GeneaPress

The 150th Anniversary of the United States Colored Troops

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:56:00 +0000

On May 22, 1863, the War Department issued General Orders 143, establishing a Bureau of Colored Troops in the Adjutant General’s Office to recruit and organize African American soldiers to fight for the Union Army. With this order, all African American regiments were designated as United States Colored Troops (USCT).

Today marks the 150th anniversary of the USCT, and the National Archives is pleased to announce the completion of the USCT Service Records Digitization Project. In partnership with Fold3, the project provides online access to all service records—more than 3.8 million images—of Union volunteers in USCT units.

From May 22 to 31, the digital collection will be free on www.Fold3.com. (All National Archives collections on Fold3.com can always be viewed for free at any National Archives facility nationwide.)

Compiled military service records (CMSRs) are part of Record Group 94, the Records of the Adjutant General’s Office. They contain card abstracts of entries related to an individual soldier such as muster rolls and regimental returns.

Many CMSRs also contain original documents called “personal papers,” which are especially valuable to researchers looking for documentation on former slaves. These papers include enlistment papers, correspondence, orders, prisoner-of-war memorandums, casualty reports, or final statements. Unique to the records of the USCT are deeds of manumission, proofs of slave ownership, and bills of sale.

Starting in October 1863, a slave owner could offer his slave for enlistment in military service and be entitled to compensation up to $300 upon filing a valid deed of manumission and release, and making satisfactory proof of title. These forms offer researchers rare information and document the life of a slave person in the absence of other vital records.

Edmund Delaney was a slave who served in Company E of the 117th USCT Infantry. He was 25 years old when he enlisted in August 1864. Delaney’s owner, Harvey C. Graves of Georgetown, Kentucky, filed a compensation claim for his military service in December 1866. Graves stated that he “purchased [Delaney] at private sale when he was quite a small boy and owned him at the time of his enlistment.”

The claim form was accompanied by a proof of ownership form to which Graves attached a rare “likeness,” or photo of Delaney, and several of Delaney’s letters written to him while serving in Brownsville, Texas. The letters offer us a rare glimpse into his lonely soldier’s life, especially when he laments that no friends have written back to him:
“somehow most of them seem to be very much afraid of their pens and ink.”

The USCT service records also reveal the social issues faced by free blacks, such as the story of Fortune Wright, a soldier of the 96th USCT Infantry. Wright was a free black man before the Civil War began, and he enlisted in Louisiana in July 1862.

On October 23, 1865, a white doctor and another man thought they observed Wright beating a black woman on a street in Jefferson, Louisiana. When they attempted to reprimand Wright, a fight ensued. Wright—fearing for his life—stabbed the doctor, who was beating him with a cane. The doctor died.

Wright pleaded not guilty at his court-martial trial but was found guilty of murder and sentenced “to be hanged by the neck until dead” on January 5, 1866.

The accused offered his explanation while in prison in New Orleans. He stated that he was approached by an “immoral colored woman” who put her hand on his shoulder and was “acting her willingness to prostitute her person.” The woman told him to give her a dime. Wright said that he didn’t have a dime, and that if he did have a dime, he would give it to his wife. Wright stated that he was angry with the woman for her insulting conduct and language. If she repeated her language, Wright told her, he would slap her. She did repeat herself, and Wright slapped her.

The two white men appeared on the scene at this point without knowing how the argument began. As Wright walked away, the doctor followed and struck Wright on the head with a walking cane. Wright reeled around and grabbed the stick while the doctor cursed at him to let go. The doctor grabbed Wright by the collar of his coat and then punched him in the face. The second white man yelled to “kill the damned black yankee [since] there is no law for him.” Wright warned that if they both jumped him, he would cut one with his knife. When he was attacked, Wright stabbed the doctor with his knife.

Wright’s captain and his attorney sent pleas for a postponement of the sentence to Maj. Gen. Edward Canby of the Department of the Gulf. They were hoping for time to appeal to President Andrew Johnson for a pardon based on self-defense.

Several postponements were granted. The series of the documents leading to President Johnson’s final decision reads like the ultimate page-turner. On February 24, 1866, General Canby received a telegram from the War Department in Washington, DC, stating that President Johnson has ordered that “the [death] sentence be duly carried into execution.” A copy of this message on American Telegraph Company letterhead survives in the service record.

Wright was not notified of his fate until the evening before his hanging. A week earlier, Provost Marshal A.M. Jackson was warned in a letter from Eastern District headquarters in Louisiana that “Precaution must be taken that the office of hangman be confided to a capable person so that no disagreeable results may ensue, and that the body be not disturbed until the hangman has pronounced life to be entirely extinct.”

Jackson’s report of the execution dated the next day describes quite a different scene.

The knot on the rope was not soaped properly and the knot slipped as Wright fell from the platform. Though he was suspended, his neck was not broken and he could still breathe. Wright was taken down and put on the platform a second time. It took fifteen more minutes of strangulation before death took Fortune Wright. Jackson claimed that though the circumstance was “unpleasant,” Wright did not suffer “as he remained insensible from the time of the first fall.”

The stories of the USCT soldiers will be available free to non-subscribers on www.Fold3.com from May 22 to 31, and can be accessed for free at any time on computers at the National Archives.

FamilySearch Adds More Than 1.1 Million Records and Images to Illinois County Marriages

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:52:00 +0000

FamilySearch has added more than 2.25 million index records and images this week from Argentina, Austria, Italy, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. Notable collection updates include the 1,152,830 index records and images from the U.S., Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934, collection, and the 244,523 images from the Spain, Province of Valencia, Municipal Records, 1611-1935, collection. See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free atFamilySearch.org.

Searchable historic records are made available on FamilySearch.org through the help of thousands of volunteers from around the world. These volunteers transcribe (index) information from digital copies of handwritten records to make them easily searchable online. More volunteers are needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the large number of digital images being published online at FamilySearch.org. Learn more about volunteering to help provide free access to the world’s historic genealogical records online at FamilySearch.org.

FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources for free at FamilySearch.org or through more than 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Collection	Indexed Records	Digital Images	Comments
Argentina, Santa Fe, Catholic Church Records, 1634-1975	1,834	0	Added index records to an existing collection.
Austria, Seigniorial Records, 1537-1888	0	100,829	Added images to an existing collection.
Italy, Como, Como, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929	0	10,431	Added images to an existing collection.
Italy, Cuneo, Alba, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1910	0	3,369	Added images to an existing collection.
Italy, Cuneo, Saluzzo, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1942	0	106,557	Added images to an existing collection.
Paraguay, Miscellaneous Records, 1509-1977	0	200,980	Added images to an existing collection.
Portugal, Beja, Catholic Church Records, 1550-1911	0	116,091	Added images to an existing collection.
Portugal, Portalegre, Catholic Church Records, 1859-1911	0	146,187	Added images to an existing collection.
Spain, Province of Valencia, Municipal Records, 1611-1935	0	244,523	Added images to an existing collection.
U.S., Georgia, Fulton County Records from the Atlanta History Center, 1827-1933	0	31,670	New browsable image collection.
U.S., Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934	702,642	450,188	Added index records and images to an existing collection.
U.S., Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959	42,579	0	Added index records to an existing collection.
U.S., Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1891-1959	0	2,533	Added images to an existing collection.

MyHeritage Offers Free Access to US Military Records through May 28th

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:43:00 +0000

In honor of this special day, we are proud to provide free access - through May 28 - to our most popular collections of US military records.

Search now

Journey back in time to some of the most important conflicts in world history that not only impacted families in the US, but millions of families worldwide.

Formerly known as Decoration Day - later changed to Memorial Day and observed on the last Monday of May - traditions include placing flowers on graves of fallen soldiers, flying flags at half-mast from dawn until noon, parades, picnics, fireworks and more . . .

The observance originated following the Civil War, but was extended after World War I to honor all those who died in battle while serving in the US military.

Memorial Day celebrates family heritage, as we remember our ancestors and look forward to a good future.

Families get together to share stories of military ancestors, to remember the lives of those who fought for the nation, and to visit the graves of ancestors, whether or not they were casualties of war. Many of us can claim at least one relative who has served in the military, or been impacted by war.

Interested in digging deeper into the lives of your ancestors and their military stories?

Discover the wartime roles your relatives played in our online record database of US military records. This free offer ends May 28, so hurry and start your search today!

MyHeritage wishes a meaningful and enjoyable celebration to you and your family .

How will you observe this special day?

Ancestry.com and TLC Team Up for New Season of "Who Do You Think You Are?"

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:10:00 +0000

World's Largest Online Family History Resource Sponsors TV Series with Personal Look Inside the Ancestry of Beloved Celebrities

PROVO, Utah, May 21, 2013– Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online family history resource, announces it has teamed up with TLC, Shed Media US and Is or Isn’t Entertainment as an integrated sponsor of the upcoming season of the “Who Do You Think You Are?” television series, premiering July 23.

“We are thrilled to be teaming up with TLC, Shed Media US and Is or Isn’t Entertainment to bring this entertaining and inspiring series back for another season,” said Rob Singer, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Ancestry.com. “Charting one’s family history helps each of us better understand who we are. Through the journeys of these celebrities, we hope millions of Americans will see just how life-changing and rewarding genealogy can be and begin researching their own family history to make discoveries that tell them who they are and where they came from.”

“Who Do You Think You Are?” explores the roots of celebrities who embark on an intense personal journey to discover their family’s past. Some of the celebrities to be featured in these all-new episodes include Christina Applegate, Cindy Crawford, and Zooey Deschanel. Each of the 8 hour-long episodes reveal the real person behind the celebrity as they come to understand the lives their ancestors lived that helped shape the person they are today. As part of the show sponsorship, Ancestry.com provides important family history research on each of the featured celebrities, which is used to build out the story of each episode.

Produced by Lisa Kudrow and Dan Bucatinsky, the show is based on an original format created by Wall to Wall Media. An earlier version of the series previously aired on NBC for three seasons.

For those interested to discover who they think they are, Ancestry.com offers a 14-day free trial for all new members.

About Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com LLC is the world's largest online family history resource with approximately 2.7 million paying subscribers across all its websites. More than 11 billion records have been added to the Ancestry.com sites and users have created more than 47 million family trees containing more than 5 billion profiles. In addition to its flagship site www.ancestry.com, the company operates several Ancestry international websites along with a suite of online family history brands including Archives.com, Fold3.com and Newspapers.com, all designed to empower people to discover, preserve and share their family history.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include our ability to find appropriate opportunities to publicize our products and services and to satisfy customer expectations. Information concerning additional factors that could cause events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements is contained under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2012, and in discussions in other of our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date and we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements.

Genealogical Speakers Guild Leadership for 2013-2014 Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:04:00 +0000

The Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG) is pleased to announce the following officers and chairmen for 2013-14, announced at the GSG Annual Meeting in conjunction with the NGS Conference in Las Vegas.
2013- 2014 Officers and Standing Committees

President: Billie Stone Fogarty
Vice President: Jean Wilcox Hibben, PhD, MA, CG
Secretary: C. Ann Staley, CG
Treasurer: Diana Crisman Smith
Director: Eric Basir
Director: F redrea Gregath Cook
Speak! Editor: Phyllis Matthews Ziller
Webmaster: Debby T. Horton
National Conference Coordinator: Gary M. Smith
Mail List Manager: Jeannette Piecznski
Web Page Review Committee: Wevonneda Minis

ISFHWE Leadership for 2013-2014 Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:01:00 +0000

The International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE) is pleased to announce the following officers and chairmen for 2013-14, announced at the ISFHWE Annual Meeting in conjunction with the NGS Conference in Las Vegas.

2012- 2013 Officers

President: Leland Meitzler, Utah, president@isfhwe.org
1st Vice President: Wevonneda Minis, South Carolina, 1vp@isfhwe.org
2nd Vice President - National Conference Chair: Gary M. Smith, Ohio, 2vp@isfhwe.org
Secretary: Nancy Lauer, Maryland, secretary@isfhwe.org
Treasurer: Diana Crisman Smith, Ohio, treasurer@isfhwe.org

2012- 2013 Directors

Northeast Region: Debra Braverman, New York, northeastregion@isfhwe.org
Southeast Region: Tina Sansone, Tennessee, southeastregion@isfhwe.org
Central Region: Juliana Smith, Indiana, centralregion@isfhwe.org
Great Plains Region: Cheryl Roach, Colorado, greatplainsregion@isfhwe.org
West Region: Jean Wilcox Hibben, California, westregion@isfhwe.org
International/At Large: Elizabeth Lapointe, Canada, internationalregion@isfhwe.org
COLUMNS Editor: Phyllis Matthews Ziller, North Carolina, editor@isfhwe.org
COLUMNS Proofreader: Lauren Maehrlein, New Jersey, heirlines@aol.com
Webmaster: Debby T. Horton, California, webmaster@isfhwe.org
ISFHWE-L Mailing List Moderator: Robbi Ryan, Nebraska, mailinglistmoderator@isfhwe.com

ISFHWE 2012 Excellence-in-Writing Competition Deadline June 15, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:58:00 +0000

The International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE) is reminding writers IN ALL MEDIA (magazines, newspapers, journals, websites, blogs) that the 2012 Excellence-in-Writing Competition is still open for entries through 15 June 2013.

The competition is open to both MEMBERS and NON-MEMBERS of ISFHWE; both published and non-published authors may enter (see category list below). The Genealogy Newsletters category is returning to the competition this year. Members of ISFHWE receive a discount on the entry fee (after logging in to the ISFHWE members’ corner).

The categories are:

Category I – Columns. This is for columns of original content, published on a regular basis, in any medium, published in 2012. Entries
should consist of two columns, each submitted as a single file, and must be shorter than 2,000 words. These are entries from the author’s regular column-not features. Note that these may be print or online columns.
.
Category II -- Articles. These one-time articles (not part of the author’s column) must have been published in 2012 in a journal, magazine, newsletter, blog or website. Entries cannot exceed 5,000 words. Note that these may be print or online articles.

Category III –Genealogy Newsletter. This category is for society or family association newsletters published in 2012. Entries should consist of two issues, each submitted as a single file in PDF format. The judging will be based on originality, content, visual appeal, writing and editing quality, and accuracy.The
award is to the editor of the publication. These may also be print or online newsletters.

Category IV –Unpublished Authors. Entrants in this category aspire to be published writers or columnists in the field of genealogy, family or local history. The submissions in this category are original and unpublished, between 500 and 2,000 words. Since these are UNPUBLISHED, blogs are not eligible for this category.

Category V–Unpublished material by Published Authors. This category is for original unpublished genealogically related articles by previously published authors. Entries should be between 500 and 3,000 words. Since these are UNPUBLISHED, blogs are not eligible for this category.

Winners in each category will be awarded a cash prize and a certificate. The awards presentation will take place during the FGS Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, 21-24 August 2013. (Those unable to attend will receive their awards by mail after the conference.)

Entries must be submitted in PDF, Word, WordPerfect, or JPG format by e-mail in time to meet this deadline. Send entries to: Competition@ISFHWE.org

Appropriate entry fee(s) - and membership dues to receive the discount - may be paid via PayPal on the ISFHWE website at ISFHWE.org.

Full information on the competition is available on the ISFHWE website in the “2013 Excellence-in-Writing Competition - Information and Online Entry Form” link, which leads to: http://www.isfhwe.org/competition.php

For questions, contact the Competition Coordinator at: Competition@ISFHWE.org

Findmypast.com Offers Free Access to Military Records in Honor of Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:58:00 +0000

In honor of Memorial Day on May 27, and in remembrance of all who died while serving our country, findmypast.com will offer its collection of US and International military records for free in the days leading up to national observance.

With more than 26 million US and International military records available, findmypast.com is encouraging people to explore and learn about the heroic efforts of their ancestors this Memorial Day. Record sets such as ‘Draft Registration Cards,’ ‘Casualties Returned Alive,’ ‘POWs’ and others will offer a captivating glimpse into the lives and experiences of our veteran ancestors.

The US and International military records will be available free of charge starting at midnight EDT on Thursday, May 23 until midnight EDT on Monday, May 27. Anyone can access the records by registering for free at findmypast.com.

The Genealogy Guys Podcast Celebrates 250th Episode

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:07:00 +0000

Aha! Seminars, Inc., announces that The Genealogy Guys^SM Podcast (http://genealogyguys.com), the longest running genealogical podcast in the world, has published its 250th episode. The podcast is a production of Aha! Seminars, Inc., based in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, and began production in September of 2005. The total downloads for all episodes numbers more than 1,230,000.

The Genealogy Guys are George G. Morgan and Drew Smith, both of whom are internationally recognized genealogical experts, speakers, and authors. George is president of Aha! Seminars, Inc., and the author of the book, How to Do Everything: Genealogy, published by McGraw-Hill and now in its third edition. He is also Vice President of Membership for the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS). Drew is an assistant librarian at the University of South Florida and the author of Social Networking for Genealogists, published by Genealogical Publishing Company. He is president of the Florida Genealogical Society (Tampa), a Director of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, and the Federation representative to the Family History Information Standards Organisation (FHISO). Together, George and Drew have just written a new book, Advanced Genealogical Research Techniques, which will be released by McGraw-Hill in September.

The free podcast includes genealogical news, press releases and announcements, interviews, book and product reviews, responses to listener email from around the globe, and other features. Each episode is sponsored by RootsMagic, findmypast.com, and the Federation of Genealogical Societies. Recordings of all of the podcast episodes are available for listening and download at http://genealogyguys.com, complete with show notes for each show. Listeners can also subscribe to the podcast in the iTunes store.

About Aha! Seminars, Inc.

Aha! Seminars, Inc., is a Tampa Bay-based company that has been providing training to library personnel across the United States and to genealogists in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. since 1996. The company provides library collection consulting services, genealogical conference and event planning services, and organizes genealogical research tours on demand.

FamilySearch Adds to Dominican Republic, Italy, Peru, Spain, and the United States Collections

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:43:00 +0000

FamilySearch has added more than 1.5 million index records and images this week from Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Italy, Peru, South Africa, Spain, and the United States. Notable collection updates include the 217,016 index records from the U.S., Idaho, Eastport, Arrival Manifests, 1924-1956, collection, the 151,020 index records and images from the United States, Civil War Widows and Other Dependents Pension Files collection, and the 163,314 images from the South Africa, Orange Free State, Estate Files, 1951-2006, collection. See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org.

Searchable historic records are made available on FamilySearch.org through the help of thousands of volunteers from around the world. These volunteers transcribe (index) information from digital copies of handwritten records to make them easily searchable online. More volunteers are needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the large number of digital images being published online at FamilySearch.org. Learn more about volunteering to help provide free access to the world's historic genealogical records online at FamilySearch.org.

FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources for free at FamilySearch.org or through more than 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Collection	Indexed Records	Digital Images	Comments
Dominican Republic, Civil Registration, 1801-2010	0	23,354	Added images to an existing collection.
Guatemala, Civil Registration, 1877-2008	111,027	0	Added index records to an existing collection.
Italy, Napoli, Monte di Procida, Civil Registration (Comune), 1817-1929	19,567	0	Added index records to an existing collection.
Italy, Potenza, Melfi, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1929	0	34,284	New browsable image collection.
Peru, Lambayeque, Civil Registration, 1873-1998	94,834	0	Added index records to an existing collection.
South Africa, Orange Free State, Estate Files, 1951-2006	0	163,314	Added images to an existing collection.
Spain, Cádiz, Testaments, 1531-1920	0	62,290	Added images to an existing collection.
Spain, Province of Sevilla, Municipal Records, 1293-1966	0	52,917	Added images to an existing collection.
Spain, Province of Tarragona, Municipal Records, 1430-1930	0	6,163	Added images to an existing collection.
Spain, Records of Widows and Orphans of Spanish Officials, 1833-1960	0	9,875	Added images to an existing collection.
U.S., Alabama, Madison County Chancery and Circuit Court Records, 1847-1950	0	62,144	Added images to an existing collection.
U.S., Delaware, Orphan Court Records, 1720-1975	0	69,367	New browsable image collection.
U.S., Idaho, Eastport, Arrival Manifests, 1924-1956	217,016	0	Added index records to an existing collection.
U.S., Illinois, Cook County, Maywood, Maywood Herald Obituary Card Index, 1885-2002	61,565	2	Added index records and images to an existing collection.
U.S., New York, County Marriages, 1908-1935	10,909	7,510	Added index records and images to an existing collection.
U.S., New York, Queens County Probate Records, 1785-1950	0	121,873	Added images to an existing collection.
U.S., Ohio, Jefferson County Court Records, 1797-1940	0	162,190	Added images to an existing collection.
U.S., Texas, Swisher County Records, 1879-2012	0	93,603	New browsable image collection.
U.S., Washington, Cowlitz County Civil Court Dockets, 1876-1951	0	14,203	New browsable image collection.
United States, Civil War Widows and Other Dependents Pension Files	75,510	75,510	Added index records and images to an existing collection.

MyHeritage launches Record Detective™ to accelerate family history discoveries

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:25:00 +0000

Global family history network makes technology breakthrough that turns dead-ends into new leads

PROVO, Utah, and Tel Aviv, Israel, May 13 2013: MyHeritage, the popular family history network, today announced the launch of Record Detective™, the first technology of its kind to automatically extend the paper trail from a single historical record to other related records and family tree connections.

Record Detective™ turns historical records into smart objects that determine which people they are about, and conducts further research about them. Records found in MyHeritage’s digital archive, SuperSearch, will now include a summary of additional records and individuals in family trees relating to them, thanks to the Record Detective™ technology. This will provide users with new information and clues to take their research to new directions.

Examples of how Record Detective™ benefits users:

When a user finds a gravestone photo, Record Detective™ is capable of automatically finding and displaying who was buried there, and providing a link to the person’s family tree, plus birth, census and marriage records and even newspaper articles about that person.
For users viewing a page in a digitized yearbook on MyHeritage, Record Detective™ will show the people mentioned on the page in their respective family trees and allow users to learn more about their families and get in touch with their relatives (subject to privacy protections).
When viewing a record in the US census collection, Record Detective™ will provide census entries of the same person in former or subsequent years, and do this for the entire household. The additional information could include newspaper articles about the person’s son or the immigration papers of his parents.

The new technology is highly accurate with almost no false positives.

To maximize its benefits, the technology behind the Record Detective™ uses an innovative technique called the Transitive Conclusion Trail. For example, it can link a death record to a birth record of the same person, by first linking the death record to a matching person in a family tree with the same death date, then linking that person through his parents to the same person in another family tree, this time having a birth date, and then use that extra information to locate the birth record of that person. During the process checks are made to ensure the lack of contradictions, and conclusions are made only if they are statistically solid. Users are not aware of the calculations behind the scenes, and are only handed the related information with confidence scores. This way Record Detective™ helps users find relevant information they may have never found on their own.

Licensing

To extend the benefits of this new technology to the wider community, MyHeritage is making Record Detective™ available for license to other family history websites and services that provide historical records, with revenue sharing. By adding just a few lines of code to their webpage, partners can harness Record Detective™ and display for each record, other records and family trees related to it, providing better value for users. Interested parties can contact bd@myheritage.com.

“We’re excited to unveil Record Detective™ - a major addition to the tool arsenal of any family history enthusiast”, said Gilad Japhet, Founder and CEO of MyHeritage. “Record Detective™ makes a single discovery more interesting and rewarding by linking to more information about the same person. With this powerful new technology, our users will be able to make even more exciting discoveries. This is an industry first, and a testament to our focus on creating truly innovative technologies for family history.”

A summary of any record can be viewed for free and users can choose between affordable pay-as-you-go credits or a Data subscription for full unlimited access to all historical records.

About MyHeritage

MyHeritage is a family history network helping millions of families around the world discover and share their legacy online. As technology thought leaders and innovators in the space, MyHeritage is transforming family history into a pastime that is accessible, exciting and easier than ever before. MyHeritage empowers its global community of users with unique social tools, a massive library of historical content and powerful search technologies. The site is available in 40 languages. For more information visit www.myheritage.com

RootsTech 2014 Call For Presentations

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:46:00 +0000

Presentation proposals for RootsTech 2014 will be accepted June 17-July 8, 2013, online at rootstech.org/proposals.

RootsTech is a family history and technology conference "where families connect." The fourth annual conference, hosted by FamilySearch, will be held February 6-8, 2014, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. RootsTech brings together the best in family history tools and technology to help attendees discover and share their family's connections and stories. RootsTech 2014 will reach thousands of attendees both on-site in Salt Lake City and at remote locations around the world.

Presentations should:

Be between 50 to 60 minutes in length, which includes a question-and-answer period.
Offer an interactive experience where attendees leave with a finished product, completed task, or next steps (what the attendee can do when they get home).
Avoid text-based slides and lecture only.
Incorporate step-by-step, live demonstrations or best practices; avoid pitching an infomercial-type class to promote a certain product.
Provide new and innovative ideas or solutions that are technology focused. (Please do not resubmit proposals from previous years.)

We welcome presentation proposals that provide new insight, innovation, skills, and best practices in the following categories and that are geared towards attendees at a specific skill level. The bullet points below are given as possible examples. Other topics related to family history and technology will also be considered.

Types of Sessions:

1. Presentations: A classroom setting that engages participants.
2. Panels or Discussions: Formal panel of experts discussing specific topics, led by a facilitator.
3. Hands-on Workshops: Computer labs where attendees have hands-on experiences in a specific task or objective.
4. Online Webinars: A new approach being considered for 2014 where the speaker presents from a remote location, not in Salt Lake City, or the presenter streams the presentation from Salt Lake City to a wider audience through a webinar or online hangout site.

Submission Information:

To be considered, proposals must include the following:

Speaker name, address, telephone, and email address
Presentation title (not to exceed 15 words)
Short presentation summary (not to exceed 40 words)
Long presentation description or outline (not to exceed 100 words)
Category and skill level (from chart above)
Session type (see types in section above)
Speaker bio (not to exceed 25 words)
Speaker photo (high resolution, approximately 300 dpi, in one of the following formats: .jpg, .eps or .png file)
Resume of recent presentation topics and event locations
Whether you approve the content of the presentation to be recorded and shared online (see Release to Record form on www.rootstech.org/proposals)

Presentation proposals will be accepted online at rootstech.org/proposals from June 17-July 8, 2013. Due to the volume of presentation proposals we receive, please submit no more than five proposals per speaker. Limited, late-breaking technology submissions will be accepted, upon approval, until October 1, 2013.

Speakers selected to present at RootsTech 2014 will be notified by August 2, 2013. Syllabus materials (PDF file) for selected presentations will be due by November 1, 2013. Speakers who don't submit syllabus materials on time may be removed from the schedule.

Presenters participating in RootsTech 2014 will receive a complimentary conference registration and access to all syllabus materials. Out-of-state speakers selected to present three or more presentations will also receive hotel accommodations. There is no monetary compensation for presenting at this conference.

Questions can be emailed to the attention of the RootsTech Speaker Selection Committee at info@rootstech.org.

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois Conference - June 9, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Thu, 09 May 2013 21:43:00 +0000

Those planning to attend The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois' daylong Jewish genealogy conference, “Digging Deeper: Researching Our Ancestors With Technology,” on Sunday, June 9, 2013, have until May 15 to save $10 in the fee for early registration. Also, for out-of-town attendees, the special room rate at a nearby motel is guaranteed until May 9 (it may be extended if the reserved block of rooms is not filled).

The early registration fees for the conference are $50 for JGSI and IAJGS members and $65 for non-members paid by May 15. After May 15, the fees are $60 for members and $75 for non-members. Members of any IAJGS-affiliated society can attend the conference at the member rate.

For youths who plan to attend just the mini-conference, it's free; but if they want to attend all day, it’s $25 for early registration and $35 for late registration.

The conference registration form can be found at http://www.jgsi.org/Conference2013.

Attendees from out of town are invited to stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago-North Shore/Skokie at the special conference rate of $119/night, which includes a complimentary hot and cold breakfast buffet, free Wi-Fi, and a free shuttle service within three miles of the hotel. Temple Beth Israel, the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, and Westfield Old Orchard mall are within this radius.

Rooms may be reserved at the Hampton Inn at http://bit.ly/14zseDW. The special room rate is guaranteed until May 9.

The conference will be held at Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster St., Skokie, Illinois. Conference attendees will register beginning at 8:15 a.m. June 9 at Temple Beth Israel, and the conference will be held from 9:15 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided.

The featured speakers will include Warren Blatt, managing director of JewishGen, the major Jewish genealogy website; and Duff Wilson, senior product manager of Family Tree Maker, the genealogy database software. Warren Blatt will deliver a keynote address on advanced searching with JewishGen and will also conduct separate sessions on Jewish given names and Jewish surnames.

Duff Wilson will lead two instructive Family Tree Maker sessions, one for beginners and one for advanced users of the family tree software.

A unique aspect of this conference will be a free mini-conference for youths from sixth grade through high school. Two consecutive programs introducing Jewish genealogy with beginning methodology will be held from 1:25 to 3:40 p.m. Robin Seidenberg and Harriet Rudnit, experienced genealogists and JGSI board members, will be the mini-conference speakers.

“Digging Deeper: Researching Our Ancestors With Technology” will also include presentations on DNA, translating Polish records, the Pale of Settlement, familysearch.org, naturalization and cemetery records, and much more. For additional information, see http://jgsi.org/Conference2013.

Discover Your Ancestors Periodical launches in May 2013

noreply@blogger.com (geneabloggers) — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:44:00 +0000

Discover Your Ancestors issue 2 now on sale

After a very successful launch issue of Discover Your Ancestors annual bookazine, we are delighted to announce the publication of the second issue.

Both helping newcomers to family history research and reinspiring the more seasoned researcher, the long awaited Discover Your Ancestors issue 2 is available from WHSmith and other quality news outlets both in the UK and overseas.

"We are told that Discover Your Ancestors plays a vital role for budding family historians as it welcomes and encourages the next generation of family history researchers” says magazine publisher, Mark Galbraith. “For many of us family history research is interesting and can be made all the more so through really understanding how our ancestors lived their lives ” he continues. “It is time to show the uninitiated just how much pleasure can be had from growing one’s tree with the myriad resources now available".

"In response to overwhelming reader enquiries and demand, we are very excited about the launch of our new online magazine – Discover Your Ancestors Periodical. This monthly online magazine has been developed in response to the many readers who would like to see more, but wish to read their favorite magazines using a variety of formats, Mr. Galbraith continues. “We launched this brand new service in May2013, and are now delivering our readers a top quality digital magazine every month for just £1 (GBP) per month on subscription. The subscription price has been kept low in order to encourage as many people as possible to sign up, whilst still retaining the high quality of absorbing content produced in print. We invite everyone - past print readers and brand new readers - to pre-register their interest at www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk"

For back issue enquiries of Discover Your Ancestors please call +44 1296 631273.

Eneclann joins FHISO

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:08:00 +0000

Eneclann (www.eneclann.ie) and Family History Information Standards Organisation, Inc. (FHISO) announced today that Eneclann has finalised its plans to become a founding member of the organisation. Brian Donovan, Eneclann’s CEO, said of the partnership “Digitising, indexing and publishing family history records online is fraught with problems. Genealogy needs FHISO to help navigate a collaborative solution to shared problems, and to set meaningful standards, and we in Eneclann are delighted to be partners in this”. The company will participate with other FHISO members from the global genealogical community in the development of standards for the digital representation and sharing of family history and genealogical information. As an organisation involved in the management, digitisation of, and research with archives, they bring a unique perspective on the work of FHISO. Fiona Fitzsimons, Research Director, commented ‘Digitisation of records has transformed the way we do genealogy, but we need standards so we can be sure of the quality of the electronic records we use. FHISO is a welcome development to achieve this goal.’

"FHISO is proud to welcome Eneclann as a Founding Member. Recognised for its innovation, Eneclann has been involved in major digitisation projects. Its experts bring to FHISO professional services experience in the mixed-language and rich cultural heritage that is associated with Irish genealogy. Brian Donovan, himself an expert in digitisation techniques, also brings project management and business development skills to FHISO. Eneclann's experience contributes to a unique perspective in the genealogy marketplace”, said FHISO Organiser, Tony Proctor (UK and Ireland).

About Eneclann Ltd.

Eneclann Ltd., incorporated in 1998, is the largest genealogical company in Ireland. Well known internationally for its research for the hit T.V. series Who Do You Think You Are? worldwide, as well as the U.S. T.V. series Faces of America (2010), and Finding Your Roots (2012), Eneclann has also traced the Irish roots of President Barack Obama and several celebrities, most recently Tom Cruise.
Eneclann has developed significant skills in archival management, and expertise in digital technology. The company was instrumental in the founding of the online service www.irishorigins.com in 2003, and more recently in 2011 launched the web service www.findmypast.ie with their Scottish joint-venture partner brightsolid.

To date the company has brought over 65 million genealogical records online, and has acted as a trusted partner of several archives, libraries and other Irish public institutions in making their historic records available to a wide audience. Find out more at: www.eneclann.ie

About FHISO

FHISO is a standards-developing organisation bringing the international family history and genealogical community together in a transparent, self-governing forum for the purpose of developing information standards to solve today’s interoperability issues. To learn more about FHISO, visit http://fhiso.org/. To become an enquiring member, visit http://fhiso.org/membership-enquiries/.

Illinois State Genealogical Society 2013 Fall Conference Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:18:00 +0000

October 25 & 26, 2013, at Timber Creek Inn & Suites in Sandwich, Illinois

May 8, 2013 – Springfield, IL. The Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) announces its 2013 Fall conference to be held on October 25 and 26 in Sandwich, Illinois, at the Timber Creek Inn & Suites and Convention Center.

Using The Way They Were as this year’s theme, a variety of presenters will offer lectures to assist attendees in identifying the “they” in genealogical research. In addition, a focus on “were” will explore the importance of capturing family stories and ancestor anecdotes to round out a family’s history.

Besides attending genealogy focused lectures and social events, conference goers can visit the Sandwich area which offers a variety of venues for historical sightseeing. These include area museums, tours of the Naper Settlement in Naperville, and the world famous Mies van der Rohe glass home, as well as the Farnsworth House, on the banks of the nearby Fox River.

Conference details will be available soon at the ISGS website at http://www.ilgensoc.org. For room reservations, contact the Timber Creek Inn & Suites at (866) 992-7335 or visit http://www.timbercreekinnandsuites.com (mention the ISGS conference to secure the group rate).

Questions about the ISGS 2013 Fall Conference can be emailed to the Conference Chair, Howard Manthei, at isgspublications@ilgensoc.org.

Mark your calendar! We look forward to seeing you in Sandwich this Fall!

About Illinois State Genealogical Society

The Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) was formed in 1968 through the cooperative effort and forward thinking of Illinois genealogical society representatives, who envisioned a statewide genealogical organization. ISGS is a not-for-profit, nonsectarian, educational organization. ISGS was established for the following purposes:

To stimulate an interest in the people who contributed to the establishment and development of the State of Illinois.

To seek, preserve, and make available data pertaining to individuals, families, and groups who lived in Illinois and to events which took place therein.

To inform people of the value of, and need for, preserving family and local history for posterity.

To encourage the formation of local genealogical societies and to coordinate and disseminate information.

Follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ILgensoc), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/ILgensoc) and on our blog at http://ilgensoc.blogspot.com.

FamilySearch Adds to Collections for BillionGraves, Canada, Italy, Peru, Sweden, and the United States

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:17:00 +0000

FamilySearch has added more than 9.4 million index records and images this week from BillionGraves, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Italy, Peru, Sweden, the United States, and Venezuela. Notable collection updates include the 3,368,091 index records and images from the U.S., Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952, collection, the 2,187,206 images from the new U.S., New York, Southern District, U.S District Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1946 , collection, and the 848,610 index records and images from the BillionGraves Index. See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org.

Searchable historic records are made available on FamilySearch.org through the help of thousands of volunteers from around the world. These volunteers transcribe (index) information from digital copies of handwritten records to make them easily searchable online. More volunteers are needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the large number of digital images being published online at FamilySearch.org. Learn more about volunteering to help provide free access to the world's historic genealogical records online at FamilySearch.org.

FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources for free at FamilySearch.org or through more than 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Collection	Indexed Records	Digital Images	Comments
BillionGraves Index	424,305	424,305	Added index records and images to an existing collection.
Canada, Quebec Notarial Records, 1800-1900	0	461,837	Added images to an existing collection.
Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1600-2012	0	27,561	Added images to an existing collection.
Czech Republic, Censuses, 1843-1921	0	32,149	Added images to an existing collection.
Czech Republic, Land Records, 1450-1889	0	96,273	Added images to an existing collection.
Dominican Republic, Civil Registration, 1801-2010	0	30,292	Added images to an existing collection.
Honduras, Catholic Church Records, 1633-1978	330,586	0	Added index records to an existing collection.
Italy, Cuneo, Saluzzo, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1942	0	156,506	Added images to an existing collection.
Italy, Macerata, Macerata, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929	0	102,509	Added images to an existing collection.
Italy, Napoli, Pomigliano d'Arco, Military Conscriptions (Comune), 1898-1929	0	40,753	New browsable image collection.
Peru, Junín, Civil Registration, 1890-2005	0	30,143	Added images to an existing collection.
Peru, La Libertad, Civil Registration, 1903-1998	0	32,450	Added images to an existing collection.
Peru, Puno, Civil Registration, 1890-2005	0	18,129	Added images to an existing collection.
Sweden, Örebro Church Records, 1613-1918; index 1635-1860	7,586	0	Added index records to an existing collection.
U.S., Maryland, Register of Wills Books, 1629-1999	0	35,714	Added images to an existing collection.
U.S., Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952	1,681,256	1,686,835	New indexed records and image collection.
U.S., New York, Southern District, U.S District Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1946	0	2,187,206	New browsable image collection.
U.S., Pennsylvania, Eastern District Naturalization Indexes, 1795-1952	231,641	5,154	Added index records and images to an existing collection.
U.S., Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Passenger List Index Cards, 1883-1948	1,153,207	18,880	Added index records and images to an existing collection.
U.S., Texas, Eagle Pass Arrival Manifests and Indexes, 1905-1954	122,918	28,638	Added index records to an existing collection.
U.S., Washington, County Land Records, 1850-1954	0	88,546	Added images to an existing collection.
Venezuela, Archdiocese of Mérida, Catholic Church Records, 1654-2012	0	12,624	Added images to an existing collection

Genealogie Online hits 20 million profiles mark

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:23:00 +0000

This week the website Genealogie Online reached 20 million profiles. Genealogie Online is a Dutch service which allows genealogists to easily publish their genealogical data and images. Over 5000 genealogists use this service to publish their data. The result is multi-language website with a lot of freely searchable information about ancestors.

The focus of Genealogie Online isn't solely on quantity. Bob Coret, who runs this service from his one-person business Coret Genealogie, also puts the quality of genealogical data in the spotlight. Genealogie Online automatically performs genealogical sanity checks on the data in terms of events and dates. This feedback is not exclusive for authors, errors and warnings are also shown in the publication. This ensures that the readers of the genealogical publications also get a signal about possible mistakes.

Another type of quality check focusses on the place names and genealogical events. Place names are looked up in the international geographical database Geonames to ensure the name is written correctly and is unique. A genealogist who wrote down Delft as place of birth could mean Delft, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands, but there´s also a place called Delft in Minnesota, USA.

The steady growth of Genealogie Online - the biggest family tree website in the Netherlands - also makes the matching functionality more and more interesting. Matches between family trees are giving to the author and are also shown in the publication itself, because possible matches could also be of interest to readers.

With it´s scan search functionality Genealogie Online offers its users suggestions for online scans of civil registry and church records in Dutch and Belgian archives (some via FamilySearch) and photo´s of graves based on the published genealogical data. Again, the suggestions are shown to both authors and readers. This helps and stimulates genealogists to add sources to their publication, which also increases the quality.

About Coret Genealogie

Genealogie Online has been offering its service to genealogists since 2005. A generous free subscription and Premium subscription is offered by Coret Genealogie for the publishing part, searches are free. Genealogie Online which focuses on publishing your family tree and searching for ancestors, is one of the products offered by Coret Genealogie (which has even been called a Dutch Genealogy Empire by Tamura Jones). Other products include a social network for genealogists (Stamboom Forum), a private area for a genealogists to acquire images and stories within the family to enrich the family history (Familie Archivaris) and a online genealogical magazine specifically for smartphones and tablets (Genealogie Gazet).

Mocavo Announces Genealogy Karma

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:08:00 +0000

Back in 1999, a fantastic resource was established to bring together members of the genealogy community all around the world. The brainchild of Bridgett and Doc Schneider, Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (RAOGK) was created to help genealogists collaborate with the genealogy community to document their research, while also offering genealogists a way to give back to a community that had helped them in the past. RAOGK quickly turned into a global organization. The group’s volunteers were able to help thousands of genealogists make progress in their family history research.

Bridgett Schneider courtesy of RAOGK Wiki

The ROAGK website went offline in 2011 because of a computer disaster. Sadly, Bridgett Schneider passed away later that year, and the website was never able to come back online. In tribute to Bridgett and Doc Schneider and all of the participants in RAOGK, many volunteers have created programs similar to ROAGK to help bring together the expertise of the genealogy community. Doc and Bridgett’s legacy and the efforts of thousands of volunteers inspired us to create a place for researchers to come together and collaborate to help other members of the genealogical community.

Today, at Mocavo, we are excited to announce the launch of Genealogy Karma. Modeled after Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness, we hope to empower the Mocavo community and connect researchers all around the country. If you’re looking for documents, records, or photos from an ancestor who lived far away, we will connect you with family history volunteers who can do this research for you in other cities. Likewise, if you’d like to give back to the Mocavo community and have a little time to donate, you can sign up as a volunteer.

To begin visit www.mocavo.com/karma

To request help:

1. Simply click on “I need to request help.”
2. Select the county for your request.
3. Create a short title and add a detailed explanation of your request so that others can help find what you’re looking for.
4. Tag your request to help others discover it. For example, you can tag your request as “photo”, “birth record”, or “tombstone”.
5. You can also select to be notified if someone replies to your request.
6. Post your query.

To Volunteer:

1. Simply click on “I want to be a volunteer.”
2. Select the counties that you can help with.
3. Submit your information.
4. We will then let you know when there are opportunities to help other genealogists in your area.

Similar to surname groups, genealogy karma has a new twist that allows the most valuable content to float to the top of the page.

You can vote positively or negatively on each question and answer. As a result, the most popular questions and most relevant answers rise to the top so that you don’t have to dig through heaps of information to find the good stuff. Next to each question or answer within a Surname Group, you will see arrows. If you find a request you are interested in or response that is particularly helpful, you can “vote it up” so that more people will see it. If you find a request to be wildly off topic or unhelpful or if you think an answer is inaccurate, you can “vote it down” so that it will migrate to the bottom of the page. The topics at the top of the page will be the ones with the highest number of “up” votes so that you can quickly see the most valuable questions and answers.

Check out Genealogy Karma and take advantage of the vast network of Mocavo community members spread far and wide. Let us know what you think in the comments below or by emailing us at support@mocavo.com.

Order in the Court: Finding Your Family in Federal Court Records

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:02:00 +0000

DATE: Saturday, May 25, 2013
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
LOCATION: Johnson County Central Resource Library
9875 West 87th St., Overland Park, KS

Since the ratification of the U. S. Constitution, federal courts have existed in every state and all
organized territories, enforcing federal law. In the process the courts have created an enormous
quantity of records, documenting actions of individuals from all walks of life and varying
degrees of notoriety. As a result these records can contain a wealth of overlooked resources for
genealogy research. Whether an ancestor struggled with the times and had to file for bankruptcy,
was wronged and filed a civil suit, or got caught up in a wave of crime, the records of the United
States Courts can hold details a genealogist could not find elsewhere.

Join us as Jake Erslund of the National Archives at Kansas City gives us the story on federal
court records. Jake joined NARA as an archivist in 2008. He received both his Bachelor of Arts
and Masters in History from Pittsburg State University.

Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.

RIGS Announces Onsite/Online Training at National Archives, Fort Worth

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Sun, 05 May 2013 17:01:00 +0000

Jasper, Georgia (4 May 2013)—The Regional In-depth Genealogical Studies Alliance better known as RIGS Alliance or RIGSA announce its first blended onsite/online training with the National Archives at Fort Worth, Texas , October 8-10 2013. The subject matter material taught by experienced researchers will consist of preliminary classes/videos/presentations and live chats shared in a virtual classroom combined with hands-on sessions with textual records in the National Archives.

J. Mark Lowe, Co-Director of RIGSA indicated the change in format will provide more time for students to understand the records of our National Archives, and more time hands-on with these records. The online training will allow participants to review material, ask questions, and coordinate with other students in developing research strategies. Activities are based on an integrated curriculum with an emphasis on methodology and problem-solving skills.

RIGS Alliance workshops are designed for genealogists, historians, and librarians with a general genealogical or historical grounding who want to learn skills and techniques for researching original records at national and regional archives. To ensure a quality experience, enrollment is limited.

Workshop staff includes J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA; and Linda Woodward Geiger, CG, CGL, and expert staff members at the National Archives in Fort Worth.

For details about these workshops, visit the web site at www.rigsalliance.org; e-mail info@rigsalliance.org; or write to RIGS Alliance Workshop, P.O. Box 1273, Jasper, GA 30143.

Massachusetts Genealogical Council 2013 Annual Meeting & Seminar

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Fri, 03 May 2013 02:01:00 +0000

~ Featuring: Judy G. Russell, CG, CGL, "The Legal Genealogist" ~

WHEN: Saturday, July 20, 2013, 8:30 am to 4:15 pm
WHERE: Holy Cross College - Hogan Center, Worcester, MA

Registration is OPEN!
http://bit.ly/mgc2013register

Three top-notch presentations by Judy G. Russell, CG, CGL
(http://bit.ly/JudyGRussellCG)

Breaking Through the 20th Century Brickwall––Building a Family Through Circumstantial Evidence
How Knowing the Law Makes Us Better Genealogists
"No Person Shall... Gallop Horses in the Streets": Using Court Records to Tell the Story of our Ancestors' Lives

Luncheon Presentation by Kimberly Toney of the AAS
Worcester History as seen through the Eyes of the American Antiquarian Society

MGC Membership Has Its Privileges. Register before July 1st and save!

Members $50.00
Non-members $65.00

Late Registration & Walk-ins

$75.00 Regardless of membership status

Includes breakfast and lunch, a civil records legislative panel and door prizes and easy access to level parking. Join MGC now to get the substantial member discount! Visit http://www.massgencouncil.org for more info!

REGISTER NOW!
http://bit.ly/mgc2013register

MyHeritage delivers historic U.S. Census records to millions of families worldwide

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:16:00 +0000

Travel back in time: Global family history network gives users a snapshot into the lives of their ancestors from 1790 to 1930

PROVO, Utah & TEL AVIV, Israel - May 1, 2013: MyHeritage, the popular family history network, today announced that it has added the entire collection of U.S. Federal Censuses conducted each decade from 1790 to 1930 to its growing database of billions of historical records. Combined with innovative technologies and affordable prices, MyHeritage makes it easier and more accessible than ever to illuminate the lives of one's ancestors during this fascinating period in American history.

Among the nation’s largest and most important set of records totaling around 520 million names, the Censuses provide information about individuals residing in the U.S. including age, address, education, occupation, place of birth, race, native language, marital status, relationship to head of household, neighbors – and more. Family history enthusiasts can now search the indexed images of the U.S. Censuses at http://www.myheritage.com/research and discover the legacy of former generations between 1790 and 1930 in the U.S.

To make discoveries easier, MyHeritage offers a sophisticated system of automatic record matching for the family trees on the site, dramatically reducing research time. New information uncovered in the Censuses triggers a domino effect of new discoveries within the MyHeritage global network of family trees and records. Resulting connections with other family trees could shed light on the roots of many families who immigrated to the U.S., connecting them to long-lost relatives abroad. Translated to 40 different languages, MyHeritage is the only company to deliver discoveries from the U.S. Censuses to a global audience.

The new records, which include the remaining fragments of the 1890 U.S. Federal Census mostly destroyed in a fire, complement the existing 1940 U.S. Census which is already available on MyHeritage. A summary of any census record can be viewed for free and users can choose between affordable pay-as-you-go credits or a data subscription for full unlimited access to all historical content, including the images of the original census pages.

“Adding the U.S. Censuses is paramount for offering a one-stop shop for family history", said Gilad Japhet, Founder and CEO of MyHeritage. "With this move we maximize value for users by combining the best family tree tools and the most powerful matching technologies with a massive library of historical content. The U.S. Censuses add incredible new value for our users, who will receive a string of new discoveries, and act as a catalyst for taking research further into the past and across new borders. This is just the tip of the iceberg as we’re set to add significant additional collections of historical records, both from the U.S. and around the world, in 2013.”

The U.S. census records are also being added to WorldVitalRecords and FamilyLink, and will be made available soon to the users of Geni – three additional websites owned and operated by MyHeritage.

About MyHeritage

MyHeritage is a family history network helping millions of families around the world discover and share their legacy online. Pioneers in making family history a collaborative experience for the entire family, MyHeritage empowers its users with innovative social tools and a massive library of historical content. The site is available in 40 languages. For more information visit www.myheritage.com

Findmypast.com Adds 23 Million Records and 121 Million Newspaper Pages From Around the World

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:11:00 +0000

Newly added collection documents hundreds of years of significant life events and media headlines

LOS ANGELES (May 1, 2013) – Findmypast.com, an international leader in online family history, has published more than 23 million new records and 121 million pages of U.S. and world newspapers to its already extensive collection of historical records. New records, including Irish birth, marriage and death records, highlight important life events for our ancestors. Researchers can find their ancestors in a newspaper article among thousands or find their grandfather’s military service documented through World War II Enlistment Records. Those with a criminal in their past can find their ancestors throughout the extensive United Kingdom’s Courts, Crimes and Convicts record set.

The United Kingdom criminal records collection is the largest collection of historical criminal records from England and Wales to be published online, and is published in association with the National Archives (U.K.). These unique records offer a fascinating look at the colorful details of the criminal side of society from 1770 to 1934.

Another collection, the U.S. Veteran’s Gravesites, contains 7.6 million death records of people who served or are related to those who served, and are buried in various Veterans Affairs National Cemeteries, state veteran’s cemeteries, or other military gravesites. This collection offers a chance to trace the family members who answered the call to service, and is especially useful for genealogists who may not have a clear picture of details surrounding a particular ancestor.

“The new U.S. and world newspapers on findmypast.com broaden the scope of our collection to countries such as Denmark, France and even South Africa,” said D. Joshua Taylor, lead genealogist for findmypast.com. “This gives users an amazing opportunity to explore the events their ancestors lived through.”

The full collection of records recently added by findmypast.com includes:

United States

U.S. and World Newspapers
U.S. Veteran Grave Sites
Montana Deaths
WWII Enlistment Records
Ohio Deaths
Ohio Marriages
Ohio Divorces
Connecticut Deaths

United Kingdom

Westminster Parish
Canterbury Parish Records, Kent
British Newspapers
UK Courts, Crimes and Convicts
Suffolk Testator Index, 1847-1857
British Business Index
Lincolnshire Parish Apprentice
Indentures
Nether Hallam, Sheffield 1831 Census
Freemen of Ipswich, Suffolk
Dental Surgeons Directory 1925
Corfe Castle and District 1790 Census
Bury Workhouse Creed Registers
GWR Shareholders
Dorset Hemp and Flax Growers
Glamorgan Schools Admission Registers
Land Tax Billingshurst
Pigots Directory of Herefordshire 1830
Parish Apprentices for Somerset
Bury Workhouse Discharge Registers
Northamptonshire and Rutland Probate Index
Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills Index 1750-1800
London Probate Index 1750-1858
Royal Fusiliers Collection 1863-1905
West Kent Probate Index 1750-1858
Manchester Regiment city battalions 1914-1916
Waterloo Roll Call 1815
Royal Air Force Muster Roll 1918
Divorce Index
Parish Apprentices for Dorset
Parish Apprentices for Somerset
Bury Union Workhouse (Jericho Institution) Admission Registers
Prison ship (Hulk) Registers 1811-1843
Oldham Pals 1914-1920
Oldham Pals Roll of Honour
Northamptonshire and Rutland Probate Index
Parish Apprentices for Somerset
London burials
Bank of England Wills Extracts 1717-1845
Clergy List 1896
Civil Service Evidence of Age
Bury Workhouse Discharge Registers
Royal Artillery honours & awards
Military Nurses
Army Deserters (1828-1840)
Distinguished Conduct Medal Citations
Peninsular Medal Roll 1793-1814
Napoleonic War - Regimental indexes 1806
1861 Worldwide Army Index
Royal Red Cross Register
WWII Escapers and Evaders
Surrey Recruitment Registers, 1908-1933
Royal Naval Division, 1914-1919
Royal Artillery Military Medal awards
Napoleonic War - Army of Reserve
Cheshire Electoral Registers
Royal Marine Medal Roll, 1914-1920
CLIP Crewmembers
Manchester Workhouse Registers, 1800-1911
Manchester Naturalization Society, 1896-1909
Derybshire Marriages
Derbyshire Baptisms

Australia and New Zealand

New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1878
A Return of the Freeholders of new Zealand, October 1882
Crown Land Sales in Queensland 1842-1861
Crown Land Sales in Queensland 1860-1911
Return of Crown Lands 1854
Australian Imperial Expeditionary Forces Roll of Honour
New Zealand War Medal Roll

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Findmypast.com (owned by brightsolid) is the U.S. site of findmypast, an international leader in online family history. Findmypast connects people to core and unique U.S., English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Australian and New Zealand records dating back as far as 1200.

About brightsolid

Findmypast.com is owned by brightsolid online publishing, a British-owned world leader in online genealogy,with over 45 years’ experience in family history and a record of online innovation in the field of family history nearly two decades long. With nearly 18 million registered users across its family of online genealogy brands, brightsolid hosts more than a billion genealogical records from across the globe. The company reported a 75 percent growth in turnover and a 47 percent growth in gross profits in its most recent published accounts and was voted Best Genealogy Organization in the Online Gene Awards.

French Genealogy From Afar

noreply@blogger.com (Thomas MacEntee) — Wed, 01 May 2013 20:56:00 +0000

French Genealogy From Afar is a guide – built on numerous posts from The French Genealogy Blog -- that has as its focus the very first steps of research into French ancestry, mostly via the Internet. All of the posts have been updated and, in many cases, enhanced. All of the website addresses have been verified anew and updated.  

The Section Headings are:

Getting Ready 
History and Geography
Location! Location! 
Departmental and Communal Archives
Researching on the Departmental Archives’ Websites 
A Bit of Military History 
Military Records Online 
The National Archives Databases
The Genealogy Community and Commercial Databases

Giving historical insights, keys to unlocking the French archives system, invaluable French websites, ways to develop a research methodology, problem solving advice, French Genealogy From Afar is also, of course, in Anne's usual, pert style.  

This fine paperback book of 185 pages is immediately available and will be shipped directly from the printer in the U.S.. The price, including postage, is $26 / £18 / €22 per copy. Sold only via The French Genealogy Blog.