See what this intriguing census taker had to say about the neighbors
Eagle eye Genealogy Gems reader and listener John Roberts ran across some very unique entries in a Kansas State Census. John writes: "I thought you might find the professions listed for the people on lines 13, 16 and 33, out of the ordinary, to say the least. It...
“Just a Mom” and Becoming a Professional Genealogist
Recently I heard from Emily, a mom of younger children who is feeling inspired to take her love for family history in a more professional direction. Have you considered becoming a professional genealogist yourself? You'll want to check out an interview I told her...
Ebola Patients Would Likely Have Been Sent Here 130 Years Ago
When Liberian national Thomas Eric Duncan was diagnosed with Ebola it was unnerving for everyone here in the U.S. As a new Dallas area resident, and someone who was hopping from plane to plane for a Fall series of speaking engagements, it definitely gave me pause....
How to Transfer Google Earth Files from One Computer to Another
Genealogy Gems reader and listener Walt has enjoyed creating some exciting family history and genealogy maps and files in Google Earth using the strategies I teach here at Genealogy Gems. He wrote me recently to say that he is thrilled to have a new computer, but...
Breaking News! MyHeritage and 23andMe Partnership
This just in: Genealogy and family networking giant MyHeritage just announced a partnership with personal genetics company 23andMe. Here we share highlights from a press release, followed by comments from Your DNA Guide here at Genealogy Gems, Diahan Southard: "We...
AncestryDNA Results Improving for Jewish and Hispanic Ancestry
Ancestry.com has improved the ability of AncestryDNA to find good matches for Jewish, Hispanic and other ancestries that maybe weren't so precise before. Here's the lowdown, quoted liberally from Ancestry.com's press release: The problem: Predicting genetic relatives...
Genealogical Double-Dating?!? The Julian Calendar Explained
Do you know about the Julian calendar and how it can REALLY throw your genealogy research off? I knew about this but I've never heard it explained as simply as Margery Bell does in the Family History podcast episode 43, just republished and re-released on the...
Prison Inmate Photos: “The Eyes Are Everything”
Matt from Omaha, Nebraska (U.S.) recently told me about a project his cousin is working on that is so cool the story was picked up by U.S.A. Today. While poking around at an 1800s-era Iowa prison about to be torn down, Mark Fullenkamp came across boxes of old glass...
GenBiz Guides: How to Become a Professional Genealogist
If you're a professional genealogist (or have considered becoming one), you probably have come to discover that you need to know more than how to research. You also have to know how to run a business! A new series of quick reference guides can help you. So far,...
Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 172: NEW Book Club
Episode 172 of the free Genealogy Gems podcast is now available for your listening pleasure! This is a big episode you won't want to miss! Here are the highlights: The top story is the launch of our NEW Genealogy Gems Book Club. I join Lisa on the podcast with some...
NEW Genealogy Book Club: Here’s a Gem Inspired by You!
We've heard from you, our readers and listeners that you LOVE to read! Well, we've just launched a great new FREE program for you: the Genealogy Gems Book Club! This is an idea we have been percolating on for quite a while with your encouragement. You regularly send...
Here’s How AncestryDNA is Improving Autosomal Testing
You may recall from our recent DNA discussion on the Genealogy Gems podcast (Episode 168) that Ancestry.com recently discontinued their mtDNA and YDNA tests (the two that trace our direct maternal and direct paternal lines) to focus on autosomal DNA (which delivers...
Hard Drive v. Evernote for Genealogy: Which Should I Use?
Recently I heard from Genealogy Gems Premium member Barbara with this question ab0ut using Evernote for genealogy: "I'm a fairly experienced general researcher but am just starting to get serious about genealogy. I plan to use Evernote. I have a number of scanned...
English Parish Boundaries: A Little-Known Online Tool
Did you know that FamilySearch has an interactive map to help you find English parish boundaries in 1851? Daniel Poffenberger, who works at the British desk at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, showed me this map gem. He says this map was about 7 years in...
WWI-Era Orphaned Heirloom Looking for Its Family
A U.K. news site recently reported a story about an orphaned heirloom World War I medal that is trying to get back home--with help from a retired postal worker. Terry Lane is a member of a group that searches people's properties for old artifacts (they get...
The Google Search Operator That Got Away
One of my favorite Google Search Operators is the Tilde (`) which is Google lingo means Synonym. In the past you could add~genealogy to your searches and Google would look for 'genealogy', 'family history', 'ancestry' etc. Unfortunately, it is no more. Google...
What Has Replaced Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness?
What Has Replaced Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness? It's a question on many family historians minds, include Genealogy Gems Podcast listener Richard who wrote in with this question: "Many years ago Bridgett Schneider hosted the Random Acts of Genealogical...
Find A Grave Community Day: October 18
If you're like me, you're turning more and more to the indexed tombstone images on sites like BillionGraves and Find A Grave. These have helped me to find death dates and burial places for my ancestors and their spouses, children, siblings and parents. Sometimes I...
