GSGC Tips and Treasures

Webinar: “Introduction to the 1940 Federal Census”

2012-01-02T06:29:00.000-08:00

Friends of the National Archives Southeast Region, Inc. will sponsor a live webinar on January 9, 2012: Introduction to the 1940 Federal Census. The one hour webinar will begin at 7 p.m. EST and will be presented by archivist and genealogist, Constance Potter.

Although the webinar is free, registration is required. To register, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/874267494

Local Family History Center Revises Hours

2012-01-01T08:41:00.000-08:00

The Family History Center (FHC) located at 48th Ave N & Hwy US 17 Bypass, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has revised its Saturday hours to what they were previously.

Normal Hours for the FHC are:

Wednesday: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Persons wishing to visit the FHC during off-hours can call 843/449-1166.

Family History Center, Myrtle Beach, SC

2011-11-14T06:13:00.000-08:00

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 has reduced its Saturday hours.

Normal Hours for the FHC are:

Wednesday: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

and

Saturday: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Persons wishing to visit the FHC during off-hours can call 843/449-1166.

Free Online Access to Designated Records

2011-10-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

Ancestry.com, in celebration of its 15th anniversary, is offering free access to many of its “favorite” collections, including several international collections.

Each day beginning October 1st through October 15th, Ancestry will identify a collection that you can search for free. The initial collection to be offered is the “Social Security Death Index.”

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

http://www.ancestry.com/s49142/t24138/ancestry.com/anniversary?o_iid=49142&o_lid=49142&o_sch=Web+Property

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

Free Access to Immigration and Travel Records

2011-08-29T16:15:00.000-07:00

Ancestry.com is offering free access to its “Immigration and Travel Records” through September 5th.

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

http://www.ancestry.com/s43348/t23348/ancestry.com/dynamic/immigration?o_iid=43348&o_lid=43348&o_sch=Web+Property

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

Footnote Changes Name and Emphasis

2011-08-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

Footnote is refocusing its efforts and has announced its intention “...to create the finest and most comprehensive collection of U.S. Military records available on the internet...” To better reflect this new direction, the website name has been changed to Fold3.

Note: Most of the non-military content will continue to be found on the site with the exception of some third-party newspaper content.

To read more details about the change, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://blog.fold3.com/footnote-is-now-fold3/

Free Access to 1940 U.S. Federal Census

2011-08-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars and to-do lists. Ancestry.com has announced that it will make available free online access to the 1940 U.S. Federal Census. Ancestry’s free access to the census (to be released to the public on April 2, 2012) will begin in mid-April of 2012 and run through 2013.

To view Ancestry’s August 17 press release, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://corporate.ancestry.com/press/press-releases/2011/08/1940-u.s.-census-to-be-free-on-ancestry.com/

Mocavo has added new features

2011-08-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

Mocavo.com, the world’s largest free genealogy search engine, has added two new features. This recently developed search engine was the subject of a posting to this blog on March 17, 2011.

Users can upload their family trees to Mocavo who will then advise them of search results for ancestors in their family tree. Family trees can be uploaded in GEDCOM format and then within a couple of weeks users will be emailed (weekly or daily - user’s choice) with search results.
Submitters of family trees, at their option, can have their trees included in Mocavo’s search engine thus allowing other Mocavo users to share in the search results.

To use the search engine, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.mocavo.com/

Don't Just Archive and Forget

2011-08-11T17:38:00.000-07:00

In her Tip Of The Day on “Archiving digital photos,” computer guru Kim Komando reminds readers that after archiving digital photos you “...don’t just archive and forget them.” With changing technology, she recommends that archives be reviewed every few years to make certain that “the data is still intact and the format is still valid.”

Note: This recommendation should apply to all digitally stored files and not just digital photos.

The tip of the day is a very comprehensive discussion of the subject and even includes a brief discussion of hard copy photos.

To read the complete “Tip Of The Day,” copy and paste the following URL into you web browser:

http://www.komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=11205&utm_medium=nl&utm_source=csotd&utm_content=2011-08-11-fifl&utm_campaign=l

FamilySearch Records Update

2011-08-04T07:46:00.000-07:00

1.8 million records and images have been added to 23 FamilySearch.org U.S. collections - including the addition of images and an index to the collection “United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”

There were also additions to collections for seven other countries.

For complete details, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b0de542dc933cfcb848d187ea&id=f5142c4a8e&e=be1e8c1a4c

Free, 7-Day Access to Civil War Era Records

2011-04-07T05:54:00.000-07:00

To honor the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War, Ancestry.com and the National Archives have collaborated to release millions of Civil War records online for the first time. There are now nearly 25 million National Archives Civil War records available.

Ancestry.com is making available free access to its Civil War era records (more than 42 million records) from April 7th through 14th. This includes access to the newly digitized U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865, U.S. Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 as well as certain other Union and Confederate records. Additionally, free access will include the complete 1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses.

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

www.ancestry.com/civilwar150

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

Help for Users of Family Tree Maker 2011

2011-03-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

Beyond The Basics - A Guide for Advanced Users of Family Tree Maker 2011, by Tana L. Pedersen, may provide that extra information that could benefit users of Family Tree Maker 2011. Some of what is covered: using Family Tree Maker and Ancestry.com together, using custom facts, organizing media items.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Filling Out Your Tree

Chapter 2 Defining Relationships

Chapter 3 Working More Efficiently

Chapter 4 Importing and Exporting

Chapter 5 Showing Off Your Family

Chapter 6 Analyzing Your Tree

Chapter 7 Preserving Your History

Chapter 8 Making the Software Work for You

Chapter 9 Using Family Tree Maker and Ancestry.com

Chapter 10 Cleaning Up Your Tree

Appendix A Keyboard Shortcuts

Appendix B Source Templates

World’s largest free genealogy search engine

2011-03-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

Billed as the world’s largest free genealogy search engine, Mocavo.com, launched March 16, 2011. “Sites searchable on Mocavo.com include genealogy message boards, family trees, state and local historical societies, the Library of Congress, National Archives, Ellis Island, Find A Grave, the Internet Archive, various U.S. state archives, and many tens of thousands of genealogy sites built by individuals” according to the Mocavo website.

To use the new search engine, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

http://www.mocavo.com/

“Some Quick Tips on Using Mocavo” (posted March 17, 2011 in Mocavo Search Tips) can be viewed by copying and pasting the following URL into your web browser:

http://blog.mocavo.com/

FamilySearch.org Website

2011-02-03T12:44:00.001-08:00

Late in 2010, FamilySearch launched the much anticipated, updated version of its FamilySearch website.

This new website, FamilySearch.org, combines information found at the old FamilySearch website and the Record Search Pilot website.

The latter two websites will continue to be available for now but eventually will be replaced by the new FamilySearch.org.

To learn more about the new website, including what it now includes, current and future plans as well as demonstrations of present capabilities, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/FamilySearch_Bloginar_Presentation_-_December_2010

On the resulting webpage, click on "Watch a recording of the bloginar," which is located immediately below “...December 2010” near the top of the page.

The live FamilySearch bloginar was conducted December 15, 2010, and the recorded portion consists of 40 minutes of the live presentation/demonstrations followed by 22 minutes of Q&A. The recorded portion joins the bloginar in progress so it may take a few seconds for viewers to grasp the information that is being presented.

Note: If a problem is experienced when attempting to view the presentation, it may be necessary to retry the connect process one or more times.

Naturalization Records

2011-01-17T09:20:00.002-08:00

The following is the text of a presentation made at the January 2011 meeting of the Grand Strand Genealogy Club.

_____________________________________

Naturalization Information

The search for Naturalization records can be one of the most frustrating areas of genealogical research.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service has passed many rules and they’ve been revised many times as well.

It’s impossible to provide hard and fast rules about the content or even the existence of naturalization records.

A Justice Department investigator made the following comment in 1903 …

“I find the naturalization records in many cases in a chaotic condition, many lost and destroyed, and some sold for old paper.

Most of the records consist of merely the name and nativity of the alien with no means of identifying aliens of the same name.

In numerous cases I find aliens naturalized under initials instead of Christian names, surnames misspelled or changed entirely, and names of witnesses inserted in place of the alien naturalized.

The examination of the records discloses the remarkable fact that never, since the first enactment of the naturalization laws, has any record been made in any court of the names of minor children who, under the operation of the statutes, were made citizens by the naturalization of their parents.

For every act Congress passed, it also made exceptions.

The only rule for searching naturalization records is: there is no rule.

I’d like to share with you some things that I’ve learned about the process that may help you or give you some hints so you’ll understand how the process worked and where you may need to look in your own search.

The definition of Naturalization is the legal procedure by which a foreign-born person becomes a citizen of a new county.

Early naturalization.

Becoming naturalized was not an important concern to the first European colonist. They simply were trying to survive in a hostile and strange environment. Before the American Revolution, most early citizenship records were oaths of allegiance signed by individuals as they left from the ships that brought them here. The administration of the oaths as well as the words in them, were under the jurisdiction of the British Parliament.

As the colonies became independent states, residents who were British citizens had to choose between British and American citizenship. Many who remained loyal to England were forced to move, as the locations in which they were living became part of the new country and their lives were sometime in jeopardy.

Naturalization is a voluntary act, and not required. But there were many reasons for an alien to become naturalized.

During the Great Depression, employment and relief opportunities were limited to citizens of the U.S. This requirement, and you’ll see this as we go along, posed a problem for those who had become U.S. citizens as wives or children of a naturalized citizen.

Anyone looking for work from the Works Projects Administration (or the WPA, as it was known) was required to prove U.S. citizenship. The same was true for civil service, old-age pensions, the right to vote, and other benefits and privileges were reserved for citizens only.

This was true also for many positions in private employment as well. They were only open to American citizens.

Of the foreign-born persons listed on the censuses from 1890 to 1920, 25 per cent had NOT become naturalized or filed what was known as their “first papers.”

Before 1906, naturalization was carried out by thousands of courts, federal, state, county, local and each court kept its own records and own interpretation of the law.

You could spend years looking for papers only to find that there is little genealogical information in them or, worse, not to find them at all.

Sometimes they can’t be found because the immigrant did not get naturalized. Many people filed an intent or declaration of intent to become a citizen but never completed the process.

So you had many aliens living their lives as positive contributors to their community without formally acquiring citizenship.

Some states (by Constitution) allowed aliens who had filed only the declaration of intention, to vote, and in some cases to own land. (This is true except for certain periods when full citizenship was required to purchase property)

March 26, 1790

The first naturalization act was passed by Congress on March 26, 1790, and it provided that any free, white adult alien, male or female, who had resided within the limits and jurisdiction of the United States for a period of 2 years, was eligible for citizenship.

The terms free and white eliminated a lot people right off the bat. This was finally changed in 1870 when persons of African descent could apply.

Under the act, any individual who desired to become a citizen was to apply to “any common law court of record, in any one of the states wherein he shall have resided for the term of one year at least.

Citizenship was granted to those who proved to the court’s satisfactions that they were of good moral character, had met the residency requirement and who took an oath of allegiance to the Constitution.

Under the system established by the act, aliens could be naturalized not only in Federal courts, but also in State and local courts, and the wife and children (if under 21), of successful applicant automatically became citizens.

January 29, 1795

The act of 1790 was repealed and on January 29, 1795 some stricter rules were put in place:

The period of residence required for citizenship was increased from 2 to 5 years.

It required applicants to declare publicly their intention to become citizens of the United States and to renounce any allegiance to a foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty 3 years before admission as citizens.

Immigrants who had “borne any hereditary title, or been of the order of nobility” were also required to renounce that status.

These actions could be taken before the supreme, superior, district, or circuit court of any State or Territory, or before a Federal circuit or district court of the United States.

On April 14, 1802, certain doubts had arisen as to whether State and local courts were included within the description of United States district or circuit courts.

The act of 1802 reaffirmed that every State and Territorial court was considered a district court within the meaning of the laws pertaining to naturalization, and that any persons naturalized in such courts were accorded the same rights and privileges as if they had been naturalized in a district or circuit court of the United States.

On February 10, 1855, Congress passed an act that was designed to benefit immigrant women. Under this act, any woman who is now or may hereafter be married to a citizen of the United States, and who might herself be lawfully naturalized, shall be deemed a citizen.

Unless a woman was single or widowed, she had few reasons to naturalize prior to the twentieth century. Women, foreign-born or native, could not vote. Until the mid-nineteenth century, they typically did not hold property or appear as “persons” before the law. Under these circumstances, only widows and spinsters would be expected to seek the protections citizenship might afford.

Often women had no choice but to file at least a declaration of intent. In some states aliens could not file for divorce or any other court proceedings. An alien woman seeking divorce might file the declaration simply to facilitate filing a separate suit.

You also have to remember that naturalization involved the payment of court fees. Without any tangible benefit resulting from a woman’s naturalization, it is doubtful that many women or their husbands considered the fees to be money well spent.

The only women who did not derive citizenship by marriage under this law were those racially ineligible for naturalization and;

And to those women whose marriage to a United State citizen occurred suspiciously soon after her arrest for prostitution.

While you will find some courts that naturalized the wives of aliens, until 1922 the courts generally held that the alien wife of an alien husband could not herself be naturalized.

An immigrant women suddenly became a citizen when she and her U.S. citizen fiancé were declared man and wife. If the husband naturalized before 1906, she may or may not be mentioned on the record which actually granted her citizenship.

Her only proof would be the marriage certificate and her husband’s naturalization record. If she had minor children, they too, derived citizenship and this was their proof as well.

Prior to 1922, this provision applied to immigrant women regardless of their place of residence, even if they resided outside of the U. S. If the husband came to America to seek work, became a naturalized citizen, then sent for her to join him, that woman entered the U.S. for the first time as a U.S. citizen. If they had minor children, they also derived citizenship.

Just as alien women gained U.S. citizenship by marriage, U.S. born women often gained foreign nationality and thereby lost their U.S. citizenship by marriage to a foreigner.

As the law linked women’s citizenship to that of their husbands, the courts frequently found that U.S. citizen women expatriated themselves by marriage to an alien.

After 1907 marriage determined a woman’s nationality status completely. All women acquired their husband’s nationality upon any marriage occurring after the date.

This changed nothing for immigrant women, but U.S. born citizen women could now lose their citizenship by marriage to an alien. Most of these women regained their citizenship when their husband’s naturalized.

Those who married Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, or other men who were racially ineligible to naturalize, forfeited their citizenship.

For years there was disagreement whether she actually had to leave the United States andreside with her husband abroad.

Eventually it was decided that between 1866 and 1907 no woman lost her U.S. citizenship by marriage to an alien unless she left the U.S.

This decision was probably of little comfort to some women who had lived in the U.S. since their birth, but had been unfairly treated as aliens since their marriage to non-citizens.

On June 27, 1906, Congress passed an act that expanded the existing Immigration Bureau to the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization and put it in charge of “all matters concerning the naturalization of aliens.”

Although the new bureau was part of the Department of Labor and Commerce initially, and part of the Department of Labor from 1913 to 1940, most of its operations were directed by the Department of Justice, and, in 1940, the Bureau was made part of the Justice Department.

Under the act of 1906, every petition for naturalization became a case for examination by Bureau officials.

This act also established the basic procedure for naturalization during the period 1906-1952.The procedure began with:

The filing of the declaration of intention, which recorded the applicant’s oath to the clerk of the court that it was his or her bona fide intention to become a citizen of the United States, to reside permanently therein, and to renounce all allegiances to other nations.Within a period of 2 to 7 years after filing the declaration, the applicant could petition the court for citizenship, at this time he had to present the affidavits of two witnesses (who were U.S. citizens) who had personal knowledge of the applicant, they stated that the applicant had resided in the United States for at least 5 years and possessed a good moral character.

The petition then became the subject of an investigation and hearing before a judge. Officials of the Bureau conduct preliminary examinations and submitted findings and recommendations to the court.

The hearing before a judge was the last step in the procedure, provided the judge found the finding and recommendations of naturalization officials favorable and satisfactory, then the applicant would take an oath of allegiance to the United States Constitution and laws and renounce all foreign allegiance, and the judge would issue an order of admission to citizenship and the applicant a certificate of citizenship.

However, a judge could also order a continuance of the investigation or deny the petition, listing the reasons for the denial. A major change in this procedure occurred in 1952, when the filing of the declaration of intention was eliminated.

May 9, 1918

One of the other major exception to the general rule was special consideration was given to veterans. An 1862 law allowed honorably discharged army veterans of any war to petition for naturalization – without previously having filed a declaration of intent – after only 1 year of residence in the U.S. The 1894 law extended the same no-previous-declaration privilege to honorably discharged 5 year veterans of the Navy or Marine Corps.

Over 192,000 aliens were naturalized between May 9, 1918 and June 30, 1919 under the act that allowed aliens serving in the U.S. armed forces during the “the present war” to file a petition for naturalization without making a declaration of intent or proving 5 years residence.Laws enacted from 1919 thru 1952 continued preferential treatment provision for veterans.

IMPORTANT - Members of the armed forces were naturalized at military posts and nearby courts instead of their legal residences.

The era when a women’s nationality was determined through that of her husband neared its end when this legal provision began to interfere with men’s ability to naturalize. This unforeseen situation arose in and after 1918 when various states began approving an amendment to grant women suffrage (and which became the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1920).

Given that women who derived citizenship through a husband’s naturalization would now be able to vote, some judges refused to naturalize men whose wives did not meet eligibility requirements, including the ability to speak English. The additional examination of each applicant’s wife delayed already crowded court dockets, and some men who were denied citizenship began to complain that it was unfair to let their wives’ nationality interfere with their own.

September 22, 1922

Congress enacted a law known as the Married Women’s Act (it was also known as the Cable Act) and it changed the naturalization procedure for married women.

Before that date, women who were married to a U.S. citizen or naturalized citizen automatically became U.S. citizens by reason of the marriage. The new law finally gave each woman a nationality of her own. No declaration of intention was needed and the period of residence was reduced from 5 years to 1 year. Additionally, women who had gained derivative citizenship from their husband or father could now be issued a Certificate of Derivative Citizenship from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

It wasn’t until 1940 that the INS could issue certificates to women who gained citizenship by marriage to a man already a citizen. The Proof of marriage to a U.S. citizen occurring prior to September 22, 1922, and proof of the husband’s citizenship, remained as the foundation for legally documenting a foreign-born woman’s citizenship.

Act of 1924

Congress enacted a policy of quota restrictions on immigration.

It limited those persons eligible for naturalization to a number based on the ratio of the number of citizens of the same nationality already residing within the United States to the total U.S. population in 1920.

The result of this law was that emigrants from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Ireland made up more than two-thirds of those eligible under the annual maximum quota.

Act of 1952

The act of 1952 was known as The McCarran Act, revised the 1924 act by basing the annual quota on a flat one-sixteenth of 1 percent of the population as recorded in the 1920 censes.

More important, it removed race as a barrier to immigration and naturalization by assigning a quota of not fewer of 100 person too countries whose citizens were previously ineligible for naturalization.

Recapping The Naturalization Process

Prior to 1906 an alien could be naturalized in any court of record. Generally, immigrants took their first papers out in the county where they first lived in the U.S.

Second papers could be anywhere the immigrant had settled in any court that was close to where he lived. First and second papers did not have to be filed in the same court.

Pre-1906 naturalization forms (declaration and petitions) varied in content and wording from court to court, county to county, year to year.

After 1906, naturalization could only be done in a federal court,

And at last, there was standard information required on all Certificates were issued to naturalized citizens when they completed all citizenship requirements.

Post 1906, these contain the names, ages, and residence of all family members. After 1929 a photograph was attached to the final certificate. These certificates came in books much like a modern check register with stubs. Some courts kept copies of these numbered stubs and they sometimes contain genealogically useful information. From 1906-1924, the NS checked ship manifests to verify the arrival of each applicant. (The handwritten verifications often appear on passenger ship records during that time period and can provide a clue to the date of a person’s naturalization.) The alien was then issued a certificate of arrival which was filed with his citizenship papers attesting to the fact that he did indeed arrive on that date and the ship and at the port at which he said he had. After 1924, aliens were required to have visas upon their arrival to this country. So certificates of arrival were no longer issued.

Where are these records?

Many early records have been scattered, warehoused, moved, donated, or lost. Indexes are not necessarily with the actual documents.

Those early naturalizations which survive are generally preserved in the states in which they were created.

Don’t be surprised if county court employees tell you that their naturalization records are at “the National Archives” or that their court never conducted naturalizations. Most current court employees are probably not genealogist and may not be familiar with the court’s older records. It is up to the researcher to determine the location of older court records. Some printed indexes have been published and/or microfilmed. State historical societies and archives are the best places to begin searching for these early records.

The Family History Library has millions of court records on microfilm. Genealogical societies and libraries have been rescuing early records, indexing them, and making them available to researchers. Many are now starting to appear online.

Many post-1906 naturalizations and indexes are microfilmed and available at National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) regional offices. Others are at the INS.

Sources

Background History of the United States Naturalization Process by Eilleen Bolger, courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Regional National Archives and Records Administration.

America.gov

Engaging the World, February 13, 2008, Immigration and United States History

About.com,

The History of Naturalization Requirements

Naturalization & Citizenship Records

United States Naturalization Records

The National Archives and Records Administration, Naturalization Records

Fall 2004, Vol. 36, No. 3, Fall Genealogy, Gold Mine of Naturalization Records in New England

Summer 1998, Vol. 30, No. 2, Women and Naturalization, ca. 1902-1940, by Marian L. Smith

Compiled by Joyce Emma for The Grand Strand Genealogy Club

January 8, 2011

Folks Huxford and Elmer Spear Genealogical Library

2010-12-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-28T07:49:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-17T12:31:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-11T17:56:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

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”

2010-10-08T06:04:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-23T17:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-04T03:17:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-09T04:13:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-03-17T19:13:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-03-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-02-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

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?

2010-02-13T08:24:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-15T14:24:00.000-08:00

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”

2010-01-08T05:43:00.000-08:00

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”

2010-01-06T05:11:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-05T07:23:00.000-08:00

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>

Finding Ancestors' Naturalization Records

2009-12-31T07:42:00.000-08:00

For an informative article on finding ancestors’ naturalization records, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/now-what-its-only-natural#>

The article, “Now What?: It's Only Natural,” by Allison Stacy, appears in Family Tree Magazine's e-newsletter, Genealogy Insider.

Improved Online Access to WVa Vital Records

2009-12-17T11:46:00.000-08:00

According to a December 17, 2009 article appearing in The Charleston Gazette, the West Virginia Division of Culture and History's Archives and History Section recently upgraded the server to its free, online searchable database. As a result, the more than 5 million birth, death and marriage certificates issued in West Virginia are now easier to access online.

To view the newspaper article, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://www.wvgazette.com/News/200912170232>

To access the West Virginia vital records database (including an informative article on the "West Virginia Vital Research Records Project"), copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_select.aspx>

Free Access to World War II Documents

2009-12-09T07:58:00.000-08:00

In honor of the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor bombing (December 7th), Footnote.com is offering free access to its WWII records during the month of December. Records include first-hand accounts of submarine missions and reports of missing air crews.

Explore the USS Arizona Memorial. View over 80,000 photos from the US Army Air Force.

Other WWII records include:

Japanese Air Target Analysis
Army JAG Case Files
Navy JAG Case Files
Naval Press Clippings
Allied Military Conferences
Holocaust Records

To access Footnote’s WWII documents, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://go.footnote.com/wwii/>

Free Access to the "Irish Times" Newspaper Digital Article Archives

2009-12-04T11:51:00.000-08:00

You can access the Irish Times newspaper digital article archives free through December 14, 2009. The Irish Times is celebrating 150 years in publication.

For additional information, see Family Tree Magazine’s December 2nd “Genealogy Insider” blog by copying and pasting the following URL into your web browser:

<http://blog.familytreemagazine.com/insider/2009/12/02/150YearsOfTheIrishTimesFreeThroughDec14.aspx>

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

2009-11-11T11:53:00.000-08:00

Ancestry.com’s U.S. Military Collection, advertised as the largest online assortment of U.S. military records, covers more than three centuries of American wars and conflicts. It includes more than 100 million names and 700 titles and databases in military records from all 50 U.S. states.

Ancestry is offering free access through November 13th. To access these records, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://www.ancestry.com/military>

What happens to your email and social networking information when you die?

2009-11-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

How many of us have given more than a passing thought concerning what will happen to our email or our information on social networking sites after our death ? Whether you have or have not, you might want to read an article on the subject written by Australian resident Andrew Ramadge, Technology Reporter for "News.com.au."

The article points out that some email providers have policies of retaining data after someone passes away and allowing their next of kin or the executor of their estate to access it. It notes than one well-known email service provider refuses to supply emails to anyone after a user has died but will honor a user’s next of kin’s request for the account to be closed.

Included in the article are the policies of the popular email providers and social networking sites Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, Facebook and MySpace.

To read the article, copy and paste the following URL into you web browser:

<http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,26303927-5014239,00.html>

Genealogy Internet Web-Site Program at Surfside Beach Library

2009-10-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

GSGC members, Kathryn Brannigan Walizer and Lois Butler, will present a program at the Surfside Beach Library on genealogy research using various Internet websites. Topics will include Ellis Island on the Web, HeritageQuest Online, RootsWeb, USGenWeb, Cyndi’s List and ShoeString Genealogy. Tips on accessing website information will be provided.

The 2-hour program will be held Monday, October 19, 2009 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The library is located at 410 Surfside Drive, Surfside Beach, SC.

Attendees are encouraged to bring laptops or share with a friend and follow along the websites in real-time.

No laptop? No problem. Just bring your questions and a notepad.

The public is invited.

Ohio Historical Society’s Archives/Library to Reduce Hours of Operation

2009-10-03T06:05:00.000-07:00

The Ohio Historical Center, located in Columbus, Ohio and part of the Ohio Historical Society (OHS), will undergo its first major overhaul in twenty years. Most of the current exhibits will be dismantled and removed – replaced by what officials are calling a "collections learning center." Thousands of items, many of which have not been publicly displayed before, will be moved from warehouse storage to the museum.

Researchers using OHS’s Archives/Library will feel the affects of the overhaul. As a result of the construction which will begin January 1, 2010, the Archives/Library (located on the third floor of the Ohio Historical Center) will reduce hours of operation from the current 3-days per week to 1-day per week during the fourteen month construction period (January 2010 through February 2011). Currently, the Archives/Library is open to researchers on Thursday, Friday and Saturday but beginning January 1, 2010 will be open only on Thursdays. Hours of operation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Free FOOTNOTE Webinar

2009-09-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

Many (if not most) of you have likely heard of Footnote. You may be somewhat familiar with this website and its offerings of digitized historic documents, including military and census records, naturalizations, city directories, newspapers, photographs, etc. Membership is required but there is “basic free membership” available which offers limited benefits.

If you would like to know more about Footnote, you have the opportunity through a free webinar - which provides a tutorial of the site and a personalized tour. The webinar is available anytime you want to view it - requiring 30 minutes of your time. It addresses what records are available, a search demonstration, as well as explanations of how to use the Footnote viewer and how to create Footnote pages.

To view the webinar, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://blog.footnote.com/the-worlds-first-footnote-webinar/>

Recommendation: Prior to activating the webinar (accomplished by clicking on the white triangle in the center of the black viewing box), maximize and center the viewing box on your computer monitor. This will result in improved viewing capability.

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

<http://www.footnote.com/>

Removal of USB Flash Drive

2009-09-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

Care should be exercised when removing USB flash drives in order to minimize the chances of data loss or corruption. Prior to removal, all files located on the flash drive should be closed. Windows users can then disconnect the flash drive by executing the “Safely Remove Hardware” command while Mac users can drag the flash drive icon to the wastebasket.

An alternative to the “Safely Remove Hardware” command for Windows users is USB Disk Ejector - a small, free program that allows for instant, quick 1-click ejection of a USB flash drive. It is a no-install program that can be run from anywhere, including the removable USB flash drive itself, and is compatible with Windows 2000, XP and Vista.

Copy and paste the following URL into your web browser for additional information about USB Disk Ejector and to download:

<http://quick.mixnmojo.com/software#usbdiskeject>

It may be necessary to scroll up a line or so in order to see the beginning of the section: “USB Disk Ejector.” To download, click on “[Download Latest]” following “Current Version: 1.1.2” - unless you want to download the beta version which includes additional features.

USB Disk Ejector will eject any USB or firewire device that windows sees as a disk (including flash drives and external hard drives). It can also eject flash cards from card readers.

When the software download is complete, the following icon will identify USB Disk Ejector:

Clicking on the icon, wherever it is stored (including a flash drive or external hard drive) opens a window on the desktop which shows all of the drives connected to the USB ports. Simply click on the drive to be removed.

Free Genealogy Toolbar (from Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society)

2009-09-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

The Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society (MLFHS) has issued the following announcement:

Manchester, United Kingdom, September 15, 2009 -- Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society (MLFHS), based in the U.K. is pleased to announce the release of its genealogy toolbar which integrates seamlessly with the users browser (IE, Firefox, Safari) to provide instant access to family history sites including online BMD, Archives, Societies, Pay to View and many more.

The toolbar is completely free to download and use and has been developed by Family Historians for use by Family Historians.

Changes to the toolbar are made centrally and can be instantly reflected in each user's personal copy. MLFHS keep track of the links so that users do not have to. The range of links provided is especially strong for GB and Irish research. There are currently over 170 links and these will be expanded in response to user comments and suggestions.

Users can turn individual menus on and off and can also choose to add items from a selection of non genealogy links.

The toolbar can be downloaded via the MLFHS home page www.mlfhs.org.uk or from http://MLFHS.OurToolbar.com or from http://MLFHS.OurToolbar.com.

Note: It is suggested that prior to downloading the M&LFHS Toolbar potential users go to MLFHS's home page <www.mlfhs.org.uk> and press "CLICK HERE" under "M&LFHS Toolbar" to learn about system requirements as well as other information about the toolbar. The new toolbar, if desired, can be downloaded from the screen that will appear.

Free Online Class: “Genealogy in Gotham: New York City Research”

2009-09-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

Ancestry.com will offer another free webinar on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 beginning at 8:00 PM Eastern. "Genealogy in Gotham: New York City Research" will address how to trace persons who immigrated through New York City on their way elsewhere and those who made it their more permanent home.

For more details and to register, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=registration.jsp&eventid=160968&sessionid=1&key=EEC45BC930E460063DED7EBB0CBBDDC5&sourcepage=register>

Chapin Memorial Library Adds To Its U. S. Census Collection

2009-09-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

Chapin Memorial Library has added the following states to its 1850 U. S. Federal Census collection on microfilm:

New York (71 rolls; Call #: MFilm M432-0548)
North Carolina (31 rolls; Call #: MFilm M432-0619)
North Carolina Slave Schedules (7 rolls; Call #: MFilm M432-0650)
Ohio (85 rolls; Call #: MFilm M432-0657)
Oregon (1 roll; Call #: MFilm M432-0742)
Pennsylvania (98 rolls; Call #: MFilm M432-0743)
Rhode Island (7 rolls; Call #: MFilm M432-0841)

The 1850 census collection also includes South Carolina (46 rolls; Call #: MFilm M432-0854).

GenealogyBank.com adds to its historical newspaper collection

2009-09-08T06:49:00.000-07:00

Billed as the largest online newspaper archive for family history research, GenealogyBank.com, a subscription website, has “added and expanded 32 newspapers from 23 states.” For a complete listing of the recent additions, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://blog.genealogybank.com/2009/09/newspapers-from-22-states-go-online.html>

For a complete, state-by-state listing of GenealogyBank.com’s newspaper collection, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://www.genealogybank.com/gbnk/newspapers/sourcelist/>

Note: A 30-day trial subscription is available for $9.95.

New Look for FamilySearch.org’s “Record Search”

2009-09-06T13:36:00.000-07:00

If you haven’t visited FamilySearch.org’s “RecordSearch” in the last few days, you’ll find a whole new look and feel. Version 2.0 was released September 1st and has different colors and screen layouts as well as other enhancements.

For a more complete description of the update, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://labs.familysearch.org/blog>

See the second item - “A New Release of Record Search” by Bryce Roper.

To visit the website itself, click on “FamilySearch.org - Record Search” under Favorite Links.

50 Most Popular Genealogy Websites for 2009

2009-09-03T10:19:00.000-07:00

Please note that the listing under Favorite Links for ProGenealogists’ “50 Most Popular Genealogy Websites” has been updated. The link now connects to a listing of the most popular genealogy websites created during the first quarter of 2009. Rankings for 2008 are shown in parentheses.

New to the top 50 are numbers “35" (Genealogytrails.com), “37” (GenoPro.com), “45” (ObitLinksPage.com), “47” (FamilyHistory101.com) and “49” (DAR.org).

“Getting Started on Ancestry.com” Webinar

2009-08-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

Ancestry.com will offer a free webinar on the Internet for persons interested in learning about the subscription-based genealogy research website. The webinar, while geared to those who are new to Ancestry.com as well as those who have never used, can serve as a refresher course for more experienced users. The one hour webinar will be presented on Thursday, August 20, 2009 beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

For more details about the webinar as well as registration, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

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

Look under "UPCOMING EVENTS."

Reminder: Ancestry Library Edition is available at Chapin Memorial Library.

Free Access to 1930 Federal Census

2009-08-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

During the month of August, Footnote is making available free access to its interactive 1930 U.S. Census. Registration for a Basic Footnote Account is required. Registration is free.

To access the free trial, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://go.footnote.com/1930census/?xid=500>

GenealogyArchives.com

2009-08-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

GenealogyArchives.com is a new website for genealogical research. It appears to include a collection of recent public records databases.

The annual membership subscription cost is $39.95. A free 7-day trial subscription is available but requires use of a credit card. You will NOT be billed if you cancel before the end of your trial.

To see the collection of databases currently offered, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://www.genealogyarchives.com/resources/collections.html>

The Genealogy Archives Blog provides information on the website and collection updates, company announcements, perspectives on industry news and upcoming events. It can be accessed by copying and pasting the following URL into your web browser:

<http://blog.genealogyarchives.com/>

“Dust in the Attic - Hocking County Genealogy” Has Moved

2009-08-05T08:28:00.000-07:00

Persons having genealogy interests in Ohio’s Hocking and Vinton Counties take note. Dust in the Attic - Hocking County Genealogy has relocated from Geocities to Rootsweb.

The new web address is:

<http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohhocki3/Hocking%20County%20Genealogy.html>

Genealogical Organizations and Public Libraries Cutting Hours

2009-07-31T05:18:00.000-07:00

If you are planning to visit historical/genealogical societies and public libraries, especially those requiring that you travel some distance, verify the hours of operation prior to your visit!

During these unsettled economic times, many such facilities are having to reduce hours of operation as part of their cost-cutting measures. Some have already adjusted their hours while others will be doing so in the coming days and months.

Webcasting a Family Reunion

2009-07-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

In response to a radio listener’s inquiry, Computer/Digital Guru Kim Komando provides guidance on how to Webcast a family reunion for the benefit of family members unable to attend. Additionally the listener would like to record the reunion. The specific question, as well as Kim’s comprehensive response, can be found in her “Tip of the Day” for 7/28/2009.

To see Kim’s tip on Webcasting a family reunion, copy and paste the following URL into you web browser:

<http://www.komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=7041>

Suggestion: For ease of reading, click on “Printer-Friendly” located in the upper right-hand corner of the posting.

GenealogyWise - New Social Networking Site Dedicated to Genealogists

2009-07-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

If you’re into social networking (and even if you’re not), you might want to check out GenealogyWise. Launched by FamilyLink.com on July 14th, GenealogyWise is open to anyone to join.

An announcement by FamilyLink.com, Inc. advises:

“The service allows users to join surname groups, explore ancestral records, share photos, video, and family trees. Users can create a profile to tell others about their research interests, to receive and respond to emails from other users without publishing an email address, to create online family trees and personal research pages, and to collaborate with other users. The service is completely free.”

Groups currently participating in GenealogyWise include Ancestry Family Tree users, Legacy Family Tree fans, Family Tree Maker Fans, groups concerned with specific states and many more.

To visit GenealogyWise and/or sign up, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://www.genealogywise.com/>

Legacy Family Tree 7.0 Update Available

2009-07-23T07:59:00.000-07:00

Legacy Family Tree’s latest update, 7.0.0.100, is now available for downloading by users. For a discussion of what’s new, changed items and what’s been fixed, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://legacynews.typepad.com/legacy_news/2009/07/legacy-family-tree-update-available-70097.html>

New Books in Chapin Memorial Library's South Carolina Room (July 2009)

2009-07-18T05:20:00.000-07:00

Title: South Carolina’s Military Organizations During the War Between the States, Vol. I: The Lowcountry & Pee Dee
Author: Seigler, R. S.
Call Number: REF S.C. 973.7457 Seigle Vol. 1

Title: William McCullough, Southern Painter, in Conversation with William Baldwin, Southern Writer
Author: Baldwin, W. P., & McCullough, W.
Call Number: REF S.C. 759.13 Baldwi

Title: Those Who Remain: A Photographer's Memoir of South Carolina Indians
Author: Crediford, G. J.
Call Number: REF S.C. 975.7 Credif

Title: Ghosts of the Pee Dee
Author: Johnson, Talmadge
Call Number: REF S.C.133.109 Johnso

Title: Rice Planter and Sportsman: The Recollections of J. Motte Alston, 1821-1909
Author: Alston, J. M., & Childs, A. R.
Call Number: REF S.C. BIO Alston

Title: The Ancestor Roster : A Cameo of the Ancestors of the Members of the Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century, 1915-2005
Author: National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century
Call Number: REF S.C. 929.373 Ancest

Title: Proprietary Records of South Carolina, V.2: Abstracts of the Records of the Register of the Province, 1675-1696
Author: Bates, S. B., & Leland, H. C.
Call Number: REF S.C. 975.702 Bates Vol. II

Title: Proprietary Records of South Carolina, V.3: Abstracts of the Records of the Surveyor General of the Province, Charles Towne 1678-1698
Author: Bates, S. B., & Leland, H. C.
Call Number: REF S.C. 975.702 Bates Vol. III

Title: Black Majority: Negroes in Colonial South Carolina from 1670 through the Stono Rebellion
Author: Wood, P. H.
Call Number: REF S.C. 975.7 Wood

“Mountain Memories”

2009-07-08T05:38:00.000-07:00

The Charleston (WV) Gazette periodically features a section dedicated to West Virginia history and genealogy. West Virginia writers, historians, genealogists and photographers are featured in this section: “Mountain Memories.”

To view articles published to date, copy and paste the followng URL into your web browser:

<http://www.wvgazette.com/News/mountainmemories>

New Headstone Device for Military Veterans

2009-07-04T10:39:00.000-07:00

The Department of Veterans Affairs is currently designing a medallion to be affixed to an existing, privately purchased headstone or marker to signify the deceased's status as a veteran.

If requested, this new product will be furnished in lieu of a traditional Government headstone or marker to those veterans that died on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.

It is estimated that this new medallion will be available before the end of calendar year 2009. Claims will begin to be accepted at that time.

Note: This benefit is only applicable if the grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker. In these instances, eligible veterans are entitled to either a traditional Government- furnished headstone or marker, or the new medallion, but not both.

For complete details and for updated information regarding the new medalion, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://www.cem.va.gov/hm/hmtype.asp>

Requirements to Obtain Chapin Memorial Library Card Have Changed

2009-07-01T20:02:00.000-07:00

The requirements to obtain a Chapin Memorial Library Card have changed -- effective July 1, 2009.

City of Myrtle Beach Residents

Free Library Card available

Horry County Residents

Annual Card for Primary Card Holder: $20.00
Additional Cards for *family members: no charge

Individuals who live outside of Horry County (NON-Resident Library Card)

90 Day Card: Primary Card $8.00
Additional Card for *Family Members: $2.00 per card
Annual Card: Primary Card $20.00 annual fee
Additional Card for *Family Members: $8.00

* Family member defined as any person in the same household related by blood, marriage, or other legal means to the primary cardholder.

For complete details, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://www.chapinlibrary.org/Obtaining%20a%20library%20card.htm>

DNA Testing

2009-06-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

Ancestry.com will be presenting a free webinar that will explain:

How DNA testing works,
How the results can be used and applied to family trees and
Some of the benefits involved.

The webinar, “Genetic Genealogy Made Easy,” will be held Wednesday July 8th, 8:00 PM (EST).

In order to attend this webinar, you must first register. To learn more about the webinar and/or register, copy and paste the following URL into your browser:

<https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=registration.jsp&sssdmh=dm13.208096&eventid=150497&sessionid=1&key=81FF8BCDBDA82D9E3BB56375A7997C75&sourcepage=register>.

Civil War Medals Still Available (for veterans' descendants)

2009-06-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

In 1866, the state of West Virginia authorized the minting of over 26,000 medals to honor its Union Civil War soldiers. The medals were delivered in 1867. More than 4,000 medals remain unclaimed.

For information about:

The history of the unclaimed West Virginia Civil War Medals,
The list of unclaimed Civil War Medals,
How to apply for a Civil War Medal and
A claim application form,

copy and paste the following URL for the West Virginia State Archives into your web browser:

<http://www.wvculture.org/history/medals.html>

Note: In addition to West Virginia, several other states struck medals after the war. Descendants of Civil War veterans might benefit from searching other states for Civil War Medals.

Help for Hard-to-Read Handwriting

2009-06-22T16:42:00.000-07:00

The following tip appeared in Ancestry.com’s January 30, 2009 issue of “24/7 Family History Circle”:

"The challenge of blurred or just plain sloppy handwriting in old records is one that has plagued genealogists for centuries. One trick for deciphering a hard to read character or word is to retrace it. Enlarge the word and then print it. Then trace over it with a pencil. Sometimes by retracing the lines you’ll be able to figure out the letters."

To view the tip and some interesting reader comments, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://blogs.ancestry.com/circle/?p=3217>

"West Virginia - A Film History" now available on two-disc DVD

2009-06-20T04:21:00.000-07:00

The 1995 public television series, "West Virginia - A Film History," is now available for purchase on a two-disc DVD for $29.95 (plus sales tax and shipping). The six-and-a-half-hour series, narrated by actor Richard Thomas, tells the history of West Virginia from the pre-Revolutionary War period through the state’s birth on June 20, 1863 to the recent past.

Previously available on VHS videotape but sold out for several years, the 2-DVD set will be available in bookstores and locations across West Virginia or can be purchased at the West Virginia Humanities Council [<www.wvhumanities.org> or by calling (304) 346-8500].

To see a brief review of each of the four parts of the series, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://thegazz.com/gblogs/wvfilm/2009/05/27/wvpbs-to-broadcast-wv-a-film-history-in-honor-of-dvd-release/>

Staying Abreast of New Content on GSGC Blogs

2009-06-16T17:17:00.000-07:00

Do you have difficulty staying abreast of “GSGC Tips and Treasures” and “GSGC Blog” updates? Could you use some help?

Subscribe to a RSS Feed. RSS Feeds allow you to stay informed by retrieving the latest content from certain websites in which you have an interest. You save time by not needing to visit each site individually. RSS Feed capability is identified by display of the following orange and white icon:

The manner in which information is communicated by the RSS Feed can vary depending upon how the connection is made. Connections can be made through many web browsers (such as Internet Explorer and Firefox) and web-based feed readers (such as My Yahoo and Google Reader). You might want to try more than one connection in order to get one that is most useful to you.

_________________________

If you use Internet Explorer 7 or 8 as your web browser, the following procedure can be used to make the RSS Feed connections for GSGC blogs.

Go to club blog websites:

GSGC Tips and Treasures http://gsgc-tandt.blogspot.com

or

GSGC Blog http://gsgc-blog.blogspot.com

The Blog will open.

Click on the orange and white RSS Feed icon on the menu bar at the top of your browser window. The RSS Feed window will open.

Click on “Subscribe to this feed.” A small window will open.

Click the “Subscribe” button. Another window will open that says “You’ve successfully subscribed to this feed!”

You can verify which feed you subscribed to by clicking the “View my feeds” link included in the open window.

Once you have subscribed to a feed, your internet browser will gather new information from the BLOG on a regular basis. To find out what’s new:

Open Internet Explorer
Click on the Favorites icon on the toolbar (There will be three tabs: Favorites, Feeds, and History.)
Click on the Feeds Tab (This will show you a list of the feeds to which you have subscribed.)
Click on one of them, e.g.: GSGC Tips and Treasures (A browser window will open with a list of the postings.)

You can determine how often your computer checks for updated BLOG information by using the “View feed properties...” link on the right side of the opened feeds window. These properties allow you to set a schedule for checking for information as well as deleting the information from your computer.

New Books in Chapin Memorial Library's South Carolina Room (May 2009)

2009-05-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

Title: English Ancestral Names: The Evolution of the Surname from Medieval Occupations
Author: Dolan, J.R.
Call Number: REF SC 929.4 Dolan

Title: List of the Colonial Soldiers of Virginia: Special Report of the Department of Archives and History for 1913
Author: Eckenrode, H.J.
Call Number: REF SC 929.3755 Eckenr

Title: Social Networking for Genealogists
Author: Smith, Drew
Call Number: REF SC 929.1028 Smith (currently located on New Book display stand)

Title: Voices of the American Revolution in the Carolinas
Author: Ed Southern, editor
Call Number: REF SC 973.3 Voices

Title: The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633 (Vols. I-III)
Author: Anderson, Robert Charles
Call Number: REF SC 929.374 Anders (currently located on New Book display stand)

Title: The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635 (Vols. I-IV)
Author: Anderson, Robert Charles
Call Number: REF SC 929.374 Anders

Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Increasing Importance in Genealogy Research

2009-05-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

If you have an interest in Ohio genealogy research, you need to be aware of the ever-increasing importance of the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) as an information source.

On April 19, 2007 the genealogy services at the State Library of Ohio ended and their entire genealogy collection was relocated to the main branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, where it was integrated with CML’s genealogy collection. Justification for the relocation was extended hours, more staff to assist researchers as well as a larger budget to add additional material to the collection.

In the Spring of this year, the Palatines to America - German Genealogy Society’s library collection was relocated to the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s main branch. As a result of the move, the Pal Am Library collection is available to the society’s members and the public.

The Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, a chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, has recently announced its decision to relocate its library collection to the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s main branch, where it will be merged with CML’s collection.

The main branch of CML is located at 96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215. CML’s web address is <http://www.cml.lib.oh.us/>.

Genealogy Videos Available at Chapin Memorial Library

2009-05-16T04:51:00.000-07:00

The genealogy videos listed below are available for loan from Chapin Memorial Library. They are located on the first floor in the room located to the far right-hand side of the library (after entering the library’s main entrance). When you enter the room where the videos are stored, you will see bookcases located slightly to the left with ends painted dark green and marked “Adult Biography.” The first bookcase contains the genealogy videos (stored on shelves located on the right-hand side as you face the "Adult Biography" sign).

Holders of Chapin Memorial Library cards may reserve videos online at: <http://www.chapinlibrary.org/>.

If more than one video is to be reserved, it may be advisable to make the reservation by telephone (843- 918-1275).

________________________________________________

Title: Ancestors
Publisher, Date: Alexandria, VA: PBS Home Video, 1996.
Description: 10 VHS videocassettes (300 min .)

Individual titles:
Ancestors - Episode 1 - Getting Started
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.01
Ancestors - Episode 2 - Looking at Home
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.02
Ancestors - Episode 3 - Gathering Family Stories
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.03
Ancestors - Episode 4 - The Paper Trail
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.04
Ancestors - Episode 5 - Libraries and Archives
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.05
Ancestors - Episode 6 - Military and Census Records
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.06
Ancestors - Episode 7 - African-American Families
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.07
Ancestors - Episode 8 - Medical Heritage
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.08
Ancestors - Episode 9 - High-Tech Help
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.09
Ancestors - Episode 10 - Leaving A Legacy
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.10

Title: Do Your Family Tree
Publisher, Date: Horizon Home Video, c1991
Description: 1 VHS videocassette (050 min.).
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Do

Title: Do Your Family Tree: Part II, Advanced Research
Publisher, Date: Horizon Home Video, c1992
Description: 1 VHS videocassette (075 min.).
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Do

Title: The Genealogist's Video Research Guide
Publisher, Date: New York, NY: VIPO Media Group, 1996.
Description: 7 VHS videocassettes.

Individual titles:
Part One: Home sources, Family Search, Published histories, Record Keeping
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.01
Part Two: Census Records, Probate Records
Call Number: (Missing from video library)
Part Three: Land Records, Military Records, and Vital Records
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.03
Part Four: Compiled Sources
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.04
Part Five: Passenger Lists and Passports
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.05
Part Six: Naturalization records
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.06
Part Seven: Federal Land Records and National Archives Maps
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.07

Title: The Genealogist's Video Research Guide: Research in England and Wales
Publisher, Date: New York, NY: VIPO Media Group, 1994.
Description: 3 VHS videocassettes.

Individual titles:
Part I: Civil Registration
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.01
Part II: Parish Registers
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.02
Part III: Census and Probate Records
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.03

The Ohio Genealogical Society will hold its Summer Workshop 2009

2009-05-15T05:38:00.000-07:00

The Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) will hold its Summer Workshop 2009 from Sunday June 21 through Friday 26 June at the OGS Headquarters and Library, 713 S. Main Street, Mansfield, OH 44907.

Curt Witcher and eight other genealogy experts will discuss a broad range of topics during the week-long event.

Witcher's presentations include the following:

Doing Effective Genealogical Research in Libraries;
Using PERSI;
Pain in the Access: Getting More from the Internet for Your Genealogy;
Using World Cat;
Using Government Documents for Genealogical Research; and
All That Other STUFF!: Other Census Records Beyond the Population Schedules.

The complete program is (or soon will be) available for download on the OGS website at www.ogs.org.

REGISTRATION NOTES: The society offers discounts to members on the week-long or day-only registration fees. Non-members are also welcome.

Search U.S. Census Population Estimates (2000-2008) and/or the 2000 Census Population

2009-05-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

If you have an interest in U.S. Census population estimates for the years 2000 through 2008 (as of July 1 each year) and/or the 2000 Census population, you can search by state and/or county. Copy and paste the following URL into your web browser.

<http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/databases/community/census2008a.html>

Information shown at the county level includes:

Gender Breakdown
Race Breakdown
Age Breakdown

NBC TV series "Who Do You Think You Are?" Rescheduled for Fall of 2009

2009-05-14T06:02:00.000-07:00

According to the latest information, NBC's genealogy-reality TV series Who Do You Think You Are?, which was scheduled to premier on April 20th, will now begin airing sometime this fall. The exact date is not known. If you want to know more about the show, copy and paste the following URL into your browser:

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

Split and/or Merge PDF documents

2009-05-04T06:18:00.000-07:00

When doing genealogy research on the Internet, records and information are frequently available for downloading as PDF files. These PDF files often consist of multiple pages – some of which are of little or no interest. In other cases, records and information to be downloaded are in groups of PDF files for which there may be a desire to end up with only a single PDF file.

For Windows users the solution is only a download away. The basic version of “PDF Split and Merge” allows the splitting of large PDF files into smaller parts and the merging of multiple PDF files into a single file. The basic version is free. Although there is an almost-free enhanced version that has more features, the basic version should cover most needs.

“PDF Split and Merge” is available for downloading at the following URL:

<http://www.pdfsam.org/?page_id=32>

Select “Win32 Installer” located under “Download, Basic, pdfsam basic 1.1.2." Click on "Save" at the bottom of the subsequent screen. The software will be downloaded automatically to your computer (to wherever your downloads are saved). Next you will need install the software.

A tutorial on how to use the software is included as part of the download.

Note: It may be necessary to uncheck the box “Compress output file/files” to successfully perform both separation and merge operations.

Ancestry Revises Criteria Used for Searching

2009-05-03T19:12:00.000-07:00

Responding to customer input, Ancestry.com has revised the criteria that it uses with respect to searching based upon user specified birth and/or death years. The changes, implemented April 29, 2009, are intended to help reduce the listing of irrelevant search results.

If the user specifies both a birth and death year for an ancestor, Ancestry’s search will cover a range of 5 years before the specified birth year through 2 years after the specified death year. For example, if the specified birth year is 1850 and the death year is 1875, the search range will cover from 1845 through 1877.

If only the birth year is specified by the user, Ancestry’s search will cover a range of 5 years before the specified birth year through 102 years after the specified birth year. For example, if the specified birth year is 1850 and there is no death year specified, the search range will cover from 1845 through 1952.

If only the death year is specified by the user, Ancestry’s search will cover a range of 105 years before the specified death year through 2 years after the specified death year. For example, if the specified death year is 1875 and there is no birth year specified, the search range will cover from 1770 through 1877.

Obviously, better results should be achieved when both birth and death years are specified by the user.

Plan for Failure

2009-04-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

With almost 100% certainty, anyone storing their genealogy files on a computer will have need to restore all or some of those files at one time or another. The worst case scenario is when the hard drive where the genealogy files are stored crashes or is somehow seriously damaged causing a loss of all files. A lesser crisis occurs when, for whatever reason, some files become corrupted or they are accidentally deleted. Even if one has paper copies of the lost or damaged files, the time and effort required to recreate the computer files can be significant.

One can take their chances and wait until a problem occurs before they take action or they can develop a plan for recovering files should the need arise. Anyone who has experienced lost or damaged files will almost certainly agree that pre-planning is a wise move.

The purpose of this posting is not to suggest a particular plan for backing up computer files – there are various ways to do so. For an excellent discussion of Windows backup strategies, it is suggested that you copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://www.mysecurepc.com/articles/computer-backup-strategies.htm>

Our intention is to stress the need to have a backup plan and, regardless of the plan adopted, the need to fully understand how the backup plan works and to have one that will produce the desired results!

In considering a backup plan, the following questions should be addressed:

Does the plan cover all of the genealogy files or only a portion? For example, does it cover genealogy photos and genealogy support documents as well as any genealogy software program (e.g., Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, Personal Ancestral File, etc.) or does it backup only the genealogy software? What coverage is desired?
Will the backup be stored on another media (e.g., DVDs, CDs, flash drive, external hard drive, on the internet, etc.) separate from the original files? Where will that media be stored?
Is the capacity of the backup media sufficient to cover not only current files but handle future backup file growth?
If only a few files are lost or damaged, can they be recovered easily? Do you know how to implement their recovery?
What backup frequency will satisfy your needs? (Note: Unless backup occurs immediately after every addition or change, there is the potential for some files to be lost and not be recoverable. The longer the time lapse between backups, the bigger the potential loss.)

Considerations for backup of genealogy files also have application to other personal files.

Time For Some Genealogy Housecleaning

2009-04-09T17:30:00.000-07:00

GenClass.com’s monthly newsletter, in a recent “Tip of the Month,” suggests that some spring housecleaning of genealogy research files is probably in order. The tip suggests going through your files or research binders – purging extra copies, filing loose papers, making labels where appropriate, etc. Also recommended for cleanup is the computer desktop. The tip suggests reorganizing electronic files into folders for easy access, organizing browser bookmarks and favorites, deleting duplicates, etc. To sign up for GenClass.com's newsletter, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: <www.genclass.com>

Source for Cemetery Locations

2009-04-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

Ancestry.com’s newsletter “The Weekly Discovery,” in its April 6, 2009 issue, points out that the U.S. Geological Survey’s “Geographic Name Information System (GNIS)” database is a good source for identifying cemeteries in an area.

To see a list of cemeteries for a specific area, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:

<http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=116:1:3823172562648915>

Select (1) the appropriate state and county for the cemetery you are seeking as well as (2) “cemetery” from the “Feature Class” listing. Then click on (3) “Send Query.”

To see a complete listing of cemeteries, click on “View and Print all” located at the lower left-hand portion of the resulting screen.

Your Ancestors’ Signatures

2009-03-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

No doubt all involved in genealogy research seek to find photos of their relatives. But how many think to seek out copies of their signatures at the time periods corresponding with those photos. What is the purpose you ask? To see what might be learned about the ancestors from those signatures.

In an article “Understanding Your Ancestors’ Autographs,” Linda Jean Limes Ellis notes that she had not given much thought to her ancestors’ handwriting until she found a document showing her great-great-great grandfather’s signature in connection with his swearing in as Justice of the Peace in 1846 when he was nearly 55 years of age. When she compared this particular signature with one that she had on a copy of his Last Will and Testament signed one day prior to his death (when he was 69 years, 3 months and 15 days) as well as a signature that she had on a copy of a marriage document signed when he about 21 years of age, she realized that signatures can reveal a lot about someone. By the pitch of a particular letter, she could satisfy herself that he personally wrote each of the signatures but the scrawling of the letters allowed her to detect how weakness and illness had evolved during his life.

Her advice is “Whenever you look at a beloved ancestor’s photograph, ask yourself, ‘Do I have his or her signature from the same time period?’ If not, begin your search for it...An ancestor’s name, written by his or her own hand, is as unique as a fingerprint. Thus, understanding what your ancestors’ signatures are trying to tell you augments whatever else you already know about them. Autographs, and we can think of them as such, are among the many gifts our ancestors gave to us.”

Ms. Ellis’s article appeared in The Ohio Genealogical Society’s December 2007 edition of the “Ohio Genealogical Society Quarterly,” Volume 47, Number 4.

Wyoming Newspaper Project

2009-03-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

The Wyoming State Library is making available online access to historical Wyoming newspapers. This project involves digitizing a statewide collection of Wyoming newspapers covering the period 1849 to 1922.

The first collection release covers selected years ranging from 1867 to 1922. Researchers can access the individual issues through keyword searching or browsing through the collection by title, year, city or county.

To access the website, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: <http://www.wyonewspapers.org/>

Exciting Announcement for Michigan Researchers

2009-03-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

“Seeking Michigan” is a brand-new website for Michigan historical records. Featured on the free website will be nearly 1 million Michigan death certificates for the years 1897 to 1920. In addition to having the records digitized, they are indexed for easy searching by name, death date, location, age and more. Approximately 25 percent of the nearly 1 million death records have been added thus far with the remaining death records expected to be online within the next month. To visit the website, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: <www.seekingmichigan.org>

Genealogical Codicil to My Last Will and Testament

2009-03-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

Have you given thought about what should become of those genealogical records and materials that you have worked so tirelessly to accumulate? Will your family know what your wishes are? Don’t want to leave things to chance?

Consider a codicil to your will that will spell out your desires. A draft of such a codicil appears below. Note: There are several similar variations of this codicil found on the Internet, including Ancestry.com, making it impossible to give the proper credit to the original source.

If you’re not inclined at this time to make an amendment to your will, consider copying the codicil into your word processing program and completing those italicized parts with your information. Then keep a copy in a prominent place among your genealogical records -- updating when appropriate. This may not be as good as formally amending your will but it can provide detailed guidance to family members at a stressful time when heads may not be thinking too clearly.

Genealogical Codicil to My Last Will and Testament

To my spouse, children, guardian, administrator and/or executor:

Upon my death it is requested that you DO NOT dispose of any or all of my genealogical records, both those prepared personally by me and those records prepared by others which may be in my possession, including but not limited to books, files, notebooks or computer programs for a period of two years.

During this time period, please attempt to identify one or more persons who would be willing to take custody of the said materials and the responsibility of maintaining and continuing the family histories.

[If you know whom within your family or friends are likely candidates to accept these materials, please add the following at this point:

"I suggest that the persons contacted regarding the assumption of the custody of these items include but not be limited to"

and then list the names of those individuals at this point, with their addresses and telephone numbers if known]

In the event you do not find anyone to accept these materials, please contact the various genealogical organizations that I have been a member of and determine if they will accept some parts or all of my genealogical materials.

[List organizations, addresses and phone numbers at bottom; include local chapters, with their addresses, phone numbers and contact persons if available as well as state/national contact information and addresses]

Please remember that my genealogical endeavors consumed a great deal of time, travel, and money. Therefore it is my desire that the products of these endeavors be allowed to continue in a manner that will make them available to others in the future.

Signature ______________________ Date ______________

Witness _______________________ Date ______________

Witness _______________________ Date ______________

Deciphering Old Handwriting

2009-03-09T17:28:00.000-07:00

If you want to enhance your ability to interpret old census, courthouse, archive, Bible and church records, check out this on-line tutorial: “Deciphering Old Handwriting - From a genealogy course taught by Sabina J. Murray.” Not only will you learn but you will have an opportunity to try your hand at deciphering. Copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: <http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/oldhand.html>.

Problems with reading old records

2009-03-06T07:58:00.000-08:00

Having success in locating an old record is an exciting event for anyone doing genealogical research. But one must guard against letting their exuberance cloud their use of good judgment in utilizing the information found in the document. Old records are not always easy to understand and interpret.

For example, a county marriage register included the following language for a specific marriage record:

“I do hereby certify that I have solemnized the bonds of Matrimony between xxxxx and xxxxx, agreeable to license issued from the office of said County.

Given under my hand this 15th day of April 1828.”

For years the date of 15 April 1828 has been interpreted as the date of marriage for the particular individuals involved. It is identified as such in materials available from Family Search and books publishing county marriage records.

In reality, the couple was married 31 January 1828 -- as noted in the Family Bible. The above certification is believed to be only a statement that the marriage was performed by the individual signing the certification and the date, 15 April 1828, is the date when he made the certification. Giving further credence to this belief is the fact that the same individual made similar statements in a series of adjacent entries - all dated 15 April 1828.

For a fairly comprehensive treatment of problems to watch out for when examining old records, look at Genealogy.com’s “Problems with reading old records: what to watch for.” You can access by copying and pasting the following URL into your web browser: <http://www.genealogy.com/00000008.html>.

Immigration to the United States

2009-03-04T04:55:00.000-08:00

Want to know more about immigration to the United States? Harvard University makes available on the web a collection of materials from its libraries, archives, and museums. “Immigration to the United States, 1789-1930” can be accessed by copying and pasting the following URL into your web browser: <http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/>. Be sure to click on “Timeline” to view key dates in U. S. immigration history.

Looking Beyond the U.S. Federal Census

2009-03-02T07:13:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Federal Census may not be your only census source. For additional sources at the state level, see Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies’ “Helpful Census Information.” To view, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: <http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/kcgs/census.htm>

Where to Write for Vital Records

2009-02-26T17:09:00.000-08:00

Need to know where to write for vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) for individual states and territories? An excellent source is CDC/National Center for Health Statistics' "Where to Write for Vital Records." See "Favorite Links" for a quick connection.

Genealogy To-Do List

2009-02-26T06:07:00.000-08:00

When you are doing family research in one particular area, do you think of things that might need to be done in another? Do you then jump from the task at hand to the one that you just thought about – maybe because it appears to be more interesting than the one you are currently doing? Or do you say to yourself, I’ll do that later and then forget about it?

Getting the most out of your genealogy research requires organization. Failure to organize can result in poor use of your time as well as missed opportunities. Having a Genealogy To-Do List can enhance your genealogy research efforts and should be part of your genealogy research toolkit.

For an interesting article on this subject, check out Darlene Vaillancourt’s article “Managing Genealogy Research – Keep a To-Do List to Organize Your Family Tree Studies.” You can find the article by copying and pasting the following URL into your web browser: <http://genealogical-research-methods.suite101.com/article.cfm/have_a_genealogy_game_plan>

Web Browser Alternative

2009-02-17T10:49:00.000-08:00

Do you find that your current web browser is frequently not as responsive to your genealogy research efforts as you would like? Would you like to speed things up? Don't want pages you visit to show up in your web history? Want a new way to browse the web?

You might do well to check out “Google Chrome” -- a relatively new web browser for computers using the Windows operating system (Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2). Release of a Mac version is under development.

For complete information (including a video on the story behind Google Chrome) and “free” download capability, go to <http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/features.html>.

You can still continue use of your current browser(s). If you do download Google Chrome as an alternative (not your primary) browser, you might want to consider making its home page your favorite genealogy website. Just a thought!

“Portable Google Chrome” is available if you want to install on a USB stick.

Might there be more?

2009-02-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

When you have success finding an obituary or death notice, do you simply make a copy and then proceed to the next task? Do you stop to consider that what you have found may not be be the complete story?

An obituary appearing in an Ohio newspaper on January 15, 2009 serves as an excellent example of why it can pay dividends to look beyond your initial find. In this particular case, the deceased's daughter arranged for publication of a revised obituary for her mother two weeks later, on January 29. It included eleven (11) names that had been overlooked in the preparation of the January 15 obituary.

Other examples of why you might want to continue your search efforts in the same publication - even on the same date:

Publication of both a death notice and a special tribute (as might be done for a public official, local celebrity, etc.)
Publication of both a death notice and an obituary
Publication of both a death notice and a news item in a "locals" section
Publication of a followup notice covering the funeral service and burial
Expression of appreciation by the family for assistance provided following the death

Each of these could contain information not found in the initial find.

There may also be benefits in searching for obituaries and death notices in competing publications. Years ago it was not uncommon to have slightly different content in each publication. That is not so much the case today.