Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

Reunion for iPad

Reunion by Leister Productions is the leading Macintosh genealogy program in North America. A matching program has been available for some time for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch that allows Reunion users to take their genealogy database with them. Now an iPad-specific version has been released.

Reunion for the iPad allows you to view, navigate, search, and edit your information on the go. Yes, that's "edit." You can make changes to your database on the iPad, then take it back to the Macintosh and perform a sync function. All the changes you made on the iPad will be copied back to your family file on the Macintosh.  You can add people, document new information, add pictures, and make corrections to your data on the iPad. Those changes will later be added to the Reunion database on the Macintosh.

Scan2PDF Mobile

Have you ever found yourself at a library or a records repository and needing to make a copy of a document? It might be a will or a deed or a birth record. Whatever the document, you need a copy. The problem is, there is no photocopier to be found. The solution is simple: use the camera in your cell phone.

Most any cell phone camera will do a so-so job of storing an image of a document. It might not be the best quality, but it is usually acceptable. You can store the image as a JPG or possibly some other format. However, for only a few dollars, you can find software that will store it as a PDF file which then can be emailed to yourself, to someone else, or stored and copied to the desktop computer later for printing. You can even send it as a FAX, if you wish.

Scan2PDF Mobile is a lifesaver when you need a PDF file in a hurry. The program uses your mobile phone to scan documents and convert them to PDF files. It all happens on your phone allowing you to scan documents anywhere - as long as you have your phone. Think of it as a document scanner/fax machine that you always have with you.

Email Providers Are Rejecting Millions of Legitimate Emails Daily

One of the biggest headaches I face is sending newsletters by email. Every day, I receive messages from readers stating, "I am not receiving the EOGN newsletter in email. Can you fix that?" Sadly, I cannot. Every time I look at the mail server's logs, I see where the email message was sent correctly. However, I estimate that 5% to 10% of the messages never get delivered.

According to an article in PC Pro, Friends Reunited had as many as 27% of its emails blocked by email providers' mail servers in May. Those messages typically do not even make it to the recipients' spam folders but are blocked at the mail servers instead.

Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) restrict, redirect, or reject inbound emails to save users the time and hassle of having to deal with spam mail. However, new studies are showing that a number of ISPs are rejecting millions of legitimate email messages every day.

Springville, Utah: Help Wanted at OneGreatFamily

An ad on Monster.com shows that genealogy database provider OneGreatFamily is looking for an Online Marketing Director. The company seeks an experienced marketing manager "who can hit the ground running in managing our Internet advertising programs (all except the Affiliate program) in order to grow revenue profitably.​ The successful candidate will aggressively grow monthly new subscription revenue by being customer-centric and working to ensure that our internet advertising effectively reaches and converts new subscribers.​"

You can read more at http://jobview.monster.com/GetJob.aspx?JobID=90213599

City of Utica Takes Over Birth and Death Records from Psychiatric Center

According to a statement issued by the city of Utica, New York, the city’s Vital Records office has assumed responsibility for the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric death and birth records.

The decision to consolidate the two offices was made by the state, according to the statement. Any inquiries regarding birth or death, certified or genealogy, should now be directed to the city’s Vital Records office at (315) 738-0218 or visit the city’s Web site at http://www.cityofutica.com

New Databases Ease Tracking of Jewish Roots in Massachusetts

Boston.com has an article about Carol Clingan of Dedham, Massachusetts. Clingan and others of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston have complied databases that are about to go public to help Jews all over the world track their Massachusetts roots.

In the lists, every synagogue in the state is inventoried, as well as all Jewish cemeteries and newspapers, rendering the search for family a little more manageable for those starting out.

1890 Pickaway County, Ohio Census to be Recreated

Back in February, 2009, the volunteers of the Pickaway County Historical and Genealogical Library decided to undertake a huge project for Pickaway County’s Bicentennial.  They would rebuild the 1890 census.

Plans were made to list all persons known to be living in Pickaway County in 1890. A source of each bit of information would also be attached, so that researchers could verify all research. The full names of individuals, his or her birthdate and place, marital status in 1890, when the marriage occurred, the parents' names (including maiden name of mother), occupations, and residence are be included in this recreated version of the census.

West Valley (Arizona) Genealogical Society Meeting - September 13, 2010

Marsha Allen Gold, a Utah native, raised and living in the Phoenix Valley of the Sun, will be the September 13, 2010 Meeting speaker.  Knowing the history of an area is invaluable to genealogical research. Her topic will be "Using Printed County Histories".  Marsha's interest in genealogy began when she visited her grandparents and cousins, heard their life's stories and spent time going through old photograph albums. Later in life, she spent one day a week writing  family stories that her mother related.  Marsha has spoken to several genealogical societies in the area and has taught beginning classes to the Family History Society of Arizona.

“First Friday” at the East Tennessee History Center

The following announcement was written by the East Tennessee History Center:

Come celebrate “First Friday” at the Museum of East Tennessee History on Friday, September 3, from 5:00-8:00 pm.  The Museum of East Tennessee History will feature the infrared photographs of local photographer and businessman, Daniel Brent Golden, manager of Hart Graphics, Inc. In his artwork, Golden combines his two favorite avocations, photography and fly fishing, to create large panoramic images of North America's fly-fishing waters. Golden has recently taken an interest in the invisible light of infrared (IR) photography, using this technology to capture waterways throughout East Tennessee. For this special First Friday exhibition, the Clinch, Watauga, and Holston rivers will be featured. The series has been praised as “hauntingly beautiful” and as “containing a vividness and depth matched only by our memories.”

Historian and Archivist Betty Clark Rodgers to be Honored

Betty Clark Rodgers was instrumental in the founding of the first county archives of its kind in the state of Mississippi, serving from 1993 until 2005. Now she will be honored and recognized for her life achievement by the Jackson County Historical and Genealogical Society (JCHGS).

A founding member of the Jackson County Genealogical Society, she also served for many years as an active member of the Jackson County Historical Society and was one of the first serious researchers and archivists of the Colonial period on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Hitler was Related to Jewish and Black Families

DNA is proving all sorts of things about various individuals throughout history. DNA tests have now revealed that Adolf Hitler may have been related to both the Jews and black people that he earmarked for extermination. Brussels news magazine Knack has claimed that DNA obtained from the Nazi leader’s relatives led to the discovery.

A farmer in the Waldviertel region of Austria is known to be a cousin of the German dictator. (To protect his privacy, the name of the cousin is never made public.) The cousin gave researchers a sample of his saliva. Since this cousin shares the same male ancestry as Adolf Hitler, the two presumably have the same Y-chromosome DNA.

Your Public Officials at Work: Philadelphia is Requiring Bloggers to Pay $300 for a Business License

Here is one of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard from our bureaucrats and elected officials, and that's saying something. There is a lot of competition for the title of "dumbest idea."

If you live in Philadelphia and if you write a blog, the city says you need to obtain a $300 business license plus pay taxes on any profits made. The taxes seem reasonable but a $300 business license?!?

Back Home Again but Leaving Soon

I arrived home about midnight last night from the FGS conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. After a good night's sleep, I am creating and sending the weekly Plus Edition newsletter about eighteen hours later than usual. It normally gets sent on Sunday evening but yesterday I was on an airplane at that time. Therefore, this week's Plus Edition newsletter is being sent on Monday afternoon.

Here's a bit of a "heads-up" notice: next week's Plus Edition newsletter mailing may or may not be the same.

EOGN Dinner in Knoxville and a Change in Plans for Future Dinners

The high point of my week at many major genealogy conferences actually occurs after the conference closes. This past week in Knoxville, Tennessee was no different. Thirty-four newsletter readers joined me for dinner at Calhouns, a restaurant on Knoxville's waterfront that is well known for its barbeque. Actually, we also proved that the restaurant had many other delicious items on its menu. Adult beverages were also consumed.

We were a noisy group, although I doubt if any other customers noticed. Calhoun's is a rather noisy place on a Saturday evening.

My congratulations to Lila Davis for winning the free meal at the dinner.

NYG&B's Financial Realities

Three years ago, one of the older genealogy societies in North America "downsized" itself. Formed in 1869, the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society owned a beautiful building and one of the better genealogy libraries in the country. Blaming competition from the Internet, the Board of Directors decided to sell the building and to give away the library's 75,000 books, 20,000 microforms and 30,000 maps and manuscripts. When members objected, the Board of Directors pushed through a resolution that stripped members of their right to vote on important business and approve the naming of trustees. Left with no oversight, the Board was free to act as they wished.

NYG&B then reduced staff by 50%. Once the building was sold, the Board of Directors invested the money gained from the sale. There is but one problem: the economy and the stock market almost immediately went into a nose dive.

Writing in the New York Times, Alison Leigh Cowan reports that the society has now lost $6 million of its investment.

Griffith’s Valuation now on Askaboutireland.ie

The Primary Valuation was the first full-scale valuation of property in Ireland. It was overseen by Richard Griffith and published between 1847 and 1864. It is one of the most important surviving 19th century Irish genealogical sources.

AskAboutIreland and the Cultural Heritage Project is an initiative of public libraries together with local museums and archives in the digitisation and online publication of the original, the unusual and the unique material from their local studies' collections to create a national Internet resource for culture.

Report from the FGS Conference in Knoxville - with Pictures

The annual conference of the Federation of Genealogical Societies drew to a close late Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tennessee. I was at the conference for four days and enjoyed myself. From what I could see and hear around me, all the other attendees enjoyed it also.

This year's event was co-sponsored by the East Tennessee Historical Society and by the Kentucky Historical Society. Together, these organizations produced a first-class event in a very nice, modern facility.

I wandered around for four days, attending presentations, attending luncheons, snapping pictures, and talking with lots of people. I also hosted about 35 people at dinner on Saturday evening, although I will write about that in a separate article.

ISFHWE Excellence in Writing Competition for 2011

The following announcement was written by the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors:

The International Society of Family History Writers and Editors is sponsoring its annual "Excellence in Writing" competition to recognize excellence in genealogical columns and articles. For the first time this contest is open to members and non- members of ISFHWE, both published and unpublished authors.

APG Announces Five Award Winners

More news from the annual conference of the Federation of Genealogical Societies being held this week in Knoxville, TN:

Association of Professional Genealogists Awards Five Members for Contributions to the Field of Genealogy

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., and WESTMINSTER, Colo., August 20, 2010 −Today at the 2010 Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) Conference in Knoxville, Tenn., the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG®) honored five of its members for their outstanding achievements in the field of genealogy. APG President Laura Prescott presented the awards at today’s luncheon, which featured Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FNGS, FASG, FUGA, who presented, “Writing Genealogy: Are You a Saint, Sinner, or Bumfuzzled Soul?”

(+) Use Boolean Logic to Improve Your Online Search Results

The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman.

In 1854 self-educated English mathematician George Boole published a paper that eventually resulted in 21st century genealogists finding more information about their ancestors. Boole published The Laws of Thought that illustrated new ways of looking at mathematical data.

Boolean algebra emerged in the 1860s and went on to become a standard method of analyzing all sorts of data. In the last half of the twentieth century, computer scientists and programmers found many applications for Boolean logic. Now Google and many other search engines and quite a few genealogy sites also use Boolean logic extensively. If you understand a few of the simpler Boolean search methods, you can greatly increase the probability of finding the information you seek.