Google+ Impressions

Posted on 13 July 2011 by Libbi
So I’ve been trying Google+ ever since my son Matthew sent me the invitation July 8 and I’m ready to give a few thoughts about it on my blog.
1. The “circles” feature is much like “groups” in Facebook, but easier to use. The list of your circles (e. g. Family, Friends, Acquaintances, etc.) is always on the left, so filtering the “stream” is much easier. Creating circles is also much, much easier than creating groups in Facebook. Instead of pawing through each and every friend, you just drag and drop, or when someone adds you, you can put them in a circle with one click.
2. With the installation of StartGoogle+, a Google Chrome browser plug in specifically designed to help make the process of transitioning from Facebook to Google+ as smooth as possible, the new social network is is easy to use. You can also track Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ all at once with this plug in. The StartGoogle+ instructions also say that if you use it to log into Twitter and Facebook using the plugin,  your Google+ posts will appear on the two others.  I have not yet gotten that feature to work, but I’m sure that is operator error.
3. It can be useful for genealogy if you create a circle just for your genealogy buds, and post your genealogy  queries to that circle only.
4. I am in love with the “Hangout” feature. I just had a really fun hangout with +Russ Worthington about Google+, the video features, EfM, printing genealogies, and more! I want to use that with my kids, siblings, cousins, etc!
5. Posting your pictures, especially your profile pictures, from Picasa on your desktop to Google+ is not as easy and intuitive as it should be. I expect they will tweak that in future.
6. Like Twitter, someone can follow you but you don’t have to follow them (see their posts) back. In Facebook, it must be mutual.
7.  With all of that said, Google+ still does not feel quite so friendly as Facebook. The interface is clean and open, but not “cozy.”  Once I get more used to it, perhaps that will change.
I shall keep experimenting with this new tool and put some observations on a later blog.
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Press Release from FamilySearch July 11

Posted on 12 July 2011 by Libbi

1930 US Census Project Concludes

Volunteers Consider Options for Next Projects

The 1930 U.S. Census indexing project will be completed this month. This enhanced index will be a great benefit to online patrons. We will now start many new U.S. projects for volunteers to consider. We are working toward building a nationwide marriage index. There are several already underway, and many new marriage projects are coming. We also started a Civil War era initiative recently that will include record collections expanding before and after the Civil War that will help researchers identify their Civil War era ancestors. We’re also adding some fun emigration projects (passenger lists, naturalization records).

See the lists below for the newest additions and status of other projects and invite friends, family, and colleagues to help out on projects of interest. Of course completed projects will be searchable for free at FamilySearch.org.

New Projects Added

(See the chart below for a complete list and current status of all indexing projects.)

Recently Completed Projects

(Note: Recently completed projects have been removed from the available online indexing batches and will now go through a final completion check process. They will be published at familysearch.org in the near future.)

  • Argentina, Cordoba, Rio Segundo—Registros Parroquiales, 1888–1926
  • Argentina, Santa Fe—Registros Parroquiales, 1634–1926 [Parte A]
  • Brasil, Rio de Janeiro—Imigração Cartões, 1900–1965 [Parte A]
  • Brasil, Rio de Janeiro—Imigração Cartões, 1900–1965 [Parte B]
  • Chile, Concepción—Registros Civiles, 1885–1903 [Parte 2B]
  • España, Avila, Barroman—Registros Parroquiales, 1550–1930
  • Jamaica—Church of England Parish Baptisms, 1664–1880
  • Mexico, Veracruz—1930 Federal Censo
  • Norway—1875 Federal Census [Part B]
  • Polska, Diecezja Lublin—Księgi Metrykalne, 1902–1945
  • Sverige, Uppsala—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1]
  • Sverige, Örebro—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1]
  • U.K., Yorkshire—Parish Registers, 1845–1930
  • U.S.—Index to War of 1812 Pension Application Files, 1812–1905
  • U.S., Arizona—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., California—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., Hawaii—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., Idaho—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., Illinois—1865 State Census
  • U.S., Indiana—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., Indiana, Floyd County—Marriages, 1811–1959
  • U.S., Iowa—County Births, 1880–1935 [Part A]
  • U.S., Iowa—County Marriages, 1838–1992 [Part A]
  • U.S., Michigan—1894 State Census
  • U.S., Missouri—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., New Hampshire—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., New Jersey—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., New Mexico—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., New York—1930 Federal Census [Part B]
  • U.S., North Carolina—County Marriages, 1762–1959 [Part B]
  • U.S., Ohio—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., Oklahoma—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., Oregon—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., Pennsylvania—1930 Federal Census [Part A]
  • U.S., Pennsylvania—1930 Federal Census [Part B]
  • U.S., Tennessee—County Marriages, 1790–1950 [Part D]
  • U.S., Utah—1930 Federal Census
  • U.S., Vermont—Vital Records, 1760–1954 [Part C]
  • U.S., Virginia, Winchester—Evening Star Obituaries, 1899–1909
  • U.S., Washington—1930 Federal Census

Current FamilySearch Indexing Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

Argentina, Balvanera—Registros Parroquiales, 1833–1934 [Parte C](Argentina, Balvanera—Church Records, 1833–1934 [Part B]) Spanish 66%
Argentina, Córdoba, Bell Ville—Registros Parroquiales, 1759–1946(Argentina, Cordoba, Bell Ville—Parish Registers, 1759–1946) Spanish (New)
Brasil—Registro Civil, 1852–1914 [Parte 2A](Brazil—Civil Registration, 1852–1914 [Part 2A]) Portuguese 9%
Brasil, Florianópolis—Registros da Igreja, 1751–1954 [Parte A](Brazil, Florianópolis—Church Records, 1751–1954 [Part A]) Portuguese 23%
Brasil, Pernambuco, Recife—Registro Civil, 1900–1920(Brazil, Pernambuco, Recife—Civil Registration, 1900–1920) Portuguese 5%
Brasil, Rio de Janeiro—Cartões de Imigração, 1900–1965 [Part C](Brazil, Rio de Janeiro—Immigration Cards, 1900–1965 [Part C]) Portuguese (New)
Brasil, Rio de Janeiro—Cartões de Imigração, 1900–1965 [Parte D](Brazil, Rio de Janeiro—Immigration Cards, 1900–1965 [Part D]) Portuguese (New)
Brasil, Rio de Janeiro—Matrimonios, 1900–1910 [Piloto](Brazil, Rio de Janeiro—Marriages, 1900–1910) Portuguese 66%
Canada—Passenger Lists, 1881–1922 English 8%
Canada, Bas-Canada—Recensement de 1831(Canada, Lower Canada—1831 Census) French 43%
Canada, Ontario—Births, 1869–1912 [Part B] English (New)
Canada, Ontario—Marriages, 1869–1927 [Part B] English 23%
Chile—Registros Civiles, 1885–1900(Chile—Civil Registration, 1885–1900) Spanish 91%
Chile, Concepción—Registros Civiles, 1885–1920 [Parte 3](Chile, Concepción—Civil Registration, 1885–1920 [Part 3]) Spanish (New)
Colombia, Bucaramanga—Registros Parroquiales, 1649–1959(Colombia, Bucaramanga—Church Records, 1649–1959) Spanish 19%
Deutschland, Baden-Württemberg, Emmendingen—Kirchenbücher, 1810–1869(Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Emmendingen—Church Books, 1810–1869) German (New)
Deutschland, Brandenburg, Posen—Kirchenbücher, 1794–1874(Germany, Brandenburg, Posen—Church Books, 1794–1874) German (New)
Deutschland, Mecklenburg, Schwerin—1867 Volkszählung(Germany, Mecklenburg, Schwerin—1867 Census) German (New)
El Salvador—Registros Civiles, 1835–1910(El Salvador—Civil Registration, 1835–1910) Spanish 67%
El Salvador—Registros Civiles, 1836-1910 [Parte B](El Salvador—Civil Registration, 1836–1910 [Part B]) Spanish 12%
España, Andalucía—Registros Civiles, 1837–1870(Spain, Andalucia—Civil Registration, 1837–1870) Spanish 33%
España, Lugo—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1930 [Parte 1](Spain, Lugo—Parish Registers, 1530–1930 [Part 1]) Spanish 47%
España, Málaga—Nacimientos, 1841–1870(Spain, Malaga—Births, 1841–1870) Spanish 13%
Estonia—Lutheran Church Books, 1603–1940 [Part B] German (New)
France, Cherbourg—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907(France, Cherbourg—Parish Registers, 1802–1907) French 70%
France, Coutances—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907 [Part 2](France, Coutances—Parish Registers, 1802–1907 [Part 2]) French (New)
France, Protestant Church Records [Part 2A] French 11%
Guatemala—Registros Civiles, 1800–1900 [Parte B](Guatemala—Civil Registration, 1800–1900 [Part B]) Spanish (New)
Guatemala, Guatemala—Registros Civiles, 1800–1900(Guatemala, Guatemala—Civil Registration, 1800–1900) Spanish 46%
Guatemala, Guatemala—Registros Civiles, 1877–1900(Guatemala, Guatemala—Civil Registration, 1877–1900) Spanish 58%
Honduras, Tegucigalpa—Registros Parroquiales, 1684–1930(Honduras, Tegucigalpa—Parish Registers, 1684–1930) Spanish (New)
Ireland—Tithe Applotment Books, 1824–1840 English 40%
Italia, Mantova—Registri Civili, 1806-1815(Italy, Mantova—Civil Registration, 1806–1815) Italian (New)
Italia, Napoli, Castellammare di Stabia—Atti di Morte, 1889–1924 [Part 2](Italy, Napoli, Castellammare di Stabia—Death Records, 1809–1885 [Part 2]) Italian (New)
Italia, Napoli, Castellammare di Stabia—Atti di Nascita, 1809–1885 [Part 1](Italy, Napoli, Castellammare di Stabia—Birth Records, 1809–1885 [Part 1]) Italian (New)
Italia, Provincia di Vicenza—Registri Parrocchiali, 1597–1937(Italy, Vicenza Province—Parish Registers, 1597–1937) Italian 71%
Italia, Torino, Torre Pellice—Atti di sepoltura, 1692–1969(Italy, Torina, Torre Pellice—Burial records, 1692–1969) Italian (New)
Italy, Trento—Baptisms, 1784–1924 [Part 2A] Italian 91%
Magyarország, Szabolcs—polgári anyakönyvi adatok, 1895–1978 [1. Rész](Hungary, Szabolcs—Civil Registration, 1895–1978 [Part 1]) Hungarian 67%
Mexico, Aguascalientes – Nacimientos 1860-1921(Mexico, Aguascalientes—Birth Records, 1860–1921) Spanish (New)
Mexico, D.F.—Bautismos, 1536–1900 [Parte A](Mexico, D.F.—Church Baptisms, 1536–1900 [Part A]) Spanish 17%
Mexico, Tlaxcala—Nacimientos, 1867–1925(Mexico, Tlaxcala—Births, 1867–1925) Spanish 19%
New Zealand—Passenger Lists, 1871–1915 [Part 2A] English 21%
Nicaragua, Masaya—Registros Civiles, 1879–1984(Nicaragua, Masaya—Civil Registration, 1879–1984) Spanish 18%
Norge —Tinglysningskort, 1640–1903(Norway—Probate Index Cards, 1640–1903) Norwegian 5%
Perú—Registros Civiles Nacimientos, 1860–1978 [Parte A](Perú—Civil Birth Registrations, 1860–1978 [Parte A]) Spanish 38%
Philippines, Lingayen-Dagupanâ—Registros Parroquiales, 1615–1982 [Part 2](Philippines, Lingayen-Dagupanâ—Parish Registers, 1615–1982 [Part 2]) Spanish (New)
Polska, Księgi Metrykalne—Diecezja Radom, 1654–1946 [Część 1](Poland, Radom Diocese—Church Books, 1654–1946 [Part 1]) Polish 58%
Portugal, Setúbal—Registros da Igreja, 1581–1910(Portugal, Setúbal—Church Records, 1581–1910) Portuguese 33%
República Dominicana—Nacimientos Civiles, 1828–1906(Dominican Republic—Civil Births, 1828–1906) Spanish 3%
Russland, Sankt Petersburg—Kirchenbuchduplikat, 1833–1885(Russia, Saint Petersburg—Parish Register Duplicates, 1833–1885) German 57%
South Africa, Cape Province—Church Records, 1660–1970 Afrikaans, Dutch, English 84%
Sverige, Södermanland—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 2](Sweden, Sodermanland—Church Records, to 1860 [Part 2]) Swedish (New)
Sverige, Uppsala—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 2](Sweden, Uppsala—Church Records, to 1860 [Part 2]) Swedish (New)
Sverige, Örebro—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 2](Sweden, Örebro—Church Records, to 1860 [Part 2]) Swedish (New)
U.K., Dorset—Church of England Parish Records, 1538–1910 [Part A] English 85%
U.K., Essex—Parish Registers, 1538–1900 [Part A] English 24%
U.K., Warwickshire—Parish Registers, 1538–1900 [Part 2 Adv] English,Old English 85%
Uruguay—Registros Civiles (Nacimientos), 1879–1930(Uruguay—Civil Registration (Births), 1879–1930) Spanish 39%
U.S., Alabama—County Marriages, 1809–1950 [Part B] English (New)
U.S., Alaska—1930 Federal Census English (New)
U.S., American Samoa and Guam—1930 Federal Census English (New)
U.S., Arkansas—WWII Draft Registration, 1942 English 78%
U.S., California—WWII Draft Registration, 1942 English 20%
U.S., Florida—County Marriages, 1830–1957 [Part A] English 49%
US, Illinois—Northern District Naturalization Index Cards, 1840–1950 English (New)
U.S., Indiana, Fountain County—Marriages, 1811–1959 English (New)
U.S., Indiana, Fulton County—Marriages 1811–1959 English (New)
U.S., Iowa—County Marriages, 1838–1992 [Part B] English (New)
U.S., Maine—Vital Records, 1892–1907 [Part A] English 42%
U.S., Michigan—County Marriages, 1820–1956 [Part A] English 22%
U.S., Montana—1930 Federal Census English 92%
U.S., Nevada—1930 Federal Census English (New)
U.S., New Jersey—County Marriages, 1682–1956 [Part 1] English 84%
U.S., New York—Marriage Licenses, 1908–1938 [Part A] English 93%
U.S., New York—Marriages, 1908–1935 [Part A] English 83%
U.S., North Carolina—County Marriages, 1762–1959 [Part C] English (New)
U.S., North Carolina—Freedmen Letters, 1862–1870 English 66%
U.S., North Dakota—1930 Federal Census English 82%
U.S., Ohio, Franklin County—Marriage Records, 1929–1951 English (New)
U.S., Oklahoma—Land Allotment Records, 1899–1907 [Part B] English 86%
U.S., Oregon—County Marriages, 1851–1975 [Part A] English (New)
U.S., Pennsylvania—WWII Draft Registration Cards, 1942 English 44%
U.S., Puerto Rico—1910 Censo Federal(U.S., Puerto Rico—1910 Federal Census) Spanish 89%
U.S., Puerto Rico—Nacimientos Civiles, 1836–1930 [Parte B](U.S., Puerto Rico—Civil Births, 1836–1930 [Part B]) Spanish 18%
U.S., Tennessee—County Marriages, 1790–1950 [Part B] English 78%
U.S., Texas—Birth Records 1903–1934 [Part E] English 11%
U.S., Virgin Islands—1930 Federal Census English (New)
U.S.—Registers of Enlistment in the U.S. Army, 1798–1913 English (New)
Venezuela—Nacimientos Civiles, 1873–1909(Venezuela—Civil Births, 1873–1909) Spanish 13%
Venezuela, Mérida—Registros Parroquiales, 1654–1992 [Parte 2](Venezuela, Merida—Parish Registers, 1654–1992 [Part 2]) Spanish 74%
Česká Republika (Tschechien), Litoměřice—Matriky, 1552–1905 [část 1B](Czech Republic, Litomerice—Church Records, 1552–1905 [Part 1B] German 41%
Česká Republika (Tschechien), Litoměřice—Matriky, 1552–1905 [část 1C](Czech Republic, Litomerice—Church Records, 1552–1905 [Part 1C] German (New)
Österreich, Oberösterreich, Steyr—Kirchenbücher, 1601–1906(Austria, Upper Austria, Steyr—Church Books, 1601–1906) German (New)
Österreich, Wiener Meldezettel, 1890–1925(Austria, Vienna—Population Cards, 1890–1925) German 61%
Россия, Самара—Метрические книги церкви, 1869–1917 [часть 2](Russia, Samara—Church Books, 1869–1917 [Part 2]) Russian 43%
Украина, Киев—Метрические книги русской православной церкви, 1843–1845 [Часть C](Ukraine, Kyiv—Orthodox Consistory Church Book Duplicates, 1843–1845 [Part C]) Russian 61%

Current FamilySearch Partner Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

België—Burgerlijke Stand, 1851–1900 [Deel 3A](Belgium—Civil Registration, 1851–1900 [Part 3A]) Dutch, Flemish 45%
Belgique—Registres Civile, 1851–1900 [Partie A](Belgium—Civil Registration, 1851–1900 [Part A]) French 94%
Belgique—Registres Civile, 1851–1900 [Partie C](Belgium—Civil Registrations, 1851–1900 [Part C] French 21%
Brasil, Minas Gerais—Church Records, 1706-1952 Portuguese 1%
Canada, Ontario, Toronto—Trust Cemeteries, 1826–1935 English 44%
Deutschland, Westfalen, Minden—Volkszählung, 1880–1900(Germany, Westphalia, Minden—City Censuses, 1880–1900) German 20%
España, Avila, Bernuy-Zapardiel—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1935(Spain, Avila, Bernuy-Zapardiel—Parish Registers, 1530–1935) Spanish 73%
España, Malaga—Registros Civiles, 1846–1870(Spain, Malaga—Civil Registration, 1846–1870) Spanish 54%
España, Sevilla—Nacimientos Civiles, 1844–1874(Spain, Sevilla—Civil Births, 1844–1874) Spanish (New)
France, Quimper et Leon, Brest, Notre Dame des Carmes—Registres Paroissiaux, 1771– 1909(France, Quimper et Leon, Brest, Notre Dame des Carmes—Parish Registers, 1771–1909) French (New)
Hungary—Jewish Vital Registers Hungarian, German, and more 1%
Italie, Turin, Torre Pellice—Registres paroissiaux 1692–1969 [Partie1A](Italy, Turin, Torre Pellice—Parish Registers, 1692–1969 [Part 1A]) French (New)
Norway—1875 Federal Census [Part C] Norwegian 54%
Polska, Diecezja Lublin—Księgi Metrykalne, 1864–1948 [Część 2](Poland, Diocese of Lublin—Church Books, 1864–1948 [Część 2]) Polish (New)
U.K., Norfolk—Parish Registers, 1538–1900 English 89%
U.S., California—1852 State Census English 78%
U.S., California—County Marriages, 1850–1952 [Part C] English 35%
U.S., Colorado—1885 State Census English 31%
U.S., Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh—City Deaths, 1870–1905 English 88%
U.S., Texas—County Tax Rolls, 1837–1910 [Part A] English 7%
U.S., West Virginia—Naturalization Records, 1814–1991 English (New)

About FamilySearch

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Posted in Genealogy, Genealogy Online, Genealogy Sites, News | Leave a comment

Genealogy Serendipity!

Posted on 11 July 2011 by Libbi

On my way to volunteer at the Panhandle Butterfly House this morning, I stopped for coffee at a little cafe that I have been meaning to try out for some time, Higher Ground Coffee and Tea Co.  It’s on US 98, on the north side just before the exit to SR 87.  As I walked in I saw on the white board menu for breakfast and lunch: HOT BROWN Sandwiches! Hot Browns! In Florida!!

Of course I had to ask how they knew about Hot Browns…and it turns out that though they grew up in Fort Walton and Navarre, the owner and his wife both have family in Kentucky & both went to Berea College! And the wife’s brother, who also works in the cafe, is a newly minted and highly enthusiastic genealogist!! We spent the next 30 minutes happily discussing genealogy, my book, Genealogy Online 9/E, Ancestry.com, military records, and on and on and on. Oh, and the University of Kentucky!

I just love genealogists!!

Posted in And More..., Genealogy, Genealogy Online, Traditions | Leave a comment

My faovrite Derby Week Recipes!

Posted on 4 May 2011 by Libbi

It’s Derby Week and I’m having a Derby Party. The Kentucky Derby is always run the First Saturday of May, and the parties start about a week before that…..Here are my two favorite recipes for this tradition.
HOT BROWN SANDWICH

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 4  Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    :

Amount  Measure       Ingredient — Preparation Method
——–  ————  ——————————–
1 1/2         pounds  chicken breast — cooked
4             slices  white bread — trimmed l/2″thick slices
4             slices  bacon — crisp
1/4           cup  Parmesan cheese — grated
2              large  eggs — beaten
1           teaspoon  salt
1/4      teaspoon  pepper
2          teaspoons  lemon juice
1/4           cup  flour
1/2         stick  butter
2               cups  milk — heated
additional grated Parmesan cheese
4              whole  roma tomato — sliced

Skin and bone chicken and slice each half lengthwise. Toast bread butter lavishly and place in a 200F oven to crisp while preparing sauce.

Melt butter, remove from fire and stir in flour until there are no lumps. Return to fire and cook a minute or two. Add hot milk and stir until perfectly smooth. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add cheese. Stir about ½ cupful of mixture into eggs, then pour this back into sauce and cook a minute longer, stirring all the time. Add salt, pepper and lemon juice.

To assemble sandwiches: Place toast in an ovenproof platter and arrange  chicken slices on top, allowing ½ breast per serving. Cover each with ½ cup of sauce and sprinkle with grated Parmesan. Run under the broiler for about 1 minute or place in a 425 oven until speckled with brown.  Arrange tomato and top with bacon crosswise on top and serve at once.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

NOTES : Turkey and country ham may be substituted for chicken and bacon.

MINT JULEPS EN MASSE

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 0     Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    :

Amount  Measure       Ingredient — Preparation Method
——–  ————  ——————————–
1 1/2      teaspoons  Simple Sugar Syrup — See directions
2             ounces  bourbon — Makers Mark!
sprig  mint — fresh
ice

Everybody has his own idea about making a julep. Proportions vary as much as method, but most people will like these.
Make a simple syrup by boiling 2 cups of sugar and 2 cups of water for 5 minutes, without stirring. Fill a jar loosely with sprigs of fresh mint (uncrushed) and cover with the cooled syrup. Cap and refrigerate 12-24 hours. Discard mint.
Make 1 julep at a time: Fill a chilled julep cup with finely -shaved ice, pour in half a tablespoon of the mint flavored syrup and 2 ounces of the very best Kentucky Bourbon, frost, stick in a sprig of mint and serve at once. If there is room in the freezer, you can get a head start by putting the first batch, without mint, in it. The refrigerator is not cold enough.
To frost: Grasp the rim of the filled julep cup with your fingertips and rapidly twist the cup back and forth until the outside is covered with a heavy frost. Or churn with a spoon.

Source:
“The Farminton Cookbook 1979 page 157″

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From Argentina to the BVI, Family Search’s Index grows!

Posted on 26 April 2011 by Libbi

Latest Additions Reach New Milestone in Free Online Historic Record Collections    

The latest additions to FamilySearch’s online collection of free historic record collections pushes it to 600! That’s right, 600 free, original source record collections online from all over the world. The tally of insomniacs will certainly expand as the numbers of family history researchers enjoy the latest updates. This week there are new international records from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Poland, and Spain. Now take a seat while the list of updates for the U.S. collections are noted—California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington State, Wisconsin, and the Virgin Islands. Whew! See the table below for details. You can search all of the record collections now for free at FamilySearch.org.

If you are enjoying the steady stream of free records added weekly, please consider “giving back” as a FamilySearch volunteer. You can start and stop volunteering at any time. Find out more at indexing.familysearch.org.

Posted in And More..., Genealogy, Genealogy Sites | Leave a comment

Latest DNA + Genealogy Round Up

Posted on 26 April 2011 by Libbi

 

DNA program during Genealogy meeting

Brazil Times – ‎Apr 22, 2011‎

 

TERRE HAUTE — At the regular meeting of the Wabash Valley Genealogy Society Monday, May 9, Alan Teller will present, “DNA Testing for Genetic Genealogy or DNA Testing for the Layman.” The program is open to the public and will take place from …

 

Spare Times for April 22-28

New York Times – Liz Maurer – ‎Apr 21, 2011‎

 

features Pearl Duncan, an African-American author who shares how she used family nicknames, DNA and genealogy to trace her lineage to families named Opare of the Akan people of Ghana and to Scottish-Americans and British royals; Wednesday at 7 pm, …

 

Victoria Genealogical Society hosts meeting

Victoria Advocate – ‎Apr 21, 2011‎

 

June 4, the Clayton Library in Houston will host a seminar on DNA. The speaker will be Debbie Wayne. All meetings start at 7 pm and are held at the First Christian Church Fellowship Hall, 2105 N Ben Jordan St., All members and guests are urged to …

 

Martin County Community Calendar Updated April 25

TCPalm – ‎Apr 25, 2011‎

 

MC Genealogical Society: “Genealogy & DNA” workshop. Robert Morgade Library, 5851 SE Community Drive, Stuart, 10:15 am-noon, May 14. Ages 12+. Donation. 772-220-1638; mcgensociety.org. “The Honeymooners”: Relive classic moments that shaped future of TV …

 

Martin County Community Calendar Updated April 22

TCPalm – ‎Apr 22, 2011‎

 

MC Genealogical Society: “Genealogy & DNA” workshop. Robert Morgade Library, 5851 SE Community Drive, Stuart, 10:15 am-noon, May 14. Ages 12+. Donation. 772-220-1638; mcgensociety.org. “The Honeymooners”: Relive classic moments that shaped future of TV …

 

Curtin Clan Surname Gathering in Chicago

Online PR News (press release) – ‎Apr 23, 2011‎

 

The conference will cover Curtin genealogy, Irish heritage, local speakers and attendees can meet Margaret Curtain of Australia, world’s foremost authority on the Curtins of Ireland. The Gathering will be held at the Irish American Heritage Center in …

 

We are family

Guelph Mercury – ‎Apr 22, 2011‎

 

In a larger sense though, it is more than just having DNA in common and being on the same genealogy chart. I did a word search through the electronic version of the Baha’i Writings and came up with 3251 hits. Clearly, this is worthy of close …

 

Sackets Harbor woman follows family history back to her doorstep

WatertownDailyTimes.com – ‎Apr 23, 2011‎

 

It reflects on three specific categories which they request whenever authors submit work to their publishing company: American history, local history, and genealogy. “The history of my family in America begins when my emigrant ancestor, …

BU Today

African woman warrior captures BU historian’s passion

BU Today – Susan Seligson, Kalman Zabarsky – ‎10 hours ago‎

A recent fellow at Harvard’s WEB Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research, Heywood had her DNA tested as part of the African American Lives, Genealogy, and Genetics project featured in a four-part PBS series hosted by institute …

Hi Matt!

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Pets and puns

Posted on 25 April 2011 by Libbi

This blog is in response to Week 17. Pets. Did you have any pets as a child? If so, what types and what were their names. Do you have pets now? Describe them as well. If you did not have pets, you can discuss those of neighbors or other family members. This challenge runs from Saturday, April 23, 2011 through Friday, April 29, 2011. Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog (http://wetree.blogspot.com/) is responsible!!!

We have a long family tradition of puns as names for our pets. Or at least descriptive quotations. Some examples:

  • The first dog I remember was a rat terrier mix. She was a great watch dog, my father declared. Her name was TickTock.
  • After TickTock we had a fluffy little dog with various degrees of spitz, some sort of herding dog, maybe Corgi, and many other breeds. The dog’s name came from his white feet and an old  TV show: Sugarfoot. Sugarfoot made the news. He bit a child, so we had to take him to the pound. the pound tried to test out a new tranq gun, I believe it was, on him. Sugarfoot was too fast on his feet for them, they never landed a shot on him. He made the Huntsville Times and someone adopted him. If I ever find my childhood scrapbook, I’ll scan in the newspaper article.
  • When our rector gave us one of a litter of kittens, of course we named the cat Lucifer.
  •  When we had a cat that couldn’t seem to see at night very well, bumping into beds and other furniture, his full name became “Long Leggety Beastie and Thing that Goes Bump in the Night”, usually shortened to Long Leggety.  That’s from an old prayer, “From ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged-ty beasties, and things that go bump in the night, may the Lord protect us.”
  • We had a cat who would purr, knead and slobber on a wool afghan we had, for all of his long life. He was EddyPuss.
  • When Mark and I were newlyweds, we got a cat, a purebred Himalayan. We stopped by a friend’s house on the way home to show him off. The friend, who at the time managed a Long John Silver’s, put together our name, the Siamese look of him, and came up with Simon CroweCat.

Yeah. We’re sick people!

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Press Release–National Archives to Host Conference on Media Access to Government Information April 12

Posted on 9 March 2011 by Libbi

Press Release
March 7, 2011
National Archives to Host Conference on Media Access to Government Information April 12

Washington, DC…The National Archives and Records Administration and Duke University’s DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy will host the Media Access to Government Information Conference (MAGIC) on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., with a networking reception from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. The event will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, located on the National Mall. Please use the Special Events Entrance, Constitution Ave. and 7th St., NW.

This conference is free and open to the public, but registration is required (e-mail MAGIC@nara.gov). A continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided.

Journalists, bloggers and others who write about public affairs will gain insights and learn strategies for improving access to government records. Experts from within the Federal government and from the private sector will provide roadmaps to the often frustrating and challenging task of tracking down government information.

Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero will welcome the participants. Government officials, reporters, scholars and NGO leaders who will participate in the discussions include: Gary Bass, Founder and Executive Director, OMB Watch; Sarah Cohen, Knight Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy, Duke University; William Kammer, Chief, FOIA Division, U.S. Department of Defense, and Vice President, American Society of Access Professionals; Miriam Nisbet, Director, Office of Government Information Services, National Archives; Derek Willis, Web developer, New York Times; Jennifer LaFleur, Director of Computer-Assisted Reporting, ProPublica; Mark Horvit, Executive Director, Investigative Reporters and Editors; and Charles Lewis, Executive Editor, Investigative Reporting Workshop.

The conference will address the following issues:

* Improving access to federal government records;
* Analyzing technical challenges faced by journalists in making sense of government documents;
* Exploring hurdles to gaining access to state and local records;
* Identifying actions that the private sector can take to help journalists access and analyze government records.

More information about the conference is at  http://www.archives.gov/ncast/news/events/magic.html

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For press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

11-90

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Magna Carta at National Archives (US) to be re-encased

Posted on 9 February 2011 by Libbi

Press Release
February 8, 2011

Last Chance to see National Archives 1297 Magna Carta Until 2012

 

Washington, DC…The National Archives has announced that Tuesday, March 1, 2011, is the final day for the public to view the 1297 Magna Carta before it is removed from display for a year to undergo preparations for re-encasement. The 1297 Magna Carta is on loan to the National Archives from David M. Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group.

The National Archives Building is located on Constitution Avenue and 9th Street, NW, in Washington, DC. Museum hours are 10 am to 5:30 pm, daily, free admission. Metro stop Archives/Navy Memorial on the yellow and green lines.

The only original Magna Carta permanently in the United States will be taken off display for a year so National Archives conservators may examine and stabilize the parchment before placing it in a new state-of-the-art encasement. This new enclosure, designed and fabricated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is based on an original design used to protect the Charters of Freedom–the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These documents, which are on permanent display in the National Archives Rotunda, were re-encased in a multi-year project that was completed in 2003 by the National Archives in partnership with NIST.

The document will return to display in March 2012. When it returns, Magna Carta will have a new protective encasement and a new display case. The case will incorporate an interactive exhibit allowing visitors to easily read the document for the first time. Magna Carta is written in Latin. The new display, which will allow close examination of the document and will have a translation feature, will also place new emphasis on the connections between Magna Carta and American history, particularly American legal history. This will make it easier to understand the elements of the document that influenced the United States’ founding charters: the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Background

In 1215 on the plains of Runnymede an assembly of barons confronted the despotic King John of England and demanded that traditional rights be recognized, written down, confirmed with the royal seal, and sent to each of the counties to be read to all freemen. King John agreed, binding himself and his heirs to grant “to all freemen of our kingdom” the rights and liberties described in the great charter, or Magna Carta.

Between 1215 and 1297, Magna Carta was reissued by each of King John’s successors. To meet his debts from foreign wars, King Edward I imposed new and harsher taxes in 1297. This provoked another confrontation between the king and the barons, resulting not only in the reissue of Magna Carta, but for the first time its entry into the official Statute Rolls of England. The 1297 document represents the transition of Magna Carta from a brokered agreement to the foundation of English law.

Only four originals of the 1297 Magna Carta remain. By the 17th century, the one displayed at the National Archives was in the possession of the Brudenell family, the earls of Cardigan. It was acquired by the Perot Foundation in 1984 and purchased by David Rubenstein in 2007. David Rubenstein has placed Magna Carta on loan to the National Archives as a gift to the American people.

# # #

For press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.


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TV: My Childhood.

Posted on 8 February 2011 by Libbi

Week 6: Radio and Television. What was your favorite radio or television show from your childhood? What was the program about and who was in it?

Of course, Twilight Zone, Star Trek and The Outer Limits.

Grew up in a town where everyone’s dad was a rocket scientist.

Posted in 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History | Leave a comment