5 November 2008 by Libbi.

I’ve talked before about the value of finding an ancestor’s diary. My great-grandmother kept a diary when they homesteaded from Indiana to Oregon. Later they had to move back east to care for an elderly relative, but she regaled my mother with tales of how beautiful Oregon is, second only to heaven from her descriptions. Later, as an adult, when Mother read that diary, it was much more alive to her for having heard her grandmother’s stories.

So. Here you are in the middle of an historic moment. Maybe you are giddy with the thought that America has elected a Black President. Maybe you admire both candidates, but feel the best man won. Maybe, like one of my friends, you are filled with dread that Obama will drag us down the path of Godless Socialism and the end of the American experiment is near. Maybe  you feel it was an election like all elections and now we just have to wait and see whether the new administration can handle the problems facing it.

Whatever your thoughts, opinions, and feelings, you should be writing them down somewhere, for your great-great-grandchildren to find  in 100 years. Describe what voting was like for you: did you vote early? Did you stand in the rain for hours? Were there issues on the ballot that you felt you had no business voting on (which is how I feel about some of the Florida initiatives)? And what else was going on in your life?

Your descendants for generations will be glad you did!

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31 October 2008 by Libbi.

My Halloween Scare: I’m signed up for National Novel Writing Month. Yep.  Gonna try to write 1667 words a day all November.

Why? Hmm.

I’m the greatest American writer ever, I just don’t know it yet…..nah.

My angel whispered it’s time to get those characters out of my head and onto paper….maybe.

I just want to see if I can do it….very likely.

It’s been a year since I finished Genealogy Online 8th Edition and I’m itching to be writing creatively again….getting closer.

I want “to allow my innate gifts to come to the surface, unmolested by self-doubt, self-criticism, and other acts of self-bullying” for  30 days….I think that’s it. That phrase is from the contract you make with yourself to participate in NaNoWriMo. It really caught me, because that sounds like writer heaven.

Another part of the contract is that one is to “brag” about starting the novel, to make yourself accountable to the whole world. Bragging isn’t my long suit, so this post will have to count. 

Prayers for success in this endeavor gratefully accepted!

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I’m also going to participate in the Geneablogger’s Cookbook. I have an old cigar box full of Mimi’s recipes….and of course food will play a prominent part in my new novel that starts tomorrow. So it dovetails nicely.

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22 October 2008 by Libbi.

Wednesdays are turning into the busiest day of the week for me. So this will be a very short entry:

Are you keeping a diary or journal? Be certain your descendants can get to it! Nothing is more fascinating than a peek into daily life of generations past!

Some diary sites:

• http://dohistory.org/diary/: Martha Ballard wrote in her diary nearly every day from January 1, 1785 to May 12, 1812 (27 years)  for a total of almost 10,000 entries. Her diary is an unparalleled document in early American history.
• http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/chesnut/maryches.html Mary Chestnut’s Civil War Diary is a must-read. Life in South Carolina during this time in American’s history is compelling.

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26 September 2008 by Libbi.

FamilyTreeTemplates.net was created by Savetz Publishing, Inc. It is part of the FreePrintable.net family of sites, which offer letterhead templates, invoice templates, printable certificates, free printable coloring pages, stationery, recipe cards and other useful printable items.  All free versions are in .pdf format, just download, print, then write on or print over with your data/photos/text. The $4 versions are Microsoft Word .DOC files that you can edit. They are compatible with Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and other word processing applications. Some of the designs are quite nice, and suitable for school projects, family reunions and Scout badges.

This screen shot shows some samples of thefamily tree  forms available.

“These family tree templates will make it easy to record family roots,” said Kevin Savetz, who created the site. “I’ve included a wide variety of family trees and charts, from multi-generational genealogy charts to cute, simple charts for kids. Also, we found that there aren’t many printable family trees available especially for children who have been adopted, so we’ve included one on FamilyTreeTemplates.net.”

The categories at FamilyTreeTemplates.net include: three-, four-, five- and six-generation family trees; family trees with and without graphics; family trees with room for photos; formal family trees and family trees for kids. You may download, modify, and print the family tree template designs  for your personal, organizational, or business use. However, you may not distribute, republish, display, post electronically or mechanically, transmit, record, in any manner mirror, or reproduce electronic versions of the family tree template designs without the prior written permission of Savetz Publishing.

FamilyTreeTemplates.net was created by Savetz Publishing, Inc. (http://www.SavetzPublishing.com) It is part of the FreePrintable.net family of sites, which offer letterhead templates, invoice templates, printable certificates, free printable coloring pages, stationery, recipe cards and other printable items.

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24 September 2008 by Libbi.

Last night, I  finished reading Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, by Doris Kearns Goodwin, and I want to recommend it to anyone who loves politics,  Lincoln, and/or history.  Or, psychology. It was published in 2005, but I just got around to reading it (hurricanes, graduations, etc. etc.)

Thoroughly engrossing, this is not just another Lincoln biography. It’s about things you know, but from a perspective you may not have seen before.  It is an in-depth look at the personalities and atmosphere of the middle of the 19th century, and the effects they had on us all. 

Using direct quotes from diaries, letters, public documents, newspapers and more, complete with original abbreviations and misspellings, it is like being part of the “in crowd” at one of the most important junctures of American history. And because of the quotes, it’s as if you are hanging out with all these people, with all their quirky habits, watching them live their lives and change the world.

I hope you find time to read and enjoy it.

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30 July 2008 by Libbi.

Hi everyone! I just got back from a four-day visit to Huntsville, Alabama. I went to my high school reunion, visited my brother, met an old friend for lunch, shopped and enjoyed looking at the mountains.

I didn’t blog Monday and Tuesday, so today will be a three-for-one!

1. All of Scandinavian Cooking

In her new cookbook, “All of Scandinavian Cooking” Sofie Michelsen showcases her favorite recipes from Norway, Denmark and Sweden. What makes it interesting to me is the section on Scandinavian traditions and foods for holidays and seasons.

Michelsen  opens with a brief history of Scandinavian cuisine, including an introduction to some of the region’s world-famous products, before teaching you how to prepare  classics such as Smorrebrod and pancakes. The measurements are in imperial (not metric) and the pictures are lovely.

My two problems with the book: No index, so if you like a recipe, you just have to remember what section it is in; and sometimes the writing is a bit stilted. But those are quibbles. Overall, it is a lovely celebration of heritage through cooking, and I really like it.

More information is available at http://www.scandinaviancookbook.com/.

2. FamilySearch Census Records are Still Free

The recent announcements of joint census projects with FamilySearch and affiliate companies, such as findmypast.org and Ancestry.com, have caused some confusion. FamilySearch patrons and indexing volunteers are wondering if the indexes created from their efforts will continue to be free to the public. The answer is a resounding YES!

All data indexed by FamilySearch volunteers will continue to be made available for free to the public through FamilySearch.org—now and in the future. Access to related digital images may not always be free to everyone.

The general public will have several options to access any fee-based images offered under FamilySearch affiliate agreements. 1) Home access will be free for FamilySearch members; 2) access is free through a local Family History Center or the Family History Library; 3) access is often free through the record custodian or archive reading room; or 4) for a nominal fee, the public can access the images on specified record custodian or commercial Web sites.

3. Careers in Genealogy

A blog fan wrote me an email asking about careers in genealogy, as he was ready for a career change. If you want to be a professional, pursue certification from a group such as the Association of Professional Genealogists, The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists,  and the Board for the Certification of Genealogists. The latter (BCG)  have a set of tests and qualifications, and a specific set of steps to follow for you to be certified as a professional, while the ICAPG accredits. They all have a code of conduct for you to follow even if you are an amateur.

Most areas have a community colleges, right? Another thing you could do is teach at the community colleges as an associate professor. Teach genealogy research at the continuing education department or an elective course at the undergraduate level. DearMYRTLE has a teaching genealogy blog at http://blog.teachgenealogy.com/.

You probably already belong to a wonderful genealogy society where you volunteer. Once certified, contact them about being a lecturer at their workshops, seminars and meetings.
You can also help at the library. Help folks get started in their research, etc. If your library doesn’t have a genealogy section, volunteer to start one!

Finally, write a book. It could be about your genealogy, or research in your state, or a history. I love writing for a living and you can’t find a better boss than yourself!

Posted in Genealogy Sites, News, Genealogy, Writing, Genealogy Online | Print | 2 Comments »

21 June 2008 by Libbi.

I’m not going to blog the week of June 23 - 30. I have three magazine articles to work on and that’s going to keep me busy!

By June 1, I should be able to start up again!

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8 May 2008 by Libbi.

Borders’ newest concept store has its grand opening in the Pier Park shopping center in Panama City this weekend.

Why genealogists might care: Besides the fact that Borders also sells my book, Genealogy Online 8th Edition, it has a Digital Center with multiple computer kiosks and stations dedicated to new services including music and book downloading. Also, customers interested in tracing their roots can access “Borders Genealogy Services” provided by Ancestry.com, and because many Borders customers are authors looking to publish their own work, such as a genealogy, the Digital Center also includes “Borders Personal Publishing” powered by Lulu.com. Some customer-written books may eventually be sold in Borders stores (so your cousins can BUY your genealogy book!) and some customer authors could even host in-store signings. Photos are important to many genealogies, so you can use “Borders Custom Photo Books” for special projects featuring family and friends. That would top off the family reunion!
Throughout the Digital Center, there are seats at the various computer stations where customers are encouraged to sit and take their time working on their projects. Importantly, Borders knows that not all customers are computer experts, so the company is staffing the Digital Center with trained, dedicated personnel ready to guide customers of any technical level through the process to achieve their project goals.
“The opening of our initial concept store in Ann Arbor generated tremendous media attention including major stories in national newspapers and on television. We’ve had scores of retail executives from other companies, store designers, shopping center developers and publishers coming from around the nation to see the new store, as it truly is a breakthrough retail concept. It has been a huge success and customers love it,” said Borders Group Chief Executive Officer George Jones. “We’ve stayed true to what our customers have always loved about Borders — deep and intelligent selection, knowledgeable staff, and a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere. Yet, we’ve brought a fresh new look and an exciting interactive dimension to the store with a Digital Center where customers can do everything from mix and make their own custom CDs, download books and music, publish their own books, explore their family history, and create photo books-all without being computer experts because we have trained people there to help every step of the way,” he said.
“Overall, this new concept store is a key part of our long-term strategic plan. We set out to differentiate Borders and give customers a reason to choose us over other retailers and we’ve achieved that goal spectacularly with this new concept store. And, once we’ve launched the new Borders.com, we’ll be able to truly deliver on our cross-channel retail strategy including the option for customers to access the site in our stores to view wish lists and conveniently order from millions of titles for delivery to their homes within two days. I’m proud of what we’ve created and I’m thrilled with the way customers have embraced it.”

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30 April 2008 by Libbi.

I am a public relations professional, and this sort of thing makes me cringe when I read it.

Discovery of Tomb & Relics From Marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene to Be Unveiled in New York City May 5th
LOS ANGELES, April 29 /PRNewswire/ — A remote mountain tomb and relics from 1st century Jerusalem have been discovered in southwest France.
Among them are a simple pottery drinking cup and a small ointment vase that were said to have been used at the wedding of Jesus and Mary Magdalene over 2000 years ago.
According to the priest who hid them away a century ago, they are sacred relics — the true Holy Grail — which symbolized this secret wedding.
They have been analyzed by both the British Museum and Dr Gabriel Barkay of Bar Ilan University, Jerusalem, who said:
“It is possible that artifacts excavated by the Templars on Temple Mount would find a way to Europe. The finds in this chest are really intriguing and it is really something that inflames the imagination.”
The tomb contains a mummified corpse lying under a shroud with the red cross of the Knights Templar. Initial DNA testing has revealed it to have a Middle Eastern origin.
These finds were made as the result of the discovery of a cache of papers, hidden by a French priest at the end of the 19th century. They revealed that he had discovered a tomb that had compelled him to break with his Church and Faith. He said:
“The resurrection of Jesus was a trick, it was Mary Magdalene who took his body from his tomb. Later, the body of Jesus was discovered by the Templars and then hidden three times. Not in Jerusalem. The Tomb is here. Parts of the body are safe.”
These finds, and the remarkable story that led to them, can be seen in a new documentary film, BLOODLINE which premieres on May 9th at the Village East Cinema in New York City, and then on May 16th at the Laemmle Sunset Five Cinema in Los Angeles before a nationwide release.
Director, Bruce Burgess, will be showing the relics at the News Conference alongside his producing partner Rene Barnett and a distinguished panel of archaeologists, forensic experts and members of the Church.
http://www.bloodlinethemovie.com

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9 April 2008 by Libbi.

This is going to be my new blog. I have deleted the one on Blogger. I will deal mainly with online genealogy topics, and occasionally about writing.

Please check out my site at Elizabeth Powell Crowe.

Today I spoke with DearMYRTLE about using Google Gadgets for Genealogy, and our conversation will be on the next DearMYRTLE Family History Hour podcast. It’s a simple way to keep on top of your favorite genealogy sites. Be sure to tune in to hear about it!

I am writing an article about Library Gadgets for Google for the July 2008 issue of  Digital Genealogist. The concept is quite the same, but the gadgets available search one library catalog or several.

Final comment for today: I read this column online and heartily recommend it! I spend an entire chapter in Genealogy Online 8th edition on this topic:

Need for Netiquette on Genealogy Mailing Lists by Diana Lynn Tibert.

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