Google for Genealogy: New Search Operators and More
Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast episode 120 is now available: The "headline" of this episode is definitely the NEW tips using Google for genealogy. Google changes, so the ways we use it have to keep up if we want to get the most out of it. You'll learn a few new,...
Front Page News! New York Tribune Archive on Flickr
The Library of Congress has a Flickr album that's front page news--literally! It's a New York Tribune archive with newspaper covers dating back more than a century. "This set of cover pages from the New York Tribune illustrated supplements begins with the year 1909,"...
A New Heritage Quilt From Old Family Fabrics
"I am a quilter and love doing special pieces that tell our family history at the same time. I think you would enjoy [this] story and the pictures [that go with it]." This note recently came from Genealogy Gems listener Sheri Lesh. She wrote in about a quilt she...
Here’s Why You Should Use the Genealogy Gems App
The Genealogy buy threadworm medication Gems App lets you listen to the Genealogy Gems podcast on your mobile device which is great. But there are more specific reasons to use the app over just listening online or using iTunes. Recently I heard from podcast listener...
Millions of New Scandinavian Genealogy Records Now Online
If you have roots in Denmark or Sweden then you'll be excited about the email I got recently about Scandinavian genealogy records. Here's the news from Daniel Horowitz, the Chief Genealogist Officer at MyHeritage.com: "I'm delighted to let you know that we've just...
Oldest Known Photographs of Cities: Did Your Ancestors Live Here Then?
London. Paris. Athens. Berlin. Bombay. Rome. New York City. Copenhagen. Dublin. Edinburgh. Jerusalem. The oldest known photographs of these cities and more are featured in this post at Abroad in the Yard. I love the details in these photos that are usually left to our...
Old Maps of Chicago Now Online
Do you have ancestors who lived in the "Windy City" of Chicago, Illinois (USA)? You should check out Chicago in Maps, a web portal to historic, current and thematic maps. As the News-Gazette reports, "There are direct links to over three dozen historic maps of...
Fire Up Your Genealogy Research with Recent Obituaries
Do you have obituaries for all your relatives who have died in the past 40 years or so? You should. Obituaries--even the most recent ones--can jump-start your research on a new family line or tackle a branch that doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Why? Our "collateral...
RootsTech Roundup, Writing Family History and More in the Newest Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 176
The newest episode of the FREE Genealogy Gems podcast--episode 176--has published and it is PACKED with gems! Lisa begins with her own in-depth comments on RootsTech 2015. Whether you attended or didn't, I think you'll find her front-row analysis of the world's...
Can We Get DNA From a Hair Sample for Genealogy?
Recently, Norma wrote in with this question about getting DNA from a hair sample: "My sister-in-law's father passed away before she could have his DNA tested. She does have samples of his hair. She was wondering if there is a lab who would do DNA testing for genealogy...
Watch RootsTech 2015 Sessions Online FREE
Did you miss RootsTech 2015? You can watch highlights online for FREE! Several RootsTech 2015 keynote sessions and lectures were videotaped for live streaming. Now they've been archived online. Click here to see what's available. Our own DNA correspondent here at...
Feb 26 Free Event: Children of Holocaust Survivors Share their Stories
A live event airing online on Thursday, February 26, at 7:00 pm Eastern Time (US) will feature the memories of children of Holocaust survivors. The Museum of Jewish Heritage will be live streaming a special program, Stories of Regeneration from the Second...
Genealogy Blogging, the Future of Genealogy and More
As much as we genealogists love to look to the past, we have to swivel our necks frequently to keep an eye toward the future. That's why I like the new Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast Episode 119! In this episode, Lisa talks to us about why capturing the past in...
Find Your Family History in New York: September 2015 Conference
New York can be a fascinating but frustrating place to research your roots. Learn new skills to find your family history in New York at the second New York State Family History Conference in Syracuse, NY, September 17–19, 2015. From an FGS press release: "The Central...
BillionGraves Apps: iOS Update and Windows Beta
BillionGraves has announced an overhaul to the BillionGraves app for iOS (to be released shortly) and a new Windows app that's ready for beta-testing (keep reading to see how you can test it!). The following is quoted from a BillionGraves press release: BillionGraves...
New Celebs Announced for WDYTYA 2015
The popular, two-time Emmy-nominated television series Who Do You Think You Are? returns to TLC on Sunday, March 8 (10pm EST/9pm CST in the U.S.) with the family history stories of four fabulous celebs: Melissa Etheridge, who heads to Quebec to trace the history of...
Orphan Train: More Genealogists are Talking About It!
Guess what? The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania has also been covering Orphan Train as a book club selection! Their format's a little different than ours: they have weekly blog posts on the book and members are invited to get together over coffee and chat about...
My Most Amazing Find Ever: Family History on YouTube! (No Kidding!)
I recently read Lisa Louise Cooke's all-new edition of The Genealogist's Google Toolbox, Second Edition. I use Google every day and this book has so many helpful new search tips! But I was skeptical about her chapter on finding your family history on YouTube. So...