Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts

Saturday, October 17, 2020

VGS News & Events: October 18 through October 24, 2020


Learn more about the seminar here...

For the foreseeable future, The Villages Genealogical Society will continue to conduct virtual monthly general meetings using our GoToWebinar facilities and they will be recorded. Many SIG's have access to Zoom Video Communications for their meetings.  The most accurate list of up coming meetings can be found on our website under "Coming Events."

Zoom access information will not be posted on our website for security reasons. Contact the SIG coordinator directly for Zoom meeting access information.

Coming Events:

Tuesday, October 20
Family Tree Maker Users SIG Meeting
1:00 pm
Online Webinar
John DeAngelo, Co-Coordinator
Topic: "Ask a Question"
Description: After listening attentively for several months, the October meeting will give you the opportunity to ask questions. I'll try to give you answers.  I will also go over a couple of new software bugs that have been found and reported to Mackiev.com.

Ask your question HERE... 


Wednesday, October 21
Mid-Atlantic States SIG Meeting canceled
Karen Pickelsimer, Coordinator
Wednesday, October 21
New England Genealogy SIG Meeting
1:00 pm
Online Zoom Meeting
Christine Courtwright, coordinator
Monday, October 26
Technology SIG Meeting Canceled
Gene Clark, coordinator

Gen News and Announcements:

Drawing Strength From Our Ancestors’ Resilience—From the Spanish Flu to Today

AncestryBlog
"It’s hard to believe six months have passed since the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020. As a collective community, we have endured unprecedented challenges in every lane of life – from the global economy to  our own family dynamics. At the same time, we have been deeply inspired by how people around the world have come together, with each and every organization and frontline hero joining forces to help those in need. "

23andMe Surprise Purge of DNA Matches – How It Impacts You

GR&E
"23andMe started rolling out a reduction of your list of DNA relatives in the second half of 2020. You weren’t aware of this purge? Nor was I, until other customers posted their reactions on genealogy forums. So, what’s happened? ”

Genealogy Tip: Correct Spelling Isn’t Everything 

GenealogyBank
"In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega writes about the time she misspelled her ancestor’s name in her search – and the great benefits of making that “mistake. ”

Female Ancestors: The Benefit of Searching by Her Husband’s Name

GenealogyBank
"In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega gives a great genealogy tip for finding your female ancestor’s elusive maiden name. ”

What To Do With Records Of Female Ancestors?

Dear Myrtle
"Based on a discussion in The Organized Genealogist Facebook Group, we tackle the question of what to do with the records of our female ancestors. It all boils down to whether she keeps her maiden name or not, as a cultural influence where she lived, and what system works for each researcher. ”

Julian, Gregorian and Other Calendars:

Dear Myrtle
"We concluded it behooves 21st century family historians to observe differences in the adoption of the Gregorian from the Julian calendar. It varies by county, time period, whether the record is a civil record versus an ecclesiastical record. ”

Technology:

How to Stop Companies From Listening to Your Voice Assistant Recordings:

How-to Geek
"It’s been in the news for weeks: Employees and contractors at Amazon, Google, Apple, and Microsoft are listening to recordings of you talking to voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Cortana. Here’s how to stop humans from listening in."

Education:

How to Use Cluster Research to Find Those Hidden Ancestors:

Ancestral Findings
"Have you heard of the cluster technique? If not, you should know it is a powerful method for breaking through genealogical brick walls. Join me today as I give you the details."
Listen now...  8.01 minutes

Webinars:

Using DNA Test Results to Confirm a Pedigree:

Legacy Family Tree
"This webinar will feature a demonstration of using DNA test results to confirm a documented ancestral line. We will walk step-by-step through the process using both traditional research and DNA evidence to meet standards."
Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 8:00pm Eastern
Presenter: Angela Packer McGhie, CG

Comparing the Genealogy Giants 2020: Ancestry, FamilySearch, Findmypast, and MyHeritage

Legacy Family Tree
"The 2020 "state of the sites" update will focus on the newest and most exciting developments at each of the major genealogy websites, with plenty of hasn’t-changed foundational description to help viewers know where they should be turning next for their genealogical research--and what sites and tools they should keep in mind for the future. This lecture has a global focus."
Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 2:00pm Eastern
Presenter: Sunny Morton

How Old Did He Have To Be…?

Legacy Family Tree
"Is this man John the father or John the son? Could that man be my ancestor who married in 1802? Knowing a person’s age is often the key to distinguishing between two people of the same name. But if no record gives a birth date, how do you know how old someone was? The law can often give the answer."
Friday, October 23, 2020, 2:00pm Eastern
Presenter: Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL


Saturday, July 28, 2018

VGS News & Events: 29 July 2018 through 4 August 2018

July 2018 Monthly Meeting
Coming Events:
Thursday: August 2, 2018
Eastern European Genealogy SIG Meeting:
1:00 PM in the Daytona Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Coming Soon...
Wednesday, October 24
Fall Virtual Seminar On Immigration Records
9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Online Virtual Conference
This all-day seminar is offered free to our members as part of our celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Villages Genealogical Society.
 
PLEASE NOTE: There will be no in-person meeting this month. We will attend the presentations via our own computers or devices at whatever location is convenient for us. (That doesn’t mean you can’t get together with other genealogy buddies for a watch party at somebody’s house, though!)
 
You MUST register for the presentations in order to get the link to join the seminar on the 24th.
Registration is now open at:  Register HERE...
Download the event flyer here...

Gen News and Announcements:

The 20 Largest Genealogy Record Collections Online: Have You Searched Them?

Family History Daily

"There are literally billions and billions of genealogical records now available online. From the huge databases of paid subscription sites like Ancestry and MyHeritage, to the varied collections of FamilySearch and hundreds of other free initiatives  – details about our ancestors’ lives are more accessible than ever."
Continue reading...

When Did New York Immigration Start at Ellis Island?

FamilySearch
"Ellis Island is famous for being the United States’ front door for receiving immigrants—but did you know millions of people had already come to the U.S. by the time Ellis Island opened in 1892? This history of Ellis Island can help you better understand your immigrant ancestors’ arrivals and how to find the evidence in New York immigration records."
Continue reading...

Castle Garden: Immigration Before Ellis Island:

FamilySearch
"Did your immigrant ancestors land at Castle Garden or Ellis Island? Or did they arrive in New York before those facilities existed? The answer matters because it determines where you should look for them in records."
Continue reading...

Finding Hidden Records on FamilySearch:

Amy Johnson Crow
"​​​FamilySearch has millions of genealogy records, but some of the collections don't have images of the actual record... or do they? Let's explore a way that you can sometimes find hidden records on FamilySearch."
Continue reading...

Tips For Getting & Keeping Your Genealogy Organized:

Deseret News
"When it comes to genealogy, starting out organized is easier than getting organized later on. It didn't take long before my own research became weighed down with pedigree charts, family group records, to-do lists, research logs, documents, notes and research tools. I was robbing myself of precious research time because I spent hours looking for what I knew I had and duplicating research I had already done."
Continue reading...

Decades-old Suitcases Of Willard Psychiatric Patients Depict Life Stories:

WBFO 88.7
"After state officials closed the Willard Psychiatric Center near Ithaca, they made an unusual discovery. In the attic were 400 suitcases left behind from patients who lived there. For more than 20 years those suitcases have been in the hands of the state, but now they may finally be reunited with families of the patients."
Continue reading...

Technology:

How Do Spammers Get Your Email Address?

How-to-Geek
"Spam seems to arrive in every single email account we use, no matter how careful we are. How are spammers getting all our email addresses? And can we do anything to hide our email address from spammers?"
Continue reading...

Education:

Creating New Genealogists: The Secret

Ancestral Findings
"As genealogists, we want our children and grandchildren to be as interested in it as we are so they will preserve, protect, and continue the work we’ve done. But, how do we instill this interest in them?"
Listen now... 7.23 minutes

Genealogy at The Villages Enrichment Academy

For those interested in some structured genealogical education, the Fall/Winter course catalog for The Villages Enrichment Academy is out and Jim & Terry Willard have a full schedule offering 9 different genealogy classes. The courses can be found on Pages 14 and 15 of the catalog.
Download the catalog HERE...

  • Genealogy: Absolute Beginning
  • Family Tree Maker 2017 Part 1
  • Family Tree Maker 2017 Part 2
  • Getting the most from FamilySearch.org
  • Google and Genealogy Research
  • RootsMagic Part 1
  • RootsMagic Part 2
  • Ancestry.com: Searching

Webinars:

An Overview of Important Historical Record Collections:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"In this webinar, we will highlight new MyHeritage record collections. You will learn everything there is to know about the collections from the information they include to how to best leverage the records in your own family history research."
Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: MyHeritage Webinars
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Jewish Genealogy for the Non-Jew: History, Migration, DNA

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Most people do not know who they are more than a few generations back. Some do know, others suspect, but for the majority of genealogists, it is a surprise when they discover Jewish ancestors. Many of these initial discoveries come from having done a DNA test. What resources are available to those who wish to pursue research in this "new" field? What are the essentials that will help researchers understand their ancestors? What historical events have led to migrations and distance from Jewish ancestry? We will discuss history, migration, essential clues (customs, food, terminology, languages), and much more."
Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Schelly Talalay Dardashti
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Legacy 9 Unlocked (part 5): Adding an Obituary

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"In this class, “Adding an Obituary,” you will learn the six steps of adding an obituary to Legacy."
Friday, August 3, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Geoff Rasmussen
Learn more or Register for this webinar...
Note: The concepts learned will apply to any genealogy software.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

VGS Latest News and Tips: May 25, 2017

Gen News:

Meet the 100 Most Significant Americans of All Time:

Smithsonian
"A new, special issue of Smithsonian magazine attempts the impossible: to list out the most significant people in United States history
Continue reading...

How to Share Without Plagiarizing:

DNAeXplained
"Blogging and online articles have become popular as a result of the easy reach of the internet and social media. Most bloggers have an intended audience that follows them closely, as well as follows other social media resources on the same topics."
Continue reading...

Overlooked Genealogy Resource Alert! 9 Tips to Research at Heritage Museums:

GenealogyInsider
"You've searched Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, gone to the library and maybe even taken a DNA test to discover your family's immigrant origins. But for a genealogist, just knowing the country or region is rarely enough."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Automatically Turn Your Wi-Fi Back On in Windows 10:

How-to-Geek
"You may want to turn your Wi-Fi off to save battery power on an airplane or somewhere else where there’s no Wi-Fi available. With Windows 10’s Creators Update, you can now have your PC automatically re-enable your Wi-Fi so you don’t have to remember to do so later."
Continue reading...

How to Stop Gmail From Adding Events to Google Calendar:

How-to-Geek
"If the receipt for a flight or hotel is sent to your Gmail account, an appointment is automatically added to Google Calendar. Some people find this useful; some people find it annoying; some people find it downright creepy. If you’re more in the second or third camp than the first, good news: you can disable this feature entirely."
Continue reading...
Editor's Note: I love this feature and would never turn it off, but I'm sure some would.

Education:

A Review of the New England Historic and Genealogical Society:

Ancestral Findings
"Do you have New England ancestry? If you do, you will want to look into joining the New England Historic and Genealogical Society. Here's what it has to offer."
Listen now... 7.07 minutes

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

VGS Latest News and Tips: May 24, 2017

Reminders:
Today: May 24, 2017
Brick Wall SIG Meeting
8:30 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center
Today: May 24, 2017
General Monthly Meeting
10:00 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center
Topic: Our guest speaker is Donna Bachowski "Forget Me Not: Preserving Legacies with EPOCH"

Gen News:

A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials:

Smithsonian
 "The Salem witch trials occurred in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft—the Devil's magic—and 20 were executed."
Continue reading...

Homo Naledi’s Surprisingly Young Age Opens Up More Questions On Where We Come From:

Scienmag
"Johannesburg – Scientists today announced that the Rising Star Cave system has revealed yet more important discoveries, only a year and a half after it was announced that the richest fossil hominin site in Africa had been discovered, and that it contained a new hominin species named Homo naledi by the scientists who described it."
Continue reading...

Free Ancestry.com Databases:

Ancestry
Do you know that Ancestry.com has over 1800 free database collections?
The 1940 and 1880 censuses, SSID and the England & Wales, Civil Marriage Indexes to name a few.
See what's free...  Note: You need at least a free guest account to view this list...
What's a Guest account? Learn more HERE...

Tech:

How to Embed Web Videos, Music, Documents, and More in OneNote:

How-to-Geek
"OneNote is simple at first glance: it’s a place to write notes and maybe clip articles from the web for future reference. It’s an organizational tool, and a good one. But unlike other Office products, Microsoft offers OneNote for free and is constantly adding new updates."
Continue reading...

How to Automatically Free Up Disk Space with Windows 10’s Storage Sense:

How-to-Geek
"Windows 10’s Creators Update adds a handy little feature that automatically cleans out your temp files and stuff that’s been sitting in your Recycle Bin for more than a month. Here’s how to enable it."
Continue reading...

Latest Update: Family Tree Maker 2017

Software MacKiev: May 19, 2017
Continue reading...

Education:

Finding Unnamed Ancestors on the 1790-1840 Censuses:

Ancestral Findings
"The 1790-1840 census records only listed heads of household by name. However, that does not mean you can't put together a list of who was in the household. You just look at other clues like these."
Listen now... 6.28 minutes

Today's Webinar Reminder:

WikiTree: Free for All without a Free-for-All:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"This presentation gives a general overview and introduction to the free collaborative family tree site, WikiTree. It will cover the site's mission and Honor Code, privacy versus open collaboration, genetic genealogy features, cousin bait, becoming a part of the community, and the benefits of membership."
Today, May 24, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Eowyn Langholf
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Saturday, April 29, 2017

VGS Reminders: 1 - 5 May 2017

President Adams with guest speaker Dennis Michael Desmond
24 Apr 2017
Reminders:
Monday: May 1, 2017
Jewish Genealogy SIG Meeting:
10:00 AM in the MacArthur Room at the Eisenhower Recreation Center
Topic: "New York City Resources"
Wednesday: May 3, 2017
French Canadian Genealogy SIG Meeting:
9:00 AM in the Julio Iglesias Room at the La Hacienda Recreation Center
Thursday: May 4, 2017
Eastern European Genealogy SIG Meeting:
1:00 PM in the Daytona Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Friday: May 5, 2017
British Genealogy SIG Meeting
9:30 AM in the Courageous Room at the Lake Miona Recreation Center

Gen News:

Declaration of Independence Discovery Stuns Experts:

FoxNewsTech
"Harvard researchers were initially skeptical when a database project indicated that an extremely rare parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence was in a small records office in Southern
England."
Continue reading...

The New Legacy Family Tree 9 Is Here!

LFT
"NEW! Hinting, FindAGrave.com tools, Stories, Hashtags, DNA Charts and More"
Continue reading...
Editor's Note: Be sure to watch the 7 minute video for more information.

Mobile Conference App Now Available for the NGS 2017 Family History Conference:

NGS
"The Mobile Conference App for the National Genealogical Society (NGS) 2017 Family History Conference is now available. This conference will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina, from 10‒13 May 2017."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Turn Off AirDrop on Your iPhone (So You Don’t Get Unsolicited Photos)?

How-to-Geek
"AirDrop is a very useful way to transfer local files between iOS devices, but if you have it improperly configured, it’s a bit of a privacy risk. Let’s configure it properly so you don’t end up with strange photos from strange people—even if you don’t use AirDrop, it’s easy to misconfigure it, so follow along anyway to ensure you’ve got the optimum settings."
Continue reading...

How to Delete a Post from Your Instagram Account? 

How-to-Geek
"There are many reasons you may want to remove a post from your Instagram account. Maybe it’s an old photo that doesn’t fit in with all the great photos you’ve been posting recently. Maybe a friend has asked you to remove it because they’re striking an unflattering pose, or maybe it just didn’t get enough likes. Whatever the reason, here’s how to do it."
Continue reading...

Education:

Using eBay to Further Your Genealogical Research:

Ancestral Findings
"Have you ever considered using eBay to research your family history? Believe it or not, it's an excellent resource. Here's how to use it to your best advantage."
Listen now... 5:45 minutes

Webinar:

Take Me Back to Where I Belong: Transportation Records of the Freedmen’s Bureau:

LFT Free Webinar
"The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands are full of data reflecting newly freed slaves and their adapting to life after the Civil War. Among the lesser known records are those reflecting the movement of families in the years between 1865 – 1872."
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Learn more and/or register to attend...

Discover the new Legacy Family Tree 9:

LFT Free Webinar
"Geoffrey D. Rasmussen is a dynamic genealogy speaker on all forms of genealogy technology, and as host of the Legacy Family Tree webinar series, has spoken virtually to nearly 100 different countries. He has authored books, videos, articles, and websites, and develops the Legacy Family Tree software program."
Friday, May 5, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Learn more and/or register to attend...

FGS Conference 2017 Scholarship Winners:

Correction on Scholarship Winners and Alternates
Scholarship Winners:
1.  Diane Starr
2.  Lynn Dawson
3.  Diana Ricigliano
4.  Kathryn Larson
5.  Fran Into
6.  Mary Frances Gerace
7.  Donna Koeppel
8.  Jerry Maynard
Alternates:
1.  Karen Pickelsimer
2.  Ruth Wible
3.  Carol Mrak 
4.  Charlene Sue Hutchman

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

VGS Latest News & Tips: 29 March 2017

Gen News:

The New and Improved Find A Grave Shown at RootsTech:

Ancestry Insider
"At RootsTech 2017 Peter Drinkwater showed off a late-alpha prototype for a new Find A Grave website. Fearing the worst, he was quite happy when the presentation didn’t devolve into a lynching. Find A Grave diehards are that passionate."
Continue reading...

The Best Genealogy Software of 2017:

Top Ten Reviews
"The programs on this page are compatible with PCs. If you are looking for genealogy software that will work on your Mac, visit our review of the best genealogy software for Mac."
Continue reading...

How A Little-Known Group Of Citizen Soldiers Helped Win The American Revolution:

H&N
"During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington often turned to a group of citizen soldiers from Maryland for their prowess on the battlefield. But their actions haven't really been documented, until now."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Prepare for an Eventual Power Outage:

How-to-Geek
"Power outages don’t happen too often, but when they do, you’ll want to make sure that you, your gadgets, and your house are prepared. Here are some things to keep in mind when the lights go out."
Continue reading...

The Easiest Way to Fix Wi-Fi Issues: Move Your Router (Seriously):

How-to-Geek
"Are there Wi-Fi dead zones in your house? Before you do anything drastic, you might be able to fix it by simply moving your router."
Continue reading...

Education:

Site of Salem Witch Trial Hangings Discovered: Why It's Important to Genealogists:

Ancestral Findings
"The location of the 1692 Salem witch trial hangings has been located by researchers. On today’s episode of the Ancestral Findings Podcast, I’ll talk about why this discovery is significant to genealogists."
Listen now... 7.09 minutes

Thursday, March 9, 2017

VGS Latest News & Tips: 9 March 2017

Reminders:
Today: March 9, 2017
German Genealogy SIG Meeting
9:30 AM in the Reliance Room at the Late Miona Recreation Center
Topic: Margaret Sgritta will present: "Calvinists"
Today: March 9, 2017
Crista Cowan & Ancestry.com Return to The Villages
3 Sessions during the Day: Did you register to attend?
Tomorrow: March 10, 2017
Genetic Genealogy SIG Meeting
10:00 AM in the Ricardo Montalban Room at La Hacienda Regional Recreation Center
Topic: "Maximize the Power of Your DNA Test Results"

Gen News:

How African-Americans Can Unlock History, Find Lost Family:

CBS6
"RICHMOND, Va. -- In the early 1800s, two women were moved more than 500 miles from their home in Caroline County, Virginia to Kentucky by the man who owned them, Anthony Thornton.
The women, named Jupiter and Kizzy, were slaves, and the latter survived slavery, living to age 112."
Continue reading...

National Women’s History Month 2017 Theme-
“Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business” –

NWHP
"The 2017 theme for National Women’s History Month honors women who have successfully challenged the role of women in both business and the paid labor force.  Women have always worked, but often their work has been undervalued and unpaid."
Continue reading...

Find Your Own Story Through Your Family's History:

DailyNews
"I'm not from here.
Even though I was born in the United States, I never considered myself much of a U.S. citizen after being raised in Guatemala City and Rome, Italy, from age 5 to 21. This upbringing led me to say, "I wasn't raised here. I'm not from here" — "here" being the U.S."
Continue reading...

A Sneak Peek from the Underground Labs:

RootsMagic
"I’ve managed to climb out of the RootsMagic underground labs for a quick break and was able to sneak some top-secret documents past the watchful gaze of the RootsMagician. I’m excited to give you an exclusive look at some long-awaited new features coming to RootsMagic 7. (Keep in mind that these features are still under development and may change before they are officially released). So here’s your first look at two of these new integrations with Ancestry."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Electronically Sign PDF Documents Without Printing and Scanning Them:

How-to-Geek
"You’ve been emailed a document, and you have to sign it and send it back. You could print out the document, sign it, and then scan it back in and email it. But there’s a better, faster way."
Continue reading...

How to Improve (Almost) Any Digital Photo, Without Auto-Enhance:

How-to-Geek
"Film photographers had it easy. They could just click the shutter button and their photos would look awesome. Each film had it’s own unique look. It was simple to look at an image and go, “Oh, that was taken with Kodak Ultra”, or, “That was obviously shot on Tr-X”."
Continue reading...

Education:

What is a Reasonable Conclusion in Genealogy?

Ancestral Findings
"Do you want to prove a relationship in genealogy, but lack direct evidence? You can still come up with an acceptable reasonable conclusion. In today’s episode of the Ancestral Findings Podcast, I’ll show you how."
Listen now... 6.28 minutes

Friday, January 6, 2017

VGS Latest News & Tips: 6 January 2017

Reminders:
Today: January 6, 2017
British Genealogy SIG Meeting
9:30 AM in the Courageous Room at the Lake Miona Recreation Center

Gen News:

Ellis Island History & Immigration Facts:

GenealogyBank
"In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers to learn more about Ellis Island and its history as an immigrant inspection station for 62 years. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.”"
Continue reading...

5,000-Year-Old Nativity Scene Found in Egypt:

Seeker
"Ancient cave art in the Egyptian Sahara desert depicts two parents, a baby and a star in the east."
Continue reading...

Eight Things That Made Us Proud To Be Irish In 2016:

Irish Post
"LIKE every year, 2016 had its ups and downs — perhaps rather more downs than we might have hoped for. But there were many events which lifted our spirits and made us proud to be Irish."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Enable Sharper, High Resolution Uploads for Facebook Videos and Photos:

How-to-Geek
"If you’ve noticed a big difference between the quality of the photos and videos on your phone and the versions you upload to Facebook, you’re not imagining things: by default, the Facebook mobile clients upload photos and videos using lower quality settings. Let’s fix that."
Continue reading...

What Is a “Microsoft Account”?

Ask Leo
"Many people are confused by the concept of a “Microsoft account”. Microsoft introduced it around the time of Windows 8; with the arrival of Windows 10, they’re pushing the concept even harder."
Continue reading...

Education:

5 Minute Find: Adding a Quick Link to Your Ancestry Home Page:

Ancestry
"The My Quick Links section of your Ancestry home page is an easy way to get to specific collections and to your favorite genealogy websites. This short video shows you how you can add your own links."
Watch video...  5.09 minutes

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

VGS Latest News & Tips: 30 Aug 2016

LAST CHANCE: Family Tree DNA Sale
EXPIRES AUGUST 31st!
Save 30% on the Family Finder Test Kit!
Normally $99, now just $69!
Click HERE to save...

Michelle’s AncestryDNA Tips:
Kitty Cooper's Blog
"No matter how expert you think you are, there is always something to be learned from others."
Continue reading...

Daniel Miller (1755-1822), Musical Graves, 52 Ancestors #130:
DNAeXplained
"There are just too many Daniel Milles in Montgomery County, Ohio in the early 1800s, all Brethren, of course, and therefore, running with the same crowds and very difficult to tell apart.
In order to sort through the confusion..."
Continue reading...

Settlement: Part 1
Google Arts & Culture
"Touting Southern California’s rich soil, favorable climate, health benefits, and economic opportunities, city boosters, including many railroad companies, launched massive advertising campaigns to attract settlers from the Midwest and eastern United States, as well as from Europe. "
Continue reading...
Editor's Note: I found this to be a very interesting and informative article.

Five Myths About Your Surname:
Ancestry
"While there’s a lot about our last names we do know, there are certain myths and legends that have persisted over time about the surnames of people in the United States."
Continue reading...

How to Automatically Upload Your Phone’s Photos to Dropbox:
How-to-Geek
"If you regularly take photos on your phone or tablet, uploading them to a cloud service like Dropbox makes it much easier to access them on your PC or other devices. Dropbox actually has a feature that uploads all your photos automatically, as you take them.
You can do this on both Android as well as iOS devices."
Continue reading...

What’s the Difference Between Sleep and Hibernate in Windows?
How-to-Geek
"Windows provides several options for conserving power when you are not using your PC. These options include Sleep, Hibernate, and Hybrid Sleep, and are particularly useful if you have a laptop. Here’s the difference between them."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 30 August
1781: The French fleet arrives in the Chesapeake Bay to aid the American Revolution.
1860: The first British tramway is inaugurated at Birkenhead by an American, George Francis Train.
1892: The Moravia, a passenger ship arriving from Germany, brings cholera to the United States.
1918 Birthday: Ted Williams, Hall of Fame outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, the last man to hit .400 in a season.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Arkansas:
1762: France ceded Louisiana Territory to Spain
1802: Area purchased as part of Louisiana Purchase
1812: Made part of the Missouri Territory

Friday, August 26, 2016

VGS Latest News & Tips: 26 Aug 2016

Online Photo Collections That Can Help Tell Your Family’s Story:
FamilySearch
"They say a photo is worth a thousand words—and this principle certainly holds true for family history research. Documents can give you specific dates and details about your ancestors, but a photo—of the events your ancestors experienced, the places they lived,  or perhaps even the actual people—can provide insights impossible to glean from words alone. But how do you find these invaluable photos? A growing number are now online, just a click away if you know where to look for them. Here are a few places to start."
Continue reading...

Rhode Island Cemetery Makes Grave Error By Burying Two Mn In The WRONG Plot:
Daily Mail
"The problem started in October, when a 65-year-old man was placed in the wrong family plot at Pocasset Hill Cemetery in Tiverton. No one noticed until March..."
Continue reading...

Remembering Camp Douglas:
Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist
"Chicago genealogist Tony Burroughs posted on Facebook this past week that he had signed a Change.org petition to urge that Camp Douglas be placed on the National Register of Historic Places."
Continue reading...

Artist Embroiders Black And White Photographs To Adorn The Past:
Visual News
"The past doesn’t always shine whole, as much as you struggle to hold onto memories like keepsakes. You remember bits, you recall pieces, but the alluring scene of a bygone moment plays with a flickering fade. But the key ingredient of an instant stays, sometimes even brighter than you think. In artist Satoru Aoyama‘s embroidered photographs, history lingers with labor and art practically shimmering."
Continue reading...

Your Computer Doesn’t Care If You Lose Everything: Back It Up Right Now:
How-to-Geek
"The thing about catastrophic data loss is that it’s difficult to picture it happening to you…until it does. You’ve probably rolled your eyes at a hundred articles just like this, and assumed you’d be okay, or you’ll get to it eventually. Before you scroll past this one too, give me a chance to explain why you should, back up your photos, documents, and creative work right this minute— and how to do it the right way."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 26 August
1429: Joan of Arc makes a triumphant entry into Paris.
1920: The 19th Amendment to the Constitution is officially ratified, giving women the right to vote.
1957: Ford Motor Company reveals the Edsel, its latest luxury car.
1910 Birthday: Mother Teresa (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu), missionary, Nobel Prize laureate for her work in the slums of Calcutta.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Arizona:
1863: Territory of Arizona created
1879: Town of Tombstone founded
1881: First railroad crossed the territory

Friday, November 27, 2015

VGS Latest News & Tips: 27 November 2015

Today Is Black Friday: 
Stay at home and do some genealogy!

Bad Merges in Family Tree:
AncestryInsider
I was affected again by a bad merge in FamilySearch Family Tree. Someone had merged a Tilford in Virginia with a Telford in Ireland to produce a monstrosity of a person with a gaggle of children. Mysteriously, this man bounced back and forth between Virginia and Ireland, using the Tilford spelling for all children born in Virginia and the Telford spelling for all kids born in Ireland. Hmmm. What an odd fellow.
Continue reading...

Black Friday Special: Newspapers.com is offering an Annual Subscription for only $47.95 (that's 40% off the regular price!).
"Offer available for new Newspapers.com subscribers only and not for renewal of current subscriptions. Billed in one payment of $47.95 for a one-year subscription. Your subscription will automatically renew at list price after the introductory 1-year offer."
Learn more...

More Black Friday Specials:
Continue reading...

Family Photos: Why Do People Look Alike?
MyHeritage
"Although 60 years may separate two photos, the face is the same. The smile is the same. The ears, the eyes. Although two generations have passed, it’s as if the two photos captured the same person at different moments in time."
Continue reading...

Lost Letters: A Rare Glimpse into the Past
My HeritageBlog
"What if you could travel back to a specific time and place and get a real look at what life was like then? For 17th-century Europe, thousands of pieces of correspondence are now being unveiled, making time travel seem possible!"
Continue reading...

Darned Federal Birth Certificates:
AncestryInsider
"We depend upon records to reveal the “truth” about the past. Yet sometimes records have anomalies. Some are amusing or humorous. Some are interesting or weird. Some are peculiar or suspicious. Some are infuriating, or downright laughable.
Records are the darnedest things!"
Continue reading...

I Thought Hearing From My Birth Mother Would Be Magical — And Then It Wasn’t:
MTV News
"You can Google "what to say, birth parent, first time, email" but let me save you the trouble -- you're not going to find any useful advice."
"In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, MTV News asked readers: What does adoption look like in 2015?"
Continue reading...

This Day In History: November 27
1095: In Clermont, France, Pope Urbana II makes an appeal for warriors to relieve Jerusalem. He is responding to false rumors of atrocities in the Holy Land.
1826: Jebediah Smith’s expedition reaches San Diego, becoming the first Americans to cross the southwestern part of the continent.
1887: U.S. Deputy Marshall Frank Dalton, brother of the three famous outlaws, is killed in the line of duty near Fort Smith, Ark.
1874 Birthday: Charles A. Beard, distinguished American historian who wrote History of the United States.


Friday, October 30, 2015

VGS News & Tips: 30 October 2015

War of the Worlds Radio Scare: October 30, 1938:
Newspapers.com
"On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre staged a radio adaptation of the H. G. Wells sci-fi novel "The War of the Worlds" that fooled at least some Americans into believing that Martians really were invading the United States."
Continue reading...

The VGS Annual Seminar:
Members, have you registered for our 16th Annual Seminar?
This seminar will be held on February 24, 2016 and our guest speaker will be J. Mark Lowe, CG.
Mr. Lowe, is a a full-time professional genealogist, author, and teacher who researches primarily in original records and manuscripts throughout the South.
Read more about Mark...
Download the Info & Registration Packet

The Story of the Kindertransport Children:
FamilySearch
"One of the truly remarkable stories that came out of World War II was the story of the Kindertransport children. Nine months prior to the start of World War II, an effort was made to rescue more than 10,000 Jewish children from an almost certain death as the Nazi government was becoming increasingly hostile to the Jewish population in Europe. Through the efforts of a handful of concerned people, children were taken from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Danzig and Poland and relocated with families throughout the British Isles."
Continue reading...

Mystery of King Tut's Death Solved? Maybe Not:
NationalGeographic
"King Tutankhamun was just a teenager when he died. For an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, presumably well fed and fiercely protected, this was a premature demise."
Continue reading...

5 Truly Frightening Family Stories for Halloween 2015:
Crestleaf
"When conducting family history research, you’ll likely stumble upon interesting, fun and shocking facts about your ancestors. Whether you’re rummaging around the attic searching for old family photos, interviewing older family members, or searching historic newspapers, the fascinating stories you uncover can often blow your mind. And sometimes (if you’re lucky?) you’ll discover family stories that send shivers down your spine."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: October 30
1838: Oberlin Collegiate Institute in Lorian County, Ohio becomes the first college in the U.S. to admit female students.
1925: Scotsman John L. Baird performs first TV broadcast of moving objects.
1938: H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds is broadcast over the radio by Orson Welles’ Mercury Theatre. Many panic believing it is an actual newscast about a Martian invasion.
1735 Birthday: John Adams, second president of the United States who helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolution.

Monday, October 26, 2015

VGS Latest News & Tips: 26 October 2015

What Is A Research Extract Form?
Ancestry.com
"Use the research extract sheets to summarize information which cannot be photocopied, for which there is no document in your possession, or for things such as deeds which may be time-consuming or difficult to reread quickly when you need information from the copy you have."
Download a form...

What’s New in Windows 10’s First Big Update, the “Windows 10 Fall Update”:
How-to-Geek
"The first big update to Windows 10, reportedly arriving at the start of November, fixes a lot of problems with Windows 10. Microsoft is streamlining activation, restoring colored window title bars, integrating Skype, and improving the Edge browser. But they’ve also added advertisements to the Start menu."
Continue reading...

The New Ancestry: An October Feature Update
Ancestry.com
"We are working behind the scenes this week to introduce more of your favorite features to the new Ancestry in the coming weeks. As always, we have also included links to articles and videos at the end of this post that will help answer your questions and provide more tips on the new site.
Features we will introduce: Member Connect – We will bring back Member Connect under the Facts View tools.  You can contact other members who are also researching your ancestors to share your research questions, findings, and more.
Continue reading...

23andMe Will Resume Giving Users Health Data:
NY Times
"Now, after nearly two years, 23andMe is announcing on Wednesday that it will begin providing customers with health information again, though much less than before and with F.D.A. approval."
Continue reading...

Not a Wise Decision:
Dick Eastman Blog
"Perhaps this should be used as an example of stupid business decisions!"
Continue reading...

This Day In History: October 26
1774: The first Continental Congress, which protested British measures and called for civil disobedience, concludes in Philadelphia.
1825: The first boat on the Erie Canal leaves Buffalo, N.Y.
1881: Three Earp brothers and Doc Holliday have a shootout with the Clantons and McLaurys at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona Territory.
1854 Birthday: Charles William Post, food manufacturer, creator of "Grape Nuts" and "Post Toasties."

Saturday, October 17, 2015

VGS Reminders: 19-23 October 2015

Introduction to our 5 new VGS Directors
L-R: Bob Boerst, Ann Peterson, Diann LaRosa, Donna Yambasky, Dale Heins, President Lannin
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Italian Genealogy SIG Meeting
1:00 PM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
New to Genealogy SIG Meeting
2:30 PM in the Chateaugay Room at the Chatham Recreation Center


Today: Join Us For Find A Grave’s Community Day on October 17th!
Ancestry.com
"Thanks to you, our incredible volunteers, who visited over 100 cemeteries and contributed more than 250,000 photos on the days leading up to, and on, Find A Grave Community Day 2014. In hopes of beating the 2014 record, we are hosting this global meetup again on Saturday, October 17th to fulfill hundreds of thousands of photo requests still outstanding on Find A Grave."

19th Annual Central Florida Family History Conference:
November 7, 2015: 9:00 am to 3:45 pm
Olympia High School, Orlando Florida
Admission is $20.00 and includes the Conference Notebook. A Panera Bread lunch is available for $10.00. Register now as seating is limited. Register HERE.

A state of the art bus will be available from The Villages for $20.00 per person. Members may also arrange their own car pool.   Hear more about the conference HERE.
Lectures to choose from...




Bus Information: 
A state-of-the-art bus will pick up conference goers about 7am on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Wal-mart on Rt.27. It will also stop in Leesburg at the Palm Plaza shopping center (in front of Publix).

Return trip will start at 5pm. Cost is only $20 round trip. Send check made out to Karen Jorgensen, and mail to Karen Jorgensen, PO Box 1713, Windermere, FL 34786. No refunds. Your seat is not reserved until your check is received! Only 58 seats available so hurry! It will be fun! Call Karen at 407-299-5882 if you have questions!
Download: Conference Flyer

Editor's Note: I have attended this conference several times and it is one of the best annual seminars in Florida every year.

British Surrender at Saratoga:
Fold 3
Today is the 238th anniversary of the British Surrender at Saratoga
"On October 17, 1777, British and German troops under British general John Burgoyne surrendered to American general Horatio Gates, turning the tide of the Revolutionary War in the Americans' favor."
Continue reading...

1912 World Series: Game 8
Newspapers.com - Published October 17, 2012
"Deciding Game of the Big Series Goes Ten Innings---Muff By Snodgrass Fatal
Continue reading...

This Day In History: October 17
1815: Napoleon Bonaparte arrives at the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, where he has been banished by the Allies.
1849: Composer and pianist Frederic Chopin dies in Paris of tuberculosis at the age of 39.
1877: Brigadier General Alfred Terry meets with Sitting Bull in Canada to discuss the Indians’ return to the United States.
1938 Birthday: Evel Knievel, U.S. daredevil motorcycle stunt man.


Thursday, October 15, 2015

VGS Latest News & Tips: 15 October 2015

Today: Thursday, October 15, 2015
German Genealogy SIG Meeting
9:30 AM in the Reliance Room at the Late Miona Recreation Center
Tomorrow: Friday, October 16, 2015
Scandinavian Genealogy SIG Meeting
10:00 AM in the Clearwater Room Sea Breeze Recreation Center

How to use Google Photos for Genealogy:
The Cousin Detective
"To me, the single most important thing in the genealogical detective world is finding and sharing photos. All the hard work of piecing the giant puzzle together really pays off when you find a distant cousin who has photographs of your relatives -- especially really old ones that you'd never dreamed of finding."
Continue reading...

EXPLORE THE LONDON BLITZ during 7th October 1940 to 6th June 1941:
"The Bomb Sight project is mapping the London WW2 bomb census between 7/10/1940 and 06/06/1941. Previously available only by viewing in the Reading Room at The National Archives, Bomb Sight is making the maps available to citizen researchers, academics and students. They will be able to explore where the bombs fell and to discover memories and photographs from the period."
Continue reading...

Ancient DNA Reveals 'into Africa' Migration:
BBC News
"Researchers extracted DNA from a 4,500-year-old skull that was discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia.
A comparison with genetic material from today's Africans reveals how our ancient ancestors mixed and moved around the continents."

Free Research Guides:
"Everyone can use a little guidance from time to time, especially when your family history leads you to unfamiliar records, and to research in new places and eras. We’re creating a series of research guides to help you through these new experiences and alert you to collections on Ancestry.com that can help. Look for more guides to be added as we grow this collection. Have a suggestion for a guide?
Continue reading...

Newest Genealogy Records:
"GenealogyInTime Magazine maintains the most complete list available on the internet of the newest genealogy record sets from around the world. We tell you what you need to know."
Continue reading...

This Day in History: October 15
1863: For the second time, the Confederate submarine H L Hunley sinks during a practice dive in Charleston Harbor, this time drowning its inventor along with seven crew members.
1878: Thomas A. Edison founds the Edison Electric Light Co.
1892: An attempt to rob two banks in Coffeyville, Kan., ends in disaster for the Dalton gang as four of the five outlaws are killed and Emmet Dalton is seriously wounded.
1920 Birthday: Mario Puzo, novelist and screenwriter best known for The Godfather.


Thursday, June 4, 2015

VGS Latest News & Tips: 4 Jun 2015

Google Simplifies Security and Privacy with New Account Hub:
by Steve Dent: Engadget
"Many of us are dependent on Google apps like Gmail and Photos, but Google has a rep for being less than transparent on security and privacy, especially in Europe. Now, the search giant has put all the ways you can protect yourself into one big hub in an attempt to give you more control."
Read more...

What is the "New Ancestry"?
Ancestry.com
"If you haven’t heard (or seen), we’ve made some huge changes to the Ancestry website. But the "New Ancestry" is much more than a new look. It’s new features that help you tell stories as remarkable as the people who lived them. It’s the new LifeStory that turns the facts in your ancestor’s life into a narrative timeline, like a biography."
Read more...

The Battle of Bunker Hill: June 17, 1775:
Fold3
"On June 17, 1775, American colonists clashed with the British in the Battle of Bunker Hill, the first major battle of the American Revolution."
Read more...

How to Find What Google Knows About You...
By Marziah Karch, Google Expert
"Google keeps tabs on a lot of data about you. How and when you surf, the search terms you use, the pages you visit (if you visit them while logged into your Google Account from a Chrome browser, an Android device, or by clicking on them in Google.) Google also makes demographic assumptions based on analysis of that data. "
Read more...

This Day In History:
1919: The United States Congress approves the 19th amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees suffrage to women, and sends it to the U.S. states for ratification.
1907: Rosalind Russell, an American actress and singer, was born. She died in 1976
1896: Henry Ford completes the Ford Quadricycle, his first gasoline-powered automobile, and gives it a successful test run.


Friday, March 20, 2015

VGS Latest News & Tips: 20 Mar 2015

The time when Americans drank all day long: A recent Dick Eastman post led me to this article on American history written by Jane O'Brien from the BBC News Magazine, Washington. Se writes about a new exhibit that looks at the history of drinking in America.
Read more...

Canadian Soldiers of the First World War: 1914-1918: The digitization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) personnel service files is in progress. The original paper documents can no longer be consulted. However, digital reprography is available for those files that have not yet been prepared for digitization. Newly digitized files are added to the  Soldiers of the First World War database, every two weeks until the project's completion in 2016. There are a total of 640,000 records of which there are about 129,000 available for viewing.
Discover the collection...

The Women’s Army Corps: Fold 3 writes "Did you know that Fold3 has a huge number of documents from World War II about the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), including hundreds of photos? If you’re not already familiar with the WAC, you might be surprised to find out just how versatile this group was during the war."
Read more about the WAC...