Genealogy Pointers

The Generations Network, has been sold to Spectrum Equity Investors for $300 Million. The sale includes Ancestry.com, the world’s most popular genealogy site with over 900,000 paying subscribers. So far it appears that the average user won’t notice much of a difference, and the new owners are promising new products and services. The Generations Network also includes RootsWeb, Genealogy.com, and other genealogy related sites.

If you’re an Ancestry.com subscriber, sit tight. Chances are the site won’t change much at all. They’ve already introduced some new features such as Digital Scrapbooking and have promised some interesting DNA research services in the near future-in fact they are already selling kits that enable you to take a DNA sample (usually a swab of the cheek) and send it in. Users of the Generations Network’s other popular services such as RootsWeb, Genealogy.com and MyFamily.com also shouldn’t notice any changes or disruptions in service.

You can read the official press release here. The comments left at the site appear to be mixed, with some users believing the Generations Network is trying to become a monopoly, others wondering if the sale will result in a friendlier attitude toward the genealogical community, and even some wondering if the sale will do anything to help the much maligned release of Family Tree Maker 2008. (Review coming soon). Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Are they trying to monopolize online genealogical data? Have you had less than satisfactory experiences with the Ancestry service? Disappointed with FTM 2008? Please let me know your thoughts!

genealogy, family history, Ancestry.com, Generations Network

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ — FamilySearch — the world’s largest repository of genealogical records – is calling for 10,000 volunteers who can read both English and Spanish to help index Mexican, Argentine and other Latin American records for the Internet.

FamilySearch is embarking on a massive initiative to digitally preserve and index millions of Latin American records that are now difficult to access because they are located on microfilm or in an archive.

The first target is the Mexican census of 1930. People interested in finding their ancestors in that census now have to hunt among 506 rolls of microfilm at select research facilities. When the project is finished within about one year from now, people with Mexican ancestry will be able to search for relatives easily from their computers at home.

The project is being launched in cooperation with the National Archives of Mexico.

Paul Nauta, manager of public affairs for FamilySearch, said the volunteers could spend as little as 30 minutes a week indexing records from their home computers. Volunteers should register at FamilySearchIndexing.org, which will allow them to download one batch (one census page) at a time. Volunteers simply type in the information highlighted on the digital image. Each batch should take about 30 minutes.

The completed product will be a free, fully searchable online index of the 1930 Mexico Census, and it will be linked to the original images at FamilySearch.org. Digital images of the original census can be viewed currently at FamilySearchLabs.org.

“The 1930 census project will be the first fully indexed census for Mexico,” Nauta said. “When finished, the database will be a tremendous asset to family historians with Mexican roots.”

Nauta said that census records are especially valuable because they include a large portion of the population and can provide details about individuals which may not be available on some church and civil records.

“The 1930 Mexico Census is priceless to genealogists because it is the most recent, publicly accessible census for Mexico. It can provide an ancestor’s age, birth year, religion, birthplace and occupation, explain an individual’s relationship to family members and provide other family information,” Nauta added.

The 10,000 bilingual indexers will be added to a growing army of volunteers that will soon top 100,000, well ahead of year-end targets.

Over the past months, FamilySearch has been preparing digital images of the various census pages and many other records for placement on the Internet. However, without an index for the material, family-tree enthusiasts would still have to go through the pages one-by-one looking for their ancestors.

“Once indexed, the records are searchable in seconds, just like looking up a name in a phone book — except quicker, easier and online,” Nauta said.

The 1930 Mexico Census marks the first Latin American project for the Web-based FamilySearch Indexing program. In addition, FamilySearch indexers just completed the Argentina census of 1895 and will soon start on that country's 1855 census.

A four-year project to digitize historical land and property documents and wills in Paraguay has just begun, and civil records in Nicaragua will become part of the indexing program within 30 days.

FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members consider it a religious obligation to identify their families. FamilySearch maintains the world’s largest repository of genealogical resources, accessible through FamilySearch.org, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries.

SOURCE The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

family history, genealogy, Mexican Census, FamilySearch

Ancestry.com has introduced a new way to share and preserve your family history. It sounds like a lot of fun! Read the official announcement below for more details!

PROVO, Utah, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ — Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online resource for family history, today launched AncestryPress(TM), a tool that lets users create professionally printed, custom family history books, family recipe books and more. With this new state-of-the-art publishing tool, Ancestry.com offers users a one-stop solution to build their family tree, discover historical documents about their ancestors, collaborate with their family members and create high-quality family history books for themselves or family gifts.

In the past fourteen months, users have built more than 3.5 million family trees on Ancestry.com. In doing so they have created more than 300 million profiles, uploaded 3 million mostly vintage photographs from their personal albums and attached 40 million historical family records they found on Ancestry.com. AncestryPress provides a simple, easy-to-use way for these users to organize, preserve and display their hours of research in a professionally designed, coffee-table quality book and to share their passion with family.

“Family history is about discovering and telling the stories of the people whose lives shaped our own,” said Tim Sullivan, president and CEO of The Generations Network, parent company of Ancestry.com. “For ten years, Ancestry.com has been an indispensable resource for anyone interested in family history, from the most serious genealogists to someone just starting to build their family tree. Our members have always asked for ways to preserve and to share their hours and hours of research. Now AncestryPress gives our members the ability to create high-quality books of astonishing beauty and personal significance. We think that this is one of the most unique digital scrapbooking products on the market.”

AncestryPress exports profiles, historical documents and photographs from a user’s online Ancestry.com family tree directly into automatically generated page layouts — such as illustrated family tree charts, biographical timelines and document pages. Users can easily customize the look and feel of each page by adding family photographs, changing backgrounds both plain and themed, using drag-and-drop page embellishments, writing text and more.

Beyond family history books, users can also use AncestryPress to create heirloom recipe books, complete with photos and memories of the family members who handed down the recipes, as well as photo pages, suitable for framing, that showcase important moments in their family’s history.

Once a user has finished adding personal touches to the book, they can choose from two simple printing options. Users can print individual pages immediately to a home printer. Or they can have Ancestry.com professionally print and bind a full-color, hand-stitched, hardcover book.

Users can build their family tree online at Ancestry.com and create their AncestryPress family history book at http://www.ancestrypress.com. Web site subscribers can access Ancestry.com’s collection of more than 5 billion names in historical records to discover the stories of their ancestor’s lives and add those documents to their family history books.

family history books, scrapbooking, genealogy, ancestry.com

Have you ever seen old headstones at the cemetery? They can be quite fascinating and even entertaining to read. Perhaps you’ve taken rubbings of the inscriptions. If so you’ve probably noticed that many of them look almost as if they’ve been wiped clean of their inscriptions. This sad fact is due to the limestone they were made from-it dissolves in today’s acidic rains and doesn’t weather well. This has led to the loss of much valuable data and until now, researchers had to resort to hand tracing and much hands on examination in their attempts to decipher the worn writings.

But now, the BBC news reports that scientists at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a method of retrieving information from these old headstones using a special 3D scanning method that reveals the carved patterns in the stone. These patterns are then matched to a stored database. This new technology will help reveal a wealth of new genealogical and archeological data. The new scanning technique is now being tested in a 200-year-old cemetery near the university. The scientists there say this new 3D scanning technique may also help in predicting tsunamis by examining patterns on the ocean and may also have a use in the medical field-it’s hoped that one day doctors can determine our well being by scanning our tongues!

I think this is great news. There are probably thousands of unreadable headstones out there and if this new technology can help reveal their stories, it will help those forgotten folks live again in the genealogies of people all over the world.

genealogy, reading headstones, family history, carnegie mellon, BBC, 3D scanning

BURNSVILLE, Minn., Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ — A new Web site makes it easier to monitor the Internet for your hard-to-find ancestors. The GenealogyAgent(SM) Web site has GenealogyAgents that use the details that you provide about your ancestor (birth, death, parents, siblings, etc.). The GenealogyAgents then act on your behalf to regularly check for changes related to those details on the Internet.

“If you are tired of repeatedly checking the same Web sites or conducting the same searches only to find the information for an ancestor has not changed, we can help,” according to Doug Barry, the site’s Webmaster. “It is not much fun when you keep hitting a brick wall while trying to find new information. Our GenealogyAgents are designed to help you monitor Web sites and conduct multiple genealogy site searches for any changes related to your ancestors.”

As an introductory offer, you can have the GenealogyAgents at GenealogyAgent.com monitor the Internet for two ancestors for one year at no cost to you. See http://www.genealogyagent.com.

“The GenealogyAgent.com site is the latest in a series of sites that I have created as I progressed in my own genealogical research,” noted Doug Barry. “I am now at the point of having brick-wall ancestors. It becomes tedious to keep searching the Internet when you might find something new a few times in a year. So, I wrote this site to help me catch those new details and I am sure it can help others.”

Since 2000, Barry & Associates has created a series of Web sites that make it easier to search your genealogy on the Internet. These sites are designed primarily for people just beginning their research:

Family Tree Searcher, http://www.familytreesearcher.com. This site allows you to enter your ancestor information just once to search family trees at eight online family tree databases.

Free Genealogy Search Advice, http://www.genealogy-search-advice.com. This site will ask you questions about what you already know about your ancestors. A simple artificial intelligence program uses your answers to create a free, customized plan for going forward with your research.

Free Genealogy Search Help for Google, http://www.genealogy-search-help.com. This site creates a series of different searches using tips or “tricks” that will likely improve your results when using Google(TM) to find ancestry information.

Genealogy Fast Track, http://www.genealogy-fast-track.com. This site has a series of easy-to-use decision charts to help you get started with your research.

Please check out my other 451 Blogs:
Earthly Garden
Home Computer Talk

genealogy, family history, online resources for genealogy research, genealogy news

Researching family in Pennsylvania? You’ll want to check this out! The state is hosting a special event for genealogists and state history buffs.

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Take a behind-the-scenes tour or learn how to branch out and research your own family tree during Archives Month, sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Archives.

“This is a unique opportunity for people to learn how Pennsylvania preserves the very fragile and valuable records that chronicle the history of our great commonwealth,” Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Executive Director Barbara Franco said. “I encourage people to use Archives Month as a chance to explore Pennsylvania’s history — and their personal genealogy.”

Events during Archives Month include the annual archives and records management seminar from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the Four Points Sheraton, Harrisburg. The seminar covers right-to-know law and Freedom of Information Act issues and offers workshops on digital imaging and how to care for maps and oversize drawings.

The State Archives is the official keeper of the commonwealth’s government records, from William Penn’s 1681 charter from King Charles II to modern-day documents and video tapes. It currently is involved in a major restoration of Civil War muster rolls, which include the names and pertinent dates of service of more than 300,000 Pennsylvanian soldiers. The muster rolls will be accessible for research following the completion of conservation in 2009.
For complete Archives Month event information and to register online for the annual archives and records management seminar, visit http://www.phmc.state.pa.us.

Interested in preserving your family history in scrapbook form? Check out Scrapropos

genealogy, family history, pennsylvania, archives, genealogy events

I came across this press release and was really impressed! What a great idea! I can see this becoming a powerful tool in helping preserve family history!

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ — They lived through the Roaring 20's, Great Depression, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the psychedelic 60’s and Civil Rights marches. They invented liberation movements of all kinds, environmentalism, pop culture and counter-culture. They are the wealthiest, most influential, most inventive generations in US history.

Beginning today, Seniors, Baby Boomers, and Echo Boomers have a powerful new free web site to help them capture stories of values, faith, careers, romance, wars, controversy, wins, losses, and yes, even mundane events of their lives.

GreatLifeStories, Inc. announces the debut of a new, easy-to-use web site that lets people gather, share and grow treasured individual and family stories, memoirs, and biographies for families today, and for future generations.

“This is the easy version of MySpace for our parent’s and grandparent’s generations,” said Phil Gibson, CEO and Founder. “Stories and personalities are a family’s most precious legacy. GreatLifeStories is an online community designed with great respect for the accomplishments of previous generations. We strive to make it easy to celebrate life and preserve great stories forever.”

GreatLifeStories features thousands of unique and memorable stories such as Emilia Gallegos, the little girl who survived a hair-raising escape across a bridge with bullets flying from Pancho Villa’s men during the Mexican Revolution. John Rialson was an aspiring trumpet player who was thrust into the big-time when tapped to join Linda Ronstadt’s touring band in the 70’s Or Ralph Appio, a young man who survived battle in Pusan, Korea, to return to a farm that grew into Silicon Valley.

INSTANT DIGITAL “COOL” FOR MOM, DAD, GRANDMA OR GRANDPA

It’s simple to start a GreatLifeStory for oneself, a family member or friend. Once started, people grow the story themselves, or invite others to add unique memories and recollections. Stories expand quickly and organically into a rich, fully rounded 360-degree portrait of an individual or family.

“Imagine a family gathering together to capture the memoirs of Grandma and Grandpa. In an hour or two using GreatLifeStories, adults and grandkids get a family history lesson that the grandparents might never otherwise get around to telling them. In addition, Grandma and Grandpa will feel so cool as they join the digital age by creating their own great-looking personal website,” Gibson said.

“Memories are priceless when delivered in someone’s own words. The spirit of Grandma is so much more real when her Irish roots come through in the sound of her own voice for future generations,” said Gibson.

For an example, check out the hilarious story of John Matson’s first date at http://www.greatlifestories.com/life_story/romance_and_marriage/john_matson/10 2_5.html

KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS

3 Easy Steps: With a few mouse clicks, a user can start typing, upload photos, and publish their Great Life Story in moments.

Create Custom-Printed Personal Memoir Books: Another click, and you assemble your own Great Life Story into a handsome booklet. These make treasured mementos for birthdays, anniversaries, or any important life event.

Choice of Privacy and Security Options: GreatLifeStories is 100% secure. A user can designate access security as private, restricted to friends and family, or public. People can change their security preference at any time.

Easy, Inspirational Browsing: Individuals or families can browse the site and check out the newest story additions and vote for their “Favorites” or they can browse Great Accomplishments, Great Relationships, Great Health, Great Success, or Great Escapes.

Unique Navigation Design: GreatLifeStories is organized into 12 life “chapters.” Sample chapter titles include “Funnybones,” “Romance and Marriage,” and “School Days.” In each chapter, on-screen questions and video tutorials guide users, making it easy to organize and capture years of memories. People can easily upload photos to illustrate each life chapter.

Powerful Visual Search: GreatLifeStories features a custom-designed search engine that quickly and easily finds connections across life stories. It’s amazing how many shared experiences surface when you can leverage new technology to discover that people shared the same experience in their era.

ABOUT GREATLIFESTORIES

Founded in 2006, GreatLifeStories is privately-held, values-driven company dedicated to using the latest technology to create meaningful connections among individuals and families across generations. GreatLifeStories is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. The web site is at www.GreatLifeStories.com

genealogy, family history, baby boomers, greatlifestories.com, perserving personal histories