TERRE HAUTE — When Alex Haley’s 1976 novel Roots was published, and then a year later premiered as a TV mini-series, it sparked the flame of interest in genealogy for many Americans, including myself. Since then, there have been a few television offerings here and there that involve genealogy. Most notably, Roots the Second Generation on network TV, the PBS series History Detectives, and Henry Louis Gates’ two African American Lives series also on PBS. This winter and spring, however, we can look forward to two new genealogy TV series — one from PBS and one from NBC. Both of these series will trace the ancestry of well-known Americans and celebrities revealing the unique yet common experiences that make up the American experience.
“Faces of America” with Henry Louis Gates debuted on PBS on Feb. 10 and will run through March 3. Each of the four episodes will air on Wednesdays from 8-9 p.m., and will be re-run at other times on PBS (you’ll have to check their listings). The show can also be watched in its entirety on the PBS Web site.
The series asks the questions, “What made America?” and “What makes us?” The show will focus on the immigrant experience by using the ancestries of 12 well-known Americans: Elizabeth Alexander, poet; Mario Batali, chef; Stephen Colbert, comedian; Louise Erdrich, novelist; Malcolm Gladwell, journalist; Eva Longoria, actor; Yo-Yo Ma, musician; Mike Nichols, director; Queen Noor, monarch; Dr. Mehmet Oz, heart surgeon; Meryl Streep, actor; and Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic figure skater.
Episode One — Our American Stories — explores “the dynamic and shifting relationship America has with her new immigrants in the 20th century,” focusing on World War II, the Holocaust, the Japanese internment, and blind luck. Episode Two — Becoming American — explores the Century of Immigration (1820-1924) and the many separate journeys the new immigrants made that helped transform America from an agrarian nation to an industrial power. Episode Three — Making America — focuses on the early history of America and the colonies and the settling of the New World. Episode Four — Know Thyself — takes up where the historical records leave off and explores the guests’ individual histories through their DNA. Says PBS, “this episode offers a compelling and thought-provoking meditation on the importance of ancestry, the meaning of family, and the role of both in creating identity.”
With Professor Gates at the helm, this series promises to be as entertaining and moving as his two previous ones on the genealogies of noted African American celebrities. For more information on the series or to view episodes on the Web, go to www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/. To see a full schedule of the episode airings of this series, go to the Web site of the individual PBS station, such as WTIU Bloomington, WFYI Indianapolis, WILL Champaign-Urbana, and WSIU Carbondale.
NBC will broadcast a similar series this spring, originally based on a BBC program, called “Who Do You Think You Are?” This series will run on Fridays from 8-9 p.m. March 5 through April 30. The series will explore the genealogies of seven celebrities — actors Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Susan Sarandan, Lisa Kudrow, and Brooke Shields, producer Spike Lee, and football player Emitt Smith.
This series is produced in partnership with Ancestry.com, and the New England History and Genealogy Society will also play a role. Visit NBC’s Web site for more information.
Both of these series promise to be interesting, moving, entertaining and educational experiences. Together, these programs may serve to get another generation of viewers “fired up” about genealogy.
History
GENEOLOGY: New TV shows may fire up generation on genealogy
- History
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Terre Haute Works of Allis-Chalmers closes
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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GENEALOGY: BMD website great for tracing England, Wales
If you have ancestors who trace back to England or Wales within the past 175 years, then the Free BMD website at RootsWeb, at freebmd.rootsweb.com/, is the place to visit.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: WBOW introduced some fine Valley talent
When it first began broadcasting in 1927, station WRPI (Rose Polytechnic Institute) focused on educational programing.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Inventor John B. Deeds and highwayman William G. Murray
Among the many unsolved local history mysteries is the fate of master machinist and inventor John B. Deeds.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: This little-known compromise may have saved the union
When the Constitution was signed in September of 1787 and sent to the Congress that then existed under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was instructed to send that Constitution to the states to be ratified … or not. The message to the states was clear: Accept the Constitution or reject it, but don’t try to change it.
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Traveling Civil War exhibit makes history personal
Civil War history will come alive for visitors to the Sullivan County Public Library who experience “Faces of the Civil War,” a traveling exhibition created and managed by the Indiana Historical Society.
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GENEALOGY: Virginia Historical Society takes on ambitious project
Over the past few months, the Virginia Historical Society has launched an ambitious project to scrutinize more than 8 million 17th, 18th, and 19th century documents in order to identify the enslaved population of those times.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: The Legacy of ‘The Old Silkworm House’
In 1837, and for several years thereafter, a gray sandstone obelisk was installed next to a one-story frame residence at the northwest corner of Sixth and Eagle streets.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A blast from valentines past
Valentine’s Day — it brings to mind simple paper valentines and the elaborate, fancy store-bought cards with multiple verses and glittery covers.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Flu outbreak forces Schulte closed
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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Original copy of 13th Amendment at Lincoln Library & Museum
A fully signed and recently restored copy of the Congressional resolution for a 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the official act that would abolish slavery in the United States, will be on display in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum’s Treasures Gallery.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Freedom of religion — beliefs and actions
Because religious faith is, arguably, the quintessential example of our right to privacy, to say nothing of its prominent place in our First Amendment, throughout our history court cases involving the free exercise of religion have been handled with great trepidation and with particular care. One of the milestone “free exercise” religion cases, Davis v. Beason, was decided by the Supreme Court this week (Feb. 3) in 1890.
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GENEALOGY: SoCal Genealogical Jamboree coming up in June
The Southern California Genealogical Society announces its 43rd Annual Jamboree, to be staged for three days on June 8-10, at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel in Burbank, Calif.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002: Disco Ernie featured on Maury
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Flashing the mayor's badge
This mayoral badge was presented to the Vigo County Historical Society by Elizabeth K. Schultz, the granddaughter of Samuel E. Beecher Sr., who served as mayor of Terre Haute from 1936 to 1940.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Deadly tornado devastates York in 1907
John T. Staff loved water and, particularly, the Wabash River.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Notorious Western desperado Ellsworth Wyatt captured in Clay County
In October 1892, Terre Haute police received a circular from the State of Kansas containing a description of Ellsworth Wyatt and offering a $1,200 reward for his capture.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002: ISU students honor Martin Luther King Jr.
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: News letter filled with wonderful local news
We recently received five bound volumes of copies of the “Terre Haute Onizette,” the Owen-Illinois Glass Company news letter for the Terre Haute Plant.
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GENEALOGY: Peyton, Downey, Fifer queries and a plea for help from Scotland
This week, we have several queries.
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Extension plans seminar on land use
The Purdue Extension Land Use Team is hosting a video seminar titled “Welcome to the Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals” from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Kennedy, Camelot, and other myths
This week (Jan. 20) in 1961, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as our 35th president, and his tragic death by assassination notwithstanding, his was a mediocre presidency that, undeservedly, became the stuff of legend — in part because of his assassination.
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Actor to portray Lincoln at dinner for historical society
A special program, “And Lincoln Wrote,” is coming to Harlan Hall in Marshall, Ill., with a featured presentation by Dick Benach as Abraham Lincoln and Chuck Hand as the publisher of the Prairie Beacon.
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GENEALOGY: Celebrate MLK Day with the Indiana Historical Society
On Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Indiana Historical Society will offer free admission to celebrate Martin Luther King Day.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Light Guards savor military and social experiences
Never during the Civil War was there a time when the City of Terre Haute was in danger of hosting an armed conflict involving one or more armies.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: 87 high school hoops teams compete in 47th annual Wabash Valley Tournament
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A bottle of clove oil at the pharmacy
The Historical Treasure for today is a bottle of Clove Oil.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: St. Mary’s Parish congregation celebrates 150th anniversary
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Fire up the jukebox for a great night
The jukebox existed long before Glenn Miller’s “Juke Box Saturday Night” swing version.
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GENEALOGY: 1752 is one memorable year for genealogists
The year 1752 is one to remember if you have ancestors who lived in areas controlled by Great Britain; and this includes the American colonies.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Terre Haute Works of Allis-Chalmers closes
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