'Share on Twitter' More photos from Life's Lisbon refugee article Apr 11, 2012 0 Comment From Life Magazine, April 26, 1941. Machinist The chief poobah at Family History Machine is Dan Ruby, aka Machinist. He created FHM as a tool to present his own family history, then opened the platform for other family storytellers to do the same. PreviousNext Story Portfolio Explore Themes Sources & Methods refugee experience historical article