VGS News & Events: April 18 through April 24, 2021

UPCOMING VGS EVENT

Wednesday, April 21
General Monthly Meeting:  10:00am - 12.45pm
Guest Speaker:  Luana Darby, CG
Session 1:  10:00 to 11:15am
Topic:  The Librarian Knows Where It’s At – Using State Archives and Local Libraries Resources Online
Session 2:   11:30 to 12:45pm
Topic:  Finding Hidden Gems: Strategic Searches on the Internet
You must register for each session you want to attend. Please see complete details & registration links on the “Coming Events” page on our website.

UPCOMING SIG MEETINGS

Monday, April 19

Best Practices SIG

Zoom Meeting:  1:00pm – 2:20pm

Topic:  Locality Research

Coordinators:  Annette Burke-Lyttle & Pat Adams

Wednesday, April 21

Mid-Atlantic States SIG

Defender Room @ the Lake Miona Recreation Center   9:30am – 11:10am

Coordinator:  Karen Pickelsimer

EDUCATION

amyjohnsoncrow.com

5 Things You Might Be Missing on Ancestry

It’s easy to focus on the searches and the results when we’re using Ancestry. However, there are some features of the site that you might be overlooking –– features that can make your research more productive. Make your searching more effective with these 5 features. Continue reading …

Beginning German Genealogy 

Elevenses with Lisa Louise Cooke – Genealogy Gems Broadcast

If you’re new to German Genealogy or your research has stalled, this recent broadcast is for you. This particular show features Katharine Schober, a translator, author and German handwriting expert. She’ll be sharing her 10 Top Tips for Beginning German Genealogy. Click HERE to start watching.

Do You Have Irish Genealogy? Use This Handy Surname Guide to Trace Your Heritage

AncestralFindings.com

If you have Irish heritage, there is probably at least one Irish surname in your family. As Irish families can be challenging to trace, this guide to Irish surnames and their origins and meanings will help you learn the beginnings of your Irish family tree branch. Learn more.

WEBINARS

Turning Raw Information into Evidence: Tips for Drawing and Explaining Conclusions

Tuesday, April 20 @ 2:00pm (EDT)

Presenter:  J.H. (Jay) Fonkert, CG

Brush up on your evidence analysis skills. Grasp the difference between direct and indirect evidence. Understand how to logically weave indirect evidence to answer a research question. Learn how to craft a proof statement, a proof summary, or a more complex proof argument. This is a free FamilyTree webinar – advance registration required – click HERE.

3 Ways to Advance Your Research with Correlation

Wednesday, April 21 @ 2:00pm (EDT)

Presenter:  Shannon Green, CG

Correlation is required to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS), but what exactly is it? How do I do it? And can it help me solve genealogical problems? We will use case studies to demonstrate how to correlate evidence to generate ideas for further research, test hypotheses, and present conclusions. You will leave the webinar with clear steps to apply your genealogy at different stages during the research process. This is a free FamilyTree webinar – advance registration required – click HERE.

Recent Updates to MyHeritage’s Historical Record Search Engine

Tuesday, April 27 @ 2:00pm (EDT)

Presenter:  Dana Drutman, Sr. Product Manager at MyHeritage

The MyHeritage search engine for historical records is easier and more intuitive than ever before. In this webinar you’ll review the improved search interface and explore some of the noteworthy new collections in MyHeritage’s historical record database. This is a free FamilyTree webinar – advance registration required – click HERE.

94% European and 6% Nigerian – Tracing My Missing Nigerian Ancestor

Wednesday, April 28 @ 2:00pm (EDT)

Presenter:  Yetunde Moronke Abiola

You have discovered that you have 6% Nigerian ethnicity in your DNA or maybe a friend or client asked about this. What does this mean? Who is this missing link and how do you find this ancestor? Many people have discovered that they have a percentage of African in their genetic makeup. So what’s next? How do you begin to find your Nigerian ancestor? FamilyTree webinar – advance registration required – click HERE.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 24 April 2017

Reminders:

Today: April 24, 2017

Technology SIG Meeting:

10:00 AM in the Destin Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Presentation: "Basic Photo Repair Using Photoshop and Photoshop Elements"

Gen News:

Trusted Sources: Why Museums And Libraries Are More Relevant Than Ever:

Smithsonian Insider
"More and more, the trustworthiness of information is based on the perceived trustworthiness of the source. Since our founding, this nation has consistently placed that trust in its museums and libraries. Even today, libraries and museums are considered honest purveyors of information and places for conversation on issues of local and national significance."
Continue reading...

How Clues in Your Old Family Photos Can Keep You Out of Trouble:

Photo Detective
"It's time for another installment of Mikael Hammerman's mystery photo, which shows a mother and a daughter—and just might shed light on his family legend about a young mother who ran away with her employer to America."
Continue reading...

Green Students Help Preserve Historical Cemetery:

Akron.com
"To better understand this historical place and the people buried there, University of Akron Professor Timothy Matney teamed up with 38 Green High School science students April 8-9 to survey the ancient cemetery, utilizing modern technology to gain further knowledge of the site."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Enable Night Shift in macOS to Reduce Eyestrain?

How-to-Geek
"Night Shift is a new feature introduced in macOS Sierra 10.12.4, and you might already be familiar with it if you’re an iOS user. Here’s how to enable it and set it up on your Mac."
Continue reading...

How to Optimize Mozilla Firefox for Maximum Privacy?

How-to-Geek
"Like other modern browsers, Firefox includes a few features that send your data over the Internet. Firefox contacts Mozilla, Yahoo, and Google’s servers by default. We don’t recommend you disable all these features, as they do useful things. But we’ll explain what the various options are so you can make informed decisions."
Continue reading...

Education:

How to Make Your Written Family History More Exciting:

Ancestral Findings
"How can we make our written family history more exciting? In today’s episode of the Ancestral Findings Podcast, I’ll show you how to inject some fascinating readability into your family history that will make it more appealing to a wide audience."
Listen now... 4:28 minutes

VGS Latest News & Tips: 5 April 2017

Reminders:
Today: April 5, 2017

French Canadian Genealogy SIG Meeting:

9:00 AM in the Julio Iglesias Room at the La Hacienda Recreation Center

Tomorrow: April 6, 2017

Eastern European Genealogy SIG Meeting:

1:00 PM in the Daytona Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Gen News:

6 Ways to Have a Better Library Visit:

Amy Johnson Crow
"Visiting the library is fun, but it’s more enjoyable when you feel like you’re making some progress with your research. Here are 6 tips to help you have a better library visit."
Continue reading...

How to Start Family Food Traditions from Scratch:

FamilySearch
"In my younger years, I found myself drawn to the exotic food traditions of those around me, feeling like my own food heritage was, well, unexciting. Compared to the standard American meals we ate at home, it seemed other people’s kitchens were brimming with rich culinary traditions, such as:"
Continue reading...

How to Use FamilySearch’s Mobile Apps:

FamilySearch
"With FamilySearch’s two mobile apps (the FamilySearch Tree app and the Memories app), you can take your family history with you anywhere you take your phone!"
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Create a Vacation Away Message for (Almost) Any Email Account:

How-to-Geek
"If you are heading out of town, you might want to put a note on your email to let people know you won’t be available, or to contact somebody else while you’re away."
Continue reading...

How to Make Cortana Search with Google and Chrome Instead of Bing and Edge:

How-to-Geek
"Cortana in Windows 10 gives you a handy search box that’s always at your fingertips. Unfortunately, it forces you to use Microsoft Edge and Bing. Here’s how to make Cortana search using Google and your preferred web browser."
Continue reading...

Education:

Every Family Historian Should Focus On These Three Things:

Ancestral Findings
"Join me today as we talked about how to become a better genealogist. Whether you're a beginner or a veteran, your research will improve if you focus on these three things."
Lesson now... 5.28 minutes

VGS Latest News & Tips: 1 Aug 2016

Indiana State Soldiers Home: Bill of Fare, 1901:
ISGS
"The Indiana State Soldiers Home opened in West Lafayette in 1896.
Meals were served in the main dining room. Here is the "bill of fare" for December 1901, as it appeared in the Home's annual report that year."
Continue reading...

Local Project Digitizes Invaluable Documents:
NGS
This article gives you an idea of genealogy projects that are ongoing at the local level. When was the last time you checked the libraries in your research area(s) to see what projects they may be undertaking?
Continue reading...

Ancestry Updates Their Naturalization Indexes:
Ancestry
"Search our newly updated U.S. Naturalization Records collection w/ 14 million records + 11 million new images." See what's new...
Continue reading...

Turning the Model Upside Down:
Ancestry Insider
"FamilySearch wants to turn upside down the usual order in which people engage in family history, said Steve Rockwood in his keynote address at the 2016 BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy."
Continue reading...

Jakob Lenz (1748-1821), Vinedresser, 52 Ancestors #128:
DNAeXplained
"Today, I get to write the article I thought I’d never ever write. For a genealogist, this is red letter day!  Not only the fact THAT I get to write about this person that I never thought I’d identify, but WHAT I get to write about him just defies any hope or expectation I could ever have had.  I could never have dreamed this big.  I’m really not exaggerating.  You’ll see!!!"
Continue reading...

Is Static Electricity Damage Still a Huge Problem with Electronics?
How-to-Geek
"All of us have heard the warnings to make sure we are properly grounded when working on our electronic devices, but have advances in technology lessened the problem of static electricity damage or is it still as prevalent as before? Today’s SuperUser Q&A post has a comprehensive answer to a curious reader’s question."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 1 August
1791: Robert Carter III, a Virginia plantation owner, frees all 500 of his slaves in the largest private emancipation in U.S. history. An 1839 mutiny aboard a Spanish ship in Cuban waters raised basic questions about freedom and slavery in the United States.
1801: The American schooner Enterprise captures the Barbary cruiser Tripoli.Often venturing into harm’s way, America’s most famous sailing ship, the Constitution, twice came close to oblivion.
1893: A machine for making shredded wheat breakfast cereal is patented.
1779 Birthday: Francis Scott Key, author of the “Star Spangled Banner.”

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
North Carolina
1653: Immigration began from Virginia
1660's: Influx of Royalists from Barbados
1664: Albemarle formed

VGS Latest News & Tips: 17 June 2016

Tracing Pasts: Your Genealogy Is About More Than Just You:
Panama City News Herald
"I officially started my “tree” in January 2010. I was hooked and enjoyed every minute of my discoveries. Along the way I found second, third and even fourth cousins. I never expected to find “family” in my search, assuming I would uncover more of the past than the present."
Continue reading...

Happy Father's Day Sale at Family Tree DNA:
ftDNA
"This year celebrate Father’s Day with our special sale on Father’s Day Bundles and upgrades! From now until June 20th, we are offering special pricing to help you say thanks to Dad, and help him learn about his family history, paternal lineage, and more!"
Shop now...

The Death of Libraries -- A Requiem:
Genealogy's Star
"After more than four years of consecutive budget cuts, it is unclear whether libraries will be able to recover the funding needed to return to pre-recession levels of staffing, open hours, collections and technology services. While a segment of U.S. public libraries reported budget improvements, many libraries continue to grapple with the negative, cumulative effect of ongoing budget woes:"
Continue reading...

How To Start Your Family Tree:
FamilyTree
"Begin by recording the details of your own birth, christening (where appropriate), marriage, divorce(s), subsequent remarriage(s), and the dates of birth (and death, where appropriate) of your spouse(s), children and grandchildren."
Continue reading...

Legacy Tip - Source Citations:
LegacyFamilyTree
"Some people get overwhelmed and stressed out when it comes to citing their sources. If you know WHY you are citing a source it will make more sense to you. There are two reasons why you cite your sources."
Continue reading...

Extracting Keywords From Genealogical Sources:
LegacyFamilyTree
"When I obtain a new genealogical source on a particular ancestor, the first two questions I ask myself are “What does this source tell me?” and “Are there any new leads I can follow in my research?” A good strategy for analyzing a particular piece of evidence is to create a list of keywords that appear in the source."
Continue reading...

How to Migrate from Internet Explorer or Edge to Chrome (and Why You Should):
How-to-Geek
"Google’s Chrome web browser is now more widely used than Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Edge combined. If you haven’t switched to Chrome yet, here’s why you might want to–and how to quickly switch over."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 17 June
1775: The British take Bunker Hill outside of Boston, after a costly battle.
1856: The Republican Party opens its first national convention in Philadelphia.
1861: President Abraham Lincoln witnesses Dr. Thaddeus Lowe demonstrate the use of a hot-air balloon.
1742 Birthday: William Hooper, signer of the Declaration of Independence.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Colorado:
1803: US acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
1832: Bent's Fort trading post established.
1850: U.S. purchased Colorado land from Texas.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 25 March 2016

Europe Free Online Historical Newspapers:
The Ancestor Hunter
"There are quite a bit of free online historical newspapers from European countries.  There are also some that are subscription-based. This article will try and list many of the free ones."
Continue reading...

Women Soldiers of the Civil War:
National Archives
"It is an accepted convention that the Civil War was a man's fight. Images of women during that conflict center on self-sacrificing nurses, romantic spies, or brave ladies maintaining the home front in the absence of their me."
"The existence of soldier-women was no secret during or after the Civil War."
Continue reading...

A Growing Source for Free Genealogy: Digital Public Library of America:
Amy Johnson Crow
"What’s better than a website that gives access to more than 11 million digitized items? A website that does it for free. That’s just what the Digital Public Library of America does. DPLA is constantly growing and fast becoming a “must visit” website for free genealogy resources."
Continue reading...

In Defense of DNA for Family History:
Diahan Southard via Lisa Louise Cook
"In defense of DNA for family history, Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard takes on an NPR writer who says that “family is relationship, not DNA.”
Continue reading...

Dozens of ‘British Home Children’ Lie Forgotten in Etobicoke Cemetery:
GTA
"Victorian-era kids sent to Canada to build a better life often suffered a sad fate; now a research group is trying to tell their stories."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 25 March

1634: Lord Baltimore founds the Catholic colony of Maryland.
1668: The first horse race in America takes place.
1776: The Continental Congress authorizes a medal for General George Washington.
1867 Birthday: Gutzon Borglum, sculptor of Mount Rushmore.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 25 January 2016

Listing Adopted Children in your Ancestry Member Tree:
Ancestry
"How do I list a child as adopted in my tree on Ancestry?
You can easily add the following details for adopted children in your family tree. These same steps can be used for stepchildren, foster children, half siblings and similar relationships.
Continue reading...

How to Create and Sync Calendar Events in Windows 10:
How-to-Geek
"The Calendar app included with Windows 10 is a modern, universal app that integrates wonderfully with Mail and other Windows 10 apps. If you’re looking for a place in Windows 10 to manage your days, weeks, and months, here’s how to set up a Calendar in Windows 10’s Calendar app."
Continue reading...

We added 1 million records for your Tar Heel state ancestors. Search North Carolina Probates:
Ancestry
"This collection includes images of probate records for all counties in the state of North Carolina. Probate records are among the most valuable records available for American genealogy but can be challenging to access because originals are kept in courthouses across the country. These records come from a collection of microfilm that took years to compile."
Continue reading...
You need an ancestry subscription to view these new records.

Are You From Texas?
TSL
"The Texas Digital Archive (TDA) manages, preserves, and facilitates access to the electronic records collections of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, including those transferred by State agencies or digitized by the State Archives. All records visible in this portal are unrestricted and available for public use."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 25 January
1533: Henry VIII marries Anne Boleyn.
1787: Small farmers in Springfield, Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays, revolt against tax laws. Federal troops break up the protesters of what becomes known as Shay’s Rebellion.
1915: Alexander Graham Bell in New York and Thomas Watson in San Francisco make a record telephone transmission.
1759 Birthday: Robert Burns, Scottish poet (“Auld Lang Syne,” “Comin’ Thru the Rye.”)

VGS Latest News & Tips: 28 September 2015

New FamilySearch Collections Update: Week of September 21, 2015:
Dick Eastman: eogn.com
"Check out the Pennsylvania Civil Marriages 1677-1950, Ohio County Marriages 1789-2013, and Virginia Richmond City Birth Index 1870-1912 additions this week. Millions more records were also added for Italy (Potenza, Rieti, and Trapani) and Colombia. Search for these new records and more by selecting the links below."
Continue reading...

Genealogy Humor: 7 Funny and Odd Inheritances & Bequests:
GenealogyBank
"Writers and editors love to feature oddities, and genealogists love to read them – so go ahead and enjoy these odd and unusual inheritances and bequests."
Continue reading...

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...

Patrons split on how fast libraries should move into the digital age:
The Washington Post
"The word “library” conjures up a very specific image for most people: rows upon rows of books. But as libraries evolve into a place for more digital research, and teach a different kind of literacy, how long should the bookshelves stay?"
Continue reading...

Helps for Translating the Old German Typeface:
My Ancestors and Me
"As you search for your German ancestors there may be times when a search engine will find an ancestor's name in a newspaper which is printed in German. (Isn't OCR amazing?!) What happens when you know or suspect the article is about your ancestor but you can't read German? There's help if you're willing to patiently examine the letters and translate them."
Continue reading...

Mayflower 400 anniversary events planning visit to Plymouth:
Plymouth City Council:
"US Ambassador to the UK Matthew Barzun is visiting the city where the Mayflower set off on its historic voyage to the United States almost exactly 395 years ago. The Ambassador is visiting Plymouth over two days and will be meeting the leadership group responsible for planning the Mayflower 400 events for which Plymouth is the lead city in the UK."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: September 28
1607: Samuel de Champlain and his colonists return to France from Port Royal Nova Scotia.
1924: Three U.S. Army aircraft arrive in Seattle, Washington after completing a 22-day round-the-world flight.
1928: Sir Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin when he notices a bacteria-killing mold growing in his laboratory; it remained for Howard Florey and Ernst Chain to isolate the active ingredient, allowing the "miracle drug" to be developed in the 1940s.
1901 Birthday: Ed Sullivan, television host.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 29 July 2015

Genealogy Center, Allen County Public Library:
YouTube: 7:30minutes
"Part two of this informative tour of the Genealogy Center in the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana."
Watch video....

World Explorer Plus Offer:
Ancestry.com
Access everything on Ancestry.com, Fold3.com, and Newspapers.com.
• 15+ billion U.S. and international records
• 86+ million pages from 3,400 newspapers
• 430+ million military records and images
• Exclusive 1-800 premium support number
6-month membership:
$159* was $199
SAVE 20%
For more information 1-800-ANCESTRY (1-800-262-3787) 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
*Offer available for new World Explorer Plus subscribers only, and not for renewal of current World Explorer Plus subscriptions. Billed in one payment of $159 for 6-month subscription to World Explorer Plus. Your subscription will automatically renew at list price after the introductory 6-month offer.

Getting Genealogy Records Online: My Clean-Up Plan:
GenealogyBank
"Looking at my genealogy research notes and files accumulated over the past 50+ years, I am wondering: what should I do with all this stuff?"
Continue reading...

U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007:
Ancestry.com
Most are familiar with the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) but at you familiar with the Applications and Claims Index?
"This database picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing more details than those included in the SSDI. It includes information filed with the Social Security Administration through the application or claims process, including valuable details such as birth date, birth place, and parents’ names."
Search now... (Ancestry subscription required)

Volunteers Aim to Preserve 1,000 Pictures of Local WWII Veterans:
WTTV-TV
"The work is incredibly tedious, time consuming, and rewarding. Three people in Greenfield spend time every week preserving hundreds of pictures of local World War Two veterans."
Continue reading...

This Day In History:
1830: Liberals led by the Marquis of Lafayette seize Paris in opposition to the king’s restrictions on citizens’ rights.
1915: U.S. Marines land at Port-au-Prince to protect American interests in Haiti.
1945: After delivering parts of the first atomic bomb to the island of Tinian, the U.S.S. Indianapolis is sunk by a Japanese submarine. The survivors are adrift for two days before help arrives.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 2 Jun 2015

Windows 10 is Coming Soon...

Today I found a new icon on my computer's task bar and when I hovered over it, it read "get Windows 10." If you have Windows 7 or Window's 8.1 installed on your desktop or laptop, you can register to receive Windows 10 for FREE. You only need your email address to register. Once registered you will wait until the release date, late July early August, and they will send instructions on how to download the software. You can install the software at your convenience. I think it would be prudent to wait a while to see what problems may be encountered with the new release.

Check to see if you have the icon on your task bar in the lower right. It looks like the icon above.

New DNA Relationship Statistics from Blaine Bettinger...
Kitty Cooper Blog
"The question I often see is are we really 2nd or 3rd or 4th cousins? The answer is usually “maybe.”
Read more...

United States Libraries and Societies Genealogists Use in Genealogy Research (51 resources):

Barry J. Elwell

"Have you ever wondered which libraries, archives and historical/genealogical society could help in your genealogical research? The following 51 articles highlight the libraries, archives, and societies where you will be able to find genealogical resources in the United States."

Read more...

Can a USB Flash Drive be Used Reliably as a Manual Backup Drive?
How to-Geek
"When it comes to backing up your files, you might find yourself debating which type of “drive” would best suit your needs. Which is better, a regular external hard-drive, an SSD, or a USB flash drive?"
Read more...

Using Ancestry.com to Access NARA Records:
US National Archives Video: 56 Min
"Anastasia Sutherland Harman from Ancestry.com gives an overview about how to use the online software."
Read more...

This Day In History:
1946: Birth of the Italian Republic: in a referendum, Italian devote to turn Italy from a monarchy into a Republic. After the referendum, King Umberto II is exiled.
1886: The U.S. President Grover Cleveland marries Frances Folsom in the White House, becoming the only president to wed in the executive mansion.
1731: Martha Washington, the first American "First Lady" was born. She died in 1802.