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APG Young Professional Scholarship: Now Taking Applicants
The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG®) is now accepting applications for the APG Young Professional Scholarship. The scholarship goes to a student and/or young professional who aspires to a professional career in genealogy. The scholarship includes a registration for the APG Professional Management Conference (PMC) and a stipend of up to $1,000 to defray costs of travel and lodging at the conference. The application deadline is July 22, 2014.
Requirements have been revised to reflect current economic and educational trends and to be more inclusive of young parents, military personnel, home school candidates, students, and those currently employed between the ages of 18-29. The winner will be announced in August 2014 for attendance at the APG PMC 2015, which will take place in Salt Lake City on 8–9 January 2015.
“It is exciting to see so many young people involved in genealogy, and we are thrilled to be able to support an up-and-coming professional genealogist with this scholarship,” said Kimberly T. Powell, APG President. “Our APG Professional Management Conference offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the business of genealogy and explore advanced genealogical topics, while networking with other professionals. We look forward to receiving many applications.”
See eligibility details and download an application here.
Alternatives to MyFamily.com: What Can You Replace it With?
I recently heard from Renee in St. Louis with this dismayed question:
“I’m assuming you’ve heard that MyFamily.com is shutting down. I administer 5 sites there and am desperately trying to figure out what I’m going to do with all that data … I’ve got to get it migrated by September. Do you have any idea of any sites that can handle all the kinds of material that Myfamily handled? Nothing I’ve seen so far seems adequate. I’m praying you may know of something. Thanks.”
Many in the genealogy community are mourning the passing of a few products like MyFamily that Ancestry has decided to close. My uncle has a MyFamily account which I’ve visited only a few time so I’m no expert on it, but when I look at what it offers, this is what comes to mind to replace it: MyHeritage.com. (And not because they are a sponsor of my podcast which they happen to be.)
- For just over $6 a month (Premium membership), members can create a site that stores up to 1000 MB of photos and videos, which invited relatives can access for free. Members can also post their family trees there–allowing members to gradually and casually share their family history research alongside current photos and life events. You can keep a family events calendar that automatically incorporates living relatives’ birthdays and anniversaries.
- For about $3.50 more per month (Premium plus membership), members get unlimited photo and video storage.
- All the new records recently added to MyHeritage.com and their automated searches of those records and other people’s trees are a great bonus for anyone actively researching their family tree.
- One MyFamily.com feature I see that isn’t offered in the same way at MyHeritage.com is the blog. However, you can send out group emails that link directly to the pictures you put on the site.
Check out MyHeritage membership options here.
Another perspective: Ancestry.com posted a page of frequently-asked questions about the MyFamily.com shutdown. Here’s what they say:
Q: I really like MyFamily: are there any alternatives?
A: We encourage you to visit other relevant websites that provide one or more of the features that MyFamily.com offered. Sites for you to consider include:
240K New Pages Now Online at the British Newspaper Archive
Here’s a headline-worthy announcement!
In the past month, 240,000 extra pages from 1790-1954 were made searchable at the British Newspaper Archive. You’ll now find editions of London’s Penny Illustrated Paper, the Dundee, Perth and Forfar People’s Journal and the Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald online. 56 other titles were also updated, including the Aberdeen Journal, the Kent & Sussex Courier and the Morpeth Herald. (Click here for a full list of recent additions.)
The British Newspaper Archive is a partnership project between the British Library and DC Thomson Family History (formally known as brightsolid online publishing, owners of Findmypast). From November 2011 to 2021, up to 40 million pages from historical newspapers across the UK and Ireland will be uploaded to the website. The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom.
Want to learn more about doing newspaper research? Check out Lisa’s book How to Find Your Family History in Newspapers, available in print or as an ebook. I especially love how she walks readers through the process of finding newspapers online, beginning with FREE resources!
