an Honorary Life Membership. 
 
Gary opened the door to genealogy research for many in the Jewish community through organized trips to the FamilySearch Library and the Arolsen Archives. His passion for genealogy ignited that passion in others as well.
 

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.