Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

The Practical Archivist

Sally Jacobs has started a new blog entitled The Practical Archivist. It is labeled as "Archiving tips and geeky tidbits for genealogists, history buffs, and keepers of the family photo album. Written by an archivist who never met an antique photograph she didn't like..."

Family Tree Companion Software Updated

The following announcement was written by Wholly Genes Software:

Columbia, Maryland -- 17 December 2006 -- Wholly Genes Software is proud to announce the release of Family Tree SuperTools v2.0. This long-awaited update to this popular program provides many add-on features for users of the most common family history programs.

Family Tree SuperTools offers superior wall charting functions, advanced project management tools, timelines, multimedia slideshows, web searching, and a variety of other features for users of Family Tree Maker(tm), Personal Ancestral File(tm), Legacy(tm), Generations(tm), and other programs.

(+) How to Make Low-cost Prints of Your Digital Photos

I used to love Polaroid cameras. "Your picture in sixty seconds!" That was a great concept: take a picture, and the print is available to you almost instantly. Sometimes I would quickly snap two or three pictures: one for myself, and others to give to people who were in the scene. Of course, Polaroid pictures were expensive at nearly a dollar apiece.

Modern technology has now replaced the original Polaroid pictures. Indeed, millions of people now own digital cameras. I haven't seen anyone carrying a traditional Polaroid camera in years. It can be satisfying to see a new picture within seconds by looking at the tiny screen on the back of the camera. However, those tiny images are tough to see. If I drag a laptop computer along, I can display the pictures on the computer's screen within five minutes or so. Until recently, I had to go home or to a photo printing service when I wanted to make a printed picture.

iFamily for Tiger: a Macintosh Genealogy Program

It's not often that I get a chance to use a major new genealogy program, much less a major new Macintosh program. Indeed, it is rare to find any major new Macintosh genealogy products. Luckily, I did have such an opportunity this week. I spent several hours using iFamily for Tiger, a program developed by Keith Wilson in Australia. I am impressed. As Keith wrote on the program's web site, "iFamily for Tiger is a family tree program with a difference because Apple users think differently."

Family Historian 3.1 Released

Calico Pie Limited has announced the company's latest release of its popular genealogy program for Windows. Family Historian appears to be the best-selling genealogy program in England and also has many users in other countries around the world.

The following is an announcement written by Calico Pie Ltd.:

LONDON, Friday 15th December, 2006.  Calico Pie today announced the release of version 3.1 of Family Historian.  The new version will be available to users of version 3.0 as a free downloadable upgrade.

ProQuest to Sell HeritageQuest Online and Other Services

ProQuest is the parent company of HeritageQuest Online, the online service that provides online access to U.S. census records, more than 20,000 digitized family and local history books, Revolutionary War Pension Applications, Freedman's Bank records, and the PERSI database of names listed in thousands of genealogy publications. I have written often about ProQuest. You can read my past articles at http://tinyurl.com/ymkh7y.

Now the company has announced that it is selling its ProQuest Information and Learning Company subsidiary which includes the HeritageQuest Online genealogy services. Here is the announcement:

Skype to Change Prices for Outgoing Calls in North America

I have written a number of times about Skype, a service that provides low-cost or zero-cost telephone calls by using your computer in place of a telephone. You can read my earlier articles at http://tinyurl.com/ye9max. Many newsletter readers have participated in genealogy Skypecasts: free "conference calls" in which you plug a headset into your computer and talk with other genealogists around the world. Many of the podcasts on this newsletter's web site are simply recorded Skype conversations. Millions of computer users around the world use Skype to talk with family, friends, and business associates at no cost or at low cost.

Now Skype has announced its rates for 2007: anyone in North America can call any telephone in North America for a flat rate of $14.95 a year. That's right: about $1.25 a month for unlimited calls!

FGS 2008 Call for Papers

The following announcement was written by the U.S. Federation of Genealogical Societies:

The Federation of Genealogical Societies is pleased to announce an invitation to submit lecture proposals for the 2008 FGS Conference

Footprints of Family History

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania September 3-6, 2008

Request for Lecture Proposals - Deadline is January 5, 2007

Genealogists Discover Identity of Enigmatic William Kingsland

William M.V. Kingsland, a bon vivant boulevardier of the Upper East Side who died last March, indefatigably researched the genealogies of countless prominent New Yorkers. One of his projects was finding the connections between purchasers of vaults at New York Marble Cemetery and their living descendents.

Since Kingsland's death, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has also been investigating Kingsland. Artwork found stacked in his apartment after his death turned out to be missing or stolen, including a bust of Giacometti and two paintings from Harvard, one by the famous Colonial portraitist John Singleton Copley.

National Archives Announces Major Venue in New York City

The following announcement was written by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration:

NEW YORK, Dec. 14 -- The National Archives announced plans today for a major presence at historic Federal Hall National Memorial, operated by the National Park Service. Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein was joined by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), to talk about the National Archives sharing its rich documentary treasures with the tens of thousands of visitors to Federal Hall, which was the first capital of the United States. Deputy Secretary of Interior Lynn Scarlett officially welcomed the National Archives as a partner at Federal Hall.

(+) Publishing Your Genealogy Book in Print or Online

Would you like to publish the results of your genealogy research? Does your genealogy society or family name organization want to publish data in book form? Publishing genealogy books has long been an expensive proposition. Genealogy authors often have paid in advance $2,000 to $10,000 or more to a book publisher in order to have a book published. However, today those "up front" expenses can be as low as zero, thanks to online services. In fact, if your book is ready to be sent to the publisher, you might be able to make it available for sale within the next ten minutes. Would-be purchasers can order your book directly from you or your web site, from the publisher's web site, or from Amazon, Borders, or Barnes and Noble.

1911 UK Census Arrives Early

Good news for those researching twentieth century U.K. ancestors! I received the following note from Garrick Webster, Editor of Your Family Tree Magazine:

I wouldn't normally email you like this but persistence from one of our readers, and pestering from Your Family Tree, has resulted in a change of government policy. The reader is Guy Etchells, and our writer who worked in it is Andrew Chapman.

Genealogy Videos on Google

File this under "I Didn't Know You Could Do THAT on Google."

Google has videos, including 30 or more genealogy-related videos that you can view right now. (I'd suggest a broadband connection be used for these large video files.) Subject matters vary a bit; many of the videos are advertisements or "how to use" instructional videos for commercial products while others are more homespun.

World's Oldest Person Dies at age 116

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bolden, recognized as the world's oldest person, died early Monday, the administrator of the Memphis, Tennessee nursing home where she lived said Monday. She was 116. Bolden was born August 15, 1890, according to the Gerontology Research Group, a Los Angeles-based organization that tracks the ages of the world's oldest people. It is notable that she lived in three centuries, having been born in the nineteenth century.

Swedish Witch Hunt Documents Found

When most Americans think of witches, we also think of Salem, Massachusetts. However, there were other, bigger witch hunts in history. New documents have been discovered that describe one such witch hunt in northern Sweden.

Origins Network Announces: All English Counties now available on 1841 Census

The following announcement was written by Origins Network:

The final English counties are now up on the 1841 England and Wales Census on British Origins. The remaining Welsh counties will be added in early 2007.

(+) The Best of Both Worlds: Use Macintosh and Windows Simultaneously on One Computer

The two leading operating systems of today are both excellent products. In some regards, the Macintosh operating system is better than Windows; for example, Macs are known for their reliability and graphics handling capability. In some other respects, Windows is better than Macintosh; for instance, Windows users have many more software choices. Luckily, thanks to a program released just a few weeks ago, it is now possible to have the best of both worlds all the time.

NGS Conference is Now Accepting Registrations

The following is an announcement written by the U.S. National Genealogical Society:

Registration is now open for the 2007 National Genealogical Society Conference in the States and Family History Fair, which will take place May 16-19 2007 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and Richmond Marriott Hotel in Richmond, VA. 

RootsMagic Cruise 2007

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a Plus Edition article about the growing popularity of genealogy cruises. I pointed out that cruises are starting to become as popular as national genealogy conferences. Indeed, these "conferences at sea" offer many of the same advantages as a traditional genealogy conference plus better accommodations, better food, and a wide variety of non-genealogy entertainment - as well as exotic ports of call.

In my article, I predicted that genealogy cruises are going to become more and more popular in the future. Indeed, one more cruise was announced this past week: RootsMagic Cruise 2007.

A New Opportunity for Genealogists: Criminology

Are you an expert in documenting family trees? Can you tie together the relationships of many people? If so, as a public service, you might like to help the Christchurch, New Zealand, Police Department find some criminals.

Christchurch police are targeting the ten families with the most prolific offenders - and have taken the unusual step of preparing family trees to help keep track of all the family members. By knowing who is related to whom, police are able to identify possible suspects much more quickly than by regular investigative means.