Sunday, March 31, 2013

A Joyful Easter!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Genealogical Society Presents Research in Washington, DC




ARLINGTON, VA, 27 March 2013: The National Genealogical Society will be presenting a hands-on research trip to Washington, DC, from 3–9 November 2013. Under the guidance of Craig Roberts Scott, cgSM, and Patricia Walls Stamm, cgSM, cglSM, twenty-six researchers will use the genealogical resources at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library, and the Library of Congress (LOC).

The Research Package includes:
  • Six days of research at three noteworthy Washington, DC, facilities (the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the Daughters of the American Revolution Library)
  • Online Training and Preparation Assistance for the 2013 Washington, DC, Research Trip
  • Orientation and dessert get-together on Sunday at the hotel
  • Research consultations with leaders throughout the trip
  • Friday evening group meal
  • Six nights at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn, which includes daily continental breakfast, free Internet in rooms, and parking.
  • Fees and taxes included

Costs do not include either the transportation to Washington, DC, or within the city, or any other meals other than those shown above. The package price varies depending upon room occupancy and National Genealogical Society membership status. Payment is required in full at the time of registration. Costs are as follows:

Registration Fees
Member 
Non-Member 
Double/Shared Room
Before 16 August
16 August and after

$   900
$1,400

$1,200
$1,700
Single Room
Before 16 August
16 August and after

$1,100
$1,500

$1,400
$1,800
Person with
non-researching spouse*
Before 16 August
16 August and after

$1,400
$1,600

$1,600
$1,800

*non-researching spouse receives the benefits of the orientation, daily continental breakfast, and Friday evening group meal.

The trip hosts, Craig Roberts Scott, cgSM, and Patricia Walls Stamm, cgSM, cglSM, will be joined by Shirley Langdon Wilcox, cgSM, fngs, and Patricia O’Brien Shawker, cgSM. All are seasoned experts in conducting research in Washington, DC, facilities.
Craig Roberts Scott, cgSM, is a professional genealogist specializing in records in the National Archives, Washington, DC, since 1985. He has written several books and articles that relate to research in the National Archives. He has lectured at National Genealogical Society and the Federation of Genealogical Societies national conferences since 1990. Craig has coordinated and lectured in the military records tracks at Samford University’s Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). He continues to lecture around the country on military records and problem solving. He has served on the Board of the Association of Professional Genealogists for several terms. Craig is also the president and CEO of Heritage Books, Inc.
Patricia Walls Stamm, cgSMcglSM, serves as the Education Manager of the National Genealogical Society. Pat lectures on a wide variety of topics at many of the National Genealogical Society and the Federation of Genealogical Societies national conferences. She is a graduate of the National Institute on Genealogical Research (NIGR) and the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). Pat is an instructor at Samford University’s Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), St. Louis Community College, and the St. Louis Genealogical Society.


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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Thursday, March 21, 2013

Half a Million Wiltshire Records Now Available Online

MOONRAKERS, QUAKERS AND CHOCOLATE MAKERS – HALF A MILLION HISTORIC WILTSHIRE RECORDS AVAILABLE ONLINE
Historic records from the South West now available on
Ancestry.co.uk



Ancestry.co.uk, the UK’s favourite family history website, has today launched online Wiltshire Church Records, 1538 – 1897 and Wiltshire Quaker Birth & Death records 1542 - 1897 a combined collection of more than half a million historic Anglican and Quaker marriage, birth and death records – offering unique insight into the history of many non-conformists in Wiltshire.

Spanning over 350 years, the records include more than 500,000 marriages from all 327 Wiltshire parishes, as well as more than 3,300 Wiltshire Quaker births and deaths.

Well-known as the home of ancient Neolithic site Stonehenge and for its wool-producing history, the county of Wiltshire was home to many members of the prominent Quaker family the Frys. Included in the collection are birth records for Cornelius and William Storrs Fry - brothers of chocolate dynasty founder Joseph Fry, whose chocolate company Fry, Vaughan & Co was famed for creating the first ever chocolate Easter egg in the UK.

The records are available to search by criteria including name, age and residence and in some cases detail addresses, occupations and parents’ names. Miriam Silverman, Senior Content Manager at Ancestry.co.uk said “These records are a fantastic resource for anyone interested in finding out more about their ancestors in Wiltshire – non-conformist or otherwise. The collection is also a significant addition to the Wiltshire records we currently have on Ancestry.co.uk, including almost 27,000 Wiltshire Extracted Parish Records.”

For more information, visit www.ancestry.co.uk. (Anyone with an Ancestry.com World Explorer membership can access and search all of Ancestry.com’s global sites including Ancestry.co.uk.)

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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Four Reasons I Should Be in Salt Lake City This Week

Let's face it: I shouldn't be in Spokane right now. Never mind that today is my birthday and I've enjoyed celebrating with family and friends in the area. However, Salt Lake City really is rocking this week and if I had done any planning (and had a ton of money to spend), I would have spent this week and coming weekend in "The Crossroads of the West." Here are my reasons SLC is the place to be right now:

4. The Zags!!!!


The Gonzaga University men's team from my hometown is ranked #1 in the nation for the first time in its history, and is off to the NCAA playoffs for some March Madness, yet again; this time against Southern University, playing in SLC's EnergySolutions Arena.



3. The Association of Professional Genealogists' (APG) Professional Management Conference:


Even though I'm not a member of the APG (yet), it sure would be interesting to sit in on the workshops and learn some genealogy business and marketing tips.



2. RootsTech - the Family History and Technology Conference:



Think about it: family history AND technology? How good can it get! Plus seeing all my genealogy peeps would be so much fun!




ALWAYS. If nothing else, the library will be there, waiting for us to do our research!

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Monday, March 18, 2013

NGS Early Bird Registration Discount Ends Tomorrow


Early Bird Registration Discount Ends Tomorrow
 2013 Family History Conference
Las Vegas, Nevada, 8–11 May 2013
Building New Bridges

ARLINGTON, VA, 18 March 2013: The NGS 2013 Family History Conference will be held 8–11 May 2013 at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (LVH), Las Vegas, Nevada. The early bird registration discount ends tomorrow, Tuesday, 19 March 2013. In addition to enjoying a $35 discount, only early birds have the opportunity to order a printed syllabus. (Everyone will receive a syllabus on flash drive.) NGS members get even deeper discounts, so this is a great time to join.

Space is still available for most breakfasts and luncheons, the NGS Banquet, and Tuesday bus tours. The BCG Education Fund Workshop is sold out. To be placed on the wait list, e-mail the NGS conference registrar, Courtney Holmes, at cholmes@ngsgenealogy.org.

All full-conference registrants will be entered in a drawing to win a seven-night stay at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel at Temple Square, courtesy of the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel. The prize will also include a free spot on one the Ancestor Seekers Salt Lake City research trips. Be sure to attend the opening session to find out if you are the winner. The winner must be present at the opening session to claim the prize.

To register online, visit the NGS website at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/attendee_registration and complete the registration form. 

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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Sunday, March 17, 2013

Scanfest is Coming (Early)!


The March 2013 Scanfest will take place here at AnceStories this coming Sunday, March 24th, from 11 AM to 2 PM, Pacific Daylight Time. This is one week earlier than the normal schedule of the last Sunday of the month, due to Easter Sunday falling on that day.
 
What is Scanfest? It's a time when geneabloggers, family historians, and family archivists meet online here at this blog to chat while they scan their precious family document and photos. Why? Because, quite honestly, scanning is time-consuming and boring!

Scanfest is a great time to "meet" other genealogists, ask questions about scanning and preservation, and get the kick in the pants we all need on starting those massive scanning projects that just seem too overwhelming to begin.

To get started, you need to know the basics about scanning:

1. Don't use commercial glass cleaners (i.e. Windex) or paper towels to clean your scanner's glass plate. Use a soft, clean cloth, preferably microfiber. If you must use a liquid, use water sprayed directly onto the cloth  and make sure to let the plate dry thoroughly before placing photos or documents on it.

2. Wear cotton gloves (available at many art and/or photography supply shops) when handling photos and old documents.

3. Don't slide the photos around on the glass plate. Place them exactly where you want them. Photos should NEVER be scanned by a scanner that feeds the document through the machine, but ALWAYS on a flat-bed scanner.

4. Set your scanner to scan at no smaller than 300 dpi (dots per inch). Many experts recommend 600 dpi for photographs.

5. Photographs should ALWAYS be scanned and saved as .tif files. Use "Save As" to reformat the .tif file to a .jpg file for restoration and touchups, emailing, or uploading to an online photo album. ALWAYS retain the original scan as a .tif file.

6. Documents can be scanned as .pdf files or .tif files.

7. When you are done scanning your photos, don't put them back in those nasty "magnetic" photo albums. Place them in archival safe albums or boxes found at websites such as Archival Products or Archival Suppliers. Do NOT store any newsprint (articles, obituaries, etc.) with the photos. The acid from the newspaper will eventually destroy the photograph.

Now about the chatting part of Scanfest:

We will be using Blyve, a live blogging platform that you access right here at AnceStories. On Sunday at 11 AM, PDT, come right here to AnceStories and you'll see the Blyve live blog/forum in the top post. It's not really a "chat room," per se, it's more like a live forum and anyone visiting this site can read and see what is happening in the forum.

You will not need to download any software.

We look forward to having you participate with us!

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