Megan Smolenyak
@megansmolenyak.com
Lifelong genealogist & stubborn solver of history mysteries. Don't try to hide from me. I *will* find you.
megansmolenyak.com
#genealogy #history #democracy
megansmolenyak.com
#genealogy #history #democracy
"Through 1950, census-takers commonly determined the race of the people they counted. From 1960 on, Americans could choose their own race. Starting in 2000, Americans could incl. themselves in more than 1 racial category. Before that, many multiracial people were counted in only 1 racial category."
The different race, ethnicity and origin category names in the U.S. census have often changed in a reflection of changing politics and public attitudes. Explore those changes, from the first census in 1790 to the latest count in 2020.
November 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Did you know that there's an Irish library - started with Princess Grace's personal collection - in Monaco? Had fun writing about it for Irish America (pages 66-68). ☘️
www.irishamerica.com/3d-flip-book...
www.irishamerica.com/3d-flip-book...
Fall 2025 Issue
www.irishamerica.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Did you know that there's an Irish library - started with Princess Grace's personal collection - in Monaco? Had fun writing about it for Irish America (pages 66-68). ☘️
www.irishamerica.com/3d-flip-book...
www.irishamerica.com/3d-flip-book...
Reposted by Megan Smolenyak
Imagine trying to convince someone a decade ago that this sentence would be a 100% literally accurate description of the American political situation.
The attorney general and the FBI director, a manosphere podcaster bro, pulled into the situation room a member of Congress best known for getting kicked out of a Beetlejuice musical for drunkenly giving her date a handy, in order to pressure her about the president's child sex trafficking scandal.
November 13, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Imagine trying to convince someone a decade ago that this sentence would be a 100% literally accurate description of the American political situation.
Reposted by Megan Smolenyak
My father was a twin. His brother was adopted by their grandparents. This means my father was both a twin and an only child.
Best part? Listening to my kids trying to explain it to other people.
#genealogy #parenting
Best part? Listening to my kids trying to explain it to other people.
#genealogy #parenting
November 13, 2025 at 2:28 AM
My father was a twin. His brother was adopted by their grandparents. This means my father was both a twin and an only child.
Best part? Listening to my kids trying to explain it to other people.
#genealogy #parenting
Best part? Listening to my kids trying to explain it to other people.
#genealogy #parenting
Reposted by Megan Smolenyak
Rep. Adelita Grijalva said two victims of Epstein's abuse were in the gallery to watch her be sworn in: Elizabeth Stein and Jessica Michaels.
"Justice cannot wait another day," she said, referencing the Epstein files discharge petition.
"Justice cannot wait another day," she said, referencing the Epstein files discharge petition.
November 12, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Rep. Adelita Grijalva said two victims of Epstein's abuse were in the gallery to watch her be sworn in: Elizabeth Stein and Jessica Michaels.
"Justice cannot wait another day," she said, referencing the Epstein files discharge petition.
"Justice cannot wait another day," she said, referencing the Epstein files discharge petition.
In this week’s roundup, my upcoming speaking event, genealogy news from New Jersey, a Veterans Day remembrance, the story of Irish soldiers who fought for America in WWI, and more.
megansmolenyak.com/genealogy-ro...
megansmolenyak.com/genealogy-ro...
Genealogy Roundup, November 12 - Megan Smolenyak
In this week’s roundup, my upcoming speaking event, genealogy news from New Jersey, a Veterans Day remembrance, the story of Irish soldiers who fought for America in World War I, and more.
megansmolenyak.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:11 PM
In this week’s roundup, my upcoming speaking event, genealogy news from New Jersey, a Veterans Day remembrance, the story of Irish soldiers who fought for America in WWI, and more.
megansmolenyak.com/genealogy-ro...
megansmolenyak.com/genealogy-ro...
Reposted by Megan Smolenyak
This is Goose. His stick didn't fit through the door at first. But Goose believed in himself, and more importantly, so did his doorman. 13/10 (TT: bigstickgoose)
November 12, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This is Goose. His stick didn't fit through the door at first. But Goose believed in himself, and more importantly, so did his doorman. 13/10 (TT: bigstickgoose)
November 12, 2025 at 3:24 PM
So weird to stumble across something written about yourself, but just found this about research I did a decade ago. Pertains to Irish soldiers who lost their lives in WWI serving for America. Bet lots more could be found on the topic now! #genealogy #VeteransDay
www.irishcentral.com/roots/histor...
www.irishcentral.com/roots/histor...
Remembrance Sunday: Nearly 1,000 Irish died serving US army in World War I
The number of Irish-born soldiers who died in World War I while serving the United States army is actually three times higher than previous estimates, according to genealogist Megan Smolenyak.
www.irishcentral.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:40 PM
So weird to stumble across something written about yourself, but just found this about research I did a decade ago. Pertains to Irish soldiers who lost their lives in WWI serving for America. Bet lots more could be found on the topic now! #genealogy #VeteransDay
www.irishcentral.com/roots/histor...
www.irishcentral.com/roots/histor...
Thinking of my grandfather, James V Shields, today and pulled up this letter he wrote home from France during WWI. Never spoke of his service in later days, so feel very fortunate to have this trace. He's the fellow standing in the middle in the photo. #VeteransDay
November 11, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Thinking of my grandfather, James V Shields, today and pulled up this letter he wrote home from France during WWI. Never spoke of his service in later days, so feel very fortunate to have this trace. He's the fellow standing in the middle in the photo. #VeteransDay
Can’t read this, but can get the gist from just the photo. Excellent idea to be borrowed elsewhere! #genealogy
What a great project! Lest we forget #FamilyHistory
November 11, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Can’t read this, but can get the gist from just the photo. Excellent idea to be borrowed elsewhere! #genealogy
Reposted by Megan Smolenyak
“So it was, on that misty morning, that Brenda set off for the capital. She knew not what she would find there, only that the time had come to move on - away from small-minded rural attitudes and people who called her ‘Oreo’ and ‘the wide panda’ - to seek a more fulfilling life.”
November 11, 2025 at 9:36 AM
“So it was, on that misty morning, that Brenda set off for the capital. She knew not what she would find there, only that the time had come to move on - away from small-minded rural attitudes and people who called her ‘Oreo’ and ‘the wide panda’ - to seek a more fulfilling life.”
Reposted by Megan Smolenyak
everything is bonkers right now and we need a timeline cleanse. let’s play a game. if I handed you a blank check but you could ONLY spend it on an Advent calendar, what absurdly pricy collection of little treats are you buying yourself?
November 11, 2025 at 5:02 AM
everything is bonkers right now and we need a timeline cleanse. let’s play a game. if I handed you a blank check but you could ONLY spend it on an Advent calendar, what absurdly pricy collection of little treats are you buying yourself?
Reposted by Megan Smolenyak
Read every word & share with everyone you know. This is real life here in Chicago. Americans need to know this grotesque reality & stand with us.
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 10, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Read every word & share with everyone you know. This is real life here in Chicago. Americans need to know this grotesque reality & stand with us.
WW1 losses astreetnearyou.org It maps the home addresses of those killed.
A Street Near You - exploring the local legacy of the First World War
A First World War legacy project bringing together data sources such as IWM's Lives of the First World War and Commonwealth War Graves records
astreetnearyou.org
November 10, 2025 at 11:21 AM
mystery solved in the most satisfying way
Loving today's news that the mysterious "fedora man" outside the Louvre heist was actually a 15-year-old museum visitor who dresses like a 1940s French detective all the time, just because. apnews.com/article/louv...
Fedora man unmasked: Meet the teen behind the Louvre mystery photo
Fifteen-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux has become an internet sensation after an Associated Press photo captured him outside the Louvre on the day of a crown jewels heist.
apnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:43 PM
mystery solved in the most satisfying way
Reposted by Megan Smolenyak
Thread
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Thread
Sam Sauvage - Les Gens Qui Dansent (j'adore) (Clip Officiel)
YouTube video by Sam Sauvage
youtu.be
November 8, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Reposted by Megan Smolenyak
Bc genealogy is a lot about politics-- bc family and family history is about politics. Alexis is a generous and sharp interviewer-- this was a lot of fun, and I'm grateful to her for doing it! A sinus infection and fumbling with my phone to record notwithstanding...
The wonderful @kawulf.bsky.social joined me yesterday to talk about Lineage, her new book. Hard to pick a favorite part buuuuuuuut I really loved when she indulged me at the end and walked us through the gorgeous cover. alexiscoe.substack.com/p/live-with-...
Live with Dr. Karin Wulf
A recording from Alexis Coe's live video
alexiscoe.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Bc genealogy is a lot about politics-- bc family and family history is about politics. Alexis is a generous and sharp interviewer-- this was a lot of fun, and I'm grateful to her for doing it! A sinus infection and fumbling with my phone to record notwithstanding...
Reposted by Megan Smolenyak
Raising a glass for Rosalind Franklin tonight. James Watson absolutely did her dirty.
But beware...
But beware...
November 7, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Raising a glass for Rosalind Franklin tonight. James Watson absolutely did her dirty.
But beware...
But beware...
November 7, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Since there are so many of them now, I thought it was time to learn more about billionaires.
Admittedly not genealogical (well, a touch when it gets into intergenerational wealth), but an eye-opening read nonetheless. 👀
Admittedly not genealogical (well, a touch when it gets into intergenerational wealth), but an eye-opening read nonetheless. 👀
November 7, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Since there are so many of them now, I thought it was time to learn more about billionaires.
Admittedly not genealogical (well, a touch when it gets into intergenerational wealth), but an eye-opening read nonetheless. 👀
Admittedly not genealogical (well, a touch when it gets into intergenerational wealth), but an eye-opening read nonetheless. 👀
Reposted by Megan Smolenyak
Happy Birthday to @lawrenceodonnell.msnbc.com 🎂🎉🎊
November 7, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Happy Birthday to @lawrenceodonnell.msnbc.com 🎂🎉🎊
Reposted by Megan Smolenyak
For almost four decades, Nancy Pelosi has served the American people and worked to make our country better. No one was more skilled at bringing people together and getting legislation passed – and I will always be grateful for her support of the Affordable Care Act.
November 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
For almost four decades, Nancy Pelosi has served the American people and worked to make our country better. No one was more skilled at bringing people together and getting legislation passed – and I will always be grateful for her support of the Affordable Care Act.