Using A Tablet to Enhance Genealogy Research Trips

Check out Diane Haddad”s article in Genealogy Insider if you are using or thinking of using a tablet. She looks at several apps that can be used profitably to make a research trip easier and more effective.

Don’t forget that the “trip,” while normally thought of as involving miles and days, could be nothing more than down the street to  your local library.

You can read Diane’s article at:  Genealogy Insider - How to Use Your Tablet to Make Genealogy Research Trips Easier

Twelve Research Suggestions to Increase Your Effectiveness

Harold Henderson writing in the Midwestern Microhistory blog, gives us twelve research suggestions that are worth looking over. All will probably not be new to you, but some may be, and others could profit by looking at them anew.

I especially like his point that although Ancestry.com and Familysearch.org have some of the same data, their indexes were arrived at separately, and so both are worth using.

You can find the article at:  Midwestern Microhistory: A Genealogy Blog: Methodology Monday: Genealogy in bulk? Twelve suggestions

PGS Educational Event for the Week of 27 July to 2 Aug 2014

Wednesday, 30-Jul-14 at 10:00 AM--WAR OF 1812-- This class seeks to provide an understanding of the historical significance of the War of 1812: it looks at the causes of the war, how it was fought, and its consequences. It then explores the genealogically relevant records generated in relation to the war: what they are, and where to find them. The class is held in the Local History Room of Largo Public Library.

Online Searchable Death Indexes, Records & Obituaries

Joe Beine continues to go great service with his topical lists of online searchable databases.

He recently publicized an update to the Online Searchable Death Indexes & Records list.

Check it out at: Online Searchable Death Indexes, Records & Obituaries

Vargason/Howe Family History

This is a well executed family history site that one can enjoy because of the “look and feel” of the site as well as for the information offered. The site has a companion Blog and contains photos and graphics as well as text.

So if you have ties to the Vargason/Howe family, or you just want to see how someone else is getting the word out, see it at:

Vargason/Howe Family History | The story of Horatio Howe & Polly Vargason, their ancestors & historic descendants

PGS Educational Events for the Week of 20 July 2014

Wednesday, 23-Jul-14 at 10:00 AM--INTRODUCTION TO GENEALOGY (Beginner) -- Basics of how to get started in researching your family history—what to do first, where to look& how to do it. It is it is approximately 1 1/2 hours long and will be held in the Local History Room of the Largo Library.

 

Friday, 25-Jul-14 at 10:00 AM--INTRODUCTION TO GENEALOGY -- This program covers the basics of getting started in genealogy, but is approximately 30 minutes in length, tailored especially for community groups. It will be held at Pinecrest Assisted Living in Largo.

Ancestry Makes Some Changes

In case you have not yet heard, Ancestry.com has announced that it is making some changes in its offerings. It is discontinuing their Y-DNA and mtDNA tests, and also retiring some of its websites such as Mundia and MyFamily, to name a few.

You can read a good review of the changes by following the link below to the GenealogyInTime Magazine.

Ancestry Rationalizes Websites

Million Short: A Different Kind of Search Engine

GenealogyInTime Magazine recently offered an article with the title show above. It was about a search engine that may be uniquely helpful to genealogists.

The Million Short search engine gets its name from the fact that you can opt to have it ignore the top million hits it gets, and just show you the rest. It seems strange to think that less is more, but the logic is that much of the data we seek are in “small” and “not-so-popular” sites whose returns get buried by the “large” and “very-popular” site returns. By ignoring the top million, the engine exposes those other gems that get overlooked.

You can read the article and find a link to the engine at the link below.

And when you get to article, take some time and look at the left panel of the screen. There you will find the Genealogy In Time’s own genealogy search engine and their family tree search engine.

Enjoy:  Million Short: A Different Kind of Search Engine

Utah Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Collection

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are unique in the world of historic maps. They are special because of their purpose (to assist fire insurance agents in determining the risk associated with insuring a particular property), and because of their detail (they include fire walls, windows and doors, wall thickness, roof composition, existence of elevators, width of sidewalks, building use and more). 

The Sanborn Maps in general cover the period from 1867 to1969, and this collection offered by the University of Utah Marriott Library has digitized maps for Utah cities ranging from 1884 to 1955.  

After clicking on the link below, look at the right side of the window for “Explore this Collection.” Here you can browse the entire collection, search for something specific, or browse by city via a dropdown menu.

See it all at:  http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm/az?page=0

Desktop Genealogy Program vs. Online Family Tree

In our classes I often am asked the question of whether a desktop genealogy program (e.g. Roots Magic, Family Tree Maker, etc.) is still necessary given the many opportunities to post and manage family tree information on a website.

Renee Zamora, writing in Renee’s Genealogy Blog, addresses that question. In her article she specifically addresses the use of Family Search Family Tree as the online tree example, but her arguments can be applied equally to any other online tree service.

This is a thought-provoking treatment of the subject and well-worth the read.

You can find Renee’s article at:  Renee's Genealogy Blog: Do I Still Need a Desktop Genealogy Program or is Family Tree Enough?

U.S. Civil War Era Records at FamilySearch.org

Here is a link you will want to tuck away so it can be retrieved easily any time you need to use it.

It is a “complete” listing of digitized record sets dealing with the Civil War that are available on Familysearch.org.  But wait, there’s more. It even provides links to Family Search Wiki articles about the Civil War and links to photos and articles about notables from the period, such as Jefferson Davis, William Sherman, and Harriet Tubman.

Check it out at:  U.S. Civil War Era Records — FamilySearch.org

Alta Vista Cemetery, Gainesville, Georgia

If you have northeastern Georgia ancestors, this online database of burials in Alta Vista Cemetery may be of interest.

Follow the link below to the cemetery page and then click on the “Cemetery Search” button at the left of the window. The search form is self-explanatory and the results will provide the person’s name, title, alias, dates of birth/death/interment, grave location, name of funeral home, and place of death.

This cemetery is the final resting place for some notables, one whose name jumps out is General James  Longstreet, “Old Pete,” of Civil War fame.

Check it out at:  Alta Vista Cemetery

The Ancestor Hunt–Research Leads Abound

Here is a site put together by Kenneth Marks. It offers heaps of links to genealogical sources in many of the US states, Canada, and abroad.

Examples of what you will find include European historic newspapers, Bridgeport, Connecticut postcard collection, general research lessons learned, and links to state newspaper collections.

The collection has been gathered by Kenneth during his own genealogical research, so it can be understandably spotty, but even a quick look at it reveals much.

Check it out at:  The Ancestor Hunt - Home