EasyGenie

04/18/2026

Subscribers to the free EasyGenie newsletter learned about the Jiantan Old Temple (劍潭古寺) and our visit there, guided by a nun named Star. It’s small, but the details are quite amazing. Operated by the Fo Guang Shan order, the central hall is dedicated to Guanyin, the boddhistava of mercy. The temple was originally located near Shilin, but was relocated during the Japanese colonial period. In these pictures is the side altar dedicated to a Taiwanese historical figure known as Koxinga, as well as a garden that contains what looks like gravestones but are actually memorial stones acknowledging donors from previous centuries. Even more amazing is this temple is tucked away on a hillside not a 10 minute walk from one of Taipei‘s biggest shopping centers.

04/17/2026

Odd find in the archives. This dates from a time when logging was a major industry in the northern region of what is now the Adirondack State Park. The logs would be harvested and then sent downriver for processing. The marks were legal identifiers that proved ownership. This book is visible in the St. Lawrence County courthouse in Canton New York.

04/15/2026

"My late aunt had heard from my grandmother that John was a brilliant teacher, and actually taught in a one-room schoolhouse on one of the quiet rural roads near Lake Ontario. He was regarded as 'strange,' she said. What did that even mean?" https://easygenie.org/blogs/news/new-york-probate-packet-reveals-the-story-of-john-j-lamonts-death-in-1925

04/14/2026

This 1916 church near Boston built in the Gothic style is on the national historic register. I attended the preschool here more than 50 years ago.

04/13/2026

We posted the above question to the EasyGenie Facebook group, and within a few hours had dozens of responses. We won't reveal the breakdown of the responses, but what was most interesting to us were the people who described how they got started. (EasyGenie)

We posted the above question to the EasyGenie Facebook group, and within a few hours had dozens of responses. We won't reveal the breakdown of the responses, but what was most interesting to us were the people who described how they got started. Here's what they said: "My Aunt had started doing rese...

04/12/2026

We stumbled upon some incredible street art in Taipei inspired by classical Chinese landscape paintings. This was apparently part of a local program to encourage the arts in city neighborhoods, in this case after the local alleys were dug up to replace sewer pipes. Nearby is a very old temple as well as a butterfly garden, influences which made it into the paintings.

04/09/2026

Quick, which of the following is the most important skill needed by aspiring genealogists? It's surprisingly old school, but effective for researching information. https://easygenie.org/blogs/news/whats-the-most-important-skill-for-genealogists-to-develop

04/08/2026

On the outskirts of Taipei lies the All-Taiwan Ye Ancestral Temple (全台葉姓祖廟) where family genealogies for the Ye/Yeh surname in Taiwan are maintained and rites honoring Ye ancestors are held regularly. Ten minutes away in the nearby hills it’s possible to find abandoned graves illegally erected on public land many decades prior.

04/07/2026

"As I stood in that lab, viewing through that window what I considered a sacred and hallowed space for Mom and humanity as well, I was reminded of what Mom said to me not long before she died. In fact, I can hear her frail voice." (DNA Explained) https://dna-explained.com/2023/05/15/mothers-day-visitation-two-decades-out/

04/05/2026

Some of my oldest known ancestors are buried at Irish Settlement Road cemetery near Plattsburg, NY. Why did they come here? Narrated by Ian. https://youtu.be/Ld3Cc6b5FcM

04/04/2026

A few years ago, the EasyGenie blog featured an analysis of AI-generated "historical footage" providing insights into our ancestors' lives. While the tool used for the old '49 scenery is now retired by OpenAI, the issues surrounding flawed data and flawed assumptions remain.

https://easygenie.org/blogs/news/openai-soras-historical-footage-of-the-1849-gold-rush-promise-and-problems-for-genealogists?_pos=1&_sid=3237d49e5&_ss=r

04/04/2026

Friend & fellow New England history enthusiast is not only a fantastic podcaster but also has possibly the coolest mailing list ever. Insta is great too. Subscribe to all 3!