A Dollar That Helped Build a Monument: The Bowe Family and the Washington Monument
Family history often reveals its richest stories only after sustained engagement with records and collections. For researchers, historians, and curators alike, discoveries like this serve as powerful reminders that even seemingly ordinary documents can illuminate unexpected connections to the nation’s past.
Using AI to Glean Details from Your Family Documents
Are you using artificial intelligence (AI) to help with your historical research? Here’s how AI can help uncover valuable background information from a seemingly mundane item.
Down the Rabbit Hole: How a Pomeroy Resurfaced With a Revolutionary War Burial
The American Pomeroys is the sister organization to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and so, from time to time, our work overlaps. This is especially true when your work actually stretches between the two: first as archivist and collections manager and second as a grant reviewer.
Artificial Intelligence Can Clarify Difficult Text and Provide “History Reveals”
When transcribing difficult to read documents, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can provide another “set of eyes” to review troublesome passages. After uploading a scanned image of the document, the AI agent, such as ChatGPT, can be instructed to analyze the handwriting and partial transcription. Then, it can be asked for its best recommendation for the unclear text. Afterward, AI can provide context if the meaning of the passage is still not apparent.
Family Treasures and the Stories They Tell
Many changes at the American Pomeroys and William G. Pomeroy Foundation happened in late 2025. One major event was the retirement of Susan Hughes, who in addition to her role with the American Pomeroys, took on the mantle of Lead Historian for the Foundation’s historic marker team, which she retired from on December 31. To honor all of Susan’s accomplishments with the American Pomeroys and Foundation, we are re-publishing this article on preserving, researching, and presenting family history.
A Genealogical Approach to Immigration in the United States
From 1790 to 1906, the documentation needed to naturalize changed. A Declaration of Intention, commonly called the “first papers,” included an oath of allegiance and proof of residency. This was the first step to becoming a United States citizen.
Edward Pomeroy Colley: Lost on the Titanic
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I'd like to share with you the story of one of the few Irish passengers to sail in First Class aboard the famous and ill-fated ocean liner, Titanic.
What is a Hamlet?
If you're doing research in New York State (outside of New York City), you may be wondering what the difference is between a hamlet, a village and a town. Understanding their places in local government can help greatly in locating historical records.
"The Terrible Gulf Storm": Sabine Pass, Texas and the Great Flood of 1886
"The Terrible Gulf Storm": Sabine Pass, Texas and the Great Flood of 1886, by Susan Hughes, originally published August 28, 2015