A Look at Distant Cousin “Diamond-Tooth Charlie” and His Work in Establishing USC’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Angelus Hospital
In which I discuss Dr. Charles William Bryson, also known as “Diamond-Tooth Charlie,” and how he helped establish USC’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Angelus Hospital; and I explain his family connections to my great grandfather, Dr. W. F. Traughber.
Exploring the History of Hollywood High School - the Traughber Family’s Alma Mater
In which I discuss the history of Hollywood High School, from which my grandmother, Margaret Ruth Traughber, and her brothers all graduated; and share photos and stories from her 1927 senior yearbook.
Living Across from Charlie Chaplin Studio: The Traughbers’ First-Hand View of the Hollywood Movie Industry (and a Look at Charlie Chaplin)
In which I discuss my grandmother ‘s experience growing up in Hollywood at 1359 N. La Brea Avenue across from Charlie Chaplin’s Studio, her brother Frank’s experience working for Charlie Chaplin, and her family’s experience of having a “front row view” of the growth of the Hollywood movie industry. Oh, and I also talk a lot about Charlie Chaplin!
The Story of a House: 1359 N. La Brea Avenue in Hollywood
In which I discuss the history of a house - specifically, the house at 1359 N. La Brea Avenue in Hollywood, CA, that my great grandparents moved into in 1911, soon after it was completed; and in which they continued to live until the late 1940s, watching as the the city and the movie business grew around them and Charlie Chaplin built his studio right across the street.
Following in My Great-Grandparents’ Footsteps: An Afternoon at Strawberry Hill in Golden Gate Park
In which we “retrace” the 1905 honeymoon footsteps of my great-grandparents, Frank and Nora Traughber, and their visit to Strawberry Hill and Blue Heron (aka. Stow) Lake in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA.
Exploring Mike's Family History in San Francisco
In which I describe Mike’s and my “family heritage trek” through San Francisco on Dec. 29, 2025, visiting three different houses where his grandparents and great grandparents lived, as well as the cemetery in which his great grandparents (and various other family members) are buried in Colma, CA.
Love is Building a House Together: A Tribute to My Parents, Part II
In which I continue describing the process of building our house on Minta Lane; this section focuses on moving into the old house that was in front of it in April 1980; completing construction to the point we could finally move in (though there was still work to do), and demolishing the old house.
Love is Building a House Together: A Tribute to My Parents, Part I
In which I begin describing the process of our family building a house together from 1979-1981. In this first part, I discuss purchasing the property on Minta Lane in Antioch, the early design stages (which involved a passive solar design), preparing the construction site, and building the foundation.
A Historic Trek: The Amazing Honeymoon of W.F. Traughber and Nora Petree Traughber in 1905, Part VII
In which I describe the visit my great-grandparents made to Welch Big Tree Grove in Santa Cruz on their honeymoon in August 1905, as well as my own more recent visit to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (which includes the old Welch Big Tree Grove)
Standing on a Quaker Burial Ground in Philadelphia that Contains my 8th Great-Grandmother's Bones
In which I discuss my recent visit to the Arch Street (Quaker) Meeting House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where my 8th great-grandmother, Katherine Lightfoot Miller, is buried; and I share some details about the Meeting House as well as Quaker beliefs and history.
My Dad: Master of Sea and Sail ... and Winner of the Single Handed Sailing Society's 1996 Transpac Race from San Francisco to Kauai's Hanalei Bay
In which I celebrate my father, Douglas William Graham, for Father’s Day, and describe some of his many sailing adventures - including his victory in the Single-Handed Sailing Society’s 1996 Transpac Race from San Francisco to Kauai’s Hanalei Bay.
Chasing History: Exploring My Ancestral Roots
Follow along as I explore my family history, travel to important historical sites, share photos, and conduct research for my various writing projects. These blog posts tells stories from various branches of my family tree, including Colonial Americans, Indian Captives, Scottish Presbyterians, Irish Quakers, Pioneers on the Oregon and Mormon Trails, Civil War Veterans, Early Californians, and Ellis Island Immigrants, as well as my more immediate family.
I actually began this blog April 30, 2022, but I am working on migrating my previous blog posts to this website from blogspot.com, making this a work in progress. I hope you’ll follow along!
Exploring Mike's Family History in Oregon City
In which I discuss some McQuade family history and describe our visit to Oregon City, where we visited Railroad Avenue (where his grandfather, Thomas Victor McQuade, was born), the Pioneer Cemetery (where his great-great grandfather Aaron Walker is buried), and the “End of the Trail” Museum.
My Dad: Master Builder Extraordinaire
In which I describe some of my father’s building projects, including various wall units, cabinets, tables, vanities, decks, play houses, and real houses, as well as how he has nurtured Mike’s building skills and added to his tool collection.
My Mother: Seamstress and Craftswoman Extraordinaire
In which I discuss my mother’s amazing sewing and crafting productions, including matching outfits, Bicentennial clothing, Halloween and Drama costumes, Wedding favors, Paintings, Embroidery and Crochet projects, and more.
Countdown to Book Launch on February 1!
In which I do a ten-day countdown to the book launch of A State Divided: The Civil War Letters of James Calaway Hale and Benjamin Petree of Andrew County, Missouri, 1862-65, and share photos and book excerpts along the way.
Exciting News ... "A State Divided: The Civil War Letters of James Callaway Hale and Benjamin Petree of Andrew County, Missouri" is Coming Soon!
In which I announce that my book A State Divided will launch on February 1 and that I will begin a 10-day countdown leading up to the big day; and I share “Poetic Thoughts on Missouri in the Civil War.”
My Mother: The One Who Taught Me to Love the Holidays
In which I discuss the many ways my mother taught me to enjoy and celebrate Christmas - including hand-crafted ornaments, Christmas cards, nativity sets, ornaments to commemorate special vacations and events, hand-sewn stockings and pillows, homemade cookies and pies, and so much more; and I share lots of photos.
Exploring Family Connections to the 1758 Fort Sebert Massacre, Col. Henry Bouquet’s 1764 Treaty, and The Light in the Forest
In which I discuss how my 7th GGP’s were killed in the Seybert Massacre in Augusta County, Virginia, in April 1758, and their three children taken captive by the Shawnee (including my 6th GGM Barbara Reager); how Barbara and her sister were returned along with more than 200 other captives in November 1764 to Col. Henry Bouquet along the Muskingum River in Ohio when the tribes had to return their white captives as part of a treaty agreement; and how this relates to the novel The Light in the Forest, which I have taught to my juniors for many years.