As we continue our journey through The Forgotten Seconds, we pause to examine the life of Schuyler Colfax—a name once associated with optimism, eloquence, and the future of the Republican Party. He was Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant, a former Speaker of the House, and one of the most prominent political figures of his time. But Colfax’s career was later marred by scandal, and his name, once linked to presidential potential, was swept away in the tide of changing political winds.

Let’s step back into his world and uncover the story of the man who stood beside a general turned president and nearly charted a course for the White House himself...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/schuyler-colfax-speaker-scandal-and-the-shadow-of-what-might-have-been/

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As we continue our series, The Forgotten Seconds, we take a closer look at those vice presidents who, despite standing one heartbeat away from the highest office, never became president themselves. Today’s spotlight is on Hannibal Hamlin, Abraham Lincoln’s first vice president—a name that once carried national significance but has since faded from common memory. Hamlin’s life tells the story of New England grit, political courage, and quiet conviction in a turbulent era...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/hannibal-hamlin-vice-president/

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I found this old postcard the other day, and something about it pulled me right in. It shows a dimly lit room, heavy with shadow and curiosity. There’s a man standing with a bird—maybe a parrot—perched on his arm. A woman leans against the back bar. You can just make out a bartender. There’s a large wooden chest in the corner, chains hanging from the wall, and rough-hewn beams that look like they’ve seen more than a century of stories.

This isn’t just a bar. It’s something else. It feels like a set from a play, or maybe a place where the curtain never fully drops. That’s when I knew—I was looking at a piece of history from New York’s old Pirate’s Den...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/pirates-den-greenwich-village/

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This one caught my eye for a completely different reason than most of the postcards I’ve written about. It’s not a quiet street scene or a charming old building—it’s people. A whole lineup of them. Dancers, performers, maybe a few singers too, all standing in formation in front of a dramatic backdrop. They’re dressed in full costume—fringe, sequins, feathers—ready to perform, or maybe just wrapping up another night’s set.

The caption at the bottom reads: The Ensemble of “The Famous Hollywood Cabaret” Restaurant, Broadway at 48th St., New York City. It says a lot in just a few words. This wasn’t just a restaurant—it was a place where dinner came with a full night of entertainment. And this postcard doesn’t just show a building or a business—it captures a whole slice of nightlife in one of New York’s most legendary neighborhoods.

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/hollywood-cabaret-new-york/

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Some postcards you flip past quickly. Others make you stop. This one made me stop. It’s not flashy—there’s no massive landmark or postcard-perfect sunset. Just a simple church nestled among a few trees, with a neat little gatehouse and a quiet street. What caught my eye was the caption: The Little Church Around the Corner. That name alone makes you want to find out more. It sounds like something you’d say if you were giving directions in a familiar neighborhood—only this neighborhood happens to be in the middle of New York City...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/little-church-around-the-corner-nyc/

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Every June, many of us pause to honor the fathers in our lives—the ones who taught us how to change a tire, tied our fishing lines, and maybe even showed us how to be brave in the quietest of ways. But for all the neckties and backyard barbecues, few people know the full story of how Father’s Day came to be. The holiday didn’t spring up as easily as Mother’s Day, nor was it without its share of controversy, setbacks, and surprising twists. The roots of Father’s Day reach deep into early 20th-century America—and they begin not with a celebration, but with a tragedy...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-real-history-of-fathers-day-from-1910-to-today/

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The 1925 New York State census holds a prominent place in the lineup of state enumerations. This is not only because it was the last one conducted by the state but also because of the historical moment it captured. Taken just five years before the 1930 federal census, the 1925 enumeration offers researchers a final glimpse of New York families as they transitioned from the post–World War I years into a new, modern era marked by rapid change.

By the mid-1920s, New York State had evolved into a complex and dynamic region, shaped by industrial expansion, immigration, and cultural shifts. Therefore, the 1925 census becomes an indispensable resource for those seeking to understand the people and communities during this pivotal period...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/exploring-the-1925-new-york-state-census/

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By the time New York took its 1915 state census, the state was in the midst of dramatic social, political, and demographic shifts. The five years since the 1910 federal census had brought even more industrial growth, continued waves of immigration, and the rise of new housing, labor, and reform movements. Capturing all of this change in the middle of a federal census decade, the 1915 New York State census stands as one of the most insightful tools available for those researching family history in early 20th-century New York.

This census was conducted on June 1, 1915, by the state’s Department of Efficiency and Economy—a short-lived agency created to oversee and modernize state operations. The count included over 10.5 million residents and gave a mid-decade view of one of America’s most dynamic regions. It’s more than just names and numbers—it’s a snapshot of what life looked like in a time of incredible transformation...

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The 1905 New York State census is a cornerstone resource for anyone researching individuals or families who lived in New York at the beginning of the 20th century. Coming just five years after the 1900 federal census and five years before the 1910 federal count, this state census captures a critical snapshot of life during a dynamic and rapidly changing time in American history...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/exploring-the-1905-new-york-state-census/

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The 1892 New York census is an essential source for family history researchers working in the late 19th century. With the destruction of the 1890 U.S. federal census, the 1892 state count offers one of the only large-scale snapshots of life during that decade. For anyone tracing New York families through immigration, urbanization, or internal migration in the 1880s and 1890s, this record is a key substitute for the lost enumeration.

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-1892-new-york-state-census-filling-the-gap-left-by-1890/

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