Which are the Best Genealogy Websites for YOU??
Bill Johnson in Manassas, Virginia, USA, wrote to me with this question--and I know he's not the only one asking it! "It's difficult to know what genealogical resources to spend your money on. I have been a subscriber to Ancestry.com (world package) for years....
Google Earth for Canada and Genealogy
Awhile back, Barbara from Courtenay, British Columbia, sent me an excellent question about using Google Earth for Canadian genealogy. Then she sent me an excellent answer before I had a chance to answer it myself! Here's what they were: Question: "I live in Canada and...
Why Your Genealogy Research Could be Going to the Dogs
Did your Irish ancestors have a dog? Over 3.5 million Irish Dog Licence registers have been added to a collection already online at FindMyPast. "Now containing over 6 million records, the Irish Dog Licences list not only the name, breed, colour and sex of your...
5 Most Popular Searches in Historical Newspapers–and Tips for Improving Yours!
The British Newspaper Archive celebrated its 3rd birthday recently by looking back at how people are searching its 9 million+ newspaper pages. To date, the five most common searches are: 1. Football 2. Murder 3. Death 4. Jack the Ripper 5. Railway Not what you...
These 1939 Dress Designs Survived the Holocaust. Their Designer Didn’t.
A new exhibit at the Jewish Museum of Milwaukee tells the story of some 1939 dress designs that made it out of Nazi-occupied territory--and pays tribute to their designer, who didn't. "When the Nazis occupied Czechoslovakia in 1939, tens of thousands of Jews applied...
What to Do When Genealogy Records Were Burned
Recently Sue from Elk Grove, Illinois wrote in with a question about what to do when records were lost due to fire (or war, or disasters, etc.): "We have been trying to locate information on my great great grandparents Hugh and Mae Sullivan. I have never been able to...
Here is the New Book for Genealogy Gems Book Club!
The Genealogy Gems Book Club debuted to excellent response from you, our readers and listeners and social media followers! A LOT of you are passionate about books and family history! Our last title was a memoir by a woman raised in England who told a story about her...
Are You Going to RootsTech 2015? So is Laura Bush
RootsTech 2015 is just over a month away! Are you going? Genealogy Gems will be there in booth 1242 and we look forward to meeting you! And, as recently announced, former First Lady Laura Bush will be at RootsTech, as she joins an already-impressive who's-who list of...
NEW! Map for African-American Genealogy Resources after the Civil War
The time period after the U.S. Civil War is a messy era for searching for African-American ancestors from the South. Millions of people were emerging from slavery, without documented histories of who they were or who they were related to--many without even consistent...
Here’s a Cool Way to Export a Web Clipping Note from Evernote
Recently I posted on How to Solve a Pesky Evernote Web Clipper Problem. In that post I explained how to save an Evernote web clipping as an image file. Genealogy Gem reader Pat wrote in about how she likes to extract notes. She writes: Hi Lisa, I just ready your post...
What You Can Learn from Richard III DNA “Scandal”
An article recently published in Nature Communications confirmed the identity of the remains of King Richard III by DNA testing. This result wasn't a huge surprise, but there were some eyebrow-raising findings along the way. More to the point, now a celebrity case...
The History of Mapmaking (and a Peek at the Future)
Do you love old maps? Then you might enjoy a new video presentation now online at the Library of Congress website on the history of mapmaking and some thoughts about cartography in the future. According to the website, "From Terra to Terabytes" Map Symposium presents...
MyHeritage to Digitize Danish Genealogy Records
MyHeritage has announced a new arrangement with the Danish National Archive to digitize, index and make available online millions of Danish genealogy records. According to MyHeritage, these include: "Danish national censuses, including approximately 9 million images...
Genealogy Blogging Tips: Dictation App and More
Are you ready to start a genealogy blog (or improve one you already write)? Here's a quick Q&A for you, prompted by questions by Genealogy Gems Premium member Kevin: Q: "I am ready to start writing a blog but my typing is slow. Is there a dictation app (iOS) or...
Here’s How You Can Add Video to Evernote
Do you have old home movies, footage of oral history interviews or any other type of family history video to keep track of? I recently heard from Ricky with this question: Q: How do I add video to Evernote? A: Thankfully, it's easy on your computer: Open Evernote....
DNA Testing for Adoptees: Advice from Your DNA Guide
Knowing your genealogical question can make DNA testing for adoptees (and anyone else) more focused and relevant. Being patient and determined—not quitting after a single test’s results—can also pay off, as it did for Paul Dobbs, a Welsh-born man who followed his...
Frustration Using Google Earth for Genealogy is Temporary with this Fix
If you have experienced frustration managing your genealogy files in Google Earth, you're not alone. A recent email question from Genealogy Gems Premium Member Linda reminded me what the #1 culprit tends to be: the Temporary Folder. Linda writes: "I have a question...
Breaking News: WDYTYA 2015 Season Announced
Digital Spy and TV By the Numbers have announced that Who Do You Think You Are? (US) will return in February 2015 with a new round of stories and celebrities. According to the reports, eight new episodes are lined up for WDYTYA 2015. Only four have been announced:...
