Today I hope you'll join Olive Tree Genealogy for tow Cemetery Walks: Videos 2 & 3 of St. Paul Cemetery in Oakville Missouri
We have Bobby R. to thank for these photos as he accepted my "Give 15 Minutes" Challenge in October - to give 15 minutes once a month to take photos of tombstones in a local cemetery.
Bobby gave up more than 15 minutes and sent me a few hundred photographs of St. Paul Cemetery in Oakville Missouri. These will be going up on Olive Tree Genealogy YouTube Channel as I complete them.
Updates about Olive Tree Genealogy website and other FREE genealogy records. Bringing you tutorials, genealogy book and app reviews, genealogy news, genealogy specials and more. Helping you find your family tree and ancestors.
November 21, 2011
November 19, 2011
CAUT Campaign to Save Library & Archives Canada
Canadian Association of University Teachers launches campaign to Save Library and Archives Canada
(OTTAWA: November 2, 2011) - The Canadian Association of University Teachers today unveiled a national campaign to protect Library and Archives Canada (LAC).
The “Save Library and Archives Canada” is being launched by CAUT in response to funding cuts and internal managerial decisions that are threatening the quality and integrity of Canada’s only national public library and archives.
“Badly conceived restructuring, a narrowing of its mandate, and financial cutbacks are undermining LAC’s ability to acquire, preserve and make publicly available Canada’s full documentary heritage,” James L. Turk, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers said at a news conference in Ottawa today.
These changes, Turk added, have already led to a reduction in the number of specialist archivists and librarians, reduced public access and services, and the loss of rare and important materials.
Liam McGahern, president of the Antiquarian Booksellers of Canada, said a growing number of Canadian materials are not being collected by LAC because of reduced funding and a change in its acquisitions policy.
“Canadians recently lost a unique and irreplaceable set of journals chronicling late 19th Century stories of settlers and First Nations people of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Labrador Coast. This is just one of many examples,” McGahern explained. “Rare military documents, sheet music, and literature that would otherwise have gone to Library and Archives Canada are quietly all slipping away.”
CAUT is calling on the federal government to amend the LAC Act to ensure its mandate includes developing a comprehensive, not selective, collection of Canadian material.
“Our nation’s artistic, historical, and cultural heritage is at stake,” said Turk. “Genealogists, historians, researchers, graduate students, Aboriginal communities, and the general public are all affected by what is happening at LAC.”
The Canadian Association of University Teachers is the national voice of 66,000 academic and general staff at 120 universities and colleges across the country.
More information on the campaign can be found at www.savelibraryarchives.ca
Contact: Angela Regnier, Communications Officer, 613-726-5186 (O); 613-601-6304 (cell); regnier@caut.ca (email)
(OTTAWA: November 2, 2011) - The Canadian Association of University Teachers today unveiled a national campaign to protect Library and Archives Canada (LAC).
The “Save Library and Archives Canada” is being launched by CAUT in response to funding cuts and internal managerial decisions that are threatening the quality and integrity of Canada’s only national public library and archives.
“Badly conceived restructuring, a narrowing of its mandate, and financial cutbacks are undermining LAC’s ability to acquire, preserve and make publicly available Canada’s full documentary heritage,” James L. Turk, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers said at a news conference in Ottawa today.
These changes, Turk added, have already led to a reduction in the number of specialist archivists and librarians, reduced public access and services, and the loss of rare and important materials.
Liam McGahern, president of the Antiquarian Booksellers of Canada, said a growing number of Canadian materials are not being collected by LAC because of reduced funding and a change in its acquisitions policy.
“Canadians recently lost a unique and irreplaceable set of journals chronicling late 19th Century stories of settlers and First Nations people of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Labrador Coast. This is just one of many examples,” McGahern explained. “Rare military documents, sheet music, and literature that would otherwise have gone to Library and Archives Canada are quietly all slipping away.”
CAUT is calling on the federal government to amend the LAC Act to ensure its mandate includes developing a comprehensive, not selective, collection of Canadian material.
“Our nation’s artistic, historical, and cultural heritage is at stake,” said Turk. “Genealogists, historians, researchers, graduate students, Aboriginal communities, and the general public are all affected by what is happening at LAC.”
The Canadian Association of University Teachers is the national voice of 66,000 academic and general staff at 120 universities and colleges across the country.
More information on the campaign can be found at www.savelibraryarchives.ca
Contact: Angela Regnier, Communications Officer, 613-726-5186 (O); 613-601-6304 (cell); regnier@caut.ca (email)
November 18, 2011
BlogTalkRadio: Celebrate Your Family in Film (Yes I'm one of the guests!)
Don't miss tonight's Celebrate Your Family in Film on BlogTalkRadio. Yours truly is one of Thomas' guests! I'm so excited to be on, and to have a chance to listen to the other guests who are on tonight.
Special guests will include: David Adelman, founder of Reel Tributes and Rebecca Whitman Koford, Reel Tributes’s Director of Genealogy who will tell us how their company can help you create a documentary film starring your family!
Lorine McGinnis Schulze of the Olive Tree Genealogy website will discuss her recent project involving conversion of old home movies and videos to digital formats.
And Paula Hinkel of the Southern California Genealogical Society will give us a “sneak preview” of the SCGS Jamboree in June 2012 with the theme “Lights, Cameras, Ancestors!”
Special guests will include: David Adelman, founder of Reel Tributes and Rebecca Whitman Koford, Reel Tributes’s Director of Genealogy who will tell us how their company can help you create a documentary film starring your family!
Lorine McGinnis Schulze of the Olive Tree Genealogy website will discuss her recent project involving conversion of old home movies and videos to digital formats.
And Paula Hinkel of the Southern California Genealogical Society will give us a “sneak preview” of the SCGS Jamboree in June 2012 with the theme “Lights, Cameras, Ancestors!”
What Will You Do With Your Genealogy Research?
Randy Seaver wrote an interesting blog post about his hopes and his plans for his genealogy research after his demise. For an avid genealogist of a certain age, this is a question of huge importance.
I am a firm believer that no one, no matter how interested, will want my 6 filing cabinet drawers of loose papers. No one will want dozens of family surname binders.
This extends to all of us. Who would want drawers and drawers of loose papers, no matter how well organized? Who has the time to read it all or the space required to store it?
Digital copies on DVDs? Maybe.. but will they survive technological changes? Will they be readable 50 years from now?
It is unlikely that any museum or library will want your work in loose form.
For me, the solution has always been clear in my mind. The only way I can come close to guaranteeing that my years of hard work will not be lost is to write and publish family books. I can self-publish using any number of websites such as Lulu.com, Shutterfly.com, Blurb.com and soon.
I can print books myself, create laminated covers and bind them using coils. I could print copies of all documents, run off a family pedigree chart and place everything about a specific person or surname in a binder.
That doesn't work well for me as I would end up with 50 or more binders. I don't think anyone would want to give them house room! But it is an option.
That takes care of the documents and research I've done. But what about treasured photographs?
Again, in my mind it's a clear choice. I use Shutterfly to create family photo albums. I label each photograph and sometimes I put in a brief sentence or two about that specific photo. Then I have them printed and I distribute them NOW to family members.
I'm not going to risk keeping them in my house and hoping that when I'm gone my executor will take the time to distribute them. By giving them out now, I've also got insurance against a fire or other calamity destroying all the copies in my possession.
Another thing I do is create photo books on Shutterfly and order 4 in hard cover - one for each of my children and one for me. Then I inform other family members (siblings, cousins, niece and nephews) that copies in soft cover are available. (Soft cover is cheaper than hard cover. ) If they wish to have their own copy, I simply charge them exactly what Shutterfly charges me, then I have the copy shipped directly to the family member who asked for it.
Not wanting to leave anything to chance, I've also worked very hard and consistently over the years to encourage my grandchildren in the love of family history and genealogy. I've played games with them, talked to them, shared stories, showed photographs and family treasures (talking about the ancestor whose photo or treasure it was).
My theory is that since I have 13 and soon to be 14 grandchildren, at least one of them might take up the torch for me! And if no one does, that's okay too because I know that some of them will remember bits and pieces of the stories and be able to pass those memories on to their children.
The last thing I've done is to tell my husband and also leave written instructions for my executors as to what I would like done with my collection of genealogy resource books and my collection of Civil War Era Photo Albums that are not of our family. My wishes may or may not be carried out but I've done what I can to ensure that they are.
Have you thought about what will happen to your years of research? Have you developed a plan or set one in motion? I'm curious to learn what others are planning.
This extends to all of us. Who would want drawers and drawers of loose papers, no matter how well organized? Who has the time to read it all or the space required to store it?
Digital copies on DVDs? Maybe.. but will they survive technological changes? Will they be readable 50 years from now?
It is unlikely that any museum or library will want your work in loose form.
For me, the solution has always been clear in my mind. The only way I can come close to guaranteeing that my years of hard work will not be lost is to write and publish family books. I can self-publish using any number of websites such as Lulu.com, Shutterfly.com, Blurb.com and soon.
I can print books myself, create laminated covers and bind them using coils. I could print copies of all documents, run off a family pedigree chart and place everything about a specific person or surname in a binder.
That doesn't work well for me as I would end up with 50 or more binders. I don't think anyone would want to give them house room! But it is an option.
That takes care of the documents and research I've done. But what about treasured photographs?
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| Some of the Family Books I've self-published |
I'm not going to risk keeping them in my house and hoping that when I'm gone my executor will take the time to distribute them. By giving them out now, I've also got insurance against a fire or other calamity destroying all the copies in my possession.
Another thing I do is create photo books on Shutterfly and order 4 in hard cover - one for each of my children and one for me. Then I inform other family members (siblings, cousins, niece and nephews) that copies in soft cover are available. (Soft cover is cheaper than hard cover. ) If they wish to have their own copy, I simply charge them exactly what Shutterfly charges me, then I have the copy shipped directly to the family member who asked for it.
Not wanting to leave anything to chance, I've also worked very hard and consistently over the years to encourage my grandchildren in the love of family history and genealogy. I've played games with them, talked to them, shared stories, showed photographs and family treasures (talking about the ancestor whose photo or treasure it was).
My theory is that since I have 13 and soon to be 14 grandchildren, at least one of them might take up the torch for me! And if no one does, that's okay too because I know that some of them will remember bits and pieces of the stories and be able to pass those memories on to their children.
The last thing I've done is to tell my husband and also leave written instructions for my executors as to what I would like done with my collection of genealogy resource books and my collection of Civil War Era Photo Albums that are not of our family. My wishes may or may not be carried out but I've done what I can to ensure that they are.
Have you thought about what will happen to your years of research? Have you developed a plan or set one in motion? I'm curious to learn what others are planning.
November 17, 2011
Press Release: FamilySearch CEO Change
The following Press Release came to Olive Tree Genealogy in yesterday's email:
SALT LAKE CITY— FamilySearch International announced today a change in its chief executive officer. Effective January 2, 2012, Dennis C. Brimhall will succeed Jay L. Verkler as CEO of FamilySearch. Mr. Verkler will continue in a consulting capacity for a few months to ensure a smooth transition.
It is the business culture and practice of FamilySearch, as an organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to regularly rotate its senior leaders. This pattern assures the forward momentum of its core programs.
Over the past decade under Mr. Verkler’s leadership, FamilySearch has shifted its vast stores of genealogical records and resources to a digital, worldwide, internet-based focus. FamilySearch has developed partnerships with many genealogy and technology industry organizations, helping form a broad and deep industry community including companies, societies, and archives.
FamilySearch has helped make the world’s historic records easier to access online, publishing over 2.4 billion names in historic records at familysearch.org, including 870 collections from over 50 countries indexed by over 250,000 volunteers. During this period, FamilySearch has also created an unprecedented, free global service organization that engages over 70,000 volunteers who provide needed local and online support to research patrons and the genealogical community. FamilySearch has pioneered genealogical search, record linkage, imaging, crowd-sourcing, and digital preservation technologies.
“It has been a career highlight for me to work in such a significant and meaningful effort,” said Jay L. Verkler regarding his time at FamilySearch’s helm. “I have had the privilege to work with countless great individuals, organizations, and companies, all striving to provide the best of user experiences.”
Mr. Brimhall comes to FamilySearch with a deep background in management. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He recently served for 17 years as president and CEO of the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver from 1988 until 2005. Since then Mr. Brimhall has held positions of increasing responsibility in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“I am very excited to help lead the work of FamilySearch, to continue the great things that have been done and move forward in new directions as appropriate,” said Brimhall. “FamilySearch provides services to millions of people worldwide. We really need to understand our customers’ needs and satisfy them. Our focus will be to ensure that FamilySearch’s customer experiences are really first rate.”
FamilySearch looks forward to further strengthening its commitment to the global genealogical community, to publishing and digitizing the world’s records, and encouraging all people to discover, preserve, and share their family histories.
SALT LAKE CITY— FamilySearch International announced today a change in its chief executive officer. Effective January 2, 2012, Dennis C. Brimhall will succeed Jay L. Verkler as CEO of FamilySearch. Mr. Verkler will continue in a consulting capacity for a few months to ensure a smooth transition.
It is the business culture and practice of FamilySearch, as an organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to regularly rotate its senior leaders. This pattern assures the forward momentum of its core programs.
Over the past decade under Mr. Verkler’s leadership, FamilySearch has shifted its vast stores of genealogical records and resources to a digital, worldwide, internet-based focus. FamilySearch has developed partnerships with many genealogy and technology industry organizations, helping form a broad and deep industry community including companies, societies, and archives.
FamilySearch has helped make the world’s historic records easier to access online, publishing over 2.4 billion names in historic records at familysearch.org, including 870 collections from over 50 countries indexed by over 250,000 volunteers. During this period, FamilySearch has also created an unprecedented, free global service organization that engages over 70,000 volunteers who provide needed local and online support to research patrons and the genealogical community. FamilySearch has pioneered genealogical search, record linkage, imaging, crowd-sourcing, and digital preservation technologies.
“It has been a career highlight for me to work in such a significant and meaningful effort,” said Jay L. Verkler regarding his time at FamilySearch’s helm. “I have had the privilege to work with countless great individuals, organizations, and companies, all striving to provide the best of user experiences.”
Mr. Brimhall comes to FamilySearch with a deep background in management. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He recently served for 17 years as president and CEO of the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver from 1988 until 2005. Since then Mr. Brimhall has held positions of increasing responsibility in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“I am very excited to help lead the work of FamilySearch, to continue the great things that have been done and move forward in new directions as appropriate,” said Brimhall. “FamilySearch provides services to millions of people worldwide. We really need to understand our customers’ needs and satisfy them. Our focus will be to ensure that FamilySearch’s customer experiences are really first rate.”
FamilySearch looks forward to further strengthening its commitment to the global genealogical community, to publishing and digitizing the world’s records, and encouraging all people to discover, preserve, and share their family histories.
November 16, 2011
November's Genealogy Challenge
It's time for November's Genealogy Challenge. Even though I was underwhelmed by the response to my October Genealogy Challenge I'm repeating the challenge this month.
October's Challenge was the "Give 15 Minutes" Challenge - to give 15 minutes of time to photograph tombstones in a local cemetery. In 15 minutes most genealogists can photograph between 30 and 60 burial stones!
Many genealogists told me they were going to do it. Many were enthusiastic about participating in a project that would bring more cemeteries online for all to view. So why was I underwhelmed?
Because only one person followed through. Bobby R. sent me almost 300 photos a cemetery in Missouri. You can see the first video on Olive Tree Genealogy YouTube Channel
Yes that certainly took longer than my suggested 15 minutes challenge, but even if Bobby had only done 15 minutes of photographing burial stones that would have been a great start.
Perhaps October was a busy month for genealogists. I refuse to believe that folks just aren't interested. I know genealogists are among the most giving and generous people there are! And sometimes life just gets in the way of good intentions. Maybe that is what happened in October.
So I'm challenging all my readers once again - please try to find 15 minutes of time to go out and photograph tombstones in a nearby cemetery. Don't worry if you only get 20 photos, or you get half the cemetery but not all. ANYTHING is good!
Just think of how many cemeteries we can bring online if we all make that effort to find 15 minutes once a month. So won't you accept this Genealogy Challenge and help bring more cemeteries online?
If you upload your photos to a photo sharing site such as Picasa Web Album or Flickr, you can easily get them to me for the Cemetery Walk video creation. You can also email them to me at olivetreegenealogy @ gmail.com (no spaces of course in the email address)
October's Challenge was the "Give 15 Minutes" Challenge - to give 15 minutes of time to photograph tombstones in a local cemetery. In 15 minutes most genealogists can photograph between 30 and 60 burial stones!
Many genealogists told me they were going to do it. Many were enthusiastic about participating in a project that would bring more cemeteries online for all to view. So why was I underwhelmed?
Because only one person followed through. Bobby R. sent me almost 300 photos a cemetery in Missouri. You can see the first video on Olive Tree Genealogy YouTube Channel
Yes that certainly took longer than my suggested 15 minutes challenge, but even if Bobby had only done 15 minutes of photographing burial stones that would have been a great start.
Perhaps October was a busy month for genealogists. I refuse to believe that folks just aren't interested. I know genealogists are among the most giving and generous people there are! And sometimes life just gets in the way of good intentions. Maybe that is what happened in October.
So I'm challenging all my readers once again - please try to find 15 minutes of time to go out and photograph tombstones in a nearby cemetery. Don't worry if you only get 20 photos, or you get half the cemetery but not all. ANYTHING is good!
Just think of how many cemeteries we can bring online if we all make that effort to find 15 minutes once a month. So won't you accept this Genealogy Challenge and help bring more cemeteries online?
If you upload your photos to a photo sharing site such as Picasa Web Album or Flickr, you can easily get them to me for the Cemetery Walk video creation. You can also email them to me at olivetreegenealogy @ gmail.com (no spaces of course in the email address)
November 15, 2011
A 1913 Fireplace Screen's Long Journey
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| Antique Fireplace Screen |
Jack and Flo were married in England and shortly afterwards, left for Canada where they began their married life. A son Godfrey William was born in Toronto one year later.
Godfrey was an only child and after his parents' death, the fireplace screen was one of the few items he kept.
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| Photo taken in Guelph ca 1917 |
Godfrey is the little boy standing in this photo of my grandparents with their two daughters. My mother is the baby in my grandmother's arms.
Godfrey went on to marry a woman who became a lab assistant to Sir Frederick Banting, the inventor of insulin.
My mother went on to marry my father. The two lost touch with each other.
Many years later, long after my father's death, Godfrey and my mother happened to spot each other in a trailer park in Florida. It was a purely co-incidental meeting and they had not been in touch for over 50 years.
Godfrey's wife died shortly after this meeting. Can you guess what happened next? Godfrey became my step-father. Yes the little boy in this photo with my mother circa 1917 married my mother over 60 years later.
A touching aside to this story is that Godfrey lived with my grandparents as a teenager. My mother developed a bit of a crush on him but he left for Toronto to find a job and didn't keep in touch with her. He came back two years later, intent on asking my mother to marry him, only to find out she was engaged to my father. He left without ever telling her how he felt.
Godfrey died in 1995. My 79 year old mother sold most of their furniture and belongings, then packed her car with what was left. With her car packed to the brim, she made the trip over the mountains and across the prairies from British Columbia back to Ontario.
Each of us four children of my mom received one item that had belonged to Godfrey. The fireplace screen went to my brother. He enjoyed it until for almost 14 years and then he passed it on to me.
And so the screen has had a long journey since it was first given as a wedding present 98 years ago. It sits in my living room in front of our fireplace and I enjoy looking at it every day. I plan to pass it on to one of my children, along with the story (or as we antique buffs call it, "the provenance") in hopes the story and the screen will always be passed on and treasured together.
November 14, 2011
Staying Connected
Have you figured out all the ways you and your family or friends can stay connected online? Or how you can stay connected to your favourite blog or website or personality?
Are you on Twitter? Facebook? Google+? These are a few of the social networking sites that can help you stay connected with friends, family and people whose work or posts you enjoy.
Take me for example. Here's the many different ways you can follow, like, circle, connect with or interact with me or my Olive Tree Genealogy website, blog or newsletter.
TWITTER
* Follow me on Twitter @LorineMS
That's where folks who tweet have the challenge of sharing information in 142 characters or less. I can interact with others who I follow. They can interact with me. Or I can post my thoughts on any topic I'm interested in and try to get a discussion going. I can also search for others discussing a topic, by using the Twitter Hashtag (#) followed by the topic name.
Did you know I was chosen as one of Ten People All Genealogists Should Follow On Twitter? That's pretty cool!
GOOGLE+
*
Google+ To circle or follow my website, go to Olive Tree Genealogy
It's a bit easier on Google+ because we have on limitations on how much we say. So for wordy folks like me, it's great! I can share tips with you, or start a discussion on a genealogy topic. Or, as I've been doing recently, posting a few photos of my favourite pieces from my collections of antiques.
FACEBOOK
* Like my Olive Tree Genealogy page on Facebook.
A summary of the Olive Tree Genealogy and Ask Olive Tree blog posts are posted here every day. Readers can interact or post their own quesions or thoughts. You can also post videos or photographs
NEWSLETTER
* Subscribe to Olive Tree Genealogy free newsletter .
Every so often (once or twice a month) the Olive Tree Genealogy newsletter comes to you in your email or you can go to Yahoo Groups to read it. You can't post to the newsletter, it's an announcement only type of deal. This is where I post updates and announcements of new genealogy added online
BLOGS
I haven't mentioned Olive Tree Genealogy Blog because if you're reading this, you already know that you can post comments and join in any post discussion you wish.
So there you have it. These are the ways I connect with family and friends, or follow personalities I'm interested in. You may be thinking there is NO WAY you are going to sign up for all these networking options! And you don't have to. Choose the one that suits you best.
But don't overlook the terrific new tools that can keep you connected online.
Are you on Twitter? Facebook? Google+? These are a few of the social networking sites that can help you stay connected with friends, family and people whose work or posts you enjoy.
Take me for example. Here's the many different ways you can follow, like, circle, connect with or interact with me or my Olive Tree Genealogy website, blog or newsletter.
* Follow me on Twitter @LorineMS
That's where folks who tweet have the challenge of sharing information in 142 characters or less. I can interact with others who I follow. They can interact with me. Or I can post my thoughts on any topic I'm interested in and try to get a discussion going. I can also search for others discussing a topic, by using the Twitter Hashtag (#) followed by the topic name.
Did you know I was chosen as one of Ten People All Genealogists Should Follow On Twitter? That's pretty cool!
GOOGLE+
*
Google+ To circle or follow my website, go to Olive Tree GenealogyIt's a bit easier on Google+ because we have on limitations on how much we say. So for wordy folks like me, it's great! I can share tips with you, or start a discussion on a genealogy topic. Or, as I've been doing recently, posting a few photos of my favourite pieces from my collections of antiques.
* Like my Olive Tree Genealogy page on Facebook.
A summary of the Olive Tree Genealogy and Ask Olive Tree blog posts are posted here every day. Readers can interact or post their own quesions or thoughts. You can also post videos or photographs
NEWSLETTER
* Subscribe to Olive Tree Genealogy free newsletter .
Every so often (once or twice a month) the Olive Tree Genealogy newsletter comes to you in your email or you can go to Yahoo Groups to read it. You can't post to the newsletter, it's an announcement only type of deal. This is where I post updates and announcements of new genealogy added online
BLOGS
I haven't mentioned Olive Tree Genealogy Blog because if you're reading this, you already know that you can post comments and join in any post discussion you wish.
So there you have it. These are the ways I connect with family and friends, or follow personalities I'm interested in. You may be thinking there is NO WAY you are going to sign up for all these networking options! And you don't have to. Choose the one that suits you best.
But don't overlook the terrific new tools that can keep you connected online.
November 12, 2011
And the Winner is.....
The names of those who entered AND followed the rules (no more than 3 sentences, share on a social networking site and tell me where you shared, send to correct email...) were entered into Random Choice which randomly chooses one from all those entered.
For those who entered but did not win, you can still get the Early Bird Registration for $129.00 up to November 30th
Thanks to RootsTech 2012 for providing Olive Tree Genealogy with this prize to award.
November 11, 2011
Lest We Forget - My Military Ancestors
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| My grandfather in The Buffs |
November 10, 2011
Three Chances to Win a Free Registration to RootsTech 2012
Wow. Not one but three chances to win a free registration to RootsTech 2012. If you haven't heard about RootsTech, it's an amazing Genealogy-Technology Conference in Salt Lake City Utah.
Olive Tree Genealogy will be there (as I was for RootsTech 2011) as one of the Official Bloggers. It's an educational fun-filled experience, jam-packed with sessions and vendors you won't want to miss.
Here are the 3 opportunities to win that free registration:
Rootstech 2012 Official Blogger Registration Giveaway by Jill Ball of Geniaus. Jill's contest ends at at Midnight GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) on Wednesday 16th November., 2011
Rootstech 2012 Win FREE Registration by Joan Miller of Luxegen. Joan's contest ends Sunday November 13, 2011 at midnight MST
RootsTech Free Registration Giveaway! by me of Olive Tree Genealogy. My contest ends Thursday November 10, 2011 at midnight EST
If you are planning a trip to RootsTech this February, here's your chance to win a free registration to the conference. So don't delay. Be sure to read each of the contests carefully and follow whatever rules each blogger has in place for entering.
Good luck!
Olive Tree Genealogy will be there (as I was for RootsTech 2011) as one of the Official Bloggers. It's an educational fun-filled experience, jam-packed with sessions and vendors you won't want to miss.
Here are the 3 opportunities to win that free registration:
Rootstech 2012 Official Blogger Registration Giveaway by Jill Ball of Geniaus. Jill's contest ends at at Midnight GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) on Wednesday 16th November., 2011
Rootstech 2012 Win FREE Registration by Joan Miller of Luxegen. Joan's contest ends Sunday November 13, 2011 at midnight MST
RootsTech Free Registration Giveaway! by me of Olive Tree Genealogy. My contest ends Thursday November 10, 2011 at midnight EST
If you are planning a trip to RootsTech this February, here's your chance to win a free registration to the conference. So don't delay. Be sure to read each of the contests carefully and follow whatever rules each blogger has in place for entering.
Good luck!
November 9, 2011
APG Election Results
The following press release came to Olive Tree Genealogy a few minutes ago:
Association of Professional Genealogists Announces Election Results for Executive Committee, Regional Directors and Nominating Committee
Kenyatta D. Berry Elected APG President
WESTMINSTER, Colo., November 9, 2011−The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG®) today announced election results for its 2012–2014 executive committee, as well as for nine regional directors and two new nominating committee members. Kenyatta D. Berry of Santa Monica, Calif. was elected president. Berry, a genealogist, entrepreneur and lawyer with more than 15 years of experience in genealogy research and writing, served as APG vice president during the last term. She will succeed Laura G. Prescott of Brookline, New Hampshire.
“I am honored to be elected and excited at the depth and breadth of experience represented by our incoming officers, board and committee members,” said Berry. “APG made great strides during the last administration, growing to more than 2,400 members, adding new Chapters and expanding internationally. I look forward to continuing the important work of this organization.”
Kimberly D. Powell of Pennsylvania was elected APG vice president. Powell has been writing and blogging on genealogy for About.com since 2000. She is the author of several genealogy books and currently serves as a member on the APG board.
Janice S. Prater of Denver, Colo. will serve as secretary. Prater is the editor of the International Society of British Genealogy and Family History’s quarterly publication and is treasurer for the Colorado Chapter of APG. APG treasurer will be Joan Peake of West Virginia, a certified public accountant and the president of the Great Lakes Chapter of APG and the Fayette Ohio Genealogical Society.
APG members elected the following regional directors:
West region: Jean Wilcox Hibben, CG, is president of the Southern California Chapter of APG and the Corona (Calif.) Genealogical Society, secretary of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. Joan A. Hunter, MLS, CG, serves as Librarian General for the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, and is a past president of the Oregon Chapter of APG.
Midwest region: Billie Stone Fogarty, M.Ed., fulltime genealogist and lecturer and president of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. Jay H. Fonkert, CG, is a fulltime genealogist, lecturer and writer and a founder of the Northland APG Chapter.
Southeast region: Alvie L. Davidson, CG, is a Florida-based private investigator and circuit court qualified expert, specializing in missing persons and genealogical applications of investigations. Michael Hait, CG, is a professional genealogy researcher, writer and lecturer who currently serves as vice president of the National Capital Area Chapter of APG.
Northeast region: Debra Braverman is a professional genealogist in New York City, specializing in due diligence for trust and estates matters, and 19th–21st century New York research. Michael Leclerc of Massachusetts is a genealogist who most recently served as director of special projects at the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
International regions: Michael Goldstein of Israel, traces roots worldwide, specializing in family reunification, heir searches and Holocaust research.
Elected to one-year terms on the nominations committee are: Jana Sloan Broglin, CG, a director for the Federation of Genealogical Societies, and Debby Horton, professional genealogist and web designer.
Association of Professional Genealogists Announces Election Results for Executive Committee, Regional Directors and Nominating Committee
Kenyatta D. Berry Elected APG President
WESTMINSTER, Colo., November 9, 2011−The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG®) today announced election results for its 2012–2014 executive committee, as well as for nine regional directors and two new nominating committee members. Kenyatta D. Berry of Santa Monica, Calif. was elected president. Berry, a genealogist, entrepreneur and lawyer with more than 15 years of experience in genealogy research and writing, served as APG vice president during the last term. She will succeed Laura G. Prescott of Brookline, New Hampshire.
“I am honored to be elected and excited at the depth and breadth of experience represented by our incoming officers, board and committee members,” said Berry. “APG made great strides during the last administration, growing to more than 2,400 members, adding new Chapters and expanding internationally. I look forward to continuing the important work of this organization.”
Kimberly D. Powell of Pennsylvania was elected APG vice president. Powell has been writing and blogging on genealogy for About.com since 2000. She is the author of several genealogy books and currently serves as a member on the APG board.
Janice S. Prater of Denver, Colo. will serve as secretary. Prater is the editor of the International Society of British Genealogy and Family History’s quarterly publication and is treasurer for the Colorado Chapter of APG. APG treasurer will be Joan Peake of West Virginia, a certified public accountant and the president of the Great Lakes Chapter of APG and the Fayette Ohio Genealogical Society.
APG members elected the following regional directors:
West region: Jean Wilcox Hibben, CG, is president of the Southern California Chapter of APG and the Corona (Calif.) Genealogical Society, secretary of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. Joan A. Hunter, MLS, CG, serves as Librarian General for the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, and is a past president of the Oregon Chapter of APG.
Midwest region: Billie Stone Fogarty, M.Ed., fulltime genealogist and lecturer and president of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. Jay H. Fonkert, CG, is a fulltime genealogist, lecturer and writer and a founder of the Northland APG Chapter.
Southeast region: Alvie L. Davidson, CG, is a Florida-based private investigator and circuit court qualified expert, specializing in missing persons and genealogical applications of investigations. Michael Hait, CG, is a professional genealogy researcher, writer and lecturer who currently serves as vice president of the National Capital Area Chapter of APG.
Northeast region: Debra Braverman is a professional genealogist in New York City, specializing in due diligence for trust and estates matters, and 19th–21st century New York research. Michael Leclerc of Massachusetts is a genealogist who most recently served as director of special projects at the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
International regions: Michael Goldstein of Israel, traces roots worldwide, specializing in family reunification, heir searches and Holocaust research.
Elected to one-year terms on the nominations committee are: Jana Sloan Broglin, CG, a director for the Federation of Genealogical Societies, and Debby Horton, professional genealogist and web designer.
November 8, 2011
RootsTech FREE REGISTRATION GIVEAWAY!
RootsTech 2012 Giveaway!
As an official RootsTech 2012 Blogger, Olive Tree Genealogy is pleased to offer ONE FREE REGISTRATION to RootsTech 2012
1. Share this blog post either on Twitter, Facebook or Google+
2. Look at the sessions offered on the RootsTech 2012 Schedule page.
3. In 3 sentences or less tell me why you want to attend RootsTech 2012 and why you would like to be at a specific session. Be sure to tell me where you shared this blog post - either on Twitter, Facebook or Google+
4. Send your entry to otg.giveaway@gmail.com
Contest ends on Thursday November 10th at midnight EST and the winner will be announced here on Olive Tree Genealogy blog
Rules:
1. No purchase necessary.
2. Winner will be chosen from entries received.
3. One winner will be chosen to receive a prize.
4. The contest ends at midnight EST Thursday November 10, 2011
5. You are responsible for anything in regards to the legality of entering a contest in the area in which you live.
6. The winner will be notified via your provided contact information immediately following the end of the contest, and the winner's name will be posted on Olive Tree Genealogy blog.
If you send your entry to any other email other than otg.giveaway@gmail.com it will not be accepted.
Disclaimer: Free Registration provided courtesy of RootsTech 2012
November 7, 2011
St. Paul Cemetery in Oakville Missouri Cemetery Walk
Today's Cemetery Walk is the first of several videos of St. Paul Cemetery in Oakville Missouri
We have Bobby R. to thank for these photos as he accepted my "Give 15 Minutes" Challenge in October - to give 15 minutes once a month to take photos of tombstones in a local cemetery.
Bobby gave up more than 15 minutes and sent me a few hundred photographs of St. Paul Cemetery in Oakville Missouri. These will be going up on Olive Tree Genealogy YouTube Channel as I complete them.
We have Bobby R. to thank for these photos as he accepted my "Give 15 Minutes" Challenge in October - to give 15 minutes once a month to take photos of tombstones in a local cemetery.
Bobby gave up more than 15 minutes and sent me a few hundred photographs of St. Paul Cemetery in Oakville Missouri. These will be going up on Olive Tree Genealogy YouTube Channel as I complete them.
November 5, 2011
Still Converting Old Home Movies: Ripping a DVD to .avi for Windows
Last week I began the next step of my project to convert my old VHS tape Home Movies to DVD and then from DVD to computer digital files. It's going well!
There was a lot of trial and error, gritting of teeth, mumbling under my breath and yes, outright yelling at my computer. That never helps but it makes me feel better.
But I've done it. I've converted 13 VHS Home Movies from 1983 to 1992 and put them on DVDs. I'm in the process of ripping those DVDs (yes it's called "ripping") and then converting them to digital files I can open in a Movie Maker program where I can edit, clip and create new movies from the old!
My first step was to find out what I needed to do this conversion to digital computer files that Windows could open. DVD files are in .vob format and they must be converted to something Windows can work with - such as .mpeg or .avi. There are other formats but I decided to go with .avi.
I found out that everyone has their favourite ripper! So I read reviews and several were listed as being excellent. I opted to download the free "MyVideoConverter" and try that. It worked great - fast and easy but.... (yes there was a "but") the free version has an ad for MyVideoConverter that flashes on top of your movie every 10 seconds! It was horrible.
But there was an easy solution - I registered the program by paying for it. Yes it's a bit pricey at $40.00 but I'm so happy with it that I don't mind.
Here's how I did my conversions:
Step 1: Put your DVD into your DVD player and open the MyVideoConverter program. Click on FILE then CONVERT DVD. You will be prompted for such things as where you want the converted file, what name you want to give it, and so on.
It's going to start ripping your DVD now. It will show as a file in the window with a small red square when it's ready for the next step.
Step 2: Click FILE then START CONVERSION.
I let everything go to default except for the file name which I changed on every one to "Schulze_Home_Movies_xxx" where xxx was my designation re tape #, year, etc. I made sure it was being converted to .avi
Step 3: Sit back and relax while the program rips your DVD.
When it's done, a little green check mark appears beside the file name.
It is now saved to your computer as an .avi file and you can open it in any video player program to watch it. Or you can open it in Windows Movie Maker and start editing. I'll write about doing that in another blog post.
Disclaimer: MyVideoConverter did not pay me or give me a free program. I received no compensation for writing this tutorial. I am not an affiliate of MyVideoConverter and do not receive any compensation should you decide to buy it. I just like the program and wanted to show others how easy it is to use!
There was a lot of trial and error, gritting of teeth, mumbling under my breath and yes, outright yelling at my computer. That never helps but it makes me feel better.
But I've done it. I've converted 13 VHS Home Movies from 1983 to 1992 and put them on DVDs. I'm in the process of ripping those DVDs (yes it's called "ripping") and then converting them to digital files I can open in a Movie Maker program where I can edit, clip and create new movies from the old!
My first step was to find out what I needed to do this conversion to digital computer files that Windows could open. DVD files are in .vob format and they must be converted to something Windows can work with - such as .mpeg or .avi. There are other formats but I decided to go with .avi.
I found out that everyone has their favourite ripper! So I read reviews and several were listed as being excellent. I opted to download the free "MyVideoConverter" and try that. It worked great - fast and easy but.... (yes there was a "but") the free version has an ad for MyVideoConverter that flashes on top of your movie every 10 seconds! It was horrible.
But there was an easy solution - I registered the program by paying for it. Yes it's a bit pricey at $40.00 but I'm so happy with it that I don't mind.
Here's how I did my conversions:
It's going to start ripping your DVD now. It will show as a file in the window with a small red square when it's ready for the next step.
Step 2: Click FILE then START CONVERSION.
I let everything go to default except for the file name which I changed on every one to "Schulze_Home_Movies_xxx" where xxx was my designation re tape #, year, etc. I made sure it was being converted to .avi
Step 3: Sit back and relax while the program rips your DVD.
 |
| My converted DVD movies |
Disclaimer: MyVideoConverter did not pay me or give me a free program. I received no compensation for writing this tutorial. I am not an affiliate of MyVideoConverter and do not receive any compensation should you decide to buy it. I just like the program and wanted to show others how easy it is to use!
November 4, 2011
The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Announces Its New Website
The following Announcement was sent to Olive Tree Genealogy by the NYGBS:
The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Announces Its New Website
Members enjoy access to important new digital resources for research on New York families and families with New York connections
The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Announces Its New Website
Members enjoy access to important new digital resources for research on New York families and families with New York connections
NEW
YORK, NY, November 1, 2011 -- The New York Genealogical and
Biographical Society is pleased to announce that it has replaced its
website with a brand new one that is easier to use and enriched with
expanded content. The address www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org has not changed but visitors will find many new features.
All
collections in the eLibrary may now be viewed in a browsable format,
which allows the reader to easily scroll through documents and print
multiple pages. Numerous unique records and digital publications have
been added to the eLibrary. Example: The complete run of The New York Researcher and its predecessor publication The NYG&B Newsletter,
which was first published in 1990. New guides to using newspapers,
maps, and other resources have been created. Dozens of Research Aid
articles have been brought up to date by the original authors.
Individual guides to genealogical research in New York counties are in
production; thirteen of a projected 62 guides are now online.
Additions to the eLibrary include:
- The family records contained in the American Bible Society Collection and an index to more than 8,000 names
- The complete set of over 500 NYG&B Member Biographies from the early 20th century
- 32 digitized books, including many volumes originally published as part of the series Collections of The NYG&B Society and several entries in the WPA’s Public Archives Inventory, Church Archives Inventory, and Guide to Vital Statistics series for New York City.
- Book two of the 1855 New York State Census for Manhattan's Ward 17.
The cornerstone of the eLibrary is the full run of The NYG&B Record, which
has been published quarterly since 1870 and forms the largest single
collection of published material on families that lived in New York
State. The collection is every-word searchable and is accompanied by a
search engine based on an index to more than 1,000,000 names from the
pages of The Record.
While
access to the full digital resources of the website is available only
to NYG&B members, there are several features available to both
members and non-members:
- News You Can Use is updated frequently and references new resources and information pertinent to New York research.
- There are free guides on the following subjects: Getting Started on Your Family History; Finding New York Vital Records; Genealogical and Historical Societies in the New York Region; Heraldry; Heritage and Lineage Societies; and Hiring Professional Genealogical Researchers.
- The Genealogical Exchange allows anyone to submit a specific query about a genealogical question related to New York.
- Information about upcoming programs offered by the NYG&B and the New York Family History School is also available; tickets may be purchased through the website.
About the NYG&B
The
New York Genealogical and Biographical Society has been the
authoritative source for research on New York families and families with
New York connections since 1869. By offering educational programs,
scholarly and informational publications, and online resources, the New
York Genealogical and Biographical Society helps people of all
backgrounds build connections with their families and their communities,
especially those linked to New York City, State, and region and to
appreciate their families’ experience in the broader context of American
history. The NYG&B maintains an eLibrary of digital material,
including the entire run of its quarterly scholarly journal The NYG&B Record, for its members at www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org.
November 3, 2011
Holocaust Records Collection Now Available (Free) on Ancestry.com
The following Press Release was sent to Olive Tree Genealogy by Ancestry.com
About the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
www.ushmm.org
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Federal support guarantees the Museum’s permanent place on the National Mall, and its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by generous donors. For more information, visit www.ushmm.org.
About Ancestry.com www.ancestry.com
Ancestry.com Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOM) is the world's largest online family history resource, with more than 1.7 million paying subscribers. More than 7 billion records have been added to the site in the past 15 years. Ancestry users have created more than 28 million family trees containing over 2.8 billion profiles. Ancestry.com has local Web sites directed at nine countries that help people discover, preserve and share their family history, including its flagship Web site at www.ancestry.com.
Ancestry.com and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Release First Searchable Online Records Collections From World Memory
Project
Information on Holocaust survivors and victims of Nazi persecution
available online at no cost through efforts of World Memory Project
WASHINGTON, D.C./PROVO, Utah, November 2, 2011 – The
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and
Ancestry.com
announced that material from four Museum collections containing
information on more than 30,000 victims of Nazi persecution is now
available online
at Ancestry.com
and can be searched at no cost. The collections contain information on
thousands of individuals including displaced Jewish orphans; Czech Jews
deported to the
Terezin concentration camp and camps in occupied Poland; and French
victims of Nazi persecution.
The collections are being made available through the
World Memory Project,
launched in May 2011. The project is recruiting the public to help
build the world’s largest online resource on Jewish victims of the
Holocaust and millions of non-Jews who were targeted
for persecution by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, allowing
victims’ families and survivors themselves to discover missing chapters
of their history, learn the truth about the fate of their relatives and
honor those who were lost.
World
Memory Project contributors are continuously keying information that
will form new searchable databases of historical collections when
complete. To date, more than 2,100 contributors
from around the world have indexed almost 650,000 records. Anyone,
anywhere can contribute to the project by simply typing information from
historical records into the online database.
“World
Memory Project contributors are helping Holocaust survivors and their
families learn the truth about what happened to loved ones,” says Lisa
Yavnai, United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum WMP project leader. “It is an incredible gift that anyone can
give to those who survived the horrors of Nazi Germany. In a few
months, the contributors’ efforts have resulted in more online
searchable records than the Museum alone could have produced
in many years.”
The
World Memory Project utilizes proprietary software and project
management donated by Ancestry.com, which hosts its own online archival
project to transcribe historical records. Once
Museum records are transcribed, the indices are hosted exclusively on
Ancestry.com and are permanently free to search. The Museum provides
copies of documents upon request at no cost. The original documentation
remains in the Museum’s archival collection.
“We’ve
been inspired by the steadfast efforts of the thousands of contributors
who have in some cases spent hundreds of hours transcribing this
important material,” remarked Tim Sullivan,
CEO, Ancestry.com. “These early results would likely have taken years
without the dedication of the many individuals who have embraced the
mission of the World Memory Project.”
To find out more about the World Memory Project or to learn how to become a contributor, please visit
www.WorldMemoryProject.org.
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Federal support guarantees the Museum’s permanent place on the National Mall, and its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by generous donors. For more information, visit www.ushmm.org.
About Ancestry.com www.ancestry.com
Ancestry.com Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOM) is the world's largest online family history resource, with more than 1.7 million paying subscribers. More than 7 billion records have been added to the site in the past 15 years. Ancestry users have created more than 28 million family trees containing over 2.8 billion profiles. Ancestry.com has local Web sites directed at nine countries that help people discover, preserve and share their family history, including its flagship Web site at www.ancestry.com.
November 2, 2011
Happy Birthday Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner!
My own Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner (which I LOVE) arrived in my mail box exactly one year ago today! It's one of my most frequently used devices and I don't know how I got along without it.
You can read my reviews and tips for using Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner here
The birthday coupon code is: BDAY11A Use this Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner link and enter the code to get your discount.
This coupon is good until November 13, 2011 or while supplies last.
November 1, 2011
Free Digital Scrapbooking Kit from Share The Memories
 |
| Free Digital Scrapbooking Kit |
Readers who are interested can now access these free Digital Kits through Olive Tree Genealogy blog.
Each free kit includes
- 2 Digital Papers
- 4 Page Elements
- 2 Quick Pages
Last week I provided a link to a free digital kit. I hope you got it before it disappeared! The Free Digital Scrapbooking Kit offered this week can be seen on the left. I will be providing a link to a new Free Digital Kit every so often so be sure to come back to grab them!
With these free kits you can start an album for photobooks, printing or on line viewing.
Readers of OliveTreeGenealogy Blog can also use this special code STMMMS31969 to get a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!
October 31, 2011
Cemetery Walk: Hillsdale United Church Cemetery
It's Movie Monday! Our Cemetery Walk video today is of Hillsdale United Church Cemetery in Hillsdale, Simcoe County, Ontario Canada. My great-great grandparents Isaac & Lydia Vollick are buried there but no trace of a gravestone can be found. The United Church has been converted into a home and the original church burial records have not been located.
Since there are recent burials in this cemetery it seems that someone somewhere must have a record of the plots and who is buried in each. I would love to get my hands on this and find out where Isaac and Lydia are buried. Adding a memorial headstone to their final resting places would definitely be something I'd like to do. It's a very small cemetery, about 150 tombstones and I suspect that Isaac and Lydia, who died in 1904 and 1917 respectively, are in the northwest corner where the earlier stones are found.
Isaac Vollick's obituary reads
Lydia (Jamieson) Vollick's burial record was found in the only known church record book which covers only a few years:
Here is today's Cemetery Walk on Olive Tree Genealogy Channel on Youtube
Since there are recent burials in this cemetery it seems that someone somewhere must have a record of the plots and who is buried in each. I would love to get my hands on this and find out where Isaac and Lydia are buried. Adding a memorial headstone to their final resting places would definitely be something I'd like to do. It's a very small cemetery, about 150 tombstones and I suspect that Isaac and Lydia, who died in 1904 and 1917 respectively, are in the northwest corner where the earlier stones are found.
Isaac Vollick's obituary reads
Elmavale Lance, Wed. March 30, 1904 page 9 "Hillsdale Notes": "Isaac Vollick an aged resident, died at his home on 5th concession of Flos last Friday evening at the ripe old age of 73. The remains of this pioneer settler were interred in the Methodist burying ground Monday morning. Rev. James Skene conducted the burial service."
Lydia (Jamieson) Vollick's burial record was found in the only known church record book which covers only a few years:
Register of Hillsdale Methodist Church: Deaths: Lydia Vollick; 80 yrs; born Wentworth County, Ontario in 1837; died Oct. 15, 1917; gangrene; buried Oct. 16, 1917; buried Hillsdale; Minister Chas. C. Fry
Here is today's Cemetery Walk on Olive Tree Genealogy Channel on Youtube
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