My great-grandfather’s brother Phillip immigrated to America at 15, apprenticed as a fresco painter, joined a wagon train heading west, and spent years wandering through mining towns and lumber camps before returning to New York by way of Panama. I envy his wanderlust.
I Missed That The First Time
Sometimes you can read the same family history a dozen times before a detail finally clicks. A passing reference to my grandmother’s Chicago days led me to a piano teacher, two music schools, and questions about her musical talent that I wish I’d asked my dad.
Is The Death Penalty About Vengeance Or Justice?
From botched executions to the troubling questions of fairness, wrongful convictions, and my own conflicted feelings about executing a traitor, I explain why I believe capital punishment must end.
Putting Flesh On The Bones
Genealogy isn’t just collecting names, dates, and documents. It’s about discovering the people behind the facts, imagining their choices and struggles, and understanding how their decisions shaped the lives of those who came after them—including me.
Genealogy Updates for September 2026
A list of updates to my family tree on http://genealogy.ravensbeak.com for September 2026.