Here are a few recommended reads for this weekend.
1. With all the recent attention to the "right to privacy" and its close cousin, the much touted and often misconstrued right of "personal freedom," perhaps it is time to give some attention to the Supreme Court Justice sometimes called the "Jewish Jefferson." The Writers Almanac noted today that it is the birthday of Justice Louis Brandeis. Brandeis was an interesting and complicated man, but he is credited with introducing the concept of a right to privacy into our legal system. The NPR program Fresh Air once aired a piece on Justice Brandeis and you can read a transcript of that program here.
2. This week it was announced that the American Ancestors website of NEHGS (New England Historic Genealogy Society) will launch a "new user friendly website." The changes are expected to occur this coming Tuesday, November 16th. You can learn more by visiting the web page announcing the changes here.
3. Yesterday marked the day that Ellis Island closed after more than 12 million immigrants had been processed through the immigration center located there. It had been designated the first federal immigration center by President Harrison and before that immigration was handled by the individual states. On November 12, 1954 the operations at Ellis Island were shuttered after the last detainee was released. It was then an abandoned site until 1984 when restoration of the island began and eventually became the largest restoration project in U.S. history. The Immigration Museum at Ellis Island has attracted as many as 30 million visitors and it is estimated that some 40% of Americans can trace their ancestry to someone who passed through Ellis Island. Read more about the history of Ellis Island here.
4. And speaking of Ellis Island, The Weekly Genealogist of American Ancestors made note of an article about surname changes for immigrants at Ellis Island. Titled "Jews Changing Their Surname at Ellis Island: Why Everything You've Been Told About the Name Changes at Ellis Island is a Big, Fat Lie," you can read the piece by Rabbi Pinchas Landis here.
5. As we fast approach Thanksgiving 2021 we are about to be inundated with stories about the 1621 celebration of the fall harvest by the Plymouth planters and Massasoit, the sachem of the Wampanoags, and some of his men. Many consider that celebration to be the first Thanksgiving. But how do the Wampanoags of today feel about that 1621 celebration? According to a recent article in The Washington Post, the tribe helped the planters survive and be able to celebrate their first harvest and the tribe still regrets their decision to do so. Read the article here.
6. During this season of giving, if your thoughts turn to whether and how to make gift donations of family artifacts and similar historic materials to a museum, library, or other institution, then you should start with reading a short post about the process. Marian Burk Wood, of Climbing My Family Tree blog, provides just the right starting place (with links). Read "Where Are Your Family's Artifacts" here.
7. Looking for a stimulating book to read––or perhaps gift to someone during the coming holiday season? Jacqi Stevens, of A Family Tapestry blog, reviews Range (2019) by David Epstein. Read her review here.
8. And finally, for those who have been thinking about reducing their blog to book form–– and who might have read my posts about the use of IntoRealPages (with which I have no connection whatsoever other than being a happy customer)–– they are having a 25% off sale (5% more than their usual coupons). https://intorealpages.com The sale code is WINTER21.
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Copyright 2021, John D. Tew
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Thank you so much for including my post in your recommended reads of the week!
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