Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

Ethics in Publishing Family Histories

Under U.S. copyright laws, facts cannot be copyrighted. Recent legal opinion has even decided that certain compilations of facts, such as telephone directories, are not subject to copyright.

But what about compiled genealogies? What can I include in a published genealogy without infringing on someone else’s rights? And what rights do I have to the compilations I produce?

(+) Genealogy on Second Life: Fantasy or Reality?

Second Life (abbreviated as SL) is an Internet-based virtual world. In other words, it is an online game in which players can become whatever they wish: wizards, soldiers, storytellers or… genealogists? I have been told there is a genealogy section in Second Life, so I decided to check it out.

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world built and owned by its residents. As you enter this virtual "online world," you'll find people, entertainment, experiences, and opportunity. Once you've explored a bit, perhaps you'll find a perfect parcel of land to build your own house or business. You will get to know your neighbors, and you can participate in both local and distant events. You will even find a marketplace where you can buy or sell virtual goods.

Should we call it "genealogy" or "family history?"

James M. Beidler has an interesting article in the Lebanon Daily News  concerning the proper label for those of us who research our family trees. He writes:

Especially in the last few decades as ancestor hunting has become a mass sport, so to say, there has been a debate inside and outside the so-called genealogical community (that is, professionals, societies, libraries and other organizations) on what we should call ourselves.

Cremation Ashes Used in Pencils

I must admit this idea doesn't appeal to me. However, some people apparently approve. It seems that the portraits of deceased people that an Edmonton company is selling to their loved ones boast a uniquely personal touch. Each pencil sketch has a little something of the subject in it -- namely a tablespoon-sized portion of their cremated ashes.

(+) Genealogy Myths: Real, Fool's Gold, or Both?

Family stories are a wonderful thing. They often give you insights into the lives of your ancestors. However, beware! Not all family stories are true. Many such stories are fictional. Yet, even the stories that are either entirely or part fiction may contain clues to facts.  Good genealogical practice requires that we admit the fiction. But the next step the genealogist takes separates art from science. Before we discard these stories altogether, we need to mine them for nuggets of truth. Let's look at a few of the more common "family legends" to see which ones you can mine for real gold.

Myth #1: Our family name was changed at Ellis Island.

Make Your Own Online Tombstone

OK, you simply have to see this one! I've written before about web sites that will generate signs or pictures containing text that you enter. Now there's one of interest to genealogists: make your own tombstone.

You simply go to the web site, enter up to three lines of short text, click on the BURY IT button and a picture of a tombstone soon appears on your screen. The stone contains the words you just entered.

Problems at Hotmail

I have been pulling my (thinning) hair out in recent months, dealing with spam filters. I send thousands of newsletters to subscribers as e-mail messages; yet, many of them do not arrive in the recipients' in-boxes. The problem revolves around a handful of e-mail providers. Indeed, most mail servers will accept and deliver this newsletter to subscribers, but a handful do not. The errant mail servers delete these newsletters in the spam filters.

Hotmail has been one of the "problem children" for some time. In fact, the problem has become worse in recent weeks: subscribers using a Hotmail address no longer receive this newsletter in e-mail although most other people do. Now a controlled test by publishing site HubPages.com proves the problem. In fact, Hubpages.com found that the problem is even bigger than anyone suspected.

Mysterious Messages Appear in Nova Scotia Cemeteries

NovaNewsNow.com has an interesting story and video about the mysterious deeds of an unknown  genealogist in Kings County, Nova Scotia. It seems that someone is typing short genealogical reports of deceased individuals, including census citations and other genealogical facts. The information is then placed in plastic sleeves and attached to sticks inserted in the ground adjacent to the tombstones of the individuals named. Visitors to the cemetery can easily read the information contained in the weatherproof sleeves.

This year, messages have appeared in the Elm Grove Cemetery in Steam Mill; the Oak Grove and St. Joseph's cemeteries in Kentville; and the Cambridge, Billtown, Lakeview, Centreville and old Wolfville cemeteries.

Norwegian-Americans to meet in Onalaska, Wisconsin

Three Norwegian-American organizations will meet on August 1-4 to learn more about Norwegian culture and spirit at the Tre Lag Stevne (gathering) in Onalaska. The event is sponsored by Gudbrandsdalslaget, Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag, and Trønderlag of America. Theme for the stevne, which will be held at the Stoney Creek Inn & Conference Center, is “Norwegians on the Move — Rivers, Roads & Rails”

The event is open to the public. There is a registration fee. Advance registration for meals and tours is required. You can learn more at http://www.nhohlag.org/images/2007/07TreLagPrgm.pdf.

U.K. Office for National Statistics to Vacate Offices

The following announcement was written by Maggie Loughran, Administrator of the Federation of Family History Societies and is published here with her permission:

ONS TO VACATE GROUND FLOOR FRC BY 31 OCTOBER 2007

At the Family Records Centre User Consultative Group Meeting today at the Family Records Centre (FRC) Myddelton Street, London, the Federation of Family History Societies representatives (Maureen Bullows and Geoff Riggs) were extremely disturbed to be informed that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will vacate the ground floor at the FRC by 31 October 2007.