Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

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Footnote.com Updates "Spotlights"

Footnote.com has expanded the capabilities of one of its popular features. Quoting from the Footnote blog:

We like to focus on discovery at Footnote.com. If you are like us, when you find something important you can’t wait to share it.

We created Spotlights to be a way you could quickly highlight and share your discoveries.

Spotlights don’t have to be of famous people or well-known events. They just have to be something that’s important to you – a document about an ancestor, historical newspaper article, or just something that made you laugh.

Recently, we started thinking about how to improve Spotlight pages.

"Digital Preservation For Your Family" seminar

The following announcement was written by Preserve Pro, Inc.:

Archivist Nooma Rhue educates public on how to preserve digital artifacts
 
CHARLOTTE N.C. (September 1, 2010) Preserve Pro, Inc will host Digital Preservation For Your Family seminar, a half-day experience teaching families, community organizations, and religious organizations the latest techniques in preserving digital artifacts. Participants will learn about the latest practices for preserving digital photos, computer files and audiovisuals, and how to use modern technology to protect invaluable memories.

Free Webinar on Mapping Software for Genealogists

Millennia, the producer of Legacy Family Tree software for Windows, is offering the company's first live webinar on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 2:00PM EDT. The webinar, Mapping Software for Genealogists will cover essential software tools: AniMap (U.S. & Canada), Centennia (Europe & Middle East), and Map My Family Tree (entire world), and maybe even a Legacy Family Tree tip or two.

In this 30 minute webinar Geoff Rasmussen will cover the following topics:

Sony's Three New E-readers

I've been watching and writing about the many e-reader products available these days. I believe these devices are revolutionizing publishing, including that of newspapers, magazines, books and many other kinds of published materials. Genealogy books are just one of the areas being affected. As these products become smaller, lighter, cheaper, and still easier than ever to read, the financial realities soon set in: publishing for e-readers is much cheaper than publishing on paper and the savings are often passed on to consumers.

The picture above shows Sony's new Reader Daily Edition, Touch Edition and Pocket Edition.

Sir Peter Gwynn-Jones, R.I.P.

Sir Peter Gwynn-Jones, former Garter Principal King of Arms in the United Kingdom, was well known in the genealogy world. He passed away on August 21 at age 70. He retired only a few months ago, previously serving as Garter Principal King of Arms, the senior English officer of arms, from 1995 to 2010. He was in charge of the College of Arms, which issues new coats of arms and verifies existing heraldry.

The office of Garter King of Arms, of which Gwynn-Jones was the 36th holder, was created by Henry V in 1417, initially concerned with the ceremonies of the Order of the Garter. While still performing these, Garter is also in charge of Royal heraldry and the arms of peers, as well as exercising a supervisory role over the English heralds.

Gwynn-Jones was a familiar face in the House of Lords, where he was responsible for introducing new peers to their seats.

Ancestry.ca Provides Free Access to Millions of Canadian Immigration Records

The following announcement was written by Ancestry.ca:

Free content includes millions of records from countries worldwide in nearly 300 collections
 
TORONTO, ON (September 2, 2010) Ancestry.ca, Canada’s leading family history website, will open its complete database of international immigration records for free from the 2nd to the 6th of September 2010.
 
Ancestry’s international immigration collection covers more than 193 million records in 273 collections from around the world.
 
Included are the Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935, which covers a period of 70 years and contains more than 7.2 million names, including 5.6 million of those who travelled from around the world to start a new life in Canada.

Oxford English Dictionary Will Not Be Printed Again

The next edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, the world’s most definitive work on the language, will never be printed because of the impact of the Internet on book sales. Sales have fallen due to the increasing popularity of online alternatives, according to its publisher.

Mormon Church Changes Procedures in Attempt to Resolve Issues of Proxy Baptism of Jews

The Mormon church has changed its genealogical database to better prevent the names of Jews killed in Nazi concentration camps from being submitted for posthumous baptism by proxy.

In a joint statement issued earlier today, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors said a new computer system and policy changes related to the practice should resolve a years-long disagreement over the baptisms.

Early Pittsburgh Marriages and Deaths Indices are Online and Growing

The following announcement was written by Ann S Eldredge:

In January 2010, a small band of genealogy seekers embarked on a project to make anyone who has roots in the Pittsburgh area jump for joy.  43 volunteers have been indexing marriages, deaths, and divorces from early Allegheny County newspapers and putting it all online at no cost.  Over 52,000 death entries and over 11,000 marriages have been indexed and put online through August.  The dates of the newspapers range from 1806-1987.

Ancestry.com Offers Life Stories of Ellis Island Immigrants Online

The following announcement was written by Ancestry.com:

More than 1,700 first-hand audio recordings now available for free online

PROVO, Utah, Sept. 1 -- Ancestry.com announced today it has launched a collection of more than 1,700 recorded oral histories from immigrants who arrived in the United States through Ellis Island. This is the first time this collection of poignant recordings has been available online. To celebrate the new addition, Ancestry.com is making its entire U.S. Immigration Collection free through Labor Day.

Upcoming Events

The Upcoming Events section of this newsletter is published as a newsletter article once per month, usually in the first week of the month. You can also view the latest list of events at any time by clicking on "Upcoming Events" in the Navigation menu near the upper right corner of the page at http://www.eogn.com.

Each event is listed with the name, location and dates. Click on the name to see the details, including a link to the event's web page or to an e-mail address of someone who will provide still more information. The EOGN list of Upcoming Events is also available as an RSS newsfeed at http://www.trumba.com/calendars/eogns_calendar.rss and as a normal web page at http://www.trumba.com/calendars/eogns_calendar

Ontario Genealogical Society Announces new Journal Editor: Elizabeth Lapointe

The following announcement was written by the Ontario Genealogical Society:

The Board of the Ontario Genealogical Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth Lapointe as editor of the Society’s journal Families.  A graduate of Acadia University, Elizabeth is an author, journalist, and blogger.  She has been editor of the OGS newsletter NewsLeaf since 2006 and is the founding editor of its electronic sister publication e-NewsLeaf.  She is a Past President of the Ottawa Chapter of the Professional Writers Association of Canada, and a Director of the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors.  She is the author of several books on genealogy and of hundreds of newspaper and online articles on genealogy and local history.  She is the guest editor for the August issue of Families and will assume full editorship with the November issue.

Family Tree DNA Questions Reporting about Hitler's Possible Jewish Origins

The following refers to an article published in this newsletter last week entitled, Hitler was Related to Jewish and Black Families. The article referred to a report by Brussels news magazine Knack that claimed DNA obtained from the Nazi leader’s relatives living in America led to the discovery. The report claimed that the Hitlers possessed Haplopgroup E1b1b (Y-DNA) which is rare in Germany and indeed western Europe. However, it is commonly found in the Berbers of Morocco, in Algeria, Libya and Tunisia as well as among Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews. The report offered conjecture that Adolf Hitler was related to these groups.

Family Tree DNA, experts in DNA applications for genealogy, says that the report is "highly questionable." The company also offers a clarification from the author of the original article. The following was written by Family Tree DNA:

NGS Announces New Education Manager: Patricia Walls Stamm, CG, CGL

The following announcement was written by the National Genealogical Society:

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) announces the appointment of Patricia Walls Stamm, CG, CGL, of St. Louis, Missouri, as Education Manager. In her new position, Stamm will oversee the development of online education courses and will be responsible for keeping the current education courses updated as related to content and technology.

Stamm has an extensive background as an instructor at the St. Louis Community College, the St. Louis Genealogical Society, and the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research in Birmingham, Alabama. She has served as conference program coordinator and education director for the St. Louis Genealogical Society. Stamm is a life member of the State Historical Society of Missouri and the St. Louis Genealogical Society. She received the St. Louis Genealogical Society President’s Award in May 2009 for work that led to an expanded educational program for the society.

(+) RAW Files for Digital Pictures

The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman.

I have written several times about the method of creating and preserving digital images. I have also written about scanning old photographs as well as scanning various printed or hand-written documents. Today I thought I would discuss the various file formats available and briefly describe the advantages and disadvantages of several of the more popular formats.

Today's technology allows for a selection of image file formats, including JPG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, PSD, RAW, PNG, EPS, PDF, and others in a seemingly endless alphabet soup of abbreviations and acronyms.

You can find several good reasons and bad reasons for selecting any of these file formats. However, from a genealogist's point of view, there are two significant issues to deal with: image size and image compression.

The Popularity of Your Last Name

The U.S. Census Bureau counts the number of Americans every ten years. The same government agency also asks a lot of questions of those people, such as how many bathrooms are in their house and whether or not the family owns a computer. The Census Bureau even counts how many people have the same first or last names.

Ancestry.com Introduces Family Tree Maker 2011 with more than 100 Enhancements

The following announcement was written by Ancestry.com:

No. 1 Selling Family Tree Software Offers Simplicity and Depth for Recording Family Histories
 
PROVO, Utah, August 31, 2010 – Ancestry.com today announced the release of Ancestry.com Family Tree Maker® 2011, an improved version of the world’s No. 1 selling family history software.

Angus and Dundee Roots Festival

The third annual Angus and Dundee Roots Festival will provide practical help for everyone who wants to find out more about their family history in Angus and Dundee.

A special party to mark the milestone will be held at Restenneth Priory on Monday, September 27. For the occasion, staff will be selecting 21 of their favorite items from the archives.

Brazil Will use Smartphones For Taking the Census

The U.S. Census Bureau originally planned to use custom-built handheld computers and wireless data to take the 2010 census. See my 2006 article that described those plans at http://tinyurl.com/3xmasvo. After spending $600 million on the plan, the Census Bureau abandoned the idea and went back to paper forms. See http://tinyurl.com/3xdssex for details.

Now the government of Brazil plans to conduct a census using handheld computers and wireless data but there will be two major differences: (1.) Brazil plans to use off-the-shelf consumer-grade cell phones to collect the information and (2.) Brazil also plans to spend a lot less money.

Plus Edition Newsletter Has Been Sent

To all Plus Edition subscribers:

The weekly Plus Edition newsletter was sent to your e-mail address a short time ago. It should have arrived by now. If you have not yet seen it in your in-box, check your spam folder. If it is not there, please contact your e-mail provider to see why it was blocked. This week's entire Plus Edition newsletter is also available at: http://www.eogn.com/wp/thisweek.htm. You can always read it there, regardless of what your email provider does to your in-box.

Here are the articles in this week's Plus Edition newsletter:

 - (+) A Better (Cheaper) Method of Obtaining Wi-Fi Service
 - (+) My New GPS and Camera and Mobile Internet Device and Secret Weapon
 - EOGN Dinner in Knoxville and a Change in Plans for Future Dinners
 - Salt Lake Family History Expo – Day #1
 - Salt Lake Family History Expo – Day #2
 - Flip-Pal
 - Reunion for iPad
 - Scan2PDF Mobile
 - Finding a Genealogy Society
 - Griffith’s Valuation now on Askaboutireland.ie
 - New Disney Channel Series “My Family Tree”
 - Ancestry.Com Adds 58 Million New Yearbook Records
 - Ancestry.com and NBC Team Up for a Second Season of “Who Do You Think You Are?”
 - Arkiv Digital Will Be Free this Weekend
 - Email Providers Are Rejecting Millions of Legitimate Emails Daily
 - Email Alternatives
 - Gmail Users: Add Free Telephone Calls
 - City of Utica Takes Over Birth and Death Records from Psychiatric Center
 - New Databases Ease Tracking of Jewish Roots in Massachusetts
 - 1890 Pickaway County, Ohio Census to be Recreated
 - NYG&B’s Financial Realities
 - West Valley (Arizona) Genealogical Society Meeting – September 13, 2010
 - “First Friday” at the East Tennessee History Center
 - Historian and Archivist Betty Clark Rodgers to be Honored
 - Still More Cemetery Vandalism: Lewiston, Maine
 - Springville, Utah: Help Wanted at OneGreatFamily.​com
 - Older Users Flocking to Facebook, Twitter
 - Your Public Officials at Work: Philadelphia is Requiring Bloggers to Pay $300 for a Business License
 - Hitler was Related to Jewish and Black Families
 - Never Miss a Plus Edition Newsletter

If printed, this week's Plus Edition newsletter is 39 pages long! Where else will you find this much genealogy news and information, per week? Especially without any advertising?

New Disney Channel Series “My Family Tree”

Genealogy and geography are set to come together in a new Disney Channel series to premiere in November. “My Family Tree” will showcase kids from around the country engagingly reporting on their interesting ancestors and roots.

A quote from Disney spokesperson Patti McTeague stated that the children featured in the series all “have self-esteem and a gift of storytelling.”

Salt Lake Family History Expo - Day #2

The second and final day of the Salt Lake Family History Expo was held on Saturday, August 28. In short, it was a continuation of Day #1, as expected: many seminars and presentations were held and vendors presented their products and services in the exhibits hall. The weather was excellent and it looked to me like everyone had a good time.

I did snap a lot of new pictures and am showing them below. Click on any image below to see a larger picture.

Salt Lake Family History Expo - Day #1

I must say that I had a fun day today, hobnobbing with genealogists all day long. I was at the Family History Expo in Sandy, Utah, for the first day of a two-day event. I snapped a number of photographs which you can see here if you scroll down. Click on any image to see a larger picture.

The Family History Expos are held in a number of cities, mostly in the western U.S., although this year the Expos are expanding as far eastward as Atlanta, Georgia. While this week's event is called the "Salt Lake Family History Expo," it is actually held in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. When driving from Salt Lake City to Sandy, a stranger probably won't realize that he or she crossed the city line. It is all one metropolitan area. In reality, this is the "Salt Lake AREA Family History Expo."

Flip-Pal

I have seen a lot of scanners in the past few years, but this one really caught my eye. Flip-Pal is a portable scanner designed to scan photographs. It fits easily into a briefcase or a ladies' medium-sized purse or into some overcoat pockets. The Flip-Pal is 10.25 inches long, 6.5 inches wide, and 1.25 inches thick. That's small! While it is possible to scan larger photos, it really excels at any black-and-white or color photograph of 6-inches by 4-inches or smaller.
 
The Flip-Pal was being demonstrated at the Salt Lake Family History Expo today, and I must say that I was impressed. The Flip-Pal is a small, portable scanner. When I say "portable," I really mean it in every sense of the word. In this case, there is no computer required! There are no cables dangling about, no attached computer, no power cord to plug into the wall, nothing. Take a look at the picture above. Click on the image to see a larger picture. Everything required to operate the scanner is shown in the picture. That's one scanner and one human. That's all that is needed.

Older Users Flocking to Facebook, Twitter

Sometimes I think that "older users" is defined as "anyone over the age of twenty-five." (Sigh) In any case, CNN has a very interesting story about older users being the fastest growing customer segment on both Facebook and Twitter. Well, it is interesting if you are over twenty-five.

The number of internet users over 50 who use social-networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter have nearly doubled in the past year, according to a study released Friday.

Between April 2009 and May, the percentage of internet users 50 and up who said they use social-networking sites has risen from 22 percent to 42 percent, according to the survey by the Pew Research Center.

Ancestry.Com Adds 58 Million New Yearbook Records

The following announcement was written by Ancestry.com:

PROVO, UTAH – August 27, 2010 – Ancestry.com today launched millions of records that now make up the largest searchable collection of yearbooks available online. Along with Ancestry.com’s existing collections, there are now more than 60 million yearbook records available in the site’s U.S. School Yearbook collection, which also includes class and candid photos of famous celebrities.
 
The 10,000 yearbooks included in the new U.S. School Yearbook collection feature yearbooks from high schools, junior highs, academies, colleges, and universities—military, public, parochial, and private—from almost every state in the United States spanning 1875-1988.

On the Road Again

By the time you read these words, I'll be on an airplane to Salt Lake City or perhaps will have already arrived. I'll spend two days at the Salt Lake Family History Expo being held in Sandy, Utah. You can read more about that in my earlier article at http://tinyurl.com/292gxoh

After the conference is over, I'm taking a side trip to Las Vegas for a few days before returning home. During the next few days, I probably won't be writing as many newsletter articles as usual. I will have a laptop computer, a 3G wireless card, and a variety of other hardware so Internet access shouldn't be a problem. What I will be lacking is time. I do hope to write about the Salt Lake Family History Expo and possibly will include a few pictures as well.

Finding a Genealogy Society

This newsletter and many other genealogy publications often refer to "your local genealogy society." The question is: how do you find such a society? Or, how do you find such a society in another part of the country where your ancestors lived? After all, if you live in Colorado but are looking for ancestors in Kentucky, you need to find the resources held by the Kentucky society. Then again, you may need to find a national society that specializes in specific ethnic groups, such as French-Canadian, Italian, Polish, or Quaker ancestry. Of course, your local society can always help immensely with research techniques and local resources but where can you find societies in another part of the country?

Salt Lake Family History Expo

If you can be in the greater Salt Lake City area this weekend, you might want to stop in at the South Towne Exposition Center in Sandy. If you do so, you will find the Salt Lake Family History Expo in full operation there on Friday and Saturday, August 27-28, 2010.

Email Alternatives

I recently wrote an article entitled "Email Providers Are Rejecting Millions of Legitimate Emails Daily" that has generated a lot of user comments. You might want to read those comments to see all the ideas and problems that other newsletter readers have found.

One comment from "Tenn Tuxedo" got me thinking: "if you want to see the future of e-mail, go to any college campus and ask the students how many e-mails they send in a week. Virtually none, they all communicate on social networking sites like Facebook. Sending an e-mail is just an inconvenience. To them e-mail is so 2005."

How true! I would add instant messaging to that list of "email substitutes."

Still More Cemetery Vandalism: Lewiston, Maine

Three Lewiston men were arrested in connection with the desecration last week of one of the city's oldest cemeteries.

Police charged the three young men with aggravated criminal mischief and desecration and defacement of a burial site in connection with widespread vandalism at Riverside Cemetery. All three remained at the Androscoggin County Jail on Tuesday night.

Gmail Users: Add Free Telephone Calls

Google has merged Gmail and Google Voice together to allow users to place phone calls from within Gmail. Both services have been available separately for some time. Now Google is merging the two together. See a telephone number in an email message? Click on the number and a free telephone call is initiated.

Google also announced today that calls to the US and Canada would be free for "at least" the rest of the year, leaving the door open to possibly charging for calls beginning in 2011. Calls to other countries will always be very cheap. For instance, I used Google Voice this morning to call Ireland for 2 cents (U.S.) per minute. The connection was crystal clear, better than many other overseas calls I have made in the past.

(+) My New GPS and Camera and Mobile Internet Device and Secret Weapon

The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman.

In an earlier article, I mentioned that I was planning to replace my aging and somewhat deaf GPS with a new model. I solicited suggestions and did receive quite a few worthwhile comments. However, in the end, I decided to purchase a different GPS from what had been suggested. The model I purchased is new, having been released by the manufacturer only a few weeks ago. It is so new that no newsletter readers had any experience with this particular model.

The device I purchased is quite different from any other GPS I have ever seen or used. For one thing, it is cheaper than most of the units I had previously considered. Next, it is smaller than most other GPS devices made for automobile use, which turns out to be a mixed blessing: some good, some bad. Finally, it has several features I have never seen on any other GPS unit. It has one feature that really excites me as I have another "secret weapon" that extends its capabilities.

Arkiv Digital Will Be Free this Weekend

Arkiv Digital is an online genealogy database service that specializes in digitizing Swedish historical records by taking photo images of original documents in color. Quoting from Laila Christiansen's blog:

*ArkivDigital for free this weekend 27 to 29 August*

This weekend (28-29 August), this year's Genealogy Days will take place in Örebro. Arkiv Digital is the main sponsor of the event and we hope that there will be a lot of people visiting Örebro. We have some new and exciting things to show in our booth and there will certainly be shown and sold many other exciting things in Örebro.

Unfortunately, not all of you will be able to visit the Örebro and that is why we would like to offer something to all genealogists as well as "celebrate" the event, Arkiv  Digital offers free access for research in our over 22.5 million images from the archives in Swedish and Åland.

Ancestry.com and NBC Team Up for a Second Season of “Who Do You Think You Are?”

The following announcement was written by Ancestry.com:

World's Largest Family History Web Site Continues Sponsorship of Critically Acclaimed TV Series That Takes a Personal Look at Celebrity Family Histories
 
PROVO, Utah, August 25, 2010 – Ancestry.com is pleased to announce it has extended its relationship with NBC for the second season of the “Who Do You Think You Are?” television series.

(+) A Better (Cheaper) Method of Obtaining Wi-Fi Service

The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman.

When at the FGS conference in Knoxville last week, I talked with several people about their Internet access when traveling. Many people travel with laptop or netbook computers these days, almost all of which include built-in wi-fi wireless networking. However, most of the people I talked with were paying $10 or $12 per night to their hotel for wi-fi access.

That's outrageous! Generally speaking, the cheaper hotels provide wi-fi at no charge while the more "upscale" hotels gouge their guests. Luckily, the guests do have options.

Reunion for iPad

Reunion by Leister Productions is the leading Macintosh genealogy program in North America. A matching program has been available for some time for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch that allows Reunion users to take their genealogy database with them. Now an iPad-specific version has been released.

Reunion for the iPad allows you to view, navigate, search, and edit your information on the go. Yes, that's "edit." You can make changes to your database on the iPad, then take it back to the Macintosh and perform a sync function. All the changes you made on the iPad will be copied back to your family file on the Macintosh.  You can add people, document new information, add pictures, and make corrections to your data on the iPad. Those changes will later be added to the Reunion database on the Macintosh.

Scan2PDF Mobile

Have you ever found yourself at a library or a records repository and needing to make a copy of a document? It might be a will or a deed or a birth record. Whatever the document, you need a copy. The problem is, there is no photocopier to be found. The solution is simple: use the camera in your cell phone.

Most any cell phone camera will do a so-so job of storing an image of a document. It might not be the best quality, but it is usually acceptable. You can store the image as a JPG or possibly some other format. However, for only a few dollars, you can find software that will store it as a PDF file which then can be emailed to yourself, to someone else, or stored and copied to the desktop computer later for printing. You can even send it as a FAX, if you wish.

Scan2PDF Mobile is a lifesaver when you need a PDF file in a hurry. The program uses your mobile phone to scan documents and convert them to PDF files. It all happens on your phone allowing you to scan documents anywhere - as long as you have your phone. Think of it as a document scanner/fax machine that you always have with you.

Email Providers Are Rejecting Millions of Legitimate Emails Daily

One of the biggest headaches I face is sending newsletters by email. Every day, I receive messages from readers stating, "I am not receiving the EOGN newsletter in email. Can you fix that?" Sadly, I cannot. Every time I look at the mail server's logs, I see where the email message was sent correctly. However, I estimate that 5% to 10% of the messages never get delivered.

According to an article in PC Pro, Friends Reunited had as many as 27% of its emails blocked by email providers' mail servers in May. Those messages typically do not even make it to the recipients' spam folders but are blocked at the mail servers instead.

Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) restrict, redirect, or reject inbound emails to save users the time and hassle of having to deal with spam mail. However, new studies are showing that a number of ISPs are rejecting millions of legitimate email messages every day.

Springville, Utah: Help Wanted at OneGreatFamily

An ad on Monster.com shows that genealogy database provider OneGreatFamily is looking for an Online Marketing Director. The company seeks an experienced marketing manager "who can hit the ground running in managing our Internet advertising programs (all except the Affiliate program) in order to grow revenue profitably.​ The successful candidate will aggressively grow monthly new subscription revenue by being customer-centric and working to ensure that our internet advertising effectively reaches and converts new subscribers.​"

You can read more at http://jobview.monster.com/GetJob.aspx?JobID=90213599

City of Utica Takes Over Birth and Death Records from Psychiatric Center

According to a statement issued by the city of Utica, New York, the city’s Vital Records office has assumed responsibility for the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric death and birth records.

The decision to consolidate the two offices was made by the state, according to the statement. Any inquiries regarding birth or death, certified or genealogy, should now be directed to the city’s Vital Records office at (315) 738-0218 or visit the city’s Web site at http://www.cityofutica.com

New Databases Ease Tracking of Jewish Roots in Massachusetts

Boston.com has an article about Carol Clingan of Dedham, Massachusetts. Clingan and others of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston have complied databases that are about to go public to help Jews all over the world track their Massachusetts roots.

In the lists, every synagogue in the state is inventoried, as well as all Jewish cemeteries and newspapers, rendering the search for family a little more manageable for those starting out.

1890 Pickaway County, Ohio Census to be Recreated

Back in February, 2009, the volunteers of the Pickaway County Historical and Genealogical Library decided to undertake a huge project for Pickaway County’s Bicentennial.  They would rebuild the 1890 census.

Plans were made to list all persons known to be living in Pickaway County in 1890. A source of each bit of information would also be attached, so that researchers could verify all research. The full names of individuals, his or her birthdate and place, marital status in 1890, when the marriage occurred, the parents' names (including maiden name of mother), occupations, and residence are be included in this recreated version of the census.

West Valley (Arizona) Genealogical Society Meeting - September 13, 2010

Marsha Allen Gold, a Utah native, raised and living in the Phoenix Valley of the Sun, will be the September 13, 2010 Meeting speaker.  Knowing the history of an area is invaluable to genealogical research. Her topic will be "Using Printed County Histories".  Marsha's interest in genealogy began when she visited her grandparents and cousins, heard their life's stories and spent time going through old photograph albums. Later in life, she spent one day a week writing  family stories that her mother related.  Marsha has spoken to several genealogical societies in the area and has taught beginning classes to the Family History Society of Arizona.

“First Friday” at the East Tennessee History Center

The following announcement was written by the East Tennessee History Center:

Come celebrate “First Friday” at the Museum of East Tennessee History on Friday, September 3, from 5:00-8:00 pm.  The Museum of East Tennessee History will feature the infrared photographs of local photographer and businessman, Daniel Brent Golden, manager of Hart Graphics, Inc. In his artwork, Golden combines his two favorite avocations, photography and fly fishing, to create large panoramic images of North America's fly-fishing waters. Golden has recently taken an interest in the invisible light of infrared (IR) photography, using this technology to capture waterways throughout East Tennessee. For this special First Friday exhibition, the Clinch, Watauga, and Holston rivers will be featured. The series has been praised as “hauntingly beautiful” and as “containing a vividness and depth matched only by our memories.”

Historian and Archivist Betty Clark Rodgers to be Honored

Betty Clark Rodgers was instrumental in the founding of the first county archives of its kind in the state of Mississippi, serving from 1993 until 2005. Now she will be honored and recognized for her life achievement by the Jackson County Historical and Genealogical Society (JCHGS).

A founding member of the Jackson County Genealogical Society, she also served for many years as an active member of the Jackson County Historical Society and was one of the first serious researchers and archivists of the Colonial period on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Hitler was Related to Jewish and Black Families

DNA is proving all sorts of things about various individuals throughout history. DNA tests have now revealed that Adolf Hitler may have been related to both the Jews and black people that he earmarked for extermination. Brussels news magazine Knack has claimed that DNA obtained from the Nazi leader’s relatives led to the discovery.

A farmer in the Waldviertel region of Austria is known to be a cousin of the German dictator. (To protect his privacy, the name of the cousin is never made public.) The cousin gave researchers a sample of his saliva. Since this cousin shares the same male ancestry as Adolf Hitler, the two presumably have the same Y-chromosome DNA.

Your Public Officials at Work: Philadelphia is Requiring Bloggers to Pay $300 for a Business License

Here is one of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard from our bureaucrats and elected officials, and that's saying something. There is a lot of competition for the title of "dumbest idea."

If you live in Philadelphia and if you write a blog, the city says you need to obtain a $300 business license plus pay taxes on any profits made. The taxes seem reasonable but a $300 business license?!?

Back Home Again but Leaving Soon

I arrived home about midnight last night from the FGS conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. After a good night's sleep, I am creating and sending the weekly Plus Edition newsletter about eighteen hours later than usual. It normally gets sent on Sunday evening but yesterday I was on an airplane at that time. Therefore, this week's Plus Edition newsletter is being sent on Monday afternoon.

Here's a bit of a "heads-up" notice: next week's Plus Edition newsletter mailing may or may not be the same.

EOGN Dinner in Knoxville and a Change in Plans for Future Dinners

The high point of my week at many major genealogy conferences actually occurs after the conference closes. This past week in Knoxville, Tennessee was no different. Thirty-four newsletter readers joined me for dinner at Calhouns, a restaurant on Knoxville's waterfront that is well known for its barbeque. Actually, we also proved that the restaurant had many other delicious items on its menu. Adult beverages were also consumed.

We were a noisy group, although I doubt if any other customers noticed. Calhoun's is a rather noisy place on a Saturday evening.

My congratulations to Lila Davis for winning the free meal at the dinner.