MoSGA Messenger

BRITISH BATTLES

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:59:00 +0000

A virtual exhibit on the National Archives (UK) website that provides records, pictures, and text concerning famous British battles in the Crimea (1854); Egypt (1882); WWII (1944); and Korea (1951):

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FREE SECURITY SOFTWARE FOR MAC OR PCs

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:57:00 +0000

Need good (free) security software for that new desktop, laptop, or netbook? Kim Komando has some great recommendations:

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CALIBRE EBOOK ORGANIZER

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:55:00 +0000

Need a great (free) ebook organizer? Calibre is a top-notch free application:

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JOAN FERRIS CURRAN

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:53:00 +0000

Joan Ferris Curran, 85, a long-time Kansas City area professional genealogist, passed away on Saturday, 19 May 2012. She was a Certified Genealogist who specialized in the writing and editing of family histories. Joan was an officer in many genealogical societies, including the New England Historic Genealogical Society. She published ten genealogy books and pamphlets. Her obituary can be viewed here.

SHOULD YOU WAIT FOR WINDOWS 8?

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:44:00 +0000

Short answer-—maybe, maybe not:

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LIKE PHOTOSHOP, BUT A LOT CHEAPER…

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:41:00 +0000

Free, in fact. GIMP is a free photo-editing application for Mac or PC. It used to have a (well-earned) reputation for being difficult to master, but a major overhaul has made GIMP’s learning curve much less steep:

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BEGINNER’S LATIN

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:38:00 +0000

If you’ve been encountering documents written in Latin (or merely yearn to learn Latin), the National Archives (UK) website provides online tutorials for beginning (and advanced) students of this tongue of antiquity:

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FREE BOOKS FROM YOUR PALS AT MICROSOFT

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:34:00 +0000

I’ve told you all before that the Redmond Posse has been making more and more (great) free stuff available (and it’s always best not to look a gift horse in the mouth). Here’s another great offer from Microsoft—I’ve already downloaded First Look—Microsoft Office 2010 and Security & Privacy for Microsoft Office 2010 as PDFs.

If you want to supplement your collection of technical e-books, or you need in-depth information about Microsoft technologies, you may be interested in a set of works from Microsoft Press that are being offered for download free of charge. There are 10 books on offer including Office 2010, Windows Phone 7, SQL Server, Office 365, Windows Server, and Visual Studio.

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ANCESTRY.COM ADDS 10 BILLIONTH RECORD

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:29:00 +0000

Leader in Online Family History has more than Doubled its Collection of Family History Records in Last Three Years

PROVO, Utah – (May 10, 2012) – Ancestry.com (Nasdaq: ACOM), the world’s largest online family history resource, is celebrating the addition of its 10 billionth record to the website. Included in the extensive record collection are ship passenger lists, military draft cards, birth, marriage and death records and the most popular – U.S. Federal Census records.

Ancestry.com also offers unique and comprehensive collections that provide personal views into significant events in world history, such as the most comprehensive online collection of records relating to the passengers and crew aboard the RMS Titanic. Records such as these not only provide a glimpse into history, but also offer enlightening insights to people discovering their ancestors’ names in a record collection for the first time.

“Big numbers and major milestones are impressive, but what we think really counts is our commitment to acquiring meaningful content to help our users illuminate their lives by linking them to stories of their families’,” said Tim Sullivan, president and CEO of Ancestry.com. “The more records we collect, index and make searchable, the more widely impactful the user experience becomes, continuing our mission of helping everyone discover, preserve and share their family history.”

The treasure trove of 10 billion-plus online records on Ancestry.com, which has grown 150 percent in the last three years, is larger than those of all other online family history sites combined. Although much of the increase in the record collections has been in recent years, the site overall has added an average of 55 million records a month since the website went online 15 years ago. Images of documents date back to wills executed in London in 1507 A.D., while indexes of records reach back more than seven centuries, to marriage licenses and probated wills in Dublin, Ireland, from 1270 A.D.

Ancestry.com helped pioneer the market for online family history research, changing an expensive and time-consuming pursuit for the few, into an easy-to-use, affordable and accessible online activity, both on its website and through mobile apps. The company has digitized and published records, and indexed them in a searchable format using proprietary big data analytics and put them online. Through the use of patent-pending technology, Ancestry.com can make semi-structured data fully searchable to help accelerate the pace of record availability to the user. The result of this powerful technology is a simple and enlightening way for consumers to explore their family history and make unexpected and informative discoveries about families, both past and present.

For example, to make the 10 billion-plus records easier to discover, the Ancestry.com Shaky Leaf™ feature associates and recommends certain records as personally relevant in the form of a “hint” displayed under individual ancestors’ profiles. Shaky Leaf hints help users make often unexpected family discoveries by providing suggested record matches or a reference to a living relative’s family tree. After a record is found users can easily attach new information or individuals to their family tree. Within the first quarter of 2012, Ancestry.com subscribers made 321 million discoveries, up 26% from the same period a year ago, many of which were found using the Shaky Leaf feature.

More than 1 billion of the records have been attached to users’ trees on Ancestry.com. One Ancestry.com member, that has found great success in her family history research, is noted to have attached more than 600,000 records to her family tree. Donna Williamson has spent two hours every day for the past three years tracing her family history and making discoveries with each new record she uncovers.

“It’s amazing. At first I just wanted to be a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, but it has become so much more than that now,” said Williamson. “Through records on Ancestry.com I found that I have such a rich heritage. I learned that my great grandfather was in a prisoner of war camp in the Civil War and also found that I am a descendant of a survivor of Jamestown, VA.”

To help users get started, Ancestry.com offers a 14-day free trial to let interested family historians search the treasure trove of records and make discoveries of their own. For more details, visit http://www.ancestry.com/.

About Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOM) is the world's largest online family history resource, with more than 1.8 million paying subscribers. More than 10 billion records have been added to the site in the past 15 years. Ancestry users have created more than 34 million family trees containing approximately 4 billion profiles. In addition to its flagship site, Ancestry.com offers several localized Web sites designed to empower people to discover, preserve and share their family history.

HAWAII STATE ARCHIVES PHOTOGRAPHS COLLECTION

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:46:00 +0000

886 photos (mostly late 19th-early 20th century) of Hawaiian royalty, buildings, natural features, and people—all of which can be republished without permissions or copyright worries:

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YOUR HAWAIIAN ANCESTORS

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:44:00 +0000

You may well not have any Hawaiian ancestors/relatives, but I in fact do! My nephew, Andy, was born there while my brother, Bill, was serving in the Navy. The Hawaii State Archives offers a great online guide to researching your Hawaiian ancestors:

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SMILEBOX

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:41:00 +0000

It’s a free application for PC or Mac that lets you easily create digital collages, slideshows, scrapbooks, or photo albums:

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UK GOVERNMENT WEB ARCHIVE

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:40:00 +0000

Themed collections of digital archives assembled by various departments of the UK government:

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TRAFALGAR ANCESTORS

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:38:00 +0000

A database containing service records and miscellaneous information on the 18,000 crewmen (and at least one woman disguised as a man) who served on British ships during the Battle of Trafalgar (1805). This is the famous naval battle at the start of which Admiral Nelson signaled the fleet that “England expects that every man will do his duty.” Crew composition involved men of numerous nationalities, including dozens of American citizens:

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GIANT IN THE SHADOWS

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:34:00 +0000

Abraham Lincoln’s eldest son, Robert, is remembered mainly because of his connection to his dad—yet he was a top-notch attorney; ambassador to Great Britain; and possibly the best Secretary of War during the 19th century:

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NARA-KC JUNE 2012 GENEALOGY WORKSHOP

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:31:00 +0000

The National Archives at Kansas City will be offering the following genealogy workshop:

Can’t Catch Me: Locating Ancestors in Court and Prison Records
Saturday, June 2, 2012
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. :

The workshop will be held at 400 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64108.

Workshop Description

10:00 to 11:30 AM – Order in the Court: Finding Your Family in Federal Court Records
Did your ancestor file for bankruptcy? Get tied up in a federal civil suit? Were they a defendant in a criminal case? Federal court documents are an underutilized set of records that help provide a snapshot of an individual or family at a particular juncture in life. Depending upon the type of case, documents can include lists of property, family members, testimony, and other insightful glimpses at events that may not be documented elsewhere. Come learn about the types of cases you can find at the National Archives and how to begin your research. :

11:45 AM to 12:45 PM - Behind Bars: Penitentiary Records
Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary has an infamous past, leaving behind a paper trail of inmates that crossed its threshold. The inmate case files document the individual’s life from arrival to departure. Included are “rap” sheets, intake charts, correspondence sent and received, intercepted letters, mugshots, and more. :

1:00 to 2:00 PM – Self-guided tour “They’re not going to get me:” Crime in the 1930’s exhibit :

To make a reservation for this free event, please call 816-268-8000 or email us here.

The National Archives at Kansas City is one of 15 facilities nationwide where the public has access to Federal archival records. It is home to historical records dating from the 1820s to the 1990s created or received by Federal agencies in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. For more information, call 816-268-8000 or visit our website.

LANDMARKS ASSOCIATION BUS TOUR AND FREE LECTURES

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:52:00 +0000

Landmarks Association is sponsoring an upcoming bus tour to Louisiana MO to tour historic homes. It’s this Saturday (19 May 2012), but we still have room for more interested people. Here’s a link to more information:

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In addition, we have three free lectures coming up next week that people might be interested in. One is Fred Fausz discussing the colonial architecture of St. Louis, one is on the Lustron Houses and the Lustron Company, and one is on the Turnvereins of St. Louis. More information here:

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Any assistance you can offer in getting the word out would be sincerely appreciated,

Thanks,

Andrew Weil
Executive Director
Landmarks Association of St. Louis
911 Washington Ave, Suite 170
St. Louis, Missouri 63103
314.421.6474

TALK LIKE A NATIVE

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:35:00 +0000

Err—-at least be able to understand the basics in numerous foreign languages using these free online learning applications:

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FREEDOM SUITS PROJECT

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:33:00 +0000

Learn about the Freedom Suits Legal Encoding Project, a collaboration between the Missouri History Museum and Washington University. Using the Museum’s city directories, Washington University’s legal and technical expertise, and St. Louis Circuit Court Records, this project will enhance our knowledge of the participants in nearly 500 lawsuits in St. Louis—slaves who sued for their freedom, their legal representatives, and those opposing their freedom. Museum librarian Emily Jaycox and staff from Washington University will demonstrate the project.

When: Saturday, June 30, 2012, 10:30 a.m.
Where: Missouri History Museum in Forest Park
How much: This lecture is free. No reservations are required.

More info? Go here.

ANCESTRY.COM LAUNCHES NEW AncestryDNA SERVICE

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:25:00 +0000

Affordable DNA Test Combines Depth of Ancestry.com Family History Database with an Extensive Collection of DNA Samples to Open New Doors to Family Discovery

PROVO, Utah (May 3, 2012) –Ancestry.com (Nasdaq: ACOM), today announced the launch of its highly anticipated AncestryDNA™ service, a new affordable DNA test that enables purchasers of the DNA test and subscribers of Ancestry.com to combine new state-of-the-art DNA science with the world’s largest online family history resource and a broad global database of DNA samples.

The new DNA test analyzes a person’s genome at over 700,000 marker locations, cross referencing an extensive worldwide DNA database with the aim of providing exciting insights into their ethnic backgrounds and helping them find distant cousins who may hold the keys to exciting family history discoveries. By combining these genetic matches with Ancestry.com’s 34 million family trees and 9 billion records, AncestryDNA intends to provide a differentiated experience that helps find common ancestors dating back as far as the middle 18th Century.

“We’ve worked hard at Ancestry.com for more than a year building, testing, and reinventing our approach to genetic genealogy,” said Tim Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ancestry.com. “We think AncestryDNA has created a unique and engaging experience that will provide existing Ancestry.com subscribers with an entirely new way to make amazing discoveries about their family history. We are excited to be making AncestryDNA available to loyal Ancestry.com subscribers first…but we look forward to eventually opening up this service to everyone. We think it will allow us to extend our mission to help people discover, preserve, and share their family history to an even greater audience.”

AncestryDNA helps determine geographic and ethnic origins by comparing test-takers’ unique DNA signatures to the DNA of people from across the globe – drawn from the preeminent collection of DNA samples assembled by the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation. The current version of the test includes 22 worldwide geographical and ethnic categories, including six regions in Europe, five regions in Africa, and Native American.

“We think the newest DNA technology will dramatically change family history research. For the experienced genealogist it will help break down brick walls and for the casual family historian it will make it easier than ever to get started,” said Ken Chahine, Ph.D., J.D. Senior Vice President and General Manager of Ancestry.com DNA, LLC. “While the science is cutting edge, the new online experience is simpler and more intuitive than ever before. We’ve already had overwhelming response and positive feedback from beta users as they discover relatives and uncover the treasures their ancestors passed down through DNA. DNA picks up where the paper trail leaves off. Genomic science can extend family history research into parts of the world where few paper records are available.”

Interest in exploring family history is rising quickly, especially on the scientific front, and that interest extends all the way back to the “old country,” wherever it may be. In fact, 56 percent of Americans recently surveyed by Harris Interactive are interested in taking a DNA genealogy test, up from 42 percent less than a year ago*. What’s more, people’s family history interests reach back beyond arrival in America – nearly two in three respondents told Harris that learning about pre-U.S. family members is one of the most important benefits of researching family history.

Pricing and Availability

Due to very strong early interest and demand, AncestryDNA will initially be made available by invitation-only to Ancestry.com subscribers for $99, with the expectation that the service will be made available to the general public later this year. To learn more about AncestryDNA, or to sign up to be notified once it’s available, please visit www.ancestrydna.com.

In preparing to bring AncestryDNA to market with the best science and a broad set of research assets, AncestryDNA has organized a distinguished and independent Science Advisory Board and has also acquired access to DNA samples, many of which had been assembled by the non-profit Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation. AncestryDNA will be offered through Ancestry.com DNA, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ancestry.com.

Science Advisory Board

With the continued focus on developing a solid DNA platform that stays ahead of the genetic genealogy trends, AncestryDNA has assembled a well-respected Scientific Advisory Board that can advise the company on best practices in the emerging field of DNA and genomic testing. The board consists of:

• Carlos D. Bustamante, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine
• Mark J. Daly, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical School Center for Human Genetics
• John Novembre, Ph.D., Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
• Jeffrey R. Botkin, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Ethics, Associate Vice President for Research, University of Utah •Philip Awadalla, Ph.D., Director of the CARTaGENE BioBank, Saint Justine Hospital, Montreal, Canada

Addition of DNA Assets from the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation

In March, Ancestry.com DNA, LLC acquired access to an extensive collection of DNA assets from Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, a non-profit organization. Founded by molecular genealogy pioneer, James LeVoy Sorenson, this organization has been dedicated to building the world's foremost collection of DNA samples and corresponding genealogical information. Over the last 12 years, the Sorenson Foundation collected a one-of-a-kind DNA database of tens of thousands of DNA samples with documented family histories in more than 100 countries on six continents. This DNA database gives AncestryDNA test-takers an expanded family history genetic resource, and should enable new levels of discovery about people’s family backgrounds.

Jim Sorensen, President of Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation added, “We are pleased to bring this far reaching, unique DNA collection to AncestryDNA. My father, James L. Sorenson, envisioned creating a genetic map of the peoples of the world that shows relationships shared by the entire human family and with the shared vision and resources of AncestryDNA his legacy will greatly expand. We are confident in the capabilities and dedication of the team to realize the potential of genetic genealogy faster than anyone else in the field. We see this as a great benefit to consumers as well as the scientific community by combining some of the best science with the leader in family history.”

About Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOM) is the world's largest online family history resource, with more than 1.8 million paying subscribers. More than 9 billion records have been added to the site in the past 15 years. Ancestry users have created more than 34 million family trees containing approximately 4 billion profiles. In addition to its flagship site, Ancestry.com offers several localized Web sites designed to empower people to discover, preserve and share their family history.

About Ancestry.com DNA, LLC

Ancestry.com DNA, LLC is a subsidiary of Ancestry.com Inc. AncestryDNA uses a simple test to analyze an individual’s DNA. AncestryDNA offers the potential of identifying new insights into people’s ancient ancestry to help them collaborate with distant cousins and make even more discoveries in their family history. For more information visit www.ancestrydna.com.

THE CIVIL WAR: 150 YEARS

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:25:00 +0000

New from our National Park Service:

One hundred and fifty years after it was contested, the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War offers an unparalleled opportunity to discover, discuss, and commemorate America's greatest national crisis, and explore its enduring relevance in the 21st century.

More than 70 national parks preserve the places and stories where this epic struggle occurred. Each is remembering the war in its own way, from formal ceremonies to academic symposia. Search their Calendar of Events to see what's happening near you, or head straight to the Plan Your Visit to plot your route to a Civil War national park or one of their partner sites.

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GPO ANNOUNCES THE NEW MOBILE MEMBER GUIDE FOR THE 112TH CONGRESS

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:22:00 +0000

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) announces the new Mobile Member Guide, a mobile Web application (app) which provides the public with quick, easy access to information on House Members and Senators of the 112th Congress. Based on the Guide to the House and Senate Members and information in the Congressional Pictorial Directory, the new mobile apps features include:

• Official biographical information for House Members and Senators
• Official photograph of House Members and Senators, party affiliation, hometown, home state, and information on their length of service
• Contact information for House Members and Senators offices in Washington, D.C. and home districts
• Counties and zip codes that each House Member represents
• Links to House Members and Senators Web sites

This Mobile Member Guide allows users to browse for Members of Congress by last name, state, chamber, or party. The public can take advantage of GPO's free mobile Web app on iPhone, Android and other major mobile device platforms:

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DUKE UNIVERSITY VIRTUAL EXHIBITS

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:18:00 +0000

The website hosts an amazing number of virtual exhibits, including a number of special interest to genealogists:

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For example, this Civil War virtual exhibit:

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WITH THE GEAR IN THE REAR

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:13:00 +0000

While it’s true that some of our troops in Vietnam faced incredible danger and unbelievable hardships, many soldiers serving at bases in the rear had access to better recreational facilities and greater luxuries than they did back at home—and were safer at night than they would have been in many big cities back home:

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TEN MINUTES AT MIDWAY

noreply@blogger.com (blogger01) — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:11:00 +0000

A little luck, an abundance of courage, and some very bad decisions by enemy commanders changed the Battle of Midway from a potential disaster for the American fleet rivaling Pearl Harbor to an incredible victory that sank three of four aircraft carriers and dealt the Japanese Navy a crippling blow from which it would never be able to recover:

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