Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Holiday Celebrations and Memories - Part 1

 Calling All Genea-Musings Fans:

 It's Saturday Night Again - 

Time For Some More Genealogy Fun!!

Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. 

1)   Today's challenge is to share memories of December holiday gatherings and celebrations with your families (as a child, a young adult, a parent, a grandparent, a great-grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a nibling, a cousin, an in-law)!  

2)  Pick two or three questions from the list in my blog post:  Ask AI:  "What questions can I write about concerning family gatherings and celebrations during the December holidays?"

3)  Tell us about your memories of your holiday gatherings and celebrations in your own blog post, in a comment here, or on your Facebook page.  Be sure to leave a link to your report in a comment on this post.

Here's mine:

a)  "Who traditionally hosted holiday celebrations in your family, and why?"

It depends.  I don't recall a Christmas celebration before 1951 when I was 8 years old.  I'm sure we had them, but I don't remember.  From the time I was 9 years old, we always celebrated Christmas at my maternal grandparents home on Point Loma, which had a chimney (that was very important because Santa Claus - it kind of sealed the deal for this curious giftgetter).  A big fireplace, a beautiful tree, traditional food (turkey, vegetables, potatoes, stuffing, pie, etc) were always there.  Until 1957 or so, we spent the night there,  with my parents sleeping on couches and my brothers and I in the extra bedroom.   We went to sleep with great anticipation singing Christmas carols with my grandmother in bed with a candle burning and the lights out.  This is my fondest memory of hristmases past.  After failing to hear reindeer hooves on the roof and Santa Claus coming down the chimney, we succumbed to visions of sugar plums, and then leaped out of bed at about 5 a.m. to go check out the Christmas tree and see which gifts had our names on them.  My parents and grandparents awakened, and shared in the gift wrapping demolition that occurred while enjoying our excitement.  I will never forget the Davy Crockett coonskin cap, the Daisy air rifle, the flexible flyers, the bicycles, the football and baseball gear.  We probably received clothes too.  

By the time I was 15, we stayed home on 30th Street on Christmas Eve and opened gifts on Christmas morning, and then went to my grandparents home for more gifts and Christmas dinner.  My brothers and I got married and had our own family Christmas mornings and then we all went to Gram and Gramp's home after our own family celebrations.  After they died in the 1970s, my parents inherited the house and they became the hosts for Christmas dinner.  Our spouses helped in the kitchen and dining room and the men shepherded the grandkids.  

There was another holiday celebration from 1945 into the 1980s at my father's cousin's home in Kensington in San Diego, usually the day or weekend before Christmas.  Cousin Dorothy was the only relative on my father's side, and she was, well, different.  She was an artist, so there were bare branches and fabricated decorated ornaments on her tree.  The food was different too, and the gifts were more "educational."  There was no singing.  My brother and I always snuck upstairs to check out the naked angels painted on the wall of the bathroom.  There was a big back yard with a couch swing to play on, and a fish pond and gardens to explore.  We had a lot of fun for awhile there.

My family traveled almost every year to San Francisco before or after Christmas to celebrate with Linda's parents, brother and extended family.  More presents and food and memories (the foldout couch bed was terrible!).  Then our two daughters moved away, got married, and had babies.  They came to Chula Vista for Christmas Day every other year to share Christmas Eve and day with us, and we tried to visit both families during the Christmas weeks in the alternate years.   

This year, I will visit Linda at her Memory Care facility and share gifts with her, and have her talk to our daughters and our grandchildren (Facetime!).  Then I will drive to Huntington Beach and get there in time for the 1 p.m. football game and share dinner with daughter Tami's family, open gifts, make memories, and share hugs with them.  Daughter Lori is coming next week to visit with Linda and share gifts, hugs and kisses.  

b)  "What did the space feel like during the holiday -- sights, sounds, and smells?"

At our home in Chula Vista, Linda was the collector of angel ornaments and figurines.  Our cut Christmas tree, always a fir tree from a local lot, was decorated with lights, angel ornaments, popcorn strands, and tinsel, was in a corner of the living room with ample space for gifts under the tree.  The house was decorated with more angel items.  Dinner was a big production but very traditional  (turkey, vegetables, potatoes, stuffing, pie) and the girls helped with preparations and serving.  Occasionally, we had my mother and/or close friends over for dinner.  I tried to have Christmas music playing in the background.    

c)  "Were there special rituals or traditions your family followed (e.g., lighting a menorah, hanging ornaments, exchanging gifts, volunteering)?"

One of the traditions we had in our family was to participate in the annual Christmas pageant at our church in the sanctuary, about two weeks before Christmas.  The Christmas Story was told by narrators and the music director and chancel choir would lead the congregational hymn singing.  I was always a shepherd because I had a beard, but had no speaking part and couldn't sing worth a darn (so I moved my lips and got in the spirit - Angels We Have Heard on High was my favorite hymn).  A young church couple were usually Mary and Joseph, but they used a baby doll, not a real baby.  Our daughter Tami was one of the angels.  After the service, the congregation would gather around the tall cross on the patio and sing Silent Night with lit candles.  It was a wonderful way to welcome and celebrate the season.  We did this for about 15 years in the 1980s and 1990s and it was really special. 

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/12/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-holiday.html

Copyright (c) 2024, 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.  Please note that all Comments are moderated so they may not appear immediately.  

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Ask AI: "What questions can I write about concerning family gatherings and celebrations during the December holidays?"

The Artificial Intelligence tools (like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Meta, CoPilot and Claude) can provide much useful and nearly instant information about subjects in a concise format, especially when they have been pre-trained on a large volume of information about the subjects.

I wondered if the FREE AI tools could provide me with a list of questions that I could ask my Genea-Musings to write about their Holiday gatherings, food, and other topics for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun posts.  

(image created by ChatGPT4)

I asked ChatGPT4 this prompt:  "What questions can I ask my genealogy blog readers to write about concerning their family gatherings and celebrations during the December holidays?"

The ChatGPT4 response was:

Here are some engaging questions you can ask your genealogy blog readers about their family gatherings and celebrations that are inclusive of all religious, spiritual, and secular expressions during the December holidays. These can inspire stories, memories, and connections to the past:

Hosting and Venues

• Who traditionally hosted holiday celebrations in your family, and why?
• Were holiday gatherings always held in the same location, or did they change over time?
• Do you remember any gatherings held in unique or unexpected places?

Family Dynamics

• Were there any family members who were the “life of the party” at holiday celebrations?
• Did family members travel far to attend? What were those journeys like?
• Were there specific roles assigned to family members, such as leading prayers, lighting candles, preparing food, or organizing activities?

Festive Atmosphere

• What did the space feel like during the holidays—sights, sounds, and smells?
• Were there specific songs, music, or activities that became part of the celebration?
• Was there a particular moment when everyone felt most connected or joyful?

Guests and Extended Family

• Were non-family members (e.g., friends, neighbors, or community members) invited to join your celebrations?
• Were there family members who rarely attended? If so, why?
• Did your family ever welcome surprise visitors or unplanned guests during the holiday season?

Activities and Traditions

• Were there special rituals or traditions your family followed (e.g., lighting a menorah, hanging ornaments, exchanging gifts, volunteering)?
• Did your family gather around a central feature, such as a tree, menorah, kinara, yule log, or another symbol?
• Was gift-giving a major part of the celebration, or did other activities take center stage?

Generational Changes

• How did holiday gatherings change as older generations passed on and younger ones took over?
• Were there any years when celebrations didn’t happen, and how did the family feel about that?
• Do you think gatherings today are similar to those your ancestors might have had?

Photos and Memories

• Are there group photos or videos from holiday gatherings that capture a story about your family?
• Was there a “family historian” who documented these celebrations through photos, journals, or keepsakes?
• What’s your favorite memory from a holiday gathering?

Unforgettable Moments

• Was there a funny or memorable mishap during a holiday celebration?
• Did anyone make a grand announcement or share important news during the holidays?
• Were there traditions or moments that became legendary in your family, retold year after year?

Holiday Travel for Gatherings

• Did your family members face challenges traveling for the holidays, such as weather or long distances?
• Were there specific modes of transportation your ancestors relied on to come together?
• Did your family ever celebrate the holidays at a destination away from home?

Generational Attendance

• Were holiday gatherings multi-generational? How did children, parents, and grandparents interact?
• Did family elders play a special role in hosting, storytelling, or leading traditions during the celebration?
• Are there stories of the first or last time a specific family member attended a holiday gathering?

Holiday Food 

• What dishes were a staple at your family’s holiday celebrations? Who made them?
• Were there recipes passed down through generations? Are they still made today?
• Did your family have any unique holiday food traditions, such as baking cookies together or making a specific drink?

Travel 

• Did your family have to travel long distances for holiday gatherings? What were those journeys like?
• Were there any years when travel prevented celebrations or altered traditions?
• How did travel methods (e.g., horse and buggy, trains, planes, cars) change holiday experiences for your family over time?

Memories of Ancestors 

• Were any ancestors honored or remembered during holiday celebrations? How?
• Are there stories about how your ancestors celebrated the holidays in their time?
• Do you own or display any heirlooms, decorations, or items that belonged to your ancestors during the holidays?

Gifts and Surprises 

• Were there memorable gifts or surprises from your family’s holiday history?
• Did your family have traditions for how gifts were given or opened (e.g., all at once, youngest to oldest)?
• Was there ever a gift that became a family story because it was particularly meaningful, funny, or unexpected?

Technology

• How did technology influence your family’s holiday celebrations? (e.g., early Christmas lights, radios, or televisions during gatherings?)
• Did your family adopt new technologies like video calls or social media to connect during the holidays in more recent years?
• Are there any photos, videos, or recordings that capture your family’s holiday celebrations through the decades?

This list is designed to be inclusive of various December holidays, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, Bodhi Day, Winter Solstice, and secular celebrations like New Year’s.

I must say that ChatGPT4 never disappoints me.  That is an excellent list of questions.  It may keep me in holiday SNGF blog posts for years!  

What other questions do you, my readers, suggest?  Please add them to Comments.  

Of course, any reader can use this list to write about their holiday gatherings and celebrations to share with their family, their readers, or the world!  [Note - ChatGPT4 and the other AI tools do not hold a copyright on anything they produce.]  

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5)  See all of my Artificial Intelligence-related posts at https://www.geneamusings.com/p/artificial-intelligence-posts.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/12/ask-ai-what-questions-can-i-write-about.html

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

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com.

Added and Updated FamilySearch Historical Record Collections - Week of 30 November to 6 December 2024

 Each week, genealogy record collections are added and updated to FamilySearch and listed on the Historical Record Collection list at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list.

As of 6 December 2024, there are 3,405 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of 16 from last week):

The added, deleted, new and updated collections this week from FamilySearch are:

--- Collections Added ---

*  Ghana, Census, 2010 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000267); 280,299 indexed records with 72,397 record images, ADDED 03-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Arcidiocesi di Foggia-Bovino, Church Records, 1573-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000372); 1 indexed records with 20,158 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Arcidiocesi di Palermo, Catholic Church Records, 1392-1927 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000127); 1 indexed records with 250,119 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Biella, Ponderano, Parish of San Lorenzo, Catholic Church Records, 1566-1953 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482795); 1 indexed records with 13,926 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Como, Diocesi di Como, Catholic Church Records, 1622-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000376); 1 indexed records with 4,434 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Diocesi di Acerra, Catholic Church Records, 1578-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2485710); 1 indexed records with 29,773 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Diocesi di Caltanissetta, Catholic Church Records, 1539-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000377); 1 indexed records with 444,709 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Diocesi di Piazza Armerina, Catholic Church Records, 1553-1964 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000379); 1 indexed records with 562,467 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Diocesi di Trapani, Catholic Church Records, 1504-1913 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000375); 1 indexed records with 272,738 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Florence. Archdiocese of Florence, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Catholic Church Records, 1450-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000378); 1 indexed records with 317,278 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Grosseto, Diocesi di Grosseto, Catholic Church Records, 1521-1983 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000381); 1 indexed records with 283,385 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Ivrea Diocesi di Ivrea, Catholic Church Records, 1474-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000373); 1 indexed records with 998,261 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Napoli, Archdiocese of Naples, Catholic Church Records, 1633-1944 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000384); 1 indexed records with 9,048 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Potenza, Archdiocese of Potenza, Catholic Church Records, 1572-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000374); 1 indexed records with 67,227 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Torino, Diocese of Torino, Catholic Church Records, 1801-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000113); 1 indexed records with 2,104,019 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024
*  Italy, Vercelli, Archdiocese of Vercelli, Catholic Church Records, 1839-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000274); 1 indexed records with 265,988 record images, ADDED 05-Dec-2024

--- Collections Updated ---

Argentina, Entre Ríos, Civil Registration, 1860-1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3006904); 779,440 indexed records with 548,981 record images (was 779,411 records with 548,957 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2024
Argentina, General Censuses, 1806-1827 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000089); 108,274 indexed records with 2,910 record images (was 107,654 records with 2,898 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Argentina, Jujuy, Civil Registration, 1888-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4489444); 15,746 indexed records with 27,638 record images (was 15,746 records with 27,637 images), UPDATED 29-Nov-2024
Argentina, Santiago del Estero, Catholic Church Records, 1581-1961 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974197); 121,649 indexed records with 102,368 record images (was 121,393 records with 102,368 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Australia, Deaths and Burials, 1816-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1770857); Index only (108,436 records), no images (was 108,402 records with 0 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2024

Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration, 1800-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138511); 843,827 indexed records with 372,768 record images (was 840,661 records with 372,768 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Bolivia, Catholic Church Records, 1566-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,537,481 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,532,718 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Brazil, Cemetery Records, 1799-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2137269); 1,185,695 indexed records with 150,972 record images (was 1,167,468 records with 150,972 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Civil Registration, 1879-1949 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3479702); 964,801 indexed records with 400,853 record images (was 961,813 records with 399,878 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Brazil, Pará, Civil Registration, 1815-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4473609); 605,295 indexed records with 175,828 record images (was 602,933 records with 175,045 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024

Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Civil Registration, 1860-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3741255); 1,829,228 indexed records with 923,058 record images (was 1,824,933 records with 920,947 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 27,550,018 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 27,533,106 records with 12,659,776 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Colombia, Civil Registration, 1553-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469480); 767,246 indexed records with 890,891 record images (was 761,112 records with 886,097 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2040054); 4,788,274 indexed records with 1,421,761 record images (was 4,788,210 records with 1,421,761 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Cuba, Church Records, 1584-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4375851); 270,560 indexed records with 46,486 record images (was 251,643 records with 45,344 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024

Democratic Republic of the Congo, National Identity Cards, 1884-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000100); 6,328,187 indexed records with 9,788,885 record images (was 6,211,706 records with 9,672,732 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
El Salvador, Catholic Church Records, 1655-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1919582); 2,662,029 indexed records with 592,191 record images (was 2,646,548 records with 592,191 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
France, Ariège, Parish and Civil Registration, 1583-1923 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000206); 1,151,253 indexed records with 520,705 record images (was 1,145,829 records with 518,912 images), UPDATED 03-Dec-2024
France, Aude, Parish and Civil Registration, 1537-1882 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000211); 3,189,458 indexed records with 1,090,304 record images (was 3,157,125 records with 1,072,276 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2024
France, Guadeloupe, Church Records, 1639-1830 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316498); 13,717 indexed records with 2,356 record images (was 13,516 records with 2,328 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024

French Polynesia, Civil Registration, 1780-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2549721); 100,465 indexed records with 518,867 record images (was 89,445 records with 490,961 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1500-1971 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3015626); 76,145,134 indexed records with 13,806,705 record images (was 76,138,093 records with 13,806,595 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal, Civil Registration, 1810-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000010); 229,586 indexed records with 214,840 record images (was 224,018 records with 209,796 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Guadeloupe, Civil Registration Records, 1792-1872 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4293709); 3,806 indexed records with 1,156 record images (was 3,669 records with 1,010 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Guatemala, Guatemala, Civil Registration, 1877-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075150); 4,620,462 indexed records with 1,486 record images (was 4,618,900 records with 1,486 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024

Haiti, Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Catholic Church Records, 1866-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279947); 144,356 indexed records with 26,012 record images (was 143,276 records with 25,857 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Honduras, Catholic Church Records, 1633-1978 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823595); 1,814,214 indexed records with 425,330 record images (was 1,806,377 records with 425,330 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Hungary, Civil Registration, 1895-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1452460); 13,286,548 indexed records with 5,864,285 record images (was 13,254,732 records with 5,864,285 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Indiana, Marriages, 1811-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1410397); 5,220,536 indexed records with 1,259,299 record images (was 5,223,722 records with 1,259,299 images), UPDATED 03-Dec-2024
Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1740-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820100); 7,898,273 indexed records with 262,722 record images (was 7,849,378 records with 275,898 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024

Italy, Births and Baptisms, 1806-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708706); Index only (1,182,852 records), no images (was 1,183,861 records with 0 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Italy, Chieti, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2419833); 350,311 indexed records with 3,714,370 record images (was 350,512 records with 3,714,370 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Italy, Deaths and Burials, 1809-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708705); Index only (355,000 records), no images (was 355,433 records with 0 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Italy, Marriages, 1809-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1711678); Index only (283,636 records), no images (was 283,871 records with 0 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Italy, Modena, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1968527); 317,276 indexed records with 2,114,742 record images (was 317,276 records with 2,114,742 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024

Italy, Napoli, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937990); 945,598 indexed records with 12,795,172 record images (was 945,598 records with 12,795,172 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Italy, Salerno, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1949 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1935404); 60,968 indexed records with 3,721,721 record images (was 60,968 records with 3,721,759 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Madagascar, Sainte-Marie Island, Civil Registration, 1820-1870 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000242); 4,616 indexed records with 874 record images (was 3,843 records with 712 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Martinique, Church Records, 1662-1847 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316497); 15,502 indexed records with 2,062 record images (was 15,498 records with 1,337 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2024
Martinique, Civil Registration Records, 1809-1874 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316501); 8,733 indexed records with 2,680 record images (was 8,252 records with 2,558 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024

Mexico, Michoacán, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1883388); 6,142,930 indexed records with 5,283,986 record images (was 6,133,337 records with 5,283,986 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Mexico, Puebla, Catholic Church Records, 1545-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837906); 9,069,474 indexed records with 6,124,553 record images (was 9,066,256 records with 6,124,553 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Peru, Catholic Church Records, 1603-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1877097); 21,404,264 indexed records with 4,192,353 record images (was 21,370,570 records with 4,192,353 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645-1969 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1807092); 3,332,862 indexed records with 191,547 record images (was 3,332,195 records with 191,547 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Russia, Lutheran Church Book Duplicates, 1833-1885 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469151); 562,909 indexed records with 128,317 record images (was 562,899 records with 128,317 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2024

St. Lucia, Church Records, 1751-1793 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4449051); 2,315 indexed records with 495 record images (was 2,254 records with 483 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2024
United States City and Business Directories, ca. 1749 - ca. 1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3754697); 64,961,936 indexed records with 939,994 record images (was 64,938,958 records with 902,936 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2024
Uruguay, Civil Registration, 1879-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837849); Index only (1,556,715 records), no images (was 1,545,678 records with 0 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Venezuela, Archdiocese of Mérida, Catholic Church Records, 1654-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1417520); 1,446,409 indexed records with 1,157,611 record images (was 1,446,088 records with 1,157,611 images), UPDATED 03-Dec-2024
Venezuela, Civil Registration, 1873-2003 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823609); 1,200,738 indexed records with 586,312 record images (was 1,193,912 records with 586,312 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024

Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4149585); 1,749,179 indexed records with 94,427 record images (was 1,743,563 records with 94,118 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Zambia, Archdiocese of Lusaka, Church Records, 1950-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3736255); 845,157 indexed records with 120,697 record images (was 832,724 records with 115,599 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024
Zimbabwe, Diocese of Masvingo, Catholic Church Records, 1893-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000104); 587 indexed records with 30,829 record images (was 587 records with 24,826 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2024

--- Collections with new images ---

Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 146,995 record images (was 1 records with 143,430 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 59,370 record images (was 1 records with 59,162 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Canada, Census, 1931 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000196); 2,466,494 indexed records with 2,469,065 record images (was 2,466,494 records with 2,467,780 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
Canada, Ontario, Tax Assessment Rolls, 1834-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4130007); 6,231,630 indexed records with 327,612 record images (was 6,231,630 records with 327,467 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
Georgia, Confederate Pension Rolls, 1879-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3038333); 152,805 indexed records with 146,468 record images (was 152,805 records with 141,730 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024

Louisiana, Orleans and St. Tammany, Voter Registration Records, 1867-1905 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3326775); 3,127,182 indexed records with 1,248,448 record images (was 3,127,182 records with 1,248,391 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
South Africa, Orange Free State, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1832-1989 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3040532); 639,973 indexed records with 82,306 record images (was 639,973 records with 82,303 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
South Africa, Transvaal, Civil Death, 1869-1954 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2998108); 1,084,531 indexed records with 1,081,693 record images (was 1,084,531 records with 1,081,362 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Record of Members (Worldwide), 1836-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3714676); 1,147,862 indexed records with 80,659 record images (was 1,147,862 records with 70,919 images), last updated 27-Sep-2024
United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 52,785,233 indexed records with 52,771,334 record images (was 52,785,233 records with 52,767,964 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024

United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000145); 1 indexed records with 28,224,081 record images (was 1 records with 24,834,960 images), last updated 22-Jul-2024

--- Collections with images removed ---

Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 1 indexed records with 950,580 record images (was 1 records with 951,457 images), last updated 31-Oct-2024

Australia, Western Australia, Albany, Inward Passenger Lists, 1873-1924 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4451678); 226,214 indexed records with 4,148 record images (was 226,214 records with 4,220 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
Colombia, DAS Civil Registration Alphabetic Cards, 1937-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000074); 1 indexed records with 15,913,355 record images (was 1 records with 15,913,516 images), last updated 25-Nov-2024
Northern Ireland, Tithe Applotment Books, 1822-1837 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2729531); 397,856 indexed records with 164,259 record images (was 397,856 records with 164,281 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Paraguay, Military Records, 1870-1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2506770); 992,691 indexed records with 989,950 record images (was 992,691 records with 989,969 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024

South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg, Cemetery Records, 1840-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4453927); 2,272,730 indexed records with 274,893 record images (was 2,272,730 records with 297,425 images), last updated 09-Oct-2024
United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2579610); 469,181 indexed records with 69,357 record images (was 469,181 records with 69,358 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2968245); 6,932,344 indexed records with 5,608,515 record images (was 6,932,344 records with 5,611,122 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024

--- Collections with records removed ---

New York, New York City Marriage Licenses Index, 1950-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2727138); Index only (3,124,581 records), no images (was 3,124,582 records with 0 images), last updated 19-Jun-2017
Peru, Arequipa, Civil Registration, 1860-1976 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2224533); 92,647 indexed records with 24,048 record images (was 92,648 records with 24,048 images), last updated 01-Nov-2024
Peru, Tacna, Civil Registration, 1850-1998 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2305287); 230,301 indexed records with 253,910 record images (was 230,303 records with 253,910 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
United States, Census, 1890 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1610551); 6,285 indexed records with 2,459 record images (was 6,294 records with 2,459 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
United States, Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,609,804 records), no images (was 875,609,813 records with 0 images), last updated 01-Jun-2024
United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000290); Index only (413,877,643 records), no images (was 413,877,650 records with 0 images), last updated 22-Jun-2024

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

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!

Marshall notes that there are:

*  0 removed entries

*  16 added entries 

*  53 updated entries

*  25 entries with more or fewer images or records

The FamilySearch website says 3388 total entries on the list. Marshall's list says 3388.  Back to synchronization!

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 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.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/12/added-and-updated-familysearch.html

Copyright (c) 2024 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.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not be posted immediately.

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Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 30 November to 6 December 2024

    The following genealogy record collections were added to the Ancestry.com Card Catalog page by Date Updated during the period from 30 November to 6 December 2024: 

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

*  U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/6/2024.  This collection includes images of yearbooks from schools and colleges throughout the United States that were published between 1900 and 2016.

*  Denmark, Phone Book Indexes, 1998, 2001, and 2003; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/5/2024.  This collection contains phone book indexes from Denmark for 1998, 2001, and 2003.

*  Toulouse City, Haute-Garonne, France, Censuses, 1790-1911; indexed records with record images, ADDED 12/5/2024.  This collection contains census records from Toulouse City in Haute-Garonne, France between the years of 1790 and 1911.

*  Nordhausen, Germany, Residence Registers, 1880-1913; indexed records with record images,   ADDED 12/5/2024.  This collection contains resident registration lists produced in Nordhausen, Germany, during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

*  Calvados, France Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1450-1930; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/5/2024.  This collection contains civil registries of births, marriages, and deaths from Calvados, France between the years 1450-1930. Most records are in French, but some records may be in German or Latin.

*  Nordhausen, Germany, Births, 1874-1910; indexed records with record images, ADDED    12/5/2024.  This collection contains images of civil birth records created in Nordhausen, Germany, between 1874 and 1910. Birth records were created using printed forms that were filled in by hand.

*  Nordhausen, Germany, Marriages, 1874-1942; indexed records with record images, ADDED    12/5/2024. This is a collection of marriages for Nordhausen in the state of Thuringia, Germany, covering 1847-1942. The records are in German with handwritten entries on printed forms.

*  Nordhausen, Germany, Deaths, 1874-1992; indexed records with record images, ADDED    12/5/2024. This collection includes civil records of deaths that occurred in Nordhausen, Germany, between 1874 and 1992.

*  Val-de-Marne, France, Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1552-1986; indexed records with record images, ADDED 12/5/2024.  This collection contains images of indexes that contain information drawn from civil registries of births, marriages, and deaths between 1552 and 1986 from Val-de-Marne, France.

*  Liepāja, Latvia, Jewish Cemetery Burials 1909-1941; indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/4/2024.  This collection is an index of records from cemetery books from the Jewish cemetery in Liepāja, Latvia between 1909 and 1941.

*  UK, Heraldic Card Index, 1150-1850; indexed records with record images, ADDED 12/4/2024.  This collection can help you determine if your family had a coat of arms, or to which family a coat of arms belonged to. Each index card describes a coat of arms and the objects on which it ap...

*  Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1971; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/4/2024.  Pennsylvania’s Department of Health started keeping statewide death records on January 1, 1906. Now you can find them in this collection.

*  Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/4/2024.  Vital records are a cornerstone of family history research. Learn new details about your Hoosier ancestors in these Indiana marriage records dating from 1960 to 2012.

*  Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/4/2024.  Vital records are a cornerstone of family history research. Learn new details about your Hoosier ancestors in these Indiana death records dating back to 1899.

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

By my count, there were 8 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,666 collections available as of  6 December, an  INCREASE of 27 from last week.  Where did the extra 19 ADDED collections come from?  Maybe they will appear next week?

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

Disclosure: I pay for an All-Access subscription from Ancestry.com. In past years. Ancestry.com  provided a complimentary All Access subscription, an autosomal DNA test, material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and hosted events and meals that I attended in Salt Lake City.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/12/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record.html

Copyright (c) 2024, 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.  Please note that all Comments are moderated so they may not appear immediately.  

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Major Breakthrough: 3.4 Billion Records Extracted From Historical Newspapers Were Added to MyHeritage

 I received thisi nformation from Daniel Horowitz of MyHeritage today:

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

We’re happy to announce the publication of four huge new collections of names and stories on MyHeritage, extracted from newspaper pages on OldNews.com. The collections contain 658 million records from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi; 998 million records from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Nebraska; 1 billion records from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania; and 651 million records from North Carolina, South Carolina, and District of Columbia.

The new collections are searchable on MyHeritage, with the full images of the newspaper pages available on OldNews.com via direct links from MyHeritage.

But wait, there's more!

This treasure trove of genealogical information is just the beginning: these are the first four of 16 similar collections that we are planning to publish in December 2024. The full suite of collections, covering the entire United States and several additional countries, will collectively add more than 10 billion records to MyHeritage’s historical database, expanding it by 50%!

As part of this update, we’re also thrilled to share that OldNews.com now hosts more than 300 million newspaper pages!

Search the new collections now:

• Search Names & Stories in Newspapers from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi

• Search Names & Stories in Newspapers from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Nebraska

• Search Names & Stories in Newspapers from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania

• Search Names & Stories in Newspapers from North Carolina, South Carolina, and District of Columbia

But wait, there's even more!

Now I don't normally go into such detail with these announcements, but I wanted to explain that the structured records in the new collections were extracted from nearly 200 million English newspaper pages using cutting-edge AI technology developed by the MyHeritage team.

The new collections allow MyHeritage users to uncover rich information about their ancestors that was previously out of reach. This is because they are indexed and structured, so they can be searched using imprecise names, nicknames and synonyms; whereas searching in newspapers that are not indexed is typically done using keywords and requires the user to write the name exactly as it appears in the newspaper.
This AI is designed to extract not just names from the newspaper articles but also the relatives of every person mentioned, as well as additional fields such as occupations, residences, travel from one location to another, and more.

Last but not least, every record includes a useful summary of the article, generated automatically by AI.

This AI technology is unrivaled by any other genealogy company, as MyHeritage continues to lead the pack in utilizing AI to advance genealogy. We hope that these collections lead to incredible discoveries for our users, allowing them to find the stories that shaped their family’s history.

There's so much more to say, but for now, please see the fascinating examples and more information in our blog post.

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

I looked for information in Nebraska about my 2nd great-grandfather Devier J. "D.J." Smith and found a number of articles in the McCook (Nebr.) Weekly Tribune newspaper on OldNews (including more artcles about his hair tonic advertisement).  Here is the MyHeritage summary for one of the short articles:

I clicked the link to "View record" and easily saw the highlighted name on the middle of the page on the OldNews website.  Here is the snippet of the article:

Unfortunately, the summary and the page image do not provide a page number for this newspaper article.  Also, I cannot find a way to see the previous page or the next page on OldNews.  

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

Disclosure: I receive a complimentary subscription to MyHeritage, and have received other material consideration in past years. I uploaded my autosomal DNA raw data to their DNA product. This does not affect my objective analysis of MyHeritage products. I am a paid subscriber to Family Tree Webinars and love it.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/12/major-breakthrough-34-billion-records.html

Copyright (c) 2024, 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.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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52 Relatives: 2nd Great-GrandAunt Elizabeth (Hildreth) (Wilder) Chaffin (1822-1910) of Townsend and Harvard, Massachusetts

Elizabeth Hildreth was born on 26 April 1822 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.[1-2], the fifth child and third daughter of Zachariah and Hannah (Sawtell) Hildreth.   She died on 7 August 1910 at the age of 88 in Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[2-3] She was buried after 7 August 1910 at Bellevue Cemetery in Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[2] 

Elizabeth Hildreth and David C. Wilder were married on 20 March 1844 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.[4]

 David C. Wilder, son of Cushing Wilder and Nancy Spaulding, was born on 21 December 1822 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.[5] He died on 2 October 1851 at the age of 28 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.[6] He was buried after 2 October 1851 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.[6]

 David C. Wilder and Elizabeth Hildreth had the following children:

i     Nancy Elizabeth Wilder, born 2 April 1845, Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; married George F. Hardy, 18 February 1866, Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; died 1925, Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

ii    John Wilder was born about 1848 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

iii   Harriet Wilder was born on 14 September 1850 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; died before 30 December 1851 at the age of about 1 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

iv    Harrett Augusta Wilder was born on 30 December 1851 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. She died on 13 February 1852 at the age of 0 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

 Elizabeth Hildreth and Joseph Chaffin were married on 26 March 1856 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States,[7] as his second wife.

 Joseph Chaffin, son of Gladwin Chaffin and Eunice Farwell, was born on 13 March 1807 in Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[8] He died on 14 January 1898 at the age of 90 in Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[9-10] He was buried after 14 January 1898 at Bellevue Cemetery in Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[10]

 Joseph Chaffin and Elizabeth (Hildreth) Wilder had the following children:

i     Nellie Frances Chaffin, born 22 January 1857, Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; married George Gerrish Bowers, 7 June 1877, Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; died 6 January 1933, Nashua, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States.

ii    Edna Louise Chaffin, born 7 October 1861, Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; married Willard Silas Dudley, 1 January 1885, Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; died 1942, Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.

iii   Henry Bateman Chaffin, born 21 July 1864, Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; married Jennie Philena Atherton, 13 November 1886, Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; died 18 November 1901, Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.

SOURCES:

1. Richard C. Fipphen, "Bible Records - Northborough Historical Society," The Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 35, No. 2 (July 1985), page 158, Elizabeth Hildreth birth entry, 26 April 1822.

2. Find A Grave, indexed and imaged,  (https://www.findagrave.com), Bellevue Cemetery, Harvard, Mass. Elizabeth Hildreth Chaffin (1822-1910) memorial #168353289.

3. "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1915," indexed database and digital images,  New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (https://www.AmericanAncestors.org), Deaths, Volume 1910/47, Page 478, Elizabeth Chaffin death entry, 7 August 1910.

4. Henry C. Hallowell (editor), Vital Records of Townsend, Massachusetts (Boston, Mass. :  New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1992), page 188, David C. Wilder and Elizabeth Hildreth marriage entry, 20 March 1844.

5. Henry C. Hallowell (editor), Vital Records of Townsend, Massachusetts, page 292, David C. Wilder birth entry, 21 December 1822.

6. Henry C. Hallowell (editor), Vital Records of Townsend, Massachusetts, page 358, David C. Wilder death entry, 2 October 1851.

7. "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1915," New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors, Marriages, Volume 100, Townsend, Page 212, Elizabeth Wilder and Joseph Chaffin entry, 26 March 1856.

8. Thomas W. Baldwin, Vital records of Harvard, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 (Boston, Mass. : Wright & Potter Printing Company, 1917), Joseph Chaffin birth entry, 13 March 1807.

9. "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1915," New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors, Deaths, Volume 483, Page 703, Harvard, Joseph Chaffin death entry, 14 January 1898.

10. Find A Grave, Bellevue Cemetery, Harvard, Mass., Joseph Chaffin (1807-1898) memorial #168353627.

 =================================

Elizabeth (Hildreth) (Wilder) Chaffin (1822-1910) is my 2nd great-grandaunt and the sister of my 2nd great-grandfather, Edward Hildreth (1831-1899).  

I have posted over 500 genealogical sketches of  my ancestors back through the 7th great-grandparents and a number of close relatives.  Information about the Zachariah and Hannah (Sawtell) family is in  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 29: #36, Zachariah Hildreth (1783-1857).

The "52 Relatives" theme is a weekly series to document the lives of siblings of my ancestors with relatively short genealogical sketches, including important events, and with source citations.  These relatives lived and died within a family structure, and deserve a genealogical sketch - they were integral parts and important persons in the lives of my ancestral families.  

I post the 52 Ancestors and 52 Relatives sketches on the 52 Ancestors/Relatives Biographies page, in my Ancestry Member Tree, in WikiTree, and in the FamilySearch Family Tree. 

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/12/52-relatives-2nd-great-grandaunt.html

Copyright (c) 2024, 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.   Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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