Unknown grave
Fuselier's Cemetery
Iota, Acadia, Louisiana
Copyright July 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
FamilySearch Bloggers' Day, Part 5
See part 1 here, see part 2 here, see part 3 here, see part 4 here
The Next Generation FamilySearch.org
Speaker Dan Lawyer introduced himself as an Uber-Techno-Genealogist-Ologist, or someone who specializes in the study of genealogists (aka geek). No easy task, in my opinion.
Primary goals of FamilySearch are to make it easier to access and share information, as well as receive assistance when needed. There was a lot of discussion on the user experience. Lawyer also talked about the beta.familysearch.org site, referring to its current state as a house under construction.
One thing I've noticed about the FamilySearch crew is that they try lots of new things, several of which fail because that's what happens when you try new things. But they embrace those failures, study them and learn from them. They also share with us (the bloggers in the group) about them and ask our opinions. In other ventures, they've received feedback from users. FamilySearch wants to know what we think, so be sure to let your voice be heard when the opportunity presents itself.
FamilySearch Catalog 2.0
There was a lot of audience discussion during this portion of the day. Unfortunately, the audio kept going in and out for me, like the volume was going up and down. I caught portions of the speaker, portions of the audience. I was able to see the graphics just fine, however.
Lawyer talked about the changes coming to the search experience of FamilySearch in the next 3-6 months. Look for some experimental ways to search, new search filters, and results quality. Enhancements will also be made to the "getting started" points of the site.
This was the last session of the day.
Parting Thoughts
First, I have to reiterate my appreciation of FamilySearch for including me in the Bloggers' Day event. They went above and beyond to make sure I was part of the discussion, even if in another state.
I left this Bloggers Day event feeling quite positive about the experience and the intentions of FamilySearch. Here are my takeaways from the day:
FamilySearch is changing each and every day. The various branches of the site are constantly being updated and improved. If you can't find it today, come back tomorrow. Don't just visit the site once and write it off. Also, look at all the facets including the wiki and forums. There's just so much stuff! It's incredible.
I have a new appreciation of what it takes to get records published at FamilySearch. It's more than simply digitizing and indexing. To borrow a familiar phrase, it really does take a village (and permission) to get records online and available to users. Consider volunteering and contributing to the effort.
FamilySearch wants feedback and they are listening.
Guess that's it for my re-cap. Hopefully, some of you read the whole thing and at least one person enjoyed it. If so, then I've done my job.
The Next Generation FamilySearch.org
Speaker Dan Lawyer introduced himself as an Uber-Techno-Genealogist-Ologist, or someone who specializes in the study of genealogists (aka geek). No easy task, in my opinion.
Primary goals of FamilySearch are to make it easier to access and share information, as well as receive assistance when needed. There was a lot of discussion on the user experience. Lawyer also talked about the beta.familysearch.org site, referring to its current state as a house under construction.
One thing I've noticed about the FamilySearch crew is that they try lots of new things, several of which fail because that's what happens when you try new things. But they embrace those failures, study them and learn from them. They also share with us (the bloggers in the group) about them and ask our opinions. In other ventures, they've received feedback from users. FamilySearch wants to know what we think, so be sure to let your voice be heard when the opportunity presents itself.
FamilySearch Catalog 2.0
There was a lot of audience discussion during this portion of the day. Unfortunately, the audio kept going in and out for me, like the volume was going up and down. I caught portions of the speaker, portions of the audience. I was able to see the graphics just fine, however.
Lawyer talked about the changes coming to the search experience of FamilySearch in the next 3-6 months. Look for some experimental ways to search, new search filters, and results quality. Enhancements will also be made to the "getting started" points of the site.
This was the last session of the day.
Parting Thoughts
First, I have to reiterate my appreciation of FamilySearch for including me in the Bloggers' Day event. They went above and beyond to make sure I was part of the discussion, even if in another state.
I left this Bloggers Day event feeling quite positive about the experience and the intentions of FamilySearch. Here are my takeaways from the day:
FamilySearch is changing each and every day. The various branches of the site are constantly being updated and improved. If you can't find it today, come back tomorrow. Don't just visit the site once and write it off. Also, look at all the facets including the wiki and forums. There's just so much stuff! It's incredible.
I have a new appreciation of what it takes to get records published at FamilySearch. It's more than simply digitizing and indexing. To borrow a familiar phrase, it really does take a village (and permission) to get records online and available to users. Consider volunteering and contributing to the effort.
FamilySearch wants feedback and they are listening.
Guess that's it for my re-cap. Hopefully, some of you read the whole thing and at least one person enjoyed it. If so, then I've done my job.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
FamilySearch Bloggers' Day, Part 4
See part 1 here, see part 2 here, see part 3 here.
FamilySearch Software Community: Collaborating technology to increase the frequency of patron success
FamilySearch Software Community: Collaborating technology to increase the frequency of patron success
Gordon Clarke introduced himself at the beginning of this session saying that it was his job to motivate developers to create open source projects or products on FamilySearch's platform. He listed about 20 familiar products that already to this (for example, RootsMagic).
Gordon told us to refer developers to this FS site: DevNet.FamilySearch.org. This is a site for the tech geeks, not us ordinary folks. Currently there are 776 members of the DevNet site.
It was interesting to see all the certified products and what it takes to be part of such a group. I never will be, so it was cool to see over the fence like that. Good luck with building all those things, I'll just stay over here on this side of the fence and use them.
Digitally preserving personal family histories
Gray Wright wrote a paper on this topic and he presented a short version of it here. He stated that digital preservation doesn't replace physical preservation, it just enhances it. There was much discussion on obsolete storage methods (floppy disk, anyone?) and the life expectancy of different preservation options.
Key references in this session: Millenniata, Inc., LegacyDox.com and a paper titled "Copyright Fundamentals for Genealogy," by Mike Goad.
Much of his talk fell under the records management class I took in library school. It was impressive how much he covered in such short time. If you have an interest in preservation, I recommend you look at professional literature and associations in records management. They exist and they're everywhere. Arma.org is the big one.
Familysearch Family Tree: On the horizon
Ron Tanner led the discussion on the FamilySearch tool about which I know the least: new.familysearch.org.
At this point, I had to pick my son up from school. In the short time I was not on the phone, I missed some active discussion, apparently. By the time I was reconnected, the conversation was almost over. I never did figure out what the issue was that brought on all the talk. I'm sure one of the other bloggers in attendance will cover this session.
Upcoming Collections: Millions weekly and climbing
This was a great session. I always enjoy hearing about new stuff, but I also got a glimpse into what it takes to get images of records published online. No easy task, folks. The strategy of this department is to get more records...to more people... faster.
We got to see what determines publication priority for location and collection type. Permissions, budget constraint and public demand for online access are factors and challenges to publication.
On to part 5 here.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
FamilySearch Bloggers' Day, Part 3
See part 1 here and part 2 here
Family History Library/Family Search Centers
This session talked about the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City and the approximately 4,600 Family History Centers (FHC) all over the world.
Don Anderson, FamilySearch (FS) Director of World Wide Support Services led this session. He discussed the efforts of FHL to measure customer/patron/user satisfaction. Their service goal is to help you meet your research goal.
Anderson also discussed FHCs. Since there are so many, each does things differently. Some better than others. There is an initiative to improve the FHC experience and get all the centers on the same page. In the future, we (users) may see a new type of center. Not sure how much I can share, but I liked it and know you will, too.
Also, eventually we (as in North America) will be able to order films online and have them delivered to our local FHCs. This is great because it saves me a trip and I don't have to fill out anymore of those slips. I always lost them anyway. I forgot to ask about how renewals will be handled. Wonder how that will go?
FamilySearch Online Research Courses: Bringing the teacher to you
Travis Jordan talked about the online courses available through FS. There are a ton of them. You should check it out. Travis shared the various types of videos available and gave a glimpse at what the future holds in this area.
Someone (or a few) in the audience expressed concern that these videos will steal some thunder (and possibly profit) from local genealogy societies. The discussion moved toward how societies could benefit, even offering such educational opportunities for little cost. There was no final resolution to the topic, but FamilySearch seems open and willing to work with societies on a common educational goal.
Wiki: Community knowledge, by the community, for the community, 24/7
Diane Loosle led the conversation regarding the FamilySearch Wiki. According to the stats, there have been 5.5 million page views so far, with growth of 500 articles per week.
At this point, I failed in my reporting duties because I started playing with the wiki. I got so distracted by the shiny objects that I missed a bit of the talk, but seriously, there was a lot of stuff on that wiki. Hard to turn away.
In the future, the page creation process will be simplified. You do not need to know code to contribute or even build a wiki page. Everybody knows something about something, even if it's the history of where you live. Did a cemetery change names and you know the old name? Then you're knowledge is needed for the wiki.
Genealogy societies are also encouraged to set up their own wiki pages. Not only will it drive traffic to you, it also acts as an archive of your organization. Preserve history for the next generation. Think about it.
Forums: Reference consultants you can "take home"
Anne Roach discussed FamilySearch Forums, a feature I admittedly don't use as much as I should. Here's the deal: 1) you don't have to register to use the forums, but if you do, you'll get notices when your queries are answered, 2) there are areas for research advice as well as support for using FamilySearch tools, 3) you can search related topics, 4) you can have "friends" and create a social group.
In the future, the forums will have world-wide reach in many languages. There will also be a visual facelift to the forum site as well as improved functionality.
On to part 4 here.
Family History Library/Family Search Centers
This session talked about the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City and the approximately 4,600 Family History Centers (FHC) all over the world.
Don Anderson, FamilySearch (FS) Director of World Wide Support Services led this session. He discussed the efforts of FHL to measure customer/patron/user satisfaction. Their service goal is to help you meet your research goal.
Anderson also discussed FHCs. Since there are so many, each does things differently. Some better than others. There is an initiative to improve the FHC experience and get all the centers on the same page. In the future, we (users) may see a new type of center. Not sure how much I can share, but I liked it and know you will, too.
Also, eventually we (as in North America) will be able to order films online and have them delivered to our local FHCs. This is great because it saves me a trip and I don't have to fill out anymore of those slips. I always lost them anyway. I forgot to ask about how renewals will be handled. Wonder how that will go?
FamilySearch Online Research Courses: Bringing the teacher to you
Travis Jordan talked about the online courses available through FS. There are a ton of them. You should check it out. Travis shared the various types of videos available and gave a glimpse at what the future holds in this area.
Someone (or a few) in the audience expressed concern that these videos will steal some thunder (and possibly profit) from local genealogy societies. The discussion moved toward how societies could benefit, even offering such educational opportunities for little cost. There was no final resolution to the topic, but FamilySearch seems open and willing to work with societies on a common educational goal.
Wiki: Community knowledge, by the community, for the community, 24/7
Diane Loosle led the conversation regarding the FamilySearch Wiki. According to the stats, there have been 5.5 million page views so far, with growth of 500 articles per week.
At this point, I failed in my reporting duties because I started playing with the wiki. I got so distracted by the shiny objects that I missed a bit of the talk, but seriously, there was a lot of stuff on that wiki. Hard to turn away.
In the future, the page creation process will be simplified. You do not need to know code to contribute or even build a wiki page. Everybody knows something about something, even if it's the history of where you live. Did a cemetery change names and you know the old name? Then you're knowledge is needed for the wiki.
Genealogy societies are also encouraged to set up their own wiki pages. Not only will it drive traffic to you, it also acts as an archive of your organization. Preserve history for the next generation. Think about it.
Forums: Reference consultants you can "take home"
Anne Roach discussed FamilySearch Forums, a feature I admittedly don't use as much as I should. Here's the deal: 1) you don't have to register to use the forums, but if you do, you'll get notices when your queries are answered, 2) there are areas for research advice as well as support for using FamilySearch tools, 3) you can search related topics, 4) you can have "friends" and create a social group.
In the future, the forums will have world-wide reach in many languages. There will also be a visual facelift to the forum site as well as improved functionality.
On to part 4 here.
Friday, October 22, 2010
FamilySearch Bloggers' Day, Part 2
See Part 1 here.
The meeting started at 8:00am. There were introductions of the FamilySearch (FS) staff and bloggers in attendance.
At 8:20 we got down to business:
Who is FamilySearch? How to think about us
Shipley Munson and Jay Verkler both talked at the beginning. It was difficult for me to hear who was who, so forgive me if attribute info to the wrong name. An organization chart that showed the 5 main parts of FamilySearch was shown. At the top of the chart was the president of FamilySearch, Jay Verkler. The organizational pieces of FamilySearch are:
Marketing
Product Management / Engineering
Information Services
Office of the Chief Genealogical Officer
Patron Services
The primary duties of each group were described. One thing I took away from this session is the genuine interest FamilySearch has in genealogy blogger input. I've heard FS staff say this a lot and I believe it.
RootsTech: A very different kind of genealogy conference
FamilySearch is promoting the heck out of the RootsTech conference, which will be held for the first time ever, in Salt Lake City in February 2011. There was lots of great discussion. I was so busy live-tweeting it that I forgot to write down notes for this blog post.
One important point was made though that may be of interest to you: RootsTech will not replace NGS GenTech. Apparently there was an errant press release or something that said that, but it's incorrect.
Here's what I took away from the session: RootsTech is a conference for tech developers and the genealogists who love them. The speaker (either Anne Roach or Ann Harrison) said there would be beginning tech classes at this event, but my gut tells me this event is for intermediate and advanced users. My gut also tells me that my blog readers know more about tech than they realize so don't write yourself off of this event. This is a chance for tech-loving genealogists to have an audience with those who make our tech toys.
Also during this session, I heard one of the speakers say RootsTech was open to the unconference concept, of which I am a huge proponent. Unconference = facilitated, participant-driven content. I never thought I'd hear the word uttered in the genealogy field (though it's been used for years in the library field).
This event looks promising. I hope it's a success.
Volunteer Indexing: Unlocking the world's records one name at a time
This session on FamilySearch Indexing was led by Jim Ericson. He provided a brief history of the organization and gave us the parameters of what's held in the Granite Mountain records vault, all of which adds up to about 3.5 billion pages of family records. More than 750 million of these are on the Familysearch.org beta site.
Jim talked about partnering with societies and archives to digitize and index their holdings. He said ideal partner groups hold collections that are a priority to FamilySearch. These groups also have good foundations in volunteerism, publicity, etc.
There is also a dire need for indexing non-English records. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to know a foreign language to index in that language. FS provides tools, you just have to be willing to use them (like a good indexer should, I say).
What I took away from this session. There's a ton of stuff that needs indexing. I'm an indexer/arbitrator and I love it. Keeps me busy while watching tv, gets me access to more FS records and gave me a lesson in handwriting to boot.
On to part 3 here.
The meeting started at 8:00am. There were introductions of the FamilySearch (FS) staff and bloggers in attendance.
At 8:20 we got down to business:
Who is FamilySearch? How to think about us
Shipley Munson and Jay Verkler both talked at the beginning. It was difficult for me to hear who was who, so forgive me if attribute info to the wrong name. An organization chart that showed the 5 main parts of FamilySearch was shown. At the top of the chart was the president of FamilySearch, Jay Verkler. The organizational pieces of FamilySearch are:
Marketing
Product Management / Engineering
Information Services
Office of the Chief Genealogical Officer
Patron Services
The primary duties of each group were described. One thing I took away from this session is the genuine interest FamilySearch has in genealogy blogger input. I've heard FS staff say this a lot and I believe it.
RootsTech: A very different kind of genealogy conference
FamilySearch is promoting the heck out of the RootsTech conference, which will be held for the first time ever, in Salt Lake City in February 2011. There was lots of great discussion. I was so busy live-tweeting it that I forgot to write down notes for this blog post.
One important point was made though that may be of interest to you: RootsTech will not replace NGS GenTech. Apparently there was an errant press release or something that said that, but it's incorrect.
Here's what I took away from the session: RootsTech is a conference for tech developers and the genealogists who love them. The speaker (either Anne Roach or Ann Harrison) said there would be beginning tech classes at this event, but my gut tells me this event is for intermediate and advanced users. My gut also tells me that my blog readers know more about tech than they realize so don't write yourself off of this event. This is a chance for tech-loving genealogists to have an audience with those who make our tech toys.
Also during this session, I heard one of the speakers say RootsTech was open to the unconference concept, of which I am a huge proponent. Unconference = facilitated, participant-driven content. I never thought I'd hear the word uttered in the genealogy field (though it's been used for years in the library field).
This event looks promising. I hope it's a success.
Volunteer Indexing: Unlocking the world's records one name at a time
This session on FamilySearch Indexing was led by Jim Ericson. He provided a brief history of the organization and gave us the parameters of what's held in the Granite Mountain records vault, all of which adds up to about 3.5 billion pages of family records. More than 750 million of these are on the Familysearch.org beta site.
Jim talked about partnering with societies and archives to digitize and index their holdings. He said ideal partner groups hold collections that are a priority to FamilySearch. These groups also have good foundations in volunteerism, publicity, etc.
There is also a dire need for indexing non-English records. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to know a foreign language to index in that language. FS provides tools, you just have to be willing to use them (like a good indexer should, I say).
What I took away from this session. There's a ton of stuff that needs indexing. I'm an indexer/arbitrator and I love it. Keeps me busy while watching tv, gets me access to more FS records and gave me a lesson in handwriting to boot.
On to part 3 here.
FamilySearch Bloggers' Day, Part 1
Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the FamilySearch Bloggers' Day. The by-invitation, all-day meeting was held in Salt Lake City, but I called in remotely from deep in the heart of Texas.
I am going to attempt to provide to you the information provided by FamilySearch (FS) at this event and my take on it. Before I do that, I'll say the following:
1. I am not a member of the LDS church. It shouldn't matter, but--based on presumptive comments I've received--it's something I need to say to reiterate that I have no religious, emotional or moral connection to FamilySearch. I am a researcher. I view FS and all its facets as a research tool and that's how I will talk about them.
2. I was not compensated for my participation in Bloggers' Day. FamilySearch reps told me that I will be getting some papers and stuff in the mail, but I have no idea what that includes. Any freebies will be mentioned in my disclosures page when they arrive. FS provided me with a link to connect to the live presentation and a phone number to call. The system then called me back on their dime. I was able to hear the speakers and all the other bloggers in the room, as well as see everything on the screen that they were seeing.
3. Bloggers' Day was like a FamilySearch open house to all of their tools and services. We were encouraged to utilize social media during the meeting and after. You can see the #FSBlogDay Twitter stream here. I've decided to share with you a little bit about each session. Just know that I look at things differently than most genealogists because of the whole library thing. I am more interested in user experience, ways to improve search strategy/search results and a lot of info-geek stuff that I will not bore you with here.
Here is a short version of the Bloggers' Day sessions in the order in which they occurred:
8:00 Welcome
8:05 Introductions of FS staff and bloggers
8:20 Who is FamilySearch? How to think about us.
9:00 RootsTech: A very different kind of genealogy conference
9:40 Volunteer Indexing
10:00 Break/Discussion
10:15 Family History Library / Family Search Centers
10:35 FamilySearch Online Research Courses
10:55 Q and A
11:15 FamilySearch Wiki
11:45 FamilySearch Forums
12:00 Working Lunch and Discussion
12:30 FamilySearch Software Community
12:50 Digitally Preserving Personal Family Histories
1:10 Q and A
1:30 FamilySearch Family Tree
2:15 Break / Discussion
2:45 Upcoming collections
3:15 The Next Generation of FamilySearch.org
4:00 FamilySearch Catalog 2.0
4:15 Open Discussion Q and A
5:00 End of meeting
6:00 Dinner for those in SLC. Leftovers at home for me.
In the next several post, I give re-caps of these sessions and provide comments. Go to part 2 here.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
FamilySearch Bloggers' Day is Coming
I feel fortunate to have been invited to participate in a Bloggers' Day event hosted by FamilySearch. This is an all-day function divided into sessions designed to highlight FamilySearch tools and get feedback from bloggers.
Each session will be about 20-40 minutes depending on the topic. Subjects include RootsTech conference, volunteer indexing, info on the Family History Library and Family History Centers, FamilySearch online research courses, FamilySearch wiki and forums, software, digital preservation and upcoming endeavors.
Between sessions, there are Q and A slots and networking opportunities.
Due to scheduling issues (the law frowns on leaving your tweens home alone with a big box of cereal and orders not to touch the stove), I am unable to attend in person. This upsets me greatly, because I hate to miss such a great opportunity. I will attend the opening of an envelope so long as I have enough notice to secure overnight child care.
Fortunately, the folks at FamilySearch have my back, and are setting me up with audio (and video, I think) access to the Bloggers' Day event.
If the planets align and I get the connection made, I should be able to report just like I was at the event. Except I won't get the free lunch and time with fellow bloggers.
Wish me luck. If all goes well, I'll have reports for you and my own impressions of the event. Should you have any questions or comments regarding Bloggers' Day, feel free to leave them here or email them to the address at the top right of this blog.
On that note, I am really excited to see such a big organization ask for feedback from the blogging community. Some get it, some don't. FamilySearch gets it.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
New NEHGS Book about Thomas Brigham Family
[Below is a press release from the New England Historic Genealogical Society. I did a double take at the subject of the book mentioned. I have a Brigham line, but I don't think it connects to this one. Of course, mine is a brick wall at the moment, so who knows? Never say never. I'll have to keep this book in mind. --Amy]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEHGS ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING NEW PUBLICATION
New information details the family of Thomas Brigham
BOSTON, MA—October 19, 2010 – The New England Historic Genealogical Society is pleased to announce its new publication, The History of the Brigham Family: Descendants of Thomas Brigham, the first comprehensive treatment of this significant American family in nearly one hundred years.
This new volume, compiled by Rhonda M. McClure of the NEHGS staff, reviews and updates (and, in some cases, amends) the accounts of Thomas Brigham, the family’s founder in America, that appeared in the earlier versions.
McClure said, “I am excited for people to have a better understanding of this unique family, one that holds such a special place in the history of our country.”
Four years in the making, this new Brigham volume extends the history of this notable American family to the fourteenth generation. McClure has brought forward as many lines as possible, incorporating information from questionnaires supplied by descendants of Brigham sons and daughters.
“We are very proud of this publication and are thrilled to share it with the world. Rhonda is one of our prized experts and this work is nothing less than a scholarly masterpiece,” says NEHGS President and CEO, D. Brenton Simons.
Among the notable Brigham descendants covered in the volume are Brigham’s Ice Cream founder Edwin Leon Brigham, SAT developer Carl Campbell Brigham, inventor Eli Whitney and former Presidents George Herbert Walker Bush and George Walker Bush.
The original volume of The History of the Brigham Family was published in 1907 and a second appeared in 1927.
For more information, contact the NEHGS Sales Department at 617-226-1212 or visit the NEHGS website at AmericanAncestors.org.
WikiTree Reaches Milestone
[Note: I received the following press release from Elyse Doerflinger, social media evangelist for WikiTree. I'm passing on the info for those who may have an interest in WikiTree. --Amy]
WikiTree About to Reach 500,000 Profiles
Oct. 18, 2010, WikiTree.com
WikiTree announced today that the website is about to reach 500,000
profiles. WikiTree has recently experienced explosive growth. With
497,732 profiles for people, places, and family heirlooms as of this
morning, the site is expected to cross over to 500,000 profiles by
Friday. Who will create profile number 500,000?
profiles. WikiTree has recently experienced explosive growth. With
497,732 profiles for people, places, and family heirlooms as of this
morning, the site is expected to cross over to 500,000 profiles by
Friday. Who will create profile number 500,000?
Access to each individual profile is determined by the user who
created it. WikiTree's unique Trusted List system gives the user the
power to protect sensitive information while still collaborating on a
worldwide family tree. Try WikiTree today - you could be creating
profile number 500,000!
About WikiTree: WikiTree's mission is to create a rich worldwide
family tree resource by striking the perfect balance between
collaboration and privacy. It gives families a free and easy way to
privately share information and organize their facts, memories, and
photos. At the same time, it enables distant relatives and strangers
to grow a worldwide family tree and create a valuable resource for
future historians. WikiTree was started in 2008 by Chris Whitten, the
creator of WikiAnswers - one of the top 50 websites in the US. Content
on WikiTree is owned and edited by its contributors. Join the free
community at http://www.WikiTree.com.
Contact:
Chris Whitten, Webmaster
Elyse Doerflinger, WikiTree Evangelist
Monday, October 18, 2010
Paging Joseph Smith of Kilkenny, Le Sueur, Minnesota
I spent the weekend poking around my Smith family line. Fate dealt me a cruel genealogical blow: a set of third great-grandparents named Joseph and Mary Smith.
For months, I just put that research on the shelf. It was preferable to study a different (easier) line with a less common surname. Have you ever tried to research Joseph Smith? It is really frustrating. To make matters worse, I believe mine is German, so I have to look at Schmidt and Schmitz, too.
Well, this weekend I decided to bite the bullet. My Joseph and Mary Smith are found living in Kilkenny Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota in decades' worth of censuses. I think they had at least 12 children, including my great-great grandmother Mary.
The research I was doing this weekend was more like fishing. I just surveyed what was out there for Joseph Smith. One of the records I found was a cemetery transcription for a Joseph Smith (9 Aug 1826 - 4 Dec 1903), of Kilkenny, Le Sueur, Minnesota. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery with the following notation (according to the record):
VET. CO I 2 REGT. MN. SP. MARGARET DALHEIM. BORN IN BLANKENHELM, GERMANY.
Hmmm.....sounds promising. I located this particular Joseph Smith in the Civil War pension index at Footnote. Is this my Joseph Smith?
I have a trip coming up to Salt Lake City later this month. On my to-do list is to research and sort out all those Smiths in Kilkenny, Minnesota. If all the records and numbers add up during that time, I'll consider ordering the pension file for this particular Joseph Smith. I have a good feeling about this hunch.
[Note to my family. Joseph and Mary (poss. Margaret) Smith had a daughter Mary Ann Smith in 1865. She married John B. Lenertz. That particular John and Mary Lenertz are Buster's grandparents.]
For months, I just put that research on the shelf. It was preferable to study a different (easier) line with a less common surname. Have you ever tried to research Joseph Smith? It is really frustrating. To make matters worse, I believe mine is German, so I have to look at Schmidt and Schmitz, too.
Well, this weekend I decided to bite the bullet. My Joseph and Mary Smith are found living in Kilkenny Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota in decades' worth of censuses. I think they had at least 12 children, including my great-great grandmother Mary.
The research I was doing this weekend was more like fishing. I just surveyed what was out there for Joseph Smith. One of the records I found was a cemetery transcription for a Joseph Smith (9 Aug 1826 - 4 Dec 1903), of Kilkenny, Le Sueur, Minnesota. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery with the following notation (according to the record):
VET. CO I 2 REGT. MN. SP. MARGARET DALHEIM. BORN IN BLANKENHELM, GERMANY.
Hmmm.....sounds promising. I located this particular Joseph Smith in the Civil War pension index at Footnote. Is this my Joseph Smith?
I have a trip coming up to Salt Lake City later this month. On my to-do list is to research and sort out all those Smiths in Kilkenny, Minnesota. If all the records and numbers add up during that time, I'll consider ordering the pension file for this particular Joseph Smith. I have a good feeling about this hunch.
[Note to my family. Joseph and Mary (poss. Margaret) Smith had a daughter Mary Ann Smith in 1865. She married John B. Lenertz. That particular John and Mary Lenertz are Buster's grandparents.]
Friday, October 15, 2010
Fun With Search Terms
It's time for another round of "Fun with Search Terms!" People type certain words or phrases into search engines. If the combination is right, my blog shows up in the search results. Sometimes the searches are funny. Sometimes I can provide more information to users, if only they'd comment on my blog. Either way, I enjoy the process. Please note, these searches are anonymous so I don't know who is stumbling on my blog. I just comment in the hope that they find it again.
blogs about "California family history expo"
I mentioned this event on my blog, so I'm not surprised that it came up in the search results. The short answer to the search: here is a blog post that re-caps other bloggers' experiences at the Expo. Long answer: did you know you can search just blogs on Google? Go to Google blog search and type in your search terms.
j b lemley
This name rang a bell with me and it took a while to remember why. This guy is (was?) a dedicated genealogist in the Pope county area of Arkansas. He published lots of indexes and books about Russellville and Pope county. Many of the books in the Clayton Library for this specific county are authored, edited and/or compiled by J. B. Lemley. I have no blood relation or advice for whoever submitted this search, I just wanted to give a shout out to a generous person who cared about local history in my area of interest.
clippings from newspaper from minute maid park on Sept. 14, 2010
This is an interesting search string. Minute Maid Park is where the Houston Astros play. My blog came up in the search results because of this post. As far as I know, the venue does not publish a newspaper. If you're looking for specific news related to the Houston Astros, try their team news page. If you're looking for an actual newspaper, like the Houston Chronicle, I suggest asking the kind folks at the Houston Public Library where to find newspaper archives for that specific day.
julia bourgeaux menou
You're killing me. You do know that's one of my ancestors, right? And your searching for her? And you don't comment on my blog so we can connect? Stop. You're killing me. Oh, and we're probably cousins. How dare you tease family like that.
stretch genealogy
Don't know him. Any relation to Stretch Armstrong?
Thanks for playing, folks! see you next time on Fun with Search Terms!
blogs about "California family history expo"
I mentioned this event on my blog, so I'm not surprised that it came up in the search results. The short answer to the search: here is a blog post that re-caps other bloggers' experiences at the Expo. Long answer: did you know you can search just blogs on Google? Go to Google blog search and type in your search terms.
j b lemley
This name rang a bell with me and it took a while to remember why. This guy is (was?) a dedicated genealogist in the Pope county area of Arkansas. He published lots of indexes and books about Russellville and Pope county. Many of the books in the Clayton Library for this specific county are authored, edited and/or compiled by J. B. Lemley. I have no blood relation or advice for whoever submitted this search, I just wanted to give a shout out to a generous person who cared about local history in my area of interest.
clippings from newspaper from minute maid park on Sept. 14, 2010
This is an interesting search string. Minute Maid Park is where the Houston Astros play. My blog came up in the search results because of this post. As far as I know, the venue does not publish a newspaper. If you're looking for specific news related to the Houston Astros, try their team news page. If you're looking for an actual newspaper, like the Houston Chronicle, I suggest asking the kind folks at the Houston Public Library where to find newspaper archives for that specific day.
julia bourgeaux menou
You're killing me. You do know that's one of my ancestors, right? And your searching for her? And you don't comment on my blog so we can connect? Stop. You're killing me. Oh, and we're probably cousins. How dare you tease family like that.
stretch genealogy
Don't know him. Any relation to Stretch Armstrong?
Thanks for playing, folks! see you next time on Fun with Search Terms!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Ain't No Party Like a Genealogy Party
After the conclusion of the California Family History Expo, Lisa Louisa Cooke, aka the voice of Genealogy Gems, invited some people to her house for a little get together. I was fortunate enough to be on the list.
First of all, Lisa has a beautiful house, filled with heirloom treasures, photos and things that make you stop and admire. It's like a museum, but funner. I even got to see *the* studio where she does her podcasts. More impressive were the neatly labeled and shelved research binders....kind of like my own (not).
Lisa and her husband served us a delicious dinner, but what really takes the cake was, well.....the cake itself:
But here's where it gets amazing: Lisa made the cake. Back in the day, before she was a big name in podcasting, Lisa was a professional cake maker. One of the displays in her house contains many awards and ribbons she's won on the fair circuit.
The party was really, really fun. I had a yummy dinner and talked with all my genealogy friends. After the cake was cut and we were digging in to it, I had sort of a revelation--kind of like those shots in movies where the sound fades and the camera pans the room in slow motion so the *moment* can be captured....
....Here were all these incredible people in one place: the makers of genealogy products, the producers of genealogy events, the dedicated volunteers that put on major genealogy conferences on behalf of their societies, the incredible bloggers, professional researchers, speakers, prolific minds that are the foundation of today's genealogy field....and my goofy mug. It was so nice to be able to visit and laugh with everyone. Nobody had to run a booth, or hurry to speak at a session. We all had nothing to do but hang out and enjoy the company. It really was a wonderful conclusion to a great weekend. I feel blessed to have been a part of it.
So thank you to Lisa Louise Cooke and family for the hospitality. And thank you to all my wonderful genealogy friends who visited, gave me rides around town, laughed and made my trip to California really special.
First of all, Lisa has a beautiful house, filled with heirloom treasures, photos and things that make you stop and admire. It's like a museum, but funner. I even got to see *the* studio where she does her podcasts. More impressive were the neatly labeled and shelved research binders....kind of like my own (not).
Lisa and her husband served us a delicious dinner, but what really takes the cake was, well.....the cake itself:
But here's where it gets amazing: Lisa made the cake. Back in the day, before she was a big name in podcasting, Lisa was a professional cake maker. One of the displays in her house contains many awards and ribbons she's won on the fair circuit.
The party was really, really fun. I had a yummy dinner and talked with all my genealogy friends. After the cake was cut and we were digging in to it, I had sort of a revelation--kind of like those shots in movies where the sound fades and the camera pans the room in slow motion so the *moment* can be captured....
....Here were all these incredible people in one place: the makers of genealogy products, the producers of genealogy events, the dedicated volunteers that put on major genealogy conferences on behalf of their societies, the incredible bloggers, professional researchers, speakers, prolific minds that are the foundation of today's genealogy field....and my goofy mug. It was so nice to be able to visit and laugh with everyone. Nobody had to run a booth, or hurry to speak at a session. We all had nothing to do but hang out and enjoy the company. It really was a wonderful conclusion to a great weekend. I feel blessed to have been a part of it.
So thank you to Lisa Louise Cooke and family for the hospitality. And thank you to all my wonderful genealogy friends who visited, gave me rides around town, laughed and made my trip to California really special.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
California Family History Expo, Part 3
See part 1 and part 2.
Day 2 of the California Family History Expo came quickly. Another hitched ride to the venue and I was back in social media mode. I spent much of the morning on the computer. I continued to update the @FHExpos Twitter account through scheduled tweets and retweets from the attendees. My main concern was spreading the word about events happening at the Expo and sharing information with those who were not able to attend. No easy task, my friends.
I took more pictures of speakers, their sessions and the exhibitors. I uploaded those to Facebook and made sure each one had a caption. If people enjoy the album, I have done my job.
I then led a Facebook Q&A with a great audience. I even met someone else who was researching Luxembourg! I told her about all the great Lux records at FamilySearch and sent her over to their booth. She promised to add me as a friend when she gets a Facebook account. I hope she does.
In the afternoon, I went around to some of the exhibitors and introduced myself as the face behind the tweets. I do a lot of promotion of speakers, exhibitors and such before each Expo. I just wanted them to know who I was so we could work together in the future to make sure they were properly publicized in the future. Some were cool with that, some just smiled and my overboard enthusiasm. I just love social media for promotion and advertising, but I know it's not for everyone.
Several folks wandered in to the Beacon of Bloggers area during the Expo. They came to ask questions about blogging or other technology. Whoever was at the blog area at that time provided advice and guidance. I helped a couple of people including a nice lady named Lilly, which led to this post in my blog. I wanted to show her how easy it was to write a blog, so I gave her some real life training.
As the afternoon progressed, people started filling in for the big finale. Holly (aka boss lady and president) concluded the Expo with an inspirational talk about breaking down brick walls. The event finished with a grand prize drawing.
When the exhibit hall lights shut off, it was a sign that my duties at the California Family History Expo were drawing to a close.
I spent the early evening having a snack and drink with several of my genealogy friends. We had a great time talking shop.
When the clock hit 6:30pm, we piled in the cars for a caravan to a party! What party? Well, it's so special that it deserves it's own post.
Day 2 of the California Family History Expo came quickly. Another hitched ride to the venue and I was back in social media mode. I spent much of the morning on the computer. I continued to update the @FHExpos Twitter account through scheduled tweets and retweets from the attendees. My main concern was spreading the word about events happening at the Expo and sharing information with those who were not able to attend. No easy task, my friends.
I took more pictures of speakers, their sessions and the exhibitors. I uploaded those to Facebook and made sure each one had a caption. If people enjoy the album, I have done my job.
I then led a Facebook Q&A with a great audience. I even met someone else who was researching Luxembourg! I told her about all the great Lux records at FamilySearch and sent her over to their booth. She promised to add me as a friend when she gets a Facebook account. I hope she does.
In the afternoon, I went around to some of the exhibitors and introduced myself as the face behind the tweets. I do a lot of promotion of speakers, exhibitors and such before each Expo. I just wanted them to know who I was so we could work together in the future to make sure they were properly publicized in the future. Some were cool with that, some just smiled and my overboard enthusiasm. I just love social media for promotion and advertising, but I know it's not for everyone.
Several folks wandered in to the Beacon of Bloggers area during the Expo. They came to ask questions about blogging or other technology. Whoever was at the blog area at that time provided advice and guidance. I helped a couple of people including a nice lady named Lilly, which led to this post in my blog. I wanted to show her how easy it was to write a blog, so I gave her some real life training.
As the afternoon progressed, people started filling in for the big finale. Holly (aka boss lady and president) concluded the Expo with an inspirational talk about breaking down brick walls. The event finished with a grand prize drawing.
When the exhibit hall lights shut off, it was a sign that my duties at the California Family History Expo were drawing to a close.
I spent the early evening having a snack and drink with several of my genealogy friends. We had a great time talking shop.
When the clock hit 6:30pm, we piled in the cars for a caravan to a party! What party? Well, it's so special that it deserves it's own post.
Monday, October 11, 2010
California Family History Expo, Part 2
The first day of the California Family History Expo started with a 6:00am hotel pick up from the Family History Expos crew. The business of genealogy is not glamorous, my friends, but it sure is fun.
I was at the Expo venue before the sun came up. I did some last-minute stuffing of the bags. Each attendee got one. It included information, vendor news and a CD syllabus of the event. I also took a few pre-Expo photos.
Once it became Expo time, I tested the wi-fi situation and made sure it was set up for the Bloggers of Honor.
At 9:30am, I led a Q&A session on social media tools. Most of the questions were about Facebook. Most of the attendees had Facebook accounts, but weren't quite sure what to do with them. It was very rewarding to help them figure out how to use Facebook for genealogy. I don't have to remind you that Family History Expos has their own Facebook page, because I know you're all friends of it, right?
The rest of the morning, I monitored and updated the Family History Expos Twitter account. I scheduled tweets to go out at regular intervals during the day and kept tabs on what was being said about the Expo through the #fhexpo Twitter hashtag. I greeted Bloggers of Honor as they arrived and made sure they had what they needed to enjoy themselves. I visited with friends.
In the afternoon, I led a second social media Q&A. I also took photos of the Expo events and uploaded them to the Family History Expos photo album for the California Expo.
Throughout the day, I had a chance to visit with Elizabeth O'Neal, Sheri Fenley, Thomas MacEntee, Craig Manson, Denise Levenick, Leah Allen, Gena Ortega, Jean Wilcox Hibben, Kathryn Doyle, Lisa Alzo, A.C. Ivory, Becky Wiseman and many more friends.
In the evening, I attended the live Genealogy Gems podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke.
Her guests were Craig Manson of GeneaBlogie:
Did I mention that there was dessert at this live podcast?
At the end of the evening, I had a nice visit with Denise Levenick over garlic fries. They were so good and so was the conversation. Many more of the bloggers met up for a later dinner, but I was too tired. Being a Texas girl in the Pacific time zone will do that to you. I went back to my hotel and fell asleep fast. Day 2 of the Expo was only a few hours away.
I was at the Expo venue before the sun came up. I did some last-minute stuffing of the bags. Each attendee got one. It included information, vendor news and a CD syllabus of the event. I also took a few pre-Expo photos.
Once it became Expo time, I tested the wi-fi situation and made sure it was set up for the Bloggers of Honor.
At 9:30am, I led a Q&A session on social media tools. Most of the questions were about Facebook. Most of the attendees had Facebook accounts, but weren't quite sure what to do with them. It was very rewarding to help them figure out how to use Facebook for genealogy. I don't have to remind you that Family History Expos has their own Facebook page, because I know you're all friends of it, right?
The rest of the morning, I monitored and updated the Family History Expos Twitter account. I scheduled tweets to go out at regular intervals during the day and kept tabs on what was being said about the Expo through the #fhexpo Twitter hashtag. I greeted Bloggers of Honor as they arrived and made sure they had what they needed to enjoy themselves. I visited with friends.
In the afternoon, I led a second social media Q&A. I also took photos of the Expo events and uploaded them to the Family History Expos photo album for the California Expo.
Throughout the day, I had a chance to visit with Elizabeth O'Neal, Sheri Fenley, Thomas MacEntee, Craig Manson, Denise Levenick, Leah Allen, Gena Ortega, Jean Wilcox Hibben, Kathryn Doyle, Lisa Alzo, A.C. Ivory, Becky Wiseman and many more friends.
In the evening, I attended the live Genealogy Gems podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke.
Her guests were Craig Manson of GeneaBlogie:
And Sheri Fenley of The Educated Genealogist:
At the end of the evening, I had a nice visit with Denise Levenick over garlic fries. They were so good and so was the conversation. Many more of the bloggers met up for a later dinner, but I was too tired. Being a Texas girl in the Pacific time zone will do that to you. I went back to my hotel and fell asleep fast. Day 2 of the Expo was only a few hours away.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Lilly and I at the California Family History Expo
Greetings from the California Family History Expo. I am sitting with Lilly and showing her how to write a blog.
I am also showing Lilly how to add pictures. Hopefully Lilly starts her own genealogy blog.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
California Family History Expo, Part 1
I rolled into Pleasanton today in preparation for the California Family History Expo. I've already hung out with Lisa Alzo, Thomas MacEntee, Sheri Fenley and Becky Wiseman. The Expo hasn't even started yet and I'm already having fun. More tomorrow!
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