Wednesday, May 19, 2010
50 Most Popular Genealogy Websites for 2010
ProGenealogists.com has published the rankings for the 50 Most Popular Genealogy Websites for 2010. Also included are the rankings for these sites for 2009 and 2008. If we all click through to look at these we can boost ProGenealogists.com up the rankings by all the traffic we send their way! ;-) Check to see how your favorites are doing. Perhaps you will get some ideas of sites you would like to try.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The Granite Mountain Vault
Have your heard of the Vault? It is the underground storage area where the LDS Church stores the archive copy of all the images they have collected related to family history. When I was in Salt Lake City last month to attend the National Genealogical Society Annual Conference, we were given a video tour of the Vault and its role in preserving the information that allows us to do family history research. We were also given an update of the colossal project underway to convert the vast microform collection to digital format.
That video tour is now available for for viewing on your computer screen.
1. Granite Mountain Vault -- Part 1
2. Converting Microfilm to Digital Media -- Part 2
3. FamilySearch filmed the vital records before a 2004 cyclone destroyed much of the island of Niue and thus saved this town's records of its history -- Part 3
You will probably have to click on the Play icon on the viewer to get the films to begin to play.
If these videos open small on your monitor screen, you should be able to download them to RealPlayer through your browser. Then they can be viewed in full screen mode. RealPlayer is a free download add on for most popular browsers. To accomplish this try right clicking on the image shown in the viewer after the video has started. If "Download This Video To RealPlayer" pops up on your screen, you are on your way. After the download is completed, you and play it. You also should be able to increase the image size to full screen mode by clickin on the maximize button in the upper right corner of the viewer screen.
That video tour is now available for for viewing on your computer screen.
1. Granite Mountain Vault -- Part 1
2. Converting Microfilm to Digital Media -- Part 2
3. FamilySearch filmed the vital records before a 2004 cyclone destroyed much of the island of Niue and thus saved this town's records of its history -- Part 3
You will probably have to click on the Play icon on the viewer to get the films to begin to play.
If these videos open small on your monitor screen, you should be able to download them to RealPlayer through your browser. Then they can be viewed in full screen mode. RealPlayer is a free download add on for most popular browsers. To accomplish this try right clicking on the image shown in the viewer after the video has started. If "Download This Video To RealPlayer" pops up on your screen, you are on your way. After the download is completed, you and play it. You also should be able to increase the image size to full screen mode by clickin on the maximize button in the upper right corner of the viewer screen.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Searching This Blog
You can search the blog from Google. Today a person in New York did a Google search for "Wing Family in Rhode Island" and was referred to an item on this site that I posted on March 28th. So if you want to find an old post here and can't remember when you saw it here, one way to retrieve it would be to Google some keywords in the post.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
EXTRA: Digital Copy Machines Steal Secrets!
Take a look at the trail you appear to be leaving when you use a copy machine to reproduce your valuable documents.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pIFUOav2xE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pIFUOav2xE
East Coast Research Trip in June
If any of you live in the general area of Washington DC, I invite you to join us at the DAR Library in Washington on June 24th. A handful of cousins and research colleagues have already indicated they plan to be there. This is the second research day in DC for me. Actually started my genealogy research at the Library of Congress when I was a graduate student in the 1960s.
Three years ago when the American Library Association last met in DC, I met cousin on my mom's Cashatt line, Ida Cann and her husband David, Sally Keefer, a cousin on my dad's Pierce line and Wayne Smithey a research colleague on my stepson's Smithey line at the Library of Congress for a day of research in the Local History and Genealogy Room. All of the original cast members plan to return this year when ALA returns to DC. The other four live in the extended DC area. This year cousin George Dowell and Jerry McCabe, my long time conference roommate have indicated they plan to join us.
If you live nearby or otherwise plan to be in the area on June 24th, you are more than welcome to join us. This year Wayne indicated he would prefer the DAR Library because of its open stack arrangement. Both the DAR and LC are among my favorite research spots.
DC will be the last destination of my June voyage of family discovery, reunion and research. On June 2nd I plan to fly to Nashville for the birth of a new grandson and some quality time with his big brother Noah who is now almost 3. Two weeks later I'm flying to Baltimore and pick up a rental car. Then I will drive up to the Philadelphia area to do some research in the Quaker records at Swarthmore College. Then I'll continue up the coast to a Wing Family Reunion in Hyannis, MA. On my return trip I plan to spend a couple of days in Delaware researching my ancestors who settled in New Sweden in the 17th Century. Then back to the DC area.
I would be happy to see any of you at any stop along the trail. Actually I'll be at the DAR on both the 24th and 25th. On the 24th I will be researching in the Library all day. On the 25th I am attending an all day workshop "Behind the Genealogical Reference Desk" which is primarily designed for librarians who help family history researchers. Then after a few days attending other ALA meetings, I'll return to the left coast on Tuesday, June 29th.
Three years ago when the American Library Association last met in DC, I met cousin on my mom's Cashatt line, Ida Cann and her husband David, Sally Keefer, a cousin on my dad's Pierce line and Wayne Smithey a research colleague on my stepson's Smithey line at the Library of Congress for a day of research in the Local History and Genealogy Room. All of the original cast members plan to return this year when ALA returns to DC. The other four live in the extended DC area. This year cousin George Dowell and Jerry McCabe, my long time conference roommate have indicated they plan to join us.
If you live nearby or otherwise plan to be in the area on June 24th, you are more than welcome to join us. This year Wayne indicated he would prefer the DAR Library because of its open stack arrangement. Both the DAR and LC are among my favorite research spots.
DC will be the last destination of my June voyage of family discovery, reunion and research. On June 2nd I plan to fly to Nashville for the birth of a new grandson and some quality time with his big brother Noah who is now almost 3. Two weeks later I'm flying to Baltimore and pick up a rental car. Then I will drive up to the Philadelphia area to do some research in the Quaker records at Swarthmore College. Then I'll continue up the coast to a Wing Family Reunion in Hyannis, MA. On my return trip I plan to spend a couple of days in Delaware researching my ancestors who settled in New Sweden in the 17th Century. Then back to the DC area.
I would be happy to see any of you at any stop along the trail. Actually I'll be at the DAR on both the 24th and 25th. On the 24th I will be researching in the Library all day. On the 25th I am attending an all day workshop "Behind the Genealogical Reference Desk" which is primarily designed for librarians who help family history researchers. Then after a few days attending other ALA meetings, I'll return to the left coast on Tuesday, June 29th.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Footnote.com at local FHL
Footnote.com is offered free in the local Family History libraries in Atascadero and SLO, I believe.
I like to go to the libraries just to browse through their book collections and also look at the microfilms and microfiches they have. In SLO I found an index to all the births in Chicago going way back in the 1800's. I located my gfather and his brother so that I could then order the actual copies of the birth records. I got the family's address in Chicago and another verification of family names from that record.
I like to go to the libraries just to browse through their book collections and also look at the microfilms and microfiches they have. In SLO I found an index to all the births in Chicago going way back in the 1800's. I located my gfather and his brother so that I could then order the actual copies of the birth records. I got the family's address in Chicago and another verification of family names from that record.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Footnote.com Free Offers
Footnote.com through its partnership with the U. S. National Archives makes wonderful content available such as Revolutionary War pension files and much more. Currently, the company is offering free content in a variety of packages:
1. Access to their Historical Newspaper collection is available free for the month of May;
2. Access to all collections for 7 days; or
3. Access to a basic free membership.
Be advised that options 1 and 2 above will require you to enter a credit card number and the account will roll into a paid subscription after the free period ends. If you are disciplined enough to cancel the subscription be the time it ends, these accounts are a great way to get an idea about whether or not a regular subscription would be worth while for you. If not you may be better served by the basic free membership--option 3 above. It will not give you the same access of the other options but it is a good starting point.
If you have never explored Footnote.com, it is well worth your time to investigate the content offered here and it's ability to further your family history research.
1. Access to their Historical Newspaper collection is available free for the month of May;
2. Access to all collections for 7 days; or
3. Access to a basic free membership.
Be advised that options 1 and 2 above will require you to enter a credit card number and the account will roll into a paid subscription after the free period ends. If you are disciplined enough to cancel the subscription be the time it ends, these accounts are a great way to get an idea about whether or not a regular subscription would be worth while for you. If not you may be better served by the basic free membership--option 3 above. It will not give you the same access of the other options but it is a good starting point.
If you have never explored Footnote.com, it is well worth your time to investigate the content offered here and it's ability to further your family history research.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
1940 US Census
It's only 697 days until the the 1940 US Census will be released. :-)
It's still 697 days until the the 1940 US Census will be released. :-(
If you can't wait to find out about it click on http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/census/1940/index.html. You will find information about the questions asked, the form on which the answers were recorded and also a digital clock that is counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the census is released to the public.
It's still 697 days until the the 1940 US Census will be released. :-(
If you can't wait to find out about it click on http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/census/1940/index.html. You will find information about the questions asked, the form on which the answers were recorded and also a digital clock that is counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the census is released to the public.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Sharing Facts in RootsMagic 4
While I was at NGS last week I learned about a feature in RootsMagic that was new to me. It is the ability to share a fact among several people. I have long known how the share events like the census or a residence with a married couple. However, I did not know how to like events like this with other household members.
In the family unit at below, the father, mother and infant son were enumerated in the 1910 census. To link this event to the infant, Robert, one needed to click on the "SHARE" button in the lower right corner of the screen.
A box then opens so you can choose the individuals with whom the fact is to be shared.
Then you can click on "Add a person" or "Add multiple people". In this case I want to add only one individual. Because only my Uncle Robert had been born at that time.
When I click on the button, the list of persons in my database opens and I just have to place a check mark by Robert's name and click "OK", to attach this census information to his individual record. Now that information will be included in reports I print that include Robert whether or not I include his parents in that report.
If you use a genealogy program other than RootsMagic, root around in it and see if your program has a similar feature.
In the family unit at below, the father, mother and infant son were enumerated in the 1910 census. To link this event to the infant, Robert, one needed to click on the "SHARE" button in the lower right corner of the screen.
A box then opens so you can choose the individuals with whom the fact is to be shared.
Then you can click on "Add a person" or "Add multiple people". In this case I want to add only one individual. Because only my Uncle Robert had been born at that time. When I click on the button, the list of persons in my database opens and I just have to place a check mark by Robert's name and click "OK", to attach this census information to his individual record. Now that information will be included in reports I print that include Robert whether or not I include his parents in that report.
If you use a genealogy program other than RootsMagic, root around in it and see if your program has a similar feature.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Ancestry.com Announcements at NGS
Ancestry.com made some announcements to the genealogical world at the National Genealogy Conference (NGS) that ended Saturday in Salt Lake City. At least one (or more) should be of interest. As you may know Ancestry seems to be getting out of the print publishing methodology. About a month ago they published the last issue of Ancestry magazine. In a parallel move Ancestry announced at NGS they announced had launched a new wiki. This wiki will now be the venue for access to two venerable and pricey genealogical reference books:
1. The Redbook: American State,County, and Town Sources; &
2. The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy.
These sources will now be available online in wiki format---meaning that anyone can update them as needed.
When I took a tour of Ancestry headquarters in Provo on Thursday, I noticed that every staff member had a copy of the red book and the white book on their desks next to their computer monitors.
To take a peek at this new online wiki click the following link:
http://www.ancestry.com/wiki
Ancestry also announced that there will be a MAC version of Family Tree Maker 2010. Dr D found this less interesting that the new wiki; but it may leave some of you salivating on your keyboard.
1. The Redbook: American State,County, and Town Sources; &
2. The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy.
These sources will now be available online in wiki format---meaning that anyone can update them as needed.
When I took a tour of Ancestry headquarters in Provo on Thursday, I noticed that every staff member had a copy of the red book and the white book on their desks next to their computer monitors.
To take a peek at this new online wiki click the following link:
http://www.ancestry.com/wiki
Ancestry also announced that there will be a MAC version of Family Tree Maker 2010. Dr D found this less interesting that the new wiki; but it may leave some of you salivating on your keyboard.
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