The DAILY genealogy technology newsletter for genealogy
consumers, packed with straight talk - hold the sugar coating - whether
the vendors like it or not!
The following is from the Government and Heritage Library Blog of the State Library of North Carolina at http://statelibrarync.org/news/:
We’re so pleased to announce that the State Library of North Carolina and the State Archives of North Carolina have together won won a National Digital Stewardship Alliance Innovation Award for our digital preservation outreach efforts.
The National Digital Stewardship Alliance, or NDSA, with members from all types of institutions around the country, works to “establish, maintain, and advance the capacity to preserve our nation’s digital resources for the benefit of present and future generations.” The Innovation Awards “highlight and commend creative individuals, projects, organizations, and future stewards demonstrating originality and excellence in their contributions to the field of digital preservation.” We won the institution category!
The following announcement was written by the Illinois State Genealogical Society:
The Illinois State Genealogical Society is proud to support the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ “Preserve the Pensions” campaign.
In support of this digitization project the ISGS announces the ISGS $10,000 War of 1812 Pension Match Challenge. ISGS will MATCH any contribution (up to the first $10,000) made to the Preserve the Pensions project before December 31, 2012. For instance, if you donate $100, the ISGS will match your contribution for a total of $200! In addition, Ancestry.com has announced it will also match ALL ISGS contributions which would mean any contribution you make will actually be QUADRUPLED! Your $100 contribution would become a $400 contribution! Any size contribution is welcome! A $10 contribution equals about 80 pages of Pension files digitized as part of the Preserve the Pensions project.
The following announcement was written by the Suzanne Winsor Freeman Grant Committee:
College students Elyse Doerflinger of Los Angeles, California and A.C. Ivory of Salt Lake City, Utah were introduced at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree Friday, June 8 as the 2012 recipients of the Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Student Genealogy Grant.
This is the second year that the grant has been awarded to young genealogists in a program that aims to assist students seeking to advance their genealogical education. Doerflinger and Ivory each received a $500 cash award to assist them in pursuing their genealogy goals.
This is an announcement of an agreement that solves a lengthy contest. The following is a joint press release issued by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Department of Education. You can see my past artciles about this issue at http://goo.gl/fu6w2. It announces the transfer of the genealogical collection from the Library of Michigan to the Archives of Michigan.
Archives of Michigan welcomes family heritage collection from Library of Michigan
The Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have agreed to move selected Family Heritage Collections currently housed in the Library of Michigan to the reading room of the Archives of Michigan.
The move will continue the state’s stewardship of the collection and better align the resources of both organizations. The collection will remain in the Michigan Library and Historical Center, where it can be easily used with related research materials held by both organizations. The move will take place this summer with a rededication planned during the Abrams Genealogy Seminar on July 13, 2012.
The following announcement was written by the Guild of One-Name Studies:
In April 2012 the Guild of One-Name Studies published "Seven Pillars of Wisdom: The Art of One-Name Studies" as a guide to the running of a one-name study. The book is a collection of helpful advice and information gathered from the Guild Wiki, and was published immediately before the Guild’s 2012 Conference in order to complement its "Seven Pillars" theme. Copies of this book are now available via the Guild website www.one-name.org/sales.html, with payment via PayPal or credit card online, or by cheque through the post.
The following announcement was written by the Family History Information Standards Organisation, Inc.:
Gilbert, AZ USA—May 17, 2012—Family History Information Standards Organisation, Inc. (FHISO) announced today that Ancestry.com, Inc. has finalized its plans to become a founding member of the organisation. FHISO is a newly-formed international organisation created to develop standards for the digital representation of family history and genealogical information. As a founding member, Ancestry.com will designate five organisational member representatives to participate with other FHISO members from the global genealogical community.
A few days ago, I wrote and published an article of Peer Review of Open-Source Books: An Opportunity for Genealogists? I proposed a free and open review of new and old genealogy books be created online. I envisioned it would operate as a mix of CyndisList, eBay, and the University of Minnesota online catalog of open-source books. However, it would be strictly limited to reviews of genealogy books. You can read the entire article at http://goo.gl/Du7sC.
I was delighted when Robert Barnes of FamNet not only volunteered to construct such a service, he actually built it and placed it into operation! It is available TODAY to the genealogy community. You can access it now.
The following announcement was written by the American Society of Genealogists:
The American Society of Genealogists gives an annual $500 scholarship that can be applied to any of three genealogy institutes: (1.) the National Institute of Genealogical Research at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.; (2.) the Institute of Genealogy and Historical research at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama; and (3.) the Certificate Program in Genealogical Research at Boston University.
The following announcement was written by the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project:
First Set of High-Quality, Easy-to-Search Records Now Available to the Public Thanks to Efforts of Volunteer Indexers
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (May 9, 2012) – The 1940 U.S. Census Community Project announced today the availability of a free, searchable index of 1940 U.S. census records for six U.S. states, including Delaware, Colorado, Kansas, Oregon, Virginia and New Hampshire. Records for these states are now searchable by name, location and family relations thanks to the efforts of more than 100,000 volunteers nationwide.
The following announcement was written by the Mixed Roots Foundation:
Mixed Roots Foundation has partnered with two DNA testing companies, 23andMe and Family Tree DNA, that will help adoptees and their families discover their biological and cultural roots through DNA testing.
“We know, from both research and experience, that access to one’s own information is a vital part of life, including shaping a positive identity."
In celebration of its one-year anniversary, the Mixed Roots Foundation today proudly announces the creation of the first-ever Global Adoptee Genealogy Project (GAGP) and the establishment of the Filling in the GAGP Fund to help adopted people and their families discover their biological and cultural roots through DNA testing. Mixed Roots will launch the Fund at the Adoptee Comedy Show on Monday, May 21, 2012, at the Punch Line Comedy Club in San Francisco, CA.
Major news for genealogists was released this afternoon. The following announcement was written by Ancestry.com:
"Simple and Affordable" Fast-Growing Start-up Adds Complementary Offering to Ancestry.com
PROVO, Utah, April 25, 2012 -- Ancestry.com Inc. (Nasdaq:ACOM) announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Archives.com, a family history website, for approximately $100 million in cash and assumed liabilities.
This transaction will enable Ancestry.com to add a differentiated service targeted to a complementary segment of the growing family history category. In addition, Ancestry.com will welcome a team of talented engineers, digital marketers, and family history innovators into the Ancestry.com fold and also gain access to a proprietary technology platform that has supported Archives.com's rapid growth.
The following announcement was written by the Society of American Archivists:
CHICAGO — Sycamore, Illinois, genealogist Julie Dresser is one of eight finalists in the I Found It In The Archives! contest, which is part of a national campaign sponsored by the Society of American Archivists (SAA). SAA asked archives users to submit essays or videos detailing their “discoveries” in the archives. Dresser’s essay, which was submitted to the contest by the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, describes how a trip to the Benjamin F. Feinberg Library at SUNY–Plattsburgh helped her discover priceless letters from her fourth-great grandmother.
I haven't seen this "toolkit" yet but it sounds interesting. The following announcement was written by the Foundation for the National Archives:
WASHINGTON, April 18, 2012 -- Step-by-Step Guide to Family Research at the National Archives
The Foundation for the National Archives announces the publication of the Genealogy Tool Kit: Getting Started on Your Family History at the National Archives, written by National Archives genealogy archives specialist John P. Deeben.
For many years, people have kept their precious mementos — letters, photo albums, home movies and paper documents — as a link to their past, and a recognized tradition is to pass along these family treasures to future generations. In celebration of Preservation Week 2012, April 22-28, the Library of Congress is sponsoring a number of activities to share preservation strategies that help people care for their personal materials — and thereby pass them on.
The following announcement was written by the Association of Professional Genealogists:
APG to Honor Student with Strong Interest in Developing a Career in Genealogy
WESTMINSTER, Colo., 11 April 2012—The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG®) is now accepting applications for the APG Young Professional Award. The award goes to a student with a significant interest in genealogy and with a strong interest in developing a professional career in genealogy. The award includes a scholarship registration for the APG Professional Management Conference (PMC) and a stipend of up to $500 towards travel and lodging at the conference. The winner will be announced in August 2012 for attendance at the APG PMC 2013, which will take place in Salt Lake City on 20 March 2013.
Many events relating to the 1940 U.S. census took place today. I have written about some of the events, writing mostly from a genealogist's viewpoint. Here is an announcement issued by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration late this afternoon, giving the agency's viewpoint of today's events:
April 2, 2012 National Archives Releases 1940 Census
Washington, D.C. . . Ever wondered where your family lived before WWII; whether they owned their home; if they ever attended high school or college; if they were born in the United States, and if not, where? Unlocking family mysteries and filling in the blanks about family lore became much easier today with the release of the 1940 census by the National Archives and Records Administration. By law the information on individuals in the decennial censuses, which is mandated by the U.S. Constitution, is locked away for 72 years.
I suspect this is the first of many, many such announcements we will see from several organizations. However, what caught my eye in this announcement is the fact that the project will be supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Aging and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Institute for Child Health and Human Development. Apparently, organizations can obtain funding to help with these projects.
The following announcement was written by the Minnesota Population Center at the University of Minnesota:
The following announcement was written by the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project:
Most Informative Record of American Life prior to U.S. WWII Involvement Has Potential to Unlock New Insights into the Past, Discovery of Unknown Family Connections
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 2, 2012) – The 1940 U.S. Census Community Project—a joint initiative between the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Archives.com, FamilySearch.org, findmypast.com, and other leading genealogy organizations—announced today a national service project to create a free, high quality, searchable database of the 1940 U.S. census records. Through the indexing efforts of online volunteers across the U.S., records from the 1940 census that were closed by law for 72 years will be easier to find. These census records capture countless untold stories of those who lived through the Great Depression—great men and women who have been called “the greatest generation.”
I have had the pleasure of knowing both of these gentlemen for several years and will say this is a great addition to the staff of MyHeritage. Russ and Roger formerly were the two top managers at Footnote.com, which was later acquired by Ancestry.com and renamed to Fold3. Now they are taking senior management positions at MyHeritage.
The following announcement was written by MyHeritage (you can click on the image to see a larger picture):
MyHeritage appoints industry heavyweights to spearhead global content growth
Appointment of senior executives boosts MyHeritage’s US presence, drives growth of historical content and kick-starts preparations for worldwide crowdsourcing project
PROVO, Utah & LONDON & TEL AVIV, Israel – March 30, 2012 – MyHeritage, the most popular family network on the web, announced today the appointment of industry veterans Russ Wilding and Roger Bell to Chief Content Officer and VP Product, respectively. The former founders and lead executives of Footnote.com, acquired by Ancestry.com in 2010 for $27 million, will boost MyHeritage’s US operations in Utah by establishing a new department for adding historical content and rolling-out an extensive global crowdsourcing project.
The following announcement was written by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration:
National Archives Launches 1940 Census April 2 Online at 1940census.archives.gov Live webcast of Opening Event, 8:30 A.M. EDT
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