Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak’s Roots World

Love this review of Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing. She sure has my number!
Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing, Megan Smolenyak

Part 3 in series:
Michelle Obama's Ancestors: The Great Mixing

'Who Do You Think You Are?' EP Lisa Kudrow Reveals Her Dream Stars for the Series

‎7 states lag on death reporting 
Nation's system for electronic tracking of deaths has gaps, experts testify -- Federal Computer Week

Pls join me at B&N in Philadelphia, Cherry Hill, Bethesda & McLean this wk & next: 
Megan's Calendar-Genealogy expert, speaker and author of 'Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing'

Vote for the best idea! 
Unexpected Ways To Find Your Ancestors

Calling all genealogists. This is important! 
Please sign this petition to help protect the SSDI

As a Smolenyak who married another Smolenyak, I'm probably not allowed to make jokes, eh?
Iceland Is So Inbred It Needs a Website to Avoid Incest

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: LaVaughn Johnson 

Instructions are at http://fgs.org/pdf/rpac_petition.pdf

For Immediate Release
February 7, 2012

RPAC ANNOUNCES STOP ID THEFT NOW! CAMPAIGN WITH WHITE HOUSE PETITION

Genealogy Community Responds To Efforts To Remove Access to Social Security Death Index and Other Records

February 7, 2012– Austin, TX: The Records Preservation & Access Committee (RPAC) – a joint coalition of international genealogical societies representing millions of genealogists and family historians – announces the launch of its Stop ID Theft NOW! campaign with its We The People petition posted at WhiteHouse.gov.

Call To Action For IRS To Do Its Job

Each year, fraudulent tax refund claims based upon identity theft from recently deceased infants and adults are filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The current target is the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) or Death Master File since this file, as found on numerous genealogy-oriented websites, could possibly be the source of identity thieves acquiring a deceased person’s Social Security number.

The IRS could close the door to this form of identity theft if, in fact, it were to use the Death Master File for the purpose for which it was created: to reduce fraud. If returns claiming a tax refund were screened against the Master Death File and matching cases identified for special processing, the thief should receive a rejection notice for the filing.

Tax Fraud and Identity Theft: Genealogists Are Not To Blame

The House Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Social Security is proposing to completely shut down use of the SSDI by genealogists as well as other industries such as banking and insurance that rely upon its information. Such an attempt is short-sighted and runs counter to the original purpose of the SSDI: to actually combat fraud.

Loss of Access to SSDI Affects More Than Genealogists

The SSDI is accessed by many different companies, non-profits and other entities besides individuals researching their family history. Forensic specialists utilize the SSDI when reuniting remains of military veterans with their next-of-kin and descendants. Law offices, banks and insurance companies utilize the SSDI to resolve probate cases and to locate heirs.

All of these entities would be required to spend more money and more time leveraging other resources of information when the SSDI has served this purpose, uninterrupted, for over a decade.

RPAC Petitions Obama Administration

The We the People petition, now posted at http://wh.gov/khE and accepting signatures, has a simple yet effective mission:

Take immediate steps that would curtail the filing of fraudulent tax refund claims based upon identity theft from recently deceased infants and adults.

No need for lengthy hearings in front of a Congressional committee. No need for filing statements for or against any House action. No need to waste time and effort which could be directed to more pressing national issues. In fact, the National Taxpayer Advocate in 2011 issued suggestions which do not require additional legislation but can be implemented collaboratively between the IRS and Social Security Administration (SSA) almost immediately in time to impact the current tax filing season.

About Records Preservation & Access Committee (RPAC)

The Records Preservation & Access Committee (RPAC) was formed to advise the genealogical community on ensuring proper access to historical records of genealogical value in whatever media they are recorded, on means to affect legislation, and on supporting strong records preservation policies and practices.

The genealogical community works together through The Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC), which today includes The National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) as voting members. The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG), the American Society of Genealogists (ASG), ProQuest and Ancestry.com serve as participating members.

To learn more visit http://www.fgs.org/rpac/.

#####

Contact:       RPAC
c/o Federation of Genealogical Societies
PO Box 200940
Austin, TX 78720-0940
phone: +1 (888) 347-1500
fax: +1 (866) 347-1350
publicity@fgs.org

March 15, 2012 - New York, NY - The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society - "Hey, America, Your Roots are Showing" - 36 W. 44th Street, 7th Floor - 5:30 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

View Megan's full speaking schedule.

Hey Everyone, I'm really excited to share my new website,www.megansmolenyak.com, and this video book trailer (my first!) about my new book, "Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing," which will released on January 31st. I'd love to hear your reactions, and if you like what you see, I'd be very grateful if you'd share this with your genealogical friends! Thanks so much!

Video and links:
Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: The First Lady’s Multicultural, Great Migration Past

Phew! Kirkus Reviews, which proudly declares itself to be "The World's Toughest Book Critics," likes my new book!
HEY, AMERICA, YOUR ROOTS ARE SHOWING

"In this breezy narrative, Smolenyak allows us to look over the shoulder of a relentless genealogist as she works the puzzle pieces of her craft. Whether unearthing evidence from Internet databases, newspaper offices, court houses, libraries and cemeteries, consulting translators, historians or her vast network of fellow genealogists, pioneering the use of genealogical DNA testing, solving the mystery or occasionally hitting a brick wall, Smolenyak remains wholly committed, curious and cheery, eager to share her methods and excitement. Bottom-up history from a top-shelf researcher."

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: Chicago Beginnings

"Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing" Available Today!

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: The Great Migration

Sopranos star visits Cornwall to trace family roots

Keyboard pants - you know you want 'em
Keyboard Pants - ReflectionOf.Me

Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing Barnes & Noble Events (& info for Nook owners)

Hey Everyone,

I've got book signings coming up in the next couple of weeks at Barnes & Nobles in PA, NJ, MD and VA. One of the questions I've been asked is about Nook owners - how can I sign for them? Well, I've got a stash of book covers - just the cover to Hey, America, Your Roots Are showing with no insides. So if you come to one of my signings and can show me the book on your Nook or download it while there, I'll sign one of those covers for you. Sound good?!

Please do me a favor and tell any of your history buff, mystery-loving, and of course, genealogical buddies about these events!

Thanks!

Megan

FEBRUARY 7, 2012
Philadelphia, PA
Barnes & Noble
"Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing" Book Signing
1805 Walnut Street

FEBRUARY 9, 2012
Cherry Hill, NJ
Barnes & Noble
"Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing" Book Signing
911 Haddonfield Road

FEBRUARY 15, 2012
Bethesda, MD
Barnes & Noble
"Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing" Book Signing
4801 Bethesda Avenue
7:00 pm

FEBRUARY 16, 2012
McLean, VA
Barnes & Noble
"Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing" Book Signing
7851L Tyson's Corner Center
7:00 pm

I'm so excited to announce that today is the official birth day of my new book, Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing! It's a collection of my favorite investigatory romps from the past decade (check out what Ken Burns, Stephen Colbert and Kirkus Reviews had to say) and I invite you to watch my first ever book trailer video to get a taste!

I'd love to hear your reactions and would be especially grateful if you could share your comments with fellow genealogists, history buffs, and mystery lovers, as well as post reviews on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. "Likes," Tweets and retweets, +1s and so forth also much appreciated.

Finally, I'd also love it if you'd consider joining me at one of my upcoming events in NJ, PA, MD, VA, AZ, TX, OH, IN, CA and even online (thanks to Legacy Family Tree) – and please let your genealogical buddies know, too! The book, video and my speaking schedule are all available on my freshly hatched website, MeganSmolenyak.com.

 

Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing

Part forensic scientist, part master sleuth, Megan Smolenyak² has solved some of America's oldest and most fascinating genealogical mysteries. You've read the headlines, now get the inside story as the "Indiana Jones of genealogy" reveals how she cracked her news-making cases, became the face of this increasingly popular field—and redefined history along the way.

How did Smolenyak² discover Barack Obama's Irish ancestry and his relation to Brad Pitt? Or the journey of Michelle Obama's family from slavery to the White House? Or the startling links between outspoken politicians Al Sharpton and Strom Thurmond? And why is Smolenyak²'s name squared? Test your own skills as she reveals her exciting secrets. Whether she's scouring websites to uncover the surprising connections between famous figures or using cutting-edge DNA tests to locate family members of fallen soldiers dating back to the Civil War, Smolenyak²'s historical sleuthing is as provocative, richly layered, and exciting as America itself.

"Watch out Watson and Crick! Megan Smolenyak decodes our
fascinating, complicated past in this tour de force of detective work."
— Ken Burns

"Thank you for taking the time to lay out our family map...
You're practically family. You certainly know more about us than we do."
— Stephen Colbert

"This splendid book makes genealogy come alive in the most vivid and compelling manner."
— from the Foreword by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

"Megan is a genealogist's dream, a forensic investigator who can also tell a great story."
— Sam Roberts, The New York Times

"Megan is a blessing to cold-case detectives and a master genealogist."
— Julie M. Haney, Special Agent, NCIS Cold Case Homicide Unit

"Megan . . . is, hands down, America's greatest genealogist, and this book is proof of it."
— Andrew Carroll, editor of the New York Times bestsellers War Letters and Behind the Lines

"The Indiana Jones of genealogy...Megan Smolenyak is a national treasure."
— Buzzy Jackson, author of Shaking the Family Tree

"Megan Smolenyak is the genealogist's genealogist - the go-to person for building
your family tree and solving stubborn historical mysteries."
— Dr. Spencer Wells, Director of the Genographic Project, National Geographic

"In this breezy narrative, Smolenyak allows us to look over the shoulder of a relentless genealogist as she works the puzzle pieces of her craft. Whether unearthing evidence from Internet databases, newspaper offices, court houses, libraries and cemeteries, consulting translators, historians or her vast network of fellow genealogists, pioneering the use of genealogical DNA testing, solving the mystery or occasionally hitting a brick wall, Smolenyak remains wholly committed, curious and cheery, eager to share her methods and excitement."
— Kirkus Reviews, "Bottom-up history from a top-shelf researcher"

Several years ago, I conducted extensive genealogical research into the heritage of Michelle Obama.  A few of my discoveries – particularly those pertaining to the Shields branch of her family tree – made news a couple of years ago, but there’s much that I’ve never shared, so I’ve decided to blow the dust off of a video I made back in August 2009.

This is a simple, homemade video – a narrated PowerPoint – and subsequent research has revealed more than what’s included here (for more insight, please read this recent, seven-part series and/or the “Finding Melvina” and “Road to a First Lady’s Roots” chapters of my book, Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing), but I hope you’ll enjoy this overview of the remarkable family history of our First Lady.

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: Chicago Beginnings (part 1)

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: The Great Migration (part 2)

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: The Great Mixing (part 3)

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: LaVaughn Johnson (part 4)

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: Fraser Robinson (part 5)

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: Rebecca Jumper (aka Coleman) (part 6)

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: Purnell Shields (part 7)

     

3rd in a series about the First Lady's roots:
Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: The Great Mixing

Martin Sheen first up on #WDYTYA - Ireland & Spain.
Listings - WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? on NBC | TheFutonCritic.com

Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: LaVaughn Johnson

Love this!
There's no place like home... for 100 years: Centenarian lives in the house where she was born

If you're in PA, NJ, or the DC/VA/MD area, please come join me at B&N in early Feb!
Calendar - Speaking Engagements - Genealogy expert and author Megan Smolenyak

‎5th in series about the First Lady's roots:
Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: Fraser Robinson

Men of the USS Monitor: Daniel Moore, African American Sailor and Hero

OK, I'm seriously curious! What's the new product?
brightsolid Sponsors RootsTech 2012, 2-4 February - Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

Any Civil War buffs out there?
USS Monitor - Videos, Articles and Resources

Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: Rebecca Jumper (aka Coleman)

Preview the Stories from Season 3!

Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: Purnell Shields

This is the seventh in a series about the ancestry of the First Lady. The previous segments can be found here:

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: Chicago Beginnings (part 1)

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: The Great Migration (part 2)

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: The Great Mixing (part 3)

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: LaVaughn Johnson (part 4)

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: Fraser Robinson (part 5)

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: Rebecca Jumper (aka Coleman) (part 6)

Like his future wife, Michelle’s maternal grandfather, Purnell Nathaniel Shields, arrived in Chicago as a youngster.  He was the second of three children born in Birmingham, Alabama to Robert Lee and Annie Shields, but before his tenth birthday, both his father and younger sister would be out of his life.  In the early 1920s, his mother Annie married a man named Frank Coleman and joined the northward trek, bringing her children with her. 

Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Purnell was a carpenter, but finding difficulty securing construction jobs, he spent much of his life churning through an impressive array of positions including laborer in a syrup factory, turntable engineer for the Northwestern Railroad (that is, one of the fellows who changed the directions of trains to make return journeys), relief worker for the city, garment worker, and building decorator.

Even though Purnell’s father, Robert, was a bit of a mystery man, more is known about the Shields branch of Michelle’s family tree than any other.  Robert’s father, Dolphus Theodore (or D.T. as he preferred to be called), was married four times (partly because he outlived several wives).  Robert was D.T.’s third child from his first marriage to Alice Easley.  He would also be the last one born in Georgia before the family moved to Birmingham.

D.T.’s mother, in turn, had begun her life in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  Born into slavery, Melvina was sent south to Georgia upon the death of her first owner, David Patterson (read more about this in the “Finding Melvina” chapter of Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing).  Shocking as it sounds to us today, his estate assigned her a price tag of $475 and doled her out to David’s daughter, Christianna Shields, to help ensure that all of his children would receive an inheritance of roughly equal value.  It was in Georgia that she encountered the white man who would father at least four of her children, including Dolphus. 

In spite of his white father, Dolphus was also born into slavery.  Like his mother who lived nearly a century, he enjoyed a generous life span of 91 years – long enough to witness the initial stages of desegregation and just 14 years shy of Michelle’s birth.  Known to be an optimist in matters of race, D.T. lived in hopeful expectation, but even today, it’s stunning to think that the life of this one-time slave overlapped with that of his great-granddaughter, Marian, who now resides in the White House.

(to be continued)