Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

New Assistant Editor at Ancestors Magazine

Karen Wicks has taken over from Penny Law as assistant editor of Ancestors Magazine, published by The National Archives of Great Britain. Her appointment fills the vacancy that I mentioned in an article on April 04, 2009.

The Ancestors Magazine blog at http://www.ancestorsmagazine.co.uk/?page=blog#170 states that Karen Wicks has just graduated from the NCTJ course at Harlow College, having originally been a primary school teacher.

Welcome aboard Karen!

Jeff Kintop Appointed Nevada's New State Archivist

Longtime state employee Jeff Kintop has been named Nevada's new state archivist. Kintop, 58, has been the state archives manager since 1991 and worked in university, state history and archives positions since 1979. He replaces Guy Rocha, who retired in February after 28 years in the position of running the Nevada State Library and Archives.

Matt Rutherford Appointed to Curator of Genealogy and Local History at Newberry Library

Matt Rutherford is taking over as Curator of Genealogy and Local History at the Newberry Library in Chicago. He will be replacing Jack Simpson who left recently for other opportunities. (See the article at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2009/06/farewell-from-jack-simpson.html for more information about Jack Simpson.)

Matt Rutherford has been a reference librarian in local and family history at the Newberry since 2004. He is well known in genealogy circles in an around Chicago.

Farewell from Jack Simpson

Jack Simpson has been the Curator of Genealogy and Local History at the Newberry Library in Chicago for years and has helped guide the Library's many services for genealogists. His many friends will want to know that Jack is moving on to new challenges.

You can read Jack Simpson's farewell note at: http://www.newberry.org/genealogy/news/default.asp?postid=770.

David E. Rencher Named FamilySearch Chief Genealogical Officer

The following announcement was written by FamilySearch:

SALT LAKE CITY—FamilySearch today named David E. Rencher Chief Genealogical Officer (CGO). He will have responsibility to help FamilySearch align strategic business decisions with needs and demands of genealogy-related markets. Rencher is a 28-year veteran of FamilySearch and a popular leader in genealogy and archive circles. He has held leadership positions with several national organizations, is a professional genealogist, and is in great demand as a keynote speaker. In addition to his new role as the CGO, Rencher will continue to direct FamilySearch’s collection development activities.

FamilySearch is a growing, worldwide organization focused on providing quicker and more affordable access to genealogical records. The chief genealogical officer helps ensure various efforts in the genealogy community are connecting with FamilySearch’s efforts and that FamilySearch continues to grow in genealogical understanding and depth as an organization.

Obama to Visit Sites of Importance in His Family History in Germany

This seems hard to believe, but an article in the English-language version of Spiegel Online claims that Preseident Barack Obama's planned trip to Germany in June is not going to be an official state visit. German diplomatic sources reportedly told Spiegel Online that the US president is planning a private trip in which he will go on a personal search to places of importance for his family history.

Genealogy for the Rest of Us by Steve Luxenberg

The following article was written by Steve Luxenberg and is republished here with the author's permission:

A writer's guide to diving into family history
By Steve Luxenberg,
Author of Annie's Ghosts: A Journey Into a Family Secret

I am not a genealogist. I am a storyteller.

The difference? Well, I’ll tell you a story.

Teen-Aged Genealogist Wins $10,000 College Scholarship

Despite the troubled economic times, paying for college just got easier for at least one Utah student. Bingham High School senior Brad Jencks is the Utah winner of the 2009 AXA Achievement Scholarship In association with U.S. News and World Report. Brad is one of 52 students nationwide -- one from each state plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico -- to win the $10,000 scholarship.

New Librarian and Archivist of Canada Appointed

Daniel J. Caron has been named as the new Librarian and Archivist of Canada. He is replacing Ian Wilson who announced his retirement earlier this month.

The following was written by Libraries and Archives Canada:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper Announces Appointment of New Librarian and Archivist of Canada

Marilyn Labbe Receives Community Service Award

Marilyn Labbe of Moosup, Connecticut was recently awarded the Community Service Award by the Sarah Williams Danielson chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Labbe is a member of the Killingly Historical and Genealogical Society and is a genealogy researcher who regularly answers historical inquiries from interested residents. She also oversees membership and conducts research on books and papers submitted by callers. As part of her duties, Labbe is often called on to conduct research at various town halls, as well as at the Connecticut State Library.

Linda Fay Kaufman, R.I.P.

Linda Fay Kaufman was an expert genealogist and was the savior for those who are researching the family name of FAY. She ran the Fay Family web site at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~fayfamily.

You can read the obituary for Linda Fay Kaufman at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/startribune/obituary.aspx?n=linda-fay-kaufman&pid=126113469.

Ian E. Wilson Announces his Retirement as Librarian and Archivist of Canada

The following was written by Ian E. Wilson:

Dear Colleagues,

I wish to advise you of my retirement as the Librarian and Archivist of Canada effective April 24th 2009.  Although retiring, I will continue to be active as I fulfill my mandate as President of the International Council of Archives, and work on projects of interest to libraries and archives.

Stephen A. White Named Genealogist Emeritus

Stephen A. White, the well-known genealogist and author at the Université de Moncton's Centre d'étude acadiennes Anselme-Chiasson, has been named genealogist emeritus by the Quebec genealogy accreditation office.

The office is part of the Fédération québécoise des sociétés de généalogie. It's the highest distinction that the bureau can confer. White is being honoured for his long service and competency in genealogy.

Dick Eastman Speaks

Warning: The following article contains shameless self-promotion.

This is a quick note to remind event organizers that I am available for speaking engagements at conferences and meetings. I speak on a variety of topics, most of them related to technology in some manner. Several of my talks are based on past and/or future articles in this newsletter. I’d love to speak at your society’s meeting!

For more information or to check available dates, drop me a line at: http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy//contact-us.html.

Dick Eastman Speaks... Remotely

Warning: The following article contains shameless self-promotion.

Bringing speakers to your genealogy conference or meeting can be very expensive. The travel expenses alone are often cost-prohibitive for smaller organizations with limited budgets. I will offer an alternative method: I can make presentations at your event by teleconference.

Melinde Sanborn: Tree Climber

The Manchester Union-Leader has a great article about professional genealogist and prolific author Melinde Sanborn, FASG. It describes how she became interested in genealogy. Sanborn scrapped her aspirations of being an archaeologist and decided she would become a genealogist.

The same article also provides a bit of information about the upcoming New England Regional Genealogical Conference to be held in Manchester, NH on April 22 to 26.

Cliff Shaw Joins FamilyLink.com, Inc.

Cliff Shaw is a prolific software developer and is well known as the founder of GenForum, GenCircles, and Pearl Street Software where he developed Family Tree Legends, a genealogy program for Windows. Now Cliff has joined FamilyLink.com, Inc. as its new lead developer. FamilyLink.com provides the FamilyLink social networking software as well as Word Vital Archives, an online database of both original and transcribed records.

Here is the announcement written by FamilyLink.com, Inc.:

Former founder of GenForum, GenCircles, and Family Tree Legends to help connect families on FamilyLink.com

PROVO, Utah, March 3 -- Former founder of numerous genealogy companies and products, Cliff Shaw, recently joined FamilyLink.com, Inc. as its new lead developer.

Paul McGrath, R.I.P.

I was saddened to learn of the death of Paul McGrath. Paul was the staff genealogist for the Canadian family history television show “Ancestors in the Attic” (now in its third season) on History Television. Paul suffered a heart attack in Scotland working on an episode of the program. He passed away on Wednesday, October 22, 2008. He was 49 years old.

Richard Black Joins FamilyLink.com, Inc.

Many genealogists know Richard Black as the Director of Godfrey Memorial Library in Connecticut for the past three years. Now he has changed employers. Richard has accepted a position in content partnerships at FamilyLink.com, Inc., the parent company of WorldVitalRecords.com. Richard’s new role at FamilyLink.com, Inc. will be to work primarily with content providers who have U.S. genealogical content.

Bill Dollarhide Hospitalized

Friends of noted author and lecturer Bill Dollarhide will want to know that he had two "silent heart attacks" that went undetected at the time. Only some weeks later did he start to complain about the symptoms he had endured since then. Upon seeing a doctor, he was immediately hospitalized and this week surgeons inserted four stents into two of Bill’s arteries.

Details are available on Leland Meitzler's blog at http://genealogyblog.com/general/bill-dollarhide-recovering-from-surgery-at-the-va-hospital-in-salt-lake-city-6939.