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Latest Standard Edition Articles

  • Ancestry.com Seeks Relief in Trademark Infringement Lawsuit

    26 Jun 2025 4:56 PM | Anonymous

    Genealogy company Ancestry.com has filed a lawsuit in Virginia federal court accusing a rival domain of cyberpiracy and trademark infringement.

    “The owner of the domain name is using that domain name to resolve to a website that infringes the Ancestry Family of Marks,” counsel for Ancestry.com allege in the complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

    Debevoise & Plimpton represent the plaintiff and seek a court order transferring the defendant’s myancestryai.com domain name to Ancestry under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act.

    “In addition to expropriating Ancestry’s distinctive Ancestry Family of Marks, the offerings found on the www.myancestryai.com website feature a trade dress that is confusingly similar to the Ancestry Trade Dress, including a green color scheme and leaf logo,” according to the allegations in the complaint.

    Founded in 1983, Ancestry is a Utah-based privately held company that collects information found in family trees, historical records and DNA to help people learn more about their ancestral origins.

    The alleged cyberpiracy began in January when an unknown person or group based in Iceland concealed their identity using a privacy shield and registered the myancestryai.com domain name without authorization from Ancestry in violation of the ACPA statute 15 U.S.C. § 1125(d), according to the complaint.

    “The registrant is attempting to capitalize on the valuable goodwill of Ancestry for its own commercial gain and is infringing the distinctive ANCESTRY® mark in the process,” Debevoise partner Jonathan R. Tuttle and other counsel for the plaintiff alleged in the complaint. “Accordingly, Ancestry is entitled to the immediate transfer of the domain name.”

    My Ancestry AI uses artificial intelligence to scan digital portraits and provide customers with a personalized ancestry report within hours, according to its website.

    The defendant myancestryai.com did not respond to a request for comment on this article.

  • Signature Moments at the FDR Library

    26 Jun 2025 4:49 PM | Anonymous

    The following is an announcement written by the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

    During their extraordinary public careers, the Roosevelts interacted with a “who’s who” of the 20th century. Signature Moments: Letters From the Famous, the Infamous, and Everyday Americans, a special exhibit at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, NY, opening June 28, 2025, provides an insider’s view of the remarkable–and sometimes surprising–variety of personal exchanges the Roosevelts had with an amazing array of famous (and a few infamous) people.

    As a key part of the Roosevelt Library’s celebration of America250, the exhibit also features prize selections from FDR’s personal collection of historical documents of America’s Founders, including items signed by George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson.
    signature moments

    Portraits from a Presidency

    "Portraits from a Presidency," the newest temporary exhibit at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, AR, offers a poignant reflection on the Clintons' lasting impact on American history. Going beyond officially-commissioned portraits, the featured works include a variety of creative forms—paintings, sculptures, engravings, and photography—that show how artists from every walk of life portrayed the Clinton family.

    These unique works of presidential art will remain on exhibit through December 7, 2025. The Clinton Presidential Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. CT, and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. CT.
    portraits-presidency-framed

    From the Museum: Founding Fathers

    The massive oil-on-canvas murals in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building were painted by artist Barry Faulkner in 1935. Faulkner created allegorical scenes depicting the writing and adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. 

    Can you identify the men in the mural over the Constitution? Make your best guess and check your results! 
    faulkner_constitution

    “The Constitution” Mural by Barry Faulkner

  • Students Help ID John Doe as Indiana Man Missing Since 2022

    26 Jun 2025 9:55 AM | Anonymous

    Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) anthropology students and faculty assisted in the identification of human remains recovered from the Mississippi River in 2022, and worked with law enforcement to bring long-awaited closure to the case for a family in Indiana.

    The remains of an individual were recovered in June 2022 by the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office from the Mississippi River near Portageville, Missouri.Although forensic and DNA testing were done, the identity of the individual, who had been known as “Portageville John Doe” for two years, could not be confirmed. In 2024, New Madrid County reached out to Jennifer Bengtson, professor of anthropology at SEMO.

    The anthropology professor and her students assisted in the case, performing a comprehensive forensic evaluation of the remains, which led to an updated biological profile being generated, dental analysis being completed, and samples being selected for further DNA testing, which were sent to Othram, a forensic sequencing laboratory with a specialization in degraded DNA samples.While SEMO students worked to further refine the biological profile in order to narrow potential matches, Othram was able to build a comprehensive SNP profile with Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing and forensic genetic genealogy.

    The analysis was able to find a possible match: investigators were able to find and interview potential relatives who had posted online about a missing family member who fit the profile. Familial DNA testing was performed in April 2025 to confirm that the remains were those of Robert J. Eaton, 26, who had been reported missing from Elizabeth, Indiana in early 2022.

    “As always, we are honored to work with our law enforcement and laboratory partners to help bring resolution to another case,” Bengtson said. “Robbie's family finally has some answers and can now lay him to rest. But so many other families are still waiting for news on their own lost loved ones. By some estimates, there are up to 40,000 sets of unidentified human remains in this country. We'll keep working to help put a dent in that number.”

    Support for this work came from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and private donations to SEMO’s Forensic Anthropology Program. In a statement, the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office thanked SEMO for their assistance and time, and said that it has set a new standard for how future investigations will be conducted.

    “This case opened the door to new techniques that will change the way we investigate unidentified remains in New Madrid County,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Because of the tireless efforts of Dr. Bengtson and her students, a family that has been searching for their son for the last two years finally has closure.”

    Eaton’s family traveled to Missouri in May to pick up his remains and they also offered thanks to all of the individuals who assisted. The investigation into his death and disappearance continues.

  • New Database Provides Insights Into Black Americans Born Before Emancipation

    25 Jun 2025 8:24 AM | Anonymous

    Michigan State University’s “Enslaved: Peoples of the Historical Slave Trade” website released new information on over 2 million Black Americans born before emancipation who were recorded in the 1900 census. The new database will be used in future research and by the general public to learn more about their family history.

    In addition to researchers from Michigan State University, the team was also led by scholars from Georgia State University, Brigham Young University in Utah, and FamilySearch International, a nonprofit genealogical organization. While an exact percentage cannot be calculated, researchers estimate as much as 86 to 89 percent of the over 2 million Black Americans over the age of 45 counted in the 1900 census were enslaved before emancipation.

    This new dataset will enable numerous possible research applications.Containing multiple layers of demographic data for each individual, the database also includes links to original census images and family tree records.In addition, for over 1.7 million of the people in the dataset, a Family Tree Person ID link will take users to an ancestors page on FamilySearch. On that page, users can add in missing data along with historical record sources to flesh out each person’s history. Users who sign up for a free FamilySearch account also have the option to enter their own family tree data and determine if and how they are related to the formerly enslaved and free Black Americans.

    “Tracing people from the era of enslavement into the generations that followed emancipation presents exceptional challenges to descendants and researchers,” the project team writes. By assembling this rich demographic data on Black Americans born at or before the general emancipation period, the researchers hope to “establish kinship and community networks of foundational knowledge essential for unearthing earlier generations to reconstruct relationships between formerly enslaved people, their immediate kin, their descendants, and the communities in which they lived.”

  • Wallace State Genealogy Collection moving to Cullman County Museum

    25 Jun 2025 8:18 AM | Anonymous

    Wallace State Community College and the City of Cullman (Alabama) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will transfer the college’s Genealogy Collection to the Cullman County Museum, where it will be more available to those who wish to research family history, local and Cullman-area history.

    Ownership of the collection will remain with Wallace State, however, the partnership with the Cullman County Museum is a natural fit and fully supports both the college’s and museum’s missions. In addition to being located in the heart of Cullman, the move will also place the collection next to the Cullman County Public Library, which will allow researchers and the general public alike to access the City of Cullman’s extensive library resources.

    “This is a great opportunity to share our genealogy collection with the public and help preserve the history of Cullman County families and communities,” said Wallace State Community College President Dr. Vicki Karolewics. “We are excited to house this important collection in the center of our community.”

    Over the years, the Genealogy Collection has been carefully built by generations of librarians who have focused on gathering family histories, local records, photographs, books and periodicals, and other unique and rare materials in both printed and microfilm formats. The collection is a critical component in learning about the history and ancestry of Cullman County and the surrounding area. The partnership with the Cullman County Museum will be mutually beneficial, and by partnering with the Cullman County Public Library, the genealogy collection and rare documents will be easily accessible to anyone interested in family history and the local area.

    “The City of Cullman is excited to welcome the Wallace State genealogy collection to the Cullman County Museum,” said Mayor Woody Jacobs. “This collection is a wonderful resource that will help us all learn more about Cullman’s history and better understand the rich history of families and communities that live in and around Cullman.”

    As part of the MOU, the Cullman County Museum will act as the repository for the Genealogy Collection and ensure access to the public. Museum staff will be available to assist researchers and visitors in finding the materials they need, and Wallace State will provide guidance and curation of the collection. The Wallace State Library will remain open to the public until the collection is relocated, which is scheduled to take place during the 2025-2026 academic year.

    Hours of operation for the collection will be the same as the museum’s, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

  • National Archives to Display Rare Declaration of Independence-Related Documents

    25 Jun 2025 8:08 AM | Anonymous

    The following is an announcement written by the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

    Historical treasures will be displayed from July 3 to July 6; extended hours available

    WASHINGTON, June 24, 2025 – From Thursday, July 3, through Sunday, July 6, 2025, to celebrate Independence Day, the National Archives will display several historic documents related to the Declaration of Independence, including Richard Henry Lee’s June 7, 1776, resolution calling for independence and a July 5, 1776, original Dunlap Broadside first-edition printing of the Declaration of Independence.

    These five rarely-displayed documents–exhibited together for the first time ever–will be displayed alongside the original Declaration of Independence in the National Archives Rotunda as part of the newly-launched Opening the Vault exhibition series. 

    The National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, will be open for extended hours July 3 to 6 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m ET. Admission to the Museum is free. Timed entry tickets are encouraged but not required. Visitors are encouraged to go to visit.archives.gov to learn more about the museum experience.

    The special display will include:

    Richard Henry Lee was a Virginia Delegate to the Second Continental Congress. Lee introduced this resolution, which proposed independence for the American colonies. The Lee Resolution contained three parts: a declaration of independence, a call to form foreign alliances, and a “plan for confederation.” On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the first part of Lee’s resolution, leading to the issuance of the Declaration of Independence and the creation of the United States of America.

    This document records the proceeding in which the Continental Congress voted to declare independence. The words of the resolution are echoed in the Declaration of Independence. The bottom half of the document lists the 12 colonies that voted “aye;” the 13th colony, New York, abstained, awaiting approval to cast a vote from the newly elected New York Convention. 

    This is the first printing of the Declaration of Independence. After the Second Continental Congress voted for independence, the delegates tasked printer John Dunlap to print about 200 copies of the final text. Working through the afternoon and evening of July 4 and into the next day, these broadsides were quickly dispatched throughout the country. Now known as the “Dunlap Broadsides,” most of the 26 extant copies belong to institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom. 

    Numerous ceremonial copies of the Declaration of Independence were created in the aftermath of the War of 1812. In 1818, engraver Benjamin Tyler published his ceremonial engraving. He dedicated it to the Declaration’s principal author, Thomas Jefferson, and included an attestation by the acting Secretary of State Richard Rush, son of signer Benjamin Rush, that it was a correct copy. The National Park Service estimates that Tyler produced 1,700 copies. The National Archives has one copy of the Tyler Engraving. 

    During the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976, at the request of the National Archives, master printer Angelo LoVecchio at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing made a printing from William Stone’s 1823 copper engraving plate of the Declaration of Independence. This was the first use of the engraving plate since the 1890s, and the last print run ever made. LoVecchio made six impressions, five of which are held in the National Archives and one in Independence Hall in Philadelphia. 

  • Montrose Mansion Receives an Anonymous Donation

    25 Jun 2025 7:58 AM | Anonymous

    Curators with the Maryland Military Department’s Maryland Museum of Military History processed items donated by an anonymous source to be exhibited at the Montrose Mansion on Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Maryland on June 6, 2025. More than 40 objects of varying historical significance were curated, including furniture, china and silverware, paintings, music sheets and more.

    “This collection of items, many of which have a connection to Maryland’s storied families, was donated to help advance the Maryland Military Department’s mission of celebrating Maryland’s rich history and in honor of our incredible leadership of today and the Maryland National Guard and its service members who continue to stand watch, ready to protect and defend our freedoms,” said the anonymous donor.

    CFMR hosts several Maryland National Guard units, and the MMD is tasked with upkeeping its grounds and facilities. One of those facilities is the Montrose Mansion, a 19th century mansion purchased by the state of Maryland in the 1920s to be used as a juvenile educational facility. Today, the mansion is used to host events.

    “The items are true antiques, period antiques closer to the originals that would have actually been in the mansion, which lends a prestige to the whole operation,” said MMD’s Barbara Taylor, museum director, Maryland Museum of Military History. “Everyone thinks of the military as military uniforms, guns, and military protocol, but it has a softer side. They care about their history. And the fact that this was donated to the MDNG shows that they actually care about art and history of Maryland.”

    Donating antiques wasn’t the only thing the anonymous source had to offer the Montrose Mansion; they also provided their own interior design skills to help display the items.

    “It was a very different collection to handle only because it requires the additional need of decorating a house with pieces, which is completely different than decorating a museum,” said MMD’s Alexandra Reed, archivist trainee, Maryland Museum of Military History. “Thankfully, the donor had an idea of where to put certain things, which was very nice.”

    To go even further, the donor even appraised the artifacts.

    “The artifacts were incredibly well researched and delivered to us by the donor,” said MMD’s Richard Morain, museum volunteer, Maryland Museum of Military History. “They gave us an understanding of the provenance of exactly what it is we are working with, as well as the time period that it is from. And in some cases, they even gave us links to why certain pieces would be a good fit for the Montrose Mansion.”

    Reflecting on the impact of community support in local history, Taylor highlighted the importance of public generosity in preserving our heritage.

    “Museums and even the Maryland National Guard at large, in the case of the mansion, cannot exist without the generosity of the general public, especially those who recognize a need and address it,” said Taylor. “We are really indebted to those that are generous and care enough about their city, county, or state’s history to make sure that it is maintained.”

  • Uncovering America's Forgotten War With Newly Digitized Korean War Draft Cards

    24 Jun 2025 10:20 AM | Anonymous

    The following is a press release written by Abcestry.com:

    Seventy-five years after the start of the Korean Conflict, America’s “Forgotten War” remains just that: under-taught and often missing from the pages of U.S. history lessons. In fact, a new survey* from Ancestry reveals that 70% of Americans don’t know enough about the Korean War to explain it to someone, though 80% say they’d be more interested if they had a personal family connection. 

    Continued Partnership Brings Military Records to Light 

    Ancestry has collaborated with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to make important record collections searchable and viewable online for the first time. By digitizing these records, Ancestry customers can uncover critical pieces of their family's stories. This expansion continues a five-year commitment by Ancestry to digitize, catalog, and make available tens of millions of NARA records to the public.

    This joint effort has resulted in the online publication of two million newly digitized Korean War-era draft cards, spanning the years 1948 to 1959. Using advanced, proprietary AI handwriting recognition technology from Ancestry, this collection includes 2M more records from 17 states and territories featuring information like the names, birthdates, next of kin details, previous service information, and physical descriptions of men aged 18-25 who were eligible to be drafted for 21 months of military service (aligned with the Selective Service Act of 1948).

    The broader collection includes draft cards belonging to cultural luminaries such as baseball legend Yogi Berra, acclaimed actor Warren Beatty, and legendary musician Marvin Gaye. These records offer a rare look into the early lives of individuals who helped shape American culture – and remind us that behind every “forgotten” historical event is a real human story. 

    Those seeking to explore this historical period or trace their family's connection to the military can access the new collection on Ancestry with a U.S. Discovery subscription. Explore the expanded collection of Korean War Era Draft Cards to unlock meaningful family history discoveries.

  • Othram IDs the ‘Girl with the Turquoise Jewelry’ After Nearly 50 Years

    24 Jun 2025 10:15 AM | Anonymous

    In June 1979, an unknown female was found on an embankment between the Juniata River and the eastbound lanes of Route 22/322 in Watts Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania. The woman’s remains were estimated to be a white female aged between 15 and 30 years old with light brown to blonde, medium length hair. Investigators estimated that the victim was 5’6” tall and weighed 125 pounds. The cause of death could not be determined. However, investigators categorized the case as a suspicious death because of the circumstances of the find.

    The victim was found with multiple pieces of turquoise jewelry including a ring, necklace and a pair of earrings. 

    She also had an onyx ring and a ring with turquoise and onyx with probable Southwest Native American connections and probably coming from the New Mexico/Arizona area. The victim was buried at the time of her discovery.

    After more than 40 years, the investigation into the woman’s death was effectively stalled and the victim became known as “Perry County Jane Doe” and “Girl with the Turquoise Jewelry”.

    In 2008, the victim’s remains were exhumed so that DNA could be extracted from her remains. In 2009, the details of the unknown person’s case were added to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP5166. A forensic sketch was also created to depict what the victim may have looked like in life. In 2015, isotope testing by the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute provided further insight into the woman. The isotope testing showed that the victim had likely been in the Southwest United States in the months before her death and that her teeth suggested she likely grew up in the Great Lakes region, possibly in Southern Canada.

    In 2023, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Perry County District Attorney’s Office contacted Othram with the hope that the advanced DNA testing would provide enough evidence to identify the “Girl with the Turquoise Jewelry”.

    Othram scientists developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a DNA profile of the unknown woman. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile to start a genealogical search to generate new leads in the investigation.

    With the new evidence, a follow-up investigation was initiated. Investigators were led to potential relatives of the woman and the DNA profile of the Jane Doe was compared with the DNA profile of a potential relative. Othram’s KinSNP Rapid Relationship Testing confirmed the relation and helped the investigators identify the woman as Doris Joanne Girtz of Ravenna/Streetsboro, Ohio. Girtz would have been 23 years old when she disappeared.

    A portion of the costs associated with this case were funded by law enforcement with the remaining funds being crowd-funded by the public through a DNASolves crowdfund.

    The investigation into the circumstances of Girtz’s disappearance is ongoing and anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Pennsylvania State Police by calling 717-671-7500 and referencing case number H5-0149355.

    The identification of Doris Girtz is the 11th case in the State of Pennsylvania where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology from Othram.

  • National Archive News

    24 Jun 2025 10:08 AM | Anonymous

    The following announcement was written by thw (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

    America250 Film Screening

    Join the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, NY, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET, for the first program in its America250 Film Series: a screening of the Academy Award-nominated film 1776. The film is a musical celebration of the founding of the United States based on the award-winning Broadway production.

    Register online for your free tickets to this in-person event.
    roosevelts statue

    The Art of the Abolitionist Movement

    On Wednesday, June 25 at 6 p.m. CT, the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum will welcome Aston Gonzalez, Ph.D. to the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock, AR, for a conversation on his book, "Visualizing Equality: African American Rights and Visual Culture in the Nineteenth Century." The book details how daguerreotypes, lithographs, cartes de visite, and steam printing presses enabled artists to advocate for social reform, including the Abolitionist Movement.

    “Visualizing Equality" is one of two public programs being held in conjunction with the Arkansas Civic Education Institute, an annual week-long professional development opportunity for 4th-12th-grade teachers. These programs are the first in the Clinton Presidential Center Commemorates America250 series, which is dedicated to exploring the history of the United States

    Register here for your free tickets to this in-person event.
    abolitionist-june-25-eventbrite

    From the Stacks: Private Pagett

    Private Pagett was the Marine Corps bulldog mascot–his “fingerprints” are part of his Marine Corps Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). He was a gift from the Royal Marines of Great Britain, following the death of Sgt. Major Jiggs in 1927. Private Pagett enlisted on June 27, 1927, and represented the Marine Corps proudly until his death on May 5, 1928. 

    The National Archives at St. Louis also houses OMPFs for several other military mascots, including Marine Corps bulldogs Sergeant Major Jiggs I, Sergeant Major Jiggs II, Sergeant Major Jiggs III, Sergeant Jiggs IV, and Archibald Greenkins.
    privatepagett-ompf-photo

    A photograph of Private Pagett from his Official Military Personnel File. NAID: 405193918

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