Holly Sammons
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hollys.bsky.social
Holly Sammons
@hollys.bsky.social
Librarian who no longer works in a library. Professional genealogist. Intersectional feminist.
https://letterboxd.com/hollysammons/
IYKYK
November 4, 2025 at 5:57 PM
St. Patrick's Church, Syracuse. The lit steeple at night dominates the neighborhood sky. Not far from my current residence. #steeplesaturday
October 25, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Alma Mahler's obit is... I have no clue how to describe it.
nyti.ms/4gVt1sU
September 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
St. John's Episcopal Church, Johnstown, NY Built in 1837, the third building for this congregation. It was such a grey, rainy day (Thursday) when I took the photo. An amazing edifice.

#steeplesaturday
September 27, 2025 at 6:41 PM
AI can be so amusing. Prompted to transcribe a section of a will and make a table with people named in the will and their relationship to the deceased, ChatGPT gave me this. Good to know about the god part. #genealogy
July 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Interesting side note - a 1920 manuscript titled "Cayuga Co., New York; Cemetery Inscriptions," held at the FHL, in Salt Lake City, the authors recorded his place of birth as Batavia but the stone clearly says he died at Batavia. This transcription too: cayuga.nygenweb.net/cem/cem118.htm
July 13, 2025 at 10:05 PM
When you FindAGrave photo but part of the image is cut off - sometimes I request a new photo but I always wonder why the volunteer didn't take a picture of the entire stone? Image is very readable but part of the bottom is missing. Time for a road trip.
#genealogy
July 13, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Transcribing a will for the Conquest Centre OPS, John I. Wilson (1841-1868)spells out what he wants done w/ his pictures, maps & books - comprising his library. He seemed to anticipate possible disagreement. I've never seen that in a will before; I kinda love John
#genealogy #oneplacestudy #library
July 11, 2025 at 12:05 AM
This might be a bit hokey but I rely on these tricks when I struggle to remember which word(s) is correct. One example, immigrate vs. emigrate. My trick?

#genealogy #writing
July 3, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Why isn't this streaming everywhere? or anywhere?
📽️🍿🏳️‍🌈🎥
June 26, 2025 at 11:01 PM
This was a label inside a book showing 3 different library classification systems: the first referred to a place on a shelf, second is Dewey, and final was our inhouse system, Mundy, created by Dr. Ezekial Mundy to accommodate a growing genealogy collection. 📚
June 14, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Luckily this was a duplicate scan. Over the years I've seen these sort of errors mostly on microfilm. Sometimes they can be amusing, but too often it's an impediment to see the original image.
#genealogy
June 9, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Another 2nd great grandfather, Francois Xavier Laforce enlisted in 1862; died 25 Sept 1864 from injuries he received at the second battle of Winchester. He was shot in the head. Burial place unknown. He was 24 y.o. an immigrant from Quebec, a farmer; left a widow, Flavie Filion and a 2 y.o. son.
May 25, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Willard C. Joslin, my gg grandfather enlisted Sept of 1861 in Conquest, NY Sept. 1863 he was captured at Sabine Pass. When released he walked home 1500+ miles, severely damaging the soles of his feet; he suffered the rest his life from the injuries. I can't imagine any of it. #MemorialDay #genealogy
May 25, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Reformed Church of Shawangunk, Wallkill, NY
Built 1752-55, oldest still in use among Reformed Church congregations in America.

1st photo taken 1948 by Emma Dewitt, held at Elting Memorial Library, New Paltz, NY Online: nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...

#steeplesaturday #genealogy
May 24, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Two out of the four were standouts.
#letterboxdfriday 📽️
May 23, 2025 at 1:17 PM
The Fourth Presbyterian Church in Syracuse New York was built in 1873 and sat on the corner of W. Onondaga and S. Salina Streets. This photo was taken in 1928 by Theodore H. Schuelke. The church building no longer exists.

#steeplesaturday
May 17, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Friedens Church in Syracuse, NY founded by German immigrants in 1900. Closed in 2011. Building is still located there on the corner of Lodi and Ash streets.

#steeplesaturday
May 11, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Plymouth Congregational Church in Syracuse, N.Y. once a stop on the Underground Railroad.

#steeplesaturday
May 3, 2025 at 9:36 PM
I will never cease to be amazed and annoyed when I find an obituary or death notice for a woman and her name was not recorded, instead like this one she was "wife of ...." On other occasions a woman could be recorded as Mrs. "husband's name" just maddening.

#genealogy
May 2, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Syracuse, New York.
#steeplesaturday
April 26, 2025 at 5:28 PM
United Methodist Church, in Middlesex, Yates County, New York #SteepleSaturday
April 19, 2025 at 9:50 PM
I used ChatGPT "Monday" for the first time - I kind of liked it. That speaks to my masochistic side, right? I did manage to get a compliment:
April 5, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Here's a short glimpse of the amazing performance last night by NYS Baroque of Monteverdi’s “Vespers of 1610”

I had goose bumps at the end. You can see it in Ithaca tonight and tomorrow in Rochester.
nysbaroque.com

#baroque #music
April 5, 2025 at 7:40 PM
When you go visit your cousin, and he shows you what he found in his father's storage space and then he lets you take it home. #genealogy #genealogyheaven
March 31, 2025 at 11:41 PM