Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

Palmer List of Merchant Vessels

Do you know the name of a vessel that your ancestor sailed on to reach the United States? By finding more information about that vessel, you might gain new insights into your ancestor's travels. The Palmer List of Merchant Vessels is an online database created by Michael P. Palmer. Wherever possible, Palmer lists the name of vessel, its rigging, and its nationality. In a few cases there are photographs as well. For instance, here is Palmer's description of one such sailing vessel:

Changes in the Works for Hotels in Salt Lake City

Major changes are planned soon for the two hotels closest to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. One is to be demolished while the other will greatly reduce the number of available rooms.

British Genealogy and Heraldry Expert Appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire

Mr. Thomas Woodcock is one of six Lancastrians named to assist Lord Shuttleworth in representing Her Majesty The Queen in Lancashire. Originally these appointments were made to assist the Lord Lieutenant in organizing the militia. Nowadays, the position is mainly ceremonial and considered to be an honor recognizing that person's contribution to the county and its life.

Life Expectancy of Recordable CD Disks is 2 to 5 Years

Do you regularly back up your genealogy data to a writeable CD-ROM disk? Computerworld has published an interview with Kurt Gerecke, an IBM storage expert and physicist who claims burned CDs only have a two- to five-year life span.

From the article:

Genealogy on PBS

The U.S. Public Broadcasting System television network is airing a four part series on African American genealogy for Black History Month (February). It is called "African American Lives" and is hosted by Henry Louis Gates. Renowned genealogy expert Tony Burroughs will appear in three of the four episodes.

2006 Genealogy Conference and Cruise

Wholly Genes Software has just announced that the company will again sponsor a genealogy cruise in 2006. Last year's cruise was the first ever for the company, and it was highly successful. In fact, the cruise sold out within two weeks after being announced! 450 genealogists and their guests spent a week cruising through the western Caribbean, stopping at exotic ports of call and listening to genealogy lectures while at sea.

This year's cruise promises to be even better: more speakers, more scheduled presentations, a larger theater for lectures, a "high tech lounge" for software presentations, reportedly a better ship (the Diamond Princess is a new "Grand Class" ship built in 2004), more rooms available, and other enhancements.

New NGS2006 Conference Blog Announced

The 2006 "Conference in the States" will be held in Chicago on June 7-10, 2006. It is co-sponsored by the (U.S.) National Genealogical Society and the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium. Now the conference organizers have started a blog to provide up-to-the-minute information to attendees.

What Was Your Ancestor's Property Worth?

Genealogists often find references to money in old deeds and other documents. Even U.S. census records frequently recorded estimates of a person's real estate. The natural question is, "I wonder what that would equal in today's dollars?" There is a web site that can answer this question.

Hotel Reservations for the 2006 NGS Conference

Hyatt Regency O'Hare

I have a bit of advice for you: if you are planning to attend the 2006 National Genealogical Society's "Conference in the States" in Chicago, make your hotel reservations now. Procrastination could cost you a lot of money.

Carry Your Genealogy Database with You

Imation has just announced a new Flash Wristband that provides an easy way to transport your precious digital files, such as a genealogy database, photos, music, or videos, securely around your wrist or attached to a backpack.

The Imation Flash Wristband holds up to 256 MB of data and can be used on any computer. To use, simply "unplug" the wristband and plug the drive into the computer's USB port. Then "drag and drop" digital files from the computer's desktop to the wristband, or vice versa, in a matter of seconds.

Update: Godfrey Library to Drop HeritageQuest Online

Last week's newsletter contained an article noting that the Godfrey Memorial Library was dropping HeritageQuest Online from its list of offerings. The announcement was met with dismay by many genealogists as this had been a very popular offering.

Ironically, the Godfrey Library wasn't even the cheapest option; another organization already offers the same access to nationwide members for $27 a year. Even better, more than a thousand public libraries offer remote, in-home access to HeritageQuest free of charge.

FREE: Social Security Death Index and World Place Finder

This offer is a bargain: Progeny Software is giving away free copies of both the Social Security Death Index and the company's World Place Finder. Both products contain huge databases on CD-ROM disks. In this case, the word free means "almost free" as the company does ask for payment of the postage charges.

Blog Software Comparison Chart

Are you interested in starting a blog but don't know which service or software to use? First, decide which features are important to you. Then look at the new side-by-side comparison chart at http://www.ojr.org/ojr/images/blog_software_comparison.cfm

National Archives Features Freedmen's Bureau Records

The following is an announcement from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration:

The National Archives marks the completion of the first phase of a five-year effort to preserve and make available the records of the Freedmen's Bureau with two panel discussions on Friday, Jan. 13, and a special document display as part of a series of programs highlighting "The Road to Freedom."

Announcing Internet Genealogy Magazine

The following is an announcement from Moorshead Publications:

The publishers of Family Chronicle are pleased to announce the launch of a new magazine, Internet Genealogy. As the title implies, the magazine will deal primarily with conducting genealogy research using the resources of the Internet.

Help Wanted in Boston

Would you like to work at a genealogy society? Do you have financial management experience? Do you live in or near Boston? If you can answer "Yes" to all three questions, you may be interested in this help wanted ad from the New England Historic Genealogical Society:

Ancestry.com to Aid Genealogy Societies Damaged by Storms

In the wake of the recent storms in the U.S. Gulf Coast, Ancestry.com is extending a helping hand to genealogy societies whose collections may have been damaged. The effort is two-pronged: first, to help recover damaged materials today, and then to take steps now in preparation for future catastrophes.

In Memoriam: Helen L. Harriss

Helen L. Harriss, a pioneering genealogist of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, died Saturday at age 94.

The founding president of the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, she authored numerous volumes on Allegheny County public records from the 18th and 19th centuries and a history of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. She was a well-known local lecturer and had been a featured speaker at an international genealogical conference in Salt Lake City.

History Online: Download Free Video from the BBC Archives

For the first time in its history, BBC News is opening its archives to the UK public for a trial period. You can download nearly 80 news reports covering iconic events of the past 50 years, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, crowds ejecting soldiers from Beijing's Tiananmen Square, and behind-the-scenes footage of the England football team prior to their victory over West Germany in 1966.

Check Washing

This article has nothing to do with genealogy. However, it is a follow-up to an earlier article I wrote when someone questioned the safety of credit cards versus checks when making purchases online from an online genealogy vendor.

How would you like to hand someone a blank check? Pretty dumb, right? Well, you are doing just that if you send a check in the mail or hand a check to someone in a store.