A TV Show About the Titanic, and My 15 Minutes of Fame

Yes, I realize the Olympics are in full swing. But it's time for my 15 minutes of fame.

On Tuesday, August 7 at 8:00 p.m. the History Detectives will broadcast Episode 5 about a picture frame that has been in my family for three generations. The show investigates whether or not this family heirloom is from the Titanic, the Lusitania, or neither. In this photo you can see the picture frame held by host Elyse Luray, and in Hillsborough, you can find History Detectives on Channel 13.

The producers certainly did their research, spending nearly a year with my family, and with experts in the field to study all sorts of history surrounding what they called "the artifact" (as if it were dropped from a UFO by Elvis). The History Detectives filmed me and my cousin, Cathy McIsaac, as well as industry experts and descendents of sailors.  In the process, I learned that someone who studies wood is called a dendrologist, and I learned that some stranger across the country had a photo of my great-grandfather. All of this over a little picture frame that has been sitting on my mom's shelf for years. 

Speaking of mom, I plan to watch the show with her at her home in Neptune, NJ. If you can tear yourself away from the Olympics on Tuesday night, I'll hope you'll tune in, too.