RUBY One-Name Study : studying the Ruby surname across the world

In one of the f irst Ruby blog posts , I wrote about the challenge and rewards of moving outside of one's geographic comfort zone.   Nikki Brown this month has written about her research experiences moving for the first time out of the UK, in this case, all the way to Australia.  Crucial to her experience was collaboration from some of our colleagues.  Let us know what your experience has been by adding a comment! Check the end of the blog for a few New Zealand search tips provided by Jill Williams.       Even though I have been doing my One-Name Study for 5 years, it is still in its early stages and very much focused in England, and almost all the people, were in or near London. I have not ignored the rest of the world, but even for the UK, I found no Pullums in Wales and only two births in Scotland, one of which, in his own biography admits that he was only born there because his father was in the Royal Air Force and stationed at Turnberry ...

Paul Howes has provided a musical diversion in the Ruby one-name study.   No, there is no recording of Paul singing but some well-known 1950s era songs had a Ruby involved! A visit of a British friend led to my taking her to the city of Savannah, Georgia.   While there we happened upon the American Prohibition Museum dedicated to documenting the 18 th Amendment to the US constitution.   On our way to the “speakeasy” at the end of the exhibition my eye was drawn to some anti-prohibition sheet music on the wall.   Featured in the middle was this image: American Prohibition Museum - Harry Ruby Song Apologies for the lack of focus – you can see that I was already in need of the sustenance at the end of our visit!   There was quite an industry devoted to anti-Prohibition songs at the time.   Here’s a better focused picture of an Irving Berlin composition with what for the 1920s was quite a raunchy title! American Prohi...