Thursday, November 25, 2010

U.S. Census Release Dates

Ever wonder why you can only search U.S. Federal Census Records up to 1930 so far?   The reason is because of privacy!   Census cannot be released to the general public until 72 years after the date they were taken.  The idea is to protect private information of those still living.

Granted people tend to live longer than 72 years today and so there are still some privacy issues which concern many.  But none the less, that's the rule.

And since U.S. Federal census forms are completed every 10 years, the 1930 U.S. Federal Census is the most current record available under the 72-year rule.  The 1940 U.S. Census is scheduled for release on April 2, 2012.

The first recorded Census in the United states was dated 1790.  There were just under 4 million people recorded on that census.  These records only listed the heads of family so tracing your family history using these records can be challenging.

The 1890 U.S. Federal Census was mostly destroyed, leaving very little data for us to search through.  This means that there is often a big gap (20 years) in information between 1880 and 1900. You still might be able to find information using public records (phone directories, voter records, etc.), but many us really feel the loss of the 1890 census records.

While Ancestry.com has had the 1930 U.S. Census online for a while now, FamilySearch.org is in the process of re-indexing those records now.   To many, wasting time and effort reindexing records seems useless.  But the goal is to ensure that accurate records are available.For more information about the 1930 U.S. Census Indexing Project, click here.

Reading handwritten information on U.S. Census records can be challenging. Sometimes the writing is faded and hard to read, other times the cursive letters used in the past no longer resemble our modern alphabet.  This is where downloading a Blank U.S. Federal Census Form can be helpful. Being able to read the form data being requested can help in deciphering the handwriting on the form.

If you're new to genealogy, you soon discover that Census Records offer some of the best information.and are very helpful in tracking your loved ones.  Waiting for the next census release date can seem like an eternity when doing genealogy research.  But hang in there ... 2012 is just around the corner!

Click here to Search US Federal Census Records
Read more »

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

What's New at Ancestry.com

Ever wonder what new information is available at Ancestry.com?    Their databases are constantly being updated as more and more records are continually transcribed by volunteers.

If you take a look at the card catalog in Ancestry.com, it will highlight information that is new or had been updated recently.  However, Ancestry.com also provides a list of all their recent additions to make it easier for folks to view.

To view recent additions to Ancestry.com, click here.
Read more »

Friday, November 12, 2010

Free Access to Military Records on Ancestry.com


Veterans Day
In honor of Veteran's Day, Ancestry.com is offering free access to their military records between 11-14 November.  Normally, Ancestry.com requires you to have a paid subscription to their site to access these records.  So if you have any veterans in your family, this is a great opportunity to obtain these records for FREE!

Ancestry.com has a good selection of military records including:  Civil War Records, World War I Records, World War II Records and more. 

These records can reveal loads of information including, which regiment your family member served in during a war and what their job title was.  You can find pension records, and awards and honors received too. 

Draft registrations can tell you where somebody was living when they were drafted as well as where they worked.  These records even offer physical characteristics of a person (hair color, eye color, height, etc.).  If a person had a physical handicap that prevented them from being enlisted, this will be revealed too!

I've even found regimental diaries on Ancestry.com!  If you like stories (and lets face it, genealogy buffs do), you'll enjoy these as much as I do.  These diaries offer a glimpse in what life was like during deployment for your loved one.

Military records are some of my favorite records available and this is a great opportunity to get a free look at them!  To Search for Military Records, click here!
Read more »

Saturday, November 6, 2010

1911 England and Wales Census Will Be Online Soon

Ancestry.com and TheGenealogist.co.uk have acquired the 1911 England and Wales Census.  They will begin transcribing it so it can be published online.  This is exciting news for folks researching their British family history!

Of course, membership to one of the above family research sites will be required to view the 1911 census record, which should be online by the end of 2010 or early 2011.

To learn more about membership plans at Ancestry.com, click here.

Try a new Ancestry.com Membership!
Read more »

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Scottish Census Records

Trying to search your Scottish Ancestry? If you are, then you might want to take a look Graham Maxwell Ancestry. The folks that run this site have been transcribing census records for years while researching their own family history. They've been kind enough to share their transcriptions online.

You can click here, you can search Scottish Census Records for 1841, 1851, and 1861. You can search these records for free!

There are some other cool historical things on the site too like old newspapers, old photos and more. If you've discovered a link to Scotland in your family history search, then this is definitely a site you may want to have a look at.
Read more »

Friday, October 15, 2010

How to Add New Genealogy Search Sites to Family Tree Maker


Family Tree Maker 2010
Family Tree Maker software is a popular program for building and maintaining family trees. It contains a lot of powerful features including it's search capability.   Family Tree Maker (FTM) will let you search the internet for records and other information without leaving the program.

By default, FTM will search Ancestry.com, RootsWeb General Search and Genealogy.com. But the cool thing is that you can add more genealogy sites for FTM to search (like FamilySearch.org).

This is a really nice feature as it allows you to search all of your favorite sites while working within Family Tree Maker.  For step by step instructions on how to add new genealogy search sites to Family Tree Maker, click here.
Read more »

Friday, October 8, 2010

Searching for Obituaries

Searching for obituaries can be challenging and there are several ways to go about it.  The first step is to search the local newspaper of where the person died.  Of course, if you live in another state, this can be difficult.

One way around this is to search the newspaper's web site for old obituaries. Some states have an online newspaper website where they are have links to old newspapers from around the state.  A search in Google will help determine if the state your relative died in has a newspaper project site. 

Another option is to check the genealogical society in that state.  Many states have a genealogy web site or office that have old newspapers on microfilm.  In Arizona, Sharlot Hall has every newspaper of the Daily Courier ever published on film.  This makes it very easy to go back and find an obituary.  Several states have similar sources.

Google can be another good source for searching obituaries.  I often search a person's name in Google looking for their obituary.  For example, I will go to Google and search, "John Smith Obit" and see if anything comes up.  Sometimes I will vary the search words (John Smith + obit or Mrs John Smith + obit). When the plus sign is used in a Google query, it tells Google to search the main word (e.g., John Smith) and to look for the word "obituary" to in reference to John Smith.

You can check out more Google Search Tips by clicking the links below:
Obits_120x240_New-2010

Google has also compiled a list of links related directly to obituary searches.  The idea is to make it easier for you to find obituary resources for you to search.

Another great source for searching obituaries is Newspaper Archive.  This web site is the largest historical newspaper database online and contains nearly 100 million newspaper pages from 1759 to present. Every newspaper in the archive is fully searchable by keyword and date, making it easy to quickly explore historical content, discover family roots, and share with friends.
    And last but not least, we've compiled our own list of links to obituary sources. This list links to online newspaper and other sources to help you search for obituaries.
      Read more »

      Saturday, September 18, 2010

      Watch for the Dot-Cons!

      One of the potential dangers of genealogy research web sites is that you tend to share a lot of personal information online.  This is always a risk given in today's culture where identity theft is at an all time high! Nothing makes you want to sign up for a service like, Life Lock than the video below!


      The video shows how easy it can be to duped into giving out too much personal information.  There is more than one scam on the video, so be sure to watch through the second at least.




      Read more »

      Annual Salt Lake City Christmas Tour

      I've recently discovered that every year there is an annual Salt Lake City Christmas Tour for genealogist (amateur and pro alike).  This year the tour will be December 5 - 11th, 2010.

      Every year, folks meet in Salt Lake City, Utah for what has become a major genealogy event.  The tour group uses the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel as their headquarters for the week.  Classes are taught and numerous trips are made to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For those not familiar with this library, it's the largest genealogical library in the world.  Built in 1894 by the Mormon Church, it houses the largest collection of genealogical records.

      Tour members are free to use the library for their own family research.  You don't have to be Mormon to use the facility or it's resources.  Many professional genealogist attend the annual Salt Lake City Christmas tour each year, so there is plenty of help if needed.

      For more information about the Annual Salt Lake City Christmas Tour, click here. This blog is devoted entirely to sharing information about the tour.  They even have the class schedule so you can see what classes will be taught.

      If you'd like to reserve your place at the next Salt Lake City Christmas Tour, click here to make a deposit.
      Read more »

      Wednesday, September 15, 2010

      Avoid Public Domain Genealogy

      Today I stumbled across the Public Domain Genealogy web site and thought it looked interesting. Since I'm always curious about what information other sites have to offer, I went ahead and signed up for the free account (big mistake)!

      The site portrays itself as true source of public domain information, which you can obtain for free (as opposed to paying sites like Ancestry.com for it).  Sure they tell you to use the other web sites too in order to get a more complete history record of your family, but they still portray themselves as being something different. 

      They even tell you that you will have to look at a few advertising screens during the sign up process, but that that you don't have to respond to any of them.  This is pretty much true.

      But what they don't tell you is that the screens last for a good 5-10 minutes and you have to manually click NO on all the adverts on the page.  Then if that wasn't bad enough, by the time you get to the "next" prompt, you're confronted with a message that says you MUST look at one of the adverts.  You can say No after looking, but then the whole process starts over again.   VERY FRUSTRATING!

      If you have the stamina to get through all the advertising screens, you'll find that Public Domain Genealogy isn't offering anything different that other genealogy sites are offering.  They have the links to the same directories and databases everybody else does.

      Only now, they also have your name, address, birth date, and phone number.   And you basically have nothing more than you had before you found the web site. 


      My advice .... avoid Public Domain Genealogy like the plague!
      Read more »

      Tuesday, September 14, 2010

      Looking for an Old Family Photo?

      Ever searched the internet looking for old photos of some of your relatives?  There's a web site called, Family Old Photos where you can do just that!   Users can sign up for an account and upload their old family photos so that others can find them.

      The web site also has several old photos where people and places in the photo are still unknown.  So one of the goals of the web site is to help people identify old photos they may have inherited after a loved one died.

      You can search the site by surname, geographic location, and more.  If you love old photos, this is a cool site to explore (even if you don't find your relatives.

      Check it out!
      Read more »

      Thursday, September 9, 2010

      Old Newspaper Archives for Arizona

      Looking for an old obituary in Arizona?   In addition to trying your local library (assuming you live in the area), there are some other resources you can try as well.

      The Arizona Newspaper Project has been working to save old newspapers on microfilm as well as list all newspapers in the state.  Interestingly enough, the first newspaper in Arizona was published in 1859 in Tuscan, Arizona.

      The Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, Arizona also has every Daily Courier on microfilm since the newspaper's first publication date.

      For links to recent Arizona obituaries, click here
      Read more »

      Wednesday, September 8, 2010

      Trace Your Family History Through Archives

      There are several different web sites that help you trace your family history. While Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org are popular, they aren't the only research sites available.  Archives.com is another site that offers research options, including access to historical documents and online software to help you build a family tree.

      The Archives website allows you upload an existing GEDCOM file so you can use your existing tree on their site. You can also add photos and other media to your tree. Anything you can do on Ancestry.com, you can pretty much do on Archives.com.

      One of the interesting things that stands, however, about Archives.com is that you can search for living relatives so you can reconnect with them.  You can find living relatives on Ancestry.com too, but by default, these are hidden in order to protect their privacy.

      So what really makes Archives.com different than Ancestry.com?
      1. Archives.com is a LOT cheaper than Ancestry.com
      2. Archives.com gives you access to their World Database in their basic membership (Ancestry.com charges an additional subscription for this). 
      In other words, the annual subscription at Archives.com is currently $39.95 and this includes access to their World Database.

      Ancestry.com charges $155.40 for the basic annual subscription (which only gives you access to U.S. Records) and $299.40 for the annual World Deluxe subscription (giving you access to ALL records).

      In comparison, $39.95 a year versus $299.40, is one heck of a price difference!  If money is tight or if you're new to genealogy research and want to test the waters. then Archives.com is a great place to start.  Archives.com will even give you a free 7-day trial.
        Read more »

        Wednesday, September 1, 2010

        Discovering Your Arcadian Ancestry

        Arcadians are the 17th Century French Colonists who settled in the first permanent French settlement in North America.  This settlement was known  as Arcadia  was comprised of the maritime provinces of Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec).  The U.S. State of Maine was also part of Arcadia.  So in effect, Arcadia was the North American portion of the French Colonial Empire.

        The Arcadians came from several different areas of France. During the 17th Century, Europe was constantly at war and battles between France and Britain for control of territory left the Arcadians stuck in the middle.  Both France and Britain insisted on oaths of allegiance from the Arcadians.  As the French Colonial Empire expanded into North America, several Arcadian families immigrated there.

        Between 1755-1763, many Arcadians were forced to leave their home and land in Canada by the British Empire and many settled in the U.S. State of Louisiana ... they then became known as Cajuns.

        The cool thing is that there is an extensive lineage-linked database of genealogical information (with the original source of the data included when available) that will help you discover your French and Arcadian ancestry. . Some of the individuals are French-Canadian, and not Acadian. These are included to assist your research, given the fact that there were (and are) numerous inter-marriages between French-Canadians and Acadians.

        To get started searching your Acadian-Cajun Family, click here.
        Read more »

        Monday, August 23, 2010

        Syncing Data Between Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker

        Struggling to sync data between Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker? There's a reason for that ... this feature doesn't exist!

        I love my Family Tree Maker software, but like many out there, bought it (over other products) because I was led to believe through ads that I could sync data between FTM and my tree on Ancestry.com.  I believe it's the ad's claim that the two are "enhanced integration" that brings one to this assumption. Integration assumes constant working relationship.

        You know what they say about assumptions.  The folks at Ancestry.com need to be much clearer about this "feature".

        So what does "enhances integration" mean to the folks at Ancestry.com?  It means you can download/import from either FTM or Ancestry.com any time you want.  The only problem is that you have a new tree in either case.  So it's means deleting your old tree and working with the new tree.  And this is a problem if you've taken the time to add personal notes and other media to your tree in Family Tree Maker.  Last thing you want to do is lose those by downloading a new tree.

        I really don't understand why the Sync feature is non-existent in Family Tree Maker.  It's a no brainier in my mind.

        I found this thread on the Roots Web forum that helps explain the sync problem in Family Tree Maker.  Below are links to a few of the more important posts in that thread.

        http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.software.famtreemaker/5514.2.2.1.2.1.1.2.1/mb.ashx

        http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.software.famtreemaker/5514.2.2.1.2.1.1.2.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx

        http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.software.famtreemaker/5514.2.2.2.1.1.1/mb.ashx

        http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.software.famtreemaker/5514.2.2.2.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx

        There are currently 52 posts in this thread (which is why I only highlighted a few), but if you to read them all from the beginning, you can do so by clicking here

        If enough people contact Ancestry.com about the importance of this feature, perhaps the next version of Family Tree Maker will contain a Sync Feature (that's my hope anyway).
        Read more »

        Sunday, August 1, 2010

        How to Delete a Person From Your Tree on Ancestry.com

        Sometimes you have to delete a person from your tree on Ancestry.com,  but figuring out how to do that is not so easy.  The steps are listed to below to help you. But use caution ... because once you delete them, you won't be able to recover them.
        1. Log into Ancestry.com and go to your tree.
        2. Find the person you want to delete (take your time finding the right person)
        3. Click the button that reads, EDIT THIS PERSON
        4. On the same line that shows your person's name, look to the right and you'll see a link that reads, "Delete (and your person's name)". Click it to delete the person.
        This person will now be removed from your tree.
        Read more »

        Sunday, July 25, 2010

        Guide to Obtaining U.S. Vital Records

        Vital records are one of the best sources for family tree information.  These records are issued by state and local governments when a major life events happens (birth, marriage, death, etc.).  In addition to describing the event, these records typically reveal other information too - like who the person's parents or next of kin, when and where they were born, etc.   All these little pieces of information will help you piece together the larger picture ... that is, your family tree.

        Due to privacy reasons, however, these records generally aren't readily available to the public.  Your best source of vital records is to ask members in your own family for copies.  I've been working the last couple of years to borrow every vital record (and photograph) I can get my hands on so I can scan them into my computer.  Of course, I always take good care of the originals and give them back to the owner.

        I've often been asked why I want the original, and not a copy. The simple answer is that originals scan better (especially if there is color ink on them).  Scan a copy produces a another degraded copy, whereas, scanning the original results in the best copy possible.  The other advantage is that after scanning the original in, I can print good (and often color) copies for my notebook and then put the original document into a fireproof box for safe-keeping. 

        Once you've obtained all the vital records you can from family members, you'll have to get the rest from county offices.  That is, you'll have to make a formal request (by application) for a certified copy of the vital record you want from the office that issued it. And there is usually a fee involved (typically $12-25 per record).   For this reason, most people don't order copies of a lot of vital records.  Doesn't take long before the fees start adding up.

        You will be able to find some vital records on the internet. I've found several death certificates on FamilySearch.org for free. I consider those finds little treasures in my family tree chest.   Some states also offer some records online for free.

        For more information on how to obtain vital records in the U.S., click here.
        Read more »

        Thursday, July 22, 2010

        How to Customize Your View in Family Tree Maker

        When you open Family Tree Maker 2010 and view your tree, you'll notice the screen is divided into different sections.

        On the left is a list of the people in your tree. In the middle is the pedigree view of your tree and below that are the family details of the current person selected.  And on the right, are the details of the person selected (or currently being viewed).  This right panel is the "View" and it can be customized to make editing easier.


        By default, you'll see the person's name and fields to enter that person's birth, death and marriage.  But you can other fields if you like.  Fields that I have added to my own "view" include: Burial, Cause of Death, and Divorce.   This is information that I like recording and having them on my "view" panel makes it a lot easier for me. 

        Changing your "View" is easy.  Just click the button at the bottom of the right panel labeled, "Customize View".  A window will pop up when you do. 

        To add a field on your view, scroll down the list on the left to see the fields available.  When you find one you want, click on it (single click) and then click the arrow pointing to the right (circled on image).  Notice once you add the new field, you can move it up or down in the list.  In other words, you can decide which order you'd like to see your fields on your view.  Be sure to click OK when finished to save the changes.

        If you don't see a field that you're looking for, you can create a custom one by clicking the button on the bottom left of the window.

        You'll notice that the window shown, allows you to select fields for "individuals" as well as "shared". Marriages and divorces are examples of "shared facts".

        Being able to customize your view in Family Tree Maker is a nice feature, so take advantage of it.  it will make your work a lot easier!
        Read more »

        Friday, July 16, 2010

        How to Export a Tree in Family Tree Maker

        One of the nice things about genealogy software is they usually allow you to import and export your family tree information.  Not only is this helpful when sharing information with others, but it's also makes it easier to work with online genealogy sites like Ancestry.com.

        Below are the steps to export a family tree using Family Tree Maker (FTM) software:
        1. Open Family Tree Maker
        2. Open the tree you want to export (if you have more than one)
        3. On the menu, select FILE and then EXPORT
        4. Make sure "Entire Tree" is selected (as wells as everything else).  
        5. Select the "file type" you'd like your exported file to be (see notes below).
        6. Click OK
        7. Select the location you'd like to save the file to (I usually select DESKTOP, so I can find it easily).
        Different genealogy software programs sometimes use different file types.  If you know you are sharing between different people using Family Tree Maker software, then exporting a "Family Tree Maker" file is okay. If the person you are sharing with is using an older version of Family Tree Maker, than be sure to select the older version (so they can open it) in the menu options.   If you need to share your tree with somebody using a pre-2008 version of Family Tree Maker, then select the option that reads, "GEDCOM for FTM 16".

        If you are sharing your tree with somebody not using Family Tree Maker software, then it's best to export your file as a GEDCOM file (GEDCOM 5.5, Standard). This file type will work with PAF software and other genealogy software programs.

        The next step is to share your file.  If you are sharing this file with somebody else, then it's best to either copy the file to a flash drive or a CD/DVD.  However, if the person lives far away, you may also be able to email the file to them (depending on the size of the file). Generally speaking, it's not a good idea to email a file that is larger than 5 MB in size.  However, depending on who you're sending it to, you may be able to get away with a 10 MB file.

        To check file size, RIGHT CLICK on the file and select PROPERTIES.  You'll see a number followed by either "Kb", "Mb" or Gb".  That's the size of the file. The file  is within the range quoted above, you can try and attach it to an email and send it.  If it's larger than 10 MB, it would be better to burn the file to a disk (or copy it to a flash drive) and mail it.

         
        Read more »

        Family Tree Maker Tips - Entering Divorces

        In today's culture, very few people stayed married forever any more.  So it's not uncommon to have to enter divorces into your Family Tree Maker software.  Sadly, entering divorces is not very intuitive, so I thought I would share the steps here.

        These instructions are for Family Tree Maker 2010.   If you're using an earlier version of Family Tree Maker, the steps may vary a bit.
        1. Open Family Tree Maker and access the person in your tree that you desire to enter a divorce for.  This assumes that you've already entered the appropriate data for the marriage.  When you double click the person's name, you'll be shown a new screen with just that person.  Your screen should look like the image below:

        1. To Enter the divorce, click the "+" sign (circled above) to add a new fact (a window pops up)
        2. Scroll down the list until you find "divorce" and then click OK.
        3. If you've already entered more than one spouse for this person, make sure you have the correct spouse selected before entering the date.  If the wrong spouse is selected, use the pull-down arrow (circled above) to select the correct spouse.  
        4. Enter the date of the divorce. 
         You can also customize your view in Family Tree Maker to make entering divorces even easier.

          Read more »

          Saturday, July 3, 2010

          Finding Missouri Death Certificates Online

          Have you been trying to find a death certificate for a family member that died in Missouri?  If you haven't already, you might want to try the Missouri Digital Heritage website.  This is an awesome website!

          The folks managing the site have been gracious enough to post scanned images of death certificates online for 1910-1959. You can save the digital images of death certificates to your computer and/or order certified copies of them. 

          Just click the link above to get to the website.  The scroll down to the bottom of the page and enter the surname of the person you're searching for and then click the "search button".

          You can scroll through any results to find relatives and click the "view image" link to see the actual death certificate ( a window will popup with the scanned image). If you have trouble seeing the image, make sure your browser's pop-up block is off.  You can also minimize all other windows so you can see the new one.

          To save the document to your computer, click the icon that looks like a floppy disk (2nd icon from left at top of page).


          You can rename the file after you save it by RIGHT-CLICKING on the file's icon and selecting RENAME.

          If you want to order a certified copy of the Missouri death certificate, click here.
          Read more »

          Thursday, July 1, 2010

          Fallen Heroes - A Resource for Families of Veterans

          I stumbled across a new web site today that is devoted to remembering fallen soldiers. Most of the soldiers appear to have fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan within the last 5 years - but there may be others.

          None the less, i thought it was an excellent resource for those looking for information on soldiers.

          To check out the Fallen Heroes website, click here.

          Read more »

          Wednesday, June 30, 2010

          A Look Back at the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company

          While doing genealogical research on my great-great grandpa, I discovered that he worked for the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company in the 1920's.  Wanting to know more about the company, I did some more research and came across this wonderful video at the Steel Works Museum web site.



          I'm one of those people who only wants to know "who" was in our family history, but I also want to know more about these people and their life. The railroad business was booming in the early 1900's and it's not uncommon to see folks working for them on census records.

          If you have relatives who worked for the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (based in Pueblo, Colorado), you might enjoy this information.

          Here's some more information about the railroad business and Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (CF&IE) (including information about the depot flood in 1921) if interested.
          Read more »

          Tuesday, June 29, 2010

          Maximize Your Search Efforts on Ancestry.com

          Ancestry.com is such a huge web site with many different features, that it can be daunting if you're new to it.  The site does have a search button in the top navigation bar, but you have to re-enter information every time you use it.  This is not only tedious, but if you're searching several different people, it can be hard to remember the details (or look them up) each time. 

          Searching information on Ancestry.com is made much easier if you build a family tree on the site. Building a tree is easy and even free users can do it.  However, you'll have to be a paid member in order to use most of the search features.

          Once you start adding a few people to your tree, you can search for records for those people.  Common records include: Death Indexes (Social Security and State), Marriage Records, Census Records, Land Records, Military Records, Public Records, etc.).   Not only do these records give you more information about each person and family in your tree, but the information in these records can be used in your searches.

          In other words, by attaching these records to people in your tree, the information in them can be used to refine your search (thereby helping to ensure you're finding relevant records). Attaching records, also helps you build time-lines for each person's life (which can be viewed on a person's profile page).

          Below is a sample image of a person's profile in a family tree (minus the time-line).  The "search" link is circled in red.


          All you need to do, is click the search link to search for all records related to this person.  The cool thing is that the information contained in attached records will automatically be entered into the search fields - so you don't have to enter any data.  

          Another trick is to limit your search even further.  Let's say that you're only interested in finding military records for this person.  But when you search, you often get census records, and other information that you're not really interested at that time. 

          If you look at the left side of the page, you'll notice the types of records you can search.  Click on the link you're interested in (for example, "Military") and your search will be refined to look for military records only.

          Also notice that above the record categories, is a green  button labeled, "Edit Search".  Click it, and you can edit your search criteria even further. One thing to note is that the search fields available will vary depending on which search category you're currently viewing.  

          For example, if you're currently looking at military records and you click to "edit search", you'll extra search fields for military branch, ship name, etc.  If you know these details, you can add them to the search criteria and search again.

          The nice thing about the "Edit Search" feature, is that you can add or remove data as needed very easily.  

          You can also go back and forth selecting different record categories after you've initiated a search without having to start a new search each time.  This is a huge time saver.

          Give it a try.  Taking a advantage of these features can save you hours in research time.
          Read more »

          Thursday, June 3, 2010

          DNA Study on Jews

          Newsweek recently printed an interesting story on a DNA study that was done on the Jewish population.   Read it with a grain of salt, however, given the source of the publication.

          While the article reports to have found more scientific evidence to support Biblical claims, it also states that the European Jews are not descendants of the Turkish Kharzars.  Apparently this last claim is being used as reason why Jews are not entitled to Israeli land. 

          Anti-Semitic people have been trying to wipe out the state of Israel and take their land for thousands of years.  So it's no surprise that this study is being used as a weapon to that end.   Still, I find the study interesting, but like ALL science wait for corroborating scientific data before believing one one story or claim.  There are too many people in academics today producing "junk science".

          The read the article on the DNA Study of Jews, click here.
          Read more »

          Wednesday, June 2, 2010

          Where to Find Old Obits for Prescott's Daily Courier

          I've been trying to find an obituary from 1985 for my great-grandmother and in the process learned a few things and thought I'd share the info.

          First, the Prescott Library tells me they have old Couriers (our local newspaper) dating back to the 1920's and that I should be able to come in and find the obituary.  I also called the Prescott Valley Library to see I could access those old newspapers through the in-house computer system, and was told they don't have the capability.

          The Prescott Valley Library also told me that that they only save 2 weeks worth of newspapers anymore since much of the information can be found online now.  Interestingly enough, they do have some old information which they must keep for 56 years ... in case lawyers and genealogical researchers need access to it for lawsuits, etc. 

          The electronic archives at the Daily Courier only go back to the year 2000.  However, Sharlot Hall has microfilm from the founding of the Daily Courier in their museum and can make facsimiles of old obituaries. 
          Read more »

          Old Records in Dallas May Be Damaged

          An underground water main broke under the basement of a Dallas County Office this week, flooding the basement with water. As is the case in most county offices, old records were kept in the basement and are water soaked. 

          Sadly this situation is all to reminiscent of the flooding of the National Archives building back in 1890 (resulting in the loss of census records).  You think we would have learned to keep important records in more water friendly containers by now - and perhaps off the ground.  Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

          Similar scenarios can happen at home.  This is why I recommend keeping all important documents and records in a fireproof (& water tight) box (at least the originals).  I like to scan all of my original documents into the computer (giving me a backup) and then keep the originals in a fireproof box to protect them.

          Granted a home fire or flood could destroy your computer backup of old documents and photos  ... this is why most computer experts will tell you it's a good idea to have 2 separate backups of anything important ... with the second backup kept offsite (i.e., a different location).   Folks using an online backup service (like Carbonite), accomplish this task without lifting a finger.  Not only is the data backed up, but it's kept at another location so that if anything happens to your home computer or house, you still have the data safely backed up.

          If you'd like to ready more about the Dallas County Office Building flooding, click here.
          Read more »

          Sunday, May 30, 2010

          Figuring Out Relationships

          Figuring out grandparent-grandchild relationships are pretty easy.  All you have to do is count the "greats".  Figuring out uncles and aunts starts out pretty easy, then gets a bit more complicated as you dig into more generations.  Cousins are another matter all together.   The more generations you go back, the harder (and more confusing figuring out relationships becomes). 

          And if that wasn't hard enough, then there's the whole "removed" thing (e.g., 3rd, twice removed).  Many of us are lost at this point and just leave our relatives as the "cousin" level. 

          While there are lots of charts available on the internet to help you figure out these relationships, my favorite one can be found by clicking the link below.

          10th Generation Relationship Chart

          The chart will print on a single 8.5 x 11 inch paper.  So here's how it works.
          1. Identify a common ancestor (use a grandparent). 
          1. Find yourself in the top row (reading left to right)
          1. You have to know what relationship your other relative is to that same grandparent, and them on the left column. 
          1. Find where the row and column intersect ... this is your relationship to that other family member.
          Common Ancestor
          Son/Daughter
          Grandchild
          Great Grandchild
          2nd Great Grandchild
          Son/Daughter
          Sibling
          Nephew/niece
          great nephew or niece
          2nd great nephew or niece
          Grandchild
          Nephew or Niece
          1st Cousin
          1st Cousin once Removed
          1st Cousin twice removed
          Great Grandchild
          grand nephew or niece
          1st Cousin once removed
          2nd Cousin
          2nd Cousin once removed
          2nd Great Grandchild
          great grand nephew or niece
          1st Cousin twice removed
          2nd Cousin once removed
          3rd Cousin 


          Here's an example of how this works.  Let's say that John Smith is common ancestor between me and my other relative (John Boy).  John is also my great-great grandpa.  So on the chart above, I go to the first row and follow the cells right until I find "2nd Great Grandchild" (because that's my relationship to John Smith).

          Now I also know that John Smith is John Boy's (my other relative) grandpa.  So looking at the chart again, I find the cell marked, "grandchild" under our common ancestor. 

          Now I find where the row and column intersect .... which in this case is at the cell marked "First Cousin, twice removed".  So this means that John Boy is my first cousin, twice removed. 

          The "removed" refers to generations apart.  In short, "twice removed" means that we were born two generations apart.  Once removed, means that we only born a generation apart, and so on. 

          This relationship chart is very handy for helping you quickly figure out all those family relationships!
          Read more »

          Free Genealogy Software

          Today while I was browsing the internet, I came across a site that contains a list of free genealogy software and just had to share it.

          Each of the software programs listed on this site does different things, so you'll want to look at them carefully before downloading any of them.  Because they're available for free on the internet, it's also a good idea to run a virus and malware scan first on any programs you download to make sure they won't hurt your computer.

          Running the scans is easy and in most cases, you just have to RIGHT CLICK on the downloaded program icon and select SCAN WITH whatever program you have on your computer.   I typically scan all my downloaded programs with Norton and Malwarebytes first.

          To see the list of free genealogy software, click here.

          For more information about genealogy software, click here
          Read more »

          Saturday, May 29, 2010

          Organizing Records on Your Computer

          Once you start actively researching your family, it doesn't take long to gather a ton of records.  Trying to keep them all organized can be daunting.  While there are many different ways to organize your files, I thought I would offer one of my favorite ways for organizing files on the computer.

          I personally prefer to keep all my records on the computer for many different reasons.  So I'll take the time to scan in documents and photos for later use and reprinting.  But many of the records you''ll find will come from a website (like Ancestry.com or some other website), so it's nice to keep these organized so you can find them quickly later.

          My system may not be the best, but it works for me.  So here it is ...
          1. I've created a folder in MY DOCUMENTS called, "Family History"
          1. Then in the Family History folder, I created a folder for each surname
          1. Within the surname folder, I've created several different folder's labeled below:
            • Census Records
            • Birth Records
            • Death Records
            • Military Records
            • Misc
          For families that I have a lot of information on, I've also created specific folders for each them.  For example, I have a "John & Jane Smith" folder and another "John & Jane Doe" folder.  Obviously my folder names are different, but you get the idea. I do this in each of the surname folders.

          By organizing my files this way, I find that I can retrieve information quicker when I need it because I'm looking through less files at a time.  This method helps me find specific information when I need it.

          No doubt, others have found their own way of organizing their files too ... I hope folks will be willing to share their method of organizing files below so that we can all pick up some new tricks.
          Read more »

          PDF Escape - One Solution to Entering Data on PDF Forms

          As you already know, many of the blank genealogical forms that you download from the internet are in PDF format. PDF is an acronym for "Portable Document Format" and is popular because it allows others to share forms and documents in a format that anybody can view. The only thing you need to open, view and print PDF documents is Adobe Reader installed on your computer. Because Adobe Reader is free, most people already have it installed in their computer ... and if they don't, it's very easy to get.


          But as mentioned earlier, Adobe Reader only gives you the ability to view and print PDF documents - it doesn't allow you to edit them. This can be frustrating when trying to use blank genealogical forms in PDF format.

          There several solutions available for editing those PDF forms you download.  Some of the forms, were created to be "interactive" - which means they can easily be edited in your internet browser ... but even these forms sometimes impose limits.

          The best solution to this problem is not cheap.  But buying Adobe Acrobat will solve ALL your problems.  Adobe Acrobat is the top software program used to create PDF files in the first place.  Adobe makes their "PDF reader" available for free, but not their "PDF writer".  Acrobat is the PDF writer, and the full version typically sells for about $300 (one-time fee).  If you chose to upgrade your version later, you can buy the upgraded software for around $100 - but that's only if you want to upgrade (you don't have to if you don't want to).

          If you can't afford the $300, there is another solution available, called PDF Escape - but there are limits to your capabilities.  The first limit is that that you can only edit forms that are 2 MB or less in size. You also have a limit of 50 pages.

          The biggest advantage of PDF Escape, is that it's FREE!   Another advantage is that you don't need to download or install any software.  You just open your internet browser, upload your PDF file and start editing.  If you've registered for a free account, you can save your work and return to it later (and make further edits).  If you don't register for the free account, then your work is deleted after you close your browser.  However, before you close your browser, you can download or print your edited PDF files (another advantage).

          The only thing that concerns me about PDF Escape, is the security of the program.  You are entering personal information (names, dates, etc.) over and unsecured internet connection. And if you register for the free account, your files are saved online.   This leaves your information vulnerable to hackers with the right tools.

          Some people might care about risk because they're only entering data on people who have passed away already.  But even then, it concerns me a bit.  Personally, I'm too concerned about all personal data to take the risk.  This is why I prefer  Adobe Acrobat .... because it gives me total control over my files and everything is stored on my computer.

          None the less, PDF Escape is one of many options available for entering data on genealogical  PDF forms!
          Read more »

          Thursday, May 27, 2010

          How to Download Your Family Tree From Ancestry.com

          Once you create a family tree on Ancestry.com, you'd hate to lose all the work by ending your subscription.  Good news is that you can download your family tree to your computer. However, to see the tree again, you'll need special genealogical software.  Family Tree Maker ($40)  and PAF  (free) are two of the more popular programs that will work.

          When you download a family tree from Ancestry.com, the file is called a GEDCOM.  This file is then imported into one of the software programs so you can see it.  Keep in mind that before you important anything into your software program, you'll want to be sure and backup any existing trees you have first.  If something goes wrong, you don't want to lose what you've already done.

          For detailed instructions on how to download your family tree on Ancestry.com, click here
          Read more »

          What Happened to 1890 U.S. Federal Census Records?

          Census records often prove very useful when doing genealogical research.  In addition to providing names and the location of where folks were living that year, often times, they also tell you when somebody was born or immigrated to the U.S. as well as what occupation they had.   The more census records you have, the better picture you get on a person's life.

          However, searching for census records can be frustrating at times ... especially if you've been searching for the 1890 U.S. Federal Census Record.  This record was mostly destroyed in a fire in the National Archives building in 1921. 

          All census records (as well as other vital records) are stored in the National Archives building in Washington D.C.  There was a fire in this building in 1921, which resulted in the 1890 records getting water-soaked when the fire department put the fire out.  This of course, ruined the 1890 Federal Census records ... at least the ones housed in the National Archives.

          A few states still have some of their original 1890 Federal Census records, which does help some.  Sites like Ancestry.com have also compiled some "substitute" census records using other data sources (such as city directories and tax schedules).   So with a lot of digging, you may be able to find some information about the 1890's.

          If you'd like to know more about the fire that destroyed the 1890 Federal Census records, click here.
          It's really an interesting article and even contains a few other tips for finding more information.
          Read more »

          Wednesday, May 26, 2010

          Behind the Scenes at Ancestry.com

          Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes at Ancestry.com? Watch the video?

          Read more »

          Tuesday, May 25, 2010

          Narrowing Your Search by Location

          One of the most useful features on Ancestry.com is also one of the most difficult to find your way back to.  It's the "Search by Location" feature.  Ancestry.com lets you narrow your search to specific state or country.  You can also narrows that search even further by selecting certain years or records to search.

          To get to the "Search by Location" web page, click here.


          One there, you'll see a screen like the image below. I know the image is small , but it should help quickly recognize if you're on the right web page.


          Notice that there are 3 red circles on the above image.  The red circle on the top left of the page, allows you to narrow your search by country (United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, & Australia).  Selecting the country helps you eliminate overseas records in your search.  This is helpful when you somebody has immigrated, and you know longer want to look at overseas data for current searches.

          The lower left circle (under the U.S. map), shows a down-arrow that allows you narrow your search to specific state.  Again, very helpful!

          The last red circle is in the top right corner of image above.  This is the Quick Links shortcut.  Be sure to click it to add a shortcut to this page on your home page (under Quick Links).  Doing so, will let you get back to it easily anytime you want.

          There is a little more information about adding pages to your Quick Links in the post on how to add a shortcut to your shoebox.
          Read more »

          Building Trees on Ancestry.com

          I've discovered that some of the people using Ancestry.com don't take advantage of "tree building" feature.  I was reluctant to use it at first myself for privacy reasons.  But then I discovered how NOT using that feature was actually making my research job a lot harder.

          Keep in mind that you can make it private if you like (some nobody else can see it).  So the privacy issue can be controlled.  But building a tree on ancestry.com (even for free) offers a couple of big advantages.

          First, building a tree helps you make sense of your family members and information about them (dates, places, siblings, uncles, aunts, etc.).  Trying to keep this information straight in your head as you continually add to it can prove hectic.  If you confuse as easily as me, having this information in  front you is a huge help.

          Another advantage of building a tree is that it makes searching Ancestry.com a LOT easier.  If you click the "search" link on Ancestry.com, you are presented with a window where you have to enter the detail of the person you're searching for.  This gets time consuming and means you have to constantly refer to handwritten notes for dates, places, names, etc.  But when you have a tree, you can easily click on a person to initiate a search (saving you the hassle of entering the search criteria each time).  This alone is a huge time saver when doing research!

          The ability to get "Hints" is another big advantage of building a tree on Ancestry.com.  If you have a tree already, you may have noticed the little green leaf that appears on the top right of your boxes.  These leaves mean you have hints on that person.  In other words, Ancestry.com thinks they recognize your family member and may be able to offer more information for you. This feature again, is a big time saver and often times a big help in tracking more generations of your family member.

          Not all hints prove valid, so you'll always want to review them before adding them to your tree. When reviewing hints, I personally prefer to click the source data to review it personally rather than just view the comparison data when the "review link" is clicked.

          There are many other advantages of building a tree on Ancestry.com.  Others tracking some of the same family members can establish contact with you and offer more information.  If you don't have a tree, then they'll never know you're researching some of the same family members.

          When you build a tree, every person in it has their own profile  which allows you to quickly view a timeline of that person's life.  The cool thing about the time line, is that it's built automatically as you attach records to that person (such as census records, death indexes, etc.).  You can also manually add events and information to your timeline that don't normally show up on census records, etc.  For example, census records are taken once a decade, but you may know when a family moved between census records.  You can manually add that information into your timeline.  You can also add information about burials or cremation.  The more information in your timeline, the more effective your searches will be in finding information your family member.

          Ancestry.com even lets you print your trees so you can have a visual printout of your ancestors.  This is helpful if you like to keep your information together in a notebook.  It also makes it easier to share the information with other family members.

          There really aren't any disadvantages of building a tree on Ancestry.com, but there are a plethora of advantages.  If you're new to Ancestry.com, you might find it helpful to view their video on making trees. It explains some of the features and advantages I've mentioned here.

          To view the video on making family trees, click here.
          Read more »

          Monday, May 24, 2010

          North Platte Canteen - A Piece of Military History

          A friend of mine emailed me this video and I just had to share with you.  I come from a big military family (even served myself), so I love capturing our family's military history.

          I've never heard of North Platte's Canteen before,  but after watching this video and now determined to ask my relatives who served in the war if they've heard of it.  It should be interesting to see if any of them have or if they ever passed through it.

          Enjoy the video .... and be sure to ask your relatives about the North Platte Canteen!

          Read more »

          Sunday, May 23, 2010

          Blank Forms & Charts for Download

          Below are links to download blank copies of some of the most commonly used genealogical forms and charts.  Some of the forms can be used to transcribe census and military records for easy reference, while others can be used to track family details.  While there is no shortage of blank genealogical forms available on the internet, these are some of my favorites.

          Most of the genealogy forms below are in PDF format - which means you need Adobe Reader to open and view them. Most people already have this program on their computer so unless you run into problems, you don't need to download it.

          In most cases, you'll need to download and print the forms and then hand-write the information on them.  However, if you have the full version of Adobe Acrobat installed (which most people don't have), you can open and type in the information and then save an print the forms.

          A few of the forms are "interactive" - which means they've been designed to work in your internet browser (internet explorer, firefox, etc.).   The interactive forms let you type in the information while viewing them in your browser - then save it to your computer and/or print the forms.  These are nice for people who don't have Adobe Acrobat on their computers, but still prefer to type their data in.

          Family Record Sheets:

          Pedigree Charts:

          Census Forms:

          For more forms and charts, click here.
          Read more »

          Changing Tree Settings on Ancestry.com

          Anybody can start a tree on Ancestry.com - even if you don't pay the subscription fee.  They'll let you join site the for free and build your own tree  ... you just can't search their most of their resources for free.

          When starting a tree on Ancestry.com, you're asked if you want to make it "public" or "private".  If the tree is public, anybody can see it.  If it's private, only you and those people you invite will be able to see the tree.  The good news is that you can easily change back and forth between "private" and "public" if you change your mind later. To change these settings, follow the steps below:
          1. Log into Ancestry.com 
          2. Rest your mouse over FAMILY TREE on the top navigational bar and then click your tree
          3. Click the link "TREE SETTINGS", which is located near the top under your tree name (above the family tree bar)
          4. In the green bar, click PRIVACY SETTINGS 
          5. Click the Public or Private option as desired.
          6. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click SAVE CHANGES
          Note that on the TREE INFO tab (next to Privacy Settings), you can also change the name of your tree anytime you want.  Just type a new tree name and click Save Changes if desired.

          The SHARING tab, allows you to invite others to view your tree (it doesn't matter if it's public or private). The advantage of inviting them, is that they have a direct link to your tree.  You can also specify whether you want to let that person be a contributor to the tree (allowing them to make changes) or just view it.

          As the tree owner, you will always see living people in your tree, but outsiders won't be able to - unless you invite them and give them access to view living people.
          Read more »

          Saturday, May 22, 2010

          Blank WW I Draft Cards

          Trying to decipher the text on WW I draft cards can be difficult because of the poor quality of the scans.

          Good news is that you can download free copies of blank WWI Draft cards to help you. There are three different samples of draft cards available for WW I.

          Looking at the blank forms will help you figure out the meaning of some of the text on the actual images you come across of your relatives WWI Draft card.

          You'll need Adobe Reader to open the files .. which is already installed on most computers.  But if you have trouble opening the files, you can download the latest first of Adobe Reader by clicking here.

          There are three different versions draft cards used during World War I.  You can download them by clicking the links below.

          To learn more about World War I Draft Cards, click here.
          Read more »

          Friday, May 21, 2010

          How to Create a Shortcut To Your Shoebox on Ancestry.com

          Ancestry.com allows you to keep a virtual "shoebox" of all the records you find on their site.  The benefit of this shoebox is that you can add records to it for later review and while you keep searching for more records.  You can also go back later and download the record images to your own computer.

          I like to use the shoebox as my virtual storage place for all the records I find that are relevant to my family history.  Occasionally, I'll add records there that I'm not sure are related to my family, but by doing so, I can go back later and look at them in more detail ... and then delete them if it turns out they are not related to my search.

          The shoebox is one of the most valuable tools you have on Ancestry.com.  Adding records to it is easy ... but getting back to it can be difficult until you make a shortcut to it.  And that's the purpose of this post - to show you how to do just that.
          1. Find a record that you want to add to the shoebox. 
          1. Scroll down below the record and click the orange "SAVE" button and then select "Add to Shoebox"
          1. Scroll back up to the top of the page and verify you have a green check mark above your record along with the text, "This record has been added to your shoebox".   Note that "Your Shoebox" is linked.  Click the link to go to your shoebox. 
           
          1. If you look to the top right of the page, you'll see a link that reads, "Add to Quick Links".  

            1. A small window will pop up, click SAVE.

            You now have a shortcut to your shoebox on your home page at Ancestry.com.  Anytime you want to get back to it, click HOME on the top navigational menu (from any page) and then look for your shoebox link on the right side of the page under My Quick Links.
            Read more »