Did Grandpa Work on the Railway? Railroad Records You’ll Want
Railroad records helped this woman FINALLY find the names of her grandfather's parents. Trisha has been searching for a while for the names of her grandfather's parents. We gave her several suggestions for where to search for parents' names, but in her case, they...
How to Use Your Mobile Device for Genealogy: Free Video!
Do you have a smartphone, iPad or tablet? Watch this free video lecture on how to use your mobile device for genealogy! Lisa Louise Cooke is a leader in teaching the genealogical community how to get the most out of their mobile devices. Her first book, Turn Your iPad...
RootsMagic, FTM and the Holy Grail of Family History Software
Are we getting closer to the "holy grail" of family history software: one that will sync with all the major genealogy websites? Ancestry.com’s unpopular announcement that it would be retiring its Family Tree Maker software was followed by a loud "never mind!" Software...
We Dig These Gems! New Genealogy Records Online
Here's our weekly roundup of new genealogy records online. Should you search for your ancestors in any of these databases? BRITAIN, MERCHANT SEAMAN. Findmypast.com has added nearly a quarter million records to its 1918-1941 database of British Merchant Seaman. IDAHO...
Free Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 188 Now Available
Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 188 has published. It's packed with news, tips and inspiration that can help your family history research now. Check it out! The newest episode of the free Genealogy Gems Podcast is now available. Host Lisa Louise Cooke shares her...
What’s So Special about US Special Census Schedules?
Who should pay attention to the US special census schedules? Anyone whose relatives appear in the US census between 1850-1880 (and some whose relatives show up in 1810-1820 and 1890-1910). Many records about our ancestors point to even more records. Such is the case...
Look-Alike Family Photos: These Relatives are 80 Years Apart
Do you have any look-alike family photos? Check out these uncanny resemblances--and more ideas for what to do with old family photos. Recently I heard from Season. "Thought you might enjoy a photo of my 87-year old grandmother at age 18 and my daughter now age 7," she...
New Resource for African American Family History
AmericanAncestors.org has created a new portal for African American family history research. Explore it for FREE in honor of Black History Month. The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) has created a new portal for African American family history...
The priceless gift my daughter gave me at Rootstech – Heritage Jewelry
Did you know you can memorialize a loved one's handwriting in a piece of custom jewelry? Check out this very special piece of heritage jewelry. Last week I celebrated my birthday at RootsTech 2016. What a party! A highlight was an impromptu birthday serenade by the...
We Dig These Gems! New Genealogy Records Online
Each week we scour announcements of new genealogy records online and share those we think our readers most want to know about. This week, it's all about Irish and US records! IRELAND CENSUS RECORDS. MyHeritage.com has added to its site "over 8.7 million Irish census...
RootsTech 2016 Book Club Contest Has a Winner!
We have a door prize winner for the Genealogy Gems Book Club Open House held at RootsTech 2016. And here's how everyone's a winner with the free Genealogy Gems Book Club. The Genealogy Gems Book Club got two thumbs-up at RootsTech 2016! Several people I talked to have...
This Friday: 2 Google Classes Streaming FREE from RootsTech 2016
Won't be at RootsTech? You can still watch Lisa Louise Cooke's popular classes on using Google for genealogy for FREE online this Friday. One of Lisa Louise Cooke's most popular lecture topics is Google searching for genealogy. In fact, after teaching, she often hears...
Dave Isay Keynoting RootsTech 2016: Catch Him There–or HERE!
StoryCorps founder Dave Isay will keynote at RootsTech 2016. Can't catch him there? Watch his inspiring TED talk about the stories of our lives. It will make you want to go interview someone! I'm looking forward to hearing Dave Isay at RootsTech 2016! An award-winning...
3 Strategies for Finding Catholic Church Records
Look for ancestors' parents in Catholic church records. Here's a success story and 3 tips for finding Catholic parish records you need in the U.S. Not too long ago, Lisa shared these 6 suggestions for finding an ancestor's parents. Kathie V. wrote back to Lisa almost...
Why PC World Likes Backblaze for Cloud Backup
Cloud backup services are "one of the smartest things we can do" for our computer says PC World/MacWorld. Here's why they just gave Backblaze a shout-out. This past week, PC World/Mac World ran an article on Backblaze's cloud-based computer backup service, which...
We Dig These Gems! New Genealogy Records Online
Here's our weekly update of new genealogy records online, designed for you to scan them quickly and click to the ones that matter for your family history. Thumbs up for free access to the Irish censuses of 1901 and 1911! ENGLAND MARRIAGES. An enormous collection of...
Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast Episode 131 Now Available
The new Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast Episode 131 is now available for Genealogy Gems Premium members Genealogy Gems Premium Website Members can now log in and listen to Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast episode 131. It's packed with news and tips aimed at making you a...
4 Steps for Using Google Earth for Genealogy
Use Google Earth for genealogy to find long-lost family locations on modern maps. Here's how! It can be very surprising to discover that you lived somewhere that you never knew you lived. That was the case for Professional genealogist Alvie Davidson, who recently...
