...
The San Diego Genealogical Society program meeting for September is on Saturday, 10 September at 10 a.m. at St. Andrew's Methodist Church (8350 Lake Murray Blvd in San Diego).
The program speaker is Del Ritchhart on two topics:
1. "Ten Tips for Stimulating Your Family's Interest in Their History (or How to Clear up those 'Glazed Over Eyes.'" Ask any genealogist when they were "bitten by the family history bug" and the odds are they can tell you that moment. For many, it was a seed planted in childhood.
This presentation will discuss methods to get your children and grandchildren more interested in Family History.
2) "Expanding Your Genealogical Horizons." Are you using all available resources to further your research? In a pop-quiz, could you name the local assets, many of which are only a couple of hours drive from San Diego? Del will provide information on many San Diego and Southern California venues.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
(Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 169: Baby Geraldine
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I'm posting old family photographs from my collection on Wednesdays, but they won't be wordless posts like others do - I simply am incapable of having a wordless post.
Here is one of the most precious (to me) images from my Seaver family collection:
This is a picture of my father's sister, Geraldine Seaver, daughter of Frederick W. and Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver, taken in 1918 when Gerry was about one year old.
Gerry was the seventh (and last) child of a seventh child (Bessie was the seventh child of Thomas and Julia (White) Richmond), and was always considered "special."
This photo was included in the Geraldine (Seaver) Remley "Red Album" of family photographs, and was scanned from the pasted page in that album.
I'm posting old family photographs from my collection on Wednesdays, but they won't be wordless posts like others do - I simply am incapable of having a wordless post.
Here is one of the most precious (to me) images from my Seaver family collection:
This is a picture of my father's sister, Geraldine Seaver, daughter of Frederick W. and Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver, taken in 1918 when Gerry was about one year old.
Gerry was the seventh (and last) child of a seventh child (Bessie was the seventh child of Thomas and Julia (White) Richmond), and was always considered "special."
This photo was included in the Geraldine (Seaver) Remley "Red Album" of family photographs, and was scanned from the pasted page in that album.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
We're in Springfield, Illinois for the FGS Conference
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It was a long day, but the travel was easy - on time, no problems, and Lynda the Southwest Airline flight attendant was awesome - funny comments and even seat exercises! We landed in Chicago at 1 p.m., got our rental car and headed for Springfield, where we are in the Abraham Lincoln Hotel.
I found myself trying to figure out where we were over Kansas and Iowa, and if some of my ancestral homesteads were going past the window. Central Kansas has a regular pattern of square sections laid out nicely, but the roads don't always follow the section boundaries. Once we got over northeastern Kansas and southern Iowa, it was difficult to discern the sections sometimes. It's the end of summer, and the dendritic pattern of the creeks and rivers was amazing to see from the air. Water runs downhill and creates fascinating patterns! Living in a large city, I am always amazed by how unpopulated the Far West and the Midwest are, at least away from the population centers. Many of the small towns in Kansas and Iowa dominate only one section of land, and then it;s one or two farms per section as you get further away from town.
We got to the hotel by 6:30 p.m., just enough time to get unpacked and check out dinner options. I went over to the Hilton Hotel for the Blogger reception hosted by the FamilySearch team. I met many bloggers that I had not met before in person, and enjoyed chatting with them and the bloggers I've met before. It is almost instant bonding here, because we have a common interest and purpose, and our little community is very open and friendly. FamilySearch provided an interesting presentation about their activities to the 30 or 40 bloggers present. Ginger Smith has the best summary I've seen so far - check out her post Family Search Bloggers Reception at FGS.
I was intrigued by the mention of a consortium to index the 1940 U.S. Census. That was the first I'd heard of it. Jim Ericson would not talk about who is participating in the consortium. I could guess, but I won't, because I'm usually wrong on things like this and don't want to ruin my accuracy average even more!
Then it was back to the hotel for dinner with Linda in the restaurant, and up to the room to see if the free wireless internet works. It does, but it sure loads slowly! I managed to read the 280 posts in my Google Reader (since last night) and the 60 emails since this morning, then wrote this post.
Wednesday morning is the start of the FGS Conference, and I look forward to holding up my end of the Official Blogger bargain. The problem is, of course, if I write blog posts I don't get to go to a learning session, so I'll have to balance those needs out.
It was a long day, but the travel was easy - on time, no problems, and Lynda the Southwest Airline flight attendant was awesome - funny comments and even seat exercises! We landed in Chicago at 1 p.m., got our rental car and headed for Springfield, where we are in the Abraham Lincoln Hotel.
I found myself trying to figure out where we were over Kansas and Iowa, and if some of my ancestral homesteads were going past the window. Central Kansas has a regular pattern of square sections laid out nicely, but the roads don't always follow the section boundaries. Once we got over northeastern Kansas and southern Iowa, it was difficult to discern the sections sometimes. It's the end of summer, and the dendritic pattern of the creeks and rivers was amazing to see from the air. Water runs downhill and creates fascinating patterns! Living in a large city, I am always amazed by how unpopulated the Far West and the Midwest are, at least away from the population centers. Many of the small towns in Kansas and Iowa dominate only one section of land, and then it;s one or two farms per section as you get further away from town.
We got to the hotel by 6:30 p.m., just enough time to get unpacked and check out dinner options. I went over to the Hilton Hotel for the Blogger reception hosted by the FamilySearch team. I met many bloggers that I had not met before in person, and enjoyed chatting with them and the bloggers I've met before. It is almost instant bonding here, because we have a common interest and purpose, and our little community is very open and friendly. FamilySearch provided an interesting presentation about their activities to the 30 or 40 bloggers present. Ginger Smith has the best summary I've seen so far - check out her post Family Search Bloggers Reception at FGS.
I was intrigued by the mention of a consortium to index the 1940 U.S. Census. That was the first I'd heard of it. Jim Ericson would not talk about who is participating in the consortium. I could guess, but I won't, because I'm usually wrong on things like this and don't want to ruin my accuracy average even more!
Then it was back to the hotel for dinner with Linda in the restaurant, and up to the room to see if the free wireless internet works. It does, but it sure loads slowly! I managed to read the 280 posts in my Google Reader (since last night) and the 60 emails since this morning, then wrote this post.
Wednesday morning is the start of the FGS Conference, and I look forward to holding up my end of the Official Blogger bargain. The problem is, of course, if I write blog posts I don't get to go to a learning session, so I'll have to balance those needs out.
Genealogical Societies Should Consider Ancestry Content Publisher
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I listened to the MySociety Radio show on Saturday on Blog Talk Radio - did you? The subject was Digital Publishing for Preservation and Community Building, hosted by Thomas MacEntee, and featuring Mark Weaver of Ancestry.com.
The Ancestry Content Publisher page describes the concept as:
"Ancestry.com Content Publisher Beta is a FREE online publishing service which provides easy-to-use tools and dedicated support to help you convert your historical digital records into professionally indexed, searchable collections to better serve your patrons and build a more active community."
A society needs to Set Up an Organization Profile, and then after acceptance can start providing imaged records and/or indexes to historical record content that they can legitimately provide.
There is a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page which covers most of the questions that individuals and societies might have about the concept, the process and digitizing/indexing collections.
The San Diego Genealogical Society (SDGS), of which I am a proud and active member, is the first society with published records online using Ancestry Content Publisher - the SDGS Group Profile is here. There are six collections currently available - three are completely indexed, and three are being indexed. Here is a screen shot of the page:
Most genealogists can see the real benefits of partnering with Ancestry.com on this venture. The advantages I see include:
* Free hosting of a society's record images a branded page, accessible for free by any user.
* Entries in the searchable index can be found in an Ancestry search.
* The society can make the index available on Ancestry.com, and keep the digital images behind their subscription wall (according to what I heard on the radio show).
What are the drawbacks?
* The society has to create the scanned images of the records and create the indexes.
* The society group profile is on an Ancestry.com page, which will bring out the "Ancestry.com is stealing free content..." frenetics.
I think it's a Win-Win-Win for all concerned - societies get their content published, Ancestry gets more content, and researchers get access to more digital record collections, most of which will be unavailable anywhere else.
I look forward to discussing this concept and the details with Mark Weaver and his staff at the FGS Conference this week.
For more information about Ancestry Content Publisher, please see their web page http://publish.ancestry.com/.
I listened to the MySociety Radio show on Saturday on Blog Talk Radio - did you? The subject was Digital Publishing for Preservation and Community Building, hosted by Thomas MacEntee, and featuring Mark Weaver of Ancestry.com.
The Ancestry Content Publisher page describes the concept as:
"Ancestry.com Content Publisher Beta is a FREE online publishing service which provides easy-to-use tools and dedicated support to help you convert your historical digital records into professionally indexed, searchable collections to better serve your patrons and build a more active community."
A society needs to Set Up an Organization Profile, and then after acceptance can start providing imaged records and/or indexes to historical record content that they can legitimately provide.
There is a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page which covers most of the questions that individuals and societies might have about the concept, the process and digitizing/indexing collections.
The San Diego Genealogical Society (SDGS), of which I am a proud and active member, is the first society with published records online using Ancestry Content Publisher - the SDGS Group Profile is here. There are six collections currently available - three are completely indexed, and three are being indexed. Here is a screen shot of the page:
Most genealogists can see the real benefits of partnering with Ancestry.com on this venture. The advantages I see include:
* Free hosting of a society's record images a branded page, accessible for free by any user.
* Entries in the searchable index can be found in an Ancestry search.
* The society can make the index available on Ancestry.com, and keep the digital images behind their subscription wall (according to what I heard on the radio show).
What are the drawbacks?
* The society has to create the scanned images of the records and create the indexes.
* The society group profile is on an Ancestry.com page, which will bring out the "Ancestry.com is stealing free content..." frenetics.
I think it's a Win-Win-Win for all concerned - societies get their content published, Ancestry gets more content, and researchers get access to more digital record collections, most of which will be unavailable anywhere else.
I look forward to discussing this concept and the details with Mark Weaver and his staff at the FGS Conference this week.
For more information about Ancestry Content Publisher, please see their web page http://publish.ancestry.com/.
Tuesday's Tip - use FREE Genealogy Forms to Organize your Search
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This week's Tuesday's Tip is: Use FREE genealogy forms to organize your collected records, and your search.
There are several websites with FREE genealogy forms available. for instance:
* Family Tree Magazine (http://www.familytreemagazine.com/info/researchforms) has many different types of forms - including a research calendar, note-taking, online database tracker, repository checklist, research worksheet, correspondence log, article reading list, book reading list, and a book wish list.
* Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/charts/census.aspx) has blank U.S. census forms, and links to seven basic forms, plus links to England/Wales and Canadian census forms.
* The About.com Genealogy site (http://genealogy.about.com/od/free_charts/Free_Genealogy_Charts_Forms_Family_Tree_Chart.htm) has links to many other websites with free genealogy forms.
Most of the charts and forms are provided in PDF format, so the user can download them and print them, then write in them.
I tend to create my own form in my word processor by using the good ideas of others and adapt them to my needs. In a word processor, I am not limited to a set form length and can add content to whichever field I choose.
This week's Tuesday's Tip is: Use FREE genealogy forms to organize your collected records, and your search.
There are several websites with FREE genealogy forms available. for instance:
* Family Tree Magazine (http://www.familytreemagazine.com/info/researchforms) has many different types of forms - including a research calendar, note-taking, online database tracker, repository checklist, research worksheet, correspondence log, article reading list, book reading list, and a book wish list.
* Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/charts/census.aspx) has blank U.S. census forms, and links to seven basic forms, plus links to England/Wales and Canadian census forms.
* The About.com Genealogy site (http://genealogy.about.com/od/free_charts/Free_Genealogy_Charts_Forms_Family_Tree_Chart.htm) has links to many other websites with free genealogy forms.
Most of the charts and forms are provided in PDF format, so the user can download them and print them, then write in them.
I tend to create my own form in my word processor by using the good ideas of others and adapt them to my needs. In a word processor, I am not limited to a set form length and can add content to whichever field I choose.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Leaving on a Jet Plane...
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Tuesday is the magic day for us - we're leaving home at about 5:30 a.m. and going to the airport to catch a Southwest Flight to Chicago-Midway. From there we'll drive the 200 miles to Springfield, Illinois and the start of our two week Midwest vacation.
First on the agenda is the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) Conference from Wednesday through Saturday. Then it's off to Fort Wayne, Indiana, Lake Michigan, Dodge County, Wisconsin, Dane County, Wisconsin, Old World Wisconsin and Chicago.
Needless to say, blogging and social networking will probably be "light." I have prepared several of the daily theme posts but not every day is covered. I am lugging the laptop along with all sorts of cables and things, so I may be able to blog a bit and might even post some pictures of uor travels if I can find the time in the midst of the conference, research, and visiting with friends.
If you really miss your Genea-Musings fix every day, then play a little Genea-Musings roulette - go to my archive of posts by week, pick one and read it until you're bored, or until you're inspired to do something creative or useful. There are over 5,200 posts in this archive!
Tuesday is the magic day for us - we're leaving home at about 5:30 a.m. and going to the airport to catch a Southwest Flight to Chicago-Midway. From there we'll drive the 200 miles to Springfield, Illinois and the start of our two week Midwest vacation.
First on the agenda is the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) Conference from Wednesday through Saturday. Then it's off to Fort Wayne, Indiana, Lake Michigan, Dodge County, Wisconsin, Dane County, Wisconsin, Old World Wisconsin and Chicago.
Needless to say, blogging and social networking will probably be "light." I have prepared several of the daily theme posts but not every day is covered. I am lugging the laptop along with all sorts of cables and things, so I may be able to blog a bit and might even post some pictures of uor travels if I can find the time in the midst of the conference, research, and visiting with friends.
If you really miss your Genea-Musings fix every day, then play a little Genea-Musings roulette - go to my archive of posts by week, pick one and read it until you're bored, or until you're inspired to do something creative or useful. There are over 5,200 posts in this archive!
Randy's Job History
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It's Labor Day, and I thought somebody (my readers? my kids? my friends?) might be interested in my job history. It is really a short list over a long period of time!
1) My first job was as a newspaper delivery person - a paper boy. I was 11 when my friend Gordon and I got a route for the twice-weekly San Diego Independent newspaper. Our area was between 32nd Street and 34th Street, and Juniper Street to Laurel Street, in the North Park area of San Diego. We held this job for about six months, delivering papers on Thursday and Sunday mornings to subscribers, using bicycles and flexies (Flexible Flyers, not a sled, but with wheels and steering bar) to throw them on porches. The highlight each month was collecting the subscription fees from the subscribers - we got stiffed a lot for what they considered a throw-away newspaper.
2) My second job was an extension of the first - my brother and I had a San Diego Independent newspaper route for about five years, but closer to home (28th Street to Fern Street, Date Street to Fir Street, 10 blocks, about 100 addresses). We got really good at doing this job through experience, got to know our customers, and made some pocket money. The customer that I remember is old Mr. Stoddard, who lived on Dale Street. He had his buddies over to play cards regularly, and when we came to collect, he would ask us in to show off what we learned. He actually paid us 25 cents or 50 cents each month to learn something new - the State Capitals, the National Parks, say the alphabet backwards, etc.
3) I wrote about my first "real" regular paying job in the summer of 1963 with the San Diego Chargers in http://www.geneamusings.com/2007/10/my-first-real-job.html.
4) After three years at San Diego State University studying aerospace engineering, I got my first real "professional" job with Wagner Aircraft in San Diego in the summer of 1964 - I spent about three months there. This was a spinoff company (from Convair) trying to build a 25-seat commuter propeller-driven aircraft designed for small airfields. The innovative feature was a boundary layer control system that would permit takeoffs and landings at 60 miles/hour. I worked as an analyst doing aerodynamics analysis (performance, stability and control, etc.) with several veteran aerodynamicists, including Bob Gusky, who would play a big role in my life a few years later.
5) I went back to school in September 1964, and Wagner Aircraft folded before the summer of 1965. However, Sunrise Aircraft was formed with new investors and Fred Wagner at the helm, but with few of the Wagner Aircraft employees, and none of the aerodynamicists. I got a summer job there for 1965, doing essentially the same things I had done at Wagner in 1964. Larry F. was the only aerodynamicist at the time and he was happy to have someone help out. I stayed on as a part-time employee in late 1965, and then came on full-time in January 1966 after graduating from SDSU. In addition to the aerodynamics work, I picked up some of the Boundary Layer Control (BLC) work and traveled to Cambridge MA twice for model tests and technical discussions with DynaTech, a technical company. In the end, I wrote a NASA Contractor's Report with the DynaTech people. Unfortunately, Sunrise Aircraft couldn't meet payroll in March 1967, and I kept working there for essentially promises (which never came about) until September.
This was the first real crisis in my life - I had my own apartment, was living the good life, but now had to move back in with my parents and borrow money from the bank. I applied for unemployment, started a job search, had several interviews, and finally accepted a job in Thousand Oaks CA with Northrop Ventura as an aerodynamicist. I was going to start on Monday, 24 October 1967. My plan was to live a month in a cheap motel, eat on my credit card, pay the bills with my first paychecks, and then get an apartment there.
My father had worked at Rohr Corporation in Chula Vista in the 1940's, and still had some contacts there in management, to whom he had given my resume. Bob Gusky was at Rohr then, and my resume passed his desk and he asked the employment folks to set up an interview. Gil from Employment called on Friday morning, 21 October, and asked if I could come down the next week for an interview. I explained that I was starting at Northrop Ventura on Monday - could we do an interview on Friday afternoon? The answer was yes - I put on my only suit and tie, drove down to Chula Vista (8 miles), interviewed, and was offered the job on the spot.
6) I worked at Rohr Corporation (later Rohr Industries, Rohr Inc., and now Aerostructures Group of Goodrich) from October 1967 until I retired in August 2002, starting as an Aerodynamicist, then a Senior Aerodynamicist, an Aero/Thermo Group Engineer, Chief of Aerodynamics, Chief of Aero/Thermo and finally as a Senior Staff Engineer. I became an expert in nacelle aerodynamics; turbofan engine performance; thrust reverser design, performance and testing; fluid dynamics; aircraft performance; boundary layers; and FORTRAN programming. I worked on most of the commercial aircraft built by Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Airbus, and traveled all over the USA and Europe. It was a great 35-year career in a good company.
7) After being retired for two years, I went back to Goodrich Aerostructures in August 2004 for two years as a Contract Engineer, working on the Boeing 787 nacelle design and analysis (above).
8) Genealogy research and Genea-blogging! After the 2002 retirement, I joined the Board of Directors of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society and have served as Treasurer, Program Chairman, President,, Research Chairman and Newsletter Editor (my present position). I started writing Genea-Musings in April 2006. This "job" includes writing, speaking, attending conferences, consulting with genealogy companies, meeting lots of other enthusiastic and committed researchers and bloggers, etc. I've never had so much fun!
One of my favorite sayings is "There are things that happen in a second that take a lifetime to explain." This is certainly true for me - with my job search in 1967, meeting my wife in 1968, reading Roots in 1987, and starting to blog in 2006.
What would my life have been like if Rohr had not called me on Friday, 21 October 1967? I really don't know. I would have worked in Thousand Oaks, perhaps met and married a woman near there, or perhaps moved on to Seattle, Long Beach, or some other aerospace center. Would my daughters and grandchildren be as smart and beautiful as mine are? Would I still be in my home town enjoying my family and friends? Would I have become interested in genealogy in 1987 if my life course had been different? Who knows!
It's Labor Day, and I thought somebody (my readers? my kids? my friends?) might be interested in my job history. It is really a short list over a long period of time!
1) My first job was as a newspaper delivery person - a paper boy. I was 11 when my friend Gordon and I got a route for the twice-weekly San Diego Independent newspaper. Our area was between 32nd Street and 34th Street, and Juniper Street to Laurel Street, in the North Park area of San Diego. We held this job for about six months, delivering papers on Thursday and Sunday mornings to subscribers, using bicycles and flexies (Flexible Flyers, not a sled, but with wheels and steering bar) to throw them on porches. The highlight each month was collecting the subscription fees from the subscribers - we got stiffed a lot for what they considered a throw-away newspaper.
2) My second job was an extension of the first - my brother and I had a San Diego Independent newspaper route for about five years, but closer to home (28th Street to Fern Street, Date Street to Fir Street, 10 blocks, about 100 addresses). We got really good at doing this job through experience, got to know our customers, and made some pocket money. The customer that I remember is old Mr. Stoddard, who lived on Dale Street. He had his buddies over to play cards regularly, and when we came to collect, he would ask us in to show off what we learned. He actually paid us 25 cents or 50 cents each month to learn something new - the State Capitals, the National Parks, say the alphabet backwards, etc.
3) I wrote about my first "real" regular paying job in the summer of 1963 with the San Diego Chargers in http://www.geneamusings.com/2007/10/my-first-real-job.html.
4) After three years at San Diego State University studying aerospace engineering, I got my first real "professional" job with Wagner Aircraft in San Diego in the summer of 1964 - I spent about three months there. This was a spinoff company (from Convair) trying to build a 25-seat commuter propeller-driven aircraft designed for small airfields. The innovative feature was a boundary layer control system that would permit takeoffs and landings at 60 miles/hour. I worked as an analyst doing aerodynamics analysis (performance, stability and control, etc.) with several veteran aerodynamicists, including Bob Gusky, who would play a big role in my life a few years later.
5) I went back to school in September 1964, and Wagner Aircraft folded before the summer of 1965. However, Sunrise Aircraft was formed with new investors and Fred Wagner at the helm, but with few of the Wagner Aircraft employees, and none of the aerodynamicists. I got a summer job there for 1965, doing essentially the same things I had done at Wagner in 1964. Larry F. was the only aerodynamicist at the time and he was happy to have someone help out. I stayed on as a part-time employee in late 1965, and then came on full-time in January 1966 after graduating from SDSU. In addition to the aerodynamics work, I picked up some of the Boundary Layer Control (BLC) work and traveled to Cambridge MA twice for model tests and technical discussions with DynaTech, a technical company. In the end, I wrote a NASA Contractor's Report with the DynaTech people. Unfortunately, Sunrise Aircraft couldn't meet payroll in March 1967, and I kept working there for essentially promises (which never came about) until September.
This was the first real crisis in my life - I had my own apartment, was living the good life, but now had to move back in with my parents and borrow money from the bank. I applied for unemployment, started a job search, had several interviews, and finally accepted a job in Thousand Oaks CA with Northrop Ventura as an aerodynamicist. I was going to start on Monday, 24 October 1967. My plan was to live a month in a cheap motel, eat on my credit card, pay the bills with my first paychecks, and then get an apartment there.
My father had worked at Rohr Corporation in Chula Vista in the 1940's, and still had some contacts there in management, to whom he had given my resume. Bob Gusky was at Rohr then, and my resume passed his desk and he asked the employment folks to set up an interview. Gil from Employment called on Friday morning, 21 October, and asked if I could come down the next week for an interview. I explained that I was starting at Northrop Ventura on Monday - could we do an interview on Friday afternoon? The answer was yes - I put on my only suit and tie, drove down to Chula Vista (8 miles), interviewed, and was offered the job on the spot.
6) I worked at Rohr Corporation (later Rohr Industries, Rohr Inc., and now Aerostructures Group of Goodrich) from October 1967 until I retired in August 2002, starting as an Aerodynamicist, then a Senior Aerodynamicist, an Aero/Thermo Group Engineer, Chief of Aerodynamics, Chief of Aero/Thermo and finally as a Senior Staff Engineer. I became an expert in nacelle aerodynamics; turbofan engine performance; thrust reverser design, performance and testing; fluid dynamics; aircraft performance; boundary layers; and FORTRAN programming. I worked on most of the commercial aircraft built by Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Airbus, and traveled all over the USA and Europe. It was a great 35-year career in a good company.
7) After being retired for two years, I went back to Goodrich Aerostructures in August 2004 for two years as a Contract Engineer, working on the Boeing 787 nacelle design and analysis (above).
8) Genealogy research and Genea-blogging! After the 2002 retirement, I joined the Board of Directors of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society and have served as Treasurer, Program Chairman, President,, Research Chairman and Newsletter Editor (my present position). I started writing Genea-Musings in April 2006. This "job" includes writing, speaking, attending conferences, consulting with genealogy companies, meeting lots of other enthusiastic and committed researchers and bloggers, etc. I've never had so much fun!
One of my favorite sayings is "There are things that happen in a second that take a lifetime to explain." This is certainly true for me - with my job search in 1967, meeting my wife in 1968, reading Roots in 1987, and starting to blog in 2006.
What would my life have been like if Rohr had not called me on Friday, 21 October 1967? I really don't know. I would have worked in Thousand Oaks, perhaps met and married a woman near there, or perhaps moved on to Seattle, Long Beach, or some other aerospace center. Would my daughters and grandchildren be as smart and beautiful as mine are? Would I still be in my home town enjoying my family and friends? Would I have become interested in genealogy in 1987 if my life course had been different? Who knows!
Amanuensis Monday - the will of George Stearns (1690-1760) of Waltham MA
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Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme many months ago called Amanuensis Monday. What does "amanuensis" mean? John offers this definition:
"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."
The subject today is the will of George Stearns (1690-1760) of Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of John Stearns and Judith Lawrence, and married Hannah Sanderson (1689-1770) in 1712. They had eight children: Jonathan Stearns (1713-1758); Abigail Stearns (1716-1798); Judith Stearns (1716-????); David Stearns (1717-????); Hannah Stearns (1719-????); Lydia Stearns (1724-????); John Stearns (1727-????); Daniel Stearns (1729-1779).
George Stearns died testate. His probate records (original papers) are in Middlesex County Probate Records, Packet #21,234 (accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,421,526). The will of Mr. George Stearns, yeoman late of Waltham, written on 8 February 1760, was presented to the Probate Court by his son, Daniel Stearns, the Executor, and was proved on 14 July 1760. Daniel Stearns (yeoman of Waltham), David Stratton (yeoman of Waltham) and Ebenezer Cutter (Gentleman of Lincoln) posted bond of 300 pounds. The will reads (transcribed by the author):
"In The Name of god Amen. I George Stearns of Waltham in ye County of Middlesx in ye Province of Massachtts Bay in New England yeoman upon this Twenty Eighth day of Febry Anno Dom 1760 In the Thirty Third year of His Majtes Reign, being of sound & Disposing mind & memory for it I Bless God, Calling to mind ye Mortality of my Body, Do make this my Last Will & Testamnt. Vizt. First I recomend my precious & Imortal soul into ye merciful hands of God that gave it in Hope of ye forgiveness of all my sins for ye merits sake of my Gracious Redeemer, & my Body I comit to the Earth from whence it was Taken to be buried in a Decent Christian manner ... Hopes of a Glorious Resurrection at ye Last day. And as for ye Worldly Estate wherewith it hat pleased God to bless me with in this Life I dispose of in the following manner:
"Imps. I Give to my Beloved wife ye Improvemnt of one Third part of all my Estate During her natural Life. My Exectr to bury me & my wife in a Decent & Christian manner.
"Itm. I Give to the heirs of my Dutiful son Jona Stearns Decd Thirteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Lawful money to be Equally Divided amongst them and to be paid to them after my wifes Decease as they come of Lawful age being with that their Fathr had recd is their full portn of my Estate.
"Itm. I Give to my Dutiful son David Stearns his heirs &c thirteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Lawful money and all my wearing apparrel which together with that he hath already recd is his full portion of my Estate to be paid in four years after my wifes Decease.
"Itm. I Give to my Dutiful son John Stearns Fifty three pound six shillings & eight pence Lawful money it being his full portion of my Estate to be paid in two years after my Decease.
"Itm. I give to my dutiful Daughtr Abig Peirce her heirs &c the Sum of Eight Pounds six shillings & Eight pence Lawful money to be paid in one year after my Decease.
"Itm. I give to the Children of my Daughtr Hannah Hager Decsd Thirteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Lawful money to be paid to them as they arrive at Lawful age.
"itm. I give to my two grand-daughters Vizt. Molly & Eunice Hammond thirteen pounds six shillings Lawful money to be Equally Divided between them to be paid in Seven years after my wifes Decease.
"Itm. I give to my three Grand-daughters Vizt. Sarah, Lois & Lydia Fuller thirteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Lawful money to be paid to them as they arrive at Lawful age.
"Itm. I give to my grand-daughter Hannah Hager one Cow at ye time she arrives at Lawful age.
"Itm. I further give to my Daughtr Abigl Peirce and to my Daughtrs children vizt ye children of my Daughter Hager Decd, my Daughtr Hammond Decd, & my Daughtr Fuller Decd, all my Houshold Goods of Every Denomination and my Three cows it being their full portion of my Estate and to receive the same At my wife's Decease. This article to be Equally Divided to my sd Daughter and my sd Grand Children.
"Itm. I give to my Dutiful son Danll Stearns his heirs and assigns all my Lands and Tenements in the Town of Waltham & also I give him all my utincils of Husbandry & my oxen & sheep & hereby will & require him to provide for his mother all needful assistance of Every Kind durign her Life. Likewise I do appoint my sd son Danll my residuary Legatee & Executor of this my Last Will & Testament hereby willing & requiring him to perform the same in Every article thereof And do hereby utterly revoke & Disanull all other & former wills by me heretofore made & Do Ratifie this to be my Last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day & year above written.
"Signed Sealed published & pronounced ....................................George Stearns
by ye sd George Stearns to be his Last Will
& Testamt in presence of
David Stratton
Phinehas Child
Ebenr Cutter"
The will mentions these children by name: Jonathan (who died in 1758); David; John; Daniel (executor); Abigail (Stearns) Peirce; Hannah (Stearns) Hagar (who died before 1760). It mentions children of daughters Hannah (Stearns) Hagar, Elizabeth (Stearns) Hammond (who died before 1760) and Lydia (Stearns) Fuller (who died before 1760).
My ancestry is though Abigail (Stearns) Peirce (1716-1798), who married Samuel Peirce in 1739. This will provides an original source with primary information and direct evidence that Abigail Peirce is the daughter of George Stearns. Of course, more evidence is required to prove that this Abigail is the wife of Samuel Peirce.
Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme many months ago called Amanuensis Monday. What does "amanuensis" mean? John offers this definition:
"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."
The subject today is the will of George Stearns (1690-1760) of Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of John Stearns and Judith Lawrence, and married Hannah Sanderson (1689-1770) in 1712. They had eight children: Jonathan Stearns (1713-1758); Abigail Stearns (1716-1798); Judith Stearns (1716-????); David Stearns (1717-????); Hannah Stearns (1719-????); Lydia Stearns (1724-????); John Stearns (1727-????); Daniel Stearns (1729-1779).
George Stearns died testate. His probate records (original papers) are in Middlesex County Probate Records, Packet #21,234 (accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,421,526). The will of Mr. George Stearns, yeoman late of Waltham, written on 8 February 1760, was presented to the Probate Court by his son, Daniel Stearns, the Executor, and was proved on 14 July 1760. Daniel Stearns (yeoman of Waltham), David Stratton (yeoman of Waltham) and Ebenezer Cutter (Gentleman of Lincoln) posted bond of 300 pounds. The will reads (transcribed by the author):
"In The Name of god Amen. I George Stearns of Waltham in ye County of Middlesx in ye Province of Massachtts Bay in New England yeoman upon this Twenty Eighth day of Febry Anno Dom 1760 In the Thirty Third year of His Majtes Reign, being of sound & Disposing mind & memory for it I Bless God, Calling to mind ye Mortality of my Body, Do make this my Last Will & Testamnt. Vizt. First I recomend my precious & Imortal soul into ye merciful hands of God that gave it in Hope of ye forgiveness of all my sins for ye merits sake of my Gracious Redeemer, & my Body I comit to the Earth from whence it was Taken to be buried in a Decent Christian manner ... Hopes of a Glorious Resurrection at ye Last day. And as for ye Worldly Estate wherewith it hat pleased God to bless me with in this Life I dispose of in the following manner:
"Imps. I Give to my Beloved wife ye Improvemnt of one Third part of all my Estate During her natural Life. My Exectr to bury me & my wife in a Decent & Christian manner.
"Itm. I Give to the heirs of my Dutiful son Jona Stearns Decd Thirteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Lawful money to be Equally Divided amongst them and to be paid to them after my wifes Decease as they come of Lawful age being with that their Fathr had recd is their full portn of my Estate.
"Itm. I Give to my Dutiful son David Stearns his heirs &c thirteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Lawful money and all my wearing apparrel which together with that he hath already recd is his full portion of my Estate to be paid in four years after my wifes Decease.
"Itm. I Give to my Dutiful son John Stearns Fifty three pound six shillings & eight pence Lawful money it being his full portion of my Estate to be paid in two years after my Decease.
"Itm. I give to my dutiful Daughtr Abig Peirce her heirs &c the Sum of Eight Pounds six shillings & Eight pence Lawful money to be paid in one year after my Decease.
"Itm. I give to the Children of my Daughtr Hannah Hager Decsd Thirteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Lawful money to be paid to them as they arrive at Lawful age.
"itm. I give to my two grand-daughters Vizt. Molly & Eunice Hammond thirteen pounds six shillings Lawful money to be Equally Divided between them to be paid in Seven years after my wifes Decease.
"Itm. I give to my three Grand-daughters Vizt. Sarah, Lois & Lydia Fuller thirteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Lawful money to be paid to them as they arrive at Lawful age.
"Itm. I give to my grand-daughter Hannah Hager one Cow at ye time she arrives at Lawful age.
"Itm. I further give to my Daughtr Abigl Peirce and to my Daughtrs children vizt ye children of my Daughter Hager Decd, my Daughtr Hammond Decd, & my Daughtr Fuller Decd, all my Houshold Goods of Every Denomination and my Three cows it being their full portion of my Estate and to receive the same At my wife's Decease. This article to be Equally Divided to my sd Daughter and my sd Grand Children.
"Itm. I give to my Dutiful son Danll Stearns his heirs and assigns all my Lands and Tenements in the Town of Waltham & also I give him all my utincils of Husbandry & my oxen & sheep & hereby will & require him to provide for his mother all needful assistance of Every Kind durign her Life. Likewise I do appoint my sd son Danll my residuary Legatee & Executor of this my Last Will & Testament hereby willing & requiring him to perform the same in Every article thereof And do hereby utterly revoke & Disanull all other & former wills by me heretofore made & Do Ratifie this to be my Last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day & year above written.
"Signed Sealed published & pronounced ....................................George Stearns
by ye sd George Stearns to be his Last Will
& Testamt in presence of
David Stratton
Phinehas Child
Ebenr Cutter"
The will mentions these children by name: Jonathan (who died in 1758); David; John; Daniel (executor); Abigail (Stearns) Peirce; Hannah (Stearns) Hagar (who died before 1760). It mentions children of daughters Hannah (Stearns) Hagar, Elizabeth (Stearns) Hammond (who died before 1760) and Lydia (Stearns) Fuller (who died before 1760).
My ancestry is though Abigail (Stearns) Peirce (1716-1798), who married Samuel Peirce in 1739. This will provides an original source with primary information and direct evidence that Abigail Peirce is the daughter of George Stearns. Of course, more evidence is required to prove that this Abigail is the wife of Samuel Peirce.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
1940 U.S. Census Contractors Questions and NARA Answers
...
In Comments on the 1940 U.S. Census RFQ and SOW, I linked to the Federal Business Opportunities website with the Request For Quote (RFQ) and Statement Of Work (SOW) for the National Archives (NARA) pending contract to host the 1940 United States Census images, and provide links to census pages in each Enumeration District.
The due date for responses to the RFQ was extended to 8 September at 4 p.m., and now the NARA answers to contractors' questions have been posted. The link to the Q&A is here (under Amendment 2 on the right-hand side).
Questions and answers that I found interesting include:
This very clearly answers, several times, that the contractor cannot do anything to create an index until after 2 April 2012. The contract is host the images and link to them. After 2 April, the contractor can create an index and link to the images.
That is clear also - anyone anywhere can view, and capture, the census images from the contractor's site.
So the contractor will have about six months to complete the work required to allow thousands of users to view the 1940 census on 2 April 2012 within the specified requirements set out by the Statement of Work.
I think that the NARA response here is unclear - shouldn't they have specified specific versions for each browser?
A short answer for a specific question. Entrepreneurs, start your social media engines!
This seems to say that you can buy it (every page for $200,000) digitally or on microfilm, or download it ED by ED, it's your choice. I hope you have enough terabytes.
NARA says that the Contractor cannot put a link to the Contractor's name-index search site on the website, only to the Contractor's website.
Some Contractor was looking to monetize their involvement here. Um, no.
There are 32 questions and answers in the document.
Hopefully, some Contractor will be awarded this contract in early October, and will flawlessly host the 1940 census page images, permit their viewing, and permit the ability to download one page, or a whole Enumeration District, on 2 April 2012.
The challenge for the selected Contractor, and any other interested party, will be to create a useful name-index to the census as quickly as possible. Who will those parties be? We'll have to wait to find out.
The challenge for genealogists will be to have patience when the 1940 U.S. Census is released. Each of us can try to find the EDs where our family members lived in 1940, using the process described in How to Access the 1940 Census in One Step (by Steve Morse, PhD, Joel Weintraub, PhD, and David R. Kehs, PhD).
More patience will be required waiting for the overload on the Contractor's servers on 2 April 2012 to reduce so that we can actually see the page images and download them, and then to wait for the name-index search capabilities to be developed after 2 April 2012. There are about 130 million names to index, along with their personal identity information. It's going to take 6 to 24 months to complete, I think.
In Comments on the 1940 U.S. Census RFQ and SOW, I linked to the Federal Business Opportunities website with the Request For Quote (RFQ) and Statement Of Work (SOW) for the National Archives (NARA) pending contract to host the 1940 United States Census images, and provide links to census pages in each Enumeration District.
The due date for responses to the RFQ was extended to 8 September at 4 p.m., and now the NARA answers to contractors' questions have been posted. The link to the Q&A is here (under Amendment 2 on the right-hand side).
Questions and answers that I found interesting include:
| Q1 | How should we interpret the following condition found on page 3 for the SOW? "The contractor may take no action to develop or create a name index or any other product prior to April 2, 2012." |
| Q1(a) | Does this only refer to indexing fields that would be considered Personally Identifiable Information (PII) - as listed on page 2 of NAMA-11-Q-0081 or any of the fields on the images? |
| A1(a) | The contractor may not create a name index using names or other information found on the Census schedules. |
| Q1(b) | What is the scope of 'or any other product' in this context? |
| A1(b) | The contractor may not create or develop any product created using the information found on the Census schedules until after April 2, 2012. |
| Q1(c) | Would this clause prohibit [XX] from creating collection specific functionality for our own site prior to April? |
| A1(c) | The Contractor could develop functionality on their own site but could not use the 1940 Census schedules until April 2, 2012. |
This very clearly answers, several times, that the contractor cannot do anything to create an index until after 2 April 2012. The contract is host the images and link to them. After 2 April, the contractor can create an index and link to the images.
| Q8 | Will a user be denied access based on his location? Example: user coming from a hostile country. |
| A8 | At this time, NARA does not intend to restrict access to the census data. |
That is clear also - anyone anywhere can view, and capture, the census images from the contractor's site.
| Q13 | Given the rapidly approaching deadline of April 2, 2012, what date does NARA expect to award the project? |
| A13 | NARA expects to award the contract by early October. |
So the contractor will have about six months to complete the work required to allow thousands of users to view the 1940 census on 2 April 2012 within the specified requirements set out by the Statement of Work.
| Q16 | What specific browsers and versions are to be supported by the website? |
| A16 | The browsers and versions required to be supported are Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Mozilla Firefox, backward-version (versions 4.x and up), and cross-platform (Windows and Mac) compatible |
I think that the NARA response here is unclear - shouldn't they have specified specific versions for each browser?
| Q18 | Is there any additional detail available on the requirements for sharing images through social media tools? |
| A18 | No. |
A short answer for a specific question. Entrepreneurs, start your social media engines!
| Q23 | Given NARA’s intent to offer the complete Census for sale in digital format beginning April 2, 2012, what anti-crawling policies should be established and/or what other methods are expected to be employed to prevent parties from simply downloading all images from every Enumeration District (as enabled by specifications in the RFQ) thus circumventing the process of ordering and paying for the digital images? |
| A23 | The National Archives Trust Fund is selling Census data in digital as well as microfilm format as a convenience. We do not wish to limit downloading in any manner. |
This seems to say that you can buy it (every page for $200,000) digitally or on microfilm, or download it ED by ED, it's your choice. I hope you have enough terabytes.
| Q24 | Please clarify if the image presented on the website for viewing in the browser needs to be a 4 MB file or if the file can be compressed and optimized for online viewing, zoom, and pan? It appears the 4MB file size only needs to be available for actual download to save to a user’s computer. |
| A24 | The files can be compressed and optimized for online viewing, zoom, and pan. We would like the file size to remain at the full compressed size (approximately 4MB) for customer downloads. |
| Q26 | Can a link be provided from the search results on the website to the Contractor’s name-index search? |
| A26 | No, however the search interface and search result displays include a link to the Contractor’s web site. |
NARA says that the Contractor cannot put a link to the Contractor's name-index search site on the website, only to the Contractor's website.
| Q32 | Para 9: Will the contractor be involved with the sale of data or will only NARA sell the data? |
| A32 | The National Archives Trust Fund will offer the census information in digital form through their online store, and the contractor will not be involved. |
Some Contractor was looking to monetize their involvement here. Um, no.
There are 32 questions and answers in the document.
Hopefully, some Contractor will be awarded this contract in early October, and will flawlessly host the 1940 census page images, permit their viewing, and permit the ability to download one page, or a whole Enumeration District, on 2 April 2012.
The challenge for the selected Contractor, and any other interested party, will be to create a useful name-index to the census as quickly as possible. Who will those parties be? We'll have to wait to find out.
The challenge for genealogists will be to have patience when the 1940 U.S. Census is released. Each of us can try to find the EDs where our family members lived in 1940, using the process described in How to Access the 1940 Census in One Step (by Steve Morse, PhD, Joel Weintraub, PhD, and David R. Kehs, PhD).
More patience will be required waiting for the overload on the Contractor's servers on 2 April 2012 to reduce so that we can actually see the page images and download them, and then to wait for the name-index search capabilities to be developed after 2 April 2012. There are about 130 million names to index, along with their personal identity information. It's going to take 6 to 24 months to complete, I think.
Best of the Genea-Blogs - 28 August to 3 September 2011
...
Hundreds of genealogy and family history bloggers write thousands of posts every week about their research, their families, and their interests. I appreciate each one of them and their efforts.
My criteria for "Best of ..." are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy and family history, address current genealogy issues, provide personal family history, are funny or are poignant. I don't list posts destined for the genealogy carnivals, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week:
* What To Do With a 547-Page Probate File by Kerry Scott on the Clue Wagon blog. Silly question for a genealogist...Kerry got it and didn't pay $1 per page. Very well played!
* All I Really Need to Know About Genealogy I Learned in Kindergarten by Elizabeth O'Neal on the Little Bytes of Life blog. Elizabeth's daughter is going to kindergarten, so Elizabeth passes some "rules" about genealogy to us based on rules that kindergartners should follow. Works for me!
* Brick Wall Breakthrough: A Case Study by Susan Farrell Bankhead on Susan's Genealogy Blog. Susan uses the FAN Club concept to knock down her brick wall problem.
* Are you doing research? by James Tanner on the Genealogy's Star blog. James discusses the nature of "research," stating that it really means finding new information.
* Things I Don’t Care About in Genealogy by Greta Koehl on the Greta's Genealogy Bog blog. Greta's interesting list hits most of my items too.
* And Still I Write by Mel Wolfgang on the Mnemosyne's Magic Mirror blog. Mel has it right, I think...he has to write!
* And Never the Twain Shall Meet – Using Divorce Records in Your Research by Carolyn L. Barkley on the GenealogyAndFamilyHistory.com blog. Everything you've always wanted to know about divorce records.
* The Situation of Family & Genealogy by Caroline J. Pointer on the Family Stories blog. Caroline nails it, I think, about what the family really wants from us. Snooki!
* If Genealogists Were In the Tabloids by Amy Coffin on the We Tree Genealogy Blog. Amy's humorous post hits nails well - recognize anyone here?
* The Bash by Barbara Poole on the Life From the Roots blog. Barbara provides an ice photo essay of the geneabloggers bash in New Hampshire last weekend, just before Irene blew through. It's good to see all of the names and faces (well, not Barbara's, I see).
Several genea-bloggers wrote weekly pick posts and news summary posts this week, including:
* Monday Morning Mentions by Lynn Palermo on The Armchair Genealogist blog.
* Links, 8.29.11 by Liz Haigney Lynch on The Ancestral Archaeologist blog.
* Monday's Link Roundup by Dan Curtis on the Dan Curtis ~ Professional Personal Historian blog.
* Ruth's Recommendations by Ruth Blair on The Passionate Genealogist blog.
* Genealogy Round Up, September 1 by Megan Smolenyak on Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak's Roots World blog.
* Genealogy News Corral, August 29-September 2 by Diane Haddad on the Genealogy Insider blog.
* Week in Review by John Newmark on the TransylvaniaDutch blog.
* Around the Blogosphere: September 4, 2011 by Susan Petersen on the Long Lost Relatives.net blog.
I encourage readers to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add their blogs to your Favorites, Google Reader, RSS feed or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I am currently reading posts from over 1030 genealogy bloggers using Google Reader, but I still miss quite a few it seems.
Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.
NOTE: I will be away from home for most of the next three weeks - on our Midwest vacation to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. I doubt that I will have the time, or inclination, to compile this post every week. I will try to post something, but it may be only pointers to the other Best Of lists that my genea-blogging colleagues compile each week, as listed above!
Hundreds of genealogy and family history bloggers write thousands of posts every week about their research, their families, and their interests. I appreciate each one of them and their efforts.
My criteria for "Best of ..." are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy and family history, address current genealogy issues, provide personal family history, are funny or are poignant. I don't list posts destined for the genealogy carnivals, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week:
* What To Do With a 547-Page Probate File by Kerry Scott on the Clue Wagon blog. Silly question for a genealogist...Kerry got it and didn't pay $1 per page. Very well played!
* All I Really Need to Know About Genealogy I Learned in Kindergarten by Elizabeth O'Neal on the Little Bytes of Life blog. Elizabeth's daughter is going to kindergarten, so Elizabeth passes some "rules" about genealogy to us based on rules that kindergartners should follow. Works for me!
* Brick Wall Breakthrough: A Case Study by Susan Farrell Bankhead on Susan's Genealogy Blog. Susan uses the FAN Club concept to knock down her brick wall problem.
* Are you doing research? by James Tanner on the Genealogy's Star blog. James discusses the nature of "research," stating that it really means finding new information.
* Things I Don’t Care About in Genealogy by Greta Koehl on the Greta's Genealogy Bog blog. Greta's interesting list hits most of my items too.
* And Still I Write by Mel Wolfgang on the Mnemosyne's Magic Mirror blog. Mel has it right, I think...he has to write!
* And Never the Twain Shall Meet – Using Divorce Records in Your Research by Carolyn L. Barkley on the GenealogyAndFamilyHistory.com blog. Everything you've always wanted to know about divorce records.
* The Situation of Family & Genealogy by Caroline J. Pointer on the Family Stories blog. Caroline nails it, I think, about what the family really wants from us. Snooki!
* If Genealogists Were In the Tabloids by Amy Coffin on the We Tree Genealogy Blog. Amy's humorous post hits nails well - recognize anyone here?
* The Bash by Barbara Poole on the Life From the Roots blog. Barbara provides an ice photo essay of the geneabloggers bash in New Hampshire last weekend, just before Irene blew through. It's good to see all of the names and faces (well, not Barbara's, I see).
Several genea-bloggers wrote weekly pick posts and news summary posts this week, including:
* Monday Morning Mentions by Lynn Palermo on The Armchair Genealogist blog.
* Links, 8.29.11 by Liz Haigney Lynch on The Ancestral Archaeologist blog.
* Monday's Link Roundup by Dan Curtis on the Dan Curtis ~ Professional Personal Historian blog.
* Ruth's Recommendations by Ruth Blair on The Passionate Genealogist blog.
* Genealogy Round Up, September 1 by Megan Smolenyak on Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak's Roots World blog.
* Genealogy News Corral, August 29-September 2 by Diane Haddad on the Genealogy Insider blog.
* Week in Review by John Newmark on the TransylvaniaDutch blog.
* Around the Blogosphere: September 4, 2011 by Susan Petersen on the Long Lost Relatives.net blog.
I encourage readers to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add their blogs to your Favorites, Google Reader, RSS feed or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I am currently reading posts from over 1030 genealogy bloggers using Google Reader, but I still miss quite a few it seems.
Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.
NOTE: I will be away from home for most of the next three weeks - on our Midwest vacation to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. I doubt that I will have the time, or inclination, to compile this post every week. I will try to post something, but it may be only pointers to the other Best Of lists that my genea-blogging colleagues compile each week, as listed above!
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