Tag: family-history

Glowing data tree connecting manuscripts, photographs, books, laptop, and camera
A.I.

How I Did It

In Mel Brooks’ classic comedy Young Frankenstein, one of the film’s most memorable comedic moments occurs when Dr. Frederick Frankenstein discovers the hidden library of his grandfather, Victor Von Frankenstein. Expecting a complex, highly academic scientific treatise or detailed journal explaining the secret behind bringing reanimated flesh to life, he instead uncovers a surprisingly straightforward instructional manual. Lifting the leather-bound book to his face, he … Continue reading How I Did It

Unknown's avatarD. M. DeBackerLeave a comment
Medieval crowd confronting armored guards on a cobblestone street with Ghent banners and torches
A.I.

AI assisted genealogy: Van Coppenolle Branch

Had artificial intelligence been around in the 1990s, I probably would have retired as a PBX installer instead of becoming a software developer—not that there is anything wrong with that! But history took a different path. My interest in tracing my family history spans nearly 50 years, ignited by Alex Haley’s landmark miniseries, Roots, which aired over eight consecutive nights in January 1977. I have … Continue reading AI assisted genealogy: Van Coppenolle Branch

Unknown's avatarD. M. DeBackerLeave a comment
Couple in historical clothing walking through crowd celebrating at village wedding
DeBacker

DeBacker Cousins

I believe this information will be of great interest to my DeBacker cousins. I recently discovered that there was a much higher frequency of intermarriage among cousins within our Belgian lineage than I had previously realized. Currently, I am working on a video series intended for my grandchildren to watch when they grow older. These videos feature me walking them through our family tree on … Continue reading DeBacker Cousins

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Dobbs

The Making of ‘Night Gallery’

Faced with an early termination fee for my mistakenly purchased annual Adobe Premiere Pro subscription (that is, annual paid monthly), I decided on a new video project instead of canceling. I’ve dubbed it “A Plan 9 From Outer Space”—If you know, you know.. The project involved restoring and then animating a series of old photographs using Adobe Firefly, with the final video edited in Premiere … Continue reading The Making of ‘Night Gallery’

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News

News of Theodosia

I’ve written several times about my 5th great-grandmother, Theodosia Beck Beazley, wife of John McMullan. (See “Bad Grandma” and “The Legend of John McMullan – Gathering Leaves.“) Recently, new information about Theodosia has come to light from Gayle, a distant cousin who descends from one of John and Theodosia’s daughters, Catherine Schifflet. In response to “Bad Grandma,” Gayle wrote: “You probably share DNA with a … Continue reading News of Theodosia

Unknown's avatarD. M. DeBacker6 Comments
Texas

My Texas Roots

Growing up in Texas, I experienced an identity crisis. Because I wasn’t born there, I felt disconnected from the state’s rich history and culture. Looking back, if I had the understanding then that I have now, it would have profoundly impacted my self-perception and my place in the world. While this morning’s discovery may seem trivial, I strongly believe that this knowledge would have made … Continue reading My Texas Roots

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Dobbs

Reconstruction Recall

For years, I’ve been trying to unravel the mystery surrounding my mother’s great-grandfather’s civil rights status at the close of the Civil War. I believed I had finally solved it: Was he among the thousands denied property and civil rights due to specific criteria? These categories included former Confederate civil and military officers above a certain rank, individuals who had abandoned U.S. government or military … Continue reading Reconstruction Recall

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Dobbs

My Maternal Grandfather

Aside from being a national holiday, the Fourth of July is extra special for my family. It’s the shared birthday of my maternal grandfather, James Monroe Dobbs, Jr., and his father, James Monroe, Sr. Here is an excerpt from Gathering More Leaves, Part I: Chapter One It came like a long-forgotten letter finally delivered. In the spring of 2022, when the U.S. government released the … Continue reading My Maternal Grandfather

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