Welcome to my blog about my genealogical research: my triumphs, my challenges, my research notes...plus some tips and links for you.
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Friday, October 31, 2008
Bye Bye, Busy October
I did, however, update the links whenever I had time on the "October Is..." post. You can go there to view all the carnivals, challenges and other events that took place.
FamilySearch Record Search Update: Over 30 Million New Records Added
Over 30 million names or record images were added to FamilySearch’s Record Search pilot. Significant data was published from 3 U.S. Census indexing projects (1850,1860, and 1870). Digital image collections were added for Massachusetts , Argentina, Brazil, Czech Republic, Louisiana, Russia, Spain, and Vermont (see the table below).
The entire collection can be searched for free directly online at http://pilot.familysearch.org or through the Search Records feature at FamilySearch.org.
Collection: 1850 United States Census (Population) - index & images
Digital Images: ---
Indexed Records: 1,830,275
Comment: Added Georgia, Mississippi, and Virginia
Collection: 1850 US Census (Slave)
Digital Images: ---
Indexed Records: 1,157,705
Comment: See description online for state list.
Collection: 1850 US Census (Mortality)
Digital Images: ---
Indexed Records: 39,325
Comment: See description online for state list.
Collection: 1860 US Census
Digital Images: ---
Indexed Records: 20,112,346
Comment: All states. Partials for Alabama and Pennsylvania.
Collection: 1870 US Census
Digital Images: ---
Indexed Records: 6,866,230
Comment: Added IN, MI, OH, and WI
Collection: 1865 MA Census
Digital Images: 15,434
Indexed Records: ---
Comment: City of Boston
FamilySearch Indexing Update: Partner Projects
FamilySearch has a growing number of society indexing partners. FamilySearch Indexing is working with genealogical or historical societies to complete projects of mutual interest. Volunteer indexers may have noted that partner projects are not readily listed in the available batches to index online unless the volunteer has been granted permission to participate by a partner.
FamilySearch indexers can request to participate in a partner project by sending an e-mail directly to the project’s contact or administrator. The society contact information is found next to the project listing (Go to FamilySearchIndexing.org, Projects, Current Projects, scroll down to partner projects, or just click here).
If permission is granted by the partner, an indexer will receive an e-mail with a new user name and temporary password to use when accessing that society’s project(s). Volunteers should use their regular login and password to continue indexing FamilySearch’s open (non partner) projects as usual.
Current society partners and projects are listed below:
- Algemeen Rijksarchief en Rijksarchief in de Provincien (National Archives of Brussels)
- Arkansas Genealogical Society
- Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia
- Immigrant Ancestors Project
- Indiana Genealogical Society
- Ohio Genealogical Society
- The New England Historic Genealogical Society
Arkansas Marriages [The first of these projects], English, 5%
Arkansas Marriages IV, English, 2%
Belgique – Registres Des Décès (Français), French, 14%
België - Overlijdens Registers - In het Nederlands, Dutch, Flemish, 5%
Bremer Schifflisten, German, New!
Flanders Death Registration, French, Dutch, Flemish, 33%
Indiana Marriages, 1790 – Apr 1905, English, 60%
Indiana Marriages, 1882 – Apr 1905, English, 64%
Indiana Marriage Returns, 1882 – Apr 1905, English, 48%
Indiana Marriages, Apr 1905 – Dec 1957, English, 40%
Nova Scotia Antigonish Church Records, 1823 – 1905, English, 35%
Ohio Tax Records – 2 of 4, English, 59%
Vermont Militia Records (Coming Soon), English, New!
Indexes can be searched for free at http://pilot.familysearch.org. Visit regularly to see what is new!
Monday, October 27, 2008
itsourtree.com Releases Free Family Tree Software
The software enables users to edit and create a family tree on their own PC. If desired, they can then upload it to itsourtree.com and share it with relatives and friends. The Home Edition offers state-of-the-art usability and technology at no cost. Besides operating in the standard GEDCOM format the software also allows the printing of various familial lists in an appropriate genealogical standard.
Itsourtree.com co-founder Sven Schmidt states: “Like Google’s strategy of turning the expensive Keyhole software into the free Google Earth, we decided to offer a software that is usually pricy for free.” Co-founder Daniel Groezinger adds: “This is a ‘thank you’ for all the support we have got from our users. This also extends our internet strategy of offering top quality at no cost.”
Itsourtree.com, the fastest-growing family network worldwide, is a strong complementary to other genealogical resources. So far, more than 5 million families use the platform to combine genealogy with the fun of family communications.
About itsourtree.com
Apart from the English site, the services are available in Germany (www.verwandt.de), in Poland (www.moikrewni.pl), Spain and South America (www.miparentela.com), Portugal (www.meusparentes.com.pt), Brazil (www.meusparentes.com.br), the Netherlands (www.verwant.nl), Italy (www.parentistretti.it) and France (www.familleunie.fr). The platform will continue expanding to other European countries as well as worldwide. Itsourtree.com is supported by leading Business Angels, Hasso Plattner Ventures and Neuhaus Partners, a well-known venture capitalist.
Friday, October 24, 2008
October 2008 Scanfest to be Held this Sunday
This may be the last Scanfest for me for a while, since I will be having shoulder surgery November 14th. We also normally take a break in November and December, due to the holidays around the last weekend of those months.
Hope to "see" you Sunday!
Friday, October 17, 2008
It's All Randy's Fault!
Ten Years Ago, I Was:
1. a homeschooling, SAHM of an almost-8-year-old and a 4 1/2-year-old
2. younger and slimmer, but poorer :-)
3. living without a computer or the Internet (unbelievable, I know!)
4. looking at a much smaller family tree with many more blank spaces
5. driving a different station wagon, and being owned by a different cat
Five Places I Have Lived:
1. Kodiak, Alaska
2. Fairbanks, Alaska
3. Metlakatla, Alaska
4. Kake, Alaska
5. Klawock, Alaska
(and to complete the list, there's Colville, Washington and three communities within Spokane County, Washington)
Five Jobs I Have Had:
1. camp counselor
2. preschool teacher's aide
3. accounts payable bookkeeper
4. receptionist/secretary/switchboard operator
5. adult family home caregiver
Five Snacks I Enjoy:
1. diet Pepsi
2. tortilla chips with a dip of equal parts sour cream and La Victoria's Salsa Brava
3. Kit Kat bar
4. smoked almonds
5. pizza, sausage or Hawaiian
Five Things on Today's To-Do List:
1. finish packing
2. clean the cat's litterbox (oh, joy)
3. call in and renew hubby's prescription
4. make sure kids do their homework over the weekend (it never ends)
5. work on the checkbook (joy, again)
Since I'm writing this before I head out of town, I don't have time to hunt for those who haven't already been tagged. If you come across this and wish to participate, consider yourself tagged by me.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Everton Online Edition FREE Access
Everton apologizes for any inconvenience that genealogists experienced with the initial launch of the Online Edition, and are confident that your experience will now be a pleasant and rewarding one. Everton is offering access to the two Online Edition issues now available at the site: Jul-Aug 2008 and Sept-Oct 2008 absolutely FREE until October 17. Simply go to: www.everton.com. ALSO - until October 27 the $12 annual subscription fee to the Online Edition of the Genealogical Helper will be reduced to $10.00, and the $29.00 annual subscription fee for the hard copy edition of the magazine (includes access to the Online Edition) will be reduced to $25.00.
The Genealogical Helper is widely recognized as having no equal in terms of amount of total content, educational and research information, and lists of organizations, events, and repositories. The complete magazine is online, and all websites listed in either the content or advertisements are hot-linked.
FamilySearch Indexing Update
We had great response to our request a week ago for help with the Cheshire – Poor Law project. Thanks to the focused effort of many volunteers, the Cheshire project is now 97% complete! That’s a 15% increase from last week (or 5,748 batches – Indexer A + Indexer B + Arbitration). It should only take a few more days to get to 100% completion. Sincere thanks go out to all of our indexers who responded to the request. Keep up the great work!
New Projects This Week
This week, two new indexing projects were added—Missouri and Tennessee from the 1870 U.S. Federal Census collection. Please send a message to all friends, colleagues, and family members who might be interested in participating in indexing the two newly added state projects or any of the current indexing initiatives noted below.
Current Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion StatusAlabama - 1920 US Federal Census English - 1920 - 85%
Argentina Censo 1869 - Buenos Aires Spanish - 1869 - 76%
Arkansas Marriages II English - 1837-1957 - 10%
Brandenburg Kirchenbücher German - 1789-1875 - 9%
California - 1920 US Federal Census English - 1920 - 32%
España Lugo Registros Parroquiales Spanish - 1530-1930 - 7%
Florida 1945 Census English - 1945 - 30%
France, Coutances, Paroisses de la Manche French - 1792-1906 - 7%
Guanajuato Censo de Mexico de 1930 Spanish - 1930 - 60%
Guerrero - Censo de Mexico de 1930 Spanish - 1930 - 38%
Illinois - 1920 US Federal Census English - 1920 - 16%
Massachusetts - 1920 US Federal Census English - 1920 - 17%
Missouri - 1870 US Federal Census English - 1870 (New)
Morelos - Censo de Mexico de 1930 Spanish - 1930 - 78%
New York - 1870 US Federal Census English - 1870 - 88%
Nicaragua, Managua Civil Records Spanish - 1879 - present - 8%
Tennessee - 1870 US Federal Census English - 1870 (New)
Trento Italy Baptism Records Italian - 1784-1924 - 7%
UK - Cheshire - Poor Law English - 1848 -1967 - 97%
Venezuela Mérida Registros Parroquiales Spanish - 1654 - 1992 - 0.4%
Ninth Historical Monument Dedication
From the Spokane Police Department:
On behalf of the Fairmount Memorial Association, in partnership with the Spokane Law Enforcement Museum, and the SPD History Book Committee we would like to invite you to the dedication of our 9th Historical Monument dedicated to Pfc. Joe E. Mann on:
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Greenwood Memorial Terrace (UPPER level).
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers will be giving the Memorial address, Reardan Mayor Sherman Johnson will speak on behalf of their "Hometown Hero", Duane Broyles will dedicate the monument on behalf of Fairmount Memorial Association, and officers from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky will present the family with a memorial plaque, as well as other very special moments planned for this event. Gonzaga R.O.T.C. will present the colors, and John Shaw Junior High School band will have some patriotic music during the ceremony. There will be many dignitaries and family members present.
A reception will follow for all those attending at the Heritage Funeral Home across from Greenwood on Government Way. There will be a PowerPoint program playing about Pfc. Joe E. Mann's life, and a display of his ribbons and awards, etc. for all to view and greet family members.
Questions please contact Susan S. "Sue" Walker at 477-6449.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Sixty-Eight Years Ago Today
Source: "50th Anniversary Sampler of Robert and Jeanne (Holst) Robbins", created 1990 by Miriam (Robbins) Midkiff. Photographed and privately held by Miriam (Robbins) Midkiff, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Spokane, Washington. 2008.
My grandfather passed away 28 December 2003, after being married 63 years to his "Jeannie with the light brown hair." My grandmother now lives with my uncle and his wife in Michigan due to her advancing age and Alzheimer's. When one of my aunts cleaned out my grandparents' retirement home in Texas a couple of years ago, she came across the sampler and returned it to me. I haven't done cross-stitch in years, but seeing it again has inspired me. Perhaps someday I'll create some sort of heritage or family tree piece.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Two New Books for My Wish List
The first is Dan Lynch's Google Your Family Tree: Unlock the Hidden Power of Google. I've been aware for quite awhile that Dan was getting ready to publish this treasure, and I can't wait to try it out! I already use many features of Google as tools for my research, but I'm sure I'll find lots more search tips and techniques. This is the first book on Google that specifically targets using the search engine as a genealogy research tool. You can reserve your copy here.
The second book is The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy: A complete resource to using the Web to trace your family history by Kimberly Powell. I've been using Kimberly's The Everything Family Tree Book as an optional text/reference book for the Online Genealogy classes that I teach through the Community Colleges of Spokane. Although I haven't yet seen The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy, if it's half as good as her first one, then I'm going to have to add this to my list of recommended reading that I give each of my students!
Congratulations to Dan and Kimberly on their newly-published works!
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Press Release from Itsourtree.com
Energy costs are constantly rising while the budget for family visits is shrinking. There is less money left in the wallet for the trip to the grandparents. Online family network itsourtree.com sets itself the target to bring the family closer together by means of the platform’s communication features.
The medium internet is a quick and free alternative to stay in contact with the family even at long distances. Building a common family tree is the first step to simple family communication. Other relatives can be searched for in the database and then invited to collaborate in the family tree, photos of the last family reunion can be shared with all relatives. The easy-to-use message system keeps the relatives up-to-date on everything and they get over a cancelled visit more easily.
Itsourtree.com, the fastest-growing family network worldwide, has become an important research and communication tool for both genealogists and families all around the globe. So far, more than 5 million families use the platform to combine genealogy with the fun of family connection.
About itsourtree.com
Apart from the English site, the services are available in Germany (www.verwandt.de), in Poland (www.moikrewni.pl), Spain and South America (www.miparentela.com), Portugal (www.meusparentes.com.pt), Brazil (www.meusparentes.com.br), the Netherlands (www.verwant.nl), Italy (www.parentistretti.it) and France (www.familleunie.fr). The platform will continue expanding to other European countries as well as worldwide. Itsourtree.com is supported by leading Business Angels and Neuhaus Partners, a well-known venture capitalist.
FamilySearch Press Release: Summit County Ohio Court Receives Grant
Hundreds of thousands of historic records will be freely available online
Salt Lake City, Utah—Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and the National Association of Government Archive and Records Administrators (NAGARA) announced on July 24, 2008, that Judge Bill Spicer and the Probate Division of the Summit County Common Pleas Court in Akron, Ohio, were awarded a 2008 grant for the digitization of Summit County marriage, birth, and death records. The court’s grant was one of only two awarded in 2008. This significant grant will make it possible for Summit County to digitally preserve and provide free online access to select historical documents.
The project targets 1840 to 1980 marriage records for over 550,000 individuals, birth records prior to 1908 for over 46,000 individuals, and death records prior to 1908 for over 22,000 individuals. A free, searchable name index linked to the digital images of the original records will be available to the public through the probate court’s Web site www.summitohioprobate.com and the grant partners’ sites.
“As a result of the grant, our Website, which was chosen as one of the 10 best in the country by the National College of Probate Judges, will now have the added distinction of being a model for the state and country for accessing historical court records,” said Judge Spicer. “Not only will it improve access, but by reducing the need to see the often-fragile originals, it will make the court’s job of preserving hundreds of thousands of original records easier. The project is a far-sighted and important effort in preserving local history. On behalf of the court and the citizens of Summit County, I thank the project sponsors for selecting Summit County Probate Court as its 2008 grant recipient.”
This is the first year that this national grant was offered. It is sponsored by Ancestry.com and FamilySearch and administered by NAGARA. Under the grant, FamilySearch will digitize the original documents on-site in the Summit County courthouse by the end of 2008, and Ancestry.com will create an electronic index linked to the images. The entire project is scheduled for completion in 2009. The commercial value of the grant is estimated to be $150,000.00.
Outside of this and similar business transactions, no legal or other affiliation exists between FamilySearch and The Generations Network.
About FamilySearch
FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization that maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources. Patrons may access resources online at FamilySearch.org or through the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. and is registered in the United States of America and other countries.
About the Ancestry Global Network
The Ancestry global network of family history Web sites is wholly owned by The Generations Network, Inc. It consists of nine Web sites – www.ancestry.com in the U.S., www.ancestry.co.uk in the UK, www.ancestry.ca in Canada, www.ancestry.com.au in Australia, www.ancestry.de in Germany, www.ancestry.it in Italy, www.ancestry.fr in France, www.ancestry.se in Sweden and www.jiapu.cn in China. Ancestry members have access to 7 billion names contained in 26,000 historical record collections. Tree-building and photo upload are free on all Ancestry websites. To date, Ancestry.com users have created more than 7 million family trees containing 700 million profiles and 11 million photographs. Nearly 5.8 million unique visitors logged onto Ancestry.com in August 2008 (comScore Media Metrix, Worldwide).
Sunday, October 05, 2008
This, That, and Much More!
Genea-Blogs:
Scanfest was done in two sections last Sunday. A group of us met via Windows Live Messenger and chatted there, while others met with Thomas using Skype for a conference call. There were a few who went back and forth between the two media. I think we all enjoyed ourselves, but those who were using Skype soon determined that they could not scan and Skype at the same time successfully. Denise did a good summary, "Skyping at Scanfest," at her blog, Family Matters. The next Scanfest will be held Sunday, October 26th from 11 AM to 2 PM, PDT. Go here for more information.
Terry at Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi did a great round up of introducing genea-bloggers from around the blogosphere, in three parts of "Getting to Know You"! You can read about 42 genealogy-loving and blogging personalities from around the globe here, here, and here. In Part I, you can also click on the title link to hear Terry himself sing "Getting to Know You" in his gentlemanly southern voice, which I always enjoy listening to whenever a group of us does a conference call via Skype. Our good friend Craig of Geneablogie was laid up in the hospital during the time that these posts were put together, but today he published "Getting to Know Me--Getting to Know GeneaBlogie." My own article can be found here.
You've heard of Craig's List, but have you heard about Angie's List? It's a site where you can find professionals to help you with your service and repair needs, as well as health care providers. Well, Thomas of Destination: Austin Family got his 15 minutes of fame last July when he was interviewed by Angie's List, along with three professional genealogists, for Angie's List podcast. Additionally, he appeared in Angie's List e-zine, which is e-mailed to all of their members. Kudos to Thomas for some well-deserved recognition!
The Family Curator has posted the Treasure Hunters Round-up of those participants who are planning to go through their genealogy treasure boxes to organize, scan, and archive their "goodies." They hope to find a surprise or two! Stay tuned for later this month, when they'll share their results.
Colleen at Orations of OMcHodoy has the Genea-Blogger Yearbook up: a hilarious peek at what we'd look like if we attended high school in various decades! While I didn't participate directly, Thomas used me as a model here. I think 1962 was my best look; don't you?
Becky at kinnexxions wrote A Salute to the Old-Timers! in response to Tim's Everyone's Turning 2 This Year at Genealogy Reviews Online. Yep, this blog turned two years old in January, and I guess I'm now officially an old-timer!
The 57th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy has been posted by Jasia at Creative Gene. The theme is "I Read It in the News." Holy cow! There are 47 submissions of articles describing how the participants found relatives or ancestors in newspapers. The COG continues to grow, adding newbies every time. It's a great way to learn more about genealogy, research, and writing, and to discover new blogs to read.
Genealogy News:
My apologies to Family Tree DNA, who has been sending me updates about their Houston, Texas lab in relation to Hurricane Ike. I've been too busy to post these on the blog, but fortunately, they sent them out to many bloggers, including Elizabeth of Little Bytes of Life. She has posted them here, here, and here. If you had a DNA test done through this company and are concerned that this facility was in harm's way, please be assured by these postings that everything has been kept safe.
There were also two updates from FamilySearch last week that I did not get to, but Renee of Renee's Genealogy Blog has them here and here. There have been 29 million names added to Record Search pilot this past week alone!
A new website, GenSoftReviews, has recently opened as a place where users can post reviews about their favorite genealogy software. Of course, I gave high marks to RootsMagic!
Public Records Free Directory blog has a new tool you can post on your iGoogle home page to help you get to their Directory pages right away.
The Kindo family tree networking website and MyHeritage genealogy site have joined hands. Read about it on the MyHeritage blog here.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
The October 2008 Calendar of Events Has Been Updated
Check out the October 2008 Calendar of Events here. It's a busy month! Whew!
October Is...
...Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15)
...Czech Heritage Month
...Polish American Heritage Month
...Italian American Heritage Month
...Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Month
October 1: Eid Al-Fitr (Islam: End of Ramadan)
National Day (People's Republic of China)
Independence Day (Cyprus)
Independence Day (Nigeria)
October 3: German Unity Day (Germany)
October 6: German American Day
October 8, sunset: Yom Kippur (Judaism: Day of Atonement)
Independence Day (Croatia)
October 13: Columbus Day (United States)
Thanksgiving (Canada)
October 19: Constitution Day (Niue)
October 20: National Multicultural Diversity Day
Birth of the Báb (Bá'hai)
October 23: Revolution of 1956 Remembrance Day (Hungary)
October 27: Independence Day (St. Vincent & the Grenadines)
Independence Day (Turkmenistan)
October 28: Independence Day (Greece)
October 29: Republic Day (Turkey)
October 31: All Hallows Eve (Christianity)
Do any of the above events feature in or affect your heritage, culture, or family history?
Posted October 1 - "Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You" Challenge - Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV
Posted October 2 - A Genea-Blogger Yearbook
Posted October 3 - Treasure Hunters Round-up
Posted October 4 - the 57th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy - I Read It in The News!
Posted October 16 - the 6th Edition of the "I Smile for the Camera" Carnival - Funny Bone
Posted October 18 - the 58th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy - Halloween Hauntings...Fact or Fiction?
Posted October 15 - Blog Action Day - Poverty
Posted October 20 - the 10th Edition of the Cabinet of Curiosities
Posted October 23 - Treasure Hunt Challenge Round-Up: Just Look What We Found in Our Cupboards & Closets & Boxes!
Posted October 31 - 9th Edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage & Culture - Irish Superstitions
Posted October 31 - 12th Edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy - Folklore, Myths, Legends, Ghost Stories, Traditions or Festivals
Posted November 2 - Polish History and Culture Challenge
Go here to learn how to join Scanfest and our group of chatting, scanning family archivists, historians, and bloggers!
courtesy of Thomas MacEntee of Destination: Austin Family.