UpFront with NGS

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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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!

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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:

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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:

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"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!

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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?

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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

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NGS Announces Release of New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County Research Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 PDT

NGS announces the release of the newest edition in its Research in the States series: Research in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County. This publication was written by native New Yorker and nationally recognized genealogist Laura Murphy DeGrazia, cg, fgbs. Laura is a trustee and former president of BCG and co-editor of the NYG&B Record. Barbara Vines Little, cg, fngs, fvgs, is a former NGS president and is the current editor of the NGS Research in the States series and the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy.

Research in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County is an introduction to resources and repositories essential to genealogical research in these geographic areas. “Millions of Americans have ancestors who spent some time in the New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County area,” said Laura Murphy DeGrazia, author, “and knowing what resources exist and where they are located can help family historians be more successful in their research.”

The guide will be available for sale at the NGS 2013 Family History Conference in Las Vegas from 8–11 May in the NGS booth (#205). Author Laura Murphy DeGrazia will be available for book signings at the NGS conference booth on Thursday, 9 May from 9:00 a.m.–10:50 a.m.

Research in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County will be available in the NGS store at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/research_in_the_states in a PDF and print version beginning 8 May; the print version will ship after 20 May. Other titles in the Research in the States series, which are also available in PDF and print form, include Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Additional states and a full New York State guide are planned for the future.

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Upfront Mini Bytes

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Upfront Mini Bytes

Welcome to the seventh edition of our bi-weekly feature Upfront Mini Bytes. In Upfront Mini Bytes we will 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
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.

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As a lover of photographs, I enjoyed reading Take That, Instagram: The Enduring Allure of Vintage Snapshots (brought to my attention by Thomas MacEntee via his Facebook page). By their nature, all photographs are of something “in the past” the moment they are taken. Older images reflect not our own lives but also the lives of our ancestors.

Do you remember your first driver’s license? I don’t. I remember the day I received it – what a glorious day – but I just don’t remember what it looked like. If you or your ancestors lived in New York, you can now revisit what driver’s licenses looked like in Evolution of the New York Driver’s License.

Want to keep up on what has been digitized by NARA’s partners, Ancestry.com and Fold3? Check out Microfilm Publications and Original Records Digitized by Our Digitization Partners.

Does your ancestry include German-speaking Jews? If so, this news is for you. Leo Baeck Institute Launches DigiBaeck German-Jewish History Archive. The Leo Baeck Institute (LBI), New York City, has completed the digitization of its entire archive and provides free online access to primary source materials encompassing five centuries of Jewish life in Central Europe.

Newspapers – so many to read, so little time. Hopefully you are familiar with the Chronicling America project (Library of Congress). The underpinning of this project is the National Digital Newspaper Program. Learn more about what states (and specific institutions) have participated so far along with related blogs, podcasts and videos.

Research has shown that children brought up with a strong family narrative handle life better. In fact, a strong family narrative makes a family happier. Bet you didn’t know that your family history research is actually benefitting your family as they cope with the future. Do read The Stories That Bind Us (New York Times).

Haven’t visited the Library of Congress (LOC) and you want to know about the Main Reading Room? View this video (alternately, the video is also on this page). You will need to install Real Player to view the first video link. The LOC has a massive collection of webcasts.

St. Augustine, Florida, is such a neat place to visit. I have spent a few vacations there. Little did I know that there are parish documents stored there, held by the Diocesan Archives, which date back to 1594 that record the births, deaths, marriages and baptisms of the people who lived in St. Augustine from that time through the mid-1700s. Soon we might all be able to explore these neat records as reported in Work under way to digitize 1500s Fla. records.

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After a death, Facebook photos could fade forever ... or, issues with digital assets, ownership and access

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Source: fredcavazza, http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredcavazza/2564571564/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Used via Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

In the past, though heirs might squabble over the photo albums, family journals, photo albums, etc, someone always got this stuff. They might not have shared it and someone at least had it. This of course assumes that the family members did care and it didn’t end up in a dumpster. We all have those kinds of tales to tell.

Now, in our age of Facebook (FB), MySpace, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, and numerous other social media options, NO-ONE is guaranteed to get access to all the stories, images and much more which is now posted to the web and maybe not ever stored anywhere else.

The heart-breaking story told in After a death, Facebook photos could fade forever could be faced by any of us.

Currently, the best way to handle this is to know the law (state and federal) and be pro-active. For example, I regularly check out the FB pages of my extended family and make copies of any images that they have posted. This way, if their account is every closed for any reason, I will still have those images.

Are there steps that you take to “preserve” anything you or others have posted on the web?

Do you actively save/archive any posted material – stories, images, etc?

Two recent Upfront with NGS posts on related topics are:

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NGS Announces Release of Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS

noreply@blogger.com (Diane L Richard) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Arlington, VA, 24 april 2013: The National Genealogical Society announces the release of Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones, phd, cg, cgl, fasg, fngs. As a unique textbook on genealogical methods and reasoning in the twenty-first century, Mastering Genealogical Proof guides readers in acquiring genealogical skills transcending chronological, ethnic, geopolitical, and religious boundaries. Dr. Jones, a noted writer, lecturer, and editor in the field of genealogy, explains and develops the level of proof that is appropriate to genealogy.

Dr. Jones relies on his vast experience as a genealogist to explain the various concepts and techniques involved in the genealogical research process. Mastering Genealogical Proof aims to help researchers, students, and new family historians reconstruct relationships and lives of people they cannot see. It presents content in digestible chunks. Each chapter concludes with problems providing practice for proficiently applying the chapter’s concepts. Those problems, like examples throughout the book, use real records, real research, and real issues.

Mastering Genealogical Proof will first be available for purchase at the NGS 2013 Family History Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, 8–11 May 2013. Dr. Jones will also be available for book signings at the NGS booth (#205) in the exhibit hall on Friday, 10 May, from 10:45 a.m.–12:00 noon and on Saturday, 11 May, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Purchases may be made in advance of the signings in the NGS booth starting at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 8 May, when the conference exhibit hall opens. Mastering Genealogical Proof may also be pre-ordered from the NGS online store at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogy education, high research standards, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Arlington, VA-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.

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Keeping the lights on -- are genealogical book publishing houses in jeopardy? What about societies and the books they've historically published?

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

Source: vmabney, http://www.flickr.com/photos/vmabney/5806646897/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Used via Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

Last month, The Legal Genealogist (Judy G Russell), published a guest post, A Publisher’s Point of View, by Craig R. Scott, CG^TM

In the post, Craig provides his perspective on some recent developments and how they have and will impact book publishers, in particular, those who publish genealogical, family history and related works.

I strongly encourage you to read his post and to also read the extensive comments collection.

As I was re-reading the post and comments today, it got me to thinking about our local genealogical society (and I’m sure it’s not alone in this). What impact will this have on societies in the future? Will they opt not to “publish” material figuring that they won’t be able to earn any money or recoup their expenses?

When you combine this element of sharing digital copies of books with the massive digitizing efforts of FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, GenealogyBank, etc, will societies stop publishing books and journals? Will volunteers stop transcribing and abstracting records for publication since they are too busy indexing database entries online? As genealogy societies strive to keep up with technology and retain their relevance in this increasingly digital age, do the issues discussed by Craig, Judy and various others add another nail into the genealogy society coffin?

Please do share any thoughts or reactions you have to Craig’s post and related.

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Last Chance Today to Purchase Tickets for Meals and Tours for the NGS 2013 Family History Conference

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

Arlington, VA, 22 APRIL 2013: Tick tock! Today is your last chance to purchase tickets for meals and tours and to pre-register for the NGS 2013 Family History Conference, 8–11 May at the LVH-Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Pre-registration for the conference and ticket sales for meals and tours ends today, 22 April, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

The conference begins in two weeks. You can still purchase tickets for meals, the Museums Tour, and the Hoover Dam Tour. The BCG Education Fund Workshop, Librarians’ Day, and the Night Tour of the Strip and Downtown are sold out.

To be placed on the wait list for the BCG Education Fund Workshop or Librarians’ Day, e-mail the NGS conference registrar, Courtney Holmes, at cholmes@ngsgenealogy.org. To register for the conference, visit http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conference_info. For tour information visit Las Vegas Area Tours at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conferences_events/annual_conference/las_vegas_area_tours.

On-site conference registration opens Tuesday, 7 May 2013, 12:00 p.m.−7:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas!

Add Items to an Existing Registration

Meals and tours cannot be purchased on-site. Ticket sales close today, 22 April 2013.

Meals: log on at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org, click on My Account, select My Events, and then click to Add Sessions.

Tours: log on at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org, click on My Account, and then select Upcoming Events.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogy education, high research standards, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Arlington, VA-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.

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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