Yes, it's Saturday Night, and time for some Genealogy Fun!
My friend, Leland Meitzler, posted his Top Ten list of "Most Satisfying Genealogy Events" yesterday - and it's a good list - please read it and respond to it if you want to.
For today's SNGF, if you choose to participate (cue the Mission Impossible music!), please:
1) Tell us about one (or more) "Satisfying Genealogy Moments" from your family history and genealogy research. What was it, and how did it make you feel? You can make a Top Ten list if you want to!
2) Write your own blog post, or make a comment on this post, or make a comment on Facebook, and tell us about your "moment in time."
Here's one of mine (I'm still thinking about a Top Ten list):
Breaking down the father of Isaac Buck (1757-1846) brick wall. I described some of this research in two posts titled "Isaac Buck in the Woodpile - Part I" and "Part II." I found the Worcester County MA vanity book that listed an Isaac Buck (born about 1730) as a son of Isaac and Ruth (Graves) Buck, and the husband of Mary Richards and the father of Isaac Buck (1757-1846). Then I found the article "Southborough MA Notifications" in The American Genealogist (1992) stating that Isaac and Ruth Buck had moved into the house of Joseph Richards in Southborough. I found that article just by chance - browsing at the Carlsbad library. Then I worked really hard to find the land record that indicated (proved?) that Isaac and Ruth (Graves) Buck had a son named Isaac Buck. However, I didn't prove that the son Isaac was the father of Isaac Buck (born 1757 to Mary Richards). That hypothesis is a lot more logical than the hypothesis that the elder Isaac Buck fathered a child by a much younger woman in a house with his wife present.
After this year-long study, done before we had online databases (and only the County book is in current online databases), I felt really satisfied that I had solved this research problem with the help of a County vanity book and an obscure deed hiding in the Worcester County MA deed books.
That's mine - please tell me yours!
Thank you, Leland, for the SNGF topic!
Thomas MacEntee will have a post on Geneabloggers to capture all of the blog entries. I will put the link here when it is available.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Discount for World Vital Records memberships
I received an email today from World Vital Records offering a 25% discount on a year subscription to their US and World Collection memberships. The email said:
" October is National Family History Month. In celebration, WorldVitalRecords is offering an amazing low price for the U.S. and World Collections. Now get up to 25% OFF a WorldVitalRecords.com membership, where you'll enjoy access to thousands of databases—including Birth, Death, Military, Census, And Parish Records—to help you build your family tree. Plus discover newly-added collections, such as Newspaper Archives, Immigration Records, Yearbooks, Vital Records, Military Records, and Tax Lists. Hurry! This incredible offer ends Friday, October 16th. Select one of the following membership options or call 1-888-377-0588 (M-F, 8am-5pm MST)."
* The US Collection Membership retail price is $39.95, and they are offering it for $29.95.
* The World Collection Membership (which includes the US Collection) retail price is $99.95 and they are offering it for $79.95.
The deadline for these offers is Friday, 16 October. This is the best deal yet for this subscription website.
If you are not a subscriber to WorldVitalRecords.com, I encourage you to go check their databases at www.WorldVitalRecords.com and see if they have records that might help you in your research. There is a 7-day free trial, access to recent US databases is free for ten days, using the search engine is free, but most search results are not.
Disclosure: I am not an employee, contrator or affiliate of FamilyLink.com or World Vital Records. I have a paid US subscription to World Vital Records.
"Nooks and Crannies of Ancestry.com" at North San Diego County Genealogical Society on Tuesday
Some guy named Randy Seaver will present a program called "The Nooks and Crannies of Ancestry.com" at the Computer Oriented Genealogy Group (COGG) meeting of the North San Diego County Genealogical Society (NSDCGS) on Tuesday, 13 October at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Carlsbad (CA) City Council Chambers (1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad CA 92008) and is open and free to the public.
The publicity for the program says:
Randy Seaver will enlighten his audience on the nooks and crannies of this thing called "Ancestry." While most members use this subscription service, Randy will demonstrate features rarely seen before.
Randy is a native San Diegan, a graduate of San Diego State University, a retired aerospace engineer, a genealogists and a family guy. He has been active in CGSSD for several years and is a past-president of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society. His ancestry is about 50% colonial New England (including Mayflower passengers, Massachusetts Bay Governors, and several of royal descent), with liberal portions of English, German and Dutch lines. Randy runs several blogs about his families and the Southern California area. He is a contributing member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits.
Hmmm, sounds somewhat familiar. It sure raises the expectations of the audience, doesn't it? Did you know that Ancestry.com had nooks and crannies? It does, of course! I'm not sure I've found them all, but I do have some suggestions for the audience about Ancestry.com features that they, perhaps, haven't seen before. I'm actually calling the presentation "Exploring Ancestry.com" but didn't get the revised publicity to the program chair in time (I was on my vacation).
I look forward to seeing my friends in Carlsbad again. I was up there for the COGG presentation last March. This is a very interesting and energetic genealogy society that sponsors two speakers each month, on the second and fourth Tuesdays, and has an excellent beginners class and supports the wonderful genealogy and family history collection at the Carlsbad Georgina Cole Library.
The publicity for the program says:
Randy Seaver will enlighten his audience on the nooks and crannies of this thing called "Ancestry." While most members use this subscription service, Randy will demonstrate features rarely seen before.
Randy is a native San Diegan, a graduate of San Diego State University, a retired aerospace engineer, a genealogists and a family guy. He has been active in CGSSD for several years and is a past-president of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society. His ancestry is about 50% colonial New England (including Mayflower passengers, Massachusetts Bay Governors, and several of royal descent), with liberal portions of English, German and Dutch lines. Randy runs several blogs about his families and the Southern California area. He is a contributing member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits.
Hmmm, sounds somewhat familiar. It sure raises the expectations of the audience, doesn't it? Did you know that Ancestry.com had nooks and crannies? It does, of course! I'm not sure I've found them all, but I do have some suggestions for the audience about Ancestry.com features that they, perhaps, haven't seen before. I'm actually calling the presentation "Exploring Ancestry.com" but didn't get the revised publicity to the program chair in time (I was on my vacation).
I look forward to seeing my friends in Carlsbad again. I was up there for the COGG presentation last March. This is a very interesting and energetic genealogy society that sponsors two speakers each month, on the second and fourth Tuesdays, and has an excellent beginners class and supports the wonderful genealogy and family history collection at the Carlsbad Georgina Cole Library.
Friday, October 9, 2009
LOL- the Laziest Man in Genealogy?
My erstwhile genea-friend, The Genealogue (Chris Dunham), has posted "The Laziest Man in Genealogy" (with not even a question mark!) saying:
"I must say I'm disappointed that Randy Seaver refuses to update Ancestry.com's 1930 U.S. census index to include the birthplaces of all the wives and children. He seems to be willing to do it for his relatives, but not for the millions of people who don't show up in his GEDCOM files. And he calls himself a "Geneaholic"..."
Typical Chris... he has, um, let's say, a unique view about things genealogical. Funny as hell, too. My response on Chris's post:
"LOL. This is payback for what, eh? Here I blog eight hours a day, try to find all of Ancestry.com's errors, give three presentations a week, and I get a ration for not correcting the errors in the census records of YOUR ancestors? And everybody else's!"
Made my night! Now I have a presentation to proofread, a handout to create, 20 more pages of the 1930 census to fix, and the CVGS newsletter to finish up. I spent too much time watching the damn Yankees game. I guess I'm the martyr of Chula Vista genealogy?
"I must say I'm disappointed that Randy Seaver refuses to update Ancestry.com's 1930 U.S. census index to include the birthplaces of all the wives and children. He seems to be willing to do it for his relatives, but not for the millions of people who don't show up in his GEDCOM files. And he calls himself a "Geneaholic"..."
Typical Chris... he has, um, let's say, a unique view about things genealogical. Funny as hell, too. My response on Chris's post:
"LOL. This is payback for what, eh? Here I blog eight hours a day, try to find all of Ancestry.com's errors, give three presentations a week, and I get a ration for not correcting the errors in the census records of YOUR ancestors? And everybody else's!"
Made my night! Now I have a presentation to proofread, a handout to create, 20 more pages of the 1930 census to fix, and the CVGS newsletter to finish up. I spent too much time watching the damn Yankees game. I guess I'm the martyr of Chula Vista genealogy?
California Genealogy and History Archives
If you are a California researcher, or have California ancestry, have you checked out the California Genealogy and and History Archives site at http://calarchives4u.com/?
There are web pages for the following Collections:
Argonauts (Pioneers)
Bible
Biographies -- (partial)
Births
Books
CA Connections -- See who may be researching your family line.
Cemetery Records and Tombstone Photos
Census
Church
Civil War Records: Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867
Civil War files: obits, documents, newspaper clippings, re-enactments, etc
Civilian Conservation Corp
Crimes and Criminals: pre 1924
Death records - Obits
Diaries and Letters
Directories: County and City
Family Files
History
Maps
Marriages
Military
Misc. Records
Missions
Newspapers
Notaries
Obits -Death records
Organizations
Pension Files
Photos & Images
Registers: Great and Voting
Schools
Taxes
Wills
Some of the collections are fairly sparse, but some of them are quite large. Check out the Cemetery Records and Tombstone Photos and the Obits -Death records.
Many of the California cemetery records are also in the US GenWeb Archives Tombstone Transcription Project.
More information about individual counties, and the records availability in those counties, can be found on the California USGenWeb pages at http://cagenweb.com/
There are web pages for the following Collections:
Argonauts (Pioneers)
Bible
Biographies -- (partial)
Births
Books
CA Connections -- See who may be researching your family line.
Cemetery Records and Tombstone Photos
Census
Church
Civil War Records: Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867
Civil War files: obits, documents, newspaper clippings, re-enactments, etc
Civilian Conservation Corp
Crimes and Criminals: pre 1924
Death records - Obits
Diaries and Letters
Directories: County and City
Family Files
History
Maps
Marriages
Military
Misc. Records
Missions
Newspapers
Notaries
Obits -Death records
Organizations
Pension Files
Photos & Images
Registers: Great and Voting
Schools
Taxes
Wills
Some of the collections are fairly sparse, but some of them are quite large. Check out the Cemetery Records and Tombstone Photos and the Obits -Death records.
Many of the California cemetery records are also in the US GenWeb Archives Tombstone Transcription Project.
More information about individual counties, and the records availability in those counties, can be found on the California USGenWeb pages at http://cagenweb.com/
1930 US Census on Ancestry.com
After writing about the drawbacks of the 1930 U.S. Census Indexing on Ancestry.com, I was happy to hear this at the Ancestry.com bloggers briefing at the 2009 FGS Conference:
"The 1930 U.S. census index has been updated to include street address, dwelling and family number, and father and mother's birthplace." [Note - my interpretation of what I heard - posted here].
That sounded like some progress, and I finally had a chance to check it out yesterday. I knew that the birthplace of children was not indexed previously, so I put my mother's name (Betty Carringer) into the Search Engine with her birth year and birthplace and saw ... no matches. Hmmm. Why is that? I quickly found the 1930 census record for the family in San Diego:
Yep. There they are at 2130 Fern Street in San Diego. The Index List at the bottom of the page shows Betty Carringer, birth year about 1920, but no birthplace is listed, nor are birthplaces for her parents. The only birthplace listed in the family is for the head-of-household, Betty's father, Lyle Carringer.
The entry in the Index List for the non-entered birthplaces says "Add," so I did. I clicked on the "Update" link for Betty, selected "Birthplace" and filled in the blank with "California:"
That worked. So I added birthplaces for everybody in the household, and the birthplaces of their parents too, based on the entries in the census record page. After all of that, my grandparents family now has the birthplaces entered for them. Here's what it looks like:
So I had to Do It Myself. I'm not going to do everyone's birthplace, though! Nope. But soon, when these updates are added to the Ancestry.com index for the 1930 US Census, I will be able to put my mother's name and birthplace into the Search field and find the census record without having to remember that it was not indexed originally by Ancestry.com.
"The 1930 U.S. census index has been updated to include street address, dwelling and family number, and father and mother's birthplace." [Note - my interpretation of what I heard - posted here].
That sounded like some progress, and I finally had a chance to check it out yesterday. I knew that the birthplace of children was not indexed previously, so I put my mother's name (Betty Carringer) into the Search Engine with her birth year and birthplace and saw ... no matches. Hmmm. Why is that? I quickly found the 1930 census record for the family in San Diego:
Yep. There they are at 2130 Fern Street in San Diego. The Index List at the bottom of the page shows Betty Carringer, birth year about 1920, but no birthplace is listed, nor are birthplaces for her parents. The only birthplace listed in the family is for the head-of-household, Betty's father, Lyle Carringer.
The entry in the Index List for the non-entered birthplaces says "Add," so I did. I clicked on the "Update" link for Betty, selected "Birthplace" and filled in the blank with "California:"
That worked. So I added birthplaces for everybody in the household, and the birthplaces of their parents too, based on the entries in the census record page. After all of that, my grandparents family now has the birthplaces entered for them. Here's what it looks like:
So I had to Do It Myself. I'm not going to do everyone's birthplace, though! Nope. But soon, when these updates are added to the Ancestry.com index for the 1930 US Census, I will be able to put my mother's name and birthplace into the Search field and find the census record without having to remember that it was not indexed originally by Ancestry.com.
So - did I misunderstand the Ancestry.com people at the FGS Conference? Apparently - they must have said:
"The 1930 U.S. census index has been updated to permit users to include street address, dwelling and family number, and father and mother's birthplace."
Ancestry.com said some time ago that they would spend some funds and time to correct poor indexes - I hope they improve the 1930 U.S. census, especially by adding the birthplaces, and the birthplaces of the parents, of all persons. That would bring the 1930 Census index up to the standards set by the 1900, 1910 and 1920 census records on Ancestry.com and the 1930 Census index on footnote.com.
Full disclosure: I am still not an employee, contractor or affiliate of Ancestry.com. I have paid for a US Deluxe subscription to Ancestry.com. The comments and opinions above are my own.
Found some new cousins!
I love it when I find some distant cousins I didn't know about. Now I can add Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to my Christmas family newsletter list!
The Boston Herald newspaper article yesterday, titled Ben Affleck and Matt Damon: Keepin’ it in the family!, by Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa, reported that actors, and best friends, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are distant cousins. Rhonda McClure and Chris Child at the New England Historic Genealogical Society did the research.
Ben Affleck:
Matt Damon:
The article has a link to a descendants chart for both men. Their common ancestors are William Knowlton (1615-1655) and Elizabeth ____ who settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Here's the chart:
How am I connected to Ben and Matt? Well, I have a descent from William Knowlton's (1615-1655) parents, William Knowlton (1584-1639) and Ann Elizabeth Smith (????-1675). Here is my line:
1. William Knowlton (1584-1639) and Ann Elizabeth Smith (????-1675)
So, I am a 11th cousin once removed to Ben Affleck and a 12th cousin to Matt Damon. Who knew? See any resemblance between the three of us? I thought not! After 12 generations, we share maybe 1/4,096 of the same genes. Obviously, they got some good hair genes, eh?
Boy, are my cousins going to be excited about this! They didn't believe me at first when I told them they were related to Dick Cheney and George W. Bush, then they scoffed at my claim that we were cousins to Barack Obama, but now they'll be ecstatic about cousins Matt and Ben!
Are there any readers that have these Knowltons in Ipswich MA? We are cousins too, and you are cousins with Matt and Ben. Please let me know!
The Boston Herald newspaper article yesterday, titled Ben Affleck and Matt Damon: Keepin’ it in the family!, by Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa, reported that actors, and best friends, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are distant cousins. Rhonda McClure and Chris Child at the New England Historic Genealogical Society did the research.
Ben Affleck:
Matt Damon:
The article has a link to a descendants chart for both men. Their common ancestors are William Knowlton (1615-1655) and Elizabeth ____ who settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Here's the chart:
How am I connected to Ben and Matt? Well, I have a descent from William Knowlton's (1615-1655) parents, William Knowlton (1584-1639) and Ann Elizabeth Smith (????-1675). Here is my line:
1. William Knowlton (1584-1639) and Ann Elizabeth Smith (????-1675)
2. John Knowlton (1610-1654) and Marjery ____ (????-ca 1654)
3. John Knowlton (1633-1684) and Deborah Grant (1637-ca 1666)
4. Nathaniel Knowlton (16587-1726) and Deborah Jewett (1664-1743)
5. Nathaniel Knowlton (1684-1760) and Mary Bennett (1686-1717)
6. Jeremiah Knowlton (1713-1752) and Sarah Allen (1717-1796)
7. Jeremiah Knowlton (1745-????) and Abigail Pierce (1750-1776)
8. Abigail Knowlton (1774-1855) and Nathan Gates (1767-1830)
9. Abigail Gates (1797-1867) and Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825)
10. Isaac Seaver (1823-1901) and Lucretia Smith (1827-1884)
11. Frank W. Seaver (1852-1922) and Hattie Hildreth (1857-1920)
12. Frederick W. Seaver (1876-1942) and Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)
13. Frederick W. Seaver (1911-1983) and Betty V. Carringer (1919-2002)
14. Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)
So, I am a 11th cousin once removed to Ben Affleck and a 12th cousin to Matt Damon. Who knew? See any resemblance between the three of us? I thought not! After 12 generations, we share maybe 1/4,096 of the same genes. Obviously, they got some good hair genes, eh?
Boy, are my cousins going to be excited about this! They didn't believe me at first when I told them they were related to Dick Cheney and George W. Bush, then they scoffed at my claim that we were cousins to Barack Obama, but now they'll be ecstatic about cousins Matt and Ben!
Are there any readers that have these Knowltons in Ipswich MA? We are cousins too, and you are cousins with Matt and Ben. Please let me know!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Ancestry.com Old Search vs. New Search Update
Ancestry.com continues to impress me and frustrate me. As an Ancestry.com user, I really appreciate the available databases, the search algorithms, and the communication efforts of Ancestry.com staff. I just wish that there would be more consistency with the Search tables and help functions.
At the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in Little Rock, the Ancestry.com team said that they want one search experience, but that they are not satisfied with the New Search screen yet, and will work with it some more, and that about 70% of searches are done in New Search now (paraphrased in my notes here).
Experienced users of Ancestry.com understand that there are four available Search screens from the Home Page at http://www.ancestry.com/:
1) "Old" Search -- basic search (from Home Page, has Exact Match check box)):
2) "Old" Search - advanced search (link from Home Page, has Exact Match check boxes):
3) "New" Search - Basic Search (from Home Page, has no Exact Match check box):
4) "New" Search - Advanced Search (link from home page, has Exact Match check boxes):
Shouldn't all of the available Search tables have a check box for Exact Matches? No wonder users of "New" Search are often confused (believe me, when I help my society colleagues, they are really confused sometimes! They are using New Search because it is the default when they log in to Ancestry.com, and they have no clue as to how to change it, or even that there is an "Old" Search).
There is a link to "Advanced Search" on the "Old" Search Home Page down in the right-hand corner of the Search table.
In "New" Search from the Home Page, the Basic Search table says "Advanced" in the upper right-hand corner, but it isn't the Advanced Search table. If you click on the "Advanced" link, then you get the "New" Search Advanced Search table, which includes the "Match all Terms Exactly"check boxes for each item.
The "Old" Search table has a link for "Search Tips" that produces a page with four line items (you have to click on each item to see the content):
I continue to be frustrated by "New" Search every time I try it. It just seems like it is more "work" than "Old" Search, probably because I always use Exact Matches for my searches (and have to click to "Advanced Search" to use it). I much prefer having the current Search table at the bottom of the Search Matches page in "Old" Search, although the "Hot Key" feature in "New" Search provides an equivalent capability (but my guess is that only a few users actually know about it).
Perhaps my frustration above stems from using the Ancestry.com Home Page (http://www.ancestry.com/) when I go to the web site. Using the "Search" tab in Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/) provides a somewhat different presentation of the Search table, including a "Learning Resources" box on the right of the screen. There is a link for "Show Advanced" on the Basic Search box to go to the Advanced Search box, and "Hide Advanced" on the Advanced Search box. There are also links to "Old Search" and "New Search" on these pages, which are helpful.
How many users click on the "Search" tab when they go into Ancestry.com? Why should they? There is a Search field right on the Home Page screen (assuming that the user has customized their home page to put it at the top - I have, because it's what I want to use first on Ancestry.com).
My recommendations for Ancestry.com (not requested, but offered freely here!) are:
* Make the Search Tables on the Home Page and Search tab similar
Along these lines, I noted that there will be a Webinar on 14 October for Best Strategies for Searching Ancestry.com on Ancestry.com.
Full disclosure: I am not an employee, contractor or affiliate of Ancestry.com. I am a paid subscriber with a U.S. Deluxe subscription.
At the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in Little Rock, the Ancestry.com team said that they want one search experience, but that they are not satisfied with the New Search screen yet, and will work with it some more, and that about 70% of searches are done in New Search now (paraphrased in my notes here).
Experienced users of Ancestry.com understand that there are four available Search screens from the Home Page at http://www.ancestry.com/:
1) "Old" Search -- basic search (from Home Page, has Exact Match check box)):
2) "Old" Search - advanced search (link from Home Page, has Exact Match check boxes):
3) "New" Search - Basic Search (from Home Page, has no Exact Match check box):
4) "New" Search - Advanced Search (link from home page, has Exact Match check boxes):
Shouldn't all of the available Search tables have a check box for Exact Matches? No wonder users of "New" Search are often confused (believe me, when I help my society colleagues, they are really confused sometimes! They are using New Search because it is the default when they log in to Ancestry.com, and they have no clue as to how to change it, or even that there is an "Old" Search).
There is a link to "Advanced Search" on the "Old" Search Home Page down in the right-hand corner of the Search table.
In "New" Search from the Home Page, the Basic Search table says "Advanced" in the upper right-hand corner, but it isn't the Advanced Search table. If you click on the "Advanced" link, then you get the "New" Search Advanced Search table, which includes the "Match all Terms Exactly"check boxes for each item.
The "Old" Search table has a link for "Search Tips" that produces a page with four line items (you have to click on each item to see the content):
However, the "New" Search tables on the Home Page do not provide a link for these "Search Tips." Shouldn't these Search Tips be offered on the Home Page Search table for "New" Search users?
I continue to be frustrated by "New" Search every time I try it. It just seems like it is more "work" than "Old" Search, probably because I always use Exact Matches for my searches (and have to click to "Advanced Search" to use it). I much prefer having the current Search table at the bottom of the Search Matches page in "Old" Search, although the "Hot Key" feature in "New" Search provides an equivalent capability (but my guess is that only a few users actually know about it).
Perhaps my frustration above stems from using the Ancestry.com Home Page (http://www.ancestry.com/) when I go to the web site. Using the "Search" tab in Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/) provides a somewhat different presentation of the Search table, including a "Learning Resources" box on the right of the screen. There is a link for "Show Advanced" on the Basic Search box to go to the Advanced Search box, and "Hide Advanced" on the Advanced Search box. There are also links to "Old Search" and "New Search" on these pages, which are helpful.
How many users click on the "Search" tab when they go into Ancestry.com? Why should they? There is a Search field right on the Home Page screen (assuming that the user has customized their home page to put it at the top - I have, because it's what I want to use first on Ancestry.com).
My recommendations for Ancestry.com (not requested, but offered freely here!) are:
* Make the Search Tables on the Home Page and Search tab similar
* Include an "Exact Matches only" check box on all Search Tables
* Put "Old Search" and "New Search" links on all Search Table pages
* Add the "Search Tips" link to all Search Table pages.
Along these lines, I noted that there will be a Webinar on 14 October for Best Strategies for Searching Ancestry.com on Ancestry.com.
Full disclosure: I am not an employee, contractor or affiliate of Ancestry.com. I am a paid subscriber with a U.S. Deluxe subscription.
Colleen Fitzpatrick's Articles in "Orange County Register"
I love it when genealogy and family history research is publicized in the newspapers or in magazines. We had Megan Smolenyak's articles yesterday that continued to resonate in the media today, and we've had the articles about Colleen Fitzpatrick's research in the Orange County (CA) Register over the past week. It's all good!
The four article series about Colleen Fitzpatrick's forensic genealogy cases was completed today. The links to the four articles in the Orange County Register, written by Tom Berg, are here:
* 2 October -- Is she the world's greatest DNA detective? This article describes the mystery man puzzle, and how Colleen came to be a DNA detective.
* 6 October -- A frozen arm in the snow. Whose is it? A severed and frozen arm was found in the ice at a 1948 airplane crash in Alaska. Whose was it? Colleen found a mitochondrial DNA match with a man in Ireland and solved the identity problem.
* 7 October -- Unlocking a Titanic mystery. This article summarizes Colleen's effort to find the identity of the Unknown Child from the Titanic, based on three teeth and a pair of shoes.
* 8 October -- Can she find a name for naked, beaten amnesiac This article discusses the search for Benjaman Kyle's real identity - it has stumped Colleen so far.
These four articles demonstrate that even seemingly unsolvable genealogy mysteries can be worked on and solved. The methods that Colleen uses are the same methods that most genealogists and family historians use in their research. I found the articles to be inspirational and excellent examples that reflect the very best in genealogy research.
Thank you, Colleen, for sharing your stories. Now, about Benjaman, have you put him on America's Most Wanted? Or Dancing with the Stars? How about a meeting with President Obama? Or a spot on the Super Bowl telecast? He really needs more exposure.
The four article series about Colleen Fitzpatrick's forensic genealogy cases was completed today. The links to the four articles in the Orange County Register, written by Tom Berg, are here:
* 2 October -- Is she the world's greatest DNA detective? This article describes the mystery man puzzle, and how Colleen came to be a DNA detective.
* 6 October -- A frozen arm in the snow. Whose is it? A severed and frozen arm was found in the ice at a 1948 airplane crash in Alaska. Whose was it? Colleen found a mitochondrial DNA match with a man in Ireland and solved the identity problem.
* 7 October -- Unlocking a Titanic mystery. This article summarizes Colleen's effort to find the identity of the Unknown Child from the Titanic, based on three teeth and a pair of shoes.
* 8 October -- Can she find a name for naked, beaten amnesiac This article discusses the search for Benjaman Kyle's real identity - it has stumped Colleen so far.
These four articles demonstrate that even seemingly unsolvable genealogy mysteries can be worked on and solved. The methods that Colleen uses are the same methods that most genealogists and family historians use in their research. I found the articles to be inspirational and excellent examples that reflect the very best in genealogy research.
Thank you, Colleen, for sharing your stories. Now, about Benjaman, have you put him on America's Most Wanted? Or Dancing with the Stars? How about a meeting with President Obama? Or a spot on the Super Bowl telecast? He really needs more exposure.
"Stones, Bones and Ancient Tomes" Seminar at Corona on 17 October
Hey Southern Californians - are you free on Saturday, 17 October?
The Corona (CA) Genealogical Society (CGS) provides a yearly seminar for the public to learn about family history and genealogy called "Stones, Bones and Ancient Tomes" during Family History Month at the Corona Public Library (650 South Main Street, near 6th Street in Corona).
The seminar is on Saturday, 17 October, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information is available on the CGS web site here.
Look at the features and events offered at this event:
* AT LEAST TWO Internet stations to look up immigration and census records hosted by Noella and Roger Benvenuti
* Ernest Martinez will again host a Hispanic Genealogy display and assisted those interested in researching their Latino roots
* The Aurantia (Riverside) chapter of the DAR will be on hand to help folks research their patriot ancestors
* The surname board display so people can connect with others researching their same ancestors
* A "handouts" table with flyers and freebies (with tote bags to get it all home) - with thanks to RootsMagic, Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, World Vital Records, Heritage Books, and others for sending along items to give away
* Photo restoration helps, this year hosted by society member Edwin Stow
* A display of the history of the Corona Genealogical Society (thanks to Sherry Jones) as well as a membership table (thanks to Jerry Manriquez) so new members can join right there
* The Sunnyslope Cemetery Book display
* Kenny Hedgpeth, DNA expert, will again host a table on using that resource in doing family history
* Helen Woods will return for the 3rd year to host a table on doing African American Research
* Debbie Stuckert will return for her 3rd year as host of the Native American Research table
* A scrapbooking table providing folks with ideas and helps on preserving family history with that medium, this year hosted by Society member Colleen Sanders
* Door prizes to be given away throughout the event
NEW THIS YEAR:
* Display table for historic Riverside County, including the annual Sunnyslope Cemetery Stroll (scheduled for 25 Oct), hosted by Diane S. Wright & Kathleen Dever
* Explanation of the 2010 Census - hosted by Mary Anne Vincent
* Professional genealogist Mara Fein hosting a table on doing Jewish genealogy research
* Display and demonstrations about music and period instruments and how they were employed by our ancestors, hosted by Jean & Butch Hibben
* World Vital Records table, hosted by Gena Philibert Ortega, representative for WVR & the new GenealogyWise social networking website
* 1/2-hour classes as follows (starting at 10:45 a.m.):
** The Corona Genealogical Society Overview - Debbie Stuckert, CGS founding member
** Beginning Family History - Len Enlow, CGS founding member
** How to Use World Vital Records - Gena Ortega, professional genealogist
** Corona Family History Center - Jim Miller, FHC director
** The 2010 Census - Mary Anne Vincent, CGS VP & Census worker
** Library Resources for Genealogy - Corona Public Library staff member
There are lots of excellent opportunities for beginning and advanced genealogists to enjoy at this seminar. The Corona Genealogical Society has put together one of the very best Family History Month programs to introduce the public to the wonders of genealogy and family history research.
The Corona (CA) Genealogical Society (CGS) provides a yearly seminar for the public to learn about family history and genealogy called "Stones, Bones and Ancient Tomes" during Family History Month at the Corona Public Library (650 South Main Street, near 6th Street in Corona).
The seminar is on Saturday, 17 October, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information is available on the CGS web site here.
Look at the features and events offered at this event:
* AT LEAST TWO Internet stations to look up immigration and census records hosted by Noella and Roger Benvenuti
* Ernest Martinez will again host a Hispanic Genealogy display and assisted those interested in researching their Latino roots
* The Aurantia (Riverside) chapter of the DAR will be on hand to help folks research their patriot ancestors
* The surname board display so people can connect with others researching their same ancestors
* A "handouts" table with flyers and freebies (with tote bags to get it all home) - with thanks to RootsMagic, Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, World Vital Records, Heritage Books, and others for sending along items to give away
* Photo restoration helps, this year hosted by society member Edwin Stow
* A display of the history of the Corona Genealogical Society (thanks to Sherry Jones) as well as a membership table (thanks to Jerry Manriquez) so new members can join right there
* The Sunnyslope Cemetery Book display
* Kenny Hedgpeth, DNA expert, will again host a table on using that resource in doing family history
* Helen Woods will return for the 3rd year to host a table on doing African American Research
* Debbie Stuckert will return for her 3rd year as host of the Native American Research table
* A scrapbooking table providing folks with ideas and helps on preserving family history with that medium, this year hosted by Society member Colleen Sanders
* Door prizes to be given away throughout the event
NEW THIS YEAR:
* Display table for historic Riverside County, including the annual Sunnyslope Cemetery Stroll (scheduled for 25 Oct), hosted by Diane S. Wright & Kathleen Dever
* Explanation of the 2010 Census - hosted by Mary Anne Vincent
* Professional genealogist Mara Fein hosting a table on doing Jewish genealogy research
* Display and demonstrations about music and period instruments and how they were employed by our ancestors, hosted by Jean & Butch Hibben
* World Vital Records table, hosted by Gena Philibert Ortega, representative for WVR & the new GenealogyWise social networking website
* 1/2-hour classes as follows (starting at 10:45 a.m.):
** The Corona Genealogical Society Overview - Debbie Stuckert, CGS founding member
** Beginning Family History - Len Enlow, CGS founding member
** How to Use World Vital Records - Gena Ortega, professional genealogist
** Corona Family History Center - Jim Miller, FHC director
** The 2010 Census - Mary Anne Vincent, CGS VP & Census worker
** Library Resources for Genealogy - Corona Public Library staff member
There are lots of excellent opportunities for beginning and advanced genealogists to enjoy at this seminar. The Corona Genealogical Society has put together one of the very best Family History Month programs to introduce the public to the wonders of genealogy and family history research.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)