Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

Alvy Ray Smith wins 2007 Donald Lines Jacobus Award

The 2007 Donald Lines Jacobus Award has been presented to Alvy Ray Smith for his Elder Bethuel Riggs of Morris County, New Jersey, published by the Newbury Street Press. The first of several projected volumes on the Riggs family, this book has a preface explaining Mr. Smith’s use of DNA. For a review, see the upcoming October 2007 issue of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register.

A Talk with the CEO of The Generations Network

It has been a busy 24 hours. While rumors have existed for years, last night a new rumor spread like wildfire that The Generations Network was about to be acquired by another company.

Early this morning, The Generations Network issued a press release describing its acquisition by Spectrum Equity Investors, a private equity firm. The announcement was posted on this newsletter within minutes at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/10/follow-up-ances.html. Lots of comments and e-mail messages followed immediately.

NOTE: The Generations Network is the parent company of Ancestry.com, MyFamily.com, RootsWeb.com, and a number of other web sites. It also produces the very popular Family Tree Maker genealogy program for Windows systems.

In mid-day, I had a chance to talk at length on the phone with Tim Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Generations Network. He gave a lot of details about the acquisition and shared his vision for the future. I am indebted to Tim for taking the time to talk with me on what must have been a very busy day for him.

Follow-up: Ancestry.com & The Generations Network Bought Out for $300+ Million

Yesterday I wrote a brief article stating that The Generations Network (parent company of Ancestry.com, MyFamily.com and other sites) was being acquired by Spectrum Equity Investors. This morning the two companies issued the following press release offering more details:

News Release Issued: October 17, 2007 8:08 AM EDT

The Generations Network, Parent Company of Ancestry.com, to be Acquired by Spectrum Equity Investors

Investment Will Support and Accelerate Company's Strategic Direction and Growth Plan

PROVO, Utah, Oct. 17 -- The Generations Network, Inc., today announced that Spectrum Equity Investors will lead an investment of $300 million to purchase a majority interest in the company. Spectrum, a private equity firm based in Menlo Park and Boston, has been a shareholder in The Generations Network since 2003. Following the transaction, Vic Parker and Ben Spero from Spectrum will serve on the company's new board of directors, along with Tim Sullivan, President and CEO of The Generations Network. Additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory and closing conditions and is expected to close in 2007.

FFHS to Discontinue Book Sales, Remaining Books are on Sale

The following announcement was written by the (U.K.) Federation of Family History Societies:

The publication and distribution of books was an important and profitable venture for the British based Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS) for over 30 years.  Recently the demand for books has slowed with many people now doing their research on the Internet. As a result FFHS Publications Ltd, book distribution depot at Bury, Lancashire, England is being closed.

New Online Database for African American Genealogy

The following announcement was written by WeRelate, USF Africana Heritage Project and Ideas4:

WeRelate, the USF Africana Heritage Project and Ideas4 have announced plans to build a free, central Internet database for digital images and records of African American genealogy, history and culture. The database, which will be called the Afriquest data crossroads (http://www.afriquest.com), will be built using collaborative software.  Anyone will be able to add images and records to the database or draw images and records from the database for research purposes. Access to the images and records on Afriquest will always be free.

Chris Haley Tests DNA to Verify/Refute Haley Family Legends

Chris Haley is the Research Director for the Legacy of Slavery Project at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, Maryland. He is also an expert genealogist, historian and researcher. Finally, he is also the nephew of the late Alex Haley who wrote the famous book and television mini-series called Roots. I have written about Chris before and interviewed him a couple of months ago. That interview is available at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/08/interview-with-.html.

Haley's family had long suspected that the paternal line descends from an Irishman. Now there’s some proof, and Haley hopes to fill the gaps left by his late uncle, whose historical novel traced a maternal line to Africa. Chris Haley said that, because of his uncle's work, many people assume his family knows everything about its history. He then points out that “Roots” mixed fiction with history of one branch of the family. Chris is using DNA in hopes of verifying family rumors.

Ancestry.com & The Generations Network Bought Out for $300+ Million

NEWS FLASH: It has been an open secret for a long time that The Generations Network (parent company of Ancestry.com, MyFamily.com and other sites) has been looking for a buyer. Now a deal has been struck.

Genealogy Today on Framingham TV

If you live in Framingham, Massachusetts, you probably will be interested in the following message I received from Dave Robertson:

Dick,

I wanted to let you know that I'm having a new genealogy show on cable here in Framingham called "Genealogy Today with Dave Robertson" which can be viewed by anyone in Framingham.  Also you can ask you local Public Access TV to show it on your town's station. 

Georgia Death Certificates Now Viewable Online

The following announcement was written by FamilySearch:

Some 275,000 certificates from 1919 to 1927 linked with index and images

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH—FamilySearch and the Georgia Archives announced today that Georgia’s death index from 1919 to 1927 can be accessed for free online. The online index is linked to digital images of the original death certificates. This free database will open doors to additional information for family historians and genealogists with Georgia ties. The index and images can be searched and viewed at www.GeorgiaArchives.org (Virtual Vault link) or labs.familysearch.org.

Ancestry.com Launches Online DNA Testing Service

The following announcement was written by The Generations Network, Inc., parent company of Ancestry.com:

Integration of DNA, Historical Records and Online Community of 15 Million Users Creates Ultimate Social Network for Family History

PROVO, Utah, Oct. 16 -- Ancestry.com, the world's largest online resource for family history, today launched DNA Ancestry -- a new service combining the precision of DNA testing with Ancestry.com's unrivaled collection of 5 billion names in historical records and the site's unmatched online family history community.

British Guardian and The Observer Added to ProQuest Historical Newspapers

Historical archives of two major British newspapers are now being added to ProQuest. Note this is NOT a part of HeritageQuest Online, a separate service from ProQuest. You can view these databases at your local library, if that library subscribes to ProQuest's ProQuest Historical Newspapers. Here is the announcement:

Ann Arbor, Mich. – October 15, 2007 – The Guardian and The Observer will be the first British titles to join the acclaimed ProQuest Historical Newspapers™.  More than 212 years of continuous, independent reporting that covers the best in arts, politics, business, and sports will be searchable for the first time.  Digitised by Olive Software, Inc. and converted to ProQuest Historical Newspaper’s specifications, the digital archive will include the Guardian (1821- 2003) and The Observer (1791-2003).

Tombstone Parking Meter

These pictures are making the rounds. No comment necessary:

Click on the image to see a larger version. Then click on "Continue reading" to see the next picture.

Irish Coats of Arms may be Worthless

The legality of all Irish coats of arms issued in the past 60+ years is now in doubt. In what has been described as the new 'arms crisis', the National Library has stopped the Office of the Chief Herald from making any further awards due to concerns that it had no legal powers to do so.

The Genealogical Society of Ireland said it was a very embarrassing situation which had been allowed to develop over a long period of time.

Follow-up: Haverhill, Massachusetts Home to be Featured on BBC's "Who Do You Think You Are?"

On September 19, I wrote about a planned filming in a house in Haverhill, Massachusetts for an upcoming episode of the British hit television show, "Who Do You Think You Are?" That article is available at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/09/haverhill-massa.html.

A TV crew from New Brunswick visited the house last Friday where they filmed portions for the show. However, the identity of the featured guest on the show still remains a secret. The only secret that has leaked out is that the featured guest is a female.

2008 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference Blog

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

The next FGS Conference will take place from September 3-6, 2008 in historic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This four day "Footprints of Family History" educational conference honors the host city as the place where the ancestors of millions of Americans first set foot on the continent. Family historians like to keep up with additional news and details about the annual FGS Conferences. The 2008 conference committee has a blog to provide that.

Geographic Names Information System

OK, so you found a record that says your ancestor was born in Deals Gap, Tennessee. Now you ask, "Where the heck is that?" You could always purchase a map of Tennessee and then look for the place. However, many small locations are not shown on modern maps. It is also possible that the place may have existed only in past years and has now disappeared; if so, a current map may not show the place you are interested in. You could try searching on Google. That may or may not find the place you seek.

You might search the online mapping services for Deals Gap. That will probably be successful (1.) if it is an incorporated town and (2.) if it still exists. However, if the location you seek has since disappeared or been absorbed into another nearby municipality, even the mapping sites may not find it.

If you want to find a cemetery within Deals Gap, all of the above "solutions" will probably fail. Luckily, there is an easy answer for online genealogists: look at the U.S. Government's Geographic Names Information System, usually referred to as "GNIS.". Best of all, that database is available to all, free of charge.

Thomas W. Jones Elected Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists

The followingå was written by the American Society of Genealogists:

It is with great pleasure that the American Society of Genealogists announces the election of a new Fellow.

Thomas W. Jones, PhD , CG, CGL, was elected based on the quality and quantity of his published genealogical work.

A Cemetery Wi-Fi Hot Spot

I love genealogy research, and I love technology; but, I am still scratching my head over this one: Paducah, Kentucky, has installed a wireless networking "hot spot" in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Paducah's public information officer, Pam Spencer, says the purpose is simple: to allow people to use the web to help with genealogy research.

www.thatsmyfamily.info, a New Tool for Quebec Genealogy

The following announcement was written by Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du
Québec:

MONTREAL, Oct. 12 - Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) is pleased to announce a new Web site dedicated to genealogical research. Launched by BAnQ in partnership with Library and Archives Canada (LAC), www.thatsmyfamily.info, also available in French at www.voicimafamille.info, provides the public with a user-friendly and innovative federated search engine free of charge.

(+) PAF on a Stick

Four years ago, I published an excerpt from an e-mail sent to me by a newsletter reader:

I am 81. My wife died recently and I have sold my house. I will spend my remaining days visiting family and friends.... So I will have no PC. I will rely on library facilities and friend's PCs. I will carry my GEDCOM database on CD. But most will not have a genealogy application on their PC. Many public facilities will not allow you to install applications because of the complications involved in making entries to their Windows Registry. For the same reason I cannot install the genealogy application on web storage such as Yahoo Briefcase. Is there a way around this, or perhaps a site which has a genealogy application available for all to use?

I was unable to find an answer to his question four years ago. Thanks to advances in technology, there is a simple answer available today. It works well. I have tested it over the past few days and have been pleased with the results. In short, I am using "PAF on a Stick." In fact, the CD-ROM disk that my correspondent suggested isn't required. The solution I found is even simpler.

I can carry this genealogy program and a rather large database in my shirt pocket at all times. It is convenient and easy to use, and the results will satisfy many genealogists, although not the more demanding experts.