Category Archives: genealogy news

Genealogy Do-Over

Posted on by
Reply

Is Your Genealogy Ready for a “Do-Over”?

20141230-Genealogy-Do-Over-Newsletter-Article_html_7c44fc91

With each new year, many consider making changes in their lives such as losing weight, getting more exercise, etc. Even genealogists like to get in on the act and in 2015 there’s a special online educational program that can help you get rid of “bad research habits” and learn some new tricks.

The Genealogy Do-Over™ is the brainstorm of genealogy author and educator Thomas MacEntee and since its announcement in mid-December 2014, has attracted over 1,000 participants from around the world. And the best part? The entire 13-week program which starts on January 2, 2015, is FREE. Visit the Genealogy Do-Over at http://www.genealogydo-over.com to see the announcement and the latest news.

Genealogy Do-Over: A New Journey of Genealogical Discovery

Here is the short summary of Genealogy Do-Over as Thomas sees it:

I set aside everything* related to my genealogy research including notebooks, papers, and even digitized files and my genealogy database files and START OVER. I’m hitting the reset button. I’m allowing myself to have a do-over! (*certain items such as vital records ordered and paid for or research gathered on a long-distance trip will be retained).

Since genealogists started their research 10, 20 or 30 years ago (or more), much has changed in the areas of genealogy research methodology and education. Many now realize the need to collect facts and track them properly, including the use of source citations. Many understand the process of analyzing evidence and proving facts to reach a conclusion. In essence, as Thomas puts it: “I know a lot more about the ‘process’ of genealogical research and I want to put it to use.”

How Does the Genealogy Do-Over Work?

The Genealogy Do-Over journey is constructed of 13 mileposts or journey markers spread out over 13 weeks. Participants can choose any pace they want, and even spread the topics out over the course of a year. Or some may decide to drop some of the less important tasks and add different topics. The goal is to do whatever it takes to ensure that a firm footing to finding ancestors.

A synopsis of the planned route – the Schedule of Topics – can be found at http://www.geneabloggers.com/genealogy-doover-schedule-topics/. As each week progresses, participants will continue researching and add more and more skills and areas of focus including citing sources, tracking searches, building a research toolbox, creating an educational plan, researching offline as well as online, and more.

By the end of the 13 weeks – or 13 journey markers – the group will have covered a firm foundation in genealogy and family history research. For individual participants, some focus areas may differ; participants have the freedom to add or remove content from their own Genealogy Do-Over plan. As Thomas says, “This program has to work for you and not something that you dread each week or that you find you are working against.”

What’s the Cost? What’s the Catch

There is no price. A journey that could very well revolutionize the way you’ve been doing genealogy research is priceless. When you join the Genealogy Do-Over (see below), you’ll receive weekly updates about the current topics, you’ll be part of an active and passionate collaborative group sharing genealogy tips and tricks, and more. Legacy Family Tree is hosting a FREE webinar entitled My Genealogy DO-Over – A Year of Learning from Research Mistakes (http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=461) presented by Thomas MacEntee on Wednesday, January 21, 2015.

Here’s How to Be a Part of the Genealogy Do-Over

Visit the following sites to get involved and set out on your own Genealogy Do-Over journey in 2015!

Schedule of Topics – Genealogy Do-Over

Week 1 – January 2-8, 2015

  • Clean house
  • Prepare to research
  • Review the Golden Rules

Week 2 – 9-15 January 2015

  • Setting Research Goals
  • Conducting Self Interview
  • Conducting Family Interviews

Week 3 – 16-22 January 2015

  • Tracking Research
  • Conducting Research

Week 4 – 23-29 January 2015

  • Managing Projects and Tasks
  • Tracking Searches

Week 5 – 30 January-5 February 2015

  • Building a Research Toolbox
  • Citing Sources

Week 6 – 6-12 February 2015

  • Evaluating Evidence
  • Reviewing Online Education Options

Week 7 – 13-19 February 2015

  • Reviewing Genealogy Database Software
  • Digitizing Photos and Documents

Week 8 – 20-26 February 2015

  • Conducting Collateral Research
  • Reviewing Offline Education Options

Week 9 – 27 February-5 March 2015

  • Conducting Cluster Research
  • Organizing Research Materials – Documents and Photos

Week 10 – 6-12 March 2015

  • Reviewing DNA Testing Options
  • Organizing Research Materials – Digital

Week 11 – 13-19 March 2015

  • Reviewing Social Media Options
  • Building a Research Network

Week 12 – 20-26 March 2015

  • Sharing Research
  • Reviewing Research Travel Options

Week 13 – 27 March-3 April 2015

  • Securing Research Data
  • Reviewing the Journey

©2015, copyright Thomas MacEntee. All rights reserved.

What’s up? Ancestry was down

Posted on by
Reply

Ancestry.com and associated sites (Rootsweb and Find a Grave) were down for Monday, part of Tuesday and intermittently today due to a DDoS attack. Think of it like a bunch of people all dialing the same phone number at the same time (and keep dialing for a period of time) to make the lines busy, while people with legitimate reasons for calling aren’t able to get through.

There’s a post about it here.

The site is still slow, but should be back to regular service soon.

If you aren’t sure whether a site is down just for you or for everyone, try this site: IsUp.me. or www.downforeveryone.com (those are both the same site).

isup.me

Type the web address in the box and hit Enter on your keyboard. The site sends a message to the site you are trying to access and tells you if it was successful or not.

ancestry-dwon

At just before 5 p.m. June 18, Ancestry was down (still/again). Rootsweb was down, but Find a Grave was working.

FamilySearch adds new records

Posted on by
Reply

FamilySearch Adds 19,206,333 Images to New United Kingdom, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920, Collection

FamilySearch has added 23.9 million indexed records and images this week with new browsable image collections from Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, England, Italy, Mexico, and the United States. Notable collection updates include the 19,206,333 images from the new United Kingdom, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920, collection, the 2,005,113 index records from the United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, collection, and the 930,622 index records from the U.S., New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1925-1942, collection. See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org.

Searchable historic records are made available on FamilySearch.org through the help of thousands of volunteers from around the world. These volunteers transcribe (index) information from digital copies of handwritten records to make them easily searchable online. More volunteers are needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the large number of digital images being published online at FamilySearch.org. Learn more about volunteering to help provide free access to the world’s historic genealogical records online at FamilySearch.org.

FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources for free at FamilySearch.org or through more than 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Collection Indexed Records Digital Images Comments
Belgium, Liège, Civil Registration, 1621-1910 0 3,198,973 New browsable image collection.
Belgium, Luxembourg, Civil Registration, 1608-1912 0 794,954 New browsable image collection.
Brazil, Civil Registration, 1870-2012 0 608,365 Added images to an existing collection.
Brazil, Piauí, Civil Registration, 1875-2012 0 103,398 Added images to an existing collection.
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Immigration Cards, 1900-1965 132,929 241,847 Added index records and images to an existing collection.
Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1600-2010 0 1,234,380 Added images to an existing collection.
Colombia, Valle del Cauca, Miscellaneous Records, 1549-1955 0 82,009 New browsable image collection.
Czech Republic, Land Records, 1450-1889 0 128,500 Added images to an existing collection.
India, Gujarat Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1854-2012 0 39,573 New browsable image collection.
Italy, Cuneo, Saluzzo, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1942 0 470,403 New browsable image collection.
Italy, Ragusa, Modica, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1942 0 26,653 New browsable image collection.
Italy, Salerno, Vallo della Lucania, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 0 109,257 Added images to an existing collection.
Italy, Torino, Torino, Military Conscriptions (Comune), 1790-1886 0 23,904 New browsable image collection.
Korea, Collection of Genealogies, 1500-2012 0 2,830 Added images to an existing collection.
Mexico, San Luis Potosí, Miscellaneous Records, 1570-1842 0 121,496 Added images to an existing collection.
New Zealand, Probate Records, 1860-1962 0 77,458 Added images to an existing collection.
Peru, Junín, Civil Registration, 1890-2005 0 20,019 New browsable image collection.
Peru, Lima, Civil Registration, 1874-1996 0 23,232 Added images to an existing collection.
Peru, Puno, Civil Registration, 1890-2005 0 11,762 Added images to an existing collection.
Poland, Radom Roman Catholic Church Books, 1587-1966 11,043 0 Added index records to an existing collection.
Russia, Samara Church Books, 1869-1917 442,772 1,232 Added index records and images to an existing collection.
Spain, Cádiz, Testaments, 1550-1920 0 91,400 Added images to an existing collection.
Ukraine, Kyiv Orthodox Consistory Church Book Duplicates, 1840-1845 651,980 48,922 Added index records and images to an existing collection.
United Kingdom, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920 0 19,206,333 New browsable image collection.
U.S., Illinois, Lee County Records, 1830-1954 0 108,387 New browsable image collection.
U.S., Missouri, Cole County Circuit Court Case Files, 1820-1926 0 27,710 New browsable image collection.
U.S., New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1925-1942 930,622 0 Added index records to an existing collection.
U.S., New York, State Census, 1875 0 23 Added images to an existing collection.
U.S., North Carolina, Civil Action Court Papers, 1712-1970 0 35,267 Added images to an existing collection.
U.S., Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953 19,236 25 Added index records and images to an existing collection.
U.S., Texas, Deaths, 1977-1986 0 41,065 Added images to an existing collection.
United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 2,005,113 0 Added index records to an existing collection.