Registration is now open for next month's Family History Conference. Here's the information from the email announcement.
ANNOUNCING THE 2017 Family History Conference sponsored by the Mesa FamilySearch Library on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at the Tempe Institute of Religion on the ASU Campus, 1000 South McAllister Avenue in Tempe, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.
Our theme is “Bridging Generations” and provides a wide variety of over 50 class choices for all types of learners, from beginners to the most advanced genealogists. Come and learn how to be more effective and efficient when doing your research. Learn to trace your roots with DNA. Learn to find and document your sources. Get specific information on various ways to research in specific states and countries. If you are new to family history, come learn the basics. Some of the most popular classes are repeated in an effort to accommodate everyone. Spend all day or come for a single class or two; you may attend a maximum of five classes.
Detailed conference information will become available and registration will begin online at www.mesafsl.org on Thursday, September 21, 2017. At the time of registration, registrants will be given the opportunity to purchase lunch from Jason’s Deli. Otherwise, the conference is FREE. Parking is also free and convenient but registrants are reminded that cars are parked in a public facility and are urged to be cautious with their valuables.
See you in October!
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Friday, September 1, 2017
September Webinars
The recent sale of Legacy to My Heritage does not seem to have caused any change in the webinar schedule. Check www.familytreewebinars.com for more information about this month's selections.
Wednesday, September 6: Geoff Rasmussen's topic, "Top Tech Tips for the Technologist and the Genealogist" will provide tools for computer genealogy time. All levels of experience will benefit.
Wednesday, September 13: "Finding Isaac Rogers" by Nicka Smith will show "how a book, scant clues, crowd sourced research, and limited online records came together to make ancestral ties to the Trail of Tears, US Civil War, a hanging judge, an outlaw, and of slavery in the Cherokee Nation." This case study is at a beginner level.
Friday, September 15: "The ABCs and 123s of Researching Your Ancestor's School Records" by Melissa Barker is for all levels and will show what types of school records there are and how to find them in repositories.
Tuesday, September 19: "When Does Newfound Evidence Overturn a Proved Conclusion?" by Tom Jones will discuss options when useful information or DNA test results appear after a researcher establishes a conclusion. Intermediate and experienced researchers will find this most helpful.
Wednesday, September 20: Thomas MacEntee will present "Wolfram Alpha for Genealogists." MacEntee says that Wolfram Alpha provides solutions to questions such as “How am I related to my great-grandmother’s niece” or “What was the time of the sunrise on April 1, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois?” Learn how this unique site can expand your genealogy and family history research. The topic is at a beginner level.
Wednesday, September 27: "Quick Guide to Texas Research" by Deena Coutant is for beginners and will give an introductory look at the records and repositories useful for research in Texas.
Wednesday, September 6: Geoff Rasmussen's topic, "Top Tech Tips for the Technologist and the Genealogist" will provide tools for computer genealogy time. All levels of experience will benefit.
Wednesday, September 13: "Finding Isaac Rogers" by Nicka Smith will show "how a book, scant clues, crowd sourced research, and limited online records came together to make ancestral ties to the Trail of Tears, US Civil War, a hanging judge, an outlaw, and of slavery in the Cherokee Nation." This case study is at a beginner level.
Friday, September 15: "The ABCs and 123s of Researching Your Ancestor's School Records" by Melissa Barker is for all levels and will show what types of school records there are and how to find them in repositories.
Tuesday, September 19: "When Does Newfound Evidence Overturn a Proved Conclusion?" by Tom Jones will discuss options when useful information or DNA test results appear after a researcher establishes a conclusion. Intermediate and experienced researchers will find this most helpful.
Wednesday, September 20: Thomas MacEntee will present "Wolfram Alpha for Genealogists." MacEntee says that Wolfram Alpha provides solutions to questions such as “How am I related to my great-grandmother’s niece” or “What was the time of the sunrise on April 1, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois?” Learn how this unique site can expand your genealogy and family history research. The topic is at a beginner level.
Wednesday, September 27: "Quick Guide to Texas Research" by Deena Coutant is for beginners and will give an introductory look at the records and repositories useful for research in Texas.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Software Report
Have you heard?
Israel-based genealogy website MyHeritage announced this month that it has purchased the developer of Legacy Family Tree software and the Legacy webinars program. The announcement seemed to indicate that there would be no changes to the webinars program. Any club members using Legacy software might be able to provide us with more information.
RootsMagic users can now sync to Ancestry by using "TreeShare." RootsMagic has added a "WebHints" feature that searches Ancestry's collections. However, you must post your tree to Ancestry in order to use that feature.
FamilyTreeMaker finally considered the 2017 version to be ready for shipping this summer. Ancestry has changed their requirements, and you must now post your tree to Ancestry (either public or private) to be able to use the "shaking leaf" hints that had been available for everyone until the product was sold to MacKiev.
Israel-based genealogy website MyHeritage announced this month that it has purchased the developer of Legacy Family Tree software and the Legacy webinars program. The announcement seemed to indicate that there would be no changes to the webinars program. Any club members using Legacy software might be able to provide us with more information.
RootsMagic users can now sync to Ancestry by using "TreeShare." RootsMagic has added a "WebHints" feature that searches Ancestry's collections. However, you must post your tree to Ancestry in order to use that feature.
FamilyTreeMaker finally considered the 2017 version to be ready for shipping this summer. Ancestry has changed their requirements, and you must now post your tree to Ancestry (either public or private) to be able to use the "shaking leaf" hints that had been available for everyone until the product was sold to MacKiev.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
More Notes from the German Genealogy Conference
There were 4-5 sessions each day and there was also a speaker during lunch breaks. Some of Dick's choices included Researching German Roots in the Czech Republic, German Church and Civil Records, One-Step Webpages, Using Family Search for German Research, Austrian Empire in the 19th Century, Making Sense out of Census Records, and Pommeranian Research.
This conference was unusual in that the speakers chosen for the lunch sessions provided notes for the syllabus. At most national conferences the lunchtime presentations are more entertaining than educational. During the three days we listened to The Status of Your German Ancestor, German Ancestors and Their Occupations and Tracking the Tribe: How to Get Around a Wall When You Can't Find the Door.
This conference was unusual in that the speakers chosen for the lunch sessions provided notes for the syllabus. At most national conferences the lunchtime presentations are more entertaining than educational. During the three days we listened to The Status of Your German Ancestor, German Ancestors and Their Occupations and Tracking the Tribe: How to Get Around a Wall When You Can't Find the Door.
Monday, July 31, 2017
August's Legacy Webinars
Visit www.familytreewebinars.com for more information. Be sure to check the correct time for your present location.
Wednesday, August 2: "Tracing Your West Country Ancestors" by Kirsty Gray. The presentation is for all levels of research abilities and focuses on the West Country of England.
Wednesday, August 9: "A Taxing Matter: Using Tax Lists in Genealogy" by Judy Russell. Suggested for intermediate level researchers, the topic covers head taxes and taxes on real and personal property.
Friday, August 11: "Using Pictures with Legacy Family Tree" by Geoff Rasmussen. For beginning and intermediate researchers, Geoff will be demonstrating how to add digital photos to your Legacy files.
Tuesday, August 15: "Analyzing Probate Records of Slaveholders to Identify Enslaved Ancestors" by LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson. This webinar will provide an overview of the probate process, the genealogical information that can be found in a slaveholding estate, and suggestions for related records. It is geared toward intermediates.
Wednesday, August 16: "Finding Your Ancestors in German Directories" by Luana Darby. Another lecture for intermediate researchers that will explain where to find online directories and how to use the information contained in them. (I heard a similar lecture this past week.)
Wednesday, August 23: "How to do Mexican Research and Be Successful" by Jonathan Walker. Another lecture for all levels of research capabilities that will "cover the availability of resources, research strategies, and where to find help."
Wednesday, August 30: "Getting Started with Evidentia" by Ed Thompson. Here's the lecture description: "A quick overview of using Evidentia software to organize and share your research with Legacy Family Tree software. We will cover entering and cataloging your first source, analyzing your evidence, and exporting that evidence for use in Legacy Family Tree." I have not heard of this product.
Wednesday, August 2: "Tracing Your West Country Ancestors" by Kirsty Gray. The presentation is for all levels of research abilities and focuses on the West Country of England.
Wednesday, August 9: "A Taxing Matter: Using Tax Lists in Genealogy" by Judy Russell. Suggested for intermediate level researchers, the topic covers head taxes and taxes on real and personal property.
Friday, August 11: "Using Pictures with Legacy Family Tree" by Geoff Rasmussen. For beginning and intermediate researchers, Geoff will be demonstrating how to add digital photos to your Legacy files.
Tuesday, August 15: "Analyzing Probate Records of Slaveholders to Identify Enslaved Ancestors" by LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson. This webinar will provide an overview of the probate process, the genealogical information that can be found in a slaveholding estate, and suggestions for related records. It is geared toward intermediates.
Wednesday, August 16: "Finding Your Ancestors in German Directories" by Luana Darby. Another lecture for intermediate researchers that will explain where to find online directories and how to use the information contained in them. (I heard a similar lecture this past week.)
Wednesday, August 23: "How to do Mexican Research and Be Successful" by Jonathan Walker. Another lecture for all levels of research capabilities that will "cover the availability of resources, research strategies, and where to find help."
Wednesday, August 30: "Getting Started with Evidentia" by Ed Thompson. Here's the lecture description: "A quick overview of using Evidentia software to organize and share your research with Legacy Family Tree software. We will cover entering and cataloging your first source, analyzing your evidence, and exporting that evidence for use in Legacy Family Tree." I have not heard of this product.
Germanic Genealogy Conference
We have spent the past three days attending classes specific to German genealogy. It was so interesting to be part of a conference where everyone had similar interests and almost every conversation began with "and where are you researching in Germany?"
We had time in the vendor area, which means "new books, new books!" I had to be careful how many to add to our collection, since we're traveling by car this summer.
I attended classes on using German directories, Cyrillic parish records, WWI alien registrations, German census records, research in Lithuania, German newspapers, Black Sea Germans, German guilds, Palatine research, online resources for Eastern Europe, baptismal records, and German-Bohemians. I will be posting information about some specific websites in the coming weeks.
Dick has the syllabus on a flash drive and I have the paper copy (of course), so we can share with anyone who is interested during the coming season.
We had time in the vendor area, which means "new books, new books!" I had to be careful how many to add to our collection, since we're traveling by car this summer.
I attended classes on using German directories, Cyrillic parish records, WWI alien registrations, German census records, research in Lithuania, German newspapers, Black Sea Germans, German guilds, Palatine research, online resources for Eastern Europe, baptismal records, and German-Bohemians. I will be posting information about some specific websites in the coming weeks.
Dick has the syllabus on a flash drive and I have the paper copy (of course), so we can share with anyone who is interested during the coming season.
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Have You Heard?
FamilySearch has announced another big change affecting your research process.
On September 1, 2017, FamilySearch will discontinue its microfilm distribution services. The change is the result of significant progress made to FamilySearch’s microfilm digitization efforts.
Online access to digital images of records allows FamilySearch to reach many more people, faster and more efficiently. To date, more than 1.5 million microfilms have been digitized and are accessible on FamilySearch.org
Any microfilm/fiche orders made before the August 31, 2017 deadline will be filled and sent to your local family history center. If there are any records you had been planning to order, make sure to do it soon.
On September 1, 2017, FamilySearch will discontinue its microfilm distribution services. The change is the result of significant progress made to FamilySearch’s microfilm digitization efforts.
Online access to digital images of records allows FamilySearch to reach many more people, faster and more efficiently. To date, more than 1.5 million microfilms have been digitized and are accessible on FamilySearch.org
Any microfilm/fiche orders made before the August 31, 2017 deadline will be filled and sent to your local family history center. If there are any records you had been planning to order, make sure to do it soon.
Friday, July 7, 2017
Report from Fort Wayne
We've spent the past two weeks in Fort Wayne enjoying the resources at the Allen County Library. We did find additional information that we'd missed during our last visit about 10 years ago. The library was not very busy with plenty of room to work. That also meant computers were available for longer than the normal 60-minute time limit. Books are all shelved and you access what you need without having to fill out a request sheet.
Some of the resources we used included county histories, vital record and will books and family histories. The library has suggestion sheets for each state with call numbers and library maps to give you an idea of where each state's information is located.
It was still necessary to use FindMyPast to access PERSI, although the website was free to use at the library.
Do you have Indiana ancestors? If so, the photo shows the location of the Indiana shelves with all of the resources arranged by counties... Books for the rest of the states and countries are located in other areas of the library.
Some of the resources we used included county histories, vital record and will books and family histories. The library has suggestion sheets for each state with call numbers and library maps to give you an idea of where each state's information is located.
It was still necessary to use FindMyPast to access PERSI, although the website was free to use at the library.
Do you have Indiana ancestors? If so, the photo shows the location of the Indiana shelves with all of the resources arranged by counties... Books for the rest of the states and countries are located in other areas of the library.
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