VGS Latest News & Tips: 12 July 2016

Today: July 12, 2016

Genealogy Writers SIG Meeting: (Our newest SIG)

Organizational Meeting

2:30 PM in the Churchill Downs Room at Pimlico Recreation Center

American Civil War Newspapers Now Online:
Virginia Polytechnic
"For many years the newspapers of the Civil War era were probably the most neglected of all sources, and yet they are one of the richest. The reason no doubt lay in the sheer mass of them, their inaccessibility, and the fact that they were not indexed. Few if any scholars had the time or resources to spend weeks and months scanning page by page in the hope of finding something of use to their projects. Yet the newspapers are the surest windows on the attitudes of the time, despite their inevitable editorial bias."
Continue reading or search...

RootsMagic 7 Deals on Amazon Prime Day:
"In case you haven't heard, today (July 12) is Amazon's annual "Prime Day", a one-day only day of deals for Amazon Prime members.  RootsMagic is participating in Prime Day, but we aren't limiting our deals to Prime members, and we aren't limiting it to one day either.
From July 12th (midnight PT) through July 14 (midnight PT), you can get $10 off either RootsMagic 7, or the RootsMagic 7/Book bundle.  There is a limited quantity so this deal could end earlier depending on stock."
RootsMagic 7

RootsMagic 7 plus Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic book

How to Use Google Chrome to Identify Old Photos and Images for Genealogy and Family History:
Lisa Louise Cook on YouTube
"Here's how to use Google Chrome to identify some of your photos and imagesfor family history and genealogy research. Google Chrome attempts to match the image you upload to other images on the web. This is great for distinct or well-known images, such as a location or perhaps an important person in your family tree. It's not geared for your family photos yet, but this tool can help you identify and confirm important places and faces in history!"
Watch video...   (4.23 minutes)

How to Find a Revolutionary War Patriot:
Dick Eastman eogn.com
"If your ancestor served as a Patriot and lived long enough after the war to apply for a pension, you can probably find a pension application for him. Almost all federal pension applications have survived, even the applications of those who were later turned down."
Continue reading...

Desperate Brits Searching For Hidden Irish Heritage After Brexit Vote:
Daily Star
"UK residents are flocking to find out more about their family tree in a last-ditch attempt to keep an EU passport.
Genealogy website Ancestry, which allows users to trace back their family tree, has seen a 40% surge in memberships following the UK vote to leave the EU."
Continue reading...

How to Test Your Computer’s RAM for Problems:
How-to-Geek
"Is your computer unstable? There may be a problem with its RAM. To check, you can either use a hidden system tool included with Windows or download and boot a more advanced tool."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 12 July

1691: William III defeats the allied Irish and French armies at the Battle of Aughrim, Ireland.

1954: President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposes a highway modernization program, with costs to be shared by federal and state governments.

1957: The U.S. surgeon general, Leroy E. Burney, reports that there is a direct link between smoking and lung cancer.

1854 Birthday: George Eastman, photography pioneer.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Pennsylvania:
1699: Yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia
1710: Mennonites settled Lancaster County
1714: Scots-Irish begin major influx