Graveyard Gossip

February 2025: January Redux (because the universe had other plans)

Feb 03, 2025

February 2025 is upon us, and boy do I hope and pray it’s much kinder than January.

My name is Aryn. I'm a genealogist and researcher working to help others learn more about their family history, the social history of the world those ancestors lived in, and how to use this knowledge to shape well-rounded, true stories about those who came before us. To learn more about this Substack and my love of history, family history, and genealogy – head here!

The Focus of February is still — Revolutionaries, Rebels, & Family History

Last month, I posted about Emma Goldman—anarchist extraordinaire—and Jean Seberg—actress and civil rights supporter. Both were revolutionaries and rebels in their own right, and their stories are examples of lives that can only be fully understood by using outside-the-box research ideas and avenues to provide additional research into our family history.

Not all of our relatives were shackled to social norms, which is critical to remember as we research. We need to dive into the history of our ancestors with an open mind. That way, when we examine and inspect the information we unearth in documents, newspaper clippings, and other valuable sources for family history research, we do so without preconceived notions or prejudice.

“A genealogist’s toolkit is like the soft brush of an archeologist that can unearth remarkable connection.” -Barbara at Projectkin

Coming in February: The life of Gabriel Prosser and how to utilize different sources to build the family history of your enslaved relatives, including the 10,000 Names Project launched last year.

drawing of Gabriel Prosser via African American Registry

Born an enslaved man in Henrico County, Virginia, Gabriel was a blacksmith on the plantation owned by Thomas H. Prosser. He also organized an attack on his and other enslavers, but when weather and a few fellow enslaved people betrayed him, Gabriel's plot was thwarted.

Research Tip:

Tips for Tracing Your African American Ancestors. While heritage DNA is always an option, it may not be something you want to do or can afford to do. So try this instead.

Check out CAAD - The Collaborative Archive from the African Diaspora. While the project ran from 2010 to 2013 — you can explore the archives on the Internet Archive.
Cornell University Library — Genealogy: Finding your Ancestors Online: African American. Cornell University offered “how to” resources for online researchers. It includes links you may already know like FamilySearch and Ancestry, but they also have information on the US Black Heritage Project on Wikitree and more.
If you’re wanting to do your own research on Gabriel Prosser, be sure to visit — the Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia. They house the Gabriel’s Conspiracy Collection that has trail transcripts and other documents dealing with his plan to rebel.

Need help researching your family history? Schedule a consultation today!

UPDATE: Los Angeles — a Fire Story —

I'm sure you have heard about the fires that have consumed parts of California this past month. It has been all-consuming, and to be honest, the aftermath of the fires is still daunting. If you live in the Los Angeles area, you more than likely know someone who lost everything, which is why I propose the idea of starting a group or a network of genealogists and family historians interested in helping people affected by the fires (or by any of the other disasters) that have robbed them of their family history.

The FAMILY ROOTS RECOVERY PROJECT will start on Reddit. I plan to look into other free sites to set up a group for those affected by the fires and other disasters to interact with. Let me know if you have any suggestions or would like to pitch in and help!

Other Genealogy News in the month of February

I’ll be hosting a workshop in February! From Research to Novel: Writing Creative Nonfiction with Genealogical Research will be available via GenStack: Coterie. You can check out Coterie by following this link to learn more about what they do and how to sign up for the workshop.

What’s Coming Next?

Over the next month or two I will be dedicating more time to my YouTube station. If you haven’t already followed me over there — you can do it right now!

If you follow me on TikTok — I am no longer active. Apologies. I deleted the app and it is no longer available. For quick “how to” tips and free resources — follow me on Instagram, Bluesky, or here on Substack!

Also: Join my Chat or follow my Notes for updates!

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Available in the Substack app and on web

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More News!

COMING IN APRIL: Keep an eye out for a FREE Webinar via the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. More on that soon!

Genealogy News

Dutch Genealogy News!! In the month of January, new records from Overijssel and Zeeland in the Netherlands were digitized and made available online — including birth records and historical government documents! Head over to DutchGenealogy.nl to learn more.
RootsTech 2025 Registration is open! RootsTech is the world’s largest genealogy event and is scheduled for March 6-8 in Salt Lake City, UT. I’m sad I won’t be attending live this year, but it’s good to know you an also attend online! One of this years keynote speakers is Ndaba Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela and author of the book, Going to the Mountain.
AI is continuing to dominate and reshape the world of Genealogy. Last year at RootsTech FamilySearch announced advancements in AI for reading old handwriting and indexing historical records — which they continue to move forward with. Also, check out, “AI Genealogy Do-Over,” from AIGenealogyInsights.com to learn more about using AI to help better understand the pros and cons of using AI in your genealogy research.
The Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural and Welcome Center is hosting a Cherokee specific Genealogy event. It will be held at the Anna Mitchell Cultural and Welcome Center in Vinita, Oklahoma on February 15. To learn more head over to the Visit Cherokee Nation website. Can’t make it to the in-person event but want to know more about researching your Cherokee heritage? Check out the Cherokee Heritage Center, which offers help with Cherokee Genealogy Research.

Genealogical Research Concierge Service - Designed to be cost-effective, the Genealogical Research Concierge Service allows me to work alongside you on a specific research question.
*NEW* Genealogy Coaching - Coaching service designed to assist you when you need practical advice, but don’t want to hire a genealogist full time.