Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

NARA Guidance on Managing Web Records

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration has released a new guideline advising government agencies how to manage web records properly.

Hunt to identify American Founder

Scientists in England are conducting a search in Suffolk for the DNA of the man who founded the first English-speaking colony in America. Scientists are planning to take DNA from the skeletons of two women who died 400 years ago in an attempt to discover more about an English explorer, who historians said was one of America's founders.

Hunters, Gatherers, Takers, Filchers, "Taking & Using"

The following was written by Dolly Ziegler in a message posted to the "Sullivan Puzzle Team." It is republished here with the author's permission:

Hunters, Gatherers, Takers, Filchers, "Taking & Using"

What's the right word for people who publish other people's research on websites without giving credit?

Pocket Genealogist version 2.93

The following is an announcement from Kevin Phillips of Northern Hills Software:

2.93 of Pocket Genealogist has been released to the Northern Hills Software website.  This is another free update for current users of Pocket Genealogist.  Besides the changes to the program, the User Guide has been updated as well and all can be found at: http://www.pocketgenealogist.com/download.htm

How About a British Genealogy Vacation?

For the millions of Americans with English ancestry, researching family history can be a bit easier than some other nationalities. After all, the records are written in English! Americans can search many English records without traveling across the Atlantic, thanks to all the records available on microfilm and microfiche. However, at some point you might want to make the leap "across the pond" yourself and seek out ancestors in England. A trip to look up one's family tree in their homeland can be combined with a sightseeing vacation to create a time that you will never forget. Thanks to today's very low airfares, a trip to England is now cheaper than ever.

San Francisco to revise 1906 Quake Death Toll

In a follow-up to a story published here a few days ago, the San Francisco supervisors agreed Tuesday to raise the official death toll from the 1906 earthquake in time for next year's centennial of a disaster that was a defining event in the city's history. The move came at the urging of a retired city archivist who has spent much of the last 40 years pouring over records to come up with a more accurate death count from the earthquake. The number has stood at 478 since 1907.

GedStar Pro version 2.0 for Palm handheld computers

The following is an announcement from GHCS Software:

GHCS Software has released V2.0 of its "GedStar Pro" application for PDA devices running the PalmOS operating system. This program extracts almost all of the data directly from a PC-based genealogy program and formats it for quick and easy viewing on the user's handheld device. This design allows GedStar Pro to operate without the need to export a GEDCOM file, making it very easy to use. Currently supported genealogy programs include The Master Genealogist, Legacy Family Tree, Family Tree Maker, and Personal Ancestral File.

Dig up your Canadian roots at the Peel Heritage Complex

The following is an announcement from the Peel Heritage Complex:

(Brampton)- Beginning Feb. 2, 2005 the Peel Heritage Complex will open a new exhibition, featuring rare archival documents and artifacts from the pioneer days of Ontario. The Peel Heritage Complex is the first touring venue for Unique Journeys: Canadian Emigrant Letters, 1815-1852, which continues until Feb. 27.

Carlin is still archivist; secrecy fight goes on

It is still politics as usual in Washington. The archivist of the United States, John Carlin, the man with ultimate responsibility for for the nation's historical documents, was asked to resign some months ago by the Bush administration. That is a surprise, as the Bush administration cannot fire him. Carlin submitted the resignation but then "went public" with the story. He is still in office, awaiting the appointjent of his successor.

AOL to Pull the Plug on Newsgroup Service

AOL members who read genealogy newsgroups will soon need to look for a new provider. AOL has announced that it will pull the plug on Usenet newsgroups in February. Details are available on many online news sites, including BetaNews.

PC Magazine (sort of) Reviews Genealogy Software

PC Magazine is probably the most influential magazine of its type in the world. A favorable review in that magazine can result in millions of dollars of sales for a software producer. Likewise, a bad review in PC Magazine can be the kiss of death.

Web Site Issues for the Visually Impaired

I received an e-mail recently that got me thinking. The writer suggested that I change the colors used in the online (or blog) version of this newsletter. His comment was that the present colors were difficult for some people to read.

Your Help is Needed to Create a Genealogy Library in Logan City, Utah

The following is an e-mail that I received from Holly T. Hansen of My Ancestors. Holly has kindly given me permission to republish it here:

Hello Dick,

As you know, Logan City received, through donation, the resources of the Everton Library (approximately 80,000 books, periodicals, etc).  There IS a room available in the new City building and funds available in Logan Library's budget to prepare the room to house the collection and make it available to the public.  However, there is some concern among city council members whether the public will really use the collection if it is made available.  We need to thank them for acquiring this priceless genealogical research collection and making it available as soon as possible.

BYU offers Free Genealogy Courses

Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, is offering free family history and genealogy online courses. The courses available range from military record research to France, German and Scandinavia ethnic research.

Genealogist's Address Book, Fifth Edition

Elizabeth Petty Bentley has just released a revised and expanded Fifth Edition of the Genealogist's Address Book, produced by Genealogical Publishing Company (GPC). I have used earlier versions of this book a number of times in years past to find addresses or just to find societies devoted to specific interests, such as Italian, French-Canadian and other ethnic heritage groups. This week I tried the same thing with the latest version and found it to be much easier to use.

New Book: The Family Tree Problem Solver

The following is an announcement from Family Tree Books:

Family Tree Books proudly announces the publication of The Family Tree Problem Solver:  Proven Methods for Scaling the Inevitable Brick Wall by Marsha Hoffman Rising, CG, FASG.

$1 Million Treasure Hidden in Repositories

There's an unclaimed $1 million out there awaiting anyone who can solve a puzzle. The interesting twist is that the first puzzle clue states, "Tackle repositories." To be sure, the hint doesn't specifically say genealogy repositories, but then again, it doesn't say otherwise!

Researchers Chronicle every Grave in Norfolk County, Ontario

After 15 years of tromping through fields, seeking out family plots, and applying biodegradable chalk to unreadable tombstones, the Norfolk branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has recorded every known grave. The result is an index with about 80,000 names, more than 3,000 pages in all.

Online Census Databases for Prince Edward Island

I spent some time this week looking at the web site of the Prince Edward Island Department of Community and Cultural Affairs. It is a rather full-featured site with information about the province's government, a visitor's guide, online maps, and more. However, the item that caught my eye was the online indexes to the censuses of 1841, 1881, 1891, and 1901.

Older Copyright Works Need to be Free

Why extend the copyright on works that no longer have commercial value? A good case would be genealogy books written in the 1940s and '50s. Today these books have almost no commercial value to the authors or to their heirs; yet, the books provide valuable information to today's genealogists. However, copyright laws keep these books locked up.