Little Bytes of Life

Wordless Wednesday: Future Genealogist?

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:32:00 +0000

Maybe. But those aren't genealogy books she's reading (who knew that the DAR Library keeps a stash of children's books?).

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"Future Genealogist?" Digital image. Photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal on 20 April 2012 at the DAR Library, Washington, DC.

About Wordless Wednesday.

Second Life Chapter APG April Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:20:00 +0000

Members at the March meeting listen to a presentation
about the Boston University program.

WHEN: Thursday, April 12, 2012, 5:30 p.m. SLT (Second Life Time, same as Pacific Time)
WHERE: Second Life, near the Just Genealogy Firepit

This month, we will have an informal discussion about "Cool Things I Found in the 1940 Census." Whether it's your own family or some interesting folks you found while indexing, please come and bring your stories. Slides are optional.

The SL-APG is an officially recognized chapter which promotes the highest standards of ethics and professionalism in the genealogical field at the regional level.

The chapter meets monthly using a free, social media, "virtual world" software called Second Life. It was organized to meet the networking needs of APG members who either do not have a local chapter near them, or are unable to attend their chapter meetings.

Anyone with an interest in genealogy is welcome to attend the meetings; however, official members of the chapter must be dues-paying members of the APG in real life.

Need help getting started? Drop me a line!

NOTE: The SL-APG is participating in the 1940 Census Indexing Project. To participate, go to https://the1940census.com/society and download the indexing software. When you log in, select "Second Life Chapter Association of Professional Genealogists - UT" from the drop-down list of societies (towards the bottom of list). Anyone who would like to join our band of indexers is welcome - you don't have to be an APG member or even a Second Life user to participate!

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Visit the Genealogists in Second Life group on Facebook.

Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) Now Accepting Applications for APG Young Professional Award

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:46:00 +0000

WESTMINSTER, Colo., 11 April 2012—The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG®) is now accepting applications for the APG Young Professional Award. The award goes to a student with a significant interest in genealogy and with a strong interest in developing a professional career in genealogy. The award includes a scholarship registration for the APG Professional Management Conference (PMC) and a stipend of up to $500 towards travel and lodging at the conference. The winner will be announced in August 2012 for attendance at the APG PMC 2013, which will take place in Salt Lake City on 20 March 2013.

APG Youth Awards Eligibility and Application Details

Eligible applicants are between the ages of 18 and 25, enrolled as a high school senior or undergraduate, post-graduate, or recent graduate of an accredited college or university and have at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).

Applications should contain the following: name; address; main contact phone number; email address; school name; school address; GPA; list of extracurricular activities (including student organizations and volunteer activities); a letter of recommendation from a dean, principal, or faculty advisor that also indicates the applicant’s current grade standing or transcript; a letter of recommendation from an individual who has witnessed the applicant’s interest in genealogy; and short answers (500 to 750 words) to two questions. The questions are:

1) Discuss a specific record collection that has significantly changed the course of your family history, or research strategy along with the pros and cons of that record source, and how you used it to resolve a genealogical problem.

2) What do you envision a genealogical career will encompass in the year 2025 and how do you see yourself involved then?

See www.apgen.org/scholarship/index.html for the application. Applications should be submitted to the APG office by 1 June 2012. Send applications to APG Executive Director Kathleen W. Hinckley, CG, at admin@apgen.org.

About the Association of Professional Genealogists

APG (www.apgen.org), established in 1979, represents more than 2,400 genealogists, librarians, writers, editors, historians, instructors, booksellers, publishers, and others involved in genealogy-related businesses. APG encourages genealogical excellence, ethical practice, mentoring, and education. The organization also supports the preservation and accessibility of records useful to the fields of genealogy and history. Its members represent all fifty states, Canada, and thirty other countries. APG is active on LinkedIn, Twitter (www.twitter.com/apggenealogy), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/AssociationofProfessionalGenealogists).

APG is a registered trademark of the Association of Professional Genealogists. All other trade and service marks are property of their respective owners.

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Ready or Not, Here it Comes!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:27:00 +0000

Note: If your local genealogical society is not participating, and you are in need of a group with which to sign up, please feel free to select either Second Life Chapter APG (UT) or Captain Henry Sweetser Chapter DAR (CA). We'd love to have your support in either group!

1940 US Census Project Update
Release of Images in Two Days!

Get Ready, Get Set . . .

Thank you for your interest in the 1940 US Federal Census. This will be the last email you receive on behalf of the 1940 US Census Community Project before the images start to become available online.

What You Can Expect on April 2

The 1940 US Census Community Project is creating an index to the 1940 US Federal Census that will be made available for free. This is a joint effort between Archives, FindMyPast, FamilySearch, hundreds of societies, and tens of thousands of individual volunteers. The resulting index will be made available on the websites of the primary sponsors.

On the morning of Monday, April 2, NARA will release the digital images of the 1940 census to multiple parties, including the 1940 US Census Community Project. We will immediately start uploading these 3.6 million images to servers, where they will become available online over time. The ability for people to start accessing some of these images through the community project will take hours, not minutes.

As the first five states are loaded to servers, corresponding projects will be set up to index those images as state projects. We anticipate the first five states will be available for volunteer indexing by 10pm EDT.

The first five states to be loaded and ready for indexing on April 2 are the following:

Delaware
Virginia
Kansas
Oregon
Colorado

The process of uploading images and setting up indexing projects by state will continue until all of the states and territories for this project are published, which may take up to two weeks to complete. Every day more images will be made available for browsing and indexing, so you will want to check back often to see which states are available.

The indexing process will be taking place through FamilySearch indexing. If you are already a FamilySearch indexing volunteer, these 1940 census projects will appear as new projects in the indexing software. No new software download or registration process is necessary to participate. If you are not currently a volunteer but want to participate in this historic opportunity, get started by downloading the indexing software and registering today.

What You Can Do Now

Download and install the indexing software
Watch an Overview | Get Started
Learn how to index the 1940 US Census
Watch a Video | Try the 1940 Census indexing simulation
Let others know about the 1940 US Census Community Project
Like the Facebook page | Follow @The1940Census on Twitter | Follow the page on Google+ | Tell friends about the1940census.com

You can keep up with the latest updates by visiting the1940census.com often over the next few weeks.

Thank You!

The 1940 US Census Community Project Team

My Grandparents are Missing

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:16:00 +0000

Where, oh where, can my grandparents be?

No, I don't mean that they've run away.

What I mean is... I can't find them. In the census.

My grandparents are missing.

In an attempt to prepare for Monday's release of the 1940 U.S. Census, and in an attempt to steel myself to finish assignment #5 of the NGS Home Study Course, I've been doing a census "research report" for everyone in my pedigree chart back to my great-grandparents.

What I've discovered is... I seem to have overlooked my grandparents.

Wow. What the heck have I been doing as a genealogist for the past 25 years?

First off, my father's parents are nowhere to be found in the 1930 census. I started my search by checking three separate search engines: Ancestry, FamilySearch, and Heritage Quest (the latter of which is incomplete anyway). I used every possibly spelling variation I could think of, including wild cards. Result: Nada.

What I did find was a 1930 Los Angeles City Directory listing my grandparents with an address. Bingo!

I moved on to to the incredible Steve Morse's One Step Census ED Finder (and might I just add that Mr. Morse is a genius. Just sayin'.).

I wound up back on Ancesty in 1930's Los Angeles, ED 772. My first pass through the 66 pages of ED 772 was to look for Ladd Avenue. Nothing. So I made a second pass through the pages, this time looking not only at street names, but also at every name in the census. Still nothing.

As I went through the pages, I followed Mr. Enumerator's progress on a contemporary map of that part of Los Angeles (which hasn't really changed much, thank goodness). And you know what? He never made it to Ladd Avenue. He made it to all the streets around Ladd Avenue, but never made the turn onto Ladd.

Was it possible that Ladd Avenue didn't exist back in 1930? Of course not; my grandparents were listed as living there in the 1930 L.A. City Directory (unless the Directory was published at the end of the year, and Ladd Avenue was a brand-new street). Was I in the wrong ED? Not likely, since the surrounding streets were enumerated.

[UPDATE: In the comments, I was asked if I checked the 1929 L.A. City Directory. I had, but double-checked again this morning. My grandparents are listed in the 1928 L.A. City Directory at the same address on Ladd Avenue. The 1929 Directory only goes up to the letter "E" - I'm looking for "S" - as does the 1931 Directory. 1932 goes up to the letter "J." I found them again in 1933 at the same address on Ladd Avenue, under a misspelled last name. It appears that they were NOT driving down the street in a moving van in 1930 when the enumerator was walking their neighborhood.]

So what happened?

Like I said, Mr. Enumerator did not step foot onto Ladd Avenue. Or if he did, he didn't record it as such (or the page is missing).

But considering the fact that my grandfather was a postal carrier at that time, and the family moved around a lot, it's entirely possible that they were driving down the street in moving van at the exact moment when the census was being taken. Maybe they even waved at the enumerator.

What I do know is that I cannot find them in the 1930 census.

And then there's my mother's father. He's gone missing from the 1920 census. Again, I checked all 3 census search engines. Bupkus.

Marvin Dagle should have been about 7 years old, living with his parents in Big Sioux, South Dakota. His brother John would be born about 3 months after the census was taken.

Oh look! There's George and Azelia in the 1920 census, right where they're supposed to be! And there's Azelia's parents, Andrew and Louise, right next door! [waves]

But... where's little George? Where would a 7-year old boy go in South Dakota in 1920?

I checked his other set of grandparents... perhaps he was visiting? Nope. Not there.

Did the enumerator forget to ask if any children were living in the house? Not likely, since the neighbors have 6 children listed, including their 1-year old daughter.

Did Marvin's parents forget to mention him? No idea.

I did find Marvin in the 1930 census in Sioux City, Iowa, living with his parents and brother John. So at least I know they kept him.

(Thankfully my mother's mother is easily found in both the 1920 and 1930 censuses. I would really be kicking myself if they were all missing.)

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The moral of this story? Well, while everyone counts in the census, not everyone is counted. For whatever reason, people do get skipped. And that's a bummer for us as genealogists.

My real question is: How did I not know this until this week?

Here's my theory: When I started researching back in the late '80s, we had to do everything "old school." Not only were there no images online, there was no online, period. The NARA facility in Laguna Niguel was only open one Saturday a month, and was always crowded because everyone wanted to research on their day off. If you got there early and stayed until closing - which everybody did - you might get a couple of hours' turn on the microfilm readers. Research time very limited. Why spend valuable time looking up people you already knew? After all, I lived within driving distance of 3/4 of my grandparents for most of my early life; didn't I already know everything I needed to know about them?

Clearly, I did not.

And now they're gone, having taken all the answers with them to the grave.

Sigh...

NEHGS to be Featured on "Finding Your Roots"

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:27:00 +0000

The following was received from NEHGS this morning. Please contact Alessandra Magno for more information.

NEHGS to be featured on new PBS Series
“Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.”
Show helps to uncover the mysteries of who we are and where we come from

Boston, MA – March 30, 2012 – The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) is pleased to announce that it will be featured on the next episode of the new 10-part PBS series, Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. NEHGS and Senior Researcher Rhonda McClure will be featured on the next episode of the show scheduled to run on Sunday, April 1st at 8pm ET on PBS.

On this episode, McClure helps uncover the family mysteries of Geoffrey Canada, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Harlem Children’s Zone. Geoffrey Canada has become recognized internationally for his ground-breaking work helping children and families in Harlem and as a passionate advocate for education reform. In addition, television journalist and former co-host and chief correspondent of ABC News’ “20/20” as well as current creator, co-owner, executive producer and co-host of “The View,” Barbara Walters will learn and discover her fascinating ancestral background.

This season, Professor Gates examines the fascinating family histories of celebrities including Samuel L. Jackson, Harry Connick Jr., Condoleezza Rice, Kevin Bacon, Martha Stewart, Robert Downey Jr., Maggie Gyllenhaal, and many more.

“It is truly an honor and a privilege to have this opportunity to work closely with Professor Gates,” says NEHGS President and CEO, D. Brenton Simons. “All of us at NEHGS are thrilled to be a part of such an incredible television series and we wish Professor Gates and the rest of the production team a most successful season!”

The basic drive to discover who we are and where we come from is at the core of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the 12th series from Professor Gates, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. Filmed on location across the United States, the series premiered nationally on Sunday, March 25th, and will continue to run through May 20th on PBS. Be sure to check out the next episode on Sunday, April 1st. Please check local listings for times.

# # #

About NEHGS

Founded in 1845, New England Historic Genealogical Society is the country's leading resource for family history research. We help family historians expand their knowledge, skill, and understanding of their family and its place in history. The NEHGS research center, located at 99-101 Newbury Street, Boston, houses millions of books, journals, manuscripts, photographs, microfilms, documents, records, and other artifacts that date back more than four centuries. NEHGS staff includes some of the leading expert genealogists in the country, specializing in early American, Irish, English, Italian, Scottish, Atlantic and French Canadian, African American, Native American, and Jewish genealogy. Our award-winning website, www.AmericanAncestors.org, provides access to more than 135 million searchable names in 3,000 collections.

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Evidence Explained on Sale Today ONLY!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:53:00 +0000

Got Evidence?

Genealogical.com is offering Elizabeth Shown Mills' Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace (2nd Edition, 2010) for $35.95 today only. That's a savings of 40% off of their regular price.

In doing a little comparison shopping today, I found that Amazon.com is selling the book new for $48.42 and used from 44.85 (both hard cover).

Barnes and Noble is selling the hard cover version for $52.89.

The cheapest copy I found on eBay was $62.55.

Books-A-Million is asking for 65.95 (ouch!).

So you can feel confident that this is a super deal from Genealogical.com!

However, if even the sale price is too steep for you - and who isn't watching his pennies these days? - you can still download a PDF copy of the 2007 edition for FREE from fold3.com. I keep a PDF copy on both of my computers, as well as my NookColor (and I had to pay for it!). UPDATE: Sorry folks, but the download is only available to people who have previously purchased the PDF version from fold3.com. I blame insufficient coffee for making me jump the gun on that one.

And there's always a chance that your local public library will have a copy you can borrow. If they don't, give Worldcat.org a whirl and see who does.

If you are serious about citations, you won't want to be without this book, regardless of where you get it our how much you pay. This is truly a book that should be in every genealogist's library.

Buy Evidence Explained from Genealogical.com

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FYI, other books on sale today include:

Virginia Court Records in Southwestern Pennsylvania: Records of the District of West Augusta and Ohio and Yohogania Counties, Virginia 1775-1780, by Boyd Crumrine, and

The Trail of the Huguenots: in Europe, the United States, South Africa and Canada. Addenda and Corrigenda by Milton Rubincam, by George Elmore Reaman.

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Note: Prices quoted were valid as of today, 30 March 2012, at 9:30 AM PDT.

And yes, I am a Genealogical.com affiliate, so if you decide to buy, I would be hugely grateful if you would click on the Zencart link above. Thank you!

Groupon Gets Digital in Santa Barbara

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 17:28:00 +0000

Today's Groupon Deal of the Day for the Santa Barbara area is from ScanDigital:

Sophisticated scanners make sandwiching coworkers between two pieces of plate glass to preserve office-party memories a thing of the past. Take advantage of technological innovations with today's Groupon to ScanDigital. Choose between the following options:

For $40, you get $100 worth of digitization services.
For $115, you get $300 worth of digitization services.

Unlike a lunch sack filled with gummy worms in a postapocalyptic world, this Groupon cannot be used toward the purchase of hard drives or digital picture frames.

The celluloid specialists at ScanDigital have processed more than five million images since 2007, turning grainy 3"x5" photos and dented VHS tapes into dependable digital files that fill the future with images of a warm and wonderful past. With $100 worth of services, you can digitize roughly 200 photos, 175 negatives, 150 slides, six 3-inch 8mm film reels, or five videocassettes; mix any of the memory media of ScanDigital services (click here to see all the formats). The digitization process includes photo color correction and cleaning and prepping film to ensure the highest possible transfer quality.

To start a safe, digital archive so home videos of first-grade choir solos don't turn into terrifying, chipmunk-attracting warbles, go online to fill out a form that generates a shipping label, and then mail the materials. After four or more weeks, depending on your order, you get back the original copies along with their new, high-quality clones on DVD, ensuring that significant moments aren't stained and faded by Father Time’s clumsy coffee spills.

Today's $100 Groupon can be applied toward a bulk order (1,000+ photos)—combining the Groupon discount with a $0.10-off-per-photo bulk discount—but only one Groupon may be applied with this option.

The Fine Print

Expires Sep 12, 2012

Limit 3 per person, may buy 3 add'l as gifts. $300 option limit 1 per person, limit 1 per order. Not valid until 3/7/12. Valid only for option purchased. Not valid for hard drives or digital photo frames. Limit 1 $100 Groupon on bulk orders. $300 Groupon not valid with bulk order discount. See the rules that apply to all deals.

If you've got a closet-full of items to be scanned, this deal might be one for you. More information is here.

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Please note that I am in no way affiliated with either Groupon or ScanDigital. I'm just passing on what looks like an interesting deal for Santa Barbara-area genealogists.

Central Coast Genealogy Calendar: March 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:14:00 +0000

"If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover, is he lucky?" ~Stanislaw J. Lec

Thursday, March 1
Monterey County Genealogical Society
7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
Junel Davidsen - "The 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedules: Will You Be Ready?"

Saturday, March 3
San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society
12:30 PM - Research Class: "Social Security" - Barbara McCallum
1:45 PM - "Get Original: Are Your Sources Solid and as Good as Possible?" - Cheryl Storton

Sunday, March 4
Jewish Genealogical Society of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County
1:30 - 3:30 PM
Joel Weintraub - "Here Comes the 1940 US Census: We Are Ready"

Tuesday, March 13
Conejo Valley Genealogical Society
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Computer Interest Group Meeting
Georgine Herd - "Get Ready For the 1940 Census"

Saturday, March 17
Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Linda Weaver Clark - Family Legacy Workshop

Saturday, March 17
Ventura County Genealogical Society
1:00 - 4:00 PM
Barbara Renick - "New Search Features at Ancestry.com"

Tuesday, March 20
Conejo Valley Genealogical Society
5:30 - 6:30 PM - Genealogy Tools - TBA
6:45 - 8:45 PM - General Meeting - TBA

Tuesday, March 24
Conejo Valley Genealogical Society
2012 Annual Seminar
Featuring John Philip Colletta, Ph.D.
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

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Please send me an email if you would like to have your event included in this monthly calendar series.

New Content Added to fold3 Civil War Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:45:00 +0000

The following was received today from Fold3. I think this is something many of us have been waiting for!

Index to Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers

We are excited to announce the expansion of the Civil War Collection by adding the Index to Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers. The first four states available in this collection are Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.

Each index card gives the name of a soldier, his rank, and the unit in which he served. Anyone looking for a Union soldier in the Civil War will find these cards useful in identifying the state and regiment in which a man served and how his name appears in the military records. You can then locate his records to learn about his service in the war and the battles in which his regiment fought.

Beginning in 1890, Capt. Fred C. Ainsworth, head of the Record and Pension Division of the War Department, spearheaded an effort to create card abstracts of information from muster rolls, regimental returns, descriptive books, and other military records to build a compiled service record for each Union soldier. The index cards reference the resulting Civil War Service Records, many of which are also available on Fold3. As an example, the index card for Timothy Canty tells us that he served as a private and an artificer in Company A of the 1st New York Engineers. We can then find Canty's service record as the 1st New York Engineers is one of regiments digitized on Fold3.

This new index, viewed as card images on Fold3, may be familiar to some. The National Park Service transcribed these cards, referred to as "General Index Cards," and placed the data online in its Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. When searching for a soldier there, you are provided with a transcription, while Fold3's images allow users to view the original card as well as determine the accuracy of the transcription. Once you find the soldier you're looking for, you can connect his index card to his service record on Fold3, or contact NARA for copies of his documents.

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Upcoming Event: California State Genealogical Alliance Seminar

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:24:00 +0000

The California State Genealogical Alliance (CSGA) will be holding its annual meeting and board meeting - and a seminar! - in my neck of the woods this weekend:

Friday, February 24 - CSGA Meeting and Board Meeting
10:00 AM
Sahyun Library, 316 Castillo Street, Santa Barbara
Includes a tour of the Library and research time from 1:00 - 5:00 PM

Saturday, February 25 - Seminar
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Features four outstanding presentations by CSGA board members
Church of Jesus Christ Of Later Day Saints
2107 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara
Free and open to the public, but you do need to pre-register.
Download the seminar flyer for more information.

All are hosted by the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society.

Hope to see you there!

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1940 Census Web Site Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:04:00 +0000

The National Archives and Archives.com have just announced the website that will host the 1940 census: http://1940census.archives.gov.

Check out the announcement on the Archives.com blog at http://www.archives.com/blog/us-census/announce-1940-census-website.html for more information and an interesting video tutorial.

Are we excited? You betcha!

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Thanks to Julie Hill of Archives.com for the head's up!
Graphic "borrowed" from the National Archives.

Central Coast Genealogy Calendar: February 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity." ~Henry Van Dyke

Thursday, February 2
Monterey County Genealogical Society
6:00 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
Caroline Miller - "The Symbology of Cemetery Art"

Saturday, February 4
San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Genealogy NOW! Growing Your Family Tree
Day-long seminar featuring acclaimed author and speaker Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGL

Tuesday, February 7
Conejo Valley Genealogical Society
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Computer Interest Group Meeting
Betty Hutson - "Favorite Websites"

Sunday, February 12
Jewish Genealogical Society of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County
1:00 - 5:00 PM
Assisted Research Afternoon at L.A. Family History Library

Tuesday, February 14
Conejo Valley Genealogical Society
5:30 - 6:30 PM - Genealogy Tools - TBA
6:45 - 8:45 PM - General Meeting - TBA

Saturday, February 18
Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
TBA

Saturday, February 18
Ventura County Genealogical Society
1:00 - 4:00 PM
Joel Weintraub - "The 1940 Census is Coming"

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Please send me an email if you would like to have your event included in this monthly calendar series.

WDYTYA/Ancestry.com $10K Sweepstakes!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:23:00 +0000

As if the return of WDYTYA wasn't big enough news, now you can enter to win $10,000 to go find your own ancestors!

Who Do You Think You Are is back for a 3rd season and will premier this Friday, February 3 at 8/7c on NBC. Martin Sheen will lead off the series, and other celebrities lined up include Marissa Tomei, Blair Underwood, Helen Hunt, Jerome Bettis, Robb Lowe, and Paula Deen, among others.

Be sure to tune-in and see what each of our celebrities learns about their family history! We guarantee lots of surprises too. Check out the WDYTYA site here.

In conjunction with Season 3, Ancestry.com is running a Sweepstakes where 3 Grand Prize winners will win a trip of a lifetime to uncover their own family history valued at $10,000! The Sweepstakes includes a trip to the winner's homeland to explore their family roots, round-trip airfare for two, hotel and $2,000 in cash, plus a 6-month Ancestry.com World Explorer membership and an Ancestry.com DNA test to discover their genetic ethnicity. 20 First Prize winners will receive a 6-month Ancestry.com World Explorer membership.

To enter and see all the details on the Sweepstakes click here.

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Press release from Ancestry.com. And yes, I am an Ancestry.com affiliate.

Veterans History Project Launches Multi-Year Effort to Collect Vietnam War Stories

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:05:00 +0000

The Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP) has launched a multi-year campaign to preserve the stories of the nation's Vietnam War veterans. Volunteers and veterans are needed to record these important stories for the Veterans History Project collection, accessible at www.loc.gov/vets/.

"In the coming years, our nation will commemorate 50 years since the conflict in Vietnam," said VHP Director Bob Patrick, referring to the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration established to honor and pay tribute to Vietnam War veterans and their families. "The personal histories of those who served will help us heal, learn and remember, while leaving a powerful legacy for future generations."

The stories of former Sen. Chuck Hagel and his brother Tom Hagel, who fought side by side in the 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong River Delta, are among the more than 13,000 Vietnam veteran collections already held by VHP. The brothers recently ushered in VHP’s new campaign by donating more than 20 hours of interviews and film footage to the Library. Originally collected by Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET), representatives from NET were on hand to commemorate the donation.

"When we think of wars – whether it’s Vietnam or any other war – we think of it as a unitary subject, the Vietnam War," Tom Hagel shared at the event. "But there are millions of Vietnam Wars. If you were a clerk-typist stationed in Saigon or up on the demilitarized zone, or some other unit with some other type of job, your Vietnam War would be totally different from ours. And that’s important to tell. It gives a more complete, realistic picture of that experience. That’s the value of this project."

The Vietnam Veterans Collections Initiative Kick-off can be viewed here.

Epitomizing that thought are the stories of Brian Markle and Jeanne Markle, who were among the first married couples to arrive in country. She was a nurse with an evacuation hospital, and he was an officer in charge of medical logistics. African-American truck driver Thomas Hodge didn’t expect to live long when he got to Vietnam; he heard that the life expectancy of a wartime truck driver was three days. He survived, as did nurse Rhona Marie Knox Prescott, though her friend and fellow nurse perished in a helicopter crash.

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs and exhibitions. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov.

Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000 as a national documentation program of the American Folklife Center (www.loc.gov/folklife/) to collect, preserve and make accessible the first-hand remembrances of American wartime veterans from World War I through the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. The project relies on volunteers to record veterans’ remembrances using guidelines accessible at www.loc.gov/vets/. Volunteers may request more information at vohp@loc.gov or the toll-free message line at (888) 371-5848. Subscribe to VHP's RSS feed on the VHP home page.

Press release from the Library of Congress.

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Wordless Wednesday: Grandparents (Mine)

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:06:00 +0000

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"Reba and Lee Swanay." Digital image. Undated. Original photograph privately held by Elizabeth O'Neal, Santa Barbara Co., California, 2012.

About Wordless Wednesday.

Daughters of the American Revolution Partners with Children of the American Revolution to Promote Education and Literacy

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:02:00 +0000

Molly Schutzenberger delivers a donation to
United Through Reading in San Diego.

On September 26, 2011, Molly Schutzenberger, Honorary State President of the California State Society Children of the American Revolution (C.S.S.C.A.R.), delivered a $5000 check to the San Diego-based non-profit organization United Through Reading (UTR).

This donation is a combination of funds including a matched grant from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and a full year of fundraising by members of the C.S.S.C.A.R.

“United Through Reading helps USOs, ships, and other military units create a special library and recording area where deployed parents can read books to their children. The recording is sent home to their children, who can watch it at bedtime or whenever they want to see their mom or dad,” says Ms. Schutzenberger. “For the service member, it helps morale because the parents feel as if they are staying emotionally connected. Plus, it helps cultivate a love of reading in the children. My family read aloud together when I was growing up, so it was especially meaningful for me.” Molly adds. “For military families, year-long deployments, sometimes into a war zone, create incredible stress. Young children may not even recognize their parent when they return. United Through Reading really makes a big difference.”

In the process of working to support deployed parents and their children, Molly became aware of another group of military dependents who receive help from UTR. These are children deeply affected by the incarceration of a parent in the brig. They are often confused about their parents’ absence and may wonder whether their parents care about them. Many experience problems in school, act out in socially undesirable ways, or are sad or withdrawn. The military brigs are continually in need of books to provide for video-recorded reading which can then be sent along with the DVD to their children. Volunteers train incarcerated parents about the literacy needs of their children and how they can contribute to their child’s success through a positive reading relationship with them. Children will see their parents reading with love and enthusiasm, in many cases for the first time ever.

Linda Stufflebean, C.S.S.C.A.R. Honorary Senior State President, worked with Ms. Schutzenberger, as well as Elizabeth Swanay-O’Neal, C.S.S.C.A.R. Senior State President, and Jean Mollenkopf, Regent of the Captain Henry Sweetser Chapter DAR in Santa Maria, to apply for an educational grant from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). The C.S.S.C.A.R. was awarded a $925 matching grant so that United Through Reading could purchase a one-year supply of new children’s books, DVDs, and mailers specifically for the Brig Program.

Regarding her chapter’s participation in the project, Mrs. Mollenkopf said, "It was a great honor for the Captain Henry Sweetser Chapter DAR to be part of this meaningful patriotic endeavor to help build a lasting bridge between deployed veterans, military incarcerated, and their children at home through United Through Reading. We feel blessed to have been the DAR chapter engaged in the original grant process along with C.A.R."

"I want to thank Mrs. Mollenkopf and the NSDAR for getting behind our effort to raise money for UTR," says Ms. Schutzenberger. “It is a great partnership of the C.S.S.C.A.R. and the NSDAR to make a difference for military families going through terrible circumstances. We are helping at-risk children to become literate and find success at school, which means a better future for those children and a better future for our country."

In 2011, the NSDAR awarded over $180,000 in grants to support historic, patriotic, and educational projects all over the United States. For information about DAR Special Projects Grants, please see http://dar.org/natsociety/specialprojectsgrants.cfm.

For information about the Children of the American Revolution, please visit http://california-car.org. To learn about the work of United Through Reading, see http://www.unitedthroughreading.org

DAR's Forgotten Patriots Project Now Online (free)!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:31:00 +0000

If you are researching African American or Native American ancestors who may have provided service in the American Revolutionary War, this online publication may be of interest to you. I have a copy of the book, and it's a terrific resource.

The following announcement is from the DAR web site.

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Since the mid-1980s, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has supported a project to identify the names of African Americans, Native Americans, and individuals of mixed heritage who supported the American struggle for independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution. In the 1980s and 1990s, a series of small booklets for each of the original states were published, and in 2001 these booklets were merged into one volume and their contents greatly expanded in the publication titled African American and American Indian Patriots of the Revolutionary War.

The 2001 book also inspired a well-received and interesting exhibition in the DAR Museum "Forgotten Patriots: African American and American Indian Service in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783." The exhibition was open to the public from the fall of 2002 to the summer of 2003. During the exhibition's run, a seminar on the same topic was held at DAR Headquarters in Washington, D. C. in January 2003 and featured noted historians from around the country.

During the next few years, DAR researchers continued to build on the 2001 book, and by 2006 it became clear that a new publication was needed to present all of the additional findings. In April 2008, DAR published Forgotten Patriots: African American and American Indian Patriots in the Revolutionary War, an 874-page expansion of the 200-page publication. In the three years since this book was published, research continued and new findings have been complied in a supplement that is now available.

All print copies of the 2008 edition of the Forgotten Patriots book were sold-out by the summer of 2010, and discussions began to determine the next step in the process of providing this information to the public. DAR is now offering the full text of the Forgotten Patriots book and its corresponding supplement online! These documents can be downloaded for free from the DAR website. Subsequent updates will appear online as needed.

Note: Please be aware that the following publication is not connected with NSDAR publications, with the 2002-2003 DAR Museum exhibit, or the 2003 seminar.

Burrows, Edwin G. Forgotten Patriots: The Untold Story of American Prisoners during the Revolution. New York: Basic Books, 2008.

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:30:00 +0000

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We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room,

drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.

Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through

the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential.

~Ellen Goodman

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Wishing you a very happy New Year, from our house to yours. May your dreams and resolutions all come true, and may you find even more of your elusive ancestors in 2012!

Vintage greeting card from Connect.in.com, which unfortunately no longer exists.

Central Coast Genealogy Calendar: January 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:13:00 +0000

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." ~Oprah Winfrey

Thursday, January 5
Monterey County Genealogical Society
6:00 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
Volunteer Appreciation Night

Saturday, January 7
San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society
12:30 PM Research Class - "What's in the 1940 Census?" by Joel Weintraub
1:00 PM Business Meeting
1:15 PM Social time; book and drawing sales, snacks, coffee and tea
1:45 PM Joel Weintraub - "Here Comes the 1940 Census and We ARE Ready!!"

Sunday, January 8
Jewish Genealogical Society of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County
1:30 - 3:30 PM
Panel Presentation - "Ethics, Sensitivities, Sensibilities and Property Rights"

Tuesday, January 10
Conejo Valley Genealogical Society
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Computer Interest Group Meeting
Barbara Warren - "Fast Pencil Revisited"

Tuesday, January 17
Conejo Valley Genealogical Society
5:30 - 6:30 PM - Genealogy Tools - TBA
6:45 - 8:45 PM - General Meeting - TBA

Saturday, January 28
31st Annual Genealogical Seminar on the Monterey Peninsula
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Claire V. Brisson-Banks, Keynote Speaker
Sponsored by the Commodore Sloat Chapter DAR and FHC

Saturday, January 28
Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Joel Weintraub - "Preparing for the Release of the 1940 Census"

Saturday, January 28
Ventura County Genealogical Society
1:00 - 4:00 PM
Kerry Bartels - "The Many Facets of the National Archives Website"

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Please send me an email if you would like to have your event included in this monthly calendar series.

Don't Miss the SLOCGS Seminar: Genealogy NOW! Growing Your Family Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:06:00 +0000

"Genealogy NOW! Growing Your Family Tree"

February 4, 2012

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Veterans Hall

801 Grand Avenue

San Luis Obispo, California

Mark your calendars for Genealogy NOW! Growing Your Family Tree, featuring nationally acclaimed author and speaker Dr. Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGL!

This full day of outstanding presentations is designed to enhance your genealogical sleuthing skills, and add a few branches to your family tree. Genealogy NOW! also features the always-entertaining Ron Arons, author of Wanted! U.S. Criminal Records and The Jews of Sing-Sing, as well as English research expert Apryl Cox, AG.

Included in the event will be vendors, project displays, refreshments, a freebie table, and drawings for dozens of genealogy prizes and gift certificates. For schedule, registration information, or more about this event, please visit http://www.slocgs.org/.

31st Annual Genealogical Seminar on the Monterey Peninsula

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:23:00 +0000

The Commodore Sloat Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution

and the

Family History Center of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

present the

31st Annual Genealogical Seminar

Saturday, January 28, 2012
Family History Center and classrooms at the LDS Church
1024 Noche Buena (at Plumas) in Seaside, CA
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Claire V. Brisson-Banks, BS, MLIS AG®, of Timeless Genealogies is the keynote speaker and one of over a dozen instructors at the all-day genealogy conference.

$30 registration fee includes lunch and a syllabus with early registration by January 15, 2012.

Download registration flyer and schedule of classes.

For more information contact Serita Sue Woodburn.

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Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

From our house to yours: we wish you the merriest of Christmases, and the happiest of holidays. Be warm, be happy, and enjoy your family this holiday season.

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Vintage greeting card from Yestercards.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Day 8 - Christmas Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:45:00 +0000

Photo of Snickerdoodles by Flickr user Evening Edge.com

My mother wasn't much of a baker. In fact, I'm fairly certain that she didn't like to cook at all. That being said, if she ever baked Christmas cookies, I don't remember her doing it.

When I got older, I started doing some baking on my own. Each Christmas, I would make fudge, rum balls, and various quick breads (banana, date, pumpkin) to give as gifts or to help pack on the calories at home. I would also bake one of my favorite cookie recipes: Snickerdoodles. While not specifically for Christmas, they do taste wonderful, and with a few red and green sprinkles tossed on before baking, they look very festive on your holiday table.

Plus, there are no peanuts (or nuts of any kind), to which my daughter is highly allergic. It's amazing - and scary - how many foods contain some form of peanuts.

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SNICKERDOODLES

3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
3 tbsps sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375⁰. Grease a cookie sheet. Stir together flour, soda, cream of tartar, and 1/2 tsp salt. Beat butter for 30 seconds; add the 2 cups sugar and beat until fluffy. Add eggs, milk and vanilla; beat well. Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating until well combined. Form dough into 1-inch balls; roll in a misture of the 3 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon (and sprinkles, if desired). Place balls 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet; flatten slightly with the bottom of a drinking glass. Bake in a 375⁰ oven about 8 minutes or until light golden. Makes about 66.

(From the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook, Ninth Edition, 1981, p. 162.)

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This post is the first in the "2011 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories" series, and was originally posted on December 8, 2009. Slight modifications have been made this year.

Veterans History Project Marks 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:19:00 +0000

The Veterans History Project (VHP) launches "Pearl Harbor – 70th Anniversary," the 35th website feature in the Experiencing War series. Pearl Harbor presents the accounts from 15 veterans who experienced Pearl Harbor firsthand.

"Some tragedies from our history are permanently burned into the collective memory of our nation," said Veterans History Project Director Bob Patrick. "Pearl Harbor is certainly one."

All of the veterans in the feature describe the sense of horror that dominated on Dec. 7, 1941. Kathryn Mary Doody was a nurse serving in the Army Nurse Corps, whose long and distinguished career in combat medicine began when she treated bombing victims brought to her Honolulu hospital from Pearl Harbor. James Doyle was a Photographer's Mate First Class in the Navy; he used his camera to document the destruction of the harbor while dodging bullets from Japanese planes flying overhead. Robert Coates served aboard the USS Nevada. After Pearl Harbor, he went on to be involved in some of the heaviest action in the Pacific Theater. As he discusses in his interview, nothing ever rivaled the shock he felt on December 7.

Hear these personal histories and more at: http://www.loc.gov/vets/stories/ex-war-pearlharbor.html

The Mission of the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center is to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Learn more at www.loc.gov/vets. Share your exciting VHP initiatives, programs, events, and news stories with VHP to be considered for a future RSS. Email vohp@loc.gov and place "My VHP RSS Story" in the subject line.

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Little Bytes of Life

Wordless Wednesday: Future Genealogist?

Second Life Chapter APG April Meeting

Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) Now Accepting Applications for APG Young Professional Award

Ready or Not, Here it Comes!

1940 US Census Project Update Release of Images in Two Days!

My Grandparents are Missing

NEHGS to be Featured on "Finding Your Roots"

Evidence Explained on Sale Today ONLY!

Groupon Gets Digital in Santa Barbara

Central Coast Genealogy Calendar: March 2012

New Content Added to fold3 Civil War Collection

Upcoming Event: California State Genealogical Alliance Seminar

1940 Census Web Site Announced

Central Coast Genealogy Calendar: February 2012

WDYTYA/Ancestry.com $10K Sweepstakes!

Veterans History Project Launches Multi-Year Effort to Collect Vietnam War Stories

Wordless Wednesday: Grandparents (Mine)

Daughters of the American Revolution Partners with Children of the American Revolution to Promote Education and Literacy

DAR's Forgotten Patriots Project Now Online (free)!

Happy New Year!

Central Coast Genealogy Calendar: January 2012

Don't Miss the SLOCGS Seminar: Genealogy NOW! Growing Your Family Tree

31st Annual Genealogical Seminar on the Monterey Peninsula

Merry Christmas!

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Day 8 - Christmas Cookies

Veterans History Project Marks 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

1940 US Census Project Update
Release of Images in Two Days!