Family history sometimes offers a glimpse of the world stage. Through the collective memories of family members a window to the past is opened and we come to know what it was like to be swept up by major events affecting whole societies. This is both the story of Li's family and a story of modern China. Virginia Li's story offers hope for the future of U.S-Chinese relations and much insight for all Americans into an ancient land, which in the 21st century is playing an increasingly important role.

With his newest book Justin Taft, Jr. continues to build on his previous success. As I Saw It was well received by the Rochester community as a colorful and engaging look at Rochester during the 1930s Depression. Whereas his first book included humorous recollections of town characters, community leaders, escaped convicts, gypsies and chicken thieves The Tafts of Rochester, Illinois focuses on the Taft family itself. Through this book Justin Taft continues to share his insight on life in the early days of Rochester. Unlike his previous work, this newest effort is professionally researched within its historical context. The westward migration and acquisition of land by Vermont to Rochester families is explored. Previously unidentified relationships between migrating Vermont families are documented. Each of the Rochester Tafts is traced through vital records, census listings, land transactions, family letters and bibles. The author annotates the book with early Rochester photographs and Taft family heirlooms, never forgetting to spin his signature folktales, adding depth to our understanding of the lives of his ancestors and many other early pioneers of Rochester. The Tafts, and their associated families, were some of the earliest settlers in Rochester. They were active in the political and social structure of the fledgling community. Their impact on Rochester's development is a must read for anyone interested in the history of Sangamon County.

The Genealogy and Family History Collection is a unique set of materials that describes the histories and narratives of particular American families. The Collection brings to life pre-1923 books that contain information such as birth, death, marriage, property and migration records of specific families. Many of these families followed interesting migration and movement patterns from Western Europe and beyond to the United States well over 200 years ago. Included in these volumes is information such as last wills and testaments, period photographs of towns, buildings and landscapes, portraits of family members, and descriptions of business interactions. Encompassing such comprehensive and personal information, this collection will appeal to genealogists, family history researchers, as well as descendants and casual historians.

Assistant Surgeon James A. Black takes the reader on a seldom traveled journey--a fourteen hundred sixty-one day excursion--as he participates in the American Civil War. During his sojourn the Union soldier openly shares his observations, his joys, his concerns, and his frustrations, as he provides the reader with tremendous insight into the daily lives of soldiers in their camps and on their campaigns some one hundred fifty years ago. Black and a contingency of Southern Illinois men enlisted in the Union Army October 6, 1861. The 49th Illinois Infantry Regiment was mustered into service December 31, 1861, briefly trained at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Illinois, and was engaged in combat by February, 1862. The regiment remained active in the Western Theatre of action for the duration of the war. Although the diary does not offer revolutionary revelations about the war or its generals, it does present interesting and revealing perceptions about the conflict, especially concerning the impact on soldiers involved in prolonged military engagement. Black s perspective as a Civil War soldier is unique in many ways. For the first year he wrote with the view of an enlisted infantryman, while the last three years he viewed events from the eyes of a commissioned medical officer. In addition, James Black, a good soldier, was a strong believer in the Union cause, a religious man, and a moralist. In many ways his thoughts reflect the times and yet many thoughts do not necessarily follow conventional Civil War wisdom. The diary is completely unabridged and void of interpretation or comment by scholars. Simply, the diary is James personal story as he lived it.

This Encyclopedia is the first to compile some 500,000 pseudonyms of roughly 270,000 people from all over the world, from all ages and occupations. Besides pseudonyms in the narrower sense, initials, nick names, order names, birth and married names etc. are included. The volumes 1 to 9 list persons by their real names in alphabetical order, in volumes 10 to 16, the pseudonyms are listed alphabetically and the real names provided. To make identification of a person easier, year and place of birth and death are provided where available, as are profession, nationality and more personal data.

DELAWARE FAMILIES 1787-1800 By The Delaware Genealogical Society Delaware Families 1787-1800 is a commemoration of families who lived in Delaware during its earliest statehood, from the date it became the first state to ratify the new United States constitution until a new century began in 1800. These are some of the first families of the first state in the United States. This work evolved from submissions made over a period of years, principally from Delaware Genealogical Society members to whom the individual sketches are attributed. Its basic element is a three-generation family group, who lived in Delaware during the focus period "1787-1800," with vital data for each-dates and locations of births, marriages and deaths, and the sources documenting them. Delaware was a center from which many of these families followed migration routes in all directions, not only westward beyond the Mississippi, but also north and south along the Atlantic coast. Over 5,800 citations and the extensive bibliography will provide a valuable resource for this time period since the Delaware census has been lost. Also included is an index of 1,900 surnames, more than 8,000 names and over 100 enslaved or manumitted persons listed in association with these families.

Preserve your life story and pass it down to your family in this beautiful keepsake memory book. Grandma's Story is a guided journal thoughtfully designed to help grandmothers record their special memories and share them with their grandchildren and family. Designed by bestselling artist Korie Herold, this keepsake book offers writing prompts and journaling pages to guide grandmothers along as they record their life's most precious moments. This book is the perfect gift for Mother's Day, birthdays, or any time of year for your grandmother. Sections and writing prompts include: * Early Childhood: What was your house like growing up? What were your favorite toys or playtime activities? * School Years: What did you think you wanted to be when you grew up? What were you like as a teenager? * Work and Travel: What was your first job? What family vacations do you remember the most? * Love and Family: What's your best relationship advice? How did you feel when you found out you were going to be a grandfather? * Character and Values: What do you value most in life? What family values do you hope to pass down? * Hypotheticals and Curiosities: What's something you wish you had done differently? What's the best advice you ever received? * Words of Wisdom: Additional space to write letters to your family Special features include: * Elegant linen with gold foil cover * Acid-free and archival paper * Layflat design allows you to easily write in the book * Carefully developed designs and prompts allow to you reflect and remember

Volume 3, Part B, republishes Donna Holt Siemiatkoski's work on the sixth-generation descendants of Gov. Thomas and Alice (Tomes) Welles. It extracts this generation's treatment from her Research Papers previously published for the Welles Family Association in 1995, 1996, and 1997, using the status of the manuscripts in 2001. These extracts are published as a service to genealogical researchers, so that the records held by the Welles Family Association are more readily available. Numbering of individuals has been updated to synchronize with Volume 2. Welles descendants were farmers, governors, senators, bishops, manufacturers, members of the French court, generals, sea captains, and other leaders in eighteenth and nineteenth century America. Family names found here include Wells, Welles, Bidwell, Curtiss, Hale, Hawley, Judson, Robbins, Shelton, Stoddard, Thompson, and Wolcott.