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Premium Episode 50 – Interview with Tom Jones
Date Published: July 8, 2010
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Click here to download the Show Notes pdf
iGoogle Themes: Google has discontinued
NEWS:
Dan Bucatinsky, executive producer of Who Do You Think You Are? will be accepting the DAR Media Award on behalf of Is or Isn’t Entertainment, the production company he founded with Lisa Kudrow which produces the series.
FAMILSEARCH
The popular Knowles Collection from FamilySearch is a free database connecting Jewish records of 115,000 people in 30 countries.
- The Jews of the British Isles (82,000 names)
- The Jews of the Americas (10,300 names)
- The Jews of Europe (18,697 names)
- The Jews of the Caribbean (2,200 names)
- The Jews of Africa and the Orient (367 names)
The entire collection is now linked electronically as families and fully searchable on FamilySearch’s Community Trees project. Researchers can also download GEDCOM versions of each collection from www.familysearch.org
MAILBOX:
Premium Member AC Ivory wrote in and offers another way for Mac users to view the bottom of the iGoogle Theme formatting screen:
PC
Zoom Out = Press the Control key and minus key
Zoom In = Press the Control key and the plus key
Mac:
Zoom Out = Press the Command key and minus key
Zoom In = Press the Command key and the plus key
GEM: Common Surnames – An Interview with Tom Jones
Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, is the editor of the NGS Quarterly and has been a certified genealogist since 1994. He is a professor of education at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., He is a genealogical educator who speaks and writes frequently on genealogical evidence, proof, and problem solving.
Tom emphasizes:
- Focusing on identities rather than names and dates
- Using a Research Worksheet (Tables and Timelines)
- Uncommon names where you live could be common in the “old country.”
- Staying Organized – download Lisa’s free research worksheet and sample worksheet from Episode 23 of the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast show notes webpage:
Uncommon Elements To Look For:
- Tax Records (particularly in the South)
- Census
- Any kind of name list
- Look at the people around them
- Court Records
Understand the Context – The #1 mistake genealogists make is to focus too narrowly.
Tom says you need to understand the rules and customs around the records. What was your ancestor’s motivation for creating the record? Understand the law.
TIP: Newspapers carry legal notices and didn’t burn in court house fires!!
(Be sure and watch the recorded premium member webinar: Getting the Scoop on Your Ancestors in Old Newspapers!)
Tom provides a quick overview of common law and it’s affect on genealogy research – It’s evolution and variations by locale.
Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England
Download Lisa’s FREE Research Worksheet and Sample Worksheet at the show notes for Episode 23 of the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast. Listen to episode 23 for a refresher on using the worksheets.
PROFILE AMERICA: Marine Corps Band History
The U.S. Marine Corps Band was established by an act of Congress on July 11, 1798.
The Genealogy Gems Toolbar has been discontinued.
Premium Episode 51 – The Census and Enumeration Districts
Date Published: July 27, 2010
[display_podcast]Click here to download the Show Notes pdf
IRISH RECORDS:
Kimberly Powell at the About.com blog is reporting that there are new Irish Church Records Online for FREE
“…has added a number of new church records of baptism, marriage and death to their free Web site. This brings the total to over 2 million church records from Dublin City and counties Kerry and Carlow, plus a subset from Roman Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Cork & Ross.”
FAMILSEARCH
Online Volunteers Index a Whopping 100 Million Records Already This Year
FamilySearch Indexing has announced that volunteers have completed 100 million records in the first half of 2010, and is on track to complete a targeted 200 million by the end of the year. Search the completed indexes and images at pilot.familysearch.org.
Interested volunteers can start helping any time by registering at FamilySearch Indexing and selecting a project.
Millions of Historic Documents from Microfilms Now Emerging Digitally Online
FamilySearch’s microfilm conversion initiative is beginning to sail. Over 12 million digital images from thousands of microfilm, representing 8 countries, were published online for free viewing this month. Go to FamilySearch’s Record Search pilot (FamilySearch.org, click Search Records, and then click Record Search pilot)Beta.FamilySearch.org
GOOGLE EARTH
Google Earth Images Update as of July 14, 2010
Sweden: Northern part of the country
United States: Ohio (Cleveland)
Utah (Salt Lake City, Sandy)
Fort Worth and Abilene TX
New York: Chappaqua, and the NYC Outer Boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island, Ellis, Liberty, Roosevelt, Governors Islands etc.
3D Google Earth
Seville, Spain – VIDEO
Hawaii – http://3dhawaii.com/
Napa, CA – Try searching for the Beazley House in Napa and looking at that surrounding neighborhoodTurn on the 3D Buildings feature in the Layers panel
MAILBOX:
“I thought you would be interested in checking out the Niagara Falls TV ads (update: no longer available) – especially the theme music use for many of them. It’s the same as your Family Tree Magazine podcasts so when these ads come on TV I’m expecting to hear your voice!”
Ian Hadden at www.ianhaddenfamilyhistory.blogspot.com
Bookmarks and Favorites
“Thanks for doing such interesting and helpful work – the podcasts are informative and fun. I learn something every time I listen.” Teresa
Bookmark iGoogle Gadget
Google’s Bookmark Gadget
UPDATE: Editing your iGoogle Bookmark Gadget: As it turns out, the Edit Settings feature no longer allows for editing the title of the gadget. However, by clicking on the title BOOKMARKS you will be taken to an edit page where you can easily manage your bookmarks.
Lisa’s Guide for Bookmarking:
High Priority Websites = Separate iGoogle Gadget
Medium Priority Websites = Listed in Bookmark Gadget
Low Priority Websites = Saved to traditional Browser Bookmarks / Favorites list.
Review Lisa’s Organize Your Hard Drive Video
GEM: THE CENSUS AND ENUMERATION DISTRICT
Melissa Brown writes: “First let me say thank you. I LOVE your podcast!! I have an hour drive to work and it makes the ride so much easier….too bad I usually want to pull over to take notes. 😉 as soon as I get to work I practically run inside so I could pull up one of the newest things you talked about on the show. I’ve been jumping around some of the episodes as I come to a wall in my search, now I’m going back and listening in order to the ones I missed.”
Melissa’s Questions:
1) Is there a way to determine the enumeration district for that street to help find the census record?
Lisa’s Answer: It depends on the census year. I recommend focusing on people you find listed in the City Directory who live nearby your ancestors and search for them in the census.
2) if I have a census record that doesn’t list a street name, but lists city, township, district, and enumeration can I use that to determine the general area in the city my ancestor lived?
Lisa’s Answer: Again it depends on the year. I would check to see if there are any city directories available anywhere and work the two record types in tandem.
3) Do the districts, enumeration districts change over time?
Lisa’s Answer: Yes, enumeration districts changed over time.
Lisa Lier had some questions about the maps:
“I know there are maps to track or compare the census records/enumeration schedules. The problem is that I can’t find them and have searched here and there to no avail. I think I’ve heard that there are some online. Can you point me in the right direction?”
Lisa’s Answer: Census enumeration district maps can be very useful and I have a few gems for you to help you track them down.
Example of Enumeration District Maps at NARA
ED descriptions pertinent to the federal population schedules are in “Descriptions of Census Enumeration Districts, 1830-1890 and 1910-1950” (T1224). A roll listing in the NARA Microfilm Research Room provides additional details, including those pertinent to post-1890 censuses. All the rolls in T1224 may be purchased from the NARA.
Census Enumeration District Guide Picks at About.com
TIP: Do a google search for enumeration maps specifically for the county you are researching as there may be another website that has digitized them. Do a Line Drawing search to facilitate your search.
Online References:
Obtaining the 1930 Enumeration District in One Step
From Member Tim Cox: Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses from 1790 to 2000 (PDF)
Overview and Table of Contents
PROFILE AMERICA: Paperback History
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Premium Episode 52 – Publish Your Family History On Demand Part 1
Date Published: August 11, 2010
[display_podcast]Click here to download the Show Notes pdf
MAILBOX:
Premium Member Russ Worthington. Listen to the July episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast You did it again…I already had a similar filing system, but your “Template” list of folders…I had not thought about putting that list as a sub folder to the Surname and HOW you did that. Great Idea and so easy.”
Review Lisa’s Organize Your Hard Drive Video
GEM: How to Publish Your Family History with Print on Demand (POD) Part 1
WATCH THE VIDEO – PART 1
This video was created back in 2010. However the process for how book publishing at Lulu remain fairly consistent.
Preserving a Legacy: Family Compiles a Book for Future Generations by Robyn Jackson appeared in the Hattiesburg American on June 28, 2010 (Update: webpage no longer available)
Excerpts:
“Instead of just putting together a family tree or a scrapbook, they each wrote a chapter about their life and created a unique illustrated memoir, “Three 40s From Whence We Came,” which they have just self-published.”
“We wanted to do this book for two main reasons. First of all, we felt the need to finish what our dad started. Secondly, we felt an overpowering sense of responsibility to provide the present generation of Alfords and the generations to come with knowledge of their roots.”
“He wrote on cardboard, napkins, junk mail and mostly anything he could find,” said Etawl Dilworth, 66, of Clinton. “We felt compelled to finish the work that he started. Each sibling had a wealth of pictures, memorabilia and childhood stories which we wanted to compile.”
“My prayer is that when the generations of Alfords, not only my children, read this book, they will adhere to the same sets of principles by which we were raised – revere God, work hard and strive to be law-abiding, productive citizens – as expressed in this book.”
In this Gem Lisa explains how Print on Demand publishing (POD) allows you to:
– Include photos at no additional cost
– Print 1 copy or 25 for the same price
– Revise your manuscript for instant updates
– Get your printed copy in about a week
– Do all you publishing online
– Publish a book that is a few pages, or hundreds of pages.
– Select from a variety of styles, bindings and papers
– Offer your published book at competitive prices
– Earn income or do fund raising with your book
– Sell your book online at no additional cost for the “store
– ”Order a single proof before releasing your book for purchase publicly
– Offer your book publicly or privately.
Go to Lulu now – Thanks for supporting the free Genealogy Gems Podcast!!
“Whenever I found out anything remarkable, I have thought it my duty to put down my discovery on paper, so that all ingenious people might be informed thereof.”
– Antonie van Leeuwenhoek quotes (Dutch Biologist, 1632-1723)
You will need a free Lulu.com account to get started.
Go to Lulu now – Thanks for supporting the free Genealogy Gems Podcast!!
How to get determine the cost of your family history book:
1) Go to Lulu
2) Click Sign up for a free account – now you have a MYLULU
3) Click PUBLISH
4) Click BOOKS
5) In the left hand column under Cost Calculator click Price Your Own Book
6) Select paper type
7) Select type of book
9) Select between black and white and color printing.
9) Select the size of your book
TIP: Go through your own book collection and pull books off the shelves. Decide which size book appeals to you for your own book, and then measure it and selected the closest option on the list.
10) Select your binding
11) Type in the number of pages
12) Type in the number of books – Lisa suggests entering “1” to get the cost per book unless you know you want a certain bulk quantity
13) Select the Currency.
14) Click the CALCULATE button
15) Lulu will give you the Manufacturing Cost of the book for the quantity you entered.
PROFILE AMERICA: Social Security Administration Histor
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