Melissa Grandt
@melissagrandt.bsky.social
Genealogist & family historian. Native of West Branch, Iowa.
Research Loves: Iowa, US Midwest, Quakers, US Military. Will randomly spout off about women's basketball. She/her.
Research Loves: Iowa, US Midwest, Quakers, US Military. Will randomly spout off about women's basketball. She/her.
Pinned
Melissa Grandt
@melissagrandt.bsky.social
· Nov 14
This is me: A lifelong family historian, keeper of treasures & family secrets. Research passions include: Iowa, US military, and Quaker records. Always working on my next line. Also love women's basketball, including 6-on-6 history in Iowa. #genealogy
Why are so many publications gone from Newspapers.com? Even if I already subscribe, now I have to have a BIGGER subscription to get to everything? Why are you making this so difficult for researchers? Even my library copy doesn't have everything. Grrrrrrr.
The past: read all about it.
The largest online newspaper archive. Used by millions every month for historical research, family history, true crime, journalism, and more.
Newspapers.com
June 22, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Why are so many publications gone from Newspapers.com? Even if I already subscribe, now I have to have a BIGGER subscription to get to everything? Why are you making this so difficult for researchers? Even my library copy doesn't have everything. Grrrrrrr.
WTH is going on with this game? Fever v Fire
May 31, 2026 at 1:28 AM
WTH is going on with this game? Fever v Fire
Reposted by Melissa Grandt
Authorities have arrested a 61-year-old man for a 1997 Texas kidnapping and sexual assault after advanced DNA testing and genetic genealogy cracked the nearly 30-year-old cold case.
1997 Texas cold case solved after DNA testing leads to arrest in Midland sexual assault
Authorities have arrested a 61-year-old man for a 1997 Texas kidnapping and sexual assault after advanced DNA testing and genetic genealogy cracked the nearly 30-year-old cold case.
bit.ly
May 30, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Authorities have arrested a 61-year-old man for a 1997 Texas kidnapping and sexual assault after advanced DNA testing and genetic genealogy cracked the nearly 30-year-old cold case.
Reposted by Melissa Grandt
A history of Montreal’s founding and early years, with an emphasis on the lives of the women, the ordinary as well as the prominent, who settled there. The history of a place adds significantly to the stories of our ancestors. The community defines their lives in so many ways. #FrenchCanadian
May 31, 2026 at 12:11 AM
A history of Montreal’s founding and early years, with an emphasis on the lives of the women, the ordinary as well as the prominent, who settled there. The history of a place adds significantly to the stories of our ancestors. The community defines their lives in so many ways. #FrenchCanadian
Reposted by Melissa Grandt
This is one of the saddest things I’ve seen in a while:
Can’t afford to go to Europe because of rising prices? These US towns fake it the best (ish)
Can’t afford to go to Europe because of rising prices? These US towns fake it the best (ish)
Can’t do a European vacation? Visit these 10 European-inspired U.S. cities.
These towns can transport you to where windmills spin, tulips bloom, hefeweizen flows and bilingual signs welcome — and välkommen or willkommen or witamy.
www.washingtonpost.com
May 30, 2026 at 6:29 PM
This is one of the saddest things I’ve seen in a while:
Can’t afford to go to Europe because of rising prices? These US towns fake it the best (ish)
Can’t afford to go to Europe because of rising prices? These US towns fake it the best (ish)
Watching the @portlandfire.bsky.social @indianafever.bsky.social game and I am loving the Fire's logo. #wnba
May 31, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Watching the @portlandfire.bsky.social @indianafever.bsky.social game and I am loving the Fire's logo. #wnba
Reposted by Melissa Grandt
Steve has recommended three websites for anyone seeking info on railway accidents in, or affecting people from, their #OnePlaceStudies:
✦ Railway Archives
✦ Railway Work, Life & Death Project – @rwldproject.bsky.social
✦ Railway Fatal Accidents – Steve’s own website
#OPSConf25
✦ Railway Archives
✦ Railway Work, Life & Death Project – @rwldproject.bsky.social
✦ Railway Fatal Accidents – Steve’s own website
#OPSConf25
November 22, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Steve has recommended three websites for anyone seeking info on railway accidents in, or affecting people from, their #OnePlaceStudies:
✦ Railway Archives
✦ Railway Work, Life & Death Project – @rwldproject.bsky.social
✦ Railway Fatal Accidents – Steve’s own website
#OPSConf25
✦ Railway Archives
✦ Railway Work, Life & Death Project – @rwldproject.bsky.social
✦ Railway Fatal Accidents – Steve’s own website
#OPSConf25
Is there a Judy Blume book to let us know what to expect w perimenopause? Asking for a friend. 🥵
October 4, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Is there a Judy Blume book to let us know what to expect w perimenopause? Asking for a friend. 🥵
Reposted by Melissa Grandt
A Compelling and Detailed Case Study #DNA #DNATip #GeneticGenealogy #Genealogy #Ancestry #DavisDNATip
www.knowwhowearsthegenesinyourfamily.com/blog/uncover...
www.knowwhowearsthegenesinyourfamily.com/blog/uncover...
Tracing a Powerful Legacy: African American, Cherokee Freedmen, and Trail of Tears Ancestry
Discover the compelling story of a genealogy case that uncovered African American and Native American ancestry, including Cherokee Freedmen, Trail of Tears survivors, and free African Americans before...
www.knowwhowearsthegenesinyourfamily.com
June 9, 2025 at 2:27 PM
A Compelling and Detailed Case Study #DNA #DNATip #GeneticGenealogy #Genealogy #Ancestry #DavisDNATip
www.knowwhowearsthegenesinyourfamily.com/blog/uncover...
www.knowwhowearsthegenesinyourfamily.com/blog/uncover...
Odd question and I'm not sure if there's an answer. In the U.S., once Rural Routes were put in place for post delivery, many people would just have the address "RR1" or "RR5 Box 178". Is there any way to find out these old routes? I do have some land records, but I am looking at people who rented.
June 9, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Odd question and I'm not sure if there's an answer. In the U.S., once Rural Routes were put in place for post delivery, many people would just have the address "RR1" or "RR5 Box 178". Is there any way to find out these old routes? I do have some land records, but I am looking at people who rented.
Have ancestors from Pennsylvania who claimed Pennsylvania Dutch. What would I look for if I was looking for signs of Braucherei or folk magic coming down the generations? #genealogy #folkmagic
April 10, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Have ancestors from Pennsylvania who claimed Pennsylvania Dutch. What would I look for if I was looking for signs of Braucherei or folk magic coming down the generations? #genealogy #folkmagic
This Is the Holocaust Story I Said I Wouldn’t Write www.nytimes.com/2025/04/06/m... @taffyakner.bsky.social
This Is the Holocaust Story I Said I Wouldn’t Write
For years, my friend’s father asked me to recount his childhood escape from the Nazis. Why did it take me this long?
www.nytimes.com
April 10, 2025 at 1:10 PM
This Is the Holocaust Story I Said I Wouldn’t Write www.nytimes.com/2025/04/06/m... @taffyakner.bsky.social
Reposted by Melissa Grandt
Apparently 1620 wasn't such a good year either! #GraveHumor #Genealogy
March 2, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Melissa Grandt
Family historians know all about this. #genealogy
Pretty much everything they say about immigrants today they said about your grandparents and great-grandparents.
Support and defend immigrants today like they’re your own grandparents.
Support and defend immigrants today like they’re your own grandparents.
a group of people are sitting at a table and one of them is saying hey i 've seen this one .
ALT: a group of people are sitting at a table and one of them is saying hey i 've seen this one .
media.tenor.com
February 28, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Family historians know all about this. #genealogy
Reposted by Melissa Grandt
📜 Front Porch Tip #4 📜
Use multiple records! No single document is 100% right—cross-check census, vital, and land records for the full picture. Your ancestors left more clues than you think! 🧐 #genealogy #FrontPorchTips
Use multiple records! No single document is 100% right—cross-check census, vital, and land records for the full picture. Your ancestors left more clues than you think! 🧐 #genealogy #FrontPorchTips
February 28, 2025 at 1:08 PM
📜 Front Porch Tip #4 📜
Use multiple records! No single document is 100% right—cross-check census, vital, and land records for the full picture. Your ancestors left more clues than you think! 🧐 #genealogy #FrontPorchTips
Use multiple records! No single document is 100% right—cross-check census, vital, and land records for the full picture. Your ancestors left more clues than you think! 🧐 #genealogy #FrontPorchTips
Reposted by Melissa Grandt
The stands at an eastern Iowa high school basketball game were filled with purple shirts and ribbons in memory of the school’s cheerleader who lost her life in a crash.
High school’s only basketball cheerleader dies in crash on way to school at just 14 years old
An Iowa community is coming together to honor a high school cheerleader who was killed in a crash.
www.kbtx.com
February 28, 2025 at 1:45 PM
The stands at an eastern Iowa high school basketball game were filled with purple shirts and ribbons in memory of the school’s cheerleader who lost her life in a crash.
This video takes the viewer on a guided tour of the Newberry's "Indigenous Chicago" exhibition, on view from September 12, 2024, through January 4, 2025. youtu.be/1bYbeSMvPEQ?... #genealogy #familyhistory #indigenoushistory #chicagohistory
"Indigenous Chicago" Video Tour
YouTube video by newberrylibrary
youtu.be
February 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM
This video takes the viewer on a guided tour of the Newberry's "Indigenous Chicago" exhibition, on view from September 12, 2024, through January 4, 2025. youtu.be/1bYbeSMvPEQ?... #genealogy #familyhistory #indigenoushistory #chicagohistory
What????? It is no longer maintained and updated? grrrrrrrr
February 27, 2025 at 2:57 PM
What????? It is no longer maintained and updated? grrrrrrrr
Reposted by Melissa Grandt
Iowa Free Online Genealogy Research Toolkit
Do you have "go-to" websites for searching for Iowa #genealogy records? Here are 80 free websites for you to use for your research. Maybe there are a few you don't use or haven't heard of.
Get this Free Downloadable Toolkit at https://buff.ly/3dlwtR2
Do you have "go-to" websites for searching for Iowa #genealogy records? Here are 80 free websites for you to use for your research. Maybe there are a few you don't use or haven't heard of.
Get this Free Downloadable Toolkit at https://buff.ly/3dlwtR2
February 4, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Iowa Free Online Genealogy Research Toolkit
Do you have "go-to" websites for searching for Iowa #genealogy records? Here are 80 free websites for you to use for your research. Maybe there are a few you don't use or haven't heard of.
Get this Free Downloadable Toolkit at https://buff.ly/3dlwtR2
Do you have "go-to" websites for searching for Iowa #genealogy records? Here are 80 free websites for you to use for your research. Maybe there are a few you don't use or haven't heard of.
Get this Free Downloadable Toolkit at https://buff.ly/3dlwtR2
OK, was finally able to get into this and OMG the treasure trove. 69 PAGES. #militaryhistory
So just got some records from the VA....on CD. So, now I need to find a computer w a CD reader. What is this - 2005?
February 8, 2025 at 4:52 PM
OK, was finally able to get into this and OMG the treasure trove. 69 PAGES. #militaryhistory
Reposted by Melissa Grandt
Louisiana Free Online Genealogy Research Toolkit
Do you have "go-to" websites for searching for Louisiana #genealogy records? Here are 80 free websites for you to use. Maybe there are a few you don't use or haven't heard of.
Get this Free Downloadable Toolkit at https://buff.ly/3dfg5BD
Do you have "go-to" websites for searching for Louisiana #genealogy records? Here are 80 free websites for you to use. Maybe there are a few you don't use or haven't heard of.
Get this Free Downloadable Toolkit at https://buff.ly/3dfg5BD
February 5, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Louisiana Free Online Genealogy Research Toolkit
Do you have "go-to" websites for searching for Louisiana #genealogy records? Here are 80 free websites for you to use. Maybe there are a few you don't use or haven't heard of.
Get this Free Downloadable Toolkit at https://buff.ly/3dfg5BD
Do you have "go-to" websites for searching for Louisiana #genealogy records? Here are 80 free websites for you to use. Maybe there are a few you don't use or haven't heard of.
Get this Free Downloadable Toolkit at https://buff.ly/3dfg5BD
So just got some records from the VA....on CD. So, now I need to find a computer w a CD reader. What is this - 2005?
February 4, 2025 at 11:12 PM
So just got some records from the VA....on CD. So, now I need to find a computer w a CD reader. What is this - 2005?
Reposted by Melissa Grandt
The Forensic Genealogy Behind a Netflix Hit. Genetic genealogists helped solve a 16-year-old double-murder that inspired The Breakthrough. See how it happened. https://buff.ly/4g9Q80P? #DNAtesting #Genealogy #GeneticGenealogy #Crime
The Breakthrough True Story: Inside the 2004 Double-Murder That Inspired the Netflix Series (and Why the Case Went Unsolved for 16 Years!)
Netflix's 'The Breakthrough' is inspired by the double murder that occurred in Sweden in 2004. Here's everything to know about the true story that inspired 'The Breakthrough.'
buff.ly
January 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The Forensic Genealogy Behind a Netflix Hit. Genetic genealogists helped solve a 16-year-old double-murder that inspired The Breakthrough. See how it happened. https://buff.ly/4g9Q80P? #DNAtesting #Genealogy #GeneticGenealogy #Crime
Are we losing the ability to write by hand? www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ja...
Signature moves: are we losing the ability to write by hand?
We are far more likely to use our hands to type or swipe than pick up a pen. But in the process we are in danger of losing cognitive skills, sensory experience – and a connection to history
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Are we losing the ability to write by hand? www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ja...
Random thought as I am browning up some ground pork sausage. When you're doing old family recipes take into account what was normal in their region. 1/
January 14, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Random thought as I am browning up some ground pork sausage. When you're doing old family recipes take into account what was normal in their region. 1/