My Colorful Ancestry: 10-Year Anniversary

 

On March 23, 2016, something unexpected happened.

What began as a simple idea at my desk—just a different way of looking at a pedigree chart—turned into something far bigger than I could have imagined. A colorful spreadsheet. A handful of states. A spark of curiosity. And within hours, it was everywhere.

 

The Idea That Started It All

I remember exactly how it began.

I wanted to see my family tree differently—not through names, dates, or locations at the county level—but through birthplaces at a glance. Just states (and countries), nothing more. Clean. Simple. Visual.

Then came the twist: color.

Each state became its own visual identity. Suddenly, patterns appeared. Migration stories jumped off the page. It wasn’t just data anymore—it was a story told in color.

And just like that… voilà.

 

When It Went Viral

I shared my chart on Facebook, thinking a few genealogy friends might enjoy it.

Within hours, it took on a life of its own.

People didn’t just view it—they recreated it. They downloaded the spreadsheet, customized it, shared it, and tagged me. Then their friends did the same. And their friends after that.

By the next morning, it was everywhere:

• Facebook feeds filled with colorful charts
• Twitter buzzing with genealogy conversations
• Instagram posts showcasing family histories
• Blogs highlighting new variations and ideas

It spread across the entire genealogy community—what I like to call the GeneaSphere.

 

The Power of a Simple Idea

Looking back, I think the magic came from a few key things:

• Simplicity – Anyone could do it
• Visual impact – Instantly understandable
• Shareability – Easy to post, easy to recreate
• Creativity – Others expanded the idea in amazing ways

People added more generations. Some incorporated flags. Others adapted the concept entirely—proving that genealogy isn’t just about research, it’s about expression and connection.

 

The Hashtag That Brought Us Together

A special moment in all of this was the introduction of the hashtag #MyColorfulAncestry, thanks to Crista Cowan, aka The Barefoot Genealogist.

That hashtag unified the movement. It gave us a way to find each other, to share, to comment, and to celebrate our diverse backgrounds together.

For a brief moment, we weren’t just individual researchers—we were part of a global conversation.

 

What It Meant Then—and Now

At the time, I called it “an irregularity in the social GeneaSphere.” And in many ways, it was.

But ten years later, I see it differently.

It wasn’t just about a chart.

It was about:

• Sparking conversations between strangers
• Encouraging people to explore their roots
• Making genealogy approachable and fun
• Building community through shared discovery

I gained new friends, new connections, and a deeper appreciation for how powerful even the smallest idea can be.

 

Ten Years Later

Now, a decade later, I still see echoes of that moment.

Visual storytelling in genealogy has only grown—charts, infographics, DNA visuals, and more. And I like to think that, in some small way, #MyColorfulAncestry helped inspire that evolution.

What started as a simple spreadsheet became something meaningful.

And honestly… that still amazes me.

 

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

So here we are—ten years later.

If you created a chart back then, I’d love to see it again.
If you’re new to it, why not give it a try?

Pull out your pedigree. Add some color. See what patterns emerge.

Because sometimes, all it takes is a little color to bring your ancestry to life.

Link to the original post: https://bit.ly/4uN6nZY

My original post has over 42,000 views as of today.

🎉 GeneaSpy Turns 11: A Lunar Anniversary Worth Celebrating

 

Eleven years ago, I launched GeneaSpy with intention, curiosity, and more than a little symbolism. The blog officially began on the first new moon of 2015—a moment traditionally associated with fresh starts, reflection, and setting long-term intentions. It felt like the perfect time to begin a new genealogy journey, and looking back, it truly was.

Since that quiet lunar beginning, GeneaSpy has grown into something far beyond what I imagined.

📊 By the Numbers

Over the past 11 years:

• 81 total posts have been published

• 480,475 all-time views from readers around the world

• 111 thoughtful comments sparking conversation and connection

Those numbers represent more than statistics—they reflect a community of fellow researchers, storytellers, and history lovers who care deeply about the past and how we tell its stories.

🌈 A Moment That Went Viral

One post, in particular, took on a life of its own:
“A Little Thing That Went Viral… #MyColorfulAncestry”, which has been viewed 40.9 thousand times and counting.

That post reminded me how powerful personal stories can be when they resonate beyond charts, records, and timelines. It reinforced why I started GeneaSpy in the first place: to explore genealogy not just as research, but as a lived experience.

🔍 Why GeneaSpy Still Matters

GeneaSpy has always been about curiosity—asking better questions, looking beyond the obvious, and uncovering the stories hiding in plain sight. Eleven years later, that mission hasn’t changed. What has changed is the depth of experience, the lessons learned, and the growing appreciation for how interconnected our stories truly are.

🌑 Looking Ahead

As GeneaSpy enters its 12th year, I’m grateful—for every reader, every comment, every shared post, and every ancestor whose story nudged me forward. Just like that first new moon in 2015, this anniversary feels less like an ending and more like another beginning.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to the next chapter of GeneaSpy—still watching, still questioning, still discovering.

🕵️‍♂️✨

Transparency: I wrote this with the assistance of AI.

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 More Than an Heirloom: The Plaque That Tells My Grandmother’s Story

Some family artifacts speak quietly. Others speak with authority.

One of the most meaningful objects in my family history collection is a ceramic plaque presented to my grandmother, Myrtle Hawthorne, in the mid-1950s. It’s decorative, formal, and unmistakably intentional—created not just to commemorate an event, but to preserve a legacy.

The plaque reads:

GOP

PRESENTED - JAN - 6 - 1956

by 

THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

of 

ENCINO REPUBLICAN

WOMAN'S CLUB
To

MYRTLE HAWTHORNE
FIRST PRESIDENT

ORGANIZED 

FEB -15 - 1955

In just a few lines, it captures a moment of leadership, service, and community engagement that might otherwise have faded from memory.

An Object That Anchors a Story

As genealogists, we’re trained to chase records—census schedules, vital records, land deeds. But artifacts like this plaque remind us that not all evidence of a life lived well appears in official documents.

This plaque tells us:

Where Myrtle was active: Encino, California

When she stepped into leadership: the post–World War II era

How she served: through civic and political organization

Why she mattered: she was trusted to lead from the very beginning

She wasn’t simply a member of an organization. She helped build it.

Women’s Organizations and Hidden Histories

Mid-20th-century women’s clubs played a vital role in civic life, especially at a time when women were still fighting for broader recognition and influence. These organizations offered leadership opportunities, social networks, and a public voice.

Yet they are often underrepresented in traditional genealogical research.

This plaque provides a crucial research clue: the exact name of the organization and its founding date. That information opens doors to meeting minutes, newspaper articles, membership rosters, and local histories—records that can illuminate women’s lives in ways standard sources rarely do.

Why This Matters

What I love most about this plaque is its permanence. It was created to endure. Someone believed Myrtle’s contribution was important enough to be preserved in ceramic and gold, meant to last long after the moment passed.

More than seventy years later, it still fulfills that purpose.

For me, this plaque is a reminder that genealogy isn’t only about tracing lineage—it’s about restoring depth and meaning to the lives behind the names. My grandmother wasn’t just an ancestor. She was a founder, a president, and a respected leader in her community.

And thanks to this plaque, her story can still be told.

This post was written by ChatGPT based on GPT-5.2 with information and photos provided by me.