Unlock the Past Seattle Conference

Will you be in the Seattle area in early September? Eastman's blog provided information about a one-day conference on Thursday, September 6. The conference precedes a genealogy cruise to Alaska that leaves the following day. Find more information at: www.utpinseattle.com.  Here is the information from Eastman's Online Newsletter.

Unlock the Past has announced a major, unique genealogy conference to be held in Seattle, Washington on Thursday, September 6. There are several unique aspects about this one-day conference:

1. It is a one-day genealogy conference program that will feature no less than 10 presentations in two streams – a DNA stream and an Irish/general stream, presented by four of the top international genealogy and DNA experts of our time:

Blaine Bettinger (USA)

Dr Maurice Gleeson (UK)

Cyndi Ingle – best known for her famous web site, Cyndi’s List (USA)

Wayne Shepheard (Canada)

2. The conference is very international. Not only do the four speakers come from three different countries, the hosting company (Unlock the Past) is based in Australia but is well known for hosting genealogy cruises all over the world.

3. It is a one-day conference being held on a weekday (Thursday), something that is unusual amongst genealogy conferences.

4. The conference is being held in Seattle, Washington, the day before Unlock the Past holds a genealogy Cruise to Alaska that departs from and eventually returns to Seattle. Conference attendees certainly are invited to join in the cruise! However, cruise attendance is not required; the one-day conference in Seattle is open to anyone and everyone.

Who Do You Think You Are?

The 2018 season of "Who Do You Think You Are?" begins Monday, May 21 on TLC. The new group of celebrities who are interested in exploring their roots includes Jon Cryer, Laverne Cox, Hilary Duff, Jean Smart, Molly Shannon and Megan Mullally. Ancestry sponsors the program and provides much of the family history research on the participants.

Check your local listings for the correct time.

New England/Ontario Collaboration

Dick Eastman's blog published this information about a partnership between American Ancestors and the Ontario Genealogical Society. Many of us have ancestors who migrated between New England and Ontario or Quebec; it might be worth looking into this collaboration especially if you are already a member of one of the organizations.



The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) and the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) have announced an historic marketing collaboration between the two organizations. As a result of an agreement made between the two societies, NEHGS—the oldest and largest genealogical organization in the United States— and OGS—the largest in Canada—will offer memberships, products, and services at attractive discount prices to members of the collaborating organization. Original publications of the two family history institutions—as well as research projects, online courses, webinars, and professional consultations—will also be made available at special pricing to members.

The Statistical Review of Immigration, 1820-1910 and Distribution of Immigrants, 1850-1910 published by the United States Immigration Commission in 1911 shows that 1,179,807 persons reported their birthplace as Canada in that time period. By some conservative estimates, these individuals could have 50 million living descendants in the United States today.

Similarly, migration from New England and other states into Quebec and Ontario was prevalent. The 1901 Canadian federal census shows that some 100,000 reported their birthplace as the United States. Those individuals could easily have more than 3.2 million living descendants today.

This historic collaboration between NEHGS and OGS took effect on May 1, 2018.

New England Historic Genealogical Society

New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), with its national headquarters located in Boston’s Back Bay, is the oldest and largest genealogical society in America. NEHGS serves more than 250,000 members and millions of online users engaged in family history nationally and around the world. It is home to a world-class research library and archive, and an expert staff. NEHGS offers an award-winning genealogical research website at AmericanAncestors.orgwith 1.4 billion records and maintains a publishing division which produces original genealogical research, scholarship, and educational materials, including the Mayflower Descendant, a quarterly journal of Pilgrim genealogy and history.

To learn more about NEHGS, visit AmericanAncestors.org.

Thanks to Dick Eastman's blog for this information.

Ontario Genealogical Society

About the Ontario Genealogical Society

OGS, an Ontario registered non-profit corporation and a registered Canadian charity, is Canada’s largest member supported genealogical organization. Founded in 1961, with the vision of being recognized as the authority and leader in all aspects of Ontario related family bring together and assist those interested in the pursuit of family history and to preserve Ontario’s genealogical heritage. OGS has 30 geographically based branches throughout Ontario together with 4 special interest groups (British Home Children, Scottish, Ireland and Irish-Palatine). The OGS has published numerous books and pamphlets to assist Ontario researchers, provides its respected journal, Families, to its members, and publishes a weekly online newsletter highlighting events of interest to Ontario researchers. OGS Branches have transcribed the majority of Ontario cemeteries and published numerous indices which are the foundation of family history and genealogical research in Ontario.

To learn more about OGS visit https://ogs.on.ca.

Thanks to Dick Eastman's blog for this information.

New York Ancestors

Members with New York ancestry should check out the website called "Fulton History: Old New York State Historical Newspapers."  It is a searchable repository of historic newspapers published in New York State between 1795 and 2007, frequently updated. It also includes a handful of U.S. newspapers outside of NYS.

When I stumbled on it by accident recently, I immediately found two obituaries and a short article about a suicide that occurred in 1858. I knew of the death but not the circumstances.

www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/fulton-history-old-new-york-state-historical-newspapers

Give it a try if you have any New York connections.

Verifying Online Information

Reminder! Today is the last day you can view (free) the Legacy webinar called "Verifying Information You Find Online." I listened to it yesterday and it is well worth your time. The main topics of the presentation are:

1. Online trees: good and bad
2. How to analyze online trees
3. Verifying the information
4. Three mini case studies

www.familytreewebinars.com