VGS News & Events: 17 March through 23 March 2019

Coming Events:

Tuesday: March 19, 2019

Family Tree Maker Users SIG Meeting

1:00 PM in the Old Glory Room at the Mulberry Grove Recreation Center

Topic: "Relationships - How to Deal With Multiple Marriages, Adoptions, and Secrets"

Wednesday: March 20, 2019

Mid-Atlantic States SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Defender Room at the Lake Miona Recreation Center

Guest Speaker: John DeAngelo, Family Tree Maker SIG Coordinator

Topic: "Understanding Sources and Using Media"

Gen News and Announcements:

The VGS Newsletter Has Been Sent.

If you didn't receive a copy of the newsletter this week via email, then we probably don't have your current email address or it was placed into your spam email folder. Check your spam folder before contacting the Society with your correct email address. Members can update their email address HERE.

Download a copy of the newsletter here...

Beyond the Tree: 4 Enduring Ways to Share Your Family History Research

Family History Daily
"Family history research is never complete. There are always more records to be discovered, photos to be identified, and additional connections to uncover. But maybe you’ve reached the point when you want to share what you’ve learned so far. Here are some great options."
Continue reading...

Canada and Mexico Genealogy Collections Get Major Updates!

Genealogy Gems
"Great news for those searching for ancestors in Canada and Mexico! FamilySearch has partnered with Library and Archives Canada (LAC) to publish the 1926 Census of Prairie Provinces, available to search for free online now. Also new this week are massive updates to Ancestry’s genealogical records collections for Mexico, including vital records and Catholic church records."
Continue reading...

The 1921 Census is Coming to Findmypast:

FindMyPast
"The National Archives in association with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has awarded Findmypast the contract to digitize and publish the 1921 Census online"
Continue reading...

Ancestry’s new DNA feature: ThruLines

Kitty Cooper
"Ancestry.com announced a great new tool at Rootstech called ThruLines. It finds connections to your DNA matches by looking through other people’s trees for you. This replaces DNA circles by displaying the descendants of your ancestors in a more understandable format."
Continue reading...

Ancestry’s Disappearing ThruLines – Now You See Them, Now You Don’t

DNAeXplained
"Ancestry has quite a mess on its hands right now, and genealogists are losing their collective minds. I have some information here to help."
Continue reading...

Technology:

What’s New in Chrome 73, Arriving March 12

How-to-Geek
"Chrome 73 is set to hit the stable channel on March 12, 2019. Google’s new browser update features the beginnings of a built-in dark mode, tab grouping, media key support, and more picture-in-picture powers."
Continue reading...

Education:

Your Foot Shape and Your Genealogy:

Ancestral Findings
"Have you ever heard of foot shape genealogy? It is a concept out of the 19th century that still has some adherents today. It is based on the belief that the shape of your foot can tell you one of five ancient ethnic groups to which your ancestors belonged. Join me today and as I talk about this wild and crazy method."
Listen now...  7.31 minutes

Webinars:

The Five-story Fall: Correlating Indirect and Direct Evidence to Extend the Pedigree

Legacy Family Tree
"Johanna (Daly) Mahoney plunged to her death taking her parents’ and siblings’ identities along. Extensive associate analysis and a sixteen-year post-mortem summons led to family."
Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 8:00 p.m.
Presenter: Debra S. Mieszala, CG
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

One African-American family's story of Migration from the South: A Boarding House in Detroit

Legacy Family Tree
"African-Americans throughout the South moved to Midwestern cities in search of opportunities and work. Other family members and friends joined the first as stories were shared. Understand how to look in both places and at all connected families for clues."
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

The Everyday Life of Our Ancestors:

FSGS Poolside Chat Webinar

"Our ancestors led lives, just like us - only different. Using our life as an example, how can we parallel it to theirs? They ate and drank, married and had families, dressed, had trades and occupations, practiced a religion, dabbled in the arts and sciences, participated in politics and economics, etc. This lecture will examine the various aspects of life and provide resources to discover the historical context and personal details of our ancestors' lives."
Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 8:00 p.m.
Presenter: Ann Staley, CG, CGL
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

A Terrible Malady: Disease and Epidemics in New England

Legacy Family Tree
"Epidemics of smallpox, measles, yellow fever, diphtheria and other illnesses were common ailments in New England from colonial times up through the 19th century. Learn more about these diseases, why they were so greatly feared by your ancestors, and remedies they may have used."
Friday, March 22, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Lori Lyn Price, MAS, MLA
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS Latest News and Tips: 13 July 2017

Reminder:

Today: July 13, 2017

German Genealogy SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Reliance Room at the Late Miona Recreation Center
Topic: No formal presentation.  Concentration will be on member success stories & brick walls plus updates on genealogical sites and methods.

Tomorrow: July 14, 2017

Genetic Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Rhett Butler Room at the Savannah Center
Topic: "Using Third Party Online Tools"

Gen News:

Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors with FamilySearch:

FamilySearch
"The history of many countries—including the United States and Canada—is filled with stories of immigrants, which, for many of us, means that our individual family histories are also filled with them. Your immigrant ancestors might have come from Italy a couple of generations ago or from England a few centuries ago—or you might even have both of those varieties of immigrants on your family tree. While the specifics of our immigrant ancestors may look different, the existence of immigrant branches on our family trees is something most of us have in common."
Continue reading...

I’m Afraid Of Sharing Too Much With Friends:

Genealogy Jen
"It was July. My friends and I were at the lake, sitting in the sand, near the shore. I wasn’t surprised by their looks as I finished talking. All three women stared at me. At least one in the group had her head cocked slightly. I know that baffled, twenty four degree angle, head tilt well. It was followed by puzzled wrinkles forming above her eyebrows.
There was silence as my last phrase was left hanging mid-air."
Continue reading...

Stand Up For Records Access!

Judy G. Russell
"On May 22, 2017, President Trump released more details about his proposed Fiscal Year 2018 budget. Overall there were cuts to many of the programs that genealogists regularly use. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is targeted for a $16.6 million reduction in addition to the elimination of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), an archival grant making arm of the National Archives which provides local and state funding in the preservation of essential historical materials making them more accessible to the public. Since 1964 NHPRC has provided grants to every state and you can view a detailed list for the last thirty years at https://www.archives.gov/nhprc/projects/states-territories."
Continue reading...

Tech:

Why Does the Home Button on My iPhone 7 Feel Weird?

How-to-Geek
"If you’ve just bought an iPhone 7, one of the first things you’ll notice is that the Home Button feels a little different. The iPhone 7’s Home Button isn’t like any that have come before: it isn’t even a real button."
Continue reading...

Why Does My iPhone 7 Plus Have Two Cameras?

How-to-Geek
"Apple isn’t the first manufacturer to put two cameras on their phone (LG, HTC and Huawei all beat them to it), but Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus is the first to really make a splash. But what’s the advantage of this shiny new two-camera setup? Let’s have a look."
Continue reading...

Education:

Identifying Old Photographs: How to Do It and How It Can Help Your Research:

Ancestral Findings
"Learning how to identify the time period and people in old family photos is an art. It is also a worthy genealogical endeavor. Here's how to do it correctly."
Listen now... 7.59 minutes

VGS Latest News & Tips: 8 March 2017

Crista Cowan (Left) presenting a door prize during her 2014 visit.

Reminders:
Today: March 8, 2017

Irish Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Osceola Room at the Chula Vista Recreation Center

Tomorrow: 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"

Tomorrow: March 9, 2017

Crista Cowan & Ancestry.com Return to The Villages

3 Sessions during the Day: Did you register to attend?

Gen News:

California Supreme Court Rules That There is No Such Thing as Private Communications for Government Officials:

PrivacyBlog
"The public has a right to access emails and text messages about government business on the private phones and accounts of state and local officials and employees, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday."
Continue reading...

Researching Foreign-Language Records:

Ancestry
"Links to resources for doing research in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish."
Continue reading...

Sharing a Family Tree:

Ancestry
"In order to view a family tree that's been shared with them, your friends and family will need an Ancestry account. They can create an account for free by following the link in your invitation email."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Back Up Your Mac and Restore Files With Time Machine:

How-to-Geek
"Regular backups are essential. Windows has integrated backup tools, Ubuntu has Déjà Dup, and Mac OS X has Time Machine. Time Machine backs up everything on your Mac, from system files to your personal files."
Continue reading...

How to Verify That Your Mac’s Time Machine Backups Are Working Properly:

How-to-Geek
"You regularly back up your Mac with Time Machine, but how do you know that it’s working?"
Continue reading...

Education:

The Cousin Connection: Explaining the Various Levels of Cousins:

Ancestral Findings
"Have you ever wondered what a 2nd cousin three times removed is? What does "removed" even mean in genealogy? Here's how to figure out your cousin relationships."
Listen now... 6.43 minutes

VGS News & Tips: 18 January 2016

Reminders:
Today: January 18, 2017

Board of Directors Meeting

9.00 AM in the Pinellas Library

Today: January 18, 2017

Mid-Atlantic States SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Defender Room at the Lake Miona Recreation Center

Today: January 18, 2017

New to Genealogy SIG Meeting

Cancelled

Tomorrow: January 19, 2017

New England Genealogy SIG Meeting

Noon in the New Smyrna Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Gen News:

Two Baby Boys Are Twins, But An Italian Court Says They Aren’t Brothers:

The Washington Post
"Fifteen months ago in California, a surrogate mother gave birth to twin boys. The babies were the sons of a gay Italian couple who had used in vitro fertilization to have children."
Continue reading...

Genealogy Goals 2017:

The Finlay Family
"I plan to fill my year with plenty of family history activities in 2017! Here are my major plans."
Continue reading...
Editor's note... Your goals may be different, but set a reachable goal to help move your research forward.

Webinar: Dissecting Obituaries for New Clues:

FSGS
"Obituaries are miniature biographies published when a person dies. They are just one of at least three possible death notices that you may encounter, and each can provide clues to your research for the deceased and the family. The writers were compelled to compress as much information into a small amount of text. Your job is to carefully analyze the content of the death notice, obituary, and/or funeral notice and discover clues. This webinar presents a methodology for dissecting an obituary, determining what information is provided or suggested, identifying record types that may be available, and determining where those records might be located and how to access them."

Join us for this informative presentation.

Thursday, January 19, 2017
8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. ET
Register here...

Tech:

What Is the “System Volume Information” Folder, and Can I Delete It?

How-to-Geek
"On every Windows drive—even external USB drives—you’ll find a “System Volume Information” folder. You’ll only see it if you have Windows set to show hidden files and folders, but it’s always there. So what is it for?"
Continue reading...

How to Take Photos at Night (That Aren’t Blurry):

How-to-Geek
"Taking photos at night is a lot harder than snapping shots during the day. The less light you have to play with, the more compromises you have to make, and the harder you have to work to get a great image."
Continue reading...

Education:

5 Minute Find: It's Time For Embarrassing Yearbook Photos!

Ancestry
"Ancestry has over 260 million yearbook pages scanned and ready for you to search. Spend 5 minutes with Anne Gillespie Mitchell and take a look and what you might find."
Watch Video... 3.49 Minutes