Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Genealogywise = Facebook for Genealogists
It was bound to happen, and FamilyLink.com has done it. They started a dedicated "Facebook for Genealogists." I received an email today describing it,
which included:
"FamilyLink has created a new genealogy social network named GenealogyWise.com. It's like Facebook for genealogy, with member profiles, video sharing, forums, member blogs, chat, surname groups and more."
Of course, I had to try it out. [Note: there was no request to embargo this information...]
I found the web page at www.GenealogyWise.com and signed up for an account. Then I added my genealogy information (which can be edited) to create my page, and I was on the site.
Here is the home page:
On the home page, the member can check on the Latest Activity, read Blog Posts (apparently any member can post?), and deal with your account. The tabs across the top are Main, Invite (use your email client's address book? Um, not me!), My Page, Members, forum, Groups, Blogs, Video, Genealogy Search, Chat, Store, and More.
I changed the default template for "My Page to look like (two screens):
On this page, I can see my Friends, my Text Box, My Photos, and my Comments Wall.
which included:
"FamilyLink has created a new genealogy social network named GenealogyWise.com. It's like Facebook for genealogy, with member profiles, video sharing, forums, member blogs, chat, surname groups and more."
Of course, I had to try it out. [Note: there was no request to embargo this information...]
I found the web page at www.GenealogyWise.com and signed up for an account. Then I added my genealogy information (which can be edited) to create my page, and I was on the site.
Here is the home page:
On the home page, the member can check on the Latest Activity, read Blog Posts (apparently any member can post?), and deal with your account. The tabs across the top are Main, Invite (use your email client's address book? Um, not me!), My Page, Members, forum, Groups, Blogs, Video, Genealogy Search, Chat, Store, and More.
I changed the default template for "My Page to look like (two screens):
On this page, I can see my Friends, my Text Box, My Photos, and my Comments Wall.
This website sure looks more friendly than Facebook does, and it loads much quicker. Of course, there are not 200 million people on it yet to sort through!
Will this site work for the genealogy community? Only if a critical mass of members sign up and submit content. To me, a "critical mass" means tens of thousands, not hundreds, of active members. It's possible, I think.
Members on the site need "Friends" to share with, and so I invite my readers to be my Friends. The only way I saw to ask someone to be a Friend, other than submitting your email address book, or inputting individual email addresses, is to go to the Members page, clicking on each person's image, and click on "Add As Friend." The person will have to approve you as a Friend. You can search for a Member also, and after becoming their Friend, you can ask their Friends to be your Friend too.
I'm sure that I, and other bloggers, will have a lot more to say about this website. At first glance, it looks promising.
Labels: FamilyLink, My genealogy research, Social networks
More SCGS Genealogy Jamboree Audio/Video
There were at least three genealogy audio and video providers interviewing guests at the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree on 26-28 June in Burbank.
They included:
1) Roots Television - http://www.rootstelevision.com/ -- the interviews posted to date are:
* Paula Hinkel of SCGS, interviewed by Mathew Poe.
* Tukufu Zuberi of The History Detectives, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* Andrew Wait of Ancestry.com, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* Pat Richley, AKA dearMYRTLE, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* David Rencher of FamilySearch, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* Drew Smith of The Genealogy Guys Podcast, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* Thomas Kemp of GenealogyBank, interviewed by Matthew Poe.
* Katharine Hope Borges of ISOGG, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* Bennett Greenspan of FamilyTreeDNA, interviewed by Matthew Poe
* Jana Sloan Broglin, lecturer and writer, interviewed by Matthew Poe
* Bruce Buzbee of RootsMagic, interviewed by Matthew Poe.
* Christopher Child of NEHGS, interviewed by Matthew Poe.
* Eric Keith of Footnote.com, interviewed by Matthew Poe
* George G. Morgan of the Genealogy Guys, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* Tom Underhill of Creative Continuum, interviewed by Matthew Poe
* Illya D'Addezio of GenealogyToday and LiveRoots, interviewed by Matthew Poe
* Tony Burroughs, author, professor and genealogy expert, interviewed by Matthew Poe.
* Julie Miller, program chairperson of the 2010 National Genealogical Society Conference, interviewed by Dick Eastman.
2) The Genealogy Guys (George G. Morgan and Drew Smith) -- the video and podcasts posted to date (with videos to come later) include:
* Bruce Buzbee of RootsMagic, interviewed by Drew Smith (part of Podcast #176, near the end)
* Lisa Louise Cooke of Genealogy Gems Podcast, interviewed by Drew Smith (part of Podcast #177, near the end)
* Tukufu Zuberi of the History Detectives, interviewed by Drew Smith (part of Podcast #178)
* Julie Miller, CG, interviewed by Drew Smith (part of Podcast #179)
* Maureen A. Taylor, the Photo Detective, interviewed by George Morgan (part of Podcast #180).
* Janet Hovorka of GenerationMaps and author of The Chart Chick blog, interviewed by Drew Smith (part of Podcast #181, about 15:30 on the counter). This interview is also on video here.
* Craig Manson, legal expert and author of the Geneablogie blog, interviewed by Drew Smith (part of Podcast #181, about 28:40 on the counter).
3) Genealogy Gems TV and Genealogy Gems Podcast (Lisa Louise Cooke) -- the video and podcasts include:
* Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings blog, interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke on the Genealogy Gems YouTube channel (also in Podcast #67 about the SCGS Jamboree).
* Thomas MacEntee of Geneabloggers blog, interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke on the Genealogy Gems YouTube channel (also in Podcast #68)
* footnoteMaven of the footnoteMaven and Shades of the Departed blogs, interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke (in Podcast #38 of the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcasts)
* Schelly Talalay Dardashti of the Tracing the Tribe blog, interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke (in Podcast #39 of the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcasts).
* Denise Levenick of the Family Curator blog, interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke (in Podcast #39 of the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcasts).
* Tony Burroughs, Genealogy Expert, interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke on her Genealogy Gems YouTube channel.
* Janet Hovorka, The Chart Chick (Generation Maps), interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke on Episode #28 of the Genealogy Gems Premium podcasts.
* Jana Sloan Broglin, lecturer and writer, talking about Probate Records (and her DNA connection), interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke on her GenealogyGems YouTube Channel.
I will add more as they become available.
UPDATED last on 23 September 2009.
They included:
1) Roots Television - http://www.rootstelevision.com/ -- the interviews posted to date are:
* Paula Hinkel of SCGS, interviewed by Mathew Poe.
* Tukufu Zuberi of The History Detectives, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* Andrew Wait of Ancestry.com, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* Pat Richley, AKA dearMYRTLE, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* David Rencher of FamilySearch, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* Drew Smith of The Genealogy Guys Podcast, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* Thomas Kemp of GenealogyBank, interviewed by Matthew Poe.
* Katharine Hope Borges of ISOGG, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* Bennett Greenspan of FamilyTreeDNA, interviewed by Matthew Poe
* Jana Sloan Broglin, lecturer and writer, interviewed by Matthew Poe
* Bruce Buzbee of RootsMagic, interviewed by Matthew Poe.
* Christopher Child of NEHGS, interviewed by Matthew Poe.
* Eric Keith of Footnote.com, interviewed by Matthew Poe
* George G. Morgan of the Genealogy Guys, interviewed by Dick Eastman
* Tom Underhill of Creative Continuum, interviewed by Matthew Poe
* Illya D'Addezio of GenealogyToday and LiveRoots, interviewed by Matthew Poe
* Tony Burroughs, author, professor and genealogy expert, interviewed by Matthew Poe.
* Julie Miller, program chairperson of the 2010 National Genealogical Society Conference, interviewed by Dick Eastman.
2) The Genealogy Guys (George G. Morgan and Drew Smith) -- the video and podcasts posted to date (with videos to come later) include:
* Bruce Buzbee of RootsMagic, interviewed by Drew Smith (part of Podcast #176, near the end)
* Lisa Louise Cooke of Genealogy Gems Podcast, interviewed by Drew Smith (part of Podcast #177, near the end)
* Tukufu Zuberi of the History Detectives, interviewed by Drew Smith (part of Podcast #178)
* Julie Miller, CG, interviewed by Drew Smith (part of Podcast #179)
* Maureen A. Taylor, the Photo Detective, interviewed by George Morgan (part of Podcast #180).
* Janet Hovorka of GenerationMaps and author of The Chart Chick blog, interviewed by Drew Smith (part of Podcast #181, about 15:30 on the counter). This interview is also on video here.
* Craig Manson, legal expert and author of the Geneablogie blog, interviewed by Drew Smith (part of Podcast #181, about 28:40 on the counter).
3) Genealogy Gems TV and Genealogy Gems Podcast (Lisa Louise Cooke) -- the video and podcasts include:
* Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings blog, interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke on the Genealogy Gems YouTube channel (also in Podcast #67 about the SCGS Jamboree).
* Thomas MacEntee of Geneabloggers blog, interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke on the Genealogy Gems YouTube channel (also in Podcast #68)
* footnoteMaven of the footnoteMaven and Shades of the Departed blogs, interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke (in Podcast #38 of the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcasts)
* Schelly Talalay Dardashti of the Tracing the Tribe blog, interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke (in Podcast #39 of the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcasts).
* Denise Levenick of the Family Curator blog, interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke (in Podcast #39 of the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcasts).
* Tony Burroughs, Genealogy Expert, interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke on her Genealogy Gems YouTube channel.
* Janet Hovorka, The Chart Chick (Generation Maps), interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke on Episode #28 of the Genealogy Gems Premium podcasts.
* Jana Sloan Broglin, lecturer and writer, talking about Probate Records (and her DNA connection), interviewed by Lisa Louise Cooke on her GenealogyGems YouTube Channel.
I will add more as they become available.
UPDATED last on 23 September 2009.
Labels: Conferences/Seminars, Genealogy Video, SCGS
Study Program for Genealogists
Several of my society colleagues have asked me "what do you suggest that I study to improve my genealogy knowledge and research skills."
My answer has always been a haphazard ticking off of several thick genealogy books, including Greenwood's Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy, Mills' Professional Genealogy, and Mills' Evidence Explained, among others.
Elizabeth Shown Mills provided a 10-point blueprint that would provide solid grounding and enhanced skills for any genealogist. You can see the list on the Transitional Genealogist Forum mailing list here.
In my own case, I have every one of the books that Elizabeth recommends, except for The Source. I know our local library has it, so I'll start studying that too. Maybe it will help me write sources better? I'm involved in two study groups , one of which is using the Lichtman study method to discuss NGSQ articles, and the other is working through the Professional Genealogy book.
Perhaps the best aid for me has been the examples in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. In many articles, the case studies parallel my own research problems and can be used as a blueprint and provide research ideas for further research.
My answer has always been a haphazard ticking off of several thick genealogy books, including Greenwood's Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy, Mills' Professional Genealogy, and Mills' Evidence Explained, among others.
Elizabeth Shown Mills provided a 10-point blueprint that would provide solid grounding and enhanced skills for any genealogist. You can see the list on the Transitional Genealogist Forum mailing list here.
In my own case, I have every one of the books that Elizabeth recommends, except for The Source. I know our local library has it, so I'll start studying that too. Maybe it will help me write sources better? I'm involved in two study groups , one of which is using the Lichtman study method to discuss NGSQ articles, and the other is working through the Professional Genealogy book.
Perhaps the best aid for me has been the examples in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. In many articles, the case studies parallel my own research problems and can be used as a blueprint and provide research ideas for further research.
Labels: genealogy education, professional genealogy, Research techniques
Monday, July 6, 2009
New Look for Ancestry.com Family Trees - Post 2
I started my review of the Ancestry Member Tree "improvements" last week in New Look for Ancestry.com Family Trees - Post 1. In this post, I want to look at the Person Pages and discuss them a bit.
In the previous post about the "Family Tree" page, I struggled to find a link to "View Profile" of a person. I finally found it as an icon on the "Family Group Sheet" and as a link in the "Pedigree View" and "Family View." When I click on "View Profile," I see (two screens):
In the previous post about the "Family Tree" page, I struggled to find a link to "View Profile" of a person. I finally found it as an icon on the "Family Group Sheet" and as a link in the "Pedigree View" and "Family View." When I click on "View Profile," I see (two screens):
The "Person Page" above shows the "Overview" tab information - the person's name, birth and death information, media gallery items (I have none at this time), Timeline of Facts (with number of sources noted), Parents, Spouse(s) and Children, Historical Records (I have none right now) and Web Links (I have none right now). The "Historical Records" area is where the downloaded records from Ancestry.com databases would be listed. The "Web Links" is where a user might link to a static web page or blog post.
There are seven tabs on the menu bar - from "Overview" on the left to "Edit Person" on the right. Let's go left to right on these tabs:
When I click on the "Facts and Sources" tab, the "Facts and Events" page shows:
The link for "Sources" shows:
The Source information reflects the information included in the source citations I input for each fact in my database. I can add another source on this page, and delete a source, or edit an existing source by clicking on the source citation itself.
The "View note" link provides a popup box with the Notes that were in my genealogy database:
The user can edit or remove these Notes, but there are no editing tools (font type, font size, bold, italics, underline, justification, etc.). There is a message at the top of the Notes field that says: "Notes can only be viewed by the owner and by those invited to the tree as an 'Editor'."
The Source information reflects the information included in the source citations I input for each fact in my database. I can add another source on this page, and delete a source, or edit an existing source by clicking on the source citation itself.
The "Media Gallery" tab permits addition of photo images, text stories, and uploading of video and/or audio files. Uploading files is easy and fast. If I want other researchers to see my research Notes, I need to copy and paste them from the "View Notes" page.
The "Comments" tab permits other researchers to make comments on the information for this person in my family tree.
If I clicked on the "Hints" tab, I could see what records and other Ancestry Member Tree entries were found for my Person:
The next tab to the right is the "Member Connect," where the user can find others with this person in their family tree. However, this feature is still in work.
The last tab on the far right is the "Edit this person" tab, where the user can edit the birth and death information for the Person.
Clicking on the place name link on any of these pages takes the user to the Ancestry Maps Beta page with a map courtesy of Microsoft Maps Live Search. There are stick pins in the locations associated with the person and the places in the Facts and Timeline.
Back on the general Person Page (the first two screens above), there are other links in the box for the Person, including "Ancestry Hints," "Show immediate family," "View family tree," "Search historical records," "Print or publish," "View note" and "More options."
I clicked on the "Show immediate family" and saw this screen:
Back on the general Person Page (the first two screens above), there are other links in the box for the Person, including "Ancestry Hints," "Show immediate family," "View family tree," "Search historical records," "Print or publish," "View note" and "More options."
I clicked on the "Show immediate family" and saw this screen:
The "View note" link provides a popup box with the Notes that were in my genealogy database:
The user can edit or remove these Notes, but there are no editing tools (font type, font size, bold, italics, underline, justification, etc.). There is a message at the top of the Notes field that says: "Notes can only be viewed by the owner and by those invited to the tree as an 'Editor'."
In the "Print or Publish" link, the user can "Print" the page out, or choose to "Create book from your family tree" or "Create a poster from your family tree," using the MyCanvas publishing tool. The "Print" option provides a page with very small text (it must be a 6-size font - I need a magnifier to read it).
The "More options" link enables the user to "Create a military page," "Find famous relatives" and "Save person to another tree."
From the Person Page, the user can navigate to another person in the tree by:
* Clicking on the underlined (linked) name of another person on the Person Page
* Clicking on the "View family tree" link in the Person's box (just above the "Overview" tab)
* Use the "Home person" or "List of all people" links, or put the name of a person in the "search for a person in the tree" field.
This "Person Page" is pretty complicated, with Navigation and Information links and tabs mixed together. It might "look" better if all of the Navigation items were in one row (perhaps at the top?) and all of the Information items for the Person were in one row (perhaps at the bottom of the Person frame?).
The one "content" item I really don't like is the "View Notes" link which is hidden from other users unless they are an "editor." Why is this? It's supposed to be a "Public Member Tree." I can understand the need to keep anybody but an "editor" to change the notes, but they should be visible to the reader. If other researchers could read the Person Notes, they might be able to judge the veracity of the information provided, or know that they could add to it using a "Comment." All of my "Stories" are in my "Notes" field, and it would be a time waster for me to copy and paste each of them into a "Stories" Media item. I also think that the Notes should be able to be printed out as part of a genealogy report.
Genealogy reports? Well, there aren't any options here other than to "Create book from your family Tree" using the MyCanvas option. I've tried to do this several times and have been frustrated by the results and the limitations of the MyCanvas publishing tool. My suggestion is that additional text reports be formatted to provide an ancestry report (in Ahnentafel format) for up to 5 or 6 generations, a descendant's report for 5 or 6 generations, and a descendant's chart indented by generation; all with options to print Notes and Source citations (as end notes). These are the three most useful reports on the Rootsweb WorldConnect and Ancestry One World Tree databases.
This latest Ancestry Member Tree presentation is, in my judgment, a significant improvement. It seems pretty logical to me - with tabs and links to the different pages for each Person. However, I find that it is very difficult to navigate from one generation to another in these Ancestry Member Trees (too many clicks, takes too long to load pages, etc.), and it is very difficult to print out a useful and readable pedigree chart, family group sheet or genealogy report.
Labels: Ancestry.com, Family Trees, Genealogy Cloud, My genealogy research, Online resources
My Interview with Lisa Louise Cooke at Jamboree
Lisa Louise Cooke was a very busy interviewer and videographer at the SCGS Jamboree, along with her video producer, Lacey Cooke, Lisa's daughter.
I was fortunate to be one of the subjects of Lisa's friendly and easy-going interviewing style for one of her Genealogy Gems YouTube videos. My 12 minutes of fame (I guess I have three minutes left...) can be seen at (click on TV set):
Or click on the Play button below:
Well, what do you think? Like my shirt? My wife's shirt says "Geneaholic's Widow" for some reason. Lisa said I had a good "radio voice" - I wonder what she meant by that?
This interview was right out in the exhibit area at Jamboree so it is a little noisy in the background and there were some distractions of people walking by and talking to Lacey or Lisa without knowing what was happening.
I know that Lisa has many more interviews to show - I look forward to hearing and seeing them!
Thank you, Lisa and Lacey, for your hard work and fun efforts to bring genealogy video to your listeners and viewers, and to my readers too.
I was fortunate to be one of the subjects of Lisa's friendly and easy-going interviewing style for one of her Genealogy Gems YouTube videos. My 12 minutes of fame (I guess I have three minutes left...) can be seen at (click on TV set):
Or click on the Play button below:
Well, what do you think? Like my shirt? My wife's shirt says "Geneaholic's Widow" for some reason. Lisa said I had a good "radio voice" - I wonder what she meant by that?
This interview was right out in the exhibit area at Jamboree so it is a little noisy in the background and there were some distractions of people walking by and talking to Lacey or Lisa without knowing what was happening.
I know that Lisa has many more interviews to show - I look forward to hearing and seeing them!
Thank you, Lisa and Lacey, for your hard work and fun efforts to bring genealogy video to your listeners and viewers, and to my readers too.
Labels: Genealogy Video
TGN ==> Ancestry.com: Ho hum
The official announcement of the name change from The Generations Network to Ancestry.com was released today. You can read the press release on Dick Eastman's blog here.
What does all this mean? A little job security for the sign makers, the lawyers and bankers, and all of the programmers that have to change the corporate logo and web pages to reflect the name change. They didn't add or delete any properties.
I think that they missed the chance to rename themselves as something really meaningful - such as:
* The Ancestry Network (TAN, it's really a network, right?)
* The Genealogy Network (TGN, hmm, tried that acronym already, but this is the most logical one, isn't it?)
* All Your Relatives Belong To Us (AYRBUS)
* Ancestry-Roots-Genealogy.com (ARG.com)
* Family-Roots-Ancestry-Genealogy (FRAG, sort of an All-in-One name, eh?)
Drat - I should have made this the Saturday Night Genealogy Fun topic over the weekend!
Can you help Ancestry.com (previously, The Generations Network, MyFamily.com, Ancestry.com and Ancestry Publishing) figure out their next corporate name? They'll need another one in three to five years, I think. Write your own blog post or make a Comment here.
There is some interesting information in the press release for Ancestry.com watchers like me:
"Ancestry.com is the world's leading online family history resource, with more than 4 billion records, proprietary search technologies and an engaged community of 950,000 subscribers and more than 3.5 million active members."
"Ancestry.com is the world's leading resource for online family history and has digitized and put online over 4 billion records over the past twelve years. Ancestry users have created over ten million family trees containing over one billion profiles. Ancestry.com has local Web sites directed at nine countries, and more than 8 million unique visitors spent more than 4 million hours on an Ancestry Web site in April 2009 (comScore Media Metrix, Worldwide)."
The bottom line is still that it is the biggest commercial player in the genealogy world, appreciated by many, reviled by some, and trying hard to improve their product. This company will continue to grow only if they continue to add database content, improve their indexing and search functions, take their online family trees into the Genealogy Cloud, and greatly improve their book/report creation capabilities.
What does all this mean? A little job security for the sign makers, the lawyers and bankers, and all of the programmers that have to change the corporate logo and web pages to reflect the name change. They didn't add or delete any properties.
I think that they missed the chance to rename themselves as something really meaningful - such as:
* The Ancestry Network (TAN, it's really a network, right?)
* The Genealogy Network (TGN, hmm, tried that acronym already, but this is the most logical one, isn't it?)
* All Your Relatives Belong To Us (AYRBUS)
* Ancestry-Roots-Genealogy.com (ARG.com)
* Family-Roots-Ancestry-Genealogy (FRAG, sort of an All-in-One name, eh?)
Drat - I should have made this the Saturday Night Genealogy Fun topic over the weekend!
Can you help Ancestry.com (previously, The Generations Network, MyFamily.com, Ancestry.com and Ancestry Publishing) figure out their next corporate name? They'll need another one in three to five years, I think. Write your own blog post or make a Comment here.
There is some interesting information in the press release for Ancestry.com watchers like me:
"Ancestry.com is the world's leading online family history resource, with more than 4 billion records, proprietary search technologies and an engaged community of 950,000 subscribers and more than 3.5 million active members."
"Ancestry.com is the world's leading resource for online family history and has digitized and put online over 4 billion records over the past twelve years. Ancestry users have created over ten million family trees containing over one billion profiles. Ancestry.com has local Web sites directed at nine countries, and more than 8 million unique visitors spent more than 4 million hours on an Ancestry Web site in April 2009 (comScore Media Metrix, Worldwide)."
The bottom line is still that it is the biggest commercial player in the genealogy world, appreciated by many, reviled by some, and trying hard to improve their product. This company will continue to grow only if they continue to add database content, improve their indexing and search functions, take their online family trees into the Genealogy Cloud, and greatly improve their book/report creation capabilities.
Labels: Ancestry.com, Genealogy Industry, Online resources
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Best of the Genea-Blogs - June 28 - July 4, 2009
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:
* Online Digitized Collections for Genealogy by James Tanner on the Genealogy's Star blog. James compiled this list of websites with digitized genealogy books. Great finding aid!
* 20th Edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy by Jessica Oswalt on the Jessica's Genejournal blog. There were three entries in this monthly Carnival, and the topic was a Carousel (any topic the autohr chose).
* Your Oldest Relative has Photos for You! by Craig Manson in his Appealing Subjects column on footnoteMaven's Shades of the Departed blog. Craig points the way to http://www.usa.gov/ which has many photographs taken by and for government agencies. I didn't know this! Thanks, Craig.
* Is Google’s Search Really a Single Field? by The Ancestry Insider on the The Ancestry Insider blog. There are some interesting and useful tips in this post - but they aren't about Google per se - they are about other sites that do a better search than Google does!
* Comment: Successes and Failures of Genealogy Conferences by Dick Eastman on the Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter. Dick opines about why some genealogy conferences are successful and others flounder. Good ideas and excellent commentary!
* Why Twitter is Great for Genealogists by Tina on the Tina's Genealogical Wish List blog. Tina has excellent thoughts about using Twitter for more than promoting your blog posts.
* Graveyard Rabbits Carnival – July 2009 by Julie Tarr on The Graveyard Rabbit blog. There were 15 entries to this monthly Carnival on the subject of Obituaries - submitters were to find both a gravestone and an obituary.
* Preventing Identity Theft with the SSDI by Dick Eastman on the Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter. This is a timely article by Dick that explains why the SSDI is helpful to preventing identity theft. [I know - I have two of Dick's posts on this list - but they are good!]
* Days Four and Five: Longford, Day 6: Belfast, Day Seven: Belfast to Dublin,
Day Eight: Dublin, Day Nine: Dublin, Day Ten: Dublin, and Day Eleven: Last Day in Dublin by Doona Moughty on Donna's Genealogy Blog. I've been following donna's research trip to Ireland over the past two weeks. It's a great look at how an Irish genealogy expert does research.
* A Critique of Genetic Ancestry Testing in Science Magazine by Blaine Bettinger on The Genetic Genealogist blog. Blaine discusses the support of government regulation of genetic testing endorsed by five leading bioethicists, and has some different opinions about the issue.
* Taking on your Brickwalls by Gena Philibert Ortega on the Gena's Genealogy blog. Gena has an outstanding list of ways to attack your brickwall research problems.
* Will They Appear Again? by Denise Levenick in the Penelope Dreadful column on footnoteMaven's Shades of the Departed blog. Penelope writes another fascinating account - what a great picture too. Fiction? Non-fiction? Doesn't matter!
* THE "JUST MAKE UP SOME GENEALOGY LYRICS" GENEAMUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA! by Bill West on the West in New England blog. Challenge geneabloggers to something and they respond! Here is Bill's summary post for 13 geneablogger posts about genealogy-oriented lyrics sung to well-known music. Enjoy!
* ThinkGenealogy Innovator Award #4 by Mark Tucker on the ThinkGenealogy blog. Mark awards his innovation award to RootsMagic's developer team for implementation of research analysis classification of sources, information, and evidence.in RootsMagic 4. (edited)
* The 75th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy: Justice and Independence by Colleen McHugh on the Orations of OMcHodoy blog. There were 19 submittals for this Carnival on the subject of Justice and Independence.
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 - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I am currently reading posts from over 500 genealogy bloggers using Bloglines, but I still miss quite a few it seems.
Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.
UPDATED: 7:30 p.m. Mark Tucker emailed a correction my notes and I updated my item on his ThinkGenealogy blog post. Thanks, Mark.
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:
* Online Digitized Collections for Genealogy by James Tanner on the Genealogy's Star blog. James compiled this list of websites with digitized genealogy books. Great finding aid!
* 20th Edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy by Jessica Oswalt on the Jessica's Genejournal blog. There were three entries in this monthly Carnival, and the topic was a Carousel (any topic the autohr chose).
* Your Oldest Relative has Photos for You! by Craig Manson in his Appealing Subjects column on footnoteMaven's Shades of the Departed blog. Craig points the way to http://www.usa.gov/ which has many photographs taken by and for government agencies. I didn't know this! Thanks, Craig.
* Is Google’s Search Really a Single Field? by The Ancestry Insider on the The Ancestry Insider blog. There are some interesting and useful tips in this post - but they aren't about Google per se - they are about other sites that do a better search than Google does!
* Comment: Successes and Failures of Genealogy Conferences by Dick Eastman on the Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter. Dick opines about why some genealogy conferences are successful and others flounder. Good ideas and excellent commentary!
* Why Twitter is Great for Genealogists by Tina on the Tina's Genealogical Wish List blog. Tina has excellent thoughts about using Twitter for more than promoting your blog posts.
* Graveyard Rabbits Carnival – July 2009 by Julie Tarr on The Graveyard Rabbit blog. There were 15 entries to this monthly Carnival on the subject of Obituaries - submitters were to find both a gravestone and an obituary.
* Preventing Identity Theft with the SSDI by Dick Eastman on the Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter. This is a timely article by Dick that explains why the SSDI is helpful to preventing identity theft. [I know - I have two of Dick's posts on this list - but they are good!]
* Days Four and Five: Longford, Day 6: Belfast, Day Seven: Belfast to Dublin,
Day Eight: Dublin, Day Nine: Dublin, Day Ten: Dublin, and Day Eleven: Last Day in Dublin by Doona Moughty on Donna's Genealogy Blog. I've been following donna's research trip to Ireland over the past two weeks. It's a great look at how an Irish genealogy expert does research.
* A Critique of Genetic Ancestry Testing in Science Magazine by Blaine Bettinger on The Genetic Genealogist blog. Blaine discusses the support of government regulation of genetic testing endorsed by five leading bioethicists, and has some different opinions about the issue.
* Taking on your Brickwalls by Gena Philibert Ortega on the Gena's Genealogy blog. Gena has an outstanding list of ways to attack your brickwall research problems.
* Will They Appear Again? by Denise Levenick in the Penelope Dreadful column on footnoteMaven's Shades of the Departed blog. Penelope writes another fascinating account - what a great picture too. Fiction? Non-fiction? Doesn't matter!
* THE "JUST MAKE UP SOME GENEALOGY LYRICS" GENEAMUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA! by Bill West on the West in New England blog. Challenge geneabloggers to something and they respond! Here is Bill's summary post for 13 geneablogger posts about genealogy-oriented lyrics sung to well-known music. Enjoy!
* ThinkGenealogy Innovator Award #4 by Mark Tucker on the ThinkGenealogy blog. Mark awards his innovation award to RootsMagic's developer team for implementation of research analysis classification of sources, information, and evidence.in RootsMagic 4. (edited)
* The 75th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy: Justice and Independence by Colleen McHugh on the Orations of OMcHodoy blog. There were 19 submittals for this Carnival on the subject of Justice and Independence.
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 - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I am currently reading posts from over 500 genealogy bloggers using Bloglines, but I still miss quite a few it seems.
Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.
UPDATED: 7:30 p.m. Mark Tucker emailed a correction my notes and I updated my item on his ThinkGenealogy blog post. Thanks, Mark.
Labels: BestofGeneaBlogs, genealogy blogs
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Fourth of July Memories
It's Saturday Night on the Fourth of July - let's have some Genealogy Fun! If you're reading this on Sunday morning, or even later, it's not too late for you to participate.
Here is the assignment for tonight:
1. Think of the best Fourth of July you remember from your childhood.
2. Think of the best fourth of July you remember from your adulthood.
3. What did you do today?
4. Write about one, or all, of them on your blog or in Comments to this post.
Here's mine:
1. The best memory I have from my childhood was going over to my father's cousin's house and playing with sparklers and watching firecrackers go off. San Diego County was, and still is, a firecracker free county (but many break the law, of course). My father's cousin's husband, Chuck (we always called him just "Chuck," but his real name was Marshall Beal Chamberlain) bought firecrackers and sparklers from Tijuana (or from someone who snuck them up from Tijuana). And my brother and I got to wave the sparklers around. Chuck and his buddies would shoot off the firecrackers in their enclosed patio and yard. This may not sound like a big deal to you, but it was "forbidden fruit" in the 1950's for this San Diego boy.
The other memory I have is going to my grandparents house on Point Loma and driving along Rosecrans Street in their 1950 Hudson with fireworks going off overhead. I never liked being real close to the booms and these were a little too close.
2) As an adult, we often went to Coronado Beach on the 4th of July, sometimes with the girls softball team or the girls Brownie/Girl Scout troop. For several years, the team and coaches (I was the coach, Linda the manager) rode in an open truck in the Coronado 4th of July Parade down Orange Avenue. One year at the beach it was really cold - like 65 F and the wind blowing the sand in the afternoon. We never shed our outer clothes and never saw the sun that day. These beach outings usually ended with a fire in the concrete rings cooking S'mores.
3) We're off to the Padres-Dodgers game at 1:10 p.m. at Petco Park today. After that, we'll go to our church where there is a traditional picnic on the patio with lots to eat, games for the kids, enough shade for the sensitive, and fireworks in the evening from the adjacent San Diego Country Club. We always have front row seats! If we're lucky, Tami and her family will come for the game and picnic, but maybe not the fireworks, since it will be past Lolo and Audder's bedtime.
Here is the assignment for tonight:
1. Think of the best Fourth of July you remember from your childhood.
2. Think of the best fourth of July you remember from your adulthood.
3. What did you do today?
4. Write about one, or all, of them on your blog or in Comments to this post.
Here's mine:
1. The best memory I have from my childhood was going over to my father's cousin's house and playing with sparklers and watching firecrackers go off. San Diego County was, and still is, a firecracker free county (but many break the law, of course). My father's cousin's husband, Chuck (we always called him just "Chuck," but his real name was Marshall Beal Chamberlain) bought firecrackers and sparklers from Tijuana (or from someone who snuck them up from Tijuana). And my brother and I got to wave the sparklers around. Chuck and his buddies would shoot off the firecrackers in their enclosed patio and yard. This may not sound like a big deal to you, but it was "forbidden fruit" in the 1950's for this San Diego boy.
The other memory I have is going to my grandparents house on Point Loma and driving along Rosecrans Street in their 1950 Hudson with fireworks going off overhead. I never liked being real close to the booms and these were a little too close.
2) As an adult, we often went to Coronado Beach on the 4th of July, sometimes with the girls softball team or the girls Brownie/Girl Scout troop. For several years, the team and coaches (I was the coach, Linda the manager) rode in an open truck in the Coronado 4th of July Parade down Orange Avenue. One year at the beach it was really cold - like 65 F and the wind blowing the sand in the afternoon. We never shed our outer clothes and never saw the sun that day. These beach outings usually ended with a fire in the concrete rings cooking S'mores.
3) We're off to the Padres-Dodgers game at 1:10 p.m. at Petco Park today. After that, we'll go to our church where there is a traditional picnic on the patio with lots to eat, games for the kids, enough shade for the sensitive, and fireworks in the evening from the adjacent San Diego Country Club. We always have front row seats! If we're lucky, Tami and her family will come for the game and picnic, but maybe not the fireworks, since it will be past Lolo and Audder's bedtime.
My Revolutionary Roots
I wanted to post my list of Revolutionary War soldiers in order to honor them for their service:
* Martin Carringer (1758-1835) of Mercer County PA (RevWar Pension file)
* Martin Carringer (1758-1835) of Mercer County PA (RevWar Pension file) * Jacob Philip Row (1752-1817) of Hunterdon County NJ (RevWar Pension File)
* Peter Putman (1760-1835) of Hunterdson County NJ and Yates County NY (RevWar Pension file)
* Stephen Feather (17??-1804) of Middlesex County NJ and Westmoreland County PA
* Rudolf Spengler (1738-1811) of York County PA
* Philip Jacob King (1738-1792) of York County PA
* Burgess Metcalf (1741-1816) of Piermont, Grafton County, NH
* Isaac Buck (1757-1846) of Lancaster and Sterling, Worcester County, MA (RevWar Pension File)
* Thomas Dill (1755-1830) of Eastham, Barnstable County, MA (RevWar Pension File)
* Joseph Champlin (1758-1850) of South Kingstown, Washington County, RI (RevWar Pension File)
* Norman Seaver (1734-1787) of Westminster, Worcester County, MA
* Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816) of Westminster, Worcester County, MA
* Zachariah Hildreth (1728-1784) of Westford, Middlesex County, MA
* Zachariah Hildreth (1754-1828) of Townsend, Middlesex County, MA
* Amos Plimpton (1735-1808) of Medfield, Norfolk County, MA
* David Kirby (1740-1832) of Westport, Bristol County, MA
* Joseph Oatley (1756-1815) of South Kingstown, Washington County, RI.
Amazingly, each of them survived their wartime experiences.
I thank God for these men, the families that nurtured them, the wives that supported them, and the children who learned from them the importance of service to their country.
I continue to pray for the health and safety of all of our armed forces personnel, for the wisdom and perseverance of our leaders, and for the patience and understanding of our citizens as we continue the battle to keep America safe and free.
May God continue to bless the United States of America.
Labels: Military records, My genealogy research
Happy Fourth of July
Eleven score and thirteen years ago our forefathers brought forth a new country...it's our BIRTHDAY!!
What a magnificent work that Thomas Jefferson penned ... see the text here.
And the Trumbull painting of the signing...
Thank you, gentlemen. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Freedom is so precious. May our leaders be wise enough to preserve it, and may our citizens be brave enough to defend it.
For the Seaver folks in Chula Vista, today will be a day in the sun. We go to the Padres-Dodgers game at 1:10 p.m. and then to church for a picnic with friends capped by the fireworks display at 8:30 p.m. over the Country Club grounds - less than a quarter mile away. Big booms. My daughter and her family, including Lolo and Audder, will probably make it down for the game and picnic, but I'm not sure about the fireworks.
Genealogy will continue on Sunday!
What a magnificent work that Thomas Jefferson penned ... see the text here.
And the Trumbull painting of the signing...
Thank you, gentlemen. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Freedom is so precious. May our leaders be wise enough to preserve it, and may our citizens be brave enough to defend it.
For the Seaver folks in Chula Vista, today will be a day in the sun. We go to the Padres-Dodgers game at 1:10 p.m. and then to church for a picnic with friends capped by the fireworks display at 8:30 p.m. over the Country Club grounds - less than a quarter mile away. Big booms. My daughter and her family, including Lolo and Audder, will probably make it down for the game and picnic, but I'm not sure about the fireworks.
Genealogy will continue on Sunday!
Labels: Holidays
Friday, July 3, 2009
New Look for Ancestry.com Family Trees - Post 1
I noticed yesterday that http://www.ancestry.com/ had made their "new look" permanent in their Member Family Trees. See A New Look for Ancestry Member Trees on the Ancestry.com blog for details of what they did - and read the comments from users too. Not everyone is happy about this - the "I hate every change" factor is alive and well!
I like the look and feel of this family tree better than I liked the previous version. Ancestry.com says that it is faster - and I think it probably is (although I have no metrics for it), and am glad for that. Is it "fast enough?" Nothing is ever "fast enough," I fear!
Coincidentally, I uploaded a new "Ancestry of Randy Seaver" family tree yesterday with all of my updated information - names, facts, sources, etc. I then deleted my earlier family tree of the same name on which I had attached some images and records. So, my updated tree has no images or records attached to it at present.
I'm going to go exploring in my "new look" Family Tree and see if I can find things I like and want improved. When I click the "Family Trees" tab on the Ancestry.com home page, and then click on the "Ancestors of Randy Seaver" family tree link, I get this summary page:
It tells me my "Recent Activity" - photos, stories, videos, audio, and comments. I haven't added any yet. On the right side is a small table with the number of People, People with Hints, Photos, Stories, Video, Audio and Records in my tree. That is interesting, but I really want to see my Family Tree.
I clicked the "Family Tree" tab to the left of the "Recent Activity" tab, and saw a Pedigree Chart in the "Pedigree View":
This chart has buttons to move up, down, right or left in the chart, and to zoom in or out, similar to Google Maps.
I like the look and feel of this family tree better than I liked the previous version. Ancestry.com says that it is faster - and I think it probably is (although I have no metrics for it), and am glad for that. Is it "fast enough?" Nothing is ever "fast enough," I fear!
Coincidentally, I uploaded a new "Ancestry of Randy Seaver" family tree yesterday with all of my updated information - names, facts, sources, etc. I then deleted my earlier family tree of the same name on which I had attached some images and records. So, my updated tree has no images or records attached to it at present.
I'm going to go exploring in my "new look" Family Tree and see if I can find things I like and want improved. When I click the "Family Trees" tab on the Ancestry.com home page, and then click on the "Ancestors of Randy Seaver" family tree link, I get this summary page:
It tells me my "Recent Activity" - photos, stories, videos, audio, and comments. I haven't added any yet. On the right side is a small table with the number of People, People with Hints, Photos, Stories, Video, Audio and Records in my tree. That is interesting, but I really want to see my Family Tree.
I clicked the "Family Tree" tab to the left of the "Recent Activity" tab, and saw a Pedigree Chart in the "Pedigree View":
This chart lists the spouse and children of the #1 person on the chart, and the names, birth year and death year of the other persons on the chart. The little green "leafs" on the right side of each person's box are the "Hints" that Ancestry.com has found for your person.
The user can move to the next generation by clicking on one of the children of the #1 person, and can move to an earlier generation by clicking on one of the arrows on the rightmost generation.
There are two other Tabs in the main "Family Tree" tab - one for "Family" and one for "Family Group Sheet." I clicked on the "Family" tab and saw an all-in-one chart for two generations of ancestors and descendants:
This chart has buttons to move up, down, right or left in the chart, and to zoom in or out, similar to Google Maps.
I clicked on the "Family Group Sheet" tab and saw this view (two screens):
If I had thumbnail photos of each person in my online family tree, they would show up on this family group sheet. The chart itself is pretty standard - names, dates and places, but not names of the spouses of the children or their marriage date.
There are links to "Add Another Spouse," "Add a Child" and "Add a New Life Event" to the "Family Group Sheet" page. Sheet.
I wanted to navigate to the "Person Page" for Frederick Walton Seaver, and was confused - there was no link for the person's name - I wonder why? Then I noticed the four small icons to the right of the parent's names - for Ancestry Hints, for the Person Profile, for a Quick Edit, and for Search Historical Documents. There is a fifth one for the spouse - for Make Focus Person. Using the Person Profile icon appears to be the only way to navigate to a Person Page for the parents, other than to go back to the "Pedigree View" tab and click on the Person and the "View Profile" link. Clicking on any person on the Family Group Sheet takes you to their own Family Group Sheet, not to a Person Page. I also found that the "Add a New Life Event" link takes you to the "Person Page" for the selected person in the Family Group.
I wanted to navigate to the "Person Page" for Frederick Walton Seaver, and was confused - there was no link for the person's name - I wonder why? Then I noticed the four small icons to the right of the parent's names - for Ancestry Hints, for the Person Profile, for a Quick Edit, and for Search Historical Documents. There is a fifth one for the spouse - for Make Focus Person. Using the Person Profile icon appears to be the only way to navigate to a Person Page for the parents, other than to go back to the "Pedigree View" tab and click on the Person and the "View Profile" link. Clicking on any person on the Family Group Sheet takes you to their own Family Group Sheet, not to a Person Page. I also found that the "Add a New Life Event" link takes you to the "Person Page" for the selected person in the Family Group.
Navigation on the "Family Tree" tab could be better - I would prefer a "View Profile" link for each person on the Family Group Sheet view.
I wanted to make a printout of the Pedigree Chart and the Family Group Sheet. I didn't see any links, so I went to File > Print Preview > Print to get printouts. The Pedigree Chart looks best in a landscape format, but the print is very small and includes only the name, birth year and death year. The Family Group Sheet should be done in Portrait mode. In both charts, the font size is very small - almost unreadable for my old eyes. This feature needs to be greatly improved in order to make it useful to genealogists.
Aha! There is a blocky person icon on the right of the Pedigree View (but not the Family Group Sheet view) menu bar (white on green background) to create a "Printer Friendly" pedigree chart. It looks better, and includes the birth, marriage and death dates, but includes only the state, not the town and county, for the birth, marriage and death events.
In the next post, we'll look at the features on the "Person Page" and how to navigate around in it.
Labels: Ancestry.com, Family Trees, Genealogy Cloud, My genealogy research, Online resources
Facebook/Twitter Meetup at SCGS Jamboree
Okay, I'm just about done with my SCGS Jamboree photographs. Frankly, I wish that I had more to last the weekend as blog fodder (since my granddaughters are coming to visit).
During Jamboree, there was a Facebook and Twitter face-to-face meeting scheduled at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Naturally, many geneabloggers, blog-readers, Facebook Friends and Twitter tweeters dropped by, and I managed to take some pictures:
1) Madaleine Laird greeted me and said that she was a devoted GeneaMusings reader and thought that she might start a blog. Cool, I said - jump in! Here's Madaleine with "Rock Star" Amy Coffin from Houston (Amy brought the "Rock Star" ribbons that all of the geneabloggers wore - people asked about that! Wondered what band we were in - we said Geneabloggers... hmm, nobody ever heard of that group):
2) Somehow, Janet Hovorka and Kathryn Doyle managed to find an empty table for a heart-to-heart talk about fellow rock stars (I wonder what they were really talking about! Probably Kathryn's chart.):
3) Here is the only picture I have of my CVGS and SDGS colleagues from the weekend. The people I know are Jackie MacMaster (standing in white, on the left, SDGS member), Shirley Becker (sitting, back to camera, talking to Jackie, CVGS member), Susi Pentico (sitting, in red, CVGS member), and Pam Journey (standing, in lavender, SDGS member), and Bruce Buzbee (RootsMagic guru, not an SDGS/CVGS member, but many of us love his program! Pam leads the RootsMagic SIGs at SDGS and CGSSD):
4) The irrepressible (and I use this word totally accurately) Susan Kitchens brought wine and cheese to the FB/T meetup and shared it with the, um, group. Susan is the one on the left holding the cheese plate, Denise Levenick is grinning madly (how many glasses of wine?), and footnoteMaven is showing the empty wine bottle label:
5) In a quieter moment, before the wine and cheese was passed around, here are (from the left) Bruce Buzbee, Drew Smith and Thomas MacEntee trying to contain their glee at being at the FB/T meetup. Or they're tired out from two days of vendoring, talking, shopping, etc.:
During Jamboree, there was a Facebook and Twitter face-to-face meeting scheduled at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Naturally, many geneabloggers, blog-readers, Facebook Friends and Twitter tweeters dropped by, and I managed to take some pictures:
1) Madaleine Laird greeted me and said that she was a devoted GeneaMusings reader and thought that she might start a blog. Cool, I said - jump in! Here's Madaleine with "Rock Star" Amy Coffin from Houston (Amy brought the "Rock Star" ribbons that all of the geneabloggers wore - people asked about that! Wondered what band we were in - we said Geneabloggers... hmm, nobody ever heard of that group):
2) Somehow, Janet Hovorka and Kathryn Doyle managed to find an empty table for a heart-to-heart talk about fellow rock stars (I wonder what they were really talking about! Probably Kathryn's chart.):
3) Here is the only picture I have of my CVGS and SDGS colleagues from the weekend. The people I know are Jackie MacMaster (standing in white, on the left, SDGS member), Shirley Becker (sitting, back to camera, talking to Jackie, CVGS member), Susi Pentico (sitting, in red, CVGS member), and Pam Journey (standing, in lavender, SDGS member), and Bruce Buzbee (RootsMagic guru, not an SDGS/CVGS member, but many of us love his program! Pam leads the RootsMagic SIGs at SDGS and CGSSD):
4) The irrepressible (and I use this word totally accurately) Susan Kitchens brought wine and cheese to the FB/T meetup and shared it with the, um, group. Susan is the one on the left holding the cheese plate, Denise Levenick is grinning madly (how many glasses of wine?), and footnoteMaven is showing the empty wine bottle label:
5) In a quieter moment, before the wine and cheese was passed around, here are (from the left) Bruce Buzbee, Drew Smith and Thomas MacEntee trying to contain their glee at being at the FB/T meetup. Or they're tired out from two days of vendoring, talking, shopping, etc.:
I think that is all of my photographs. Other bloggers are posting theirs and I hope that someone will put together a summary post for all Jamboree blog posts.
Labels: Conferences/Seminars, photographs, SCGS
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Online Family Trees - Post 1: What I Want
After writing the Genealogy in the Cloud piece about how the "future of genealogy" is in using online databases, and not in desktop genealogy family tree software, I wrote What I Want in a Family Tree Program fully intending that it apply to both local computer software and online platforms.
What I did not mention in my "wants" and "needs" for online family trees was:
* If I make a change to my local software program - whether it be a name, date, place, relationship, image, note, source, etc., I want to be able to upload it to my online family tree also so that the two are synchronized (have exactly the same information).
* If I make a change to my online family tree - whether it be a name, place, relationship, image, note, source, etc., I want to be able to download it to my local software program so that the two are synchronized (have exactly the same information).
* I want both the local software program and the online family tree to have approximately the same navigation features, and to be able to move quickly within the database. By "quickly" I mean almost instantaneously - less than one or two seconds to jump from one person to another in the pedigree chart or the tree name index.
* I want the online family tree to be able to capture record images from any website (e.g., Ancestry, Footnote, FamilySearch, WorldVitalRecords, FindMyPast, Rootsweb, etc.) and attach it to a person in my online family tree.
* I want the online family tree to be able to capture the standard source citation for any record on any database and insert it into my online family tree.
* I want to be able to "copy-and-paste" text from a document on my local computer or from an Internet website into the Notes field in the online family tree.
* I want both the online family tree to be able to create, save and print out essentially the same types of reports with basic formatting options. My preference is that the online family tree program will create RTF, HTML and PDF reports similar to those in Family Tree Maker 2009, Legacy Family Tree 7, and RootsMagic 4.
* I want the online family tree to be able to create, save and print out essentially the same types of charts with basic formatting options. My preference is that the online family tree program will create pedigree, family group sheet, all-in-one, bow-tie, fan, wall and other charts similar to those in Family Tree Maker 2009, Legacy Family Tree 7, and RootsMagic 4.
* I want online family trees to be collaborative, so that other researchers can add to or edit my work, subject to some sort of privacy filter and approval process. This "want" conflicts with the first two "wants," I fear!
* I want the online family trees to be on the Internet forever ... not subject to the marketplace, hosting services, or death of the tree creator.
* I want access to the online family trees to be free to search by anybody.
Whew! I don't want much, do I? And some of those "wants" may conflict with others of the "wants." And with the "wants" of the online family tree providers. But hey - we're talking about "genealogy in the cloud" here...
Actually, all of those "wants" are essentially what I, and everybody else with genealogy software, has in the current crop of genealogy software programs. I'm using Family Tree Maker 2009, Legacy Family Tree 7 and RootsMagic 4 (and I know that there are other programs, but I don't have those other programs). They are my current standards of family tree excellence. However, they are not perfect - each can be improved, and probably will be improved over time.
Why should I accept anything less than what I have in an online family tree program? I shouldn't, and I won't. The minimum standard has to be the current crop local genealogy software programs, not the current crop of online family tree websites.
So the challenge is for the suppliers of online family trees to make their offerings so attractive and so capable that people will flock to their website and make the tree suppliers rich, or at least famous, and their customers happy.
So which family tree systems should I consider? The obvious answers include:
* www.Ancestry.com
* FamilySearch Family Tree
* www.Geni.com
* www.MyHeritage.com
* www.WeRelate.org
* www.GeneaNet.org
* www.OneGreatFamily.com
* www.Dynastree.com
* www.FamilyPursuit.com
* www.FamilyBuilder.com
And any other sites! What other online family tree website should I pursue here? Which one currently provides the most capability and meets my "wants" best?
I have a tree on almost every one of the listed websites (not FS Family Tree or OneGreatFamily - yet!). It is difficult to keep up with them all in any organized way.
What else do you want in an online family tree system? Tell me, tell the providers. That's what we're all here for.
What I did not mention in my "wants" and "needs" for online family trees was:
* If I make a change to my local software program - whether it be a name, date, place, relationship, image, note, source, etc., I want to be able to upload it to my online family tree also so that the two are synchronized (have exactly the same information).
* If I make a change to my online family tree - whether it be a name, place, relationship, image, note, source, etc., I want to be able to download it to my local software program so that the two are synchronized (have exactly the same information).
* I want both the local software program and the online family tree to have approximately the same navigation features, and to be able to move quickly within the database. By "quickly" I mean almost instantaneously - less than one or two seconds to jump from one person to another in the pedigree chart or the tree name index.
* I want the online family tree to be able to capture record images from any website (e.g., Ancestry, Footnote, FamilySearch, WorldVitalRecords, FindMyPast, Rootsweb, etc.) and attach it to a person in my online family tree.
* I want the online family tree to be able to capture the standard source citation for any record on any database and insert it into my online family tree.
* I want to be able to "copy-and-paste" text from a document on my local computer or from an Internet website into the Notes field in the online family tree.
* I want both the online family tree to be able to create, save and print out essentially the same types of reports with basic formatting options. My preference is that the online family tree program will create RTF, HTML and PDF reports similar to those in Family Tree Maker 2009, Legacy Family Tree 7, and RootsMagic 4.
* I want the online family tree to be able to create, save and print out essentially the same types of charts with basic formatting options. My preference is that the online family tree program will create pedigree, family group sheet, all-in-one, bow-tie, fan, wall and other charts similar to those in Family Tree Maker 2009, Legacy Family Tree 7, and RootsMagic 4.
* I want online family trees to be collaborative, so that other researchers can add to or edit my work, subject to some sort of privacy filter and approval process. This "want" conflicts with the first two "wants," I fear!
* I want the online family trees to be on the Internet forever ... not subject to the marketplace, hosting services, or death of the tree creator.
* I want access to the online family trees to be free to search by anybody.
Whew! I don't want much, do I? And some of those "wants" may conflict with others of the "wants." And with the "wants" of the online family tree providers. But hey - we're talking about "genealogy in the cloud" here...
Actually, all of those "wants" are essentially what I, and everybody else with genealogy software, has in the current crop of genealogy software programs. I'm using Family Tree Maker 2009, Legacy Family Tree 7 and RootsMagic 4 (and I know that there are other programs, but I don't have those other programs). They are my current standards of family tree excellence. However, they are not perfect - each can be improved, and probably will be improved over time.
Why should I accept anything less than what I have in an online family tree program? I shouldn't, and I won't. The minimum standard has to be the current crop local genealogy software programs, not the current crop of online family tree websites.
So the challenge is for the suppliers of online family trees to make their offerings so attractive and so capable that people will flock to their website and make the tree suppliers rich, or at least famous, and their customers happy.
So which family tree systems should I consider? The obvious answers include:
* www.Ancestry.com
* FamilySearch Family Tree
* www.Geni.com
* www.MyHeritage.com
* www.WeRelate.org
* www.GeneaNet.org
* www.OneGreatFamily.com
* www.Dynastree.com
* www.FamilyPursuit.com
* www.FamilyBuilder.com
And any other sites! What other online family tree website should I pursue here? Which one currently provides the most capability and meets my "wants" best?
I have a tree on almost every one of the listed websites (not FS Family Tree or OneGreatFamily - yet!). It is difficult to keep up with them all in any organized way.
What else do you want in an online family tree system? Tell me, tell the providers. That's what we're all here for.
Labels: Family Trees, Genealogy Industry, genealogy software, My genealogy research
What really happened at Jamboree? Elizabeth tells all!
I thought that I was done with SCGS Jamboree posts, but I can't help myself from posting this:
Quick - click over to Little Bytes of Life, Elizabeth O'Neal's genealogy blog, and read her posts about the Jamboree, including:
* JAMSTOCK '09: Massive Recycling Effort Underway at the Burbank Marriott
* JAMSTOCK 09: Exclusive Video of the Geneabloggers Dinner
* JAMSTOCK '09: What REALLY Happened at the Geneablogger Dinner
* JAMSTOCK '09: Son of Blogger Jamfest Rocks the Marriott
* JAMSTOCK '09: BREAKING NEWS
* JAMSTOCK '09: Genealogists Stage Sit-In
* JAMSTOCK '09: Let the Love Begin!
Elizabeth's stories are revealing and, um, creative... and funny as hell. Go read them for the pictures and the laughs. Well done, Elizabeth!
UPDATED 9 p.m.: Added two more posts - Elizabeth is on a roll here! This series will be difficult to top.
Quick - click over to Little Bytes of Life, Elizabeth O'Neal's genealogy blog, and read her posts about the Jamboree, including:
* JAMSTOCK '09: Massive Recycling Effort Underway at the Burbank Marriott
* JAMSTOCK 09: Exclusive Video of the Geneabloggers Dinner
* JAMSTOCK '09: What REALLY Happened at the Geneablogger Dinner
* JAMSTOCK '09: Son of Blogger Jamfest Rocks the Marriott
* JAMSTOCK '09: BREAKING NEWS
* JAMSTOCK '09: Genealogists Stage Sit-In
* JAMSTOCK '09: Let the Love Begin!
Elizabeth's stories are revealing and, um, creative... and funny as hell. Go read them for the pictures and the laughs. Well done, Elizabeth!
UPDATED 9 p.m.: Added two more posts - Elizabeth is on a roll here! This series will be difficult to top.
Labels: Conferences/Seminars, genealogy blogs, SCGS, strange or funny
Checking out the SCGS Jamboree Exhibits - Post 2
There were many exhibitors at the SCGS Jamboree at the Burbank airport Hotel and convention Center last weekend. I took some pictures of some of them. Part 1 is here. Here is my second installment:
1) I stopped by the Ancestry.com display on Friday afternoon and met Tony Macklin, who I've talked to on the telephone a few times:
2) I had made arrangements with Lisa Louise Cooke to do an interview for her Genealogy Gems podcast on Friday afternoon, and her daughter Lacey took this picture afterwards:
Kiril Kundurazieff (the Mad Macedonian) has a funny story on his blog about coming by Lisa's exhibit while doing the interview, and a good picture of the three of us. I will let you know when, or maybe if, the podcast is available from Lisa's pod- and video-cast empire.
3) Here's another picture of the Family Roots Publishing table showing Patty and Leland Meitzler frantically selling books.
4) The Generation Maps exhibit was one of the busier places. Kim and Janet Hovorka kept their chart printer real busy! Here's the lovely Janet posing in front of their display:
You can see a picture of Janet and I posing with the 8-generation pedigree chart that she printed out for me here. I'm trying to create "head shot" photos for as many ancestors as possible so that I can have Generation Maps create a really nice wall chart. It won't be 60+ feet of course. I'm thinking more of a fan chart with 10 generations. One for me, one for my wife. We can probably wallpaper several rooms with them!
1) I stopped by the Ancestry.com display on Friday afternoon and met Tony Macklin, who I've talked to on the telephone a few times:
2) I had made arrangements with Lisa Louise Cooke to do an interview for her Genealogy Gems podcast on Friday afternoon, and her daughter Lacey took this picture afterwards:
Kiril Kundurazieff (the Mad Macedonian) has a funny story on his blog about coming by Lisa's exhibit while doing the interview, and a good picture of the three of us. I will let you know when, or maybe if, the podcast is available from Lisa's pod- and video-cast empire.
3) Here's another picture of the Family Roots Publishing table showing Patty and Leland Meitzler frantically selling books.
4) The Generation Maps exhibit was one of the busier places. Kim and Janet Hovorka kept their chart printer real busy! Here's the lovely Janet posing in front of their display:
You can see a picture of Janet and I posing with the 8-generation pedigree chart that she printed out for me here. I'm trying to create "head shot" photos for as many ancestors as possible so that I can have Generation Maps create a really nice wall chart. It won't be 60+ feet of course. I'm thinking more of a fan chart with 10 generations. One for me, one for my wife. We can probably wallpaper several rooms with them!
That is all of the usable pictures I have from the exhibit area. Seriously, I meant to take a lot more, but talking to people seemed to be more important than taking their picture.
Labels: Conferences/Seminars, Genealogy Industry, SCGS
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Isaac Buck - Revolutionary War Soldier
One of my favorite ancestors is Isaac Buck (1757-1846). Not only did he live a long time, but he overcame trials and hardships, and he served in the Revolutionary War for the duration of the conflict.
His service in the Revolutionary War in both the Massachusetts Line and the Continental Line is summarized by this:
"During the Revolutionary War in 1775, young Isaac Buck was in Captain Benjamin Hastings company of Bolton, Colonel Asa Whitcomb's regiment. He was matross in Captain James Swan's company, Colonel James Craft's regiment, in 1776. A "matross" was a private in the army who aided the artillery gunners to load, fire and sponge the guns. He was also in Captain Philip Marett's company in 1776-1777. He was in the Continental Army in Captain John Houghton's company, Colonel Josiah Whitney's regiment in 1778, and was in Captain Redding's company, Colonel Gamaliel Bradford's regiment in 1777. In 1780 and 1781, he was in Captain Thomas Jackson's company, Colonel John Crane's Third Artillery regiment."
Another significant record of his life accomplishments is in his application for a Revolutionary War Pension. The Pension file (S34136) for Isaac Buck contains affidavits attesting to his war service and the circumstances of Isaac Buck life. He applied for a Pension in April 1818, and received it in 1820. It includes:
"I, Isaac Buck, a citizen of the United States, now resident at Sterling in the County of Worcester in the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and declare that in the War of the Revolution in the month of December in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, I entered and engaged in the land service of the United States on the continental establishment, and served accordingly from that time to the end of the war as a private against the common enemy without any interruption or absence, that I belonged to Captain Jackson's company of Artillery in Colonel Crane's Regiment under the command of General Knox, and that I left the service in the month of June 1783 at West Point when the Army was disbanded, and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life and poverty, I stand in need of assistance from my country and support being now of the age of sixty years - and I hereby relinquish all claims to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States if any may be or hath been allowed. My discharge was lost from my pocket many years since and is not in existence."
/signed/ Isaac Buck.
A schedule of the property belonging to Isaac Buck of Sterling as of May 1 1820 included:
"one cow - one clock - one table - one looking glass - one chest - one shovel - one tongs - crockery - glass stemware - one old axe - one hoe - one old plough - one old wagon - one pot - one kettle - one pair of dogs - three old chairs - six knives and forks - $30.25"
The schedule also says, apparently written for Isaac Buck:
"The said applicant is a farmer, but wholly unable to labour the present season on account of a wound in his shoulder in May last - and never expects to perform much labour hereafter. His wife named Patty Buck is aged 60 years - is barely able to do the work of her house. I have but one child at home named Isaac Buck aged 14 years and performs as much labour as other farmer's boys at his age, but does nothing toward my support. This is the whole of my family."
/signed/
Isaac Buck.
For his service, he was awarded a pension by the United States of $8 per month commencing 8 April 1818.
Isaac Buck participated in many of the historic campaigns of the Revolutionary War. He probably helped Henry Knox move the artillery from Ticonderoga to Boston in the winter of 1775-6, and probably was with Knox and Washington from then until the end of the War - fighting the British in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Isn't it amazing what records you can find for your ancestors?
I thank God for all of the Isaac Bucks who have served their country so well for so many years at the risk of life. They have kept, and are keeping, our country free and thriving.
Note - This is a repost from 15 September 2007 for the 75th Carnival of genealogy. Tim Abbott did a little more research on Isaac - see Tim's comment on my earlier post.
His service in the Revolutionary War in both the Massachusetts Line and the Continental Line is summarized by this:
"During the Revolutionary War in 1775, young Isaac Buck was in Captain Benjamin Hastings company of Bolton, Colonel Asa Whitcomb's regiment. He was matross in Captain James Swan's company, Colonel James Craft's regiment, in 1776. A "matross" was a private in the army who aided the artillery gunners to load, fire and sponge the guns. He was also in Captain Philip Marett's company in 1776-1777. He was in the Continental Army in Captain John Houghton's company, Colonel Josiah Whitney's regiment in 1778, and was in Captain Redding's company, Colonel Gamaliel Bradford's regiment in 1777. In 1780 and 1781, he was in Captain Thomas Jackson's company, Colonel John Crane's Third Artillery regiment."
Another significant record of his life accomplishments is in his application for a Revolutionary War Pension. The Pension file (S34136) for Isaac Buck contains affidavits attesting to his war service and the circumstances of Isaac Buck life. He applied for a Pension in April 1818, and received it in 1820. It includes:
"I, Isaac Buck, a citizen of the United States, now resident at Sterling in the County of Worcester in the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and declare that in the War of the Revolution in the month of December in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, I entered and engaged in the land service of the United States on the continental establishment, and served accordingly from that time to the end of the war as a private against the common enemy without any interruption or absence, that I belonged to Captain Jackson's company of Artillery in Colonel Crane's Regiment under the command of General Knox, and that I left the service in the month of June 1783 at West Point when the Army was disbanded, and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life and poverty, I stand in need of assistance from my country and support being now of the age of sixty years - and I hereby relinquish all claims to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States if any may be or hath been allowed. My discharge was lost from my pocket many years since and is not in existence."
/signed/ Isaac Buck.
A schedule of the property belonging to Isaac Buck of Sterling as of May 1 1820 included:
"one cow - one clock - one table - one looking glass - one chest - one shovel - one tongs - crockery - glass stemware - one old axe - one hoe - one old plough - one old wagon - one pot - one kettle - one pair of dogs - three old chairs - six knives and forks - $30.25"
The schedule also says, apparently written for Isaac Buck:
"The said applicant is a farmer, but wholly unable to labour the present season on account of a wound in his shoulder in May last - and never expects to perform much labour hereafter. His wife named Patty Buck is aged 60 years - is barely able to do the work of her house. I have but one child at home named Isaac Buck aged 14 years and performs as much labour as other farmer's boys at his age, but does nothing toward my support. This is the whole of my family."
/signed/
Isaac Buck.
For his service, he was awarded a pension by the United States of $8 per month commencing 8 April 1818.
Isaac Buck participated in many of the historic campaigns of the Revolutionary War. He probably helped Henry Knox move the artillery from Ticonderoga to Boston in the winter of 1775-6, and probably was with Knox and Washington from then until the end of the War - fighting the British in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Isn't it amazing what records you can find for your ancestors?
I thank God for all of the Isaac Bucks who have served their country so well for so many years at the risk of life. They have kept, and are keeping, our country free and thriving.
Note - This is a repost from 15 September 2007 for the 75th Carnival of genealogy. Tim Abbott did a little more research on Isaac - see Tim's comment on my earlier post.
Labels: genealogy resources, Military records, My genealogy research, Online resources
Check out the HistoryBeat pages from Footnote.com
Like many other geneabloggers, I received this information from Footnote.com:
"We wanted to let you know of an exciting new partnership between Footnote and the largest newspaper publisher in the US, the Gannett Company. Gannett, publisher of 84 daily newspapers including USA Today, will be able to digitize their vast archives for the first time by working together with Footnote.
"Through this partnership Footnote Members will be able to access valuable historical newspapers never seen before on the internet.
"In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Moon Landing and Woodstock, we have kicked off our partnership by digitizing the newspapers covering those events. We have recently launched the first runs of Florida Today and the Poughkeepsie Journal (NY). Footnote will continue to digitize the full run of those newspapers including all of the Poughkeepsie Journal, which goes back to 1785.
"Visit our Moon Landing (http://moonlanding.historybeat.com/) and Woodstock (http://woodstock.historybeat.com/) pages today and relive the 60’s man."
So I visited the pages and was rewarded with the Moon Landing page (two screens):
On each of these pages, there is a description of the event, and a gallery of pictures and documents.
"We wanted to let you know of an exciting new partnership between Footnote and the largest newspaper publisher in the US, the Gannett Company. Gannett, publisher of 84 daily newspapers including USA Today, will be able to digitize their vast archives for the first time by working together with Footnote.
"Through this partnership Footnote Members will be able to access valuable historical newspapers never seen before on the internet.
"In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Moon Landing and Woodstock, we have kicked off our partnership by digitizing the newspapers covering those events. We have recently launched the first runs of Florida Today and the Poughkeepsie Journal (NY). Footnote will continue to digitize the full run of those newspapers including all of the Poughkeepsie Journal, which goes back to 1785.
"Visit our Moon Landing (http://moonlanding.historybeat.com/) and Woodstock (http://woodstock.historybeat.com/) pages today and relive the 60’s man."
So I visited the pages and was rewarded with the Moon Landing page (two screens):
And for the Woodstock page (two screens):
On each of these pages, there is a description of the event, and a gallery of pictures and documents.
The reader can upload their own memories, stories and photographs.
The reader can also search the full collection of the Poughkeepsie Journal and Florida Today newspapers on Footnote.com. I looked for "Knapp" in the Poughkeepsie paper and found articles from the 1850's.
Will Footnote.com digitize all of the newspapers in the Gannett collections? The list of Gannett papers is at http://www.gannett.com/web/newspapers.htm. If so, this will be a tremendous benefit to genealogy researchers. Unfortunately, they don't publish a San Diego area newspaper.
Labels: Footnote.com, Oldtime newspapers, Online resources
Checking out the SCGS Jamboree Exhibits - Post 1
There were many exhibitors at the SCGS Jamboree at the Burbank airport Hotel and convention Center last weekend. I took some pictures of some of them. Here are my first installments:
1) Footnote.com had a corner space, and came with a curved screen. I'm not sure how that worked for their video display. Here is Gordon Atkinson of footnote.com in front of their display:
2) Tom Underhill of Creative Continuum, Inc. is one of the most creative and fun presenters and exhibitors. One of his products is coffee table photo books, so he brought in a couch and coffee table for his space. Here is Tom with two daughters sharing a family moment on the couch:
3) RootsMagic had a large display space, and Laurie and Bruce Buzbee were there all through the weekend.
1) Footnote.com had a corner space, and came with a curved screen. I'm not sure how that worked for their video display. Here is Gordon Atkinson of footnote.com in front of their display:
2) Tom Underhill of Creative Continuum, Inc. is one of the most creative and fun presenters and exhibitors. One of his products is coffee table photo books, so he brought in a couch and coffee table for his space. Here is Tom with two daughters sharing a family moment on the couch:
3) RootsMagic had a large display space, and Laurie and Bruce Buzbee were there all through the weekend.
4) Leland and Patty Meitzler own Family Roots Publishing and had a large display space and did a lot of business during the Jamboree. Bill Dollarhide signed many of his books for appreciative readers:
5) The WorldVitalRecords site was busy too. I forgot to write down who the gentleman was in the booth.
I will post several more photos from my walking around the exhibit hall. I neglected to get pictures of many of the exhibitors - I got so wound up talking to people! Oh well - next year!
5) The WorldVitalRecords site was busy too. I forgot to write down who the gentleman was in the booth.
I will post several more photos from my walking around the exhibit hall. I neglected to get pictures of many of the exhibitors - I got so wound up talking to people! Oh well - next year!
Labels: Conferences/Seminars, Genealogy Industry, SCGS
Family Photographs - Post 62: Betty and the Chickens
I'm posting old family photographs from my collection on Wednesdays, but they won't be wordless Wednesday posts like others do - I simply am incapable of having a wordless post.
This photograph is from my grandfather's photo album that I scanned during Scanfest in January:
This is one of my most precious pictures. Inside the family chicken coop, there is Betty Virginia Carringer looking the egg providers in the eye and maybe even trying to kiss them. Some of these chickens are about her size!
This picture was taken in late 1920, with several others, by my grandfather, Lyle Carringer. He dutifully noted the egg count for each day in his account book, and the prices he received for the eggs. I don't know where he sold them, though. Perhaps Emily or her mother sold them on the street or by a neighborhood market.
This photograph is from my grandfather's photo album that I scanned during Scanfest in January:
This is one of my most precious pictures. Inside the family chicken coop, there is Betty Virginia Carringer looking the egg providers in the eye and maybe even trying to kiss them. Some of these chickens are about her size!
This picture was taken in late 1920, with several others, by my grandfather, Lyle Carringer. He dutifully noted the egg count for each day in his account book, and the prices he received for the eggs. I don't know where he sold them, though. Perhaps Emily or her mother sold them on the street or by a neighborhood market.
Labels: My genealogy research, photographs, San Diego area
