Genealogy Gems News

Amazing Finds at DeadFred

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:30:00 +0000

In Episode 74 of The Genealogy Gems Podcast the founder of the hugely popular DeadFred web site Joe Bott shares behind the scenes stories that will amaze you.

In fact I was so inspired by one story that I tracked down the lucky genealogist who found a photograph of an ancestor (you gotta hear this story for yourself to believe it!) to get the full scoop.

All of these tales of genealogical serendipity are not confined to "other genealogists." With a bit of patience and a dose of luck you too could find a gem on the DeadFred web site.

(BTW - you'll hear from a surprise "guest" on this episode as well!)

Listen now to Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 74 and check out the show notes for photos and more information.

And be sure and sign up for the free Genealogy Gems e-Newsletter to stay on top of all the new episodes and extra research gems.

Happy Halloween from Genealogy Gems

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Footnote.com Will Add Interactive Census

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Here's the latest from Footnote announcing their plans to add the census to their offerings with an "interactive" twist...

Lindon, UT – October 29, 2009 – Today Footnote.com announced it will digitize and create a searchable database for all publicly available U.S. Federal Censuses ranging from the first U.S. Census taken in 1790 to the most current public census from 1930.

Through its partnership with The National Archives, Footnote.com will add more than 9.5 million images featuring over a half a billion names to its extensive online record collection.

“The census is the most heavily used body of records from the National Archives,” explains Cynthia Fox, Deputy Director at the National Archives. “In addition to names and ages, they are used to obtain dates for naturalizations and the year of immigration. This information can then be used to locate additional records.”

With over 60 million historical records already online, Footnote.com will use the U.S. Census records to tie content together, creating a pathway to discover additional records that previously have been difficult to find.

“We see the census as a highway leading back to the 18th century,” explains Russ Wilding, CEO of Footnote.com. “This Census Highway provides off-ramps leading to additional records on the site such as naturalization records, historical newspapers, military records and more. Going forward, Footnote.com will continue to add valuable and unique collections that will enhance the census collection.”

To date, Footnote.com has already completed census collections from two key decades: 1930 and 1860. As more census decades are added to the site, visitors to Footnote.com can view the status for each decade and sign up for an email notification when more records are added to the site for a particular year.

View the Census Progress Page on Footnote.com.

In addition to making these records more accessible, Footnote.com is advancing the way people use the census by creating an interactive experience. Footnote Members can enrich the census records by adding their own contributions. For any person found in the census, users can:

Add comments and insights about that person
Upload and attach scanned photos or documents related to that person
Generate a Footnote Page for any individual that features stories, a photo gallery, timeline and map
Identify relatives found in the census by clicking the I’m Related button

See the 1930 Interactive Census record for Jimmy Stewart.

“The most popular feature of our Interactive Census is the I’m Related button,” states Roger Bell, Senior Vice President of Product Development at Footnote.com. “This provides an easy way for people to show relations and actually use the census records to make connections with others that may be related to the same person.”

“We will continue to move aggressively to add records to the site, specifically those that are requested by our members and others that are not otherwise available on the Internet,” said Wilding.

Visit http://www.footnote.com/census/

A Free Tool for Genealogy Gems Listeners

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:02:00 +0000

Bring Genealogy Gems with you wherever you surf on the Web with the brand new Genealogy Gems Toolbar!

In one free, quick & easy download you will get:

Google Search Box: search Google or the Genealogy Gems website
Highlighter Pen: highlight text on any web page
Podcast Player: listen to any episode of Genealogy Gems, Family History, or The Family Tree Magazine Podcast as you surf
Gem Sites: Lisa's top picks for free research
Genealogy Gems News
Genealogy Gems Video Channel
Follow Lisa's Tweets on Twitter right from your browser
Friend Lisa on Facebook
Genealogy Insider Blog
Instant Alerts from Genealogy Gems

Download your free Genealogy Gems Toolbar today!

Drew and George Turn the Microphone on Lisa

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Last June at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree I had the tables turned on me. When I attend conferences I always conduct interviews with genealogy experts that I can share on The Genealogy Gems Podcast. But at the Jamboree, It was The Genealogy Guys, George Morgan and Drew Smith who whisked me off to a conference room and put me in the hot seat!

And here are the results...

Painless and a lot of fun! Thanks Genealogy Guys!

The Latest On Who Do You Think You Are? In The U.S.

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:27:00 +0000

It looks like Lisa Kudrow of Friends fame is starting to promote the U.S. version of the hit British TV series Who Do You Think You Are? which she's producing.

The FR2DAY.com website reports on one of the major differences between Kudrow's show and the BBC titan: "One big difference between the UK and the US versions is that in the UK the show runs for one hour with no breaks. In the states there are commercial breaks, meaning that the total running time is down to 42 minutes."

Who Do You Think You Are? is now slated for launch in January 2010, but that remains to be seen.

Read the whole story and stay tuned for continuing updates..

The Latest Genealogy Records at FamilySearch

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:20:00 +0000

Here's the latest from the folks at FamilySearch on the status of new genealogy records being added to

New indexing projects added this week are:
· Argentina, Buenos Aires—1855 Censo [Parte 2]
· Canada, Ontario, Toronto—Trust Cemeteries, 1826–1935
· U.S., Maine—1920 Federal Census
· U.S., New York—1920 Federal Census

Volunteers can help with these projects at FamilySearchIndexing.org.

Recently Completed Projects

(Note: Recently completed projects have been removed from the available online indexing batches and will now go through a final completion check process in preparation for future publication.)

· Argentina, Mendoza, San Juan—Censo 1869
· Guatemala, Guatemala—Censo de 1877
· U.S., Kentucky—1920 Federal Census
· U.S., Indiana—1920 Federal Census
· U.S., Vermont—Militia Records, 1861–1867

Current FamilySearch Indexing Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion
Argentina, Buenos Aires—1855 Censo [Parte 2] Spanish (New)
Argentina, Cordoba—Matrimonios, 1642–1931 Spanish 7%
Argentina, Santiago, Santa Fe—1869 Censo, Spanish, 94%
Belgium, Antwerp—Foreigners Index, 1840–1930, English, 61%
Canada, British Columbia—Deaths, 1872–1986, English, 56%
Canada, British Columbia—Marriages, 1859–1932, English,90%
Canada, Québec, Montreal—Régistres Paroissiaux, 1800–1900, French, 4%
Chile, Concepción—Registros Civiles, 1885–1903 [Parte 1], Spanish, 43%
Deutschland, Brandenburg—Kirchenbücher, 1789–1875, German, 82%*
Deutschland, Mecklenburg—Volkszählung, 1890 [Div 24–38], German, 95%
Deutschland, Mecklenburg—Volkszählung, 1890 [Div 39–69], German, 1%
España, Avila, Madrigal y Garganta—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1935, Spanish, 4%
España, Avila, Navalmoral—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1935, Spanish, 16%
España, Lugo—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1930 [Parte 1], Spanish, 23%
France, Cherbourg—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907, French, 4%
France, Coutances—Registres Paroissiaux 1802–1907, French, 3%
France, Coutances, Paroisses de la Manche, 1792–1906, French, 90%
France, Paris—Registres Protestants, 1612–1906 [Partie 2], French, 50%
France, Saint-Lo—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907, French, 11%
Guatemala, Guatemala—Bautismos de Sagrario, 1898–1920, Spanish, 48%
Italy, Trento—Baptisms, 1784–1924 [Part 1], Italian, 95%
Italy, Trento—Baptisms, 1784–1924 [Part 2], Italian, 49%
Mexico, DF—Registros Parroquiales, 1898–1933 [Parte 2], Spanish, 48%
Mexico, Hidalgo—1930 Federal Censo, Spanish, 22%
Mexico, Jalisco—1930 Federal Censo, Spanish, 12%
Mexico, Mexico—1930 Federal Censo, Spanish, 72%
New Zealand—Passenger Lists, 1871–1915, English, 43%
Nicaragua, Managua—Registros Civiles, 1879–1984 [Parte 1], Spanish, 14%
Perú, Lima—Registros Civiles, 1910–1930 [Parte 3], Spanish, 36%
Philippines, Lingayen, Dagupan—Registros Parroquiales, 1615–1982, Spanish, 1%
Russland, Sankt Petersburg—Kirchenbuchduplikat, 1833–1885, German, 1%
South Africa, Cape Province—Church Records, 1660–1970, English, 12%
Sverige, Södermanland—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1], Swedish, 3%
Sverige, Uppsala—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1], Swedish, 10%
Sverige, Örebro—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1], Swedish, 1%
Tschechien, Litomerice—Kirchenbücher, 1552–1905 [Teil 1], German, 13%
U.K., Cheshire—Parish Records, 1538–1850 [Part 2], English/Old English, 47%
U.K., Warwickshire—Parish Registers, 1754-1900 [Part 2], English, 13%
U.S., Arkansas—County Marriages, 1837–1957 [VII], English, 59%
U.S., Georgia—1920 Federal Census, English, 59%
U.S., Illinois, Cook—Birth Certificates, 1916–1922 [Part 2], English, 90%
U.S., Indiana, Allen County—Marriages, 1811–1959, English, 71%
U.S., Indiana, Benton County—Marriages, 1811–1959, English, 50%
U.S., Indiana, Boone County—Marriages, 1811–1959, English, 22%
U.S., Indiana, Brown County—Marriages, 1811–1959, English, 33%
U.S., Indiana, Harrison County—Marriages, 1811–1959, English, 17%
U.S., Kansas—1920 Federal Census, English, 73%
U.S., Maine—1920 Federal Census, English, (New)
U.S., New York—1905 State Census, English,74%
U.S., New York—1920 Federal CensusEnglish, (New)
U.S., Rhode Island—1905 State Census [Part 1],English, 20%
U.S., Rhode Island—1935 State Census, English, 39%
Venezuela, Mérida—Registros Parroquiales, 1654–1992 [Parte 1], Spanish, 75%
Österreich, Wiener Meldezettel, 1890–1925, German, 3%
Украина, Киев—Метрические Книги, 1840–1842, Russian, 40%

(*Percentage refers to a specific portion of a larger project.)

Current FamilySearch Partner Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion
Australia, Victoria—Probate Records, 1853–1989, English, 76%
België, Mechelen—Overlijdens Registers, 1851-1900, Dutch, Flemish, 48%
Belgique—Registres Des Décès—En Français, 1796–1910, French, 36%
*Canada, Ontario, Toronto—Trust Cemeteries, 1826–1935, English, (New)
Deutschland, Bremen—Schifflisten, 1904–1914, German, 76%
Norway—1875 Census [Part 1], Norwegian, 73%
U.S., Ohio—Tax Records, Post 1825 [Part 2], English, 87%
U.S., Ohio—Tax Records, Post 1825 [Part 3], English, 1%
U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Birth Registers, 1890–1908, English, 1%
U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Death Registers, 1848–1940, English, 22%

(*Percentage refers to a specific portion of a larger project.)

It's Never Too Late to Find Someone or Be Found

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:42:00 +0000

In episode 44 of Family History: Genealogy Made Easy we discuss broken branches of the family tree and the healing power of genealogy.

Here's another example that it is never too late to find someone, or be found. Read the story of how Arnold Nikolaisen found his older adopted sister Traudy in the article At age 75, Kearns man finds sister in Michigan at the Salt Lake Tribune online.

Do You Have Broken Branches In Your Family Tree?

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:35:00 +0000

I have yet to meet anyone who has not had sad and painful stories surface during their research...relatives who committed crimes, were institutionalized, or ended their own lives.

In the case of one of my listener's, the broken branch was very close to home - her parents. And more specifically the mother who left her and her sister on a street corner one day, never to return.

Listen to episode 44 of Family History: Genealogy Made Easy to hear her incredible story. She shares the pain of her childhood, her search for her mother, and the healing and freedom that can come from exploring your family tree.

I promise you, it's a podcast episode like you've never heard before.

Rare Savings This Weekend Only!

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:48:00 +0000

This weekend celebrate Columbus Day by getting 14.92% off your order at the Genealogy Gems store at Lulu.com featuring...

- My book Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies

- Archived Premium Episodes 2 through 7
(audio podcast download and pdf show notes documents)

Use the Coupon Code PINTA

Sale ends Oct. 12, 2009

Click Here to Start Saving

Free Archiving Class by Phone on Mon. Oct. 12, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:59:00 +0000

On Monday, October 12, 2009 you can attend a free class by telephone. Sally Jacobs, The Practical Archivist will try to get you to think like an archivist in under an hour in the class. To which you might ask: One hour? Is that even possible? Sally says "Only one way to find out, my friend! "

3 Secrets Every Archivist Should Know
Date: Monday, October 12, 2009
Start Time: 02:00 PM Central Daylight Time
End Time: 03:30 PM Central Daylight Time
Dial-in Number: 1-605-475-6333 (Midwest)
Participant Access Code: 451092

Check out Sally's web site for more information.

An Ancestor Is Known By His Pets?

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Back in 1905 The New York Tribune ran an article entitle "A Man Is Known By His Pets Some People Say." Could this concept be the next addition to genealogy databases - should we be adding Fido to our ancestor's Pedigree chart? Or would that just be barking up the wrong tree? (I know, ouch!)

To learn more about how pets provide insights to their owners, check out the Library of Congress' Flickr photostream. They have added another year's worth of historic illustrated newspaper pages. The New-York Tribune Illustrated Supplement section of 1905, printed on Sundays, includes published images of signature events of 1905, including: Russian peasants in revolt, dog shows, balloon animals, sculpted shrubbery, and more....In Flickr, you can tag it, add a note, share it....and even read more about it! Chronicling America Illustrated Newspaper Pages from 1905 Added to LC Flickr Photostream

Tomorrow is last day for Webinar discount - Get the scoop on Vital Records

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0000

Hurry! Early Bird Pricing Ends Tomorrow, October 8th.

Get the vitals on your ancestors!

Vital Records:Researching Your Ancestors' Births, Marriages and Deaths Online

When: Wednesday, October 21st at 7:00 PM EST(6:00 CST, 5:00 MST, 4:00 PST

Duration: 1 Hour

Cost: $49.99 $39.99 through October 8th

Presenter: Lisa Louise Cooke, host of the Family Tree Magazine Podcast

REGISTER NOW!
Do you have all of the vital information for your ancestors? Or, are you missing key pieces of information that would unlock the rest of your research?

Find out how to obtain those essential pieces of your genealogy search with our informative live webinar.

You'll learn:

an overview of US birth, marriage and death records
why coverage and access varies from state to state
types of vital records Web sites
major sites with vital records and indexes
how to get offline records with the help of online resources

Your registration includes:

Participation in the live presentation and Q&A session
Online access to the workshop recording after the session concludes
PDF of the presentation slides for future reference

Mark your calendars for this one hour webinar!

How Does This Live Event Work?

An online workshop - also called a "webinar" - is a lot like a live workshop or seminar you'd attend at a genealogy society meeting or conference, only it takes place over the Internet. That means you can "attend" the workshop from the comfort of home. All you need is a computer and a broadband Internet connection no special computer skills are required.

National Archives and Footnote.com Announce New Digital Holocaust Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:37:00 +0000

Washington DC and Lindon, UT -September 29, 2009
The National Archives and Records Administration and Footnote.com today announced the release of the internet's largest Interactive Holocaust Collection. For the first time ever, over one million Holocaust-related records - including millions of names and 26,000 photos from the National Archives- will be available online. The collection can be viewed at: http://www.footnote.com/holocaust

"We cannot afford to forget this period in our history," said Dr. Michael Kurtz, Assistant Archivist of the United States and author of America and the Return of Nazi Contraband: The Recovery of Europe's Cultural Treasures. "Working with Footnote, these records will become more widely accessible, and will help people now and in the future learn more about the events and impact of the Holocaust."

Included among the National Archives records available online at Footnote.com are:

* Concentration camp registers and documents from Dachau, Mauthausen, Auschwitz, and Flossenburg
* The "Ardelia Hall Collection" of records relating to the Nazi looting of Jewish possessions, including looted art
* Captured German records including deportation and death lists from concentration camps
* Nuremberg War Crimes Trial proceedings

Access to the collection will be available for free on Footnote.com through the month of October.

The collection also includes nearly 600 interactive personal accounts of those who survived or perished in the Holocaust provided by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The project incorporates social networking tools that enable visitors to search for names and add photos, comments and stories, share their insights, and create pages to highlight their discoveries. There will be no charge to access and contribute to these personal pages.

"These pages tell a personal story that is not included in the history text books," said Russ Wilding, CEO of Footnote.com. "They give visitors a first-hand glimpse into the tragic events of the Holocaust and allow users to engage with content such as maps, photos, timelines and personal accounts of victims and survivors through over 1 million documents."

So that visitors may more easily access and engage the content, Footnote.com has created a special Holocaust site featuring:

* Stories of Holocaust victims and survivors
* Place where visitors can create their own pages to memorialize their Holocaust ancestors
* Pages on the concentration camps - includes descriptions, photos, maps, timelines and accounts from those who survived the camps
* Descriptions and samples of the original records from the National Archives

The Holocaust collection is the latest in a continuing partnership between Footnote.com and the National Archives to scan, digitize, and make historical records available online. The goal is to give more people access to these and other historical records that have previously only been available through the research room of the National Archives. This partnership brings these priceless resources to an even greater number of people and enables the National Archives to provide ever-greater access to these critical holdings.

Who Do You Think You Are? Update

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:10:00 +0000

While the U.S. version of the hit British television series Who Do You Think You Are? hasn't made it to the airwaves yet, it has been sold down under. Australia's Nine Network has purchased the broadcast rights to the show being produced by Lisa Kudrow and her production company.

An article at www.Broadcastnow.co.uk not only confirms the sale, but also reports that the U.S. version will now premiere in January 2010. Lisa Kudrow has recently been on the road promoting the show and also told Bonnie Hunt on her daytime show that it's on the way, so it may happen after all.

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

My Video Interview with the Ancestry Insider

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:11:00 +0000

At the Family History Expo in Salt Lake City, UT last month I had the opportunity to interview the mystery man of genealogy - the Ancestry Insider. See it, and him, for yourself!

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Again.

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:57:00 +0000

Do you remember the first time you saw Mr. Smith Goes to Washington? Or how you felt during the scene where Jefferson Smith visits the Lincoln Memorial?

The 70th anniversary of this American Classic is being celebrated by the National Archives with a very special screening of the film.

Washington, DC. . .The National Archives celebrates the 70th anniversary of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington with a screening of the film on Thursday, October 15, at 7 p.m. The screening will be introduced by special guest Robert Osborne, film historian and host of Turner Classic Movies. This event is free and open to the public, and will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Building, located at Constitution and 7th St., NW. Metro accessible on the Yellow and Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter station.

The program is presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in partnership with The Charles Guggenheim Center for the Documentary Film and the Foundation for the National Archives.

Frank Capra's classic film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, premiered on October 17, 1939, at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. The event was sponsored by the National Press Club, who invited over 4000 guests including 45 U.S. Senators.

Starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, and Thomas Mitchell, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was nominated for 11 Academy Awards ®, and won for Writing - Original Story. Through a quirk of fate, Jefferson Smith (James Stewart), the idealistic head of the "Boy Rangers," is appointed a U.S. Senator from an unnamed state. He soon learns the harsh realities of Washington politics, and his patriotism and belief in democracy are tested. A pristine 35mm print courtesy of the Academy will be shown. (129 minutes.)

Special Note: Mr. Osborne is available for phone interviews in advance of his appearance at the National Archives. Please contact the National Archives Public Affairs Staff at: (202) 357-5300.

For more information, the public should call the Public Programs Line at: (202) 357-5000, or view the Calendar of Events on the web at: http://www.archives.gov/calendar/.

Early Bird Discount Available For Short Time for Mesa AZ Genealogy Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:29:00 +0000

The Early Bird Registration for the 2nd Annual Mesa Family History Expo being held January 22-23, 2010 is about to expire. Special discount pricing is good only through Friday September 25, 2009.

Take advantage of this special pricing: only $55.00 for the full 2 day registration (last year it was $95.00 at the door).

I will be at the Mesa Family History Expo with my Genealogy Gems booth in the exhibit hall and teaching several classes. Hope to see you there!

Google Books Revolutionary Next Step

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:15:00 +0000

In the beginning...

there were books.

And the books were printed and placed in libraries.

And then Google went to the libraries and said 'They are good...but they would be BETTER digitized on Google.com.'

And then Google digitized the out-of-print and out-of-copyright (and actually more than that - don't get me started!) and put them on the Web and Google said "It is good." In fact, a lot of genealogists said that too.

And now, Google has a revolutionary idea...here it comes...wait for it...hold on to your hats...you're not going to see this one coming...here it comes....PRINT BOOKS!

Yes, Google takes the next revolutionary step of partnering to print (also read "sell") the books it worked so hard to digitize.

Google is partnering with On Demand Books to put the new Espresso Book Machine in bookstores and libraries around the world. Watch as they demonstrate how a book can be printed, bound, and delivered from digitized books on Google Books in just about 3 1/2 minutes. Watch the video below...

Who would have thunk it? Books bound in paper? Leave it to Google!

The Event That Is Part of Every Family's History

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:15:00 +0000

In late August of 2001 Bill and I took our girls across the country to visit our nation's capitol, New York City, and Lancaster County Pennsylvania. We had an amazing time, and one of the highlights for me was two days of research at the Library of Congress.

I've been thinking a lot about that trip recently.

First because I just interviewed the head of the Genealogy Room at the Library of Congress for the September episode of the Family Tree Magazine Podcast. James Sweany, the Head of the department is incredibly knowledgeable. I asked if he would give my Genealogy Gems Premium Members an audio tour of the the Library and he graciously agreed. That tour will be available this month in Premium Episode 31. James says that visible changes include stricter security measures and non-existent parking. However, his tour will help us navigate those changes to ensure a pleasant and rewarding visit.

Second, this week marks the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Our visit to Washington DC and New York City occurred just two weeks prior to the attacks. They have since been changed in profound ways.

In a recent column entitled "Tragedy, Heros Connected to Family History by PA Land" author Rhonda Whetstone shares her memories of that fateful day - how with each news flash the events grew closer and closer to her own family and family history.

Here on the West Coast, home safely from a wonderful family vacation, we counted our blessings that our family was safe. And then we painfully watched with the rest of our small town as we discovered that one of our own citizens, Thomas Burnett, had worked alongside the other passengers on Flight 93, and lost his life trying to prevent an even greater tragedy.

Everyone's family was in some way touched that day.

Historic Arkansas Marriage Records Online at FamilySearch

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:50:00 +0000

Here's the latest news from FamilySearch...

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS—Where genealogists gather, records are uncovered. The adage is certainly true this week as hundreds of genealogists descend on the Little Rock Statehouse Convention Center in Arkansas as part of the 2009 Federation of Genealogical Societies annual conference. In anticipation of this conference, many volunteers have donated thousands of hours online to create a free online database to hundreds of thousands of historic Arkansas marriage records. The records date from 1837 to 1957. The online database includes a searchable index linked to digital images of the original marriage certificates. The volunteer project is 26 percent complete. The first fruits of the effort can be searched at FamilySearch.org (click Search Records, and then click Record Search pilot).

The free online collection currently includes 442,058 records linked to 199,431 digital images of the original marriage certificates. The records represent the counties of Ashley, Baxter, Boone, Chicot, Clay, Crittenden, Desha, Drew, Fulton, Jackson, Johnson, Lee, Logan, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Perry, and Pike.

FamilySearch partnered with the Arkansas Genealogical Society (AGS) to create indexes to county marriages registered in Arkansas between 1837 and 1957. Jan Davenport, 1st vice president of AGS, worked closely with FamilySearch to create the project and help solicit volunteers to index the digital images using FamilySearch’s online indexing program. To date, 20,559 volunteers have helped produce the first sets of indexed data and images now available online.

FamilySearch is the global leader of online indexing. It launched its online indexing program in 2008, and tens of thousands of volunteers donate time online helping to index historic records like the Arkansas marriages collection. FamilySearch currently has 65 online indexing projects underway.

For this project, FamilySearch is creating digital images of the county marriage records and online volunteers worldwide then use FamilySearch’s Web-based indexing tool to view the digital images and extract the desired information from the image. That data is then processed and published online in free searchable indexes linked to the digital images.

Volunteers need only Internet access to contribute to this historic effort. A unique quality-control process ensures a highly accurate, finished index. Each document is transcribed by two different online indexers. Any discrepancies in their two extractions are then forwarded to a third volunteer—an arbitrator—who makes any needed corrections between the two interpretations. A typical downloaded “batch” (group of records) will take a volunteer about 30 to 40 minutes to complete. The indexing utility has built-in tutorials and helps. Anyone interested in volunteering to help complete the Arkansas project can do so at indexing.familysearch.org.

Part 2: How to Blog Your Family History and Genealogy

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:28:00 +0000

It's finally here...Episode 42 of the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast featuring Part 2 of How to Blog Your Family History.

I have had a blast receiving emails from listeners literally around the world about the family history blogs they are creating by following these step-by-step instructions.

In fact I'm so impressed I'm planning a future episode dedicated to highlighting these new gems of the blogosphere.

If you haven't created your own family history blog, now is the time. It's free and easy! I even have a companion video series for you that will show you how - literally - at the Genealogy Gems TV Channel at YouTube. There are 3 videos currently in the series with the 4th soon to come.

Enjoy!

Divorce Records Might Be Found At The New Divorce Centre

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:32:00 +0000

Did your ancestors divorce in the early 20th century? The records that could help your genealogy research might by in Nevada, as Reno became the divorce capitol of the country. This article from the Library of Congress is a fascinating look at "The New Divorce Centre" and divorce became a big business for the western town.

My family has a marital family history connection with Reno. Fortunately my grandparents didn't divorce there, but rather married there in the 1930s.

From the Library of Congress:
The Citizen (Berea, KY) noted a new cultural development taking place in the "frontier post of civilization" that was Reno, Nevada in 1909. A recent decrease in the length of time necessary for state residency, easy access by railroad, and a proximity to the cosmopolitan cities of the West Coast were transforming a mining community into the nation's leading divorce colony. The Nevada divorce statutes, requiring a residency of only six months, were known for their "length, breadth, height, elasticity, and all other qualities that lend themselves to the seeker after easy matrimonial freedom"....Read more about it!

Emmy Nomintation for Family History TV Series

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:30:00 +0000

I just got a note from Ken Marks who I interviewed in episode 22 of the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast, and he had some very exciting news to share.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has nominated the The Lively Family Massacre – a pilot for Ken's documentary TV series titled Legend Seekers – for an EMMY in the documentary category.

The program is scheduled to air in the Chicago area on WTTW-TV Channel 11 as follows:
Legend Seekers -- The Lively Family Massacre

11.1 HD: Sunday, August 30 at 12:30pm and Monday, August 31 at 3:30am
11.2 Prime: Monday, August 31 at 9:30pm; Tuesday, September 1 at 4:30am and 9:30am

Visit the Legend Seekers website for more on the show, and how to contact your local PBS station to request that it be shown.

Congratulations to Ken, Frank Haney & Madonna Davis! Good luck!

Last Day for Early Bird Registration Salt Lake Family History Expo

noreply@blogger.com (Genealogy Gems) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:17:00 +0000

The Family History Expo is just days away and today is the last day for you to register at early bird prices!

The expo will take place Aug. 28 and 29, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
At the door registration begins at 7 a.m. on Friday and 7:30 a.m. on Saturday

Location: South Towne Exposition Center, 9575 South State Street, Sandy, Utah 84070. (plenty of free parking available!)

The Expo offers tons of genealogy courses that will help you learn the techniques and technology to trace your roots. Technology will make your family history research:
· Faster
· Easier
· More accurate
· Exciting

Don't miss the early bird discounted rate and register today. For just $68 (a $10 savings!), those who register before the end of the day, will have access to two days worth of intense learning and research help. New techniques Register online right now and you will save money and have immediate access to your class syllabi.

If you’re unable to, you can still register at the door for $78. If you can only make it for a single day, pay just $48 or $12.00 for a single class.

Your paid registration includes:
· All the great classes from leading genealogy speakers
· Concessions and tables available in the Exhibit Hall for lunch
· Printed Event Program
· Name Tag
· CD syllabus (to print your syllabus in advance, register online now and get immediate access!)
(Note: Family History Expos will print your syllabus for an additional $25.00. Printed syllabi will be available at the event and can be shipped after the event. Purchaser pays shipping. To purchase your syllabus in book format, go to www.FHExpos.com)
· Goody Bag stuffed full of coupons, discount offers, information and free trials
· Opportunity to have a FREE research consultation with a professional researcher at the Family History Expos Ask-the-Pros booth. E-mail expos@FHExpos.com to set up an appointment (you may also bring your research questions and sign up at the booth for available times)

Be sure to visit the Twitter Café and Blogging Bistro to learn fun new ways to connect with and communicate with your new “favorite” family members!

Go online right now and register (www.FHExpos.com) or call 801-829-3295 for your seat at the Salt Lake City, Utah Family History Expo.

I'll be there teaching three classes:

Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems Part I
Fri. 8/28/09 at 10:00 am in room 200D

Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems Part II
Fri. 8/28/09 at 11:30 am in room 200D

Genealogy Podcasts and Blogs 101
Sat. 8/29/09 at 1:00 pm in room 200C

Be sure and stop by the Genealogy Gems Podcast booth in the exhibit hall. You'll find discount prices on:

Genealogy Gems Premium Membership
my book Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies
and the brand new Genealogy Gem rhinestone pin!

Be sure and ask for your free "I Listen to Genealogy Gems" nametag ribbon too.

See you at the Expo!