Sunday, April 29, 2007
FamilySearch databases online -- a summary
Episode Twelve: Podcast Available
The quickest way to download is to right click on the "download a copy" link above and select "Save Link As" (Mozilla) or "Save Target As" (Internet Explorer). You will then be given options where on your computer to store the file. Our podcasts are 60 minutes long and average approximately 12mb in size.
If you use Apple iTunes (available for Mac and Windows) to listen to podcasts, click here to subscribe via iTunes to Family Roots Radio.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Organizing research saves time, effort, and heap of frustration
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Britain colonial slave records online
Common Surname Research is Topic on 26 April Show
Get ready to review Genealogy Forum with us to see some helpful material they have gathered. Then we'll look at GenForum to discuss getting the most out of the larger message boards. Then we'll scoot across the pond and introduce the Guild of One-Name Studies, a fantastic resource for British research. We'll also expose the fallacy of several so-called "surname sites." They're helpful to a point, but. . . . Naturally, you won't want to miss the tip from the pros, or the software tip of the week. Then there's always our free data site of the week to help you find more ancestral answers. So, tune in, and enjoy!
Do you want a little homework before you listen to the show? Check out a couple of your surnames to learn how common they area at this surname frequency site from the U.S. Census Bureau. For more information on surname frequency, review our 15 March show.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Auto maker sponsors "Who Do You Think You Are" LIVE event
Genealogy plays role in researching heart disease
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Christine Rose to Guest on 26 April Show
Genealogical Research on a Shoestring Budget
Monday, April 23, 2007
More Library Links from 19 April Show
In our review of state libraries, we also mentioned that there is a great list of links to virtually every state repository: archives, libraries and societies. You can find the best list of such websites here at Cyndi's List.
Although we profiled three state library sites, here are some others you'll want to check out:
Indiana State Library's Genealogy Databases & Indexes
New York State Library Genealogy page
Ohio State Library Genealogy Services, including their online catalog
Library of Michigan Genealogy Resources, with some very useful databases
Pennsylvania State Library discussion of their genealogy collections
Massachusetts State Library Guide to Genealogical Resources
Maine State Library Genealogy Resource Materials
Well, the list could go on and on. Check the state library for your states of research, and then try some local libraries. There'll be some great new finds!
Don't forget the free data site, and those fascinating funeral cards at Genealogy Today. There's a very helpful article that outlines the nature and use of those unheralded records.
Stay tuned, we've got an important show coming up next!
Ancestry.com announces second surge in user-uploaded content
Ancestry.com's tree-building tools enable family members to build multimedia family trees together whether living next-door or across continents. Families can upload photos, write stories, enter life events and names on a shared family tree -- all for free. These visual portraits of history are organized into specific categories on the site for easy searching including, Portrait/Family Photo, Place, Object, Historical Event, Headstone, Document/Certificate, Map, and Transportation. To view a sample of these one million unique family photos added to Ancestry.com.
Cemetery symbols may provide insight to individual beliefs
Wicca is said to be a nature-based religion based on respect for the earth, nature and the cycle of the seasons, but variations of the pentacle have been used in horror movies as a sign of the devil — a usage not accepted and vehemently denied by Wiccans. The pentacle has been added to 38 symbols the VA already permits on gravestones. They include commonly recognized symbols for Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, as well as those for smaller religions such as Sufism Reoriented, Eckiankar and the Japanese faith Seicho-No-Ie.
VA-issued headstones, markers and plaques can be used in any cemetery, whether it is a national one such as Arlington near Washington or a private burial ground.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Insights into the 1830 U. S. Census
Friday, April 20, 2007
Review of Virginia Immigrants and Adventures
Martha McCartney provides an excellent collection of biographical information on the early colonists along the James River from difficult to obtain primary sources. Virginia Immigrants and Adventures 1607 – 1635: A Biographical Dictionary will no doubt become a favorite work of students and genealogists of colonial Virginia history. That said, this is clearly a reference work. The format of the book is alphabetic for the most part, except where family groups appear listed together. This means that if the person being sought was identified with his/her parents, it may be necessary to search all the entries of the surname to locate the pertinent biography. This problem is negated, however, by the index included at the end of the book, making the book fairly easy to use.
In addition to the biographical information, McCartney has used her knowledge of the early geography of the area to link individuals to a particular place within the area. A map shows the areas where information on the individuals included in the book resided. Each biography references this map. This will be helpful in tracing individuals from the period in which counties govern the area, to this early period where individuals are identified by plantation or now defunct city. The first portion of the book also includes a brief description of the colonization of this area, describing, in great detail, each of the locations referenced on the map.
Clearly a work of many years diligent effort, scholars and genealogists alike may expect to benefit from the wealth of information McCartney has amassed. Unlike most histories and biographies covering this time period, McCartney has clearly tried to gather information on every person mentioned in the available records for this area. This makes it a source for information about the lives and habits of people which are widely available nowhere else.
Amanda Sims, MA (Pending, in history)
Practical tips and hints for cemetery research
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Episode Eleven: Podcast Available
The quickest way to download is to right click on the "download a copy" link above and select "Save Link As" (Mozilla) or "Save Target As" (Internet Explorer). You will then be given options where on your computer to store the file. Our podcasts are 60 minutes long and average approximately 12mb in size.
If you use Apple iTunes (available for Mac and Windows) to listen to podcasts, click here to subscribe via iTunes to Family Roots Radio.
US woman donates 30 volumes of Nova Scotia genealogy
The genealogies include census records, wills, land grants, family records, Bible records, birth and death records and marriage certificates from Canada, the United States and Scotland. Ms. MacIvor’s work, which began as a hobby, spans the MacLean, Marshall, Fraser, Matheson, Ross, Stewart, Simpson and Nichol families, among others.
Effective Library Research on 19 April Show
In addition, we'll have the chance to look at some of the great state libraries in the U.S., through their websites. Our "Interactive Website" segment is scheduled to explore the Library of Virginia with their great collection of databases, as well as the Connecticut State Library which provides great guides to their collection. And, it would not be complete if we did not take a peek at the Illinois State Library for an example of their important catalog of materials.
If that's not enough, our tip from the pros will tell you how to find more of these great libraries, and our free site of the week will introduce you to a record type you may have never thought of, and an index to thousands of such records. Then, of course, there's our software tip, notice of what's new and more, so listen in!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Berlin's many cemeteries a popular attraction
"The city's cemeteries are something of a magnet for tourists nowadays," says Pohren-Hartmann. "Especially for visiting ex- Berliners who have moved abroad. They make guided tours of the more famous burial places, feeling they are reliving history when doing so," he says.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Tom Kemp to Guest on 19 April Show
New Scotland genealogy center to open in 2009
Group works to include ancestry on 2010 US Census short form
Monday, April 16, 2007
Early Marriage Customs
Sunday, April 15, 2007
NARA historical document price increases -- Voice your opinion
As a representative example are the proposed rates for obtaining Civil War and other war (Revolution, 1812, etc.) pension files, which will go from $37 to $60 up to $125, depending on which war is of interest.
There will be a public comment period on the proposed rate increases until April 27. To comment online, go to www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions to fill out an online comment/complaint form. Or fax your comments to (301) 837-0319; mail your comments to Regulations Comments Desk (NPOL), Room 4100, Policy and Planning Staff, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Rd., College Park, MD 20740—600.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Episode Ten: Podcast Available
The quickest way to download is to right click on the "download a copy" link above and select "Save Link As" (Mozilla) or "Save Target As" (Internet Explorer). You will then be given options where on your computer to store the file. Our podcasts are 60 minutes long and average approximately 12mb in size.
If you use Apple iTunes (available for Mac and Windows) to listen to podcasts, click here to subscribe via iTunes to Family Roots Radio.
More Links from 12 April Show
Indeed, in the Interactive Website segment, we discussed how some similar but older books are now available at Google Books. Time only permitted us to walk through finding Revised History of Harlem (by James Riker), but we've also found the following there (just type in the title words in the Google search box):
Connecticut Puritan Settlers, 1633-1845 (by Hinman)
Register of the Early Settlers of Kings County, Long Island, N. Y. (by Bergen)
In addition, Ancestry.com has posted the following similar books about early settlers:
Great Migration Begins (Robert Charles Anderson)
Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography of the Nineteenth Century
Massachusetts Pioneers (Charles Henry Pope)
Plymouth Colony, History and People (Eugene Stratton)
Maine Pioneers, 1623-60 (Charles Henry Pope)
Of course, they're not all online yet. Some are still under copyright, so you'll want to visit your local library. Consider these two examples:
The Palatine Families of New York (Henry Z. Jones)
Opening the Ozarks (Marsha Hoffman Rising) [Although not colonial, it is similar]
If you're interested in the early Pennsylvania Germans, check your library for several books by Annette K. Burgert. Of course, sometimes there are too many early settlers for a book. Those interested in early New Amsterdam (now New York City) should seek out the CD-ROM by David M. Riker, New Netherland, Vital Records 1600s which is really his Genealogical and Biographical Directory of Persons in New Netherland from 1613-1674 (as the print title is known)
Those of you who want to pursue the original records behind such research were alerted to one such example in our free data site of the week. The Colonial Records of Connecticut are available online, with a good search engine. Enjoy!
Another place to look for that elusive marrage record
Ancestry offering access to Ellis Island records, through April 30
Ancestry releases Scotland Census Collection, 1841-1902
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Photo collection offers hope for Australia's "stolen generation"
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Colonial Settler Biographies on 12 April Show
Add to that discussion our regular features, including the news of the week, the free site selection as well as the software and professional research tips, and you won't want to miss this show. Tune in right on time, since our question of the week may be considered mildly controversial as well.
Oregon State Library exhibits early pioneer historical timeline
The Chronological Chart is in the tradition of historical timelines that were very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Sebastian Adams was born in 1825 and survived an arduous journey over the Oregon Trail in 1850 . . . Throughout his life, Adams was a scholar and lecturer on the subject of world history and religion. His knowledge is well illustrated in this outstanding example of 19th century chromolithography which taught colorful and dramatic lessons in history. The exhibit of Sebastian Adams' Chronological Chart will be on view on the second floor State Library through the end of the year. The State Library is located at 250 Winter Street, across from the State Capitol in Salem and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Jamestown 400th Anniversary celebrations in the news
Organizers of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown say researchers will help visitors trace their ancestry. Ancestry. com will run a booth during "America's Anniversary Weekend" on May 11th through 13th. The event precedes the 2007 NGS Conference that May 16 to 19 in Richmond. For information on Jamestown celebrations, visit America's 400th Anniversary. For information on the NGS Conference, visit the National Genealogical, Rediscover America web site.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Historian Martha McCartney to Guest on 12 April Show
More Links from 5 April Show
We explored some great and helpful sites for finding living relatives, and there are more out there. One that genealogists should be aware of is a database at Ancestry.com. Their U. S. Public Records Collection provides better information than some of the sites we mentioned, and has almost a billion entries! So, if you've got an Ancestry subscription, be sure to use it. Another "private investigator" site you may want to check out is U.S. Search, while another helpful telephone directory is White Pages.
The free data site of the week was the wonderful Missouri Death Certificates, which, as always, is also linked from the Genealogy Sleuth. Stay tuned, there's always more in store!
Hatfields and McCoys -- a new look at an old fued
Monday, April 9, 2007
FamilySearch.org reaches 150 million names
One feature of the online databases is the Pedigree Resource File, or PRF. Family files in the PRF are submitted by visitors to the Web site. To submit files, a user has to download the free Personal Ancestral File genealogy software at the site, or submit the information using a GEDCOM file from another genealogy software program.
A new search feature on the advanced search screen allows users to check a “show all events” feature to view extended generational information that they were unable to view before to this addition. The advanced search screen is at www.familysearch.org/Eng/
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Alex Haley's "Roots" 30th Anniversary rebroadcast, Easter Sunday
"Roots," an adaptation of Alex Haley's book by the same title, traces the journey of a West African man sold into slavery from Gambia to the U.S., and follows his family through emancipation in the post-Civil War South.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Episode Nine: Podcast Available
The quickest way to download is to right click on the "download a copy" link above and select "Save Link As" (Mozilla) or "Save Target As" (Internet Explorer). You will then be given options where on your computer to store the file. Our podcasts are 60 minutes long and average approximately 12mb in size.
If you use Apple iTunes (available for Mac and Windows) to listen to podcasts, click here to subscribe via iTunes to Family Roots Radio.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Allen County LIbrary teams up with WeRelate.org
Allen County Public Library's endoresement of WeRelate.org, a new genealogy web site. Several months ago, the library began talks with the Foundation for On-Line Genealogy, a Utah nonprofit, which was founded to create a place on the Web for genealogists to contribute material. Those talks gave birth to WeRelate.org, which is based on the Wikipedia model. The Web site allows people to upload and correct genealogical information, research projects and geographic information.
“We wanted a place virtually where we could encourage people to record their family history,” said Curt Witcher, manager of the library’s genealogy center. “Any everyday person can go onto the site and upload information.”
The site is free to use, but registration is required. As on Wikipedia, users will be able to update and correct information on the site. They can also make “read-only” entries that can’t be changed, Witcher said. “Wikipedia’s popularity draws a large crowd of people who can constantly correct misinformation, he said. “If you build enough people, it’s very self-correcting. We’re hoping to build the same thing.”
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Finding Living Relatives on 5 April Show
So, in the "Interactive Website" segment, we're going to explore a couple of the more controversial websites, those that provide information on living persons. Names, addresses, phone numbers, ages may already be out there (gathered from public records). We'll look at a couple of "phone book" sites, such as Switchboard or Directory Assistance Plus. But, there's more, including what some call "private investigator" sites. While sites like PeopleFinders charge a fee for a complete report, you can get a lot of information for free. The same with Intelius. But, the champion of free data, and controversy, is ZabaSearch. We'll explore and explain why.
Of course, you'll want to hear the news of the week, as well as our research tip from the pros, our software tip and our popular free data site. Be ready to link to the Genealogy Sleuth for that one! We'll be there on your Internet connection. Tune in and enjoy!
Evaluating genealogy publications
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Megan Smolenyak to Guest on 5 April Show
Genealogical Software, Links and More from 29 March Show
There's also a couple of comparison charts online that show you the different features of different software. They're a bit dated, but are still a useful place to look. Check out Richard Wilson's chart, as well as Bill Mumford Report Card. Of course, we don't know who's selling the best, but with the help of Amazon.com, we can tell which software seems the most popular on their site. So, based on their sales ranking and figures (which are open to interpretation in many ways), here's the 15 top selling genealogy software programs there:
- Family Tree Maker
- RootsMagic
- Family Tree Legends
- Legacy Family Tree
- Heritage Family Tree
- GSP Family Tree
- GenoPro Family Tree
- The Master Genealogist
- Generation Family Tree
- Ultimate Family Tree
- Family Tree Quick & Easy
- Family Tree for Dummies
- Easy Family Tree
- Softkeys Family Tree
- Multilingual Family Tree
In our news segment, we mentioned that vital records for Nova Scotia are now on line. The free data site of the week was the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. Well, all of that should keep you busy till the next show. Be listening then!
Article offers help utlizing French family history web site
"Even though the site is in French, it is fairly easy to use," and the article proceeds to walk you through some steps and offers some basic translations. I walked through the first steps for one of my French surnames, although this is not my region of interest. If it's yours, this site may have something for you.
A second French site at www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr is still incomplete, but, when finished, will list the names of all French soldiers who died in 20th-century wars. The site also has a searchable database. It can be translated into English by clicking on the small British flag icon.
Ancestry releases Canadian Border Collection
An often-overlooked, but major U.S. immigration channel, the U.S.-Canadian border typically offered easier entrance to the United States than sea ports such as Ellis Island. This new collection includes immigrants who first sailed to or settled in Canada before continuing to the United States as well as U.S. and Canadian citizens crossing the border. Among the busiest ports of entry on both sides of the border were Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Detroit, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto.The border crossings also contain a surprising number of nationalities with Russians, Italians and Chinese among the most common nationalities of people crossing the U.S.-Canadian border.
While you do pay to access the records, you can search the records without charge. To learn more about the collection, see Border Crossings: From Canada to U. S., 1895-1956.