Greetings, marhaba & welcome! Kicking off this year, I have updated my Arab and Arab American genealogy research resource pages. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to work on updating this resource for those of you are working on your Arab or Arab American genealogy research. If you don’t find what you are lookingContinue reading “Arab and Arab American Genealogy Research Resources”
Category Archives: Genealogy
Using Ottoman Records in Arab and Arab American Genealogy: Where to Start
Greetings and Marhaba! Welcome to my series on using Ottoman records in Arab and Arab American genealogy research. Installments will be added disbursed along with my other ongoing series installments and stand-alone blog posts. First, it is important to understand the historical context when researching your family history. In the case of many Arab identifiedContinue reading “Using Ottoman Records in Arab and Arab American Genealogy: Where to Start”
Upcoming Presentations
National Genealogy Society’s Family History Conference 2022 Looking forward to presenting on genealogy and oral history at the National Genealogy Society’s Family History Conference in Sacramento, California, May 2022. I will be presenting in person on two of my favorite topics – family oral history interviews and Arab American genealogy research. There will also beContinue reading “Upcoming Presentations”
West Sacramento, Yolo County, California
Greetings, marhaba & welcome! While my family and I took a walk on the West Sacramento River Walk, I realized many who do not live in the area would be surprised to know that West Sacramento, California, over the river from Old Sacramento, is located in Yolo County, instead of Sacramento County. To some thisContinue reading “West Sacramento, Yolo County, California”
Can’t Find a Record, Maybe It’s Hiding in Plain Sight
Greetings, marhaba & welcome!. Searching Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org or other genealogy site databases for ancestors is a skill. Many believe that if they don’t find what they are looking for, it doesn’t exist, however, they couldn’t be more wrong. Recently I came across a census record that was indexed very differently on two genealogy research sitesContinue reading “Can’t Find a Record, Maybe It’s Hiding in Plain Sight”
Listening to my Own Advice
Greetings, marhaba, and welcome. When doing genealogy research, one of the first things I focus on is not making assumptions. This week, I was soundly reminded to listen to my own words. While conducting an interview for an Arab American client’s family history, I made some of those assumptions and was proven wrong – twice[1].Continue reading “Listening to my Own Advice”
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Week 4: Favorite Photo
Greetings, marhaba & welcome! Week 4 of Amy Johnson Crow challenge #52Ancestors! 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Week 4: Favorite Photo As I was looking at scanned old photos of my mother’s family, I came across a photo that stood out to me. This photo is purported to be my ancestor, Robert Nimrod O’Kelley. HeContinue reading “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Week 4: Favorite Photo”
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Week 3: Namesake
Greetings, marhaba & welcome! I am back with week three of Amy Johnson Crow challenge #52Ancestors. 2021 Week 3 Prompt: Namesake My name, Reem, means deer or gazelle in Arabic. It is well known in Arabic literature and poetry, often used to describe beauty and grace. The prominent Egyptian poet, Ahmed Shawqi (1870-1932), startedContinue reading “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Week 3: Namesake”
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Week 2: Family Legend
Greetings, marhaba & welcome! I am back with week two of Amy Johnson Crow challenge #52Ancestors. 2021 Week 2 Prompt: Family Legend I am related to President Herbert Hoover (1874-1964), or at least that is what I have been told. As with most family lore, it is followed by the caveat that we have noContinue reading “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Week 2: Family Legend”
Indigenous People, Indigenous Lands
Greetings, marhaba & welcome! Since most of my genealogical posts will be related to people who themselves or their ancestors immigrated to the United States, I think it is important for me to acknowledge that the United States was created on the land of its Indigenous People. As an immigration attorney, a genealogist, and aContinue reading “Indigenous People, Indigenous Lands”