{"id":50299,"date":"2021-09-22T07:59:33","date_gmt":"2021-09-22T11:59:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=50299"},"modified":"2021-09-22T07:59:33","modified_gmt":"2021-09-22T11:59:33","slug":"sam-found-where-genealogy-and-radio-meet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/09\/sam-found-where-genealogy-and-radio-meet\/","title":{"rendered":"Sam found where genealogy and radio meet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Sam Alcom (KB3DFJ), who shares the following guest post:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a>Genealogy and radio meet<\/h1>\n

by Sam Alcom (KB3DFJ)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who knew two of my hobbies \u2013 genealogy and radio \u2013 would joyfully collide in such an unexpected way?<\/p>\n

My grandfather died in the 1950s when I was just a few months old, so I didn\u2019t know him, let alone have some misty recollection of him. Seemingly, our only connection was the DNA bloodline though my father.<\/p>\n

But as I dove into my family\u2019s history, one web search led me to William H. Alcorn and 3ADJ. What the heck was 3ADJ? I dug deeper and found Amateur Radio Stations of the United States, U.S. Department of Commerce, Radio Division from June 30, 1924. Both of us were hams!<\/p>\n

He was licensed as amateur radio station 3ADJ in Port Norris, N.J. with authorization to operate up to 50 watts.<\/p>\n

I found him and his 3ADJ callsign again listed in 1925 in the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Navigation, Radio Service publication. The \u201c3\u201d in his sign threw me for a brief loop, but I learned that in the early days of radio Southern New Jersey was part of the third call district along with Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, certain counties of Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.<\/p>\n

The worldradiohistory.com website, a goldmine for anyone delving into all aspects of broadcasting\u2019s past, led me to more publications where I spied my grandfather in the late fall 1925 edition of Radio Listeners\u2019 Guide and Call Book and the 1926 edition of Citizens\u2019 Radio Call Book and Complete Radio Cyclopedia.<\/p>\n

The last radio trace I find was in the June 30, 1927, edition of the Amateur Callbook.<\/p>\n

It was around this time that the U.S.\u00a0 began using \u201cW\u201d to start callsigns and I wondered if my grandfather continued with his radio hobby under the new designation. I looked up W2ADJ and found William Czak of West Brighton, N.Y., owning that sign. Likewise, W3ADJ belonged to the University of Maryland in College Park, Md. Both were from 1929.<\/p>\n

I dug a little deeper to learn if he possibly had been an amateur prior to 1924, but I saw 3ADJ licensed to Horace Derby of Norfolk, VA., 1920 through 1923.<\/p>\n

His amateur radio interest appears to have started sometime after 1921 and a stint in U.S. Navy as a Seaman Second Class and then seems to have waned – at least license-wise – as marriage and the first of my aunts, uncles and my dad were being born.\u00a0 I wonder if my dad had known about his dad\u2019s radio hobby. In all the years I\u2019ve been a licensed ham and bono fide radio nerd, he never mentioned it.<\/p>\n

Of course, learning on this radio connection to my grandfather raised a host of other questions. Did he enjoy CW as much as I do? What kind of contacts was he making with 50 watts? Would he have admired the WAS and DXCC award certificates hanging on my wall? Would my hefty binder of shortwave QSL cards impressed him?<\/p>\n

So, I\u2019ll keep poking, looking for more radio connections. Who knows, maybe, somewhere, there\u2019s a 3ADJ QSL signed by my grandfather.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Sam Alcom (KB3DFJ), who shares the following guest post: Genealogy and radio meet by Sam Alcom (KB3DFJ) Who knew two of my hobbies \u2013 genealogy and radio \u2013 would joyfully collide in such an unexpected way? My grandfather died in the 1950s when I was just a few months […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3194,545,3,305],"tags":[4102,4091,1302,9461],"class_list":["post-50299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guest-posts","category-ham-radio","category-news","category-nostalgia","tag-ham-radio","tag-radio-history","tag-radio-nostalgia","tag-sam-alcorn-kb3dfj"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-d5h","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":51826,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/sam-asks-are-antenna-arrays-found-on-dc-embassies-operational\/","url_meta":{"origin":50299,"position":0},"title":"Sam asks: Are antenna arrays found on DC embassies operational?","author":"Thomas","date":"February 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Sam Alcorn, who writes: A query: Many of the embassies in Washington, D.C., have impressive-looking antenna systems. Pictured (above) is the array atop the Romanian Embassy on 23rd St. NW. It looks well maintained and I've been wondering if they, and others, are operational\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/RomaniaAntenna-scaled-e1644493163753.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/RomaniaAntenna-scaled-e1644493163753.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/RomaniaAntenna-scaled-e1644493163753.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/RomaniaAntenna-scaled-e1644493163753.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/RomaniaAntenna-scaled-e1644493163753.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49091,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/don-recommends-radio-boulevard-for-a-deep-dive-into-radio-history\/","url_meta":{"origin":50299,"position":1},"title":"Don recommends Radio Boulevard for a deep dive into radio history!","author":"Thomas","date":"June 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Don (W7SSB), who writes: Hi Thomas, One of my friends has probably the best museum in the history of radio ! https:\/\/www.radioblvd.com\/ Your readers can spend days looking at all the information from the early days to present ! Plenty of pictures! Don W7SSB\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Radio-Dial-e1530836181998.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Radio-Dial-e1530836181998.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Radio-Dial-e1530836181998.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Radio-Dial-e1530836181998.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41702,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/radio-west-catalog-at-american-radio-history\/","url_meta":{"origin":50299,"position":2},"title":"Radio West catalog at American Radio History","author":"Thomas","date":"January 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Zack Schindler, who writes: Oh this brings back memories. I bought a lot of stuff from Radio West. Here is their catalog from 1983. Had them install a Collins mechanical filter in my Kenwood R-1000. Click here to download Radio West Catalog 5 (PDF).\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Radio-West-Catalog.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Radio-West-Catalog.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Radio-West-Catalog.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Radio-West-Catalog.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52464,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/sam-searches-for-the-radio-prague-forward-left-interval-signal\/","url_meta":{"origin":50299,"position":3},"title":"Sam searches for the Radio Prague Forward Left interval signal","author":"Thomas","date":"April 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Sam Ward, who writes: I am looking for a nice studio version of the old Radio Prague Forward Left interval signal that they used during their communist days. I just like that interval signal very much, and I'd really love to have a nice\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57808,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/09\/radio-waves-enigma-event-oldest-us-ham-rti-celebrates-95-years-bridge-built-station-and-yosemite-sam-mystery-solved\/","url_meta":{"origin":50299,"position":4},"title":"Radio Waves: Enigma Event, Oldest US Ham, RTI Celebrates 95 Years, Bridge Built Station, and Yosemite Sam Mystery Solved","author":"Thomas","date":"September 26, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors David Iurescia, Paul, and Andrew for the following tips: Enigma Reloaded International Event (Enigma\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Enigma-Machine.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Enigma-Machine.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Enigma-Machine.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Enigma-Machine.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6838,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/07\/seeking-1970s-era-recordings-of-radio-australia\/","url_meta":{"origin":50299,"position":5},"title":"Seeking 1970s era recordings of Radio Australia","author":"Thomas","date":"July 3, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, I\u00a0received\u00a0a message from Sam, via the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive. \u00a0He writes: Nice website! I've been looking (and listening) through it for the last hour or so. Nice! I see you have some Radio Australia recordings and was wondering if you have any older ones? I've been trying for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Shortwave Radio Audio Archive","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_0135-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50299"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50299\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}