Questions tagged [20th-century]
For questions about research in the period from 1901 to 2000.
220
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29
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Estimating year photo was taken or printed?
My wife's father was born in Queensland, Australia in 1930. He died in 1989. She has only 2 photos of him. One has no markings on the front or rear and nothing to identify the year taken. What avenues ...
- 693
23
votes
3
answers
157
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Where else might I find a ship going from New York to London in Spring/Summer, 1911?
I am looking for the ship on which the following party traveled from New York to London in Spring or Summer, 1911:
Charles Jay Foster
Minna Cramer Foster
Marie-Louise Foster
Enid Foster
Minna Van ...
- 4,966
16
votes
3
answers
250
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Finding living individual from Queensland, Australia, when not much information is known?
I am working on an individual about whom very little is known. His daughter knows his name and is able to estimate his age. Our information doesn't really help us identify him well.
He was born in ...
- 461
14
votes
1
answer
344
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What records might be created in England when people are re-interred?
There are two people in my database that seem to have two records about their burials -- one in Massachusetts, and one in Devon. I haven't found any other information that would indicate these are ...
- 24.9k
13
votes
6
answers
823
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Identify people in 20th-century photos once the older relatives are gone?
My husband and I, and our siblings, are now the oldest generation in our families. We have photos which have been discovered or have come down to us when our parents died. I have another friend who ...
- 24.9k
13
votes
4
answers
15k
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Understanding last three columns of 1910 US Census?
The last three columns in the 1910 US Census (columns 30, 31 and 32) have four numbers in them. Column 30 is supposedly about survivors of the Union or Confederate army, 31 is if you’re blind and 32 ...
- 163
13
votes
4
answers
609
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Determining cause of death in France in 1908?
I am trying to find the cause of death for a Thomas Gordon Dickinson who died in Boulogne-sur-Mer in 1908. I have his French death certificate, but it does not state the cause of death, neither do the ...
- 131
13
votes
1
answer
918
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World War I Draft Registration (US) card office markings?
My great-uncle Lester Clifton of Springfield, Illinois registered for the WWI draft and on the bottom left side of the draft card is a large zero or uppercase 'O'. I cannot find out what this ...
12
votes
6
answers
331
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How old *are* these people?
I have found records of the Axel family I am researching in several censuses. In addition, I have death records for both Peter and Sarah, the mother and father of the family. Below I present, in ...
- 8,061
12
votes
5
answers
7k
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Meaning of remarks on 1948 USMC discharge papers?
I am trying to understand the full meaning of the remarks shown on this record from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Muster Rolls. This is from July, 1948.
(column headers)
(record in question)
...
- 8,061
12
votes
2
answers
2k
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What uses are there for the Social Security Number (SSN) of a deceased ancestor?
The Social Security Death Index (SSDI), or Death Master File (DMF) is an index of the deaths of US persons that have been notified to the US Social Security. It's available online at various places ...
- 6,136
12
votes
2
answers
14k
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Finding out which Freemasons' lodge ancestor belonged to?
I know my grandfather was a Freemason, but I don't know which order/lodge he was associated with. Short of contacting every lodge in the state, how can I find out? Are there records of this sort of ...
- 223
11
votes
3
answers
659
views
Local record of serviceman's marriage in British Mandate Palestine?
I have a relative who was serving in British Mandate Palestine, who in 1946 married a local woman in Jaffa. I have the marriage certificate from the GRO, but would there exist any records in Israel, ...
- 307
11
votes
3
answers
3k
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Is there an online list of Kindertransport records?
Kindertransport was an operation to save Jewish children from Germany and occupied countries in 1938 and 1939. Almost 10,000 children were transported to the UK through this program.
While I have ...
- 8,061
11
votes
2
answers
606
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My Great Grandfather Dissappeared - what happened to him?
My great grandfather John Albert Draper was born March 23, 1877 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Nathan and Mary Ann Draper.
He married my great grandmother in 1905 and by 1906 had left the family home. My ...
- 131
11
votes
3
answers
637
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What was occupation of Viewer?
On my parent's marriage certificate dated 1954, my mother's occupation is given as "Viewer". From oral testimony, I know that they met while both working at the Rover car factory in Solihull, UK.
I'...
user104
11
votes
4
answers
2k
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Name change records for New York City (NYC)?
One of the people I am researching appears to have changed her name: in the 1915 NYC census she appears as Reva Osernoff, living with the Axel family:
Similarly in the 1920 federal and 1930 censuses:
...
- 8,061
11
votes
1
answer
650
views
Finding orphaned grandfather's original surname?
I'm trying to find my Grandfather's original name.
He changed it when he became 18, back in 1941. He was an orphan and never told anyone what it was before he changed it. My dad always said Bair was ...
- 111
11
votes
3
answers
627
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Tracing ancestors in 20th century Romania?
Sanda Yordanova Genova was born in Braila in 1911.
Yordan Genov
Date of birth: 06/02/1907
Place of birth: Cerna
Name of spouse: Maria Todorova Ilieva
Nikola Todorov Bonchev
Date of birth: 10/09/...
- 111
10
votes
5
answers
967
views
Finding original surname of adopted child from New York?
My late father-in-law was adopted by his step-father when he was 10. My late grandmother-in-law never talked about her first husband and there is some confusion on the first husband's surname.
My ...
- 3,735
10
votes
1
answer
133
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Finding emigration records from UK to Australia for Annie Smith (1960-1977)?
My Great Grandmother emigrated to Australia from the UK after the death of her husband so that she could be closer to the majority of her children who had travelled there earlier.
My Grand father ...
- 1,372
9
votes
7
answers
7k
views
Finding 1910 map of Russia?
Where do I find a map of 1910 Russia?
My grandfather and his sister immigrated from a city that they spell differently on every document they complete. I would like to find the actual name and ...
9
votes
1
answer
393
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Sources for late 19th and early 20th century Belgium and France?
I have in my tree an interesting, if hard to pin down, individual named Francis (sometimes François) Unwin who was apparently born in Brussels around 1885.
I first encountered him in the 1891 Census ...
- 4,418
8
votes
3
answers
418
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Strategy to find death of individual with common name?
I thought I had found the death certificate for my grandfather Thomas Jones (born 1905) but the recent availability of the 1939 register and the Midlands Electoral Rolls have proven me wrong (see Back ...
user104
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What do these extra numbers mean on this ship manifest?
I have a ship manifest for the Vaderland, run by Red Star, departing from Antwerp, Belgium and arriving at New York, New York on November 4, 1904:
On line 21 is a Robert Gregorčič fromm Austria and of ...
- 5,267
8
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Tracing Romanian & Hungarian ancestry?
My soon to be wife is Romanian, I would like to add her family to my tree so that any future children will have a more complete tree rather than just Dad's side.
My issue is that her mother is the ...
- 1,372
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Instructions for World War I Draft Cards (US)?
I've been reviewing several US World War I Draft cards. Who determined whether someone was "tall", "medium", or "short"? Was there a standard range for "tall"? "medium"? "short"?
Just thinking it ...
8
votes
1
answer
2k
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Where were my parents married?
My parents were married on Christmas Day 1954.
The problem is that I cannot find their marriage license anywhere and to add to the problem my mother was 1/2 black, and in Georgia they could never ...
- 81
8
votes
1
answer
135
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Searching for registries of persons who were born in Portugal or Brazil 1850-1930? [closed]
Are there good public sites available that have information about Portugal and Brazil ?
They don't need to be in portuguese, I just need information about genealogy and registries of persons who were ...
- 899
8
votes
2
answers
614
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Finding late 1930's ship departures from the Port of San Francisco?
I have been able to locate arrival records from Europe to the United States but have not been able to have success with the reverse. My grandfather and his mother returned back to Europe soon after ...
- 178
8
votes
2
answers
251
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Was there a special Marriage license for Non-US Citizens in 1925?
My Great Uncle and Aunt sailed from Belfast, Northern Ireland to New York in August 1925. They were married on 25th November 1925 in Philadelphia and i have never been able to obtain a wedding ...
- 277
8
votes
2
answers
480
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How to find Romanian (and Canadian-Romanian) ancestry online
Origins of my Romanian grandfather (born Montreal, Canada in 1914). His family had emigrated to Canada, where he was born, but returned to Romania after a few years. Later he joined the British Army ...
8
votes
1
answer
1k
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Finding birth certificate of someone born on a military base in Germany
I am looking for a relative, probably born on a military base in Germany around 1954. I found her and her mother on a passenger list coming from Germany back into a port in NY in 1954. The mother was ...
- 81
8
votes
1
answer
303
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Finding an elusive ancestor after the 1901 census (who may have deserted his family)
What strategies should I adopt to find an elusive ancestor in the early twentieth century? He may have deserted his family, so I can't rely on records of a wife of children to corroborate ...
user104
8
votes
1
answer
145
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Where did my 2nd great-uncle William Morris go after 1914?
My 2nd great-uncle, William Morris was born 10 May 1887 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. His parents were Henry Morris and Mary nee Green Morris.
I have his birth and baptism.
He is found on the ...
7
votes
3
answers
147
views
Seeking publication specifics for a 20th century news article (USA)
Charles H. Dillon (1889-1967) worked in different capacities for Western Union in Dallas, Texas. In the 1940s and 1950s, he wrote articles about the telegraph for the Texas Almanac and other ...
- 8,517
7
votes
4
answers
573
views
Finding 20th Century vital records in Germany?
Every person I look for with few exceptions I find no records for. For example:
First: Heinz
Last: Zaun
Birth: Germany
Date: 1928
Death: Germany
Date: 1957
I know this to be true, his son is ...
- 1,294
7
votes
2
answers
97
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Where can I find information about Soviet Union arrests in the 1930s?
One of my ancestors was arrested and killed in the purges of the 1930's in the Soviet Union. I've heard of people who got papers from the Russian (post Soviet) government containing the "crimes" they ...
- 71
7
votes
2
answers
828
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Where can I find death records for Germany post 1919?
My grandfather (Emil Schweiss born February 1864) was interned during the 1st World War and repatriated to Germany in I think 1919, but I have never been able to find out when he died, where he died, ...
- 71
7
votes
2
answers
277
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What year does this toy tricycle appear to be?
I have a glossy photo, measuring 2.75"×4.5", that I'm trying to date. Clues are:
The toy tricycle.
The clothing of the child. (Is this a boy or a girl?)
The style of home in the background.
The ...
- 5,267
7
votes
1
answer
78
views
How were non-Catholic births/weddings/deaths recorded in Mexico City (about 1926)
If two non-Catholics married in 1924 in Mexico City, was it possible to marry outside the Catholic church?
Case One: Both were Christian but not Catholic
Case Two: Both were not Christian
If so, ...
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7
votes
3
answers
212
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Where to donate records related to South Australian United Ancient Order of Druids?
When my father passed away, among his possessions were some items related to The South Australian United Ancient Order of Druids. He had been its Secretary in Moonta (South Australia) for many years ...
- 11.1k
7
votes
1
answer
155
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Cannot find the town of Yobeneks, Russia
My grandfather left Lithuania, actually Russia, in 1910. I am trying to locate his town on a map. a copy of his draft card states the town of Yobeneks, Russia. I cannot find this name. does anyone ...
- 71
7
votes
1
answer
128
views
How do I find a Canadian address that appears to go missing between Censuses?
I'm looking for a record for 426 Clinton Street, Toronto in the 1921 Census. In the 1911 Census this was Toronto West, Ward 5, Sub-District 65. The 400 block is north of Bloor Street, but only south ...
- 71
7
votes
1
answer
299
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Finding people who have moved within the same geographical area?
In an answer to the question How would you handle a census record that is almost certainly the target family but which has too many discrepancies? I wrote about a family in my research area for which ...
- 24.9k
7
votes
2
answers
194
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What is date of the photo of woman with wrist watch?
I've got the following photo that I'm trying to identify the woman wearing a diaphanous shawl in it, and thus would like to estimate the date and location of the photo and age of the woman:
The watch ...
- 5,267
7
votes
1
answer
903
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How to identify formal military photos?
Is there a web site out there or some place to ask about the context of formal US military photos? I would like to know the time, location, and reason of a photo.
For example, here are two photos ...
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7
votes
1
answer
322
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Which exemptions to proof of parents' death are available to obtain an unredacted SSA application?
I filed for a copy of the original Social Security application of my paternal grandfather. The photocopy of the form was returned, redacted to remove his parents' names (which was the whole point of ...
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7
votes
1
answer
550
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Allegheny County, Lilly PA, April 1924 List of those Involved in KKK & Residents Clash
I am finding evidence that a distant cousin may have participated in or been an organizer of the Lilly, PA Klu Klux Klan incident where 400 armed Klan members attempted a cross burning in the town and ...
- 5,541
7
votes
1
answer
238
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How to find someone from Canada who has not been heard of since about 1939?
I have been searching for my grandfather John Howard Coulter who was born at Bellaire, Belmont County, Ohio, on 22 Feb 1896.
He married Clara Mae Newton and had two daughters Mildred (1918 Ohio) and ...
