A photograph of a toddler, smoking a pipe, mowing the lawn. The photo was obtained from John K. King Used & Rare Books in Detroit, MI.

This is my great grandfather, Arthur Bryan Sears (1900-1964), probably around age one. As far as I can tell he was fatherless for his first several years. This is his story.

Just your typical 1920s or 30s photograph of a toddler next to a squirrel munching on some bread. Written on the back is: "Marian and a squirrel". Oh, that and Spanky McFarland from “Our Gang”.

George and Laverne Rhoads Vallance (1899-1962) had four stillborn babies (one set of twins) between 1922 and 1924 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. These were their only children. Here are their stories.

Is this Henry Hurd Roberts (1853-1914) of Rock Stream, NY? If so, he went on to Cornell University and graduated in 1875. He became a successful teacher. This is his story.

The deep friendship between the Elissavitis and Halvangis families that began in Kokkari in Samos, Greece spanned two countries and many decades. Here is the story of how from friends they became family.

Here is a stunning early 1900s cabinet card photograph of a bespectacled middle aged woman with a confident stare. The photographer was Kuebler of 1210 Chestnut St. in Philadelphia, PA.

The story of my 2nd great uncle, what little I know, from Samos, Greece to Detroit. He travelled on The Themistocles in 1915. Can you help me find the rest of his story?

Ethel Rosemon receives a postcard from the Catskills in 1906. Who is she? What is her story? And what is left to learn?

"Uncle Tom Costlow" was born in turbulent times. He was born the day before the U.S. Civil War ended. His mother died two weeks later. This is his story.

Here's a delightful, smile inducing, Kodachrome photo slide of a toddler enjoying a 1950s summer. Take a look! 

By all accounts Martha Zenner Muenzel (1868-1960) was a wonderful German cook. Some of her specialities were Kucken and Wickelklöße. She was likely my 1st cousin 4x removed. The is her story.   

Here is an 1890 photograph of several man and a few boys standing in store front, possibly the "Mareley and Tillman Drug Co." Can you help me find this photo's story?

Franciszka Pawlowska (1913-1915) was the 5th of 10 children by my great grandparents, Adam Pawlowski (1879-1959) and Marianna Grzeskowiak Pawlowski (1879-1941). She died of diphtheria in 1915. This is his story. 

A grandmother writes to her family, perhaps for the last time, in 1931.

Whether praying in the pews or tending the family bar, John "Jack" Hanley (1885-1946) was a man of faith and familial duty. This is his story.  

Two real men sitting with two fake woman in "Ghost Town Calif." The girl does not seem too pleased. 

This is Paraskevi Tsardoulias (Παρασκευή Τσαρδούλιας). She is my 1st cousin 2x removed. She was a member of the Εθνική Οργάνωσις Νεολαίας, a National Youth Organization of Greece. This is what I know of her story.  

A late 1800s or early 1900s group photo with some interesting closeups of neat details. Which is your favorite?

Dolores Urkowski is my 2nd cousin once removed. Tragically, she witnessed the murder of her 20 year old nursemaid, Jennie Zablocki, in 1933. This is what I know of the story.

"Everybody Works But Father" - A 1907 postcard sent to Mrs. K.F. Way of Painesville, Ohio.

On December 26th, 1951 Stanley Puchalski (1914-1951), my 1st cousin 2x removed, bowled a perfect 300 game in Detroit, MI. Learn how this discovery connected me to a new branch of my family tree. 

A Toast to ye Landlord (postcard 1912) -  "May you always have some money - Left from the money you have spent - To greet your landlord with a sneer - When he comes calling for the rent."

Learning about the adoptive fathers in your family tree can help you tell your ancestral story. Here is the story of an adoptive father in my tree, John Alfred Sears (1860-1951).

"THEY WANT ME TO STAY THE WORST WAY" - A postcard sent to David Moe Pickens (1888-1975) of Leipsic, Ohio in 1911. Can you help me find his family?

Though likely not THE train that killed my 2nd great uncle, James Hanley (1888-1909), one like it from the same railroad company probably did. This is his story.

I found this early to mid 1950s postcard of "Sorenson's" at a local antique store. It shows the downtown of Grayling, Michigan, a city that has been a personal family vacation spot for decades. Do you know what kind of car that is? I do, now. 

Who was Pearl Dean Farley? Do you know? Can you help me find out?

My first cousin twice removed, Edward Pawlowski (1905-1907), died on Valentine's Day in 1907. He was one year, four months, and nine days old. This is his story. 

My 3rd great grandfather, Patrick Miles, was a tall man. Apparently he was one of the tallest in his county at the time of his death in 1903. He stood six feet and six inches "in his stocking feet." This is his story.