Folks Huxford and Elmer Spear Genealogical Library

The following is from a posting that appeared in GSGC Tips and Treasures earlier this year:

The Folks Huxford and Elmer Spear Genealogical Library will result from the merger of Elmer's Genealogy Library previously located in Madison, Florida with the Huxford Genealogical Library located in Homerville, Georgia. The merger will be completed sometime in 2010 and the combined library will be housed in Homerville (a small town located between Waycross and Valdosta, Georgia on U.S. Highway 84).

When the merger is completed, the combined library may be the largest and finest private genealogical library in the southeastern United States. The library will be managed by The Huxford Genealogical Society.

The following announcement has been received from Elmer Spear regarding the opening of the merged library:

February l3, 2011 will be the Grand Opening of the new Huxford-Spear Genealogy Library at the Municipal Complex in Homerville, GA. Elmer Spear will speak about the new additions (28,000+ books and other materials) to the library.

Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be awarded. And the best treat is you get to see and research in the new library. R.S.V.P. to Elmer Spear at

espear1943@gmail.com.

More Newspapers Coming to World Vital Records

The following newspapers are coming soon to paid-subscription site, WorldVitalRecords.com.

• The Abilene Daily Reporter (Abilene, Texas)
• The Abilene Semi-Weekly Reporter (Abilene, Texas)
• Advertiser (LaGrange, Illinois)
• Advocate (Victoria, Texas)
• Anderson Herald (Anderson, Indiana)
• Chester Times (Chester, Pennsylvania)
• Clerkenwell Watchman and Reformer's Gazette (London)
• The Herald-Press (St. Joseph, Michigan)
• Idaho Citizen (Twin Falls, Idaho)
• Joplin News Herald (Joplin, Missouri)
• Kern County Californian (Bakersfield, California)
• Lawrence Morning News (Lawrence, Kansas)
• Norway News (Norway, Kansas)
• Paris Le Temps (Paris, France)
• Rio Rancho Observer (Rio Rancho, New Mexico)
• Syracuse Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York)
• Temperance Caterer (London)
• Winona Daily News (Winona, Minnesota)

To see a complete listing of World Vital Records’ newspaper collection, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/contentsearch.aspx?rt=news

“Who Do You Think You Are?” - Season 2

Mark your calendars. The second season of NBC’s “Who Do You Think You Are?” will begin on Friday, February 4, 2011 at 8 p.m. EST.

Celebrities exploring their ancestry during the upcoming season:

• Steve Buscemi - Actor, Writer, Film Director
• Kim Cattrall - Actress
• Ashley Judd - Actress
• Tim McGraw - Country Singer, Actor
• Rosie O’Donnell - Stand-up Comedienne, Actress, Singer, Author, Media Personality
• Gwyneth Paltrow - Actress
• Lionel Richie - Singer-Songwriter, Record Producer
• Vanessa Williams - Singer, Actress

Free Access to Ancestry.com’s U.S. Military Collection

In honor of Veterans Day, Ancestry.com is offering free access to its U.S. Military Collection through November 14th.

To access these records, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.ancestry.com/militaryrecords

Note: To view search results will require registration for a “free account.”

Atlanta Family History Expo

Family History Expos, Inc., based in Morgan, Utah, will hold its Atlanta Family History Expo at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth (suburb of Atlanta), Georgia on Friday and Saturday, November 12-13, 2010. Some of the topics to be covered during the two-day event include:

• How technology will impact search for family history answers now and in the future
• Tips and tricks for finding elusive females in a family tree
• Scanning and photo retouching basics
• Using social networking in genealogy
• Finding German ancestors

To find out more information about the expo, including program content/times, speakers and exhibitors, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.fhexpos.com/Atlanta2010/Atlanta2010Program.pdf

To find out information about costs and registration, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.fhexpo.com/

Family Tree Magazine’s “2010 Best State Websites”

In its December 2010 issue, Family Tree Magazine has identified (and posted online) 75 state websites for genealogical research. At least one website is shown for each of the 50 states.

To view the select 75 (and to link to them), copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://familytreemagazine.com/article/2010-best-state-websites#o

Free Online Genealogy Files Backup

Backup your genealogy files online for free!

An online backup service was launched recently which currently supports the following Windows® genealogy software:

• Family Tree Maker
• Personal Ancestral File (PAF)
• Legacy Family Tree
• RootsMagic (version 4 or later)
• Family Tree Builder
• Family Tree Legends
• GenoPro

GEDCOM files are also supported.

This online service, offered by BackupMyTree, is free – with plans for a paid version offering additional features to be available in the future (at a small annual fee).

To learn more about this service, including "Frequently Asked Questions," and to sign up for the service, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

https://www.backupmytree.com/home

Persons thinking about signing up for this service are advised to read carefully the Terms of Service.

Family History Center, Myrtle Beach, SC

Persons who might be planning a visit to the Family History Center (FHC) located at 48th Ave N & Hwy US 17 Bypass, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina should be aware that the center will be closed on Saturday, October 2nd due to a church conference.

Normal Hours for the FHC are:

• Wednesday, 6pm-9pm. and
• Saturday, 10am-4pm.

Using Older Versions of Family Tree Maker with Windows 7

Computer guru Kim Komando, in her “Tip of the Day” for 9/20/2010, offers guidance on using older versions of Ancestry.com's Family Tree Maker (FTM) with Windows 7. The tip, responding to a radio listener wanting to use FTM version 16, points out that version 16 should run in Windows 7 but not all functions will work. It discusses a compatibility patch for FTM versions 2005, 2006 and 16 which was developed for the Vista operating system but also works with Windows 7. The tip also discusses operating system bit versions (32-bit and 64-bit).

To read Kim’s “Tip of the Day for 9/20/2010,” copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=8683&utm_medium=nl&utm_source=csotd&utm_content=2010-09-20-fifl&utm_campaign=c

Free Access to U.S. Immigration Records

In celebration of its recent launching of “a collection of more than 1,700 recorded oral histories from immigrants who arrived in the United States through Ellis Island,” Ancestry.com is making available free access to its entire “U.S. Immigration Collection.” This window of opportunity for non-Ancestry subscribers runs through this Monday (September 6, 2010)!

To learn more, read Ancestry’s September 1st press release by copying and pasting the following URL into your web browser:

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/ancestry/45818/

To access Ancestry’s “U.S. Immigration Collection,” copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

www.ancestry.com/immigration

Immigrant Ancestors: Free Online Class

Ancestry.com will offer a free online class: Coming to America: Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors. The one hour class will begin at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, September 1, 2010.

For more information and registration, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Webinars.aspx

Note: Registration is required to attend this event.

WorldVitalRecords Adds 8,000 Yearbooks

WorldVitalRecords.com (WVR), in partnership with E-Yearbook.com, has added 8,000 yearbooks to WVR's databases. These include middle school, high school, college and military yearbooks.

For a limited time (August 5 through 12, 2010), access to these yearbooks at WorldVitalRecords.com is free.

To take advantage of this limited-time opportunity, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/

After accessing WVR's website, insert your search information in the box captioned “Start Searching for Your Ancestors...” Enter an individual’s Given Name and/or Last Name, the name of the school in the “Keyword” block and the year of the yearbook in the “Year” block. Search results will appear under "Yearbooks."

Note: Search criteria can be as little as the name of the school or the name of the school and year.

Suggestion: In order to readily determine which yearbooks are currently in WVR’s database, it is suggested that a check of E-Yearbook.com’s website be made. The website is located at: http://www.e-yearbook.com/. You can find yearbooks organized by state which are then subdivided into High School Yearbooks, College Yearbooks, Middle School Yearbooks and Military Yearbooks.

Chapin Memorial Library Changes Hours

Chapin Memorial Library has changed its hours of operation. The new schedule, already in effect, is as follows:

Library Hours

• Monday 10:00am - 6:00pm
• Tuesday 10:00am - 7:00pm
• Wednesday 10:00am - 6:00pm
• Thursday 10:00am - 7:00pm
• Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm
• Saturday 10:00am - 2:00pm
• Sunday CLOSED

Revolutionary War Documents

Through July 7th, Revolutionary War documents found on Footnote, a subscription genealogy site, are accessible without cost. However, if not already a member, it will be necessary to register for a free Footnote basic membership in order to gain access to the records.

Included among the documents are “Revolutionary War Pensions,” “Revolutionary War Service Records” and “Revolutionary War Rolls.”

To learn more about the Footnote Revolutionary War Documents and/or to take advantage of the free access, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://go.footnote.com/revolutionary-war/

Free Access to Civil War Records

During the month of June, Civil War records found on Footnote, a subscription genealogy site, are accessible without cost. However, it will be necessary to register for a free Footnote basic membership in order to gain access to the records.

To learn more about the Footnote Civil War Collection and/or to take advantage of the free access, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://go.footnote.com/civilwar/

FamilySearch International Adds 300 Million Names

FamilySearch International (FSI) has added an additional 300 million names to its family history database. According to an announcement posted by FSI on April 28, 2010, “The names come from extracted original sources and include many collections that have never before been available online.”

The additional names can be found at FamilySearch BETA (new search engine undergoing test evaluation). To access, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://fsbeta.familysearch.org/

Genealogy Publications Accessible Online

Until now one has had to either purchase or obtain from a library the following genealogy reference publications:

• Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources (Third Edition)

• The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy (Third Edition)

Ancestry Publishing’s popular reference books are now available online as part of Ancestry.com Wiki.*

They can be accessed by copying and pasting the following URLs into a web browser:

• Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources

http://www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php?title=Red_Book:_American_State,_County,_and_Town_Sources

• The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy

http://www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Source:_A_Guidebook_to_American_Genealogy

For GSGC T&T user’s convenience, these two publications have been added to Tips and Treasures’ Favorite Links.

*Note: To learn more about Ancestry.com Wiki, copy and paste the following URL into a web browser:

http://www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Who Do You Think You Are?

The third episode of Who Do You Think You Are? will air on NBC this Friday, March 19th, at 8 p.m. EST. Actress Lisa Kudrow will search for her Jewish ancestors.

If you missed the previous episodes, they may viewed online by copying and pasting the following URLs into your web browser:

Actress/Producer Sarah Jessica Parker (3/05/2010)

http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/video/episodes/#vid=1206958

Football Legend Emmitt Smith (3/12/2010)

http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/video/episodes/#vid=1208739

What does a residence look like now?

Have you ever wondered what a residence recorded in your genealogy files looks like today? What about the residence where you were born or formerly resided? What about a relative’s residence - living or deceased?

The website vPike.com may be able to help. You insert the address (Street, City, State or Country) and a hopefully a Google street view will appear. Unfortunately not all addresses have been photographed and thus not all addresses can be viewed. Assuming that the address you are seeking has been photographed, you can move around the picture and see it from different angles as well view nearby residences - including those across the street.

Note: It helps to have a general idea of what the property might look like and/or where it is located since the address shown on the photo is identified as approximate. In one actual search, the residence sought was correctly pictured but the address identified was slightly off. In another, the residence being sought was across the street from the picture that appeared initially and the photo had to be maneuvered 180 degrees using the mouse. For the initial use of this website, it is suggested that the user use his or her own address or possibly a parent’s address in order to become familiar with the website features.

To access vPike.com, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.vpike.com/

Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Harvard scholar, premiered Wednesday, February 10 on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service). This new series focuses on the questions of “What made America?” and “What makes us?” using the tools of genealogy and genetics. It is presented on Wednesdays from 8 - 9 p.m. EST and will run through March 3, 2010.

Family histories of twelve well-known Americans will be explored:

• Elizabeth Alexander (Professor and Poet)
• Mario Batali (Chef)
• Stephen Colbert (Comedian)
• Louise Erdrich (Novelist)
• Malcolm Gladwell (Journalist)
• Eva Longoria (Actress)
• Yo-Yo Ma (Musician)
• Queen Noor
• Mike Nichols (Director)
• Dr. Mehmet Oz (Television Host/Heart Surgeon)
• Meryl Streep (Actress)
• Kristi Yamaguchi (Olympic Gold Medalist/Figure Skater)

The previously telecast February 10 episode may be viewed online by copying and pasting the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/video/episode-1-our-american-stories/190/

Who Do You Think You Are?

Finally, NBC’s genealogy-reality TV series Who Do You Think You Are? will premier March 5th at 8 p.m. EST. Seven celebrities seek to discover their genealogical roots. The celebrities are: Sarah Jessica Parker, Susan Sarandon, Spike Lee, Matthew Broderick, Brooke Shields, Emmitt Smith and Lisa Kudrow.

If you want to know more about the series, copy and paste the following URL into your browser:

http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/

Folks Huxford and Elmer Spear Genealogical Library

The Folks Huxford and Elmer Spear Genealogical Library will result from the merger of Elmer's Genealogy Library previously located in Madison, Florida with the Huxford Genealogical Library located in Homerville, Georgia. The merger will be completed sometime in 2010 and the combined library will be housed in Homerville (a small town located between Waycross and Valdosta, Georgia on U.S. Highway. 84).

When the merger is completed, the combined library may be the largest and finest private genealogical library in the southeastern United States. The library will be managed by The Huxford Genealogical Society.

Library officials do not know when the transfer of materials from Elmer’s Genealogy Library will occur. The building in Homerville has to be remodeled before receiving anything from Florida. Elmer’s Genealogy Library closed December 31, 2009 and its genealogy collection is packed and ready to ship to Homerville when the building is ready.

The decision to merge libraries was made to ensure the survival of Elmer's Genealogy Library into the future. The merger will involve the transfer of over 30,000 books, nearly 4,000 rolls of microfilm and over 10,000 sheets of microfiche from Elmer’s Library to the library in Georgia.

The Huxford Library currently has more than 4,000 genealogical and reference books and 1,300 family surname files as well as donated genealogical collections, microfilm, microfiche and CD-ROM material covering a good portion of the eastern United States.

To get an general idea of what is being transferred from Elmer’s Library, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.elmerslibrary.com/index.php

Review the “Recap of Books By State” which appears at the bottom of the web page.

To get a better idea of what might be applicable to your specific genealogical interests, (1) click on the “Search Our Books” button which is located at the upper left of the web page. (2) Under "Search Our Database," enter both a county and state or a state only and (3) click on “Search Now!” to see a list of publications.

To visit the website for The Huxford Genealogical Society, Inc./Huxford Genealogical Library, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.huxford.com/

Note: As new information is learned about the transfer of genealogy materials to Homerville, an update will be posted here.

Looking for an old web page; try “Wayback Machine”

The following tip is from a GSGC member.

“I just found out about using the above website to retrieve information from long gone websites. I am researching a “-----” line and there used to be a website with gedcoms dedicated to this family. The website has been defunct for a few years but I was able to find an archived (backed-up) copy of it and many of the pages and more importantly the downloads and pdf’s were still available!”

To reach the referenced website, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://web.archive.org/collections/web/advanced.html

Note: Internet Archives’ Wayback Machine allows the viewing of archived web pages from the past. While the archive doesn't contain every web page ever published, the current inventory of old web pages includes over 150 billion web pages beginning in 1996.

“The Generations Project”

RootsMagic is sponsoring The Generations Project, a new television series that explores family histories of ordinary people. Advertised as “...a new reality series that helps those who have questions about their family history investigate their own identities by walking in the shoes of their ancestors,” it premiered Monday, January 4, 2010 on BYU Television. New episodes will air each Monday and be repeated several times during the week.

BYU Television is available on Dish Network channel 9403, DirecTV channel 374 and many local cable systems.

Additionally, the episodes can be viewed online by copying and pasting the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.byu.tv/

Broadcast times for episodes airing January 9 through 18 can be found by copying and pasting the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.byub.org/programaz/program.asp?id=1791

Note: programming times are shown in Mountain Standard Time (add 2 hours for Eastern Standard Time).

Genealogy Research and Organization

GSGC member Kathryn Walizer has written an article on “Genealogy Research and Organization” for WorldVitalRecords.com’s newsletter, Family History Bulletin. You can read Kathryn’s informative article by copy and pasting the following URL into your web browser:

<http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/news/Volume3Issue63//?page=share&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=right%2Bbanner&utm_campaign=Wvr%2BNewsletter&offer=1>