UpFront with NGS

FREE access -- Military Records at FindMyPast -- starts tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:00:00 PDT

FindMyPast is celebrating ...

Military Appreciation Month: Honoring your family that fought for their country

... by providing free access to all US and international military records from Friday, May 24 to Monday, May 27. No code required or payment information taken – just register at the site. A list of all records, including military ones on the website can be found here.

Do you know if other subscription services are also providing free access to military records this month? If so, let us know!

Editor’s Note: Learn more about National Military Appreciation Month.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Republication of UpFront articles is permitted and encouraged for non-commercial purposes without express permission from NGS. Please drop us a note telling us where and when you are using the article. Express written permission is required if you wish to republish UpFront articles for commercial purposes. You may send a request for express written permission to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org. All republished articles may not be edited or reworded and must contain the copyright statement found at the bottom of each UpFront article.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

FREE Access -- Lots of records available for FREE as we celebrate Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Thu, 23 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

As we celebrate those who have served our country in the military, we are presented with some wonderful and FREE access to some databases to help us honor our military veterans as we research their contributions.

The database access we are currently aware of includes:

MyHeritage

In honor of Memorial Day next week, MyHeritage is granting free access to millions of military records from our most popular collections. The records can be accessed from here. The free offer ends on May 28.

Read more here - http://blog.myheritage.com/2013/05/memorial-day-free-access-to-us-military-records/.

Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com is promoting a special Free Access weekend in honor of Memorial Day! All the necessary details below:

From Thursday May 23rd through Monday May 27th, Ancestry.com is offering Free Access to the large collection of new military collections, draft, enlistment and service records. Visit http://www.ancestry.com/family-military to start your search!

Fold3

USCT Service Records Complete through the 138th Infantry – Free through May 31^st. Read more here, http://blog.fold3.com/usct-service-records-complete/ and here http://blogs.archives.gov/prologue/?p=12199 (NARA Prologue: Pieces of History Blog).

FindMyPast

See post at 10am today with information.

Are you aware of any other databases offering FREE access to military records?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Images at FamilySearch.org -- Here Today Gone Tomorrow?

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Wed, 22 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Image courtesy of Victor Habbick at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Just because we have access to digital images today via a database, doesn’t mean that those same images will remain available. As more and more materials are digitized, remember that there are contractual agreements in place where access can either be withheld or eventually more widespread.

Earlier this year, some Cook County (IL records) were pulled from FamilySearch. Read about this at The Ancestry Insider, Cook County Images Disappear From FamilySearch.org. Dick Eastman also discussed this in Why Was the Information Removed from Online?

On the other hand, NARA makes non-exclusive partnership arrangements with requirements for free access to those researching at NARA and sometimes to eventually being publicly available via the NARA website, etc. You can learn about these agreements at [NARA] Digitization Partnerships.

I’ve also seen this with digitized newspapers. At a certain point some were available via a subscription service encompassing many newspapers and then eventually a newspaper creates its own interface to which you can either subscribe or purchase articles via.

Do you know of other instances where a genealogy-related database was freely available and then not?

Or vice versa – a database where you used to have to subscribe that is now free?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Preserve the Pensions [War of 1812] -- Genealogy Road Trip Contest -- Enter NOW!

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:59:00 PDT

NGS encourages genealogists to partner with FGS, FamilySearch, and the National Archives to preserve the War of 1812 pensions. Because of this, NGS wants you to know about The Genealogy Road Trip Contest!

Have you ever wanted to take a research trip to one of the top genealogical libraries in the United States and find out more about your ancestors? Are you all packed and ready to hit the road?

The Federation of Genealogical Societies is holding a contest to raise awareness about its Preserve the Pensions project to preserve and digitize War of 1812 pension files at the National Archives. To participate, simply complete the entry form below and add your name to our email list and then wait for your name to be selected for one of several prizes!

Prizes! Prizes! Prizes!

We’re undertaking a big project here trying to digitize 7.2 million pages of War of 1812 pension files and we believe in thinking BIG! This thinking carries over to our contest prizes which include:

Choice of a Genealogy Research Travel Package: Choose from one of the following research trips:

o Salt Lake City Genealogy Research Package: A 7-night stay at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, a $200 meal gift card, and a $50 Family History Library photocopy card. Total value = $1,100.

o Fort Wayne Genealogy Research Package: A 7-night stay at the Fort Wayne Hilton Hotel, a $200 meal gift card and a $50 Allen County Public Library photocopy card. Total value = $1,100.

o Flip-Pal® mobile scanner: A genealogists’ best friend: mobile scanner for all your family photos and genealogy documents. Total value = $150.

o findmypast.com 1-Year Membership: A one year membership to findmypast.com. Total value = $100.

o And more! Prizes from Just a Joy, The Heirloom Registry, Maia’s Books, RootsMagic and more!

o The total value of all the prizes for this contest is over $2,800!

Contest Format and Rules

We’ll begin drawing for prizes on Monday, May 20, 2013 and draw prizes each day leading up to Friday, May 24, 2013, when we’ll select the winner of the Genealogy Research Travel Package! All winners will be notified by email.

In order to qualify for the contest, you must be a resident of the United States, over age 18 and provide your email address so we can contact you if you are a winner. After the contest, we’ll send you the latest information about the Preserve the Pensions project and you can unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time. Full contest rules can be found here.

Donate to Preserve the Pensions and Win a War of 1812 Quilt

Besides entering the contest, consider making a donation to the Preserve the Pensions project today. Not only will you help preserve and digitize War of 1812 pension files, but you’ll also be entered into a drawing to win a stunning War of 1812 commemorative quilt! Click here for more information and then look for the drawing in late August 2013.

Here’s How to Enter the Genealogy Road Trip Contest

Only one entry per email address please. There are two ways to enter:

o Click here to enter via our Facebook page; OR

o Click here to simply sign up for our e-newsletter and you’ll be automatically entered into the Contest!

Please spread the word about our contest on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other social media. And also visit the Preserve the Pensions website to learn more about this community effort to preserve an essential part of American history.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Genealogy Writing -- Do you use the popular "Historical Present" tense? Should you?

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles, http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

A post by Michael Hait, Historical writing and when to use present tense caught my eye. In it, he refers to an article Ben Yagoda Gets Sick of the Historical Present (on the Chronicle for Higher Education website).

As genealogists, we do a lot of writing! Much of it might be in the form of Facebook posts, e-mails, blog posts, entries into our genealogy software, etc, and it is still writing. Whether we’ve written one sentence or a 10-page footnoted article, we need to be “clear” in our communication.

That said, I found both Michael’s post and that by Ben Yagoda fun reads and they make a lot of sense. Stick to the present or past depending on the context of what you are writing. That’s neat, clean, and very understandable.

What do you think of the Historical Present as a tense in genealogy writing? Can it be appropriate or should it be eliminated?

Editor's Note: Harold Henderson, Midwestern Microhistory: A genealogy blog recently post a related piece, "I" and "We" in genealogy writing. He focuses on perspective vs verb tenses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

copyright © National Genealogical Society, 3108 Columbia Pike, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22204-4370. http://www.ngsgenealogy.org.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

A 10 Step Plan: Getting Sources & Citations Under Control

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Created by Lynn Palermo, used with her permission

Citing sources – we talk about this often. Why? Because it is so important!

Lynn Palermo (The Armchair Genealogist), recently wrote A 10 Step Plan: Getting Sources & Citations Under Control and created a really neat graphic to go with it! She states ...

We all were pulled into the excitement of the research, the thrill of the hunt and discovery of our family history. Eventually we all come to realize the importance of knowing where our information came from, and what sources we have to support our history as fact. However, more often then you realize, this knowledge arrives after we've been researching for some time.

So true. It is easy to want to only do the exciting part. Ask any genealogist if they like to write reports or similar and that booming sound was probably most of them saying “NO!” Well, citing sources ranks right there with report writing.

I like how Lynn views source citing as part of a bigger process and not an end unto itself. It’s part of an organic process that we can use regularly as we do our research. Whenever we can make some element of our research part of a bigger habit, the more likely we are to stick with it. Putting my floss next to my daily medicines has sure helped my dental health!

Do you agree with her 10 steps? Would you want to add 1 or 2 more and if so, what?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Upfront Mini Bytes

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Upfront Mini Bytes

Welcome to the eighth edition of our bi-weekly feature Upfront Mini Bytes. In Upfront Mini Bytes we provide eight tasty bits of genealogy news that will help give you a deeper byte into your family history research. Each item is short and sweet. We encourage you to check out the links to articles, blog posts, resources, and anything genealogical!

We hope you found the past editions helpful:

first edition	fourth edition	seventh edition
second edition	fifth edition
third edition	sixth edition

Do you have questions, suggestions for future posts, or comments? Please post a comment or send an e-mail to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Buncombe County (NC) is bringing the slavery era to light by making many documents available online. Read this informative article, Bought & Sold: Forgotten documents highlight local slave history. The list of slave deeds (and a video about the project) can be found at Slave Deeds.

When Dick Eastman reported 1000+ Jasper County, Missouri Family Biographies added to My Genealogy Hound I just had to check out the website. Currently included are resources for Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee.

As more and more documents are generated, archives, courthouses, libraries and other, repositories are running into space issues. Or, really, lack of space issues. This article, York County Archives running out of room, talks about the issues for this Pennsylvania county.

Neat video from the Library of Congress: Library of Congress: Preserving past and present for the future. Carol Highsmith is working on a decades-long project photographing all 50 states and the District of Columbia and these images are free to be used by anyone.

Loved this article at The DNA Discussion, And Bob’s Your Uncle: A Guide To Defining Great Aunts, Great-Great Grandparents, First Cousins Once-Removed, and Other Kinfolk. It can be so challenging to help people “visualize” how they are related to the people they research. For most of us, once we get to great-grandparents and start going down the various branches of the tree, it’s easy to lose “how” we are connected. The chart and accompanying discussion don’t cover every possible relationship, but it’s a great start.

Genealogy is an endeavor marked by persistance and thoroughness. If you want to know the wrong way to delve into your family’s history, read this article at Archives.com, 5 Guaranteed Ways to Mess Up Your Genealogy. I will confess that #1 plagued me in the beginning and I quickly became much more methodical about documenting sources!

If your family had any connections to the Port of Los Angeles you will be interested to know that a New archivist [is] putting Port of Los Angeles history online as reported in dailybreeze.com. As stated in the article ... “From handwritten employee ledgers to black-and-white photographs, the Port of Los Angeles' past is being revived for public consumption, thanks to an archivist and a port director whose passion is history.”

Looking for an online genealogy course? Have Tennessee ancestors? If so, you might want to check out Introduction to Genealogy, An Online College Course, Taught by Staff of the Tennessee State Library and Archives in conjunction with Jackson State Community College.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Summary of NGS 2013 Family History Conference Blog Posts!

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Guest Blogger Julie Miller, Vice President NGS ...

A big thank you to Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings for putting together a list of blog posts about the conference. There are some very informative posts from many different perspectives.

Since we all can be in only one place at a time (which is definitely a disadvantage during the conference), the posts are a good way to hear about the sessions we had to miss. Also, they are very helpful for making a list of CDs to buy from Jamb, Inc., http://www.jamb-inc.com/genealogy. The 2013 conference list will be available for purchase in a few weeks.

Randy's list of blogs can be found at http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/05/blog-posts-from-ngs-2013-conference.html.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Genealogy: Learning begins with a question

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:00:00 PDT

By Library ACU, http://www.flickr.com/photos/libraryacu/7695938410/sizes/l/in/photostream/

used via Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en

We have to ask questions to get answers. We have to ask the right questions to get useful answers. Our questions are not always about who, what, where, when and why. Sometimes they are about how? How were records collected? How are they organized?

Such a simple idea and yet so complex.

I was reminded of this when I read Barry Ewell’s post, Genealogy: Learning begins with a question (Deseret News, SLC, UT) ...

Questions and answers are the foundation for exchanging genealogical information. We have many ways to learn, but by simply asking questions, we set the stage for learning and also for sharing what we know.

Nobody gets into family research unless they are curious. Without curiosity we would not be good researchers. Without questions, there would be no answers.

How often have I been at the archives, asked a colleague a question, received an answer, asked more questions, thought-out-loud about other questions and eventually either received an answer or have constructed a game plan to get an answer.

What other questions might we ask as we do our research?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Kudos to the NGS media team

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Wed, 15 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Guest blogger Stefani Evans, CG, conference chair NGS 2013 Family History Conference

Kudos to the NGS media team who wrote, managed, and distributed NGS media before, during, and after the conference! Take a bow, Terry Koch-Bostic, for organizing NGS media; Julie Miller, CG, for writing and managing the new gold standard in conference blogs; Gayathri Kher for keeping conference attendees connected through a record number of timely social media feeds; Erin Shifflett for writing and distributing conference e-mails and serving as Conference Command Central; Diane L. Richard for adding buzz with Upfront publicity; and Phyllis Mathews Ziller for keeping us in grammatical style. Thank you all!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Names -- A Blessing or a Curse

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Names and naming conventions – sometimes they seem to help us and sometimes they don’t! I once researched the name Hezekiah Farrow (sounds unique enough, right?) to find that apparently every branch of the family for several generations loved that name. So, where it “seemed” like a unique name, I ultimately found at least ½ a dozen who lived in a small area.

On the other hand, I have researched John Smith (sounds quite popular, right?) to find that only one Smith family lived not just in the county and in the adjacent counties.

How about that nice Scottish family who followed the convention of naming their children after family members – we gotta love them. What about the descendant who went on to name his children after historical figures – not so nearly as happy with him.

My parents used nice and conventional names of the time – Diane, Debbie and Christine – whereas the names of my children and their cousins are pretty unconventional names.

So, our understanding of names requires that we have some context, or try and develop some context to help us better understand what were they thinking as they named their children?!?! And, forget about spelling – it didn’t count, really!

A great place to get started is by reading Names -- A Blessing or a Curse (by Genealogy’s Star).

Is there additional guidance about “names” that you can share?

Some Upfront with NGS posts about names:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Bay Area history exhibit aided by crowdsourcing

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

source: ChimpLearnGood (Peter Durand), http://www.flickr.com/photos/alphachimpstudio/5021655853/sizes/l/in/photostream/

via Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

We’ve recently talked about crowdsourcing as a means of fund-raising, Kickstarter -- Need a genealogy project funded? This might be the way to go!, and digitizing, Luis von Ahn: Massive-scale online collaboration -- Really Neat Genealogy Applications. It has also been used to identify non-labeled photographs, Library of Congress uses Flickr to crowdsource tagging and organizing its photo archive. Well, how about using it to make a display even better and/or a collection even richer? Read how the California Historical Society is doing just this in it’s new experimental exhibit of San Francisco Bay history.

I find this incredibly exciting. In the past, for example, if you had a photograph and no negative and wanted to share a copy with family or an institution, you might go to a local photography store (and then later a copy shop), get a “color” copy of that photo, find a sturdy envelope, write up a note about why you are sending a copy of this photo, put the note and copy in an envelope, go to the post office to mail it, and hope that you receive some acknowledgement.

Now, you scan the image, attach it to an e-mail and voila, you have now “shared” your invaluable photo with a much larger and very appreciative audience!

What other uses might there be for crowdsourcing in the context of genealogy and family history research?

Have you been involved in a project where crowdsourcing was used successfully to make the project happen? make it better?

Editor’s Note: While researching this topic a bit, I came across this neat article about continuing efforts to create crowdsourcing tools that can be used by libraries and archives, The Metadata Games Crowdsourcing Toolset for Libraries & Archives: An Interview with Mary Flanagan (The Signal: Digital Preservation blog of the Library of Congress)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Day 3 Wrap Up ... the action continues!

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Sat, 11 May 2013 06:20:00 PDT

Unfortunately, we can’t all be at the NGS Family History Conference which is happening now in Las Vegas!

For those of us who couldn’t attend, here is a recap of some of what happened Day 3 as provided by Julie Miller CG.

Missed the action, check out the recaps for Day 1 and Day 2.

+++++++++++

Hard to believe that day three of the conference is over. Attendees were busy during the day with the Exhibit Hall and sessions, then the annual NGS Banquet in the evening

Exhibit Hall

Browsing through the books

Tom Jones signing Mastering Genealogical Proof

Think all you learn at a genealogy conference is genealogy? How about instructions on the finer points of tying a bowtie.

Packed crowd at the 4:00 p.m. lecture

Taking time to relax during the cocktail hour before the banquet

Patiently waiting for dinner

Mark Hall-Patton entertained the crowd, then had a two man beard contest with photographer, Scott Stewart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Excellence in Genealogy Scholarship and Service Honored by National Genealogical Society Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:00:00 PDT

NGS held its annual banquet on Friday evening, 10 May, at the NGS 2013 Family History Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, to present awards that acknowledge and honor genealogical scholarship and service. Each year, these awards are presented to organizations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to NGS programs or have performed outstanding work in the field of genealogy, history, biography, or heraldry.

National Genealogical Society Hall of Fame: Beginning in 1986, the National Genealogy Hall of Fame program, administered by the National Genealogical Society, has honored outstanding genealogists whose achievements in the field of American genealogy have had a great impact on our field. Qualified nominations are solicited annually from genealogical organizations. Those nominated must have been deceased for at least five years and have been actively engaged in genealogy for a minimum of ten years. Their contributions to the field of genealogy in this country need to have been significant in a way that was unique, pioneering, or exemplary. Such contributions could have been as an author of books or articles that added significantly to the body of published works, served as a model of genealogical research or writing, or made source records more readily available. Nominees could also have been a teacher or lecturer, or contributed to the field through leadership in a genealogical organization or periodical.

Entries are judged by a panel of genealogists from various parts of the United States. This year, Earl Gregg Swem, whose nomination was made by The Virginia Genealogical Society, was elected to the NGS Hall of Fame. For thirty-seven years his career was devoted to the collection and publication of materials on Virginia and Virginians. He was the assistant librarian at the Virginia State Library for twelve years and then became the head of the William and Mary College Library from which he retired in 1944.

Fellowship in the National Genealogical Society recognizes a valued servant of the National Genealogical Society. This year’s Fellow, Donn J. Devine, is a retired Brigadier General with the Delaware National Guard and a resident of Wilmington, Delaware. He has been the archivist of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington since 1989. He served eight years as a director of NGS from 1994–2002. Donn was one of the first lecturers on the appropriate use of DNA and serves as the administrator of two family DNA projects. He has been Board-certified since 1987 and has performed many services for the genealogical community at large. He chaired NGS’s committee on standards and currently serves on the Records Preservation & Access Committee and is a member of the NGSQ Editorial Board. He is a former trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists (1992–2006), for which he currently serves as general counsel. He is a past president of the Delaware Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and is a trustee of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania.

Among Donn’s publications are “Sorting Relationships Among Families with the Same Surname: An Irish American DNA Study,” published in The National Genealogical Society Quarterly in December 2005. His articles have been published in The American Genealogist and The Delaware Genealogical Society Journal. His most recent article, “The European Origin of George Falk (1823–1900), Brooklyn Watchmaker,” was published in The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society Record in January 2013.

For his years of service to the genealogical community; his dedication to meticulous adherence to best practices in the field of genealogy as researcher, writer, and lecturer; and for his unflinching volunteer efforts on behalf of the National Genealogical Society and the genealogical community at large, the NGS Board has elected Donn J. Devine a Fellow of the National Genealogical Society.

William Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship is awarded to a librarian whose primary focus is genealogy and local history and who is employed in a public, academic, or special library. This year’s award, and a $1,000 prize underwritten by ProQuest, went to Elizabeth Crabtree Wells, manager of the Special Collection Department at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Active in the genealogical and historical community, she served as past president of the Alabama Genealogical Society, the Birmingham Genealogical Society, and is a founder and past president of the Society of Alabama Archivists. She is a regular lecturer at the Samford Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research. She is co-author of The History of Judson College. Elizabeth holds a BA from Judson College, an MA from Auburn University, and a MLS from the University of Alabama.

The Award of Merit is presented to an individual or non-profit genealogical or historical organization to recognize exceptional contributions to the field of genealogy over a period of five or more years, which has significantly aided research or increased interest in genealogy. For over twenty-five years Carolyn Marguerite Hutchinson Brown has taught genealogy classes and passionately and unabashedly promoted genealogy. She has published six books on her family and her husband’s family lines and has authored many articles published in a variety of genealogical publications. She also founded the Bouse Genealogical Society in Bouse, Arizona, in 2008. She continues to chair, teach, and mentor the group today. As the nomination form concluded, “One person can and does make a difference!”

Family History Writing Contest: Paul K. Graham of Salt Lake City, Utah, was the winner of the Family History Writing contest with his entry, A Love Story Proved: The Life and Family of Laura Lavinia (Kelly) Combs. This award is to encourage NGS members to write a family history that covers at least three generations and not more than four generations of their family.

National Genealogical Society Quarterly’s Award for Excellence: This award is presented for an outstanding article published in the NGSQ in the previous calendar year. The winner of this year’s award emphasized the importance of cultural practices, comprehensive research, and creative problem solving. For 2012, the editors have chosen Without Land, Occupation, Rights, or Marriage Privilege: The Büttner Family from Bavaria to New York, by F. Warren Bittner, cg, published in the September 2012 issue of the NGSQ.

Award for Excellence: Genealogical Methods and Sources: This year’s recipients were Robert S. Davis of Hanceville, Alabama, and Ted O. Brooke of Cumming, Georgia. The title of their entry was Georgia Research: A Handbook for Genealogists, Historians, Archivists, Lawyers, Librarians, and Other Researchers. This award is for a specific, significant single contribution in the form of a book, an article, or a series of articles that discuss genealogical methods and sources, which serves to foster scholarship and/or advances or promotes excellence in genealogy.

Award for Excellence: Genealogy and Family History Book: This year’s recipient was Helen Schatvet Ullmann, cg, fasg, of Acton, Massachusetts. The title of her entry was Some Descendants of Roger Billings of Dorchester, Massachusetts. This award is for a specific, significant single contribution in the form of a family genealogy or family history book published in the past five years. Entries serve to foster scholarship and/or otherwise advance or promote excellence in genealogy.

Senior Rubincam Youth Award (for students in grades 10–12 or between the ages of 16 and 18): Andrew Staton of Simpsonville, South Carolina, was this year’s winner. The title of his entry was My Windsor and Young Ancestors. The Senior Rubincam Award was established in 1986 to honor Milton Rubincam, cg, fasg, fngs, for his many years of service to the National Genealogical Society and to the field of genealogy. The award encourages and recognizes our youth as the next generation of family historians.

Home Study Course Scholarship: Kristin Harms of Alpharetta, Georgia, was the winner of the Home Study Course Scholarship. Harms received the award for having demonstrated her serious interest in pursuing a career in genealogy. Criteria include attending genealogy conferences and training, subscribing to genealogical publications, and membership in NGS.

The renowned NGS Home Study Course provides a solid foundation for researchers just starting out and new possibilities for experienced researchers’ more difficult problems. The self-paced, year-long course is published on CD and is offered with a grading option. Learners receive feedback from experts while conducting their personal research.

Ann C. Hilke was presented with the NGS Past President’s pin in recognition of her dedication and service to NGS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Julie Potter Miller, CG, Awarded the Shirley Langdon Wilcox Award for Exemplary Volunteerism by the National Genealogical Society

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:00:00 PDT

Arlington, VA, 10 May 2013: The National Genealogical Society presented the Shirley Langdon Wilcox Award to Julie Potter Miller, cg, at its annual banquet on Friday evening, 10 May, at the NGS 2013 Family History Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Established in 2011, the Shirley Langdon Wilcox Award for Exemplary Volunteerism recognizes long-term volunteer service to NGS and the genealogical community at large. Julie has served on the NGS Board of Directors since October 2006 and has been vice president since October 2010. She served as conference chair for the NGS 2010 Family History Conference in Salt Lake City and for the NGS 2012 Family History Conference in Cincinnati. This year she continued to serve on the conference committee overseeing the conference blog and social media publicity and provided knowledgeable guidance whenever asked.

“Julie is consistently out in front, leading the charge,” said NGS President Jordan Jones. “She is knowledgeable, fair, and thinks about the long term, consistently pushing the board to explore new and innovative ways to use technology to better serve NGS members.” Stefani Evans, 2013 NGS conference chair added, “Julie has freely shared her experience and project management skills while serving on the conference committee again this year. In every interaction, she has been kind, thoughtful, and patient.”

In addition to her service to NGS, Julie has served as president of the Colorado Genealogical Society, Colorado Chapter of APG, and the Bloomfield Genealogical Society. She served on the board of directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors and volunteers at the National Archives Rocky Mountain Regional Branch.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogy education, high research standards, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Arlington, Virginia, based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian, seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, research guidance, and opportunities to interact with other genealogists. Please visit the NGS Pressroom for further information.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Day 2 of the NGS Family History Conference -- just as busy and exciting as Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:00:00 PDT

Again, for those of us who aren't at the NGS Family History Conference which is happening now in Las Vegas, you can keep current about what is happening via the NGS 2013 Family History Conference Blog or via the NGS Facebook page.

Here is a recap of some of what happened Day 2 as provided by Julie Miller CG.

First-Timers Breakfast

Forty-five different lectures by some of the top speakers in genealogy

Laura DeGrazia signed her new book NGS Research in the States: New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County at the NGS Booth

Lunch at the food train

Official Conference Bloggers at the Media Center

NGS American Genealogy: A Home Study Course Roundtable

A case of mistaken identity

Wow -- Day 1 of the NGS Family History Conference was something ...

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Unfortunately, we can’t all be at the NGS Family History Conference which is happening now in Las Vegas! You can keep current about what is happening via the NGS 2013 Family History Conference Blog or via the NGS Facebook page.

For those of us who couldn’t attend, here is a recap of some of what happened Day 1 as provided by Julie Miller CG.

The day started with Opening Session.
The hall was packed! Everyone was so excited to get the conference started.

NGS President Jordan Jones welcomed attendees.

Marian Smith talked about her Mortan Allan research.

Mariachi Los Bravos led attendees to the Exhibit Hall. The kids were only in junior high and so talented.

Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas Jones and NGS Research in the States: New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County by Laura Murphy DeGrazia were hot items at the NGS Booth today.

Sessions started at 11:00 a.m.

Following the footprints to Pavilion 1.

Meeting at the WiFi Hotspot

Visiting with friends

Records Preservation and Access Strategy Session

So much packed into the first day. Looking forward to doing it again tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

NGS Presents Awards Honoring Excellence in Newsletter Editorship and Service to NGS

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:30:00 PDT

NGS honored excellence in the categories of newsletter editorship and service to the Society with the presentation of several awards at the Opening Session of the NGS 2013 Family History Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 8 May 2013. The Opening Session keynote speaker was historian Marian Smith, Chief, Historical Research Branch, US Citizenship and Immigration Services who spoke on the topic “People, Policy, and Records: The Importance of Historical Background” after which NGS President Jordan Jones presented the following awards.

Each year, the NGS Newsletter Competition recognizes the hard work, long hours, and creativity that editors devote to their newsletters. A panel of three judges reviews each newsletter on material interest, variety, organization, quality of writing and editing, readability, and attractiveness. This year’s categories and winners are:

Family Association Newsletter:

Winner: The Andreas Killian Descendants Historical Association Newsletter, edited by Charles D. Killian of Ellenwood, Georgia.

Honorable Mention: The Seeley Genealogical Society Newsletter, edited by Paul Taylor of Alexandria, Virginia.

County/Local Genealogical and/or Historical Society, for societies with less than 500 members:

Winner: The Newsletter of the Irish Family History Forum, edited by Patricia Mansfield Phelan of Freeport, New York.

Honorable Mention: The Quarterly Newsletter of the South Bend Area Genealogical Society, edited by Eric Craig of South Bend, Indiana.

Major Genealogical and/or Historical Society, for societies with more than 500 members:

Winner: PastFinder, the monthly newsletter of the Silicon Valley Computer Genealogy Group, edited by Janet Brigham of Mountain View, California.

The President's Citation is given in recognition of outstanding, continuing, or unusual contributions to the field of genealogy or the society. The National Genealogical Society President selects the recipient and this year Jan Meisels Allen has been selected.

Jan has been a key leader of the Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC), a joint committee of NGS, the Federation of Genealogical Societies, and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies. Over the last few years she has tracked legislation that may impact genealogists’ access to the Social Security Death Index in the US Congress and access to vital records in many states. She is relentless in writing statements as appropriate to House and Senate committee chairs as well as governors and state representatives advocating open records access. She is a dynamo on RPAC as the voting member representing the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS). She doggedly finds bills being proposed that affect records access and brings them to the attention of RPAC, and thus the genealogical community. She has served in many roles, including vice president, IAJGS; president, Jewish Genealogical Society of Conejo Valley and Ventura County; and board member, Friends of the Agoura Hills Library. Jan receives the President's Citation for her vigilance in support of records preservation and in defense of public access to public records.

NGS also recognized several individuals for their dedicated efforts in support of the NGS 2013 Family History Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada:

The Award of Honor was presented in recognition of dedication and sustained service in support of the conference. Recipients of the award were Michael Brenner, Chair, Local Host Societies; and local host societies Centennial Las Vegas Genealogy Society, Clark County Nevada Genealogical Society, Jewish Genealogy Society of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas FamilySearch Library, Nevada African American Genealogy Society, and Nevada State Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Certificates of Appreciation were given to recognize the committee chairs who spent countless hours preparing for the conference. NGS is aware that there could be no conference if it were not for the volunteers’ efforts and commitment. So honored were Lynne Bogner and R. Wayne Stoker, Co-Chairs of Volunteers; Patricia Dell’aira and Rebecca Eisenman, Co-Chairs of Hospitality; Betteann Meyers, Publicity Chair; Carole Montello, Registration Chair; Leo Myers, Exhibits Chair; and Bill White, Local Events and Tours Chair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

National Library of Wales waives digital copyright

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Tue, 07 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

We so much news recently about restrictions to accessing materials, it was nice to read a post in British GENES (GEnealogy News and EventS) that the National Library of Wales is waiving digital copyright.

During the next few months, the Library will be implementing a policy that will enable the public to use thousands of images on its website without any restriction. Users of the website should be aware that many images will still be subject to third party rights that will need to be cleared before use, but the Library will not impose additional copyright restrictions unless it owns the copyright in the original work. High resolution versions of the images will still be available under licence through the Library’s Enquiries Service.

The full original Press release can be read here.

I believe that the Library of Congress operates in a similar fashion.

Do you think that other archives will “loosen” their copyright restrictions?

Some recent related Upfront with NGS posts:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

"No longer saved for generations, family heirlooms are being shed"

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

My great great grandfather's thimbles -- he was a saddler from Scotland who settled in Oldham England

Paula Stewart Warren (Paula's Genealogical Eclectica) posted a piece with the above title which was based on an article which ran in the Star-Tribune which talks about people “shedding” heirlooms.

As my husband would say, Sacrebleu!

Basically, I grew up in a family where there were “few” heirlooms. As the product of emigrants new (1960s) and old (c. 1900), everyone traveled lightly. My mother did inherit a few pieces from her grandmother (which she divided amongst her daughters) and then I have acquired a few pieces from a great aunt. Additionally few pictures survived the vagaries of life, weather, remarriages, etc. And, there were never any diaries, scrapbooks or similar.

So, the few items I have are treasures to me; though, I can appreciate that they are just “stuff” to my kids. I do sometimes wonder what will happen when I am no longer here as a steward for my little collection. I have often thought about whether I should “deposit” any of it with a library or archive? For now, in my will, they are explicitly bequeathed to my children. Will they care? Will they hold onto it until they recognize the value?

How often are we “looking” for just the things that the article talks about as being shed? I found it painful to read.

Have you made plans for your “stuff” to remain in the family or end up in a local archive?

How do we ensure that people understand the “value” of such “stuff” beyond the dollars and cents that a sale might bring?

Editor’s Note: Check out this related Upfront with NGS post -- Digitizing Curios -- A neat window into hard-to-digitize objects!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Been Missing WDYTYA? Ready for some more family history tv programming? If so, read on ...

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Fri, 03 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

I know that many of you have been missing your “tv” fix as far as genealogy and family history shows! Well, Megan Smolenyak has posted this article on the Huffington Post, HBO's Family Tree First of Four Genealogy Series to Air in U.S..

In the article she talks about these 4 series:

Family Tree – see Upfront with NGS post Chris O'Dowd to star in Spinal Tap-style series on BBC -- Family Tree
Who Do You Think You Are? – read more "Who Do You Think You Are?" to return for 4th season - on TLC
Finding Your Roots
Genealogy Roadshow – based on an Irish show; catch a video here

Are you looking forward to one or all of these shows?

Is there a different type of genealogy and family history show you would like to see?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Newest Edition of NGS Magazine Available Now!

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Thu, 02 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

The Apr/May/June 2013 issue of the NGS Magazine (PDF 3.5 MB) is now online in the Members Only section of the website.

Features
2012 volunteer list

2012 NGS donations and in-kind contributions

NGS 2014 Family History Conference: 7-10 May 2014, Richmond, Virginia, “Virginia: The First Frontier”

A first-timer’s guide to archival research, by Laura Schmidt

Navigating the NARA Regional Archives, by Julie Miller, CG

Hints for doing genealogy research when reading and writing are difficult, by Jean Wilcox Hibben, PhD, CG

Geo-genealogy, by J.H. Fonkert, CG

Hickory Ridge Resurveyed, by Julia M. Bagwell

Case Study: Resolving conflicting evidence, by Darcie M. Hind Posz

Columns
National Archives, by Claire Prechtel-Kluskens

Reference desk, by Kathy Petlewski, MSLS

Review, by Barbara Schenck

Technology, by Jordan Jones

Web of deceit, by Susan Zacharias

Departments
President’s message, by Jordan Jones

Editor’s corner, by Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens, CG

NGS news

Genealogy news

To access, please be sure to log in under the User Login area in the right-hand column of the screen. If the above hyperlink does not work, copy and paste, or type, the following URL into your favorite browser: http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/members_only/publications_archive/magazine_online.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

It's May Day -- Help Save our Archives!

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Wed, 01 May 2013 08:00:00 PDT

FB Post by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives - Public Records Division

Per the Society of American Archivists ...

Protecting our collections is one of our fundamental responsibilities as archivists. The Heritage Health Index, released in 2005 soon after hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma struck the Gulf Coast, reported that few institutions have disaster plans and for those that do, often the plan is out of date. It’s easy to put off emergency response planning as we devote our attentions to tasks with more immediate “payback.”

But on May 1 – this year and every year – you can do something that will make a difference when and if an emergency occurs. That’s the purpose of MayDay – a grassroots effort whose goal is to save our archives.

MayDay is a time when archivists and other cultural heritage professionals take personal and professional responsibility for doing something simple – something that can be accomplished in a day but that can have a significant impact on an individual’s or a repository’s ability to respond.

Read more about MayDay and what you and everyone can do!

What are you or the archives and libraries near you doing to celebrate May Day?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Council of State Archives -- a friend to genealogists and family historians

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Archives – those wonderful places that we visit to find records!

Did you know that there is something called the Council of State Archivists (CoSA)? I didn’t until this week.

As the website states ...

The Council of State Archivists (CoSA) is a national organization comprising the individuals who serve as directors of the principal archival agencies in each state and territorial government. Under regulations of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, these individuals also serve as the State Historical Records Coordinators who chair their respective State Historical Records Advisory Boards (SHRABs).

And, the website doesn’t just focus on the needs of archivists. I found some neat stuff such as:

Importance of State Archives
National Historic Probate Project (Blog post, anyone can sign up to follow) -- a joint effort by FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, state and local courts, and archives throughout the United States. The goal is to improve access to historic probate documents, records critical to family history research that are largely inaccessible to the public today.
Tell Your Story Demonstrating “The Value of Archives” (Blog post) -- The Council of State Archivists (CoSA), National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA), and Society of American Archivists are working together to develop information that archivists and constituents can use to demonstrate the value and importance of archives. A joint working group is now collecting “stories” demonstrating this value for use in advocating for archives.
Emergency Preparedness Initiative; Securing Our Nation’s Essential Records

Efforts to both make historical records more available and to preserve all records are always important to our genealogical community.

Some other entities that support archivists are:

Society of American Archivists

State societies – search on your state + Society + Archivists

Are there other associations, councils, etc, which cater to archivists?

Did you find something useful on the CoSA website?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

The Dayton (OH) Flood -- one example of a devastating natural disaster -- part of a collection of then and now images from natural disasters

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:00:00 PDT

134 West Fourth, 1913
Image provided by Jeff Satterly and used with his permission

Guest post by Jeff Satterly

The week of March 21st through March 26th marks the anniversary of one of the most devastating natural disasters ever to hit the United States. It was during this week 100 years ago, in the year 1913, that a system of ravaging storms swept across the American Midwest and parts of New England. The storms brought with them high-speed winds and torrential rains, causing tornadoes and massive flooding. By the time the storms had passed through the area, they had caused billions of dollars’ worth of damage. The week of storms killed hundreds of people and left thousands more homeless.

Oversaturated watersheds like the Greater Miami in Ohio swelled with rain water, and their runoff filled the streams and rivers of the Midwest to overflowing. The intense pressure of the rising waters broke through dams, bridges and levees as if they were twigs. The raging flood waters swallowed entire towns and cities, and left parts of Dayton, Ohio in water up to 20 feet deep by March 26th, 1913.

One individual whose story is tied in inextricably with the events of 1913 was James Cox, who would eventually found one of America’s most powerful media empires.

134 West Fourth, today
Image provided by Jeff Satterly and used with his permission

Born on March 21, 1870 in Jacksonburg, Ohio, James M. Cox remained in Ohio throughout his childhood and adolescence. He passed the teachers’ examination after having completed just two years of high school. At the age of 28, having established his teaching career, Cox became the owner and publisher of the Dayton Daily News. He made yet another career switch in 1909, winning a House seat as a representative of Ohio. Cox would maintain his position in the House until being elected Governor of Ohio in January of 1913.

When the Dayton flood occurred, Governor Cox was faced with one of the biggest natural disasters ever to hit the United States. After only three months in office, Governor Cox was faced with one of the biggest natural disasters ever to hit the United States. During the week of March 21st-27th, 1913, Ohio was hit with tremendous storms. Cox’s competent handling of the storms’ aftermath earned him support and admiration. Governor Cox received minute by minute updates from the only working telephone line in Dayton. Fully aware of the gravity of the situation, Cox wasted no time in getting aid to the victims of the flood. By the next morning Cox had turned off the natural gas in Dayton to avoid fires, dispatched the Ohio National Guard to the city, appealed to the Ohio Legislature for $250,000 in aid, and telegraphed President Woodrow Wilson asking for federal aid for his citizens.

Cox’s display of dedication to the people, as well as strength in his convictions, garnered him enough national attention to join the 1920 race for President of the United States, with Franklin Roosevelt as his running mate. Though he was not elected President, Cox’s media empire –founded in the years following the election – enjoyed much success. Cox Enterprises remains a multi-billion dollar media company to this day. Cox died on July 15, 1957 at the age of 87, and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio, leaving behind his wife, two children and ex-wife.

Fourth and Main, 1913
Image provided by Jeff Satterly and used with his permission

The Great Dayton Flood finally came to an end on the 26th of March. By the time the flood was over, the city of Dayton had suffered widespread and significant damage, and the city's population had been hit with numerous deaths and displacements. 14 square miles of the city were now covered with a blanket of water, and some 20,000 homes had been completely destroyed. In all, the flood ended up costing the city of Dayton nearly $100 million worth of damage, a sizable sum which would amount to a whopping $2 billion in today's dollars. More than 360 people had been killed in the flood, and an estimated 65,000 people were left homeless. It took the city more than a year to completely clean up the damage, and it was over a decade before Dayton’s economy returned to the levels it enjoyed before the flood hit.

Thanks so much to Upfront with NGS for letting us share a piece of this historical project. We’re humbled by the interest in this project, and we really hope you enjoyed this snippet of history!

Fourth and Main, today
Image provided by Jeff Satterly and used with his permission

We’d also like to thank some of the great archives and archivists who have done so much to work to help preserve the amazing history of the 1913 flood, including the Dayton Metro Library and historian Trudy Bell. The amount of history compiled at these two websites is truly amazing. Lastly, thanks to Jason from InsuranceTown.com, who lent us some of the resources we used to help prepare content for the web and publish our blog, and inspired our Mapping History Contest.

Don’t forget to check out HistoricNaturalDisasters.com for more images and for information on our Mapping History Contest – help us figure out the locations pictured in historic photos from 1913 and you could win $100!

Editor’s Note: Upfront with NGS has previously written about the value of photographs, the overlay of historic and modern images and the value of researching disasters that might have impacted our ancestors.

Do you want to write a guest post? Please send a query to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com