Family History Preservation

press-citizen.com | Local News

2006-09-27T14:49:00.000-05:00

press-citizen.com | Local News: "Researching her family history has made one Iowa City resident eligible to join a number of different -- and unique -- groups."

Family history inspires woman's tale

2006-09-24T21:00:00.000-05:00

Family history inspires woman's tale: "Ladalia Postell said she was so impressed by stories about her white great-grandmother facing up to racism by marrying a black man that she wrote a book about the couple and the people she imagined lived in their home over the years. "

VOA News - Great-Grandma Did What?! Becoming an Explorer of Family History

2006-09-18T11:33:00.000-05:00

VOA News - Great-Grandma Did What?! Becoming an Explorer of Family History: "People study their family history for different reasons. For some, genealogy is important to their religion. This is especially true for Mormons.
Genealogy is also important for membership in some historical or cultural organizations. These include the General Society of Mayflower Descendents and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Candidates for membership may be asked for evidence about when their families came to America.

Other people who get involved in genealogy may want to confirm stories they heard about a family member. Or they may just want to learn more about the strange-looking people in old family pictures."

St. James News - News

2006-09-15T16:22:00.000-05:00

St. James News - News: "The Yates Museum, just outside of Madelia, is a place where Yates family history, Madelia history, and pioneer history all run together. The museum will be open for its 30th anniversary on Saturday, and Sunday, Sept. 16 and 17, during Madelia's Younger Brothers Capture celebration.

The farm itself is a historic place. Ruth told how the spot where the two branches of the Watonwan River come together, which is on their farm, was a meeting place for the Native Americans who lived in the area."

Protecting Your Family History From Disaster

2006-09-06T21:44:00.000-05:00

Protecting Your Family History From Disaster: "People who evacuated in the path of Hurricane Katrina a year ago tried to grab what they could. Despite the loss of their homes and neighborhoods, however, many say that what they regret the most is the loss of their family mementos - pictures, albums, family heirlooms... Do you have a plan in place in case disaster strikes you? "

The Beaumont Enterprise - Preserving history: Southeast Texas scrapbookers tell family stories with style, flair

2006-08-30T17:00:00.000-05:00

The Beaumont Enterprise - Preserving history: Southeast Texas scrapbookers tell family stories with style, flair: "'As a nation, we've dealt with a lot of tragedy and trauma in the past few years. When you preserve your family's history, you provide a sense of continuity and security. That helps people feel grounded and to have a sense of something worthwhile to pass on to the next generation.' "

Stuck Like Glue

2006-08-29T15:04:00.000-05:00

Stuck Like Glue: "Glue.
It seemed like such a good idea at the time...
But as many of us know (thanks in large part to the efforts of scrapbookers) the acids in glue can cause staining and will actually eat away at photographs and other paper items. And to add insult to injury, many of our treasured family pictures are glued onto acidic scrapbook pages.
So. What should you do?"

Exploring their roots: Passing on family history to younger members is vital to Jones descendants

2006-08-14T14:11:00.000-05:00

Exploring their roots: Passing on family history to younger members is vital to Jones descendants: "Catherine Miller knows what it takes to put on a big family reunion -- good food, family history books with old photos, games and fun, T-shirts, goody bags and door prizes.

But the most important part is providing time for relatives - especially younger family members - to learn about each other and their extended family. "

The Daily News, Jacksonville NC

2006-08-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

The Daily News, Jacksonville NC: "We might have a very few things that stay with us in our lives. To have something you can look back at and know that it is part of your family, your heritage; however large or small it may be, that is special, Golden said."

Pasadena Star-News - Family history gets a boost

2006-08-09T15:20:00.000-05:00

Pasadena Star-News - Family history gets a boost: "Now, thanks to 'genetic genealogy,' easily accessible DNA tests can link people not only to immediate family but to descendants as far back as thousands of years.
The latest tool for genealogists has spurred interest in the subject so much that it is currently the No. 1 hobby in the country, said Miriam Benell, one of the founding members of the Whittier Area Genealogical Society (WAGS).
'Sometimes you run into brick walls in your research,' said Benell, 65, who helped found WAGS in 1981. 'DNA can sometimes break through and help establish the link you're looking for.' "

HP Feature Story: Rebuilding lives, restoring memories (April 2006)

2006-07-09T11:56:00.000-05:00

HP Feature Story: Rebuilding lives, restoring memories (April 2006): "In a recent episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in New Orleans, a worldwide HP team of digital imaging experts restored hundreds of damaged photos for families affected by Hurricane Katrina bringing precious memories back home again."

Web generation preserves memories online - Yahoo! News

2006-06-25T17:06:00.000-05:00

Web generation preserves memories online - Yahoo! News: "John Shin refuses to buy a copy of his high school yearbook. Instead, he's turning to the Internet to preserve and share memories of his sophomore year."

HometownAnnapolis.com, Lifestyle - Family digest

2006-06-22T15:54:00.000-05:00

HometownAnnapolis.com, Lifestyle - Family digest: "Designer Wendy Bellissimo has partnered with Pampers and Dreft to create a keepsake that every mom or mom-to-be can appreciate for years to come: a scrapbook to capture treasured moments of the new baby.

The limited edition baby shower scrapbook, 'Sweet Baby Memories,' is available for free while supplies last to the first 5,000 households (limit one per household.)

The scrapbook, designed exclusively for Pampers and Dreft, was created with a baby shower in mind and is a unique gift that includes a special area for experienced moms to share their words of wisdom with the new mom-to-be. In addition, the album features one-of-a-kind designed pages that include Ms. Bellissimo's sweet and delicate creative touches beloved by many moms, so new parents can begin collecting their most cherished memories before, during and after pregnancy to celebrate this exciting moment for years to come.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.sweetbabymemories.com. "

KESQ NewsChannel 3 Palm Springs, CA: Fire destroys Indio home

2006-06-21T14:23:00.000-05:00

It's something you just don't even want to think about but everyone knows that in an instant your home could go up in smoke and flames. If it happened to you (God forbid) would you have safeguards in place to protect your irreplaceable family photos?

We recommend:

Make copies of irreplaceable photo prints or keep your negatives in your safe deposit box

Keep your precious memories in a fire proof safe

Regarding digital photos: Always backup the backup of your backup media

Distribute copies of photo prints, negatives, around family members so that one tragic event won't wipe out your history

KESQ NewsChannel 3 Palm Springs, CA: Fire destroys Indio home: "Only a few family photos & mementos is what's left from this family's bedroom that was completely gutted by fire."

Lowell Sun Online - On a Lowell corner, a long family history

2006-06-19T06:07:00.000-05:00

I am the proud step-parent to two bright and talented young people. And I have been blessed beyond measure with four energetic and adorable grandsons. Never having had children of my own, I sometimes feel a little regret that my family name won't be passed on to another generation. Here's some news about a family that found another way to preserve the family name.
Steve

Lowell Sun Online - On a Lowell corner, a long family history: "In order to keep the memory of his family alive, he established the Alfred H. and Kathryn E. Coburn Park Maintenance Fund to renovate and maintain the plot of land that his family donated to the city of Lowell in 1907. "

DenverPost.com - Family values Juneteenth history

2006-06-18T17:31:00.000-05:00

DenverPost.com - Family values Juneteenth history: "'I want them to understand why we're here. It's more than just buying popcorn,' said Garrett-Mills, who last year took her family on a pilgrimage to Texas to explore her family's history. "

Organizing Your Photos

2006-06-16T16:25:00.000-05:00

Okay, I bet you all think we've dropped off the planet. Not so. I've just been very busy revamping my business and website.

One of the tasks I've undertaken may be of special interest. Susan and I collaborated to create a new ebook called "How To Organize Your Photos". If you've been thinking of getting out those boxes and bags of photos and start getting them into albums, this ebook is made to order for you. We'll show you step by step how to make it not seem like such an insurmountable task.

For a limited time I'm making this ebook available free on my website http://www.applauseav.com

Simply fill out the form upper left on the page and we'll fire it right out to you. Happy organizing!
Steve

Local News - Peterborough Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More

2006-05-12T09:39:00.000-05:00

Every life has a story to tell. Some are short stories and others not all that short ...

Local News - Peterborough Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More: "And the further she looked into the lives of her great-grandparents, the more she realised her family history could make a great novel.

Louise (42), who also writes a column for The Daily Telegraph newspaper, began digging into her past when she was taking a short break in her career to have her first daughter.

She uncovered the fact that her great-grandfather was born to a Romany woman in a Werrington graveyard back in the late 1800s. The plight of this baby, and the women in his traveller family, gave Louise the perfect plot for the novel Stone Cradle, which was published last week.

It tells the remarkable story of the lives of Romany families in the Peterborough area and paints a fascinating picture of the city through the last century."

South Bend Tribune

2006-05-10T09:23:00.000-05:00

It's so important not to overlook items such as this for their value as a potential family heirloom. I'd also suggest additional documentation should be kept such as, in this case, photos of the quilt and stories about those who handcrafted it.

South Bend Tribune: "'I have something to show you,' Decker said.

She handed over a family quilt, each square crafted by the Santellan children and grandchildren for the patriarch and matriarch of the family, Antonio and Anastacia, on Aug. 8, 1991, their 60th anniversary. "

Breadboard carries slice of family history

2006-05-05T00:34:00.000-05:00

Family History is about more than just photos and video. It's about all of the simple things that bring back memories of days gone by. Here's a great example.

Breadboard carries slice of family history: "In the late 1960s or early 1970s, my Mama in southern Alabama gave me a breadboard that had been in the family 60 years or so, making it nearly a century old now.

The board is more than 2 feet long, about 18 inches wide, and has sloping sides that give it the appearance of a shallow racing boat. It has a short handle at each end, and is gnarled and chipped from age. Years ago, it graced the wall of our kitchen, kept handy for our daily bread. Its smooth interior patina shows how much it has been used.

I believe the board originally belonged to either my maternal grandmother or great-aunt, and since theirs was such a tumultuous time for African-Americans, I think they wanted to be sure I moved to the future with a relic from the past. I remember boarding the airplane with the old board stuck under my arms, drawing the attention of a friendly cabin attendant who smiled and said, 'Makes good eating, doesn't it?' And good memories, too. "

Digital Editing Systems for Beginners

2006-05-04T01:24:00.000-05:00

Today I found this webpage by Gary D. Collier with an interesting no nonsense approach to getting started in video editing for your home videos. I hope you find it helpful.

Family Video Co-op: "If you are just getting started in video editing and mainly want to have fun, here's a start on what you need to know about digital editing systems.

If you're using Windows, you need a computer with at least a firewire or USB hookup, and some kind of import/export device, either internal or external. (That way you can import video from a camcorder or a VCR). Also, you need a lot of memory (minimum of 512 mb ram) and a Pentium 4 with 2.5 gh chip (or comparable) with hyperthreading. Also get at least a 40 gig. hard drive or bigger. These are not minimum standards, these are just the ones you want, or better. Your video editing life will be so much better this way. Don't listen to a computer salesmen tell you that hyperthreading isn't needed: s/he may not know anything about video editing on computers. It's very helpful even though you won't see it at work.

Windows XP comes with Windows Movie Maker 2 (WMM2) which allows you to import edit, and export to a VHS tape, CD, or DVD. (If you want to make DVD's, you might also want to get My DVD, a program designed to work with WMM2. Editing is simple and intuitive, and the quality is decent. The special effects (such as transitions) include slow motion -- a very nice touch for your videos with music. And there's much more. If all you want is very basic editing ability, then this is really all you need. You're in business.

If you want a step up from the basic, get Pinnacle Movie Studio 9 and Hollywood FX Pro along with it. This is still not a professional version, but for an amateur wanting to have fun, this software will help you 'cook' and will be all you need. Editing features are great, easy, and fun, and you have more ability to control the settings of your project than with WMM2. Plus, if you watch what you're doing when "

Videotape Your Memoirs

2006-05-03T00:30:00.000-05:00

Videotape Your Memoirs: The Perfect Way to Preserve Your Family's History: Books: Harriet Kinghorn,Suzanne Kita:

"Book Description
If you had your father's or mother's autobiography, wouldn't you consider it to be among your most prized possessions? While you may no longer be able to fill this particular void, you can ensure that your heirs will not suffer the same sort of loss. Everyone of us has a story to tell, yet, for various reasons, writing is so daunting a task that most people never get around to starting their memoirs let alone finishing them. Well, today, thanks to the modern videotaping technology, this barrier to leaving one's memoir is gone. By videotaping your memoirs, you will give your loved ones the chance to see you as a real person during the various stages of your life and to learn about the significant events and changes of your life.

Everyone's life's journey is unique, interesting, and important. Unfortunately, many of us hedge on this. 'Oh, my life has been ordinary,' we say. 'There's nothing special about it.' On the contrary, each person's life is too valuable to go unrecorded or to be forgotten. Your experiences are your own greatest treasure. Leaving your memoirs is a gift that only you can give, one that those close to you will treasure. One that will be cherished and passed down generation to generation.

Remember, if you don't record the stories about the events of your life, no one will, and knowledge of these events will disappear for all time. Videotaping Your Memoirs, The Perfect Way to Preserve Your Family's History, the first book of its kind, is your guide to recording the times of your life. Let your memories lead the way! Learn how to: 'Choose your equipment � Organize your thoughts � Enlist the help of others � "

How To: Summer Photo Fun

2006-05-02T16:07:00.000-05:00

How To: Summer Photo Fun: "You may remember a few years ago seeing pictures made up of thousands of little pictures were all the rage, often sold under the trade name Photomosaic. These clever montages were developed by a student at MIT's Media Lab. Wouldn't it be great if you could create your own photo montage of your favorite vacation picture, made up of your other vacation pictures? Well, now you can by using Frank M. Midgeley's MacOSaiX.

With MacOSaix, you choose the picture you want for your montage and then select image sources to provide the individual tiles that make up your picture. You can choose folders from your own computer, or downloaded from Google Images based on keywords, or choose glyphs (which are different characters and fonts chosen at random from your system). Select how detailed you want your picture to be by choosing the number of tiles you want your montage to have. While it is true that the more tiles the better looking the montage, the downside is that it takes longer. Once these options have been chosen, let MacOSaix go at it. It's a fun process to watch as your image slowly gets made as MacOSaix chooses the best tiles. I found that a combination of local pictures and Google pictures works best.

Now that your vacation is captured all in one picture, what's next? You can e-mail it to your friends, create an iCard with it if you have .Mac, or post it on a Web site. If you don't have .Mac, you can use Steve DeKorte's Postcard to make graphical postcards of your own, even letting you customize the stamp and postmark and type a short message. It's a simple application, but lots of fun if you want to create personalized postcards for holidays or special occasions."

Photographing babies

2006-05-01T21:16:00.000-05:00

Seems to me that when we talk about preserving family history, we tend to focus on the older generations. That is indeed important but don't forget that babies only stay babies for a short time. Preserving their development is as much a part of family history as getting video of the grandparents.

Photographing babies: "Before you know it, your baby will have left the crib for the classroom. Make picture-taking a part of your lifestyle so you can catch all those amazing firsts.

Take pictures frequently
Catch each step of baby's development—the first smile, the first bath, the first tooth, the first step. Babies change so rapidly, make sure you capture all the milestones before they become history. Or show a day in the life of baby. From the morning's waking stretch to the evening's yawns, track your child for one full day. You'll have a series you'll cherish for years to come.

Capture feelings
A smirk, a frown, a wail—capture all the emotions, not just the pretty smiles. Babies are uninhibited and uncensored. Show it in your pictures.

Get close
Fill the camera's viewfinder or LCD display with your subject to create pictures with greater impact. Step in close or use your camera's zoom to emphasize what is important and exclude the rest. Check the manual for your camera's closest focusing distance. "