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| Happy 16th Birthday Olive Tree Genealogy! |
That's right! Olive Tree Genealogy actually began in the winter of 1995 on space on my first ISP (bconnex.net).
The very first primary record I put online was a ships passenger list from 1634. And that was the start of my
In February 1996 Olive Tree Genealogy was given free space on the then brand new Rootsweb site.
In 2001 I purchased my domain OliveTreeGenealogy.com and moved into the space where the site still remains at http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com
Genealogists often ask me how and why I started Olive Tree Genealogy. Making a long story short, my husband passed away in 1993 after a 2 year struggle with cancer. That same year I was badly injured at school by a disturbed student.
An unsuccesful operation ensued followed by two years of enforced inactivity when I was not able to work. During this time a dear friend suggested I create a website for the internet which was emerging as we know it now.
When I began my online adventures it was DOS, no windows environments. Rootsweb didn't exist. Ancestry didn't exist. We all started about the same time, as did Cyndi's List. Yep, we are all dinosaurs in Internet years!
So I learned how to create a website, how to code in html (no web editors back then) and how to upload files to a remote host. And Olive Tree Genealogy was born.
You can read a bit about me or see some of the early versions of Olive Tree Genealogy at History of Olive Tree Genealogy
13 comments:
The fact that you created something so wonderful and decided to forge on and help people during such a difficult time in your life is inspiring. I applaud you and thank you for such a wonder website.
Happy Birthday Olive Tree! I had to laugh when I read this- I too have been online for longer than most people, (BBS's in the late 80's but didn't have my own set-up until around the same time as you). I love to tell people I used the internet before there were pictures, or even browsers. Do you remember using PINE for email?
CallieK - I don't remember what it was called but I do remember waiting 4 days for messages/emails to go out and a response to come back!
Much of mine was done via Message Boards on BBS. I did have an email addy but can't recall what service it was under as I rarely used it.
Oh and I had to dial long distance to Toronto (very expensive!) to go online. Wish I had a better memory for such things
Lorine
Thank you Debbie! I do strive to accept what life hands out and try to make the best of a bad situation.
I find it doesn't help to wallow in self-pity, far better to give yourself a meaningful task to achieve.
My mother's "stiff upper lip" British upbringing rising up in me I think :-)
Happy Blog Birthday! I had a website back in the day too! Maybe I should have kept the same name Ruff Draft. I don't miss having to do the html!
I came back to the States in 1994 after being stationed in Korea for several years where I had an Amiga to connect with local bulletin boards. I gave up the Amiga and bought a PC, got on Prodigy, Compuserve and AOL (no pictures anywhere) and found Olive Tree and Cyndi's List. I was in heaven! Ship Lists!!! Congratulations and thank you for all you have given us over the years.
Janice - what a great story! Thanks for sharing it, I love to hear how/why researchers found my site. And Cyndi's :-)
Love the name Kristin :-)
Happy Birthday Olive Tree! I am a newbie blogger. I don't even have a year under my belt yet, but hopefully I will have enough zest and energy to keep this going for a couple of years. 16 years wow! That is an achievement. Thank you so much for being an inspiration for us "newbies."
Congrats Lorine. Sweet sixteen is a wonderful age - you have so much to look forward to.
Thanks for so generously sharing the fruits of you labour with the genealogy community.
Happy Blogiversary oh wise and somewhat ancient one (ancient in terms of blogging that is).
Congratulations, Lorine--you take the cake! Sixteen years is an amazing accomplishment. Thanks for all you do.
Congratulations, Lorine! Thank you for forging the way through the darkness of the predawn internet genealogy world! You are a great example and role model. Jen :)
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