The Genealogy Guys Podcast & Genealogy Connection
"The Genealogy Guys" are two avid genealogists who host a weekly chat. The podcast includes news of the genealogy community, book and software reviews, guest interviews, and a lot of fun chat.
Wed, April 23, 2025
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #434
News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage added 235 million historical records in February and 794 million historical records in March. MyHeritage released a new DNA facility named Ancient Origins, with which you can trace your origins back 10,000 years. MyHeritage introduced Cousin Finder. MyHeritage has published United States World War II Draft Registrations, 1940-1947. FamilySearch has added free historical records from 32 countries in April. FamilySearch has introduced the new FamilySearch Catalog. American Ancestors will open its new Family Heritage Experience on 25 April 2025 at its facility in Boston, Massachusetts. Listener Email Tom discussed records obtained from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri. He addresses how to obtain copies of all pages of the personnel file. Nancy asks for suggestions for naming computer files for women’s records. Michael Fagan has developed a tool to print large family tree posters. The tool is free at https://faganm.com/diagram/ . Laura wrote about using French spoliation claims in learning more about her ancestors. Julie bought a used Flip-Pal scanner, but it did not come with the stitching software to reconstitute the area images. George suggested visiting https://flip-pal.com/support/ . Karen has read in Drew’s Organize Your Genealogy book about using Evernote software. Drew assures her that Evernote is still a valuable tool. Ashley wrote to share more about the U.S. Federal Census and the 1880 Agricultural Census Schedule for North Carolina. She suggests additional places to locate images and indices that otherwise have not been digitized and added at FamilySearch, MyHeritage, and Ancestry. Gonzolo wants information about importing an old Family Tree Maker software file (.ftw) and generating a GEDCOM file. Drew suggested using RootsMagic Essentials software to do this. Nancy writes about having located a birth record for a woman in 1909 on which the birth certificate states that it was a single birth. However, the 1910 census lists two daughters of the age to have been born in 1909. How can you reconcile this? Donna is seeking help in locating a death record for Susan Godfrey and marriage records. Drew provides a recap of his time at RootsTech. Drew will be presenting at the Ohio Genealogical Society Spring Conference in Sandusky, Ohio, from 30 April to 3 May 2025. Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com with your questions and comments.
Mon, February 24, 2025
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #433
News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage added 1.2 billion historical records in January. MyHeritage released Ethnicity Estimate v2.5, the long-awaited ethnicity model, including 79 different ethnicities Listener Email Tom asks if there are reference materials for using AI in genealogical and historical research. (Not YouTube) Pam is searching for immigration and naturalization records for a couple who arrived ca. 1893 and wants to know if other resources are available to help locate those records. George recommends the Stephen P. Morse One-Step pages at stevemorse.org for U.S. ships’ passenger lists and the Library and Archives Canada website at library-archives.canada.ca/eng/ and look for the collection of Immigration Records at library-archives.canada.ca/eng/collection/research-help/genealogy-family-history/immigration/Pages/immigration.aspx . Tom is seeking ships’ passenger lists for ancestors who came to the U.S. or Canada in 1879-1880. George suggests the same records he recommends to Pam above. Jean Daniel in France provides us a fascinating update on his research into his 4x grandfather, Blaise Farny. Anne wrote to follow up on research into Calvin and Rhoda Reed. She discusses Cayuga County, New York, and places that she has used for different records resources. Tom discusses his research into the USS Trigger en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Trigger_(SS-564) ) . He has been using AI tools, including ChatGPT ( https://chatgpt.com/ ), Perplexity ( https://www.perplexity.ai/ ), and Claude AI (ttps://claude.ai/). Drew will be presenting at RootsTech 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 6-8 March. Registration for RootsTech is open for on-site attendance and virtual sessions. Visit www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/ for details. Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com with your questions and comments.
Tue, January 21, 2025
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #432
The Guys wish everyone a Happy New Year! George gives a shout-out to Ed Brown for his continued support for the podcast! News You Can Use and Share The Genealogy Guys issued a press release announcing the discontinuation of the Genealogy Guys Learn subscription educational website effective 1 January 2025. The Guys have partnered with Legacy Family Tree Webinars to migrate their video content to Legacy over time. MyHeritage has announced the suspension of services in Russia due to Russian regulations concerning hosting personal data on its web service. MyHeritage recapped its growth in 2024 with impressive statistics. MyHeritage announced the completion of images and indexes for 15 collections of newspaper names and stories at OldNews.com. This is an addition of 11.6 billion records. Legacy Family Tree Webinars, a subsidiary of MyHeritage, announced that registration is now open for 2025. FamilySearch added free historical record collections in December 2024 from 49 countries. FamilySearch has announced its plans for 2025. Listener Email Several people responded on the subject of genealogy-based trips to Ireland, similar to those that Irish expert Donna M. Moughty offered. We share their suggestions. Brian also responds to the question of whether there is a genealogy podcast that shares people’s stories of family history research. Christina asks whether it is worthwhile to upgrade from RootsMagic 9 to RootsMagic 10, and The Guys respond. In addition to Brian, Kamai responded to a previous podcast’s query about podcasts specifically related to family histories. Crista Cowan, known as The Barefoot Genealogist , has a podcast called Stories That Live in Us at https://www.cristacowan.com/stories-that-live-in-us-podcast . Kenith is searching for Calvin Reed, his wife Rhoda (?), and their daughter, Eliza Ruth Reed, Ohio. If you have information or research suggestions, please email The Guys. George is working on a family book and sought the 1880 U.S. Federal Census Agricultural Schedules for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. It highlights the critical absence of Agricultural Schedules, Manufacturing Schedules, Mortality Schedules, some Slave Schedules (1850 and 1860), and the unique 7-page 1880 Federal Census’ Defective, Delinquent, and Dependent Schedules. These documents all enhance the context of our ancestors’ lives and provide insights into the communities and potentially new resource clues. The originals of many of these documents were returned to individual states, and have found their way into state archives, state libraries, county courthouses, and other places. George wants the sites like MyHeritage, Ancestry, FamilySearch, Findmypast, and others to a
Mon, December 23, 2024
Genealogy Connection #086 - Jarrett Ross, the GeneaVlogger
Drew's guest is Jarrett Ross, the GeneaVlogger. Jarred has been producing hundreds of YouTube videos about genealogy for the past 7 years. You'll learn how Jarred started with genealogy and video production, and a lot about the history of Sephardic Jews. You can find out more about Jarrett's videos at https://www.youtube.com/@GeneaVlogger
Mon, December 09, 2024
Genealogy Connection #085 - Brian Rhinehart, Civil War Records
Drew's guest is Brian Rhineheart, owner of CivilWarRecords.com, a service that retrieves military-related records from the National Archives in Washington, DC. In this episode, Drew and Brian discuss the various types of military-related records available either online or only in physical form, and how genealogists can learn more about their ancestors' military connections prior to requesting records. Brian also offers listeners a code ("connection") valid from the original posting date of this episode for two weeks, good for a discount on his record retrieval service.
Wed, November 27, 2024
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #431
For all who celebrate it, the Guys wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage has introduced LiveMemory TM , a new facility to animate entire photographs. It runs from an app on your phone and is currently free. Ancestry announces its project to index and digitize Korean War-era military records housed at NARA. Vivid-Pix announces it will expand Alzheimer’s Research by donating 5% of sales through 3 December 2024. FamilySearch celebrates 130 years of family discovery! Listener Email Brian asks whether there is a genealogy podcast that shares people’s stories of family history research. Julie asks if there is a user guide/book discussing how to effectively research at MyHeritage. George has contacted Daniel Horowitz at MyHeritage for information. Stay tuned! Peggy expands on requesting U.S. military records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri, and what is available there. Anne suggests seeking information about WWII military service information in newspapers published near the basic training camps and through local libraries’ scrapbooks and vertical files. With Donna Moughty retiring from leading Irish genealogy research trips, Judy asks whether other people might be conducting such trips. Kevin comments about natural disasters and how they impacted our ancestors. He cites his paternal great-grandfather who was born 3 days after the Johnstown Flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on 31 May 1889. Mike writes a follow-up about German immigration, discussed in Episode #429, and shares his research about his German ancestor. He also cites the sinking of the PS General Slocum on 15 June 1904 and its impact on the immigrant German community of Kleindeutchland in Manhattan, New York. Michael comments on annulments and the lack of divorce records, and about circumstances that might make such records non-existent. Book Review Drew reviews Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s newest book, The Hollywood Strangler , the third installment of the Venator Series. Drew also comments on how he has just submitted his final assignment to Nathan for the pilot genealogy mystery writing online course. Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com with your questions and comments.
Thu, October 31, 2024
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #430
The Guys have been on a hiatus because of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the damage in Florida. News You Can Use and Share! David Rencher, Chief Genealogy Officer at FamilySearch, received the Italian Heraldic Genealogical Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award. MyHeritage has given its Inbox a fresh new look. MyHeritage added 56 million new records in September 2004. MyHeritage has updated its Theory of Family Relativity facility by 40%. Ancestry has launched its largest update to DNA matches. Findmypast has added large numbers of Cornwall baptisms, marriages, and burials. RootsTech 2025 registration Is now open and an early bird discount registration rate is available through 31 October 2024. Listener Email Kelly asks for suggestions to locate marriage annulment records. Kristina has located her grandfather’s WWII draft registration card and wants to know how to proceed to obtain his service records. Jean shares a website, “A Guide to Interpreting Passenger List Annotations” at the JewishGen website . Drew discusses the WikiTree Symposium online on 1-3 November 2024. He will be presenting a talk about Copyright and Plagiarism. Schedule . Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com with your questions and comments.
Mon, September 09, 2024
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #429
News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage has acquired MesAieux.com, Quebec’s most popular family history service with more than 15 million historical records. MyHeritage added more than 84 million new records across 16 collections in August 2024. MyHeritage has added 261 million obituary records to its OldNews facility. Listener Email Julie is searching for any Pennsylvania birth records from ca. 1810 and marriage records. The Guys share some suggestions. Drew talks about his recent participation in WikiTree.com’s WikiGames over two weekends. Drew is currently taking Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s online mystery writing class and learning how to develop a compelling genealogical mystery novel. The Guys discuss U.S. immigration and the naturalization process. They recommend Loretto Dennis Szucs’ book, They Became Americans , as a definitive guide to naturalizations. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. And don’t forget to order Drew’s book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy , from Genealogical Publishing Company ( https://genealogical.com/ ) or from Amazon.com. Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com with your experiences with U.S. immigration and naturalizations, and with other questions you have about your genealogical research.
Tue, July 30, 2024
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #428
News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage added 20 million historical records in June. MyHeritage and Family Tree DNA announced a new partnership to connect DNA tests to family trees. JewishGen announced a new partnership between its Romania Research Division and the Jewish Federation of Romania to photograph and document Jewish graves. Drew talks about 19.4 million historical records released by FamilySearch in May 2024. Book Review The Guys review the latest book by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, The Deserter’s Tale , a new Morton Farrier genealogical crime mystery. Listener Email Sam writes about the new RootsMagic 10 update and the book. Drew warns listeners about some fake book entries in Amazon. Stacy Cole responds to an earlier email about her strategies in researching the James James family in Georgia. The Guys discuss their experiences at the South Carolina Genealogical Society's summer workshop at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. George shares how Patrick McCawley, the Deputy Director of Archives and Records Management , spent time sharing with him a history of South Carolina’s geopolitical organization from colonial times to the present. From parishes to electoral districts to counties and boundary changes, George now has a deeper understanding of South Carolina for his research there. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. And don’t forget to order Drew’s new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy , from Genealogical Publishing Company ( https://genealogical.com/ ) or Amazon.com. Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com .
Sun, June 30, 2024
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #427
News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage added 123 million historical records in April and May. MyHeritage added millions of Nordic newspaper pages to OldNews.com. RootsMagic has released Version 10 of its award-winning software. Listener Email Jean-Daniel wrote to share an update about his research into Blaise Farny. Karin educates us about names for Austrian ‘sailors’. Lisa wrote to compliment Cathleen from New Hampshire’s research of her mother’s paternal grandfather, Georg Sokop. She was inspired to research a friend’s Jewish ancestry using DNA. Ray has been researching his third great-grandfather, James James, and located two people of that name in close proximity. The county courthouse burned, and he is asking for other records to distinguish between the two men. Drew discusses the upcoming South Carolina Genealogical Society’s upcoming conference at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History on 12-13 July 2024. He is presenting, and George will be there observing and conducting personal research in the archive. George shares how he is preparing for his genealogical research at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, at the Newberry County courthouse, and in the upstate South Carolina environs. Drew discusses new features of AncestryDNA tools. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. And don’t forget to order Drew’s new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy , from Genealogical Publishing Company ( https://genealogical.com/ ) or Amazon.com. Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com .
Tue, May 21, 2024
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #426
News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage added 71 million historical records in March, including French censuses! MyHeritage added three important New York City historical records collections, including indices and images. MyHeritage has added a multi-photo scanner to the MH mobile app. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in College Park, Maryland, has unveiled a new Mass Digitization Center. It will address digitizing records in various formats up to 10 times faster yearly. American Ancestors has announced the appointment of Ryan J. Woods as its new President and CEO. Ancestry announced its largest partnership with the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to date. As part of the project, Ancestry will invest over the next five years to digitize tens of millions of records that will be added to Ancestry.com. Ancestry has made a new record collection available to honor the 125,000 persons of Japanese descent who were unjustly imprisoned in the U.S. between December 1942 and January 1948. FindMyPast has added more recent new records to its collections of Scotland Deaths (1855-2024), England and Wales Deaths (2007-2024), and Northern Ireland Deaths (1980-2024). Listener Email Cathleen describes her research into her mother’s paternal grandfather, Georg Sokop, including traditional and DNA investigations. She is looking for advice to extend her research. Don writes about Swedish research, including Swedish churches and membership lists, and the resources at Ancestry and ArchivDigital. Jean-Daniel wrote to thank us for sharing an email about Blaise Farny. He now has a great to-do list. He has located an Ivoryette photo of Farny from 1892, and is investigating to locate the original among family members so that he can see if anything is written on the back. Tom wrote to follow up on slide scanning, and to suggest resources for scanning long panorama photos. He also discusses the Stories Behind the Stars Project, which seeks to preserve and expand the information about the more than 421,000 Americans who lost their lives in WWII. Check the STARS website at https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/ . Nick let us know about his efforts to organize thousands of notes in Evernote, doing several each day. Drew discusses attending his 50 th high school reunion, what a wonderful time we had, and how important it was. Drew will be presenting at the South Carolina Genealogical Society Conference on 12-13 July at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History in Columbia. George will also be attending and conducting personal research. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our tech
Tue, April 09, 2024
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #425
News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage added 168 million historical records in February. MyHeritage launched OldNews.com, a new website for exploring historical newspapers. MyHeritage introduced all-new profile pages with hints. Vivid-Pix announced the roll-out of Memory Stations, integrating scanning, its correction software, tagging, and more. Findmypast has begun digitizing, indexing, and publishing British Home Children records. The National Archives (TNA) announced that it will digitize the 1941 National Farm Survey records thanks to a generous grant from Lund Trust. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard In our DNA Segment, DNA expert Diahan Southard discusses Family Tree DNA and Y-DNA haplogroups with Drew Smith. Listener Email Laura writes about backup GEDCOM files and MyHeritage, and Daniel Horowitz responds. Jenna writes to respond to Sheila’s quest to digitize and tag a 30” long x 6” high-resolution photograph. She shares FamilySearch’s ability to tag people in a Memory at https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/tagging-people-in-a-memory . Anne writes in response to Jean Daniels' email about researching an ancestor. Anne cites Anabaptists in New York State. Kristen is seeking more advice for locating records for a missing family member, Arthur Tozer. Ashley wrote about changes that people make to FamilySearch records without sources. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. And don’t forget to order Drew’s new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy , from Genealogical Publishing Company ( https://genealogical.com/ ) or Amazon.com. Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com .
Thu, February 22, 2024
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #424
David from Addison, Texas, is the winner of our drawing for a MyHeritage DNA kit. More drawings will be announced later this year. News You Can Use and Share! RootsTech, the world’s largest genealogy conference, takes place in Salt Lake City, Utah, and online next week, 29 February through 2 March 2024. FamilySearch International and American Ancestors announced a collaboration on the 10 Million Names Project. The project “seeks to recover the names and restore information to families of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America, including the area that would become the United States.” DNA Segment In our DNA Segment, DNA expert Diahan Southard discusses Ancestry DNA with Drew Smith. Listener Email Douglas responds regarding our discussion of slide and negative scanners. He reminds people to check with their local library for the availability of a scanner for checkout. He was able to use a Wolverine slide and negative scanner. (It and the Kodak model discussed on the last podcast are available through Amazon.) Jeannie discusses FamilySearch’s computer indexing problems. Mike writes again to provide additional information about the Old Fulton Postcards website and the New York local government historians’ (LGH) roles. Ryan asks about two different marriage records dated the same date in adjoining states for the same couple. Laura writes in response to Dennis’ questions about writing a family history, and uses the “52 ancestors in 52 weeks” approach presented by Amy Johnson Crow. Matt is seeking a missing Pennsylvania death record from 1914. He has conducted extensive research and is looking for more suggestions. Kristen is seeking advice for locating records for a missing family member, Arthur Tozer. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. Please also tell your friends and your genealogical society about our free podcasts, blog, and the Genealogy Guys Learn subscription education website. And don’t forget to order Drew’s book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy , from Genealogical Publishing Company ( genealogical.com/ ) or Amazon.com. Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com .
Mon, January 29, 2024
Genealogy Connection #084 - Donna Moughty, Irish Research Expert and Research Trip Leader
Drew's guest is Donna Moughty, who led the research trip to Dublin that Drew joined in October 2023. In this episode, Drew and Donna discuss her experiences over many years in leading research trips to Ireland, and how researchers need to prepare before going on a research trip (no matter where their ancestors were from). To learn of Donna's background, see GC episode #002.
Tue, January 23, 2024
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #423
News You Can Use and Share! Don’t miss the opportunity to win a free MyHeritage DNA Kit. Listen to the MyHeritage ad later in this episode for details on submitting your entry to our raffle. MyHeritage recapped their activities in 2023: 4M DNA kits in their database 9M faces tagged with Photo Tagger 700M historical records added in 366 new collections 320M new Family Tree profiles added 4M MyHeritage and Reimagine mobile app downloaded 19M new Theories of Family Relativity™ New AI tools added: PhotoDater™, AI Record Finder™, and AI Biographer™ 3M photo dates estimated with PhotoDater 26M photos uploaded 2,112 webinars on Legacy Family Tree Webinars 605 articles added to the MyHeritage Wiki George recaps MyHeritage’s Historical Record Collections added in December 2023. Drew recaps FamilySearch’s 2023 highlights. FamilySearch announced the historic release of the 1931 Census of Canada. Drew shares what to expect from FamilySearch in 2024. DNA Segment Our popular DNA Segment returns with expert Diahan Southard and Drew Smith in conversation about 23andMe. Listener Email Mike writes about genealogy podcasts and the lack of references made to the newspaper research site, Old Fulton New York Postcards website at https://www.fultonhistory.com/ for a collection of New York newspapers and postcard images, and Advantage Archives at https://www.advantagearchives.com/ . Sheila writes concerning how to get a “long photo” (30” long x 6” high) scanned and then how to locate software to tag each person’s face with their name. The Guys suggest obtaining advice from archivists at university archives and special collections, and state/provincial/national archives, to find out who offer large scanning jobs services. Julie writes to discuss her and her daughter’s interesting DNA matches (and non-matches) with another individual on different websites. Dennis’s 40 years of collecting data in Germany and Ireland was entered into Family Tree Maker and uploaded to Ancestry. The data seems to have disappeared and he asks for suggestions. He also seeks suggestions about how he and his sisters can/should format the family history they are planning to compile. Laurie writes to ask about the possibility of a researcher being able to bulk-download data from databases such as Ancestry for a specific county. Diana writes to advise us that there is a law in New York state requiring that each county have a county historian to help preserve and promote the history of that county. They can guide you to resources and other organizations. There is a website at https://www.aphnys.gov where you can iden
Sat, December 30, 2023
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #422
News You Can Use and Share The Genealogy Guys Learn site is still on sale through January 1, 2024! MyHeritage announces the release of a new exclusive collection: marriage certificates for North Rhine and Westphalia from 1874 through 1899. MyHeritage announces the release of AI Record Finder™, an interactive, free text chat to help locate historical records about an ancestor among MH’s 20 billion records. MyHeritage announces the release of AI Biographer™, which compiles a Wikipedia-like article about a person’s life. It uses details from matching historical records and family tree profiles. The Society of Genealogists has officially reopened at its new address on Wharf Road in London, England. The Society of Genealogists has launched a brand-new search tool called SoG Explore. The Guys give a shout-out to Graham Walter, who has been named Chairman of the Society of Genealogists’ Trustees. Scottish Indexes reached a new milestone with the addition of 180,000 prison record entries among over half a million records from 38 Scottish Prisons. Visit https://www.scottishindexes.com/ScotlandsCriminalDatabase.aspx . Drew recaps the highlights of the newest record releases at FamilySearch from October and November 2023. Listener Email Ashley asks about uploading Ancestry DNA results to MyHeritage as compared with taking a test there. Ashley also asks about searching probate court books for records of the institutionalization of a great-grand-uncle in Dayton, Ohio, and needs suggestions to help find his records. Jean Daniel from Metz, France, asks for suggestions about locating records for a 4x grandfather who spent some years in the U.S. Kelly is looking for ideas to help locate records about her great aunt, Wilhemine Mae Rauch (b. 1909 in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, USA), and twice married to Floyd Stevens. Listener suggestions are also requested. The Guys give a shout-out to Scott Fisher for his years of work on the Extreme Genes Podcast, which is ending this month. The Guys recommend a new podcast by Mike Scozzari called “Roots: Everyone Has a Story,” which can be found at https://www.michaelscozzari.com/podcast . Drew and George talk about some of the topics most likely to dominate in 2024, including AI, DNA, and conferences. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/geneal
Sun, November 05, 2023
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #421
News You Can Use and Share We just added a new video to the subscription Genealogy Guys Learn site . It is "Archives and Special Collections: An Introduction" by associate librarian emeritus Drew Smith. MyHeritage memorializes two of its employees, Ron Shemer and Ilay Nachman, who were killed on 7 October 2023 at the onset of the Hamas-Israel War. My Heritage announced the addition of 43 million historical records in September 2023. MyHeritage released the 1931 Canada Census with a new index. Drew recaps the highlights of the newest record releases at FamilySearch on 10, 17, and 24 September 2023. Listener Email Gavin reminds everyone to check multiple websites for record collections that may have been indexed differently. He was researching his great-grandfather's family's immigrant arrival at Ellis Island, NY. He searched at MyHeritage and found his wife's brother and family indexed with his great-grandfather's name as the individual they were traveling to meet. He found a great match. He performed a similar search at Ancestry.com, and the result did not show up because Ancestry doesn't index the name of the individual the immigrants were traveling to meet. Therefore, different sites' collections are often indexed differently and may yield different matches and clues. Kayla wrote about her exhaustive efforts to trace her great-uncle, James Edward Farden. The family story is that he went AWOL and disappeared from subsequent records. Judi writes again about her Irish Bannon ancestry and asks Drew and his brother about possible DNA matches with her line. Julie wrote about her great-great-grandmother Ann Marie Delaney, who was born in County Laois in Ireland and immigrated to the U.S. She asked Drew about a possible connection to his ancestors. Drew discusses his 10-day research trip to Ireland with his brother that began on 4 October 2023, with a week in Dublin led by expert Donna Moughty. He shares some places he visited, some of the things he learned, and the vital importance of advance preparations that he recommends for all research trips. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you'd like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. Please also tell your friends and your genealogical society about our free podcasts, our blog, and our Genealogy Guys Learn subscription education website. And don't forget to order Drew's new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of
Tue, October 03, 2023
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #420
In the previous episode, The Genealogy Guys Podcast announced that, in partnership with MyHeritage.com, we were giving away a FREE MyHeritage DNA Kit. The winner is Shontè Anthony from Maryland. An email with the code to redeem the kit is in the mail! News You Can Use and Share! The Black Cemetery Network (BCN) at https://blackcemeterynetwork.org is hosting an event in Tampa, Florida on 14 October 2023 from 10 AM to Noon to commemorate Black History and the Memorial Park Cemetery. It will begin with presentations at the C. Blythe Andrews Library, 2607 E. Dr. MLK Jr. Boulevard, followed by an on-site walk in the Memorial Park Cemetery next door. You are cordially invited to join us for this exciting event and to help spread the word. Drew Smith and I, along with volunteers from across the country, have been deeply involved with the Zion Cemetery Project in Tampa for several years. It seeks to document all of the people interred in the "erased African-American cemetery" and bring their stories to life. All of the tombstones were removed, and portions of the property were "developed," leaving this sacred ground partially covered by buildings and the cemetery erased. The University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa has been supporting and promoting this work. The Black Cemetery Network was established and strives to support and publicize efforts across the U.S. to trace the "erased" cemeteries and promote projects like the Zion Project to un-erase them and to honor those buried in these cemeteries. As the Zion Project work is approaching its end, Drew and I, USF, and the Black Cemetery Network are about to begin work on three (3) "erased" cemeteries in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, and beyond in that county. We are very proud to be part of these projects and to recognize and celebrate the lives of those early residents who built and shaped our communities. Registration for RootsTech 2024, the premier global family history conference, is now open. The event will be held from 29 February through 2 March 2024 in both in-person and virtual formats, from the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Learn more and register at https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/home . MyHeritage has announced the release of PhotoDater™, a groundbreaking, free new feature that estimates the year a photo was taken using AI technology. MyHeritage added 89 million historical records to its site in August 2023. George summarizes these collections. Drew recaps the highlights of the newest record releases at FamilySearch in August 2023. Interview Drew talks with Rick Voight, CEO of Vivid-Pix, and Sue Kaufman, manager of the Genealogy Collection at the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research in Houston, Te
Thu, August 10, 2023
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #419
The Genealogy Guys Podcast, in partnership with MyHeritage.com, is giving away a FREE MyHeritage DNA Kit. Please send an email to genealogyguys@gmail.com with your name and mailing address by no later than midnight U.S. Eastern Time on 31 August 2023 for your chance to win! News You Can Use and Share American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society has announced the 10 Million Names Project. The Project is a collaborative effort dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America (specifically, the territory that would become the United States) between the 1500s and 1865. Learn more at https://10millionnames.org/ . A great new book written by African-American and Native American expert Angela Walton-Raji has been published by Arcadia Publishing, Inc., titled Oklahoma Freedmen of the Five Tribes . It is now available at Amazon.com. Drew recaps the highlights of the newest records releases at FamilySearch. Listener Email Lisa sent a follow-up about her census mystery searching for her ancestor Felice Giuseppe Maturo and his brother, Liberato Maturo, in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census in New Haven, Connecticut. Mell wrote to ask for suggestions to research her ancestor Felix White in the area around Columbus, Muskogee County, Oklahoma. Lisa wrote about the Ancestry Hints, what they are and aren’t. This includes the “Family Data Collection” and “Geneanet Community Trees”. Nicole is researching her Dulaney ancestral line from Virginia, supposedly back to Ireland. Drew shares some insights. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. Please also tell your friends and your genealogical society about our free podcasts, our blog, and our Genealogy Guys Learn subscription education website. And don’t forget to order Drew’s new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy , from Genealogical Publishing Company ( https://genealogical.com/ ) or Amazon.com. Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com .
Tue, July 18, 2023
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #418
News You Can Use and Share! The International African American Museum (IAAM) has officially opened in Charleston, South Carolina, and is partnering with Vivid-Pix with the installation of Vivid-Pix Memory Stations that allow visitors to scan, restore, save, and share their precious photos, documents, and stories. The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) has been gifted a new index containing 3.2 million searchable names to mark the centenary of PRONI. These are related to Valuation records between 1864 and 1933. The General Register Office for England and Wales (GRO) now allows you to order instant-access images of birth records from 1837 to 1922 and death records from 1837 to 1887. The digital images cost £2.50 each and can be downloaded, and then printed. (The records are images of the details from the certificate but not the certificate itself.) Drew recaps the newest records releases at FamilySearch. Listener Email Lisa wrote about her census mystery searching for her ancestor Felice Giuseppe Maturo and his brother, Liberato Maturo, in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census in New Haven, Connecticut. The Guys researched and Drew shares our findings. Tom wrote about his ancestor who served in the Revolutionary War and who he just discovered was a enslaver in Kentucky. The Guys discuss U.S. patents. For both of them, one of their great-grandfathers filed two patents for inventions. The Guys were able to search the USPTO (United States Patents and Trademarks Office) patent database at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/search or Google's Patent database, and quickly located the patent files. Each file contained a schematic diagram of the invention and text pages with detailed descriptions. (Trademarks can be searched in the trademarks database at https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/search .) Please listen to the podcast for details about disconnects and reloading pages in the databases. Drew recommended acquiring a small glass desktop whiteboard that can sit between the keyboard and display and provide additional storage. An example (the one that Drew bought) can be found on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09PBK52W5 , but many companies sell them in a variety of colors. Don’t forget to order Drew’s new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy , from Genealogical Publishing Company ( https://genealogical.com/ ) or Amazon.com. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much
Tue, June 20, 2023
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #417
News You Can Use and Share! SUMMER SALE CONTINUES! The Genealogy Guys Learn subscription website is on sale for $64.00 per year – a 35% saving! We have scores of videos and written courses, and new content is added each month. Visit https://genealogyguyslearn.com/ , click the Enroll Now button, and complete the subscription form. Be sure to click on the Add Coupon link and use coupon code Summer2023. This deal is for new subscriptions only and is in effect until midnight ET on 30 June 2023. Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has announced the release of the 1931 Census of Canada. They are also collaborating with Ancestry and FamilySearch to make images and indexes available. MyHeritage has released ReImagine, a new photo scanning and editing tool for iOS and Android mobile phones. MyHeritage announced a recap of the release of 46 million historical records collections in May 2023. George recaps those collections. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries. The TSLAC Newspaper Collection is now live and available for free online. More than 4,500 issues of historical Texas newspapers from TSLAC’s collection, published from 1855 to 1930, are available online through UNT’s Portal to Texas History . The National Genealogical Society (NGS) and Vivid-Pix announced the Family Matters Community Outreach Toolkit Lending Service for NGS member organizations. Read the full press release at the Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2023/05/ngs-and-vivid-pix-announce-family.html . Drew recaps the newest records releases at FamilySearch. Listener Email Judy in Avon, Ohio, wrote again to state that she had not fully explored the RootsMagic tutorial videos. She is now much more comfortable with RM9 and fully endorses it. Judy also wrote that she has tested DNA with Ancestry and discovered one match that has taken her research back another generation. Drew provides some guidance about how to proceed. Michael wrote to reinforce the idea of focusing research on one’s great-grandparents and setting goals for what you want to learn about them. Cindy wrote again concerning her Swedish conundrum. She thanked The Guys for their advice. She has also done more research without success and asks listeners to share suggestions. Jerry wrote to reference our Episode #407 and a link http://www.ancestrallines.net/overview/ , a page that presents a new pedigree numbering system that has been developed for the family history and gene
Tue, May 30, 2023
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #416
News You Can Use and Share! SUMMER SALE! The Genealogy Guys Learn subscription website is on sale for $64.00 per year – a 35% saving! We have scores of videos and written courses, and new content is added each month. Visit https://genealogyguyslearn.com/ , click the Enroll Now button, and complete the subscription form. Be sure to click on the Add Coupon link and use coupon code Summer2023. This deal is for new subscriptions only and is in effect until midnight ET on 30 June 2023. MyHeritage has released a new update to the data in its Theory of Family RelativityTM. The number of matches has increased by 78% to 136,713,021! MyHeritage announced the release of 20 million historical records collections in April 2023. George recaps those collections. MyHeritage recently added the 1910 Norway Census Collection. It now announces the addition of high-quality images for the collection. Ancestry and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) announced the resumption of the digitization of the War of 1812 Pension Files project. The indexed images will be available for free at Fold3 forever. Listen for updates about this important project. Drew recaps the newest record releases at FamilySearch. Listener Email Jennifer in Oberlin, Ohio, responded to the email from Judy in Avon, Ohio, that we discussed in Episode 415. Judy wanted help with learning to use RootsMagic more effectively. Jennifer suggested attending the weekly drop-in genealogy group at the Oberlin Public Library. Missi wrote a long email asking for The Guys’ suggestions for how to restart her genealogy, what methodology to employ, how far to research collateral lines (siblings, in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) There are lots of things discussed and some good suggestions provided. Eric responded to Cindy from Episode 412 and her search for a Swedish immigrant. He suggested obtaining and reviewing naturalization records, which include the name of the person, country, and place of origin, name of the ship, port of arrival, and arrival date. The Petition for Naturalization form (second papers) required the name of the person now applying and the name under which the person arrived at the port. (They could be different.) The Swedish Household Examination Records are accessible at MyHeritage and can help in tracing the person back to birth, and the names of family members in the household. The Guys responded to Tom in Episode 415 who was searching the 1910 U.S census records in Cranesville, Erie County, Pennsylvania, to locate ancestors. The Guys did a great deal of research, and then asked Tom to provide names. Drew researched again and unfortunately could not find the people in any of the townships or precincts in the county. He concluded that the family was away or missed by the enumerator. Kathleen also
Thu, April 27, 2023
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #415
News You Can Use and Share! Drew's new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy , has been published by Genealogical Publishing Company. It is being acclaimed as the best new book for beginning genealogists. You can order it at https://genealogical.com/store/generation-by-generation/ or at Amazon.com. A color ebook version will be available soon. MyHeritage announced the release of 38 million historical records collections in March 2023. George recaps those collections. FamilySearch has named Debbie Gurtler as the new Assistant Director of the FamilySearch Library. Findmypast has released two important collections: Ireland, Diocese of Dublin Marriage Licenses, 1638-1858, and Ireland, Diocese of Dublin Wills and Grants, 1270-1858. Listener Email Jean wrote to announce that she has purchased Drew's new book for the West Hempstead Library in New York. Laura in Connecticut wrote about researching the Smith surname in Ireland. Judy in Ohio wrote to ask about getting help with learning how to use RootsMagic more effectively. The Guys suggested watching the scores of recorded videos at the RootsMagic site. (Visit https://www.rootsmagic.com/ and click the Learn dropdown list. There also are short videos on RootsMagic TV on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/RootsMagicTV . D. A. wrote about the print quality of images in the new RootsMagic 9 book. Donna Moughty responded to address Gabriel's Irish research request for suggestions in researching his ancestor James Thomas Donoghue. Donna's thoughtful comments will be helpful to all Irish researchers. Rick in Wisconsin wrote concerning reporting formats that he can use for use in documenting his family's Benedict Arnold, who was not the infamous Benedict Arnold. Tom posed a research conundrum he has encountered in researching his family in the 1910 U.S. Federal census in Cranesville, Erie County, Pennsylvania. He cannot locate the enumeration district (ED) for that place. The Guys spent some time replicating his research and delving into EDs in that area and, using people living in Cranesville in 1920 and locating them at the same residences in 1910, narrowed the ED down to #66. We've asked for specific names and will recheck those as well. Listener suggestions are also very welcome. Don't forget to order Drew's new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy , from Genealogical Publishing Company ( https://genealogical.com/ ) or Amazon.com. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support h
Tue, March 21, 2023
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #414
News You Can Use and Share! Drew Smith’s new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy , has been published by Genealogical Publishing Company. It is being acclaimed as the best new book for beginning genealogists. You can order it at https://genealogical.com/store/generation-by-generation/ or at Amazon.com. A new Kindle version will be available soon. MyHeritage announced the release of cM Explainer™, an innovative, free new feature on MyHeritage that estimates familial relationships between DNA Matches with high accuracy. Learn more at https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/03/introducing-cm-explainer-to-predict-relationships-between-dna-matches-with-greater-accuracy/ . MyHeritage announced the third installment of their pro bono DNA Quest initiative with 5,000 free DNA testing kits to be donated to help reunite adoptees with their birth families through genetic testing. Learn more at https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/03/myheritage-announces-third-installment-of-dna-quest-initiative/ . MyHeritage added 19 million new records to its collections in February 2023. See the complete list at https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/03/myheritage-adds-19-million-records-in-february-2023/ . RootsMagic has released RootsMagic 9 for both PC and macOS with the addition of new tools. There is a new book, Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic 9 , that describes how to use the new version. As always, there are new videos about all the operations of the software. Learn more at http://blog.rootsmagic.com/?p=3635 . Ancestry has launched a new mobile app called Storymaker Studio to assist in creating and sharing family stories on the go. Learn more at https://www.ancestry.com/corporate/newsroom/press-releases/ancestry--launches-storymaker-studio- . FamilySearch has announced that the 1931 Census of Canada will be released on 1 June 2023 at the Library and Archives (LAC) Canada website. Read more at https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/corporate/website-updates/pages/census-1931.aspx . Following the release, LAC will collaborate with Ancestry and FamilySearch to create an advanced searchable database. The International African American Museum has set its opening day
Thu, February 23, 2023
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #413
News You Can Use and Share Drew Smith's new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy , has been published by Genealogical Publishing Company. You can order it at https://genealogical.com/store/generation-by-generation/ . On January 4, 2023, the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed substantial increases to the fees required to access historical records held by the USCIS Genealogy Program. The proposed hikes are especially infuriating, given that many of these records should already be publicly and readily available at the National Archives. They have proposed a fee as high as $340 for a single document. Send your comments by Monday, March 6, 2023. Visit the "Records, Not Revenue" website at https://www.recordsnotrevenue.com/ to learn more about how to make your voice heard. RootsTech, the FamilySearch annual genealogical mega-conference, will be held March 3-5. There's still time to enroll for in-person attendance or virtual participation at https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/event/rt2023 . MyHeritage added 41 million historical records in January 2023. George details each collection. Genealogical Publishing Company ( https://genealogical.com/ ) has announced the “My GPC Library” subscription service that provides access to nearly 800 titles spanning 70 years of publishing. A 15% introductory discount is currently available for 6-month and 1-year subscriptions at https://genealogical.com/subscriptions/ . More titles will be added over time. Listener Email Curt and Lisa both wrote to offer suggestions for Cindy's questions in Episode 412 regarding Swedish research. Nancy responded to Donna's inquiry in Episode 412 concerning suggestions about methods for how to pay for foreign genealogical research. Joshua asks about a format for a letter to be used in disproving incorrect family connections. Judi sent a detailed email to Drew regarding Bannon families in Essex County, New Jersey, and in Ireland. Timo wrote to advise how to turn off AirTag notifications for usual places. Drew's Upcoming Ireland Research Trip Drew discusses a genealogy research trip he and his brother are making to Ireland in October 2023. He continues to talk about the preparations he is making and will provide more over the coming months. And you can be sure he will report back about how well his preparations served him on the trip. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Pat
Sun, January 29, 2023
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #412
News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage announces a new, free, searchable collection, Israel Immigration Lists, consisting of 1.7 million records from 1919 onwards, transcribed by MyHeritage from images stored at the Israel Archive. Dr. Wanda Wyporska, Chief Executive Officer of the Society of Genealogists, is stepping down in March 2023 to accept a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at another organization. World Archives has rebranded as Storied and has launched a new, next-generation family history platform at https://storied.com/ . The Family History Library has been renamed the FamilySearch Library, and Family History Centers have been renamed FamilySearch Centers. Drew recaps the vast new and expanded collections at FamilySearch from January 2023. Listener Email Dave asks for suggestions about the thousands of genealogy research tasks he has entered into his Family Tree Maker software. He would like suggestions for how to view these tasks on his iPhone and iPad. Donna wants suggestions about methods for how to pay for international genealogical research, and The Guys ask listeners for input. Irene provides tips for Drew on his upcoming Irish research trip. Cindy is researching a friend’s Swedish grandfather who emigrated from Sweden to the U.S. She is looking for his origins in Sweden, and has performed extensive research but without success. George suggested MyHeritage’s collection of Swedish Household Examination Books and asks listeners for other suggestions. Drew’s Upcoming Research Trip Drew discusses a genealogy research trip that he and his brother are making to Ireland in October 2023. He continues to talk about the preparations he is making and will provide more over the coming months. And you can be sure he will report back about how well his preparations served him on the trip. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. Please also tell your friends and your genealogical society about our free podcasts, our free blog , and our Genealogy Guys Learn subscription education website. Let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com .
Sat, December 31, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #411
News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage announces Global Name Translation TM for DNA Matches. (See our Genealogy Guys Blog posting at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2022/12/myheritage-announces-new-global-name.html . Drew shares the 2022 FamilySearch Genealogy Highlights. Drew recaps the vast new and expanded collections at FamilySearch from November and December 2022. Book Review George and Drew review Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s latest genealogy mystery book, The Sawtooth Slayer , a Venator Cold Case. Top-notch! Listener Email Deborah wrote about the 60 Minutes segment concerning Black cemeteries in Florida. See the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT9TaQcWcFs . Shannon wrote concerning how to locate and obtain medical information for people who were institutionalized in asylums. Drew’s Upcoming Research Trip Drew discusses a genealogy research trip that he and his brother are making to Ireland in October 2023. He talks about the preparations he has begun and will provide more over the coming months. And you can be sure he will report back about how well his preparations served him on the trip. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. Please also tell your friends and your genealogical society about our free podcasts, our free blog , and our Genealogy Guys Learn subscription education website. Let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com
Tue, November 22, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #410
Watch the Genealogy Guys Blog ( blog.genealogyguys.com ) or our Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/genealogyguys ) on Friday, 25 November 2022, for a big announcement! News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage has completed publishing the 1950 U.S. Census for all the states and territories. MyHeritage has released a new, fun photo tool called AI Time Machine TM . The Society of Genealogists has announced the purchase of new premises for themselves in London. Drew recaps the vast new and expanded collections at FamilySearch. Listener Email Melissa contacted us to make a connection in Chester County, Pennsylvania, about the Worrall family. Phoebe asks Drew about pursuing an MLIS degree. Tom wrote concerning the possible unreliability of dates chiseled on tombstones. Edward asks for advice about breaking through a brick wall in 1750s Pennsylvania. Donald wrote about the excellent holdings of the Chester County Archives in Chester County, Pennsylvania. ( http://chesco.org/192/Archives-Records . George talks about the record types he uses in researching the Zion Cemetery Project in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. Please also tell your friends and your society about our free podcasts, our free blog , and our Genealogy Guys Learn subscription education website. Let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com .
Sun, October 30, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #409
We apologize for the delay in the publication of this episode. Hurricane Ian and some severe computer problems have presented production challenges. News You Can Use and Share American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society celebrated the lifetime contributions of David Rencher, Chief Genealogical Officer of FamilySearch, with its Preservation and History Award on 27 October 2022. MyHeritage has announced three major improvements to their service: Sorting abilities for Shared DNA Matches; The addition of 30 new historical record selections and 31 million new records added in September; and New and improved Family Statistics for your uploaded family tree/GEDCOM. Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s newest book, the second book in the Venator Cold Case Series, The Sawtooth Slayer , has just been released in paperback and Kindle formats. RootsTech 2023 registration is open for the largest genealogy conference, to be held 2-4 March 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. You may register to attend in person or virtually at https://www.rootstech.org . George shares information about the BYU Family History Technology Lab at https://familytech.byu.edu . Genealogy-related games and research and visualization tools are fun and fascinating. Drew highlights new and updated collections added at FamilySearch in September. Listener Email Daniel writes to describe a DNA brick wall challenge. Tom B. discussed WWII-era photos and the fact that he has scanned them. Now, what should he do with the originals? Tom S. wrote to share a brick wall breakthrough that he, his cousin, and his mother made by checking various online services and then going back and checking them for new record additions. George discussed his work on scanning photos he has carried with him for as long as 60 years. He discussed the Fujitsu SV600 Scanner, the ScanSnap software that comes with the scanner, his storage in Dropbox, his naming conventions, and using Vivid-Pix Restore to improve the images. He discusses his conundrum about how to obtain images from photo negatives, Kodak photo disks, and other non-paper media. He shares surprises he found that help him identify persons in many unlabeled photos. Finally, he shares Tom B.’s concerns about what to do with originals. Please Support Our Sponsors You can support our sponsors who bring these podcasts to you for free by visiting their links as follows: MyHeritage at https://www.myheritage.com/ RootsMagic at https://rootsmagic.com/ Vivid-Pix RESTORE at https://www.vivid-pix.
Wed, September 14, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #408
News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage has added 74 collections with 130 million new historical records. Read our blog to learn more. Unlock the Past has announced that the Family History Down Under 2022 Conference will be held 8-11 November 2022 at Castle Hill, near Sydney, Australia. You can attend in person or virtually. Full details and registration can be found at https://www.fhdu22.com/ . Findmypast has implemented Tree Search at its site “with instant connections and new discoveries waiting to help your family tree bloom.” Findmypast has added Derbyshire Baptisms, Durham Marriages, and Northamptonshire Burials Baptisms. FamilySearch was presented with the Historic Preservation Award by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Drew highlights new and updated collections added at FamilySearch in July and August. Listener Email Angela had written asking for suggestions for locating railroad employment records in the U.S. for his Italian great-grandfather. Expert Paula Stuart-Warren provides a wealth of resource suggestions. Karl asks about using DNA testing to identify the parents of Nathanial Oak, born circa 1645 in England or Wales. Drew provides suggestions regarding Y-DNA testing and joining a DNA surname group at Family Tree DNA. Kristina writes to celebrate her success in finding a wealth of criminal records for her great-grandfather at the Indiana State Archives. Giveaway The Guys are giving away a copy of their Brick Wall Research Strategies quicksheet, based on their book, Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques (McGraw-Hill, 2013). Send an email to genealogyguys@gmail.com by midnight EDT on 30 September 2002. Write BRICK WALL in the subject line, and include your name and postal address in the body of the email. This offer is only valid for U.S. residents. Please Support Our Sponsors You can support our sponsors who bring these podcasts to you for free by visiting their links as follows: MyHeritage at https://www.myheritage.com/ RootsMagic at https://rootsmagic.com/ Vivid-Pix RESTORE at https://www.vivid-pix.com/restore/ Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. Please also tell your friends and your societ
Sun, August 14, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #407
News You Can Use and Share! The Genealogy Guys Learn subscription website has added several new written and video courses, with more coming regularly. You can subscribe at https://genealogyguyslearn.com/ . MyHeritage released 22 new collections in June. Findmypast has added new records to its Middlesex Baptisms, Surrey Baptisms, and Greater London Burial Index collections. Drew highlights new and updated collections added at FamilySearch this week. DNA Segment Drew and DNA expert Diahan Southard discuss AncestryDNA's new SideView feature. https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ ydgblog/ancestrydna- sideview Vivid-Pix Memory Segment Drew interviews Allison Singleton of the Allen County Public Library about their plans to mobilize photo scanning to retirement facilities. Listener Email Kathy writes to thank George for his spot-on coverage of the 1950 U.S. Federal Census and what is and isn’t available. Karen in Australia tells us the difference of update frequencies at Ancestry’s ThruLines and MyHeritage’s Theory of Family Relativity. Brian writes about digitizing your family history research as a method of guaranteeing that your work is preserved after you are gone. He also talks about surname binders and other organizational considerations. He suggests you check out the Ancestral Lines Pairing System at https://www.ancestrallines.net/overview/ . Judith is interested in the possibility of obtaining records from the Orange Orphan Home in East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey. George responds to Jim about James Berry Holder [Sr.] and available records to verify both his birth and death dates. Mark shares his six-step plan for organizing his genealogical materials. It is a focused task list that can be used by anyone. Please Support Our Sponsors You can support our sponsors who bring these podcasts to you for free by visiting their links as follows: MyHeritage at https://www.myheritage.com/ RootsMagic at https://rootsmagic.com/ Vivid-Pix RESTORE at https://www.vivid-pix.com/restore/ Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our tec
Wed, July 20, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #406
New You Can Use and Share! The Guys want to thank everyone in the genealogical community for supporting their decision to terminate sponsorship by Find a Grave and Newspapers.com (subsidiaries of Ancestry.com). MyHeritage announces the release of the addition of two significant record collections: Norway Emigration Registers, 1867-1973, and the Vienna, Austria, Jewish Emigrant Applications, 1938-1939. MyHeritage announces a new update to its Theory of Family Relativity. The Genealogist has added a link to their Map Explorer georeference facility to the 1891 Census for the UK. It allows you to jump from the census household record to a detailed map to see where your ancestors lived and explore the neighborhood. Findmypast has added half a million new records for Pennsylvania: List of British Prisoners in the War of Revolution; Episcopalian Births and Baptisms; Episcopalian Marriages; Episcopalian Deaths and Burials; and Episcopalian Congregational Records. DNA Segment DNA expert Diahan Southard returns to discuss with Drew a comparison of Ancestry's ThruLines and MyHeritage's Theory of Family Relativity. https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/ancestry-thrulines https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/myheritage-theory-of-family-relativity Vivid-Pix Memory Segment Drew interviews Hayley Studer, CEO of achi, to discuss achi's involvement with the study of using photographs to engage persons who have memory issues. Listener Email Mark shares information about how he has used social media to create private Facebook pages for relatives to share posts, photographs, and other information. Brian wrote to comment on the importance of sourcing all of the information you contribute to FamilySearch's Family Tree and to other online sites. Karin listens in Germany and wrote to comment about our previous discussion of African ancestry showing up in DNA results, and also shared two important online resources for German research: GEDBAS at https://gedbas.genealogy.net/?lang=en OFBs at https://ofb.genealogy.net/ Gigi wrote about having located prison records for one man at Ancestry an
Thu, June 30, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #405
News You Can Use and Share! Family Tree Magazine announced their 101 Best Genealogy Websites for Genealogy for 2022, and the Genealogy Guys Podcast was again included. MyHeritage published 11 million new German historical records (Germany, Hesse, Deaths) MyHeritage added 1.3 billion historical records in 37 collections in April and May. The Genealogist is a tiered subscription website for English genealogical research at https://www.thegenealogist.com/ . They have announced the addition of georeferenced maps for the 1901 census. These allow you to search to locate people in the census and then view a map that pinpoints the residence so that you can gain a visual perspective of the exact location. Findmypast has added: British Army, Recommendations for Military Honours and Awards, 1935-1990; South Africa, Local Armed Forces Nominal Rolls, 1899-1902; Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards; England, Newspaper Birth Notices; England, Newspaper Marriage Notices; and England, Newspaper Death Notices. FamilySearch has published its 100,000th article on the FamilySearch Research Wiki. FamilySearch has announced that RootsTech 2023 will be a blended conference with both in-person and virtual presentations. Drew shares highlights of new historical records at FamilySearch. DNA Segment DNA expert Diahan Southard returns with a new discussion with Drew about Y-DNA. YDNA Testing (how many markers: https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydna Inspiring YDNA stories: YDNA Reveals a Scottish Clan Connection Combining Test Types–YDNA and Autosomal–To Find Connections between Families of the Same Surname <a href= "https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/ydna-paternity-test-ancestor" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgbl
Sun, May 29, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #404
News You Can Use and Share! George recommends listening to MyHeritage’s podcast, “Blast From My Past”, which can be found at https://shows.acast.com/blast-from-my-past . Ancestry introduces its Ethnicity Inheritance powered by SideViewTM Findmypast has added new records to its UK collection Electoral Registers & Companies House Directors. Lynn Turner has been named the new Director of the FamilySearch Family History Library. Drew shares an overview of new and expanded record collections at FamilySearch. 1950 U.S. Federal Census Discussion Drew discusses the AI indexing processes in use by Ancestry and FamilySearch, and census records at MyHeritage. Kathy from California emailed us with questions about the availability of a number of the different census record forms from this census. George covers the different forms used and whether they were imaged before they were destroyed and which are digitally available. These include P1 (Population Schedule), P2 (Individual Census Report), P3 (Infant Cards), P4 (Crews of Vessels Report), P5 (Overseas Census), P8 (Native Americans), and various P forms used for enumerating territories. Michael from Germany used Stephen P. Morse’s extensive census tools at https://stevemorse.org/ to locate enumeration districts and access a sample P1 form. Detailed information about the 1950 Census is available on the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) pages at https://1950census.archives.gov/ and on subsequent pages. Don’t overlook the FAQs at https://1950census.archives.gov/howto/faq.html which is filled with a wealth of information you should know. Listener Email Chris asks for suggestions about how to locate/pinpoint a specific headstone. George provides some suggestions. Rebecca wants to know if there is a way for Find a Grave to notify a person when their memorials have been deleted or reassigned to another person. Tina wrote to say she enjoyed the Vivid-Pix Memory Segment regarding using photographs with patients suffering from dementia patients. We will be hosting more interviews soon. Keep listening! Tina also asked about how to balance using RootsMagic, Ancestry, and FamilySearch without feeling that she is duplicating efforts. Timo in Germany wrote with suggestions about place name changes and how to structure them in your genealogy. He suggests the use in German research of the website at http://gov.genealogy.net/search/index . He says: “The GOV is for Germany and many former German places the place to go to look up the former names, belongings in civil registers or c
Wed, April 27, 2022
Genealogy Connection #083 - Jenny Ashcraft, Ancestry.com Senior Content Copywriter for Newspapers.com
Drew's guest is Jenny Ashcraft, Senior Content Copywriter at Ancestry.com for Newspapers.com. In this episode, Drew and Jenny discuss Newspapers.com, including search strategies, sharing what you find with others, and the Marriage and Obituary Indexes.
Wed, April 06, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #403
News You Can Use and Share! The 1950 U.S. Federal Census has been released and The Guys discuss several aspects: The images are available at: the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) at https://1950census.archives.gov/ ; MyHeritage.com at https://www.myheritage.com/ ; Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/ . There are a number of important census tools available to you at: NARA Census Resources at https://1950census.archives.gov/howto/ ; the MyHeritage Content Hub at https://myheritage.com/census/us/ ; the MyHeritage Census Helper at https://www.myheritage.com/census-helper-241251921 ; Ancestry.com 1950 Census District Finder at https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/district-map/62308 ; and One-Step Web Pages by Stephen P. Morse at https://stevemorse.org/ . The Guys discuss the 1950 enumeration process and extra pages used by enumerators. Drew shares some information from a recent Ancestry survey. George discusses MyHeritage’s news from RootsTech including: LiveStory Blast From My Past Podcast Family Tree Timeline Filae Family Tree Profiles Drew discusses the release of records online by the New York City Municipal Archives at https://a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov/ . The David Rumsey Map Collection has announced a partnership with Machines Reading Maps (MRM) to read and add searchable text to the map collection. The Society of Genealogists has announced the beginning of a digital project called TreeSearch which will digitize historical pedigree rolls in their collection. Findmypast has added 50K new Lincolnshire Burials, and the Quaker Women’s Petition of 1659. FamilySearch is seeking volunteers for its 1950 U.S. Census Community Project. The Genealogist at https://www.thegenealogist.com/ has updated their version of the 1939 Register with a new, detailed mapping feature and 258,000 newly unredacted persons. Listener Email David writes concerning using placenames for events based on what governmental entity was in control at the time of the event. Marianna writes about GEDmatch and having received three suspicious email inquiries. Suzanne asks about obtaining court records for a murder trial in Perry County, Alabama, in which some family were involved. Genealogy Guys Learn
Tue, March 22, 2022
Genealogy Connection #082 - Katrina Madsen, Ancestry.com Community Manager for Find a Grave
Drew's guest is Katrina Madsen, Community Manager at Ancestry.com for Find a Grave. In this episode, Drew and Katrina discuss the history of Find a Grave, some of the recent changes in memorial management, and tips on how to search Find a Grave for your ancestors and relatives.
Mon, March 14, 2022
Genealogy Connection #081 - Crista Cowan, Corporate Genealogist at Ancestry.com
Drew's guest is Crista Cowan, Corporate Genealogist at Ancestry.com and also known as the Barefoot Genealogist. In this episode, Drew and Crista discuss the upcoming release of the 1950 U.S. census, RootsTech 2022, and some recent announcements from Ancestry. To learn of Crista's background, see GC episode #054.
Mon, February 28, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #402
News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage has published 5.8 million records from 28 collections from JewishGen ( https://www.jewishgen.org/ ) made possible through a collaboration with the Museum of Jewish Heritage ( https://mjhnyc.org/ ) and JewishGen. Ancestry announces the new Ancestry Stories on the Ancestry mobile app to combine photographs, shared historical records, and text to craft a story about an ancestor in your family tree. George shares an excellent online resource, Immigration History, at https://immigrationhistory.org/ . Drew shares complete details about the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the upcoming release of the 1950 U.S. Census on 1 April 2022. (See the NARA page at https://www.archives.gov/research/census/1950 RootsTech 2022 arrives this week on 3-5 March. Sign up for free at https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/ . Then enjoy connecting with other attendees at RootsTech Relatives at https://www.familysearch.org/en/connect/ . Drew shares his regular recap of highlights of new historical records at FamilySearch. DNA Segment Drew discusses helping adopted people with DNA expert Diahan Southard. Resources for this discussion include: https://www.yourdnaguide.com/dna-birth-family DNA Mystery Match? How to Respond DNA Support Resources for Adoption and DNA Surprises (NPE) Handling Unexpected DNA Connections DNA Test Surprise: Breaking the News with Compassion Vivid-Pix Memory Segment Drew talks with Sue Kaufman, Senior Manager of the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research (part of the Houston Public Library) in Houston, Texas. Listener Email Drew follows up on Kendra’s cemetery project work previously discussed in Episode #401. (The Zion Cemetery Project uses Trello as a database management tool.) Kendra works with the Randolph County Public Library in Asheboro, North Carolina. They have an interactive cemetery map at https://www.randolphlibrary.org/ under History & Genealogy>Randolph County Cemeteries (or https://randolphlibrary.libguides.com/c.php?g=710731&p=8447398 ). Pam asked about GEDmatch ( h
Sat, February 19, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #401
News You Can Use and Share! The National Institute for Dementia Education recognizes the value of Photo Recognition Therapy for dementia patients. Our sponsor Vivid-Pix is an integral participant in this effort. Read the full press release at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2022/02/national-institute-for-dementia.html . MyHeritage has added a new Table View for search results. The Association of Professional Genealogists announced their new elected leadership. The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) has announced its new director, Amberly Beck. MyHeritage has established the new Chris Darrington scholarship for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Full details are available at https://slig.ugagenealogy.org/cpage.php?pt=620 . Findmypast has published 2.1 million records for Berkshire, England, the Jamaican Manumission Index, and new records for Norfolk, England. FamilySearch announces its plans for 2022. FamilySearch announced its 1950 US Census Community Project and has invited volunteers to participate. See details at https://www.familysearch.org/en/info/us-census/1950-census/ . Drew shares his regular recap of highlights of new historical records at FamilySearch. DNA Segment Drew and DNA expert Diahan Southard discuss whether the GEDmatch website still has a role to play. More details from Diahan are here: https://www.yourdnaguide.com/upload-to-gedmatch Vivid-Pix Memory Segment Drew talks with Joshua Freitas, Chief Research Officer of the CERTUS Institute ( https://www.certusseniorliving.com/certus-institute ) and Rick Voight, CEO of Vivid-Pix ( https://www.vivid-pix.com/ ). Listener Email A number of listeners shared the way that they listen to the podcast, including Pocket Casts ( https://www.pocketcasts.com/ ); Podcast Addict ( https://podcastaddict.com/ ); Overcast ( https://overcast.fm/ ); and Plex TV ( https://www.plex.tv/ ). Pat describes genealogical research through the decades. Timo responds to our listener who is seeking to translate 300 letters written in French. He has used Transkribus ( https://readcoop.eu/t
Wed, February 02, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #400
Welcome to our 400th episode of the Genealogy Guys Podcast! We’re celebrating this milestone – in addition to our 80 episodes of Genealogy Connection! The Guys congratulate the Johnson County Genealogical Society in Overland Park, Kansas, and the Pinellas Genealogy Society in Largo, Florida, on their 50th Anniversary Year! News You Can Use and Share Newspapers.com celebrates its accomplishments in 2021, including 25 million clippings by users, and shares some plans for 2022. Findmypast has released the long-awaited digitized 1921 Census of England and Wales. FMP has also released the 1921 Census of England and Wales Official Reports, and these add summarized data to provide more insight into the lives of the communities in which your ancestors may have lived. Drew shares his regular recap of highlights of new historical records at FamilySearch. Listener Email Debra asked about consumer credit directories. George reached out to genealogist and author Michael J. Leclerc who provided the background of these interesting directories which ultimately became Dun & Bradstreet. Learn where the records are located and the rules for access. (Michael’s book, Benjamin Franklin’s Family: Volume I: English Ancestors , is a definitive book on the man.) Jason and Rachel shared their experiences with the reMarkable 2 e-ink tablet and how it helps them with their genealogical work. The Guys also shared how they are using their reMarkables. Eric wrote to provide feedback on our recent discussion about how to record location names on events in genealogical databases. Kimberly wrote to share one of the RootsMagic 8 reports that can help you determine who might be around for the 1950 U.S. Federal Census. John wrote to describe how he uses PowerPoint templates for timelines. Rich obtained records for his uncle’s WWII service in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the top-secret operations group. The OSS Society at http://osssociety.org can help put you in touch with someone who can help with your research and access. Anita asks about computer-assistive/OCR software that might scan and translate handwritten French documents. Zion Cemetery Project George provides an update on his research into people buried in the erased African-American Zion Cemetery in Tampa. Drew provides a project update. The Guys Speak The Guys will be presenting for the Ventura County [California] Genealogical Society’s virtual conference on 19 February 2022. Genealogy Guys Learn The Genealogy Guys Learn subscription site continues to grow each month with new content. You c
Mon, January 03, 2022
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #399
News You Can Use and Share The Guys welcome two new sponsors to our family: Newpapers.com and Find a Grave. Researchers studying the Clotilda , the last known slave ship to reach America, have discovered much of the ship is still intact. They anticipate that there may be surviving DNA and other artifacts. FamilySearch has published a Year in Review for 2021. Drew provides an overview of the latest updates from FamilySearch. Listener Email Tom asks questions about the reMarkable tablet and their data plans. Tom has also digitized Super-8 movies from Christmas 1960. He is also looking for a timeline to use to track his father’s WWII military service. George suggests checking Cyndi’s List at https://cyndislist.com/charts/timelines/ . Listeners are urged to email The Guys with their suggestions. Karen is searching for information about an ancestor who settled in Augusta County, Virginia. She and a cousin are trying to determine if he came from Ireland, and they are questioning the veracity of a book that published content extracted from old county records that purport that he (and others) were Scotch-Irish. Sean Daly shares that Geneanet has passed 1 million indexed soldiers of Napoleon. He has written a blog post at https://en.geneanet.org/genealogyblog/post/2021/12/geneanets-community-has-indexed-over-a-million-of-napoleons-soldiers that includes a link to the collection. Bunny is looking for suggestions for kick-starting her Polish ancestral research. Matthew M. shares an extensive website that provides free access to digitized church registers from across Europe, including Germany, Austria, Poland, Serbia, and Slovenia. The site is Matricula Online at https://data.matricula-online.eu/en/ . Matthew G. is frustrated that the tax records for New Jersey are locked at FamilySearch. Drew suggests using their free look-up service as one aid, but raises the question for FamilySearch as to whether these records can be unlocked and made available. Genealogy for Librarians and a New Book Drew is teaching a genealogy course for librarians at the University of South Florida in Tampa in this new semester. It will incorporate videos made with Vivid-Pix and some of the foremost genealogy librarians in the U.S. The students will be using the pre-publication text of his forthcoming beginning genealogy book that will be published this year. Zion Cemetery Project George has been immersed in researching people buried in the “erased” African-American cemetery in Tampa. The project seeks to learn more about the people buried there, their families, any descendants, and more.
Tue, December 21, 2021
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #398
The Guys announce the winner of the drawing for the Irish quicksheets by Donna M. Moughty as Richard A. Yehle of Sacramento. Look for the next drawing in the coming year. The Genealogy Guys Learn subscription educational site is on sale through 11:59 PM EST on 1 January 2022. Get an annual subscription for $69.00 – 30% off the regular price of $99.00 by using coupon code HOLIDAY2021. We have more than 40 videos and 20 written courses, with new content added each month! Enroll at Genealogy Guys Learn at https://genealogyguyslearn.com/ before this sale is over! News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage has announced that they have surpassed one million subscribers. Vivid-Pix has created free classes on “How to Zoom” and “Gathering Traditions” at https://www.vivid-pix.com/education/ . Vivid-Pix and Reunions Magazine share “7 Best COVID Travel Tips” in the December 2021 issue of the magazine. Findmypast has added the new Kent Electoral registers (1570-1907) and additions to the Kent Burials collection. They also added Warwickshire, Coventry Workhouse Deaths (1845-1943), Warwick Baptisms, and Waterford Poor Law Unions Board of Guardians Minute Books. Free registration for RootsTech 2022 has opened at http://RootsTech.org . (Drew will be speaking.) Drew provides an overview of the latest updates from FamilySearch. Listener Email In anticipation of the release of the 1950 U.S. Federal Census in April 2022, Laura asks how to produce a report from RootsMagic 8 of people alive at the time of the census. Keith is searching for his maternal grandfather. He can find a WWII draft registration card but cannot locate him in the 1940 census. Concetta asks about restricted FamilySearch records and how to locate them. Book Review The Guys review Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s latest Morton Farrier, Forensic Genealogist, mystery titled The Foundlings . He weaves a masterful tale about researching several infants born out of wedlock who were abandoned. The Guys think this is another excellent book from a talented author. Tech Review The Guys have each acquired a great new tool, the reMarkable 2. It is an ultra-thin tablet for taking notes, drawing, converting handwritten notes to text, saving them as PDFs to the cloud, organizing notes and documents, emailing notes, downloading PDFs and webpages, note-taking on PDFs, and even reading eBooks. (It isn’t a web browser.) The writing surface is almost identical in feel to writing on paper, and there are loads of templates for almost any type of note-taking or project you can imagine. The reMarkable 2 is a great tool to help you stay focused, and The Guys talk about how they are using theirs. Learn more at htt
Sun, November 28, 2021
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #397
The Guys announce the winner of the drawing for the “Basics of Birth Certificates” quicksheet as Karen Webster of Queensland. Look for the next drawing later in the program. News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage has introduced labels for DNA matches. News by way of the Society of Genealogists (https://www.sog.org.uk/) A new database of Ireland’s World War I dead has been launched at https://irelandsgreatwardead.ie . The National Library of Scotland has added Ordnance Survey maps for more than 400 English and Welsh towns (1840s to 1890s) at https://maps.nls.uk/os/townplans-england/towns.html . More will be added later. The Society of Genealogists has launched its Forum, an online place at its website ( https://www.sog.org.uk/ ) for members to connect and share with others with common interests. Findmypast has added to its United States Obituaries Notices collection. It has also added the United States Freedmen’s Bureau Marriages. Indian Army Records of Service 1900-1947 have also been added. The 1939 Register has been updated to make available a number of previously redacted records. Drew provides an overview of the latest vast updates from FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew discusses how to get your DNA out there in as many places as possible with Diahan. Diahan provides directions here: https://www.yourdnaguide.com/transferring?rq=transfer Listener Email Kathleen talks about Facebook and finding our podcast. Dana discusses searching for records of a great-grandfather from Poland who relocated first to Canada and then to the United States, and what challenges citizenship records presented. Dana also shares that creating a spreadsheet comparing the timelines of the great-grandfather and others can be very useful. Natalie thanks The Guys for suggestions about how to join a FamilySearch indexing group for Eau Clair County, Wisconsin. Matt discusses his ancestors’ frequent movements between Germany and France before emigrating to the U.S. Tom discusses DNA matches, and the fact that some people upload a tree that may not be a biological family tree. The difference between a ‘genealogical family tree’ and a ‘biological family tree’ can confuse matters when adopted people are researching DNA matches. Donna M. Moughty, who leads excellent research trips to Ireland, has two planned trips in 2022: one in May and another in October. The trips will go to both Dublin and Belfast. Please visit her website at https://www.irishfamilyroots.com/ for details about the 2022 trips. The Guys discuss using fan charts to represent your family tree and to help maintain foc
Wed, November 03, 2021
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #396
The Guys announce the winner of drawing for the “Brick Wall Strategies” quicksheet as Dana from Salem, Oregon. Look for the next drawing later in the program. News You Can Use and Share! RootsMagic 8 has been released. MyHeritage has updated its Theory of Family Relativity TM facility and massively increased the number of theories being produced. MyHeritage has added 462 million exclusive new French historical records. Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s latest forensic genealogical mystery book, The Foundlings , has just been released. Findmypast has added new U. S. marriage records and has released new marriage and banns records for Essex, England, 1537-1935. Findmypast has announced that the 1921 Census of England and Wales will be released on 6 January 2022. Drew recaps the vast new and expanded collections at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew discusses MyHeritage's Theory of Family Relativity with Diahan. Listener Email Steve writes about locating his biological grandfather through DNA research. Stuart shares the usefulness of records in the “British Royal Navy Allotment Declarations 1795-1852” collection at Findmypast. Carol and Ed both wrote to express how much they enjoyed the interview with Bruce Buzbee of RootsMagic on the Genealogy Connection podcast (episode #080). Ed wrote about our discussion concerning pedigree collapse. Jean wrote to provide listeners with additional online resources for New York marriages. Tom asks about how valid are low cM levels in DNA matches and asks what level of grandparents should he be searching for. Cathy writes about Civil War records for homes for disabled veterans. Natalie asks how she can get involved with indexing at FamilySearch for a specific area of Wisconsin and specific church records. David wants advice about locating records of a great-great-grandfather who died at sea while emigrating from Ireland to the U. S. in the 1850s-1860s. Quicksheet Drawing The Guys will give away a quicksheet reference guide for “Basics of Birth Certificates”. Send an email to genealogyguys@gmail.com by midnight Eastern Time on 15 November 2021. Put BIRTH in the subject line and your name and postal address in the body. The winner will be announced on the next podcast. Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. Please also tell your frie
Sat, October 16, 2021
Genealogy Connection #080 - Bruce Buzbee, Technologist and RootsMagic CEO
Drew's guest is Bruce Buzbee, the RootsMagician himself. In this episode, Drew and Bruce discuss the recent release of RootsMagic 8 . To learn of Bruce's background, see GC episode #027
Mon, September 27, 2021
Genealogy Connection #079 - Lynn Turner, Assistant Director of the Family History Library
Drew's guest is Lynn Turner, Assistant Director of the Family History Library. Learn more about the Family History Library at familysearch.org/family-history-library/
Mon, September 20, 2021
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #395
The Guys announce the winner of the drawing for the “Basic Birth Certificates” quicksheet as Francis from Cumming, Georgia. The next drawing is announced later in the program. News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage announces its new and improved colorization model for MyHeritage in ColorTM. MyHeritage has added two significant new collections. They are the Newspaper Name Index, USA and Canada, and the Scotland Census, 1841-1901. MyHeritage will be adding an index to the other half of the newspaper collection soon. The Society of Genealogists in London announced that its library catalog has been made available on the Library Hub Discover service. Findmypast has added the largest collection of historical local photographs, the Francis Frith Collection, to its searchable collections. Findmypast has added a new feature to the 1891, 1901, and 1911 censuses. It is a link for every search result to the Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales 1895 and a detailed map is displayed on which you can see where your ancestors lived. Findmypast has added new parish records for Warwickshire, the Warwickshire, Coventry, Midwife’s Birth Register 1845-1875, and Turks & Caicos Life Events. Ancestry has released its new DNA ethnic estimates and includes 8 new regions. Drew recaps the vast new and expanded collections at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew discusses endogamy vs. pedigree collapse with Diahan. Listener Email Judy writes to discuss challenges with New York State marriage records. Pam asks about records included in the updates from FamilySearch. George responds with suggestions, including a detailed discussion about how to use the search records facilities at FamilySearch for the following categories of records: indexed collections; image-only collections; and the catalog. He also recommends the use of the FamilySearch Research Wiki to access records online. Stacy Cole shares keen insights into the idea that the enslaved, once emancipated, took the surname of their last enslaver. Ryan wrote to provide an update on his research from six years ago about records relating to his great-grandmother’s suicide. He has had success finding elusive records and shares his experience. Update on the Zion Cemetery Project Drew provides an update on the fascinating Zion Cemetery Project in Tampa. He and volunteers are working to identify descendants and family members, gather information about the interred's lives and historical context, and create a lasting memorial. They are collaborating with University of South Florida faculty and alumni, members of local genealogy societies, community members, and nationally known professional genealogists. More updates will be shared in future podcast episodes. Quicksheet Drawing The Guys will give away a quicksheet
Mon, August 30, 2021
Genealogy Connection #078 - Nicka Sewell-Smith and the Freedmen's Bureau Records
Nicka Sewell-Smith returns to Genealogy Connection , and the discussion focuses on the newly released Freedmen's Bureau records freely available on Ancestry. To learn more about Nicka, listen to episode #073 of Genealogy Connection , and visit her website at Who Is Nicka Smith?
Tue, August 24, 2021
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #394
News You Can Use and Share! Ancestry announces the release of a massive collection of Freedman’s Bureau records with every-name indexing and images. The records are free to use with your free Ancestry guest membership. Ancestry announced a change in its Terms of Service concerning their rights to use content that members upload. MyHeritage announced that it is acquiring Filae, the French genealogical company. MyHeritage has released 9.7 million new and updated records for Pernambuco, Brazil, and 4.7 million birth, marriage, and death records from New Zealand. MyHeritage has made major improvements to its Online Family Tree, and these improve navigation and access to records links. The Society of Genealogists in London, England, has appointed Dr. Wanda Wyporska as its new CEO, effective 1 October 2021. Findmypast has released new and updated collection records: Scotland, Parish Births (1564-1929), Marriages and Banns (1561-1893), and Deaths (1564-2017); British Army, Royal Engineers (1900-1949); British Army tracer cards; Essex Parish Records; Royal Engineers Casualty Cards; an expanded Greater London Burial Index, and more. Findmypast is making over 1 million pages of 158 historical British newspapers available for free. Drew recaps the vast new and expanded collections at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew discusses the importance of descendancy research with Diahan. Listener Email Stuart reported on his recent success with Drew’s Key Lime Pound Cake recipe. (Drew originally discussed this recipe in a December 2019 episode, and emailed copies to anyone who requested it.) Jane asks for suggestions about what to do with her mother’s 60+ years of genealogical research files. Quicksheet Drawing The Guys will give away a quicksheet reference guide for “Basics of Birth Certificates” in the U.S. Send an email to genealogyguys@gmail.com by midnight U.S. Eastern Time September 1, 2021. Put BIRTH in the email subject line and your name and postal address in the body. The winner will be announced on the next podcast. Drew’s WikiTree Challenge Drew’s genealogy was the focus on a one-week genealogy challenge at WikiTree. Volunteer researchers delved into his genealogy to break through brick walls and to expand his knowledge. Watch the two YouTube videos – the Challenge and the Results – to share the excitement. Here are the links: The Challenge (the first 5 minutes and then again starting at minute 31): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDAtp16w5pU&t=5s The Results!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lmu1Lc-f
Sun, August 15, 2021
Genealogy Connection #077 - Pat Richley-Erickson aka DearMYRTLE
Drew's guest is genealogy speaker and writer Pat Richley-Erickson, known to her many fans as DearMYRTLE. Learn more about Pat at blog.dearmyrtle.com
Sun, July 25, 2021
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #393
New subscriptions to the Genealogy Guys Learn video and written lessons are on sale through July 31 st . Save 25% off your first year’s subscription. Visit http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2021/07/genealogy-guys-learn-summer-sale.html for details and the special coupon code. News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage has released 10.7 million records for the Austria-Hungary Roman Catholic Indexes. 1612-1966, and Austria, Vienna Catholic Church Records Index, 1585-1918. MyHeritage has upgraded their Theory of Family Relativity facility for DNA matches to allow you to confirm or reject a theory. American Ancestors has introduced a new database for the only surviving copy of the 1810 U.S. Federal Census for Salem, Massachusetts. ScotlandsPeople has announced a delay of the release of the images of the 1921 Scottish Census until the latter half of 2022. Thanks to the Society of Genealogists for providing us with that news! Findmypast has published new or expanded collections: Ireland, Court of Chancery Bill Books (1627-1884); Ireland, Court of Exchequer Bill Books (1627-1884); Ireland, Petty Sessions Court Registers; Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Census & Population Lists (1792-1821); Manitoba Vital Records; U.S. Census of Revolutionary War Pensioners (1840); U.S., Lord Dunmore’s Ethiopian Regiment, 1776; additional England Roman Catholic Parish Registers; Pembrokeshire Parish Registers; Scotland, Modern and Civil Deaths & Burials (1855-2021); Australia, Inward, Outward & Coastal Passenger Lists (1826-1972); and Canada, Black Nova Scotians (1784-1837). FamilySearch has announced dates and details about RootsTech 2022. Drew recaps the vast new and expanded collections at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew discusses with Diahan the new Ancestry DNA feature that allows you to identify how you are related to your matches, if you know. Listener Email Alan wrote to discuss questions about reducing his library’s holdings. Kristina shared details about how she solved a brick wall using Geni.com, newspapers, and DNA. Pam wrote about the dilemmas faced when trying to sort through donations to her local historical society. Drew and George discuss the need for library and archive policies to guide both libraries and donors. Drew shares insights from the GENEALIB mailing list. Note that the following link will work only for GENEALIB subscribers: http://listserv.usf.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind2107&L=GENEALIB&X=O6A5CAB430DB224809C#4 Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provid
Fri, June 25, 2021
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #392
We gave away two copies of Genealogical Publishing Company’s Russia Genealogy Research at a glance reference guide and announced the winners. News You Can Use and Share The Genealogy Guys Podcast is one of Family Tree Magazine 's 101 Best Websites 2021. See full list at https://www.familytreemagazine.com/best-genealogy-websites/ . MyHeritage announced its new Photo Repair tool. The FamilySearch Family History Library is reopening 6 July 2021. The Society of Genealogists announces that negotiations for a new home are underway. 1871 Irish Census transcriptions for the Roman Catholic parish of Drumconrath are now online at http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000635150#page/5/mode/1up . The Early British Census project is now online at http://ebc.byu.edu . A new webpage has been launched for the Maps for Local History at the National Library of Scotland at https://maps.nls.uk/communities/local-history/ . NARA's National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has a backlog of 500,000 outstanding records inquiries. It is estimated that it will take 18-24 months to resolve the backlog. The British Library and Findmypast have announced the renewal of their long-term partnership to digitize the British Newspaper Archive and make it available online. Findmypast has added new collections or new records to: Middlesex Baptisms; Carmarthenshire, Wales, Parish Records; Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Registers; Yorkshire Monumental Inscriptions; England Roman Catholic Parish Registers; and Crime, Prisons & Punishment records and mugshots. More than 400,000 naturalization records for the Bronx and Queens, New York, will become available online as part of a new federally-funded project. FamilySearch International announced the release of the FamilySearch GEDCOM 7.0 standard. The new data standard will accommodate media and other data in addition to text. Developers will certainly be busy programming to implement the new GEDCOM standard. Drew recaps the vast new and expanded collections at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew discusses working with distant matches with Diahan. Listener Email Jean congratulated us on our inclusion in Family Tree Magazine’s 101 Best Genealogy Websites. She also shared that she had success with using the old Ancestry message boards to locate a grandfather's cousin. Donna Moughty won one of the Russia Genealogy Research guides and it gave her the incentive to restart her research into her grandfather who was born in what now is Ukraine. She also has a few openings for her Ireland r
Thu, May 27, 2021
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #391
News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage announced a new filtering option for the DNA Matches page. You can filter based on any of their 2,114 Genetic Groups. Ancestry announced that it now has more than 1,400 regions offered between communities and ethnic regions in its DNA matches. The Society of Genealogists in London, the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, DC, and The National Archives in Kew, Richmond (London) have all reopened with limited capacity and required reservations required. Findmypast introduces new and improved address search in census records. Findmypast has added new collections or new records to: Australia, Military Commemorative Rolls & Rolls of Honor; Kent Parish records; the 1939 Register; British Army, Royal Engineers; Coldstream Guards; Monmouthshire Parish records; Glamorganshire Parish records; Australia Inbound, Outward & Coastal Passenger Lists 1826-1972; Middlesex Poor Law records; Scots Guards’ service records (WWII); Norfolk Churchyard and Memorial Images (browse); Scotland, Modern and Civil Births 1855-2019; Scotland, Modern and Civil Marriages 1855-2019; Scotland, Modern and Civil Deaths & Burials 1855-2021. Drew recaps three weeks of vast new and expanded collections at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew discusses with Diahan what the TiP report is on Family Tree DNA and how to use it. Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle says that we shouldn't worry about what others are doing. Russia At a Glance Reference Guides Giveaway We are giving away two copies of Genealogical Publishing Company’s at a glance reference guides. If you are interested, send us an email to genealogyguys@gmail.com by June 1 st . Include RUSSIA in the header line and your name and mailing address in the body. We’ll draw two winners after June 1 st . Listener Email Floreen wrote to thank us for the Genealogy Connection interview with Drew Smith. Margaret wrote to update us on her work on Pointe Coupee, Louisiana plantation journal transcription records. She has a blog at https://lakeland-briarsplantationrecords.blogspot.com/ with details. Patrick shares his success locating family members in Iowa who “disappeared” after 1881. James wrote to share his frustration with delays with obtaining military records from the National Personnel Record Center. (The facility was closed for over a year with the pandemic and is now beginning to work to catch up.) Cindy couldn’t locate her grandparents in the 1930 census. She reminds us all not to forget newspaper research. Terri is looking for an unknown father. Drew suggested using DNA testing and
Mon, May 17, 2021
Genealogy Connection #076 - Rick Voight, Vivid-Pix and Edith Wagner, Reunions Magazine
Drew's guests are Rick Voight, CEO of Vivid-Pix, and Edith Wagner, Publisher and Editor of Reunions Magazine . Learn more about Rick and Vivid-Pix at the Vivid-Pix News Blog . Learn more about Edith at her LinkedIn page and about Reunions Magazine at reunionsmag.com .
Tue, May 04, 2021
Genealogy Connection #75 - Drew Smith, Speaker, Author, Librarian
Drew's guest is...Drew Smith! After receiving a number of requests from listeners, George interviews Drew as the Genealogy Connection guest. Drew is the genealogy librarian at the University of South Florida Libraries in Tampa, has authored or co-authored several genealogy books, is a regular columnist for the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly , and speaks regularly at local, national, and international genealogy meetings and conferences. Learn more about Drew by visiting: Aha! Seminars The Genealogy Guys Podcast/Genealogy Connection The Genealogy Guys blog Drew's Rootsmithing blog
Mon, April 26, 2021
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #390
News You Can Use and Share The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has made a grant to Enslaved: Peoples of the Historical Slave Trade (enslaved.org) . MyHeritage announced significant updates to their website Navigation Bar. MyHeritage has introduced Deep Nostalgia TM special animations to its photo collection. The National Archives in the UK ( https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ ) will reopen its reading rooms on 27 April 2021. Advance reservations are required. Findmypast has added new records to existing collections: Norfolk Baptisms; Norfolk Banns & Marriages; Norfolk Burials; Philadelphia Roman Catholic Parish Records; England & Wales Deaths 2007-2020; Ireland, Northern Ireland Deaths 1998-2020; Cincinnati Roman Catholic Parish Registers; Cambridgeshire, Licensed Victuallers; and more. Drew recaps huge new and expanded collections at FamilySearch numbering in the millions of records. The DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew and Diahan discuss MyHeritage's new Genetic Groups and how to use them. Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle of Cyndi’s List tells us that it's time to refresh. Our Listeners Speak Laura discusses the fact that her family cannot be found in the 1920 U.S. federal census. Jeffery has built his own cemetery website so that he can see people’s information the way he prefers. You can check it out at http://www.wikigrave.com/ . Pat writes about the probate for her South Carolina ancestor. Vic wrote seeking advice for how to label his photographs so that they are easier to organize, file electronically, and quickly locate. George recommends Vivid-Pix RESTORE software ( https://vivid-pix.com/ ) that can enhance all types of images, add metadata, and then allow quick searching. Joshua writes about FamilySearch and its multiple collections of birth and marriage records, and that sometimes each collection’s content is often different. George addresses marriage records: marriage indexes, marriage bonds, and marriage books. And finally... We'd like to thank all our supporting Patreon members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. You should also tell your friends or your society about our free podcasts, our free blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/ , and our <a href="https://genealogyguysle
Wed, March 31, 2021
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #389
The Genealogy Guys Podcast is back after a 3-month hiatus! NEWS YOU CAN USE AND SHARE! The new International African American Museum has launched its membership programs. RootsMagic has invited the public to participate in a community preview of RootsMagic 8 to provide pre-release feedback. Visit https://www.rootsmagic.com/preview/get/ to get involved. MyHeritage ... ... announced the release of a new record collection, United States Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956. ... introduced Photo Storyteller, a new way to record stories and add narrative behind your favorite family photos. ... .announced Deep Nostalgia to animate faces on your family photos. ... added millions of historical Lithuanian-Jewish records from the LitvakSIG’s work, 1795-1940. ... introduced Genetic Groups using high resolution of 2,100+ geographic regions. Nathan Dylan Goodwin has a new book, The Chester Creek Murders , featuring new characters and forensic DNA research. Findmypast has introduced a new and improved image viewer and has added many new and expanded collections: Ireland, Londonderry City Burials (1853-1961); New York Catholic Parish Registers (browse) for Bronx, Yonkers, and Ulster Counties; additions to the Denbighshire Parish Records; and additions to Essex Baptisms, Kent Baptisms, and Kent Marriages FamilySearch has remodeled its library in Salt Lake City and has launched a new webpage. Drew recaps huge new and expanded collections at FamilySearch. We’ll be participating in the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society (WSGS) Gene-A-Rama on April 9-10 and the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference on April 14-17. Drew has been writing a daily blog entry throughout March about his work with his ancestors on the collaborative FamilySearch Family Tree. Drew is also coordinating the project to document African Americans interred in Tampa’s Zion Cemetery and their descendants. We have new Patreon members this week. We’d like to thank all our supporting Patreon members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started. You should also tell your friends or your society about our free podcasts, our free blog, and our Genealogy Guys Learn subscription education website. Visit our Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/ for even more news between podcasts. Let us hear from you at <a href= "mailto:
Wed, December 16, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #388
The Genealogy Guys Learn subscription education site is on sale through December 31, 2020 for $69 for your first year's subscription (new subscribers only). Regularly $99, this is our lowest price of the year! Visit http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2020/11/genealogy-guys-learn-on-sale-through.html for full details of obtaining the discount and our current course catalog. (Listen to the podcast to get the discount code.) The winner of the Genealogy Publishing Company’s At a Glance sheet on “Polish Genealogy Research” is John from North Tonawanda, New York. The call deadline for submitting applications for the Unsung Heroes Awards and the Unsung Heroes Awards Society Grant is January 1, 2021, at midnight EST. Don’t miss it! Details can be found on our blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2020/12/the-genealogy-guys-and-vivid-pix-call.html . News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage announced the release of a new colorization model for MyHeritage iIn ColorTM. RootsMagic 8 is making progress with thousands of testers. Listen for a new announcement soon, and listen to their ad for a great holiday sale price. The Germans from Lithuania Name Index is now online at https://www.germansfromlithusania.org . The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) presented its 2020 awards. Included are Loretto Dennis “Lou” Szucs as recipient of the Laura G. Prescott Award for Exemplary Service to Genealogy and Amy E. K. Arner, who received the Honorary Life Membership. Michael J. Leclerc has been selected as the new managing editor of the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly . Findmypast has added new collections or new records to: Scotland Monumental Inscriptions; US World War II Casualty Lists; Essex Baptisms; Devon Baptisms; Berkshire Probate Index; Yorkshire Monumental Inscriptions; U.S. Obituary Notices; and Ireland Billion Graves Cemetery Index. Enslaved.org has built a robust, open-source online facility to discover and explore nearly a half million people and 5 million data points for enslaved Africans. From archival entries to spreadsheet entries, the lives of the enslaved can be seen in richer detail. Visit https://enslaved.org/ . FamilySearch has announced that it is has added 20 languages – up now to 30 languages – for researching in its website. Drew recaps three weeks of huge new and expanded collections at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew and Diahan discuss CODIS, the DNA database used by U.S. law enforcement, and how the major DNA testing companies
Mon, November 23, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #387
Announcement The Genealogy Guys Learn subscription education site, is on sale through December 31, 2020, for $69 for your first year's subscription (new subscribers only). Regularly $99, this is our lowest price of the year! Visit http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2020/11/genealogy-guys-learn-on-sale-through.html for full details for obtaining the discount and our current course catalog. News You Can Use and Share! ProQuest and Ancestry have extended remote access to Ancestry Library Edition in participating libraries through March 2021. MyHeritage announced that Family Tree Builder software is now available for the macOS Catalina and macOS High Sierra platforms. MyHeritage has published three new collections from Wales: Wales, Parish Births and Baptisms; Wales, Parish Marriages and Banns; and Wales, Parish Deaths and Burials. MyHeritage announces a Gift membership at a 50% discount. See their blog at https://blog.myheritage.com/2020/11/introducing-the-myheritage-gift-membership/ . The National Archives (TNA) in the UK has announced that they are doubling the monthly limit on downloading free digital records from their website from 50 to 100. You must register for a free account on their site. Findmypast has released: Warwickshire, Coventry Blitz, German Air Raids 1940-1941; British Armed Forces, First World War Soldiers’ Medical Records; new Yorkshire Baptisms; new Yorkshire Monumental Inscriptions; British Armed Forces Soldiers’ Wills 1850-1986; Ireland, Londonderry (Derry) War Memorial 1914-1918; and British Red Cross & Order of St. John Enquiry List, Wounded & Missing 1914-1919. Newspapers.com announces the first phase of their Marriage Index Collection – 50 million wedding announcements. Geni announced that its World Family Tree now connects over 150 million profiles. Drew recaps the huge new and expanded collections at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew discusses with Diahan how traditional paternity tests differ from the autosomal DNA tests that genealogists use. Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle tells us to file as we go. We Hear from Our Listeners Tom asks about having hired a consultant who created his tree at Ancestry.com under her account. He wants to download that GEDCOM to RootsMagic but cannot share that tree with other people per the Ancestry settings. He is looking for suggestions for how to deal with this. Tom is looking for books and other materials about life in Scotland and its history between 1900 and 1930. Drew provided some book references, but we welcome our listeners’ input and suggestions. Mark is searching for a
Mon, November 09, 2020
Genealogy Connection #74 - Michael Cassara, Speaker
Drew's guest is Michael Cassara, a New York City-based genealogy speaker specializing in Italian and Sicilian research topics, as well as topics about research in NYC and New Jersey. In addition to being a speaker at genealogy conferences, he is a casting director. Learn more about Michael by visiting his website at DigiRoots.net .
Tue, November 03, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #386
News You Can Use and Share! MyHeritage has just released a major collection of Historical Norwegian Church Records (1815-1938) including millions of digitized and scanned records of births and baptisms, marriages, deaths, and burials. MyHeritage has released three historical record collections from Wales: Parish Births and Baptisms; Parish Marriages and Banns; and Parish Deaths and Burials. Ed Thompson of Evidentia will be producing a new YouTube Livestream, the “Genealogy Software Showcase” to showcase the software in detail, its functionality, and more. Get in at the beginning by joining for free at https://genealogyshowcase.tech/ . Findmypast has released: England & Wales Non-Conformist Births and Baptisms for Surrey Methodists; Jamaica Life Events; Caribbean Rolls of Honor WW I; new records of Kent Baptisms and Burials; 90K new Warwickshire Burials (1874-2016); Scotland, Ayrshire Census & Population Lists (1801-1831); and records from the Greater London Burial Index for St. Olave’s (1583-1665). Drew recaps the huge new and expanded collections at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew asks Diahan to explain why some DNA testing companies ask for saliva (spit!) and some are fine with cheek scrapings. Learn more at: https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/2019/11/26/dna-test-no-saliva-spit Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle tells us about the importance of doing screenshots. How to Take a Screenshot, https://www.take-a-screenshot.org/ Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots, https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13776/windows-10-use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots How to take and annotate screenshots on Windows 10, https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-take-and-annotate-screenshots-on-windows-10-ca08e124-cc30-2579-3e55-6db63e36fbb9 Mac screenshots: 4 ways to capture your MacBook's screen, https://www.cnet.com/how-to/mac-screenshots-4-ways-to-capture-your-macbooks-screen/ How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac, https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-take-a-screenshot-on-a-mac Take a screenshot on your iPhone, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT200289 Take a screenshot or record your screen on your Android device, https://support.google.
Mon, October 26, 2020
Genealogy Connection #73 - Nicka Sewell-Smith, Speaker and YouTuber
Drew's guest is Nicka Sewell-Smith, host of BlackProGen LIVE, an online show focused on people of color genealogy and family history. In addition to being a popular speaker at genealogy conferences, she is a professional photographer. Learn more about Nicka by visiting her website at Who Is Nicka Smith?
Mon, October 12, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #385
News You Can Use and Share! The National Genealogical Society and the Federation of Genealogical Societies officially merged on 1 October 2020. Vivid-Pix launches a new version of their RESTORE software for Windows and macOS with new features. MyHeritage has just refreshed the data for its Theory of Family Relativity for the third time since its release, expanding the connections you can make with DNA matches with other users. Findmypast has released: Swiss Emigrants to the American Colonies, 1733-1734; Emigrant [Church of England] Ministers to the Americas; Winthrop Fleet Passenger List, 1630; London, Black Poor, 1786; Sierra Leone Resettlement Scheme, 1787; Caribbean Marriage Index, 1591-1905; and new Devon Burials. FamilySearch, American Ancestors.org, and the General Society of Mayflower Descendants announce that more than 10K Mayflower Society member applications and family trees have been placed online. FamilySearch will present RootsTech Connect, a free virtual conference on 25-27 February 2021. Registration is open at https://www.rootstech.org . Drew recaps the huge new and expanded collections at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew asks Diahan about why different family members have different DNA matches. Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle reminds us that life is short. You Send Us Email Lisa asks about the status of RootsMagic 8 and whether it will run on her MacBook Pro. We plan to interview Bruce Buzbee, the RootsMagician, when the new version of the software is released. Margaret is transcribing plantation journals from the 1840s to 1860s for two plantations in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, owned by William Taylor and wife Lucy Lewis Thom Taylor. She asks for advice about where to place originals and place them online. Laura shares information about a transcription resource used by archives, universities, libraries, and others called From the Page ( https://fromthepage.com/ ). Marianna, Victor, and Nancy all wrote about downloading Ancestry messages and describing their methods of doing so. Robert is a genealogist and a licensed private investigator. He would like to help others and asked for suggestions about the best ways to let yourself be known. Kim wrote about Jim’s experiences with his half-brother and her own similar experiences. Neal is writing an extensive family genealogy book and asked for recommendations about using Ahnentafel formats for the work. We’d like to welcome and thank our newest Patreon member, Simona MacAngus. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month o
Mon, September 21, 2020
Genealogy Connection #72 - Else Churchill, SoG Genealogist
Drew's guest is Else Churchill, the Genealogist at the Society of Genealogists (SoG) in London, UK. Learn more about Else and the SoG by visiting sog.org.uk .
Mon, September 07, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #384
We are happy to celebrate our podcast’s 15 th anniversary this week! News You Can Use and Pass On! We have lots of news and awards information to share this week: The Genealogy Guys Podcast and Vivid-Pix announced the winner of the Unsung Heroes Society Grant for scanning equipment and software. It is the Morgan County Partnership in Martinsville, Indiana. They won a scanner and software worth $500! This win will enable then to scan and index much more before their bicentennial in 2022. See our blog for all the details. The Genealogy Guys Podcast and Vivid-Pix announced the winner of the Unsung Heroes Awards. The Individual Winner is Rosemary McFarland of Mount Eden, Kentucky, for her vast work on a wide variety of Kentucky records. The Society Winner is the Eller Family Society for its digitization of decades of their newsletters and chronicles and many other materials. The Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park announced that park volunteer Pat Rand was awarded the Regional Hartzog Award for 2020 for her work on the U.S.-Mexican War Soldiers and Sailors Database. The Federation of Genealogical Societies held its virtual conference on 9/2-4, 2020. They announced a wide range of awards. You can read the full press release in our blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2020/09/federation-of-genealogical-societies.html . FamilySearch has announced RootsTech Connect 2021: A Free Global Virtual Event on February 25-27, 2021. Registration is open at rootstech.org. MyHeritage has announced that their search engine for historical records has been redesigned. It makes searching their treasure trove of 12.5 billion records easier and more intuitive. Read more about that at their blog at https://blog.myheritage.com/2020/08/the-myheritage-search-engine-for-historical-records-just-got-better/ and many other topics. Ancestry will provide for up to 10,000 K-12 teachers across the USA a free 6-month World Explorer subscription. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2020. Ancestry has completed digitization of archives featuring 19 million Holocaust records. They are available free and in perpetuity as part of the Arolsen Archives Collection. Findmypast has added new records to the Wales Probate Index (1544-1858); the Caernarvonshire Parish Registers; Denbighshire Burials; Montgomeryshire Monumental Inscriptions; Scotland, Burgess & Guild Brethren Index; and Scotland, Banffshire & Moray Life Events. Dick Eastman, author of the weekly update for the Plus Edition of Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter, has announced that the newsletter is now offlin
Sun, August 16, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #383
There have been numerous genealogical institutes over the last several weeks. As a result, we were unable to schedule a Genealogy Connection podcast recently. However, it will be back soon! News You Can Use and Share! The Blackstone Group Inc. has reached an agreement to purchase a majority stake in Ancestry.com. Ancestry has extended to late August the deadline for saving your small DNA matches. Drew shares some recent large collection additions and changes for Ancestry. William Dollarhide has published a new 2020 multiple volume set of Census Substitutes and State Census Records at Family Roots Publishing Company - https://www.familyrootspublishing.com/store/product_view.php?id=3770&title=Census%20Substitutes%20&%20State%20Census%20Records,%20Third%20Edition,%20Volume%205%20%E2%80%93%20Western%20/%20Pacific%20States%20&%20Nationwide%20Chapter%20(Printed%20Book%20&%20eBook%20Bundle) Findmypast has updated their collections of Hampshire Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials. Drew recaps two weeks of highlights of FamilySearch record collection releases. Drew has been attending the virtual International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies conference this week. In preparation, he reviews Genealogical Publishing Company’s Genealogy at a Glance publication "Finding Eastern European Jewish Ancestors" by Janette Silverman, available at https://genealogical.com/store/genealogy-at-a-glance-finding-eastern-european-jewish-ancestors/ . DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew asks Diahan to explain how the various DNA testing companies determine the best minimum matching thresholds. Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle is taking this episode off because of backlogs from institutes and a family medical situation. (Don't worry, Cyndi herself is fine!) Our Listeners Talk to Us In response to Lori’s email in Episode #382 about becoming a transcriber, we had two responses: Floreen suggests getting involved with the National Archive and Record Administration’s Citizen Archivist program at https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist . You can choose which records you want to transcribe. Dana also suggests the Citizen Archivist program. She also suggests Zooniverse, a site that allows transcribing of many disciplines. They are at https://www.zooniverse.org/ . Five projects of especial interest to genealogists are “Anti-Slave
Sat, August 01, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #382
News You Can Use and Share with Others The Upper Midwest Jewish Archives at the University of Minnesota is working to digitize its Jewish World archives, its collection of Jewish World Newspapers, 91 bound volumes from 1915 to 2007. The first three years’ newspapers are complete. The Society of Genealogists will reopen their library in London on 7 August 2020. Only a limited number of simultaneous SOG members will be admitted. No food or drink will be allowed. Findmypast added new records: Surry Baptisms; Surrey Marriages; Surrey Burials; Warwickshire Burials; Warwickshire, Coventry Pawnbroker Tickets 1915-1923; Idaho Reconstructed 1890 U.S. census; Yorkshire Monumental Inscriptions; Derbyshire Deaths and Burials; National School Admission Registers & Log Books 1870-1914; Peru Civil Registration Records 1874-1996; and 12 new newspaper titles. Ancestry added new collections in July: Wyoming BMDs; Idaho BMDs; Women of Protest (suffragette photos from the LOC); USC Shoah Interviews – Index only to be released at Ancestry; Doubs, France Censuses; and Westminster Parish Records. Ancestry is ready to change its messaging system. You can download the existing folder structure but you'll need to do it soon. Ancestry will shortly be eliminating the display of very small DNA matches, most of which likely would be nearly useless to researchers as they are false positives. Fold3 recently completed their collection of U.S. Veterans Gravesites (1775-2019). Records date to the Revolutionary War and include veterans, spouses, and dependents interred in military cemeteries. Drew recaps two weeks of highlights of FamilySearch record collection releases. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Diahan and Drew discuss best practices for managing messages exchanged with DNA matches. Best strategies for contacting matches: How Contacting Your DNA Matches is Like a First Date Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle tells us to pay attention to collateral relatives for our brick-wall ancestors. Our Listeners Talk to Us Debbie asks how to subscribe to the Genealogy Guys Blog using Feedly. You'll find some information on the blog itself at blog.genealogyguys.com/2020/01/day-10-organize-your-rss-feeds.html , but Drew will create more instructions soon. John writes to add two more strategies for potentially identifying formerly enslaved persons after the U.S. Civil War. Edward shares his experiences with expanding information about family members, especially siblings, using cemetery records. Robin poses a great question about ways to publish errata for a previously published family history book that contains errors. The Guys o
Mon, July 20, 2020
Genealogy Connection #071 - LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, BCG President
Drew's guest is LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, the President of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, and a specialist in African Ancestored Families in the South. Learn more about LaBrenda at her website at https://www.labgarrettgenealogy.com/
Wed, July 08, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #381
The Genealogy Guys and Vivid-Pix announce two exciting programs: The Unsung Heroes Societies Grant Program will award grants to two societies each year to facilitate their digitizing, indexing, and transcribing photographs and documents. The grantees will each receive a high-quality scanner, a backup and online storage software package, and two copies of Vivid-Pix RESTORE software to improve the legibility of documents, the color/contrast of photographs, and to add image tags and other important information to the image metadata. The grant package is valued at $500. The Unsung Heroes Awards Program continues to recognize individuals, societies, and libraries for their work in digitizing, indexing, and transcribing photographs and documents and making that work accessible to the genealogical community. Award winners will receive a commemorative certificate, a customized mug that can include an image of their choice, and a copy of Vivid-Pix RESTORE . Individual winners will also receive a one-year subscription to Genealogy Guys Learn . Grant applications and award nominations are due by midnight EDT on 1 August 2020. Full details are available on our blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2020/05/the-genealogy-guys-podcast-and-vivid.html . News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage has added 7 new reports to MyHeritage Health. MyHeritage launched its Photo Enhancer in June and within 10 days had enhanced more than one million photos. The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) will hold its 40th international conference virtually on 10-13 August 2020. Details and registration are available at iajgs2020.org . The Georgia State Legislature has passed SB372 which extends the privacy of birth records to 125 years and the privacy of marriage, divorce, and death records to 100 years. The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) has established three new scholarships. They will afford persons of color and those from underrepresented groups in society and culture the opportunity to attend APG's Professional Management Conference. Two of the scholarships, honoring Kenyatta Berry and the late James Dent “Jimmy” Walker, are intended to benefit genealogists of African-American or other African-rooted heritage. The third scholarship is intended to support a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or gender-questioning genealogist in attending APG's flagship conference. The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) announced a new scholarship, the “Board for Certification of Genealogists Scholarship for African American Students.” Up to three scholarships will be awarded each year to offset the cost of participating in an intensive geneal
Sat, June 20, 2020
Genealogy Connection #070 - John Boeren, Dutch Genealogist
Drew's guest is John Boeren, a former archivist and an expert in Dutch Genealogy. Learn more about John at his website, Antecedentia .
Tue, June 09, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #380
Family Tree Magazine announced the 101 Best Genealogy Websites of 2020 and The Genealogy Guys Podcast was on the list. Thank you! The Genealogy Guys and Vivid-Pix announce two exciting programs: The Unsung Heroes Societies Grant Program will award grants to two societies each year to facilitate their digitizing, indexing, and transcribing photographs and documents. Each grantee will receive a high-quality scanner, a backup and online storage software package, and two copies of Vivid-Pix RESTORE software to improve the legibility of documents and the color/contrast of photographs, and to add image tags and other important information to the image metadata. Each grant package is valued at $500. The Unsung Heroes Awards Program continues to recognize individuals, societies, and libraries for their work in digitizing, indexing, and transcribing photographs and documents and for making that work accessible to the genealogical community. Award winners will receive a commemorative certificate, a customized mug that can include an image of their choice, and a copy of Vivid-Pix RESTORE . Individual winners will also receive a one-year subscription to Genealogy Guys Learn . Grant applications and award nominations are due by midnight EDT on 1 August 2020. Full details are available on our blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2020/05/the-genealogy-guys-podcast-and-vivid.html . News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage is seeking users of their mobile app with more than 100 individuals in the app to observe their behaviors while using the Discoveries feature. Users will be interviewed while using the app. If interested in helping out, contact Keren Szabason, the Product Designer, at keren.szabason@myheritage.com . MyHeritage launched an exclusive new collection: Germany, North Rhine Westphalia, Death Index 1870-1940. MyHeritage has introduced Cross-Language Record Matches to help users locate ancestors' records in different and often unexpected languages. Joel Weintraub has been working in advance of the release of the 1950 U.S. Federal Census. He has created YouTube videos about that, as well as other topics such as immigration. Visit https://tinyurl.com/ycsg7af8 for a page showing the title of the videos, running time, and YouTube address of each of the videos Vivid-Pix brings back memories of family reunions past and makes new reunion memories for this year. See our blog post at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2020/06/relive-past
Mon, May 25, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #379
MyHeritage is offering our podcast listeners and blog readers a discount on their Complete collection through 29 May 2020. (New subscribers only.) Regularly $300.00, the price is $213.87, a great deal for all family researchers! Read our blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2020/05/myheritage-offers-special-price-for.html for the details and your order form. We appreciate your feedback on our new microphones. We’re working on techniques and welcome your comments. We welcome Diahan Southard to the podcast in the regular DNA Segment feature with Drew Smith. She is a leading voice for consumer DNA testing from her position as Founder of Your DNA Guide. Diahan teaches internationally, consults with leading testing companies and forensics experts, and is the author of Your DNA Guide: The Book . News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage recapped the additions to its collections for April and George shares those. MyHeritage has just added three new Greek collections: Greek Electoral Rolls (1863-1924); Corfu Vital Records (1841-1932); and Sparta Marriages (1835-1935) including images of licenses and the marriage register. Findmypast has added records: Durham Home Guard (1939-1945); Faces of the Fallen (1939-1945); UK Electoral Registers & Companies House Directors (2002-2020)’ The War Illustrated (1938-1947); U.S. National Veterans Cemetery Index; Georgia WWII Draft Registration Cards (1940-1942); and additional Louisiana Draft Cards. Drew recaps new record additions, updates, and indexes at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Diahan Southard Drew asks Diahan about why DNA testing companies give us two different numbers for each of our matches, and whether or not both numbers matter. Learn more about shared centimorgans and segment length at YourDNAGuide.com. Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle shares some quick text tips for your computer! Keyboard tools: CheatSheet (Mac), https://mediaatelier.com/CheatSheet/ TypeIt, https://www.typeit.org Keyboard Maestro (Mac), https://www.keyboardmaestro.com </
Mon, May 18, 2020
Genealogy Connection #069 - Margot Note, Author of Creating Family Archives
Drew's guest is Margot Note, an archives and records management consultant. We talk about Margot’s new book, Creating Family Archives: A Step-by-Step Guide to Saving Your Memories for Future Generations . Learn more about Margot at https://www.margotnote.com/
Tue, May 12, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #378
The Genealogy Guys have invested in new microphones and cables to improve the sound quality of the podcast. They discuss the new equipment and thank our Patreon supporters for supporting us in this investment. Bear with us as we learn to use the new mikes! News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage has improved its MyHeritage In Color TM facility by providing new technology to use colorization settings to further enhance photographs. The MyHeritage Yearbook collection now allows you to toggle between black-and-white and color on yearbook pages. MyHeritage’ Theory of Family Relativity TM facility in its DNA matches has grown tremendously. In the next few weeks, a banner will appear at the top of your DNA Matches page. Click on “View Theories” to see all theories found, old and new. Ancestry offers 450K yearbooks and more than 62 million pages in its huge searchable collection. Findmypast launched a photographic collection of more than 10,000 images in celebration of VE Day. Findmypast added additions and new records to the collections: Scotland, Edinburgh & Lothian Death and Burial Index; Scotland, Aberdeenshire Poll Tax 1696; Yorkshire Memorial Inscriptions; and Cambridgeshire Burials. The Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference registration is now open. It will be held 2-5 September 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. Drew recaps new record additions, updates, and indexes at FamilySearch. Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle reminds us to remember the beginners. Our Listeners Talk to Us Vic thanks us for discussing LibraryThing and tagging on Episode #377. Legacy Libraries is another facility at the site to look at famous people’s libraries at https://www.librarything.com/index_catalog.php?search=legacy&page=legacy . Mary posted at our FB page that she listened to Drew’s interview with Libby Copeland (Genealogy Connection #68) four times! Tell us about how your society is meeting virtually/online, the tools you’re using, the positive things, and any negative things. This will help other societies connect their members. The Genealogy Squad The Genealogy Squad just celebrated its one-year anniversary with more than 33.5K members! Welcome Cari Taplin, CG, as a new Administrator of The Genealogy Squad, along with George G. Morgan, Drew Smith, and Cyndi Ingle. We have moderators in England and Australia to help answer your questions and direct you to resources. And our members help one another in a friendly environment. Thank you again to our Patreon supporters! You can support us at https://patreon.com/genealogyguys . You can also tell your friends or your society about
Mon, May 04, 2020
Genealogy Connection #068 - Libby Copeland, Freelance Journalist
Drew's guest is Libby Copeland, a freelance journalist who has written over the last twenty years for numerous well-known newspapers and magazines. They talk about Libby’s new book, The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Upending Who We Are . Learn more about the book at https://libbycopeland.com/
Mon, April 27, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #377
The Genealogy Guys Learn site ( https://genealogyguyslearn.com/ ) April sale ends at midnight Eastern U.S. Time on 30 April. Look for details and instructions on the Genealogy Guys Blog on March 31 and at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2020/04/the-genealogy-guys-learn-is-on-sale-for.html . Don’t miss your opportunity to get written and video education and more at a bargain price, and new content is added every month . News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage makes its entire yearbook collection available for free through 23 May 2020, and you can now display pages and photos in color as well as black-and-white. AncestryDNA has added many new communities around the world, and their ethnic estimate research panel has been updated to include indigenous communities in Australia. Drew discusses Ancestry’s records and developments in the coming months. The National Archives in the UK has announced that it is offering free access to its records. Check their blog at https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/digital-downloads/ . A list of records available can be found at https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/?research-category=online . Findmypast has added Northumberland Baptisms and Marriages, Durham Baptisms, Surry Burials, and more. Drew recaps new record additions, updates, and indexes at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Blaine T. Bettinger Blaine explains what a centimorgan is, who it is named for, and why it's important. Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle discusses why working with others is so important to genealogical research. Our Listeners Talk to Us Tom discusses the recent interview with Diahan Southard and whether or not he needs her new book. Vance recounts his family’s excitement at developing the family’s tree, information found on our podcast episode # 295 (4 October 2015), and recording telephone calls with relatives. Organize Your Books with LibraryThing Drew reminds you to “Organize Your Books” as he wrote about on Day 11 of his January Getting Organized series of blog posts ( http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2020/01/day-11-organize-your-books.html ). The Guys then discuss LibraryThing ( https://www.librarything.com/ ) and the ease of cataloguing your entire collection
Mon, April 13, 2020
Genealogy Connection #067 - Diahan Southard, DNA Expert
Drew brings back Diahan Southard to Genealogy Connection in order to discuss Diahan's new book, Your DNA Guide: the Book . Diahan explains how the book is structured and outlines the 4 basic DNA research concepts that have made her own work successful. More information about the book can be found at https://www.yourdnaguide.com/your-dna-guide-the-book Diahan's previous interview can be found in Genealogy Connection #047: http://genealogyguys.com/genealogy-connection-047-diahan-southard-dna-expert-speaker-and-writer
Tue, April 07, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #376
The Genealogy Guys Learn site ( https://genealogyguyslearn.com/ ) is on sale for the entire month of April. Look for details and instructions at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2020/04/the-genealogy-guys-learn-is-on-sale-for.html . This is your opportunity to get more written and video education at a bargain price, and new content is added every month . News You Can Use and Share Vivid-Pix announced it’s “Round Tuit” education program at https://vivid-pix.com/education.html . MyHeritage provides free access to all its U.S. census records through 12 April 2020. MyHeritage has added new content to its Knowledge Base. The Society of Genealogists in London is working with FamilySearch to digitize approximately 9,000 family history books and over 5,000 pamphlets in a project to take at least two years. Findmypast added 116 million new records to their collection of English and Welsh Electoral Registers. Findmypast added new Scottish records including the Ayrshire, Kilmarnock Valuation Roll (1874), Ratepayers (1838-1846), and Voter Lists (1837-1852). Drew recaps new record additions, updates, and indexes at FamilySearch. Another article about The Guys will be published in Podcast Magazine at the end of March at https://podcastmagazine.com/ . Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle discusses whether you should have only one family tree or more than one. Splitting or Combining Family Trees | Ancestry by Crista Cowan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrdQXvtP0yE Splitting an Ancestry® Family Tree https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Splitting-an-Ancestry-Family-Tree Merging Ancestry® Family Trees https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Merging-Ancestry-Family-Trees How do I divide my existing tree into parts if I edit online? (MyHeritage) https://faq.myheritage.com/en/article/how-do-i-divide-my-existing-tree-into-parts-if-i-edit-online How do I merge two family trees (MyHeritage) https://faq.myheritage.com/en/article/how-do-i-merge-two-family-trees Your Legacy Database - Should You Split It? https://legacynews.typepad.com/legacy_new
Mon, March 30, 2020
Genealogy Connection #066 - Michael Scozzari, Researcher
Drew speaks with Mike Scozzari, a New Jersey-based researcher who has spent years working on his New Jersey and Italian ancestry. Mike also happens to be a long-time Genealogy Guys Podcast listener! To learn more about Mike, visit his website at Roots: Everyone has a story .
Mon, March 23, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #375
The Genealogy Guys Learn site ( https://genealogyguyslearn.com/ ) will be on sale for the entire month of April. Look for details and instructions on the Genealogy Guys Blog on March 30, and links to the blog will be placed on Facebook at The Genealogy Guys Podcast and The Genealogy Squad pages. This is your opportunity to get more written and video education at a bargain price, and new content is added every month . News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage introduced MyHeritage in ColorTM to colorize your black-and-white photos. MyHeritage has added 1.3 billion records of U.S. City Directories. MyHeritage has introduced fan charts as a way to display your family trees online. Geneanet , the leading genealogy website in Europe, has launched its DNA matching service. Ancestry announced the completion of a project to digitize and index 36 million of the U.S. WWII young men’s draft cards. Ancestry has updated and improved its collection, New York, New York, Index to Birth Certificates, 1866-1909. Findmypast added 18 million new U.S. marriage records for Texas, 1937-2010. Findmypast added 36K new Wales Billion Graves records, Hampshire baptisms, marriages, and burials, and Surrey baptisms, marriages, and burials. Findmypast published more than 190K new records in partnership with the Galway County Council. They include Galway Poor Law Union Records, Galway county burials, and more records from the Waterford Poor Law Union Board of Guardians Minute Books. Church of England will begin a project, “Google Maps for Graves.” The Genealogy Squad Facebook group passed 30,000 members this week. Share the link with your friends so that they can join! FamilySearch has introduced the Explore Historical Images tool to search digital-image-only records. Drew recaps new record additions, updates, and indexes at FamilySearch. Use your library card to explore all the databases offered at their website. ProQuest has arranged for Ancestry Library Edition to be made available remotely from home. JSTOR is offering free registration. Be sure to use Google Books for public domain content. The Guys are featured in an article at Indie Podcast News at https://indiepodcastnews.com/2020/03/20/from-no-facebook-group-to-13000-plus/ . Another article about The Guys will be published at the end of March in Podcast Magazine . DN
Fri, February 28, 2020
Genealogy Connection #065 - Cari Taplin, Blogger, Writer, and Speaker
Drew speaks with Cari Taplin, a Texas-based genealogist who blogs, writes courses and quick guides, and speaks at national and state genealogy conferences. To learn more about Cari, visit her website at Genealogy Pants .
Mon, February 10, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #374
One last reminder of the deadline to respond to the proposed price increases by the USCIS. Details are here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/24/2020-01189/us-citizenship-and-immigration-services-fee-schedule-and-changes-to-certain-other-immigration News You Can Use and Share Both 23andMe and Ancestry have announced layoffs related to the downturn in the DNA testing market. MyHeritage has released millions of new records in late December and throughout January. The Society of Genealogists has alerted us through their newsletter of several new British and Irish collection news updates, including updates at the PRONI website, the ability to share screenshots from the GRO, and an addition of more civil marriage records at IrishGenealogy.ie Bucks County in Pennsylvania has put deeds online back to 1684. The U.S. National Archives has put Record Group 77 (Civil Works Map Files) online and has digitized Record Group 145 (Aerial Indexes). Findmypast has added Britain, Royal and Imperial Calendars, plus more baptisms, marriages, and burials for Durham. FamilySearch is celebrating Black History Month with new collections and articles. Drew provides a long list of updated collections for FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Blaine T. Bettinger Drew asks Blaine about X-DNA and how it can be used. Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle discusses "Research the Records before the Ancestor": FamilySearch Wiki - wiki.familysearch.org For US research - Ancestry Wiki - wiki.rootsweb.com Libraries, archives, genealogical & historical societies in that area too. Anne Moss-Biggs Library at Robeson Community College, https://guides.robeson.edu/c.php?g=632482&p=4422915 BYU - North Carolina Research Outline, http://files.lib.byu.edu/family-history-library/research-outlines/US/NorthCarolina.pdf How-to guides, research outlines, pathfinders. For example, Robeson County, NC: Don't forget to look at each level of government or record-keeping. Don't stick with just the parish or the county, look also at the state, the territory, and the federal government too. Our Listeners Talk to Us Janet follows up on George's discussion of Pompeii in a previous episode with a link to the article, provided here: <a href="https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-rome/the-survivors-of-mount-vesuvius/?mqsc=E41080
Mon, February 03, 2020
Genealogy Connection #064 - Randy Fredlund, Co-Founder of Vivid-Pix
Drew speaks with Randy Fredlund, co-founder of Vivid-Pix, the makers of RESTORE. Randy explains how an electrical engineer who once worked for Eastman Kodak became interested in how to improve personal underwater photography, and how that led to developing software to help genealogists recover the details in old faded or discolored family photos. To learn more about Vivid-Pix RESTORE, go to https://vivid-pix.com/restore.html .
Sun, January 19, 2020
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #373
We hope you are enjoying Drew’s “31 Days of Getting Organized” series at The Genealogy Guys Blog . Day 0 begins at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2019/12/day-0-introducing-31-days-of-getting.html , and you can follow each day. (Use the Tag labeled Organization for quick access to all of these entries.) News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage added millions of new records in November 2019 and in the first half of December. MyHeritage added new records for Germany in late December: the Hesse Birth Index (1874-1911) and the Hesse Marriage Index (1849-1931). The Federation of Genealogical Societies and the National Park Service announced the launch of the U.S. Mexican War Soldier & Sailor Database, coming on 27 January 2020. (See press release at our blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/search/label/Mexican%20War . Fold3 has recently added the “UK Militia Attestation Papers, 1806-1915,” containing great personal information for each individual. The Royal Air Force Museum has launched a new website containing casualty forms of the officers of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force. The site is located at https://www.casualtyforms.org . Donna Moughty announced her two annual research trips to Ireland: the Belfast trip October 10-17, 2020, and the Dublin trip October 17-24, 2020. Space is limited. Details are available at https://www.irishfamilyroots.com/2020-research-trips . Findmypast has released updates to the 1939 Register, British Armed Forces’ World War I Medical Records, and the U.S. National Veterans Cemetery Index. They also have released records for Kent Baptisms, Marriages and Banns, and Burials. FamilySearch has released GEDCOM Version 5.5.1, the first update in ten years. FamilySearch’s 2019 highlights include 1.24 billion people in the Family Tree, 6.3 billion searchable records and images online, 8.75 million new photos and stories added, and 15.5 million volunteer hours contributed. FamilySearch has announced new things coming in 2020: sitewide support for new languages; improvements to the user experience with the Family Tree; updates to Memories to allow topic tagging; improvements in social interactions and social media; and a new tool, Explore Images, allowing users to view images within days of their capture. Drew recaps new record additions, updates, and indexes at FamilySearch. DNA Segment with Blaine T. Bettinger Blaine and Drew discuss chromosome mapping at the DNA Painter site. Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle discusses thinking of your end goal. Our Listeners Talk to
Sun, December 22, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #372
On 14 November 2019, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed a sudden and unprecedented 492% increase in fees required to access historical records held by the USCIS Genealogy Program. Many of these records should already be publicly accessible under the law. The USCIS is essentially holding them hostage, demanding individuals pay exorbitant and unjustifiable fees to access documents of our immigrant ancestors. YOU HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 30, 2019, TO SUBMIT COMMENTS TO HELP STOP THIS FEE INCREASE. We strongly urge you to visit https://www.recordsnotrevenue.com/ and protest this action! News You Can Use and Share Verogen, Inc., has purchased GEDmatch. Drew explains the new opt in/out requirement to accept the terms of service in order to continue to use the site. MyHeritage added 18.6 million new historical records in October 2019. In the first half of November, they added another 18.8 million records. In the second half of November, they added another 8.8 million new records. Drew announces those record collections. The Ohio Genealogical Society has issued a call for lecture proposals for its 2021 Conference to be held in Columbus, Ohio. Nathan Dylan Goodwin has a new book coming out in January 2020 titled The Sterling Affair . Findmypast has released Yorkshire Memorial Inscriptions; Scotland, Renfrewshire Death & Burial Index; Scotland, Stirlingshire & Perthshire Burials; Northumberland Baptisms, Marriages, and Burial collections; Northumberland and Durham Memorial Inscriptions; and Texas County Tax Rolls (1846-1910). FamilySearch celebrates its 125th anniversary. FamilySearch adds the ability to document all family relationships, including same-sex marriages and adoptions. Drew discusses many new and expanded collections from FamilySearch. Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle recommends that listeners try something new. Our Listeners Talk to Us Lili wrote a great follow-up to our previous discussion of research logs. The Guys talk about more options and setting up a calendar/to-do list to recheck online sites. Linda wrote to compliment us on what she is learning at the new Genealogy Guys Learn subscription site. Linda also wrote to discuss RM7 not running under the new macOS Catalina operating system. Drew discusses downloading and installing CrossOver software from CodeWeavers . Dianne encourages people to regularly recheck FamilySearch and other online sites frequently for the addition and update of records. Eugene shares a story about a man whose 1870 diary details his departure from Michigan to California and each day until his wife and children joined him. Janet responded concerning a recent listener email about foreign se
Tue, December 10, 2019
Genealogy Connection #063 - Jennifer Mendelsohn, Researcher, Writer, and Speaker
Jennifer Mendelsohn is an expert on Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish genealogical research and the use of DNA. She and Drew discuss how she applies her journalistic skills to her research, how she demonstrates the universality of the immigration experience of our ancestors, and how she ended up being part of the 2019 memoir Inheritance by Dani Shapiro. You can follow Jennifer on Twitter - @CleverTitleTK
Wed, December 04, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #371
The Genealogy Guys enjoyed Thanksgiving with friends and Drew's dessert (a key lime pound cake). Listeners can email for the recipe. George reminded everyone that new content is being added every month to the Genealogy Guys Learn educational subscription site, and there's currently a sale price that is available until December 14. News You Can Use and Share George discussed the plans by Bruce Buzbee of RootsMagic to delay release of RM 8 until some issues have been addressed. This will push the release into 2020. Drew talked about the new health reports available from MyHeritage through its DNA product, and the new list view for MyHeritage family trees. George and Drew shared new record collections from Findmypast and FamilySearch. Drew raised the alarm for the USCIS proposed rate increases for obtaining information, and listeners should visit the Records, Not Revenue site to learn more and to register their objections to the new costs. Blaine T. Bettinger and the DNA Segment Blaine explained to Drew how the new beta product for 23andMe works in creating proposed family trees based on nothing but DNA matching. Learn more from Blaine at his DNA Central subscription website. Cyndi Says with Cyndi Ingle Cyndi took listeners through the sometimes difficult process of figuring out how the records in online databases were sourced. And don't forget to visit Cyndi's List to find links to all the genealogy sites you'll ever need! Our Listeners Talk to Us Leslie asked about research logs, and Drew gave his thoughts on using a blog for a public research log or using Evernote or Microsoft OneNote for a more private and flexible research log. And As Always... Thank you to our Patreon supporters! Please tell your friends or your society about our free podcasts. Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more free news and interesting ideas for your genealogy. Enroll in Genealogy Guys Learn at https://genealogyguyslearn.com for written courses, videos, and helpful resources. New content will be added every month! And join The Genealogy Squad Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/genealogysquad/ for the highest quality help from the founders Blaine T. Bettinger, Cyndi Ingle, Drew Smith, and George Morgan, and from more than 25,000 members worldwide!
Thu, November 21, 2019
Genealogy Connection #062 - Michael J. Leclerc, Author of Benjamin Franklin's Family
Michael J. Leclerc returns to Genealogy Connection to talk to Drew about Michael's new book, Benjamin Franklin's Family (Volume I: English Ancestors) . More information about the book can be found at http://franklinsfam.com/ Thank you to our Patreon supporters! Please tell your genealogy friends or your local genealogy society about our free podcasts. Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more news and interesting ideas for your genealogy.
Fri, November 08, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #370
The Genealogy Guys Learn educational subscription site launched on October 1st and is a great success. New content has been added at the beginning of November and more is scheduled soon. Drew reports on his trip to present at RootsTech London. He reminisces on his profound trip to the Cambridge American Cemetery, where he visited the grave of his father’s brother who was killed in 1943. News You Can Use and Share The Australian government has provided $10M in funding to the National Archives of Australia to digitize 850,000 World War II records over the next four years. Ancestry has significantly updated its collection of U.S. obituaries. AncestryDNA has expanded its reference panel to deliver more precise DNA ethnicity results. This is being rolled out by year's end. Ancestry has introduced AncestryHealth® to provide health insights for testers and their families. Findmypast has released: Scotland, Will and Testament Index, 1481-1807; Scotland Monumental Inscriptions; Westmorland Baptisms, Marriages, & Burials; Philippines Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths, and Burials from 1642-1974. DNA-Central.com has released a new newsletter and discusses updates to courses about 23andMe, ANC101, and YDNA101, and announced 6 new courses: Introduction to Autosomal DNA, Introduction to GEDmatch, GEDmatch Advanced, Introduction to DNA Painter, and Introduction to Shared Matches and Genetic Networks. Kevin Borland released a press release about Borland Genetics at https://www.borlandgenetics.com/ , a toolkit that acts on raw DNA files of related individuals, enabling to reverse-engineer your ancestors. Drew discusses many new and expanded collections from FamilySearch. Blaine T. Bettinger This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on the meaning and use of FIR and HIR. Book Review George reviews William Dollarhide’s brand-new book, The Census Book: Facts, Schedules & Worksheets for the U.S. Federal Censuses . George recommends the book highly, saying it should be on every U.S. researcher’s and library’s bookshelf. Our Listeners Talk to Us Faye heard us mention Augsburg, Bavaria, records and asked where they were. George wrote back with a link from the FamilySearch News. Gail asked if Genealogy Guys Learn includes content from all learning levels. We firmly believe that so many of us started at different levels with disparate documents that everyone would benefit from starting over again. This approach allows everyone to build or rebuild the foundation for solid research. You can, of course, use portions of the written courses or videos for the topics for which you have an immediate need. However, we guarantee that you will find important new "Aha! moments" in each course or lesson. Nancy recalled that Drew is a member of the Guild
Sat, October 12, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #369
The Genealogy Guys Learn educational subscription site launched on October 1 st . Podcast listeners receive a 10% discount. Listen to Episode #368 for the details. News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage added 44.4 million records in September, including NYC Birth Index (1878-1909); NYC Death Index (1862-1948); Netherlands Civil Births, Marriages, Deaths, and Church Burials; and more. The Society of Genealogists in London has announced it is searching for new premises to move into after 35 years. Findmypast announces the launch of its Tree-to-Tree Hints. Findmypast announces Pennsylvania Cemetery and Burials collection; New Jersey Vital Records and Vital Records Browse; Cumberland Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials; U.S. Directories & Almanacs; transcripts of Ukraine births and deaths 1784-1879; and 12 million transcripts from Spain of baptisms, marriages, and burials spanning 1502-1950. Findmypast has updated the 1939 Register with new entries. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has turned over 4 centuries of digitized Catholic records to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for archival storage. RootsTech 2020 on 26-29 February 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah, is open for registration. The FamilySearch Research Wiki has surpassed the publication of 90,000 excellent articles. Drew discusses many new and expanded collections from FamilySearch. The DNA Segment with Blaine T. Bettinger This week's discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on the Big Y test. Cyndi Says with Cyndi Ingle Cyndi Ingle’s “Cyndi Says” segment discusses how to keep an open mind. Our Listeners Talk to Us Kirstin loved our blog article, “Yearbooks Can Reveal Great Clues,” and shared her own story. Walter asked how to obtain the RSS feed to The Genealogy Guys Blog. Mike responded with more details about his genealogical filing system. Bill responded to Kelly, the teacher in Idaho, looking for resources for her genealogy instruction. He tells us about Ancestry.com’s K-12 program at https://www.ancestryk12.com/ that helps provide Ancestry.com, Fold3.com, and Newspapers.com for use in classrooms. Eric shares an interesting story about discovering family members within your group of friends. Book Review George provides a review of a new book about researching U.S. Christian church records. It is How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records (With Specific Resources for Major Christian Denominations before 1900) by Sunny Jane Morton and Harold A. Henderson CG. George recommends this book to every genealogist and to every library collection. He gives this book a 10-star review for this much needed
Tue, October 01, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #368
In this special episode of The Genealogy Guys Podcast, the Guys announce their newest business offering, Genealogy Guys Learn ( genealogyguyslearn.com ), a subscription-based educational website designed to provide genealogy courses and videos for researchers of all skill levels. To learn more about the site and see screenshots, visit The Genealogy Guys Blog ( blog.genealogyguys.com ).
Sat, September 28, 2019
Genealogy Connection #061 - Julianna Szucs, Researcher and Speaker
Julianna Szucs speaks at many national genealogy conferences and is part of the Research Team at Ancestry.com that uncovers the stories behind some of the genealogy-themed videos we see. Learn more about Julianna at https://www.biography.com/author/juliana-szucs Thank you to our Patreon supporters! Please tell your genealogy friends or your local genealogy society about our free podcasts. Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more news and interesting ideas for your genealogy.
Thu, September 19, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #367
Listen for a major announcement from The Guys on October 1, 2019! News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage acquires Promethease and SNPedia. MyHeritage announced the launch of MyHeritage Education to enhance your understanding of their website platform. MyHeritage has added a new French record collection, the Nord Civil marriage Records, 1792-1937. Findmypast has added Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, and Congregational Records. The JewishGen website has reorganized its homepage and made vast improvements to the organization and speed of access to its databases. The National Genealogical Society and the Federation of Genealogical Societies have announced their intent to merge. Drew discusses many new and expanded collections from FamilySearch. Blaine T. Bettinger This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on triangulation. Cyndi Ingle FamilySearch is much more than just a large family tree. FamilySearch is misunderstood. FamilySearch is made up of multiple pieces and parts. Today Cyndi Says pay attention to the FamilySearch Catalog. FamilySearch - Search Historical Records https://www.familysearch.org/search/ Currently more than 2,520 databases of records FamilySearch Catalog https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/search/ Search the catalog of genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) made available by FamilySearch online and in libraries and centers worldwide. FamilySearch Digital Library https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/ The Family History Library is actively digitizing its family histories, local histories, and other collections to make them searchable and available online to researchers worldwide. FamilySearch Family Tree https://www.familysearch.org/tree One large family tree that we can all contribute to FamilySearch Genealogies https://www.familysearch.org/search/tree A collection of individual genealogies contributed to or collected by the church FamilySearch Wiki https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Main_Page A free, online genealogy and family history guide that lists websites, provides research strategies, and suggests records and resources to help you find ancestors from all over the world. FamilySearch Learning Center How-to videos and articles for education https://www.familysearch.org/ask/landing… FamilySea
Tue, September 03, 2019
Genealogy Connection #060 - Elissa Scalise Powell, Speaker and Instructor
Elissa Powell is a popular Pittsburgh-area genealogy speaker and instructor. She has been heavily involved with the Board for Certification of Genealogists, and she is the co-director of the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP). You can find out more about Elissa and her available lectures at http://www.powellgenealogy.com/ Thank you to our Patreon supporters! Please tell your genealogy friends or your local genealogy society about our free podcasts. Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more news and interesting ideas for your genealogy.
Sat, August 24, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #366
News You Can Use and Share Unsung Heroes Awards for 3Q2019 will be announced at the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in Washington, DC, this coming week. Ancestry.com has published two unique Holocaust Records collections for free, making them searchable for the first time. Ancestry.com has announced that it now shows parental relationships on each person. Vivid-Pix launched its Zoom/Transcribe software update on July 9th at the Allen County Public Library. Yankee Publishing has acquired Family Tree Magazine . American Ancestors and the Archdiocese of Boston have announced a major expansion in their partnership to digitize important sacramental records in the history of Boston’s Catholic Church. Findmypast.com has announced numerous changes to a number of their collections: Middlesex Baptisms; Huddersfield Baptisms; Yorkshire Monumental Inscriptions; Essex Baptism Index, Marriages and Banns, and Burial Index; Derbyshire Births and Baptisms; Kent Burials; Maryland Index to Colonial Probate Records; and Maryland Wills and Probate Records. FamilySearch has announced that users can now correct name indexing errors in records. Drew discusses many new and expanded collections from FamilySearch. Book Review George delivers a review of David McCullough’s book, The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West . The book brings to life the stories of the New Englanders who migrated west to settle the Old Northwest Territory, especially Ohio. Highly recommended. Blaine T. Bettinger This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on what happens to DNA samples after they arrive at the testing labs. Cyndi Ingle Cyndi Ingle’s “Cyndi Says” segment discusses using YouTube for learning more about genealogical resources. U.S. National Archives, https://www.youtube.com/USNationalArchives Library of Congress, https://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryOfCongress The National Archives UK, https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNationalArchivesUK The British Library, https://www.youtube.com/britishlibrary National Archives of Australia, https://www.youtube.com/user/NationalArchives1 Archives New Zealand, https://www.youtube.com/user/archivesnz Library and Archives Canada, https://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryArchiveCanada National Genealogical Society, <a href= "https://www.yout
Sun, August 11, 2019
Genealogy Connection #059 - Patricia Walls Stamm, Researcher, Speaker, Educator
Pat Stamm is a popular genealogy speaker and long-time genealogy educator, who specializes in research in the St. Louis, Missouri area. You can find out more about Pat and her available lectures at http://stlouisgenealogy.com/ Thank you to our Patreon supporters! Please tell your genealogy friends or your local genealogy society about our free podcasts. Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more news and interesting ideas for your genealogy.
Mon, July 22, 2019
Genealogy Connection #058 - Shannon Combs-Bennett, Researcher, Speaker, Author
Shannon Combs-Bennett is a popular genealogy speaker and writer. Her new book, co-authored with Brianne Kirkpatrick, is entitled The DNA Guide for Adoptees: How to Use Genealogy and Genetics to Uncover Your Roots, Connect with Your Biological Family, and Better Understand Your Medical History . You can read more from Shannon at her blog Trials and Tribulations of a Self-Taught Family Historian . Thank you to our Patreon supporters! Please tell your genealogy friends or your local genealogy society about our free podcasts. Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more news and interesting ideas for your genealogy.
Sun, July 07, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #365
News You Can Use and Share The Genealogy Guys and Vivid-Pix announce that nominations for the Unsung Heroes Awards for the 3rd quarter of 2019 are being accepted until midnight Eastern Time on 1 August 2019. Learn more at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2019/06/genealogy-guys-and-vivid-pix-announce.html and at Aha! Seminars, Inc., at https://ahaseminars.com/ . MyHeritage has begun selling DNA kits at Costco in the UK, added new features to its mobile app, and introduced the “Genealogy Basics” Blog Series. The schedule and details about MyHeritage LIVE in Amsterdam on 6-8 September 2019 have been announced. Details can be found at https://blog.myheritage.com/2019/06/myheritage-live-2019s-schedule-genealogy-dna-and-so-much-more/ . RootsMagic has upgraded and enhanced its Live Chat support at its website. This complements their telephone support and other customer support resources. Penguin Random House has posted the winning bid to acquire the book publishing rights for F+W Media, which includes Family Tree Books. American Ancestors, the online site of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, commemorates Juneteenth with the launch of a new website: The GU Memory Project is named for Georgetown University and the 272 enslaved individuals listed on the 1838 bill of sale, and the GU272 Memory Project website ( gu272.americanancestors.org ) features fully documented genealogies of the families who were sold, along with audio interviews of their modern descendants speaking about a wide range of topics, from personal memories of family members to racism in America. Findmypast announces new and updated collections including: the Greater London Burial Index; New Jersey Marriage Index, 1901-2016; International Records Update for Sweden, Iceland, and Luxembourg; Lancastershire Baptisms, Marriages and Banns, and Burials; and updates to its British and Irish newspapers. Ancestry unveiled over 225 new AncestryDNA communities and moved its ThruLines, MyTreeTags, and Improved DNA Matches out of beta and into production. Drew recaps some major record additions at FamilySearch, including some massive new collections. Blaine T. Bettinger This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on the reasons for Y-DNA testing, how to choose the most appropriate Y-DNA test, and when to upgrade. Get more from Blaine in the Genetic Genealogy Tips and Techniques group on Facebook, and at Blaine's DNA Central subscription site . Cyndi Ingle Cyndi Ingle’s “Cyndi Says” segment discusses Using Tabs in Your Browser. Tab tools: OneTab -
Mon, June 24, 2019
Genealogy Connection #057 - Janet Hovorka, Speaker, Writer, Entrepreneur
Janet Hovorka, the "Chart Chick", is the co-owner with her husband Kim of Family Chartmasters, a company that produces beautiful printed family trees. She is a popular speaker at genealogy conferences and the author of the Zap the Grandma Gap books. Learn more about Janet at janethovorka.com . Thank you to our Patreon supporters! Please tell your genealogy friends or your local genealogy society about our free podcasts. Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more news and interesting ideas for your genealogy.
Mon, June 17, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #364
Our podcast hosting service, Libsyn, has partnered with Entercom to distribute podcasts on Radio.com . That means that this podcast will be available there. Drew talks about Apple’s announcement that it is discontinuing iTunes in the next version of the macOS, Catalina, and what that means for music, podcast, and television users who upgrade their Mac's operating system this fall. The launch of the new Facebook group page, The Genealogy Squad , took place on May 6, 2019. Membership is nearing 15,000. You can join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/genealogysquad . And read our blog posting at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2019/06/the-genealogy-squad-you-are-not-alone.html about where our members are located. News You Can Use and Share New historical birth, marriage, and death registers for Ireland are available at https://www.irishgenealogy.ie . Findmypast has released Dumfriesshire, Scotland, Death & Burial Index records, Pennsylvania Register of Mine Accidents, Cardiganshire Baptisms, Marriages & Banns, and Burials, Kent Baptisms, Marriages & Banns, and Burials, Phillimore Marriage Registers, and updates to Italian and Danish records. Drew recaps some major record additions at FamilySearch. Blaine T. Bettinger's DNA Segment This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on creating a DNA testing strategy that will both fit your budget and will get your DNA testing data on as many sites as feasible. Cyndi Ingle's "Cyndi Says" Cyndi Ingle’s “Cyndi Says” segment discusses how you can use Google to search for specific file types. File types indexable by Google: https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/35287?hl=en filetype:pdf filetype:doc or filetype:docx filetype:xls or filetype:xlsx filetype:ppt or filetype:pptx filetype:kml or filetype:kmz Our Listeners Talk to Us Katherine writes to tell us she earlier connected with one of our Unsung Heroes Award winners, Stacy Ashmore Cole. Scott, Gloria, and Katherine wrote praising the Genealogy Connection interview with Sunny Morton. Debra wrote about how much she enjoyed the Genealogy Connection interview with Russ Worthington. She also shared two good tips. Tom wants help and advice about splitting his existing single family tree at Ancestry into multiple trees. Listener suggestions and insights are welcome. The Guys discuss how they have their home genealogical research work
Mon, June 03, 2019
Genealogy Connection #056 - Sunny Morton, Writer and Speaker
Sunny Morton is an internationally known and award-winning writer and speaker. In this episode, Sunny shares her thoughts about writing, and discusses her upcoming book about using U.S. church records for genealogical research. Find out more about Sunny at sunnymorton.com . Thank you to our Patreon supporters! Please tell your genealogy friends or your local genealogy society about our free podcasts. Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more news and interesting ideas for your genealogy.
Tue, May 28, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #363
The Guys have resolved the high-pitched sound problem and have replaced the six affected episodes (GGP 359, 360, 351 & GC 52, 53, 54) with clean ones. Read more at our blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2019/05/6-previous-episodes-re-released-with.html . Winners of the Unsung Heroes Awards for 2Q2019 will be announced on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in Burbank. A special presentation will be made at 1:30 PM in the convention center lobby, followed by the remainder in the Exhibit Hall at the Flip-Pal/Vivid-Pix booth. The launch of the new Facebook group page, The Genealogy Squad, took place on May 6, 2019. Membership has topped 11,800 in just three weeks and is still growing fast. The principals are Blaine T. Bettinger, Cyndi Ingle, George G. Morgan, and Drew Smith. You can join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/genealogysquad . News You Can Use and Share MyHeritage announced the launch of the MyHeritage DNA Health+Ancestry test on May 20, 2019. It includes dozens of personalized and easy-to-understand health reports in addition to the ethnicity results, a chromosome browser, and matching with others in their database. A new kit is $199; an upgrade to your existing DNA kit is $120. Read their announcement at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/search/label/MyHeritage%20Health%20%26%20Ancestry%20Test and learn more at their website. Ancestry announced that it has surpassed 15 million members in its DNA network. Findmypast has announced the launch of ancestor sharing for users with family trees online. This is an optional feature. Findmypast has released Queensland Soldier Portraits (1914-1918), and has announced the launch of over 114 million new birth, christening, marriage, death, and burial records covering 20 European nations (1502-1960). FamilySearch celebrates 20 years online. Drew recaps some major record additions at FamilySearch. Blaine T. Bettinger This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on the researcher's problem of confirmation bias, and how it can affect both DNA-based research and traditional genealogical research. Cyndi Ingle Cyndi Ingle’s “Cyndi Says” segment highlights web resources about archives. She provides links to: Alabama Mosaic, http://www.alabamamosaic.org Alaska’s Digital Archives, http://vilda.alaska.edu Arizona Memory Project, http://azmemory.azlibrary.gov Arkansas History Commission (AHC), http://
Wed, May 22, 2019
Genealogy Connection #055 - Russ Worthington, Technology Educator
Russ Worthington may be best known to genealogists as "Cousin Russ," an actual cousin of and friend to DearMyrtle. Russ blogs and speaks online and at conferences about genealogy database software and other technology topics. Russ and Drew talk about the use of online tools and video to educate genealogists, and why Russ doesn't have any brick walls (yet). Find out about where you can see and read more from Russ at this page: http://dearmyrtle.com/blog2/index.php/2017/10/03/who-is-cousin-russ/ Thank you to our Patreon supporters! Please tell your genealogy friends or your local genealogy society about our free podcasts. Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more news and interesting ideas for your genealogy.
Tue, May 14, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #362
The Genealogy Guys announced the launch of The Genealogy Squad Facebook Page on May 6, 2019, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/genealogysquad . The principals are Blaine T. Bettinger, Cyndi Ingle, George G. Morgan, and Drew Smith. In the first 7 days, membership has exceeded 8,000 members. The deadline for nominations for the 2Q2019 Unsung Heroes Awards is midnight Eastern Time, May 15, 2019. Awards will be announced at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in Burbank on June 1, 2019. Details and nomination materials are available at https://ahaseminars.com/cpage.php?pt=24 . News You Can Use and Share The Guys were honored at the Ohio Genealogical Society 2019 Conference in Mason, Ohio, on May 4 with an award acknowledging their exceptional support for the Society and its annual conference. We are sad to report the passing of Donn Devine, JD, CG Emeritus, of Wilmington, Delaware on May 8, 2019. Donn was a leader in the genealogical community and will be deeply missed. Vivid-Pix announces a new release of its RESTORE software that includes image metadata creation and Artificial Intelligence image improvement capabilities. A free trial is available for Windows or Mac at https://vivid-pix.com/restore.html . Use code 3GENEALOGYGUYS or 3GENEALOGYGUYSR. Past purchasers receive a free update to RESTORE. Ancestry posted a blog post describing how the updated Ethnicity Estimate works and how to preserve your older estimate if you so choose (but there's a deadline for that). MyHeritage recently added the 1940 Denmark Census to its historical database. The British Newspaper Archive continues to add to its digital titles from Britain and Ireland. Findmypast has announced the launch of ancestor sharing for users with family trees online. This is an optional feature. Findmypast has released Queensland Soldier Portraits (1914-1918), Scotland Monumental Inscriptions, Panama Records, new pages for their British and Irish newspapers, British India Office Deaths and burials, an update to the 1939 Register, Bahamas Records, DAR Lineage Books (1890-1921), additions to the Philadelphia Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms and Parish Registers, and Lincolnshire Parish Records. The Family History Library in Salt Lake City is adding Sunday (main floor only) and longer Monday hours to its schedule. Drew recaps three weeks of record additions at FamilySearch. Blaine T. Bettinger This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on deciding who to test, how to approach them, and how to manage multiple tests. Cyndi Ingle Cyndi Ingle’s “Cyndi Says” segment highlights the importance of browsing websites rather than depending solely upon search facilities. A sampling of major online p
Mon, April 29, 2019
Genealogy Connection #054 - Crista Cowan, The Barefoot Genealogist
Crista Cowan is Corporate Genealogist at Ancestry.com and known widely as "The Barefoot Genealogist". Crista and Drew discuss the widespread use of video to educate genealogists, and what other directions genealogical education might take going forward. Learn more about Crista at http://cristacowan.com/ Thank you to our Patreon supporters! Please tell your genealogy friends or your local genealogy society about our free podcasts. Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more news and interesting ideas for your genealogy.
Tue, April 23, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #361
The Genealogy Guys welcome Cyndi Ingle , founder of Cyndi’s List , to the podcast for a regular feature called Cyndi Says , beginning with this episode. She joins Blaine T. Bettinger, founder of DNA Central , and his regular featured discussion with Drew about DNA. We have a big announcement coming on May 1 st . Check our blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com that day and our Facebook page. A reminder that the Genealogy Guys are accepting nominations for the next round of the Unsung Heroes Award. The deadline is midnight on May 15 th and winners will be announced on June 1 st online and at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree. Details are at https://ahaseminars.com/cpage.php?pt=24 . News You Can Use and Share Findmypast has added Poor Law and BMD records for Kent. Drew recaps free FamilySearch record additions. Blaine T. Bettinger's DNA Segment This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on the Shared cM Project. Blaine operates a subscription-based DNA education service at DNA Central . Cyndi Ingle's Cyndi Says Cyndi Ingle’s debut of “Cyndi Says” highlights how to use Google to search all the contents of a specific website. You can find more from Cyndi at Cyndi's List ! Our Listeners Talk to Us Lisa is interested in suggestions for how to engage young people in genealogy. The Guys respond and so can you. Linda has questions about her second great-grandfather, including whether he might have been indentured to a shipping company, his rapid movement westward, and where she might find his naturalization records. The Guys share some of their upcoming speaking schedule. You can always learn more at https://ahaseminars.com/eventListings.php?nm=52 . Thank you to our Patreon supporters! You can also tell your friends or your society about our free podcasts. Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more news and interesting ideas for your genealogy.
Tue, April 16, 2019
Genealogy Connection #053 - Sue Kaufman, Manager of the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research
Sue Kaufman is the Manager of the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research in Houston, Texas, and has previously worked at the Allen County Public Library's Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She has also been active in national and state genealogy societies, and in the American Library Association. She talks with Drew about her path to becoming a genealogy librarian, and how patrons can become better prepared for a visit to a library or other repository. Learn more about the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research .
Mon, April 08, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #360
The Genealogy Guys and Vivid-Pix announce that nominations are being accepted for the next round of the Unsung Heroes Awards . Nominations are due by May 15, 2019, and winners will be announced on June 1, 2019. The Genealogy Guys announce that Cyndi Ingle , founder of Cyndi’s List , will join the podcast for a regular feature called "Cyndi Says". News You Can Use and Share Findmypast has added Poor Law and BMD records for Kent. Drew recaps free FamilySearch record additions. Book Reviews George reviews the following books: Writing a Memoir - from Stuck to Finished! by Karen Dustman Published: The Proven Path from Blank Page to Published Author by Chandler Bolt Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Families: Baldy, Kerstetter, and Long by Gregory Edwin Price From the Emerald Isle to the Cream City: A History of the Irish in Milwaukee The DNA Segment with Blaine T. Bettinger This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on DNA testing on ancestral artifacts such as envelopes, stamps, and hair samples, and also covers testing the recently deceased. Our Listeners Talk to Us John shares his spreadsheet for comparing families in the early US federal censuses (1790-1840). Lili let us know that she was successful in getting her lineage society application submitted and approved. Congratulations, Lili! Neal is trying to obtain a War of 1812 Discharge Certificate for his ancestor from the National Archives and Records Administration. Daniel’s ancestors and family members changed surnames, and he is asking for some reasons why they might have done so. Ryan is looking for resources about his ancestor who moved from Philadelphia to Nebraska and then back again to help him understand the reasons, the migration route, and more.
Mon, April 01, 2019
Margaret Cheney - Ohio Genealogical Society President
Margaret Cheney is the current president of the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS), and has served in many roles at the state organization level and as part of her local OGS chapter. She talks about how she first became involved with her local society, about the upcoming OGS conference , about lineage societies, and about why it is important for society members to volunteer.
Wed, March 20, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #359
The Genealogy Guys are using their new sound mixer beginning with this episode. Visit our blog for details about the new equipment. Sincere thanks go out to our sponsors and generous Patreon supporters for making this improvement possible. The Guys discuss their great experiences at the 2019 Podfest Multimedia Expo. News You Can Use MyHeritage has added 7.1 million records of Norwegian Censuses in four collections. The Canadian Research Knowledge Network has made more than 60 million pages of digitized Canadian heritage documents accessible. Findmypast has added 23 million new U.S. marriages to its site for searching. Drew recaps free FamilySearch record additions. Blaine T. Bettinger and the DNA segment This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on recent announcements from MyHeritage regarding their new DNA tools: AutoCluster and the Theory of Family Relativity. Our Listeners Talk to Us Listener response to a call for how you use spreadsheets in your research has been strong. Another Laura tells us she uses spreadsheets when extracting from indexes; to compile each year’s data when doing city directory research; and to create a combination timeline/family group sheet/timeline. Sherry paid for a DNA test for a cousin who has since died. Are there legal questions she should be aware of if she wants to submit the data to GEDmatch? Bill reports that he has had problems with Ancestry tree data disappearing from RootsMagic. He believes it is an API problem. George heard from another friend on Sunday who has experienced the same problem. Tom reports that the new Ancestry beta color coding tag system has rendered a Google extension inoperable. Drew tells how to opt out of the Ancestry beta. Spencer shares two important topics: Masonic records include applications to join and these can contain much genealogical information. The librarian at the Webster Memorial Library in Decatur, Van Buren County, Michigan, plans to break up the collections placed there by the Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society. Some materials would be moved to a basement and would no longer be accessible by researchers. Email to the Van Buren Library Board of Directors Chairman, Bruce Cutting, at cutting@ontrakcom.com to complain about this situation is welcome. The Guys make suggestions about written agreements that should be created and signed to clarify such situations. Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more news! And send questions or comments to the podcast at genealogyguys@gmail.com.
Wed, March 06, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #358
The Genealogy Guys Podcast and Vivid-Pix announced the first winners of the Unsung Heroes Awards at RootsTech 2019. Visit the blog for details about the winners. Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., joins us for discussions with Drew about DNA topics on episodes of The Genealogy Guys Podcast starting this week. The News MyHeritage made a number of announcements at RootsTech 2019: Database has doubled since RootsTech 2018. 5 million MyHeritage DNA kits have been sold, the most sales in Europe. New AutoClusters tool has been introduced to MyHeritage DNA. Theory of Family Relativity DNA tool has been introduced to MyHeritage DNA to facilitate matching. MyHeritage has completed digitizing of all of Israel’s cemeteries, searchable online with images, locations, and fully transcribed records. MyHeritage has extended their DNA Quest pro bono initiative to reunite adoptees through free genetic testing. Ancestry announced 94 new and updated communities for people of African American and Afro-Caribbean descent. Ancestry announced several new DNA tools, and Blaine and Drew will discuss them later. Stephen and Tabitha King have donated $1.25 million to the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Findmypast added over 23 million new U.S. marriage records to their collection. Findmypast also added Yorkshire Baptisms, Marriage Banns, Marriages, and Burials, and an update to the 1939 Register. Findmypast has acquired RootsFinder, Inc, a free family tree builder. Findmypast announced a project to digitize and publish the 1921 Census of England and Wales. The Archives of Manitoba, Canada, is digitizing over 1,000 reels of microfilm for the Hudson’s Bay Company (1670-1870) and placing the records online. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has donated $2 million to the International African American Museum being built in Charleston, South Carolina. RootsTech London will take place on 24-26 October 2019. Drew recaps the highlights of the January 2019 record additions and a look at what’s coming this year. A Discussion with Blaine T. Bettinger This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on Ancestry.com’s newly announced DNA tools. They include a new tool called ThruLines, and a new tool for working with and marking matches (in beta mode), and a Tree Tagging tool (also in beta mode). Listener Email Listeners Barb and Vicki also responded to Laura’s inquiry in Episode #357 about uses for spreadsheets in genealogy. Bill reported he had a loss of data between RootsMagic and Ancestry. George referred him ASAP to RootsMagic’s Customer Support, and also described how he backs up his RootsMagic data on his computer, on Dropbox, and at a
Tue, February 12, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #357
The Genealogy Guys have returned from their working cruise in the Caribbean on the Norwegian Epic . They want to thank Pat Adams, Annette Burke Lyttle, and Dale Heins of The Villages and Anna Pellegrini of Anchors Aweigh Cruises & Tours for a fabulous trip. You’ll find more details on The Genealogy Guys Blog . Don’t forget to get your nomination/submission form in by midnight Eastern Time on 15 February for the first quarterly Unsung Heroes Awards. The Guys and Vivid-Pix RESTORE are sponsoring these awards to sing the praises of individuals, societies, libraries and archives, and young people under age 21 who scan/digitize, index, and transcribe records to make them accessible to researchers worldwide. Nominees need not be huge, prolific producers. You can even nominate yourself. First awards will be made at RootsTech, and we’ll select winners every quarter! The Guys will be announcing another huge revelation of a great new segment on The Genealogy Guys Podcast and can hardly wait! Stay tuned to the podcast, The Genealogy Guys Blog , and our Facebook page . And don’t overlook The Genealogy Guys Blog for more exciting news, commentary, tips and methodologies, and some of our personal research and stories! The News MyHeritage added 22.7 million new records during December 2018 and instituted a new DNA upload policy. MyHeritage will be demonstrating new features and making announcements at their booth at RootsTech. They’ll also be live streaming some of their presentations. MyHeritage has announced that their webinar arm, Legacy Family Tree Webinars, will begin presenting webinars in other languages, starting with one in Spanish, “Cómo explicar los grados de relación familiar” on Feb 13, 2019. Check https://familytreewebinars.com for the schedule as it is announced. Heather Yvonne McLean of New Zealand has been awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for her services to genealogy and historical research. She has invested more than 30 years’ service transcribing tombstones. Genealogy author Nathan Dylan Goodwin has a new short story out, a prequel to one of his characters. It is called The Asylum and is available at Amazon for $.99. However, reader can visit his website at nathandylangoodwin.com for a link where they can download the story for free. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) has received a wonderful collection of the records and publications from Kinship Books with more to come. Findmypast has released parish baptisms, marriages, and burial records for Norfolk, Kent, and Middlesex, a new versio
Tue, January 15, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #356
George and Drew welcome their newest podcast sponsor, Vivid-Pix, with an interview with its CEO, Rick Voight. Rick shares his background in the photo industry, and describes his company's RESTORE photo and document restoration software . George and Drew then announce the partnership between The Genealogy Guys and Vivid-Pix as sponsors of the Unsung Heroes Awards program for individuals and organizations who scan, digitize, index, and/or transcribe photos and documents. Details about the program can be found at vivid-pix.com/unsungheroes , and nominations for the first set of awards are due by February 15, 2019.
Sun, January 13, 2019
Genealogy Connection #051 - Kenyatta Berry, Author of The Family Tree Toolkit
Kenyatta Berry returns to Genealogy Connection to discuss her new book, The Family Tree Toolkit . To learn even more about Kenyatta, also listen to Genealogy Connection #010. Questions or comments about the show? Email genealogyguys@gmail.com
Sun, January 06, 2019
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #355
The Genealogy Guys take a look back at 2018 and a look ahead at 2019.
Tue, December 25, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #354
The news includes: MyHeritage announced that its Family Tree Webinars are now closed-captioned. The book There is Something About Edgefield is an Award Finalist in the 2018 Best Books Award in the category of History-United States. We reviewed the book in Episode #339. Congratulations! Findmypast announces a trial of a revolutionary new newspaper search. They also announced records of the Cheshire Diocese of Chester Parish Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials. Scan-a-Thon, a 72-hour scanning marathon, will take place on 11-14 January 2019. For more information, contact Eowyn Langholf at eowyn@wikitree.com . FamilySearch was awarded the PRSA Silver Anvil Award for its historic Freedmen’s Bureau Project. Drew recaps the latest in FamilySearch’s new images and indexed records. The Guys describe a great evening with Kenyatta D. Berry at the John F. Germany Public Library in downtown Tampa. A review of her new book, The Family Tree Toolkit: A Comprehensive Guide to Uncovering Your Ancestry and Researching Genealogy , can be viewed on the Genealogy Guys Blog 15 December post . Listener email includes: Kudos to George on his post at the Genealogy Guys Blog titled My Parents Married Twice! on 13 December 2018 . Thomas commented on the discussion about DNA beneficiaries in Episode #352. Hugh asked questions about RootsMagic’s interface with Ancestry.com called TreeShare. Lisa had questions about managing media in Family Tree Maker for Mac. Lili is working on lineage society applications and wants to know specifically how many sources for each fact are required and/or acceptable. Roger asks about DNA testing on a lock of hair from his great-great-grandmother. Betsy is seeking resources about people who went west in the early 1860s to participate in the gold rushes there.
Mon, December 03, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #353
The news includes: MyHeritage announced Shared Ancestral Places, a new facility in its MyHeritage DNA. MyHeritage announced that artifact testing is on its way. MyHeritage held a very successful conference, MyHeritage LIVE, in Oslo, Norway, and videos of the keynote by Gilad Japhet and 23 other presentations are available for free at https://familytreewebinars.com/MHLIVE2018 . Findmypast has added 106K Pennsylvania Cemetery & Burial records, and a variety of English and Scotland military records. Findmypast has partnered with Living DNA to launch a new discovery experience with a breakdown of 80 global regions, including 21 across Britain and Ireland. FamilySearch is partnering with the Dallas Public Library to digitize the library’s extensive family history book collection. FamilySearch announced free access to more than 150 million Italian historical genealogical records. Drew summarizes the new and updated collections at FamilySearch. Drew reviews two new books: Nathan Dylan Goodwin has published a new book, Ghost Swifts, Blue Poppies, and the Red Star . It introduces a new character, Mrs. Harriett Agnes McDougall, who investigates the circumstances surrounding her son’s death during the Great War. Family Tree Books has published a new edition of Nancy Hendrickson’s book, The Unofficial Guide to Ancestry.com . The new book provides great advice for maximizing your use and searches of Ancestry.com and features new chapters about AncestryDNA. Drew explains what the recent announcement means that in rare instances a male can pass mitochondrial DNA to his offspring. Listener email includes: Susie thanks George for his recent presentations in Roswell, New Mexico, and says she has already been applying new techniques she learned in a recent research trip to Vermont. Statch thanks The Guys for a recent blog post about money used in colonial America. They remind people to read the blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com where they will find that post and recent posts about: Using a perpetual calendar School records Online library reference resources African Americans and Native Americans Hispanic resources Jewish resources Linda thanks The Guys for explaining why the Castle Garden website and Stephen Morse’s One-Step searches reveal different results. She also recommends Amy Johnson Crow’s Generations Café podcast and specifically her episode on Overlooked Things on FamilySearch. John shared his experience with searching census records for his family surname, how the enumerators butchered it, and how he used various keywords for his ancestor’s medical profession to locate misspelled and mis-in
Mon, November 19, 2018
Genealogy Connection #050 - Ari Wilkins, Speaker, Researcher, and Library Associate
Ari Wilkins is a popular speaker at genealogy conferences and a faculty member at IGHR. She is on the genealogy staff of the Dallas Public Library, and has an expertise in African-American research.
Sun, November 11, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #352
The news includes: MyHeritage recently held a very successful conference, MyHeritage LIVE, in Oslo, Norway. There were a number of announcements about their DNA testing, including a forthcoming ability to test envelopes and stamps for DNA. More details about all their announcements will be posted on The Genealogy Guys Blog . The Oklahoma Historical Society has added Dawes Commission Townsite Rolls to their collection of online databases at their website at http://www.okhistory.org/research/townsite-dawes . Drew summarizes the new and updated collections at FamilySearch. Listener email includes: Ron sends a follow-up from the Wilson-Cobb Library Genealogy Workshop at which George presented in Roswell, New Mexico. He discusses state-level veterans’ compensation records and the rich personal and genealogical information they can contain. Linda asks about records of the Castle Garden immigration processing site in New York, and wonders why she gets different results from the Castle Garden website ( http://www.castlegarden.org/ ) than from Stephen P. Morse’s One-Step search facility ( https://stevemorse.org/ ). Jennifer tells us about the Android smartphone app for listening to podcasts called Podcast Addicts. Jennifer asks for advice concerning research on her Mennonite ancestors in the Saucon, Pennsylvania, area. The Guys ask for information and suggestions from our listeners. Tom asks for online sources for Scottish Military Records. George suggests: National Records of Scotland>Research Guide>Military Records at https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/military-records . Scottish Genealogy Society links regarding Military Records at https://www.scotsgenealogy.com/Links/Military.aspx . FamilySearch Research Wiki’s article and links regarding Scotland Military Records at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Scotland_Military_Records . Hugh writes to discuss ethics and access to DNA test results, photographs, and family trees after a genealogist’s death. (Refer to Podcast Episode #342 and Blaine Bettinger’s Informed Consent Agreement and Beneficiary Agreement forms at https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2018/02/15/informed-consent-agreement-and-beneficiary-agreement/ . One listener discusses uploading DNA results to multiple sites to maximize matches and contacts. Jim shares the
Tue, October 23, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #351
The Guys celebrate the publication of their 400 th episode (of the two podcasts taken together)! George’s first article in The In-Depth Genealogist magazine ( http://theindepthgenealogist.com ) has just been published. He will be writing a column called Genealogy, by George in every issue. Podcast listeners can get a $10 discount on a subscription using the coupon code GUYS+IDGmag at http://www.theindepthgenealogist.com/subscription-form/ . Family Tree Magazine has published an e-book compilation of George’s popular Document Detective column at https://www.familytreemagazine.com/store/document-detective-ebook? . The news includes: MyHeritage has become a Presenting Partner with Eurovision for its 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. RootsTech 2019 registration has opened for the annual Salt Lake City conference on February 27-March 2, 2019 Church of Ireland records will be digitized with the award of a €100,000 government grant. 200 million records for the Netherlands are now accessible at the multi-lingual website Open Archives – http://www.openarch.nl . Fans of Nathan Dylan Goodwin can preorder his new book, Ghost Swifts, Blue Poppies and the Red Star , in Kindle version at all Amazon websites. The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) has announced the opening of the Richard E. Lackey Scholarship to support attendance at Gen-Fed 2019. Details and application are available at http://www.gen-fed.org/ . Findmypast has released new records for Welsh Parish Records, Kent Parish Records, Northumberland and Durham Burials, Middlesex Baptisms, the 939 Register, and more. Drew summarizes the new and updated collections at FamilySearch. Listener email includes: Jean writes about a Long Island library conference and the inclusion of The Guys’ books as recommended buys. Ed writes about a cousin who is beginning her search for birth parents. Brad asks for advice on getting started on preparations for his family’s upcoming 300 th anniversary, including recommendations for what software or websites to use to collaborate with relatives. Robin is looking for a free GEDCOM viewer. Kelly follows up on her earlier email about mega-trees. Nikki poses questions about: Mega-trees Ancestors in psychiatric hospitals and suicides What to expect at a local genealogical society meeting Resources for researching slave ancestors What kind of education might be pursued so she can help others with their genealogy Richard a
Mon, October 08, 2018
Genealogy Connection #049 - Angela Walton-Raji, Speaker, Writer, and Podcaster
Angela Walton-Raji is a popular genealogy speaker, writer, blogger, and podcaster, with a focus on African-American and Native American research. You can learn more about Angela and her podcast at her website, African Roots Podcast .
Mon, October 01, 2018
Genealogy Connection #048 - Lisa Alzo, Writer and Speaker
Lisa Alzo is a popular genealogy writer and speaker, and the author of the book The Family Tree Polish, Czech and Slovak Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Family Tree in Eastern Europe . You can learn more about Lisa at lisaalzo.com .
Sat, September 22, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #350
The news includes: AncestryDNA released new ethnicity estimates for all its DNA users. MyHeritage now supports uploads of 23andMe v5 and Living DNA data files. MyHeritage has partnered with British retailer WHSmith to sell DNA kits in their stores in Europe. RootsTech announces plans for an international RootsTech in London, England, 24-26 October 2019 at the ExCel London Convention Centre. David Rencher, Chief Genealogy Officer at FamilySearch, has been appointed Director of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The Federation of Genealogical Societies announces leadership changes. The Association of Professional Genealogists announces the three winners of the 2018 Young Professional Scholarships. Findmypast has released new Irish records, Wiltshire registers and records, Westmorland registers and records, Nebraska births, Electoral Registers, Jersey German Occupation Identity Cards, and Jersey German Occupation Prosecutions. Drew summarizes the new and updated collections at FamilySearch. As follow-up to the discussion about organizing browser bookmarks on Episode #345, George announces publication of his article, "Use Bookmarks to Cluster Your Resources", in the September 2018 issue of the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly . Listener email includes: Julienne wrote to express how much she enjoyed Drew’s interview of Amy Johnson Crow (Genealogy Connection episode #46). Linda replied to Kelly (Episode #349) on the subject of why someone would have a massive online family tree. She explains her extensive research of family from the 1600s and the links she has made to build and successfully research her lines. Teresa asks about genealogy software programs, Family Tree Maker and RootsMagic. Hugh discusses finding vintage photos and secondhand postcards at flea markets and other venues. Judy provides two very important tips for researchers: Don’t assume the ethnicity of people who settled an area as you might miss excellent documentary sources. The Library of Virginia has made indices and images of Chancery Court records for many counties available online at http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/ . Laura wrote to describe the “mess” she found as a result of DNA testing, particularly with people whose fathers were revealed as not their fathers. She asks about the ethical issues involved with revealing such findings. Listeners are encouraged to share their opinions and experiences.
Sat, September 08, 2018
Genealogy Connection #047 - Diahan Southard, DNA Expert, Speaker, and Writer
Diahan Southard is a very popular speaker and writer on the topic of DNA testing. Learn more about Diahan at her website Your DNA Guide .
Fri, August 24, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #349
The Guys ask that you visit iTunes and leave a review for The Genealogy Guys Podcast. This will help support our efforts that have been going on for nearly 13 years, making us the longest-running genealogy podcast. The news includes: The In-Depth Genealogist ( http://theindepthgenealogist.com/ ) announces that George G. Morgan has joined its writing team. MyHeritage will host MyHeritage Live, an international conference in Oslo, Norway, on 2-4 November 2018. Full details about the event are at https://live2018.myheritage.com/ . FamilySearch has released an expanded, indexed collection of the Ellis Island Immigrant Records 1820-1957. The records are accessible at their website and at the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation site. Listener email includes: Two of our listeners named Jim shared news that a new genealogical mystery by Steve Robinson in the Jefferson Tayte series, Letters from the Dead , has been published. Andrew asks about when to trust other people’s family trees. Kelly asks how reliable the mega-trees are on Ancestry. One listener shared a link to the NARA publication, Prologue , and an article about “The WPA Census Soundexing Projects” at https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2002/spring/soundex-projects.html#.W3M8iKEKBg0.email . Pat had questions about the prefix numbers on US naturalization certificates. George provided a referral to the USCIS website and their page titled Certificate Number Series at https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/genealogy/certificate-series-numbers . Kathleen shared that Texas residents can obtain a free library card from the Houston Public Library that will provide remote access to many online databases, including genealogical ones.
Mon, August 13, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #348
The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com has published many new articles since the last podcast. Expand your experiences with our postings there. The news includes: A new Laura G. Prescott Scholarship has been announced for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). Donations are being accepted now. Full details can be found on our blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/2018/07/salt-lake-institute-of-genealogy-hosts.html . Construction of the International African-American Museum (IAAM) will begin in 2019 in Charleston, South Carolina, after a new $11M pledge was received. Join The Genealogy Guys, C. Ann Staley, and Blaine Bettinger on a Caribbean genealogy cruise in February. Sponsored by the Villages Genealogical Society, full details are available at https://vgsfl.org/cpage.php?pt=167 . MyHeritage has released a new and extensive filtering system for DNA Matches. MyHeritage has opened registration for its “MyHeritage LIVE” International Users Conference, to be held 2-4 November 2018 in Oslo, Norway. Full details and registration can be found at https://live2018.myheritage.com/ . Findmypast and Living DNA have announced a partnership for DNA testing for ancestral origins in England and Ireland. Findmypast has released new records for Lancashire, England; Queensland, Australia; and extensive Scotland marriages, testaments, and apprentices. FamilySearch has added 29 million Netherlands records. Drew shares highlights of many new and expanded FamilySearch collections. Listener email includes: Linda reminds listeners that there is a wealth of excellent genealogy information in our podcasts going back all the way to the beginning. Marc McDermott shares a great resource from his Genealogy Explained website. It’s titled, “Do Siblings Have the Same DNA” and can be found at https://www.genealogyexplained.com/dna-testing/do-siblings-have-same-dna/ . John asked which blog reader The Guys use, and the answer is Feedly at https://feedly.com . The basic plan is free. Katherine tells us that she uses NetVibes at https://www.netvibes.com/ as her blog reader. Juliet in the UK thanks us for the podcasts, and especially Drew’s discussion of setting goals to focus research. Drew is also posting articles on this topic at the blog. Linda shared a great resource for learning how to read old Scottish documents at ScottishHandwriting.com ( http://www.s
Mon, July 30, 2018
Genealogy Connection #046 - Amy Johnson Crow, Speaker and Blogger
Amy Johnson Crow is a popular speaker and blogger on a wide variety of genealogical topics. Learn more about Amy at her website amyjohnsoncrow.com
Mon, July 23, 2018
Genealogy Connection #045 - Randy Whited, Speaker and Volunteer
Randy Whited is a popular genealogy speaker on such topics as DNA and technology, as well as genealogy society management. He is the current president of the Texas State Genealogical Society.
Mon, July 16, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #347
The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com has published many new articles since the last podcast. The news includes: The Society of Genealogists in London ( http://www.sog.org.uk ) has accorded to Cyndi Ingle the prestigious Prince Michael Of Kent Award for services to genealogy for many years of dedication with Cyndi’s List ( https://www.cyndislist.com ). Blaine Bettinger has announced that DNA Central (www.DNA-Central.com), the world’s first and largest membership website dedicated entirely to DNA and genetic genealogy education, has issued a request for webinar proposals for its 2018-2019 webinar schedule. Findmypast has released new Berkshire registers and records, Scotland Jacobite Histories, and 109K additions to the Greater London Burial Index. Drew shares highlights of new and expanded FamilySearch collections. Listener email includes: In response to the topic of the slave bill of sale discussed in Episode #346, we obtained permission to post the document images. We received several listener and reader comments almost immediately: Sharon advises us that the images are actually two separate documents: the bill of sale for the slave named Jack, and one page from the estate inventory of Major Joseph Ryan. Jerry suggested using ArchiveGrid and its Beta site at https://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid . Laura suggested checking the North Carolina State Library, beginning with its LibGuide at http://statelibrary.ncdcr.libguides.com/c.php?g=151276 . Laura asks for advice about how to enter data on transgender family members since their gender and name changes. Nick discussed the Family Historian program and alternatives. Linda is a longtime genealogist and is feeling overwhelmed with many new areas and features of genealogy. Drew provides some methods for becoming savvier over time and setting goals for yourself. Steve writes about locating World War II Draft Cards for the younger men’s draft at FamilySearch. Debra Dudek has written a book, World War I Genealogy Research Guide , and is sending a copy for The Guys to review. Stay tuned for this and other reviews! The Guys discuss the importance of setting research goals to avoid getting distracted by the BSOs (Bright Shiny Objects) or going down the genealogy rabbit hole. There are some great ideas for you, and Drew has posted about Goals at The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com . Let us hear your best ways to set goals and focus your research.
Wed, July 04, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #346
The news includes: MyHeritage has launched a new filtering system for DNA matches, making it easy to view subsets that match the criteria you enter. MyHeritage has opened a European distribution center for DNA kits to meet the high demand in the region, and it will expedite both delivery of kits to users and will aggregate and accelerate shipments to the processing lab in the U.S. MyHeritage has expanded its pro bono DNA Quest to include an additional 5,000 kits to help reunite separated migrant children in the U.S. with their parents. The New England Historic Genealogical Society announced the release of its new database, Mayflower Families Fifth Generation Descendants, 1700-1880 , at their AmericanAncestrors.com website. Findmypast has released new Canada Obituaries, and Wiltshire Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials collections. Drew shares highlights of new and expanded FamilySearch collections. Listener email includes: Bill tells Drew that his book Organize Your Genealogy has shot down all his excuses for not making great progress. Lawrence asks for suggestions about tracing his 2X great-grandfather, John William Jeffery, who is a brick wall. The Guys provide a number of suggestions. George has a new article in the July/August issued of Your Genealogy Today Magazine titled “Circular Genealogy” that might also give Lawrence and other researchers some help with brick walls. Kathy applauds Drew’s response in Episode #344 to Mike’s email about Resistance Genealogy. Kathy sent a slave bill of sale and estate inventory that a friend found and asks about where the documents might be donated. The Guys discuss the launch of their new Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/ . They talk about the reasons for publishing the blog and the kinds of information that are being included there. George highlights some topics recently posted, and The Guys talk about how their own research strategies will be published as examples of methods. Drew then discusses how to access and subscribe to the Genealogy Guys Blog and others using Feedly. Feedly ( https://feedly.com/ ) is a news aggregator application for various web browsers and mobile devices running iOS and Android, also available as a cloud-based service. It allows you to subscribe to blogs and then to easily access and read them. The Guys remind everyone that The Villages Genealogical Society is hosting a genealogy cruise in the Caribbean from February 2 nd to 9 th , and there are details at https://vgsfl.org/cpage.php?pt=167 . The Guys will be speakers along with Blaine Bettinger and Ann Staley. It promises to be a great time combining a winter getaway
Thu, June 14, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #345
The news includes: MyHeritage announced the addition in May of another 1 billion records, bringing the total to over 9 billion records. They just added 11 new collections with another 9.8 million records. MyHeritage has moved the Pedigree View of family trees from View Only Mode to full Edit Mode, allowing the addition, deletion, and editing of records while viewing the tree. Findmypast has added Chicago Roman Catholic baptisms, marriages, and burial records, as well as parish records. New Irish National School Registers have also been added. Drew shares highlights of new and expanded FamilySearch collections. Drew discusses the recent security hack of MyHeritage user email addresses and hashed (encrypted) passwords. In addition, he discusses MyHeritage’s release of its new Two-Factor Authentication facility, which provides stronger security if you choose to use it. Listener email includes: Judy asks about Mindy Jacox’s Online research log. Barbara tells us about libraries’ use of RBDigital’s service that provides library patrons with free access to magazine titles. George reminds everyone that public libraries provide online access to people with library cards to databases, newspapers, magazines, and digital collections with a simple login. Ralph wants to know more about the New York records that are being focused on by Reclaim the Records ( reclaimtherecords.org ). Margie discusses Drew’s interview with Tim Pinnick and his mention of Roslyn, Washington. She talks about the many diverse cemeteries there and its historical past. Jim provides insights into Kristopher’s search for ancestors in Poland (Episode 341) and suggests some excellent free resources at JewishGen ( jewishgen.org ). The Guys extensively discuss how to get the most out of bookmarks in your browser. George discusses how to organize bookmarks, and the fact that you can bookmark more than just webpages. Drew provides some insights from his experience.
Tue, June 05, 2018
Genealogy Connection #044 - Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, Speaker
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen is a popular speaker at national and state conferences and in webinars. Her numerous speaking topics include those about Southern U.S. research. You can find out more about her expertise at https://misspeggy55.weebly.com/
Tue, May 29, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #344
The news includes: The New England Historic Genealogical Society and the Ontario [Canada] Genealogical Society have announced a collaboration of membership and other services. Findmypast has updated its 1939 Register collection with 64K newly opened records. It also announced it will begin publishing Kent County Original Parish Registers later this year. Drew shares highlights of expanded FamilySearch collections. The Guys discuss the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) issued by the European Union (EU). These affect privacy of personal information. Learn what impact GDPR has on genealogists, and why you are being inundated with emails about new privacy rules. Listener email includes: Corrine expresses thanks for the announcement about the new book, Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards , edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills. Mike writes to ask about #resistancegenealogy. Margaret shares her experiences working with the Library of Congress Digital Collections. Matt writes a follow-up to his question in Episode #340 about his DNA ethnicity reporting. Tom writes about his research into the ancestry of his WWI ancestors. He shares several helpful resources he used as alternatives to the service records destroyed/damaged in the fire at the National Personnel Records Center on 12 July 1973.
Mon, May 21, 2018
Genealogy Connection #043 - Timothy Pinnick, Speaker, Writer, and Bookseller
Timothy Pinnick is a popular speaker at genealogy conferences as well as a noted author. His company History and Genealogy Spotlight specializes in African-American history and genealogy books. You can find out more about Tim's books and other activities at www.blackcoalminerheritage.net
Mon, May 14, 2018
The Genealogy Guys #343
The news includes: MyHeritage announced release of a Pedigree View mode for MyHeritage family trees. MyHeritage added 27 million new historical records in March. They also have added Inbox and Scanner features to their mobile app. Parabon NanoLabs announced the general availability of its Snapshot Genetic Genealogy Service, which provides investigators with a new tool for solving crimes with evidence from an unknown DNA source. (See https://snapshot.parabon-nanolabs.com ) for additional information. CeCe Moore is leading this new unit. Findmypast has added Scots-Irish in North America Histories, Surrey Baptisms, more Yorkshire Burials, and new images and articles in PERSI. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society has begun work on a guide to New York State Archives. It is expected to be released in 2019. FamilySearch has added its 2 billionth image of genealogy records. A new book, Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards , edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills, with 26 chapters written by 22 experts, has just been published by Genealogical Publishing Company. George reviews the latest book by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, author of the Forensic Genealogist crime mysteries. It consists of two publications. The Wicked Trade is a book about smuggling on the coast of southeastern England in the 1820s and an investigation into a woman associated with smugglers. The Suffagette’s Secret is a novella about the British women’s suffrage movement in the early 1900s and about the women who made it happen. Both works are based on well-researched, historically accurate events, and include composite characters investigated by Morton Farrier, the Forensic Genealogist. George gives an enthusiastic thumbs-up to these installments in Goodwin’s impressive series. Listener email includes: Joseph writes about the reenactment of the wedding at Pennsbury Manor, William Penn’s home. Tom wrote again to review his work with Tropy at https://tropy.org/ , the document management tool Tom asks for suggestions about equipment/hardware for capturing digital oral interviews. Mahlon Erickson wrote with an update of his Pre-1920 Oklahoma Death Index, which now contains over 650,000 entries. Larry wrote to discuss the AncestryDNA testing service and issues about access to family trees for non-subscribers.
Mon, April 30, 2018
Genealogy Connection #042 - Brooke Schreier Ganz, Founder and President of Reclaim the Records
Brooke Schreier Ganz is the founder and president of Reclaim the Records, a not-for-profit group dedicated to obtaining access to important genealogical records held by state and local government agencies under the relevant state freedom of information laws. Learn more about Brooke and Reclaim the Records by visiting www.reclaimtherecords.org
Mon, April 23, 2018
The Genealogy Guys #342
The news includes: MyHeritage announced the expansion of DNA Quest, its pro bono initiative to help adoptees and their birth families through genetic testing. DNA Quest is extended worldwide, with the deadline for applications being received through the end of April. Learn more at http://dnaquest.org . Ancestry has announced that Margo Georgiadis, formerly of Mattel, will become its new CEO on 10 May 2018. Findmypast has added a new collection, the England & Wales Electoral Registers 1920. They have also begun beta testing of their new world FindMyPast family tree. See https://www.findmypast.co.uk/worldtree for more details. Drew shares updates from FamilySearch. The Guys share some interviews with attendees at the 2018 Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, held in Columbus, Ohio, on 11-14 April 2018. Actionable Information You Can Use : Your new challenge is to spend one hour going through the Library of Congress Digital Collections at https://www.loc.gov/collections/ to locate items that can help you put your ancestral family into historical context. Send your interesting finds to The Guys at genealogyguys@gmail.com . Listener email includes: Ed writes about using JewishGen ( https://www.jewishgen.org/ ) as a resource for locating Russian villages, especially prior to WWII. Barb shares an important story about her father’s AncestryDNA testing, his death, and how she obtained ownership of his DNA test materials and results. The Guys also share information about Blaine Bettinger’s Informed Consent Agreement and Beneficiary Agreement forms at https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2018/02/15/informed-consent-agreement-and-beneficiary-agreement/ .
Mon, April 09, 2018
Genealogy Connection #041 - James M. Beidler, Speaker and Writer
James M. Beidler speaks and writes on a number of genealogy topics, with a focus on German and Pennsylvania research. He is the author of several genealogy books, including his newest book about historical newspaper research. To learn more about Jim, visit his website at http://jamesmbeidler.com/
Mon, April 02, 2018
The Genealogy Guys #341
The news includes: RootsMagic releases Personal Historian 3. MyHeritage added 27.1 million historical records to SuperSearch in March, bringing the total to 8.96 billion. MyHeritage adds a new Pedigree View feature for family trees. MyHeritage has made improvements to its new One-to-Many Chromosome Browser. Two new features have been added to the MyHeritage mobile app: Inbox and Scanner. MyHeritage announced customer support 24/7 by both phone and online. Findmypast announced the release of Ireland Tontines Annuities, 1766-1788, Church of Ireland Histories & Reference Guides, Armagh Records & Registers, Antrim Histories & Reference Guides, and Dublin Registers & Records. Drew shares updates from FamilySearch. Listener email includes: Peggy shares information about Book Collector by CLZ at collectorz.com . Ryan shares information about a free open-source tool called Tropy at https://tropy.org/ . It allows you to organize and describe photographs of research material. The Guys seek feedback from listeners. Richard reports in a follow-up on his grandmother’s mysterious first cousin and all the subsequent research paths he has taken. Kristopher shares his research in New Jersey about his grandparents, and how he has pieced together research in a number of interesting records. Actionable Information You Can Use George debunks the myth that Irish census records were all lost. He presents information about the availability of digitized Irish Census records. The National Archives of Ireland at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/ is a resource for surviving census records. MyHeritage provides access to the 1901 and 1911 census records. FamilySearch provide searchable images from the fragments of the 1821-1851 census records. George discusses what is available on the 1901 census forms. Drew reviews Alistair Moffat’s book, Britain: A Genetic Journey . Drew also discusses GEDmatch, how to upload data, and the new Genesis facility at https://genesis.gedmatch.com that allows upload of all the testing services’ results. You can help The Guys spread the word about our two podcasts: Tell your friends and genealogy society members about us. Leave a review at iTunes. Leave comments everywhere you find or listen to the podcasts. You can help support The Guys with your contributions at Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys .
Sun, March 25, 2018
Genealogy Connection #040 - Stacey Adger, OGS Officer
Stacey Adger is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Genealogical Society, and the OGS Publicity Chair. You can follow Stacey on Twitter at @adger_stacey
Mon, March 19, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #340 - 2018 March 16
The news includes: MyHeritage announced a new pro bono initiative to reunite adoptees with their birth families. Learn more, see eligibility requirements, and apply at https://www.dnaquest.org . MyHeritage has upgraded its new chromosome browser’s capabilities to include one-to-many matches. The Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Student Grant Committee is now accepting applications for its annual $500 grant and full registration to the 2018 Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree. Application deadline is midnight PDT on 10 April 2018. Details and an application can be found at https://thefamilycurator.com/swfgrant/ . Living DNA previewed its Family Networks platform, a new DNA matching service, at RootsTech, and it will be available to consumers later this year. Findmypast announced the release of their new Ireland Civil Birth Registration Index and Ireland Civil Marriage Registration Index, the first phase of a collection that will grow throughout 2018. Drew shares his review and insights of RootsTech 2018. Listener email includes: Natonne Elaine Kemp, co-author of There Is Something About Edgefield , thanks Drew for his book review, and was “stunned” to learn that Drew’s 2 nd great-grandfather was mentioned in the book. Gail comments about sound quality on the Genealogy Connection Marjorie inquires about the possibility of transcriptions of our podcasts. Tom asks about an app or program to record books, magazines, and articles in your personal library. George and Drew describe LibraryThing in detail. Matt is confounded by differences in his DNA ethnicity estimate and those of his parents. Liza shares a surprise in DNA results in her husband’s test that indicates a paternity issue. She asks for guidance in how to approach this news, both with her father-in-law and with the person with whom there was a match. D. A. responded to the listener’s question about copying information received in Facebook Messenger. George reminds listeners that the incentive premium for listener support at Patreon at www.patreon.com/genealogyguys is still available!
Tue, March 13, 2018
Genealogy Connection #039 - Polly FitzGerald Kimmitt, Researcher
Polly FitzGerald Kimmitt is a nationally recognized researcher with special expertise in New England and a focus on helping clients with membership in lineage societies. She is also known for her work with repatriation of military remains. Learn more about Polly at www.kimmittgenealogy.com
Sat, February 24, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #339 - 2018 February 22
The news includes: MyHeritage has recently released a new component of its DNA section: Ethnicities Around the World. MyHeritage announces an exclusive offer to Family Tree DNA customers who are not yet MyHeritage subscribers: a 50% discount on the MyHeritage Complete Plan for $125 per year, with a Price-Lock Guarantee for as long as you keep your subscription. The Utah Business Magazine has recognized Legacy Tree Genealogists president, Jessica Taylor, with its prestigious Forty Under 40 Award. The Utah Genealogical Association (UGA) honors Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FUGA, FMGS, with the Award of Merit. The Genealogical Institute on Federal Research Alumni Association has announced the recipient of the Richard S. Lackey Scholarship for 2018, Linda MacIver of Boston, Massachusetts. Findmypast has added resources to its Suffragette Collection, and new records for its Devon Baptisms, Banns, Marriages, and Burials and for its Yorkshire Banns, Marriages, and Burials collections. The National Genealogical Society (NGS) has named Alison Hare, CG, and Nancy A. Peters, CG, as co-editors of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ) , effective with the March 2019 issue. They succeed retiring editors Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA, and Melinde Lutz Byrne, CG, FASG. Drew shares updates from FamilySearch’s recent records additions. George reviews a new book, Manorial Records for Family Historians , by Geoffrey Barker. (St. Agnes, South Australia: Unlock the Past Publications, 2017) http://www.unlockthepast.com.au/unlock-past-publications Drew reviews a new book, There Is Something About Edgefield: Shining a Light on the Black Community through History, Genealogy & Genetic DNA by Edna Gail Bush and Natonne Elaine Kemp. (Takoma Park, MD: Rocky Pond Press, 2017) Listener email includes: Ricky writes to inquire about MyHeritage.com’s content offerings as compared to those of Ancestry.com. Drew responds to emails from Cassandra and Wendy concerning his interview with Angie Bush (Genealogy Connection #36). He first described the DNA Painter tool by Johnny Perl (based on Blaine Bettinger’s work) at http://dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcmv4 . The tool allows you to enter the shared centiMorgan value from a DNA match and calculates possible relationships. He also clarifies that MyHeritage DNA does provide a notes field, but that this wasn't available when he interviewed Angie Bush. Drew responds to Molly who asked about Angie’s comments about a DNA cluster worksheet. Angie responds that the worksheet is an internal company worksheet document. Drew asks listeners to share any information about a similar tool that they might know of. Jenny asks for suggesti
Mon, February 12, 2018
Genealogy Connection #038 - Eric Wells, Education Coordinator for The NextGen Genealogy Network
Eric Wells is the Education Coordinator for The NextGen Genealogy Network, and regularly does live interviews with noted genealogists. You can find out more about Eric here .
Tue, February 06, 2018
Genealogy Connection #037 - Michael J. Leclerc, Speaker, Writer, and Researcher
Michael J. Leclerc is an internationally known genealogy speaker, writer, and researcher, with specialties in New England and French Canadian research. To learn more about Michael, visit mjleclerc.com .
Tue, January 30, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #338 - 2018 January 28
The Guys announce an incentive for listener support at Patreon at www.patreon.com/genealogyguys . The news includes: MyHeritage has recently added or updated a vast number of collections including U.S. Yearbooks, Newspapers from Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, Sweden, Germany, and Palestine. ScotlandsPeople has added more than 233,000 new statutory images, and improvements to their ‘Name Variants’ search facility. Legacy Tree Genealogists will be a sponsor for the DNA Innovation Contest at RootsTech. Findmypast has added records from the island of Jersey, Hertfordshire, the New Jersey Birth Index (1901-1903), and new British newspaper titles. The World War II Research and Writing Center announced the publication of four new World War II Quick Guides by Jennifer Holik, available for Kindle at Amazon. Details at http://wwiiresearchandwritingcenter.com/portfolio/kindle-quick-guides/ . Newspapers.com has added newspapers for Tampa Bay in Florida, available in their enhanced subscription. The New England Historic Genealogical Society honored Boston historian and author William M. Fowler, Jr., with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Drew shares a press release from FamilySearch detailing what’s coming in 2018. Drew shares updates from FamilySearch’s recent records additions. Drew reviews a new book, The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy , 4th edition, by Val D. Greenwood. (Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 2017) Listener email includes: The Guys provide suggestions to Mark for finding episodes of the podcasts specifically about countries, states, record types, etc., using the Search facility at our website. Gloria Christine discusses how she navigates past the scarcity of available records for New Jersey. Jerry shares the story of his maternal grandparents, and why they had to be married a second time for the records. Drew addresses the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in response to Jerry’s comment about historical context in this story. Christine came across a great page at the Waukesha County Wisconsin Genealogy website at http://www.linkstothepast.com/waukesha/defn.php . It includes: Common Foreign Words on Tombstones compared in English, Bohemian, Bohemian dialect, German, French, and Welsh; an example of information in a Czech birth record translated into English; information about the Woodmen of America; and a list for Understanding the Art and Symbols on Tombstones. Matthew discusses his search for the father of his great-grandfather, the absence of documentary records, and how he has been working with DNA to help solve the brick wall problem.
Mon, January 22, 2018
Genealogy Connection #036 - Angie Bush, Genetic Genealogist
Angie Bush is a Utah-based genetic genealogist and a popular speaker at national genealogy conferences on DNA topics. Learn more about Angie at her APG profile . Note: At the time the interview was recorded, MyHeritage did not yet have the feature of adding notes to your DNA matches. That is now an option.
Thu, January 18, 2018
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #337 - 2018 January 15
The news includes: The Guys are pleased to welcome Legacy Tree Genealogists (www.legacytree.com) as a new sponsor for both The Genealogy Guys Podcast and the Genealogy Connection podcast. Ancestry.com's RootsWeb site has had an exposure to its IDs and passwords, so Ancestry has shut the site down while working to enhance security there and to contact RootsWeb users to change passwords. MyHeritage recently released surveys to explore how genetics impacts various aspects of their lives. MyHeritage has made major updates and improvements to their DNA Matching. They also have added an initial release of the long-requested chromosome browser. The U.S. Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland, recently discovered 46 long-forgotten flags underneath captured British flags from the War of 1812 in display cases. The new flags date from other conflicts, and most have not been seen for almost 100 years. The Britain, Ireland and the Isles Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists has launched new social media channels, including at YouTube. Findmypast has released several extensive collections of data from South Carolina. Drew shares updates from FamilySearch’s recent records additions. The Guys talk about new publications of interest: Moorshead Magazines has released a new guide in their Tracing Your Ancestors Series titled “DNA and Your Ancestry”, written by Dr. Maurice Gleeson, MB. It’s available at https://your-genealogy-history-store-usa.myshopify.com/collections/tracing-your-ancestors-series . Mystery Author Dan Waddell has a new short story in his Blood series titled “Blood Underground”, available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at Amazon.com. Nathan Dylan Goodwin, author of the Forensic Genealogist book series has just finished writing a new book, The Wicked Trade. . It should be available soon. And Nathan will be at RootsTech. Listener email includes: Tom asks about DNA analysis and how to create a process that identifies known relationships or matches from AncestryDNA. Dave asks about adoption and kinds of evidence that can be used to document it. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library has ended interlibrary loans of their microfilmed newspaper collection. Jim poses questions concerning autosomal DNA matches, estimated cousin relationships, and ranges of centiMorgan matches with different relationships.
Tue, January 09, 2018
Genealogy Connection #035 - Ed Thompson, Creator of Evidentia Software
Ed Thompson is the technologist behind Evidentia Software. Learn more about Ed and his software at evidentiasoftware.com .
Fri, December 29, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #336 - 2017 December 27
The news includes: MyHeritage has added 90 million new New York Ellis Island and Other New York Passenger Lists (1820-1954). MyHeritage has added a new feature, Do-It-Yourself Historical Record Fixes, in its SuperSearch facililty. Findmypast has added a new collection for tracing immigrants from the British Isles. They have also added records from Kent, and updates to the U.S. Marriages collection and additions to PERSI. Drew shares updates from FamilySearch’s recent records additions. Listener email includes: Tom shares his saga of obtaining copies of passport applications and photographs, and the rich details they contained. Neal asks about formats of genealogy charts to represent the family in a graphical way. Judy wants FamilySearch to add a priority to the digitization of microfilmed land and property records. She has had great success in locating genealogical data in these documents. Neal wants advice on how to record/represent foster children in his family tree for children who probably were not adopted. Chris shares his organizational methods for paper documents and scanned items, and he uses Evernote to great advantage. Jim shared a story from Omaha, Nebraska, about a man who used his DNA test results to find a brother he had never met.
Wed, December 20, 2017
Genealogy Connection #034 - Henrietta Martinez Christmas, New Mexican researcher, writer, and speaker
Henrietta Martinez Christmas is a native New Mexican who has been doing research in her part of the country for decades. Read what she's written about New Mexican research at http://1598nm.blogspot.com/ .
Tue, December 05, 2017
Genealogy Connection #033 - Daniel Horowitz, MyHeritage Genealogy Expert
Daniel Horowitz is a Genealogy Expert for MyHeritage. To learn more about Daniel, visit searchingformyroots.com .
Wed, November 29, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #335 - 2017 November 26
The news includes: MyHeritage adds a collection of New York newspapers (1806-2007) to its SuperSearch facility, and New York City Marriage License Index (1908-1929). Ancestry has made a change to the Privacy Settings for its DNA product enabling people to not see who they match. Evidentia has added a new Evidence Summary Report in a table format. The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) announced their new officers, board, and committee members. The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHJGS) has launched an online gallery of Pilgrim Descendants at http://mayflower.americanancestors.org . Ancestry and NEHGS announced that they have partnered in a Historic Catholic Records Project. It will digitize Massachusetts Catholic records from the late 1700s to the early 1900s. The Federation of Genealogical Societies has announced that the Preserve the Pensions Project has resumed with digitization and indexing of War of 1812 pensions at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). New records will begin to be added to Fold3.com for free access. NARA has announced the digitization of over 100 Confederate Maps in Record Group (RG) 109, available for download through their online catalog. Findmypast announced a two-year project to digitize materials from the Trinity Mirror Archive. Findmypast announced plans to publish the Cincinnati and Chicago Sacramental Registers online, beginning in 2018. Findmypast has added English Roman Catholic Parish browseable images for the Archdiocese of Westminster Drew shares updates from FamilySearch’s recent records additions. Listener email includes: David asked for guidance to access Dawes Rolls and other Native American records. George recommended: an Ancestry Academy webinar by Paula Stuart-Warren; a Legacy Family Tree Webinar by Angela Walton-Raji; and Angela Walton-Raji’s “The African-Native American Genealogy Blog at http://african-nativeamerican.blogspot.com . Brandon provided an update to his research for his great-great-grandfather. While he could not locate the probate records, he discovered court records about his ancestor’s insanity and institutional commitment. Margaret asked about American citizens coming through Ellis Island. Sam shares a great story about his successful use of DNA to solve a mystery about the birth parents of an adoptee.
Wed, November 15, 2017
Genealogy Connection #032 - Kathy Meade, Researcher
Kathy Meade is an expert in Swedish genealogical research, and North American representative for online subscription service ArkivDigital. Read more about Kathy and the company she represents at http://blog.arkivdigital.net/tag/kathy-meade/
Tue, November 07, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #334 - 2017 November 5
The news includes: MyHeritage adds a significant collection of New York immigration records (1820-1957) with unique content and using its SuperSearch technology to search the never before indexed data. MyHeritage has made a significant update to its mobile app. Find A Grave will be updating its website with a new interface that improves searching and makes it an effective tool for all mobile devices. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society led an impressive effort to halt New York’s intended stringent limits to birth and death records. They presented a large petition at a hearing on 24 October 2017, and the hearing was attended by a large group who presented arguments against the proposal. The General Register Office in England has launched a pilot program that facilitates researchers ordering BMD records for England and Wales and receive them electronically in PDF files. Findmypast has added records to the Greater London Burial Index, Kent Archdeaconry baptisms, banns, marriages, and burials, some new newspapers, and Britain Registers of Licenses to Pass Beyond the Seas (1573-1677). Drew shares updates from FamilySearch’s recent records additions. Listener email includes: Ryan asks whether to record the people’s events in his database using the locations as they existed at the time or the current location. Christine asked about the availability of the to-go feature in the Mac version of the RootsMagic software. Donna has acquired an album with photographs and other memorabilia for a Jewish family who lived in New York City and Newark, New Jersey, and some who migrated to Detroit, Michigan. She asks for suggestions for an appropriate repository where these materials can be placed. Margie references the Genealogy Connection interview with Laura Prescott, and reminds us that The Source and Ancestry’s Red Book are both available in full-text versions at the Ancestry.com Wiki. Missi in Maine has been listening to older episodes, and she notes that the Frappr website no longer exists. Dawn asks whether she should combine several large family trees into a single tree, and suggestions for the best method. She uses Family Tree Maker software. Laurie asks The Guys to include more content concerning beginning DNA research.
Mon, October 16, 2017
Genealogy Connection #031 - Denise Levenick, Speaker and Writer
Denise Levenick, the Family Curator, is a speaker and writer known for her expertise in preserving family artifacts. Learn more about Denise at http://thefamilycurator.com/ .
Thu, October 05, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #333 - 2017 October 3
The news includes: MyHeritage introduces its new DNA Match Review Page. MyHeritage has recently released more than 14 million Australian birth, baptismal, marriage, burial, and death records from the state of Victoria (1836-1942). MyHeritage has redesigned the Help Center at its website and added more than 750 up-to-date help articles and expanded the content. RootsMagic announces a new software update. It also announced that the application now works under the new macOS High Sierra operating system. RootsMagic reminds users that there are both a video tutorial and a written user reference to help you master the new TreeShare for Ancestry feature. Evidentia released an update, version 3.1.5. They have added a new Direct Line (Lineage) Tracker allowing you to record links in a new way. It’s perfect for your work applying for membership to lineage and heritage societies. Evidentia has also added a new advanced feature that supports Custom Style Sheets for reports. Ancestry’s CEO Tim Sullivan has stepped down and becomes Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors effective 1 October 2017. Howard Hochhauser, the company’s CFO, will assume the interim role of CEO as the company conducts a search for a permanent replacement. Findmypast has appointed Tamsin Todd as its new CEO. She takes over from interim CEO Jay Verkler and brings an impressive CV to the position. Sue Tolbert, the Executive Director of the Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee, Oklahoma, is stepping down after having reorganized the museum, added a wealth of new historical holdings, developed educational programs and annual cultural events, and expanded the museum’s presence in the region. She is succeeded by Amy Bradshaw, who brings her impressive background experience with several museums in Oklahoma and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Association of Professional Genealogists just concluded its annual Professional Management Conference in the Washington, DC, area. Two important awards were made: Meryl Schumacker of Minnesota was the winner of the APG Young Professional Scholarship. APG has established the Laura G. Prescott Award for Exemplary Service to Professional Genealogy. Laura was the first recipient of this new annual award. The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (GEN-FED) has announced that the 2018 Institute will be held July 16-20. Online registration will be held on 24 February 2018 at its website at http://www.gen-fed.org . You can also sign up for email announcements at http://www.gen-fed.org/gen-fed-2018 . RootsTech 2018 has been expanded to four days, 28 February through 3 March, and it will introduce a new Innovation Showcase. Findmypast has added baptisms, marriages, burials, and wills for Lanca
Mon, September 18, 2017
Genealogy Connection #030 - Michelle Chubenko, Researcher
Michelle Chubenko is a professional researcher specializing in Central and Eastern Europe, but who also has experience with Southern and New Jersey research. Learn more about Michelle at http://www.jerseyrootsgenealogy.com/
Mon, September 11, 2017
Genealogy Connection #029 - Mindy Jacox, Award/Scholarship Winner
Mindy Jacox is a recent graduate of the BYU family history degree program, and the winner of this year's Suzanne Winsor Freeman Student Genealogy Grant. Learn more about Mindy at https://mindyjacox.com
Wed, September 06, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #332 - 2017 September 4
The news includes: MyHeritage announces its newest DNA feature: the DNA Match Review Page. RootsMagic announces a new software updates. Apps for iOS and Android have also been released. RootsMagic reminds users that there are a video and written resources to help you master the new TreeShare for Ancestry. There also is a huge Facebook RootsMagic group to share experiences and answer questions. The British Newspaper Archive announces a major milestone with the addition of a newspaper title from County Leitrim in Ireland, marking the fact that all 32 Irish counties are now represented in the online collection. Findmypast has added Oxfordshire marriage bonds, New Zealand birth, marriage, and death index records additions, the 1851 Canada Census, and additions to the Wiltshire Baptisms Index, and more. WikiTree is opening registration for the second annual Source-a-Thon from 30 September to 2 October 2017 with a large set of random prizes to be awarded. FamilySearch extended its microfilm distribution to 7 September 2017. Drew shares updates from FamilySearch’s recent records additions. Listener email includes: Jenny asks about copyright law governing the use of images from online sites in a new blog she has begun. Margaret wrote to volunteer some materials that she as a librarian has developed to teach genealogy classes to patrons. Neil wrote again about his research of his Clark ancestors. The Guys discuss George’s recent presentation, “Laying Out Clues in Funeral Home Records.”
Mon, August 28, 2017
Genealogy Connection #028 - Caroline Gurney, Research and Speaker
Caroline Gurney is a professional researcher who specializes in British research, as well as research into house histories. She is also known for her work in researching the descendants of the crew of the Cutty Sark . Learn more about Caroline at http://www.carolinegurney.com/
Sun, August 20, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #331 - 2017 August 19
The news includes: MyHeritage has surpassed 8 Billion Records on its Supersearch, My Heritage has acquired Millennia Corporation, producers of Legacy Family Tree desktop genealogy software and the Legacy Family Tree Webinar platform. Evidentia is offering a $5 off coupon to everyone who orders the software through the end of August. Visit the Store, select the version of the software you want, and use the coupon code mentioned in the episode when you check out to obtain the $5 savings. The Federation of Genealogical Societies announces the resumption of the document conservation of the War of 1812 Pension Records at the National Archive and Records Administration covering surnames beginning with M(Moore) through Q, with digitization and indexing commencing in September. The remainder of the project will follow. All images and indexes will be accessible at Fold3 ( https://www.fold3.com ) for free forever. Findmypast has added new records from Billion Graves; Middlesex Monumental Inscriptions (1485-2014); the New York Researcher ; The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record ; 4.3M new U.S. marriage records; West Lothian, Scotland, Poorhouse Records (1859-1912) and Burials (1860-1975); a PERSI Quarterly Index update; Buckinghamshire Indexes, to Baptisms, Banns, Marriages, and Burials; Ireland Calendars of Wills & Administrations; and new titles and records in the British Newspaper collection. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society announced the retirement of Karen Mauer Jones as editor of The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record and the appointment of Laura Murphy DeGrazia as the new editor. The In-Depth Genealogist announced the launch of its new online IDG Academy ( http://www.idgacademy.com ) with 4-week classes beginning on 11 September 2017. Enrollment is now open at idg.moodlecloud.com . Drew shares record updates from FamilySearch. George reviews an excellent genealogical mystery book by Dan Waddell titled The B lood Detective: A Case of Murder by Family Tree …” Listener email includes: Brandon asks for advice about a newly-discovered DNA match that concerns a non-paternal event. He fears that exposing this to his elderly grandfather will cause great distress and wants some guidance. Christine has long been researching her Sharrod line who spent more than 170 years in Crawford County, Ohio. She heard The Guys announce that the county obituaries are now online and she found exactly 254 obituaries that have just opened a huge research door on that line! Gordy asks about his ancestor, Julius Rockstroh, who appears on the 1880 U.S. federal census for Middlebu
Mon, August 07, 2017
Genealogy Connection #027 - Bruce Buzbee, Technologist and RootsMagic CEO
Bruce Buzbee is the programmer behind RootsMagic, the popular genealogy database software. Learn more about Bruce and the history behind the development of RootsMagic at http://blog.rootsmagic.com/?cat=41
Wed, August 02, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #330 - 2017 July 30
The news includes: The International African American Museum (IAAM) announced the launch of its Center for Family History in Charleston, South Carolina – an innovative national genealogy research center dedicated solely to celebrating and researching African American ancestry. Its tremendous website has launched at https://iaamuseum.org . MyHeritage has introduced its new DNA Ethnicity Analysis with a percentage-based estimate of ethnic origins covering 42 ethnic groups. MyHeritage has returned from its third Tribal Quest expedition visiting with the Nenets people of Siberia, and working to preserve their family histories. MyHeritage has released seven new Dutch collections in their SuperSearch service online. RootsMagic has released a new update (version 7.5.2.0) to add more functionality to the Ancestry TreeShare feature. Donna Moughty announced that she will be leading research groups to Ireland in October 2018: a Belfast Research Tour from 7-13 October 2018, and a Dublin Research Tour from 14-21 October 2018. More information is available at www.moughty.com . Findmypast has added new records including: England Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, Congregational Records, and browse functions; Somerset Baptisms Index, Somerset Banns Index, Somerset Marriage Index, and Somerset Burials Index; 1.6M new British Newspapers articles; Philadelphia Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms, Marriages, Parish Registers Browse; Staffordshire Monumental Inscriptions; Yorkshire Memorial Inscriptions; Monmouthshire Burials, and 1.6 new Irish Newspapers articles. The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) and the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) announce a collaboration to digitize the Fifth Generation of Mayflower Descendants from the GSMD “Silver Books” and 50 years of the Mayflower Quarterly and add them to AmericanAncestors.org . The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces the launch of their free Society Management webinar series. Registration is required, and details are available at https://fgs.org/cpage.php?pt=30 . Drew shares updates from FamilySearch’s recent records additions. Listener email includes: Jerry discusses an alternative image capture strategy when microfilm machines don’t copy or print. Dale asks about the effectiveness and ease of use of Dragon voice recognition software for dictating family histories, blogs, and other work. George reviews a new book titled Murder in Matera by Helene Stapinski, a real-life tale of researching for the truth about family stories of a murder committed by ancestors in Italy. Drew discusses his experiences at the Internation
Mon, July 24, 2017
Genealogy Connection #026 - Carolyn Tolman, Research Project Manager
Carolyn Tolman is a Project Manager for Legacy Tree Genealogists. Learn more about Carolyn at https://www.legacytree.com/blog/meet-carolyn-project-manager-legacy-tree-genealogists .
Mon, July 10, 2017
Genealogy Connection #025 - Laura Prescott, Educator
Laura Prescott has a long career in genealogical researching, speaking, and education, and has previously served as the president of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). Learn more about Laura at http://www.lauraprescott.com .
Fri, July 07, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #329 - 2017 July 4
The news includes: FamilySearch announces the discontinuation of its microfilm distribution program effective 1 September 2017. The Guys discuss this in greater detail later in the episode. RootsMagic has released the long-awaited interface of their software with Ancestry. It is a facility called TreeShare and joins the Web Hints functions for FamilySearch, Findmypast, and MyHeritage. Julie Cahill Tarr is named the new editor of the Association of Professional Genealogists’ APG eNews . Reclaim the Records announces the addition of the New York State Death Index, 1880-1956. Read all the details at http://mailchi.mp/reclaimtherecords/bfvk8vew84?e=8bd0102c13 . Unclaimed Persons commemorates its ninth anniversary, and you can learn more at http://unclaimedpersons.org . Volunteers are needed to help. Findmypast announces the release of more than 6 million Ontario records in the first phase of a new partnership with the Ontario Genealogical Society. Findmypast also announces their release of the 1861 and 1871 Canada Census records, new baptism, banns, marriage, and burial records for Yorkshire, additional Irish newspaper records, and additions to PERSI. Drew shares updates from FamilySearch’s recent records additions. Listener email includes: Matt discusses a “Lazarus Project” in response to Julienne’s email about Paul Woodbury’s interview. John asks for suggestions for how to obtain cause of death for someone who died as recently as 2013. Nancy cites the interview with David Rencher and discusses Artificial Intelligence (AI) with regards to online genealogy hints. The Guys have an extensive discussion about microfilm, the announcement by FamilySearch that it will discontinue distribution of their microfilm as of 1 September 2017, and ways to continue and expand your research.
Mon, June 26, 2017
Genealogy Connection #024 - David Rencher, Speaker, Instructor, and FamilySearch CGO
David Rencher is a well-known genealogy speaker and instructor with specialties in Ireland and England. Learn more about David by visiting his APG entry at https://www.apgen.org/directory/search_detail.html?mbr_id=176 .
Sat, June 17, 2017
Genealogy Connection #023 - Judy G. Russell, Researcher, Speaker, and Writer
Judy G. Russell is a well-known genealogy researcher, speaker, and writer with a law degree who specializes in the ways in which genealogy and the law interact. Learn more about Judy by visiting her blog, The Legal Genealogist, at www.legalgenealogist.com .
Wed, June 07, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #328 - 2017 June 5
The Guys ask Thomas Loftus, author of A Loftus-Marshall Family History , to email them with contact information. Several listeners are interested in obtaining his book. The news includes: MyHeritage introduces the Collection Catalog at its website that lists the historical records that are indexed and available there. Do you and your father look alike? Win a MyHeritage DNA Kit for Father’s Day! Submit your look-alike pictures of you and your dad to stories@myheritage.com by Friday, June 16, 2017. MyHeritage launches its new, comprehensive DNA Ethnicity Analysis, the most wide-ranging in the industry, covering 42 different ethnic regions. The Library of Congress has placed nearly 25,000 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps online for free, with more to be added monthly until 2020. Visit https://www.loc.gov/maps/collections for these and more. Findmypast has released new and expanded collections of City of York records, new Irish newspapers, U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, and additional 1939 Register records, among others. Drew shares updates from FamilySearch’s recent records additions. Listener email includes: Jim shares a new genealogy detective writer, Dan Waddell, who has two new books available, Blood Detective and Blood Atonement . George also comments on Orange Lilies by Nathan Dylan Goodwin. Barbara recommends a free timeline program, Tripline (at https://www.tripline.net) . (She created one at https://www.tripline.net/trip/John_M_Ryan_Military_Map-6635632644541012ABA6C96DE719A797#zoom for her father’s WWI movements.) Tom asks for suggestions about locating Scotland records. Bob asks how common is the name Stanly for a girl. Christine suggests using the Nationwide Gravesite Locator ( http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov ) to find the U.S. burial location of veterans. Julienne asks about the Genealogy Connection interview with Paul Woodbury and his comments about “reconstructing the genome of long-dead individuals.” Drew will follow up on this with Paul for her. Bill asks for information about how to handle a database of 64,000 names to upload them to Ancestry and force them on into FamilySearch. Jim shares two fascinating examples of where marriage records may or may not be truthful.
Mon, May 29, 2017
Genealogy Connection #022 - Maureen Taylor, Speaker, Writer, and Photography Expert
Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is a popular speaker, writer, and consultant on the subject of analyzing photographs for historical and genealogical purposes. Learn more about Maureen by visiting her website at maureentaylor.com .
Sat, May 13, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #327 - 2017 May 11
The news includes: Daniel Horowitz of MyHeritage.com has been making a speaking tour of the North American East Coast. Check the dates for the remaining sessions. Registration is open for the 2017 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference (August 30-September 1) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at www.fgsconference.org . FGS announces two impressive DNA workshops presented by leaders in the field. Living DNA ( www.livingdna.com/en-us ) has launched an exciting new DNA research project to map the genetic history of Germany. Working in collaboration with Germany’s largest genealogy society, CompGen, Living DNA is seeking individuals with four locally born grandparents, to take part in the project. Findmypast has released more than 782K records for the county of Kent. They have also added 6.7M records to their United States Marriages Collection. Drew shares updates from FamilySearch’s recent records additions. George reviews five books, including a family history and great books for summer reading: Loftus, Thomas Joseph. A Loftus-Marshall Family History . Great Falls, VA: Self-published. 2010. Hendrickson, Nancy. Unofficial Ancestry.com Workbook : A How-To Manual for Tracing Your Family Tree on the #1 Genealogy Website. Cincinnati, OH: Family Tree Books. 2017. McMahon, Margaret M., Ph.D. Researching Your U.S. WWI Army Ancestors . CreateSpace [Amazon]. 2016. Dando-Collins, Stephen. The Big Break: The Greatest American WWII POW Escape Story Never Told . New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press. 2017. Whitehead, Colson. The Underground Railroad . New York, NY: Doubleday Books. 2016.
Tue, May 02, 2017
Genealogy Connection #021 - Nathan Dylan Goodwin, Mystery Writer
Nathan Dylan Goodwin is the author of the Morton Farrier series of genealogy-themed mystery crime novels and novellas. Learn more about Nathan at nathandylangoodwin.com .
Sat, April 22, 2017
Genealogy Connection #020 - Deborah Abbott, Researcher and Speaker
Dr. Deborah Abbott is a well-known genealogy researcher and speaker who specializes in African-American research and court records. Learn more about Deborah by visiting her entry at the Association of Professional Genealogists, at https://www.apgen.org/directory/search_detail.html?mbr_id=4840 .
Wed, April 12, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #326 - 2017 April 9
The news includes: Linkpendium ( http://www.linkpendium.com) announces that their site of more than 10M genealogy links is now mobile friendly. The British Newspaper Archive announces they now have over 18.7 million pages from 747 titles from England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, and now covers every county in England. AncestryDNA launched its new Genetic Communities feature that visually displays your ethnic background using both your DNA results and your family tree information uploaded to Ancestry.com. Family Tree DNA recently revised its myOrigins feature to enhance the ethnic makeup display. Findmypast announces the launch of their Six Counties in Six Months project which aims to publish the parish records of six English counties in the coming months. The first county just published is Wiltshire. Drew shares new and updated collections at FamilySearch. George shares insights into marriage licenses, marriage returns, marriage bonds, and marriage banns and why it is important to differentiate between them when recording dates. Listener email includes: Christine shares information about her research and notes that an enumerator didn’t name a minor child. She also is interested in the origin of the Burg surname. She also saw a surname Jzenburgh with which she was unfamiliar. Christine also shared a recommendation of a book, Doughboys, the Great War, and the Remaking of America . Chris thanks The Guys for reading an email, and reports that there is a breakthrough in the Moody line by using neighboring property owners. Margie wrote to thank us for reading her email and for Terry’s suggestion to watch the Legacy Family Tree webinar. TC responds to Doug’s email about “what’s the point” and shares details about self-publishing family history books for their children and grandchildren. Michelle wrote about Christine’s Moody surname research and suggested some resources. They include: The Guild of One-Name Studies ( http://one-name.org) The Public Profiler at the Great Britain Family Names Profiling website ( http://gbnames.publicprofiler.org) Ancestry.com surname meaning and distribution at https://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts . Aha! Seminars, Inc., can deliver webinars by George and/or Drew to your genealogical society for a very affordable price. Learn more at http://www.ahaseminars.com/cpage.php?pt=10 . Please help The Guys spread the word about our two podcasts: Support us at Patreon.com at ( <a href= "https://www.patreon.com/genealogygu
Sun, April 02, 2017
Genealogy Connection #019 - J. Mark Lowe, Researcher, Speaker, and Writer
J. Mark Lowe is a well-known genealogy researcher, speaker, and writer who specializes in Kentucky and Tennessee research, as well as African-American research, land records, and church records. Learn more about Mark by visiting his website, Kentucky-Tennessee Research Associates, at kytnresearch.com .
Tue, March 21, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #325 - 2017 March 19
We are pleased to announce that we have passed the 2,000,000th download of our podcasts on 5 March 2017. Thank you to our listeners and our sponsors for making us a success! The Guys are very pleased to announce that they will be the speakers for the California Genealogical Society’s inaugural Caribbean Genealogy Cruise. The Society is celebrating its 120th anniversary with a 7-night cruise on the luxurious Celebrity Cruise Line's Silhouette for a fantastic cruise, departing from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday, 11 February 2018. The ship will call at ports in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. The Genealogy Guys will present 12 separate lectures on the days at sea, and they will be available for one-on-one consultation appointments. Explore the islands, participate in optional on-shore activities, and enjoy a festive time with the speakers and other genealogists. Get the flyer with all the details at http://www.ahaseminars.com/upload/menu/Cruise_Flyer_-_Final.pdf . More information will be posted soon at the California Genealogical Society website at http://www.californiaancestors.org . The news includes: RootsMagic continues to work on adding Ancestry.com to its software’s Hints facility. In the meantime, George has an article in the upcoming April/May 2017 issue of Internet Genealogy magazine titled “RootsMagic and WebHints: Harness the Power”. The Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Student Grant Committee and the Southern California Genealogical Society announce the 2017 Student Grant and Jamboree Scholarship. Applications are due on 15 April 2017. Details and the application form are available at http://thefamilycurator.com/SWF-grant/ . Evidentia announced the addition of a new facility, Cousin Tracker, to its software. A video is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbeZJmHSpEw&feature=youtu.be describing and demonstrating the new facility. Charleston, South Carolina’s Board of Architectural Review has given its enthusiastic approval to the construction of a $75M International African American Museum there. Construction may begin by year’s end. Fundraising is in process. Details are available at https://iaamuseum.org . Unlock the Past announces a Holy Land Tour in Israel (23 October – 1 November 2017) and a genealogy conference in Tel Aviv (1-2 November 2017). Details are available at http://www.unlockthepast.com.au/events/holy-land-tour-and-genealogy-conference-israel. Findmypast has added new records and updates to existing collections, including: Scotland Post Office Directories; Lower Canada Census 1842, Yorkshire Memorial In
Tue, March 07, 2017
Genealogy Connection #018 - Audrey Collins, Researcher, Speaker, and Writer
Audrey Collins is a Family History Specialist at The National Archives, UK. Learn more from Audrey by visiting her blog at thefamilyrecorder.blogspot.com .
Tue, February 28, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #324 - 2017 February 26
The news includes: MyHeritage appoints prominent DNA expert Dr. Yaniv Erlich as Chief Science Officer. MyHeritage announces the new Consistency Checker for online family trees, and the launch of a new feature called Photo Discoveries. Evidentia Software will be sharing tips and information on this podcast in the near future. The new Journal of Genealogy and Family History (JGFH) will be launched in April, published by the Register of Qualified Genealogists. The online publication will be an academic platform for peer-reviewed articles about a wide array of topics. More information can be found at http://www.qualifiedgenealogists.org/jgfh . Results of the Innovator Showdown at RootsTech 2017 are shared by Drew. Findmypast launches the Catholic Heritage Archive, beginning with records from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the British Archdioceses of Westminster and Birmingham. The Early Bird Registration for the 2017 Ohio Genealogical Society Conference (26-29 April 2017) in Sandusky, Ohio ends on 10 March 2017. Drew shares the latest releases from FamilySearch. Drew also discusses the newly announced policy changes announced by Ancestry.com for their DNA testing. Listener email includes: Rich asks for recommendations for the best DNA company and tests. Ann has finished reading The Guys’ book, Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques and asks for research options for a particularly difficult brick wall problem. Terry responds to Margie’s question about GEDmatch, and recommends a webinar from Legacy Family Tree Webinars ( http://familytreewebinars.com) . Laura expresses concern about having all her family tree information online at Ancestry.com. She asks about best ways to download the data and store it, and about backup options. George reviews a book by Helen V. Smith titled Death Certificates and Archaic Medical Terms (2 nd edition) published by Unlock the Past Publications ( http://www.unlockthepast.com.au/unlock-past-publications ). George discusses a recent consultation he did through genealogyDOTcoach ( https://genealogy.coach) for a client looking for evidence of an ancestor’s death in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He shares some of his research suggestions.
Mon, February 06, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #323 - 2017 February 5
The news includes: MyHeritage announces their new Discoveries page, which combines Matches by People and Matches by Source onto the same page. You can work through one or the other or both. RootsTech 2017 has announced its schedule of free online broadcasts, and you can view it at https://www.rootstech.org/live-stream-schedule . Findmypast has released additional records in their Australia Electoral Roles collection, and a new collection of records of Early Immigration from Britain, 1636-1815. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society announces an innovative space, the NYG&B Labs. George shares information that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is investigating the death of journalist and TV star Dorothy Kilgallen on 8 November 1965. The action comes in response to the book George has discussed here by Mark Shaw titled The Reporter Who Knew Too Much. Listener email includes: Christine comments about the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago and the book The Devil in the White City . Barbara also commented on the same event, and she found a book titled The Congress of Women: Held in the Woman’s Building, World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, U.S.A., 1893 . Christine was looking for assistance in locating a family in Ohio that appear in the 1850, 1870, and 1880 censuses – but not in 1860. The Guys discuss more tips for preparing for a successful trip. Aha! Seminars, Inc., can deliver webinars by George and/or Drew to your genealogical society for an affordable price. Learn more at http://www.ahaseminars.com/cpage.php?pt=10 . Please help The Guys spread the word about our two podcasts: Support us at Patreon.com at ( https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2684555 ). Tell your friends and genealogy society members about us. Leave a review at iTunes. Leave comments at iHeartRadio. Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States and at sea!
Wed, February 01, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #322 - 2017 January 30
The news includes: MyHeritage has a great webinar about the MyHeritage DNA testing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UZL-pfACGQ . MyHeritage has added the U.S. World War I Draft Registrations 1917-1918 with 24 million records. Evidentia has published updated versions of The Evidentia Companion and the Quickstart Guide for Version 3. The Companion book is available as a PDF download and as a printed paperback. ScotlandsPeople has added new records including the 1916 Births, 1941 Marriages, and the 1966 Deaths, and more records are coming this year. Ancestry.com has announced two new appointments to its management team. Findmypast has released new records for Rutland, Leicestershire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Victoria [Australia], and British Newspapers and new Irish Newspapers. The Boston [Massachusetts] Archdiocese and the New England Historic Genealogical Society are partnering to create the first extensive database of Catholic records in the U.S. The project will include millions of records from 1789 to 1900 for more than 100 Boston and Eastern Massachusetts parishes. Drew discusses 6 things to look for from FamilySearch in 2017. Reclaim the Records announces that the images of the index to New York City Marriages for 1930 to 1945 are online, and more to come. Famicity is a new private social network for your family ( https://www.famicity.com/en/sign-up ) and has begun a Kickstarter campaign to fund development. Listener email includes: Ryan responded to Jenny’s question about a blog and a website for one’s family. Jenny provides an important tip about working with AncestryDNA matches. Margie asks Drew for more information about GEDmatch. Julienne shared the excitement of locating Belgian records at FamilySearch and discusses the French Republican Calendar (aka, French Revolutionary Calendar) in use during the period of 1793-1805. Jean shares information about the German Genealogy Group ( http://www.germangenealogygroup.com ) and advises us of the addition of Richmond County Deaths 1847-1897. Geary asks about people whose family lines all arrived before the Revolutionary War. Christine shares the story of a long-standing search for her great-grandfather’s brother, and that his death record was finally located in Missouri. Aha! Seminars, Inc., can deliver webinars by George and/or Drew to your genealogical society for an affordable price. Learn more at http://www.ahaseminars.com/cpage.php?pt=10 . Please help The Guys spread the word about our two podcasts: Support us at Patreon.co
Mon, January 23, 2017
Genealogy Connection #017 - Paul Woodbury, Researcher, Speaker, and Genetic Genealogy Expert
Paul Woodbury is well-known for his work combining traditional genealogical research with DNA testing. To learn more about Paul, visit legacytree.com .
Mon, January 16, 2017
Genealogy Connection #016 - George G. Morgan, Speaker, Author, and Volunteer
George G. Morgan is well-known for his speaking, his books and articles, and his podcasting. To learn more about George, visit ahaseminars.com .
Tue, January 10, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #321 - 2017 January 8
The Guys welcome their new sponsor, Genealogists.com. The news includes: Our podcasts are now available through Google Play Music. Evidentia has launched a new, easier-to-use website and online store. Findmypast has released new records for the Ireland Petty Sessions Court Records, Dorset Memorial Inscriptions, Northumberland & Durham Monumental Inscriptions, and the Ireland Society of Friends (Quaker) Congregational Records. Listener email includes: Maryann thanks us for our podcasts published over the holidays, and tells us she has listened when she couldn’t sleep. Tim wrote to comment on the new logo, and about having been inspired by Dave McDonald to produce some form of completed work for the family. Tim also shared cemetery information and tombstone photographs for the BODY family members in Lincoln County, Ontario, Canada. (Drew works on the BODDIE/BODIE/BODY surname for the Guild of One-Name Studies.) Judy asked for suggestions to better research Virginia land records. Tiphanee was inspired by Katherine Willson’s interview to delve into genealogical resources on Facebook and has found some relatives in Northern Ireland. George reviews a fascinating book titled The Reporter Who Knew Too Much by Mark Shaw. It focuses on Dorothy Kilgallen, the powerful journalist and TV star whose untimely death interrupted her research into the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald, and her strong belief that there was a conspiracy. Highly recommended. Drew discusses a favorite podcast called Lore by Aaron Mahnke which deals with mysterious, unexplainable, and often frightening stories. The podcast can be found at http://www.lorepodcast.com . The Guys discuss some best practices for prepapring for a genealogy research trip. Please help The Guys spread the word about our two podcasts: Support us at Patreon.com at ( https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2684555 ). Tell your friends and genealogy society members about us. Leave a review at iTunes. Leave comments at iHeartRadio. Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States.
Mon, January 02, 2017
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #320 - 2017 January 1
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017! The Guys welcome their new sponsor, Genealogists.com. The news includes: Findmypast releases new records about Gloucester apprentices, Kent parish records, and records from Scotland. FamilySearch presented historic Freedmen’s Bureau Database records to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. Drew shares new record releases by FamilySearch and a recap of 2016 FamilySearch genealogy highlights. Listener email includes: Lise corrects George about the draft registration requirement for both WWI and WWII. Connie asks about the link at Family Tree University for forms from Drew's book at http://ftu.familytreemagazine.com/organize-your-genealogy Jim shares the Reclaim the Records website, a growing collection of New York City marriage records at https://www.reclaimtherecords.org/records-request/2/ , and tells us that more records are coming. Visit https://www.reclaimtherecords.org/ for more information. Jenny asks two questions: 1. What is the correct way to record a child before it was named? 2. What is the best way to establish your own genealogy website including a blog? The Guys discuss what they have been working on the last several weeks, and many ways to access and listen to both of their podcasts. Please help The Guys spread the word about our two podcasts: Support us at Patreon.com at ( https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2684555 ). Tell your friends and genealogy society members about us. Leave a review at iTunes. Leave comments at iHeartRadio. Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States.
Wed, December 28, 2016
Genealogy Connection #015 - Mary Tedesco, Researcher, Speaker, Author, and TV Show Host
Mary Tedesco is best known for her appearances as one of the hosts on Genealogy Roadshow. She specializes in Italian and immigration research. To learn more about Mary, visit originsitaly.com .
Tue, December 27, 2016
Genealogy Connection #014 - Katherine Willson, Researcher, Educator, Speaker, Author, and Society Volunteer
Katherine Willson is a long-time genealogy educator who specializes in Midwestern U.S. research. To learn more about Katherine, visit socialmediagenealogy.com .
Mon, December 12, 2016
Genealogy Connection #013 - David McDonald, Researcher, Educator, Speaker, Author, and Society Volunteer
Dave McDonald is a long-time genealogy researcher and educator who specializes in a number of research topics, including church records. To learn more about Dave, visit oldnorthwestresearch.com .
Sun, December 11, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #319 - 2016 December 9
The Guys congratulate Pam Cooper of Vero Beach, Florida, head of the Genealogy Collection at the Main Library of the Indian River County Library System, on her retirement. Pam has had a spectacular career and has been a driving force in the national genealogical community for more than 20 years. We wish her nothing but great things! The news includes: MyHeritage DNA is getting huge quantities of orders for their kits. The Guys have ordered theirs, and George has already sent his back. MyHeritage has also released an exclusive collection of 26 million Denmark Church Records covering 1813-1919. RootsMagic has announced in an open letter to its users that the sync facility with Ancestry.com is still in beta testing and is very close to being released, but that it will not make its original planned release date before the end of this year. Findmypast releases Royal Irish Constabulary Service Records, additional British Newspapers records, Pennsylvania Baptisms (1709-1760) and Marriages (1816-1849), and additions to its U.S. Marriages collection. Drew shares new releases by FamilySearch. Listener email includes: Matthias in Germany responded to Brandon’s mystery about his great-great-grandfather, Bernard Frank James Dietz in episode #318. He offers several finds: Bernard F. "Barney" Dietz – Death Certificate http://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1948/1948_00024215.PDF Bernard F. "Barney" Dietz http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Dietz&GSiman=1&GScnty=1511&GRid=27540791& Father of Bernard, Henry Dietz, Death Certificate http://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1916/1916_00004216.PDF Matthias also created a Google spreadsheet of all kinds of information and links about his emigrants. He shared the link (at https://goo.gl/9Cy053 ) for our listeners to see and consider as a format for themselves. Janelle in New South Wales also responded to Brandon with a suggestion about using DNA. Richard Holter shared a detailed research report for his great-grandfather, James Walter Holder, and asked for suggestions. Listeners are welcome to make suggestions as well. Jeff is interested in recommendations for books and other resources to help him help his wife get started on her Hungarian and Russian Jewish ancestors. The Guys suggest three outstanding websites: Avotaynu ( http://www.avotaynu.com) is a publisher of books, maps, and other products for the Jewish researcher. JewishGen (<a href= "http://w
Mon, November 28, 2016
Genealogy Connection #012 - Helen Smith, Researcher, Author, and Speaker
Helen Smith is a Queensland, Australia-based genealogical researcher and a molecular epidemiologist. To learn more about Helen, visit her website at helenvsmithresearch.blogspot.com.au .
Thu, November 24, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #318 - 2016 November 23
The news includes: MyHeritage launches MyHeritage DNA, their new global integrated testing service. MyHeritage has also released a major update to its mobile app. The German-American Genealogical Partnership has changed its name to the International German Genealogy Partnership. Findmypast celebrates the first anniversary of the release of the 1939 Register. It also published more than 2M British Military Records; US Marriages; and New Zealand Wars, and military pensions. Drew shares new releases by FamilySearch. Listener email includes: Jan provides a corrected birth year for George Dwells whom Kenyatta Berry discussed on Genealogy Connection . Jim suggests to Pat that the Children’s Aid Society in New York may be able to provide documents about her Orphan Train ancestor. James provided some insight into the question of name-purchasing in British families. Valerie shares information on her Smith family research in New Jersey and asks about other databases to search. Patti shared an important link for research, Old Disease Names Frequently found on Death Certificates at http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ar/county/greene/olddiseases1.htm . Matt poses a fascinating DNA question about trying to determine if two families were related. Brandon is trying to solve a mystery about his great-great-grandfather, Bernard Frank James Dietz. George and Drew talk about their genealogy blogs. Please help The Guys spread the word about our two podcasts: Support us at Patreon.com at ( https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2684555 ). Tell your friends and genealogy society members about us. Leave a review at iTunes. Leave comments at iHeartRadio. Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States.
Mon, November 14, 2016
Genealogy Connection #011 - Colleen Greene, Speaker, Blogger, and Academic Librarian
Colleen Greene is an academic librarian at CSU-Fullerton who specializes in both technology and Mexican research. To learn more about Colleen, visit her website at colleengreene.com .
Wed, November 09, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #317 - 2016 November 6
The news includes: The Library of Virginia has slashed its hours and cut its staff. Genealogists need to communicate their displeasure with the governor. The Federation of Genealogical Societies has announced their election for officers and directors. Findmypast announces the addition of the Genealogical Society of Ireland journals to PERSI. They also announce the addition of new records from West Virginia, Utah, Ireland, and new PERSI updates. Drew shares highlights of FamilySearch’s recent new record releases. The Guys share information that PERSI will be exclusively at Findmypast as of 8 November 2016. It will no longer be available at Ancestry or HeritageQuest Online. George reviews an interesting new book by Jeffrey H. Konis titled Conversations We Never Had . Listener email includes: Drew responds to an inquiry from Connie about the origin of a quote. Cynthia asked about Irish coming to Canada during the famine years in the 1840s and then to the U.S. Marc asked for suggestions on obtaining the criminal records for his great-grandfather, including a mug shot, from Pennsylvania. Sarah asks for help in determining which genealogical software program would meet her needs. Pat is seeking help in locating records of John Henry Wakefield who may have been born in England or Ohio, and who may have arrived on one of the orphan trains. Jenny asks about the ethics of providing names to an individual who is an adoptee and who is seeking information about birth parents. Ryan has some follow-up questions and information about his Antrim McMichael line, and asked about MyHeritage’s new DNA matching, which has just come out of beta. Please help The Guys spread the word about our two podcasts: Support us at Patreon.com at ( https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2684555 ). Tell your friends and genealogy society members about us. Leave a review at iTunes. Leave comments at iHeartRadio. Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States.
Mon, October 31, 2016
Genealogy Connection #010 - Kenyatta Berry, Speaker, Researcher, and TV Show Host
Kenyatta Berry is best known as one of the hosts of the Genealogy Roadshow TV show, and she specializes in African-American research, Slave Ancestral research, and DNA. To learn more about Kenyatta, visit her website at kenyattaberry.com .
Tue, October 25, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #316 - 2016 October 23
If you have an Amazon Echo, you can use it to listen to the podcasts on both iHeartRadio and TuneIn. You can also visit their respective websites at http://www.iheart.com and http://tunein.com . However, the show notes are only available at The Genealogy Guys Podcast website at http://genealogyguys.com . The news includes: Ancestry.com has released a new mobile app called We’re Related that helps you discover famous people to whom you might be related. Findmypast has released a wide variety of English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand records. Construction has begun on a new Discovery Center at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Drew shares new releases and updates at FamilySearch. Listener email includes: Ryan asks for suggestions about how to determine how two men in his family research were related. Cindy asks for suggestions about DNA testing and interpretation of test results and matches for her husband and his genetic genealogy. Jen asks about a network, resource, or community online where she can celebrate successes. The Guys also ask for listeners’ suggestions. Drew discusses more organization ideas for naming and working with digital file folders. Please help The Guys spread the word about our two podcasts: Support us at Patreon.com at ( https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2684555 ). Tell your friends and genealogy society members about us. Leave a review at iTunes. Leave comments at iHeartRadio. Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States.
Mon, October 17, 2016
Genealogy Connection #009 - Paula Stuart-Warren, Researcher, Speaker, and Writer
Paula Stuart-Warren is a noted researcher, speaker, and writer who specializes in such topics as Native American research and railroad records. To learn more about Paula, visit her website at genealogybypaula.com .
Thu, October 06, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #315 - 2016 October 4
The news includes: The Genealogy Guys Podcast can now be found and heard on iHeartRadio at http://www.iheart.com . MyHeritage is more than halfway to its goal of digitizing every cemetery in Israel. 23andMe has introduced an Ancestry Standalone product for US customers for $99. The 2017 International Germanic Genealogy ‘Connections’ Conference has been extended to three days – 28-30 July 2017, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The New England Historic Genealogy Society (NEHGS) will honor journalist and author Cokie Roberts on 27 October 2016 at its Fall Family History Benefit Dinner in Boston, Massachusetts. American Ancestors and NEHGS will present DNA Day on 22 October 2016 at DCU Center in Worcestor, Massachusetts. Details and registration are available at http://www.americanancestors.org . The Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy presents its Annual Forensic Genealogy Institute on 7-9 March 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. Registration opens 15 October 2016 at http://www.forensicgenealogists.org/institute/ . George shares highlights of Findmypast’s recent record releases. The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) honored several of its members at its annual Professional Management Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana. APG announces that Kerry Scott has been named editor of their monthly newsletter. RootsTech 2017 will be held on 8-11 February 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Registration is available at http://rootstech.org . RootsTech has announced the Third Annual RootsTech Innovator Showdown. Details are available at http://rootstech.devpost.com/ . FamilySearch and Twile have announced the launch of a new feature that allows users to generate a family history timeline and share it with others. Users must register at Twile at https://twile.com/ for free. A premium version is available. Drew shares highlights of FamilySearch’s recent new record releases. Listener email includes: Jeff asks for suggestions for how to sort out his grandfather’s birth father and other information. Connie asks about the source of a quote, and asks for suggestions for setting up a site for her extremely large family to keep in touch and share information. Ryan asks for suggestions about how to determine how two men in his family research were related. Please help The Guys spread the word about our two podcasts: Support us at Patreon.com at ( https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2684555 ). Tell your friends and genealogy society members about us. <li
Mon, October 03, 2016
Genealogy Connection #008 - Blaine Bettinger, Author and Speaker
Blaine Bettinger is an author and speaker who specializes in the use of DNA testing for genealogical research. To learn more about Blaine, visit his website at thegeneticgenealogist.com. Blaine recommends Thomas Jones' book Mastering Genealogical Proof and Lucidchart for creating family trees.
Mon, September 19, 2016
Genealogy Connection #007 - Rich Venezia, Researcher and Speaker
Rich Venezia is a professional researcher and speaker who specializes in using record repositories in and around Pittsburgh, as well as the New Jersey State Archives and the New York City Municipal Archives. Rich is especially skilled in Italian and Irish research, and can assist clients with obtaining Italian or Irish dual citizenship. To learn more about Rich, visit his website at richroots.com .
Sat, September 17, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #314 - 2016 September 16
The news includes: A new genealogical service called genealogyDOTcoach has been launched at https://genealogy.coach that makes professional genealogists available for short, inexpensive consultations to help you extend your research and get past brick walls. MyHeritage announces their new DNA matching service, allowing you to upload your DNA testing results and/or order testing kits. Learn more at http://blog.myheritage.com/2016/09/dna-matching-now-live/ . MyHeritage announces the publication of 33 million Finnish church records online. RootsMagic answers questions concerning its planned sync with Ancestry by the end of this year. WikiTree announces a Source-a-Thon on 1-3 October 2016. Learn more at wikitree.com/Source-a-Thon . Findmypast launches an economical 12-month for $34.95 in the U.S. market. Findmypast launches a large variety of new collections and additions to existing ones. ScotlandsPeople has announced that it will be offline from 23:59 (BST on Wednesday, 21 September 2016 until Monday 26 September as they work to install the new ScotlandsPeople website. Ancestry.co.uk has announced the launch on 7 September of a new podcast series titled “It’s About Time” narrated by Sir Tony Roberts. FamilySearch has launched it’s new Pressroom at http://media.familysearch.org . FamilySearch has made the records of the Guild of One-Name Studies available at its site. Drew summarizes the recent releases from FamilySearch. The Florida Genealogy Society of Tampa will host its annual Fall Seminar on Saturday, 1 October 2016, with guest speaker Judy G. Russell. An Ask-a-Genealogist program will take place on 30 September 2016 at the Florida History and Genealogy Library in the downtown main library. Details are available at http://fgstampa.org . Listener email includes: Judith shares information about the online collections at the University of Chicago at http://photoarchive.lib.uchicago.edu/ , http://photoarchive.lib.uchicago.edu/browse-sports.html , and https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/scrc/finding-aids/?view=digitized . Eileen thanks Drew for his discussion of RootsMagic and Evernote on the previous podcast. Timo shares a unique gazetteer for Germany and former German regions called GOV (Genealogisches Ortsverzeichnis) at http://gov.genealogy.net/language/select?lang=en . He also generously shar
Mon, September 05, 2016
Genealogy Connection #006 - Bernice Bennett, Speaker, Writer, Researcher, Citizen Archivist, and Internet Radio Show Host
Bernice Bennett is a popular speaker and one of the authors of the book Our Ancestors, Our Stories . In addition to being a professional genealogical researcher, Bernice volunteers as a Citizen Archivist at the National Archives. Her Internet radio show, Research at the National Archives and Beyond , is celebrating its 5th anniversary. To learn more about Bernice, visit her website at geniebroots.com .
Sun, August 28, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #313 - 2016 August 27
The news includes: The Federation of Genealogical Societies announces the locations of its conferences through 2020. The Federation of Genealogical Societies announces a partnership with the National Park Service for a new preservation project. The Association of Professional Genealogists has announced its 2017 Professional Management Conference. Findmypast announces release of Irish Outage Reports, and additional Non-Conformist records for England & Wales. Drew discusses the wealth of new records released by FamilySearch. The World War II Research and Writing Center announces a new educational program. Listener email includes: Debra asks about genealogy software, and she looks for recommendations for locating German records online. Eileen asks Drew why not use the to-do list, research log, and other facilities of a genealogy program rather than other software programs. Mike follows up about file numbering discussed in episode #312. Mary Ann writes to say how much she enjoyed the interview with Cyndi Ingle on the Genealogy Connection podcast. The Guys review some fantastic books, just in time for the FGS Conference and the Fall-Winter genealogy seminar season: Trace Your German Roots Online by James M. Beidler (Family Tree Books) Map Guide to Luxembourg by Kevan M. Hanson (Family Roots Publishing Co.) German Census Records 1816-1916: The When, Where, and How of a Valuable Genealogical Resource by Roger P. Minert, PH.D., A.G. (Family Roots Publishing Co.) Stories from the World War II Battlefield, Volume III, Writing the Stories of War by Jennifer Holik (Generations) Stories from the World War II Battlefield, World War II Writing Prompts by Jennifer Holik (Generations) Faces of War: Researching Your Adopted Soldier by Jennifer Holik (Generations) Please help The Guys spread the word about our two podcasts: Support us at Patreon.com at ( https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys ). Tell your friends and genealogy society members about us. Leave a review at iTunes. Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States.
Mon, August 22, 2016
Genealogy Connection #005 - Michael Lacopo, Speaker, Researcher, and Blogger
Michael Lacopo is an expert in German-American research, and in this episode, discusses how he became a speaker and researcher, why reading journals for examples is so important, why research plans are vital, and why he chose to blog about his recent experiences in using DNA to discover his mother’s birthparents.
Tue, August 16, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #312 - 2016 August 14
The news includes: MyHeritage announces a number of new things: PedigreeMap plots births, marriages, deaths, photos, and other data from your family tree to an interactive map. The “Chronicling America” newspaper collection from the Library of Congress has been added to the collections. Denmark Census Records have been added. MyHeritage Treehouse is announced. Findmypast announces new records for Yorkshire, Staffordshire, New South Wales 1891 Census, and new records for Scotland. The Association of Professional Genealogists has named Mary Penner as managing editor of the APGQ . The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society announces the publication of a new book, New York City Archives: An Authorized Guide for Family Historians . Listener email includes: Beverly comments on the recent Genealogy Connection podcast interview with Cyndi Ingle. Elizabeth Lapointe comments on Gigi’s search for York County/Toronto and Vermont records discussed in GGP episode #311. Leslie comments on Drew’s new book. Matt raises a DNA question about matches within a limited [endogamous] population. Lois asks Drew about his discussion of organizing folders in Dropbox, specifically about the use of numbers. Joanne used Drew’s discussion of organizing Dropbox folders to get her folders in better shape. Mike discusses his organizing scheme for folders on his family using an Ahnentafel approach. The Guys give listeners a scoop about a new service called genealogyDOTcoach at http://genealogy.coach . It is a new way to get professional assistance without committing to longer term professional researchers’ contracts and fees. In Beta mode at present, the service offers appointments with any of 25 experts in a variety of topics to provide professional advice to help advance your research. Private appointments are available in 15-minute increments for a reasonable fee. Look for a formal press release in the next few weeks. Help The Guys spread the word about our two podcasts: Tell your friends and genealogy society members about us. Leave a review at iTunes. Support us at Patreon.com ( https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2684555) . Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States.
Mon, August 08, 2016
Genealogy Connection #004 - Cyndi Ingle, Speaker and Creator of Cyndi's List
Cyndi Ingle, probably best known for creating the amazing Cyndi’s List directory of genealogy websites, talks about technology and methodology. She discusses what it’s like to move from one genealogy database program to another, her experiences in both speaking at and attending genealogical institutes, and what she sees as the issues that genealogists have with acquiring technology skills.
Thu, August 04, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #311 - 2016 August 2
Drew gives George the week off, and begins with the following news: Evidentia Software has a special deal for purchases made between August 31 and September 14, 2016, such that 10% of all sales in the Evidentia store will go toward the War of 1812 Pension Digitization Project. FamilySearch's recent indexing event involved a record number of indexers! The 2017 International Germanic Genealogy Conference will be held in Minneapolis in July, and more information can be found at www.ggsmn.org . BCG and Legacy Family Tree Webinars have partnered to produce free live webinars. Findmypast has released a variety of new records, in particular a very large collection of materials relating to crime. Listener email lets us know about: A Florida man was discovered to have been leading a double life, because someone discovered a marriage record for a man who should have been deceased. Chris indicates why she enjoys the podcasts, and gives feedback on the new podcast series. Gigi has a dilemma about whether to update a birth location on FamilySearch on the basis of the sources she has discovered. Drew describes his new 3-month digital organizing project, the details of which can be found in recent posts to his own blog, rootsmithing.com.
Mon, July 25, 2016
Genealogy Connection #003 - Jen Baldwin, Social Media Expert
Jen Baldwin, North America Data Licensing Manager at Findmypast, shares her experiences in being both a producer and consumer of genealogical social media. She shares tips in using Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for genealogy, and explains how #genchat works (with a suggestion on using nurph.com to keep up with the chat). She and Drew are both fans of the organizing tool, Trello (at trello.com). Jen also recommends the book Understanding and Using Baptismal Records by John T. Humphrey.
Wed, July 20, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #310 - 2016 July 18
The news includes: MyHeritage announces a new feature, SuperSearch Alerts, that repeats previous searches and seeks new results in new and updated collections. Jay Verkler has been appointed as Interim CEO at Findmypast. APG has named Annette Burke Lyttle as the coordinator for the 2017 APG Professional Management Conference. A new website called Open Archives ( https://www.openarch.nl/?lang=en) provides access to records (information and scans) of civil registry, church registry, military and personnel administrations kept by Dutch archives. Findmypast has added U.S. Naturalization Petitions and U.S. Passport Applications and Indexes to their site, as well as additions to their English monumental inscriptions collection. Listener email includes: Jean King shares information about her blog for the West Hempstead [NY] Public Library at http://genealogy.whplibrary.org . Jenny wrote concerning Gus’ search for sources related to the Settlers of Beekman Patent in New York and advises that the books are available online at the NEHGS website at AmericanAncestors.org ( http://www.americanancestors.org) . Carolyn asks about moving a GEDCOM-format file from Family Tree Maker to RootsMagic. Ron is researching his Massachusetts ancestors Jeduthan Taber and Mary Pope, and welcomes help from listeners. Arnon Herskowitz advised us that that the Journal of Multidisciplinary Research , an international, peer-reviewed academic journal, has just published a Special Issue on Genealogy & Family History. “This is a huge step in the long journey towards academization of genealogy, and I'm very proud to be part of it as the SI Guest-Editor.” You can read the journal online at http://www.jmrpublication.org (Volume 8, Number 1, via the left menu). The Guys discuss their recent research trip to South Carolina, in particular their visits to five (5) cemeteries and the different goals for visiting each one. They visited the Hal Kohn Memorial Library and its genealogical holdings in Newberry, South Carolina, got together with family and friends, and visited the Carter and Holmes Orchids greenhouses (and bought a couple orchids, too). Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States.
Mon, July 11, 2016
Genealogy Connection #002 - Donna Moughty, Professional Researcher/Presenter
Donna Moughty, an expert on Irish research, shares her experiences in leading research trips to Ireland, as well as tips on how to prepare before you go. Learn even more about Donna at irishfamilyroots.com .
Wed, July 06, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #309 - 2016 July 4
The news includes: MyHeritage announced the addition of the 1911 Canada Census records to MyHeritage SuperSearch. MyHeritage also unveiled PedigreeMap, an online family history map that provides new geographical and historical insights into your family history. Leading presenters at the 36 th International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies’ International Conference on Jewish Genealogy have agreed to make their lectures available through live streaming, and then available on demand until 11 November 2016. Visit www.iajgs.org for details. Listener email includes: The Guys have received lots of good feedback about the new podcast, Genealogy Connection, which now alternates with this one. Connie asks about how to record a place of death for an individual: the place of residence at the time of death or the actual physical place of death. Will wrote concerning Gus’ search for sources related to the Beekman Patent in New York. Barbara provided insights into searching for South Carolina marriage records. Judy wrote to tell us about locating Irish Quaker records for her ancestors, including a surprising piece of content in a marriage record. Debi wrote about her quest for information about a Kentucky land record for Andrew Yandell. The Guys discuss their upcoming research trip to South Carolina and share some tips for preparing for the trip and maximizing time onsite. Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States.
Thu, June 30, 2016
Genealogy Connection #001 - Jessica Taylor, President of Legacy Tree Genealogists
Jessica Taylor, President of Legacy Tree Genealogists (a worldwide provider of professional genealogy and family tree research services) talks about how her company operates. She shares with Drew some tips on doing better and more efficient research. Sites mentioned during the talk include MeasuringWorth.com (a site for converting historical amounts of money to current values), Dropbox, and Upwork (a site for finding freelancers).
Tue, June 21, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #308 - 2016 June 19
The news includes: MyHeritage unveiled an exciting new way to display your family tree with its Sun Chart. MyHeritage announced that it now allows the upload of DNA data to your family tree for DNA Matching. RootsMagic announces four new free Magic Guides. RootsMagic provides a Download Anytime Guarantee that allows you to download any of their software products in the event of a computer crash, deletion of the program, or loss of the file. You can also request your software registration key. The RootsMagic Facebook user group is now over 10,000 members strong, and there’s also a Facebook group for Personal Historian! Findmypast announces new additions to its collection of historic British Newspapers, new additions to the Yorkshire West Riding Marriages, Irish Petty Sessions Court Registers (1828-1912), and South Australia Rate Books. Ancestry has launched a new collection of more than 100 million Dutch records online. Melanie Frick, MLIS, is the 2016 recipient of the Suzanne Winsor Freeman Grant Committee and Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree Scholarship. FamilySearch announced that HISTORY® is launching a campaign to support The Freedmen’s Bureau Project, a call to action to encourage Viewers of the new “Roots” television series to volunteer to help with records transcriptions. Drew recaps recent new releases at FamilySearch. George reads a press release announcing George and Drew's newest venture, a new podcast called Genealogy Connection . George interviews Drew about Drew's new book, Organize Your Genealogy: Strategies and Solutions for Every Researcher , which has just been published by Family Tree Books in paperback and Kindle formats. The Guys discuss a new way to support The Genealogy Guys Podcast using Patreon.com. Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States.
Mon, May 30, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #307 - 2016 May 30
The news includes: MyHeritage unveiled an exciting new global initiative called Tribal Quest that seeks to preserve the histories of remote tribes. The first two Tribal Quest expeditions visited Namibia and Papua New Guinea. Video is available at the new website http://www.tribalquest.org , and a video explaining the venture can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKsQnru36s . The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) honored Christine Rose, CG, CGL, FASG, with Emeritus Status for her serive to BCG and her distinguished fifty-year career. Findmypast has released Battle of Jutland records, 13.5 million new British newspaper articles, and Ireland Electoral Registers (1885-1886). The German-American Genealogical Partnership announced the 2017 International Germanic “Connections” Conference to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 28-29 July 2017. More information is available at http://www.ggsmn.org/cpage.php?pt=70 and http://www.ggsmn.org/upload/files/2017_GAGP_Int._Conf._Flyer_COLOR_Version_(1).pdf . The Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research has announced its schedule for Summer and Fall of 2016. Information is available at http://vigrgenealogy.com . Drew discusses the newest releases from FamilySearch. Listener email includes: Keith asks for details about connecting a second monitor to his computer, and Drew responds. Vic responded to Arthur’s inquiry in Episode #305 concerning sharing/donating family papers. He states that the Delaware Historical Society Research Library might be willing to accept the donations. More information can be found at https://www.dehistory.org/directions-parking/3-research-library . Tara writes to advise that Mary Page Greenleaf was her great-aunt, and that she is interested in the audio disks made at Ms. Greenleaf’s birthday party that Richard mentioned on Episode #300. Matt Miller shared his recent successes on tracing his Miller ancestors in New York City and Germany, and he shares four very important lessons that he learned. Read more at his blog post at https://matthewkmiller.blogspot.com/2016/05/miller-brickwall-shattered.html . Gus Marsh shares his Marsh brick wall from the Genesee County, New York, and asks for suggestions for locating more information about the Beekman Patent. Drew reviews a new book by Lisa A. Alzo titled The Family Tree Polish, Czech, and Slovak Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Fami
Thu, May 12, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #306 - 2016 May 9
The news includes: Congratulations to Drew Smith on his receipt of the 2016 Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship! He received the prestigious award on 3 May 2016 at Librarians Day at the National Genealogical Society’s 2016 Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Evidentia has just hired Elizabeth Swanay-O’Neal as its new Director of Marketing and Social Media. MyHeritage has just launched its new MyHeritage Community section, a new online Q&A hub that fosters family history research collaboration. RootsMagic has added support and hints from Findmypast.com to Version 7 of its software, joining hints from FamilySearch and MyHeritage. The addition of Ancestry hints is under development and there are plans for implementation later this year. Findmypast has added 5.4 million Yorkshire records and over 10 million new U.S. marriage records to its collections. The Federation of Genealogical Societies has opened registration for its 2016 conference, "Time Travel: Centuries of Memories", to be held in Springfield, Illinois, on 31 August to 3 September 2016. An early bird discount is available. Visit http://www.FGSConference.org . Michael J. LeClerc, CG, has announced that Genealogy Professor has launched an exciting new educational opportunity for genealogists. Their offerings include self-paced courses and genealogy master classes. More information is available at http://www.genprof.net . Bill Nelson of RevGenea Software, LLC, has announced the availability of a new, free Android app named OldNews USA that makes it easy to perform quality research using the Chronicling America collection of historic newspapers at the Library of Congress. Learn more about features and see screenshots at http://revgenea.com . The Grand Duchy of Oldenburg Emigrants database just passed the 100.000 person mark. Learn more at the blog at http://www.familienkunde-oldenburg.de/auswanderer-datenbank-enthaelt-jetzt-100-000-personen/ , and access the database at http://www.auswanderer-oldenburg.de . (Access the database using Google Chrome and translate the page from German to your preferred language.) Drew discusses the newest releases from FamilySearch. Listener email includes: In episode #305, Tom asked for suggestions about obtaining passport applications. George suggested contacting the USCIS. They referred Tom to NARA where he filled out a Freedom of Information Act request for the passport applications. He will keep us apprised of his progress. Alan poses a question concerning nieces and nephews who appear on census records in a family.
Mon, April 18, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #305 - 2016 April 17
The news includes: MyHeritage has released an exclusive book matching technology that matches 450,000 books with 91 million pages to match against your family tree and provide new hints. A new Jefferson Tayte genealogical mystery, Kindred , by Steve Robinson, has been published. The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) will hold its 36 th annual conference on August 7 to 12, 2016, at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle, Washington. Findmypast has released a significant collection concerning the Easter Rising and Ireland under Martial Law to commemorate the centennial of the event. They have also added 1.2 million Quaker records as the first phase of their project to add all surviving Irish Quaker records. Findmypast announced the renewal of their partnership with the Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS) for another ten years. Findmypast has published over 911,000 Royal Navy Pension records. Calico Pie, Ltd., announced the addition the addition of automatic record matching and hints for Findmypast databases to their Family Historian desktop software program. Drew recaps the new FamilySearch collections. Listener email includes: Michael responded to Debi’s inquiry about Kentucky ancestor Andrew Yandell and may be able to help her with that brick wall. Rich offers another suggestion for how to get the word out that might dispel long-held incorrect beliefs about a well-known person in the past. Arthur wants to share his research about his grandmother’s Jenkins line and asked for suggestions on how to accomplish this. He also has reached out to the USCIS for naturalization papers for his Eastern European family, and asked for other suggestions for tracing those ancestors. George complained that the Erie County, New York, Public Library has not responded to an ask-a-librarian inquiry. He seeks help from anyone who can check the city directories that include Williamsville, NY, for 1946-1948 for names of any orphanages operating in the area. Tom is seeking passport information about his wife’s mother and family, and asked for suggestions on where to obtain passport documentation. Drew and George each discuss recent research cases they have been working on. George urges listeners to visit their local libraries, and to support them by volunteering to work on genealogical and historical projects. Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States.
Tue, March 29, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #304 - 2016 March 27
The news includes: MyHeritage has released Family Tree Builder 8.0, a new version of its genealogy software program. There is also a new Audio Recordings feature in the MyHeritage mobile app. The Guild of One-Name Studies has implemented a major new project – The Guild Members’ Website Project. Learn more at http://one-name.org/the-members-websites-project-mwp . Mocavo has closed down and has been merged into Findmypast. Findmypast announced the release of new records. Drew recaps the new FamilySearch collections. The Guys discuss the activity initiated by J. Paul Hawthorne on Facebook wherein people compiled geographical pedigree charts showing the places of birth of five or more generations of their ancestors. Listener email includes: Mike asked The Guys for suggestions to help identify the origins of his ancestress, Ellen Delaney, who married Teunis Westdijk in Paterson, New Jersey. Drew responds to inquiries about the recent controversy concerning GEDmatch.com. Debi asks a question about a note found with an early Kentucky Land Grant file for her ancestor. Drew discusses his research on his great-grandmother, Elizabeth “Betty” Foshee, as a result of a DNA match and other evidence he has found. Visit the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website at http://ahaseminars.com for Our Speaking Schedule and join us at conferences across the United States.
Tue, March 08, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #303 - 2016 March 6
The news includes: MyHeritage introduces Record Detective II, a new technology that expands record matching capabilities to more than 2.2 billion new record matches. TLC has announced the celebrities for the Spring season of Who Do You Think You Are? which premieres on Sunday, 3 April 2016. Registration is now open for the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records at http://www.gen-fed.org . Calico Pie Limited has released an upgrade to its Family Historian program. Findmypast has added more indexed Irish records. FamilySearch announces that the transcriptions of the Freedmen’s Bureau have reached the halfway point, but more volunteers are needed. Drew recaps the new FamilySearch collections. Listener email includes: Michael shares his file name system. Chad is seeking information about genealogy degree and certificate programs. Jenny asks for tips for using GEDmatch. Debi shares two online newspaper resources for Oregon: Historic Oregon Newspapers at http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu Genealogical Forum of Oregon (GFO) at http://www.gfo.org . George shares an interesting story about a lock of hair for his ancestor John Hart, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Paul asks a question about copyright on translated/transcribed original documents, and another question about how to correct a long-standing piece of erroneous information. The Guys discuss the GEDCOM format and what it does. The Guys also discuss putting your ancestors into context in the community.
Wed, February 24, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #302 - 2016 February 21
The news includes: Aha! Seminars, Inc., celebrates its 20 th anniversary. Findmypast announces a number of partnerships as part of its U.S. growth strategy. Findmypast announces the beginning of the release of the largest online collection of U.S. marriages from 1650 to 2010. Findmypast announces the launch of 10 million Irish parish register records. Findmypast has made its 1939 U.K. National Register browsable; announces 6.4 million new British newspaper articles; and more than 45K new images in its PERSI collection. RootsMagic has announced that its software will be able to display Ancestry.com hints, search for Ancestry records, and share data with your Ancestry tree, all from within RootsMagic. RootsMagic has also announced that it will be adding the ability to include hints from Findmypast. MyHeritage introduces a new Family Tree Builder software version 8.0 that includes rewritten internal infrastructure that supports very large family trees (up to 500,000 individuals) and accelerates performance. The Suzanne Winsor Freeman Grant Committee and the Southern California Genealogical Society have announced that applications are being accepted for the 2016 Student Genealogy Grant. Applicants between the ages of 18 and 23 and a current student are eligible for the $500 cash award and a full registration scholarship to the 2016 SCGS Jamboree to be held in Burbank, California, on 3-6 June. Application deadline is midnight PDT on 20 March 2016. Full details are available at http://thefamilycurator.com/swf-grant/ . Ancestry.com announces the launch of 10 million Irish parish register records. Drew recaps the recent releases of records by FamilySearch. A new family history-related reality show titled Relative Race premieres on Sunday, 28 February 2016, on BYUtv. An eight-episode docu-series, Long Lost Family , will premiere on Sunday, 6 March 2016, on TLC. Listener email includes: Jody would like to connect with joshthegenealogistguy. He should send an email to The Guys at genealogyguys@gmail.com and we will help them connect with one another. Geoff asks about source and file naming conventions. Nancy writes to share the NYS Historic Newspapers site at http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/ . Mac’s New Year’s Resolution is to blog more, and an example can be found at ( http://aweekofgenealogy.com/finding-joseph-mcmahon-and-the-51st-pioneer-infantry-regiment-ny-company-b/ ) Carla asks for suggestions for locating church records in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The
Tue, February 02, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #301 - 2016 January 31
The news includes: · MyHeritage has added Audio Recordings to its mobile app. · Evidentia has filled all the preorders for The Evidentia Companion and has produced a supplemental Evidentia Quicksheet Guide . · RootsMagic is shipping backorders of its book, and an e-book is also now available. · The Federation of Genealogical Societies has surpassed the $2 million mark in its fundraising efforts for the Preserve the Pensions project. · Findmypast and its sister site Mocavo have come together, and all of the free materials at Mocavo will continue to be free. Findmypast has released a number of new collections including the England, Phillimore Marriage Registers, Scotland Registers & Records, additional Irish Newspapers, and others. · The National Archives in the UK has announced new prices for a variety of services, effective February 1, 2016. · FamilySearch, in partnership with Ancestry.com, has released more than 220 million new searchable Mexican birth, marriage, and death records dating back to the 1500s. The Guys provide a recap of upcoming conferences, seminars, and webinars that they will be presenting in the next several months. Listener email includes: · Richard acquired audio discs recording the 80th birthday of Mary Page Greenleaf, and reports that he made a typo on the date of the event. It should have been 21 September 1954. Listeners Donna and Lucia report that they have uncovered more information about the lady, and The Guys will forward their emails to Richard for follow-up. · Matt is seeking suggestions to help locate information about his Houghtaling ancestors in New York state. · Chris acquired a book in 2014 on the Dyer family in Oregon that came with an envelope with over 200 black-and-white original photographs, as well as draft pages for inclusion in a future edition of the book. He would like some assistance in locating any descendants so that he can get the pictures to the appropriate owner. He can be reached at chistopher.hettinger@gmail.com . · Jackie asked for clarification about transcribing newspapers and other, more modern documents, and the benefit of doing so. · Jim had questions about the new Newspapers.com Publisher Extra, a subscription service that provides unique access to many newspapers' archives that are still under copyright. · Jenny had a couple of DNA questions concerning her husband's Y-DNA test results and potential matches.
Wed, January 20, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #300 - 2016 January 18
The Guys are pleased to announce their 300th episode of the podcast. The news includes: · Evidentia has been reviewed by the Federation of Genealogical Societies FORUM magazine in its Winter 2015 issue. · D. Joshua Taylor has been appointed president of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. · MyHeritage has been featured on the popular Israeli TV program HaTsinor. You can view the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZJ--TAM2q0 . · The New England Historic Genealogical Society has partnered with the Congregational Library & Archives to digitize more than 28,000 pages of early manuscript church records, 1641 to the mid-1800s. · ScotlandsPeople has released new Scottish births, marriages, and deaths from the 20th century. · Findmypast has released updates to its Irish and British newspapers collections. · The Guild of One-Name studies released its membership numbers for 2015. They have reached a new membership landmark. · Drew provides a recap of new and updated FamilySearch collections. Listener email includes: · Richard has acquired audio discs recording the 80th birthday of Mary Page Greenleaf on 21 September 1984, probably in Northern California. He is trying to locate relatives or descendants in order to restore the discs to the family. He would appreciate any assistance from our listeners. · Debbie provides a link to an interesting article about how one man rescued files from the norm Berg Trials after World War II. The digitized files can be freely accessed at Cornell University. The article can be found at http://ezramagazine.cornell.edu/Update/Nov15/EU.Nuremberg.collex.html . · Tom asked for information about where on the MyHeritage website their digitized books and publications can be found. · Jenny reports in a follow-up email that her father's Y-DNA finally has a very close match. · Doug asks for recommendations about transcribing and what The Guys actually do. · Eddie shares information about a Mac genealogy database program called GEDitCOM. · Danny, Barb, and Melissa shared their research goals and projects for 2016.
Fri, January 01, 2016
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #299 - 2015 December 31
The Guys announce that Drew’s new book, Organize Your Genealogy , to be published by Family Tree Books, will be released on 1 July 2016. It is available for pre-order at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. The news includes: · RootsMagic has released an update to its RM7 software to facilitate migration of Family Tree Maker (FTM) data. · MyHeritage offers its Family Tree Builder for PC and Mac with tree-syncing capabilities with their online tree. · MyHeritage announces the addition of a huge and diverse free collection of over 150,000 digitized books relevant to family history. · Findmypast has recently added new materials, including additions to the British Newspapers and a quarterly update to the Periodical Source Index (PERSI). · FamilySearch, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) have announced exciting milestones in the historic Freedmen’s Bureau Project ( DiscoverFreedmen.org ). · Drew recaps recent additions and updates to FamilySearch. · The National Institute on Genealogical Research has announced that the institute’s name was changed on 22 December 2015 to the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) and its website is now located at http://www.gen-fed.org . Listener email includes: · Discussions continue about Ancestry.com’s retirement of its Family Tree Maker desktop genealogy software. Opinions are expressed about whether to change to another software program, remain with the existing program, or migrate to a cloud-based family tree facility. The Guys discuss their upcoming genealogical research goals and projects for 2016. They also want to hear about yours!
Tue, December 15, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #298 - 2015 December 14
In this themed episode, George and Drew discuss desktop genealogy software. The episode begins with Drew's quoting from the Ancestry.com announcement about retiring Family Tree Maker. George and Drew discuss what programs they have used over the years, and Drew provides a history of the Family Tree Maker product. Drew and George explain what GEDCOM means and why it is useful, and discuss issues involving syncing of any kind of data. Finally, the Guys make recommendations as to what genealogists can do going forward.
Tue, December 01, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #297 - 2015 November 29
Listen to the ads for RootsMagic and Evidentia for great holiday savings for a limited time! The news includes: · RootsMagic announces the availability of Personal Historian for the Mac, a new book, videos, and a Facebook group for users. You can also install PH on both a PC and a Mac with the same user key. · The Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG) is accepting applications for a $225 scholarship to the 5th Annual Forensic Genealogy Institute (FGI), to be held March 10-12, 2016. Registration for the FGI is open at http://www.forensicgenealogists.org/institute/ . The scholarship is open to anyone wishing financial assistance to attend. Send a request of not more than 400 words to institute@forensicgenealogists.org explaining how the scholarship might best help you in the field of forensic genealogy. Deadline is Friday, December 4th, 2015. · MyHeritage adds a new search innovation called SearchConnectTM which enables users to connect with others who are searching for the same ancestors or relatives and to take advantage of search synergies. · Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will be one of the keynote speakers at RootsTech on Saturday, February 6, 2016. · The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) has elected Billie Stone Fogarty as president for 2016-2017. · Findmypast has announced the release of a number of new collections and the addition of 3.7 million new articles to its Historic British Newspapers collection. FamilySearch has marked the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War by releasing two new online collections of records of casualty records from NARA. · Drew highlights new and updated record collections at FamilySearch. Book Review: George reviews an excellent new book by Kerry Scott, How to Use Evernote for Genealogy: A Step-by-Step Guide to Organize Your Research and Boost Your Genealogy Productivity . Listener email includes: Jim asks about DNA.land at https://dna.land and how it compares to GedMatch. · George recaps his research information for Nona concerning her Suit/Suits family in the Rome, Georgia, area. · Mike would like to connect with Ryan regarding New Jersey death records. · Michael has questions about the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) and the Social Security Applications and Claims collection now at Ancestry.com. · Kathy has questions about the Wilson families of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. George restates the information about two books he mentioned on an earlier podcast, and he will check again for possible family connection in his ancestral line. The books are: Alexander, John Brevard: Biographical sk
Tue, November 03, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #296 - 2015 November 1
The news includes: · MyHeritage.com has released 46 million Swedish Household Records (1880-1920) with images indexed. George describes how easy it was to find a specific family. · The Germanic Genealogy Society and the German DAGV (Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft genealogischer Verbände (German umbrella organization)) joined forces for a partnership called "Bridging the Gap between North America and Europe for Genealogists“. More information is available at http://www.ggsmn.org/cpage.php?pt=68 . · RootsMagic announces that a single RootsMagic license covers both your PC and Mac. They have also released two new free Magic Guides: Creating a Shareable CD and Downloading and Installing RootsMagic for Mac . · The New England Historic Genealogical Society has opened its Cemetery Collection on AmericanAncestors.org for free through November 7. · Evidentia is working on Version 3 but does not expect it to be ready for RootsTech 2016 in February. They are, however working on new user guides and tutorial videos. · The International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE) announces that the 2016 Excellence-in-Writing Competition is now open for entries through June 2016. Full details are available at http://isfhwe.com/competition.php . · The Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) has announced that it will relocate its annual immersion classes in 2017 to the University of Georgia in Athens, and will be supported by the Georgia Genealogical Society. · Findmypast.com has recently added new collections, including: England & Wales, Electoral Registers, 1832-1932; Britain, Absentee Voters Lists 1918-1921; Ireland Electoral Registers 1885-1886; New York Baptisms 1660-1862; New York Marriages 1639-1900; and New York Deaths & Burials 1758-1862. · Findmypast.com opens its new collection, the 1939 Register of England and Wales on November 2, 2015, with records of more than 41 million people. · The Illinois State Genealogical Society has announced the ISGS 2016 Webinar Series. Details are available at http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=227 . · The FamilySearch Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, celebrated its 30 th anniversary on October 23, 2015. · Drew highlights the FamilySearch.org collections updates for October 2015. Listener email includes: · Nona asked George to talk about research in the Rome, Georgia, area. She provided some names and George conducted searches in online municipal cemetery records. He discusses resources in that area which he has used. · Jim writes about a new genealogical crime mystery by Nathan Dylan Goodwin. It is The America Ground , a Morton Farrier Forensic Genealogist Story. Drew has read and re
Tue, October 06, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #295 - 2015 October 4
The news includes: · RootsMagic announces the availability of updates for the iOS and Android apps. · The city of St. Augustine, Florida, celebrated the 450th anniversary of its settlement by the Spanish on September 6, 2015. The Los Floridanos Society also held a reunion where genealogical information was exchanged, and DNA samples were collected for a study by Dr. Theodore Schurr of the University of Pennsylvania. · Ancestry.com launched the largest online collection of wills and probate records in the United States in September, more than 170 million documents from 1668-2005. · Ancestry.com has renewed its digitization partnership agreement with the National Archives and Records Administration. · AncestryDNA launched a new feature that allows individuals to share their ethnicity results. · The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) announced the publication of The Great Migration Directory, Immigrants to New England, 1620-1640: A Concise Compendium by award-winning genealogist Robert Charles Anderson. · FamilySearch.org announced that registration for RootsTech 2016 is now open. · FamilySearch.org has added more than 2.7 million searchable historical records from the 1915 New Jersey State Census to its free online collections. The images are available on microfilm and they can be ordered for use at Family History Centers. · Findmypast.com and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society have made thousands of documents and records from the society’s eLibrary available to search online at Findmypast.com. Book Reviews: George reviews two great new books by Jennifer Holik that focus on military research from the World War II era. They are: Stories from the World War II Battlefield – Volume 1 Reconstructing Army, Air Corps, and National Guard Service Stories from the World War II Battlefield – Volume 2 Navigating Service Records for the Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Merchant Marines Listener email includes: Gus extends his thanks to the listeners who provided their great translation of the information on Herb DeNoble’s tombstone relating to his unit during World War I. Angela and her son Luke shared some helpful and interesting information for genealogical research at Veritas Prep at http://wwww.veritasprep.com/genealogy-resources-by-veritas-prep/ . Ryan is looking for information about the death of his great-grandmother in 1954. Debi asked for the names of the two books mentioned by George about Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. They are: Alexander, John Brevard: Biographical sketches of the early settlers of the Hopewell section and reminiscences of pioneers and their descendants by families . (Originally published in 1897 in Charlotte, NC, by the
Tue, September 08, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #294 - 2015 September 7
George and Drew celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The Genealogy Guys Podcast by sharing their thoughts on the genealogy research process.
Thu, September 03, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #293 - 2015 August 31
The news includes: Leister Productions has released a new version of its genealogy software, Reunion 11. The New England Historic Genealogical Society has reached an agreement to publish the journal The Mayflower Descendent , for the next 10 years. NEHGS has appointed Christopher C. Child as editor of the journal. FamilySearch had a total of 82,039 volunteers help during its worldwide indexing the event, held August 7-14, 2015. The Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy has announced its fifth annual Forensic Genealogy Institute to be held 10-12 March 2016 at The Historic Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. The Family History Library has announced free online classes for September 2015. Findmypast has released new records for Northumberland, British Army Casualties (War of 1812), the British Jewry Book of Honour (1914-1920), Scottish Covenanters (1679-1688), Probate Calendars of England & Wales (1858-1959), and Hertfordshire records. FamilySearch has opened a new Family Discovery Center in Bellevue, Washington. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has broken ground for a first-of-its-kind facility in St. George, Utah. Drew discusses new FamilySearch collections published at its website in August 2015. Listener email includes: Gabriella asks for suggestions for finding her family of Hispanic descent in Mexico (originally from Northern Spain) and George provides several suggestions Mahlon and Lucia responded to Gus's question in the last podcast and provided an interpretation of a World War I tombstone inscription: WAGR 356 AMB CO. Cheryl has a question about a collateral ancestor who was working in Germany in 1930, and whether he would've been enumerated in the 1930 US Federal Census. Jim reports that Tom Neel, Library Director for the Ohio Genealogical Society, provided information about Simon P. Rice of Company K, 66th OVI. Mike asked for suggestions for locating English ancestors in Cornwall, England, and George provides some suggestions. The Guys discuss some favorite research facilities available on the Internet. Drew discusses Ancestry.com's new In Common DNA matching facility and how it can help in triangulation of common genetic ancestors. George discusses his recent successes using MyHeritage.com’s Smart Matches suggested by the site and other researchers. He also discusses RootsMagic’s hints facilities that interface with both FamilySearch and MyHeritage, and the excellent matching results that these have provided in his research. Drew also dis
Sat, August 15, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #292 - 2015 August 13
Drew goes solo this episode, hinting at an upcoming book and announcing his new Evernote "Genealogy at a Glance" publication . He lets Amazon Echo users know that The Genealogy Guys Podcast is now available via TuneIn. And he is pleased to announce that Family Tree Magazine has selected the Podcast as one of their 101 Best Websites for 2015! News includes: RootsMagic provides updates to address issues with FamilySearch changes and the new Windows 10. Ancestry launches a new free service in beta, AncestryHealth, and also announces that 1 million users have tested with AncestryDNA. Findmypast has added military school records, more Norfolk parish records, more Irish newspapers, and an update to PERSI. The Guild of One-Name Studies has added its 7000th member. FamilySearch and the LDS Church History Library has redesigned the Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel website. FamilySearch has released tens of millions of new images and new indexed records from the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Listener email includes: Pat’s story about the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters records. Peter’s humorous discovery involving an ancestor related in more than one way. Gus’s investigation of his maternal-side Lange family from Norway. Patti’s use of an unusual record set to add credence to a family story. Tracie’s disappointment with an online subscription service. Sherlene’s attempt to discover the identities of a couple in a combination photo that is marked only as being Lankfords from Clay County, Indiana. Gus’s hope that listeners can identify a gravestone marking that refers to World War I service on the Iowa, using the abbreviation WAGR 356 AMB CO.
Sat, July 11, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #291 - 2015 July 8
The news includes: · MyHeritage has launched a new technology called Global Name Translation to power its Family History Discoveries. The technology automatically translates names found in historical records and family trees from one language into another, with high accuracy, generating all the plausible translations. · Evidentia has released its new software version 2.4, with revised citation templates based on Evidence Explained , 3 rd edition. · FamilySearch International has appointed Steve Rockwood as President and CEO effective 1 October 2015 to replace Dennis Brimhall, who will retire. · The National Library of Ireland has just released the digitized images of Irish parish registers at http://registers.nli.ie/ . · Heredis has announced the new version Heredis 2015 for Windows and Mac. · Findmypast has announced the availability of the Findmypast Library Edition as a subscription offering for libraries and other organizations in the United States. · Drew discusses FamilySearch's recent release of more than 15.6 million indexed records and images for its website. The Guys discuss upcoming appearances and the Florida Genealogical Society (Tampa)'s annual Fall Seminar with special guest Cyndi Ingle. The Guys share George's recent interview with noted genealogy speaker and writer Lisa Alzo. Listener email includes: · Bill has questions about DNA testing and methods of retrieving the data. · Daniel discusses problems with uploading a GEDCOM file to FamilySearch. · Steve recounts his recent successes with his great-grandfather, based on a suggestion from The Guys and recent additions of new data collections at Ancestry.com.
Wed, June 24, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #290 - 2015 June 22
The news includes: · FamilySearch has announced an important project to digitize and index the Freedmen’s Bureau Records. Learn more at http://discoverfreedmen.org . · Ancestry.com has released its new version of its website with timeline and storytelling features. · Ancestry.com’s new online courses at Ancestry Academy at https://www.ancestry.com/academy has a wealth of courses with the best genealogical speakers presenting today. · Evidentia is reviewing its citation templates to insure accuracy and compliance with Elizabeth Shown Mills’ new third edition of Evidence Explained . · MyHeritage has taken its Instant Discoveries filming to the streets of Oslo, with video available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9wE_3Luh4I . · Findmypast announces the release of new records. · An update to the Iowa Prison Memory Project is announced, · Drew discusses the more than 3.7 million new records released by FamilySearch in recent weeks. Listener email includes: · Steven discuses a Boston city directory from 1848 that included monument transcriptions from Auburn Cemetery. · Arthur wants to know if The Guys are planning another research trip to England. The Guys ask whether there is interest in another trip. · Steven provides a tip for locating obituaries of married women. · Carole shares information about genealogical mystery books. · Matt shares details about old newspaper articles that paint a “Wild West story.” · Jen Baldwin provides a clarification about the recent release of Quaker records at findmypast.com Drew discusses his recent experience in receiving an unexpected email about his Smith ancestors. The Guys discuss research strategies for FamilySearch’s Descendency View.
Sat, May 30, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #289 - 2015 May 28
Listen to The Guys on the “Talk Back Florida” radio show broadcast on Saturday, 23 May 2015. The recorded broadcast is available at http://www.newstalkflorida.com/talk-back-florida-creating-your-family-tree-with-the-genealogy-guys/ . The news includes: · MyHeritage has unveiled their new MyHeritage Stories website, showcasing some videos and stories capturing amazing discoveries made by users around the world. It can be found at http://www.myheritage.com/stories . (A link labeled User Stories can also be found at the bottom of the MyHeritage website.) · The Federation of Genealogical Societies has announced new editors of their electronic FORUM Magazine. Julie Tarr is the new Managing Editor and Jennifer Alford is the new Associate Editor. Congratulations! · Drew discusses the more than 13.4 million new records released by FamilySearch in recent weeks. · Findmypast has released a large collection of Dublin Workhouse records and additions to British newspapers. The Guys review new books and magazines available for your reading and reference pleasure. All of the items are available through Amazon.com unless otherwise noted. The list includes: The In-Depth Genealogist is a publishing company that provides educational resources to the genealogical community. Drew reviews: Going In-Depth magazine and a new book, Ancestors in a Nation Divided: An In-Depth Guide to Researching Your Civil War Ancestors , by Cindy Freed. Other reviews include: George reviews Discover English Parish Registers , and Buried Treasure: What's in the English Parish Chest , both written by Paul Milner and published by Unlock the Past. The books are available at their website at http://www.unlockthepast.com.au . Drew reviews Photo Organizing Practices: Daguerreotypes to Digital by Maureen A. Taylor. He also reviews How to Archive Family Photos: A Step-by-Step Guide to Organize and Share Your Photos Digitally by Denise May Levenick. George reviews James M. Beidler’s book, the fourth edition of The Best of Roots & Branches . The book is available through the online store of the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society at http://www.biblio.com/bookstore/lancaster-mennonite-historical-society-lancaster/genealogy-genealogical-research-aids . George reviews a new book, Guide to Hanover Military Records, 1514-1866, on Microfilm at the Family History Library by Teresa S. McMillin, CG. Drew reviews a new book, When Descendents Become Ancestors by David A. Kendall,
Tue, May 12, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #288 - 2015 May 11
Drew shares two interviews that the Guys conducted while they were at the 2015 Conference of the Ohio Genealogical Society: Kris Rzepczynski, Senior Archivist at the Archives of Michigan, who tells the Guys all about the Seeking Michigan website and the great records in his archives Cyndi Ingle, speaker, writer, and the person behind the amazing Cyndi's List website
Tue, May 05, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #287 - 2015 May 3
This episode focuses on death records. The news includes: MyHeritage CEO Gilad Japhet has been involved with research about a fascinating story from World War II. A Jewish tailor named Savas escaped the Nazis when they invaded Corfu, along with his three daughters and another girl, and fled to the island of Erikoussa. The entire island of Erikoussa joined forces, at the risk of death, to provide refuge and to protect the secret of their identity from the Nazis. Descendents of Savas have been located, and a fascinating video of a news story aired in Israel is available for viewing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oijpqpx2gY . MyHeritage has just made its Instant Discoveries TM available for all members at their site. The Association of Professional Genealogists has announced membership discounts for younger and retiring genealogists. Catholic Church Registers have been digitized and will be made available at the National Library of Ireland website on 8 July 2015. Genealogist Donna Moughty, an expert on Irish genealogical research, clarified what will be included and the fact that there will be no indexes available at that site. Ancestry.com will relaunch their website with a number of new features, including LifeStory and Historical Insights, and enhancements to the Facts View and Media Gallery. Findmypast has released many new records, including the ANZAC Prisoners of War collection, new records for Australia and the United Kingdom, new additions to the British Newspapers collection, new images for PERSI, and a substantial collection of Quaker birth, marriage, and burial records spanning the years 1578 to 1841. The FamilySearch Historical Book Collection online has reached a milestone of 200,000 digital books available through its website. Drew recaps the almost 30,000,000 records added by FamilySearch to its website in the last month. Drew and George have an in-depth discussion about death-related records. Of special interest is Drew's discussion of the International Classification of Diseases that can be found at the Wolfbane site at http://www.wolfbane.com/icd .
Tue, April 07, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #286 - 2015 April 5
The news includes: · The Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Student Genealogy Grant Committee has announced that applications are being accepted for the 2015 Student Genealogy award. Student genealogists between the ages of 18 and 23 are eligible to apply for the award. Application deadline is April 10, 2015 at midnight PDT. Details and forms are available at the Student Grant Webpage at http://www.thefamilycurator.com/swf-grant . · MyHeritage will hold a free webinar on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, on How to Discover Your Scandinavian Ancestors. · The Ontario Genealogical Society will host its 2015 conference on May 29-31 at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario, with the theme "Treks through Time". · Ancestry.com has announced a new innovation at AncestryDNA called New Ancestor Discoveries. · Findmypast released new military records for the United States and Britain. · The Federation of Genealogical Societies issued a statement concerning the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act. It states its position and supports non-discrimination and non-bullying policies in all of its activities, including selection of conference facilities and vendors. · RootsMagic has established a new Virtual RootsMagic User Group on Facebook. · Ancestral Connections, the Irish Genealogy Summer School held at University College Cork will run 28 June-5 July 2015. Booking is available at http://www.ucc.ie/en/ace-genealogy . · The Global Family Reunion has launched a crowdfunding campaign for its event on June 6, 2015, in New York City. · FamilySearch has announced that the Knowles Collection, a quickly growing, free online Jewish genealogy database, has reached its one million record milestone. They can be accessed at http://FamilySearch.org/family-trees . · Drew discusses highlights of the more than 8 million records recently added to FamilySearch. Listener email includes: · The Guys have received numerous compliments on its recent topical podcast concerning newspaper research. · Kelvin recently discovered Historic Oregon Newspapers free online at http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/. · Jim reports that the Gilbert and Martha Hitchcock Foundation has funded the digitizing and availability of the Omaha World Herold newspaper from 1867 to 1983. The collection is accessible through the Omaha Public Library with the use of a library card to login. · Jana tells us of the new blog titled "The Genealogy Kids" at www.thegenealogykids.blogspot.com which also links to videos. · Tracie asks whether the church records being released this summer by The National Library of Ireland will include records from Northern Ireland. Listeners are encouraged to share any information they know with The Guys. · There is a new J
Tue, March 17, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #285 - 2015 March 15
This episode focuses on Newspaper Research . · Google Newspaper Archive – free, 1700s-2009, worldwide coverage, OCR. https://news.google.com/newspapers · Fulton History – free, 1795-2007, but almost exclusively New York State, OCR. http://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html · Elephind – free, 1803-present, OCR. Over 2700 titles, of which over 1000 are from Chronicling America. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. https://www.elephind.com · GenealogyBank (personal subscription, $20/month, $70/annual, over 7000 titles, 1690-present) and America’s GenealogyBank (library subscription, over 4200 titles, 1690-1922) – product of NewsBank, OCR. http://www.genealogybank.com · ProQuest Historical Newspapers (library subscription only) – major U.S. cities, international newspapers, African-American newspapers, Jewish newspapers. OCR. · Newspapers.com (personal subscription, $8/month, $80/annual, over 3400 titles, 1700s-2000s) – OCR. http://www.newspapers.com · NewspaperARCHIVE.com (personal subscription, $100/6 months, over 6200 titles, 1607-present) – OCR. http://newspaperarchive.com · Access World News (library subscription, over 2400 titles) – 1977-present, product of NewsBank, born digital. For additional reading, we recommend: Breland, Claudia C. Searching for Your Ancestors in Historic Newspapers . CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 2014.
Fri, March 06, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #284 - 2015 March 4
The news includes: · RootsMagic has more than 40 free online classes in the form of recorded webinars at its website. MyHeritage announces: o They have added 900 million records to its global digital archive. o They have added millions of new records from Scandinavia, including the 1930 Danish census and the Swedish Household Examination Rolls from 1880-1920, with more scheduled for addition this year. · Their Family Tree Builder software is now available for the Mac, and a native Mac version is in the advanced stages of development. · The Federation of Genealogical Societies has announced several important items: o Registration is underway for the FGS 2015 Regional Conference in Syracuse, NY, on 17-19 September 2015. o The FGS Alaska Cruise sails from Seattle, WA, for its voyage on 28 August through 4 September 2015. o The Call for Presentation Proposals for the 2016 FGS Conference in Springfield, IL, has been released. Proposals are due by 10 April 2015. · Findmypast has made a number of important announcements recently: o Listen to the podcast for specifics about Findmypast’s fee access to all records this coming weekend. o They have released 2.5 million new British newspaper articles to their collection; British Army Bond of Sacrifice records; East London Marriages; Derby Railway Servant’s Orphanage Registers; Irish Poverty Relief Loan records; British Merchant Navy WW1 Medal Index Cards; Dorset BMDs; and another 101 million US, UK, and Australian records. o The company has partnered with the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society to bring wider access to New York records. o They have announced a partnership with BillionGraves to bring more than 12 million grave marker indexes available. o The company has begun offering DNA testing to its customers through a new partnership with FamilyTreeDNA. · The British Library has opened its new National Newspaper Building for long-term archival storage and retrieval at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. · The National Library of Ireland ahs announced that it will give free online access this summer to its Catholic Church Records collection, the earliest of which dates back to the early 1700s. · Ancestry.com has announced major developments for 2015: o The website will receive a new and easier to use look. o It’s iOS mobile app will introduce a full search feature to access their more than 15 billion records online. o The company will launch Ancestry Academy in April 2015 with excellent educational videos on a wide array of topics. o AncestryDNA is being improved in the US and UK markets, and AncestryDNA is being launched in Australia and Canada soon. o Later this year, Ancestry will announce resources for users in Germany and Mexico. o Many new record collections are planned for launch later this year for the US, Australi
Wed, February 25, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #283 - 2015 February 24
Drew and George have returned from RootsTech 2015 (a combined conference with the Federation of Genealogical Societies), and they share their interviews with: Jill Crandell of ResearchTies Ed Zapletal of Moorshead Magazines Angie Bush, a genealogist specializing in DNA A.J. Jacobs, the well-known journalist behind the upcoming Global Family Reunion event
Sun, February 08, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #282 - 2015 February 1
The Guys will be at the RootsTech/FGS 2015 Conference in Salt Lake City on 11-14 February. Visit with them at the Moorshead Magazines booth where they will be signing books on multiple occasions. George's new book, How to Do Everything: Genealogy (the 4th edition), has just been released by McGraw-Hill and is available in softcover and Kindle versions. Moorshead Magazines has just published a new laminated quick sheet, Brick Wall Research Strategies, written by George and Drew. It is based on their best-selling book, Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques . Both books and the new quick sheet will be available for sale at the Moorshead Magazines booth. The news includes: · MyHeritage has just released their Family Tree Builder software for the Mac. · FamilySearch has launched an App Gallery at their website that includes software applications for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. The Guys continue with a themed episode devoted to U.S. immigration and ships’ passenger lists.
Wed, January 14, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #281 - 2015 January 11
The news includes: · The early registration discount for the 2015 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference ends on January 23, 2015. The conference, in conjunction with RootsTech 2015, will be held in Salt Lake City on February 11-14, 2015. · Findmypast has introduced a new program for its 12-month subscribers, including webinars as well as discounts with several vendors. · Findmypast has announced the appointment of Ben Bennett as the new vice president of international business. · The ScotlandsPeople service has introduced Scottish statutory births for 1914, marriages for 1939, and deaths for 1964 at its site. · The British Ministry of Justice announced that their archive of 41 million wills dating back to 1858 have been made available online. Scanned copies of the wills can be ordered for a fee of ₤10. · GenSoftReviews has announced its Users Choice Awards for 2014 at http://www.gensoftreviews.com/awards.php . · FamilySearch announced the 10 most popular free online databases at their site. · Margie Beldin won the free all-access pass to RootsTech 2015 with her technical tip about enlarging the screen size on your computer and then resetting it back to its default with CTRL + 0 (for PC) or CMD + 0 (for Mac). Listener email included feedback on Episode #280 and The Guys' discussion about copyright: · Jim asked the question about downloading a photograph, cropping and editing it, and whether there is a violation of copyright law or ethics. He also comments on photographs uploaded to Find A Grave and to family trees on sites such as Ancestry.com. · Margaret has a copyright question about a collection of un-cataloged and un-indexed documents in a library that she encountered several years ago. She paid to have the papers microfilmed and then indexed and transcribed them herself, giving a copy of her work to the library. She has questions about to what extent she is allowed to use this collection and what copyright laws might apply to these old documents. · Julie wrote that she knows our discussion about copyright was geared primarily to an American audience, and that we used the expression "fair use" in the discussion. She tells us that there is a similar concept in the UK called "fair dealing". It does not have any statutory definition but is a legal term basically used to assist in determining if something is in compliance with copyright or not. She provided a link at https://www.gov.uk/exceptions-to-copyright that describes exceptions to copyright that allow limited use of copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright owner. · Suzanne asks a question about people who choose to be cremated and have their ashes scattered but don't have any kind of Cemetery Memorial. Whereas she uses Billion Graves and Find A Grave in her re
Thu, January 01, 2015
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #280 - 2015 January 1
The news includes: · MyHeritage has announced that they have entered into an agreement with the Danish National Archives to index census and parish records from 1646 to 1930 in their SuperSearch facility. · Moorshead Magazines, Ltd., has announced that they are changing the name of their Family Chronicle magazine to Your Genealogy Today , effective with the March/April 2015 issue. · George’s new book, How to Do Everything: Genealogy , 4th edition, will be released by McGraw-Hill on 16 January 2015 and will ship from Amazon and Barnes & Noble thereafter. The Kindle version of the book will follow shortly. · George and Drew have written a new genealogy quicksheet called “Brick Wall Research Strategies” that will be published by Moorshead Magazines, Ltd., later in January. It is based on their best-selling book, Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques . The Guys present a themed discussion about “Copyright for Genealogists,” with a focus on photographs. The Guys welcome your questions and comments on this subject at genealogyguys@gmail.com . The winner of the All-Access Pass to RootsTech 2015 is Bill Wheeler. The Guys have notified him and will advise RootsTech 2015 to contact to make arrangements with him. Congratulations, Bill! We’ll see you in Salt Lake City next month! [UPDATE: As it turns out, Bill will be unable to attend RootsTech this year, so the new winner of the All-Access RootsTech 2015 Pass is Margie Beldin! We'll share her tech tip in the next episode. Congratulations, Margie!]
Sun, December 21, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #279 - 2014 December 20
There are date-sensitive announcements in this podcast episode. The Genealogy GuysSM announce additional keynote speakers for RootsTech 2015. The Guys are RootsTech 2015 Ambassadors. You can win a free all-access pass to RootsTech 2015 from The Genealogy Guys Podcast! Simply submit your best technology tip for genealogy to The Guys. Send your tip to us at genealogyguys@gmail.com. Entries must be received by midnight Eastern Time on 31 December 2014. Include your name, address, email address, and telephone number. The news includes: MyHeritage has launched a new facility called Instant DiscoveriesTM that provides first-time users information about their ancestors and relatives while signing up for MyHeritage. Watch the video at ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQYCO1hFskU ) to learn more. MyHeritage continues its challenge to preserve and digitize cemeteries worldwide. It recently spent a day at Israel's largest cemetery, Holon, with a small army of volunteers, and photographed 150,000 gravestones. Family Tree DNA has a sale on their DNA tests through 31 December 2014, including the Family Finder (autosomal), Y-DNA, and mitochondrial DNA tests. The National Library of Ireland is digitizing more than 400,000 images of Catholic parish record microfilms and publishing them online for free. The images will be online by the summer of 2015. The National Library of Australia now has the largest freely available collection of digitized newspapers in the world, with the 15-millionth page going online in December at its award-winning website, Trove ( http://trove.nla.gov.au ). The Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research offers a new interactive option for courses. Learn more at http://vigrgenealogy.com . Findmypast has announced the release of millions of new records for the United States, England, Wales, Ireland, and Australia. <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-a
Mon, December 01, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #278 - 2014 November 29
The news includes: · RootsMagic has released new Version 7 of its award-winning software. · MyHeritage has announced two strategic partnerships with Dutch genealogy services Alfaer and Coret Genealogie, and has launched a national TV marketing initiative in the Netherlands. · MyHeritage and Family Historian, the genealogy software package created by Calico Pie, Ltd., have jointly announced that MyHeritage’s Smart Matching TM and Record Matching technologies will be integrated into the software. · MyHeritage and RootsMagic have jointly announced that MyHeritage’s Smart Matching TM and Record Matching technologies will be integrated into the software. These are included in the new RootsMagic 7. · The Federation of Genealogical Societies have announced their 2014 election results. · AncestryDNA has launched a new, enhanced DNA matching in the beta version of DNA Circles. · Findmypast has added the following records to its service: o 256,000 new wills and probate records and over 86,000 pages of Irish Directories and Social History records o Pettigrew & Oulton’s Dublin Almanac & Gen. Register of Ireland, over 1.7 million Devon Parish records, and over 250,000 Devon Wills. o 953,000 District of Columbia vital records, 18 new U.S. periodicals, new Irish Survey Maps & Plans, U.K. School Registers, and over 4,000 Prison Ship Registers (1811-1843). o Over 13 million Scottish births, baptisms, and marriages, 1.3 Irish newspaper articles, and 1895 Gazetteer for England and Wales, and U.S. records from Iowa, Oregon, and Arizona. · FamilySearch has added vast numbers of World War I U.S. draft registration records, U.K. World War I Service Records, and U.K. World War I Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps Records. · Drew recaps the new records added by FamilySearch in November 2014. · FamilySearch recaps 120 Years of Pioneering Genealogy, and provides statistics of FamilySearch as of October 2014. George shares information about genealogy apps, including: Pic Scanner (See the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae-xR9NRYvs .) Research Logger for iOS 8. · Wolfram Genealogy & History Research Assistant for iOS 8. Find A Grave for iOS 8. Drew reviews a new book: The Lost Ancestor: A Genealogical Crime Mystery by Nathan Dylan Goodwin. Listener email includes: · Barry A. Fleig announces a new database of cemetery interments in a forgotten cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, at http://cookcountycemetery.com . · Jitske shared an article about a Belgian woman who ‘adopted’ the grave of a World War I soldier buried in Flanders Field Cemetery in Belgium, and who endeavored to trace family members and their descendants. The complete article is currently available
Wed, November 12, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #277 - 2014 November 11
The news includes: · The Guys have been named RootsTech 2015 Ambassadors for the upcoming conference on February 11-14, 2015, in Salt Lake City. · RootsTech 2015 has announced two special speakers at the conference. They are: o A. J. Jacobs, host of the World's Largest Family Reunion o Donny Osmond, one of the biggest names in entertainment · The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) is accepting applications for their Young Professional Scholarship 2015. The deadline is 23 November 2014. To obtain a copy of the application, contact APG Executive Director Kathleen W. Hinckley, CG, at admin@apgen.org. · The Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG) is now accepting applications until Friday, 5 December 2014 for a $225 scholarship to the fourth Annual Forensic Genealogy Institute to be held 26-28 March 2015 in Dallas, Texas. Those wanting to apply for the scholarship but who have not yet registered for FGI can do so online at https://fgi2015.eventbrite.com before submitting their application. · The Federation of Genealogical Societies and the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society announced the FGS 2017 National Conference to be held 30 August - 2 September 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. · The Guild of One-Name Studies has announced the addition of several new services. MyHeritage has made several announcements: o Millions of new record collections have been added to their offering and their Smart Matches facility makes finding matches to your family tree very simple. o An enhanced family tree editor has been implemented that improves the process of adding people to your family tree, adding photos and videos, working with Smart Matches, and navigating the site. o MyHeritage has announced an important new collaboration and product integration between MyHeritage and 23andMe, the DNA testing firm. This new agreement joins a previously announced collaboration between the company and Family Tree DNA. o MyHeritage and EBSCO have partnered to launch an institutional version of its service, the MyHeritage Library EditionTM. This partnership brings MyHeritage to libraries and educational institutions worldwide. o FamilySearch has announced that the MyHeritage Library EditionTM is now available for free at every FamilySearch Family History Center worldwide and at the Family History Library. · WIkiTree.com has announced an important new feature for genealogists who have taken DNA tests with 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and Family Tree DNA. · The British Newspaper Archive has announced that it has reached the milestone of digitizing 9 million newspaper pages, with 282 British and Irish newspaper titles online. These are accessible through the company's website and through findmypast. · Findmypast has announced a major partnership with The Wall Street Journal's WSJ+ membership program. Members of WSJ+ can
Wed, October 22, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #276 - 2014 October 19
The news includes: · ICAPGen Conference will be held on Saturday, 1 November 2014, on the Brigham Young University campus in Salt Lake City, Utah. Details and the link to the conference registration can be found at www.icapgen.org. · MyHeritage and EBSCO have partnered to bring the service MyHeritage Library Edition to libraries and educational institutions. · The 35th International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) Conference will be held on 6-10 July 2015 in Jerusalem. Registration is now open for persons living outside of Israel; Israeli residents' registration will be announced. The conference will take place in cooperation with MyHeritage. · RootsMagic has announced a free update for existing Charting Companion 5 owners. RootsMagic has also added direct import support for The Master Genealogist (TMG) software users. · The State of Tennessee has announced its partnership with Ancestry.com and will become the first state to offer access to Ancestry.com in every K-12 classroom throughout the state. · The Board for Certification of Genealogists welcomes its new president, Jeanne Larzalere Bloom, and two new board members. · FamilySearch and GenealogyBank have announced an agreement to make over 1 billion records from historical newspapers searchable online. Volunteer indexers are needed, and more information is available at http://familysearch.org/indexing . · FamilySearch and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania announced a joint initiative to digitally preserved select collections of the historical society's holdings. · FamilySearch has announced a new facility for its Family Tree to upload audio files. They also announced the availability of two mobile apps. · The New England Historic Genealogical Society will host an exclusive evening on 13 November 2014 to honor critically acclaimed actress Dame Angela Lansbury at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston. Details are available at http://www.americanancestors.org/Lansbury/ . George begins a new series about available cell phone apps for the iOS and Android operating systems. He discusses the following: FamilySearch Tree (available for both platforms) FamilySearch Memories (available only for iOS) Pic Scanner (available only for iOS) Billion Graves Camera (available only for iOS) Drew reviews two new publications: Guide to DNA Testing by Richard Hill The Invisible History of the Human Race by Christine Kenneally Listener email includes: · Gus asks what software The Guys are using on their Macs to run Windows programs. · Jane asks about the availability of any free American newspaper websites that she could browse, particularly for New Jersey. · Julie asks for recommendations
Fri, October 03, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #275 - 2014 September 30
The news includes: · The Association of Professional Genealogists announced a Young Professional Discount for its 2015 Professional Management Conference. · Geni.com, a division of MyHeritage, announced that it now supports multilingual profiles. · RootsMagic announced that it now has direct file import support for the soon-to-be-discontinued program The Master Genealogist. · Registration is now open for the fourth annual Forensic Genealogy Institute (FGI) at www.forensicgenealogists.org/institute . FGI will be held on 26-28 March 2015 in Dallas, Texas. · The Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research will be presenting year-round educational genealogical courses. For more information, visit www.vigrgenealogy.com. · Findmypast has begun a new weekly records release program called Findmypast Fridays. The first release began on 19 September 2014 with many Irish county records. They've also released 4 million Yorkshire records online. The Guys review a number of new publications: Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic Version 6 by Bruce Buzbee Tracing Derry/Londonderry Roots by Brian Mitchell Searching for Your Ancestors in Historic Newspapers by Claudia C. Breland The Parrett Migration by Dawn Parrett Thurston Maryland Genealogy Research (a Genealogy at a Glance research guide) by Michael A. Ports · Two new laminated QuickSheet guides by Elizabeth Shown Mills: o Your Stripped-Bare Guide to Historical ‘Proof’ o Your Stripped-Bare Guide to Citing Sources Listener email includes: · Timo shares information about the German Church Book Portal (Archion), currently in beta test mode, at http://www.dergenealoge.de/archion-einblick-in-die-testphase . · Timo also shares information about the Verein für Computergenealogie (Computer Genealogy Society of Germany), which is the largest genealogical society in Germany, which hosts a large free online database with approximately 35,000,000 free records available. The website at http://www.genealogy.net will redirect you to http://www.genealogy.net . · Tom asked a question about interpreting the results from his mother's AncestryDNA test, specifically about the origins of her great grand parents and their ancestors. · Terri and her niece are attempting to interpret their DNA test results to figure out if they are actually half-sisters. · Matt writes about a project involving the scanning of old glass negatives of the Fort Madison State Penitentiary in Iowa. There are many inmate photographs, and paperwork associated with the prisoners was also found. That information is being matched being matched
Tue, September 09, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #274 - 2014 September 7
The Genealogy Guys are celebrating their 9th podcast anniversary. We began on 5 September 2005 and are still going strong! The news includes: · MyHeritage Founder and CEO, Gilad Japhet, has been featured in the news for his work in identifying heirs to stolen artwork and property seized by the Nazis during the 1930s and 1940s. See the video (with English sub-titles) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvPjrpse92o. · Findmypast has launched the “Hall of Heroes” at its website to celebrate the heroes in everyone’s family. · Findmypast has also launched over 240,000 UK new parish records. · The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) honored six of its members for their achievements and services. They also named Eva Goodwin as the winner of the APG Young Professional Scholarship. · RootsTech and the Federation of Genealogical Societies have opened registration for their combined conference in Salt Lake City in February 2015. (See https://registration.rootstech.org/2015/portal/newreg.ww and https://www.fgsconference.org . · Drew shares the latest release of records by FamilySearch. · Drew’s research for surviving family members of the boys who died at the Dozier School for Boys inspired a listener to send a link to the Knoxville News Sentinel about comparable abuses at the Okeechobee School for Boys. · RootsMagic has announced the availability of MacBridge software that will run RootsMagic on the Mac. Drew discusses an exciting link with a cousin using DNA that has revealed marriage records of Irish ancestors in England in 1861. Listener email includes: · One listener is seeking more information about a Civil War ancestor from Ohio, and asks the guys for additional research suggestions. · Julie had a poor experience with a researcher in the UK and asks for tips on handling this type of problem.
Thu, August 21, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #273 - 2014 August 18
The news includes: · Whollly Genes has announced the discontinuation of The Master Genealogist (TMG) genealogy database program. · RootsMagic’s Weekly Tips are on their blog and are available on Facebook if you Like and Follow their page there. · The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) has announced that registration for its 2015 APG Professional Management conference is now open. It will be held on 8-9 January 2015 at the Hilton Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. · Genealogical Publishing Company has just published a new laminated "Genealogy at a glance" sheet titled Scots-Irish Genealogy Research by Brian Mitchell. · The Family History Information Standards Organisation (FHISO) has announced that it is ready to begin the technical process of developing standards for genealogy. · The British Newspaper Archive has announced the beginning of digitization of eight new titles. There are more than 8 million newspaper pages from 1710-1954 online at their site, and they estimate that by 2021 there will be up to 40 million pages from historical newspapers across the UK and Ireland. · The National Archives (TNA) in the UK is implementing its new online catalog, Discovery, which will contain information about all the records held at TNA, records held in other archives, data from the National Register of Archives, ARCHON, Access to Archives (A2A), and the Manorial Documents Register (MDR). They are working to deliver a revised, updated, and online MDR on a county by county basis, in the Essex section is now complete. · Drew highlights the new collections for FamilySearch from 25 July 2014 and 15 August 2014 Listener email includes: · Jenny asks whether there is any point in having siblings take an autosomal DNA test. · Timothy asks about birth date discrepancies between an SS-5 and the SSDI. · Kelly wants to know what The Guys’ top 10 list of genealogy books for the beginner or intermediate genealogist might be. · Virginia asks if there is an easy way to play the downloaded podcast episodes in chronological sequence. · Mac asks about obtaining permission for screenshots for inclusion in books, and George shares insights from his experiences. · Jim is looking at the 1910 U.S. federal census for his father and cannot find him with his parents and siblings. He may have run away from home but Jim has questions. He also asked about Enumeration Districts and how to learn more information about them. · Eric is looking for information about his paternal line, which came from the Azores. The surname was Gomes, but has been misspelled as Gomez. He shares information about his research and how he got around a set of problems. Drew shares his excitement at connecting via a DNA match with a distant cousin who shared with him the places of origin of his Irish Bonnon and Hyland ancestors and the fact that they were married in West Brom
Mon, July 21, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #272 - 2014 July 20
The news includes: The new season of Who You Think You Are? begins on 23 July on the TLC Network. Ancestry.com has recovered from the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack on 16 June 2014, and Scott Sorensen, Chief Technology Officer, assures the public that no data was compromised. MyHeritage has made all of its World War I military records free to search through the end of July. They also will present their first interactive webinar highlighting their newly updated mobile app on Wednesday, 23 July 2014. RootsMagic has introduced its new Weekly Tips on their blog and, you can also see these by Liking RootsMagic on Facebook and Following them there. The British Newspaper Archive has recently added 240,000 new digitized newspaper pages to their subscription service. Blaine Bettinger has started a new website called "How-To DNA" at http://www.howtodna.com . The site will include short instructional videos for beginners as well as presentations and webcasts for the advanced genealogists, all created and produced by DNA experts. WikiTree has announced the DNA Ancestor Confirmation Aid, a tool to help genealogists confirm their ancestry. Findmypast.co.uk announced that it has bought Origins.net , the vast online subscription service with more than 156 million British, Scottish, and Irish records. Findmypast.co.uk announced that it has acquired Mocavo , the genealogy-focused Internet search engine. Drew highlights the new and updated collections from FamilySearch that have been added in the last month. The Georgia Archives , located in Morrow, Georgia, south of Atlanta, has announced that it has returned to a five-day operating week, Tuesday through Saturday. The South Carolina State Library is offering Digitization in a Box, a complete digitization solution, to the state's libraries to put their historic photos and documents online. The Library of Congress has collected more than 4,000 family records forms and registers. These are now being made available for free download, printing, and use at http://www.loc.gov/search/?q=+family+records+and+registers . The National Archives (TNA) in the UK has announced the release of digitized images for the following collections:
Fri, July 04, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #271 - 2014 July 4
Drew shares his last 2 interviews from the recent SCGS Genealogy Jamboree: Cyndi Ingle, noted genealogy speaker and writer, and the person behind Cyndi's List Katherine Hope Borges, DNA expert and Director of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG)
Sun, June 22, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #270 - 2014 June 22
Drew shares 3 more interviews from the recent SCGS Genealogy Jamboree: Denise Levenick, heirloom preservation expert and blogger at The Family Curator Daniel Horowitz, Chief Genealogist at MyHeritage Paul Woodbury, winner of the 2014 Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Student Genealogy Grant
Tue, June 17, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #269 - 2014 June 15
In addition to the latest news, Drew and George share interviews from the recent Southern California Genealogical Society's annual Genealogy Jamboree, with guests: Angela Walton-Raji, expert on African-American and Native American genealogical research, and host of the African Roots Podcast CeCe Moore, genealogical DNA expert and blogger at Your Genetic Genealogist
Wed, June 04, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #268 - 2014 June 2
The news includes: RootsMagic has released a new video on their YouTube channel titled " Using GenSmarts with RootsMagic for Research Help ". FamilySearch has released a number of important items: " Norway Celebrates Its 200 th Anniversary " U.S. Civil War Era Records " 15-Year-Old Organizes Unique Genealogy Event for Eagle Scout Project " Drew discusses the highlights of the most recent FamilySearch collection additions and updates The Federation of Genealogical Societies has announced several important events in 2015 and 2016: FGS will partner with RootsTech for a joint genealogy conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 11-14 February 2015. An Alaskan Cruise is planned for the Fall of 2015. The 2015 New York Regional Conference returns to Syracuse on 17-19 September 2015, and FGS will help host the conference as a regional convention. The FGS 2016 Conference will be held 31 August – 3 September 2016 in Springfield, Illinois. There are now over 8 million newspaper pages online at The British Newspaper Archive Findmypast.co.uk has added Devon parish records spanning 1538 to 1915. Unlock the Past Crusies has announced a genealogy cruise to the Baltic from 11 July 2015 to 25 July 2015. Listener email includes: Jim asks whether The Guys’ “Down Under: Florida” videos are still available online. The episode about “ The Zacchini Family ” is available on YouTube.com. The other two, “The Miltons” and “The Ashleys”, are no longer online, but The Guys will see if those can also be added to YouTube. Jim also poses a somewhat complex scenario and asks Drew whether DNA could help unravel a mystery. A listener shares another Boddy for inclusion in Drew's Boddie One-Name Study. Drew shares interviews he recorded at the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference with two great genealogists: J. H. "Jay" Fonkert, CG, from Minnesota Michael D. Lacopo from Indiana, blogger at Hoosier Daddy
Mon, May 26, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #267 - 2014 May 25
Drew continues to share interviews from the recent Ohio Genealogical Society annual conference, including: Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist Melissa Tennant, Assistant Manager of The Genealogy Center at the Allen County [Indiana] Public Library Dr. Deborah Abbott Tim Pinnick J. Mark Lowe
Sat, May 17, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #266 - 2014 May 14
The Guys begin with a recap of the Ohio Genealogical Society's 2014 conference in Sandusky, Ohio. The conference was a great success and kudos to the society and the organizers. The Guys will be at the Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree on June 6-8, 2014. The news includes: Randy Riley has been selected as the next State Librarian of Michigan. MyHeritage announces that it has reached a milestone, surpassing 5 billion historical records. FamilySearch has added more than 5.4 million images to collections from England, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, and the United States. FamilySearch also issued a document titled “Six Tips to Find Your Mexican Family History.” Ancestry.com announced the release of 11.5 million new records for Quakers living in the United States and worldwide from the late 1600s to the late 1900s. They estimate that it now has more than 75% of all the American Quaker records in existence. The Suzanne Winsor Memorial Student Genealogy Grant Committee has announced that Paul Woodbury will receive $500 from the Freeman Memorial Grant program and a three-day registration to the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree. The Federation of Genealogical Societies invites bloggers, societies, writers, and editors to participate in their 2014 conference by becoming FGS 2014 Ambassadors. Visit https://www.fgsconference.org/media/ambassadors/ for more information and to register. Listener email includes: One listener made a suggestion for the person whose elderly mother recently discovered that her DNA didn't match her lifelong presumptions about her father. The suggestion was a New York newspaper resource called Old Fulton New York Postcards at http://www.fultonhistory.com Jim wrote to praise the podcast of 15 July 2007 in which George detailed his research steps to locate Brisco Holder, and then to place a marker on his grave. Drew responded to two emails concerning DNA: one from Jennifer about GedMatch.com and one from Chad concerning DNA Tribes . He suggests that they and anyone else interested in more information about DNA visit the website of the international Society of Genetic Genealogy at http://www.isogg.org/ Matt wrote about the Miller surname and y-DNA test results. Lee wrote with a suggestion for Sue in Tasmania who was searching for a diary that had been sold: the General Society of the War of 1812 at http://societyofthewarof1812.org/ Timothy reports on a success story that employs the use of “sideways genealogy” to locate information. The Guys are pleased to present
Tue, April 29, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #265 - 2014 April 27
The Genealogy Guys would like to welcome its new sponsor, MyHeritage.com! Genealogical Publishing Company has released a new Genealogy at a Glance (GAAG) laminated resource document written by George G. Morgan titled FamilySearch.org Research . This joins George’s recent Ancestry.com Research (GAAG) and 23 other titles in the series. They are available from the publisher and at Amazon.com. Drew reports on the status of the Dozier School project which is researching the remains of students who died and were buried at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida, during the 20th century. The genealogy news includes: FamilySearch has added more than 1.2 million images of Italian civil registration records. RootsMagic has its own YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/RootsMagicTV . They have just added a new video called “ Using Charting Companion with RootsMagic The Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) has announced 2015 plans for two institute weeks of its popular courses. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) has announced its calls for Award Nominations, with a nomination deadline of June 15, 2014. Details can be found at http://www.fgs.org/cpage.php?pt=56awards Professional genealogist and house historian Marian Pierre-Louis has developed a new genealogy show in audio (podcast) format called The Genealogy Professional . The show shares the experiences of genealogy professionals in developing and running their businesses. Members of AARP can obtain a 30% discount on an annual subscription to the Ancestry.com World Explorer package. Please see the details and terms of the discount at http://discounts.aarp.org/offer/ancestry-com/deal/707823/uSource/MTFP The National Archives in the UK announced that Operation War Diary , a key project in their First World War 100 program, won a Best of the Web Award at the Museums and the Web Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. The “Family Names of the United Kingdom Project” has completed the first phase of a project to create a database with surnames researched and explained. The project is being conducted by a team from the University of the West of England, Bristol. Details are available at <a href="http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/cahe/research/bristolcentreforlinguis
Wed, April 09, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #264 - 2014 April 6
The Guys will be at the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference on May 1-3, 2014, at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. George thanks Lora of Little Switzerland, NC, for the kind email about his article in the December-January issue of Internet Genealogy titled “ Tracing Frances Lamb Mims WIlson: A Case Study .” The news includes: RootsMagic ’s newsletters include articles about: Do I Still Need a Desktop Genealogy Program?; and Importing an Ancestry[.com] Family Tree into RootsMagic. WIkiTree announced the Global Family Reunion on 6 June 2015, organized by A. J. Jacobs. The Federation of Genealogical Societies has launched their 2014 Webinar Series with a new webinar presented by Jen Baldwin. Drew shares highlights of updates of almost 19.8 million records at the FamilySearch website. MyHeritage announced that it has added to their site The Jewish Chronicle newspaper archive, the world’s oldest continually published Jewish newspaper which dates back to 1841, with more than 200,000 pages and millions of names. MyHeritage also announced a pro bono global initiative with BillionGraves to preserve every cemetery and gravestone in the world and to provide the content online, for free. Click here to view a great short video about the project. Listener email includes: Brian poses an interesting and timely question about copyright on a family genealogy book published in 1993. The author is dead, so is the book still under copyright. Roy Hemmat of Crafted Knowledge in San Diego shared links to sites devoted specifically to immigration to the USA in the 19th century: o http://www.ukimmigrants.org o http://www.famineships.info o http://www.russianimmigrants.org o http://www.polishmigration.org o http://www.finnishimmigrants.org o http://www.italianimmigrants.org o http://www.germanimmigrants1850s.com o http://www.germanimmigrants1860s.com o http://www.germanimmigrants1870s.com o http://www.germanimmigrants1880s.com o http://www.germanimmigrants1890s.com Beverly is considering creating a family website and is looking for suggestions regarding software and free hosting possibilities. The Guys ask listeners to share experience and ideas. Marcie has questions about WWI draft registration cards and the physical descriptions of registrants. John suggests that attendees to the 20
Wed, March 19, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #263 - 2014 March 16
The News includes: Halvor Moorshead, founder of Family Chronicle , Internet Genealogy , and History Magazine , passed away on March 7, 2014. Moorshead Magazines has just published “Tracing Your Ancestors: Beginner’s Guide,” a new title in their Tracing Your Ancestors series. It is available in the Internet Genealogy online bookstore at http://internet-genealogy.com/Books.htm . It is available in both print and PDF format. MyHeritage.com ’s CEO, Gilad Japhet , undertook a personal search to identify and reunite artwork seized from Jews by the Nazis during WWII. His story is published in the New York Times at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/02/arts/design/a-reporter-in-france-helps-to-return-art-taken-by-the-nazis.html MyHeritage.com has added a new feature to its site that allows you to add new profiles to your tree directly from historical records. MyHeritage.com has added 815 million U.S. Public Records to the MyHeritage SuperSearch. MyHeritage.com has also partnered with BillionGraves.com in a global initiative to digitally preserve the world’s cemeteries. A new BillionGraves camera app for iPhone and iPad is available to help expedite the cemetery recording process. The Michigan Department of Education issued a press release announcing that the Library of Michigan is expanding its library hours to include opening from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the second Saturday of each month. FamilySearch International (online at FamilySearch.org ) has announced collaborations with a number of commercial genealogical companies to partner in digitizing, indexing, and making available the records images they hold in one generation. FamilySearch ’s catalog records have now been fully integrated into WorldCat . The American Society of Genealogists has announced that applications are being accepted for its annual ASG Scholar Award until September 30, 2014. Details can be found at http://fasg.org/awards/asg-scholar-award/ . RootsMagic has released its new mobile app for the Android. Find A Grave , a subsidiary of Ancestry.com, has just released a new iOS mobile app for the iPhone and iPad at the Apple Store. The National Archives (U.K.) has spent almost 20 years digitizing the Manorial Documents Register and getting the MDR online. Melinda Haunto
Sun, March 09, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #262 - 2014 March 9
Drew shares his second and final set of interviews that he conducted at RootsTech 2014, including: Anneliese Van Den Belt, CEO of DC Thomson Family History, whose best known genealogy-related brand is FindMyPast Matthew Hovorka , a young genealogist who spoke as part of the RootsTech Youth Track Mike Davis, CEO of StoryPress Kim Harrison , a Senior Institutional Account Executive for Ancestry.com, on the topic of her Educational Grants.
Tue, February 25, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #261 - 2014 February 23
Drew shares the first set of interviews that he conducted at RootsTech 2014, including: Dennis Brimhall, CEO of FamilySearch Michael J. Leclerc, Chief Genealogist of Mocavo Ed Thompson, developer of Evidentia
Tue, January 28, 2014
The Genealogy Guys #260 - 2014 January 26
The news includes: · RootsMagic announces that their webinars are now indexed and that their Android app is coming soon. · Family Tree DNA and MyHeritage have teemed up to integrate DNA tests into the MyHeritage customer base of 75M users. · Findmypast announces that they are making improvements to their website and will be adding records more frequently. · GenSoftReviews announces the Top Genealogy Software Awards for 2013. · AmericanAncestors.org (NEHGS) has debuted their blog, Vita Brevis, at http://vita-brevis.org . · FamilySearch announces their new indexing website at https://familysearch.org/indexing/ . · Ancestry.com and FamilySearch announce an expansion of their collaborative agreement to make more than 1 billion additional records from 67 countries available on Ancestry.com . · Drew highlights new record additions at FamilySearch . · There are news reports that indicate that Pope Francis will open the Vatican’s archives covering Pious XII and his pontificate of World War II and the role he played in supporting/facilitating the Nazi regime’s activiti
Sat, January 04, 2014
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #259 - 2014 January 2
The news includes: · The Genealogy Guys have been interviewed by Marian Pierre-Louis on episode 72 of her podcast, Fieldstone Common, at http://www.fieldstonecommon.com/george-morgan-drew-smith . · Restrictions placed on access to the Social Security Death Index. · Keynote speakers at RootsTech 2014 . · News about 23andMe and its genetic genealogy testing service. · Matthew Batchelor is appointed as the new Chief Technology Officer at DC Thomson Family History , owner of Findmypast.com and Genes Reunited . · The National Archives in the UK has announced a series of six webinars, beginning in January 2014 They will be held at different hours that help assure most people all over the world can enjoy them live. The schedule and topics are available at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/webinars.htm . · RootsMagic has released a new update to Version 6, is working on the beta test of the Android app, and has a great collection of free recorded webinars online and videos about RootsMagic. · FamilySearch continues to add hundreds of thousands of new records each week, and Drew summarizes some highlights from December 2013. ·
Wed, December 04, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #258 - 2013 December 2
The news includes: · The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) announces the results of their elections. · Drew shares the latest FamilySearch collection releases at their website. · Aha! Seminars, Inc. , reminds listeners that George and Drew are available for webinars for societies. Visit the website for presentation topics and descriptions. · George has a new article in the December 2013/January 2014 issue of Internet Genealogy . It is a case study, performed almost exclusively on the Internet, and includes complete source citations. <span style="font
Tue, November 19, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #257 - 2013 November 17
The Guys have several announcements: Genealogical Publishing Company has just published a new Genealogy at a Glance laminated reference guide. This one is titled “Ancestry.com Research” and is written by George G. Morgan. You can order it from GPC or at the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website . All of George and Drew’s publications can be ordered at the Aha! Seminars, Inc., website , and the links there take you to the best pricing available. The company that purchased Ancestry Publishing’s business several years ago has published the second edition of The Official Guide to Ancestry.com in Kindle format and Nook format. That book was published in 2008 and is extremely outdated. In addition, the current publisher has not paid any royalties to this author for more than two years. Therefore, George strongly recommends that you do not purchase either ebook version of this book. Drew will be an Official Blogger at RootsTech 2014. The news includes: <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-var
Thu, October 10, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #256 - 2013 October 8
Note: It appears that there are problems with the audio quality in portions of this episode, causing one of the two stereo tracks to drop out at random times. We apologize for this. The news includes: Ancestry.com has acquired Find A Grave . Ancestry.com and FamilySearch have formed an agreement to make a billion global records available online. RootsMagic has added more tutorial videos at RootsMagic TV Drew shares highlights from the last month's record additions at FamilySearch. FamilySearch announced that it has received its one millionth photo on the new Family Tree Photo Preservation Service. Findmypast.com has several announcements: Findmypast.com.au has added a further 2.5 million Irish Petty Court records to its site. Findmypast.com has launched its Irish Newspaper Collection, making almost 2 million historical Irish newspaper articles available for searching. The company's survey reveals America’s most popular celebrity families. Ancestry.com makes scientific breakthroughs in West African ethnicity that can help researchers determine the geographical origin of their ancestors. The Society for One-Place Studies has been launched to help individuals and societies advance their work on specific geographical locations. DNA testing was sought after two headstones were found for the same woman in a Kentucky cemetery. Listener email includes: Jenny asks about English and Welsh BMD digitization; joining a local genealogical society; the Clooz software program; and the sync feature on Ancestry.com family trees and Family Tree Maker software. Ed talks about downloading our podcast and about his experiences with RootsMagic software. Cris discusses the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), also known as the Social Security Death Master File. Richard discusses his use of Legacy Family Tree software, Ancestry.com family trees, and publishing his tree on RootsWeb.com. Cheryl raises the topic of how to name and label photographs, and Drew discusses metadata. Marina has a suggestion for Noi about place names in Germany, and suggests the book series Map Guide to German Parish Registers .
Wed, September 04, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #255 - 2013 September 2
The news includes: The Guys’ new book, Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques , is now available in softcover and Kindle formats. George received an award on 23 August 2013 from the Association of Professional Genealogists , the 2013 Excellence in Writing Award, for his articles in the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly (APGQ). The Genealogy Guys Podcast has been named by Family Tree Magazine as one of the 101 Best Web Sites of 2013. RootsMagic announced new tutorial videos at RootsMagicTV on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/RootsMagicTV . MyHeritage has announced a new global photo archive at http://www.myheritage.com/photos . The Federation of Genealogical Societies has released a new mobile app for year-round information and annual conferences. The iOS version for iPad and iPhone is available at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fgs-app/id689433117?ls=1&mt=8 and the Android version is available at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fgs.fgsapp . The Federation of Genealogical Societies and FamilySearch have announced that they will be holding a joint conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 12-14 February 2015. The conference will include RootsTech 2015 and the FGS 2015 Conference, with separate registrations. Ancestry.co.uk has added nearly 900,000 digitized and indexed records of the Clandestine Marriage and Baptism Registers 1667-1754. These include Fleet Prison, King’s Bench Prison, The Mint, May Fair Chapel, and others. Ancestry.ca has added the newly released 1921 Census of Canada in browsable format, with indexing promised soon. Ancestry.com has announced the release of Family Tree Maker 2014 for PC. You can purchase it at a 30% discount through 9 September 2013. At http://www.ancestry.com/cs/apps/products . Wills of English World War I soldiers have been indexed and are available online at https://www.gov.uk/probate-search . FamilySearch has released another huge set of records at its website, and Drew mentions highlighted collections. Findmypast.com has recently added 200
Tue, July 30, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #254 - 2013 July 28
The news includes: Information about the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference and the Illinois State Genealogical Society Fall Conference. WikiTree has added a DNA feature. Findmypast.com.au has released new content for the Royal Naval Division service records (1914-1920). Findmypast.com has announced that it will be adding the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) to its site in coming months. Findmypast.com.au has secured the rights to publish all of the registered wills from New South Wales from 1800 to 1952. Drew provides a recap of highlights in the newly released images at FamilySearch. RootsMagic has released an update to RootsMagic 6 that introduces Problem Alerts. RootsMagic has a YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/RootsMagicTV at which you will find shorter training videos. These supplement the Webinars/Online Classes at their website under the Learn tab. Megan Smolenyak has announced that one of The Guys' Down Under: Florida video episodes, about the Flying Zacchinis, has been re-released and is available at http://megansmolenyak.posthaven.com/584139. Origins.net has released many more older records at its website. Saving Memories Forever has announced a strategic partnership with the Association of Personal Photo Organizers (APPO). The mail includes: Susan asks if The Guys' new book, Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques , will be available in digital form. It is now posted at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble in electronic formats and those will be available when it is released in September. Preordering is already available. Melody asks for guidance on how to download the podcast from our website. Stephanie has a question about Polish Armed Forces records for those persons who escaped Poland after Hitler's invasion in 1939 and who fought with the Allies. George cites a good Wikipedia article titled "Polish Armed Forces in the West" at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_armed_forces_in_the_west. Lisa asked about the Facebook group that deals with organization. Drew points her to "The Organized Genealogist" group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/organizedgenealogist/. Connie asks about SSDI records at Ancestry.com that add place of death from the "Last Benefits" field of the online records. Elaine asks questions about how and where we store our digital photos and about how we share those photos with others. Elizabeth LaPointe has developed an e-booklet titled The 1921 Canada Census User Guide that will be available when that census is publicly released. Its price is $5.95 CDN and copies can be reserved by sending an email to GenealogyCanada@aol.com and including "1921 Census" in the subject heading. Jenny has a question about linking Family Tree Maker trees at Ancestry.com. Mary asks about the expression
Fri, June 28, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #253 - 2013 June 26
The news includes: Drew has been appointed as Chair of the Family History Information Standards Organisation (FHISO). RootsMagic is now Share+ Certified by FamilySearch . Early Bird Registration for the 2013 Federation of Genealogical Societies' Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on August 21-24, 2013, ends on July 1st. Canada's Heritage Minister asks the Library and Archives Canada to reconsider restoration of funding to help museums preserve local history. The 1921 Census of Canada will be made available to researchers in the near future. A new season of Who Do You Think You Are? will begin on TLC ( The Learning Channel ) on July 23, 2013. The Digital Public Library of America has been launched. findmypast.com provides free access to its Irish Records Collection from June 27-30, 2013. findmypast.com has updated its Irish Petty Session Court Registers with 2.5 million new records. Drew tells listeners about DNA research that has identified the potato blight responsible for the Irish Potato Famine, using leaves from an herbarium. findmypast.com added 3 million baptism, marriage, and burial records from Westminster in London. findmypast.com has added 23 million records and 121 million newspaper pages from around the world. Drew shares information about major collections added to FamilySearch , including 5.7 million images to the New Massachusetts Land Records Collection (1620-1986). Moorshead Magazines has announced the publication of a new title, Tracing Your Colonial American Ancestors . Geni.com continues to enhance its offering with the addition of Record Matching and Smart Matching tools. Synium Software has released MacFamilyTree 7 and MobileFamilyTree 7, with special pricing for new and existing users through July 31, 2013. Drew reminds listeners how to subscribe to the podcasts. Listener email includes: Richard provides a suggestion for how to learn to pronounce names. George discusses meeting someone on Facebook who was able to photograph wills in the Maryland Archives of his fifth- and sixth-great grandfathers in his Alexander line.
Sat, June 08, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #252 - 2013 June 5
Drew shares his three remaining interviews from RootsTech 2013: Elissa Scalise Powell, President of the Board for Certification of Genealogists , discusses BCG's upcoming 50th anniversary celebration and what genealogists might want to know about becoming certified. Janet Hovorka, The Chart Chick, tells Drew all about her newest project, Zap the Grandma Gap , a book, workbook, and website that helps connect children and their families to fun genealogy activities. David Pogue , a well-known technology writer and presenter, provides an entertaining interview that ranges from discussing apps to playing a virtual ocarina. But even Drew can surprise David with an app he's never heard of!
Wed, May 22, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #251 - 2013 May 21
Drew shares three more interviews from RootsTech 2013: Alec Tritton and Else Churchill describe an upcoming genealogy conference in the UK: Exodus: Movement of the People . Lisa Louise Cooke, host of The Genealogy Gems Podcast, talks about using iPads and other tablets for genealogy, which she covers in detail in her latest book Turn Your iPad into a Genealogy Powerhouse . Syd Lieberman, a renowned storyteller and one of the keynote speakers for RootsTech 2013, shares his ideas about the importance of stories.
Mon, May 13, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #250 - 2013 May 12
The Genealogy Guys celebrate their 250th episode ! They discuss a wide variety of subjects, including: George's organizing projects to date this year The Guys' forthcoming book, Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques , to be published in September 2013. The book is available for pre-order at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble . Upcoming conferences at which The Guys will be speaking this year. Drew is providing research assistance on a project concerning the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys . Drew is working on the Boddie/Bodie surname with the Guild of One-Name-Studies . He also discusses FHISO, the Family History Information Standards Organisation . The Guys enthusiastically thank their sponsors and the thousands of listeners around the globe for their dedication and support over all the episodes.
Sun, April 07, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #249 - 2013 April 7
George is out of town speaking for the North Carolina Genealogical Society, so Drew hosts this episode, beginning with the following news items: British Origins adds South London burials to its London collection. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces a new partnership with its German equivalent, the German Association of Genealogical Associations (DAGV). FamilySearch indexing volunteers reach the 1 billion record milestone. Houstory thanks The Genealogy Guys for their previous coverage of their Heirloom Registry product. Ancestry.co.uk adds Wiltshire Church Records and Wiltshire Quaker Birth & Death records to its collection. AncestryDNA makes it easier to communicate with people who match, improves its website for mobile users, and provides the ability to download raw DNA data. Tim Sullivan, CEO of Ancestry.com , makes several important announcements at RootsTech 2013, including the new partnership with FamilySearch to digitize 140 million pages of U.S. probate records; spending $100 million to digitize, index, and put online new content; the availability of AncestryDNA for $99 for everyone (not just Ancestry subscribers); the increase in size of the AncestryDNA database; the update to the Ancestry.com iOS app; and the significant percentage of younger users coming into Ancestry.com using mobile devices. FamilySearch adds significant new collections for such areas as Georgia and Washington county marriages; civil records for Bologna, Italy; and court records for Trumbull County, Ohio Drew shares 3 interviews from RootsTech 2013, including: Judy G. Russell, who blogs at The Legal Genealogist Chris van der Kuyl, CEO of brightsolid (provider of FindMyPast.com) David Adelman, CEO of ReelGenie
Tue, March 05, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #248 - 2013 March 3
The news includes: The Family History Library's Saturday hours will change on April 13, 2013, to 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. FamilySearch announces the additions of new collections, including the addition of indexing projects in process or completed. Findmypast.com has released 2.5 million UK criminal records covering the period 1770 to 1934. Ancestry.com announces that, for a limited time, users can buy Family Tree Maker 2012 and receive Photo Explosion Album, a photo editing software package for free. An international genealogy conference in the UK, Exodus: Movement of the People - The story of migration to, from, and within the British Isles - will be held September 6-8, 2013, at the Hinckley Island Hotel in Hinckley, Leistershire, UK. For more information, visit http://www.exodus2013.co.uk. George provides reviews of some excellent materials: How to Archive Family Keepsakes by Denise May Levenick The Heirloom Registry , by Houstory Publishing (See more details at http://www.heirloomregistry.com.) A Week of Genealogy: Things to Know and Do Online and Offline by Dr. Margaret M. McMahon, Ph.D. Out-of-Style by Betty Kreisel Shubert Listener email includes: Stan provides an excellent website called FileRight for Genealogy and Military Records , which includes many great military and naturalization links, at http://www.fileright.com/naturalization-family-roots-military-records.html. Beverly wanted to know why she can't locate 1820 U.S. federal census records for Montgomery County, NC. Tom asks about the future of DNA testing. Drew talks about the resources he is using in two research projects in which he is participating.
Wed, February 13, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #247 - 2013 February 10
Drew, an official RootsTech 2013 blogger, reminds listeners that Early Bird Registration for RootsTech 2013 ends on February 15th. Drew invites our listeners to email us at genealogyguys@gmail.com with suggestions for interviews while he's at RootsTech 2013. Other news includes: RootsMagic announces a free viewer app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. BillionGraves has been acquired by Otter Creek Holdings. Findmypast.com adds 21 million new Irish birth, marriage, and death records. The "Find My Past" TV show from the UK, seasons 1 and 2, is available for viewing online at http://www.findmypast.com/articles/find-my-past-tv/series-two . Ancestry.com has updated the 1850 and 1940 U.S. federal censuses online. The Federation of Genealogical Societies has launched a new blog for the War of 1812 fundraising at http://www.preservethepensions.org/blog/ . MyHeritage has launched a special campaign offering deep discounts on DNA tests through Family Tree DNA . They also have released a new version of the free MyHeritage app that allows you to "edit on the go." The Suzanne Winsor Freeman Grant Committee has announced that applications are being accepted for the 2013 student grant. Contact Denise Levenick at swfgrant@gmail.com for more information. Saving Memories Forever announces the first community outreach by starting a fundraising campaign on February 11, 2013, on behalf of the American Widows Project. OCLC and FamilySearch have announced a combination of resources. FamilySearch's catalog will be incorporated into OCLC's WorldCat and WorldCat will be linked into the FamilySearch catalog. Drew discusses the FamilySearch announcements of new records added to their site. Family Chartmasters has announced announced a new book, Zap the Grandma Gap: Connect with Your Family by Connecting Them to Their Family History . The book is available at https://zapthegrandmagap.com . Drew suggests using Blogtrottr to notify you when there's
Thu, January 24, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #246 - 2013 January 21
The news includes: The Federation of Genealogical Societies announced the creation of a new society to promote the preservation of records in the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The Society of Preservation Patriots recognizes donors of $250 or more to the Rabbi Malcolm Stern-NARA Gift Fund of the Preserve the Pensions initiative. The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) announced its new blog, SpringBoard: News and Notes . The Newberry Library 's Dr. William M. Scholl Center for American History and Culture announced the release of a new historical web resource, the Chicago Foreign Language Press Survey , a collection of translations of approximately 50,000 newspaper articles from the 1860s to the 1930s from 22 ethnic newspapers. MyHeritage has released a new version of the MyHeritage app (v2.0) that lets users "edit on the go." The Blog Book Tour brings new books and authors directly to users' computers January 10-26, 2013. WikiTree announced free comparisons of GEDCOM files. Mahlon discusses Oklahoma death records available at http://oklahomadeathindex.blogspot.com . FamilySearch announced the addition of 7 million new records on January 15, 2013. Listener email includes: Jane asks for pointers to record resources for the Boer Wars in South Africa Lori asks about problems obtaining SS-5 forms from the U.S. Social Security Administration. Carole describes her frustration at trying to obtain SS-5s. Shawn asked about the military pension records discussed in the December podcast at fold3.com . Ashley talks about her Slovak family. Anne purchased a Fujitsu ScanSnap S1100 and is very pleased with it. (Learn more at http://scanners.fcpa.fujitsu.com/scansnap11/s1100.html .) She also discusses how she solved a handwriting interpretation problem. Virginia asks for guidance for how to enter a family scandal into her genealogy database. Jonathan is seeking a genealogical researcher for his Scottish Cameron emigrant ancestor. (Visit the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) website, the ICAPGen website, the Association of Professional Genealogists website, and the Federation of Family Histor
Fri, January 04, 2013
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #245 - 2013 January 1
The news includes: Ancestry.com 's sale to Permira Advisors, LLP, was concluded on December 31, 2012. Findmypast.com announced the release of of significant records from 1790 to present for the U.S., the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Findmypast.com announced release of records concerning "The Green Redcoats" and more. RootsTech has announced the addition for its 2013 conference of Story@Home with a full selection of classes and workshops. The Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRC) has announced that it has released a new search engine for their AID (All Israel Database). While each database is presented in the language of the material found, the search engine can understand both Hebrew and English, thereby making the search more effective than ever. The North Carolina Genealogical Society announces its first full webinar, Tarheels in the Family Tree , presented by Helen F. M. Leary, CG Emeritus, FASG, FNGS, to be released on the NCGS website. It is free to all from 18 to 20 January 2013. It will be available after that to NCGS members for free. The North Carolina Genealogical Society and the Caswell County Historical Society are hosting an all-day seminar on 6 April 2013 in Yanceyville, NC, with speaker George G. Morgan. FamilySearch.org continues to add millions of digitized records. The listener email includes: Carolyn provides a number of suggestions to Evan in South Africa for his search as described in our 26 September 2012 episode. Timothy asks if there are any widespread problems or gaps within the 1940 census. He is having difficulty finding his grandfather, Eugene Langford Padgett (b. 1894). He also asks for suggestions concerning source citations for vital records materials found in his family's possession. Matthew shared information about a new application under development called "Storied" at kickstarter.com . Tom discusses errors that result and are perpetuated from people accepting without question information on online family trees. He urges the use of "critical thought and evaluation" before accepting such information as definitive.
Tue, December 11, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #244 - 2012 December 9
The news includes: FamilySearch.org has contributed $250,000 to the Federation of Genealogical Societies' War of 1812 Pensions Digitization Project. RootsMagic has just released Version 6 of its family tree software program. A new video is available at their site, and the software is on sale through December 20, 2012. MyHeritage.com has announced its purchase of Geni.com. Origins.net announced 169,100 burial indexes (1560-1909) and 140,000 baptism indexes (1538-1882) covering Middlesex and London. Ancestry.com has announced the launch of its new newspaper site, Newspapers.com . The University of Indianapolis is teaming up with Ancestry.com to encourage students to explore and reflect on their family history. Ancestry.com has announced the launch of two new collections at their website: U.S. Headstone Applications, 1825-1963 and U.S. Burial Registers, Military Posts and National Cemeteries, 1862-1960. Ancestry.com has announced a new Community Support site at its website. WikiTree announces "Cousin Bait" Toolkits. FamilySearch.org continues its digitization and indexing projects. Learn more on the podcast. The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) has announced their election results. The New England Historic Genealogical Society has announced that their organization has won the 2012 Society for the Study of American Women Writers (SSAWW) "Edition Award" for its book Reminiscences and Traditions of Boston by Helen Mather Crocker, edited by Eileen Hunt Botting and Sarah L. Houser. George reviews three new publications: Family History Library Research (At a Glance sheet) by Carolyn L. Barkley Birth, Marriage & Death Records: A Guide for Family Historians by David Annal and Audrey Collins Marriage Law for Genealogists: The Definitive Guide by Rebecca Probert Drew mentions his upcoming appearance at the FGS-sponsored lunch at RootsTech 2013, and discusses a new Google+ facility called Communities. Listener email includes: Jonelle responds concerning her poor experiences with obtaining records assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. David updates us on the passage of legislation in Northern Ireland to bring access to its BMD registers in line with the practice in Scotland.
Mon, November 05, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #243 - 2012 November 4
The news includes: Ancestry.com agrees to a $1.6 billion buyout by Permira Advisors LLP. The governor and secretary of state of Georgia have announced that funding for the Georgia State Archives has been reinstated for the remainder of this fiscal year. FamilySearch continues to digitize and index millions of records and The Guys give an update. FamilySearch has been recognized for its "continued dedication and support" of African-American family history at the 2nd International Black Genealogy Summit held in Salt Lake City on October 18-20, 2012. WikiTree has announced the release of "MatchBot", a new automated matching tool. Origins.net has announced the addition of the first 25 of 176 Irish directories to its service. The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) has announced its new Board of Trustees, and additions of a one-hour video about certification and testimonials to its website. Listener email includes: Mac tells us that he was able to obtain records from the U.S. Veterans Administration's Freedom of Information Office for an ancestor who was a Spanish-American War veteran. They conducted a BIRLS (Beneficiary Information and Records Locator Search). Doug discusses Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (RAOGK). Sharon tells us that the search for Ellen Chance (discussed on a previous episode) should have included both Ancestry.com and findmypast for both passenger lists and departure records. Brad asks for advice about his large genealogy publishing project. Jane shares information about Merchant Marine records, and particularly about a list published by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. Dennis discusses Reunion 9 and MacFamilyTree. Helen asks about possible resources for tracing an ancestor who may have been slain by Native Americans in Iowa in 1858.
Thu, October 11, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #242 - 2012 October 7
The Guys are very pleased to welcome a new sponsor for the Podcast, findmypast.com The news includes: WikiTree announces the re-opening of member registration. Mocavo has acquired ReadyMicro in a move to help the company and other organizations holding genealogical information digitize more content for genealogists. Origins.net announced that they have added two new collections to their National Wills Index: Lancaster Wills Index (1457-1748 and 1793-1812) and Surrey PCC Will Abstracts (1736-1812). Ancestry.com has acquired 1000Memories, Inc. Early Bird Registration is now open for RootsTech 2013 , and Drew is one of their official bloggers. The Federation of Genealogical Societies has announced it's 2003 FGS Conference to be held in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Our new sponsor, findmypast.com , is offering a 20% discount on its world subscription. Check out their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/findmypastus . They are posting a genealogy tip each day of October in celebration of Family History Month. They also have 84 ancestry family history badges on their Facebook page that you can display and share. Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/findmypastus#!/media/set/?set=a.446586192058898.124787.302628856454633&type=1 . In addition, click on the image of the flag and crown to take the “Are You Related to The Queen” 7-question quiz. George discusses his terrific experience at the Detroit Public Library and a behind-the-scenes tour of some incredible items in the Burton Historical Collection! The listener email includes: Mike asked for advice about a family story. An ancestor, Ellen Chance, supposedly did not sail on the Titanic, but took another ship to the U.S. in August, the RMS Campania . The Guys did some research and share their results. Lee asked for clarification as to which Veterans Affairs location he should contact regarding a Civil War pension file that was closed after 1929. Records for ancestors and surviving spouses who received pension benefits and died in 1930 and later are likely still held by the national Veterans Affairs. Blaise shared a fabulous link at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl
Wed, September 19, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #241 - 2012 September 16
The news includes: FamilySearch announces that the 1940 U.S. Federal Census indexing project is wrapped up, and that indexing is beginning on the new U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Community Project. Visit http://familysearch.org/immigration for more information and to volunteer. Another indexing project has begun: the Italian Ancestors Project. Visit http://familysearch.org/italian-ancestors for more information and to volunteer. The Federation of Genealogical Societies has announced the publication of the new 2nd edition of Bylaws Workbook: A Handbook for New and Established Societies . The book is available through Amazon findmypast.com announces major expansions of its U.S. Records Collection. findmypast.com also announces a partnership with the Federation of Genealogical Societies to preserve, digitize, and provide access to local records from genealogical societies across the U.S. Listener email includes: Allen asked whether The Guys know anything about the Dutch research site at Genlias . The site will disappear on 1 November 2012, but another site may be taking its place as WieWasWie . The Guys suggest going to that site's blog at http://www.wiewaswieblog.nl , translating it from Dutch to English using a tool such as Google Translate, and reading details about the change. Connie and Sharon both wrote about the volunteer photographers in cemeteries as a result of requests made through Find A Grave Jim wrote about old small town newspapers that may have published lists of deaths for the week or deaths for the year. Carole asked for suggestions about where to locate records of Bronze Star military awardees. Thomas asked about using the podcast recordings in local genealogical society meetings. Pat asked about merchant ship records. Evan asked about an ancestor who left Germany for the United States and then went to South Africa. George discussed some information received about FamilySearch and its progress in digitizing microfilm. He also discussed current crews acquiring digital images around the world. You can contact tomlinsonkl@familysearch.org to learn about opportunities to become involved. Drew discussed the formation of the Family History Information Standards Organisation (FHISO) and its plans to develop data standards for genealogy-related data. Drew also discussed the discontinuation of
Tue, August 21, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #240 - 2012 August 19
The news includes: RootsMagic announces the release of a new minor update to RootsMagic 5. They also remind listeners that they have more than 40 free online classes available at their website. Ancestry.com announces that they will not be releasing a 2013 version of their Family Tree Maker software, but will, instead, release free bonus features to Family Tree Maker 2012. The Federation of Genealogical Societies 2012 Conference will be held August 29 through September 1, 2012, in Birmingham, Alabama. Online registration is closed but walk-ins are welcome for single- or multiple-day registration. Aha! Seminars, Inc. , announces a partnership with LearnSurge to provide live and recorded genealogy webinars by George G. Morgan. George just received the results of a Y-DNA test from Family Tree DNA . The Guys discuss how Drew (and George) pursued researching all the descendants of one of George’s great-great-grandfather’s sons. The Guys located records for almost 200 new people (descendants, spouses, and their parents) in just a few hours.
Tue, August 07, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #239 - 2012 August 5
The news includes: Ancestry.com has announced their completion of the indexing of the 1940 U.S. Federal Census. RootsMagic announced a new update to their software, version 5.0.4.0. Online registration for the 2012 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference (August 29-September 1) in Birmingham, Alabama, closes at 7:00 PM CDT on August 17th. findmypast.com has officially launched its new site in the U.S. with a special World Subscription at $4.95 per month. Unlock the Past has announced their 3rd genealogy cruise in February 2013. Listener email includes: Richard recommends episode 289 at This American Life . The Greenoughs thank The Guys and Bill for help locating James Greenough and his wife in Saint John, New Brunswick. Their son has also earned his Boy Scout Genealogy Merit Badge. Nancy writes about the Archdiocese for the Military, USA. Ed attempted to help another listener seeking Samuel Mansfield in Fayette County, Kentucky. Beverly thanks The Guys for recommendations for genealogical education. Anne asks how much information should be stored in a genealogical database program and recommendations for how to store it. Richard asks about how to find more information about a Hungarian immigrant who is seeking information about her father's parents. Roger responds to the discussion about cemetery staff difficulties. Rich discusses privacy and security issues.
Mon, July 09, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #238 - 2012 July 8
The news includes: FamilySearch.org has completed many states in the 1940 U.S. Federal Census and other projects including South American, U.K., Scotland, Slovakian, Philippines, and Swedish records. The Federation of Genealogical Societies announced that a generous donation of $135,000 has been received from the estate of the late Jon Stedman and is designated for the Preserve the Pensions – War of 1812 Pension Digitization Fund. The Illinois State Genealogical Society has announced a War of 1812 Pension Fund Challenge in the amount of $10,000. RootsMagic has announced the release of two new CDs of RootsMagic webinars, Volumes 3 and 4. The webinars are still available to view online or download, but there have been many requests to bundle the webinars into CDs. The Michigan Department of Education and the Department of Natural Resources have agreed to move selected materials of the Family History Collections at the Library of Michigan to the reading room of the Archives of Michigan. The 2012 winners of the Suzanne Winsor Freeman Student Grant were announced at the Southern California Genealogical Society Genealogy Jamboree in Burbank. The winners are Elyse Doerflinger and A.C. Ivory. Each received a check for $500. Congratulations! MyHeritage.com has announced that the milestone of 1 billion profiles has been reached. In addition, the company announced its new SuperSearch facility. The Guild of One-Name Studies announced the publication of a new book, Seven Pillars of Wisdom: The Art of One-Name Studies . Ancestry.com has recently added 7 more states’ indexes for the 1940 U.S. Federal Census at its site: CO, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT. The Federation of Genealogical Societies announced the appointment of Patricia W. Rand as its treasurer. The Florida Genealogical Society (Tampa) has awarded its 2011 Volunteer of the Year Award to George G. Morgan. Listener email includes: Pat suggested additional meanings for the term “NG” that appears in some fields on census records. Henry shared several ways to perform and improve free searches on the Internet. Neil asks The Guys about the ethics of how to handle potentially damaging information discovered during one’s research. Phil reports back on advice The Guys gave him about contacting the Special Collections area of the library at Kent State University. He did so and was able to obtain 105 pages of copied materials from the 19th century for his family. He also contacted a presidential library and obtained some copies of ex
Sun, May 27, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #237 - 2012 May 26
The news includes: The Guys will be at the Southern California Genealogical Society ’s Jamboree on June 8-10, 2012. RootsMagic announces new webinars and additions to its catalog of recorded webinars. FamilySearch announces the addition of millions of new records on its site and the completion of almost half of the 1940 U.S. federal census. The Federation of Genealogical Societies announced that its Malcolm H. Stern-NARA Gift Fund has participated with NARA recently in digitizing and making available the records of the Sultana Disaster at the Fold3.com website. Ancestry.com announced that it has added its 10 billionth record to its site. Ancestry.com announced its AncestryDNATM service. Listener email includes: Michael asks about the notation on the 1880 U.S. federal census of “NG” under the birthplaces of an ancestor’s parents. Chris sent a link to a fascinating article about using DNA to determine the origin of the Melungeons.( http://news.yahoo.com/dna-study-seeks-origin-appalachias-melungeons-201144041.html ) Rich also sent another link on the same subject right after the podcast was recorded. ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/24/melungeon-dna-study-origin_n_1544489.html?ref=fb&ir=Black+Voices&src=sp&comm_ref=false#s=1022230 ) Laurie asked about the available DNA tests, and Drew weighs in based on his experience. Walter asks whether there is a DNA test available to determine whether his mother and a good friend, who looks like his mother’s twin, are related. Susanne asks about genealogy sites that are free. Bob talks about the work he and his wife are doing as arbiters for the 1940 indexing project. Tom asks when we think an index to the 1940 census will be available, and comments about the indexes not being made available until an entire state is indexed. Amy shares information about Titanicat by Marty Crisp. Linda writes about resources for the descendants of the Armenian Genocide. She tells us that University of Michigan Professor Fatma Muge Gocek has done extensive research on this issue with other area specialists (one is also here at U Michigan – Ronald Suny in Political Science). If the person who asked the question in an earlier podcast is still trying to find resources that might help her find information on her ancestors, she might send an e-mail to eith
Mon, April 30, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #236 - 2012 April 29
The news includes the following items: Ancestry.com has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Archives.com . FamilySearch.org uploaded 14 million new records for 19 countries, and the 1940 U.S. federal census indexing project is in full swing. The Southern Genealogist’s Exchange Society in Jacksonville, Florida, is hosting a virtual tea party on Mother’s Day (U.S.) on 13 May 2012 as a fundraiser and as a way to honor female ancestors. Drew reviews the book Family Matters by Michael Sharpe. Listener email includes: Jason asks about a program that keeps track of digital source materials and about cloud computing. Doug reports that volunteers for the FamilySearch U.S. federal census indexing project can only specify the state for which they would like to index. Paul provided us with a fascinating story about two children who survived the Titanic sinking from a newspaper clipping in his great-grandmother’s scrapbook. He provides a link at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Marcel_Navratil for more information. He also shared information about dogs on the Titanic and offers another link at http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/blogs/remembering-the-dogs-of-the-titanic to learn more - including a story of a mother cat and kittens. Eric wrote to discuss copyright and fair use, and discusses a research problem involving a colleague. Beth Cook of Best Public Relations wrote to share information that Dracula was Irish and not Transylvanian. Janet asks for advice about whether DNA testing might help her in her quest for her husband’s ancestor. Moshe sent document images and asks for suggestions about his search for a Jewish man, Irving Markowsky.
Tue, April 10, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #235 - 2012 April 8
The news includes: FamilySearch continues to add millions of new records online each month. They also state the 10 new digital records are created every second. MyHeritage has announced: Introduction of DNA testing Release of cutting-edge personalized family calendars Release of a new app for the iPhone, iPad, and Android The Guild of One-Name Studies announced the results of the Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS) 2011 Awards. Calico Pie has announced the release of version 5 of Family Historian, its genealogy software program. The 1940 U.S. federal census was released by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) on 2 April 2012. FamilySearch is indexing the 1940 U.S. federal census records. Ancestry.com has made its collection of 1940s-era materials free through 10 April 2012. They are indexing the 1940 U.S. federal census records. Findmypast.com is also participating in indexing the 1940 U.S. federal census records. Furthermore, the company has announced that it will search for your ancestors for you as soon as the records are indexed. They will then send you an email when they have located the census record for you. The 1940 U.S. Census Community Project has issued a call for more volunteers to help create a free, searchable index to the 1940 U.S. federal census records. It is a joint venture between Archives.com , FamilySearch.org , and findmypast.com Listener email includes: Dennis asks about some of the questions on the 1940 U.S. federal census. George also advises Dennis that the Farm Schedules and Housing Schedules were destroyed, and that 1940 was the last year in which an annual enumeration by Bureau of Land Management Indian Agents of Native Americans on reservations was performed. Phil lives and works in Spain, and he is seeking suggestions on how to learn more and access materials that were donated to Kent State University in Ohio in about 1996. Laura in Ireland shares a way that she has gotten her eight-year-old daughter interested in looking at the Irish censuses of 1901 and 1911. Ben asked about the term “New York-ODM” which he has encountered in looking for records in the FamilySearch.org catalog. Emily responds to Avi's question in the 31 January e
Sat, March 24, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #234 - 2012 March 24
Drew shares his third and final set of interviews from RootsTech 2012. This set features Janet Hovorka of Family ChartMasters and her three children; D. Joshua Taylor of brightsolid; Michael Leclerc of Mocavo; and Elissa Powell (noted genealogical educator and professional genealogist from Pennsylvania).
Mon, March 12, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #233 - 2012 March 11
Drew shares the second set of interviews that he conducted at RootsTech 2012. This set includes FamilySearch Senior VP of Product Engineering David Burggraaf, Instructure CEO Josh Coates, FamilySearch Senior VP of Patron Services Don Anderson, and Google Software Engineer David Barney.
Thu, March 01, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #232 - 2012 February 29
Drew shares the first set of interviews that he conducted at RootsTech 2012. This set includes FamilySearch Chief Genealogical Officer David Rencher, author and speaker Lisa Alzo (an expert on Eastern European genealogical research), past FamilySearch CEO Jay Verkler, and new FamilySearch CEO Dennis Brimhall.
Wed, February 01, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #231 - 2012 January 31
The news includes: Who Do You Thing You Are? debuts for its third season on NBC on Friday, February 2, 2012. Fold3 announced that it is providing free access to all of its Black History Collection records throughout the month of February in celebration of Black History Month. brightsolid is one of the major sponsors for RootsTech 2012 in Salt Lake City this week. brightsolid has announced that they have recruited renowned genealogist D. Joshua Taylor as their business development manager and media spokesperson in the U.S. WikiTree has announced that they have closed new user registration. New members must now be invited by current WikiTree members. Ancestry.com , Behind the Name , and WeRelate have announced a new approach for searching for variant names. Learn more at http://www.werelate.org/wiki/WeRelate:Variant_names_project . Ancestry.com is partnering with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to bring more than 300 years of Pennsylvania records online. George G. Morgan's new book, How to Do Everything Genealogy , 3rd edition, has just been published by McGraw-Hill in softcover and in electronic format. George will soon announce how people can order a signed copy. Registration is now open for the Federation of Genealogical Society 's 2012 Conference on August 29 to September 1, 2012, in Birmingham, Alabama. Registration is open for the Southern California Genealogical Society 's Jamboree on June 8-10, 2012, in Burbank, California. DNA genotyping is being used to help answer the centuries-old mystery of the so-called "Lost Colony" of Roanoke Island on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Learn more at http://the-scientist.com/2012/01/01/lost-colony-dna/ . Listener email includes: Joel Weintraub tells The Guys about a collection of One-Step tools for working with the forthcoming 1940 U.S. Federal Census at Steve Morse's website . Patricia has a question about her great-grandfather, John A. Hamilton. Rob of New Port Richey, Florida, asks about access at the University of South Florida Tampa Library and at the Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library system to records outside of Florida. Margaret discusses how she shares family history information with relatives and others using <a href="http://hearts
Mon, January 16, 2012
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #230 - 2012 January 15
The news includes: FamilySearch ushers in 2012 by adding 119 million new records. The New England Historic Genealogical Society announces education programs at its Boston facility. The Association of Professional Genealogists has added back issues of the APG Quarterly for 2004-2011 available in the Members Only area of its website. Arphax Publishing Co. announces the launch of its historical maps website, HistoryGeo.com . GenSoftReviews announces the 2011 User Choice Awards. Listener email includes: Many condolences have been received from around the world for the passing of Fletcher, our dilute calico cat who "spoke" on many podcasts over the years. She died on 8 December 2011 and is deeply missed. Carole advises us that the Doña Ana County Genealogical Society in Las Cruces, New Mexico, will be holding its first conference in April 2012. She also discusses the recurrent problem of the accuracy of documentation and the conflicting data that can result. Dave recently wrote about his research in St. Croix. Listeners may be interested in reading his blog at http://200inparadise.blogspot.com . Mac tells us that if you are going to order any New York certificates, you might also want to cross-reference the databases at italiangen.org . Rich asks a fascinating question about how to represent the correct country in his RootsMagic software for Canada at different historical periods. Wayne reports that he cannot download the podcast using the latest version of the Ubuntu operating system. The Guys ask other listeners about their experiences with this. Maria asks Hank Jones and The Guys about Palatines in Australia. Sébastien has had good results with the DNA genealogy study between Coombs and Comeau descendants. He recommends the site at en.comeaunet.org/dna/big-annoucement-regarding-antoine-comeau-2/ to our listeners who may have a Coombs ancestor. Joel Weintraub tells us that the discussion on a previous podcast about markings on ships' passenger lists/manifests could also have pointed people to the site at www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/Manifests/ . Mark shared with us a publication by the St. Louis Post Dispatch that discusses the new National Personnel Records Center facility. The 12-page PDF document is an excellent overview of the NPRC, where many U.S. military service records are stored. Noi asks for
Thu, December 29, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #229 - 2011 December 28
The news includes: The Guys announce the death of their cat, Fletcher, on 8 December 2011. Fletcher was a vocal contributor to the Podcast over the years and received email and inquiries from the show's listeners. She is very much missed. Three leading genealogy organizations, Archives.com , FamilySearch International , and findmypast.com , have announced that they are joining forces to launch a project to index and make available the 1940 U.S. federal census images. MyHeritage unveiled an innovative mobile family tree app for iPad, iPhone, and Android. MyHeritage has also released the new Family Tree Builder 6.0 FamilySearch added new records for the U.S., Canada, Estonia, Jamaica, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, and Sweden. A new effort called the Genealogists for Families Kiva Project that will make small loans to help those less fortunate. Ancestry.com has released two million North Carolina World War II Draft Cards at its site. Moorshead Magazines Ltd. is releasing on 1 January 2012 a new publication, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors . They are also carrying Maureen Taylor's newest book, Bonnets and Hats. Visit http://www.familychronicle.com/books.htm for more information. 1000Memories provides an excellent place on the Internet to organize, share, and discover the old photos and memories of your family and friends. George discusses two exciting finds in his genealogy from this month. Listener email includes: Peter asks for ideas about how to share his research with family members. Barb discusses how much she likes Family Tree Maker 2012's new sync facility. She also talks about Memeo Autosync (at http://www.memeo.com/autosync.php ) and its ability to sync folders on different computers. Dave discusses his research on St. Croix and the different family perspective it gives. Maria discusses her problematic Northcote ancestor who emigrated from Exeter, Devon, England, to Australia. Connie has suggestions for Richard and his North Dakota research, including newspapers from across the state. Visit http://history.nd.gov/archives/whatnewspapers.html for many details. Eric wrote that Ancestry.com is requiring the purchase of a copy of Family Tree Maker 2012 to demonstrate the program to others. Judy asks
Tue, December 06, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #228 - 2011 December 4
The Genealogy Guys announce that there have been over 1,000,000 downloads of the podcast since it began on 5 September 2005! Thanks to all our listeners!!! The news includes: The British Library has announced the launch of the British Newspaper Archive website. It initially hosts more than 4 million pages from more than 200 British and Irish newspapers, primarily from the 18th and 19th centuries. RootsMagic has announced the official release of RootsMagic Version 5, the latest version of its award-winning software. The Guild of One-Name Studies has introduced flexible membership joining rates in six currencies. A new grassroots group called Saving Ours, concerned with preserving our archived materials, has launched a new website at SavingOurs.com . FamilySearch has added 18 million new records from 12 countries to its site, including 21 new U.S. collections. Ancestry.com has announced a newly upgraded app at the iTunes store. Ancestry.com has announced the release of Family Tree Maker software for the Macintosh. The Guys review the following new print resources: Applications for Enrollment of Creek Newborn Act of 1905, Volume I , transcribed by Jeff Bowen. ( Clearfield Publishing , 2011.) Seminole of Florida, Indian Census 1930-1940 With Birth and Death Records 1930-1938 , transcribed by Jeff Bowen. ( Clearfield Publishing , 2011.) The Guide to FamilySearch Online by James L. Tanner. (Bookmark Graphics, 2011.) Available at Amazon.com . English Genealogy Research by Paul Milner, a new QuickSheet publication from Genealogical Publishing Company . The listener email includes: Richard is looking for clues to locating his grandmother's cousin Robert George Jones. Vickie is researching her great-great-grandfather, Francis Edward Johnson, a longtime brick wall. Susan describes how she copies PDF files between desktop, iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Rich adds to the PDF d
Tue, November 29, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #227 - 2011 November 27
The news includes: FamilySearch has announced a new CEO, Dennis C. Brimhall, who will succeed Jay L. Verkler on 2 January 2012. FamilySearch has added 2 million records to its U.S. collections. A new monthly podcast, the Polish Genealogy Podcast, has begun. You can learn more about the podcast at the FaceBook page at http://www.facebook.com/PolishGenealogyPodcast . The first episode can be downloaded from http://forums.ancestry-world.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1862 . The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration has awarded Archives.com the hosting of the 1940 U.S. federal census images when they are released on 2 April 2012. MyHeritage has announced that it has acquired FamilyLink.com , Inc., owner of FamilyLink.com and WorldVitalRecords.com . Ancestry.com and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum have announced that material from four museum collections containing information on more than 30,000 victims of Nazi persecution is now available at Ancestry.com and available at no cost. Ancestry.com has added more than 50 million new U.S. birth, marriage, and death records to its U.S. Vital Records Collection. Pennsylvania's new vital records bill (SB-361) would set at 50 years when death records and 105 years when birth records become open to the public. Britain's Prince Charles has stated that his genealogy connects him to Vlad the Impaler, the 15th-century Romanian warlord. "Who Do You Think You Are?," the popular genealogy television series, resumes on Friday, 3 February 2012. Listener email includes: Mac asks whether you need permission to publish screen shots taken at Internet websites. Christine asks for suggesions for places to search for information about servants and laborers in Minnesota in the first decade of the 20th century. Claire comments on using the iPad and popular genealogical software. She also discusses her participation in the Smith Surname Project. Don had a grandfather who would not talk about his past, and the things he once talked about he later denied. Don is looking for suggestions to help him get past his
Sun, October 23, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #226 - 2011 October 22
The news includes: Footnote.com has rebranded and changed its name to Fold3.com . Ancestry.com has released the 1930 Mexico National Census. RootsMagic has released Personal Historian, Version 2. Ancestry.com has released Family Tree Maker 2012 with TreeSync. findmypast.ie has launched online Irish family history forums. Arphax Publishing goes online with online maps HistoryGeo.com . South Georgia newspapers are now available online at the Digital Library of Georgia . The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania will hold its Pennsylvania Family History Day in Exton, PA, on Saturday, November 5, 2011. Early Bird registration for RootsTech 2012 in Salt Lake City on February 2-4, 2012, is available until November 30, 2011. Ancestry.com has expanded its U.S. School Yearbook Collection. The Federation of Genealogical Societies has introduced a new app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, available through iTunes. FamilySearch continues to release massive amounts of new content. Drew discusses some new materials, but be sure to check back at FamilySearch often. The 1940 U.S. Federal Census digital images will be available at the National Archives and Records Administration website on April 2, 2012. FamilySearch and Ancestry.com will both have the images at their sites for free. FamilySearch is actively recruiting volunteers to index the records. Ancestry.com , too, will be working to expedite indexing of these important records. Listener email includes: Kevin asks about genealogy software for the Mac, iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Judy asks how to transfer a PDF book to her iPad and iPhone. You may want to check out a new site, Storytree, at http://www.storytree.me as a place to capture
Mon, August 15, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #225 - 2011 August 14
The news includes: FamilySearch announces the update of its YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/familysearch . MyHeritage.com now offers shared group subscription payments. Family Tree DNA is now accepting third party transfers of test results. Synium Software has released MacFamilyTree 6.1 and MobileFamilyTreePro. FamilySearch has released 12 million new records and images for England and Mexico, 1.8 million records to 23 U.S. collections, and 2.3 million images to its Hungary collections. Joel Weintraub and Steve Morse announce a new One-Step Tutorial at http://stevemorse.org about the forthcoming 1940 U.S. federal census release in April 2012. The Guild of One-Name Studies announces extended membership to new joiners at the NZ Family History Fair in Hamilton on 26-27 August 2011, and for the whole month of August 2011 at www.one-name.org/nzfhf-offer.html . WikiTree announced that they have passed 2 million profiles and that they have released a new Relationship Finder. In addition, they have announced that Thomas MacEntee has joined the WikiTree team as their Genealogy Ninja . The Admiral Nimitz Foundation has recently created the Society of the Sons and Daughters of World War II Veterans. The Society's goal is to preserve the stories of sacrifice and achievement of America's "greatest generation." They plan to preserve important materials in digital format to preserve them and make them available. Listener email includes: Nancy suggests that Colleen expand her New York query by checking city directories. Joseph asked about the existence of a Florida cemetery registry. Drew suggested he contact the Florida State Genealogical Society . Sue asked about the availability of software for genealogical societies' websites. The Guys suggested that she contact EasyNetSites which provides modular society software service. Russ asked if The Guys were aware of the blog about the Stockton School in East Orange, New Jersey. Drew replied that it belonged to his brother! Alan advised that there is OCR software that reads Fraktur.
Sat, July 30, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #224 - 2011 July 16
The Genealogy Guys record this episode in front of a live audience at the annual Summer Institute of the Dallas Genealogical Society, in the Auditorium of the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in downtown Dallas, Texas.
Wed, June 22, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #223 - 2011 June 21
This week's news includes: Cyndi's List at www.cyndislist.com has launched a new website with a new look, new organization, and improved navigation. MyHeritage.com has acquired Bliscy.pl from Poland's Internet publishing company, Wirtualna Polska, expanding its presence in the Polish family history market. Anthony Ray, a junior majoring in Music at West Coast Bible College in Lancaster, California, was introduced at the 2011 Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in Burbank as this year’s recipient of the Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Student Genealogy Grant. The Guild of One-Name Studies will be at the Colorado Family History Expo on June 24-25 in Loveland, Colorado, and will offer extended membership to people joining for the first time. The offer is also good at www.one-name.org/colorado-offer.html . The "Genealogy Roadshow" currently filming in Ireland will make its debut on RTE later this summer, and it should also be accessible online at http://www.rte.ie/player . This week's email includes: Linda, listening to Episode #222, where George talked about the 1880 U.S. federal census and the Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent schedules, tells us that there is a "Statewide Index to Indiana's 1880 DDD Schedules" available on CD-ROM from the Indiana Genealogi
Wed, June 08, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #222 - 2011 June 5
The news includes: The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy opened registration on June 4th for its annual institute in Salt Lake City on January 23-27, 2012. More information is available at www.infouga.org . Real-Time Collaboration announces AncestorSync, which allows you to seamlessly download, upload, or synchronize your family tree from your online pedigree to your personal computer and back again. Learn more at www.ancestorsync.com . FamilySearch has recently added millions of records about the U.S. Civil War, and plans much more. See more at familysearch.org/civilwar . The Guild of One-Name Studies is offering a special extended membership offer to new members. The offer is available from June 24th through June 26th only at www.one-name.org/yorkoffer.html . Big Mountain Productions is currently filming "The Genealogy Roadshow" in Ireland, with host Derek Mooney, and it will begin broadcasting in mid- to late-August. The United States Holocaust Museum and Ancestry.com have partnered to launch the World Memory Project at www.worldmemoryproject.org to build the world's largest online resource on Jewish victims and non-Jews who were targeted for persecution by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. The British Library has announced that it will digitize 40 million pages of its newspaper collection at Collindale. ProQuest has updated its list of impressive databases that provide genealogists with a wealth of online data. The New England Historic Genealogical Society has announced upcoming events, programs, and tours for June through September 2011. Listener email includes: Beverly asks for information about the RSS download address for the podcast. Linda made a breakthrough on her great-grandfather's first wife in Kentucky based on a link George provided at the recent NEHGS seminar. Look at "Kentucky Genealogy and History Guide" at http://kentuckygenealogysearch.com . Mike advised The Guys that George's book How to Do Everything: Genealogy appears in the movie Little Fockers . Chris asks for ideas about what to save and what not to save. Karen responded to Drew's challenge about locaing his father's family in the 1920 Newark, NJ census. David advises T
Fri, May 06, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #221 - 2011 April 30
The Genealogy Guys travel to Boston, Massachusetts, to the headquarters of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, where they record this episode in front of a live audience.
Wed, April 27, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #220 - 2011 April 26
News stories discussed on this episode: The Federation of Genealogical Societies announces that it is beginning a series of online webinars concerning a wide range of society management topics. These are part of their new online education initiative. The first webinar will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM Central Time (US) with technology expert and FGS board member Thomas MacEntee presenting "Social Networking for Genealogy Societies." There will be one free webinar each quarter open to the general public, and more webinars for FGS members only. All webinars hold up to 1,000 pre-registered participants. All webinars will be recorded and made available in the FGS Members Only area of its website. Registration for the first webinar is available at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/401693254 . The Federation of Genealogical Societies announced and has launched its weekly live radio program on the Internet called My Society . The weekly programs will be broadcast over the Internet at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mysociety at 1 PM Central Time (US). They will be hosted by a variety of well-known genealogists and FGS board members, and will feature conversations with leaders in the genealogical community and society officers and members. A society will also be spotlighted in each show. The show debuted on Saturday, April 23, 2011, with Curt Witcher, manager of the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Shows will be recorded and archived for later download. A new genealogy-specific search engine has been launched. Mocavo ( http://mocavo.com ) is free and searches free websites including 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. The Guys discuss upcoming conferences where they will be speaking in coming months. George announced that he has begun working on a third edition of his book, How to Do Everything: Genealogy , for McGraw-Hill Professional . The new book will be available at the end of 2011 or early 2012. Listener email includes: Joanne asks how to handle information for individuals about whom you are are unsure. Matt asks about the preferred method of long term care and preservation of gravestones and gravesites. Melanie updates us about her
Sun, April 10, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #219 - 2011 April 9
The news includes: The New England Historic Genealogical Society, together with the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts and the American Jewish Historical Society of New England have made available for the first time online acess to a growing database that currently includes 13 Massachusetts Jewish cemeteries, with more added each week. Genealogist Anthony Ray of Palmdale, California, has been named the recipient of the 2011 Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Student Genealogy Grant. WikiTree announces that it has reached 1 million profiles. The California Genealogical Society will host a family history day with Ancestry.com on 4-5 November 2011 at the Hyatt Embarcadero in San Francisco. George extends a special thank you to Miriam in Spokane, Washington, for taking photos of a tombstone there and for locating and sending a copy of the obituary. Listener email includes: Russ enjoyed the episode in which Drew unpacked a box of family materials that his brother sent to him. Lee has enjoyed the interviews that Drew conducted at RootsTech, but suggests that RootsTech provide a quieter venue for such interviews next year. Bill reports that NARA will hold its annual genealogy fair on 24 April 2011 in Washington, DC. One of the main themes is WPA records. View the schedule at http://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/know-your-records/genealogy-fair/2008.html#schedule Judy is seeking advice on researching her mother's family in Southwest Virginia. Mark in Plymouth, UK, asks about the availability of apps for the iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 7, and Blackberry phones. Sean reports on the status of RootsMagic's work to import freeform source citations and place them into formatted source citation templates. Gordon provides excellent advice for flattening curled or rolled up paper by humidifying it. He also strongly warns that photographs should not be treated this way. He suggests a more detailed discussion in Photographs: Archival Care and Management , by Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler and Diane Vogt-O’Connor published by the Society of American Archivists. Cheryl provides the pricing at NARA for copies of military files. Michelle thanks The Guys for their help in making contact with her Irish cousins. It's a real success story. The Guys review and recommend a number of great genealogy books: Our Daily Bread, German Village Life, 1500-1850 , by Teva J. Schee, is published by Adventis Press. It sells in softcover for $19.95. It is also available in eBook format for Kindle for $9.95. The Last Muster: Images of the Revolutionary War Generation , by Maureen Taylor, is published by The Kent State Unive
Wed, March 23, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #218 - 2011 March 21
Drew gives George one more week off by making this another all-interview episode (the remaining 3 interviews that Drew conducted while attending RootsTech 2011 in Salt Lake City in February). The interviews were with: Tami Glatz, President of the Second Life chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) and genealogical lecturer; Paul Nauta, Manager of Public Affairs for FamilySearch; Audrey Collins, Family History Specialist at The National Archives, UK.
Sun, February 27, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #217 - 2011 February 27
Drew gives George the week off by making this an all-interview episode (3 of the interviews that Drew conducted while attending RootsTech 2011 in Salt Lake City earlier in the month). The interviews were with: Louise St Denis, Director of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies ( www.genealogicalstudies.com ), an educational organization affiliated with the University of Toronto. NIGS has just acquired the social networking site Genealogy Wise. Brewster Kahle, Chairman of the Internet Archive ( www.archive.org ) and long-time Internet entrepreneur and activist. Anne Roach, Chair of RootsTech 2011 ( rootstech.familysearch.org ).
Mon, February 21, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #216 - 2011 February 19
The news includes: Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, nationally known author, editor, instructor, lecturer, researcher and much loved friend in the genealogy community, died on 17 February 2011. Ancestry.com marks Black History Month with the addition of 250,000 new African-American records. Moorshead Magazines has published a new issue of Family Chronicle with a new article by George. The Guild of One-Name Studies extends a special offer to attendees of the Who Do You Think You Are LIVE show in Olympia, London, England this coming weekend, and also to anyone else unable to attend. The latter offer is available at http://www.one-name.org/specialoffer.html for one week from the beginning of the show on 25 February 2011. Real-Time Collaboration, Inc., acquires Ohana Software LLC to help extend compatibility of genealogy collaboration. The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) announced that the dates of next year's institute will be January 23-27 at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City. The RootsTech 2012 conference will be held there the following week, February 2-4, 2012. The Tri-City Genealogical Society has concluded a vast indexing project of photographs from South Central Washington State. You may search the indexes at their website. GeneaPress is a new site that publishes press releases/announcements for the genealogy community. The Guys have alse embedded a link in their website. Check it out! The Guys discuss Drew's experiences at the GenTech conference in Salt Lake City. Interviews from the conference will follow in forthcoming podcasts. Listener email included: Margie asks for guidance about where to locate materials about the WPA concerning the area around Springfield, Massachusetts. Carole asks for guidance about migrating from one genealogy database program to another, and what to do with free-form source text and formal source templates. Steve commented on episode #215, and he also has just ordered the Flip-Pal scanner. Kenneth was fortunate that he has inherited 17 photo albums and his mother's journals. He has been scanning these items, and he shared a wonderful, restored timtype of his great-grandfather in Union Army uniform. Karen asks about why we should save of our own records and artifacts for future generations. Melanie has some rolled up documents that she would like to fl
Wed, January 26, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #215 - 2011 January 25
The news includes: The Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Student Genealogy Grant has been established and will be awarded to a student attending the 2011 Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree . Application deadline is March 1, 2011. For more information, contact Denise Levenick at dmlevenick@gmail.com or at 626.688.8974. NBC launches the second season of "Who Do You Think You Are?" on Friday, February 4th. Ancestry.com has announced the discontinuation of its Expert Connect service. Moorshead Magazines, publishers of Family Chronicle , Internet Genealogy , and History Magazine , have a special offer. Buy two books, Life During the Civil War and Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors , and pay shipping for just one. Visit Family Chronicle at http://www.familychronicle.com for more information and to order these books. MyHeritage.com has announced a major upgrade on its Smart Matching (tm) technology at its website. The Guys open one of the boxes of family materials that Drew's brother, Jeff, sent him in December. Drew explores the wealth of new materials he has received and he and George describe and discuss them in detail. Photographs, letters, certificates and diplomas, V-mail, letters, and more are included. Here are links to two pages: Drew's Mother and Friend beside Jeep (ca. 1943) Marriage Card received by Drew's Parents
Tue, January 18, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #214 - 2011 January 17
The news includes: GenSoftReviews announced its 2010 Users Choice Awards. Our sponsor, RootsMagic , was awarded first place. Ancestry.com announced the release of Family Tree Maker for the Macintosh. They also announced new and updated collections, including Swedish Church Records and Maine births, marriages, and deaths collections. The Illinois State Genealogical Society announced the unveiling of their new website at http://www.ilgensoc.org , using EasyNetSites . A new genealogy site has been announced. It is Tpstry at http://tpstry.com . Listener email includes: Questions about the downloads of the Podcast. Donna asked about the Federation of Genealogical Societies ' Save the Pensions! fund and its place in the Stern-NARA Fund at FGS. Tim writes about Drew's connection to the Perry-Boddies lines. Samuel asks about DNA testing to locate relations to males in Ireland. Victoria wants to know the reasons behind two couples in England (1851 and 1893) whose marriage registers show living at the same address at the time of their marriages. Ken asks about using Dropbox with his Family Tree Maker files. Mary asks how to shorten a rediculously long URL. George suggests the use of TinyURL and Drew suggests using bit.ly . Tim asks about free vs. pay information. Victoria relates a funny story about quirky genealogists. Another Victoria tells us about Shakespeare's genealogies in his plays. Gus tells us about obtaining military records. Donna asks George about differences between RootsMagic and Reunion. George tellss everyone that there are several new book reviews coming.
Fri, January 07, 2011
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #213 - 2011 January 5
This week's news includes: NBC announces that season two of "Who Do You Think You Are?" premieres on Friday, February 4th. The Federation of Genealogical Societies has appointed Matthew Wright as the new Editor of the FGS FORUM electronic magazine. He succeeds Sandra Hargreaves Luebking who has worked on FORUM for the last 25 years. The 1910 Census for Norway is online at http://www.digitalarkivet.no . An English version of the site is available at http://www.digitalarkivet.no/cgi-win/WebFront.exe?slag=vis&tekst=meldingar&spraak=e . The New England Historic Genealogical Society (at http://AmericanAncestors.org ) announces 4 upcoming events: New Visitor and Welcome Tour - January 8 Using AmericanAncestors.org - January 12 Dom's, An Odyssey - January 19 Winter Weekend Research Getaway: Effective Use of Technology - January 19 The revamped ScotlandsPeople is up and running The Ontario Genealogical Society announces the appointment of Elizabeth Lapointe as editor of its journal, Families The new book, Atlas of East and Coastal Georgia Watercourses and Militia Districts , by Paul K. Graham, has been published. Visit http://pkgraham.com/atlas for more information. WikiTree announces a host of new widgets at http://www.wikitree.com/articles/draft-widgets.html . Moorshead Publishing has released its new book, ttracing Your Civil War Ancestors , by David A. Norris. For more informaation, visit http://www.familychronicle.com . Genealogical Publishing Company ( http://www.genealogical.com ) has issued its new laminated "Genealogy at a Glance" reference sheet for Scottish Genealogy Research. <span style="font-
Mon, November 29, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #212 - 2010 November 28
The news includes: Ancestry.com unveils Family Tree Maker for the Macintosh. Ancestry.com and The Genealogist in the UK have announced an agreement with The National Archives (UK) to acquire and publish online the 1911 England and Wales Census. Ancestry.com has reached an agreement with National Geographic Digital Media, part of National Geographic , in which the latter will host a new family history experience related to the Genographic Project Online. Ancestry.com has just launched a major enhancement to its online search templates, the new "Add an Event" facility. Moorshead Magazines Ltd., publishers of Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy, and History magazines, announces a new book, Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors , available on 1 January 2011. More details are available at http://www.familychronicle.com . The Muskogee Phoenix reports that the Cherokee Nation has begun development of a Virtual Library of Cherokee Knowledge and expects to complete the project in Spring 2011. MyHeritage has announced that it can generate a wide variety of pre-defined famiy tree charts easily. High resolution export of charts is free and these can be shared via email and printed in PDF format on home computers. The company has also added a professional poster printing service. The National Genealogical Society has announced the appointment of a new board director, Jordan Jones, of Raleigh, NC, to support information technology and solutions. The New England Historic Genealogical Society (at its new web address at http://www.AmericanAncestors.org ) will host a Winter Weekend Research Getaway - Effective Use of Technology on 27 to 29 January 2011 in Boston. Visit the website for more information. The Kansas City Star posteed an article at http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/08/2409249/search-for-kc-potters-fields-documents.html?story_link=email_msg concerning searches for three large potter's fields. Ideas for holiday gifts include: The New England Historic Genealogical Society ( http://www.AmericanAncestors.org ) offers its Family Discovery Package for $99 and an annual membership to NEHGS for $75. Ancestry.com is selling NEW subscri
Sun, November 14, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #211 - 2010 November 12
This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the annual conference of the Florida State Genealogical Society, held at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. (Note: At one point during the episode, Drew tries to recall the name and URL of the national program that manages the archiving of local newspapers. After the recording, a helpful audience member let Drew know that it was the United States Newspaper Program .)
Tue, October 19, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #210 - 2010 October 18
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com has announced that it will acquire iArchives and therefore acquire Footnote.com . Ancestry.com has added the 1852 California State Census to its U.S. collection. Ancestry.co.uk has added "England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861-1941" to its collection. Genealogy Gems has announced that the second installment of the Google Earth for Genealogy video series has been released at www.GoogleForGenealogy.com . The Ontario (Canada) Genealogical Society has issued a call for papers for its 2012 Conference, to be held in Kingston, Ontario, on June 1-3, 2012. Email conference2012@ogs.on.ca for a copy of the Call for Papers document. Leland Meitzler has announced that Thomas MacEntee will join the 2010 Salt Lake Christmas Tour. More information is available at www.SaltLakeChristmasTour.com . The Federation of Genealogical Societies has announced that it is accepting applications for the position of Editor of its electronic quarterly magazine, the FGS FORUM . Interested parties may request a copy of the position description and submissions details by emailing application@fgs.org . Applications are being accepted through November 1, 2010. The Association of Professional Genealogists has announced that it is accepting applications for the position of Webmaster. Interested parties may request more information from Kathleen Hinckley, Executive Director, by emailing admin@apgen.org . Applications are being accepted through November 1, 2010. Listener email includes: Marilyn advises us that TelGen Limited has released "Families," an app for the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad that works with Legacy Family Tree . It is available at www.telgen.co.uk/families for $14.95. Marina asks for advice about cleaning up her family history data file. Patty is seeking a place online where she can upload her family history file, documents, photos, and more. Karyl is looking for suggestions about handling situations like "Great Grandma was a
Wed, September 22, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #209 - 2010 September 20
The news includes: Ancestry.com has added to its website more than 1,700 recorded oral history interviews from immigrants who arrived in the U.S. through Ellis Island. FamilyLink has partnered with Historic Map Works and will soon provide access to the world's leading historical map collection. Ancestry.com has launched the largest searchable online yearbook collection with more than 60,000 yearbook records. James R. Benn, B.A., M.L.S., has become the new director of the Godfrey Memorial Library in Middleton, Connecticut. Ancestry.com has released Family Tree Maker 2011 with more than 100 enhancements to the software. Sirius Genealogy 2.0 has announced that it has completed their transformation from a simple blog, into a complete online community for Amateur & Professional Genealogists. Membership is free. In addition to the general community atmosphere, SG2 has developed numerous Google Gadgets, Web Tools and other services to assist genealogists in their mission. Many more exciting tools are on their way! "Rare colour footage" of the London Blitz has been discovered in an attic. It has digitised and made available online at http://www.westendatwar.org.uk/category_idtxt__place.aspx . RootsTech, A New Genealogy and Technology Conference, will be held on February 10-12, 2011, in Salt Lake City. Learn more at http://www.rootstech.familysearch.org . ICAPGen will host a family history conference titled "Becoming an Excellent Genealogist" on October 22-23, 2010, at the Downtown Radisson Hotel in Salt Lake City. For more information and to register, visit http://www.icapgen.org . The Federation of Genealogical Societies 2011 Conference, "Pathways to the Heartland," will be held September 7-10, 2011, in Springfield, Illinois. More information will be available in coming months at the FGS website at http://www.fgs.org . The International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE) has announced its annual Excellence in Writing Competition for 2011. Details and an entry form are available at their website at http://www.isfhwe.org . Paul Larsen has released the fourth edition of his book, Crash Course in Genealogy . It is available in print and in an advanced digital eBook format (CD or instant dow
Sun, August 29, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #208 - 2010 August 19
This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the 2010 annual conference of the Federation of Genealogical Societies in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Mon, August 02, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #207 - 2010 August 1
The news includes: Announcements about the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, on August 18-21, 2010. ALERT: The IRS has reviewed non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporations and is planning to revoke non-profit status on October 15, 2010, for those that still have not complied with their reporting. Details can be found at http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=225889,00.html and The Guys strongly urge you to check your society's status on the respective state reports. The Guys provide an update about the situation on the Library of Michigan, both from Tom Koselka and from an article in Library Journal . Family Tree Magazine is hosting a Giveaway Sweepstakes at http://win.familytreemagazine.com through August 31, 2010. Enter the sweepstakes every day to win your choice of hundreds of genealogy books, CDs, and DVDs. Drew reads a question from Jim about a French puzzle. Drew will respond on this after he has a chance to review the details. The Guys discuss technology, including the iPhone and Drew's new iPad and a number of applications - apps at the iTunes store and on the Web: E-reader apps (at iTunes) Wikipanion (at iTunes) GoodReader (at iTunes) iSpeak (at iTunes) to translate languages Dropbox(on the Web at http://www.dropbox.com and a free app at iTunes) Evernote (on the Web at http://www.evernote.com and a free app at iTunes) Skype(on the Web at http://www.skype.com and a free app at iTunes) Google Docs (on the Web at http://www.google.com )
Wed, July 21, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #206 - 2010 July 20
The news includes: Ancestry.com completes its acquisition of Sweden's Genline.se. Ancestry.com has added U.S. Revolutionary War pension and bounty-land warrant application files (1800-1900), U.S. County land Ownership Maps (1860-1918), and a broad collection of Canadian City and Area Directories (1819-1906) Tom Kosalka of the Michigan Genealogical Council reports that Gov. Jennifer Granholm has issued a press release concerning the genealogical and historical collections at the Michigan Library and Historical Center. The press release can be accessed at http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168--240954--,00.html . Arphax Publishing announces new paperback editions of its Family Maps and Texas Land Survey Maps series. Visit their website at www.arphax.com . Findmypast.co.uk announced fully indexed U.K. and Wales birth records (1837-2006) at their site. The Newberry Library in Chicago has recently completed a new, free online resource, the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The database covers every day-to-day change in county boundaries - from 1634 to 2000. You can access this tremendous resource at publications.newberry.org/ahcbp . Archives.com ( http://www.archives.com ) has just turned one year old and urges our listeners to visit their site and enjoy a 7-day free trial. The guys discuss their upcoming travel plans: George will be speaking at the Midwestern Roots Family History and Genealogy Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 6 & 7, 2010, at a pre-conference session on August 5th. Learn more at http://www.indianahistory.org/our-services/family-history/midwesternroots/midwestern-roots . Drew will be in Göteborg, Sweden the week of August 9th to present a paper at the 2010 IFLA World Library and Information Congress. George and Drew will be in Knoxville, Tennessee from August 16-21, 2010, for the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference. You can still register at http://fgs.org/2010conference/registration , and you can learn everything you need to know before you attend the conference at the FGS Conference Blog at http://www.fgsconferenceblog.org . Listener email includes: Kim asks about how to determine if a specific genealogical researcher is legitimate or not. Ed responds to Jennifer's court reco
Fri, July 02, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #205 - 2010 July 1
The news includes: FamilySearch has announced the addition of another 26 million new names. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) will celebrate Independence Day on Sunday, July 4th, with its annual ceremony, its first ever National Independence Day Parade float, and a brand new logo. EasyNetSites ( http://easynetsites.com ) announces the availability of its products to create a customized website for genealogical societies, individuals, and small businesses. You don't need to know anything about HTML, XHTML, or other programming languages in order to use it. Listener email includes: Drew reads an item sent to him in French (and realizes after the podcast that the unusual word was actually a proper name!). Mike thanks Deborah effusively for her great help in opening up new research avenues for him! Clive asks for advice about DNA tests in the UK. Carla asks about her Afican-American and American Indian ancestry, and DNA results that suggest Ukranian ancestry. Steve and Patrice both wrote in to Drew to suggest the use of Newark, New Jersey, city directories for locating his Smith ancestors. Steve suggests the directories at Footnote.com and Patrice recommends working with the Newark Public Library . Louis Kessler is suggesting a new Genealogy Software and Internet site for users to handle FAQs. It needs 60 followers to make it permanent. Visit the site at http://tinyurl.com/LKessler . Try out a computational search engine at WolframAlpha . Network World published an article about the digital preservation of the WWII Enigma messages. See the full article at: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/060510-archive-project-will-digitize-wwii.html Tim wrote to report that he has received c
Wed, June 09, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #204 - 2010 June 8
Our listener email includes: Mitch recently discovered a great video, Ken Burns' Horatio's Drive . He also wants to know if other listeners know of other movies or documentaries that are historically educational. Jennifer is seeking court transcripts of a murder trial in Harford County, Maryland, and a federal trial in the Baltimore Circuit Court in 1922-1923. Gary asked for information about census enumerators' instructions for listing names on censuses. George points to the Minnesota Population Center's IPUMS site at http://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/tEnumInstr.shtml for 1850 to 1950 instructions. He also asks for information about the availability of census Enumeration District maps. Jeff asks for advice about how to handle birth date discrepancies where the Kentucky records list one date and family tradition insists it is another date. Richard has started his first blog at http://yehlegenealogy.blogspot.com , and he has posted some photos and postcard images from La Plata, Argentina. He hopes people will see his blog and recognize locations and people shown. Gus asked for guidance about the dictionary of first names that Drew spoke about in a previous episode. The book is the New American Dictionary of First Names . Please see last week's show notes for title and author details. Judy responds to Drew's challenge to locate Chambers Street in the 1920 census. She also suggests that Drew check the WWI Draft Registration cards for his William H. Smith. (He did after the podcast and found some good information.) Helen Shaw has published an article about the Maine Legislature's actions concerning limiting access to that state's vital records. Check this link . Chris asks for advice about how common are name spelling and birth/death date errors from the 1800s and early 1900s. Marily asks for help with tracing her great-great-grandfather who died in the Civil War. Tim is seeking details on his great-grandfather who was orphaned in Oklahoma. He has located Dawes papers and wants suggestions on how to continue. George reviews several books this week: Genealogical Proof Standard
Wed, June 02, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #203 - 2010 June 1
The news includes: The British Library has announced plans to digitize millions of historical newspaper pages in partnership with brightsolid.com . The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) has announced that it has more than 2,000 members. The Michigan eLibrary (MeL) has announced the lauch of Michigana, Sources in U.S. History Online . It can be accessed at http://mel.org/michigana . The Digital Library of Georgia and the Cuba Archives of the Breman Museum have announced the expansion of the Southern Israelite Archive at http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/MediaTypes/Newspapers.html . GenSoftReviews announces that it now has reviews of more than 500 genealogical software programs at its site. The Florida Genealogical Society (Tampa) will hold its annual Fall Seminar on Saturday, September 18, 2010, and the speaker will be Curt B. Witcher, the manager of the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. More information will be available at the society's website at http://fgs.org . The Federation of Genealogical Societies has announced the extension of its Early Bird registration for its 2010 FGS Conference on August 18-21, 2010, in Knoxville, Tennessee. The date has been extended to June 21, 2010. Complete details and online registration can be found at http://fgs.org/2010conference . Our listener email includes: Jennifer asks about mentors for her work in becoming a Certified Genealogist. George points her to the Board for Certification of Genealogists . Steve discusses his great-grandfather's birth records, and he asks about how to best borrow microfilmed records from Augusta County, Virginia - through the Library of Virginia or through the local LDS Family History Center. <span styl
Mon, May 10, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #202 - 2010 May 9
The Guys discuss their recent trips, including a great visit to Salt Lake City for the NGS Conference. This week's news includes: Ancestry.com made several announcements at the NGS Conference: A new search engine facility allows for better searching, including wildcard search at the beginning of names and the ability to drill down to all database results for a specific area. A new wiki at Ancestry.com includes all of their two great books, The Source and Ancestry's Red Book , and will allow continuous additions and updates. Ancestry.com announced a new version of its Family Tree Maker coming later this year for the Macintosh. FamilySearch.org announced the addition of 300 million new names to its site. Randy Riley, the Special Collections Manager at the Library of Michigan, received the prestigious Filby Award for Genealogy Librarianship at the NGS Conference on 30 April 2010. Congratulations, Randy! George discusses his meeting at NGS with Gary Gibb and Chad Milliner of Ancestry.com to discuss problems with the new images for the 1860 U.S. federal censuses at their site. George explains the cause and that Gary is evaluating possible corrective actions. Listener email includes: Barbara discusses her findings that some census pages are imaged two to a page and that "missing" families may be further down the screen. Drew comments that missed areas can often be found at the end of an enumeration district's census pages. Kaye has heard George on both this podcast and the Genealogy Gems Podcast. She also asks George about family Bibles for the Alexander families of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, from which they are both descended. Claire is a relatively new listener and only 25 years old. She is working as a probate genealogist for International Missing Heir Finders and is studying to become a Certified Genealogist. George shares that there are videos at YouTube of early San Francisco. One shows the city prior to the 1906 earthquake at http://tinyurl.com/SF1905-1905A and another shows the damage after the earthquake at <a href="http://tinyurl.com
Tue, April 20, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #201 - 2010 April 15
This week's news includes: The Governor of Maine has signed a bill limiting access to Maine's vital records until the passage of 100 years. Family Forest is expanding its collection of eBooks. RootsMagic has released a minor update to RootsMagic 4. The Digital Library of Georgia has released new historic Atlanta newspapers at http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/atlnewspapers . The 13th Annual Conference on Computerized Genealogy and Family History, traditionally held at Brigham Young University in Provo in March, will take place at the Salt Palace on April 26 and 27, immediately followed by the four-day Annual Conference (April 28-May 1) of the National Genealogical Society, also at the Salt Palace. Godfrey Memorial Library Board of Trustees member Ed Laput has completed photographing his 100th cemetery and has submitted his work to the library. The Guys provide an update on the Library of Michigan crisis. George conducted a webinar for the Southern California Genealogical Society titled "Getting the Most from a Genealogy Conference," and it can be viewed online at http://www.scgsgenealogy.com/RootsTV.htm . Gale has published a new collection of 300 years of U.K. newspapers, the 17th and 18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers and 19th Century British Library Newspapers . Leonardtown, MD. is sponsoring the Maryland to Kentucky Reunion 2010 in July 16 -18th. Check at http://mdtokyreunion.club.officelive.com for more information and registration. Rodney has set up a self-updating page of links that The Guys have cited in the podcasts. Check it out at http://vc.id.au/gg/gglinks.html . Phil Wright is looking for feedback on a potential new online genealogy service. You can respond to him at phil.wright@familytreeonline.com . This week's listener email includes: Mike is upset by another genealogist who took and published his family tree data at Ancestry.com . Kay wrote to indicate that there are more states in Ancestry.com 's 1860 enhanced census images that have problems. Rich asked for suggestions about locating information about his 4th great-grandfather and pauper graves. Jamie asks about the safety and security of hav
Tue, March 30, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #200 - 2010 March 26
The 200th Episode! The Guys are pleased to celebrate the 200th episode of the Genealogy Guys Podcast! This week's news includes: Mail in your 2010 census forms; a brief discussion of the NBC series, Who Do You Think You Are? ; RootsTelevision will remain in operation; library funding crises are spreading as the New Jersey State Library is threatened with a merger with Thomas Edison State College; the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County [NC] Library system's threatened 13-branch library closure announcement is mitigated by staffing and operation hours slashes; the Library of Michigan's collection will remain in one piece for now, but other changes are being discussed; a Massachusetts senate bill proposes closure to all that state's vital records created after 1841; Turner Publishing of Nashville, Tennessee, will take over all of Ancestry Publishing's brand and books, and will continue handling distribution and sales; The National Archives in the U.K. has announced that it will cease publication of its acclaimed genealogy magazine, Ancestors , and subscribers must contact the publisher, Wharncliffe Publishing, Ltd. , concerning refunds. George has been been contacted by Gary Gibb of Ancestry.com and Chad Milner concerning some quality problems with Ancestry's recent upgrade of census images. George discusses the 1861 censuses for three Ohio counties reported by Tina, and the intense attention being taken to address problems. Jonathan Wiltman announces GenAnswers, a new site at www.genanswers.com , a new and free genealogy question and answer community. Meg announces that her True Lover's Knot has been published as notecards by Etsy.com at www.hughpugh.etsy.com . This week's news includes: Sherry found a 1920 census form for her great-grandmother, Matilda (Tilda) Leafgreen on which the enumarator apparently noted in the left margin that this was the best information he was able to obtain. Cynthia has been searching her Powell family on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and in Delaware, and questions the user of her married vs. maiden name. Lisa tells us about the University of Washington's genealogy program, and you can learn more at http://tinyurl.com/UofWA-genealogy . Several listeners responded concerning the tab dividers for use with extra wide sheets and items inserted inside sheet protectors. (Avery #11903 - Big Tab Pocket Insertable Plastic Dividers) Erin recently completed a genealogy certificate program at Boston University. Learn more at
Sat, March 20, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #199 - 2010 March 6
George and Drew in front of a live audience on March 6, 2010 at the annual conference of the Santa Barbara County (California) Genealogical Society.
Thu, March 11, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #198 - 2010 March 9
This episode features three interviews: an interview with Josh Taylor of the New England Historic Genealogical Society (yes, the same Josh Taylor who appeared with Sarah Jessica Parker in the first aired episode of Who Do You Think You Are? ) an interview with Curt Witcher, Manager of the Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana an interview with Lee and Carol Cole, who manage a community project in Ohio (details at tpsurvey.org ) [Note: At one point in the interview, Carol refers to the Terrace Park Historical Society, but she realized after the interview that she intended to refer to the Terrace Park Woman's Club.] George and Drew also discuss their recent trip to Santa Barbara County, California, including a tour of the library of the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society. (The next episode, #199, will be a podcast recorded in front of the audience in Santa Barbara County.) Finally, listeners learn how they can become part of the upcoming 200th episode of the Genealogy Guys Podcast!
Mon, March 01, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #197 - 2010 February 16
George and Drew set sail on the second-largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas, and record a podcast episode in front of a live audience participating in the RootsMagic 2010 genealogy cruise. (Note: The correct URL for FreeBMD should be www.freebmd.org.uk .)
Sun, February 07, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #196 - 2010 February 4
In this episode: George notes that it is Black History Month, and points out that the New England Historic Genealogical Society has a website called AfricanAmericanAncestors.org . George shares the information that MyHeritage.com has acquired the Germany-based OSN Group, which includes such family sites as Verwandt.de , Moikrewni.pl , and Dynastree.com . The Michigan Genealogical Council updates the Guys on the Michigan governor's appointments to the Michigan Center for Innovation and Reinvention Board (which will advise the governor regarding the Michigan Library and Historical Center). Beverly asks about options for genealogy home-study courses. Teri asks where to get tabbed dividers for full-page sheet protectors, and whether it's ok to bring up a topic that was previously discussed on a Genealogy Guys Podcast from some time ago. (For the tabbed dividers, George suggests looking at Light Impressions .) Mitchell asks how best to document variants in surnames in his genealogy software. Tina asks about unreadable census images from the 1860 census on Ancestry.com. Steve e-mails from Australia using his iPhone to ask the Guys about dealing with some other genealogists who seem undaunted in spreading bad information. Brent asks about finding information for a death at sea. Tom and Mitch continue the discussion about providing sources for genealogical information. Mitch also shares an article written by Gary B. Hoffman that dealt with the subject of bad information found in online genealogies. Jim discusses his frustrations in locating information about ancestor David Barnhart. Drew interviews Dr. John Philip Colletta and learns a great deal about Federal court records.
Thu, January 28, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #195 - 2010 January 27
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com has announced Ancestry.com Tree to Go, a new app for the iPhone and iPod Touch that allows users to access and update their family tree at Ancestry.com anywhere. The app is available at the iTunes Store. Apple has announced their latest product, the iPad. The Guys discuss some of the features and the pricing of this new item. George announces his next speaking gigs: he will be at the Palm Beach County Genealogical Society on Saturday, January 30th, and at the Highlands County Genealogical Society on Saturday, February 6th. You can learn more at http://ahaseminars.com/events.php . This week's listener email includes: Hollen provides another suggestion about searching the Gorrell family for Pam. Lee tells us that Ancestry.com has a great database called Ohio Obituary Index, 1820s-2009, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. There is even a link on the database page that allows you to order a copy of the obituary. Marie thanks The Guys, Lisa Louise Cook of The Genealogy Gems Podcast , and Thomas MacEntee of GeneaBloggers for encouraging her to re-start her blog and keep it going. Congratulations, Marie! Gus discusses source citations on the reverse of his family history posters. He also reminds us that the Allen County Public Library is still accepting unbound and PDF files of books. ACPL will make and send you a bound photocopy and keep one for their collection. Send to: Steve Myers, Asst. Manager, Genealogy Center, Allen County Public Library, P. O. Box 2270, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46801 A.C. is interested in more information about Phoebe's Cousin Camp. George does a review of a new book, "Wanted! U.S. Criminal Records, Sources & Research Methodology" by author Ron Arons. The book is published by Criminal Research Press and retails for $49.99. The book is a compendium of a wide variety of criminal records and where the records can be located. Learn more at http://www.ronarons.com . George discusses his exciting finds concerning his paternal grandmother, her first marriage, her second marriage to his grandfather, and some very surprising connections that he has uncovered. Drew joins in the discussion because he, too, helped with the puzzle.
Thu, January 21, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #194 - 2010 January 20
The Guys have been traveling the last two weeks, but here's a new episode for everyone!This week's news includes: Ancestry.com announced that it is discontinuing publication of Ancestry Magazine, effective with the March/April 2010 issue. There are three new genealogy series debuting on television: "Who Do You Think You Are?" makes its debut on NBC on March 5, 2010; "Faces of America," hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., airs on Wednesdays, February 10 to March 3, 2010, on PBS (check your local listings); and "The Generations Project" has debuted on BYU Television (check your local area for availability and telecast schedules). Registration is now open for the Southern California Genealogical Society's 41st Annual Jamboree, to be held at Burbank, California, on June 11-13, 2010. Visit their Jamboree website for details and to register at http://www.scgsgenealogy.com/2010jam-home.htm . The Maryland Historical Society has announced that it is accepting applications for its Lord Baltimore Research Fellowships for 2010-2011. Contact Patricia Anderson at panderson@mdhs.org for more information about this announcement; contact the Library at library_department@mdhs.org for information about library-related fellowships; and contact Alexandria Deutsch, Chief Curator, at adeutsch@mdhs.org for information about museum-related fellowships. Ancestry.com has announced the launch of its 1950 Census Substitute. Ancestry.com and the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) are sponsoring a Family History Day 2010 on Saturday, February 20, 2010, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Westin Copley Place in Boston, Massachusetts. The Genealogy Gems Podcast has launched the first genealogy podcast app for the iPhone and iPod Touch, available in the iTunes Store for $2.99. This week's listener email includes: Beth thanks The Guys for help last fall with obtaining information about photos taken during WWII of her grandfather's B-17 crew mates. She also discusses how she worked very, very hard on her book to include source citations for every comment, etc., that she received while writing the book. Pattie talks about how great RootsMagic is for generating a basic book that she can edit, add to, and customize for her own family history writing. Brenda responds to Katie's e-mail (1/3/10 episode) concerning the Huntingdon Gazette in Pennsylvania. She reports that there is a website, "Access Pennsylvania
Mon, January 04, 2010
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #193 - 2010 January 3
This week's news includes: GenSoftReviews.com presents one of its 2009 Users Choice Awards to RootsMagic . PBS debuts its new genealogy show, "Faces of America," on February 10, 2010, hosted by Harvard scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. ScotlandsPeople announces new images of the Statutory Registers for Births (1909), Marriages (1934), and Deaths (1959) at http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk . The Iowa Genealogical Society Library suffered damage last week when part of its roof collapsed as a result of snow and rain. The Bartholomew County Historical Society in Columbus, Indiana, estimates a loss of as many as 75,000 items in a fire that destroyed the United Way building in which part of its collection was housed. The Allen County Public Library has a new blog and a page on Facebook ! This week's listener email includes: Michelle asks whether there is a search facility of the LDS Family History Library that allows people to determine what Family History Center(s) have a specific microfilm available for viewing. Pamela asks about the origin of the forename "Green Berry." Scott joins the ranks of The Genealogy Guys Podcast fans who have listened to every episode. Katie is researching her McCahan line and discusses that, and she follows up on our discussion of business records by sharing a link to the "Business Archives Scotland" blog (see http://tinyurl.com/ScotlandBusArch ). Lee explored the Google Archives in search of an obituary in the St. Petersburg Times for his Great Aunt Gertrude Mitzner; and he asks about the availability of single census record information from post-1930 U.S. federal censuses. Margaret asks for suggestions about her research in the Philadelphia area into the Rimbey family. Linda has hit a brick wall with her great-grandparents' burial location in California and asks for suggestions. The Missouri State Genealogical Society is trying to contact authors of articles for the Missouri State Genealogical Association Quarterly Journal. Many have already generously given permission to allow the society to place Journal articles online, but the organization is seeking to find other authors to gain their permission. George discusses his project over the holidays to work through his unfiled genealogical materials. He describes the process and what he has done in dat
Tue, December 22, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #192 - 2009 December 21
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com has released enhanced digital images of the U.S. federal censuses. The Library of Michigan crisis continues with a smaller budget, effectively coming out of the collection development budget, and an anticipated 20% budget cut in 2010-2011. The national Archives (TNA) of the UK has unveiled a new look and new address for its online educational services at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education . There are more materials there, plus podcasts and booking access to videoconferences and virtual classes. The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) has uploaded the Ulster Street Directories (1819-1900) at http://www.proni.gov.uk . The Irish Family History Foundation has released parish and statutory records transcriptions for County Londonderry at http://derry.brsgenealogy.com . Ancestral Atlas has released a collection of Irish Townland Maps at http://www.ancestralatlas.com . Be sure to back up your genealogy data and insure that a copy is located outside your home! This week's listener email includes: Eiya asks about good books covering African-American genealogical research. The Guys suggest Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree by Tony Burroughs and A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your African-American Ancestors by Franklin Carter Smith and Emily Ann Croom. Lois suggests a podcast about the Orphan Train and the Catholic version of this at the "Catholic Under the Hood" site at http://sqpn.com/category/educational/catholic-under-the-hood/ . Look for episode #209. Lee reminds listeners that they can order copies of original Social Security Applications, Form SS-5, from the Social Security Administration at https://secure.ssa.gov/apps9/eFOIA-FEWeb/internet/main.jsp . You can also use the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) at RootsWeb ( http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com ) and generate a letter. (Listen to the podcast for details.) Michael asks about the employer number on his great-great-grandfather's SS-5 -- W.P.A. O.P. 65-44-1163 -- and where he might learn what WPA projects on which his ancestor worked. He also asks about the U.S. Employment Service (USES) and what info
Tue, December 08, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #191 - 2009 December 7
This week's news includes: Footnote.com has made available the first-ever interactive collection of World War II documents, including the memorial of the U.S.S. Arizona at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The collection is free to access through the month of December. The National Genealogical Society (NGS) has announced details of the Librarians' Day at its annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, in April. This pre-conference program is sponsored by ProQuest. Details are available at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/preconference_events . ProQuest and NGS will honor an outstanding librarian at the same conference by awarding the Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/ykvrw3g . This week's listener email includes: Sharon reminds us that the search for immigrant ancestors must include looking at both ends of the journey. While an arrival record of someone from the U.K. in 1925 shows only a destination, the departure record in the U.K. may show the traveler's home address. U.K. migration records can be found at http://www.findmypast.com . Tina corrects our statements in episode #189. FreeBMD.org.uk does not yet include all the civil registration index entries. In addition, civil registration in England and Wales began on 1 July 1837 and not 1838. Steve is seeking clues about a grandfather who divorced his first wife and remarried, apparently taking the second wife's surname. Victoria shared information about the S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien, one of only two remaining, fully functional Liberty Ships built and launched during World War II. The ship has been restored and is anchored at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, open to the public. Learn more at http://www.ssjeremiahobrien.org . Gus asks for advice about citing sources on genealogical posters he has created of his family lineage. Nancy asks about George's book, The Official Guide to Ancestry.com, and how current the book remains. Larry asks about using a DNA test as it applies to establishing lineages for immigrants. Rich shares a newspaper story about the Texas state government taking blood samples of newborn infants for testing purposes, and then retaining the samples for other experiments. This has resulted in lawsuits by parents/families and concerns about privacy. See more at http://tinyurl.com/DNA4TX-Infants . R.J. advises us of another product that allows Mac users to run Windows on their Macintosh, Lin
Wed, November 25, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #190 - 2009 November 21
News from Ancestry.com includes more records, such as U.S. Navy records, improved 1850 U.S. census images, Atlanta federal penitentiary records, more historical postcards, Bavaria muster rolls, and other new records from Ireland, Australia, and Paris. Footnote.com has added more Native American records. RootsMagic has updated its website and has released RootsMagic Essentials, a free version of the RootsMagic software. The DAR has made an online database of many of its genealogy records available to the general public. Listener e-mail involves a question about the link to New York government divisions (turns out it's on Wikipedia); the correct pronunciation of Islip, NY (which Drew did correct in the show notes from the episode in which he mispronounced it) and another NY town; the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2010 conference in Knoxville, Tennessee; volunteering to provide free online access to records, especially local historical records; volunteering to provide genealogy classes at the local public library; online Navy records and other military records; issues related to using Facebook, Genealogy Wise, and the Genealogy Guys videos on Blip.tv; citing census records; running Windows programs on a Macintosh; and researching Smiths in England. Drew shares his first experiences with Google's latest online service, Google Wave.
Thu, November 19, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #189 - 2009 November 07
This podcast episode was recorded "live" at the Western Michigan Genealogical Society 's conference in Grand Rapids on Saturday, November 7, 2009. We had a fabulous time with the society and its members!
Thu, November 05, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #188 - 2009 November 4
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com expects to raise $100 million in its IPO; the Kansas African American Museum in Wichita has received a $25,000 grant to establish a statewide program called "Knowing Me, Knowing You"; Footnote.com has announced its plan to create the complete Interactive U.S. Census; and the "Who Do You Think You Are LIVE" show will be held in Olympia, London, on 26-28 February 2010, sponsored by Ancestry.co.uk . The Guys will be at the Western Michigan Genealogical Society's Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on 6 November 2009. Details are available at http://gotancestors.com . The Guys will also be at the Florida State Genealogical Society's Conference in Melbourne, Florida, on 13-14 November 2009. Details are available at http://flsgs.org . George thanks Teresa Remsberg for providing a link to the Canadian Border Crossings database at Ancestry.com where a record of his great-uncle, Brisco Washington Holder, showed he arrived in 1919. Mary responded to Pat's concerns in podcast episode #186 about birth certificate copies being issued with a different place of birth (Drew realizes after the podcast that he mispronounced "Islip" several times); Victoria asks about Post-Em notes on Ancestry.com family trees; Mark shares information about articles of genealogical interest: Kentucky's last Civil War daughter at http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/805969.html Death of the last Civil War widow at http://tinyurl.com/CW-widow Smithsonian Magazine published an article about the last U.S. WWI solder at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/last-doughboy.html European legal challenges to Google Books at http://tinyurl.com/GoogleBookEU An article about the original Star Spangled Banner back on display at http://tinyurl.com/ybbo47q Mark also shares information about employment records; Eric talks about George's and Drew's books, and chuckles over The Guys' botching the pronunciation of place names; Daniel asks about the Ball family; Michelle talks about presenting classes in her genealogy society and the joys of belonging to her society; Tim reminds Th
Thu, October 15, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #187 - 2009 October 14
This week's news includes: The National Army Museum (UK) has launched an exhibition called First Shots: Early War Photography 1848-1860 . It includes some of the earliest war photographs in existence, and the online version of the exhibition can be viewed at http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/pages/firstShots/ . The Vision of Britain website has a new set of digitized maps for England, Scotland, and Wales going back to the early 1800s at http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/ . George has been elected to the position of Vice President of Membership Services of the Federation of Genealogical Societies , effective 1 January 2010. George describes a beautiful poster that Gus Marsh has sent to illustrate work with Adobe In-Design. Gus also asks about two individuals buried in Pinellas County in Florida. The Guys report on the status of the Library of Michigan funding crisis and the threat of breaking up its excellent historical and genealogical collection. George will be in Louisville, KY, this Saturday for an all-day seminar (details at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kylgs/seminar2.html ). George and Drew will be at the Western Michigan Genealogical Society ( http://www.wmgs.org ) in Grand Rapids, MI, on Friday and Saturday, November 6th and 7th. The society is celebrating its 55th anniversary with a banquet on Friday evening, and an all-day seminar on Saturday, titled Got Ancestors?! Guydes to Genealogical Research . Details are available at http://gotancestors.com . The day's festivities will conclude with The Genealogy Guys LIVE!, a live recording session of the podcast with questions and answers. The Guys present two final interviews from the SCGS Jamboree in Burbank. Drew first interviews Suzanne Russo Adams of Ancestry.com and the author of Finding Your Italian Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide . He then interviews Paula Hinkel and Leo Myers, the planning and organizing force behind Jamboree. This week's listener email includes: Teri has downloaded all the podcasts and listens while swimming; Peter asks Drew about researching his slave ancestors in Newberry, SC, Drew's hometown; Amy discusses the use of newspapers and newsletters for company employees.
Fri, October 09, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #186 - 2009 October 8
The Podcast has been nominated by Family Tree Magazine's Top 40 Genealogy Blogs in the HOW-TO Category. Please cast your vote for us at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/40BestVoting . This week's news includes: Ancestry.com will present a free online presentation on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time titled "Learn the Best Strategies for Searching Ancestry.com" - and you can register at http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Webinars.aspx ; Ancestry.com also announced that they have expanded their agreement with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to scan and index documents there, and have therefore opened a new scanning facility in the Washington, DC, area - new content collections from this new facility are discussed in this episode; UK Minister Ed Miliband, visiting Moscow on official business and appearing on a call-in radio program, received a call from a relative. You can read the BBC news story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8295394.stm . The City of Kennesaw, Georgia, received a grant that enabled them to begin underground imaging of their cemetery, and you can read all about it at http://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/etd/2/ .Note: Another update on the Library of Michigan crisis will be provided next week.Maureen A. Taylor, well known as The Photo Detective, has just published a new book, Fashionable Folks: Hairstyles 1840-1900. It can help you date those mystery photos you have. The book is available at http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/fashionable-folks-hair/7559085 .The Guys have a busy speaking schedule coming up! Drew will speak about DNA on Sunday, October 11th, for the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay ( http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~fljgstb ). George will be presenting at an all-day conference for the Louisville Genealogical Society (details at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kylgs/seminar2.html ) in Louisville, KY, on Saturday, October 17th. And George AND Drew will be speaking for the Western Michigan Genealogical Society ( http://www.wmgs.org ) in Grand Rapids, MI, on Friday and Saturday, November 6th and 7th. The society is celebrating its 55th anniversary with a banquet on Friday evening
Thu, October 01, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #185 - 2009 September 30
This week's news includes: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and Footnote.com announce a new Digital Holocaust Collection at Footnote.com at http://www.footnote.com/holocaust , and will be accessible for free through October; Gale and the British Library have made a vast collection of "British Newspapers, 1800-1900" available online at http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs - searches are free and downloads of full-text articles are available by purchasing either a 24-hour or 7-day pass; WorldVitalRecords.com announced that it has lowered its price for an annual World Collection Subscription to $99.95; and FamilySearch announces new and updated records and indexes at its site at http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch . The Guys provide an update about the Library of Michigan crisis, provided by Tom Koselka of the Michigan Genealogical Council. Drew interviews Steve Danko, expert genealogist in Polish research and personal blogger extraordinaire ( http://www.stephendanko.com ). George discusses the fact that he has a new membership to the Godfrey Memorial Library ( http://www.godfrey.org ) and the types of subscriptions available. The listener email includes: Eiya asks when you should shell out the big money for certified certificates; Ian asks for advice about the treatment of sensitive family information, such as illegitimate children; Jenna asks about the filing of marriage certificates - under the groom, the bride, or both; Clive shares some Irish websites he has found very helpful: http://www.leitrim-roscommon. com/index.shtml http://www.leitrim-roscommon. com/1901census/ http://www.leitrim-r
Sat, September 19, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #184 - 2009 September 18
We apologize for the delay between podcasts, but we're back on schedule again! This week's news includes: Ancestry.com and the Drouin Institute ( http://institutdrouin.com ), holder of one of the most important Canadian genealogical collections, announce the successful resolution to arbitration concerning content and indexing, and Ancestry.com has announced that the collection will be returning to its site very soon; dynastree announces that it now has 10 million family trees on its site, and that they have added new features including the ability to include family pictures in a GEDCOM file export; MyHeritage.com announces that its free Family Tree Builder software (free for download) now supports mapping, photo albums, and other new features; the Free Library of Philadelphia has averted disastrous budget cuts that would have closed all of its branches in early October; and the FamilySearch Indexing Project ( http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start ) has announced the release of additional new and updated collections. The Library of Michigan continues to hang under the threat of its collection being dispersed by executive order of the state's governor. The Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC), a joint group of the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the National Genealogical Society , has initiated an online petition drive at http://www.petitiononline.com/RPAC2009/petition.html and The Guys strongly encourage you to sign electronically by 30 September 2009 , the deadline date for the petition. For more information about the situation, visit the Michigan Genealogical Council's website at http://www.mimgc.org/LOM.html . (The Guys will continue to report on this critical situation over the coming weeks and months.) This week's listener email includes: Pheobe has created a Cousin Camp for her nieces, nephews, and cousins aged 9 to 14 and offers to share information with others; George asks about how to cite death notices; Rob asks how many listeners there are for the podcast; Victoria discusses the software she uses on her Mac in order to run Windows-based programs such as RootsMagic ; Margaret reports on genealogists and libraries, and methods for creating knowledge with web 2.0 technologies; Rebecca asks about file formats
Fri, September 11, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #183 - 2009 September 3
George and Drew record this episode in front of a live audience at the 2009 annual conference of the Federation of Genealogical Societies in Little Rock, Arkansas. Drew interviews members of the audience and the Guys take a number of audience questions.
Tue, August 25, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #182 - 2009 August 24
This week's news includes: Hamburg, Germany-based dynastree ( http://www.dynastree.com ) announces an automatic search for potential relatives on its site; responses have been great about The Guys' new videocasting at http://genealogyguys.blip.tv ; Ancestry.com announces the release of its new Family Tree Maker 2010 software; and Genealogy Wise announces that there are many great videos on its website. Drew shares two interviews this week: Michelle Pfister and Mark LeMonnier on the product team of Family Tree Maker of Ancestry.com discuss the software, improvements that have been made over the last year, and some of the things coming in the future. Schelly Talalay Dardashti, author of the Tracing the Tribe blog ( http://tracingthetribe.blogspot.com ), discusses Jewish genealogy and how to progress with your research. This week's listener email includes: Eiya asks about the absence of marriage records for Fannin County, Texas, at Ancestry.com, and George has information about those records' availability on microfilm through the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah; one listener joined a genealogy society in January and has felt less than welcome, and asks when it might be appropriate to make suggestions for improvements; and Rebecca asks The Guys which genealogy software program that they use. NOTE: The two interviews will be posted as videocasts within the coming week at http://genealogyguys.blip.tv .
Sat, August 15, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #181 - 2009 August 15
This week's news includes: GenealogyWise ( http://www.genealogywise.com ), the recently launched genealogy social network, has added indexing to the Surname Groups; dynastree ( http://www.dynastree.com ) has announced that it now features maps showing the distribution of a surname for eight countries; and MyHeritage ( http://www.myheritage.com ) has added many new features and activities to its site. The Guys then discuss news about the upcoming Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. This week's podcast features two interviews by Drew from the Southern California Genealogical Society 's Jamboree in Burbank, California: The first is with Janet Hovorka, the "Chart Chick," of Generation Maps ( http://www.printmyfamily.com ). She discusses the range of custom charts that the company can provide. The second is with Craig Manson , legal expert and author of the GeneaBlogie blog at http://blog.geneablogie.net . This week's listener email includes: Jean reports problems obtaining vital records from New Jersey; Lisa reports the same problem with New York; Paul asks a question about photos that have been uploaded to Ancestry.com ; Tim in San Francisco shares a link to an article about Google Maps' street view cameras in Paris - on tricycles; and Tim in Tampa shares two important tips with listeners: Google Books ( http://books.google.com ) has unearthed a vast amount of genealogical information through searching the site. Even books that are in copyright can often be obtained through Interlibrary Loan or otherwise. He especially recommends accessing Simon Greenleaf's three-volume work, A Treatise on the Law of Evidence . The New York Historical Newspapers collection has been developed by the Northern New York Library Network. It contains 1,640,000 pages from 43 newspapers in seven northern New York counties: Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, and Essex Counties. The collection can be found at http://news.nnyln.net .
Sat, August 08, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #180 - 2009 August 7
This week's news includes: the Library of Michigan and its historical and genealogical collections are in jeopardy; Ancestry.com has filed with the SEC for a $75 million IPO; brightsolid announced the acquisition of the Friends Reunited Group for £25 million; Ancestry.com has substantially expanded its Jewish Family History Records collection; Ancestry.com also has announced the release of its fourth Ancestry World Archives project, the England and Wales Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; dynastree.com now offers a free 14-day trial of its premium subscription; and RootsMagic's Valentine's Day Family History Cruise of the Western Caribbean, sailing from Miami on 14 February 2010, is accepting reservations, and there will be great genealogy classes and shore excursions -- details are available at http://www.rootsmagiccruise.com . The Guys will be part of a special event at the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2009 Conference in Little Rock. They will lead an Open Forum for Bloggers, Social Networkers, and Podcasters -- and for anyone interested in discussing or having questions. Meet The Guys, other bloggers, people on social networks you may never have met in person, and podcasters. The Guys interview Maureen A. Taylor, the Photo Detective. Visit her website at http://www.photodetective.com , and sign up for her free newsletter at the bottom of the Web page. Catch her great blog as well! The Guys discuss the crisis in Michigan with the governor's proposal to stop funding, close the library, and disperse the collection. The Michigan Genealogical Council organized an important rally this week at the State Capitol and then proceeded to march to the Library of Michigan. There the participants, nearly 500 strong, formed a "Hands Around the Library" demonstration, carried signs, and spoke with passers-by. There was local television and newspaper coverage of the event. The Guys are very concerned about this situation, and George is an outspoken library and archives advocate. George reviews an outstanding book, Crash Course in Family History (3rd edition) by Paul Larson. The outstanding step-by-step book is available from EasyFamilyHistory.com ( http://www.easyfamilyhistory.com ), and previews of the book are available at http://www.crashcoursebook.com . This week's listener email includes: Eric asks about the Frappr map that The Guys had on their websit
Sat, August 01, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #179 - 2009 July 31
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com launches a new feature called Member Connect to make connecting with others easier; and the Federation of Genealogy Societies (FGS) reminds our listeners that the 2009 FGS Conference is only a month away, September 2-5, in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Guys reminds listeners that they will be there doing a LIVE podcast recording session with an audience. The Guys welcome Julie Miller, CG, and Drew interviews her at the Southern California Genealogical Society 's Jamboree about research into the ancestors and relatives of a certain Denver celebrity. This week's listener email includes: Clive asked George to also share the fact that The National Archives (TNA) in the UK also produces podcasts at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/podcasts/default.htm on many topics; he also asks if we can find out when the "Criminal Registers, 1791-1892," from Ancestry's World Archive Project will be available online (and George will check); Clive also tells us another story of the use of the word "craic." (Drew also discusses the Geo Challenge game on Facebook.com .) Bill reminds us that PAF (Personal Ancestral File genealogy software from the LDS Church) is still an excellent free option for creating and maintaining your database; Noi asked about Footnote.com 's calculation of the percent completed in the Civil War Widows' Pension Files collection, and received an answer from Footnote Support that she shared with everyone; Damien thanked The Guys for information about photo tagging software; Michael asked which death date to use in his database when his great uncle died at home about 11:00 PM and the doctor did not arrive to create the death certificate until about 12:30 AM on the next day; Michael also shares his difficulties working with the New Jersey state government to obtain an old death certificate -- the search was $25.00, regardless of outcome, required an extensive set of proofs of his relationship to the person for whose record he was requesting, and the office was exceptionally rude when he followed up by telephone. Ann Gulbransen, Historian for the Ohio Society of Mayflower Descendants, responded to a listener's inquiry in Episode 177. She tells us that the official books that trace Mayflower ancestry are called "The Mayflower Families Genealogies through Five Generations." Also known as the Silver Books, the completed books and indexes can be purchased through the online store at the Society's website at http://www.themayflowersociety.com . Kay is co
Fri, July 24, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #178 - 2009 July 23
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com has added the Canadian Censuses, 1851-1916, and one of the most comprehensive collections of Caribbean slave records, detailing nearly 200 years of St. Croix-Virgin Islands history. The Michigan Genealogical Council has issued a press release regarding the crisis in funding for the Library of Michigan and the possible dissolution of its collection. A Hands Around the Library event will be held on Wednesday, 5 August 2009, in Lansing, beginning with assembly at 9:45 AM at the State Capitol. Questions can be sent to Sue Irvine at sjirv@yahoo.com . Synium Software announces the release of MacFamilyTree version 5.6. Northern Hills Software announces the release of Pocket Genealogist, version 3.40, for Windows Mobile devices. Drew interviews Dr. Tukufu Zuberi, Ph.D., a star researcher of the hit PBS television program, History Detectives , at the Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree. This week's listener email includes: Denise loves the way Fletcher meows on cue. Patrice suggested a discussion of Second Life, and Lisa suggested a discussion about researching the history of old houses. (The Guys will work on some stories about these topics and others you might suggest.) A response to Margaret in Dublin about Aster Software 's iPhone app, FamViewer. The company informs us that there are planned enhancements to the project, but there are no plans in place to provide an editing function and upload to source genealogy programs. Rich H. shared a story about two people named Kelly Hildebrandt who connected on Facebook and who will be married in October. The two are not related. Connie asks about the use of the terms "brother-in-law" and "stepdaughter" in the mid-1800s and what the terms might mean. Rich C. discusses the use of the phrase "turn of the century" and suggests that we designate which century. He also shares an article from Fortune magazine concerning whether or not information should be free. (Visit http://tinyurl.com/fortuneinfo to see the article.) Michael asks us to tell Tom about a national youth organization for kids interested in genealogy. It is the Youth Genealogists Association at http://www.youthgen.net . Drew announces that 50 libraries across the U.S. are offer
Thu, July 16, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #177 - 2009 July 15
This week's news includes: The Generations Network has changed its name to Ancestry.com; The National Archives (TNA) ( http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk ) in the U.K. has launched truly great new learning guides online at its site, under the tabs Research and Learning, Research Guidance, and Understand the Archives in Minutes; Digital Genealogist magazine will cease publication with the July/August 2009 issue; MyHeritage ( http://www.myheritage.com ) announces new photo features, including a photo tagging system; dynastree ( http://www.dynastree.com ) announces an extended search facility; Gus reminds us that the newly updated Reunion app from LeisterPro ( http://www.leisterpro.com ) will operate on both the iPhone and the iPod Touch; and The Genealogy Guys Podcast will be LIVE at the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas -- producing a live podcast recording session on Thursday, September 3rd, at 3:30 PM. Drew interviews Lisa Louise Cooke of the Genealogy Gems Podcast ( http://www.genealogygemspodcast.com ) at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree. This week's listener email includes: Rich asks about what is involved with playing and producing podcasts; Christopher tells us that annotating and tagging photos is a feature of LifeStory Productions' Heritage Collector Suite ( http://heritagecollector.com ); a listener asked if our podcasts are transcribed into written form, and Drew responds that they are not; Michael asks for suggestions about his brick wall with Murry M. Jones in Indiana; Roger, Tom, and Rich responded to the discussion about information placed in member-only areas of genealogical websites; Brent Ropelato of TopTenREVIEWS recommends the genealogy software reviews ( http://genealogy-software-review.toptenreviews.com ) which George indicates does not at present include Mac software, and may not be 100% up to date; and Larry asks for suggestions about tracing his ancestor who supposedly is a Mayflower descendant.
Mon, July 06, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #176 - 2009 July 5
This week's news includes: Aster Software has released a new version 2.0 of its FamViewer software application (app) for the iPhone, and LeisterPro has released its version 1.0.2 of Reunion for the iPhone. Famview is used to download GEDCOM files to an iPhone, while Reunion is specifically used to download genealogy data from the Reunion desktop program. dynastree ( http://www.dynastree.com ) is celebrating its second anniversary, and has launched Turkish support on its site. Ancestry.com has launched a new "My Story" advertising campaign. This week's listener email includes: a response to Rollin concerning a photo of a child holding a ball; Joel Weintraub responds to a listener's query for a photo tagging program, and he gives us Photo Express ( http://www.passageexpress.com ); Judy asks for advice about locating Social Security information for her great-grandfather who may have stretched the truth about his year of birth; Rich suggests two websites for locating obituaries in the New York City area - Legacy.com at http://www.legacy.com/NS/ and The Journal News at http://www.nyjnews.com/obituary/search.php3 ; Tom shares a great story about kids getting interested in genealogy; Art is compiling an Excel spreadsheet with information about people he plans to research in the 1940 census when it is released to the public in 2012; Michelle did her podcasting presentation for the Glendale Chapter of the Family History Society of Arizona; Michael discusses his DNA testing and encourages people to especially have their older relatives tested; Jim asks about NewpaperARCHIVE.com , and shares with us the Washington State Digital Archives at http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov , where recent additions include the King County, WA, marriage Records and World War I Veterans' Records. Roger (Marathon Man) is once again caught up on the podcasts, and reminds people that The Guys will be at the Western Michigan Genealogical Society Conference on November 7th -- details are at http://gotancestors.com . He also talks about: how to enter multiple names, such as Stanislav and Stanley His use of TNG (The Next Generation of Genealogy Site Building) and offers several examples, including http://roger.lisaandroger.com/getperson.php?personID=I16&tree=Roger , <a target="_blank
Sun, June 21, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #175 - 2009 June 20
The Guys remember John Fuller who passed away recently. John maintained a masterful site of all of the genealogy mailing lists in the world.This week's news includes: Family Tree Magazine has published its 101 Best Websites for 2009, and The Genealogy Guys Podcast has been named to that prestigious list; Ancestry.com will soon be launching Member Connect at its website to facilitate communication and collaboration between members and subscribers; and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) will be turning over alien registration files to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) facilities near San Francisco and Kansas City (the searchable index announced in the podcast is no longer there). One of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission's "Lincoln Legacy Town Hall" meetings will be held on Monday, June 29th, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at the Harold Washington Library Center, in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium. Author and scholar Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Jr., will join Chicago writer and interviewer Rick Kogan to have an interactive discussion of how the stories we tell shape history and how history shapes our stories. U.S. Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., will also be in attendance.The Guys discuss the upcoming Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree in Burbank, June 26-28, 2009. Join them at this great event. More details are available at http://www.scgsgenealogy.com/2009jam-home.htm . Note: Dr. Zuberi's dinner speech will be on Friday.This week's listener email includes: Roger responded to Kristen's email (Episode 174) concerning genealogical society dues vs. fees for members-only areas of a website; Gus reconfirms that deceased persons do appear in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) while the surviving spouse collects benefits; Sean responded to the point made about recording multiple spellings of surnames by telling us that The Master Genealogist program supports the entry of multiple names in its database; Georgia Keilman asked us to tell people about her Greek genealogy website at http://www.HellenicGenealogyGeek.com ; Tim tells us about another software package that can be used to generate your genealogy website, called The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding" at http://lythgoes.net/genealogy/software.php . The software also incorporates Google Maps into the site and Tim provides a link to his own site at http://www.ryeland.com and a link to his great-grandfather's page at http://ryeland.com/getperson. php?personID=I4340&tree
Thu, June 11, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #174 - 2009 June 10
This week's news includes: the newly released Welsh 1911 census reveals that singer Tom Jones is actually three-quarters English; MyHeritage.com ( www.myheritage.com ) has announced a new version of its photo service that makes it easier to upload, share, and organize their photos online; EBSCO Publishing, one of the largest distributor of electronic materials to libraries and archives, and Footnote.com have announced a distribution deal that makes EBSCO the worldwide distributor of Footnote.com to libraries and institutions; Ancestry.ca , the Canadian geographical version of Ancestry, announces a partnership with the Library and Archives Canada in which the entire historical Canadian censuses, 1851-1916, have been released online at its site; and George spoke with Stephen Carr of our sponsor, NewspaperARCHIVE.com , and indicates that the newly announced free membership includes access to up to 5 pages per day at their site -- great for the casual user -- but serious researchers will want to subscribe to the full service.The Guys are pleased to announce details of the RootsMagic Valentine's Day Cruise on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas, sailing from February 14th to 21st from Miami for a week's tour of the western Caribbean. Details can be found at Rootsmagic's website at www.rootsmagic.com . The Guys are excited about going to Burbank for the Southern California Genealogical Society's JAMBOREE on June 26th to 28th. George will be moderator of "Son of Blogger," a panel discussion of blogs, podcasts, and videocasts. More details are available at the SCGS website at www.scgsgenealogy.com . This week's email includes: Cheryl wants to know how to source a copy of a military record received from a relative; Kay corrects George on what happens on the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) when a spouse receives the Social Security benefits of a deceased spouse; Kay also shares a wealth of information about the land records related to Old Pendleton, South Carolina; Noi located the Pleasantville Cook-Book at the Internet Archive at www.archive.org (the cookbook is at http://www.archive.org/details/pleasantvilleco00clargoog ); Jim shares information about UK copyright law and public domain; Lynda shares her experiences with CDs created by an Arkansas genealogy society, and requested a format for the Mac; Mac praises Drew's book, and thanks The Guys for encouraging him to begin lecturing;
Tue, June 02, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #173 - 2009 June 1
This week's news includes: NewspaperARCHIVE.com announces that it is now offering free membership; Calico Pie, Ltd., announces the release of Family Historian Version 4 genealogy software at http://www.family-historian.co.uk ; Ancestry.com announces new content, including German Phone Directories (1915-1981), the Alabama State Census, and more; and the Federation of Genealogical Societies has extended its Early Bird registration for its conference in Little Rock, AR, on September 2-5, 2009, and details are available at http://www.fgs.org/2009conference .George and Drew send "shout out" greetings to: Birdie Holsclaw in CO; Veronica June Vinson in Hove, England (Happy Birthday!); and Michelle and the Glendale Chapter of the Family History Society of Arizona.Ryan Oliver of Bozboz, Ltd., tells us about the site at http://www.howto.co.uk at which you can find many free books online, including genealogy materials.Drew revisits the "Pleasantville Cook-Book," and discusses the issue of Google Books blocking access to it in Canada because of Canada's different copyright laws. Drew proceeded to research the three compilers of the 1894 cookbook in order to confirm that they are all deceased, and he will try to communicate with Google to lift the block on this cookbook. Listen to Drew's fascinating research experience.This week's listener email includes: Paul, who works for the U.S. Postal Service, tells us that DNA test kits are not considered "hazardous" in the mails; Barb discusses locating the maiden name of Sam's Jewish-Polish grandmother that The Guys discussed in Episode #171; Patti asks what people's experiences have been in moving to RootsMagic 4; Tom reminds everyone that Soundex microfilm can be invaluable in locating people who may have been mis-indexed in census databases; Mac has the wikiHow gadget on his iGoogle page, and he found an interesting entry: "How to Cite a Wikipedia Article in MLA Format" at http://www.wikihow.com/Cite-a-Wikipedia-Article-in-MLA-Format ; Bill tells us he has found a free iPhone app called Stitcher in the iTunes Store that "stitches together" news, talk, sports, and entertainment in an on-demand mobile application, and that he asked them to add our podcast to their lineup; MLR asks why someone who collected Social Security benefits may not be included in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI).George announces that RootsMagic is hosting another RootsMagi
Tue, May 19, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #172 - 2009 May 18
This week's news includes: The Generations Network, Inc. , parent of Ancestry.com , and FindMyPast.com are said to have approached ITV about purchasing Friends United ; Everton's is said have come to a verbal agreement with a purchaser, and details will be announced shortly; the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE) announced the winners in their annual Excellence in Writing Contest last week at the NGS Conference in Raleigh, NC; MyHeritage has announced a fun gadget called the Look-alike Meter ; Sirius Innovations, LLC, announced the Sirius Genealogist Web Directory ; the Southern California Genealogical Society has issued a Call for Papers for lecture proposals for its 2010 Jamboree (details at http://www.scgsgenealogy.com/2010jam-CallForPapers.htm ); Irish indexes to statutory births, marriages, and deaths from 1845 to 1858 are now online at the FamilySearch Pilot site at http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html ; and Ancestry and FreeBMD have partnered to post English and Welsh birth indexes from 1837 to 2005 online at http://www.ancestry.co.uk . This week's email includes: Eric reports that the LDS Library catalog entry for microfilm containing the civil registration records for Faenza Italy, has been reinstated; and Steve provides updated details about the uses of handheld computing devices in the 2010 U.S. census.Ancestors, the magazine published by The National Archives (TNA) in the U.K., has published an excellent article in its March 2009 issue titled "How to Read a Document." It presents methods for deciphering old documents. A sample document, a page of a letter written byPrincess Elizabeth on 17 March 1554, beseeching Queen Mary to free her from impisonment in the Tower of London, is included to let you decipher the document.George shares the news that the National Archives of Scotland, the National Museums of Scotland, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland, and the
Thu, May 07, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #171 - 2009 May 6
The Guys welcome a new sponsor: NewspaperARCHIVE.com . This week's news includes: Ancestors Magazine, the monthly publication of The National Archives in the U.K., is now offering selected past articles in PDF format for download at a modest fee at their Documents Online site ( click here ); Calico Pie Ltd. has released Version 4 of its popular Windows-based genealogy database software, Family Historian, at http://www.family-historian.co.uk ; Directgov in the U.K. provides access to ordering civil registration records; Footnote.com has updated its content with over a million new images online; WorldVitalRecords.com has made an enhancement to its image viewer, making it possible to magnify to 200%; NewspaperARCHIVE.com will be sponsoring the popular National Public Radio (NPR) news and comedy show Whad'ya Know? on May 16th from Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines, Iowa; and the Ohio Genealogical Society has scheduled the groundbreaking ceremony for its new 18,000-square foot library on May 29th at 10:30 AM.This week's listener e-mail includes: Marty verifies that The Master Genealogist software accepts GPS coordinates; Daniel Horowitz of MyHeritage Ltd. congratulates Drew on his new book, Social Networking for Genealogists, available from Genealogical Publishing Company ; Lisa asks whether Everton's Genealogical Helper magazine is out of business, but The Guys have no information about this; Julie shared information about Steve Luxenberg's new book Annie's Ghosts: A Journey into a Family Secret, and Drew recounts the story he heard about the book on NPR ( click here to listen to the story too ); Gus recounts the lessons he learned on his recent research trip to Salt Lake City; Pat reports about migrating to Windows Vista and shares information about software compatibility; Pat also tells about having a brother take a DNA cheek swab, and that the postal clerk considered the package "hazardous"; Rich shares information about the U.S. Census Bureau's plans to use GPS technology in the upcoming 2010 census; Connie discusses a problem with automatic downloads of the podcast from iTunes, and Drew responds; Sam asks for suggestions for finding
Mon, April 27, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #170 - 2009 April 26
This week's news includes: NBC has temporarily shelved the U.S. edition of the popular show, "Who Do You Think You Are?"; and Ancestry.ca , the Canadian version of Ancestry.com , has released a new database, Border Crossings from the U.S. to Canada, 1908-1935, which contains more than 1.6 million names. Drew eulogizes genealogist Donna Dinberg, the noted librarian from the Library and Archives Canada and an expert in Jewish genealogy, who died of cancer on 11 April 2009. George's new book, the second edition of How to Do Everything: Genealogy, has just been published by McGraw-Hill, and the book is available from Amazon.com at http://tinyurl.com/HTDE2-GGM .George and Drew discuss upcoming seminar appearances. George will be hosting a Webinar for Ancestry.com titled, Planning a Perfect Family Reunion, 14 May 2009 at 9:00 PM (Eastern). You can register at http://tinyurl.com/ReunionWebinar . Listener email this week includes: Sharon reports that My Yahoo! is not updating the podcasts listings, and The Guys ask for any suggestions from other listeners; Melanie discusses contacting other researchers who have errors in their online family trees; Jill suggests having DNA testing done for your oldest relatives before it is too late; Timothy, a Mac user, asks for advice about how to use Windows-based CDs from his genealogy society that are DRM protected; Stella reports that she followed George's suggestions in his "The Genealogist as CSI" seminar, went back to reread everything on one ancestor, and was able to verify his participation in the War of 1812; Rollin reports on a free Windows-based program, Winsplit Revolution, available at http://www.winsplit-revolution.com , that "allows you to easily organize your open windows by tiling, resizing and positioning them to make the best use of your desktop real estate"; Matt Combs has developed a new piece of Windows-based software called Surname Findit, available for download at http://mattcombs.webs.com/sfmain.html , that helps decipher possible surnames from fragments you may have discovered in hard to read documents; Beth in Ontario, Canada, found an old cookbook from New York and wonders whether people would be interested in her digitized images of the pages (and Drew responds with his expert research method used to locate the book and digitized images); Rich forwarded the text of a 1984 death notice of a man whose wife's maiden name is Weinglass (one of Drew's ancestral lines); George asks for suggestions about how to cite alternate spellings of a surname in his database and source citations; The Guys thank Gus for
Tue, April 14, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #169 - 2009 April 12
Topics this week include: Loretto "Lou" Dennis Szucs receives the Silver Tray Award from the Utah Genealogical Association. Ancestry.com includes new London-related content, including Births, Baptisms, Deaths, Burials, and Poor Law Records. Leland Meitzler includes a calendar on his blog at genealogyblog.com . The National Archives (UK) adds new information about Henry VIII. The National Archives (US) at Kansas City, Missouri relocates to the Union Station Complex. Readex, a division of NewsBank, adds a new product line : American Newspaper Archives. WorldVitalRecords.com reveals an improved search and browse function. The Ontario Genealogical Society will be holding its OGS Conference 2009 on May 29-31 at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. The Purcell Family of America has a new website at www.pfaroots.org and a Purcell surname DNA project (contact Doug Purcell at dpurcell@eufaula.rr.com) A podcast listener asks for a medal after listening to all Genealogy Guys Podcast episodes between January 13, 2009 and now (but he's not happy with the newer music). George meets someone at the front door with information about Census 2010. A listener describes using Google's Picasa Web Albums to store and share photo albums. A listener asks about the availability of New FamilySearch (because RootsMagic 4 provides a way to access it when it becomes available). The CEO of Sampa Corporation contacts the Genealogy Guys to describe a free service to share life events with family and friends. A listener asks whether or not everyone with the same surname (or a spelling variant) should be included in a genealogy database even if the relationship hasn't been established yet. Melissa Shimkus of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana announces that new military content has been added to their site www.genealogycenter.info . Joel Weintraub, associate of Steve Morse, responds to the idea of a one-step search for "everything", but one of his provided links is not quite the error message you may think it is. Ian Pereira lets us know about his company's free book publishing site at HowTo.co.uk . A listener asks for advice for a first-time visit to a national genealogy conference. A listener asks about how to proceed with a DNA test that may confirm a family story. A listener asks about pension files and NARA. Drew talks about Dropbox , an online service that synchronizes working files across computers.
Wed, April 01, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #168 - 2009 March 31
This week's news includes: The Generations Network announced the launching at its Ancestry UK site ( http://www.ancestry.co.uk ) of more than 400 years of London history, derived from records at the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) and the Guildhall Library; and Footnote.com ( http://www.footnote.com ) has launched its new Great Depression Collection, including the Interactive 1930 U.S. Census, and additional records are coming soon. George interviews Drew about his brand new book, Social Networking for Genealogists , published by Genealogical Publishing Company ( http://www.genealogical.com ). This week's listener email includes: Steve discusses the new RootsMagic version 4 and the RootsMagic To-Go; Rich suggests another way of telling someone that there's a mistake in their research; he wonders if Stephen Morse would consider a single-search step at his One Step website; and he asks if George has more information about Brisco Holder (and George shares some surprising information); Drew responds to a question about copyright for Nancy; Jimmy shares information about great YouTube videos of "Depression Cooking with Clara" at http://www.youtube.com/user/ DepressionCooking , and suggests that video interviews with family members doing something they're comfortable doing is a great way to capture information; Clive in the U.K. shares details of his research concerning U.K. criminal records and the online catalogue of The National Archives in Kew (outside London) and some surprising results about James Derrick; Sue shares information about WeRelate.org ( http://www.werelate.org ), a free public-service wiki for genealogy sponsored by the Foundation for On-Line Genealogy in partnership with the Allen County Public Library , that allows the uploading of genealogy data and photos; Jack asks for suggestions about where to upload scanned Bible records; and Roxanne asks for help from listeners in order to locate companies that can scan large quantities of family photographs.
Thu, March 26, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #167 - 2009 March 25
This week's news includes: RootsMagic releases Version 4 of its great genealogical database software; NBC will begin broadcasting the American version of the popular British television show Who Do You Think You Are? on Monday, April 20th, at 7 PM; Ancestry.com has updated its 1940 census substitute and will soon be adding to the U.S. Public Records Index (USPRI); and the 1911 England and Wales census has been released online at http://www.1911census.co.uk . Drew discusses Twitter , the social networking service being used for messaging. This week's listener email includes: Joshua asks about adding multiple sources for multiple marriages at Ancestry.com; Craig asks a question about ways to access obituaries; he also asks about family tree-oriented websites at which family trees and family photographs; Claire informs us that Reunion (genealogical database for Macintosh from Leister Productions, Inc. ) has just released their iPhone app to take your genealogy with you; James is looking for his great-grandparents in Smith Township, Robeson County, North Carolina; Michael shares information for locating naturalization records for immigrant ancestors - they may have received land under the various U.S. Homestead Acts, and the Bureau of Land Management General Land Office ( http://www.glorecords.blm.gov ) may have information in the case files about naturalization; Kirsten asks how to receive the podcast on her TiVo; Jerry asks about additional sources for locating his Irish ancestors who received a land grant in 1790 in Pendleton District, South Carolina; Joel Weintraub shares more information about the 1940 U.S. census, which will not be released on microfilm, and he is already transcribing information from the 1940 census enumeration district maps; he also talks more about the 72-year rule for release of U.S. census information.
Wed, March 18, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #166 - 2009 March 17
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com has added new content; MyHeritage.com has added more than 150 new databases in the last week of February; NewspaperARCHIVE continues to add new digitized and indexed newspaper content, and has added blogs, social networking interfaces, and Twitter; the Library of Michigan has just added Michigan death certificates spanning 1897 to 1920 at Seeking Michigan at http://www.seekingmichigan.org ; Dick Eastman welcomes new English writer and genetic genealogy expert Chris Pomery to Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter ( http://blog.eogn.com ); Steve Danko has just returned from the Family Tree DNA 5th International Conference on Genetic Genealogy for Project Administrators, and he has a great report at his blog at http://stephendanko.com ; and Maureen A. Taylor, the leading expert on evaluating and dating photographs, author, and lecturer, has an excellent blog on the subject at http://photodetective.blogspot.com . This week's email includes: Henry asked about digital camera reviews, and George responded that he had written an article for the 22 February issue of Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter on that subject; Steve shouts out some positive kudos for the new RootsMagic Version 4 beta edition of its great genealogical database software package; and Lisa asks for tactful ways to tell someone that they probably have wrong information. George reviews two new books: Genealogical Publishing Company has just published a new 5th edition of Thomas Jay Kemp's book, The International Vital Records Handbook ; and Ancestry Publishing has just published a new book, Finding Granddad's War , by Jeffrey Badger, which details his search for information about his father's experiences and colleagues in the 978th Engineer Maintenance Company during World War II.
Fri, March 06, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #165 - 2009 March 4
This week's news includes: RootsMagic releases the public beta of Version 4 of the RootsMagic software; Ancestry.com released five new databases in commemoration of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday; Ancestry has replaced the Ancestry Weekly Journal with a new newsletter, The Weekly Discovery; Sonja Nishimoto, Family History Library Consultant, has invited genealogical and historical societies and their members to contribute content to the FamilySearch Research Wiki at wiki.familysearch.org ; the Southern California Genealogical Society's 40th annual Jamboree will be held in Burbank, CA, on 26-28 June 2009, and its blog is online at www.genealogyjamboree.blogspot.com -- and a special guest speaker, Tukufu Zuberi of the PBS show, "History Detectives," will address the Friday evening banquet; the MyHeritage Genealogy Search Engine ( www.MyHeritage.com ) announces some newly released improvements; and Lisa Louise Cook of "The Genealogy Gens Podcast" ( www.genealogygems.tv/Pages/Podcast/PodcastList.htm ) announces the guest of the most recent episode of the podcast, Darby Hinton, who starred as Israel on the 1960s TV hit, "Daniel Boone." The episode also celebrates the podcast's second anniversary.This week's listener email includes: Nancy in Ontario reported that she had a problem with the podcast loading in her Firefox Live Bookmark feed; Doug reminds us that the St. Albans Border Crossings immigration records reflect immigrations from Canada (and that St. Albans is in VT and not NH); Elliot asks for advice about what name to record when the surname changed over the centuries; Jane asked George for the name of his publish-on-demand resources, which is Lulu.com ; Drew provided a resource for comparison of print-on-demand resources at http://mashable.com/2009/03/01/publish-book/ ; Joel Weintraub provides information about the origins of the 72-year privacy policy for U.S. federal censuses and his article on the subject at http://members.cox.net/census1940/ ; Bill discusses the fact that census images in the Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest Online databases are not the same; TC discusses the backups of genealogy files on Mozy.com ; Gus recounts his experience of getting locked in a cemetery; Judy shares a follow-up story about storing photos on an external hard drive; Scott asks about the protocol for thanking helpful cemetery workers; Cheryl tells us that the 1935 and 1945 Florida census
Wed, February 18, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #164 - 2009 February 15
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com adds Abraham Lincoln Papers, New Orleans Slave manifests (1807-1860), Confederate Pension Applications from Georgia, Confederate Applications for Presidential Pardons, and U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles; Ancestry.com also has reduced the prices of its DNA tests; FamilySearch is partnering with the Houston Public Library to digitize a vast collection of Gulf Coast records; NewspaperARCHIVE.com has announced a new column by Phyllis Matthews Ziller; a new, free online genealogy magazine has just been announced -- Genealogy In Time at http://www.genealogyintime.com ; The Federation of Genealogical Societie s (FGS) has just announced the program for the 2009 Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas (2-5 September 2009) and has made the program and registration available at http://www.fgs.org/2009conference/ ; registration is also now open for the Association of Professional Genealogists' Professional Management Conference, to be held on 2 September 2009 in conjunction with the FGS Conference, and registration is also available at http://www.fgs.org/2009conference/ ; Wholly Genes , maker of The Master Genealogist software program, has announced its 5th annual conference, a "land cruise," to be held 26-30 August 2009 in Orkney Springs, Virginia, and information and registration is available at http://www.whollygenes.com/confregister.htm ; George will appear at the Oregon Genealogical Society Conference in Eugene, Oregon, on 7 March 2009, and more information is available by calling the OGS Library at (541) 345-0399; NBC has announced that it will begin televising the U.S. version of the popular British program, "Who Do You Think You Are?"; the annual "Who Do You Think You Are?" genealogy conference will be held at Olympia, London, England, on 27 February to 1 March 2009; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a site at http://www.familyhistory.hhs.gov at which you can enter your medical genealogy for your family; the U.S. War Department papers (1784-1800) have been reconstituted and digitized, and can be found at http://www.wardepartmentpapers.org ; and David Rumsey, active collector of historical maps and owner of the site,
Thu, February 05, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #163 - 2009 January 24
The Genealogy Guys broadcast "LIVE" from the Volusia-Flagler County Genealogical Society Conference in Daytona Beach, Florida. They take and respond to questions from the audience.
Thu, January 22, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #162 - 2009 January 21
The podcast begins with The Guys talking about upcoming speaking engagements. Drew discusses his recent trip to Salt Lake City, and describes Blogger's Day at Ancestry.com. Eight bloggers paid a visit to The Generations Network's data center, which houses the computer equipment for Ancestry.com, RootsWeb.com, and Genealogy.com. They then went to Provo to the company's offices and met with a number of the employees, and learned more about Ancestry.com's operations and plans. Drew began the next segment by reading an email from John with his tips for visiting Salt Lake City and the Family History Library. Drew then describes the nearby Plaza Hotel accommodations and the FHL itself. He offers tips for people traveling to SLC for a library research visit. He stresses advance preparation, and offers information about the area. This week's listener email includes: Chanda discusses cousin marriages; Sherry comments on her recent experience with Mozy, and Drew adds more -- about the need to specify uncommon file types to insure that they are backed up; Barbara reminds George that RootsMagic 3 does support the input of latitude and longitude coordinates in the database; Bill got our RSS feed for his WiFi radio working, and can now tune to our station on his radio to listen to the podcast; Marilyn was lookoing for the RSS feed URL on our website, and Drew told our listeners to look for the little RSS 2.0 box under Syndication on the right side of our webpage; Karen wrote to discuss the question, "What do I do with the 'stuff'?"; and Kay says, "I can't believe I listened to the whole thing!"
Wed, January 07, 2009
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #161 - 2009 January 5
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com launches a new Florida State Census Collection (1867, 1875, 1935, and 1945); the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announced that president J. Mark Lowe has resigned for personal reasons, and Vice President of Administration, Pat Oxley, has assumed the presidency; a Union County, Illinois group, Promoting Appreciation of Structural Treasures (PAST), is seeking to purchase the "House Where Lincoln Stayed" in Anna, Illinois, in 1858 when he was there to debate Stephen Douglas in one of the most historic political debates in U.S. History. Tax-deductible contributions can be made to PAST Lincoln House Project, Mona Diefenbach, 190 White Pine Lane, Anna, IL 62906. Listener email this week included: Peter is concerned that searches in Ancestry.com for his family always include his own data at the top of the search results list, and believes that Ancestry.com should be able to mask or omit his own results; Virginia asked for clarification about ordering SS-5 applications for a Social Security Number, especially for deceased persons not in the SSDI; Roxanna shared a strong tip for researching in Salt Lake City; Scott wrote again to clarify his method for storing data at Ancestry.com and using his RootsMagic software; he also shared his excitement at having found old family photo albums and having found great information on the back of important photos; Sean recommends a product called SpinRite from Gibson Research Corporation (http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm) to help recover data from damaged magnetic storage media. Drew discusses the crash of his desktop PC, and the steps he is taking to repair the hard disk and restore his data.
Fri, December 26, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #160 - 2008 December 25
The Guys wish all their listeners a wonderful holiday season! This week's news includes: The North Carolina Genealogical Society (NCGS) announces a workshop on 14 March 2009 with Craig Roberts Scott, CG, in New Bern, NC -- more information is available at the NCGS website at http://www.ncgenealogy.org/ (click the Calendar button); Science Daily has published an interesting article at this location ; Tim Skinner, author of the Map My Ancestors program ( http://www.familytreeassistant.com/ ), informs us that the program allows you to view your tree on Google Earth, Google Maps, and many GPS and SatNav devices; and Mike O'Laughlin has two new genealogy podcasts -- Irish Families enhanced podcast at http://www.irishroots.com/podcasten/rss.xml (free QuickTime player preferred) and Irish Roots Cafe video podcasts at http://www.irishroots.com/irishvideo/rss.xml (free iTunes player preferred). This week's listener email includes: Marie found lots of Body/Bodi surnames in the FHL microfilm for Ottawa County, Ohio, birth records; Ian Towler shares information on another open source program, PhpGedView, at http://phpgedview.net/ that allows you to view and edit your genealogy on your website -- and Ian has shared the URL for his website ( http://familytree.itowler.com/ ) that uses this program so that everyone can see what he was able to do with the software; and Michael Moore has begun a website and library called Bookscanned (at http://bookscanned.com/ ) which allows you to upload scanned pages of a book, such as a family history, and then he OCRs them, and then adds the image and the OCR text to a Web page -- and then a search engine can find the page; Scott tells us that (re: episode #159) that he maintains his family tree at Ancestry.com, and then downloads a GEDCOM file into his copy of RootsMagic genealogy software. The Guys discuss Christmas traditions in their families and others over the years.
Tue, December 16, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #159 - 2008 December 15
This week's news includes: Allen Weinstein, Archivist of the United States, submitted his resignation to the President, effective 19 December 2008, citing health reasons for his decision; and FamilySearch ( http://www.familysearch.org ) just completed digitizing its 25,000th book. (Visit http://www.familysearch.org and click on Search Records and then on Historical Records.) This week's listener email includes: Rich discusses how he used Windows Home Server to back up his data, and how he was able to use it when his son's hard drive failed; he also shared another website at which a small program can be downloaded for free that allows you to locate and use special characters -- It is at SourceForge at http://sourceforge.net/projects/allchars ; Rollin wrote to clarify that support for adding GPS coordinates is available in the purchased Deluxe version of Legacy and not in the free Basic version; Rich in PA advised us that Find A Grave ( http://www.findagrave.com/ ) has added the great facility to link parents and children, and spouses, to records there (using the Find A Grave Memorial number at the bottom of the left-hand column); he also shares another social networking site for book lovers called Shelfari ( http://www.shelfari.com/ ), similar to LibraryThing ( http://www.librarything.com ); Claire shared an excellent census map resource at http://www.familyhistory101.com/map_census.html at which you will find maps for most U.S. states that you can use to see boundary changes for each of the census years; Tom shared a story from the Kansas City Star from 15 November 2008 [the story has been retired from their website] in which Linda K. Lewis was highlighted as having spent 5 years with volunteers documenting and photographing 40 of the 44 known cemeteries in Johnson County, KS -- and she has documented them all at http://cemetery.cottonhills.com/ ; Tim asked for The Guys' opinions about using a genealogy database software program vs. Ancestry.com as a repository for his genealogy information; Rod in Australia shared an excellent interview from Australian Radio National regarding cousin marriage with Cathy Day, PhD researcher, School of Archaeology and Anthropology, ANU -- listen to it at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2008/2426440.htm or c
Tue, December 09, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #158 - 2008 December 7
We have a new microphone cable for the mixer this week, and we hope that alleviates the stereo cut out problems. We are also sending out our logo as album art. This week's news includes: Footnote.com announces a new Interactive World War II Collection; The Generations Network, owner of Ancestry.com and other companies, announces the appointment of Howard Hochhauser as the new CFO; Ancestry.com's first World Archives Project Collection, Wisconsin Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880, has been completed; The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has announced two new awards to recognize significant achievements in genealogy research, based on records from the National Archives, and eligible applicants must attend a U.S. college or university; the Arizona State Archives ( http://www.lib.az.us/archives/ ) has moved into the new, $29M Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building in Phoenix; and the Ohio Genealogical Society ( http://www.ogs.org/ ) has reached its $2.5M funding goal to construct a new 18,000 square foot library in Bellville, Ohio, with construction beginning in early 2009. This week's listener email included: Brian asked if there are online church records available for Northern Ireland, and Drew suggested the Ulster Historical Foundation site at http://www.ancestryireland.com/ , a pay site; Brian also has started a family site at MyHeritage.com ( http://www.myheritage.com/ ) and was concerned about privacy -- Drew found that you can log in, set up your site, and specify that it is a) a public site, b) a private site (for invited persons only to access), or c) a mixed site that is a combination of public information and private information that you define; Mike had asked for help locating his great-grandfather in the census prior to his marriage; Gus provided an excellent link to a website that shows the keyboard equivalents for UTF-8 special characters, at http://www.typeart.com/special_characters.asp ; Rollin advises us that Legacy Family Tree software allows the recording of GPS coordinates; Peter advises us that Brother's Keeper software also allows recording of GPS information; Karen shares information about the importance of using small, hometown newspapers in your research; Bill asks for help with linking to the podcast using a WiFi radio, and Drew suggested the use of Reciva.com ( https://www.reciva.com/ ); Jack shared information about communities and church membership, and about another look at
Sun, November 30, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #157 - 2008 November 28
We apologize for the few cut-outs of stereo in this week's episode. We have replaced a damaged cable and should be fine in the future. This week's news includes: Edna Parker, world's oldest woman, died in Shelbyville, Indiana, this week at age 115 years, 220 days; social networking site Genoom.com ( http://www.genoom.com ) announces the expansion of its international support for 17 languages; social networking site itsourtree.com has been renamed to dynastree ( http://www.dynastree.com/ ); FamilySearch.org is seeking assistance with indexing projects, and you can learn more at http://www.familysearch.org/eng/indexing/frameset_indexing.asp - particularly Canadian and Norwegian censuses; Ancestry.com ( http://www.ancestry.com ) has recently added more than 1100 U.S. city directories with more than 50M names; Calico Pie Limited, maker of the U.K.'s leading family history program, announces the forthcoming release of version 4 of its Family Historian program at http://family-historian.co.uk/ ; Library and Archives Canada (LAC) announces the launch of a new online database, Immigrants to Canada, accessible by clicking here ; and FamilySearch.org has released more online courses. George reviewed a book last week, and inadvertently misspelled the author's name. The book is Finding Your Chicago Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide to Family History in the City and Cook County , by Grace DuMelle, and published by Lake Claremont Press . My sincere apologies! This week's listener email includes: John's confusing ancestral marriages for the Muson family; Sharon had questions about sources, and about resources for Tory ancestors [Listeners can weigh in on the topic]; Kathy asked about content in the Ancestry Publishing surname books, and she offers information about TinyUrl.com ( http://tinyurl.com/ ); Deborah makes suggestions for your 2009 genealogy project; Peter tells us that a Palm OS handheld application for genealogy, MobileGenealogy, has been newly updated and is available at http://www.mobilegenealogy.com/ [Correction: MobileGenealogy is not a Palm OS application, but instead a website that discusses handheld genealogy applications.];Claire discusses the Shrubs
Thu, November 13, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #156 - 2008 November 12
This week's news includes: Sirius Innovations introduces a new genealogy website at http://www.siriusgenealogy.com/ "with a focus on using today's technology in documenting a family's history"; Ancestry.com has introduced the Ancestry Toolbar for use with your browser (IE or Firefox, ostensibly for Windows users only) to save photos and stories/text from the Web to your Ancestry Member Tree and more information and the free download can be found at http://landing.ancestry.com/toolbar/ . George also has corrected his typo on the URL for the National Library of Australia, which has launched Australia Newspapers at http://ndpbeta.nla.gov.au . Please check it out! George reviews the book, Finding Your Chicago Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide to Family History in the City and Cook County , by Grace DeMelle, and published by Lake Claremont Press . (The publisher has a number of additional excellent titles concerning the Chicago area.) Listener email includes: Gus tells us that his mystery concerning his grandfather, Vere Preston Marsh, in Virginia, St. Louis County, Minnesota, has been solved and he now has a photo of the gravestone; Rich suggested that Gus check at Find A Grave and post a request for a volunteer to get that photo for him too (and I see that Gus has added a record for Vere already!); Tom advised us that the Rome [GA] Tribune-Herald newspaper is online and searchable; Linda responded to last week's podcast regarding the PDF version of Elizabeth Shown Mills' book, Evidence Explained , and the fact that it can be used on multiple computers; the Family History Library (FHL) has introduced five free video classes about English research [ click here ] and requests feedback on them; Tom asks for advice about treatment and preservation of a collection of moldy documents received from his great aunt; T.C. and Claire shared information about another iPhone application (app) for loading genealogy information onto your device -- it is FamViewer from Aster Software ( http://www.astersoftware.biz/ )and sells for $14.99 at the iTunes Store (iTunes for Mac and PC is a free download at http://www.apple.com and you can access the Tunes store through that software); Russ has published information on his <a href="
Thu, November 06, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #155 - 2008 November 4
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com launches the world's largest collection of Jewish documents; they also have added French collections at their Ancestry.fr site: Paris, France, & Vicinity Births, marriages, Deaths, marriage Banns -- AND -- to their UK site at http://www.ancestry.co.uk the UK incoming Passenger Lists (1878-1920); the National Library of Australia has launched Australia Newspapers at http://ndpbeta.nla.gov.au ; Ancestry.com has won the contract to digitize and host key collections from the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) and the Guildhall Library, representing more than 500 years of records (more details of the content are available at http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/digitisation.htm ); The National Archives (TNA) in the U.K. is using Digital Microfilm to make available remote access to four series of military records. Drew announced that George's newest book, the second edition of The Official Guide to Ancestry.com , has just been released, and it is available at the Ancestry Store. Drew shares "11 Creative Ways to Pay Homage to the Dead" from the Life Hackery blog at http://lifehackery.com/2008/11/03/life-26/ . This week's listener email includes: Sherry visited a courthouse to access her great-grandfather's probate file, and found that these records are being digitized and will then be thrown away. (She was given her great-grandfather's probate file.); Peter asked about the eBook of Elizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence Explained , and wants to know if it has Digital Rights Management [Listeners can respond if they know.] ; Ian asked about how to cite a source using a location that no longer exists (i.e., Prussia); Gus reports on the status of his search for his grandfather, Vere Preston Marsh; "William comments on huge GEDCOMs on Ancestry.com, and asks about uploading his own research; Claire reports on a new iPhone application (app) that allows people to load a GEDCOM's contents to the iPhone and take it along (George is trying to get this loaded and will report back); Joel suggests that Barry's search in the 1900 U.S. federal census in Kentucky might be aided by using the new upload at http://search.labs.familysearch.org or at Stephen P. Morse's site at http://www.stevemorse.org/census/index.ht
Sun, October 26, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #154 - 2008 October 25
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com has renamed its self-publishing tool from AncestryPress to MyCanvas, and has also doubled its yearbook collection; ItsOurTree.com announced that its site ( http://www.itsourtree.com/ ) can help predict male baldness through members' postings of family photographs; FamilyRelatives.com ( http://familyrelatives.com/ ), a subscription website, has one of the largest collections of Irish records on the Internet, and they announced that they plan to add more than 10 million new records by the end of the year; Footnote.com ( http://www.footnote.com ) has begun to publish digitized and indexed Civil War Widows' Pension Files; the University of Michigan has announced that it has digitized and indexed 428 titles in its Michigan County Histories and Atlases Digitization Project, and the search template is available at http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/micounty/ ; and Geni.com ( http://www.geni.com/ ) has announced enhanced search facilities and improved privacy at its website. Finally, the Wall Street Journal published an article on 22 October 2008 about University of Texas El Paso, librarian Claudia Rivers, who has formed an aggressive program to identify 50,000 photographs taken bythe closed Cassola photography studio. Check the WSJ site for an article published on that date titled, "In Old El Paso, This Detective Story Is Written in Pictures." George announces that Ancestry.com has just received copies of his new book, the new second edition of The Official Guide to Ancestry.com in its warehouse the end of this past week. Ancestry.com's online store will be listing the book and advertising it for sale very soon. George interviews Gary M. Smith and Diana Crissman Smith, two of his fellow speakers on the recent RootsMagic Cruise. Listener email this week includes: a thank you and report from Pat (Ms. DNA Manners) about communicating with people with potential genetic genealogy matches; a question from Pattie concerning obtaining SS-5 applications for deceased relatives whose deaths predate the SSDI database; Drew responds to Ann about the Harvey Girls, and provides a link to the Harvey Girl Historical Society ( http://www.oerm.org/pages/Harveygirls.html ); Robert Reeve of VideoJug has contacted us to say that their website has more than 43,000 free videos, including a number concerning genealogy (located at http://www.videojug.com/tag/genealogy ); Michae
Tue, October 14, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #153 - 2008 October 12
This week's news includes:Art Lassagne, founder of The Gold Bug (producer of AniMap software), died on 29 September 2008 at his home after a long battle with lung cancer; Ancestry.ca has published the Canadian Passenger Lists (1865-1935); the Godfrey Library ( www.godfrey.org ) of Middletown, CT, announced that its product, the online American Genealogical Biographical Index (AGBI), will no longer be available at Ancestry.com after the end of this year, but it will be available at the Godfrey Library and at World Vital Records ( www.worldvitalrecords.com ) beginning in January 2009; Northern Hills Software ( www.northernhillssoftware.com ) announces Pocket Genealogist Version 3.3 for Windows Mobile devices which includes support for multimedia; Summit County Ohio Probate Court received a grant to digitize and index to birth, marriage, and death records, and those records will be available at their website and those of their partners, Ancestry.com , FamilySearch , and the National Association of Government Archive and Records Administrators ( NAGARA ); the St. Petersburg Times in Florida has brought up it digital archives of more than 100 years of its newspapers (May 1901 through August 2007) and it is available at news.google.com/archivesearch (Users should type "St. Petersburg Times" before they enter their query terms.); Dick Eastman, of Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter ( blog.eogn.com ), has announced the addition of Lloyd de Witt Bockstruck to the writing team at the enormously popular online publication [George also writes a weekly column for Dick]; and the free 12th annual Central Florida Family History Conference will be held on 25 October 2009 in Orlando, and more details are available at www.familyhistoryconference.org . Listener email includes: Gus added this podcast to his site at www.macapart.com/gen ; Jon asked for more information about portability of Family Tree Make 2009 on a flash drive (and Drew will report back); Russ recounts his search for his grandfather in the 1900 census and discusses names; Kevin reminded The Guys to remind our listeners to celebrate October as Family History Month and as Hispanic Heritage Month; Tim asked for suggestions concerni
Tue, September 30, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #152 - 2008 September 28
While George relaxes on a cruise ship off the Pacific coast of Mexico (ok, so he's doing some genealogy lecturing on the RootsMagic 2008 cruise), Drew handles the entire podcast himself (not even assisted by the cats). News items include the Louisiana Death Records Index for 1911-1956, a new partnering between 23andMe and Ancestry.com, GenealogyFreelancers.com (a new reverse auction company), the beta launch of Footnote's Footnote Pages service, the efforts by Google to digitize newspaper archives, the appointment of former eBay executive Eric Shoup as Ancestry.com's new Vice President of Product, the acquisition of Kindo by MyHeritage , the launch of Louis Kessler's new genealogy software review site GenSoftReviews , a site for those interested in access to Pennsylvania records ( PaHR-Access ), and Matt Combs' new "Surname Suggestion List" software . Additional listener e-mail asks about the proper etiquette for following up possible DNA surname project matches, how to get episodes of the Genealogy Guys Podcast onto a Zune mp3 player, why episodes of the Genealogy Guys Podcast have changed genres from "Speech" to "Podcast", feedback on the pronunciation of "Scituate" in Massachusetts, a query about genealogy software that would work with both a Windows system and an iPhone, a question about genealogy software designed to work with the new familysearch.org family trees, how a subscriber to Ancestry.ca got a database access problem resolved quickly, and some feedback about the new music used during the Genealogy Guys Podcast. Finally, Drew shares his interview with Ann Mitchell, Ancestry.com's expert on the new search facility, recorded at the recent Federation of Genealogical Societies' conference in Philly.
Wed, September 17, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #151 - 2008 September 16
This week's news includes: The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) recognized genealogists with achievement awards at the FGS Conference in Philadelphia; FGS also recognized two outstanding awards at the same conference; The Genealogy Seminar at the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, IN, is holding Military Symposium 2008 on 26 and 27 September, with speaker Marie Varrelman Melchiori, CG, CL, from NARA ; the PublicProfiler site ( http://www.publicprofiler.org/worldnames/Main.aspx ) allows you to enter a surname and view a map showing the distribution across the world and statistics. Reader email this week includes: Loretta asks a question about the meaning of a tattoo; Sherry asks about locating older birth records in Texas and Indian Territory; Barb relates a story of how being in a particular place and time can inextricably alter your family history; and Barbara asks questions about Ancestry.com's World Archive Project. (Listen to the interview with The Generations Network's CEO, Tim Sullivan, in episode 150.) Drew interviews J. Mark Lowe, CG, at the FGS Conference. Mark is a candidate for president of the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS). The Guys discuss the success of their local society's recent gala 50th anniversary banquet and annual Fall Seminar with Paula Stuart-Warren, CG.
Tue, September 09, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #150 - 2008 September 8
CELEBRATING OUR 150TH EPISODE! The Guys are celebrating the 150th episode of the podcast which began on 4 September 2005. Thank you for listening and sharing with all of us! This week's news includes: The Generations Network, Inc., announced that Ancestry.com has launched the World Archives Project, "a global public indexing initiative to give everyone the opportunity to help preserve historical records" at http://www.ancestry.com/worldarchivesproject/ ; Geni.com ( http://www.geni.com ) announced that the firm has exceeded 1 million unique visitors to the site; the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), working through the General Services Administration (GSA), has announced plans to lease a new facility in St. Louis, Missouri, to house the Military Personnel records Center, with occupancy scheduled for March 2010; Ancestry.co.uk ( http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ ) has been chosen to host the most comprehensive historical collection of London records -- 77 million names -- covering 500 years (ca. 1500-2006) online, beginning in early 2009. The Pew Internet & American Life Project has released new results about podcasting, reflecting significant increases in downloading podcasts. (See the PDF report at http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Podcast_2008_Memo.pdf .) Links that were omitted from the show notes in Episode #149 include: - Scottish genealogy records : http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk - Indexes to Scotland's censuses: http://www.ancestry.co.uk - The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS): http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk Listener email this week includes: Randy bought a Sansa Fuse MP3 player to listen to the podcast; Amelia shared a podcast from BBC4 in England, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/tracingyourroots.shtml ; Barb shared another reason for the changing of names -- scandal (see http://www.rood.net/Gen1-2.pdf ); Kay shares information about testing for Indian ancestry, and a genetic testing company called DNAPrint Genomics, Inc. ( http://www.ancestrybydna.com ); Sharon discovered a wonderful g
Mon, September 01, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #149 - 2008 August 31
A correction to last week's story about the death of a Confederate widow can be found in last week's show notes. The news this week includes: an update about the collapsed project to digitise the UK's GRO's Birth, Marriage, and Death records from 1837 forward; the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) will be moving its office to a new home in central Belfast; the National Archives of Australia in Canberra plans to make almost all 7 million immigration records available online in the next several years (click here to learn more); and a new genealogy social network site, Genetree, is up and running at http://www.genetree.com . This week's rich collection of listener email includes: Sharon's use of Bloglines.com to catch all of here URLs for her day's work; Valerie wrote to say she is 24 and a listener to the podcast (another young listener!); Laraine wrote to discuss her confusing marriage and birth situations for her Putnam family; Tom asked for opinions about when to prune the family tree; Betty asks about the benefits of subscribing to Genealogy.com , and The Guys ask for feedback from listeners; the Grand Traverse Genealogy Society has published a CD of cemeteries in its area at http://grandtraverseregion.com/gtags/cem_rural_flier.htm ; The Guys' latest episode of "Down Under: Florida" is "The Miltons, and George's case study titled "The Milton Family Tragedy" has just been published in Family Chronicle Magazine; Michael shares information about his ancestor, John K. Zacherle, a TV horror show TV host from New York who was a candidate in the 1960 presidential election (listen to an MP3 of his campaign ad at http://www.zacherle.com/President.mp3 ); Gus reports that his niece, Alyssa Skalski, is possibly the youngest listener to this podcast at age 14; Rich asks about the inability to upload PDF files to the Ancestry.com famiy tree; Ben Sayer provides a terrific primer at his blof site ( http://MacGenealogist.com ) about secrets to digitally restoring family photos and uses one of Drew's treasured family photos as an example (He uses iPhoto for Mac but there are certainly other excellent PC and Mac programs, but Ben provides an excellent overview.); Maureen discusses George's article for Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter titled "The Legacy of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic"; Roger (Marathon Man) discusses multimedia file usage in Family Tree Maker; and
Sat, August 23, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #148 - 2008 August 22
This week's news includes: Alberta Martin [Oops, correction, this should have been Maudie Hopkins], 93, the last widow of a Civil War veteran, died Monday, 18 August 2008, in a nursing home in Enterprise, Alabama; Footnote.com ( http://www.footnote.com ) has announced membership price increases effective 1 September 2008 ($11.95 per month or $69.95 annual membership); American scientists have studied 32 people who lived through the 1918 influenza pandemic and have found that antibodies in their blood still protect them against the virus; and The Genealogy Gems Podcast, hosted by Lisa Louise Cooke, celebrated its 50th episode with an interview with NPR Radio's Prairie Home Companion actor Tim Russell, and featured comments from other podcast hosts, including The Guys. This week's listener email includes: the distinction between the words "immigration" and "emigration"; Patti opines about a family case in which mt-DNA testing might be used to refute the family myth that a female ancestor had Indian blood (and high cheekbones); more favorable comments about The Guys' newest episode of "Down Under: Florida" at RootsTelevision.com -- "The Miltons"; the oldest family tree dates back 3,000 years in the Lichtenstein Cave near Dorste, Lower Saxony, Germany, and Y-DNA samples taken from some of the 20 skeletons there have produced a match with 2 local villagers; Rich shares an interesting way of digitizing your photos in an article by David Pogue from the New York Times ( click here to access the article ); Kay asks George about his Cleveland (Bradley County) Tennessee connections; in the UK, a government-sponsored contracted project with German company Siemans to scan all of the birth, marriage, and death records in the GRO has collapsed less than half way through; Sharon asks for suggestions on how to better organize and focus her research; Gus asks for suggestions for finding his grandfather's burial location in or near Virginia, Minnesota; and Jason believes that, at age 26, he may be our youngest listener, and he is interested in career opportunities in Genealogy. Drew discusses his research into an Italian immigrant and his family members, and spelling variations that he uncovered.
Fri, August 15, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #147 - 2008 August 14
This episode is dedicated to our dear friend, Tom Ryder, who passed away today in Port Charlotte, Florida. This week's news includes: Ancestry.com extends its global reach to China with an exclusive partnership with the Shanghai Library - the new site is http://www.jiapu.cn ; and Ancestry has also added extensive new content, including Bremen, Germany, ships and sailors databases (in German). A new episode of "Down Under: Florida" has been released at RootsTelevision.com, starring The Guys. Click here to go directly to the episode about "The Miltons." Note: The Genealogy Guys Podcast's fans at Facebook.com got an email as soon as the new episode was released! Listener email this week included: Roger (Marathon Man) shared information about school censuses and cited a database of these from Kent County, Michigan, at http://data.wmgs.org/SchoolCensus/ with samples to view; Confederate service records are available and accessible at Footnote.com (various states are still being added); Kay shared another family story about a son who acidently shot his father; a listener asked about how to locate Web pages that have disappeared, and The Guys provided some methods, including the use of the Wayback Machine ( http://www.archive.org/ ), a part of the fascinating Internet Archive; Richard shares a response from the Millennium Corporation about available genealogy software it produces for mobile devices; the USCIS has established a new genealogy program for obtaining immigration and naturalization records, rather than requesting them through the Freedom of Information Office - click here to go to the USCIS site; Connor has compiled an index to newspaper records and asks advice for how to disseminate the information; Laraine writes about her experiences visiting her old hometown of Marietta, Ohio, and the importance of citing sources; the Fulton County Genealogical Society has a new home for its genealogy collection in the Evergreen Community Library in Metamora, Ohio. In last week's episode, George reviewed a new book by Timothy N. Pinnick, Finding and Using African American Newspapers . Unfortunately, he included an incorrect URL for Tim Pinnick's website. It should have been <a href="http://www.blackcoalminerheritage.net/" target="_bl
Wed, August 06, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #146 - 2008 August 4
This week's news includes: archaeologists are actively working to locate the identities of everyone interred at Fairview Cemetery, an African American cemetery in Staunton, Virginia; DNA Heritage ( http://www.dnaheritage.com/ ) has succeeded in overcoming a patent claim in the U.K. that will allow them to continue providing genetic genealogy testing; Tribal Junction ( http://www.tribaljunction.com/ ) has announced a new social networking and genealogy connections site; Synium Software ( http://www.synium.de ), makers of MacFamilyTree software, has announced the release of MobileFamilyTree, an app for Apple iPhone and iPod Touch products -- the app is $4.99 at the Apple iTunes store ( http://www.itunes.com ); Leister Productions ( http://www.leisterpro.com/ ), makers of Reunion genealogy software, has announced that it is working on a version of Reunion for the iPhone and iPod Touch and, when ready, will offer it as an app in the iTunes store; Flickr ( http://www.flickr.com/ ) and the Library of Congress ( http://www.loc.gov ) have been collaborating with a project called "The Commons" at http://www.flickr.com/commons/ where people can view photos, comment on them, and tag them. The Commons provides access to the LOC collection and more are being added, making this a premier destination on the web.Digital Genealogist, a terrific online e-zine, is published 6 times a year and delivered to your e-mailbox in PDF format. Both of The Guys write articles for DG and are joined by some of the greatest, most technology knowledgeable people in the genealogy community. Learn more at http://www.digitalgenealogist.com/ . Our listener email this week includes: Tim Skinner, whose e-mail we read on episode #143 (7/7) concerning using Google Maps to trace ancestors' movements, wrote again to ask us to share the Web address ( http://www.familytreeassistant.com ) for his software, Map My Ancestors; Judy wrote to ask about the wisdom of adding digitized photos to Family Tree Maker and other programs; Michelle asked if NARA had information about substitute soldiers for both the Union and Confederate armies; Tim wrote about he availability of genealogy-specific back-up sites; Bill also wrote to tell us that FamilySearch ( http://www.familysearch.org ) has published Ohio Death Records (1905-1953) in their Record Search Pilot; Patti reports that she has been working on the Home Study Course
Sat, July 26, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #145 - 2008 July 25
This week's news includes: FamilySearch and Ancestry.com team up to publish new images and enhanced indexes to the U.S. federal censuses; Ancestry.com announces a number of new databases and upgraded collections; GeneTree ( http://www.genetree.com ) adds a Y-chromosome testing option to its site; Geni.com ( http://www.geni.com ) announces the addition of a new and private video-sharing option for families at its site; and Modern Genealogy president, Jeromy L. Walsh, thanks The Guys for announcing their forthcoming beta test of their new genealogy database software, and he restated the company's commitment to having users involved in developing and testing their program. Listener email this week includes: an inquiry concerning the availability of genealogy software for the Blackberry; a reminder of how to access, play, and download our previous podcasts (using the POD icon to the left of each episode's title); several emails from listeners telling George about the availability of Ohio Death Certificates (1908-1953) at the FamilySearch Labs site ( http://search.labs.familysearch.org/ ); a discussion of a genealogy filing system by source; using an iPod shuffle (~ $40) vs. a more expensive player when mowing the lawn and listening to the podcast; and a discussion of why some stores with photocopy facilities will not copy (or allow copying) of photographs. George announces that the third episode of RootsTelevision.com 's series, Down Under: Florida with The Genealogy Guys will be debuting in mid-August. In tandem with its premiere, George has written a case study, "The Milton Family Tragedy," for Family Chronicle Magazine. The issue containing this article will appear on newsstands at about the same time in August. The story describes the behind-the-scenes research involved in filming the story, and it includes a couple of additional surprises. George discusses the Asus Eee PC, a small PC loaded with Windows XP, that is lightweight, fully functional, and has Wi-Fi. You can take this little gem with you almost everywhere with your entire genealogy database and all the multimedia resources. The price makes this little PC a very attractive item. Visit AsusTEK at http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=24&l2=164 for more details, and then use your favorite search engine to search for "asus ee
Sat, July 19, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #144 - 2008 July 16
This week's news includes: Abraham Lincoln's ancestry is questioned; Ancestry.com announces new databases, including WI Death Index (1959-1997), NC Death Certificates (1909-1975), TN Divorces (1800-1865), and U.S. Colored Troops Service Records (Civil War); The Florida Genealogical Society (Tampa) celebrates its 50th anniversary; Modern Genealogy ( http://www.moderngenealogy.com ) announces a new database for Windows XP and Vista and invites people to assist as beta testers; Genlighten ( http://www.genlighten.com ) is building a network of people to look up and obtain copies of documents at a reasonable cost; FamilyRelatives.com ( http://www.familyrelatives.com/ ) has added lots of new British Isles trade and court directories to its site; The National Archives (TNA) in the U.K. has completed renovations and has reorganized its facility to accommodate the addition of the Family Records Centre materials, and urges people to check out the changes at their site at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ ; the National Library of Ireland ( http://www.nli.ie ) has unveiled a new exhibition about William Butler Yeats and a virtual tour can be viewed at their website; and Microsoft has anounced the closure of its Live Search Books project. Listener email this week includes: How does one become a doctor in 5 years or less?; using the My Maps feature of Google Maps ( http://maps.google.com/ ) to trace and map your ancestors' movements; Helen Parkhurst of the World Burial Index ( http://www.worldburialindex.com ) shares information about this subscription database for searching cemetery monumental inscriptions across England and elsewhere; a discussion of people listed multiple times on the census -- and an example with Amelia Earhart; tracing substitute soldiers and the men in whose stead they fought; the National Geographic Genographic Project ; origins of unusual first names; how will same sex marriages change genealogy and software; and the delights of moving to broadband. There are a number of genealogy software packages for PDAs and SmartPhones that run the Palm or WindowsMobile operating systems. These allow you to load your genealogy data files on the devices and take it with you. George and Drew issue a challenge to software developers to provide the equivalent software apps (applications) for the Apple iPhone and for Blackbe
Wed, July 09, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #143 - 2008 July 7
This week's news includes: George Washington's boyhood home is found; and new features are unveiled at MyHeritage ( http://www.myheritage.com ). Listener e-mail includes: a recap about Henri Guest Scott and the Scott family; Panoramio ( http://www.panoramio.com ) allows you to place photos on Google Earth and Google Maps; Laraine got a headstone for her great-grandfather and gained information from a cousin; Carolyn sought help with locating her great-grandmother and Drew addresses some possibilities; our friend Jeane sent was contacted about a family bible on eBay and, while she lost the bid, she made an invaluable connection with another researcher; JoAnne Rockower of Geni.com ( http://www.geni.com ) e-mailed about our time together in California; and The Guys received a great spreadsheet of past podcasts' links and will be evaluating them for use on the website. The Guys discuss the terrific Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree in Burbank. They begin with a fascinating interview with Karie Bible, our guide for a fascinating tour of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery . (Look for Karie at http://www.cemeterytour.com .) And listen afterwards for what Karie does every August 23rd at 12:10 PM! Wow! Jamboree included terrific presentations, meals, and enjoyable activities. George participated in the Blogger Summit with some new and old friends. Listen to more about it. Enjoy Sharyn's terrific and enjoyable song from Jamboree. Finally, The Guys discuss changing over to FIOS, and Drew reports that HP has finally sent him the memory they owed him for his replacement tablet PC.
Sun, June 22, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #142 - 2008 June 21
This week's news includes: the new Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence, Missouri, opened on 21 June; Footnote.com has announced a new, popular, and forthcoming database titles; Synium Software ( http://www.synium.de/products/index.html ) announces the new version 5.2 of its MacFamilyTree software which includes a 3-D family tree view; Geni.com ( http://www.geni.com/home ) announced that it has increased its GEDCOM file support to 15,000 individuals. Listener e-mail includes: a question about the availability of a consolidated list of all of The Guys' podcast links (not available); more comments and suggestions for George, who recently switched from a PC to a Mac; Drew discusses an article in the April 2008 edition of Smithsonian Magazine titled " To Catch a Thief "; forensic genealogy and author Colleen Fitzpatrick; RootsTelevision.com is seeking volunteer case coordinators for its "Unclaimed Persons" project. The Guys discuss the situation in which the State of California's Department of Public Health' Laboratory Field Services Office issued 13 cease-and-desist letters to biotech companies in that state performing clinical DNA testing. These are NOT related to the DNA marker tests that genealogists obtain for research purposes, and none of those testing services was included in this action. The Guys announce their new Facebook site for fans of "The Genealogy Guys Podcast". Drew discusses Ahnentafels, also known as the Sosa-Stradonitz System, for genealogical numbering and reporting. There will be no podcast next week as The Guys will be in Burbank, California participating at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree.
Sun, June 15, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #141 - 2008 June 13
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com announces the doubling of its digitized newspaper collection; and Genealogy Online, Inc., announces that a new online edition of Everton's Genealogical Helper will debut on July 1st, with more details available at www.everton.com . This week's listener e-mail includes: congratulations and comments for George concerning his new iMac; opinions about genealogy add-ons; and a question concerning newspapers. Drew discusses his research experiences into the "Unclaimed Persons" project started by RootsTelevision.com . Look for "Unclaimed Persons" on facebook.com for information and open cases. The Guys discuss the availability of digitized newspaper resources and how to access them.
Thu, June 05, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #140 - 2008 June 4
This week's news includes: Genclass.com ( http://genclass.com/ ) partners with Familylink.com ( http://www.familylink.com/ ) to offer two free genealogy classes at WorldVitalRecords.com ( http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/ ); APG names Michael Melendez of Fullerton, CA, as the first recipient of the Young Professional Scholarship; Millenia Corp. announces that new Legacy Family Tree version 7.0 is now available; construction delays at the new Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence, MO, postpone preservationists' tour; Moorshead Magazines, Ltd., publishers of Family Chronicle , Internet Genealogy , and Discovering Family History , has issued a call for old military uniform photos for a tentative book to cover the U.S. Civil War through the Mexican-American War and through World War I (no WWII) - submission details are available at http://familychronicle.com/militaryphotos.htm ; Stonehenge has been found to have been a burial ground from 3,000 to 2,500 B.C.; a new genealogy centre has opened in Dinfermline, Scotland; Ancestry.co.uk has released a new database of 8.9 million "free settlers" to Australia; and the True Lover's Knot" discussed here has been published in Real Simple magazine and online here . Listener e-mail includes: an inquiry about accessing The Guys' Down Under: Florida videos at RootsTelevision.com ; the different pronunciations of "Beaufort" in North Carolina and South Carolina; The History of Mecklenburg County, NC by J.B. Alexander, published in 1901, has been reprinted by Clearfield Company (at http://www.genealogical.com ); whether to city every source you work with, and a response from Elizabeth Shown Mills' book, Evidence Explained ; Ancestry.com continues its free ethnic research training webinars series; a question about searching the LDS Family History Library catalog; a question about citing websites and using the "www." in the typed address; the Algonquin Area Public Library is beginning a series of training lessons about Web 2.0 at http://community.ahml.info/bake
Fri, May 30, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #139 - 2008 May 28
The news this week includes: a new series at RootsTelevision.com titled Unclaimed Persons which the producers hope will raise awareness of the problem of unclaimed bodies and encourage viewers to help; Ancestry.com announces a series of free Ethnic Webinars, beginning June 3rd, to help you with researching your ancestry (click here to register); vandals wreak havoc and destroying monuments in a Riverview, Florida, cemetery; and MyHeritage Research ( http://www.myheritage.com/research ) announces the upgrade of its unique search engine. George announces conference venues at which he and/or Drew will be appearing soon: Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree (27-29 June - http://www.scgsgenealogy.com/2008jam-index.htm with G&D); RootsMagic Cruise (28 September to 5 October - http://www.rootsmagiccruise.com/ with G; South Orange County California Genealogical Society (18 October - http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~casoccgs/ with G); and the Florida State Genealogical Society (14-15 November - http://www.flsgs.org/ with G&D). The poem mentioned mentioned in Episode #137 was identified as "Voices from the Past" by Adelaide Ann Proctor (1825-1864). Listener e-mail includes: a new online citation tool at Zotero.com ; a discussion of the availability of Ancestry.com at Family History Centers and the Family History Library; information about the Army Heritage Education Center outside Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and a problem with duplicate individuals appearing in the personal MyAncestry family tree view. Drew talks about finding a new record type: an Alcoholic Beverage Control License.
Thu, May 22, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #138 - 2008 May 20
News this week includes: FamilySearch teams with FamilyLink.com to bring online the Brenner Collection of German records (1650-1875) with more than 3.5 million names and between 900,000 and 1.5 million images; and Ancestry.com announces plans for massive additions in global content and new geographical locations, including a Chinese site with Chinese Jaipu and a Spanish-language site. George shares a special Ancestry.com web page that specifically contains the list of all the NARA microfilm collections that have been digitized and indexed. The site is at http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/nara.aspx and contains a search template for searching these specific databases. There is a complete list of the databases which you can access and search individually. George recommends bookmarking this site! The Guys talk about some collaborative research they helped a friend with. It concerned identifying the names of the two casualties of the explosion of the ship, Ophir , in the port of Gibraltar on 11 November 1918. In the process, an interesting story about the explosion is discovered. The Guys discuss in detail the "Brave New World of Genealogical Research" that has evolved in the last several years.
Thu, May 15, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #137 - 2008 May 14
This week's news includes: Geni, Inc. ( geni.com ) announces the new functional availability for users to upload GEDCOM files; FamilyLink.com ( familylink.com ) announces its partnership with FamilySearch to add new functions to the Family History Library Catalog, making it searchable by Internet search engines and allowing users to annotate entries; Footnote.com ( footnote.com ) announces the addition of the 1860 U.S. Federal Census to its Civil War Collection; and the Social Security Administration has released its list of the most popular baby names for 2007. Listener e-mail topics include: a family listed twice on the 1880 U.S. federal census -- in two enumeration districts; observations about the embedded player at "The Genealogy Guys Podcast" site; Drew discusses his findings in the 1910 and 1920 censuses for a Black Seminole family in Escambia County, Florida; and George responds to an inquiry about web sites to which photos of WWII service personnel can be uploaded and accessed by family members. George cited Dead Fred ( http://www.deadfred.com ), Ancestors Lost and Found ( http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/ancestors/ ), and Honoring Our Ancestors ( http://www.honoringourancestors.com/library_orphan.html ). George shares news about three web sites of interest to listeners: Cyndi's List has a new page of Free Stuff at http://www.cyndislist.com/freestuff.htm that includes forms, free databases, software and more. The Scottish Screen Archive at http://ssa.nls.uk is Scotland's moving images collection with more than 100 years of Scottish history and culture on film and video. The Roscommon Historical Research site at http://www.roscommonhistory.ie has a great deal of genealogical material. Also check http://www.leitrim-roscommon.com . The Guys share a poem and encourage any responses by listeners as to its origins. The Guys discuss how they have used PowerPoint to create a presentation for a memorial service. The process can be used for heritage presentations, family reunions, anniversary celebrations, and many other genealogical projects.
Fri, May 09, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #136 - 2008 May 7
This week's news includes: the Vatican has issued a letter instructing all dioceses not to give any information to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, due to concerns about the Mormons' practice of posthumous rebaptism; a new Midwest Genealogy Center (see http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/genlh/mgc.htm ) will open in Independence, Missouri, on 21 June 2008 with the largest collection of genealogical materials in the U.S.; DNA links have been found from the ancient "iceman" found in British Columbia in 1999 to at least 17 living people; an American couple touring in Germany visited a gasthaus in Binningen and were introduced to a relative -- a man who looked exactly like the husband. The men shared the same great-great grandfather. Listen e-mail included: loss of HeritageQuest Online in the Satellite Beach, Florida, library; a thank you for our discussions of the Mozy ( http://mozy.com/ ) computer backup facility; Catholic parish family books (Familienbuecher) in Germany; suggestions for locating information about Black Seminole people (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Seminoles and Seminole & Apalachicola Indian Records ); a listener asks for help when his own DNA and that of his family members disagrees; teaching genealogy to and for kids; the occupation of "vanman" is defined; and the origins of the surname Turtle are discussed. [Drew referred to the book, A Dictionary of English Surnames: The Standard Guide to English Surnames by P.H. Reaney and R.M. Wilson, published by OxforndUniversity Press in 1995.] George discusses the practical use of DNA in conjunction with genealogy, archeology, and geography in the research of the Lost Colony Center for Science and Research ( http://www.lost-colony.com/ ). The "Lost Colony" was the second settlement on Roanoke Island on the Outer Banks of what is now North Carolina. It began in 1587 and it was there that Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the New World, was born on 18 August 1587. When the relief ships finally returned from England in 1590, the settlement was deserted, and a single word -- "Croaton" -- was carved into a post of the fort. Croaton was the name of one of the local Indian tribes. One suggestion is that the settlers were assimilated into one or more of the three tribes. The DNA testing and analysis being done by the Lost Colony Center for Science and Research is seeking to validate or refute this hypothesis, and the project is infinitely interesting.
Thu, May 01, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #135 - 2008 April 29
News this week includees: Geni.com ( http://www.geni.com/ ) announces new features, including a family timeline, posted links, send gifts, and the family Forest; Progeny Software offers its Charting Companion software to produce great-looking charts in color and with photos -- click here for more information; and the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, is presenting a Military Symposium 2008 on September 26 & 27, 2008, with guest speaker Marie Varrelman Melchiori, CG, CGL, and more information is available from Genealogy@ACPL.info. The Guys responded to listener e-mail: Find-a-Grave ( http://www.findagrave.com/ ) does include graves in the UK and other countries; locating the physical address for a rural postal box in 1935; more about the downloadable PDF file at http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com about what to do with the results of your genealogy test; Catholic priest's census records; findings in old address books; another look at Chicago Public Radio's March 14th podcast about the kidnapping of Bobby Dunbar; an article titled "To Catch a Thief" at Smithsonian.com (click here to the exact location) tells how Civil war buffs got onto the trail of stolen documents; and Drew discusses uninterruptable power supply (UPS) units.
Wed, April 23, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #134 - 2008 April 22
In the News, The Guys review two new publications: Hookers, Crooks, and Kooks by Jana Sloan Broglin, and Kisses from a Distance by Raff Ellis. A baby's tombstone from 1894 is discovered on a houseboat in Charleston, SC. George responds to a request about deed platting software: DeedMapper from Direct Line Software ( http://www.directlinesoftware.com ) sells for $99.00, while a free online deed platting tool is available for use at http://www.genealogytools.net . Drew follows up regarding the use of a final 'e' at the end of some surnames, such as Greene. Chicago Public Radio's series, This American Life , has an interesting episode from 14 March 2008 titled "The Ghost of Bobby Dunbar" available as a podcast at http://thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1234 . It is a terrific story! Drew talks about the term "countryman" and its origins. He then discusses ordnance maps and their use. George suggests copying online obituaries from newspapers and from funeral homes' Web sites and from their online guest books. The Guys end the show with a discussion of church directories and church bulletins.
Wed, April 16, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #133 - 2008 April 15
This week's news includes the following: Ancestry.com launches the Drouin Collection of 29 million French-Canadian names from, ultimately to include 37M names by mid-2008; Ancestry.com also launched the Former Colonial Dependencies Slave Register Collection, 1812-1834; RootsMagic has extended the early Bird Registration for this year's genealogy cruise to April 30th (see http://www.RootsMagicCruise.com ); Wholly Genes has announced its genealogy cruise line-up (see http://www.WhollyGenes.com/cruise.htm ); the My Genealogy toolbar is free and helpful for those researching their UK ancestors, and is at http://www.usefultoolbars.co.uk ; and the National History Show will be held May 2-4, 2008, in Olympia, London, UK (see http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk for information and tickets.) The Genealogy Guys appear in their second episode of Down Under: Florida at RootsTelevision.com. Click here to see the new feature about famed Ringling Brothers circus performers, The Flying Zacchinis. You'll love it! Listeners share lots of great information, including: "Catholic: Under the Hood" videocast about the Sicily-Rome Cemetery , resting place of WWII soldiers; print labels for your family heritage CDs and DVDs using Light Scribe software and disks ( http://www.lightscribe.com/ ); search the Web site for the funeral home that recently handled arrangements for an individual -- they often have more detailed obituaries than the newspapers, guest books, and even photographs; a suggested reference for understanding land records and land platting is E. Wade Hone's book, Land and Property Research in the United States (Ancestry Publishing); The Guys offer tips for breaking through brick walls; and George responds to a request about his research on his great-uncle, Brisco Washington Holder. George reviews and recommends three books: Capturing Memories: Your family Story in Photographs by Maureen A. Taylor (Ancestry Publishing: 2007) <spa
Wed, April 02, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #132 - 2008 April 1
Drew addresses proving relationships using mitochondrial DNA. He then discusses two genealogical books on the subject of DNA. They are: DNA & Genealogy by Colleen Fitzpatrick and Andrew Yeiser (published in 2005 by Rice Book Press) and Family History in the Genes by Chris Pomery (published in 2007 by The National Archives in Kew , Richmond , Surrey ). Both are available through Amazon.com . This week’s news stories include: Roots Television at http://www.rootstelevision.com has won four Telly Awards in its first year in business; the National Genealogical Society has announced the appointment of Pamela K. Boyer, CG, CGL, its Education and Publications Director; and WorldVitalRecords.com ( http://www.worldvitalrecords.com ) has added 300 new databases from the Godfrey Memorial Library and will add 300 more each week this month. Listener e-mail includes discussions concerning: “The Vision of Britain? system holds the full text of three 19 th century gazetteers at http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/index.jsp ; LDS Family History Center personnel can provide expert advice to you before you reach the point of hiring a professional researcher; a listener asks for opinions about the National Genealogical Society’s online course, “Introduction to Genealogy?; genealogy of U.S. presidential candidates is a topic of worldwide discussions; another recommendation is made for creating CDs/DVDs of family history information; the recessive gene responsible for red hair is declining and is expected to be obsolete by 2100; Arphax Publishing Company publishes excellent quality family maps by state and county, and can be found at http://www.arphax.com ; and additional information about District of Columbia records is offered.
Fri, March 28, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #131 - 2008 March 25
This week’s news includes: NBC has purchased rights to create an American version of the popular BBC reality series, Who Do You Think You Are? ; NARA recently announced the availability of nearly 9 million WWII U.S. Army enlistment records at its Web site, but be aware that there were many records that could not be scanned – and the collection is therefore incomplete; Sen. John McCain’s new book, Hard Call , indicates his descent from Scottish heroic warrior Robert the Bruce, but the claim has been termed “baloney? in the British press by professional genealogists; Jacksonville Public Library in Florida has begun an “ASK a Librarian? online chat service; I.R.I,S., Inc., (at http://www.irislink.com ) has two new portable scanners of note. Listener e-mail topics this week include: Genealogical Publishing Company ’s new CD by Michael Hait, titled The Family History Research Toolkit , has PDF format forms into which you can type information or use the forms for transcription purposes ($19.95 USD); a discussion of professional research services and researchers (Board for Certification of Genealogists at http://www.bcgcertification.org/ and the Association of Professional Genealogists at http://www.apgen.org/ and the I nternational Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists at http://www.icapgen.org/ ) are three resources); missing census images at Ancestry.com were reported through the online Help facility and will be handled; a question about searching databases that are added to sites incrementally, and not wasting your time doing the same searches on the same data; an early pilot of the LDS’ online databases is available at http://search.labs.familysearch.org ; use of Google’s My Map feature to create maps of cemeteries and other locations in a specific area; scanning photos using Google’s Picasa feature; Washington, DC, records storage repositories for that jurisdiction; and issues concerning placing one’s genealogical data online.
Wed, March 19, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #130 - 2008 March 17
In this week’s news: NARA ( http://www.archives.gov ) posts free passenger lists online, including Russian, Italian, and German lists to east coast ports; 1871 England and Wales census images are now complete on British Origins ( http://www.britishorigins.com ); The Generations Network, Inc. ( http://www.tgn.com ), parent of Ancestry.com, RootsWeb, Genealogy.com, and other entities, announced that they will move RootsWeb onto the Ancestry.com domain, using http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com , and that there should be no changes to the online experience of users – and that RootsWeb will continue to be free; and WorldVitalRecords.com ( http://www.worldvitalrecords.com ) now has over 1 billion names at its site. The Guys respond to many listener e-mail topics: the correct pronunciation of Haaretz, the largest newspaper in Israel which is beginning a new start-up genealogy social network, is ‘Hah-AH-retz’, which is Hebrew for “The Land.?; university databases and the possibility of accessing them remotely; missing census page images at Ancestry.com for Decatur County, Indiana; the availability of the 1846 Slater’s Commercial Directory of Ireland at http://failteromhat.com/slater.htm . The Guys continue discussing listener e-mail about DNA and Drew continues his discussion of the topic to try to educate us all.
Wed, March 12, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #129 - 2008 March 10
George delivers a lot of news this week: the New England Historic and Genealogical Society ( http://www.newenglandancestors..org ) has received a large gift of photographs from the family of Thaxter Spencer, including an unknown 1888 photo of Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan; the Library of Congress’s digital preservation program has a new e-mail newsletter and you can subscribe by clicking here ; NARA is soliciting comments from the public by 9 April 2008 regarding a proposal to enter into a non-exclusive agreement with The Generations Network, Inc. , owners of Ancestry.com , to digitize and expand access to record holdings in NARA’s custody (see http://www.archives.gov/comment/tgn-preamble.html ); Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetery’s registers are about to be placed on the Internet, and more information is available at http://www.cigo.ie ; Genealogical Publishing Company ( http://www.genealogical.com ) has partnered with FamilyLink.com, Inc. ( http://www.familylink.com ) to make their databases available on WorldVitalRecords.com ( http://www.worldvitalrecords.com ); Haaretx, Inc. ( http://www.haaretz.com/ ) announced with Famillion ( http://www.famillion.com ) the launch of a new genealogy and social network search engine aimed at connecting the Jewish people worldwide; MyGreatBigFamily.com ( http://www.mygreatbigfamily.com ) launches enhanced social networking websites for families; GenealogyBank ( http://www.genealogybank.com ) has added the first 20 Hispanic newspaper titles for 4 states to its online historic newspaper collection, covering the period from 1855 to 1956, and will add many more, ultimately covering the period 1808 to 1980; an ID thief is caught and imprisoned in New Zealand for fraud in the theft of thousands of dollars in student loans for deceased children whose birth certificates he had obtained. The Guys read and respond to listener e-mail on many topics: George misread the URL for the multimedia presentation software called Passage Express (which should be http://www.passageexpress.com ); a listener and the Web Marketing Director of NewspaperArchive.com provided information about and a free trial of their site at http://www.newspaperarchive.com ; information is shared about the HP M
Wed, March 05, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #128 - 2008 March 3
This week's news includes: condolences to the family of Chuck Knuthson, a great genealogical speaker, researcher, and former board member of FGS, GSG, and other organizations; Halvor Moorshead, head of Moorshead Magazines [ Family Chronicle, History Magazine, Internet Genealogy, and the new Discovering Family History ] is retiring and has sold the company to staff members Ed Zapletal and Rick Cree. Listener e-mail includes: Greek genealogical research links are available at Cyndi's List (at http://www.cyndislist.com/greece.html ) and at Kimberly Powell's column at About.com (at http://genealogy.about.com/od/greece ); a request for help reading an occupation on a 1920 census schedule for Flint, Michigan, draws a unanimous opinion from The Guys [Quarry]; thanks for suggestions for recording an interview with a mother who transcribed contents of a now-lost Bible; an explanation of the source for information used by a census enumerator to complete a mortality schedule in the 1880 census; and a true life story of backing up one's data. Drew describes and discusses Mark Tucker's brilliant Genealogy Research Process map and textual description at http://www.ThinkGenealogy.com . It is derived from concepts of the Board for Certification of Genealogists and by Elizabeth Shown Mills, expert on the genealogical proof standard and author of Evidence Explained , the new and definitive book concerning citation of genealogical evidence. Drew discusses the use of dictionaries to locate the definitions of older, more obscure terms found in historical and genealogical documents. The example he cites is the term, "Fresno," a piece of equipment once used for scraping road surfaces. The Guys discuss databases for historical newspapers and more recent (ca. 1980 to present) newspapers. The companies discussed are LexisNexis (the Nexis portion); NewsBank 's "America's Genealogy Bank" database; and ProQuest . Newspaper databases may be available through your local public library and/or your local college or university library. Drew discovered that sometimes the newspapers available in a database inside the library are greater in number than when you access the database remotely from outside the library. This can be due to differences in licensing contracts. George encourages listeners to check out all the databases available through their libraries.
Tue, February 26, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #127 - 2008 February 25
This week's news includes: Congratulations to Matt Wright who becomes editorial director at FamilyLink.com; a recap of a USA Today report of 18 February about states unsealing adoption records and opening original birth records to adoptees; passenger lists of persons leaving the U.K. for the U.S., Canada, and Australia during the 1940s are available at Ancestors Onboard at http://www.ancestorsonboard.com; the National History Show will be held on 2-4 May 2008 in the Grand Hall, Olympia, London, and tickets can be booked at http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk . Listener e-mail includes more kudoes for The Guys' "Down Under" video at RootsTelevision.com; Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps at the New York Public Library at (accessible now only at the NYPL), as well as digital maps and photographs in their digital gallery at http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/ ; a number of video options for creating heritage DVDs and slideshows using Apple Macintoshes and PCs have been suggested in various price ranges: PowerPoint to Slideshow 12 Screencasting Tools for Creating Video Tutorials (suggested by Drew) at http://mashable.com/2008/02/21/screencasting-video-tutorials/ Adobe products at http://www.adobe.com Apple products at http://www.apple.com The Guys spend the remainder of the show discussing the intricacies of U.S. copyright laws and fair use standards. Definitely worth a listen!
Wed, February 20, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #126 - 2008 February 18
George reports on the genealogy news this week: Julia M. Case, beloved genealogist and author at RootsWeb has died; Moorshead Magazines has begun a new magazine called Discovering Family History for beginning genealogists and those who want a refresher, and a premier online issue is available for free at http://www.discoveringfamilyhistory.com ; and other stories. The Guys share listener e-mail including: places for locating French records; safety of publishing family trees on the Internet; validating the contents of a lost family Bible; responses to the topic of how to avoid genealogy burnout; and they share feedback on their new Down Under: Tampa series at RootsTelevision.com.
Mon, February 11, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #125 - 2008 February 11
This week's news includes: Ancestry.com has added a huge collection of African-American records with the Freedmen's Marriage Records and the Southern Claims Commission Collection at Ancestry.com ; the 1911 Irish Census is beginning to be made available at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie , and the 1862 Dublin City Street Directory is now online at http://www.libraryireland.com/Dublin-Street-Directory-1862/Home.php ; and a new book by Terry Reigel titled A Primer for The Master Genealogist is now available from Wholly Genes Software . The Guys discuss news about DNA, including: "One Embryo from Three Parents" in a case where mitochondrial disease has been corrected with a third person’s mitochondrial DNA; and an intriguing finding by scientist Hans Eiberg in Norway about blue-eyed persons and their common forebear 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. The Genealogy Guys make their television debut today at Roots Television in a new series, "Down Under: Florida." The series is not unlike PBS’ "History Detectives" in that they investigate persons in the past whose cemetery markers and stories have piqued their interest. Check out the first of their new online television programs . The Guys describe for listener (and now viewer!) Donna in Hawaii the production process. Listener e-mail includes: discussion of Horry and Marion Counties in SC; comments about the genealogical value of address books; and more. The Guys talk about climatic changes and their effects on our ancestors, including the influence on their migrations and settlements.
Tue, February 05, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #124 - 2008 February 3
This week's news includes: the funeral for Gordon B. Hinckley, 97, in Salt Lake City on 2 Feb. Mr. Hinckley was the president of the LDS church since 1995; FamilyLink.com, Inc. ( http://www.familylink.com ) launches their World Collection containing more than 1.5 billion names from 35 countries; and beginning this week, George will be writing a weekly column for Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter ( http://blog.eogn.com/ ). Drew discusses search strategies for researching common surnames, such as his own: Smith. The Guys discuss ways to avoid "Genealogy Burnout." And finally, Drew discusses the value of his parents’ address book in extending his research.
Sun, January 27, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #123 - 2008 January 26
This week’s news items include: James LeVoy Sorenson, renowned medical device inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist died on 20 January 2008 at 86 – his companies list includes the non-profit Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation which provides DNA testing; Genealogical.com has launched a new blog at http://GenealogyandFamilyHistory.com ; a wiki is available for users of FamilySearch and the LDS Family History Centers, at http://www.familysearchwiki.org . The Guys respond to listener e-mail, including: genealogy software questions about DNA information and the GEDCOM 5.5 format standard; a site for sharing serialized family history information, with a sample at http://wwar1.blogspot.com ; a suggestion to visit the extensive Genealogy and Family History Links Library at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~genealogylinks/ ; Bryan Mawer’s Sugar Refiners and Sugarbakers website at http://home.clara.net/mawer/intro.html about the sugar industry, primarily in the UK (16th-20th centuries); and a question about when ships’ crew were included on manifests (and other forms), including information about INS requirements – at http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/maritime/great-lakes-crew-lists.html . Drew and George discuss the explosion of social networking sites for genealogists and some of the issues regarding choosing one or more to use. The list includes: Geni.com ( http://www.geni.com/ ), Famillion ( http://www.famillion.com ), Ancestry.com ( http://www.geni.com/ ), OneGreatFamily.com ( http://www.onegreatfamily.com ), FamilyTreeDNA.com ( http://www.familytreedna.com/ ), MyHeritage.com ( http://www.myheritage.com/ ), 23AndMe ( https://www.23andme.com/ ), MyHeritage.com ( http://www.myheritage.com/ ), ItsOurTree.com ( http://www.itsourtree.com/ and available in multiple languages), Amiglia.com ( http://www.amiglia.com ), Kindo.com ( http://kindo.com/ ), a
Thu, January 17, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #122 - 2008 January 16
This week's news includes many announcements. Memeria ( http://www.memeria.com ) launches the first house-call photo-scanning service; another genealogy podcast is available -- Genealogy Gems at http://www.genealogygemspodcast.com ; WorldVitalRecords.com has changed its name to FamilyLink.com ( http://www.familylink.com ) and has formed partnerships with other companies in recent months; RootsMagic announces its 2008 Genealogy Cruise to the Mexican Riviera on Sept. 28 to Oct. 5, and details can be found at http://www.RootsMagicCruise.com . There are also many seminars coming up this year: San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society (Feb. 2) ( http://www.kcbx.net/~slogen/ ); St. George family History Expo 2008 (Feb. 8-9) ( http://www.myancestorsfound.com/events/upcoming.php?event_id=1 ); Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International Symposium (April 11-12) ( http://www.cgsi.org/news.asp?intNewsID=129 ); North Carolina Genealogical Society’s 3rd Annual Speakers Forum (April 11) ( http://www.ncgenealogy.org ); Federation of East European Family History Societies Conference (August 1-3) ( http://feefhs.org/ ). The Guys respond to a load of listener e-mail this week! Danny, as a Mac user, can’t use Clooz and so has made use of a free version of software program called Mac Journal; Drew discussed software options for Scott’s family which just celebrated its 101st consecutive family reunion; Michael loves U.S. Federal Agricultural Census records, but hates the microfilm – and he and George urge Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest to bite the bullet and digitize these and the remaining U.S. census records; several users commented on the need for the GEDCOM facility to be updated to also include graphics, while The Guys agree that software packages and online sites should be able to synchronize the data between both!
Wed, January 09, 2008
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #121 - 2008 January 6
Welcome to The Genealogy Guys TM Podcast for 2008! George begins the 2008 news with a press release from Wholly Genes, Inc. , of Columbia , MD , about the new Version 7.0 of The Master Genealogist (TMG) genealogy database software; George will be appearing at the all-day Mississippi Genealogical Society Confernece in Pearl . MS, just outside Jackson, on Saturday, 19 January – more information is available at (601) 924-9346; the Whitier Area Genealogical Society will feature expert genealogist, writer, and librarian Lloyd DeWitt Bockstuck at its 25 th Annual Genealogical Conference on 23 February 2008 – Contact Miriam Benell at dandmbenell@earthlink.net for more information; the Southern California Genealogical Society has announced its conference details at jamboree@scgsgenealogy.com , and both Drew and George will be there this year! The Guys discuss some user e-mail as always, and then focus on what is happening and coming for genealogy in 2008.
Mon, December 31, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #120 - 2007 December 29
George begins with two pieces of news: he will be appearing at the Mississippi Genealogical Society's Conference on January 19th. For more information, call 601.924.9346. He also announced that he is discontinuing his long-running "Along Those Lines ..." column, which began on AOL, then appeared for years at Ancestry.com , and has been a blog for the past two years. The blog at http://ahaseminars.livejournal.com/ will remain online through April 2008. Listener e-mail provided some great information this week: Jerry highly recommends the Fujitsu Scansnap S510 scanner for its lightening speed, accuracy, and automatic feed. ( Click here for a link to the Fujitsu product information .); The Guys do accept friend links at LibraryThing , and George has just been designated a LibraryThing Author; Megan tells about her research into an heirloom "True Lover's Knot"; Rollin asks about how to record a confusing death date, and shares information about a free Windows screen capture program he likes -- FastStone Capture 5.9 at http://www.faststone.org ; Find-a-Grave 's Rich Hrazanek reports that there are now over 20 million interments recorded at the site; and Patty asks about the indexing by Ancestry.com of the Drouin Collection and George refers her to Suzanne Adams at Ancestry for a status. George discusses the progress of Web-based resources over the last 15 years, including databases, blogs, wikis, podcasts, and video. He especially likes RootsTelevision at http://www.rootstelevision.com which features lectures, conferences, different ethnic research resources, military research hints, DNA research discussions, genealogy for kids, reunions, and much more. The Guys will have more to say about RootsTelevision in 2008! The Guys spent the last segment of the show recapping genealogical news, additions, developments, people losses, conferences and cruises, books, and more in 2007. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sun, December 23, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #119 - 2007 December 22
George begins with the genealogical news: ▪ FamilySearch and The Generations Network, Inc., parent company of Ancestry.com , today announced an agreement that provides free access of Ancestry.com to patrons of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and the 13 largest regional family history centers effective today. ▪ Ancestry.com added 340.2M new names last week, including digitized and indexed newspapers from 10 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces, more than 4,5 new BMD records, and updated the British Telcom U.K. telephone directories with more than 71M new names. ▪ Ancestry.com also unveiled its new Learning Center at its U.S. Web site this week. It is now a multimedia experience with video tutorials and multiple new sub-screens with well-organized content. ▪ The California Genealogical Society and Library celebrates 110 years with an all-day seminar by nationally-recognized “Photo Detective? Maureen A. Taylor. Ms. Taylor’s lectures will focus on identifying and dating old photographs, preserving family photos, and identifying immigrant clues in photos. More information is available at http://www.calgensoc.org . ▪ The Denver Public Library has just received an IMLS grant of $778K to digitize historical materials in its collection relating to Denver and its historical neighborhoods, and will partner with other regional libraries. Read all about this project at http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/content/view/2148/2/ . The Guys share listener e-mail and commentary about: Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps; professional looking “homemade? tombstones using pure White Portland Cement and metal molds – and an example of the result can be accessed here ; a suggestion to look further into the new Ancestry.com U.S. Passport Applications database for more than just the front/back of the application – often lots more information and photographs ar
Mon, December 17, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #118 - 2007 December 14
The Guys go straight to listener e-mail this week: the value of contacting genealogical societies for obit & funeral notice lookups and copies; Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps that have been made available at state sites, such as Florida ( http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/UFDC/?c=sanborn) , Georgia ( http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/sanborn ), and South Carolina ( http://www.sc.edu/library/digital/collections/sanborn.html ) and digital cameras used by The Guys: Pentax A20 Option Megapixel camera (see review at http://www.dpreview.com/news/0608/06082103pentaxa20.asp ). Drew recaps the instructions for accessing older podcasts. He also shares his "Genealogy Society Tip of the Week" about expending a little extra money for name/quality speakers for your society to attract visitors and new members. George recaps the importance of making contact with and/or joining genealogical societies where your ancestors lived. They can also provide obituary and funeral notice lookups and copies from their local card or online computerized index files. The Guys discuss the negative side of sharing information about living family members, especially when one becomes a debtor who becomes the subject of debt collectors. Some debtors are now accessing genealogical database as vehicles to persecute and ride relatives of a debtor, and that is illegal Listener Nancy details the underhanded tactics of collectors who began contacting siblings, children, aunts, uncles, and grandparents of the debtor to harass and dun then for their relative's debt. George discovered that every state in then Union has laws governing collection agencies. Most, if not all, cannot by law contact anyone other than the debtor and his/her spouse directly. Contact with your state Attorney General's office to determine what YOUR rights are and what a collection agency can and cannot do. You will often find that the collection agent/agency is exceeding his or her authority. George discusses his Pentax Option A20 (10 megapixel) digital camera, its features, and how he uses the Text setting and other features in his genealogical research. Drew talks about Chris Dunham's "The Genealogy" site at http://www.genealogue.com and the Genealogue Challenge. George reminds listeners that The Genealogy Blog Finder is also one of the features of this great site. George reviews William Dollarhide's new two-volume book set titled Census Substitutes & State Census Records .
Thu, December 06, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #117 - 2007 December 5
The week's news includes: NARA partners with TOPICS Entertainment to produce two filmed histories on DVD - WWII: A Filmed History and Aviation" A Filmed History from the National Archives , both 24-CD sets; Ancestry.com has completed digitizing and indexing the British Telephone Books, 1880-1984, the full collection of the British Telcom Archives collection; the Florida State Genealogical Society awards it's prestigious Award for Outstanding Achievement in Florida Genealogy to Hal J. Becker; readers of Oklahoma Living magazine have voted to award the Muskogee Public Library the best library in the state; Wholly Genes, Inc., announces its 2008 genealogy cruise with details at http://www.WhollyGenes.com/cruise.htm . The Guys share reader e-mail about: inexpensive headstone options, including requesting markers from the Department of Veterans Affairs at http://www.va.gov/ ; more about DNA testing; binder organization and filing techniques; methods of locating military service numbers include: - Check county clerks' offices and post offices for registered DD-214s - Check funeral home records - Contact the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis - Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs - Some states have veterans databases online, such as Utah , Florida , and Missouri Michigan's genealogical library facilities are touted at the Library of Michigan and the Archives of Michigan , as well as the Detroit Public Library's Burton Historical Collection . George's "Web Site of the Week" is "Expert Links: English Family History and Genealogy," a massive collection of wonderful Web links at <a href="http://www.pricegen.com/english_genealogy.html?cpn=wvrnewsletter" target="_blank
Thu, November 29, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #116 - 2007 November 28
The "News You Can Use" this week includes: Announcement of the National Genealogical Society's awards and competitions, details about which are can be found at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/awardscompcalendar.cfm ; Ancestry.com has published U.S. Passport Applications for 1795-1925 at its Web site at http://www.ancestry.com ; Fly Away Travel has announced its "2008 Genealogy at Sea" on October 25-November 1, 2008 on the Royal Caribbean's fabulous Liberty of the Sea , sailing from Miami to Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, and a private location at Labadee, Haiti -- with 8 great, internationally known speakers. Details are available at http://www.GenealogyCruises.com . Family Roots Publishing Company has just released a two-volume set of books, Census Substitutes & State Census Records by well-known author, speaker, and census expert William Dollarhide. Details are at http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/servlet/StoreFront . The Guys respond to a wealth of listener e-mail covering topics such as: DNA testing; locating WWI serial numbers; marking multiple graves scattered across a single cemetery; displaying a family tree on one's Web site; the name change of naval hero John Paul Jones; an article in the Nov. 4th Cleveland Plain Dealer concerning the ancestry of Carl Stokes, the city's first African American mayor, and Megan Smolenyak's discovery of an 1845 document in GA identifying the mayor's g-grandfather; home demonstration/extension clubs still exist and may be a source for your ancestors' genealogical information; and reworking an old manuscript with newly discovered information. The show concludes with Drew announcing the new Google Maps feature that allows you to not only create your own customized maps, but you can now invite other people to collaborate with you, add customized pushpin icons, graphics, videos, and other cool tools. Check out the My Maps user guide at http://maps.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=68480 for details about how to use this great new feature.
Tue, November 20, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #115 - 2007 November 19
George reports news items concerning: a new home for the Welsh West Glamorgan Archives (see www.swansea.gov.uk/westglamorganarchives ); Geni ( www.geni.com )announces that more than 10 million profiles have been created on their service; Ruth Emmel of the Lee County [FL] Genealogical Society ( www.LeeCountyGenealogy.org ) has published an excellent new book titled, Let's Plant a Family Tree: How to Start Your Genealogy Research , which is geared toward young people just beginning their quest; and Brisco Washington Holder's gravestone was set in place in Memorial Park Cemetery in Jennings, St. Louis County, MO, on 30 October 2007. ( View the stone .) The Guys explain DNA, the available tests, and the benefits of tracing DNA in your genealogy. Then they discuss organization of your genealogical materials and two types of filing system schemes. The Guys close by discussing how they plan to research genealogy at their family Thanksgiving in Newberry, South Carolina.
Tue, November 13, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #114 - 2007 November 10
This week's show was recorded LIVE at the Texas State Genealogical Society Conference held on 9-10 November 2007 in Tyler, Texas, and hosted by the East Texas Genealogical Society. This was a great conference for The Guys and they were greeted, welcomed, and treated like kings! The Guys present a definition and description of what a podcast really is. They then take questions from the audience and respond on topics relating to: French ancestors; locating information for a woman living in a New York state hospital (tuberculosis); obtaining transcripts from universities and records of teachers, professors, and fellowships; the possibility of a genealogical societies that lists records they are holding or projects they are working to complete; a description of G-mail; how do The Guys manage their collections of Web links?; The Guys' favorite Web sites other than Ancestry.com and Footnote.com; and the definition of "overjet" as it relates to wagons in which people migrated.
Sat, November 03, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #113 - 2007 November 2
News this week includes: the first ten years (1908-1917) of issues of Chicago's historic Polish newspaper, Dziennik Zwiazkowy (translated, Alliance Daily ) has been digitized by the Center for Research Libraries and is fully searchable at http://ecollections.crl.edu , along with other interesting collections; GenWed.com ( http://www.genwed.com/ ) is a new and growing Web site that will help you locate free online marriage records, and you can submit records for inclusion in the databases; and finally, on 30 October 2007, a gravestone has been set in St. Louis' Memorial Park for George's great uncle, Brisco Washington Holder -- his brick wall for over 20 years. The Guys will be featured presenters at the Texas State Genealogical Society Conference in Tyler, Texas, next weekend -- 9-10 November 2008. More information is available at http://www.rootsweb.com/~txsgs/conference.pdf and The Guys hope you can drop by and say hello! George will be autographing limited numbers of his latest book, The Official Guide to Ancestry.com . Mister Edd in Cape Coral, Florida, asked for advice for websites that help reunite people with old photos of their family members. George suggested Megan Smolenyak's "Honoring Our Ancestors" site at http://www.HonoringOurAncestors.com/orphanphotos.html and DeadFred at http://www.deadfred.com . Drew's "Society Tip of the Week" was a recommendation of the use of a Web site called SurveyMonkey.com at http://www.surveymonkey.com/ . Basic surveys for less than 100 responses are free; other size responses are reasonably priced for a monthly or annual basis. SurveyMonkey may be an ideal way to allow electronic voting in society elections, conducting surveys of members for preferred meeting and seminar topics, and obtaining feedback on programs, projects, and other subjects. George's "Web Site of the Week" is a new Web site called GenDisasters at http://www.gendisasters.com which contains dates, descriptions, newspaper transcripts, drawings/photos of fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, train wrecks, bridge collapses, and more, with dates spanning from the 1800s to the 1950s. The site is searchable by state and county, and browseable. It is ideal for helping place your ancestors into historical context with these calamitous events and/or to determine which courthouses and other repositories may have been damaged and their records lost or destroyed. The Guys share a co
Sun, October 28, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #112 - 2007 October 27
News stories for the week include: The Generations Network, parent of Ancestry.com, is to be acquired by Spectrum Equity Investors; the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) ( http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/ ) opens access to more than 6M new military personnel records, including all the Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) prior to 1946; Individual Deceased Personnel Files (IDPFs) can be obtained by following instructions at http://www.no-quarter.org/gui/nq_idpf.php ; Nova Scotia Vital Records Database for BMDs is available free at http://novascotiagenealogy.com ; Georgia Death Certificates (1919-1927) are now available online at http://www.GeorgiaArchives.org (Virtual Vault link); the Canadian Genealogy Centre ( http://www.collectionscanada.gc/ca/genealogy ) has two new search tools - Ancestors Search and That's My Family ; NEHGS and Ancestry.com announce new member benefits as part of a collaborative agreement, including reduced joint membership fees; Sorenson Companies has launched a new Genetree (http://www.genetree.com), a DNA testing and social networking site; The National Archives (UK) will digitize the 1911 census (see press release at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/156.htm?homepage=news ); The Guys will be key speakers at the Texas State Genealogical Society Conference in Tyler, Texas, on November 9-10, 2008 (information at http://www.rootsweb.com/~txsgs/conference.pdf ); George begins teaching U.S. Immigration and Naturalization course at Pharos ( http://www.pharostutors.com ) and announces other upcoming courses there. Listener e-mail includes: A request for guidance on locating an old Web site gone missing. Drew suggests going to http://www.archive.org/ and entering the old address in the Wayback Machine box. A listener reports being able to successfully run Family Tree Maker from his flash drive (thumb drive). A listener asks abut the quality of courses from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies ( http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/ ) and their helpfulness in achieving certification from the B
Fri, October 19, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #111 - 2007 October 16
Ancestry.com's new DNA facility came online at their Web site this week, allowing people to order paternal or maternal DNA tests and getting their results online to compare against other testers. Listener e-mail includes: several more Hispanic genealogy Web sites - http://www.rootsweb.com/~cafara/index.html , http://www.gsha.net , and http://www.loscalifornianos.org ; a recommendation of a book about the coal mining industry, The Day the Earth Caved In , by Joan Quigley; the ten most expensive telephone directories ever sold at http://abebooks.com/docs/Community/Featured/Genealogy ; a new genealogy board game at http://www.genealogyboardgame.com ; and online vital records for Shelby County, TN ( http://register.shelby.tn.us/index.php ). George's Web Site of the Week is The National Archives (U.K.) site at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk where you'll find online records, indexes, tutorials, exhibits, and lots more. George reviews and discusses Footnote.com ( http://www.footnote.com ), a great genealogy subscription Web site. Drew discusses mindmapping, a method of problem solving. He suggests a Web site at MindMeister.com that offers you up to 6 free mindmaps ( http://www.mindmeister.com ), and Mindjet ( http://www.mindjet.com ) which sells MindManager software.
Sun, October 14, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #110 - 2007 October 10
This week's news includes details about the public outcry against the planned early closure date for the General Records Office (GRO) in the U.K., and Ancestry.com announces a digital scrapbooking application for members. Listener Thomas alerts others to a number of resources for Hispanic Heritage Month: The Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research (SHAAR) ( http://members.aol.com/shhar/ ) and its newsletter ( http://www.somosprimos.com ); Library of Congress Hispanic Reading Room ( http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic ) and the Index to the Enciclopedia Heraldica Hispano-Americana ( http://www.loc.gov/rr.hispanic/geneal/index_gc.html/ ); HISPAGEN ( http://www.hispagen.es/portal/enlaces.php ); the Argentine Genealogy Database ( http://familias-argentinas.com.ar/us_principal.htm ); and the new portal to the Online Spanish Archives ( http://pares.mcu.es ); the society, Los Floridanos ( http://www.losfloridanos.org ); the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami ( http://www.cubangenclub.org ); and the Cuban Heritage Collection at the University of Miami ( http://www.library.miami.edu/umcuban ). George's Web Site of the Week is Griffith's Valuation 1848-1864 at http://failteromhat.com/griffiths.htm , which is searchable by surname and viewable by county in alphabetical sequence. This is a great site to help locate ancestors during these year for which census records are not available due to fire. The Guys discuss methods for finding live people and some of the experiences they have had. They then discuss "pathfinders," which are the instructional guides found as printed guides in libraries and/or at libraries' Web sites. They are guides to using the various collections or working with specific resources. George just found a digital copy of another important great-uncle's death certificate. Can you guess where he found it? Listen for the answer and a review of another great Web site next week!
Sat, October 06, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #109 - 2007 October 5
We apologize for the delay in the release of this week's podcast. George suffered from laryngitis this week and was unable to record until Friday evening. The news is extensive this week. Pharos Tutors ( http://www.pharostutors.com/ ) announces that George has joined their online training staff to teach U.S.-related genealogical staff. His first class begins on 30 October 2007 with the topic of U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Documents. Another new Pharos course features expert Helen Osborn training a class in the use of The National Archives (TNA) U.K. Web site, its extraordinary contents and tools, and more. Macintosh users have a new tool in MacFamilyTree 5, produced in a beta version by Synium Software . The beta test version may be vulnerable to errors and crashes at this point. However, Mac users will revel in testing this new version of the software. Visit the Synium Software site for more information. ScotlandsPeople has announced enhancements to searches of census forms, and improvements to images and their handling. World Vital Records, Inc. ( http://worldvitalrecords.com ) and Allcensus ( http://www.allcensus.com/ ) have partnered to provide digitized U.S. Federal Census images at the WorldVitalRecords.com Web site. The new issue of Internet Genealogy Magazine is out and has a wonderful collectionof new articles. Visit http://internet-genealogy.com for more information. George's Genealogy Web Site of the Week is About.com's Genealogy area at http://genealogy.about.com . Kimberly Powell is the knowledgeable, talented, and affable guide for that area, and she fills the site with great information and tips for breaking through those dastardly brick walls. "Brava, Kimberly!" The National Archives (TNA) in the U.K. announces the availability of 5,000 registers of Nonconformist records that may be searched online; the AncestorsOnBoard Web site is up to 1939 in the searchable outbound passenger lists project; you can now personalize, save, customize, bookmark your searches at their site. Finally, Recordkeeping magazine is a quarterly publication by TNA that describes great resources, recordkeeping strategies, and case studies. It is a fabulous online resource, in PDF format, that you absolutely must check out. You can access information about it and download the Spring 2007 issue a
Thu, September 27, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #108 - 2007 September 25
The news includes announcements of new content at WorldVitalRecords.com and information about the Florida State Genealogical Society 's annual conference in November. George's Web Site of the Week is the Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System ( http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/ ) maintained by the U.S. National Park Service. He also talks about the books, The Naked Quaker by Diane Rapaport and Uncovering Your Ancestry through Family Photographs by Maureen A. Taylor. In the first of a two-part discussion, The Guys talk about scanning photographs and the issues related to graphics file types, scanners, and software.
Thu, September 20, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #107 - 2007 September 18
News this week includes: a $10M donation by Norman B. Leventhal to the Boston Public Library's map collection; publication of new fees for ordering copies of documents from the National Archives and Records Administration ( see press release ); announcement by The National Archives (UK) of the availability of Nonconformist birth, marriage and death records online ; and the release of free upgrades to Family Tree Maker 2008. George's Web Site of the Week is the Perry Castaneda Library Map Collection at the University of Texas at Austin ( http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/index.html ). The Guys discuss tips and suggestions for using microform readers. They also address the topic of excellent genealogical magazines that are available.
Thu, September 13, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #106 - 2007 September 12
The News includes: the launch of a new 9th The Generations Network, Inc. , Web site at Ancestry Web site for Sweden (at http://www.ancestry.se ); the introduction of DNA Ancestry (at http://dna.ancestry.com ) and DNA testing services; and the announcement of Cook County, Illinois, births, marriages, and deaths online by January of 2008. Listener e-mail reports include: many Pennsylvania Land Records are now online at the Pennsylvania State Archives at http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/landrec.htm ; the Birmingham [Alabama] Public Library has an interesting and fun video it ints collection on YouTube.com. Watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAxrLJ5nw_g . A posting in the Mental Floss Magazine's blog at http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7710 discusses and shows photos of "Strange Gravestones." Drew delivers his weekly Genealogy Society Tip. George's Web site of the week is Genwriters: Writing for Future Generations, at http://www.genwriters.com . The site was created by Phyllis Matthews Ziller and contains extensive tutorial, how-tos, and reference resources for writing family histories, biographies, and other historical documentation. Drew talks about Chris Dunham's blog, The Genealogue, at http://www.genealogue.com/ , and about the Challenges posted there. The information is fun and informative, and the Challenges are excellent practice in honing your research skills. The Guys then discuss the use of City Directories in your research and tips for using them. (With thanks to Amy Johnson Crow, CG.) The Guys then examine and discuss some old family photographs that Drew's brother has uncovered, and their attempts at identifying the subjects. We learn about a Jewish mutual aid society, and George suggests studying old photos' environment and surroundings for additional clues to dating and identifying clues.
Thu, September 06, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #105 - 2007 September 4
The Guys share some listener e-mail, including a recommendation for a Web site that reviews and ranks online computer back-up services at http://www.BackupReview.info , and additional land patents being digitized and indexed at the Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, site at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/ . RootsMagic announces a new minor update for the RootsMagic software. George discusses his "Web Site of the Week," the Online Searchable Death Indexes & Records , at http://www.deathindexes.com . The remainder of the podcast is devoted to helping to debunk three prominent genealogical research myths: "My ancestors' names were changed at Ellis Island." "Everyone with the same surname is related." "Naming patterns will solve all your brick walls." The Guys discuss the facts of these issues and how you can manage your expectations so as not to fall into "the assumption trap."
Thu, August 30, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #104 - 2007 August 28
George delivers this week's significant news items, and the Guys follow with listener e-mail items, including a definition of the cemetery inscription, "DoP." This is followed by a discussion of three newer "social networking" sites for genealogists: Geni ( http://www.geni.com ); Famillion ( http://www.famillion.com/ ); and MyHeritage ( http://www.myheritage.com/ ). The Guys discuss the new Family Tree Maker 2008. They then talk about concerns over the Internet Biographical Collection made available at Ancestry.com and some issues associated with caching of Web sites by both Web search engines and corporations offering aggregated collections of Web sites for topical use. (Note that Ancestry.com has since withdrawn the collection in question.)
Sat, August 25, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #103 - 2007 August 21
The distribution of this week's podcast was delayed due to problems with the U.S. Domain Name Server (DNS) and our podcast network. We apologize for the delay. George's news items include: details about the LDS' FamilySearch Genesis digitization project; Family Tree Maker 2008 has just been released for sale; the new portable digital microfilm scanner called the ST Genie from S-T Imaging ; and two big conferences coming in 2008. This week's listener mail includes R.J.'s quandary about his Sommerfelt line. Drew asks listeners to check out R.J.'s blog at http://schulzresearch.blogspot.com and to consider the challenge, and to send us e-mail suggestions for him. The guys discuss the FGS Conference held in Ft. Wayne on August 15-18, and describe their experiences in the new Allen County Public Library's genealogy collection. They then discuss the much anticipated book by Elizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace . It is the most complete reference about source citations ever written, and is brilliantly organized. It is available from Genealogy Publishing Co. in hardcover and in electronic format at Footnote.com .
Mon, August 13, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #102 - 2007 August 12
George's news report this week includes: the announcement of the non-exclusive agreement between NARA and CustomFlix Labs (a part of the Amazon.com group) to make thousands of NARA's historic films available for sale through Amazon.com in DVD-on-Demand format; The National Archives (U.K.) and Ancestry.co.uk have reached an agreement to make the digitized pension records of more than 1 million soldiers who fought in WWI (catalogue group WO 364) available for search and download at the Ancestry Web site; and The Generations Network will sponsor a Youth Fair at the FGS Conference in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, this coming week. In addition, George announces Irish Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 16-19, 2007, at Henry W. Maier Festival Park. Fly Away Travel has announced its Genealogy Seminar at Sea, October 25-November 1, 2008, at www.genealogycruises.com aboard the fabulous new Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas . Steve Danko has begun a blog for the United Polish Genealogical Societies Conference 2008 to be held in Salt Lake City on April 18-21, 2008. George introduces a new feature, the Web Site of the Week. This week's site is IPUMS USA's U.S. federal census enumeration forms (1850-2000) and enumerator instructions AND census questions for the population schedules 1850 to present (except 1890). The site is at http://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/tEnumForms.shtml . Drew discusses comparisons of four major genealogical software packages for PC users in the U.S. Drew also presents his second installment of his new feature, Genealogy Society Tip of the Week. The Guys conclude with a discussion of identity theft, genealogy, and the relationship or non-relationship between the two.
Wed, August 08, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #101 - 2007 August 6
George reports on stories about: Footnote.com 's new partnership with ACPL ; new content at HistoryKat ; ScotlandsPeople 's Registers; The Remembering Site ; the launch of StoryofMyLife.com ; and the release of Elizabeth Shown Mills' new book, Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace . Listener mail includes: Jungle Disk , an application to help store your data at Amazon.com's S3 ™ Storage Service; and a directory of Online Searchable Death Indexes & Records ( http://www.deathindexes.com/ ). Drew launches a new feature on the podcast, "Society Tip of the Week." George discusses conference syllabi, why it is important to retain them in your personal reference library, and how to purchase surplus syllabi from NGS and FGS in the U.S. after their conferences. Drew shares information about the thorn, a letter used in the Anglo-Saxon and Icelandic alphabets. Drew and George discuss the discovery of an historical cemetery survey performed by the Hillsborough County [Florida] Historical Commission and published in 1954. The survey had been almost completely forgotten, but the Guys are going to investigate the contents for a project that their local genealogical society is doing on Find-a-Grave . How will you preserve your ancestors' cemetery information?
Mon, July 30, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #100 - 2007 July 29
The Genealogy Guys celebrate their 100th podcast this week! George reports on the partnering of Diversity Restoration Solutions , Slave Descendants Freedom Society , and Family Tree DNA to offer African Americans the opportunity to research their DNA. Archive CD Books USA announces the availability of a new CD, the Digested Summary and Alphabetical List of Private Claims Which Have Been Presented to the House of Representatives , representing more than 100,000 names and claims from 1789 to 1882. The collection is on sale for $19.97 at the link above. A new start-up company, MemoryPress , is offering a start-to-finish solution to publishing your personal or family history in a beautiful hardbound book. A new organization, Keeping Genealogical Records Open Workgroup (KGROW) has been formed to fight the closing of public records as a guise for a war against identify theft and terrorism. KGROW is a project of the Florida Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists . Listeners' email included: one of the better places to learn more about Mexican resources -- http://hispanicgenealogy.blogspot.com ; a recommended Web site to learn about a wide array of data backup options -- http://www.BackupReview.info ; and The Guys discussed organizational options for digitized materials, file naming options, and storage systems. George discussed an article published in Ancestors , the magazine of The National Archives in the U.K., concerning "The Lost Colony" of Roanoke Island. The settlement by Sir Walter Raleigh disappeared between August 1587 and 1590. Now, there is a project under way to use DNA to possibly trace any descendants of any settlers who may have survived. Drew and George reminisced about some highlights of the first 100 episodes of the podcast, and discussed some plans for the next hundred. They thank their thousands of listeners worldwide, and express gratitude to their loyal sponsors.
Sun, July 22, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 21 July 2007
George announces the new version of Heredis (v. X.2), available at the MyHeredis Web site ( http://www.myheredis.com/index.html ), and a host of new and updated Ancestry.com databases. Drew discusses his experience with the Beta version of Family Tree Maker 2008 . He also announces the launch of the English language version of GeneaSofts ( http://geneasofts.geneanet.org/en/ ), a French site devoted to discussing and reviewing genealogy-related software programs. Responding to e-mail from a number of listeners concerning recommendations for Irish and Mexican research resources, Drew and George recommend two books by Ancestry Publishing: Finding Your Irish Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide , by David S. Ouimette, and Finding Your Mexican Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide , by George and Peggy Ryskamp They also recommend message boards at Ancestry.com and Genforum.com , mailing lists at RootsWeb.com . George discusses the imperative need to backup your genealogical data, and then The Guys discuss backup options, both on external hard disk drives and online sites such as Mozy ( http://mozy.com/ ). George responds to a listener who wants to know how to effectively report missing census page images and indexing errors to Ancestry.com for correction. Next week's show will be the 100th Podcast ! Don't miss it!
Wed, July 18, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 15 July 2007
George announces the availability of the Beta version of Family Tree Maker 2008 and the opportunity to pre-order for mid-August delivery at the introductory price of $29.95 at the Ancestry Store . Drew and George acknowledge the undisputed "Genealogy Guys Podcast" Marathon Endurance leader! George announces the breakthrough of his >20-year brickwall to find the death date and location of his Great-uncle Brisco Washington Holder, thanks to research by a listener who located him in the Missouri Death Records Certificate database, 1910-1956. George talks about his subsequent research in other records, calls to the cemetery and the funeral home, and other possible records he will research while at the FGS Conference in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in August. Drew makes additional suggestions, including references to the use of the new release of GenSmarts, V.2. Drew talks about online books and the wealth of printed genealogical sources, while George suggests the use of the book, Printed Sources , edited by Kory L. Meyerink (published by Ancestry in 1998) - an excellent reference to many published materials.
Wed, July 11, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 9 July 2007
George announces a new version of Pocket Genealogist software and a list of upcoming conferences. George and Drew discuss listeners' email about: "The Portal to Texas History" at texashistory.unt.edu/about/ which contains digitized books, histories, and photos of Texas; the use of WorldCat ( www.worldcat.org ) and Google Books ( books.google.com ) to locate books containing information on a French village; and strategies for getting around "brick walls." The Guys also discuss the new release of GenSmarts, Version 2.0, a software tool that provides research suggestions and tools to organize your genealogy database contents.
Fri, July 06, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 4 July 2007
George announces some British genealogical news and Web sites, including the medieval fine rolls of Henry III at www.finerollshenry3.org.uk . Drew reviews Andro Linklater's book, The Fabric of America . And Drew and George discuss "Geographic Hygiene" -- entering place names in a standard way and checking the accuracy based on the time period, the political boundaries, and the responsible geopolitical entity at the time.
Fri, June 29, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 27 June 2007
George announces the new French and Italian services from Ancestry.com. Drew researches the early days of musician Nellie Lutcher by checking census records. And George and Drew discuss some books that Drew brought back home after his mother's recent funeral, including Drew's father's high school yearbook, a book of old photographs of Newberry, SC, and a heritage book from Newberry.
Sun, June 17, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 16 June 2007
News includes the digitization of Canadian passenger lists (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy), an interactive online map of Chicago (chicagoancestors.org), and Diane Rapaport's soon-to-be-released book The Naked Quaker: True Crimes and Controversies from the Courts of Colonial New England . Listener mail includes details about Jewish marriage customs and a question about donating rare cemetery books. In response to a listener question, George and Drew describe their list of essential books for the genealogy reference shelf.
Thu, June 14, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 14 June 2007
News about new records at Ancestry.com, and the use of DNA to attempt to solve the mystery of the Lost Colony. Drew returns from the Southern California Genealogical Society's Genealogy Jamboree and shares interviews with Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak of Roots Television (rootstelevision.com), Leland Meitzler of Everton's (genealogyblog.com), and Susan Kitchens of Family Oral History Using Digital Tools (familyoralhistory.us).
Wed, June 06, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 4 June 2007
News of the upcoming Polish Genealogical Society of America (www.pgsa.org) conference in Schaumberg, Illinois on September 28-30, and listener mailbag with several items about military records, and an interesting find of funeral documents on eBay. George discusses June weddings, and Drew provides more details about LibraryThing (librarything.com). Drew also talks about how he uses newspaper databases to locate obituaries for distant cousins.
Wed, May 30, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 28 May 2007
Drew clarifies the item from last week concerning using photo folders as screen savers, and updates the latest regarding finding the descendants of opera singer Henri Scott. George and Drew discuss military records of all types.
Wed, May 23, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 21 May 2007
News and announcements include Lisa Louise Cooke's new weekly Genealogy Gems Podcast (available online at genealogygemspodcast.com), the latest version of Reunion software for the Macintosh (www.leisterpro.com), the Records Access digitization and indexing program of FamilySearch, and the successful recent annual conference of the National Genealogical Society in Richmond (www.ngsgenealogy.org). George discusses Robert Pols book Family Photographs 1860-1945 , and how to use books like Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1964 to identify the songs that were popular when your recent ancestors were living. Drew clears up a few puzzles in kinship terminology, and talks about his attempt to discover the living descendants of the late opera singer Henri Scott. [Note to listeners: In the episode, Drew mistakenly refers to Henri's daughter Eunice as "Emma".]
Wed, May 16, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 14 May 2007
Listener mailbag includes an item from the editor of the Swedish American Genealogist (www.etgenealogy.se/sag.htm) about displaying photos as screen savers. Drew discusses Argali (argali.com), PC software that makes it easy to look for phone numbers and street addresses, and George discusses mortality schedules.
Tue, May 08, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 6 May 2007
Announcements include Footnote.com's Revolutionary War documents, the WeRelate.org wiki social networking site, the June 8-10 Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in Burbank (www.scgsgenealogy.com/jamboree.htm), the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City's study of genealogy to understand heart disease, and the Genealogy Concierge service of the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa. Mailbag brings questions and comments about backing up USB flash drives, what to call former spouses of parents, how to cite items found in WorldCat, and how to create personalized maps using Google's My Maps feature. George and Drew discuss database search strategies for atypical surnames and the use of reference resources (such as dictionaries) available in personal libraries and public libraries.
Wed, May 02, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 1 May 2007
News includes the disastrous fire at the Georgetown (DC) Public Library and the new US/Mexican border crossing records collection at Ancestry.com. Mailbag includes lessons learned from crashed external hard drives, access to a newspaper project ("Chronicling America") at www.loc.gov/chroniclingamerica, and a lot of listener feedback to the past podcast discussion of FindAGrave. Other topics include ways to get the most out of Google, and more tips for genealogical spring cleaning.
Wed, April 25, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 23 April 2007
George announces the website FamilyLink.com (a product of World Vital Records Inc.). George and Drew discuss uploading GEDCOM files, the use of the FindaGrave.com website, and where to begin genealogical spring cleaning.
Thu, April 19, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 18 April 2007
Announcements include the new Ancestry Press product (ancestrypress.com), free access to Ellis Island records thru April 30 (www.ellisislandexperience.com), and the annual Spring Seminar of the Alabama Genealogical Society at Samford University in Birmingham on May 5 (www.algensoc.org). Major topics discussed include what to do when one inherits a large collection of family photographs, why you should record everyone with your research surnames in your geographic areas, and how you can make life easier as a member of the audience at a genealogical lecture.
Tue, April 10, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 9 April 2007
Topics include: reminders about upcoming large conferences/seminars (NGS at ngsgenealogy.org, FGS at fgs.org, and the 2nd Annual Genealogy Seminar at Sea (www.genealogycruises.com); followups on translating Latin (www.nottingham.ac.uk/mss/online/skills/dating/latin.phtml), on newspaper archives, on testing one's skills (www.bcgcertification.org/skillbuilders/), and on looking for info from the Boston Transcript; backups of data; a new site for listeners to investigate regarding free live online family history classes (www.familyhistoryliveonline.com); the pros and cons of blogs vs. non-blog websites; possible problems using FamilySearch Indexing by a Linux user; an interesting drawing found in an Oxford County (Ontario) marriage book; the National Institute for Genealogical Studies at the University of Toronto (www.genealogicalstudies.com); feedback regarding show notes; the basics of subscribing to the Genealogy Guys Podcast using iTunes (so that one can sync the podcasts to an iPod), printing the show notes, and searching for content in past episodes; and whether or not to refer to siblings of direct ancestors as "ancestors". George also briefly reviews the book Infamous Scribblers .
Tue, April 03, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 2 April 2007
George and Drew discuss the transliteration of documents (such as those in Latin), and tips for translating from one language to another. Drew also leads a discussion about using WorldCat to locate local newspapers, partially inspired by a listener's suggestion for using the U.S. Newspaper Program (www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html). Mailbag and news includes Roots Television's (www.rootstelevision.com) new RootsTube channel, the Virginia Freedmen Extraction and Indexing Project (blackhistorymuseum.org/bureau), the Indiana Marriage Indexing Project (www.indgensoc.org/indexing.html), the storage of genealogy files online, the new Web 2.0-style LivingGenealogy.com site, and the upcoming state conference in Ohio (www.ogs.org).
Tue, March 27, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 26 March 2007
Drew reminds listeners to nominate individuals and genealogy societies for the awards offered by the Federation of Genealogical Societies (www.fgs.org/fgs-awards.htm); shares the British government's response to the e-petition to provide earlier access to the 1911, 1921, and 1931 British censuses; and announces that Cyndi (of Cyndi's List) has a new blog at cyndislist.blogspot.com. George announces the Newberry Library's (www.newberry.org) annual workshop, this one focusing on Maps and Genealogy. Other listener mailbag items include the records of the Old Bailey (www.oldbaileyonline.org), Chicago area burial records, ways to deal with thick or odd-sized documents, locating newspapers in archives, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee map collection (www.uwm.edu/Libraries/digilib/maps/), and equipment used to restore photographs.
Tue, March 20, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 19 March 2007
George and Drew discuss the recent announcement regarding Ancestry.com databases no longer being available at Family History Centers, and George also announces the new Iowa database. George mentions his recent speaking engagement in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, while Drew talks about his own visit to DeLand, Florida. George reviews Kathy Chater's book about doing research in the UK and Ireland, and Nigel Cawthorne's book about unusual old English laws. Listener mailbag includes a discussion of people who lived near county and state boundaries, considerations regarding posting copies of vital record certificates online, the Geneanet site (www.geneanet.org), the Kentucky Vital Records Project (kyvitals.com), a question about NewspaperArchives.com, a way to organize materials by type of record, the North Carolina "Cemetery Census" site (cemeterycensus.com/nc), a happy user who found relatives in the Kansas State Census database, an announcement of the University of Washington's Extension program for Genealogy and Family History (www.extension.washington.edu), and a question about using tripods for digital cameras.
Tue, March 13, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 12 March 2007
George reviews several news books, including the multivolume set of Revolutionary War Period Bible, Family, & Marriage Records (www.revwar.patriotpublishers.com), a new book about colonial ancestors, and a fantastic new book about researching Mexican ancestry. News includes the Jewish Genealogical Society in New York City's all-day seminar "Family History and the Holocaust: A Day of Learning" (www.jgsny.org/dayoflearning.htm). Listener mailbag includes more info about timelines, where to find the Genealogy Guys Podcast show notes, how to "re-jump start" interest in researching one's family, a new podcast coming from the Czech Republic (pathfinders.cz), how to follow up on items found in the AGBI, whether or not one should trust earlier research done on one's family, a suggestion about the Genealogy Guys Podcast having some "cover art" for iTunes, and some detailed info on using a digital camera for taking photos of documents (via the Kim Komando Show site, at komando.com).
Mon, March 05, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 4 March 2007
George and Drew share news (including a reminder of the planned research trip to London), and listener e-mail (ancestors who had pottery factories, and the U.K. National Archives podcasts). George talks about using timelines and ancestor profiles to help explain why ancestors behaved as they did. Drew points out that the ideas of inquiry-based learning and critical thinking apply to the processes that good genealogists engage in.
Wed, February 28, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 27 February 2007
After a few news items about the NGS Hall of Fame (www.ngsgenealogy.org/comhall.cfm), German postcards at Ancestry.com, preservation information for family treasures from the Library of Congress (www.loc.gov/preserv/familytreasures/), the Practical Archivist Blog (practicalarchivist.blogspot.com), and the new ProQuest CSA company, George and Drew dig into the podcast listener mailbag to discuss (in no particular order): wikis (davesqueries.pbwiki.com) naming digital image files attending national conferences (not just for professionals) splitting personal databases into maternal/paternal lines the Pro version of Flickr for publishing photos a free image editing program (Paint.NET) and an idea for promoting the Genealogy Guys Podcast!
Tue, February 20, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 19 February 2007
Topics include new sorting features of WorldCat (worldcat.org), and a discussion of folksonomies, tagging, and metadata, especially as it applies to photographs on such sites as Flickr (www.flickr.com). News and listener mailbag includes the use of vitalrec.com to learn more about when states began recording vital records, a Quaker genealogy conference (April 27th thru April 29th in Waynesville, Ohio - www.mlcook.lib.oh.us provides more information), photographic restoration (www.genealogy.com/10_restr.html), tips on using digital cameras to record documents, and a reminder of several upcoming genealogy cruises.
Mon, February 12, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 11 February 2007
News includes the Nevada marriage and divorce data now available on Ancestry.com. Listener mailbag brings in items about the French-Canadian Drouin Collection coming to Ancestry.com (from the American-Canadian Genealogical Society at acgs.org), what may or may not be available at your nearest NARA branch regarding agricultural census schedules, and a new episode of Bill Puller's Genealogy Tech Podcast (genealogytechpodcast.com). Major topics include George's "ancestor wall" of photographs in the living room, and Drew's discussion of how to get the most out of visiting a local genealogy society.
Tue, February 06, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 5 February 2007
George announces a genealogy conference in Tallahassee, Florida (www.talgen.org), a computerized genealogy conference in Provo (ce.byu.edu/cw/cwcompu), and three different genealogy cruises between late October and mid November, and reminds listeners of the writing contest deadline for ISFHWE (www.rootsweb.com/~cgc/contest.htm). Listeners share their successes in keeping local museums in business (www.gerisgenes.com/scmuseum.html), ask how to cite census records, ask how to do genealogy on a budget, tell us about the Genealogy Guys being on a French genealogy wiki (www.geneawiki.com/index.php/Recherche_Etats-Unis), solicit UK listeners to sign a petition to release census info (petitions.pm.gov.uk/CensusInfoFreed/), and talk about how much fun it is to volunteer for the FamilySearch Indexing Project. Drew gets ready to begin his new job as an "Information Literacy Librarian" at the University of South Florida and discusses information literacy concepts with George, and both share their suggestions for being more helpful when posting queries to mailing lists and message boards (especially including the name of the county in which a town is located).
Wed, January 31, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 29 January 2007
George and Drew again share news and listener mailbag, including a way to store files using Gmail (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1593/), a question about how to handle conflicting information, some questions relating to Macintosh-using genealogists and suggestions about adding places to queries on mailing lists and message boards, and a question about what to do when you're left with many boxes of a grandparent's collected papers. George announces the 2007 conference of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) to be held in Salt Lake City (www.slc2007.org), shares a listener suggestion about USAPhotomaps software (jdmcox.com), announces Footnote.com's digitization project involving NARA images (www.footnote.com/nara), and announces the Scottish parochial register images availability online (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk).
Sun, January 21, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 20 January 2007
George and Drew announce the new ProQuest offerings (two African-American newspapers, and a Civil War-era collection of pamphlets and newspapers). George points out the renovated British Library website (www.bl.uk), and remarks on the ability to search Ancestry.com for public family trees. George and Drew also talk about Donna Moughty's recent talk to the Florida Genealogical Society about "Who Is the Head of This Household?" (a census overview) and Donna's role within the Genealogical Speakers Guild (www.genspeakguild.org). George also discusses a new findmypast.com offering, "Ancestors on Board", available online at www.ancestorsonboard.com, which covers outbound passengers lists from the UK. Listener mailbag brings in the correct pronunciation of "Quinte", a brief review of Legacy software, a great eBay sucess story involving an ancestral heirloom, podcasts from the National Archives (UK), how to order "The Source" for delivery in Germany, the availability of the online version of Internet Genealogy magazine, a reminder about ICAPGen accreditation, the volunteer project to index Family History Library microfilm at www.familysearchindexing.org, a question about how to keep up with new content at the LDS FamilySearch site, ways to convert digital images into word processing text, and a system for tracking both paper and digital documents.
Wed, January 17, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 16 January 2007
Drew returns from visiting Salt Lake City, where he attended board meetings of the Federation of Genealogical Societies and did some research in the Family History Library. George announces the new Ancestry.de service for German research. Drew describes his FGS activities, and shares some of his discoveries in the FHL, including a possible War of 1812 ancestor. George discusses the differences between transcriptions, extracts, and abstracts.
Mon, January 08, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 7 January 2007
George shares the URL for the UK postcards site (www.oldukphotos.com), talks about the Genealogy Blog Finder (blogfinder.genealogue.com), and discusses the latest issues of Digital Genealogist magazine (www.digitalgenealogist.com) and Internet Genealogy. Drew tells about a podcast listener who used Google Maps to find something interesting about the French terrain, and notes that several listeners have brought up LibraryThing at www.librarything.com (an online tool for keeping track of one's personal library). Drew discusses his recent library visit where he discovers the benefits of examining the newest books, and Drew and George share their tips for getting past brick walls, including unsolvedancestry.com.
Tue, January 02, 2007
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 1 January 2007
George and Drew take a look back at 2006, a look ahead to 2007, and discuss a variety of ideas for doing genealogy during the winter months. Among the items discussed during news, announcements, and listener mailbag: the extended deadline for submitting lecture proposals to the FGS 2008 Philadelphia conference (www.fgs.org); the plans for a U.S. version of the popular U.K. "Who Do You Think You Are?" TV series; the name change of 1837online.com to www.findmypast.com; a website for displaying old U.K. photos; and an interesting new site (www.familysearchlabs.org) that keeps up with the latest technology projects of the LDS.
Tue, December 26, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 25 December 2006
George shares press releases about the renaming of MyFamily.com, Inc. as The Generations Network and about the new features of the Ancestry.com personal family trees. The mailbag brings mail from listeners whose ancestors are from "Whales", who use portable applications (from portableapps.com) stored on a USB flash drive, and who are interested in DNA testing and whether or not census index errors are caused by an OCR process. Drew follows up previous podcasts with information about his new Western Digital My Book external hard drive (used for backups) and about online phonebooks. George describes the surprise in discovering what an old photo is made of, and talks about how Christmas Day was spent. Finally, genealogist Jana Sloan Broglin returns for another interview by Drew.
Tue, December 19, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 18 December 2006
Announcements include the relaunch of Ancestry Magazine, the purchase of ProQuest Information and Learning (the division of ProQuest that includes HeritageQuest Online) by Cambridge Information Group, the release of Calico Pie's Family Historian 3.1 (more info at www.family-historian.co.uk), The National Archives (UK) online release of UK Outbound Passenger Lists (with a 10% extra free if you buy units using code AOB10PCX) with more info at ancestorsonboard.com, and the ISFHWE Annual Writing Contest (more info at www.rootsweb.com/~cgc/contest.htm). Listener e-mail asks about how to present (and sometimes limit) information shared with newly found cousins. George and Drew, following up on last week's podcast in which they discussed the hardware they use, identify their favorite genealogy-related software tools (even when they aren't specifically for genealogy). Finally, George and Drew review the new series of surname books published by Ancestry.com entitled "Our Name in History".
Tue, December 12, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 11 December 2006
A podcast listener writes in about free census worksheets and tutorials at www.censusmate.com. In response to another listener question, George and Drew discuss their computer hardware: desktop computers, notebooks, smartphones, wireless networks, scanners, multi-function printers, and digital cameras. George talks about sources of information for learning about an ancestor's occupation. Drew points out another source for relatively current newspapers: LexisNexis Academic.
Tue, December 05, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 4 December 2006
As December begins, George suggests a place to shop for genealogy gifts: The Ancestry Store (theancestrystore.com), and he announces the new 1851 and 1861 Scotland census databases. George also mentions the new test for U.S. citizenship. The mailbag brings information about newspaper projects (www.library.uiuc.edu/inp and www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html), and a question about a Texas application for a mortuary warrant. Drew interviews Deborah Abbott about collateral lines research, slaveholder records, and things not to be overlooked on the U.S. census. Finally, Drew thanks a listener for visiting the grave of Drew's uncle and sending along photos from the U.S. military cemetery near Cambridge, England.
Tue, November 28, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 27 November 2006
After some brief items from genealogy news and listener mailbag, George and Drew discuss the recent Thanksgiving visit of George's relatives (including their photos and other family materials), and give their opinions about the relative merits of genealogy cruises vs. national genealogy conferences. Fletcher the cat weighs in near the end of the podcast, but it turns out later that she is merely happy to have re-discovered a long-lost stuffed cat toy.
Mon, November 20, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 19 November 2006
George announces the new Ancestry.com store (theancestrystore.com), and reminds listeners of Ancestry's new German genealogical site (ancestry.de). George shares listener e-mail about Canadian passenger lists at Collections Canada (www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/passenger/). George also talks about using the Internet Public Library to find links to newspaper sites (www.ipl.org). Drew talks about using newspapers, including the NewsBank database Access World News. George shares a tip about using date ranges in Google. And Drew mentions metasearch tools, including the Copernic Agent Basic software (www.copernic.com).
Tue, November 14, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 13 November 2006
George returns from speaking at the Florida State Genealogical Society conference in Melbourne, and spreads the news about the new passenger lists at Ancestry.com. Drew talks about two new services that provide a way to listen to podcasts (including the Genealogy Guys Podcast) using an ordinary phone: Podlinez (podlinez.com) and Fonpods (fonpods.com). Drew shares his interview with Irish genealogical expert Eileen O'Duill. Drew also receives a two-volume family history in the mail that gives details about his Eidson ancestry, and he talks about the virtual world of Second Life (secondlife.com), where librarians and genealogists are collaborating on new ways to teach and learn genealogy.
Tue, November 07, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 6 November 2006
George and Drew return from the genealogy cruise and give listeners an idea of what it is like. Drew also shares his visit to a cemetery on St. Maarten. The first issue of Digital Genealogist (which includes an article by Drew) is now available for free online at www.digitalgenealogist.com. George announces a new Welsh database, and reminds listeners of the November special for RootsMagic's new software, Family Atlas.
Sat, October 28, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 27 October 2006
George announces Ancestorsonboard.com, a new database for passenger lists for those leaving the British Isles between 1890 and 1960. Other topics include the new online magazine, Digital Genealogist; and the new GenealogyBank.com database service; George and Drew dig into the podcast listener mailbag and discuss such topics as a fascinating story from a cemetery visit, strange 1820 U.S. Federal census columns, birth information supplied to the Social Security Administration, and death dates that appear in the Social Security Death Index. Podcast listeners are also encouraged to check out the genealogy segments appearing on ABC's Good Morning America show.
Tue, October 24, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 23 October 2006
George and Drew mention the new Internet Explorer 7 and Mozilla Firefox 2.0 browsers. Ancestry.com has added German content. George and Drew have taken their first look at the new NewsBank genealogy databases product, GenealogyBank.com. George discusses an online map browsing service for Ireland, www.pasthomes.com. Drew interviews genealogy blogger Steve Danko (www.stephendanko.com) and discusses his research into his Polish ancestry. Finally, George and Drew talk about how easy it is to set up a genealogy research blog using Blogger or LiveJournal, and they also discuss some techniques in using pre-1850 U.S. censuses. Drew invites listeners to visit his personal research blog at drewsmith-genealogy.blogspot.com.
Tue, October 17, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 16 October 2006
George announces RootsMagic's new software product, Family Atlas, and its introductory price (www.familyatlas.com/introspecial.htm). Drew interviews professional genealogist Linda Woodward Geiger, where they talk about things to avoid when creating genealogy websites, what goes on in a state chapter meeting of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the fun of "ancestor roadshows" at state and national conferences, and the Regional In-depth Genealogical Studies Alliance (www.rigsalliance.org). Finally, George and Drew discuss the importance of geography in genealogical research, and suggest a number of books as well as online historical map collections (the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection at www.davidrumsey.com, and the Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection, UT-Austin at www.lib.utexas.edu/maps).
Tue, October 10, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 9 October 2006
News includes the new RootsTelevision site (www.rootstelevision.com). Drew shares his interview with Paul Milner, where they discuss Paul's career and Paul offers advice on conducting British research. George talks about the usefulness of voter registration records. Finally, has George discovered that he and Drew are related? Listen and find out!
Mon, October 02, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 2 October 2006
News items include the tragic death of genealogy librarian Ryan Taylor, an update to last week's naturalization topic including the Italian Genealogical Group's database project (www.italiangen.org/databaselist.stm), the upcoming conference of the North Carolina Genealogical Society (www.ncgenealogy.org) in Raleigh, the soon-to-be-available first issue of Digital Genealogist (www.digitalgenealogist.com), the availability of British Telecom telephone books on Ancestry.com, and George's book regarding London research repositories (www.lulu.com/content/253150). George suggests things to do during Family History Month and swaps stories with Drew regarding genealogical serendipity. Drew shares his interview with well-known genealogist Laura Prescott.
Mon, September 25, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 21 September 2006
George and Drew take the Genealogy Guys Podcast on the road to a monthly meeting of the Lee County Genealogical Society in Ft. Myers, Florida, where they discuss naturalization and take questions from the audience. They share images of naturalization records and Drew points out the great example of Steve Danko's blog (www.stephendanko.com). Drew also shares a statement from Chris Cowan, Vice President of Publishing for ProQuest Information and Learning, announcing the latest updates to the PERSI database available through HeritageQuest Online.
Mon, September 18, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 17 September 2006
Drew interviews Audrey Collins, a reader advisor from The National Archives' Family Records Centre in London (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/visit/planfrc.htm). George and Drew discuss the past Saturday's annual fall seminar of the Florida Genealogical Society (Tampa), and the amount of work that goes into planning and executing an all-day genealogy seminar. The Genealogy Guys also pass along a few genealogical research tips and techniques they learned from the seminar's speaker, Hank Jones (www.hankjones.com), an expert on Palatine research and a collector of interesting and unusual stories of genealogical research experiences.
Mon, September 11, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 10 September 2006
George and Drew discuss how to find out about our ancestors' occupations. [Note: The correct URL for the USGenWeb page giving explanations of old occupation names is http://www.usgenweb.org/research/occupations.shtml] Drew shares an interview with Maureen Taylor (the Photo Detective) and David Lambert (of the New England Historic Genealogical Society) and their project involving photographs of individuals associated with the American Revolutionary War. For details, visit http://www.maureentaylor.com/projects.html Other topics include the results of the NARA access petition drive, the availability of FGS 2006 conference recordings at http://stores.lulu.com/fgs2006. The Genealogy Guys also recommend a visit to fellow genealogist Steve Danko's blog (www.stephendanko.com).
Tue, September 05, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 4 September 2006
George and Drew return from Boston with a report of highlights from the 2006 Federation of Genealogical Societies conference. George also talks about the urgent petition regarding a proposed reduction in NARA research hours (www.petitiononline.com/FGS2006/petition.html) which must be submitted no later than September 8; the brochure for the Genealogy Guys' 2007 Research Tour to London is now online (see the menu on this site); George points out a serious problem with the way ProQuest is applying updates to the PERSI database; and the locations of the next two FGS conferences are announced. Information about the Association of Personal Historians conference (www.personalhistorians.org) in Portland on October 4-8 is provided, and George mentions a name thesaurus (www.namethesaurus.com/Thesaurus/Search.asp).
Mon, August 28, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 27 August 2006
Just before the Genealogy Guys head off for the FGS Conference in Boston, Drew announces the Ebenezer, GA Heritage Day Festival on Labor Day for Salzburgers (www.georgiasalzburgers.com) and the University of Washington Extension Program's Genealogy and Family History Certificate (www.extension.washington.edu/ext/certificates/gfh/gfh_mtg.asp), and shares listener tips regarding both WorldCat and state archives. George and Drew outline what topics they'll be addressing at the FGS Conference, and the Guys will also be at the Lee County Genealogical Society in Ft. Myers, Florida on September 20 to produce a "live" podcast. George's "Along Those Lines" column will start being seen on September 7th in the Signal Hill Tribune in Signal Hill, California (thanks to a podcast listener). Drew shares his recent experience participating in a Skypecast moderated by Dick Eastman, both of the Guys talk in detail about next year's research trip to London (e-mail classes@ahaseminars.com for more info), and a listener question about a gas station leads to a discussion about locating information about businesses.
Mon, August 21, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 20 August 2006
George talks about two January 2007 events in Salt Lake City: the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (www.infouga.org) and the NGS Research Trip (www.ngsgenealogy.org/edutripsaltlake.cfm). George and Drew are especially pleased to announce the 2007 Genealogy Guys Research Trip to London (July 14-24). (If you want to be placed on the list to receive information, please send an e-mail to classes@ahaseminars.com .) The Guys then share some recent research stories involving friends, including locating a hard-to-find marriage certificate in England, and identifying resources to find out more about a New Mexico rancher. Drew brings listeners up-to-date about the migration of RootsWeb's genealogy mailing lists to new software, and then discusses the issue of Virginia's independent cities. Finally, George reviews the latest edition of The Source .
Mon, August 14, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 13 August 2006
As the days count down toward the Federation of Genealogical Society's upcoming Boston conference, Drew and George announce that Paul Milner is a new co-leader for the National Genealogical Society's Britain and Ireland Forum (www.ngsgenealogy.org/forums/britainirelandforum.cfm), and that NGS is sponsoring a January 2007 research trip to Salt Lake City (www.ngsgenealogy.org/edutripsaltlake.cfm). Following up on last week's episode regarding boxer Bob Fitzsimmons, a listener reminds the Guys about Find A Grave (www.findagrave.com). George announces Liz Kerstens' new e-magazine Digital Genealogist (www.digitalgenealogist.com). After George discusses tips for deciphering old documents (handwriting, abbreviations, and language), Drew alerts listeners to upcoming changes for RootsWeb mailing lists (lists.rootsweb.com) and to a new way to access the WorldCat database (worldcat.org). George ends the episode by sharing ways to keep track of what census columns mean, using the census charts at Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com/trees/charts/census.aspx).
Mon, August 07, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 6 August 2006
Back in Tampa, Drew and George try out their new podcasting equipment, two new microphones and a mixer, and listeners are encouraged to give feedback regarding the sound. Drew reminds listeners of the upcoming August 13-18 conference of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies in New York (www.iajgs.org). George talks about family reunions and how they can be a good source of genealogical information. Drew recommends using the GNIS service of the USGS (geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/) to locate and map U.S. locations. And a message from a New Zealand listener leads to a discussion of a Chicago cemetery and the life of a famous heavyweight boxer.
Tue, August 01, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 31 July 2006
Drew shares his interviews with Matt Helm regarding Matt's new HistoryKat.com subscription web service, and with Bill Forsyth of ProQuest regarding their many genealogy-related databases. Drew also shares some audio clips of his trip with George to Atlanta and Rome, Georgia, with the highlight being a visit to the Myrtle Hill Cemetery. While George returns to Tampa to work on a new book, Drew continues on to Newberry, South Carolina to visit with family.
Mon, July 24, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 23 July 2006
George announces the upcoming annual conference of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (www.bifhsgo.ca) and makes a correction about a date for Canadian censuses in a previous podcast, and Drew mentions a handy website for viewing Canadian boundary changes over time (atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/historical/territorialevolution). Continuing along a Canadian theme, Drew interviews Louise St. Denis of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies (www.genealogicalstudies.com), a Canadian-based educational institution providing distance education to genealogists all over the world. George shares some websites for Moravian researchers, including www.enter.net/~smschlack, www.moravianarchives.org, and www.moravianchurcharchives.org. Drew announces the new WorldCat.org site for searching library records. And George interviews Drew about the upcoming FGS conference in Boston (www.fgs.org).
Mon, July 17, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 16 July 2006
Drew shares his interview with Amy Johnson Crow, where they discuss the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors, as well as Amy's fascinating new website devoted to Deaf Americans, deafbiographies.com. George discusses congregational histories plus the U.S. Soldiers Home in Washington, DC (www.defenselink.mil/specials/heroes/history1.html and www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/231.html). Meanwhile, Drew enjoys a magazine from his hometown in upstate South Carolina. George and Drew announce upcoming conferences in Provo, Utah; Lansing, Michigan; Morrow, Georgia; and Tampa, Florida. Drew reads from podcast listener mail with tips about software for saving and organizing webpages (www.netsnippets.com) and keeping a folder to organize pending requests for information. And Drew points out the idea of using Google Earth to view cemeteries from satellite photos.
Tue, July 11, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 10 July 2006
Drew interviews Tom Kemp of NewsBank (www.newsbank.com) about their new product America's GenealogyBank, offering genealogists information from American newspapers dating back as far as 1690. Drew also explains the difference between Legacy's Research Guidance feature and GenSmarts software, while George talks about how to print wallcharts from RootsMagic (www.rootsmagic.com/wallcharts.htm). Drew shares a listener tip about creating PDF files inexpensively using PrimoPDF (www.primopdf.com) and George talks about a preview site for Irish historical maps (www.irishhistoricmaps.ie).
Tue, July 04, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 3 July 2006
Drew shares the announcement from the National Archives (UK) regarding what the plans are for the Family Records Centre in Islington. George reminds listeners of the upcoming Italian genealogy conference (www.rootsintheboot.org). A number of listeners respond to a previous podcast about a tool for keeping track of census forms (www.censustools.com). Drew interviews Lou Szucs and Sandra Luebking about the new edition of The Source . Drew and George share tips on filing oversized documents (George recommends some filing supplies from Gaylord at www.gaylord.com and Light Impressions at www.lightimpressionsdirect.com), citing Social Security applications, and maintaining research logs.
Mon, June 26, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 25 June 2006
After the usual announcements, George and Drew share items from the listener mailbag. The Frappr map of Genealogy Guys Podcast listeners now shows a pin in South Dakota (only two more states to go!). Listeners suggest tips on using portable software applications that can be carried from computer to computer on a flash drive and on backing data files up to the Mozy website (mozy.com). Drew plays his interview with Liz Kerstens where they talk about the latest version of her genealogy filing program Clooz 2.0 (www.clooz.com). Finally, George and Drew talk about how they file their physical genealogy documents.
Mon, June 19, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 18 June 2006
George and Drew notify listeners about the deadline for early FGS conference registration (www.fgs.org), the new Canadian and Scottish resources at Ancestry.com, and the July 15-22, 2007 research trip to London with the Genealogy Guys (limited to 40 people). The mailbag brings tips about using Google Notebook (www.google.com/notebook) to keep track of bookmarks wherever you are, and a reminder about the genealogy cruise on Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas. Drew shares his fun interview with Elissa Scalise Powell, highlighting the recent NGS conference, the first statewide Pennsylvania Genealogy Conference (September 29-30) in Pittsburgh (www.pagenealogyconference.com), the July 14-15 Roots in the Boot Italian genealogical conference also in Pittsburgh (www.rootsintheboot.org), the joys of networking at conferences, the great BCG-related lectures at NGS, the dos and don'ts of writing family histories, and the not-to-be-missed educational opportunities at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research held every June at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. George discusses what he has discovered about his ancestors in microfilmed agricultural censuses.
Tue, June 13, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 12 June 2006
George and Drew return from the annual conference of the National Genealogical Society. Roots in the Boot (an upcoming mid-July Italian Genealogy and Heritage Conference in Pittsburgh) is announced (www.rootsintheboot.org). Reading the mailbag, George and Drew clarify some issues relating to ProQuest's HeritageQuest Online product (as it relates to remote access for genealogical and historical societies), bring up concerns about the closing of the Sullivan County (NY) Historical Society/Museum, and discuss affidavits as they relate to birth and marriage certificates. Podcast listeners will find out if Drew was successful in completing his 5-item to-do list for the NGS conference. George talks about the vendors (especially the ones selling books).
Fri, June 02, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 1 June 2006
Just prior to their trip to Chicago for the National Genalogical Society conference (www.ngsgenealogy.org), George tells Drew about the great time he had at the Ontario (Canada) Genealogical Society conference, and George reviews the book Genealogy, Geography, and Maps (written by Althea Douglas and available from www.ogs.on.ca). George also reviews Frank Smith's A Genealogical Gazetteer of England , published by Genealogical Publishing Co. (www.genealogical.com). Next is one more reminder of the 2006 Genealogy Seminar at Sea (www.genealogycruise2006.com), and news about new Canadian data at MyFamily.com's new Canadian site (ancestry.ca). Drew talks about searching for genealogy data using Ask.com's new blog search tool (www.ask.com), compares The Red Book to The Source , and clarifies the distinction between original/derivative documents, primary/secondary information, and direct/indirect evidence.
Tue, May 30, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 29 May 2006
While George rests up from his recent trip to Ontario, Canada, Drew handles the hosting duties. Drew begins with an explanation of all of the menu choices on the righthand side of the Genealogy Guys website (they've been updated a bit). He then provides a checklist of 5 things he plans to do at the upcoming National Genealogical Society conference in Chicago (which are 5 things that anyone should do at any genealogy conference). Drew then describes the workspace he uses at home to work on his genealogical research (and the advantages of displaying those historical maps). Finally, he discusses the pros and cons of splitting his genealogical research database into two parts (and asks for feedback from listeners).
Mon, May 22, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 21 May 2006
George announces that Ancestor Detective has released Clooz 2.0, a genealogy-oriented electronic filing cabinet program (www.clooz.com). And RootsMagic will be having a free class at the NGS Conference in Chicago. George's book on doing English research at the London repositories is available at the Lulu site (www.lulu.com/content/253150). Genealogy Guys Podcast listeners have been busy: Steve Danko has a new genealogy blog at stephendanko.com, and Bill Puller has just started recording a technology-oriented genealogy podcast at genealogytechpodcast.com. George explains why every genealogy society should be sure to have a complete run of their publications at the Allen County Public Library (all due to PERSI), and Drew describes exactly what hardware every genealogist needs.
Tue, May 16, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 15 May 2006
Drew addresses listener comments and questions regarding brute-force searching of census districts and how to specify the repository when citing sources. George brings up the idea of using a combination of geographical reference books, county histories, and courthouse books to locate ancestors and discover where their records are kept.
Mon, May 08, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 8 May 2006
George and Drew share a number of announcements, including the roommate service being offered for the August 2006 FGS Conference (contact Bobbi King at rking24600@comcast.net), the upcoming new message board system at Ancestry.com, reminders about Genealogy Cruise 2006 (see the link to the right), the "Along Those Lines..." column (which is now at ahaseminars.livejournal.com), and a July 2007 London research trip being planned by George and Drew. Drew opens up the listener mailbag to address a number of questions involving copyright, research trips, privacy, and free online research sources. And Drew points out some strange goings-on with some of the Social Security Death Index data. George talks about county heritage books as a research source.
Tue, May 02, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 1 May 2006
George returns from the Ohio Genealogical Society just held in Toledo, and shares announcements about the 1841 English/Welsh census at Ancestry.com, the newly designed Society of Genealogists (UK) website at www.sog.org.uk, the new managing editor of Everton's Genealogical Helper (old friend Leland Meitzler), the updated Helm's Genealogy Toolbox (www.genealogytoolbox.com), and George's upcoming presentations at the Ontario Genealogical Society at the end of May (www.ogsseminar.org). George and Drew discuss some issues relating to finding people in the census. Drew explains why it is important to understand both copyright and plagiarism. And George shares reviews of books about John Adams and Irish genealogical research.
Mon, April 24, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 23 April 2006
George returns from a visit to the Virginia Beach Genealogical Society and announces Family Historian (version 3) , talks about special promotions at 1837online.com , and covers important information from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and a list of U.S. ports with published records . Drew corrects some information regarding the online version of NUCMC, points out when it is safe (copyright-wise) to use old photos, and discusses the importance of using the Social Security Death Index.
Mon, April 17, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 15 April 2006
George and Drew begin this podcast at the Largo Library in Largo, Florida, in front of an audience of the Pinellas Genealogy Society (plus some guests from the Florida Genealogical Society of Tampa and the Brandon Area Genealogical and Historical Society). George shares news regarding Missouri death certificates , as well as genealogical librarianship courses at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies (University of Toronto). After answering some questions from the Largo audience, George and Drew return to the usual Genealogy Guys home studio to talk about various kinds of death records.
Mon, April 10, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 9 April 2006
A passle of announcements, including the deadline for early-bird registrations for NGS ( www.ngsgenealogy.org ), new online registration for FGS and a deadline for FGS award nominations ( www.fgs.org ), and George's newest book on researching in London respositories ( www.lulu.com/content/253150 ). George talks about his recent visit from a first cousin and the use of upcoming holidays to learn more about family history. Drew uses the opportunity of a visit from an old roommate to do some U.S. census research, and develops some new search tricks.
Mon, April 03, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 2 April 2006
George announces new databases at ScotlandsPeople (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk), the new Ancestry Weekly Journal, the new 24/7 Family History Circle blog (blogs.ancestry.com/circle), the early bird deadline for the upcoming NGS conference in Chicago (www.ngsgenealogy.org), and George's new blog that will continue his "Along Those Lines..." column (ahaseminars.com). Drew discusses how to choose the right genealogy database software. George shares his recent experiences in using Lulu (www.lulu.com) to publish his latest book on doing research in London repositories.
Tue, March 28, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 27 March 2006
George returns from his trip to Muskogee, Oklahoma (which is why the podcast is a day late). Drew talks about using PERSI, an index to genealogy periodicals produced by the Allen County (Indiana) Public Library and available via HeritageQuest Online, and George shares his successes in searching for and obtaining WWII-era civil marriage records from England.
Mon, March 20, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 19 March 2006
Drew completes his discussion of locating family history books by suggesting the use of metasearch sites Addall (www.addall.com) and Bookfinder (www.bookfinder.com) for finding new and used books to purchase. George points out the value of using eBay to locate genealogy-related material. Finally, George gives advice on British research sites GENUKI (www.genuki.org.uk), 1837online (www.1837online.com), and the General Register Office (www.gro.gov.uk).
Mon, March 13, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 12 March 2006
George returns from his all-day seminar in Tallahassee to talk about upcoming conferences: the National Genealogical Society (www.ngsgenealogy.org), the International Assocation of Jewish Genealogical Societies (www.jgsny2006.org), and the Federation of Genealogical Societies (www.fgs.org). Drew gets feedback from the fine folks at OCLC about their genealogy site (www.oclc.org/worldcat/genealogy/). A discussion of where to find books online (including the BYU site at www.lib.byu.edu/fhc/) is followed by an introduction to using the interlibrary loan services of libraries.
Mon, March 06, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 5 March 2006
Drew and George discover a new resource for biographical information about U.S. federal lawmakers (www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/cdocuments/hd108-222/). Then Drew continues a discussion of using sources written by others, this week focusing on manuscript collections. The free trial of ArchiveGrid (www.archivegrid.org) is mentioned, as is NUCMC and ArchivesUSA. The A2A database of the UK is another source (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a). Finally, George shares 5 reasons that things aren't found in a courthouse. This week's podcast welcomes a new sponsor, Moorshead Publishing.
Sun, February 26, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 25 February 2006
George recommends the new magazine "Internet Genealogy" (www.internet-genealogy.com). George and Drew discuss using deeds as a resource. Finally, Drew and George talk about using the Library of Congress catalog (catalog.loc.gov) and the WorldCat database to locate books about your family.
Mon, February 20, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 19 February 2006
George identifies a handy Australian site (www.coraweb.com.au), reminds listeners of the annual ISFHWE writing contest (www.rootsweb.com/~cgc), announces an upcoming Scandinavian seminar (www.scandinavianseminar.org), and encourages listeners to consider becoming certified genealogists (www.bcgcertification.org). Drew continues his discussion of genealogical goals and projects by starting with reviewing past research done by others, beginning with the family histories found in the Family History Library Catalog (www.familysearch.org). Drew also chats with Wendy Elliott, president of the Federation of Genealogical Societies (www.fgs.org), about a contract job opportunity, FGS publications, national genealogical awards, and a new way to encourage youth to engage in genealogical research.
Sun, February 12, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 12 February 2006
George recommends an online tutorial that teaches beginning Latin for reading pre-1733 documents (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/latin/beginners/). Then Drew and George begin a detailed discussion regarding genealogical goals and projects, including preparing for trips, referencing published sources, and saving time and money in doing research.
Mon, February 06, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 5 February 2006
George announces the annual ISFHWE writing contest (www.rootsweb.com/~cgc/writing_contest_home.htm), and mentions that he'll be speaking at the Palm Beach County (FL) Genealogical Society (www.pbcgensoc.org) on February 11 and the Muskogee County (OK) Genealogical Society (www.rootsweb.com/~okmuscgs) on March 23. Drew interviews Jana Sloan Broglin, and they talk about being a certified genealogist (www.bcgcertification.org), doing Ohio genealogical research (www.ogs.org), and becoming a member society of the Federation of Genealogical Societies (www.fgs.org). And don't miss Jana explaining about a certain unusual costume...
Mon, January 30, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 29 January 2006
George talks about educational opportunities for genealogists, and Drew shares some of the insights he gained in using microfilmed records at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Mon, January 23, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 22 January 2006
George and Drew discuss finding genealogy-related materials on eBay and sites for used books; and Drew interviews Paula Stuart-Warren on the subjects of Native American research, using professional genealogists, and doing research at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Thu, January 12, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 12 January 2006
As Drew gets ready to head off to Salt Lake City for a board meeting of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, he talks about Lulu (www.lulu.com), a service for printing books on demand. George wraps up his discussion of ecclesiastical records.
Mon, January 09, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 8 January 2006
Drew catches up on the wide variety of topics found in the Genealogy Guys Podcast listener e-mailbag, and George starts a discussion of ecclesiastical records.
Tue, January 03, 2006
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 2 January 2006
George is a bit under the weather, so Drew turns this podcast into a rare all-Smith program when he is joined by his special guests: husband-and-wife genealogy writers/speakers Gary and Diana Crisman Smith. But first, loyal Genealogy Guys Podcast listeners are given the opportunity to locate themselves on a Frappr map!
Wed, December 28, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 27 December 2005
George shares his delight in receiving a very special Christmas gift from a cousin, and Drew encourages genealogists to use blogs for the purpose of an online research log. [Note: Ralph Brandi's web site can be found at www.brandi.com/geneablogy/]
Mon, December 19, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 18 December 2005
Drew enthuses over the results obtained from using GenSmarts (www.gensmarts.com) with his genealogy database to suggest future research, and George shares 5 good ideas about using libraries.
Mon, December 12, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 11 December 2005
George and Drew discuss some of the generous responses of volunteer time to George's announcement concerning his brick wall, and later they compile a long list of great gift ideas for the genealogists in your family.
Mon, December 05, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 4 December 2005
Drew points out two more ways to get past brick walls (talking to others and making a picture), while George gives a broad view of working with English genealogical research.
Mon, November 28, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 28 November 2005
George and Drew recount their Thanksgiving holiday experiences, including some highlights of the cemetery in St. Mary's, Georgia, and the sharing of family information among George's cousins. Drew points out the treasures hidden among manuscript collections held in libraries around the world.
Sun, November 20, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 20 November 2005
In response to listener questioners, Drew suggests some ways to get past brick walls, and both Drew and George discuss ways in which to use maps for genealogical research, from historical maps to the latest GPS technology.
Mon, November 14, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 13 November 2005
George shares his success in locating a great-uncle in the World War I Draft Registration records, and both Drew and George talk about the World War II Enlistment records. Drew also explains the basic questions that need to be answered when citing sources.
Mon, November 07, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 6 November 2005
George reminds listeners of a good Scottish resource, and where he'll be the next few weeks. Drew brings listeners up-to-date on the LDS digitization project, as well as the new Google Print database. George offers up a tip on organizing bookmarks, and then provides details on how to determine the date of an old photograph.
Mon, October 31, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 30 October 2005
After the usual announcements, George talks about cemetery iconography, and Drew makes plain the nature of "RSS feeds". In the middle of this there's also a surprise visit from a creature usually associated with Halloween. [One clarification: Bloglines, mentioned during the podcast, is not software, but instead is a free web-based service.]
Sun, October 23, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 23 October 2005
George reviews some recent issues of popular genealogy-related magazines, while Drew gives tips on getting the most out of electronic mailing lists. George points out the advantages of using online local and family history books.
Mon, October 17, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 17 October 2005
George shares his knowledge of professional genealogical organizations. Drew points out the advantages of using straight-cut folders and labelmakers for organizing research files. George says that he is a big fan of the National Archives in England (and its publications). And Drew divulges some of his secrets for success in doing database searches.
Mon, October 10, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 9 October 2005
George reminds listeners of next year's genealogy cruise (www.genealogycruise2006.com). Then Drew discusses genealogy software for PDAs that run the Palm OS, including GedWise (www.batteryparksoftware.com), GedStar (www.ghcssoftware.com), and My Roots (www.tapperware.com). Finally, George shares a lot of information about American Revolutionary War pension files.
Mon, October 03, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 2 October 2005
George reviews two books that may help to provide historical, geographical, and social context to our ancestors: "1776" by David McCullough, and "The Widow of the South" by Robert Hicks. Drew interviews Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, co-author of "Trace Your Roots with DNA".
Sun, September 25, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 25 September 2005
George and Drew discuss the range of technology options available to genealogists (desktop PCs, notebooks, and PDAs); updates to the NARA and Ancestry.com web sites; a new laminated citation guide for online historical resources; and what can be found in census records that can help with tracking immigrant ancestors.
Mon, September 19, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 18 September 2005
George and Drew talk about their day at the Fall Genealogy Seminar of the Florida Genealogical Society (Tampa); how to find and download podcasts; a few tips about keeping track of papers, e-mail, and unmatched relatives; and a whole lot about cemetery research.
Mon, September 12, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 11 September 2005
In this podcast, George and Drew discuss their recent trip to Salt Lake City, where they attended the annual conference of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, and got to do research in the world-famous Family History Library. Drew interviews Bruce Buzbee and finds out about the brand-new RootsMagic 3.0. [Note from Drew: I've uploaded a new version of this podcast with better sound quality during the interview portion.]
Sun, September 04, 2005
The Genealogy Guys Podcast - 4 September 2005
George and Drew discuss podcasts, preparing for genealogy conferences and what to do when you get there, plans to attend the annual conference of the Federation of Genealogical Societies in Salt Lake City, and digital voice recorders.
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