Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

This Newsletter is Sponsored by MyHeritage.com

Minister Moore Announces Acting Librarian and Archivist of Canada

The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, has taken action in an attempt to clean up some of the problems at Library and Archives Canada. (You can read my earlier articles about this at http://goo.gl/lj9kJ.) Today Moore announced that Hervé Déry will be the interim Librarian and Archivist of Canada until an appointment is made.

Since March 2012, Mr. Déry has been the Assistant Deputy Minister and Corporate Secretary, Policy and Collaboration Sector, at Library and Archives Canada. Mr. Déry has also held several other senior positions within the federal government since 1982. He holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in Economics from the University of Montreal.

 

Save Library & Archives Canada: How Ordinary Citizens can Make an Impact

This is a follow-up to my earlier article at http://goo.gl/ll53g: Kimberly Silk has posted a blog article describing how Canadians can take action now to save and greatly improve Library & Archives Canada. You can read Kimberly's excellent article at http://goo.gl/KsuPw.

Who Do You Think You Are? Live! to be Held February 20 to 22, 2014

The Who Do You Think You Are? Live! event is probably the largest family history gathering in the world. It typically attracts 12,000 to 15,000 attendees each year. It is always held at the Olympia Centre in London, England.

Past conferences have typically been held on Friday through Sunday. However, the show's organizers have announced a change for the 2014 show: it will be held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 20 to 22 February, 2014.

Ireland’s General Register Office Records Finally to Go Online

I received the following note from Steven C. Smyrl FIGRS, MAPGI, the Executive Liaison Officer for the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations:

The Irish government has announced that indexes to birth, death & marriage records which date from 1845 are soon to be made available through its genealogy portal www.irishgenealogy.ie. This is terrific news, announced in CIGO’s 21st year, the year in which it ‘comes of age’.

6 Best Free Genealogy Programs

Joanna Maria has published a list of what she believes are the six best FREE genealogy programs. I am not sure if I agree exactly with her list or not, but I will agree with five of the six. The remaining one she listed is a program I have not used so I don't yet have an opinion about that one. The title of "best" is open for discussion but her list is a great starting point for that discussion.

You can read Joanna Maria's list of the 6 Best FREE Genealogy Software at http://goo.gl/HqeOC.

U.S. Version of "Who Do You Think You Are?" Returns to Television on TLC, Starting July 23

NBC had a very successful series in "Who Do You Think You Are?" but canceled the television programs after three seasons. Producers Lisa Kudrow and Dan Bucatinsky have since negotiated a deal with TLC Network (see my earlier articles by starting at http://goo.gl/zzidk) and now have announced the premiere date for a new season: July 23  at 9 PM Eastern, 8 PM Central. Ancestry.com will remain as the sponsor.

TLC will air eight one-hour episodes in the new season. The celebrities featured this year include: Christina Applegate, Kelly Clarkson, Cindy Crawford, Chris O’Donnell and Zooey Deschan.

You can read more at http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/who-do-you-think-you-are/about-the-show.htm.

Are Digital Libraries Going to Replace Traditional Books?

Is it time to stop the presses?

It seems that every week I report in this newsletter about more and more genealogy books that are being converted to electronic format. Sure, old books have been digitized for several years now. However, even new books are now appearing as electronic publications. The Kindle, Nook, and other e-book readers are hot items these days. Now the world's first completely paperless public library is scheduled to open this summer in San Antonio, Texas.

The so-called BiblioTech is a low-cost project with big ambitions. It will have 100 e-readers on loan, and dozens of screens where the public will be able to browse, study, and learn digital skills. However it's likely most users will access BiblioTech's initial holding of 10,000 digital titles from the comfort of their homes, way out in the Texas hinterland.

New DVD from Genealogical.com: GENERATIONS: The WPA Ex-Slave Narrative Genealogical Resource Database

The following announcement was written by Genealogical.com:

BALTIMORE, May 22, 2013 -- Between 1937 and 1938, the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Project Administration (WPA) conducted thousands of interviews with former African-American slaves. While historians have known about these oral histories for some time, few researchers have exploited the genealogical potential of these sources--until now!

For the first time, the DVD series Generations, by Dr. James M. Rose, presents these ex-slave narratives with critical genealogical evidence pertaining to each interviewee. While varying from one ex-slave to another, Generations' genealogical content includes census record extracts, death certificates, probate records, plantation records, and biographical information on slave owners. When available, pictures of the ex-slaves are also included. By linking these sources with the recollections of hundreds of former slaves, Generations affords African-American genealogists the rare opportunity to surmount the brick wall of the 1870 U.S. census, the first federal census to identify all blacks by their full names. Among other things, the accounts also suggest that despite efforts by whites to destroy bonds between children and especially their fathers, most ex-slaves who discussed their families mentioned their fathers prominently.

FamilySearch Adds More Than 1.1 Million Records and Images to Illinois County Marriages

The following announcement was written by FamilySearch:

May 22, 2013

FamilySearch has added more than 2.25 million index records and images this week from Argentina, Austria, Italy, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. Notable collection updates include the 1,152,830 index records and images from the U.S., Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934 collection, and the 244,523 images from the Spain, Province of Valencia, Municipal Records, 1611-1935, collection. See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org.

Searchable historic records are made available on FamilySearch.org through the help of thousands of volunteers from around the world. These volunteers transcribe (index) information from digital copies of handwritten records to make them easily searchable online. More volunteers are needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the large number of digital images being published online at FamilySearch.org. Learn more about volunteering to help provide free access to the world’s historic genealogical records online at FamilySearch.org.

Slave Records of Edgefield County, South Carolina

Black families with ancestors in Edgefield County, South Carolina, can now follow the lives of ancestors throughout the 19th century, thanks to a comprehensive collection of records from the Edgefield County Archives pertaining to the purchasing and selling of slaves. The award-winning work, Slave Records of Edgefield County, is Gloria Lucas’ legacy, according to close friends and associates. Lucas died at age 84 last month.

The book, published by the Edgefield Historical Society, contains extractions from ledgers of estates, wills, inventories, appraisals, deed transfers, sheriff sales and other files that contain about 29,000 listings and more than 58,000 slave names. Many of the records provide gender, age, physical description, occupation and family relationships.

You can read the details in an article by Wesley Brown in The Augusta Chronicle at http://goo.gl/HXW7u. You may be able to find Slave Records of Edgefield County in a library near you by searching at http://goo.gl/VYJaZ.

Concerns About Serious Mismanagement of the Library and Archives of Canada

A political scandal is brewing in Canada. The head of Library and Archives Canada (LAC), Daniel Caron, resigned after billing taxpayers nearly $4,500 for personal Spanish lessons. The scandal over his expenses followed controversy over a new code of conduct for employees instituted a few months ago by the same Daniel Caron. (You can read about that in my earlier article at http://goo.gl/aRUJS.) Caron's departure comes amongst numerous other claims of improper management at Library and Archives Canada. You can read more about Caron's departure under a cloud by starting at http://goo.gl/tDR5j.

Lew Lockhart obviously wants to see increased funding for operation and management of the Library and Archives of Canada. He sent the following message:

Book Review: The Unofficial Family Archivist

The following book review was written by Bobbi King:

The Unofficial Family Archivist
A Guide to Creating and Maintaining Family Papers, Photographs, and Memorabilia.
by Melissa Mannon. 247 pages.

The problem with being the unofficial family archivist is that eventually you become the official family archivist.

When I started doing genealogy, Dear Myrtle on AOL Genealogy Forum was my beacon for organizing my papers. To this day, I follow her instructions for organizing all my notes. At least I got that much right.

Now we have Family Archivist to start us out doing things right. It’s the beginner who will benefit most from this book, but if you’re a senior historian, there’s something for you, too.

Dell's Tiny, Cheap "Project Ophelia" Computer

Computer hardware keeps evolving and prices keep dropping. Of course, that's been true for decades and there appears to be no let-up of the rapid changes ahead. One newly-announced computer I am enthusiastic about is Dell's new "Project Ophelia" computer that will sell for about $100.

The new "Project Ophelia" computer is expected to be released in July to developers who may want to write apps for Ophelia. In August, it will be available via cable companies or telecom providers that may want to offer it with cable packages or data plans. Shortly after, it will be available to consumers on Dell's website. "Project Ophelia" computers will be tiny. In fact, the new computer will be about the size of today's flash drives. Obviously, it won't have a CD-ROM drive in it. Then again, it won't need one. Many computers being built these days do not have CD-ROM drives.

Photography and the Civil War

Man is at his cruelest in times of war. This is illustrated by a video produced by the New York Times that displays still photos taken during the U.S. Civil War. You can view these historic photographs at http://nyti.ms/10v0FpL or click on the video player below.

Plus Edition Newsletter Has Been Sent

To all Plus Edition subscribers:

The weekly Plus Edition weekly update notification was sent to your e-mail address a few hours ago. 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 ALWAYS available at: http://www.eogn.com/wp/thisweek.htm. Your email provider cannot block that address so the newsletter is always available to you.

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

(+) Hands On with the $169.99 HP Slate 7 Tablet

FamilySearch Adds to Dominican Republic, Italy, Peru, Spain, and the United States Collections

Photos and Vital Information on every Tombstone in more than 770 Connecticut Cemeteries Now Online

(+) Hands On with the $169.99 HP Slate 7 Tablet

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

I own one of the original Apple iPad handheld computers. While I like the device, I realize that newer handheld computers have more features, high-resolution cameras, more memory for data storage, and numerous other advantages that my aging device does not possess. In addition, I have realized the iPad's almost 10-inch screen makes it too bulky to carry with me all the time. As a result, the iPad often sits on the desk at home when I really would like to be using it when I am out and about. After all, what good is battery-powered portability when the thing is not convenient to carry?

I also use an iPhone, but its screen is a bit too small for some applications, and “typing” on its glass keyboard is quite difficult for anything longer than a few words. I feel like I am reciting a fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. However, I can identify with her “problem.” One device is too large to carry, another has a screen too small to be useful all the time. Like Goldilocks, I was looking for the one that is “just right.”

I started looking at the various 7-inch tablet computers that have become available in the past two years or so.

Photos and Vital Information on every Tombstone in more than 770 Connecticut Cemeteries Now Online

The Godfrey Memorial Library continues to expand its searchable Scholar+ online database weekly. The database now contains listings from 770 cemeteries in Connecticut and includes:

• A photograph of every tombstone in each cemetery
• Vital information from each tombstone is transcribed
• Information from missing tombstones is added from the Hale Collection

Will Some DNA Testing Become a Felony?

Writing in the Mocavo Blog, Michael Leclerc has some interesting observations about genetic sequencing on someone’s DNA without their consent. One law professor suggests that such action should be classified as felony theft.

Such action obviously could impact genealogists, not to mention law enforcement and others. I would guess it could also change the plots of all sorts of television programs.

Historic Tucker Family Cemetery of Hampton, VA May Receive New Owners

The Tucker Family Cemetery in Hampton, Virginia, is a wooded plot surrounded by low-slung brick homes built in the 1950s. Accessible by narrow strip of grass along Sharon Court, the property is widely believed to be the site where the first black baby born in English North America in 1619 is now interred. Even though William Tucker's grave is not marked, visitors to the cemetery are greeted with a granite marker that reads "Tucker's Cemetery, First Black Family, 1619."

Carolyn L. Barkley, R.I.P.

The genealogy community lost a good friend a few days ago. The following was written by Craig Scott and is republished here with his permission:

"In different hours, a man represents each of several of his ancestors, as if there were seven or eight of us rolled up in each man's skin—seven or eight ancestors at least, and they constitute the variety of notes for that new piece of music which his life is."—Ralph Waldo Emerson

That was the favorite genealogical quote of our good friend, Carolyn L. Barkley, unexpectedly lost to our genealogical family on Sunday, 12 May 2013. She was 65 and had much she wanted to do in life.

She had been employed by the Virginia Beach Department of Public Libraries for over thirty years; where from 1986 until her retirement she was the Central Librarian.

findmypast.com Will Offer Free Access to U.S. and International Military Records on Memorial Day

The following was written by findmypast.com:

In honor of Memorial Day on May 27, and in remembrance of all who died while serving our country, findmypast.com will offer its collection of U.S. and international military records for free in the days leading up to the national observance.
 
With more than 26 million U.S. and international military records available, findmypast.com is encouraging people to explore and learn about the heroic efforts of their ancestors this Memorial Day. Record sets such as ‘Draft Registration Cards,’ ‘Casualties Returned Alive,’ ‘POWs’ and others will offer a captivating glimpse into the lives and experiences of our veteran ancestors.

Genetic Genealogy Plus for Adoptees

The following announcement was written by Search Quest America:

Searching for birth relatives can be difficult in some states and impossible in others using standard adoption search methods but Genetic Genealogy Plus breaks down the barriers set up by closed records.

Search Quest America (SQA), a leader in reuniting families, is excited to announce Genetic Genealogy Plus, a new service for adoptees. This new service uses DNA and traditional genealogy research to find the family of adoptees with sealed records. Genetic Genealogy Plus is offered by SQA through an affiliation with two leading DNA testing companies, Family Tree DNA and 23andMe.

Imperial War Museum and brightsolid to bring First World War Stories to Life Online

The stories of eight million U.K. First World War soldiers are to be published online to mark the centenary of the war’s outbreak. an interactive digital project called Lives of the First World War. It will tell the story of the men and women who served in uniform and worked on the Home Front by bringing together records from museums, libraries, archives and family collections across the world.

The platform will go live later this year.

Details may be found in The Courier at http://goo.gl/TYJnW.

Google Wants to be your Camera's Digital Darkroom in the Cloud

At the Google I/O conference in San Francisco today, Senior Vice President Vic Gundotra introduced new photo enhancement features to Google+. "Google's data center is your darkroom," said Gundotra.

Later, Vic Gundotra posted the following on his blog:

Great pictures aren’t taken, they’re made. And it’s the making part that many of us don’t have time for. We'd all love to have photos that capture our vacations and birthdays and anniversaries the way we remember them. But wonderful images require lots (and lots) of work.

Oregon Update: House & Senate action on HB2093

Quoting an article by Fred Moss on the Records Preservation and Access Committee blog at http://www.fgs.org/rpac/2013/05/14/oregon-update-house-senate-action-on-hb2093/:

I don’t know how many of you listened in to the hearing or accessed the audio only archives—but we won!

The hearing was only on the amended version I sent out earlier today —4  and is attached again which keeps the birth records at 100 years, and death, marriage, divorce, annulment and partnership at 50 years.  See Section SECTION 33. ORS 432.121 (7a)  (page 73)   It also removes the restriction on cause of death that is in the existing statute.   See Section SECTION 33. ORS 432.121 (3)  [page 69] in the italicized ( redacted) portion and nothing comparable in the new language (bold)  page 70-71.

Mayan Pyramid In Belize Leveled By Construction Crew

Well, so much for history! A 2300-year old Mayan temple in the Nohmul complex in northern Belize was essentially destroyed by a construction crew in order to provide gravel for a nearby road construction. The head of the Belize Institute of Archaeology says the destruction was detected late last week, and only a small portion of the center of the pyramid mound was left standing.

(Click on the image to the right to view a larger picture.)

FamilySearch Adds to Dominican Republic, Italy, Peru, Spain, and the United States Collections

The following announcement was written by FamilySearch:

May 14, 2013

FamilySearch has added more than 1.5 million index records and images this week from Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Italy, Peru, South Africa, Spain, and the United States. Notable collection updates include the 217,016 index records from the U.S., Idaho, Eastport, Arrival Manifests, 1924-1956, collection, the 151,020 index records and images from the United States, Civil War Widows and Other Dependents Pension Files collection, and the 163,314 images from the South Africa, Orange Free State, Estate Files, 1951-2006, collection. See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org.

Searchable historic records are made available on FamilySearch.org through the help of thousands of volunteers from around the world. These volunteers transcribe (index) information from digital copies of handwritten records to make them easily searchable online. More volunteers are needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the large number of digital images being published online at FamilySearch.org. Learn more about volunteering to help provide free access to the world's historic genealogical records online at FamilySearch.org.

A List of Genealogy DNA Companies

A newsletter reader wrote and asked, "I would like to get my DNA done on my Mothers side. Can you tell me who would be the best one to do it?"

In fact, there is a long list of DNA companies in the business of helping customers find their ancestry. I cannot think of any one that I would call "the best." However, the International Society of Genetic Genealogy, or ISOGG, does maintain a long list of companies in the business and even lists the specialties of each company. You can find that list at http://www.isogg.org/wiki/List_of_DNA_testing_companies.

(+) How to Use Evernote to be a Better Genealogist

The following is an update to a Plus Edition article I published about a year ago. Some of the information has changed since the original article was published. I have updated the article and am re-publishing it today.

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

One of my favorite computer tools is Evernote. I've been using it for more than four years now and love it. Sometimes I wonder how I ever got along before Evernote. While Evernote has many uses, I use it primarily as a digital filing system. In fact, I find that it is a perfect complement to almost any genealogy program, often compensating for the shortcomings of whatever genealogy program you might use to track your research.

Admittedly, all this didn't happen overnight. When first installed, Evernote presents the new user with a blank screen. That user typically says, "Now what?" This article will hopefully answer that question.

MyHeritage launches Record Detective™ to Accelerate Family History Discoveries

I sat through a demo of this new software last week at the NGS 2013 annual conference in Las Vegas. I was amazed by the capabilities. I hope to spend some time "hands on" with Record Detective™ in the next few days and will then write about my experiences. Based on what I saw at the demo, I have high expectations. In the meantime, here is today's official announcement from MyHeritage:

MyHeritage launches Record Detective™ to accelerate family history discoveries

Global family history network makes technology breakthrough that turns dead-ends into new leads 

PROVO, Utah, and Tel Aviv, Israel, May 13 2013: MyHeritage, the popular family history network, today announced the launch of Record Detective™, the first technology of its kind to automatically extend the paper trail from a single historical record to other related records and family tree connections.

Google Unifies Gmail, Drive Storage and Google+ Photos with 15 Gigabytes of FREE Storage for ALL

Google announced today that it will unify the storage between the Gmail and the Google Drive online storage service. Now, instead of having 10GB free storage in Gmail and another 5GB in Drive, users will have 15GB total to use. The free storage can be used as you like between Drive, Gmail, and Google+ Photos.

Irish Statistics (1926 Census) Bill, 2013

Michael Merrigan, MA, FGSI, the General Secretary of the Genealogical Society Of Ireland, has sent a message to many noting that the Statistics (1926 Census) Bill, 2013 was published on the Oireachtas website. It is described as:

Bill entitled an Act to amend the Statistics Act 1993, in relation to the first census of population of Ireland taken since the establishment of the State; to afford that census a special heritage status and to have such released to the public for genealogical, historical and other research

Review of "Family Tree" on HBO

I did not get to watch last night's premier of "Family Tree" on HBO. I rarely watch television so I do not subscribe to HBO. The program is not supposed to be a genealogy program. Instead, it is a comedy or sometimes might be called a "mockumentary." However, several reviews of last night's program have since been posted online. Most of them state the program was not very funny. You can find several reviews if you start at http://goo.gl/OWVpt.

If you were able to watch last night's episode, please write a comment at the end of this article describing your impressions of the new program. I would like to read your opinion and I am sure others would like to do the same.

Evernote Web Clipper

Several recent comments posted by newsletter readers have mentioned methods of saving partial or complete web pages to your computer so that you may preserve them and also easily find them in the future. The obvious use for genealogists is to save information found on the web about an ancestor or other member of your family tree for future reference. A couple of these methods sounded rather complex to me so I thought I would write about the method I use to to save web pages. It is simple, smart and efficient. It also makes the saved web pages available to you, wherever you are.

Evernote Web Clipper allows you to save anything you see online, including text, links and images, into your Evernote account with a single click. The web page is saved forever in your computer, even if the original later disappears from the Web. You can clip webpages to Evernote and read them later on any device you use, including desktop computers, laptop computers, iPads, iPhones, and Android devices.

Christopher Guest’s Family Tree Is Really About the Genealogy of Comedy

As mentioned in earlier articles in this newsletter (as mentioned last year at http://goo.gl/HxGeV and more recently at http://goo.gl/kDWZA), a new television program called Family Tree will appear on HBO this Sunday evening. However, one word of warning: this will not be a genealogy program!

Despite the name, this is a mockumentary comedy, not a "how to research your family tree" program. The comedy series follows Tom Chadwick (Chris O’Dowd in charming loser mode) as he tries to learn more about his ancestors. His family tree is described as "a world full of weirdos." Tom learns that a great aunt has left him a trunk full of strange objects, and with nothing else to occupy his time, he sets out to learn more about the family members they belonged to. It seems that none of his family members qualify for the title of "normal."

What's New At Ancestry.com: May 2013 Edition

Crista Cowan gives a quick look in a YouTube video at the new features and tools available to help make your family history easier and more fun. You can view the video at http://youtu.be/lY0FBu-R1-U or by clicking on the icon in the middle of the picture below:

How to Save Web Pages from your iPad as a PDF File while using Chrome

The iPad tablet is a great device but, by itself, is poor at saving web pages for later viewing or printing. Michele Berner has created a YouTube video that shows a better way to save those web pages. However, her method only works with the Chrome web browser (available free of charge at the iPad App Store).

Once saved as a PDF file locally or on a cloud-based storage service (Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive, or a similar service), you also can print that file, display it later on your screen, save it in Evernote, or send it to someone via email.

Putnam County, Tennessee, Begins to Scan Documents

Glenn Jones, Putnam County Archivist, recently received a grant from the State of Tennessee to digitize the Patton Papers to make them accessible to anyone anywhere. “The amount of records she collected is amazing,” Jones said. “Maurine Patton worked on these for years and she wanted them preserved.” Those records — totaling thousands of pages — are documentation of numerous families from all over the region in a chart organization.

Volunteer Help Wanted in Maryland

FamilySearch.org and the Maryland Archives have begun a joint venture to digitize Will and Probate Records held at the Maryland Archives. This important project will ensure the preservation of these vital records and make them more readily accessible to the public.


Records from Baltimore County, Carroll County and Caroline County will will be prepared by local volunteers and digitally imaged by FamilySearch.org. These documents date from the mid-1800's to the mid-1900's.

RootsTech 2014 Call For Presentations

The following announcement was written by FamilySearch:

Presentation proposals for RootsTech 2014 will be accepted June 17-July 8, 2013, online at rootstech.org/proposals.

RootsTech is a family history and technology conference "where families connect." The fourth annual conference, hosted by FamilySearch, will be held February 6-8, 2014, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. RootsTech brings together the best in family history tools and technology to help attendees discover and share their family's connections and stories. RootsTech 2014 will reach thousands of attendees both on-site in Salt Lake City and at remote locations around the world.

PBS Announces New Series, “Genealogy Roadshow,” Premiering This Fall

A new genealogy television show in the U.S. has been rumored for some time (see http://goo.gl/OWVzi for my earlier article), but now the producers have issued an official press release giving many of the details. The following was written by Big Mountain Productions and Krasnow Productions:

ARLINGTON, VA; MAY 9, 2013 – PBS announced today that it will add the new series GENEALOGY ROADSHOW to its fall lineup. Part detective story, part emotional journey, GENEALOGY ROADSHOW will combine history and science to uncover the fascinating stories of diverse Americans. Each individual’s past will link to a larger COMMUNITY history, revealing the rich cultural tapestry of America. GENEALOGY ROADSHOW will air Mondays, September 23-October 14, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET.

 

Book Review: Genealogical.com's “At a Glance” Series of Genealogy Research Guides

The following review was written by Bobbi King:

“At a Glance”guides.
Four-page laminated 8 ½ x 11 publications. Published by Genealogical.com.

“Irish Genealogy Research” by Brian Mitchell
“Scottish Genealogy Research” by David Dobson
“German Genealogy Research” by Ernest Thode
“African American Genealogy Research” by Michael Hait
“Ellis Island Research” by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
“Revolutionary War Genealogy Research” by Craig R. Scott
“Michigan Genealogy Research” by Carol McGinnis
“Immigration Research” by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
“English Genealogy Research” by Paul Milner
“Italian Genealogy Research” by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
“French Genealogy Research” by Claire Bettag
“Virginia Genealogy Research” by Carol McGinnis
“American Cemetery Research” Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
“U.S. Federal Census Records” by Kory L. Meyerink
“Cherokee Genealogy Research” by Myra Vanderpool Gormley
“Pennsylvania Genealogy Research” by John T. Humphrey
“Finding Female Ancestors” by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
“Polish Genealogy Research” by Rosemary A. Dembinski Chorzempa
“Family History Library Research” by Carolyn L. Barkley

Sometimes you don’t want the full reference. Sometimes you just need a quick but authoritative guide to get you going or remind you where you need to go next.

I Have My Family Tree Back to Adam and Eve

In January, Nathan W. Murphy, Senior Research Consultant, of the LDS Church's Genealogical Department, wrote an article in the FamilySearch blog at http://goo.gl/twYxq to clarify the misconceptions that many novice genealogists believe to be true. Murphy write, "...it is not even possible to verify historically a connected European pedigree earlier than the time of the Merovingian Kings (c. a.d. 450–a.d. 752)."

Digging Your Canadian Roots Has Been Ripped Off

Scammers are amongst us in the genealogy community as well as elsewhere. Kathryn Lake Hogan, has issued the following announcement on her web site at http://www.looking4ancestors.com/:

I have been ripped off. A website called downloadprovider.me has illegally scammed my book Digging Your Canadian Roots and is offering it on their website. All you have to do is become a member, pay their fee, and you can download it. However, the problem is no one from the this website has contacted me requesting permission about selling my book on their website. What they are doing is ILLEGAL. My copyright is being VIOLATED!

National Genealogical Society Presents Awards Honoring Excellence in Newsletter Editorship and Service to NGS

The following announcement was written by the National Genealogical Society and announced at the Society's annual conference this week in Las Vegas:

Arlington, VA, 8 May 2013: The National Genealogical Society honored excellence in the categories of newsletter editorship and service to the Society with the presentation of several awards at the Opening Session of the NGS 2013 Family History Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 8 May 2013. The Opening Session keynote speaker was historian Marian Smith, Chief, Historical Research Branch, US Citizenship and Immigration Services who spoke on the topic “People, Policy, and Records: The Importance of Historical Background” after which NGS President Jordan Jones presented the following awards.

Stop the Impending Fiscal Disaster for Historical Records in the United States

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission’s (NHPRC’s) ability to carry out its legal mandate is in danger. Congress has proposed severe budget cuts. If passed, this will seriously impede the capacity of repositories nationwide to care for our nation’s heritage and make it available for use by our citizens.

The Society of American Archivists has issued a call for Americans to contact the members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services as well as other elected officials to tell them of our opinions of the budget cuts.

The Call for Action may be found at http://goo.gl/mZZ7t.

How Census Data Collection Changed Race in America

Lisa Wade has published an interesting article in the Pacific Standard magazine's web site about census data collected over the years. From 1790 through 1960, census enumerators visited households and recorded a lot of information about the residents, including race. However, in 1970, the Census Bureau switched to mail-in surveys where the individual self-identified their own race. The results were dramatic. The racial percentages in America changed overnight.

You can read the article and view some pictures of past enumerators at work at http://goo.gl/0D0G7.

Supermodel Cindy Crawford to be Featured in Who Do You Think You Are?

"Who Do You Think You Are?" was a popular U.S. television program. The program appeared for three seasons on NBC, but then was canceled. Several reports claim that "Who Do You Think You Are?" has been picked up by TLC, one of the cable networks owned by Discovery Communications. However, one thing is obvious: supermodel Cindy Crawford will be one of the guests whose ancestry will be explored.

European Migration Evident in DNA Patterns

A study of people in 40 countries illustrates long-established changes in Europe's population. Going back a few thousand years, researchers find that everyone on Earth is related to everyone else.

The Huns and the Slavs made incursions into Eastern Europe about 1,500 years ago. Migrants moved from Ireland to England in recent centuries. Populations in Italy and Spain have been comparatively stable. None of this is breaking news. But scientists were able to see it anew by examining the patterns of genes in 2,257 people now living in 40 countries on the continent.

Eneclann Joins FHISO Founding Members

The following is an announcement from the Family History Information Standards Organisation:

Date: 8th May 2013

Eneclann (www.eneclann.ie) and Family History Information Standards Organisation, Inc. (FHISO) announced today that Eneclann has finalised its plans to become a founding member of the organisation. Brian Donovan, Eneclann’s CEO, said of the partnership “Digitising, indexing and publishing family history records online is fraught with problems. Genealogy needs FHISO to help navigate a collaborative solution to shared problems, and to set meaningful standards, and we in Eneclann are delighted to be partners in this”. The company will participate with other FHISO members from the global genealogical community in the development of standards for the digital representation and sharing of family history and genealogical information. As an organisation involved in the management, digitisation of, and research with archives, they bring a unique perspective on the work of FHISO. Fiona Fitzsimons, Research Director, commented ‘Digitisation of records has transformed the way we do genealogy, but we need standards so we can be sure of the quality of the electronic records we use. FHISO is a welcome development to achieve this goal.’