Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Your 2025 Christmas Genea-Gifts

  Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

(Photo courtesy of footnoteMaven)

Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. Here's your chance to tell us about the neat genealogy and Family history gear you received over the holidays.

1) Was Genea-Santa good to you?  What genealogy gifts did you receive for Christmas this year?

2) Tell us about them in your own blog post, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook Status  post.  Please leave a link on this post if you write your own post.

Here's mine:

I traveled this year - flying to San Jose, California to visit my daughter Lori and her son Logan in the Santa Cruz mountains (her son Lucas is in Portlsnd working now).  I went on Sunday, 20 December and will return on Saturday, 27 December to San Diego. The power in their cabin in the redwood trees has been out since Tuesday, but Lori has a generator tht powers half the house, but not the stove or the water heater. The weather has been cool and wet.  It was not raining for the Boulder Creek Reindeer Run on Wednesday that Lori and her friend organize every year. I volunteered to serve water at the turn-around point. That was fun, and people were very friendly.  Christmas morning was fun too, with opening gifts and later Christmas dinner heated was dead  until 11 a.m. on Frdiay.  on the barbecue, camp stove, and wood stove.  Then  the TV/wireless provider was dead until 11 a.m. Friday. 

I haven't been to Tami's house yet - I will go next week.

I received no genea-gifts from my descendants (so far), but Santa brought me The Hop-Pickers Murders by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, but I started reading it two weeks ago.  My stocking was full of ymmy goodies and I received two shirts and a pair of pants from Lori and her boyds.

One other family history Christmas gift - I really enjoyed being with Lori and Logan and hearing about his second year in college studying history and sociology. The hugs and words of love from them is priceless.

What did I give them?  The usual - Amazon wins! I gave the two families (Tami's and Lori's) my most recent book - an AI-created fiction book titled Propulsion to Preservation about my aerosapce career and family history pursuits.  Plus, I sent an email to all of my descendants with the PDF of my two blog posts, Randy's Christmas Eve Dream and "My Christmas Memories" -- My Christmas Story In Poem and Song.

/==============================================

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/12/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-your-2025_27.html

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

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The D.J. Carringer Family Christmas in 1875 in Boulder, Colorado

One hundred and fifty years ago, the D.J. Carringer (1828-1902) family resided in Boulder, Colorado.  The ABC Biography for D.J. is in ABC Biography of #24 David Jackson "D.J." Carringer (1828-1902) of Pennsylvania, Iowa, Colorado and California  and for his wife Rebecca is in ABC Biography of #25 Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer (1832-1901) of Pennsylvania, Iowa, Colorado and California. They had three children, Harvey Edgar (1852-1946), Henry Austin (1853-1946), and Effie Eva (1859-1874), but Effie died in 1874.  Life was sad.  D.J. and Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer are my 2nd great-grandparents, through their son Henry Austin Carringer.

I wondered what Christmas 1875 might have been like for this family.  I asked Anthropic Claude to tell me, based on information in the Biographies and additional information about the family members.  Here is the story:

(AI NotebookLM image - D.J. Carringer Christmas 1875 Infographic)

Christmas Day 1875: The Carringer Family

Boulder, Colorado Territory

The first pale light of Christmas morning crept through the frost-etched windows of the Carringer home, revealing the modest pine tree that David Jackson (known as “D.J.”) had hauled down from the foothills three days earlier. Rebecca had decorated it with strings of popcorn and cranberries, along with a few precious ornaments they'd managed to salvage through all their moves—tin stars that caught the lamplight and simple paper angels that Effie had made years ago in Iowa. D.J. stood in the doorway of the small parlor, watching those paper angels turn slowly in the warm air rising from the stove, and felt the familiar tightness in his chest. Eighteen months. Eighteen months since they'd laid their sweet girl to rest in Columbia Cemetery, and still every holiday, every celebration, felt incomplete.

"Papa?" Edgar's voice, deeper now at twenty-three, came from behind him. "You're up early."

D.J. turned to see both his sons standing in the hallway—Edgar with his dark hair tousled from sleep, and Austin, twenty-two, already dressed in his work clothes despite the holiday. Good boys, both of them. They'd grown into men here in Colorado, strong and capable, but the loss of their sister had changed them too. Edgar had become more serious, taking on extra work to help the family. Austin threw himself into his carpentry and millwright work with an intensity that sometimes worried D.J.

"Couldn't sleep," D.J. admitted. "Thought I'd get the fire going proper before your mother wakes."

But Rebecca was already awake. She emerged from their bedroom wearing the blue dress she reserved for Sundays and holidays, her graying hair neatly pinned, though D.J. could see the weariness in her eyes that never quite left anymore. She smiled at her men—her remaining family—and D.J. watched something shift in her expression, a determination he recognized. She would make this day good. She would make it matter.

"Well," Rebecca said, her voice carrying that forced brightness that broke D.J.'s heart a little, "are we going to stand here all morning, or are we going to see what treasures might be waiting under that tree?"

The gifts were modest, as befitted their circumstances. D.J.'s carpentry business had done well enough, and the fruit trees he'd planted over the past year showed promise, but they were still rebuilding from the Iowa farm failure. Still, they'd managed. For Edgar, Rebecca had knitted a thick wool scarf in deep blue—his favorite color. For Austin, D.J. had crafted a beautiful set of woodworking chisels, the handles made from cherry wood he'd been saving for something special. The boy's eyes lit up when he unwrapped them, running his fingers over the smooth wood with the appreciation only another craftsman could have.

"Papa, these are... these are too fine," Austin said softly.

"A man needs proper tools," D.J. replied, his throat tight. "You're doing good work, son. You deserve good tools."

For Rebecca, the boys had pooled their money and bought a length of beautiful calico fabric from the mercantile—enough for a new dress, something she'd been doing without for far too long. She held it up to the light streaming through the window, and for a moment, she looked young again.

"Oh, boys," she whispered. "It's lovely. Truly lovely."

D.J.'s gift for Rebecca was smaller, wrapped in brown paper—a new leather-bound journal and a bottle of ink. "For your recipes," he said, "and your thoughts. I know you've been wanting to write things down proper. For... for the future."

What he didn't say, what they both understood, was that it was also for remembering. For keeping Effie's favorite dishes recorded, her sayings preserved, her short life of 15 years documented so it wouldn't fade like morning frost.

Rebecca's gift to D.J. was practical—a new pair of leather work gloves lined with wool, hand-stitched with her careful, even stitches. "Your old ones are worn through," she said. "And with the fruit trees to tend come spring, you'll need your hands protected."

There was one more package under the tree, small and wrapped in fabric. Nobody reached for it at first. It was Edgar who finally spoke.

"Mama made it. For Effie's place." His voice cracked slightly on his sister's name.

Rebecca nodded, tears already streaming down her face, and unwrapped it herself. Inside was a small crocheted angel, white as snow, with golden thread for a halo. She hung it on the tree, in the center, where they could all see it.

"She's with us," Rebecca said firmly. "She's always with us."

They sat together in silence for a moment, the only sound the crackling of the fire and the ticking of the mantle clock. Then D.J. cleared his throat and stood, clapping his hands together.

"Well, the Lord gave us this day, and Effie wouldn't want us spending it in sorrow. Austin, help me with the firewood. Edgar, your mother will need water brought in for cooking. We've got a feast to prepare."

The morning passed in purposeful activity. Rebecca worked in the kitchen, her domain, preparing the Christmas dinner with the focused attention she brought to everything she did. She'd been saving for this meal—a good-sized hen that D.J. had traded carpentry work for, potatoes from their root cellar, carrots and onions they'd put up in the fall, dried apples from the previous owner's old trees. She made her special stuffing with herbs she'd dried herself, and a dried apple pie sweetened with the precious sugar they'd splurged on at the mercantile.

D.J. worked alongside her when he could, peeling potatoes at the kitchen table while she seasoned the hen. These quiet domestic moments had become more precious to him over the years. Edgar read aloud from the family Bible in the parlor, the Christmas story from Luke, his voice carrying through the small house. Austin sat nearby, already testing his new chisels on a scrap of pine, shaving off thin curls that fell like snow around his boots.

By midmorning, the snow began to fall.

"Look," Rebecca said, pausing in her work to gaze out the kitchen window. "A white Christmas after all."

D.J. came to stand beside her, watching the large, soft flakes drift down from the gray sky. The mountains to the west were disappearing behind the curtain of snow, and the world was taking on that peculiar muffled quality that only a heavy snowfall could bring. His young fruit orchard—forty saplings he'd planted last spring—was becoming a landscape of white humps and delicate bare branches already accumulating their burden of snow.

"They'll be all right," Rebecca said, reading his thoughts as she so often did. "The snow will protect them from the worst of the cold."

"I know," D.J. said. "But I can't help watching over them. Those trees are our future, Becca. Three, four years from now, they'll be producing. We'll have apples, pears, maybe cherries if those trees take. A man can make a good living from fruit at this altitude, the land agent said."

"A man can make a good living doing honest work with his two hands, which you've always done," Rebecca corrected gently. "The trees are a hope, not a guarantee. We've learned that, haven't we?"

He squeezed her hand. They had indeed learned that—in Iowa, when their farm had failed despite their best efforts. But here in Colorado, despite the tragedy of Effie's death, despite starting over yet again in this rough mining territory, D.J. felt something taking root in him along with those fruit trees. Not just hope—he'd had hope before—but a kind of seasoned determination. They had survived their worst loss. They could survive anything now.

The snow continued throughout the day, heavy and steady, piling up on the window sills and transforming Boulder into something from a picture book. The boys took turns going out to tend to the horses in the small stable D.J. had built, coming back in with red cheeks and snow in their hair, stamping their boots and bringing the cold in with them in great clouds of frosty air.

By early afternoon, the house was filled with the rich aroma of roasting chicken, baking bread, and apple pie. Rebecca had set their small table with her good dishes—the few pieces that had survived all their moves—and the blue tablecloth she'd embroidered back in Pennsylvania when she was a new bride. D.J. had never seen anything more beautiful than his wife smoothing that cloth over the table, arranging everything just so, determined to make this Christmas special despite their grief.

They gathered around the table at two o'clock, as was their custom. D.J. sat at the head, Rebecca to his right, the boys across from each other. There was an empty chair beside Rebecca—there would always be an empty chair now—but Rebecca had placed a small vase with holly berries on that side of the table, a remembrance.

D.J. bowed his head, and the others followed suit.

"Heavenly Father," he began, his voice rough with emotion, "we thank You for this day, for this food, for the roof over our heads and the love that binds us together. We thank You for the gift of Your son, born this day so many years ago, and for the promise of eternal life that gives us comfort in our sorrow. We ask You to watch over us, to guide us, and to keep our Effie safe in Your loving arms until we're all reunited in Your kingdom. Bless this food to our use and us to Your service. Amen."

"Amen," the others echoed.

Rebecca served the meal, and for a while they ate in companionable silence, the only sounds the clink of silverware and the moan of the wind outside as the storm intensified. But gradually, conversation began to flow. Edgar talked about a job opportunity at the mercantile—they needed a clerk who could keep accounts, and he'd always been good with figures. Austin described a complicated millwork project he'd been asked to consult on at one of the mines. D.J. shared his plans for the orchard, how he'd been talking to other fruit growers in the area, learning about the best varieties for the altitude.

Rebecca listened to her men, contributing her own observations, asking questions, and D.J. watched her face soften as the meal progressed. This was what they needed—normalcy, routine, the simple pleasure of family gathered around a table. The grief would always be there, a shadow at the edge of every celebration, but life continued. It had to continue.

After dinner, while Rebecca and Edgar cleaned up, D.J. and Austin ventured out into the storm. The snow was already knee-deep in places, and still falling steadily. They made their way to the orchard, D.J. carrying a lantern even though it was still afternoon—the heavy clouds and snow made it dark as twilight.

The young trees stood in their rows, transformed by the snow into ghostly sentinels. D.J. moved among them, brushing snow off the lower branches, checking for damage, Austin following behind doing the same.

"You really think these will make it?" Austin asked, his breath fogging in the cold air.

"I do," D.J. said firmly. "These trees are hardy—they're bred for mountain growing. In a few years, son, you'll be helping me harvest more apples than we can eat. We'll sell them in Boulder, maybe even in Denver. Your mother will make her preserves and pies. It's good land, good soil, and we've learned from our mistakes."

"Iowa wasn't your fault," Austin said quietly.

"No, but I learned from it anyway. Learned that grain farming wasn't my calling, learned that sometimes you have to fail at one thing to find what you're meant to do. These trees—" he patted the snow-covered trunk of a young apple tree, "—these feel right to me. Patient. Steady. You plant them, you tend them, and they give back year after year. That's the kind of work I want for my old age."

They worked in silence for a while longer, father and son, tending the young orchard in the Christmas snow. When they finally trudged back to the house, stamping snow off their boots on the porch, they found Rebecca and Edgar in the parlor. Rebecca had lit the lamps against the early darkness, and the room glowed with warm light. She was sitting in her chair with her new journal open on her lap, already beginning to write, and Edgar was reading again, this time from a volume of poetry.

D.J. hung up his coat and hat, warmed his hands at the stove, and settled into his own chair with a satisfied sigh. Outside, the storm raged on, but inside, in this small house in this rough territory, there was warmth and light and love.

"Read us something cheerful, Edgar," Rebecca said, looking up from her writing. "Something about hope."

Edgar flipped through the pages and began to read, his clear voice filling the room. D.J. closed his eyes and listened, feeling Rebecca's presence beside him, hearing Austin's quiet breathing, Edgar's steady voice. They were diminished, yes—forever diminished by Effie's loss—but they were still a family. They were still whole in the ways that mattered most.

When Edgar finished reading, the snow had finally stopped, and the clouds were breaking up to reveal patches of brilliant blue sky. The late afternoon sun broke through, setting the snow-covered world ablaze with diamonds of light. They all went to the windows to look, drawn by the sudden brilliance.

"Beautiful," Rebecca whispered.

"A sign," D.J. said, putting his arm around her shoulders. "We've weathered the storm, and the sun is shining again."

That night, after the boys had gone to bed, D.J. and Rebecca sat together in the darkened parlor, lit only by the dying fire and the starlight reflecting off the snow outside. They held hands, saying nothing, because nothing needed to be said. They had survived another Christmas without their daughter. They had created moments of joy despite their grief. They had continued.

"Next year will be easier," Rebecca said finally.

"Will it?" D.J. asked honestly.

"No," she admitted. "But we'll be stronger. We'll know better how to carry it."

D.J. pulled her close, and she rested her head on his shoulder. Outside, the world was silent and white and clean, covered in fresh snow. In the orchard, his young trees stood strong under their burden of white, their roots deep in the frozen earth, waiting patiently for spring.

Tomorrow they would face another day. They would work and plan and continue building their life in this challenging place. But tonight, Christmas night, they simply sat together in the peace that comes after the storm, grateful for the love that remained, holding tight to each other and to hope—that patient, persistent hope that keeps people going even in the darkest times, the hope that springs eternal, like fruit trees waiting for the sun.

=======================================

3)  The Google NotebookLM video about this story is below:

4)  This story is, of course, historical fiction with real persons and created dialogue.  It's a traditional view, even sappy and positive, but I think it's fairly realistic. It might have been this way in 1875. 

I wish I had a photograph of any Christmas that my family celebrated, but the Infographic at the top of the post captures the mood.

                        ==============================================

Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/12/the-dj-carringer-family-christmas-in.html

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Please note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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Added and Updated FamilySearch Record Collections - Week of 20 to 26 December 2025

 Each week, I try to keep track of the number of Full-Text Search collections (indexed, searchable) and the Images collections (browsable but not searchable) -- see Sections 1) and 2) below. In addition, I list the genealogy historical record collections (often name-indexed) that are added, removed, and/or updated on FamilySearch and listed on the Historical Record Collection list  --  See Section 3.

1)  As of 26 December 2025, there are now 6,619 searchable image collections on FamilySearch Full-Text Search this week, an increase of 1 from last week. There are over 1.620 BILLION "results" in the collections. There are 868 collections from the United States, 147 for Canada, 236 for England, and 266 for Ireland. It is not possible to see which collections are new.  

2)  As of 19 December 2025, there are now 24,515 browsable (but not indexed or transcribed) image collections on FamilySearch Images this week, a decrease of 39 from last week. There are over 5.876 BILLION images in these collections.  There are 2,103 collections from the United States, 6,958 from Europe and 224 from Canada.  It is not possible to see which collections are new.  I wonder where the removed collections go - to Full-Text Search and/or Historical Records?

3)  As of 26 December 2025, there are 3,429 historical record collections on FamilySearch (a decrease of 2 from last week) on the Signed In screen (and 3,429 on the Signed Out screen).

 The added, deleted, and updated collections this week from FamilySearch (from a list supplied by Marshall Clow):

-

-- Collections Deleted ---

Côte d'Ivoire, Death Records, 1918-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4491582); 797,563 indexed records with 1,216,919 record images, DELETED
Ghana, Census, 2010 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000267); 27,652 indexed records with 713,103 record images, DELETED

--- Collections Added ---

--- Collections Updated ---

Alabama, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2691991); 754,273 indexed records with 766,663 record images (was 759,280 records with 766,663 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025
Austria, Catholic Church Records, 1565-2007 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000002); 6,383,394 indexed records with 1,055,155 record images (was 6,383,394 records with 1,055,155 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025
Austria, Evangelical-Lutheran Church Records, 1783-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1393793); 260,233 indexed records with 42,522 record images (was 260,233 records with 42,522 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025
Austria, Marriages, 1722-1898 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520586); Index only (22,385 records), no images (was 23,868 records with 0 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025
Austria, Vienna, Jewish Registers of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1784-1938 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2028320); 456,871 indexed records with 206,316 record images (was 469,103 records with 206,316 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025

Bolivia, Catholic Church Records, 1566-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,834,032 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,837,874 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 21-Dec-2025
Brazil, São Paulo, Civil Registration, 1925-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2765317); 4,520,372 indexed records with 21,090,537 record images (was 4,521,275 records with 21,090,537 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025
Canada Census, 1921 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000285); 357,200 indexed records with 7,589 record images (was 360,440 records with 7,589 images), UPDATED 23-Dec-2025
Canada, Nova Scotia, Deaths, 1890-1955 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2251294); 280,653 indexed records with 251,097 record images (was 280,653 records with 251,097 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
Cape Verde, Catholic Church Records, 1787-1957 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2246703); 44,934 indexed records with 105,781 record images (was 46,943 records with 105,781 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025

Chile, Cemetery Records, 1701-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1428897); 5,899,344 indexed records with 3,675,058 record images (was 5,600,036 records with 3,675,058 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025
Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2040054); 7,025,204 indexed records with 1,421,761 record images (was 6,974,037 records with 1,421,761 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025
Democratic Republic of the Congo, National Identity Cards, 1884-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000100); 627,378 indexed records with 10,089,338 record images (was 626,000 records with 10,089,338 images), UPDATED 20-Dec-2025
Find a Grave Index (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2221801); 262,294,376 indexed records with 68,320,102 record images (was 261,300,369 records with 68,320,102 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473000); 23,518,081 indexed records with 29,147,064 record images (was 23,524,255 records with 29,147,064 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025

Germany, Marriages, 1558-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473009); Index only (5,285,690 records), no images (was 5,286,526 records with 0 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025
Germany, Württemberg, Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Catholic Church Records, 1520-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3499252); 7,192,555 indexed records with 894,947 record images (was 7,200,682 records with 892,334 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025
Ghana, Accra, Marriages, 1863-2003 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1496208); 13,402 indexed records with 272,668 record images (was 13,402 records with 272,668 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
Ghana, Census, 1984 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1615258); 514,611 indexed records with 904,488 record images (was 729,534 records with 904,488 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Civil Registration, 1796-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2451045); 950,403 indexed records with 17,993 record images (was 950,402 records with 17,993 images), UPDATED 22-Dec-2025

Honduras, Civil Registration, 1841-1968 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2135627); 6,348,917 indexed records with 337,976 record images (was 6,104,566 records with 337,976 images), UPDATED 26-Dec-2025
Hungary, Civil Registration, 1895-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1452460); 13,080,318 indexed records with 5,864,285 record images (was 13,081,517 records with 5,864,285 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025
Hungary, Jewish Vital Records Index, 1800-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1787825); 105,717 indexed records with 1,272 record images (was 112,774 records with 1,272 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025
Iowa, Church and Civil Marriages, 1837-1989 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2366605); Index only (9,720 records), no images (was 9,720 records with 0 images), UPDATED 22-Dec-2025
Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1674842); Index only (191,286 records), no images (was 191,286 records with 0 images), UPDATED 22-Dec-2025

Iowa, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2796750); Index only (604,912 records), no images (was 609,232 records with 0 images), UPDATED 23-Dec-2025
Ireland, Valuation Office Books, 1831-1856 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2329951); 7,284,359 indexed records with 183,144 record images (was 7,284,359 records with 183,144 images), UPDATED 23-Dec-2025
Italy, Cremona, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1744-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1987747); 1,372,813 indexed records with 1,325,362 record images (was 1,374,518 records with 1,325,362 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025
Italy, Enna, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1944 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068343); 2,098,782 indexed records with 837,356 record images (was 1,840,389 records with 837,356 images), UPDATED 23-Dec-2025
Italy, Pesaro e Urbino, Urbino, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1977027); 210,024 indexed records with 709,381 record images (was 210,963 records with 709,381 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025

Korea, Collection of Genealogies, 1200-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1398522); Browse 2,519,576 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 2,519,576 images), UPDATED 22-Dec-2025
Louisiana, First Registration Draft Cards, 1940-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1916286); 211,896 indexed records with 792,451 record images (was 211,896 records with 792,451 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
Mexico, Baptisms, 1560-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473011); Index only (29,488,965 records), no images (was 29,488,965 records with 0 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
Mexico, Michoacán, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1883388); 5,392,827 indexed records with 5,283,986 record images (was 5,392,827 records with 5,283,986 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
Mexico, Nayarit, Catholic Church Records, 1596-1967 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1883377); 725,410 indexed records with 499,694 record images (was 725,410 records with 499,694 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025

Mexico, Puebla, Catholic Church Records, 1545-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837906); 6,354,491 indexed records with 6,124,553 record images (was 6,354,491 records with 6,124,553 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
Michigan, Naturalization Records, 1837-1997 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2546149); 2,146,151 indexed records with 1,672,379 record images (was 1,864,006 records with 1,428,889 images), UPDATED 22-Dec-2025
Missouri, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2759143); 931,934 indexed records with 958,644 record images (was 952,820 records with 958,644 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025
Montana, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2796752); 141,773 indexed records with 143,907 record images (was 144,402 records with 143,907 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025
New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1974 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1609792); 3,581,794 indexed records with 296,065 record images (was 7,264,551 records with 296,065 images), UPDATED 23-Dec-2025

New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate and Miscellaneous Records, 1842-1998 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1865481); 138,505 indexed records with 5,946,421 record images (was 396,876 records with 5,946,421 images), UPDATED 23-Dec-2025
New Zealand, Auckland, Albertland Index, 1862-1962 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2212661); Browse 30,652 Images only, no index (was 19,931 records with 30,652 images), UPDATED 23-Dec-2025
New Zealand, Auckland, Port Albert, Membership Lists and Minutes from the Church of Christ, 1875-1926 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2367300); Browse 108 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 108 images), UPDATED 23-Dec-2025
New Zealand, Central Otago, Cemetery Gravestones, 1861-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2115582); 3,196 indexed records with 6,615 record images (was 3,640 records with 6,615 images), UPDATED 23-Dec-2025
New Zealand, Obituaries, 1844-1963 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2538222); 1,643,979 indexed records with 2,385 record images (was 1,768,692 records with 2,385 images), UPDATED 23-Dec-2025

Nicaragua, Civil Registration, 1809-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1601210); 978,508 indexed records with 2,591,542 record images (was 978,508 records with 2,591,542 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
Ohio, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1914-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3029263); 230,840 indexed records with 229,461 record images (was 230,784 records with 229,456 images), UPDATED 22-Dec-2025
Poland, Radom, Roman Catholic Church Books, 1587-1966 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1407440); 101,352 indexed records with 1,262,022 record images (was 101,352 records with 1,262,022 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025
Puerto Rico, San Juan, Cemetery Records, 1888-1988 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4376727); 183,102 indexed records with 84,309 record images (was 183,086 records with 84,499 images), UPDATED 23-Dec-2025
Russia, Births and Baptisms, 1755-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1771027); Index only (120,036 records), no images (was 117,646 records with 0 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025

Russia, Deaths and Burials, 1815-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1771042); Index only (94,633 records), no images (was 93,093 records with 0 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025
Russia, Lutheran Church Book Duplicates, 1833-1885 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469151); 563,045 indexed records with 128,317 record images (was 554,637 records with 128,317 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025
Russia, Marriages, 1793-1919 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1771044); Index only (28,115 records), no images (was 27,641 records with 0 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025
Slovakia, Church and Synagogue Books, 1592-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1554443); 19,479,296 indexed records with 1,615,473 record images (was 20,589,633 records with 1,615,473 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025
Slovenia, Prekmurje and Međimurje, Civil Registers, 1895-1918 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1985107); Browse 116,428 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 116,428 images), UPDATED 25-Dec-2025

South Africa, Cape Province, Civil Records, 1840-1972 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1779109); 2,796,060 indexed records with 2,216,270 record images (was 2,800,824 records with 2,216,270 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
South Africa, Church of the Province of South Africa, Parish Registers, 1801-2004 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1468076); 1,213,168 indexed records with 355,318 record images (was 1,214,127 records with 355,318 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
South Africa, Civil Marriage Records, 1801-1974 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2821281); 2,556,837 indexed records with 2,692,991 record images (was 2,557,010 records with 2,692,668 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (Stellenbosch Archive), 1690-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1392488); 42,066 indexed records with 496,315 record images (was 42,066 records with 496,315 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives), 1660-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1478678); 2,884,069 indexed records with 45,728 record images (was 3,030,218 records with 45,728 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025

South Africa, Free State Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1848-1956 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1910846); 326,741 indexed records with 102,193 record images (was 352,351 records with 102,193 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg, Cemetery Records, 1840-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4453927); 2,272,299 indexed records with 294,557 record images (was 2,272,299 records with 288,920 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
South Africa, KwaZulu Natal, Vital Records, 1868-1976 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3511741); 609,926 indexed records with 902,019 record images (was 609,370 records with 902,019 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
South Africa, Netherdutch Reformed Church Registers (Pretoria Archive), 1838-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2155416); 75,185 indexed records with 140,942 record images (was 241,951 records with 140,942 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
South Africa, Orange Free State, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1832-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3040532); 521,965 indexed records with 82,306 record images (was 523,894 records with 82,306 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025

South Africa, Pietermaritzburg, Estate Files 1846-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2573604); 343,581 indexed records with 316,664 record images (was 343,703 records with 316,664 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
South Africa, Transvaal, Civil Death, 1869-1954 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2998108); 938,224 indexed records with 1,081,282 record images (was 941,113 records with 1,081,693 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
South Africa, Western Cape, Deceased Estate Files, 1951-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4319131); 4,020 indexed records with 348,416 record images (was 4,476 records with 348,416 images), UPDATED 19-Dec-2025
Sri Lanka, Colombo District, Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1677-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1780708); Browse 33,965 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 33,965 images), UPDATED 22-Dec-2025
Ukraine, Births and Baptisms, 1784-1879 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1771086); Index only (13,191 records), no images (was 13,516 records with 0 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025

United States, Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,600,956 records), no images (was 875,600,958 records with 0 images), UPDATED 23-Dec-2025
Utah, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2659402); 142,496 indexed records with 145,062 record images (was 144,517 records with 145,062 images), UPDATED 24-Dec-2025
World Miscellaneous Births and Baptisms, 1534-1983 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1783956); Index only (26,257 records), no images (was 26,906 records with 0 images), UPDATED 22-Dec-2025
World Miscellaneous Marriages, 1662-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1809045); Index only (23,551 records), no images (was 23,684 records with 0 images), UPDATED 22-Dec-2025

--- Collections with new images ---

Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 454,046 record images (was 1 records with 454,031 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 905,711 record images (was 1 records with 905,710 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Ireland, Census, 1901 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1626180); 4,379,702 indexed records with 958,066 record images (was 4,379,702 records with 957,937 images), last updated 11-Mar-2022
New York, State Census, 1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937454); 9,742,867 indexed records with 2,484,179 record images (was 9,742,867 records with 574,202 images), last updated 30-Nov-2020
United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 157,892,854 indexed records with 52,723,747 record images (was 157,892,854 records with 52,723,546 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024

United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000145); 1 indexed records with 28,204,222 record images (was 1 records with 28,203,751 images), last updated 22-Jul-2024
Uruguay, Passenger Lists, 1888-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2691993); 1,914,849 indexed records with 158,435 record images (was 1,914,849 records with 115,438 images), last updated 11-Dec-2025
Wales, Flintshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1426674); 495,043 indexed records with 518,354 record images (was 495,043 records with 518,340 images), last updated 17-Dec-2025
West Virginia, Deaths, 1804-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1417434); 2,220,736 indexed records with 2,374,856 record images (was 2,220,736 records with 2,374,607 images), last updated 16-Nov-2023
West Virginia, Marriages, 1780-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1408729); 1,470,589 indexed records with 34,928 record images (was 1,470,589 records with 34,819 images), last updated 22-Jun-2022

--- Collections with images removed ---

England, Cambridge, Parish Registers, 1538-1983 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3299384); 473,470 indexed records with 32,938 record images (was 473,470 records with 33,091 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Italy, Bologna, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2185174); 956,942 indexed records with 334,190 record images (was 956,942 records with 335,164 images), last updated 01-Dec-2025
United Kingdom, British Armed Forces and Overseas Vital Records, 1761-2005 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4324570); 2,878,200 indexed records with 2,860,702 record images (was 2,878,200 records with 2,860,706 images), last updated 22-Sep-2021

--- Collections with new records ---

--- Collections with records removed ---

Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 27,313,615 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 27,327,347 records with 12,659,776 images), last updated 08-Dec-2025
Texas, Marriages, 1966-2010 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2031191); Index only (7,606,128 records), no images (was 7,606,129 records with 0 images), last updated 05-Jun-2012
United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000290); Index only (413,859,494 records), no images (was 413,859,496 records with 0 images), last updated 22-Jun-2024

===================================

My friend and SDGS colleague, Marshall, has come up with a way to determine which collections are ADDED, DELETED or UPDATED, and to alphabetize the entries in each category. Thanks to Marshall for helping me out here!

Marshall notes that there are:

• 2 removed entries
• 0  added entries 
• 74 updated entries
• 13 entries with more or fewer images 
• 3 entries with more or fewer records

The FamilySearch website says there are 3,4291 total entries on the list (after signing in). Marshall's list says there are 3,429 (after signing in).  They are definitely in-sync this week.

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See previous FamilySearch-related blog posts in     https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/FamilySearch

The URL for this post is:  

Copyright (c) 2025 Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not be posted immediately.

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Findndmypast Friday: New and Exclusive Naval Records

  I received this information from Findmypast today:

=====================================

Discover our newest Royal Navy releases

Royal Navy stories are now at your fingertips, with a brand new and growing archive of naval records, published in partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy. With three exciting new record sets, trace submariners as they slipped beneath the surface, casulties at sea, and family legacies forged in saltwater.

British Royal Navy, Submarine Movement Cards

Was your ancestor a British submariner in the first half of the 20th century? These records trace the movements and postings of Royal Navy submariners from the First World War through to the Cold War, documenting where individuals served and when. Created by the Admiralty, submarine movement cards record a sailor’s attachment to specific submarines, shore bases, and depots, often noting dates of joining and leaving each posting. They reflect the highly mobile and closely managed nature of submarine service, with personnel frequently moving between boats, training establishments, and refit periods. For family historians, these cards help reconstruct an ancestor’s submarine career, clarify gaps in service records, and place individual service within the wider operational history of Britain’s underwater fleet. Created in partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

British and Allied Warships Lost in Second World War

These records document British and Allied warships lost during the Second World War, recording vessels destroyed by enemy action, accidents, or operational hazards between 1939 and 1945. They provide vital information that gives context to your naval ancestor's experience during the Second World War, including how and where their ship was lost.

British Royal Navy Casualty Logs 1939-1945

These records document British and Allied warships lost during the Second World War, recording vessels destroyed by enemy action, accidents, or operational hazards between 1939 and 1945. They provide vital information that gives context to your naval ancestor's experience during the Second World War, including how and where their ship was lost.

New titles from Darwen to Deptford

We're ringing in the festive season with three new titles, and a total of 200,800 new pages added to our newspaper collection.

Search newspapers

Your guide to Navy records

Discover how to trace your Royal Navy ancestors and uncover their stories of service, adventure, and bravery at sea.

Learn how to explore naval records and uncover even more from our new collection, from ships and medals to pensions and muster rolls, bringing your ancestor’s maritime journey to life.

Read the guide

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See all of my posts about Findmypast at   https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/FindMyPast

Disclosure: I have a complimentary subscription to Findmypast, and have accepted meals and services from Findmypast, as a Findmypast Ambassador. This has not affected my objectivity relative to Findmypast and its products.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/12/findndmypast-friday-new-and-exclusive.html

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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The Severt Leland Family Christmas in 1925 in San Francisco

One hundred years ago, the Severt Oliver Leland (1878-1940) family resided in San Francisco, California at 1287 37th Avenue.  The ABC Biography for the Severt and Amelia (Brocke) Leland family is ABC Biography of Severt Oliver Leland (1878-1940) and Amelia Anna Brocke (1884-1975) Family of San Francisco, California. They had five children. Severt and Amelia (Brocke) Leland are my wife Linda's paternal grandparents through their son Lee Severt Leland.

(AI Google NotebookLM Infographic for Severt Leland Family at Chriostmas 1925)

I wondered what Christmas 1925 might have been like for this family.  I asked Anthropic Claude to tell me, based on information in the Biography and additional information about the family members.  Here is the story: 

Christmas Day 1925: The Leland Family in San Francisco

The fog had lifted early that Christmas morning of 1925, and pale winter sunlight streamed through the windows of the Leland home at 1287 37^th Avenue in San Francisco. Severt Oliver Leland, now 47 years old, was already awake, stoking the coal stove in the kitchen to warm the house. His wife Amelia, at 41, was in the kitchen preparing coffee, the rich aroma filling their modest home.

Morning: The Children's Excitement

The children were all home for Christmas, and what a range of ages they represented! Juanita, their eldest at 21, had been the first one up, helping her mother in the kitchen. She was a young woman now, poised and capable, but still living at home as many unmarried women did in those days.

Evelyn, 20, came down the stairs next, her eyes bright with the lingering magic of Christmas morning. Even at her age, there was something special about gathering as a family on this day.

Then came the thunder of footsteps as the younger children raced down—Harold at 17 was trying to maintain teenage dignity but couldn't quite hide his enthusiasm. Lee, 14, was openly excited, and young Alda “Toots”, just 10 years old, was practically bouncing with anticipation.

"Merry Christmas!" the children called out in a chorus as they gathered in the living room where a modest decorated tree stood in the corner. It wasn't the elaborate affair of wealthy families, but Amelia had strung popcorn and cranberries, and there were a few precious glass ornaments from the old country—treasures from Severt's Norwegian parents.

But first—the stockings! Hung along the mantelpiece the night before, five stockings now bulged with mysterious contents. Amelia had sewn special Christmas stockings for each child years ago—simple red felt affairs with their names embroidered in white thread. Even the older girls felt a thrill at seeing them stuffed full.

Gift Opening: Simple Pleasures

After a quick breakfast of coffee cake and hot cocoa, the family turned to the stockings first, as tradition demanded.

"Toots, you go first, being the youngest," Severt said, settling into his chair with his pipe.

She needed no encouragement. She pulled down her stocking and squealed with delight at its weight. From the top came a handful of walnuts and hazelnuts in their shells—precious treats. Then came peppermint sticks and a small bag of ribbon candy. Her eyes grew wide when she discovered a bright orange nestled in the toe—oranges from California were special, even though they lived here, and the golden fruit represented a little luxury. There was also a small wooden top painted in bright colors, a new handkerchief with embroidered flowers, and a few hairpins with colorful beads.

Lee dove into his stocking next, finding his own orange (which he immediately began peeling, unable to wait), nuts, candy, a small pocketknife—a treasure for a 14-year-old boy—and some new marbles that clicked together pleasingly in their small cloth bag.

Harold's stocking yielded practical treasures: an orange, nuts, candy, a small screwdriver to add to his growing tool collection, and a new pair of work gloves. At 17, he appreciated useful things.

The older girls took their turns, finding oranges, candies, new ribbon for their hair, bottles of cologne water, packets of hairpins (always needed!), and embroidery thread in beautiful colors. Even at their ages, they savored the tradition and the thoughtfulness behind each small item.

After the stockings came the gifts from under the tree. The gifts were practical but thoughtful. Harold received a new set of tools—he was becoming quite handy and enjoyed working with his hands. Lee got a baseball and glove, his face lighting up with joy. Young Frances squealed with delight over a new doll with a china face and a hand-sewn dress that Amelia had been working on in secret for months.

The older girls received fabric for new dresses—beautiful patterns they could sew themselves—and some hair combs that had been fashionable that year. Severt got a new pipe and tobacco, while Amelia unwrapped a lovely embroidered handkerchief set from her daughters.

"Papa, can we go to Golden Gate Park later?" Lee asked, already imagining showing off his new baseball.

Severt chuckled, exchanging a knowing glance with Amelia. "After dinner, son. Your mother's been cooking since dawn."

Christmas Dinner: A Feast Prepared with Love

Indeed, Amelia had outdone herself. The kitchen was warm and fragrant with the smells of roasting chicken (a holiday splurge), potatoes, and fresh-baked bread. She'd made her mother's recipe for German potato salad, a connection to her Idaho childhood and her family's heritage. There were preserved vegetables from their small garden, cranberry sauce, and for dessert, an apple pie and Christmas cookies the girls had helped decorate the day before.

The family gathered around their dining table, extended with extra leaves to accommodate everyone. Severt said grace, his Norwegian-accented English a reminder of his roots, thanking God for family, health, and the abundance before them.

As they ate, conversation flowed freely. Juanita talked about her work and the modern styles she'd seen downtown. Harold discussed the new automobiles he'd seen—San Francisco was rapidly modernizing, and the young man was fascinated by the changing city.

"Remember Christmas in Gardiner, Papa?" Evelyn asked, a nostalgic smile on her face. "That year it snowed so much we couldn't even see the mountains?"

Severt nodded, his eyes distant with memory. "1912, I believe. We were snowed in for three days. Your mother thought we'd never dig out."

"But we had plenty of food and firewood," Amelia added, her practical nature showing through. "And we had each other. That's what mattered."

Afternoon: Family Time

After dinner, while Amelia and the older girls cleaned up (despite protests that Mama should rest on Christmas), Severt retreated to his favorite chair with his new pipe. The younger boys were eager to get outside.

"Can we go now, Papa?" Leo pleaded.

Finally relenting, Severt bundled up and walked with Harold, Lee, and Toots to a nearby park. The San Francisco weather was mild compared to the Montana winters they'd left behind—no snow here, but the air was crisp and fresh. Leo tossed his new baseball with Harold while Toots ran around with boundless energy, her new doll carefully left at home to keep it nice.

Severt watched his children play, thinking about how far they'd come. From Wisconsin to Montana to California—three states, three different worlds. His father Torger, now 75 and living up in Washington state, had made the journey from Norway to America. Now here were his grandchildren, born in America, growing up in one of the most exciting cities in the world.

Evening: Quiet Reflection

As dusk fell, the family reconvened at home. Neighbors stopped by—the Italian family from next door brought panettone, the Irish family from down the street shared some whiskey with Severt (Prohibition be damned on Christmas). San Francisco was a patchwork of immigrants and their children, all building new lives together.

The girls played carols on the piano while everyone sang—"Silent Night" in both English and, at Severt's insistence, a verse in Norwegian. Little Toots was getting sleepy, curled up next to her mother on the sofa.

"This was a good Christmas," Amelia said softly to Severt as they sat together after the children had finally gone to bed. Through the window, they could see the lights of the city twinkling in the night.

"Every Christmas with you and the children is a good Christmas," Severt replied, reaching for her hand.

They sat together in the quiet house, two people who had traveled far from their birthplaces—he from Wisconsin, she from Idaho—to build this life together. Five healthy children, a home in the city by the bay, and another Christmas safely celebrated together.

Outside, San Francisco hummed with life, but inside the Leland home on 37^th Avenue, all was peaceful and warm. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new changes in their rapidly modernizing world, but tonight, Christmas 1925 was complete—a perfect moment of family, love, and gratitude that would become a cherished memory in the years to come.

=======================================

3)  The Google NotebookLM video about this story is below:

4)  This story is, of course, historical fiction with real persons and created dialogue.  It's a traditional view, even sappy and positive, but I think it's fairly realistic. It might have been this way in 1925. 

I wish I had a photograph of any Christmas that my family celebrated, but the Infographic at the top of the post captures the mood.

                        ==============================================

Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/12/findndmypast-friday-new-and-exclusive.html

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Please note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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