My dad and aunt have been going through the belongings of my grandmother that died a couple of years ago. Along the way, they’ve found a ton of old pictures that I’ve enjoyed looking at. In particular, it’s cool to see pictures of my granddad, who died when I was 5. I only have a few small memories of him, and it’s surreal to see him as he was when he was my age.
Before her death, my mom did a lot of genealogy research on her side of the family. A lot of that stuff I can’t find now despite my best efforts, but I hope to find it all one day. That, combined with my own searchings with my dad’s side, have led me to believe I mostly come from Welsh descent on both sides (as much as I’d love to discover an Irish ancestor!).
Then, a couple of weeks ago, we came across this picture of my grandmother as a baby, being held by HER grandmother. So, this is my great great grandmother, taken around 1919 or 1920.
I know that times were harder back then, and that she likely spent much of her life in the sun. Still, does anyone think that she seems to have something in her that’s not entirely Caucasian? Maybe some Native American?
It can be hard to tell by appearances, especially with older people, and black and white photos.
It can be very difficult to find such things through genealogical study. If you find out your ancestry is from the Five Civilized Tribes there will be old tribal census records you can check, as well as the Dawes Rolls.
I am a Cherokee tribal member, but I didn’t have to do any digging to become one, because my father was a tribal member, and his father was a tribal member, and his father was a tribal member, infinity, so there were no breaks.
People also lie, going way back. For a long time it has been unadvantageous to be non-European in this country, and various people groups have often lied over many generations to conceal the fact of where they come from.
We’re all pretty much the same, genetically, descended from the same Adam and Eve or “mitochondrial Eve,” depending on which school of thought you follow.
When I was little I came across the word “octaroon” and was puzzled. I was even more puzzled by the explanation. Who the **** was bothered by that kind of stuff? Now I’m glad to know that, althought there are a some, there are an awful lot fewer people bothered by that kind of stuff than there used to be.
Nevermind.. looked it up. It means being 1/8th African descent.
Unfortunately, there are a few members of my family that would still try to deny that to the death, like a secret shame. I guess that’s one of the side effects to growing up in the south.
They look so comfortable together - like they’re sharing a private joke. Look how her sleeve is pulled up - she’s prepared for the next round of work even though it looks to me as if the photo is taken in a studio in front of that potted fern.
I’ve been scouring the UK census records for the place of birth of my great great grandfather - I think he was born in 1831 - we are very slow breeders.
I know next to nothing about my genealogy. I can sort of understand why people would be interested. On the other hand, on account of that whole
2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 …
thing, you go up a few generations and there’s a crowd of people contributing to your genetics. (Plus, in my case, I suspect a there were some extraterrestrial aliens involved.)
