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She stole my genealogy!

In rummaging through an online family tree service, George was surprised and angered to find his whole genealogy file posted by someone he didn't even know. He immediately sent several E-mails accusing the person of stealing his genealogy. Why did George believe that he owned the family tree information?
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Added by James Tanner on August 25, 2009 at 9:15am — No Comments

Write Your Autobiography, Please

Aug 20th, 2009 by Charles Rice Bourland, Jr.

I have often said it borders on a criminal act to fail to write your autobiography. An exaggeration perhaps, but as you research your ancestors how many times have you wished your father? your grandfather? your great grandmother had written theirs? Why extend this family failure?

Here are some reasons to write such a document. 

• Simply because you wish to write;

 • Your children probably know little of your first,… Continue

Added by Charles Rice Bourland, Jr on August 25, 2009 at 4:00am — 8 Comments

Wednesday August 26th -- Last day to register for FGS Genealogy Conference Online.

Today, tomorrow and Wednesday are the last three days to register online and purchase meals or ballpark tickets for the FGS/AGS Conference! Four full days of education about genealogical societies, both online and offline resources and some nice surprises.

After August 26th, registration is only at the door at the Statehouse Convention Center beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1st. There might still be a few meal tickets at the door. Can't believe this conference is almost… Continue

Added by Paula Stuart-Warren on August 24, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Who owns genealogy? Part Two

Your Great-aunt sends you a GEDCOM file of your ancestry on her side of the family. The file includes hundreds of individuals with notes and sources. You immediately decided to publish the information for your family and eventually, you publish a book containing the information from your Great-aunt as well as some of your own work. Did your Great-aunt own any of the information she sent to you? Do you own a copyright in the book you have just published? What parts, if not all, of your work is… Continue

Added by James Tanner on August 24, 2009 at 8:51am — No Comments

Searching for Joseph

For some reason this morning my thoughts run toward my maternal grandfather Joseph. I've always wondered what I would have grown up calling him. He was killed when he was just 33 years old and my mother 10. It wasn't until I was about 10 myself that I began asking questions about him. My grandmother, who lived with us, had an old pastel-tinted portrait that hung in the living room for as long as I can remember. I'd stare for hours at that portrait - as if the young man featured there could read… Continue

Added by Katie Heitert Wilkinson on August 24, 2009 at 8:28am — 2 Comments

Clan Gunn get closer to appointing a chief

William Murray Gunn is making his claim to be recognised as Chief of Clan Gunn, one of Scotland's northernmost clans, with a bloodthirsty reputation that dates back centuries.

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Descended from the Vikings, and with lands that once encompassed Orkney, Caithness and Sutherland, Clan Gunn has survived into the 21st century despite having no chief for more than 200 years.

But now a 41-year-old former lorry driver has stepped forward to claim his right to be the new chieftain… Continue

Added by William Douglas on August 24, 2009 at 4:30am — No Comments

Earliest Ancestor to Australia

I recently filled out the Who are the Genealogists of Australia survey and had to check my database for my earliest ancestor.

Convict Thomas Squires earns that nod in my family arriving in Tasmania in 1830.

Added by Liz Pidgeon on August 24, 2009 at 1:14am — No Comments

Who owns genealogy? Part One

Who owns the U.S. Census records? If I have a copy of the U.S. Census can I charge you to look at it? Who owns the Social Security Death Index? Again, if I have a copy, can I charge you to look at it? Do the individual states own their vital records? Do churches own their membership records? All of these questions have different answers depending on specific circumstances. Some of the answers involve copyright law and some involve practical business interests.…

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Added by James Tanner on August 23, 2009 at 8:44pm — No Comments

In early July the Library of Congress put historic U.S. newspapers online

Library of Congress puts historic U.S. newspapers online to see how media covered history as it was made. I want to repost the link:

Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers

Added by Stefani Twyford on August 23, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Pay It Forward

Today - for the first time since I've been reading and posting messages on various sites - I was able to offer someone some clarifying information. Doing so was just a tiny repayment to all those who've helped me. Actually, I find myself being intimidated by the level of knowledge some researchers possess. "Do they have a household full of LDS" tapes or reference books?" I ask myself. Or have they simply become vast repositories of what they've intellectually digested over the years? Actually,… Continue

Added by Katie Heitert Wilkinson on August 23, 2009 at 4:17pm — 9 Comments

Could We Be Desensitized To Slavery?

This post has spawned a wonderful stream of open dialogue on my Our Georgia Roots blog today {PLEASE read the insightful comments!}. Here's hoping the coversation can continue...

Luckie.

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Recently I realized that over the years, my personal prejudice in regards to the Civil War has prevented me from learning about the war & the significant involvement of enslaved & free,… Continue

Added by Luckie Daniels on August 23, 2009 at 2:30pm — 1 Comment

Culture of sw OH 1796 to 1820s? Why to IN? Pearce, Decker, Bennington, Rogers, Higgins, Laurance, Oliver, Lathers, Shepard, Barker, Montgomery

I research 4 sets of gg grandparents. At least five of the 8 surnames, plus many collateral families, migrated through southwest Ohio, staying there for a time. I have searched the names. I and other researchers have searched the public records (that were not destroyed in early fires). Perhaps by obtaining a visceral feel for the locales, one might better understand why some in families stayed in place and other members may have moved on. Most of mine went into se Indiana as soon as it was open… Continue

Added by Shar Pearce on August 23, 2009 at 11:36am — No Comments

Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan Seminar - October 17, 2009

Registration: 8:30 AM

Seminar: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan

www.pgsm.org

Speaker: STEPHEN BARTHEL

Accredited Genealogist since 1981

Formerly with the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah

Annual Polish Genealogical Research Seminar - October 17, 2009

American Polish Cultural Center-Hall #2

2975 E. Maple Rd. (15 Mile Rd)

Troy, Michigan 48083

PRESENTATIONS:

HELP I'M STUCK! -… Continue

Added by Ceil Wendt Jensen on August 23, 2009 at 11:05am — No Comments

A short note on copying items on the Web

Some bloggers, even those with genealogical interests, apparently feel that anything posted on the Web is fair game for copying without even courtesy of attribution. Not only is this practice readily apparent from reading posts, but it is lauded by some as a good practice. I try to make sure that any time I copy something from a Web source that I give credit to the originator by providing a link, putting the material in quotes or indenting it to show that it is a quote. If I fail to do this, I… Continue

Added by James Tanner on August 23, 2009 at 9:51am — No Comments

Interesting slide show/ NYTimes

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/08/23/weekinreview/20090823_FAKE_SS_index.html?hp

This slide show shows photos that have been 'retouched' or faked in some way. Sometimes I feel researching my family is a way of peeling away the fakery and finding the true parts. This is often very difficult as you can't always trust what you see in front of you-

Added by Kate Steere on August 23, 2009 at 7:50am — No Comments

RootsMagic announces multiple upgrades

In the RootsMagic Blog for 21 August 2009, Bruce Buzbee announced the new update to RootsMagic 4, now version 4.0.5.0. Quoting from the announcement the program now has these important new features:
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Added by James Tanner on August 22, 2009 at 10:21pm — No Comments

Thomas Brennan

Recieved an email today with info regarding Thomas Brennan and his wife Jane Kelly Brennan. His obits showing his date of death and viewing. Along with the cemetery name with section and plot number....but there is no headstone. For Jane there was a copy of the original death record plus a transrcibled one. The person who sent it was going to go back to the cemetery and see there is a headstone for her.

Added by Bob Mooney-Pa on August 22, 2009 at 7:26pm — No Comments

Fess name from Switzerland

One of my lines comes from Switzerland. Her name is Francis Fess. This woman married a James Kelly. I do know that her year of birth was abt 1813 in Pennsylvania. Her parents came from Switzerland.

The first place I have them married is 1850 on a census from Alleghney County Pa.

Together they had 6 children of which one married my Thomas Brennan.

It's possible her brother could have been a Rudorf Fess. (first name maybe spelled wrong,we all know how census… Continue

Added by Bob Mooney-Pa on August 22, 2009 at 7:20pm — No Comments

Rev. War ancestors

The hunt is on. Looking to connect to a few Mooney guys who lived in Vaand NC who fought in the Rev. war. My dad always said either his mother or grandmother belonged to the DAR but just can't figure out where the connectioon is. Maybe back when she belonged it was easier because so much info wasn't as easy to find.

Added by Bob Mooney-Pa on August 22, 2009 at 7:17pm — No Comments

The latest additions to FamilySearch Record Search Pilot

The past few weeks have seen downtime for the FamilySearch Record Search Pilot, but 22 August 2009 brought new records collections. Record Search acknowledges that some images are missing and being reloaded onto the site, but the new collections add more millions of individuals.

Read… Continue

Added by James Tanner on August 22, 2009 at 4:40pm — No Comments