Do you take time to work on your own personal genealogy? If you're like me, you're involved in so many projects and daily family life that you don't seem to get around to it.
It's been months since I did any research on my ancestors. I miss it! But like many other genealogists, I have my blogs, my websites, my mailing lists, my Olive Tree Genealogy newsletter, the family history books I write, articles I'm working on... and a whole slew of other genealogy projects - none of which are specifically about *my* ancestors!
And that doesn't include family life - cooking (which is my second favorite activity after genealogy!), antiquing (next favorite after genealogy), spending time with kids, grandkids, hubby and friends. Wow I'm exhausted just writing this all out!
Oh yeah and I'm not retired so I have to engage in that dreadful 4-letter activity - (W O R K).
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. As I always say to hubs, it's not a complaint, it's a statement of fact. I love what I do. But it fills my days.
So today I decided I need to take time for my own ancestor research. With that in mind I've set aside one day a month - marked on my calendar so I can't pass it by in favor of "more important" or "more urgent" things.... That one day is designated GENEALOGY DAY. Now, every day is Genealogy Day for me, but this one is to be spent only on my ancestors.
On Genealogy Day hubs and I will make field trips to various archives, libraries, museums - the places we keep meaning to get to (but never do) to look up our ancestors. Some are near, most are a fair distance.
For example I have been needing to get to Erie Pennsylvania for years now! I need to have a look in the Archives there for my PEER family who lived in Northeast Pennsylvania and just across the border in Ripley New York from about 1817-1835.
I am convinced that in 1830-1831 my Levi Peer filed a will. I won't rest easy until I go there and have a hunt for any information on Levi, his brother Edward or their wives or children. (or hire someone on my behalf - anyone want the job?)
We might forgo a field trip in favor of staying home and organizing a family line, sorting documents for one individual or family group. Then we can construct a plan of attack - what do we have and what do we need? Taking the time to decide on what is needed and finding out if it has survived and is available, then doing some checking to find out where it is held will be invaluable as we plan our field trips.
I'm looking forward to our first Genealogy Day at the end of this month! We haven't decided where we'll go but I suspect to the new Ontario Archives. For that we'll need a really good plan of what we each want to find, as both of us are at the challenging part of our Ontario ancestors research.
I'm finding that it's too easy to let my own genealogy research slip in favor of other projects. And while I love working on all these other things (they're mostly genealogy, just not my own!), I miss the thrill of the hunt, the excitement of the find. Time to recapture that moment of absolute delight when you finally find that little tidbit of information that gives you the maiden name of your great-great-great grandmother... or the will of your 3rd great grandfather.
So watch out Levi Peer, I'm coming to find you!
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.
September 18, 2010
September 17, 2010
Featured Database: 81 Ships Passenger lists 1624-1664
Are you looking for an ancestor arriving in New York in the 1600s? Olive Tree Genealogy has a unique project online consisting of 81 Ships Passenger Lists from 1624 to 1664
This unique and one-of-a-kind project reconstructs the names of passengers on board ships sailing from Holland to New York. The Dutch ships did not keep passenger lists as we know them. So all that exists are the accounting records of the WIC (West Indies Company) - and only the debit side, that is, the names of passengers who still owed money for their passage.
Previously published works only show those names from the WIC account books. Olive Tree Genealogy began reconstructing names of passengers from the following sources:
* Abstracts from Notarial Documents in the Amsterdam Archives by Pim Nieuwenhuis published in New Netherland Connections in series Vol. 4:3,4; Vol. 5:1-3
* Early Immigrants to New Netherland 1657-1664 from The Documentary History of New York
* Settlers of Rensselaerswyck 1630-1658 in Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts
* E. B. O'Callaghan's Calendar of Historical Manuscripts in the Office of the Secretary of State, Albany NY
* New World Immigrants: List of Passengers 1654 to 1664 edited by Michael Tepper
* Emigrants to New Netherland by Rosalie Fellows Bailey, NYGBR; vol 94 no 4 pp 193-200
* De Scheepvaart en handel van de Nederlandse Republiek op Nieuw-Nederland 1609-1675 unpublished thesis by Jaap Jacobs
* The records of New Amsterdam from 1653 to 1674
Every new name of an individual is added to the ship, and the exact source is noted. As new sources and new names are discovered, they are added as well.
The result is never before known names of ancestors sailing on these 81 ships. If you have ancestors who sailed from the Netherlands (Holland) to New Netherland (New York) in this time period, you will want to check out the names of passengers on Ships Passenger Lists from 1624 to 1664
This unique and one-of-a-kind project reconstructs the names of passengers on board ships sailing from Holland to New York. The Dutch ships did not keep passenger lists as we know them. So all that exists are the accounting records of the WIC (West Indies Company) - and only the debit side, that is, the names of passengers who still owed money for their passage.
Previously published works only show those names from the WIC account books. Olive Tree Genealogy began reconstructing names of passengers from the following sources:
* Abstracts from Notarial Documents in the Amsterdam Archives by Pim Nieuwenhuis published in New Netherland Connections in series Vol. 4:3,4; Vol. 5:1-3
* Early Immigrants to New Netherland 1657-1664 from The Documentary History of New York
* Settlers of Rensselaerswyck 1630-1658 in Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts
* E. B. O'Callaghan's Calendar of Historical Manuscripts in the Office of the Secretary of State, Albany NY
* New World Immigrants: List of Passengers 1654 to 1664 edited by Michael Tepper
* Emigrants to New Netherland by Rosalie Fellows Bailey, NYGBR; vol 94 no 4 pp 193-200
* De Scheepvaart en handel van de Nederlandse Republiek op Nieuw-Nederland 1609-1675 unpublished thesis by Jaap Jacobs
* The records of New Amsterdam from 1653 to 1674
Every new name of an individual is added to the ship, and the exact source is noted. As new sources and new names are discovered, they are added as well.
The result is never before known names of ancestors sailing on these 81 ships. If you have ancestors who sailed from the Netherlands (Holland) to New Netherland (New York) in this time period, you will want to check out the names of passengers on Ships Passenger Lists from 1624 to 1664
September 16, 2010
12 Months of Finding Ancestors: Upper Canada Sundries (Part 3 of a 12 Part Series)
Welcome to Part 3 of a 12 month series about finding and using less obvious genealogy records to find ancestors. The Upper Canada Sundries are an invaluable genealogical resource but many researchers have never used them.
The Upper Canada Sundries, aka Civil Secretary's Correspondence are found at LAC (Library and Archives Canada) and at the Ontario Archives. They consist of 32 volumes on 14 reels of microfilm and are an assorted collection of, as the name implies, correspondence.
The main responsibility of the Civil or private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor was management of correspondence. The Secretary ensured that it was acknowledged, referred onward or filed. Closely related were the duties of receiving and acknowledging Addresses, petitions, memorials and applications for office; transmitting Messages and public documents to the Legislature; and referring petitions to the appropriate public offices for opinion or advice prior to submission to the Executive Council.
Although the province of Upper Canada did not come into existence until 1791, supporting documents of earlier date have been incorporated into some series of its records.
The Sundries are filed chronologically. There is no name index but the wealth of genealogical information makes them worthwhile to browse through. They contain an assortment of such genealogical items as undated petitions, marriage certificates, land records, letters, petitions for land, testimonies during wartime, military records, petitions for mercy for those charged with treason, etc.
Following is one example which I found during a lengthy search of the Upper Canada Sundries. It concerns the daughter of my Loyalist Ancestor Isaac Van Valkenburg aka Vollick. It reads as follows with my notes inside square brackets [ ]:
It has some pretty amazing genealogy information! I have more proof that my Loyalist ancestor Isaac was in Butler's Rangers, that he had a daugher Catherine who married Albert Hainer before May 1796 and that Albert and Catherine had 5 children by that date. This document also tells me that Albert was also a soldier in Butler's Rangers and that Catherine's father has been approved as a Loyalist (as per her being allowed the title of U.E. after her name)
This leads me to more research - I would now hunt for petitions for both Isaac Vollick, his daughter Catherine and her husband Albert Hainer. They should all have applied for land as Loyalists and their petitions should be found in the Upper Canada Land Petitions.
And thus a new avenue of research opens for me. (As an aside, I have already done this research and have found many petitions for all members of the large family Isaac Vollick brought with him from New York.)
The Upper Canada Sundries, aka Civil Secretary's Correspondence are found at LAC (Library and Archives Canada) and at the Ontario Archives. They consist of 32 volumes on 14 reels of microfilm and are an assorted collection of, as the name implies, correspondence.
The main responsibility of the Civil or private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor was management of correspondence. The Secretary ensured that it was acknowledged, referred onward or filed. Closely related were the duties of receiving and acknowledging Addresses, petitions, memorials and applications for office; transmitting Messages and public documents to the Legislature; and referring petitions to the appropriate public offices for opinion or advice prior to submission to the Executive Council.
Although the province of Upper Canada did not come into existence until 1791, supporting documents of earlier date have been incorporated into some series of its records.
The Sundries are filed chronologically. There is no name index but the wealth of genealogical information makes them worthwhile to browse through. They contain an assortment of such genealogical items as undated petitions, marriage certificates, land records, letters, petitions for land, testimonies during wartime, military records, petitions for mercy for those charged with treason, etc.
Following is one example which I found during a lengthy search of the Upper Canada Sundries. It concerns the daughter of my Loyalist Ancestor Isaac Van Valkenburg aka Vollick. It reads as follows with my notes inside square brackets [ ]:
This will testify that Albert Hainer a Private in the late Corps of Rangers [referring to Butler's Rangers, whose disbanded soldiers settled the Niagara area of present day Ontario], is married to Catharine Folluck [sic. More commonly written as Vollick or Follick], the daughter of Isaac Follluck, likewise a soldier in said Corps and that she comes under the description of a Loyalists Daughter, and is entitled [can't read next word] U.E. [Unity of Empire, a title applied to Loyalists once they were accepted by the Council and officially declared a Loyalist] and that said Albert Hainer now has five children.
Dated Newark, 14 May 1796.
Source: FHL 1683290 p. 137 of Civil Secreatry's Correspondence, upper Canada, Upper Canada Sundries 1791-1800 RG5 A1 Vol. 1A pp41-556.
It has some pretty amazing genealogy information! I have more proof that my Loyalist ancestor Isaac was in Butler's Rangers, that he had a daugher Catherine who married Albert Hainer before May 1796 and that Albert and Catherine had 5 children by that date. This document also tells me that Albert was also a soldier in Butler's Rangers and that Catherine's father has been approved as a Loyalist (as per her being allowed the title of U.E. after her name)
This leads me to more research - I would now hunt for petitions for both Isaac Vollick, his daughter Catherine and her husband Albert Hainer. They should all have applied for land as Loyalists and their petitions should be found in the Upper Canada Land Petitions.
And thus a new avenue of research opens for me. (As an aside, I have already done this research and have found many petitions for all members of the large family Isaac Vollick brought with him from New York.)
September 15, 2010
Olive Tree Genealogy Has Its Own You-Tube Channel!
hI finally got around to setting up an OliveTreeGenealogy Channel on You-Tube. So far I've managed to upload some cemetery videos, and am working on more!
I've been thinking about doing this for a long time. Last June hubs and I stopped at several cemeteries during various road trips. He did the work of walking and filming short videos of the tombstones, while I took digital photos of as many of the tombstones as I could manage with my physical challenges.
My plan was to upload the videos to You-Tube for researchers to view and look for an ancestor's tombstone. So today I set up my channel for Olive Tree Genealogy and uploaded some videos. One of the videos is from photos I took of a cemetery, then made into a movie using Picassa.
It's a bit of work, especially since You-tube is new for me, but I think it's really going to be fun. And I hope worth it for researchers to keep checking to see if a cemetery they are interested in is on my channel.
Join me at http://www.youtube.com/user/OliveTreeGenealogy to have a look! You can subscribe to my channel by clicking on the SUBSCRIBE link on my page.
And stay tuned for lots more videos coming online. I can hardly wait to get to the pictures we took in Massachusetts! I'm going to make a movie (slide-show) from them and upload those to the channel as soon as possible.
I've been thinking about doing this for a long time. Last June hubs and I stopped at several cemeteries during various road trips. He did the work of walking and filming short videos of the tombstones, while I took digital photos of as many of the tombstones as I could manage with my physical challenges.
My plan was to upload the videos to You-Tube for researchers to view and look for an ancestor's tombstone. So today I set up my channel for Olive Tree Genealogy and uploaded some videos. One of the videos is from photos I took of a cemetery, then made into a movie using Picassa.
It's a bit of work, especially since You-tube is new for me, but I think it's really going to be fun. And I hope worth it for researchers to keep checking to see if a cemetery they are interested in is on my channel.
Join me at http://www.youtube.com/user/OliveTreeGenealogy to have a look! You can subscribe to my channel by clicking on the SUBSCRIBE link on my page.
And stay tuned for lots more videos coming online. I can hardly wait to get to the pictures we took in Massachusetts! I'm going to make a movie (slide-show) from them and upload those to the channel as soon as possible.
September 14, 2010
The Legacy of Our Genealogy
Everyone dies. It's a sad fact of life, and one we all face. For genealogists this natural order of things is compounded by the fact that we have invested so much time into researching our family tree. What will happen to our years of work once we're gone?
As we've discussed previously on Olive Tree Genealogy blog, genealogy is often a way of life, an addictive all-consuming hobby or avocation. If you're like me you have boxes and binders and filing cabinets chock full of papers and documents you've collected on your ancestors.
But do you have a plan for your papers after your passing? You not only need a person or repository for your work, you need to have it in some semblance of organization in order to pass it on.
Let's face it, do we really think anyone else wants our piles of unsorted papers? I can't think of anyone in my family who would offer a spot in their homes for my records. I have two 3-foot long filing cabinets, 3 drawers high - the kind that pull out so the files are sideways not facing front. I also have 2 smaller front-facing filing cabinets. I also have several large plastic tubs. They are all full of my genealogy research. I'm only kidding myself to think that anyone would take them and give up room in their house to store them.
And let's not forget my Genealogy program with data entered that is not printed off. I'm not even sure my husband knows how to access all those digital family files.
As avid genealogists we each need to put together a solid plan for our work. The plan should cover three areas:
1. Where will our work go - an individual family member? An institution?
2. In what format will our work be organized so that it can be passed on
3. How have you ensured that your executors or loved ones know about your plan
Many genealogists seem to think that an institution such as a local library or an Archives or Museum or the Family History Centre in Salt Lake City will jump at the opportunity to have the research. But have you verified that this is correct? Have you found out what format they want it in, IF they want it at all?
Do you know of an enthustiastic family member who is hoping you'll leave all your research to him or her? I don't!
My plan is to continue creating small family booklets which I've talked about previously on Olive Tree Genealogy Blog under the topic Genealogy Memory Books and also larger in-depth books.
In each of those I will place scans of documents I've found. It isn't realistic to think I can include scans of every single document for every individual - the census records alone would create a book so mammoth it would not be feasible to print it.
So I will note my sources carefully and accurately so that others reading my work will be able to duplicate (i.e., find) what I have found. I'll only be able to include scans of the more obscure documents, and of those which are original one-of-a-kind documents or photographs in my possession. I hope to create these booklets and donate them to local libraries during my lifetime. I plan on one booklet or book per family surname.
For family lines where I've not yet done in-depth research I will simply put together a very small booklet with a pedigree chart, family group sheets or genealogy report printed automatically from my genealogy program, and copies of documents. These I won't donate during my lifetime but will add to them as I can.
Instructions for disposal of my genealogy research notes and booklets have been added to the set of instructions I have for the executors of my will. Both my husband and my son know where this is kept. It's a large manilla envelope with several pages of important items - my bank accounts, credit cards, burial wishes, facts for my obituary, my wishes for disposal of family treasures, life insurance policies, etc. Everything to make my executors' lives easier.
I rest easy knowing I have a plan that I like. But I haven't yet begun organizing the genealogy data and that leaves me feeling uneasy. Genealogy is important to me. The truth and the story of my ancestors is something I am compelled to pass on to others.
Facing our own mortality isn't easy but it's inescapable and so I've vowed that 2011 will be the year I organize my over 40 years of research. Do you have a plan and a goal for ensuring that your genealogy research survives? What a wonderful legacy we can each leave if we take some time to make it happen.
As we've discussed previously on Olive Tree Genealogy blog, genealogy is often a way of life, an addictive all-consuming hobby or avocation. If you're like me you have boxes and binders and filing cabinets chock full of papers and documents you've collected on your ancestors.
But do you have a plan for your papers after your passing? You not only need a person or repository for your work, you need to have it in some semblance of organization in order to pass it on.
Let's face it, do we really think anyone else wants our piles of unsorted papers? I can't think of anyone in my family who would offer a spot in their homes for my records. I have two 3-foot long filing cabinets, 3 drawers high - the kind that pull out so the files are sideways not facing front. I also have 2 smaller front-facing filing cabinets. I also have several large plastic tubs. They are all full of my genealogy research. I'm only kidding myself to think that anyone would take them and give up room in their house to store them.
And let's not forget my Genealogy program with data entered that is not printed off. I'm not even sure my husband knows how to access all those digital family files.
As avid genealogists we each need to put together a solid plan for our work. The plan should cover three areas:
1. Where will our work go - an individual family member? An institution?
2. In what format will our work be organized so that it can be passed on
3. How have you ensured that your executors or loved ones know about your plan
Many genealogists seem to think that an institution such as a local library or an Archives or Museum or the Family History Centre in Salt Lake City will jump at the opportunity to have the research. But have you verified that this is correct? Have you found out what format they want it in, IF they want it at all?
Do you know of an enthustiastic family member who is hoping you'll leave all your research to him or her? I don't!
My plan is to continue creating small family booklets which I've talked about previously on Olive Tree Genealogy Blog under the topic Genealogy Memory Books and also larger in-depth books.
In each of those I will place scans of documents I've found. It isn't realistic to think I can include scans of every single document for every individual - the census records alone would create a book so mammoth it would not be feasible to print it.
So I will note my sources carefully and accurately so that others reading my work will be able to duplicate (i.e., find) what I have found. I'll only be able to include scans of the more obscure documents, and of those which are original one-of-a-kind documents or photographs in my possession. I hope to create these booklets and donate them to local libraries during my lifetime. I plan on one booklet or book per family surname.
For family lines where I've not yet done in-depth research I will simply put together a very small booklet with a pedigree chart, family group sheets or genealogy report printed automatically from my genealogy program, and copies of documents. These I won't donate during my lifetime but will add to them as I can.
Instructions for disposal of my genealogy research notes and booklets have been added to the set of instructions I have for the executors of my will. Both my husband and my son know where this is kept. It's a large manilla envelope with several pages of important items - my bank accounts, credit cards, burial wishes, facts for my obituary, my wishes for disposal of family treasures, life insurance policies, etc. Everything to make my executors' lives easier.
I rest easy knowing I have a plan that I like. But I haven't yet begun organizing the genealogy data and that leaves me feeling uneasy. Genealogy is important to me. The truth and the story of my ancestors is something I am compelled to pass on to others.
Facing our own mortality isn't easy but it's inescapable and so I've vowed that 2011 will be the year I organize my over 40 years of research. Do you have a plan and a goal for ensuring that your genealogy research survives? What a wonderful legacy we can each leave if we take some time to make it happen.
September 13, 2010
Crime and Punishment in Upper Canada: A Researcher's Guide
Dear Readers - The following is a notice from Janice Nickerson. I have not read her book so cannot comment on it but I am sure it is a very well researched read! Janice is a well-known researcher in Ontario (formerly Upper Canada)
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Crime and Punishment in Upper Canada: A Researcher's Guide, is now available.
Have you ever wondered about who kept the peace in Upper Canada? What happened if someone stole your ancestor's horse? Did your ancestors ever have to serve on a jury or testify against their neighbours in court? Did they work for the district government as a clerk, sheriff or jail keeper? Were your own ancestors ever drunk and disorderly, or worse?
Crime and Punishment in Upper Canada: A Researcher's Guide covers all these topics and more! You'll learn about the early Ontario justice system: the laws, the crime statistics, the court system and the punishments. You'll meet interesting characters - from Justices of the Peace to petty (and not so petty) criminals.And you'll learn about the records you can use to discover your own ancestor's stories.
Pick up a copy at your local bookstore, order direct through
the publishers, Dundurn Press and the Ontario Genealogical
Society, or contact Janice and she'll be happy to sell you a
personally signed copy.
Janice Nickerson
Upper Canada Genealogy
www.uppercanadagenealogy.com
September 11, 2010
You Can Think That if You Want but It's Wrong
Here's a scenario that I suspect will be familiar to most genealogists. You receive an email from a stranger who excitedly writes that she is descended from the same ancestor as you. Your common ancestor was born in the early 1800s.
Your new "cousin" goes on to say that her great aunt Martha always said that Common Ancestor was Irish so she isn't sure why you are saying on your website that he was of Dutch descent. She goes on to add that she is new to genealogy and has been researching for one year but has a "ton" of information from great aunt Martha.
You've been researching this family (including Common Ancestor) for over 30 years. You've carefully scrutinized and assessed various records. You've cited your sources. You've searched in obscure record sets for every scrap of detail no matter how small. And nowhere does any hint of Irish or Ireland come into play.
You don't have an exact town of origin for Common Ancestor but you have miscellaneous records (census, obituaries, death records etc) that indicate the family's ethnicity was Dutch.
Thorny question - how do you convince your new "cousin" that she's wrong. I've encountered this many many times over the past dozen or more years. I've tried explaining the contrary evidence that substantiates my research. I've tried various methods - the long-winded explanation/argument, full of examples and source citations. All I usually get back is "hmm that's not what great-aunt Martha told me"
I've tried the short version - "The family is definitely Dutch in origin as shown on census and land records. Perhaps the notion of them being Irish came into being with the marriage of Common Ancestor's son to Sally O'Brien who was from Ireland" I've explained that family lore can't always be trusted to be 100% correct. Still no agreement from "new cousin" that my research findings might in any way have merit.
Second thorny question - is it necessary to convince "new cousin"? I've done good research. I stand by my findings. Is it enough to simply present her with those findings and let her draw her own conclusions?
Even if she continues to argue that great aunt Martha TOLD her the family was Irish, ergo they are Irish - is it my responsibility to try to convince her of the correctness of my research and the error of hers?
Perhaps it's enough for me to simply state that the evidence I have found indicates the family was Dutch in origin. Enough said? Maybe I need to back off and let "new cousin" think whatever she wants?
Sometimes I feel like responding the way my 12 year old grandson does when his sister keeps arguing with him over something he knows absolutely is incorrect thinking on her part. His ending comment is "Well, you can think that if you want but it's wrong"
So now I've come to wonder if it is up to me to convince any other genealogist of the "rightness" of my research. Should I shrug my shoulders and let it go? Or should I continue to attempt to convince a new cousin of the thoroughness of my research?
I'd love to hear thoughts and opinions on this!
Your new "cousin" goes on to say that her great aunt Martha always said that Common Ancestor was Irish so she isn't sure why you are saying on your website that he was of Dutch descent. She goes on to add that she is new to genealogy and has been researching for one year but has a "ton" of information from great aunt Martha.
You've been researching this family (including Common Ancestor) for over 30 years. You've carefully scrutinized and assessed various records. You've cited your sources. You've searched in obscure record sets for every scrap of detail no matter how small. And nowhere does any hint of Irish or Ireland come into play.
You don't have an exact town of origin for Common Ancestor but you have miscellaneous records (census, obituaries, death records etc) that indicate the family's ethnicity was Dutch.
Thorny question - how do you convince your new "cousin" that she's wrong. I've encountered this many many times over the past dozen or more years. I've tried explaining the contrary evidence that substantiates my research. I've tried various methods - the long-winded explanation/argument, full of examples and source citations. All I usually get back is "hmm that's not what great-aunt Martha told me"
I've tried the short version - "The family is definitely Dutch in origin as shown on census and land records. Perhaps the notion of them being Irish came into being with the marriage of Common Ancestor's son to Sally O'Brien who was from Ireland" I've explained that family lore can't always be trusted to be 100% correct. Still no agreement from "new cousin" that my research findings might in any way have merit.
Second thorny question - is it necessary to convince "new cousin"? I've done good research. I stand by my findings. Is it enough to simply present her with those findings and let her draw her own conclusions?
Even if she continues to argue that great aunt Martha TOLD her the family was Irish, ergo they are Irish - is it my responsibility to try to convince her of the correctness of my research and the error of hers?
Perhaps it's enough for me to simply state that the evidence I have found indicates the family was Dutch in origin. Enough said? Maybe I need to back off and let "new cousin" think whatever she wants?
Sometimes I feel like responding the way my 12 year old grandson does when his sister keeps arguing with him over something he knows absolutely is incorrect thinking on her part. His ending comment is "Well, you can think that if you want but it's wrong"
So now I've come to wonder if it is up to me to convince any other genealogist of the "rightness" of my research. Should I shrug my shoulders and let it go? Or should I continue to attempt to convince a new cousin of the thoroughness of my research?
I'd love to hear thoughts and opinions on this!
September 10, 2010
Free Genealogy Classes from FamilySearch
This Press Release from FamilySearch is very interesting. The classes offered sound worthwhile for genealogists.
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SALT LAKE CITY–As students all over the country head back to school, family historians also have the opportunity to learn–but they can do it from home at their convenience.
FamilySearch now offers 81 free lessons on FamilySearch.org, enabling people anywhere in the world to access family history expertise any time. The topics range from basic research to training on specific record types and can be beneficial to both beginners and experienced researchers. Most of the classes come from research consultants in the world-famous Family History Library in Salt Lake City, but FamilySearch is also now working with partners to broaden the pool of expertise.
For example, FamilySearch worked with the Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence, Missouri to record and post 12 classes. These classes are available on both FamilySearch.org and the Midwest Genealogy Center’s site. Such collaboration benefits everyone involved, according to Darin Hakes with FamilySearch Community Services.
“We see partnering as a mutually beneficial situation for FamilySearch, our partners, and the patrons,” Hakes said. “We realize that FamilySearch does not have expertise in every area, nor do we have the bandwidth to create all the training that is needed. However, there are many excellent individuals and organizations that have created training that can benefit the genealogical community. They may not have the resources to record and publish their classes, so working together is the perfect solution.”
Midwest Genealogy Center librarian Janice Schultz agrees that partnering with FamilySearch increases their reach.
“The online classes allow people to attend no matter where they live,” Schultz said. “It helps us achieve our mission of educating genealogists. We have received many positive comments about these classes.”
In addition to the Mid-Continent Public Library, FamilySearch is working with the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Board of Certified Genealogists, and the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists. Individual genealogists may also use FamilySearch’s free services to record and share their presentations. One result of an individual partnering with FamilySearch is a class called “Inferential Genealogy” by prominent researcher and teacher Tom Jones.
“Tom’s class is excellent, but may be too complex for some patrons,” Hakes said. “We tried to provide a different instructional approach, to make the presentation of the content more visual and provide opportunities for practice. We added value by presenting his content in a different way, taking something fairly complex and making it more easily digestible.”
Upcoming FamilySearch classes will focus on U.S. courthouse research and a series of courses for those just getting started in family history research. There are also more interactive classes planned on reading handwritten records in different languages, a list that now includes Dutch, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
All of the classes can be accessed on http://www.familysearch.org/ by clicking on Free Online Classes on the home page.
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SALT LAKE CITY–As students all over the country head back to school, family historians also have the opportunity to learn–but they can do it from home at their convenience.
FamilySearch now offers 81 free lessons on FamilySearch.org, enabling people anywhere in the world to access family history expertise any time. The topics range from basic research to training on specific record types and can be beneficial to both beginners and experienced researchers. Most of the classes come from research consultants in the world-famous Family History Library in Salt Lake City, but FamilySearch is also now working with partners to broaden the pool of expertise.
For example, FamilySearch worked with the Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence, Missouri to record and post 12 classes. These classes are available on both FamilySearch.org and the Midwest Genealogy Center’s site. Such collaboration benefits everyone involved, according to Darin Hakes with FamilySearch Community Services.
“We see partnering as a mutually beneficial situation for FamilySearch, our partners, and the patrons,” Hakes said. “We realize that FamilySearch does not have expertise in every area, nor do we have the bandwidth to create all the training that is needed. However, there are many excellent individuals and organizations that have created training that can benefit the genealogical community. They may not have the resources to record and publish their classes, so working together is the perfect solution.”
Midwest Genealogy Center librarian Janice Schultz agrees that partnering with FamilySearch increases their reach.
“The online classes allow people to attend no matter where they live,” Schultz said. “It helps us achieve our mission of educating genealogists. We have received many positive comments about these classes.”
In addition to the Mid-Continent Public Library, FamilySearch is working with the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Board of Certified Genealogists, and the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists. Individual genealogists may also use FamilySearch’s free services to record and share their presentations. One result of an individual partnering with FamilySearch is a class called “Inferential Genealogy” by prominent researcher and teacher Tom Jones.
“Tom’s class is excellent, but may be too complex for some patrons,” Hakes said. “We tried to provide a different instructional approach, to make the presentation of the content more visual and provide opportunities for practice. We added value by presenting his content in a different way, taking something fairly complex and making it more easily digestible.”
Upcoming FamilySearch classes will focus on U.S. courthouse research and a series of courses for those just getting started in family history research. There are also more interactive classes planned on reading handwritten records in different languages, a list that now includes Dutch, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
All of the classes can be accessed on http://www.familysearch.org/ by clicking on Free Online Classes on the home page.
September 9, 2010
Biltmore Hats and Dad
My father died when I was just barely a teenager. I never knew that much about him (as odd as that might sound) - what he was like as a person, where he worked, what his hobbies were .... To me he was just "dad" and I knew him as a father, not as a brother, a son, a friend, or a co-worker.
My mother never talked about my dad so I didn't know what he did for a living when they were first married, or how they met. I knew bits and pieces but those bits and pieces were vague half-memories formed while listening to my father when I was very young. He worked in "the city" (Toronto) for Veteran's Affairs. I knew that much. He loved to fish and every fall he went hunting, always coming home empty-handed.
He never talked to me about his childhood or growing up in Guelph, and when i asked about his time in England in WW2 all he ever revealed was that he was in the Signal Corps and, in his words, "swung through the trees like a monkey"
So it was a very nice surprise to find from his WW2 Army Service Records that he had worked at Biltmore Hats in Guelph before joining the army. I received those records about 15 years ago and ever since then have been trying to find some ephemera or item that has something to do with Biltmore. I'm an avid antique collector and often see the Biltmore Hat boxes. But they're fairly large and cardboard, usually in bad shape and not really what I want in my house.
I'm so pleased with my purchase. The cheques arrived promptly and are in perfect condition as described. They were beautifully packed for shipping.
My mother never talked about my dad so I didn't know what he did for a living when they were first married, or how they met. I knew bits and pieces but those bits and pieces were vague half-memories formed while listening to my father when I was very young. He worked in "the city" (Toronto) for Veteran's Affairs. I knew that much. He loved to fish and every fall he went hunting, always coming home empty-handed.
He never talked to me about his childhood or growing up in Guelph, and when i asked about his time in England in WW2 all he ever revealed was that he was in the Signal Corps and, in his words, "swung through the trees like a monkey"
So it was a very nice surprise to find from his WW2 Army Service Records that he had worked at Biltmore Hats in Guelph before joining the army. I received those records about 15 years ago and ever since then have been trying to find some ephemera or item that has something to do with Biltmore. I'm an avid antique collector and often see the Biltmore Hat boxes. But they're fairly large and cardboard, usually in bad shape and not really what I want in my house.Last month I stumbled on a website called Antiquarius Booksellers based in British Columbia. Much to my surprise they had two older, unused cheques from the 1940s from Biltmore Hats of Guelph, Ontario. Can you imagine my excitement? That is just slightly later than when my father worked there! There was even a picture of the Biltmore Hat building (which I'd not been able to find previously) engraved on the cheques. It goes without saying that I purchased them. And at a very reasonable price!
Now I have a nice page to add to my pictorial history of my McGinnis family. I'll write up an explanation of dad's working at Biltmore Hats and add these scanned photos of the two old cheques and the ad for Biltmore Hats that I found previously. And now I have a more complete picture of my father the person, not just my father as dad.
September 8, 2010
New Poorhouse Records online
Thousands of pages of Victorian workhouse and poor law records have been made available online following the conclusion of a major project led by The National Archives.
Read more about the 19th Century Poor Law Union and Workhouse Records now online and searchable
The Records begin in 1834 and are searchable by
* First name
* Last name
* Place name, which could be a village, town or county
* Occupation
* Any other words mentioned in the document, for example 'Chartism’, ‘Strike’, ‘neglect’ or ‘death’
If you are looking for Poorhouse records in USA or Canada, be sure to check out the free records at Almshouse & Poorhouse Records
Read more about the 19th Century Poor Law Union and Workhouse Records now online and searchable
The Records begin in 1834 and are searchable by
* First name
* Last name
* Place name, which could be a village, town or county
* Occupation
* Any other words mentioned in the document, for example 'Chartism’, ‘Strike’, ‘neglect’ or ‘death’
If you are looking for Poorhouse records in USA or Canada, be sure to check out the free records at Almshouse & Poorhouse Records
September 7, 2010
Weekly Featured Genealogy Database: Funeral Cards
Brian, of AncestorsAtRest, has a nice collection of Funeral Cards and Memorial Death Cards online.
Funeral cards are an overlooked genealogical resource. They often contain both the Birth date and Death date of an individual, and sometimes information about burial or funeral services is also provided. Some Funeral Cards contain photos of the deceased.
Funeral cards were meant to be sent out to family and friends to let them know an individual had died, and to inform them of funeral arrangements.
Memorial cards were just that - a card sent out to family and friends in remembrance of a loved one's death.
For help finding other death records when you can't find a death certificate, the free Ancestor Death Record Finder may be of help.
Lots of good tips and links to help you find alternate death records.
Funeral cards are an overlooked genealogical resource. They often contain both the Birth date and Death date of an individual, and sometimes information about burial or funeral services is also provided. Some Funeral Cards contain photos of the deceased.
Funeral cards were meant to be sent out to family and friends to let them know an individual had died, and to inform them of funeral arrangements.
Memorial cards were just that - a card sent out to family and friends in remembrance of a loved one's death.
For help finding other death records when you can't find a death certificate, the free Ancestor Death Record Finder may be of help.
Lots of good tips and links to help you find alternate death records.
September 6, 2010
The Importance of Being a Copycat
Yes, to be a good genealogist you need to be a copycat. Each of us must be able to accurately transcribe (copy) what we see on a document!
It's crucial to write down (copy) exactly what is on that document, not what we THINK we see, or what we EXPECT to see, or what we HOPE to see, but what IS ACTUALLY THERE.
That means if you find Great grandmother Sadie in a census but her name is recorded as SADY, you should copy it EXACTLY as it was written originally! It's okay to make a note that Great Grandma wrote her name as Sadie on every single record you've found other than this census.
If you find your auntie Sybill in the census but her name is recored as Cybell - copy what you SEE not what you WANT to see! Yes, the census taker probably spelled it incorrectly. But far be it from us to change that original record.
If the record is indexed incorrectly that's okay to ignore that. You don't want to carry on an error made after the fact. When you find an incorrect index entry, check the original and copy what you see there. When viewing an original record, be careful to copy it accurately.
You found Grandpa Charlie in a document. You know it's him but his name is recorded as Leon. What the heck?? If you proof that this is indeed the man you knew as Grandpa Charlie, as a good genealogist you will copy EXACTY what is there (Leon) but make a note that perhaps Grandpa Charlie had two given names (Leon being one) or perhaps Charlie was just a nickname. The important thing is not to alter what is found on an original record. (by the way this is a true example from my husband's family - a grandfather christened with the name Leon Thomas but called Charlie his entire life)
Being a copycat also applies to your genealogical correspondence. One of my pet peeves is hearing from other genealogists who mis-write my name. My name is Lorine yet I often receive emails from people addressed to "Lorraine" or "Lori".
Neither of those are my name. In fact Lorraine isn't even a mis-spelling of my name, it's a completely different name completely! My name is on the bottom of every email I send out. It's on all my websites. What does this say about the genealogist writing to me? That they cannot copy correctly, that they write down what they EXPECT to see (Lorine isn't a common name), or what they THINK they see... I often wonder how accurate (or inaccurate) they are when copying down records pertaining to their ancestors.
We all make errors sometimes. A slip of the pen, a lapse of concentration and we've changed what was on an original record without meaning to. And that is why it is wise to double-check and triple-check your work.
Be careful, be a copycat, and be sure you are writing down what you find, not what you expect to find.
It's crucial to write down (copy) exactly what is on that document, not what we THINK we see, or what we EXPECT to see, or what we HOPE to see, but what IS ACTUALLY THERE.
That means if you find Great grandmother Sadie in a census but her name is recorded as SADY, you should copy it EXACTLY as it was written originally! It's okay to make a note that Great Grandma wrote her name as Sadie on every single record you've found other than this census.
If you find your auntie Sybill in the census but her name is recored as Cybell - copy what you SEE not what you WANT to see! Yes, the census taker probably spelled it incorrectly. But far be it from us to change that original record.
If the record is indexed incorrectly that's okay to ignore that. You don't want to carry on an error made after the fact. When you find an incorrect index entry, check the original and copy what you see there. When viewing an original record, be careful to copy it accurately.
You found Grandpa Charlie in a document. You know it's him but his name is recorded as Leon. What the heck?? If you proof that this is indeed the man you knew as Grandpa Charlie, as a good genealogist you will copy EXACTY what is there (Leon) but make a note that perhaps Grandpa Charlie had two given names (Leon being one) or perhaps Charlie was just a nickname. The important thing is not to alter what is found on an original record. (by the way this is a true example from my husband's family - a grandfather christened with the name Leon Thomas but called Charlie his entire life)
Being a copycat also applies to your genealogical correspondence. One of my pet peeves is hearing from other genealogists who mis-write my name. My name is Lorine yet I often receive emails from people addressed to "Lorraine" or "Lori".
Neither of those are my name. In fact Lorraine isn't even a mis-spelling of my name, it's a completely different name completely! My name is on the bottom of every email I send out. It's on all my websites. What does this say about the genealogist writing to me? That they cannot copy correctly, that they write down what they EXPECT to see (Lorine isn't a common name), or what they THINK they see... I often wonder how accurate (or inaccurate) they are when copying down records pertaining to their ancestors.
We all make errors sometimes. A slip of the pen, a lapse of concentration and we've changed what was on an original record without meaning to. And that is why it is wise to double-check and triple-check your work.
Be careful, be a copycat, and be sure you are writing down what you find, not what you expect to find.
September 4, 2010
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Leave it to Seaver
Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings has issued a challenge. Here's what Randy came up with for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun:
I'm taking Randy up on the challenge and have created my Genealogy TV Show called LEAVE IT TO SEAVER.
My TV Genealogy show is loosely based on the 1950s TV show LEAVE IT TO BEAVER. Here is a photo of the Cleaver family - Ward, June and sons Wally and Theodore aka Beaver.
in my TV Show LEAVE IT TO SEAVER, the family is an all-American genealogy-loving family living in Ohio consisting of wise father Wart, loving mother July, 12 year-old son Tomally and 8 year-old son Seaver.
I've chosen four popular Genealogy Bloggers and well-known Genealogists as my cast. I'm not going to name them but here is the cast photo. I wonder how many you recognize?
On the left in the striped jacket is Tomally, with his mother July in the middle. 8 year old Seaver is bottom right and father Wart is standing behind the family.
Seaver has been given a project by his teacher Miss Familytree. He has to create a 5 generation pedigree chart starting with himself. Seaver would rather play baseball but he knows he'll be in big trouble if he doesn't get this done. So when he gets home, he asks his mom July. July is in the kitchen baking chocolate chip cookies and tells Seaver he'll have to wait for his father to come home.
When Wart gets home from work he sits down with Seaver and tells him all the great stories of their ancestors - the great grandfather who had their name changed at Ellis Island; the great great grandma who was an Indian princess, and how they are descended from Charlemagne. Wart offers to show Seaver the family bible that was snatched out of the fire by their 5th cousin 7 times removed after Indians tossed it on the flames.
Seaver is impressed and goes to the room he shares with big brother Tomally. He makes his 5 generation pedigree chart and tucks it under his pillow.
Big brother Tomally slicks back his hair in front of the bathroom mirror and dispenses friendly big brother genealogy advice "Hey Seave I wouldn't talk much about this genealogy stuff at school. The other guys won't like it. This is kind of private stuff that only the family talks about"
Seaver throws his pillow at Tomally and the goof around for a bit. The next day, ignoring Tomally's advise he starts bragging about his famous and exciting ancestors. Another boy in his class mocks him with a standard genealogical insult "Oh yeah? My 5th great-grandfather can beat your 5th great grandfather with one hand tied behind his back!" They start a shoving match.
Tomally's obnoxious friend Freddy Rascal runs over and urges the boys on. Seaver's shirt is ripped and then the fight is broken up by his brother Tamally.
Seaver finds himself in the principal's office where he has to explain his entire genealogy to his principal. The principal's eyes glaze over and he phones the Seaver home. July is horrified and promises that her husband Wart will take care of the problem when he gets home from work.
Wart comes home from work, sits Seaver down and provides his usual genealogy wisdom.
"Now son, there will always be others who are jealous of your royal ancestors, jealous that we have traced our family back 26 generations and jealous that we have over 75,000 names in our family tree database on FTM. But the wise genealogist ignores that and concentrates on the important things - making sure sources are entered correctly, breaking down brick-walls and sticking to the course of finding out female ancestors maiden names. Don't ever forget that son"
Tomally wanders into the room and gripes "Gee dad I never knew that, how come you never told me the rules of being a good genealogist? And you gave him a 5-generation pedigree chart? Seaver's so lucky!"
Wide-eyed, Seaver says "Gee Dad, what's a guy gotta do to get a 6 generation chart?"
July enters the room, tells the boys to run along, then leans over and whispers to Wart "Maybe this weekend we can spend some quality time together and trek around local cemeteries" Wart gives her a thumbs up and smiles then calls the boys back into the room. The show ends with July passing out homemade fudge made from her grandmother's secret recipe.
Hey genealogy buffs sitting there in your pajamas (or whatever) on a Saturday Night - it's time for more Genealogy Fun!
Your mission, should you decide to accept it (and I REALLY hope that you will, because I know how creative my genea-readers are) , is to:
1) Create a Title and outline an episode of your own Genealogy television show. Be funny, crazy or serious, it doesn't matter!
2) Tell us about it in a blog post of your own, a comment on this blog post, or in a status or comment on Twitter or Facebook.
I'm taking Randy up on the challenge and have created my Genealogy TV Show called LEAVE IT TO SEAVER.
My TV Genealogy show is loosely based on the 1950s TV show LEAVE IT TO BEAVER. Here is a photo of the Cleaver family - Ward, June and sons Wally and Theodore aka Beaver.
in my TV Show LEAVE IT TO SEAVER, the family is an all-American genealogy-loving family living in Ohio consisting of wise father Wart, loving mother July, 12 year-old son Tomally and 8 year-old son Seaver.
I've chosen four popular Genealogy Bloggers and well-known Genealogists as my cast. I'm not going to name them but here is the cast photo. I wonder how many you recognize?
On the left in the striped jacket is Tomally, with his mother July in the middle. 8 year old Seaver is bottom right and father Wart is standing behind the family.
Seaver has been given a project by his teacher Miss Familytree. He has to create a 5 generation pedigree chart starting with himself. Seaver would rather play baseball but he knows he'll be in big trouble if he doesn't get this done. So when he gets home, he asks his mom July. July is in the kitchen baking chocolate chip cookies and tells Seaver he'll have to wait for his father to come home.
When Wart gets home from work he sits down with Seaver and tells him all the great stories of their ancestors - the great grandfather who had their name changed at Ellis Island; the great great grandma who was an Indian princess, and how they are descended from Charlemagne. Wart offers to show Seaver the family bible that was snatched out of the fire by their 5th cousin 7 times removed after Indians tossed it on the flames.
Seaver is impressed and goes to the room he shares with big brother Tomally. He makes his 5 generation pedigree chart and tucks it under his pillow.
Big brother Tomally slicks back his hair in front of the bathroom mirror and dispenses friendly big brother genealogy advice "Hey Seave I wouldn't talk much about this genealogy stuff at school. The other guys won't like it. This is kind of private stuff that only the family talks about"
Seaver throws his pillow at Tomally and the goof around for a bit. The next day, ignoring Tomally's advise he starts bragging about his famous and exciting ancestors. Another boy in his class mocks him with a standard genealogical insult "Oh yeah? My 5th great-grandfather can beat your 5th great grandfather with one hand tied behind his back!" They start a shoving match.
Tomally's obnoxious friend Freddy Rascal runs over and urges the boys on. Seaver's shirt is ripped and then the fight is broken up by his brother Tamally.
Seaver finds himself in the principal's office where he has to explain his entire genealogy to his principal. The principal's eyes glaze over and he phones the Seaver home. July is horrified and promises that her husband Wart will take care of the problem when he gets home from work.
Wart comes home from work, sits Seaver down and provides his usual genealogy wisdom.
"Now son, there will always be others who are jealous of your royal ancestors, jealous that we have traced our family back 26 generations and jealous that we have over 75,000 names in our family tree database on FTM. But the wise genealogist ignores that and concentrates on the important things - making sure sources are entered correctly, breaking down brick-walls and sticking to the course of finding out female ancestors maiden names. Don't ever forget that son"
Tomally wanders into the room and gripes "Gee dad I never knew that, how come you never told me the rules of being a good genealogist? And you gave him a 5-generation pedigree chart? Seaver's so lucky!"
Wide-eyed, Seaver says "Gee Dad, what's a guy gotta do to get a 6 generation chart?"
July enters the room, tells the boys to run along, then leans over and whispers to Wart "Maybe this weekend we can spend some quality time together and trek around local cemeteries" Wart gives her a thumbs up and smiles then calls the boys back into the room. The show ends with July passing out homemade fudge made from her grandmother's secret recipe.
Michigan eLibrary and Gale Launch Michigana, Sources in U.S. History Online
This Michigan history resource looks really good. I played around in it for a few days last week and found some very interesting data. I especially loved the biographies section.
But what I found most intriguing (and useful!) was the online book called "The emigrant’s handbook, and guide to Wisconsin, comprising information respecting agricultural and manufacturing employment, wages, climate, population &c. : sketch of Milwaukee, the queen city of the lakes : its rise and progress : business and population : list of public offices, with a full and accurate table of statistical information of that and other ports on lake Michigan : also, table of routes from New York, Boston, &c. ..."
It was fascinating and even though the focus was Wisconsin, it gave me a much better idea of what my ancestors faced on leaving their homelands and sailing across to America in that time period.
The table of routes was invaluable and I'd most likely not found it any other way.
I found this book by using their list of Subjects (Topics). I chose Emigration & Immigration and then browsed the titles that are in that category. Very easy, very fast. I plan to go back and do some more exploring, as there are other ways to find what you are interested in
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Here is the Press Release for this resource:
But what I found most intriguing (and useful!) was the online book called "The emigrant’s handbook, and guide to Wisconsin, comprising information respecting agricultural and manufacturing employment, wages, climate, population &c. : sketch of Milwaukee, the queen city of the lakes : its rise and progress : business and population : list of public offices, with a full and accurate table of statistical information of that and other ports on lake Michigan : also, table of routes from New York, Boston, &c. ..."
It was fascinating and even though the focus was Wisconsin, it gave me a much better idea of what my ancestors faced on leaving their homelands and sailing across to America in that time period.
The table of routes was invaluable and I'd most likely not found it any other way.
I found this book by using their list of Subjects (Topics). I chose Emigration & Immigration and then browsed the titles that are in that category. Very easy, very fast. I plan to go back and do some more exploring, as there are other ways to find what you are interested in
*******************
Here is the Press Release for this resource:
New Resource Provides Online Access to Michigan History at www.MeL.org
Farmington Hills, Mich. – Michigan eLibrary (MeL), and Gale, part of Cengage Learning, announced the launch of Michigana, Sources in U.S. History Online, an online resource providing access to primary source documents and contextual essays for the study of Michigan history.
Michigana: Sources in U.S. History Online contains valuable and authoritative content packaged with an engaging user interface, allowing students and researchers multiple ways of accessing historical information.
“We are pleased to make Michigana available to all Michigan residents through Michigan eLibrary,” said Nader Qaimari, Gale’s senior vice president of market strategy. “This resource includes state and regional histories, biographies, historical maps, speeches and more. It is a treasure trove for anyone interested in Michigan history.”
Michigana: Sources in U.S. History Online provides access to primary source documents in an online system that is easily accessible by students and researchers of all levels. For example, a user may enter a search term such as Fort Mackinac to find all references to that word or phrase found on any page within the database. Or a student may choose a subject term from the listing of top subjects that are listed on the home page to quickly find all works that are closely related to that person, place or event – for example, William Hull or railroads.
Another way to access the content is through contextual essays that have been written by Michigan historians specifically for the database. These are accessed through the images at the bottom of the home page which take a user to a list of related essays, all of which include a bibliography of related documents from within the database.
“We are excited to have Michigana, Sources in U.S. History Online added to Mel.org. We know that researchers of all ages and who are interested in various depth of coverage will find the information useful. From students simply having fun digging for fun facts, to college students writing in-depth research papers, to genealogists tracking down family history, this resource is invaluable,” said Deb Biggs Thomas, the Library of Michigan’s MeL Coordinator.
“Anyone interested in any aspect of the history of our state will find this resource a valuable tool,” said Larry J. Wagenaar the Historical Society of Michigan’s executive director. “Users of Michigana will find it helpful to research family history, learn about the area in which they live and uncover many other remarkable facts. We are pleased that the Michigan eLibrary is able to provide this wonderful resource.”
MeL is a project of the Library of Michigan in partnership with all Michigan libraries and supported by federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding. Through MeL, Michigan residents can access electronic resources such as Academic Onefile, Kids Infobits, Educator’s Reference Complete, Business and Company Resource Center, General Business-File, InfoTrac Custom Newspapers, the New York Times and e-books on all aspects of general reference.
MeL Michigana can be accessed at http://mel.org/michigana
September 3, 2010
Who Do You Think You Are: Tonight's Episode Brooke Shields
Last season of Who Do You Think You Are was terrific, I didn't miss an episode and really enjoyed them. I'm looking forward to this second season! You can read about Season One's Episodes at WDYTYA on Olive Tree Genealogy Blog
If you missed Season One, NBC is airing the four episodes of the original Who Do You Think You Are? series starting on Friday, August 13 at 8/7c.
These repeats will air Friday nights. Tonight's episode features Brooke Shields as she explores her Italian roots. You might want to check out the companion book Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History
If you missed Season One, NBC is airing the four episodes of the original Who Do You Think You Are? series starting on Friday, August 13 at 8/7c.
These repeats will air Friday nights. Tonight's episode features Brooke Shields as she explores her Italian roots. You might want to check out the companion book Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History
USA Immigration Records FREE for Labor Day Weekend!
PRESS RELEASE from PROVO, Utah, September 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ .— Ancestry.com
“As immigrants created new lives in the U.S., the stories of their homelands and their remarkable journeys to America were often lost,” said Christopher Tracy, senior vice president of global content for Ancestry.com. “We are thrilled to offer people the opportunity to hear the voices of their ancestors sharing stories of their lives.”
Ellis Island was the gateway for millions of immigrants between 1892 and 1954. The oral histories were captured by the National Park Service starting in the 1970s, and contain uniquely inspiring first-hand accounts recalling the lives these immigrants left behind, their reasons for leaving and their incredible and often-trying journeys to America. These recordings are housed at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum and until now could be heard only by visitors to the Island itself. In addition to oral histories from immigrants, the collection also includes recordings from military personnel who were stationed on Ellis Island and former Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty workers.
“To our family it is important that we in the U.S. know the origin of the people who came to this country, settled here and made it what it is today. It makes us very proud to know that our mother was part of this,” said Yvonne Rumac, daughter of oral history participant Estelle Belford, who immigrated to the United States from Romania via Ellis Island in 1905.
Other Records Added to the Ancestry.com U.S. Immigration Collection: The Ellis Island Oral Histories are the latest addition to Ancestry.com, which boasts the world’s largest online collection of U.S. immigration records. Comprised of more than 170 million records, the Ancestry.com U.S. Immigration Collection includes lists of passengers who immigrated by ship to America between 1820 and 1960, including those who came through Ellis Island; more than 7 million citizenship and naturalization records; border crossings, passport applications and more to help reconstruct our ancestors’ journeys and early lives in America.
Ancestry.com has also added nearly 2 million new U.S. naturalization record indexes, thanks to the many individuals who are part of the Ancestry.com World Archives Project –a community effort aimed at transcribing historical records. The indexes span 11 states (AK, CA, CT, HI, LA, ME, MT, NY, PA, TN, WA) and will provide Americans greater opportunity to learn more about their ancestors’ citizenship experience.
In addition, Ancestry.com has added nearly 2 million records documenting crew members on ships who arrived in the port of Boston. The records were added to an existing collection of over 3.8 million records from Boston Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1943.
To honor our nation’s immigrant heritage, Ancestry.com has opened up its entire U.S. Immigration Collection so that it can be searched free through Labor Day. The Ellis Island Oral History Collection will remain permanently free on Ancestry.com.
September 2, 2010
Just Ordered My Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner
Well I did it. I ordered a Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner
I've heard good things about this scanner, and I loved that it is small (10.25 x 6.5 x 1.25 inches), easily carted around (weighs less than one pound), and scans in an area 4x6inches. It will scan larger documents or photos and has stitching software to merge larger items into one.
Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner is cordless, battery powered (I love that idea!) You can set it for 600 and 300 dpi resolution which is plenty for my genealogy scanning needs. I'm excited to see it, try it and use the stitching software program for larger scans.
The website says it's "A remarkable solution for preserving and sharing memories" If it works as they say it does, it will be! I'll be taking it to my 87 year old auntie's place and scanning all those old photos I've been drooling over. The ones she can't bear to let out of her sight....
I'm really excited about this portable scanner and can't wait for it to arrive. Oh and I almost forgot to mention, it was only $149.99. Fingers crossed that it arrives soon!
I've heard good things about this scanner, and I loved that it is small (10.25 x 6.5 x 1.25 inches), easily carted around (weighs less than one pound), and scans in an area 4x6inches. It will scan larger documents or photos and has stitching software to merge larger items into one.
Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner
The website says it's "A remarkable solution for preserving and sharing memories" If it works as they say it does, it will be! I'll be taking it to my 87 year old auntie's place and scanning all those old photos I've been drooling over. The ones she can't bear to let out of her sight....
I'm really excited about this portable scanner and can't wait for it to arrive. Oh and I almost forgot to mention, it was only $149.99. Fingers crossed that it arrives soon!
September 1, 2010
Is Genealogy a Hobby?
Lisa made an interesting comment in response to my post called It Boggles My Mind which is a blog post about how I find it incredible that there are people who are not the least bit interested in their family history.
Lisa disagreed with me when I referred to genealogy as a hobby.
"I disagree on one thing you said though, this is NOT a hobby. It is much more than that. I call it my life's work. We are writing and preserving history and without the genealogists of today, much will be lost tomorrow. "
Lisa has a good point. I agree that we are writing and preserving history (as well as finding facts). I agree that genealogy is important.
But is it indeed a hobby? Or something more ... what else can we call this activity we engage in?
Let's first look at the actual definition of the word HOBBY
A hobby is defined as an activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.
* I pursue genealogy in my spare time.
* I research my family tree for pleasure, not profit.
* I am passionate, perhaps even obsessed about my ancestors and genealogy.
* Research into my Genealogy is not my full-time job.
It seems to me then that my pursuit of genealogy fits the definition of a hobby.
I don't believe that applying the term "hobby" is necessarily negative. I don't think that calling an activity a hobby is demeaning. The common pre-conception may be that a hobby is little more than an entertaining distraction from life, but that's not an accurate definition.
As far as I'm concerned, if you don't pursue genealogy as a full time "JOB" which pays your bills, then it's a hobby. It can be a passionate, all-consuming hobby. It can be, as Lisa says, your life's work. You can be 100% committed to finding and preserving your family history. But if you are paying your bills by working at some occupation other than genealogist, you are engaging in a hobby.
I'm interested in what others think. Do you have a good word for what we avid genealogists engage in? I'm open to suggestions for a term other than "hobby" but until I hear one that fits, I'm still going to say that I have a hobby I love, called genealogy. It's my passion, it's all-consuming, and I think it's incredibly important to find and document my ancestral trail, but in the end it's my hobby.
Lisa disagreed with me when I referred to genealogy as a hobby.
"I disagree on one thing you said though, this is NOT a hobby. It is much more than that. I call it my life's work. We are writing and preserving history and without the genealogists of today, much will be lost tomorrow. "
Lisa has a good point. I agree that we are writing and preserving history (as well as finding facts). I agree that genealogy is important.
But is it indeed a hobby? Or something more ... what else can we call this activity we engage in?
Let's first look at the actual definition of the word HOBBY
A hobby is defined as an activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.
* I pursue genealogy in my spare time.
* I research my family tree for pleasure, not profit.
* I am passionate, perhaps even obsessed about my ancestors and genealogy.
* Research into my Genealogy is not my full-time job.
It seems to me then that my pursuit of genealogy fits the definition of a hobby.
I don't believe that applying the term "hobby" is necessarily negative. I don't think that calling an activity a hobby is demeaning. The common pre-conception may be that a hobby is little more than an entertaining distraction from life, but that's not an accurate definition.
As far as I'm concerned, if you don't pursue genealogy as a full time "JOB" which pays your bills, then it's a hobby. It can be a passionate, all-consuming hobby. It can be, as Lisa says, your life's work. You can be 100% committed to finding and preserving your family history. But if you are paying your bills by working at some occupation other than genealogist, you are engaging in a hobby.
I'm interested in what others think. Do you have a good word for what we avid genealogists engage in? I'm open to suggestions for a term other than "hobby" but until I hear one that fits, I'm still going to say that I have a hobby I love, called genealogy. It's my passion, it's all-consuming, and I think it's incredibly important to find and document my ancestral trail, but in the end it's my hobby.
August 31, 2010
Olive Tree Genealogy Interview on LoveToKnow
This was so much fun to do. Several weeks ago I was approached by Kate Miller-Wilson of LoveToKnow. They have just started a Genealogy section of their site and wanted to interview me. I agreed and I'm so pleased with the finished piece!
To quote their preface, just before my interview:
Continue reading this interview at http://genealogy.lovetoknow.com/genealogy-research/olive-tree-genealogy-interview
Thanks to LoveToKnow for the opportunity to talk about two of my most favourite subjects - genealogy and my beloved website!
To quote their preface, just before my interview:
In this Olive Tree Genealogy interview, LoveToKnow sat down with Lorine McGinnis Schulze, the creator of Olive Tree Genealogy, one of the longest-running genealogy research sites on the web.
Continue reading this interview at http://genealogy.lovetoknow.com/genealogy-research/olive-tree-genealogy-interview
Thanks to LoveToKnow for the opportunity to talk about two of my most favourite subjects - genealogy and my beloved website!
August 30, 2010
It Boggles My Mind
It boggles my mind how some people are not the least bit interested in their family tree. They don't care who their ancestors were. They are not even sure what the word "Genealogy" means.
And worst of all, many of these people are family members! How can they not care that their great grandmother struggled against poverty and hardship after arriving in N. America in the mid 1800s? That their McGinnis ancestors were in Ireland during the potato famine, and fled to Canada on a coffin ship at the famine's peak?
How can they not be interested in the stories of ancestors who fought in wars, fled from religious persecution, sailed across oceans to unknown lands, struggled in times of famine, or faced other difficulties trying to survive and provide for a family.
Our ancestors' blood runs in our veins. Their DNA is within us. I don't understand not wanting to know about them, and by so doing to discover more about ourselves.
In my own family are those who don't care at all. These family members won't even look at a photo of their 4th great grandmother in 1867. Wow! That is astounding to me! They don't want to know any names or facts before their grandparents. Their eyes glaze if you bring the subject of genealogy up in front of them.
There are also family members who care a little bit. If you tell them some fascinating tale of an ancestor, they listen. But it has to be fascinating! They don't want to hear about ordinary people - farmers, businessmen, housewifes and others who didn't do anything spectacular.
But all of our ancestors, the good, the bad, the exciting, the ordinary, are all part of what made us. That's okay too, at least I can drum up interest by only telling those exciting stories and who knows maybe one of those listening will catch a bit of a spark and start researching in the future.
Then there are family members who care but not enough to do any research themselves. I understand that. Research can be drudgery. It can be boring. It isn't easy. I'm happy doing the research as long as they care enough to hear about my results!
It can be frustrating to be passionate about our hobby of genealogy only to find we have no one with whom we can share our exciting finds. And that's where I'm lucky. My husband is almost as passionate about genealogy as I am. So he is genuinely happy for me and listens attentively when I drone on about a new find or a new lead I'm pursuing. As I do for him.
My children are interested. Some of my grandchildren are interested. I really can't complain. But it still boggles my mind to meet people (family members or otherwise) who turn up their noses.
A few years ago, a woman said to me "Well, but c'mon they aren't your relatives anymore if they're dead" Hmm.....really? I didn't know family relationships had an expiration date. Does that mean my father and mother are not my parents since both are deceased? When I posed that question to her she had no response.
And so my mind continues to be boggled. And probably always will be.
And worst of all, many of these people are family members! How can they not care that their great grandmother struggled against poverty and hardship after arriving in N. America in the mid 1800s? That their McGinnis ancestors were in Ireland during the potato famine, and fled to Canada on a coffin ship at the famine's peak?
How can they not be interested in the stories of ancestors who fought in wars, fled from religious persecution, sailed across oceans to unknown lands, struggled in times of famine, or faced other difficulties trying to survive and provide for a family.
Our ancestors' blood runs in our veins. Their DNA is within us. I don't understand not wanting to know about them, and by so doing to discover more about ourselves.
In my own family are those who don't care at all. These family members won't even look at a photo of their 4th great grandmother in 1867. Wow! That is astounding to me! They don't want to know any names or facts before their grandparents. Their eyes glaze if you bring the subject of genealogy up in front of them.
There are also family members who care a little bit. If you tell them some fascinating tale of an ancestor, they listen. But it has to be fascinating! They don't want to hear about ordinary people - farmers, businessmen, housewifes and others who didn't do anything spectacular.
But all of our ancestors, the good, the bad, the exciting, the ordinary, are all part of what made us. That's okay too, at least I can drum up interest by only telling those exciting stories and who knows maybe one of those listening will catch a bit of a spark and start researching in the future.
Then there are family members who care but not enough to do any research themselves. I understand that. Research can be drudgery. It can be boring. It isn't easy. I'm happy doing the research as long as they care enough to hear about my results!
It can be frustrating to be passionate about our hobby of genealogy only to find we have no one with whom we can share our exciting finds. And that's where I'm lucky. My husband is almost as passionate about genealogy as I am. So he is genuinely happy for me and listens attentively when I drone on about a new find or a new lead I'm pursuing. As I do for him.
My children are interested. Some of my grandchildren are interested. I really can't complain. But it still boggles my mind to meet people (family members or otherwise) who turn up their noses.
A few years ago, a woman said to me "Well, but c'mon they aren't your relatives anymore if they're dead" Hmm.....really? I didn't know family relationships had an expiration date. Does that mean my father and mother are not my parents since both are deceased? When I posed that question to her she had no response.
And so my mind continues to be boggled. And probably always will be.
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