Greek Couple Weds in Waterloo - 1919

Greek Couple Weds in Waterloo - 1919

Here is the wedding story of my Greek immigrant great-grandparents, Vasilios Halvangis and Maria Chardoulias in Waterloo, Iowa in 1919. 

Genealogy, DNA, and the Discovery of Wilfred Miles

Genealogy, DNA, and the Discovery of Wilfred Miles

For several years I have dabbled on and off with genealogy. When I took my Ancestry DNA test last summer I transitioned from occasional hobbyist to ardent life long genealogy enthusiast. The discovery of Wilfred Miles (about 1770-1825), my 5th great grandfather, marks the precise moment I became hooked. 

Genealogy Case Study: Maria Tsardoulia and Her Travel Records

Genealogy Case Study: Maria Tsardoulia and Her Travel Records

Learning about your family story through travel and immigration records can be an exhilarating experience. Here is a brief, though incomplete, case study in how I learned more about my great-grandmother, Maria Tsardoulia (1894-1951) and her journey to the United States from Greece in 1916.

5 Easy Ways to Celebrate Your Family History on Holidays

5 Easy Ways to Celebrate Your Family History on Holidays

Are you hosting a Thanksgiving or holiday gathering this year? If so, it is a great time to explore, share, and celebrate your family history. Whether you are a serious genealogy buff or new to exploring your family story, here are 5 simple and fun activities you can try.

Blind Cornelius Kelly and the Beauty of Gaelic Prayer

Blind Cornelius Kelly and the Beauty of Gaelic Prayer

Cornelius Kelly (“Uncle Con” to those few remaining in my life who remember him) was born on December 8, 1872, in Atlantic Mine, Michigan, heart of the “Copper Country” mining industry in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This area was the home to many Irish immigrant families like my own.

My Grandmother, Claire (Pawlowski) Halvangis, and The Election of 1916

My Grandmother, Claire (Pawlowski) Halvangis, and The Election of 1916

On August 15 of 1916, my grandmother, Claire (Pawlowski) Halvangis, was born in Detroit, MI. Her parents, Adam Pawlowski and Mary Grzeskowiak, were Polish immigrants and came to the United States somewhere in between 1880 and 1900. This was the very first blog post at The Psychogenealogist!