Continue reading »]]> Let Us Resolve to Become Better Acquainted with the Records We Use & and Learn about New Possibilities!

Free Webinars

GGS: http://gagensociety.org/webinar_schedule.htm

FNAS: http://friendsnas.org/webinarSch.htm

Legacy Family Tree: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/webinars.asp

Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree Extension Series: http://www.scgsgenealogy.com/extension-series/jes2013.html

Illinois State Genealogical Society: http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=234

GeneaWebinars Blog: http://blog.geneawebinars.com/

Conferences and Week-long workshops

RootsTech: http://rootstech.org/

New England Regional Genealogical Consortium (NERGC): http://www.nergc.org/ 

NGS Conference: http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conference_info

Southern California Genealogy Jamboree: http://www.scgsgenealogy.com/

FGS Conference: http://www.fgs.org/cpage.php?pt=43

Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR): http://www4.samford.edu/schools/ighr/

National Institute of Genealogical Research (NIGR): http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~natgenin/

Utah Genealogical Association (UGA), Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG): http://www.infouga.org/

Please let us know of those that we may have missed!

Continue reading »]]> It is likely that a novice or beginning family historian will need a little guidance in order to begin their new adventure climbing their family tree. It is the duty, in my humble opinion, of the novice to become educated so that their work will meet current standards.

There are many educational opportunities available and for the next week or so, I plan to discuss many of those opportunities on a series of blogs. This is the first of the series.

Over the years numerous “how-to” books have been published some of which may be available at a local library.  Here is a list of my top ten choices for  the library of a novice genealogist.

1. Croom, Emily Anne. Unpuzzling Your Past, A Basic Guide to Genealogy. 3d ed. White Hall, Va.: Betterway Publications, Inc., 1995.
2. Greenwood, Val D. The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy. 3d ed. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2000.
3. Hatcher, Patricia Law. Locating Your Roots: Discover Your Ancestors Using Land Records.Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2003.
4. Hinckley, Kathleen W. Your Guide to the Federal Census for Genealogists, Researchers, and Family Historians.Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2002.
5. Kashuba, Melinda. Walking With You Ancestors: A Genealogist’s Guide to Using Maps and Geography.Cincinnati, Ohio: Family Tree Books, 2005.
6. Melnyk, Marcia Yannizzee. The Weekend Genealogist: Timesaving Techniques for Effective Research. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2000.
7. Mills, Elizabeth Shown.  Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007.
8. National Archives Trust Fund Board. Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985.
9. Rose, Christine. Courthouse Research for Family Historians: Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures. San Jose, California: CR Publications, 2004.
10. Szucs, Loretta, and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, eds. The Source: a Guidebook of American Genealogy. 3d edition. Provo: Ancestry, Inc., 2006.

If you have other favorites for the beginner, please share them in the “Comments” area below.

© Linda Woodward Geiger.

Continue reading »]]> The community index project, spearheaded by FamilySearch, was a stellar example of what happens when the genealogical community makes a collaborative effort. The project was completed several months ahead of schedule. Those of you that participated may be having withdrawal symptoms. If so, I’ve got the perfect cure!

Family Search has instigated two new community projects and still need your voluntary assistance.

1. From Sea to Shining Sea: Helping Everyone Find U.S.  Immigrant Ancestors—500 million names in 200 million records including passenger arrival lists and naturalization records. With the current 50,000 volunteers, the project is anticipated to take four years to complete. If you are interested in this project, please go to https://www.familysearch.org/us-immigration-naturalization/?icid=fsHomeUSImmNatTxt.
2. Italian Ancestors: Making Italy civil Registration Records Freely Searchable Online—500 million names in 115 million records. At this time there are 800 volunteers and the expected completion time is 30 years. Ouch! Please go to https://www.familysearch.org/italian-ancestors/?icid=fsHomeItalianAncestors to sign up for this terrific community project!

More information on the FamilySearch community projects will be heading your way shortly!

Continue reading »]]> Yesterday, The Village Festival at Big Canoe made its debut. The festival will be a weekly event on Saturday morning (9:00 am – 12:00 pm) through the end of October.

According to plan I arrived a few short minutes before opening, and was horrified to see that parking was already at a premium and swarms of people. “Suck it in,” I told myself, “find a place to park, and then pretend that you alone will be visiting each stand.” Easier said than done for this wimpy agoraphobic.  None-the-less, I did manage to make a very quick tour of the booths, pick up a few business cards, and snap a few shots with my phone.

Coles Lake Creamery from Carrollton, Georgia, had a lovely display for their goat cheese and homemade soap products. They are a small grade A dairy milking about 35 does. I came home with a three pack of onion & chives, garlic, and Italian herb cheeses. Delicious! These young men appear to be relatively new in the world of marketing and as of yet do not have a business card to say nothing about a website.

Jim Oneacre had a marvelous selection of homemade baskets, “Baskets by Jim.” I hope to find a need for another basket before next week. Jim doesn’t take credit cards and I did not much cash with me. I will plan ahead in the future.

Etowah River Pottery had a nice display of soap dishes, teaspoon holders (think I’d call them teabag holders), This small company from Dahlonega also had a nice selection of homemade soap.

All in all the market place was successful and hopefully the crowds will simmer down a bit as the season wears on. There is one need from improvement, however. More space needs to be provided for parking and something must be done about the dreadful traffic flow problem. Hopefully Bill Burns will see that problem is minimized by next week.

© Linda Woodward Geiger. All rights Reserved.

Continue reading »]]> It was about two years ago when I had my first experience on a television “talk show.” In July of 2010, Pamela Boyer Sayre, CG, CGL, and I drove to Fairfax Public Access broadcasting facility in Fairfax County, Virginia, where each of us recorded a session for Tracing Your Family Roots. Pam was taped discussing the “Social Security Sleuthing” and I discussed “American Indian research, in particular the Cherokee Indians.” It was a very interesting experience.

This past Sunday we made our second appearance, this time in studio A rather than studio C. My topic was “Creating a Genealogical Website” and Pam talked about “GEDcom: Genealogy Data Communication.”  Our recordings will be available online after they have been released to public access channels.

Tracing Your Family Roots is a television series of half hour shows that are produced at Fairfax Public Access (FPA). The shows are hosted by Arline Sachs with co-host Chuck Mason, CG, and produced by Sidney Sachs. The shows are scheduled on a variety of public access stations in several states. After the shows have been aired they are made available online to the general public at Tracing Your Family Roots. As of this date, over 100 broadcasts are available for you to view. There are a large variety of topics including African-American, American Indians, Jewish genealogical research, German research, interpreting DNA results, military records, vital records, and so much more. Many of the national recognized speakers have taped with the Sachs including Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak; John Humphrey, CG; Tom Jones, CG; and Sandra MacLean Clunies, CG.

© Linda Woodward Geiger. All Rights Reserved.

Continue reading »]]> It was a delicious day, perfect temperatures, beautiful skies, and lovely azaleas, red buds and dogwoods as the Sayres and I prepared for a day of adventure. We drove to Gettysburg to tour the battlefield in a way foreign to all three of us—using Segways provided by the Velke’s SegTours of Gettysburg. Following the first intimidating moments when we stepped on our mounts: Fire Fly, Teddy, and Dixie.

We were provided instructions and training for our tour before leaving the premises. Only after the staff was satisfied that we would all navigate well, were we allowed to leave our training cones and ramps behind to tackle the real world.

Are you wondering about Fire Fly, Teddy, and Dixie?  Velke has named each segway for one of the horses associated in some way with the Battle of Gettysburg. Fire Fly was the mount of Confederate  Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes; Dixie the horse of Colonel Edward Porter Alexander; and Teddy…well, Teddy is new to the fleet and I don’t know who rode Teddy during the battle.

We road through the edge of town and out onto the county roads.  The ride and day were just wonderful! In fact awesome!

© Linda Woodward Geiger. All Rights Reserved.