Thank you to the staff of Reunions Magazine for mentioning my website that focuses on kids and family history. It appeared in the Feb/Mar/Apr 2010 issue of Reunions magazine. The current issue is online through April 30, 2010. Click on the magazine cover on the home page to open the issue.

25 Nostalgic Photos Comparing Past to the Present | WildAmmo.com This online exhibit of before and after photos is wonderful. I've always wanted to do something like this. Feel inspired, please send me your example.

  I never imagined that hair history would be so interesting.  In the March/April 2010 issue of the DAR magazine American Spirit you can read about hair in the Revolutionary War period. You won't believe it!

Lisa Kudrow was on the Today Show the other day talking about the American version of Who Do You Think You Are, which premieres tonight on NBC. Meredith Vieira mentioned how the hosts of that morning show had traced their family trees. That short sentence, made me think about my involvement in one of those Today Show segments. I actually had two opportunities to work with Vieira's producers, first on The View and then again on The Today Show. In both cases, I was able to turn up new information on her family. It was a lot of fun and I got to work with some really nice folks. You can ...

So will this new series encourage millions more Americans to trace their roots? The answer is probably yes. Can't wait to watch it. A photo credit for this image would have been great. It features Josh Taylor of the New England Historic Genealogical Society sitting with Sarah Jessica Parker in library's 6th floor reference area. Celebrities root through family history - The Boston Globe

Here's a short article on a new book about Real Photo postcards. How fun! Luc Sante's "Folk Photography: The American Real-Photo Postcard 1905-1930" Boing Boing

I have big news!  I've spent months revising and updating my book Preserving Your Family Photographs and now it's finally available through my estore. It was a task that took a lot of time.  In this edition, I've included more information on digital imaging and preservation. There is new material in just about every chapter such as handling pictures and labeling techniques. Two conservators helped make sure I got it right.  Hope you like it!

The story of Annie Moore’s arrival at Ellis Island is a compelling one. She was the first immigrant to arrive on January 1, 1892. For the last several years, genealogist Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak has been researching and writing about Annie's life. You can read about Megan’s research in The Story of the First Through Ellis Island is Rewritten by Sam Roberts. In response to this article two relatives from different branches contacted Megan and asked if a photo they had seen at Ellis Island could be Annie. It depicts three children standing near a long spindled ...

Last night was so much fun. I was on a panel discussing the children's books that influenced our lives. Editor Anita Silvey featured me (along with 109 other folks) in her book Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Children's book. So, there I was on a podium with award winning children's author Lois Lowry (The Giver), New York Times bestselling author Anita Diamant (The Red Tent and The Last Days of Dogtown) and Carol Greenwald of WGBH who brought Arthur, Curious George and Martha Speaks to TV. Our assignment was to talk about how one book led to our career ...

You never know what you're going to find in a picture be it a photo or a painting. In this case, experts think they've found the oldest example of a watch in a painting of Cosimo I de Medici, the Duke of Florence. It was painted in 1560. What objects have you seen depicted in your photographs? Send me an email and let me know. var addthis_pub = 'photos';

I'm a foodie, albiet a wheat, dairy and nut free foodie, but one just the same. I love food and cooking so naturally I was drawn to the article in the Boston Globe on historic kitchens. Oh goody I thought. I've already visited a couple of the kitchens mentioned--the Gropius House and the Culinary Arts Museum, but I've added a couple to my list. Towards the end of the article was a mention of a traveling exhibition called America's Kitchens organized by Historic New England, that's declared this the Year of the Kitchen. I think it's time for a field trip to see the show! var ...

A couple of Saturday's ago armed with Netflix and a new wifi enabled Blu-ray DVD player I sat down to watch movies. My selection made my daughter roll her eyes--Breaking the Mayan Code based on the book by Michael Coe. It was totally fascinating. I had no idea that a set of photographs taken by Alfred Maudslay beginning in 1881 were key in solving the Mayan writing. He dragged large format cameras and glass plates to the ruins and took gorgeous images of the ruins. I highly recommend this documentary! var addthis_pub = 'photos';

This week I'm featuring the American Independence Museum in Exeter, New Hampshire. Visitors can tour their Ladd-Gilman House and the Folsom Tavern, but if you visit today you can hear me lecture on The Last Muster: Images of the Revolutionary War Generation. I'll be there at 1 pm. Sign up in advance if you're interested in a photo consultation. Anyone in attendance receives a pre-publication offer from Kent State University Press. You can pre-order the book for a special price. Hope to see you there! var addthis_pub = 'photos';

A recent sale of photograph's at Christie's auction brought in 7.5 million dollars. The items sold included a set of Edward Curtis photos of American Indians. If you've ever wondered how much a photograph in your collection was worth here's a few things to keep in mind. I'm not a photographic appraiser, but I've spent enough years as a curator and as a photo collector to have a general sense of value. Was your image taken by a notable photographer?A gorgeous daguerreotype by Southworth & Hawes is worth more than a carte de visite taken by a local studio. Is it unique? What type ...

While you can purchase a copy of Fashionable Folks through Lulu.com it is now available in bookstores. Here's a list for your convenience. New England Historic Genealogical Society. This is so new you need to call their toll free number for information. 1-888-296-3447 Jonathan Sheppard Books Maine Historical Society Newport Historical Society I'll lecturing and signing books there on February 18, 2010. Round Lake Bookstore in Charlevoix, Michigan 1-866-580-0607 var addthis_pub = 'photos';