THE ANCESTORS Mother's Day Special

Three white women in 30s-style floral "fascinator" hats lean in to the center, their lips pursed as if singing. — *“The Melody Weavers,” headliners at the Paramount Ballroom in Shanghai, China in 1934. Our grandmother, Regina Weaver (L) with Lillian (C) and Tyra (R) Weaver.*

What’sHerName presents our very first Mother’s Day Special! Come “meet the ancestors” as six What’sHerName listeners introduce some truly remarkable women from their own family history!

From Ukraine to Japan, Uzbekistan to Mexico, we’re traveling around the world, and through 275 years, to discover these amazing ancestors in this special double episode.

Our guests are What’sHerName listeners Irit Namatinya, Susan Stone, Lisa Williamson, Adrienne, Sachiko Burton, and Michelle Thorley.

Rosalia and her daughter Sophia survived Nazi invasion, a train explosion, a month in a swamp, and famine and disease in a rural Russian village. Sophia’s granddaughter Adrienne, the cohost of the Dear World, Love History podcast, tells their story. All photos by permission of Adrienne.

Grandmother Hyia and Sophia before the war. Grandpa Efrim carried a copy of this photo with him the entire war.

Sophia with Rosalia, her father Efrim, and a neighbor.

Adrienne is cohost of the *Dear World, Love History* Podcast.

In 18th century colonial Connecticut, Prudence Punderson was ignoring all the “rules” of needlework to create astonishing works of art. Lisa Williamson brings us the story of this truly remarkable “noted needlewoman.” [Correction: The man who brought Punderson’s embroidery to the State Fair after her death was her grandson, not her son-in-law as we mistakenly said.]

“The First, Second, and Last Scene of Mortality” embroidered by Prudence Punderson
Connecticut Historical Society Collection, Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.4

Detail from a bed hanging embroidered by Prudence Geer Punderson, circa 1750-60.
public domain

“Judas Iscariot,” embroidered by Prudence Punderson
Connecticut Historical Society Collection, Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.4

“St James the Great,” embroidered by Prudence Punderson
Connecticut Historical Society Collection, Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.4

“St Matthew,” embroidered by Prudence Punderson
Connecticut Historical Society Collection, Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.4

“St Simon,” embroidered by Prudence Punderson
Connecticut Historical Society Collection, Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.4

Lisa Williamson is a family history researcher in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Young Highland Dancer Margaret Stewart Haldane could never have imagined that her life would lead her from urban Glasgow to a career as the Postmaster of Rattlesnake, Florida, USA. Her granddaughter Susan Stone, producer of the Dead Ladies Show Podcast, brings us her story. All photos courtesy of Susan Stone.

A girl in a black dress covered in silver medals strikes a highland dancing pose — Margaret Haldane in her Highland Dancing medals

Margaret Haldane Reintjes in front of the Post Office in Rattlesnake, Florida

A group of ornate silver medals on a red velvet background — Margaret Haldane’s Highland Dance medals

Rattlesnake cannery in Rattlesnake Florida — Rattlesnake Florida, “Dignified, Fascinating, Educational”

A young man holds a large rattlesnake over a vat. He wears a white shirt and sailor hat. — George End’s son Daan handling rattlesnakes at the Reptileorium

Rattlesnakes hang from clothesline-type holders over a cement pit. Men are arranging them for skinning. — Snakes being prepped for processing at the cannery

Susan Stone is the producer of the *Dead Ladies Show Podcast* in Berlin, Germany.

Michelle Thorley is an artist and family history researcher. Her instagram is FloraFamiliar.

“Ancestresses – mi niñez”
by Michelle Thorley

“Resurrection Morning”
by Michelle Thorley

Charcoal portrait of Michelle Thorley’s Cameroonian 8-great grandmother, name unknown
by Michelle Thorley

“For the Ones Without Descendants”
by Michelle Thorley

Michelle Thorley is an artist whose work creates family history connections when the “history” isn’t there.

Irit Namatinya is a Bollywood dance teacher in Thailand. She brings us the story of her grandmother’s escape from Uzbekistan to Israel, and the unusual solution she discovered to an unusual and frightening problem.

The Chaminov family in Samarkand in 1932

Approximate route of the Chaminov family - From Samarkand through Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and finally to Jerusalem — The approximate route taken by the Chaminov family when escaping from Uzbekistan.

Irit Namatinya is a Bollywood Dance teacher in Thailand.

Rebecca Sachiko Burton is a writer in Washington state. She shares with us the ways her grandmother and great-grandmother gave her a legacy of courage and resilience, “even if you have to walk through fire.” All photos courtesy of Sachiko Burton.