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Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 185 Is Now Available
In the newly-published and FREE Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 185, Lisa celebrates family history writing with inspiring stories, her unique spin on the “marketing value” of family history blogs and a chance to win a FREE year of Premium membership!
This month, all of us here at Genealogy Gems are celebrating reaching a milestone 1000 blog posts on our website! In a special segment, several Genealogy Gems listeners and readers share THEIR adventures and successes with family history blogging–and Lisa shares some spot-on “why blog?” comments from a marketing perspective.
Continuing our celebration of family history writing–in all its forms–we welcome George Ella Lyon, the poet laureate of Kentucky, to talk to us about a poetry initiative she started that’s all about family identity. Her “Where I’m From” writing prompt has reached around the world–and now we bring it to you!
Listen to that segment, write your own poem and call in to read it on Lisa’s voicemail ((925) 272-4021) by the end of this year. You could win a 1-year Genealogy Gems Premium website subscription! Be sure to leave your name, phone number, and email address (your phone and email will be kept private and NOT played on the show). One lucky winner will be randomly selected on December 31, 2015.
Also in the Genealogy Gems podcast episode 185, you’ll find fabulous new online resources–millions of marriage records and some great new materials coming from the U.S. National Archives. Diahan Southard joins the show with a segment on understanding your DNA ethnicity results. So tune in and check us out! You can listen click here to listen from your web browser or mobile device. OR enjoy the perks and convenience of using the exclusive Genealogy Gems app, available for iPhone/iPad and Android.
Want to encourage a friend or relative to write a “Where I’m From” poem of their own? Want to help a genie buddy or your society members get inspired to blog? Why not share this free podcast with them? Thank you! You are a gem!
NEW!! Access the 1939 Register Online at Findmypast
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The 1939 Register–the most comprehensive population survey EVER of England and Wales known–is finally searchable online!
Today FindMyPast, in association with the U.K.’s National Archive, has launched a digitized, searchable version of the 1939 Register. This major record set fills a major gap at a pivotal time in history.
“Anyone can now discover their family, their home and their community on the eve of WWII,” states a FindMyPast release. “Until now, the most recent information available was the 1911 census. Owing to the 100 year rule, the 1921 census will not be released until 2022, while the 1931 census was destroyed in the war and the 1941 census was never taken. The 1939 Register therefore bridges an important 30-year gap in history.”
“In September 1939, WWII had just broken out,” explains Findmypast. “65,000 enumerators were employed to visit every house in England and Wales to take stock of the civil population. The information that they recorded was used to issue Identity Cards, plan mass evacuations, establish rationing and co-ordinate other war-time provisions….
“Each record includes the names of inhabitants at each address, their date of birth, marital status and occupation….Comprising 1.2 million pages in 7,000 volumes and documenting the lives of 41 million people, the 1939 Register opens a window to a world on the brink of cataclysmic change.” Some of the records even include changes made clear up to 1991.
Additionally, Findmypast has added unique period photographs, infographics, regional newspaper articles and maps “personally tailored to each record.” They are promoting a “rich and unique user experience unrivaled by any other family history research tool to date.”
What about privacy concerns? This is a relatively recent record set: more recent than national censuses that DO have privacy restrictions on them. About 28 million records have been cleared of privacy restrictions. The remainder will remain temporary closed, “either because the individual recorded is still living and less than 100 years old or proof of death has not been verified….The Register will be updated weekly….Records will also be opened as people reach the age of 100 years+1 day.”
Interestingly, it appears individuals may have the ability to show proof of death to have records released: “Findmypast, working with The National Archives, will have an ongoing process to identify records which can be opened on proof of death provided either by matching against robust data sets or supplied by users.”
The Register is free to search on Findmypast. Charges apply to view the records, with discounts for subscribers and pay-per-view packages starting at £6.95.
More Research Gems for English Genealogy
WWII Documents at the National Archive (U.K.)
The Bombing of London: Check Out this Interactive Map of the Blitz
Findmypast Library Edition: Request it at Your Public Library!
Tis’ the Season: Make a Family Calendar
Whether for personal use or a family holiday gift, it’s a great time of year to make a family calendar. We heard from Genealogy Gems Premium member Carol, who shared her experience making calendars to share with her family. She actually sells hers her to relatives for the cost of printing.
“In 2005, I made my first calendar. The first one was black and white, with one or more old photos on the pages facing each month. I have every family member’s birthday on the calendar. I made a bunch of copies and sold them to family members for $5 each, which is about what it cost me to print them.
“Several years ago I got into digital scrapbooking. I nag family members all year long, but especially in September and October, to send me photos of various occasions – weddings, new babies, graduations, birthdays, family vacations, anything at all with family members in the photos. Last year was probably the first time I actually had TOO MANY photos to use. I think I’m getting better at nagging!
“I now do digital scrapbooking pages to display my collected photos. And I still put every family member’s birthday on the calendar. I’ve been having them printed at my nearby UPS store for several years now. They do such a great job and some of the same people have been doing it for so long that I don’t even need to see a proof before ordering my 35 calendars. I usually have to get a few more printed after Thanksgiving, too. So now my family can get a color spiral-bound calendar for $10 and they go like hotcakes.”
Find more ideas for heritage-themed crafts and displays (which make great gifts) on our Pinterest boards: Family History Crafts, Legacy Displays and Heritage Scrapbooking. Or share yours with us! We love hearing from you.
