Welcome to the Get a Clue Blog
Read articles about family history, ancestry, DNA, highlights from The Record Keeper, insights about genealogical research, and more.
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Make the World Go Away
My first book is a memoir about family, DNA, identity, secrets, Swedish heritage, and a few bizarre circumstances.
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How We Met: Part Ten
Part Ten of the story of how my husband and I started out. Engagement to marriage 2005-2006
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How We Met: Part Nine (The Proposal)
Part Nine of the story of how my husband and I started out. He proposed to me in Pittsburgh in December…
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How We Met: Part Two
Part Two of the story of how my husband and I started out. July 2000-August 2005
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The McDonald House Fire and the Mystery that Surrounds it All
Someday, I would love to say “Mystery Solved” when it comes to the unusual circumstances surrounding the death of a 41…
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Secret Sisters
Read a sample excerpt from The Record Keeper by Allison Lawrentz Barnhart, Chapter 10, “Secret Sisters.
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Tales of Three Stanleys: Stanley #1
Learn about Stanley Hoffman Sr., a crabber from Deal Island, Maryland who lived there from 1887-1971.
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Tales of Three Stanleys: Stanley #2
Learn about Stanley Hoffman Jr., a crabber from Deal Island, Maryland who lost his life at a young age.
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Tales of Three Stanleys: Stanley #3
In August of 1933 a damaging hurricane barreled through the mid-Atlantic states. Stanley Scroggs was 3 and this is the story…
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Working at the Crab House
Near and dear to the native Marylander is, of course, the crab. My grandpa spent a lot of his childhood visiting…
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Search Tips for Locating Ancestors
The thrill of the hunt draws many to genealogical searches, but mastering digital searching is key.
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Through the Looking Glass
Read a sample excerpt from The Record Keeper by Allison Lawrentz Barnhart, Chapter 8, “Through the Looking Glass”.
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A Kiss Will Drive Him From Your Mind
The story of Anna Scroggs and Leo Bonne in Baltimore, 1921. A murder, an assault, self-defense and justice. A wild family…
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Occupied
Our ancestors held some fascinating occupations. Some dangerous, some unhealthy, some surprising. Check census records and more to discover your family’s…
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5 Ways to Interview Your (Living) Relatives
Genealogists often focus on deceased ancestors, overlooking the importance of recording stories from living relatives. Interviewing family members can be done…
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Interview Your Dead Relatives: Using Your Senses to Unlock Your Ancestors’ Stories
Exploring family history can extend beyond genealogy to amateur anthropology by using the senses to connect with ancestors’ lives—through touch, sight,…
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Decisions, Decisions: Which of the Main DNA Testing Companies To Chose?
Which DNA test should you choose? Learn how to determine which is best for you and how you may be able…
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A Little Nostalgia About Grandparents
These are just some of the things I remember and some of the things I still get to enjoy about visiting…
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Counting Cousins, Removing Cousins
Curious about your family tree and those distant cousins you only see at reunions? Understanding counting cousins can unravel the intricate…
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Epigenetics & Generational Trauma in Family Trees: Part 2
The blog post delves into the complexities of nature versus nurture, discussing the impact of genetic memory and familial traits on…
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Epigenetics & Generational Trauma in Family Trees: Part I
Epigenetics involves behavioral and environmental influences on gene function, with reversible changes that don’t alter DNA sequences. The author reflects on…
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A Titanic Connection
A family connection to history, detailing my great-grandpa Frank Bowers’ ownership of a book on the Titanic, their grandma meeting survivor…
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Yours Very Sincerely, Sallie: An 1898 Love Letter from Coosa Creek, Georgia
The post shares a transcribed love letter from the author’s great-grandmother, Sallie Gillespie, to William Bowers from 1898 Georgia. Sallie expresses…
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Sly as a Fox
My great-grandmother Fox would ask about her husband’s parents, especially his father’s family but very short answers were given. “He was born…
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Uncovering the Truth About Your Ancestry and Family History Through DNA Testing: Part II
This post expounds on interpreting DNA test results, specifically shared matches and centimorgans (cMs), which indicate genetic relationships’ closeness. It addresses…
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Uncovering the Truth About Your Family History Through DNA Testing: Part I
Unlock the secrets of your ancestry and delve into your family’s history through DNA testing.
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The Tragedy of Michael Nevins: Part II
Tracing the Nevins family origins in England to their immigration on the S.S. Borderer to Boston, they faced hardships in America…
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The Tragedy of Michael Nevins: Part I
Michael Nevins just vanished from family history four years after marrying Ellen and having a daughter—my great grandma. So what really…
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Writing The Record Keeper
Publishing a first book, drawn from family history and personal discovery, evokes a mix of excitement and fear. Overcoming self-doubt and…
