How Do I Research Ancestors Who Sailed to America in the 1600s? And More Questions From Our Readers
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I have an ancestor who was in Massachusetts in 1640. What is the best way to research ships that arrived before that time? Douglas H. Kerr | Okatie, South Carolina
British ships of the colonial era made lists of their passengers, crew and cargo, although not all such records are still available today. As the first passenger ship to make landfall in New England in 1620, the Mayflower was of particular historical interest, so historians have spent a lot of time researching its 102 passengers. Some left behind written records of their journey in letters and journal entries. Many, many Americans can trace their ancestry to the Mayflower—myself included. My grandmother was a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (also known as the Mayflower Society), which has 100,000 members. There are many other Mayflower descendants who either don’t know about their ancestry or never followed up to claim membership. For those looking to find out about New England ancestors who came over on other ships during this period, the best source of information is the New England Historic Genealogical Society (a.k.a. American Ancestors) in Boston. Its website offers a special guide for people tracing 17th-century migration to New England. —Paul F. Johnston, curator of maritime history, National Museum of American History
How does a bison carry the weight of its large hump? Monica Cartwright | North Wales, Pennsylvania
As you might expect, a bison’s iconic hump places extra weight over its forelimbs. However, rather than hindering its movement, this feature is actually an adaptation that enhances its ability to survive in a diverse range of North American habitats. The hump is made of powerful muscles supported by elongated thoracic vertebrae, and this front-heavy structure makes it easier to push through obstacles and dig through heavy snow, which can be critical to foraging during winter months. The musculature also supports the bison’s strength and stability in rugged environments, helping it navigate uneven terrain and accelerate quickly. The hump does influence how a bison runs, giving a distinctive loping or rolling rhythm to its stride. But given the bison’s capacity to sustain speeds of 35 miles per hour, its hump certainly doesn’t slow it down. —Olivia Cosby, Great Plains Science Program ecologist, National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Does anyone ever wear the jewelry in the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection? Mary Congdon | Sayre, Pennsylvania
Generally not, though there have been a few rare exceptions. In the 1960s, Marjorie Merriweather Post and Polly Logan made arrangements to wear some of the jewelry they had donated. While the gem exhibition was closed for renovation, Michelle Pfeiffer wore many pieces from our collection for the March 1995 issue of Life magazine, including the Hope Diamond and the Mackay Emerald, an Art Deco piece that once belonged to a diva in the New York Metropolitan Opera. Many other items in our collection were worn by famous people in their previous lives, from royalty to Hollywood stars. One of our newest gems, the Winston Red Diamond, was once part of a necklace worn by the Maharaja of Nawanagar and was later modeled in a pinky ring by Brooke Shields. —Russell Feather, gem collection manager, National Museum of Natural History
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This article is a selection from the July/August 2025 issue of Smithsonian magazine