Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Your 2023 "Dear Genea-Santa" Letter

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

(Photo courtesy of footnoteMaven)

Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. Here's your chance to sit on Genea-Santa's lap (virtually) and tell him your Christmas genealogy-oriented wish list:

1) Write your 2023 Genea-Santa letter. Have you been a good genealogy girl or boy? What genealogy-oriented items are on your Christmas wish list? They could be family history items, technology items, or things that you want to pursue in your ancestral quest.

2) Tell us about them in your own blog post, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook Status  post.  Please leave a link on this post if you write your own post.

Here's mine:

Dear Genea-Santa,

I tried so hard to be a good genea-boy again this year. I  hosted and moderated Zoom meetings with my local society, edited and wrote my society monthly newsletter, wrote over 870 blog posts, watched and participated in some Zoom webinars, attended RootsTech 2023 virtually, wrote about 50 genealogical sketches, transcribed about 50 probate records and obituaries, and helped several friends and colleagues with their research. In addition, I have added more names, facts, notes, and (especially) sources to my database.  I used the Reimagine app to scan photographs to the MyHeritage Photos collection and enhance and colorize them.  Also, I wrote 40 stories for my StoryWorth book.  

Thank you for last year's genealogy gifts - my T-shirt with all five grandkids photos was great, and I had a lot of fun writing my StoryWorth stories.  

Was I a bad genea-boy, or maybe you thought I had enough, or you were out of the other things.  I'll ask for them again, and add a few more!  I still BELIEVE!!!!! Come on, Santa, all I want for Christmas in 2023 are:

*  One of my descendants (out of two daughters and five grandchildren) becomes interested in their ancestry and family history and helps me out with mine.  

*  A Genea-AI ("Magic Genie AI") with Artificial Intelligence that can work 24 hours a day on writing my blog posts and getting my genea-piles organized - that is so boring and there is so much to do ... but it wouldn't have to sleep or eat, visit Angel Linda at the care facility, or even spend time with her (I promise!).  "Magic Genie AI" could also add Ancestry Record Hints and MyHeritage Record Matches to my RootsMagic database without having me having to type names, dates, places, notes, sources, etc. I'm sure that we can train "Magic Genie AI" to write quality source citations.  

*  That more genealogy researchers would post their extensive family trees on Ancestry, MyHeritage, Findmypast and FamilySearch with many source citations so that there would be more opportunity to find the common ancestors of my DNA matches.

*  That Ancestry.com provides all of their source citations to Evidence Explained standards, and  that they would fix the errors in their big tree which we can't see, but is used for the ThruLines and potential ancestors.  Also, that AncestryDNA provides a chromosome browser so we can triangulate matches better.

*  That FamilySearch makes more of their digitized microfilmed collections available from home.  Also, that they make adding Source information to person profiles in FamilySearch Family Tree easier.

*  That MyHeritage provides many more Record Matches to my tree there, and also provide "Theory of Family Relativity" connections with my DNA matches.  Also, that they continue to enhance the MyHeritage collections, the search function, the DNA product, and the Photo collection.  

*  That all of the desktop genealogy software programs will synchronize with the online family trees at Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage and Findmypast without losing any information.

*  That WikiTree and Geni online collaborative trees would synchronize with RootsMagic and other software programs similar to the Ancestry and FamilySearch synchronization efforts.

*  Solid leads on the parents of William Knapp (1775-1856), Devier James Lamphear Smith (1839-1894), Hannah Smith (1768-1827), Sarah Fletcher (1806-b1850), Mary Palmer (1790-1845), and the name of the wives of Cornelius Feather (1777-1853) and Stephen Feather (1736-1804),  would be welcome too!  

*  Good health and wealth for me and my family, all of my genealogy friends and their families, and for your wife, elves and reindeer.  I feel the sands of time are sifting out of my hourglass.

Thank you, Genea-Santa, for listening to my pleas. I will leave a nice personal meat-lovers pizza in the freezer for you (you can heat it in the kitchen microwave), a rosy red apple and some delicious chocolate chip cookies on the fireplace hearth, and some eggnog (in the refrigerator) for you on Christmas Eve just in case you need fortification. You can get a yummy Dove chocolate ice cream bar out of the freezer if you'd like. Nothing's too good for Genea-Santa - mi casa es su casa!  Please don't let your reindeer trample my solar panels on the roof.

/==============================================

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/12/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-your-2023.html

Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Added and Updated FamilySearch Record Collections - Week of 25 November to 1 December 2023

I am keeping track of the new and updated historical record collections at FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list) every week.

As of 1 December 2023, there are 3,253 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of 2 from last week):

The new and updated collections this week from FamilySearch are:

--- Collections Added ---

*  Arizona, U.S. District Court Naturalization Records, 1870-1955 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000150); 10,939 indexed records with 6,585 record images, ADDED 30-Nov-2023

*  Colombia, Censuses, 1777-1967 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000123); 9,012 indexed records with 1,483 record images, ADDED 30-Nov-2023

--- Collections Updated ---

Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1972912); 4,630,159 indexed records with 978,396 record images (was 4,629,586 records with 978,396 images), UPDATED 25-Nov-2023
Argentina, Chaco, Civil Registration, 1889-1946 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4450393); 106,217 indexed records with 105,796 record images (was 106,134 records with 105,716 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023
Argentina, Entre Ríos, Catholic Church Records, 1764-1983 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974185); 671,014 indexed records with 235,772 record images (was 670,909 records with 235,772 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023
Argentina, Neuquén, Catholic Church Records, 1883-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974191); 33,742 indexed records with 11,873 record images (was 33,728 records with 11,873 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023
Australia, Victoria, Wills, Probate and Administration Files, 1841-1926 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2207846); 230,172 indexed records with 3,998,555 record images (was 223,915 records with 3,998,555 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023

Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration, 1582-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482191); 74,925 indexed records with 6,411,594 record images (was 73,763 records with 6,411,594 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration, 1800-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138511); 673,226 indexed records with 372,768 record images (was 669,965 records with 372,768 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Bolivia Catholic Church Records, 1566-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,374,919 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,372,408 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Brazil, Alagoas, Church Records, 1802-2016 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820768); 1,199,139 indexed records with 179,955 record images (was 1,197,787 records with 179,294 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Brazil, Cemetery Records, 1850-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2137269); 994,710 indexed records with 150,972 record images (was 994,706 records with 150,972 images), UPDATED 28-Nov-2023

Brazil, Mato Grosso, Civil Registration, 1845-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001286); Index only (817 records), no images (was 817 records with 0 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Civil Registration, 1879-1949 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3479702); 892,694 indexed records with 371,846 record images (was 891,287 records with 371,194 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Brazil, Paraná, Civil Registration, 1852-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016194); 3,115,285 indexed records with 1,689,031 record images (was 3,110,778 records with 1,689,031 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Brazil, Pará, Civil Registration, 1815-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4473609); 221,407 indexed records with 67,446 record images (was 210,894 records with 64,236 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Civil Registration, 1860-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3741255); 1,719,779 indexed records with 874,492 record images (was 1,719,291 records with 874,256 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023

Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration, 1829-2012 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1582573); 6,906,609 indexed records with 5,100,470 record images (was 6,906,187 records with 5,100,470 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Brazil, Santa Catarina, Civil Registration, 1850-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016197); 754,891 indexed records with 1,037,638 record images (was 754,572 records with 1,037,638 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Brazil, Sergipe, Catholic Church Records, 1785-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177298); 1,257,755 indexed records with 273,847 record images (was 1,254,594 records with 273,847 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Chile, Catholic Church Records, 1633-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3405096); 8,119,458 indexed records with 1,024,706 record images (was 8,110,706 records with 1,023,602 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 26,409,728 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 26,397,676 records with 12,659,776 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023

Colombia, Civil Registration, 1553-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469480); 799,405 indexed records with 853,639 record images (was 799,182 records with 853,489 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Costa Rica, Catholic Church Records, 1595-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1460016); 4,334,688 indexed records with 962,203 record images (was 4,333,971 records with 962,203 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2040054); 2,993,727 indexed records with 1,421,761 record images (was 2,993,675 records with 1,421,761 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023
Czech Republic, Church Books, 1552-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1804263); 12,306,596 indexed records with 4,668,489 record images (was 11,686,273 records with 4,668,489 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Democratic Republic of the Congo, National Identity Cards, 1884-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000100); 622,385 indexed records with 622,382 record images (was 12 records with 12 images), UPDATED 28-Nov-2023

Denmark, Copenhagen City, Civil Marriages, 1739-1964, Index 1877-1964 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2341913); 362,912 indexed records with 112,568 record images (was 355,403 records with 112,568 images), UPDATED 26-Nov-2023
Dominican Republic, Catholic Church Records, 1590-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1918910); 2,285,851 indexed records with 238,265 record images (was 2,284,923 records with 238,265 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Ecuador, Catholic Church Records, 1565-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1923402); 6,149,902 indexed records with 1,454,787 record images (was 6,149,833 records with 1,454,787 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023
France, Calvados, Census, 1876 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279948); 66,267 indexed records with 4,986 record images (was 62,754 records with 4,820 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023
France, Haute-Garonne, Census, 1896 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000057); 59,804 indexed records with 1,039 record images (was 41,572 records with 722 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023

France, Pas-de-Calais, Parish and Civil Registration, 1553-1902 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469407); 4,837,059 indexed records with 1,507,317 record images (was 3,557,457 records with 1,110,053 images), UPDATED 25-Nov-2023
Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal, Civil Registration, 1810-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000010); 81,524 indexed records with 79,977 record images (was 79,208 records with 77,754 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate, Diocese of Mainz, Catholic Church Records, 1540-1952 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4127803); 2,263,151 indexed records with 273,910 record images (was 2,263,151 records with 275,466 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023
Gibraltar, Church Records, 1697-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4453925); 50,271 indexed records with 4,829 record images (was 49,306 records with 4,737 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Guatemala, Chiquimula, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790265); 450,059 indexed records with 352,294 record images (was 449,499 records with 351,972 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023

Guatemala, Guatemala, Civil Registration, 1877-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075150); 4,578,420 indexed records with 1,486 record images (was 4,578,201 records with 1,486 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023
Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Civil Registration, 1877-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2451045); 996,693 indexed records with 17,993 record images (was 996,414 records with 17,993 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023
Guatemala, Izabal, Civil Registration, 1877-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2443319); 419,613 indexed records with 9,848 record images (was 419,349 records with 9,848 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023
Haiti, Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Catholic Church Records, 1866-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279947); 74,704 indexed records with 14,599 record images (was 72,896 records with 12,016 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Hawaii, Hawaii State Archives, Probate Packet Records, 1814-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3463463); 33,135 indexed records with 31,127 record images (was 30,628 records with 26,019 images), UPDATED 29-Nov-2023

Hawaii, Registrar of Bureau of Conveyances, Deed Records, 1846-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3478266); 40,953 indexed records with 22,375 record images (was 40,144 records with 22,671 images), UPDATED 28-Nov-2023
India, Catholic Church Records, 1751-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4491581); 817,536 indexed records with 62,781 record images (was 650,187 records with 57,315 images), UPDATED 25-Nov-2023
Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1740-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820100); 4,916,671 indexed records with 157,960 record images (was 4,846,891 records with 165,030 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Italy, Nuoro, Nuoro, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1946873); 23,819 indexed records with 118,771 record images (was 23,819 records with 118,771 images), UPDATED 29-Nov-2023
Italy, Sassari, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1803-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464417); 50,824 indexed records with 17,672 record images (was 50,584 records with 17,557 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023

Italy, Treviso, Treviso, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947831); 7,619 indexed records with 427,232 record images (was 7,386 records with 427,232 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023
Italy, Venezia, Venezia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043809); 32,197 indexed records with 628,744 record images (was 30,668 records with 628,744 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Martinique, Church Records, 1662-1847 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316497); 13,406 indexed records with 2,253 record images (was 13,363 records with 2,244 images), UPDATED 29-Nov-2023
Martinique, Civil Registration Records, 1809-1874 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316501); 320 indexed records with 88 record images (was 320 records with 88 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Mexico, Michoacán, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1883388); 5,764,939 indexed records with 5,283,986 record images (was 5,764,363 records with 5,283,986 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023

Mexico, Puebla, Catholic Church Records, 1545-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837906); 8,977,695 indexed records with 6,124,553 record images (was 8,974,334 records with 6,124,553 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Mexico, Querétaro, Catholic Church Records, 1590-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1881200); 3,033,955 indexed records with 1,380,077 record images (was 3,033,554 records with 1,380,077 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
New York, U.S. District and Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2060123); 3,769,280 indexed records with 2,187,206 record images (was 3,669,255 records with 2,187,206 images), UPDATED 28-Nov-2023
Ohio, Stillbirths, 1918-1953 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000024); 160,849 indexed records with 160,680 record images (was 159,533 records with 159,364 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Paraguay, Civil Registration, 1842-2012 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000049); 3,361 indexed records with 4,182 record images (was 2,836 records with 3,484 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023

Paraguay, Military Records, 1870-1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2506770); 992,683 indexed records with 893,965 record images (was 992,557 records with 794,558 images), UPDATED 28-Nov-2023
Pennsylvania, Western District, Naturalizations, 1820-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000034); 367,231 indexed records with 268,257 record images (was 363,113 records with 282,352 images), UPDATED 26-Nov-2023
Peru, Catholic Church Records, 1603-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1877097); 20,964,542 indexed records with 4,192,353 record images (was 20,949,470 records with 4,192,353 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Portugal, Setúbal, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1935451); 1,088,228 indexed records with 829,309 record images (was 1,087,948 records with 829,309 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645-1969 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1807092); 3,317,176 indexed records with 191,547 record images (was 3,312,444 records with 191,547 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023

Puerto Rico, San Juan, Cemetery Records, 1888-1988 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4376727); 83,234 indexed records with 29,054 record images (was 68,841 records with 22,542 images), UPDATED 28-Nov-2023
Russia, Lutheran Church Book Duplicates, 1833-1885 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469151); 355,225 indexed records with 128,317 record images (was 352,620 records with 128,317 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
South Africa, Cape Province, Civil Records, 1840-1972 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1779109); 3,133,648 indexed records with 2,216,270 record images (was 3,131,545 records with 2,216,270 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
South Africa, Western Cape, Deceased Estate Files, 1951-1958 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4319131); 421,961 indexed records with 342,621 record images (was 421,112 records with 342,603 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023
Sweden, Jönköping Church Records, 1581-1935; index 1633-1860 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1930273); 154,088 indexed records with 721,027 record images (was 148,949 records with 721,027 images), UPDATED 27-Nov-2023

United States, California, San Francisco, Records of Chinese Laborers Returning to the US, 1882-1888 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3233819); 51,387 indexed records with 5,842 record images (was 51,097 records with 2,304 images), UPDATED 28-Nov-2023
Uruguay Civil Registration, 1879-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837849); Index only (1,080,975 records), no images (was 1,073,852 records with 0 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Venezuela Civil Registration, 1873-2003 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823609); 1,074,779 indexed records with 586,312 record images (was 1,072,768 records with 586,312 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Venezuela, Archdiocese of Caracas, Catholic Church Records, 1638-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4465438); 179,206 indexed records with 68,201 record images (was 175,327 records with 67,090 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Birth Records, 1853-1896 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000046); 1,938,307 indexed records with 42,222 record images (was 1,936,548 records with 42,173 images), UPDATED 30-Nov-2023

--- Collections with new images ---

France, Hautes-Alpes, Census, 1856 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820771); 260,627 indexed records with 5,174 record images (was 260,627 records with 4,681 images), last updated 23-Aug-2022

--- Collections with images removed ---

Australia, South Australia, Immigrants Ship Papers, 1849-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2613135); 578,819 indexed records with 23,036 record images (was 578,819 records with 23,081 images), last updated 18-Feb-2021
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Record of Members (Worldwide), 1836-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3714676); 608,834 indexed records with 56,981 record images (was 608,834 records with 64,752 images), last updated 17-Nov-2023

--- Collections with records removed ---

California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1949339); Index only (4,879,208 records), no images (was 4,879,209 records with 0 images), last updated 06-Dec-2011
United States Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,610,087 records), no images (was 875,610,094 records with 0 images), last updated 19-Aug-2020

=======================================================

My friend and SDGS colleague, Marshall, has come up with a way to determine which collections are ADDED, DELETED or UPDATED, and to alphabetize the entries in each category. Thanks to Marshall for helping me out here!

In order to select a specific record collection on FamilySearch, go to   https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list and use the "Filter by collection name" feature in the upper left-hand corner and use keywords (e.g. "church england") to find collections with those keywords.

Each one of the collections listed above has a Research Wiki page (use the "Learn more" link). It would be very useful if the Wiki page for each collection listed the dates for when the collection was added as a new collection and the dates for major updates also.

=============================================

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/12/added-and-updated-familysearch-record.html

Copyright (c) 2023 Randall J. Seaver

Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not be posted immediately.

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 25 November to 1 December 2023

 The following genealogy record collections were listed on the Recently Added and Updated Collections on Ancestry.com during the period from 25 November to 1 December 2023: 

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

*  Missouri Synod, USA, Lutheran Church records, 1851-1972; indexed records with record images, ADDED 11/30/2023

*  Luxembourg, Belgium Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1577-1809 (in French); indexed records without record images, ADDED 11/30/2023

*  East Flanders, Belgium, Birth, Marriage, Death Records, 1581-1910 (in French); indexed records without record images, ADDED 11/30/2023

*  Walloon Brabant, Belgium Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1600-1870 (in French); indexed records without record images, ADDED 11/30/2023

=========================================

The complete Ancestry.com Card Catalog is at   https://search.ancestry.com/search/CardCatalog.aspx.  

By my count, there were 4 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,378 collections available as of 1 December, an INCREASE of 4 from last week.  

                              ==============================================

Disclosure: I receive a complimentary all-access subscription from Ancestry.com, for which I am thankful. Ancestry.com has provided material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and has hosted events and meals that I have attended in Salt Lake City, in past years.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/12/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record.html

Please note that all Comments are moderated so they may not appear immediately.  

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

My Maternal Grandfather, Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976)

Lyle Lawrence Carringer[1-10] was born on 2 November 1891 in San Diego, California, the only child and son of Henry Austin and Abbey Ardelle "Della" (Smith) Carringer. When he was born, the family resided at 16th and Market Streets in San Diego.  

They built a house at 2105 30th Street (northeast corner of 30th and Hawthorn) in San Diego in 1898, and Lyle grew up in that house.  

The photograph above shows the Carringer home in about 1900.  The persons shown (from the left) are:  Della (Smith) Carringer (mother), Lyle Lawrence Carringer (self), D.J.Carringer (grandfather), Henry Austin Carringer (father), Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer (grandmother), Edgar Carringer (uncle) and Abbie (Vaux) Smith (grandmother).

Lyle lived his entire life in San Diego. He attended kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grade at Logan School, 3rd through 8th grade at Sherman Elementary School, and attended San Diego High School from September 1909 to June 1914[10]. He also attended Kelsey-Jenney Commercial College night school.

While still a youth, he started work as a cash boy at Marston's Department Store in 1905 at 6th and C Street in downtown San Diego. By 1917, he had worked as a cashier, mail order clerk, post office clerk and floorwalker[10]. He worked as a clerk and as an accountant at Marston's for many years, and retired in 1960.  He rode the trolley car down 30th Street to Broadway and downtown San Diego to go to work until the trolley tracks were removed in the late 1940s.  

Lyle enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 7 May 1917 as a Private Class 4, to serve four years[9]. His enlistment record says he was a floorwalker, citizen of the US, 67-3/4 inches tall, weighed 121 pounds, with hazel eyes, brown hair, fair complexion, a chest expansion from 30 inches to 34-1/2 inches. On 1 August 1917, he qualified as a marksman at North Island, noting "lucky, as have never handled rifle before." His service record says he trained in San Diego and Washington state, was posted to the Barracks Detachment at the Marine Barracks in Balboa Park, but did not see action in World War I. He was a clerk in the Post Exchange at the base on 6 August 1917, until the war ended. On 29 March 1919, he was transferred to inactive status, and was honorably discharged on 6 May 1921.

Lyle Lawrence Carringer and Emily Kemp Auble were married on 19 Jun 1918 in San Diego, San Diego, California, United States[7,10-12] by the Rev. H.E. Crabtree at the Central Christian Church in San Diego.

A marriage license notice for Lyle L. Carringer, age 26 of San Diego, and Emily K. Auble, age 19 of San Diego, was published in the 21 June 1918 edition of the San Diego Union newspaper[12]. On the same page, the marriage announcement was listed:

"Miss Emily Auble Weds Lyle Carringer, U.S.M.C.

"Mrs. Georgia K. Auble has announced the marriage of her daughter, Emily Kemp Auble, to Lyle Carringer, who is stationed with the marines at Balboa Park. The wedding took place last Wednesday afternoon at the parlors of the Central Christian church, only the immediate families of the two being present at the ceremony, performed by Rev. W.E. Crabtree.

" The young people are both residents of San Diego, and attended the local high school. Mr. Carringer is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Carringer, 2105 Thirtieth street, who are almost pioneers of this city. He has been in the canteen at the Exposition camp for the past year, but is expecting to leave soon.

"The wedding was very quiet and came as a complete surprise to the many friends of the couple. The bride wore a blue silk suit with a large white hat, and had no attendants. Mr. and Mrs. Carringer will make their home at the Marine View apartments at First and Hawthorne streets."

Early in their marriage, Lyle and Emily Carringer rented a house at 2054 Harrison Street in San Diego, where their only child was born[10]:

i Betty Virginia Carringer, born 30 Jul 1919, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States[14]; married Frederick Walton Seaver Jr., 12 Jul 1942, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States; died 4 Jan 2002, El Cajon, San Diego, California, United States[15].

In the 1920 U.S. census, this family resided at 2054 Harrison Avenue in San Diego, San Diego County, California[16]. The family included:

• Lyle L. Carringer -- head, rents, male, white, age 28, married, can read, can write, born CA, father born PA, mother born KS, an auditor in a dry goods store, a worker
• Emily K. Carringer -- wife, female, white, age 20, married, can read, can write, born IL, father born NJ, mother born Canada
• Betty Carringer -- daughter, female, white, age 5 months, born CA, father born CA, mother born IL
• Georgia K. Auble -- mother-in-law, female, white, age 50, a widow, born in Canada, parents born Canada, immigrated in 1889, naturalized in 1898

In 1920, the family built and moved into a new house at 2130 Fern Street in San Diego. Lyle borrowed money from his parents to build the house, and Betty remembers the mortgage was $21.10 per month. Lyle inherited all of the family property when his father died in 1946. The gardens on the property had plants, vegetables, berry bushes and fruit trees. There was a greenhouse on the 2130 Fern Street property[10].

In the 1930 United States census, the Lyle L. Carringer family resided at 2130 Fern Street in San Diego, San Diego County, California[17]. The household included:

• Lyle L. Carringer - Head, owns home, worth 10,000, has a radio, male, white, age 38, married, first at age 26, born California, parents born Pennsylvania/Wisconsin, an office worker, works in dry goods store
• Emily K. Carringer - Wife, female, white, married, first at age 18, born Illinois, parents born New Jersey/Canada English
• Betty V. Carringer - daughter, female, white, single, born California, parents born California/Illinois
• Georgia K. Auble - mother-in-law, female, white, age 61, widow, born Canada English, parents born Canada English/Canada English, native language English, immigrated in 1890, a naturalized citizen.

From the San Diego Union newspaper, dated 24 March 1935, on page 18:

"Carringer Gardens, Model of Beauty, Have Also Wealth of Entertainment"

By Ada Perry

"Mr. and Mrs. Lyle L. Carringer, 2130 Fern st., are never bored with their garden. They have four fish pools in it filled with finny pets that are always on the move. Sometimes they move out on the grass but the Carringers chalk this up to playfulness and continue to enjoy the aquatic aspects of their home.

"The Carringer place is distinctly in the livable small garden or outdoor living room class. The pools are strategically located to invite folks outdoors for pleasure and relaxation. One pool, the smallest, is placed near the rear door of the house as a starting point. From there to a sunny larger pool planted to lilies and overhung with shrubs is a natural step.

"Other parts of the garden planted in flowers, cacti and succulents and several fruit trees are easily accessible from the second pool and then the Carringers and their friends naturally gravitate to a lath house furnished with chairs and tables.

"There are sources of amusement in the lath house. The remaining pools are located there. One is a rill in the heart of a pretty rockery and the other a shadowy oval presided over by a rice plant with curving stalks topped with leaves like giant hands. Directly above the pool a tree rests apparently on the water. The invisible stand which holds it up represents some clever household ingenuity. It was formerly a piano stool.

"A grill is built at the end of the lath house on a rock structure. The grill space can be filled with a decorative potted plant when not in use although the Carringers have found it a consistent entertainer.

"Next the grill in a glass house annex is a surprise feature. On shelves are aquariums filled with tropical fish, paradise, moons, guppies and other fancy swimmers weaving about in grassy water jungles; blinking, gobbling and raising families in the most distracting style. The glass house is heated for them and each aquarium has individual radiators and thermometers for perfect comfort.

"Tropical aquariums are often kept indoors but the Carringers have theirs handy to the pools where fish life from goldfish to guppies can be observed. Certain of the tropicals are moved to the goldfish pools at favorable times for variety."

Lyle sold the property at 2123 and 2127 30th Street (identified as the westerly 29 feet of lots 5, 6 and 7 in block 61 of Seaman & Choate's Addition on Map 631) to his wife, Emily, as her separate property, on 22 January 1938 (Grant Deed recorded in Book 741, Page 214). She subsequently granted it to the both of them as joint tenants on 5 September 1950[10].

In the 1940 U.S. Census, this family resided at 2130 Fern Street in San Diego, San Diego County, California[18]. The household included:

• Lyle L. Carringer - Head of household, male, white, age 48, married, 4 years of high school, born California, lived in same house in 1935, worked the last week of March 1940, occupation is office clerk, Industry is Retail Dep[artmen]t Store, worked 52 weeks in 1939, earned $1,475 in 1939, did not make over $50 in other income.
• Emily K. Carringer (provided information) - Wife, female, white, age 41, married, attended school in March 1940, 3 years of high school, born Illinois, lived in same house in 1935, did not work the last week of March 1940, had a job, occupation is clerical & saleslady, Industry is Retail Dep[artmen]t Store, worked 52 weeks in 1939, earned $269 in 1939, made over $50 in other income.
• Betty Z. Carringer - Daughter, female, white, age 20, single, attended school in March 1940, 4 years of college, born California, lived in same house in 1935, did not work the last week of March 1940, in School, occupation is student art clerk, Industry is College, worked 6 weeks in 1939, earned $100 in 1939, made over $50 in other income.
• Georgia K. Auble - Mother in law, female, white, age 71, widowed, 4 years of high school, born Ontario, Naturalized citizen, lived in same house in 1935, did not work the last week of March 1940, did Housework, occupation is housewife, Industry is own home, earned $0 in 1939, made over $50 in other income.

Lyle L. Carringer registered for the World War II Draft Registration (for men born between 1877 and 1897) in 1942; his registration card for Lyle L. Carringer includes this information[19]:

• NAME (Print): Lyle L. Carringer
• PLACE OF RESIDENCE (Print): 2130 Fern St San Diego, San Diego Calif
• MAILING ADDRESS: Same
• TELEPHONE: R3683
• AGE IN YEARS: 50 DATE OF BIRTH: Nov 2 1891
• PLACE OF BIRTH: San Diego Calif.
• NAME AND ADDRESS OF PERSON WHO WILL ALWAYS KNOW YOUR ADDRESS: Mrs. Emily K. Carringer 2130 Fern St San Diego Calif
• EMPLOYER'S NAME AND ADDRESS: Marston & Co. 6th & C St San Diego Calif.
• PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT OR BUSINESS: 6th & C Sts San Diego San Diego Calif.
• AFFIRM THAT I HAVE VERIFIED ABOVE ANSWERS AND THAT THEY ARE TRUE.
• Lyle L. Carringer (Registrant's Signature)

In the 1950 United States Census, the Lyle L. Caringer household resided at 2115 30th Street in San Diego, San Diego County, California[20]. The household included:

• Caringer, Lyle L - head, white, male, age 58, married, born California, worked last week, worked 45 hours, an office man, for invoice office in department store, a private company, lived in same house a year ago, father born U.S., mother born U.S., highest grade S12, finished S12, over 50 years old, $3615 income as employee, did not work in own business, $3510 earned as dividends, interest, rents, etc., relatives earned $0 as employee, relatives earned $0 in own business, relatives earned $900 from dividends, interest, rents, etc., did not serve in WW2, did serve in WW1, no other service.
• Caringer, Emily K - wife, white, female, age 50, married, born Illinois, worked keeping house in 1949, did no other work last week, not looking for work, has no job or business.
• Auble, Georgia H - mother-in-law, white, female, age 82, widowed, born Canada Eng, naturalized citizen, worked keeping house in 1949, did no other work last week, not looking for work, has no job or business.

Lyle and Emily sold the 2130 Fern Street property (lots 5, 6 and 7 in block 61 of Seaman & Choate's Addition on Map 631, except the westerly 29 feet thereof) on 25 September 1950 to John M. and Leona E. Smith for $8,850. They subsequently sold the property to William Phillips. Lyle and Emily also sold the south lot (the south 20 feet of Lot 10 and all of Lots 11 and 12) for $9,000 to Glenn Glasford on 16 November 1950. He built apartment houses on the property[10].

The remaining parcels (the two-story apartment at 2114/2116 Fern Street, the two-story apartment at 2115/2119 30th Street, and the two cottages at 2123 and 2127 30th Street) passed to their daughter Betty Seaver after Lyle died in 1976 and Emily died in 1977. Betty sold the properties in the early 1980s to Steve and Gilda Sandoval[10].

On 24 August 1950, Lyle and Emily purchased a triangular lot on Point Loma at the intersection of Armada Terrace and Harbor View Place (identified as Lots 14 and 15 in Block 4 of Ironton according to Map 689, the address was 825 Harbor View Place) from Edmund and Eleanor Pieper for $3,750 (Grant Deed recorded in Book 3759, Page 119). They built a unique and beautiful two bedroom wood home overlooking San Diego Bay with a fantastic view of the City, San Diego Bay, North Island and points south, and the mountains to the east. They planted fruit trees and many colorful shrubs on the terraced land below the house. Their grandchildren have fond memories of many Christmas Eves spent bedded down in the spare bedroom, singing Christmas carols, and falling asleep before Santa Claus came[10].

Starting in the 1920s until the end of his life, Lyle Carringer collected postage stamps and corresponded with other stamp collectors from all over the world. Over the years, friends from Pitcairn Island and Australia came to visit them. Family, friends and coworkers sent postcards from their travels all over the world. He was also an excellent photographer, and the family albums have many pictures of family groups, San Diego scenes, and of his daughter. He was a hardy and enterprising man who liked to garden, do handyman work on the properties, and go for automobile rides in the countryside. He was a disciplined, kind and gentle man, yet firm, who loved his family very much[10].

Lyle died in a San Diego convalescent hospital from pulmonary edema and cardia failure due to colon cancer on 5 November 1976[4,6,9,21-23]. Emily died following a stroke at home less than a year later.

Lyle's obituary (San Diego Union newspaper, 11 November 1976[22] and San Diego Evening Tribune, 10 November 1976[23]) reads:

"Lyle L. Carringer

"Services will be at 1:30 p.m. today in the Chapel of Prayer at Cypress View Mortuary for Lyle L. Carringer, 85, of 825 Harbor View Place, a lifelong county resident who died Friday in a hospital. Inurnment will be in the mortuary mausoleum.

"Mr. Carringer, a native San Diegan who attended Sherman Elementary School and was graduated from the old Russ High School, was an accountant at the old Marston Department Store for 46 years before retiring in 1960. He served in the Marine Corps during World War I and was a member of the Marston Oldtimers and the East End gang.

"Survivors include his wife, Emily K.; a daughter, Mrs. Betty Seaver of San Diego; three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren."

His body was cremated, and is inurned at Cypress View Mausoleum (Bronze Corridor, Niche 60) in San Diego, CA[24].

SOURCES:

1. unknown, Devier J. Smith, 1889-1920, Devier J. Smith Family Bible [loose pages of Birth, Marriages, Death and Note Pages] (no publication information), Lyle Lawrence Carringer birth entry, 2 November 1891.

2. San Diego County, California, Certificate of Death, Lyle Lawrence Carringer, died 5 November 1976; State of California, Department of Health (certificate dated 18 November 1976) .

3. Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer, Carringer Family Births, Marriages and Deaths (loose pages, 1828-1946) (n.p. : n.p., n.d. before 1901), Marriages, Lyle Lawrence Carringer and Emily Kemp Auble entry, 19 June 1918.

4. Social Security Administration, "U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014," online database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), Lyle Carringer (1891-1976) entry.

5. Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer, Carringer Family Births, Marriages and Deaths (loose pages, 1828-1946), Births, Lyle L. Carringer entry, 2 November 1891.

6. San Diego County, California, Certificate of Death, Lyle Lawrence Carringer, died 5 November 1976; State of California, Department of Health (certificate dated 18 November 1976) .

7. Family data, D.J. Carringer and Rebecca Spangler Family Bible, The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments, (New York: World Publishing Co., 1885); original owned in 2014 by Randall J. Seaver, 1154 Via Trieste, Chula Vista, Calif., USA, D.J. and Rebecca Carringer to Henry Austin Carringer to Lyle Carringer to Betty Carringer to Randall Seaver.

8. Smith/Carringer Family Correspondence (Loose Letters, 1888–1902), Abigail (Vaux) Smith list of family births and deaths, Henry Austin Carringer and Abbie Ardell (Della) Smith marriage entry, 11 September 1887, originals privately held by Randall J. Seaver [1154 Via Trieste, Chula Vista CA 91911],1988 (great grandson). Family letters to and from Abigail (Vaux) Smith, Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer, and Della (Smith) Carringer. written by Abbie (Vaux) Smith in about 1895, passed to Della (Smith) Carringer in 1931, to Lyle L. Carringer in 1946, to Betty (Carringer) Seaver in 1977, and to Randall J. Seaver (2nd great-grandson) in 1988.

9. "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," indexed database, Ancestry.com, (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 November 2011), entry for Lyle Carringer (1891-1976), SSN 553109373; citing Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

10. Personal knowledge of the author, Randall J. Seaver [1154 Via Trieste, Chula Vista CA 91911]; including memories and knowledge from his mother, Betty Virginia (Carringer) Seaver.

11. California, San Diego County, Marriage Certificate, Lyle L. Carringer and Emily K. Auble certificate, 19 June 1918.

12. Lyle L. Carringer and Emily K. Auble marriage, 19 June 1918, issued by Central Christian Church, San Diego, California. marriage certificate by supplied by Betty (Carringer) Seaver; held in 2018 by Randall J. Seaver (1154 Via Trieste, Chula Vista, Calif.).

13. "Miss Emily Auble Weds Lyle Carringer, U.S.M.C.," San Diego [CA] Union, 21 June 1918, page 8, marriage announcement for Lyle L. Carringer and Emily K. Auble, 19 June 1918; online index and digital image, GenealogyBank (https://www.genealogybank.com ), Historical Newspapers, in Newspaper Archives, 1690-2010 collection.

14. San Diego County, California, Birth Certificate, Betty Virginia Seaver, born 30 July 1919, Department of Public Health Index No. 798 (1919).

15. San Diego County, California, Certificate of Death, Betty Virginia Seaver, died 4 January 2002; State of California, Department of Health (certificate dated 11 January 2002).

16. 1920 United States Federal Census, San Diego County, California, San Diego city; ED 341, Sheet 3B, Lyle Carringer household; online database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, Roll 132.

17. 1930 United States Federal Census, San Diego County, California, population schedule, San Diego City, enumeration district (ED) 116, Sheet 5A, Dwelling #142, Family #148, Lyle L. Carringer household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 July 2012); citing National Archives microfilm publication T626, Roll 192.

18. 1940 United States Census, San Diego County, California, population schedule, San Diego: E.D. 62-63A, Sheet 16-B, Dwelling #426, Lyle L. Carringer household; digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 April 2012), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T627, Roll 451.

19. "United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," Indexed database and digital images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org), entry for Lyle L. Carringer, San Diego, Calif., born 2 November 1891.

20. 1950 United States Federal Census, California, San Diego County, San Diego city, ED 72-293, Sheet 14, Line 25, 2115 30th Street, Lyle L. Caringer household, National Archives (https://1950census.archives.gov/ : accessed 31 March 2022).

21. "California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997," online database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org), Lyle L. Carringer death date: 5 November 1976, San Diego County, California.

22. San Diego [Calif.] Union, print edition (San Diego, Calif. : San Diego Union Publishing Company), 11 November 1976, Lyle L. Carringer obituary.

23. San Diego [Calif.] Evening Tribune, print edition (San Diego, Calif. : San Diego Union Publishing Company), issue dated 10 November 1976, page E-3, Lyle L. Carringer obituary.

24. Cypress View Mausoleum and Memorial Park (San Diego, California), Bronze Corridor, Niche 61, Lyle L. Carringer (1891-1976).

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/12/my-maternal-grandfather-lyle-lawrence.html

Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

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Findmypast Friday: Two New Canadian Collections and More Newspapers

  I received this information from Findmypast today:

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Celebrate Canadian stories this    Findmypast  Friday with two brand-new collections 

Canada, Military Honours and Awards Index 

This new set from Library and Archives Canada contains over 113,000 transcriptions, taken from a variety of medal award collections. For around 28,000 of them you’ll also find an original image. You’ll typically discover a name, regiment, rank, medal type, and the date it was awarded. The collection spans  over 150 years, from 1812 to 1969. 

Canada, Courts Martial of the First World War Index 

Also new this week is an index of court martial records, recounting members of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces who were accused of military and civilian offences.  You’ll find some detail of a person’s offence in these 11,000 records, plus their name, service number, rank, regiment and unit, and the date of the event. Some of the transcripts also contain further remarks to shed more light on each case.

 

Newspapers 

Did your ancestors make the news? Two new titles, updates to a further 16, and over

218,000 new pages make up this week’s newspaper release.  

New titles: 

• Kidderminster Shuttle, 1889 
• Scotland on Sunday, 1988-2002 

Updated titles: 

• Atherstone News and Herald, 1997-1998 
• Carrick Times and East Antrim Times, 1994 
• Coleshill Chronicle, 1991-1992, 1997-1998 
• Crowthorne Times, 1987 
• Croydon Post, 1997-1998 
• Edinburgh Evening News, 1982 
• Football Post (Nottingham), 1999 
• Fulham Chronicle, 1990 
• Gloucestershire Echo, 1986-1989 
• Londonderry Sentinel, 1989, 1992-1994 
• Lurgan Mail, 1990 
• Peterborough Herald & Post, 1996 
• Portadown Times, 1982-1997 
• Protestant Vanguard, 1933-1934 
• Skelmersdale Advertiser, 1987 
• Western Evening Herald, 1999 

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Disclosure: I have a complimentary subscription to Findmypast, and have accepted meals and services from Findmypast, as a Findmypast Ambassador. This has not affected my objectivity relative to Findmypast and its products.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/12/findmypast-friday-two-new-canadian.html

Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Book Review: "Leaving a Legacy, Turn Your Family Tree Into a Family Book" by Rebecca Shamblin

 Leaving a Legacy, Turn Your Family Tree Into a Family Book is an excellent how-to book for creating a genealogy or family history book using Family Tree Maker 2019 (desktop genealogy software from MacKiev), Family Book Creator (an FTM plug-in program by Stefan Harms), a modern word processor, and an online book publisher.

Rebecca Shamblin explains:

“Creating family history books is the culmination of over twenty years of genealogical research for me. I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to hold a physical book in your hands, safely guarding your hard work for generations to come. Computer hardware and software evolve, and we have all experienced the heartbreak of a corrupt file or a mysterious error holding our data hostage. Modern technology is essential for research, but good old-fashioned paper and ink is just as critical. We need that physical legacy.

“However, taking years of research and trying to turn it into a cohesive narrative is no simple task. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and put it off until next year, especially if you feel the burden of ancestral honor, and want to do “right” by your family.”

In this book, she describes the complex process to weave a family tree created in Family Tree Maker 2019 software (with names, relationships, dates, places, events, notes, source citations, and photographs for thousands of historical persons) with the Family Book Creator plug-in, a modern word processor (she used Microsoft Word for the examples), and an online book publisher (she used Lulu.com). Rebecca discusses many best practices for the many steps in the process to come up with a well-researched and lovingly presented family history book as a result of genealogy research.

The chapters in the book describe:

• Introduction: Summary of the Process, Helpful Tools, Barriers to Success

• Phase 1 – Planning: Book Structure, Genealogy Software, Choosing a Printing Solution, Word Processor Settings

• Phase 2 -- Research: Research Tips, What to Include In Your Book

• Phase 3 – Writing: Using Family Book Creator, Chapter Structure, Writing Biographies, Sources, Working With Images, Indexes (Word/FBC), Layout Tips (Word), Create the Extras

• Phase 4 – Printing: Final Review, Exporting for Print, Lulu.com Settings, Add a Cover (Lulu), Preview Your Book, Proofs & Revisions.

• Phase 5 – Distribution: Giving Away Copies, Selling Copies, Conclusion

• Supplements

The “Documents” section in the “Phase 2: Research” chapter provides an excellent list, and examples, of the genealogy records that you can find and incorporate into your family history book.

In the “Phase 3: Writing” chapter, Rebecca describes how to use Family Book Creator to build the parts of your book using the information you have gathered. There are tips to create the book organization, a family description, items to include, using family charts, formatting, source citations, and notes. The user has many options to consider when using Family Book Creator, including a Foreword, Colophon, Dedication, Table of Contents, and Indexes. Rebecca shares her preference for document creation, source citations, name formats, report style and format, notes, images, fonts, page layout, headers and footers, and more.

As with any genealogy or family history book, you will have to do all of the work – researching your families, obtaining family stories and photographs, inputting information into Family Tree Maker 2019 in the recommended fields, learning how to use Family Book Creator, being consistent in included information, and making the final product in a word processor into a readable and presentable creation. Only then, can you publish a book from a PDF format to an online publisher or to an eBook publisher like Lulu.

The “Phase 4: Printing” chapter describes the process of turning your manuscript into a published book. Rebecca explains PDF settings, Lulu.com settings, book designs, color pages, paper type, book binding, and covers. This chapter also covers previewing your book, proofs and revisions, proofreading, and revisions after the book is published.

In the “Phase 5: Distribution” chapter, she covers giving away copies (in paper or in PDF), distributing your book to archives, selling your books, and pricing considerations.

All in all, this is one of the very best and organized way to write and publish a family history book. Rebecca Shamblin has done all the heavy work of actually creating the book in a skillful and complete way. It isn’t an easy “just press this button” task, but if you want to publish this type of book, then this is a fantastic guide.  I always say "listen to the voice of experience when you tackle a difficult task."

• Copyright © 2023 by Rebecca Shamblin All Rights Reserved.
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Life Remembered Press (October 28, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 266 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8989322800
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 1 year and up
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.1 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches

The book is available on Amazon (www.amazon.com) at https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Legacy-Turn-Your-Family/dp/B0CM43KC7N/ref=sr_1_1 for $27.99 at the time of this writing (29 November 2023).

Disclosure: I was provided a PDF copy of this book for the purposes of the review. I have used Family Tree Maker software for decades, and have experimented with earlier versions of Family Book Creator.  My thanks to Rebecca Shamblin for writing about and sharing her experience with a difficult task.

==============================================

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/11/book-review-leaving-legacy-turn-your.html

Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

Note that all comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. 

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share your comment on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at   randy.seaver@gmail.com.