Sunday, August 31, 2008

Best of the Genea-Blogs - Week of August 24-30, 2008

Several hundred genealogy and family history bloggers write thousands of posts every week about their research, their families, and their interests. I appreciate each one of them and their efforts.

My criteria for "Best of ..." are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy and family history, address current genealogy issues, provide personal family history, are funny or are poignant. I don't list posts destined for the genealogy carnivals, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.

Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week:

* Dissecting Obituaries by Wendy Littrell on the All My Branches blog. Wendy does an ice job of working through what obituaries really tell us, and the questions we should ask about the subject's life.

* Letting His Freak Flag Fly by Sasha Mitchell on the Memory Lane blog. Sasha tells the fascinating story of her father's life and ancestry. A great picture too - I wonder if it is for the Crowning Glory carnival?

* Tuesday Tales from the Road - Washington DC by Mary Mettler on the California Genealogical Society and Library blog. Mary's trip takes her to the DAR Library and sightseeing in Washington DC. I wish I was there!

* Letter to the editor (again) by Andrea Batcho on the I Find Dead People blog. Andrea is almost winning her battle to get the weeds at her cousin's plot in a local cemetery cut down.

* How to share your family history with your family - Why? and - How? by Janet Hovorka on The Chart Chick blog. Janet's series continues with great advice. She made a presentation about this subject at a local conference.

* New Episodes of the FGS 2008 Philly podcast are available by Paula Stuart-Warren on the FGS Conference Blog. Paula provides a list of the available podcasts and links to the FGS Conference Podcast blog site too. This is the first I've heard of these podcasts - I hope they stay posted online.

* Using DNA to Examine James Madison's Family Tree by Blaine Bettinger on The Genetic Genealogist blog. Blaine discusses DNA testing to determine if an African-American lady is a direct descendant of our 4th President. An interesting post!

* Social Networks and Genealogy: Part 1 by Craig Manson on the Geneablogie blog. Craig starts a series examining social networks - he starts with the growth of social networks and why they are good for genealogy.

* "A Search Strategy This Useful Shouldn't Be Kept Secret" Charlie Brown by Arlene H. Eakle on the Arlene Eakle's Virginia Genealogy Blog. Arlene provides excellent search strategies for Virginia research (applicable to many other states too!).

* Google Now Does Synonym Searches Automatically by Kathi on the Ancestor Search Blog. Kathi reveals a change in Google's searching - why haven't I read about this elsewhere? A great catch, Kathi!

* Freaky Friday - 4th Edition for 8/29/08 by Wendy Littrell on the All My Branches blog. I really liked this post by Wendy - many of us can relate to her comparison of the 1950s to present-day life in America. [Yep, I know I've posted two of Wendy's posts - when they're good, they're good!]

* National Institute on Genealogical Research by Kathryn M. Doyle on the California Genealogical Society and Library blog. Two CGS members attended this weeklong course and visited the National Archives, Library of Congress and DAR Library. I love road trips! Excellent report [another twofer for CGSL here!].

* Expanding the Reach of Genealogy Societies and Conferences by Dick Eastman on the Eastman Online Genealogy Newsletter blog. Dick has excellent examples and advice about this topic of interest to many of us, and so do his readers. Read all of the comments.

* August 29 - Friday from the Collectors: Women Wearing Glasses by Linda Palmer on footnoteMaven's Shades of the Departed blog. What a wonderful collection of pictures of women wearing glasses from Linda's collection.

* Foiling Around in the Cemetery by Rebeckah Wiseman on the Kinexxions blog. Becky describes the technique of wrapping aluminum foil around a tombstone to bring out the inscriptions. She listed later posts of her examples.

* The Reunion by Cat on the Genealogy - Digging Up Dirt blog. Cat tells us all about the family reunion she recently attended.

Thank you to all genealogy bloggers for an interesting and informative week. Did you notice some new blogs on this list? I hope so!

I encourage you to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add their blog to your Favorites, Bloglines, reader, feed or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - we all appreciate feedback on what we write.

Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me!

3 comments:

wendy said...

Randy - I want to thank you so much for including not only one of my posts but two! Also just to let you know - you do an amazing job of covering the genea-blogosphere and sharing links with all of us! I've read several of the posts you included and agree wholeheartedly that they are the "best of" this week! Thanks again!

Kathryn Doyle said...

Hi Randy,

Thanks for the Twofer! Isn't CGS lucky to have such talented (and well-traveled) members?

BTW, I should disclose that I use your "best-of" post for more than interesting reading. My other job for the society is to edit the CGS e-News where I feature "links to the blogosphere." Your picks are a great source - thanks!

Andrea B. (Red Loper) said...

Andrea spoke with the guy who mows the lawn and he cut down the weeds.. so when I get there next month I can do my secret ninja plan for weed annihilation. :)

I will win!

-anrea