All 6 videos are also part of Genealogy Gems Premium Membership

Family Tree Magazine’s Top 40 Genealogy Blogs

Lisa’s recent blog posts about the new TV series Who Do You Think You Are?

WDYTYA: You’re Gonna Get It…And You’re Gonna Love It!

WDYTYA TV Guest Appearances & Tips

WDYTYA Held It’s Own in the Ratings

If I Don’t Say This I Think My Head Will Explode

Upcoming Conferences:

Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree

June 11 – 13, 2010

Marriott Los Angeles Burbank Airport Hotel and Convention Center

Ontario Genealogical Society Conference

May 14 – 16, 2010

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

March 15 is the last day to take advantage of their early-bird registration rates.

 Generation Maps announced the release date for their brand new Family ChArtist program on their website

MAILBOX: 

Marian Vermazen asks about Rootsmagic and citing sources.

Marian's Blog

Lisa recommends Elizabeth Shown Mills’ book Evidence Explained:Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace 2nd Edition  

Carol Purinton asked for advice in purchasing a new mp3 player for listening to podcasts and audio books. 

Mp3 Player Reviews 

Apple iPod touch 8 GB (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODEL

Cathie Wood Owens asked about adding New Family Search to the Genealogy Gems Toolbar.  Lisa has now added it to the Genealogy Sites button on the Toolbar which is available for free download.

Jean Perera wrote in about Who Do You Think You Are?

“The more we can support shows of this nature and quality, the better in my estimation.  They make history come alive and as Lisa said gives me an appreciation for what my ancestors endured.  I like to think I have benefitted from their sacrifices and it has helped make me the person I am.  As always, thanks for your informative podcasts.  I can hear the smile in your voice and your enthusiasm is catching.  Keep it up!”

Kevin Ryan asked about getting started with British Research

Lisa’s recommended sites:

The National Archives UK 

Genuki

Subscription Record Sites:

http://www.findmypast.com

www.Ancestry.com

Nancy wrote in about the two part Hard Drive Organization video series in Premium Membership.

Susan Konkel in Wisconsin writes”

“I work at the Family History center in Brookfield, Wisconsin.  I am currently teaching our consultants how to use Roots Magic 4 in an effort to transfer their huge PAF files onto New Family Search. I have been looking at different information regarding the upcoming NBC show "Who Do You Think You Are" and came across this page. I am very interested in learning new searching tools to help our staff and patrons without paying the high cost of conferences. Thanks for all you are doing.”

GEM: Paper Preservation

Listener Debra Miller-Tossey wrote in looking for advice on preserving newspaper clippings.

Sally Jacobs, The Practical Archivist at http://practicalarchivist.com/

Sally’s Tips:

Decision to make:  keep or reprint

Sources:

http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/newspap.html

http://www.loc.gov/preserv/presfaq.html#7

http://www.nedcc.org/resources/resources.php  

Sign up for the Practical Archivist e-newsletter and reeive the free e-booklet 8 Blunders People Make When They Scan Photos and How To Avoid Them All

While at Sally’s site, check out The Preservation Answer Machine

Cncapsulation kits:  

HollingerMetalEdge

GEM:  Genealogy is Reconstructing the Dash

Listener Gail Hamilton sent in a gem of poem that will get you thinking not only about your research but about the “dash” you are creating today!

App users check your Bonus Content for special Motivational "Dash" Wallpaper!

Share Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 81 with your friends and family:

http://www.genealogygemspodcast.com/index.php?post_id=582014 

Who Do You Think You Are? premieres on NBC on Friday, March 5 at 8:00 pm.

NEWS: 

Digitize Your Family Records – Free at Jamboree

Ancestry.com announced that they are going to be at the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree with their scanners, and that means that ttendees will have the opportunity to have their family photos and documents professionally scanned at the conference, for free.

Sign up for 15-minute scanning sessions from 12:00 noon on Friday, June 11, through 3:00 p.m. Sunday, June 13. The scanning area will be in the Producer room, in the East tower of the main hotel. Look for signs to point the way.

Register in advance on the Jamboree website

Sign up for your particular time slot when you arrive at Jamboree.

Lisa will be speaking at the Ontario Genealogical Society Conference in Toronto Canada being held may 14 through the 16, 2010 at the Doubletree by Hilton at the Toronto Airport.   

Veterans History Project Marks Tenth Year with Events and Initiatives

The Veterans History Project was created in 2000 by Congress as a national documentation program of the American Folklife Center  to record, preserve, and make accessible the first-hand remembrances of American wartime veterans from World War I through the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Volunteer interviewers may request information at vohp@loc.gov or the toll-free message line at (888) 371-5848.

Family Search they have announced some new record digitization projects:

Brasil, Pernambuco, Recife - Registro Civil, 1900-1920

Italia, Napoli, Castellammare di Stabia - Atti di Morte 1809-1936 [Parte B]

UK, Bristol - Parish Registers 1837-1900 [Part B]

US, Guam and Samoa - 1920 Federal Census

US, Kentucky - 1910 Federal Census

US, Maryland - 1910 Federal Census

US, Massachusetts - 1910 Federal Census

US, Tennessee - County Marriages, 1790-1950 [Part A]

US, Virgin Islands - 1920 Federal Census

MAILBOX:

3 Ring Binder Tabs Followup

Sheryl’s Example divider page

Avery® Protect 'n Tab™ Tabbed Sheet Protectors #74160, Acid Free, 5-Tab, Pack of 5

Product Number: 74160. The sheet protectors fit 8-1/2" x 11" material and are acid free and archival safe won't lift print from your pages.

Escalating Ancestry issues

Al Wilson asked for advice in escalating an issue with Ancestry and Lisa provides two strategies for resolving the case of the missing WWI Draft Registration Cards.

Blogs & Tollbars

Michael Honeycutt wrote in to say that the thing he loves about listening to podcasts is that something always pops back in his mind a few days after listening.

Michael’s Blog:  Confessions of a Twenty-something Family Historian

Michael says”as soon as I'm done typing this, I'm going to give the toolbar a test run!”

Download the free Genealogy Gems Podcast Toolbar

Tim Cox suggested a quick link on the toolbar to Amazon that also supports the podcast.  Keep those great ideas coming Tim – and thank to all of you for supporting the podcast!  You’re awesome!

Family History: Genealogy Made Easy

Here’s an email from Paul Dunlop who writes:

“I just came across your Genealogy Made Easy podcast #001 Get Inspired and Get Started. I began really researching my family just before the holidays…It’s been helpful to listen to the beginner podcasts….Much as I fear I have got the bug and cant stop this!…Great show.”   Paul Dunlop

Rootsmagic and Mark Tucker

Barbara Starmans wrote to say she’s migrated to Roots Magic 4 and “I’m enjoying the program more than ever now that it incorporates all the features I was looking for when I wandered away to another software a couple of years ago. “

Barbara says she’s relying on the book

Evidence Explained

Lisa's interview with Mark Tucker Epsiode 20

Thanks for your great podcasts!

Barbara J Starmans

You can check out Barbara’s blog

GEM: Interview with Irene Johnson Part 2

Jerry Springer video links from Episode 79

Irene's Tips:

- Study about maps before you come to make the most of them.

- They are out on the floor in big cases with wide skinny drawers.  Don’t hesitate to ask for help.

- Use Gazateers in conjunction with maps

- You need to understand the geography of a country.

- Document everything – where you are getting your information from.

Lisa: "You can’t be lonely being a genealogist!"

Irene's Thoughts on Grandchildren and Adoption: “We have a heritage to leave them”

Irene's Bottom Line:  "Don’t Be Afraid – Ask the Questions!"

Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member

GEM: Profile America – The First Telephone Book

 View the first telephone book and the transcribed list of telephone subscribers in New Haven, CT in 1878

Sign up for the free Genealogy Gems e-Newsletter

MAILBOX:

Sign up for the Genealogy Gems Podcast e-Newsletter

You’ll get Lisa's 20 page e-book called 5 Fabulous Research Strategies for the Family Historian free in your welcome email.  Follow the techniques in the e-book and you’ll better results with your Google Searches when you’re online doing your research!

And if by chance you have already signed up you haven’t been receiving the newsletter be sure and add genealogygemspodcast at gmail dot com to your email contact list so that your email provider won’t think they are spam. 

Thank you to genealogy blogger Joan Miller for her wonderful review of the Genealogy Gems Podcast iPhone App on her blog.

Get the Genealogy Gems iPhone / iTouch App

Teri Chaffin wrote in asking for suggestions for genealogist training and certification.  Lisa recommends the article Shaping Up by Sunny Morton in the March 2010 issue of Family Tree Magazine

Genealogy and Family History Certificate Program at the Seattle campus of the University of Washington

Certificate in Genealogical Research program at Boston University.

You can take that program online.

Genealogical certification is offered by:

The Board for Certification of Genealogists

The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists

BCG does offer skill building

Listen to Lisa’s interview with Sunny about the article in the February 2010 episode of Tree Magazine Podcast   or subscribe for free in iTunes

Michelle Goodrum writes in about her new blog Turning of Generations

and how much she enjoyed Lisa’s Google Earth presentation on at the recent Family History Expo in Mesa.  “I was so excited about it I went home and shared your tips with my husband who likes Google Earth but had NO IDEA what it could do.  The next time I go hunting for a homestead, I'm going to do it this way.  It's much easier than getting the old state highway maps that also show the township, range, info!  Plus like my hubby pointed out, it would be much more comforting when we are out in the backcountry after riding down 20 miles of dirt roads to have that visual to tell us that yes, we ARE on the right track.”

“As always, I'm looking forward to what wonderful new adventures you will be taking us listeners on in your upcoming podcasts.  You are a treasure chest of information!”

Stay tuned for the release of Lisa’s new Google Earth for Genealogy DVD.

Become a Premium Member

GEM: Interview with Lisa Kudrow

Lisa talks with Lisa Kudrow about her new television series Who Do You Think You Are? premiering March 5, 2010 at 8:00 pm on NBC

Watch the video message from Lisa Kudrow on The Genealogy Gems News Blog.

Spread the Word!  Email your friends and family and share this episode with them to generate excitement and viewership for this new genealogy themed show.

The Genealogy Gems Podcast is sponsored by Rootsmagic

Lisa will be teaching for Family Tree Magazine called Search Engine Tips & Tricks: Google Techniques to Boost Your Research  on Tuesday February 23, 2010 at 4pm Pacific and 7 pm Eastern.  For more information go to the Family Tree Magazine website.

Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast will wrap up with one more episode.   

Kimberly Powell of the About Genealogy blog 

Dick Eastman of Eastman’s online genealogy newsletter

Janet Havorka of the Chart Chick Blog

Miriam Robbins Midkiff of Ancestories

The Genealogy Guys

Schelly Dardashti of the Tracing the Tribe blog

Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog

Lisa has gotten great feedback from those of you who have already downloaded the app from the iTunes store.   

Apple Announces the iPad

Dick Eastman on the iPad

iPad News at the BBC

iRock Cartoon

Thank You: 

Lynn Palermo's blog 

Tina Lyons' Blog

Randy Seaver's Blog

Ancestry Magazine Closes It’s Doors

Ancestry Magazine will be publishing it’s last issue in March of 2010.

Go to http://books.google.com and just type Ancestry in the search box to see past issues online. 

MAILBOX:

Question from member Teri Chaffin:

Are there 3 ring binder dividers large enough to use with sheet protectors?

Lisa suggests: Avery® WorkSaver® Big Tab Insertable Dividers 11220, 5-Tab Set

Judy in Ocala requested photos of Lisa’s family history wall display describe in Episode 3.

Rebecca Pittman of Chicago asks for leads on researching ancestors who served as U.S. census enumerators.

“Do you have any recommendations for locating records about his role as a Census Enumerator? I’m sure there would’ve been an application form, payroll information, etc. for Census Enumerators. I searched Worldcat for any books on the subject and the National Archives for records and have not had any luck.”

Bill Maury, Chief of History at the U.S. Census Bureau says that  

All of the records that are available are at the National Archives in Record Group 29…the records are partial at best but some are both extensive and informative.

Episode 33 features my interview with Bill Maury

Integrated Public Use Microdata Series

Histories of Enumeration Procedures for Each Census: â

How Enumerators were appointed in 1930

Record Group 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census

Record Group 29 in Detail

(Tip:  Search the page for “Personnel”)

Mary Bowden wrote in to say she has started her own genealogy blog.

“Thanks, I loved the live podcast!”

 Me and My Ancestors Blog

Podcast listener Marie has also started blogging

Gordon Churchill asks for recommendations for a way to publish a “book of stories and events that I have been able to find, together with the dates and places, so that grandchildren and others who come to it will find something that has some life in it, not just historical records.”

Lisa suggests Kodak Gallery

Listen to Episode 13  for more on publishing a family history book with Kodak Gallery

This Podcast is sponsored by:

Tell them you heard about Rootsmagic on the Genealogy Gems Podcast!

GEM: Interview with Irene Johnson

Visit the Family History Library online

Irene’s Tip:  Do your homework before you visit the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. 

Do Your Homework Before You Come:

- Scour the online catalog

- Decide what you need

- Ask for help when you visit

Lisa’s Tip – print out the items you want from the catalogue and prioritize them.  Determine which items are available only in Salt Lake City.

Watch Irene in the Ancestors series

The Library is divided up into sections:

B2 - The British Collection

B1 - The International Floor – “the only place where you will find all the Swedish records under one roof!”  (they are scattered amongst the various archives across Sweden) 

The Vault – There are many films that are not located in the library but rather in the granite vault.   Request ahead of time, or as soon as you arrive. 

Please volunteer to Index

The Main/ 1st Floor – Computers and Family Histories

Lisa introduces her Stage Manager (and daughter!) Lacey Cooke.

Download the Free Genealogy Gems Toolbar

GUEST: Gena Philibert Ortega, Genaâs Genealogy Blog

Worldvitalrecords - www.worldvital.com

Genealogywise - www.genealogywise.com

GUEST: Thomas MacEntee, Geneablogger

The Top 10 Genealogy Blog Myths

Use Google Reader

Geneabloggers Website

This LIVE show is sponsored by Rootsmagic.com Lisa chats with Bruce Buzbee about Rootsmagic 4 Download the FREE Rootsmagic Essentials to give it a test drive!

GUEST: Anastasia Tyler, Ancestry

Anastasia was recently featured on The Martha Stewart Show Anastasia discusses the new NBC TV show Who Do You Think You Are? that premiereâs on March 5 at 8:00 pm.

Jerry Springer Videos

Part 1 Watch Part 1

Part 2 Watch Part 2

Part 3 Watch Part 3

Part 4 Watch Part 4

Part 5 Watch Part 5

Part 6 Watch part 6

She also talks about whatâs coming up at Ancestry in 2010.

The Ancestry Blog: http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/

Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member

Contest Winners Announced:
The winner of the FTM Organize Your Genealogy Life CD:
Carroll Berryman

The winner of the 2 day admission ticket to the Mesa, AZ Family History Expo:
A.C. Ivory of UT
2nd winner: Patty Mitchell of AZ.

Get more information about the conference and banquet at Family History Expos

Lisa will be speaking at the Ontario Genealogical Society Conference in Toronto, Canada May 14 through the 16th of 2010 at the Doubletree Hilton at the Toronto Airport

The Armchair Genealogist: Follow Friday - My Top Five, A Year In ... By Lynn Palermo 

Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast Episodes can now be automatically downloaded to iTunes. For more information sign in and go to the main Podcast page.

Sign up for the free Genealogy Gems e-newsletter and receive the downloadable e-book 5 Fabulous Google Research Strategies for the Family Historian.

BRAND NEW: The Genealogy Gems Podcast iPhone app is now available for the iPhone and ipod iTouch. Get it at the iTunes App Store

NEWS:

ANCESTRY
Ancestry's new online family trees website, Mundia 

Also at ancestry they"ve announced the release of new and improved images for U.S. Federal Censuses. They’ve got clearer images for 1790-1900, and are working on 1910 through 1930. They’ve also posted better indexes for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1900

FAMILYSEARCH
They have some New Projects you may want to know about.
Canada, British Columbia—Deaths, 1872-1986 [Part 3]
U.S., Indiana, Clark County—Marriages, 1811–1959
U.S., Minnesota—1875 State Census
U.S., Rhode Island—1905 State Census [Part 2]
U.S., South Dakota—1935 State Census [Part 2]

Genealogy Bank
Added newspaper pages online from 117 newspapers and 32 states including:
Augusta Chronicle (GA)
Seattle Daily Times (WA)
City Gazette (SC)
New York Herald (NY)
New York Herald-Tribune (NY)
North Philly Free Press (PA)
Political Digest (PA)

MAILBOX:
Premium Feed: Premium Member Patti Wilcox writes in: "Thank you thank you! I'm so happy with the iTunes feed for Premium members. I love being able to easily add to iTunes and now maybe I'll be the first to listen to new episodes!” and recommends Mac users use Safari rather Firefox to initially subscribe to the feed.

Genealogy Questions: Long time listeners Richard Yehle has a question about adoption research He writes:

"An ex-brother–in-law’s father had two brothers born in 1914 and 1916 who were placed in an orphanage in Stockton CA in an unknown year (I’d guess between 1920 and 1930). The family is looking for information on these two brothers but don’t know where to start. I can’t find either of them in the 1920 or 1930 census, nor their parents for that matter. They moved from New Mexico to Bakersfield CA by 1910 and apparently to Stockton CA at some point later, again my guess is after the death of the mother – but we don’t have that date. The location of the two orphans are not known. I suppose it’s possible that they took the name of their adoptive parents which could be a problem. The original surname is Torres which is also reasonably common. Any suggestions on where to start looking for these two?"

Do a search on Google Books - here's one on San Joaquin County orphanages
Here's a Benevolent Institutions publication from 1910.

Full text of "Benevolent institutions. 1910"

The San Joaquin County US Gen Web site is currently under construction but it looks like they plan on providing information about adoptions in the county.

Resources at Cyndis List

If you have strategies for Richard email Lisa.

Toolbar Emails: Genealogy Gems Podcast Toolbar Kathy Ott asks how to remove and hide the new toolbar.

How to remove the toolbar from a Mac:
In the Finder click on Applications (under Places menu)
There will likely be a "Toolbar" folder - click on that
There you should find the Genealogy Gems Podcast Toolbar folder - click on that
Click on the Uninstall icon

On a PC:
Open the Add or Remove Programs folder in the Control Panel
Click on the Genealogy Gems Podcast Toolbar
Click the Remove button

To temporarily hide the Toolbar on a PC:
Click on View from the menu
Unclick the toolbar

The Toolbar Search Box can be designated as a search box for the following sites:
- World Cat
- Google Books
- Google News Archive
- Library of Congress
- David Rumsey Historical Maps
- US Bureau of Land Management
- Wikipedia
- US National Archives
- UK National Archives
- Australia National Archives

Download the free toolbar

GEM: Mona Golabek
Listener Belinda Slocumb recommended a video to Lisa featuring pianist Mona Golabek and her unique presentation of her family history.

Listen to: The Romantic Hours

Become a Premium Member

CLOSING:
Lisa bids goodbye to the origins of her given name – the world’s longest-running daytime soap opera “As the World Turns” starring Eileen Fulton as Lisa Grimaldi (below).  The name "Lisa" was one of the top girl names in the 1960s.

NEWS:

Sign up for the Genealogy Gems Free e-Newsletter

Footnote.com - In honor of Pearl Harbor Day  they are making their interactive WWII collection available for free for the month of Dec 2009.

MAILBOX: 

Michael in Irvine, CA writes in about The Genealogy Gems Toolbar Download the free Genealogy Gems Toolbar

Listener Gordon Churchill writes in to ask about using compiled genealogical records in his research.

Podcast: Canada's History Magazine: The Beaver

Listener Phil Haye's blog post about the new ABC show "Find My Familyâ which aires on Monday nights at 9:00 pm

GEM: Interview with Maureen Taylor about Hairstyles book

Above: Get Maureen's book at Amazon

You can sign up for Maureenâs free e-newsletter at her Photo Detective Web Site

GEM:  Family Storytelling During The Holidays

Hollyâs podcast episode 50 of the Family History Expos Podcast

...to access the Amazon site and look for your first item.  When you do that Genealogy Gems will get credit for anything you buy while you're on the Amazon site - and you don"t pay anything extra!  Thank you!

NEWS:

RootsMagic, Inc. announced the immediate availability of RootsMagic Essentials, free desktop genealogy software based on their award-winning RootsMagic 4 system. RootsMagic Essentials contains many core features found in its namesake that allow the public to easily start tracing their family trees.  

FAMILYSEARCH: The folks at familysearch have added some new record collections which can be searched for free at the FamilySearch.org Record Search pilot (click Search Records, and then click Record Search pilot).

The new records include:
- Brazil Catholic Church Records 1805-1979 update
- Massachusetts Marriage Records, 1842â1915
- Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records Spain Municipal Records, 1837â1870
- United States 1920 Federal Census for Texas, Ohio, and Iowa

Footnote.com recently released "the Native American Collection" of historical records.

You are a Genealogy Gem - tell the world with the Genealogy Gem Rhinestone Pin.  Approx. 2" wide by 1" high, pin back.  Limited Quantities!  (click image to enlarge)  Price:  $11.95 + $1.50 first class shipping continental U.S.

MAILBOX:
Crystal Bell writes in with an update on her family search Liz Pidgeon wrote in about Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 74 featuring Joe Bott of the DeadFred website. "There is an Australian equivalent called Photo Rescue though no way as big at: http://www.members.optushome.com.au/lenorefrost/photorescue.html and I know that people also post "unknown" photos to Flickr groups.â

AC Ivory has been diving into his family history and wrote in with a neat story of what it can mean to an older relative when we spend time with them and ask about family history. www.generationivory.com  

Read his article about podcasts.

Susan Freer shared a fun free website that features the music of yesteryear Upchucky Radio Hits of the 1940s Jukebox page

Profile America: 1810 census 
Learn more about the 1810 census 

GEM: Part 2 - David Rencher on Family Search
David Rencher is the Head Genealogist at familysearch and in today's episode you"ll be hearing part 2 of my interview with him on the past, present and future of familysearch.org.

Profile America: Automobile

Download the Free Genealogy Gems Toolbar for your Internet browser featuring the new Lisaâs Gem of the Week button which takes you to a page exclusively for toolbar users with gems you can use. And thatâs in addition to the google search box, highlighter pen, podcast media player, free research gems sites button and much more. If youâve already downloaded the toolbar the new features will automatically appear. 

News:

Attend one of Lisa's classes:
Lisa will be speaking at the Family History Expo in Mesa, Arizona on January 22 & 23, 2010

New lower shipping for Lisa's book at Lulu.com:
Visit the Genealogy Gems Store at Lulu.com where you can now order her book and pay just $3.99 flat rate shipping. 

Also at the store you'll find archived Premium episodes now available for automatic download (including PDF show notes)

NEW!  Download the free Genealogy Gems Toolbar

Itâs free, fun, and can help you access the information fast that you need to meet your research goals.

MAILBOX: 

Listener Megan Kyser asks if  the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast might have a DNA episode someday? 

âand  she adds, "My whole family listens in the car on trips- yes; even the 5 and under crowd!

Lisa covered DNA in Episode 29 of The Genealogy Gems Podcast  

She will also be interviewing a DNA specialist for the November episode of The Family Tree Magazine Podcast which will be out later this month.

And Lisa recommends a fun website for her under 5 fans!

Listener Rhonda Schneringer of South Dakota and saysââin this podcast, you mention a class you teach called "Sharing the Joy".  You describe it as projects anyone can do to share your genealogical information with family members who aren't "into" genealogy yet.   Can you tell me where I can find information about these projects?â

The details of the projects Lisa covers in the presentation can be found in her book Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies.   

The projects featured in the class included:

Decoupage Plate - Chapter 11
Sweet Memories Candy Bars - Chapter 20 (this is a big favorite!)
Family History Wall Displays - Chapter 3
Publishing Your Own Family History Book - Chapter 13

A four part video series is available at the Genealogy Gems TV Channel at YouTube for the Family History Christmas Wreath project:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

GEM:  Interview with David Rencher, Head Genealogist at Family Search

David discusses the digitization for FamilySearch, how research has changed, the future of the Family History Library online catalog, and the opportunities that technology offers the genealogy world.  Itâs a rare opportunity to hear from the decision maker himself about the records that impact your research.

Founder Joe Bott tells us what drove him to create the site and some amazing and inspiring stories of Ancestors found!

Here's a link to the photograph of Gustavo Hammel that Karen Hammel found on the DeadFred web site.

Our Dog Howie was featured in BARK! magazine (below) 

Lisa covers digitized newspaper records recently posted at the Library of America's Chronicling America web site

As well as news from Ancestry.com including new records, the new social networking with records feature, and updated to their Member Connect Feature.

Watch Lisa's 2 part video series on Member Connect with David Graham of Ancestry.  Go to the Genealogy Gems TV Channel at YouTube and Click on the Videos section.

Become a fan of The Genealogy Gems Podcast at Facebook. 

Add Lisa as a friend on Facebook 

MAILBOX:
Lisa stops by Mike OâLaughlinâs Irish Roots Cafà to ask the Irish research expert for some advice for listener Maria Romano about her Hickson and Carey ancestors from Clanmorris, County Kerry, Ireland.    Mike has some great leads for Maria and anyone with Irish ancestors.

Then Lisa shares some advice from German Genealogist Baerbel Johnson of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City on German research in response to listener Teri Chaffinâs question about her Matzdorff family.

Danny from Baltimore wrote in to comment on Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 69 and the story about the man who found his family history book digitized on Google Books.

"Copyright infringement and plagiarism is always a topic near and dear to every genealogist.  A discussion on âfair useâ typically results in a heated debate but to assume that since a library has a copy of a book and that an arrangement between the library, a company (Google) and various literary organizations permitting the digitalization of the libraryâs collection automatically implies the granting of digital rights to that collection is flabbergasting.â  Danny from Baltimore

Web sites mentioned:
Authors Guild  

Original article (9/3/09) about Google books from the BBC 

Tina Kelly writes to say how excited she was to be able to get some of the archived Premium Episodes from the Genealogy Gems store at Lulu  

Premium Episodes now on Lulu:
Premium Episodes 2 through 7 
And more episodes are coming soon! 
Limited Time Savings:  Save 14.92% on your order (up to $25) with coupon code PINTA  Sale Ends Oct. 12, 2009.

And Russ Karr writes to share the highs and lows of his research, and his curiousity about an ancestor that died in an Insane Asylum in San Jose in 1920.

Resources mentioned by Lisa:
The Suitcase Exhibit Online

Diane Haddadâs post on The Genealogy Insider Blog

Attend Lisaâs classes:
Family History Expo
Redding, California
October 16 & 17, 2009

Listener and Premium member Pat Dalpiaz shares how she proudly wears her new Genealogy Gem Rhinestone Pin whenever she has a new discovery, and shares two of her most recent discoveries generated by working on her family history blog.

$11.95 + $1.50 shipping to the Continental U.S.

Designed personally by Lisa Louise Cooke and made with high quality Czechoslovakian and Austrian crystals, this custom rhinestone pin is bound to generate genealogical conversation when worn. Measures approximately 2" x 1", secured with pin back.  Limited quantities!

Read Lisa's Blog post âGoogle Books Revolutionary Next Stepâ

How to Order Key Civil War Records by Tamie Dehler, Tribune-Star 

Mailbox:

A listener writes in to share her experience with Genealogy Wise
Join the Genealogy Gems Podcast Group at Genealogy Wise.

Check out the free program Transcript 2.0 that listeners are raving about. 

GEM: Probate Records with Jana Broglin, CG

How to Find Probate Records:

1. Research the local jurisdiction
2. Find where wills are filed
3. Look in Index of Testators or General Index to Wills
4. Request the packet

Jana's Tips:

1. Don't overlook Vouchers / Receipts
2. Ask for numerous short pages to be photocopied onto one page
3. Just because you find a guardianship record, don't assume both parents are deceased.

Visit Jana's Web Site

GEM: Sorting your bookmarks alphabetically in Safari (Mac)
Thanks to listener Eiya Loki

How to Sort Bookmarks:

1.  On the top of your screen click on Bookmarks
2.  In Bookmarks drop down menu click on Show All Bookmarks
3.  In the left pane under Collections click on Bookmarks Menu
4.  click on any bookmark in the right pane
5.  Go directly up to Edit at the top of your screen and click on it
6.  Click on Select All from the drop down menu
7.  Open up Finder and make a folder on your desktop called "bookmarks"
8.  Double click on the folder to open it up.
9.  Then on your keyboard press Command-J. This will open a little window.
10. About in the middle of this window you will see the words Arrange By: with a drop down menu right next to it, click the drop down menu option Name.
11. Now go back to Safari and drag a third of Safari's window out of screen
12. Position the finder in the empty half of the screen.
13. Go back to the Bookmarks Menu
14. Click and drag all of your bookmarks in the Finder window.
15. There the will be automatically sorted even the bookmarks inside folders!
16. Go back to Safari and re Select All to your bookmarks just as you did before but this time after you have all you bookmarks highlighted
17. Go back up to Edit & click Delete in the drop down window.
18. Go back to the Finder window and Select All just as you did before
19. Drag the bookmarks back into Bookmarks Menu in Safari.

My grandmother always wore sparkling costume jewelry and I was fortunate enough to inherit it, and this pin fits right in with all the wonderful vintage pieces.  So if you would like your very own pin to declare to the world that you are someone you care about is a genealogy gem, be sure and stop by the Genealogy Gems booth in the exhibit hall.  

MAILBOX:  

Russ from Tucson, AZ wrote in to ask about how to locate some Californians in his family tree, and a very happy outcome followed:

Well the "little angels" were in my court because the same day I emailed you I was listening to your old archives in the premium member section when I heard you mention the "acts of random kindness" which I emailed the same day, well someone who lived near the cemetery was able to get a hold of a record of my great grandfather's burial date but said there was no date of death.  Using that date, I manually went into the Oakland Tribune obituary archives and went back a few days before the burial date and there was his obituary!

Kay wrote in to share her experiences with Member Connect on Ancestry.  Email your comments to Lisa

GEM: Member Connect with Ancestry Part 2
Interview with David Graham, Director of Product Management

In this episode, we wrap our personal tour of Ancestryâs new Member Connect feature.

GEM: Family History Thoughts with Lee Drew

In this gem I am happy to feature another wonderful blog post from genealogy blogger Lee Drew called "Choices and Consequences.â

LineageKeeper blog

Fam Hist Blog 

Iâm going in for some surgery in early September and I know that recovery may take around 4 weeks, so you may not be hearing from me as regularly as usual, but I hope that you stay in touch and be patient until Iâm up on my feet again.  Iâm going to try to get some things wrapped up before hand, so hopefully you Genealogy Gems Premium members wonât notice any difference in the regularity of premium shows and videos.  And actually Iâm having a blast with this new video series coming up and I know youâll love it. 

I appreciate your understanding and patience and really canât wait until I can get back to the microphone with more genealogy gems.

Thanks so much for listening friend, Iâll talk to you soon!

Google announced last week that it has quadrupled its searchable archive of historical news articles, many of which are free to access.
From the Genealogy Insider Blog  

The National Archives just announced that it has launched what it calls a Narations blog.  The new blog is going to focus on online public access to records of the U.S. National Archives

The Salt Lake City Family History Expo is almost here

MyHeritage.com, has announced the release of Family Tree Builder 4.0.   The Family Tree Builder software is available for free download

Read the article about Googleâs new improved search BBC News 

MAILBOX:
Sean Lamb shared his recent discoveries and then had some questions about the 1930 census and the Office Use Only columns.

GEM:  IPUMS USA website

The site is described as âCensus microdata for social and economic researchâ.  Itâs an excellent and little known web site that is dedicated to collecting and distributing US census data. Its goals are to:

• Collect and preserve data and documentation
• Harmonize data  
• Disseminate the data absolutely free

1850 â 1950 Enumerator Instructions

1930 Enumerator Instructions  

But as the column implies, the census taker was instructed not to write in column 26D so in this case the instructions canât help much.  Column 26D was filled in by the staff at the census bureau after the census taker completed the task.  The codes written in the column were to assist them in tabulating statistical information which they reported to Congress.

Unfortunately these numbers really donât provide additional information because they just reflect what was written in the Occupation columns by the census taker

GEM: Tools for Occupation Codes
But if you have a curious streak and would like to see exactly what the codes meant Iâve got a gem for you.  Steve Morse the author of the One Step Tools shares your curiosity and he created a page on his website called  âDeciphering Language and Nativity Codes Appended to the 1930 Census in One Step.â 

You can learn what the occupation codes in Column 26D mean by visiting this page: âDeciphering Occupation Codes Appended to the 1930 Census in One Step.â  

GEM: Agricultural Census (Non-Population Census)
Farm # - It refers to the Special census called the Farm Schedule
Listen to Family Tree Magazine podcast #12 Census secrets with Curt Witcher for more information.

Non-population census at the National Archives
Agricultural census
Where to find the records at the National Archives

GEM: Member Connect with Ancestry
David Graham. Director of Product Management at Ancestry.com gives us a tour of the new Member Connect feature.   

For the month of August 2009 Footnote.com is providing free access to the 1930 census images.  To get the free access just go to  www.footnote.com/1930census/ and register with your email address. 

Genealogy Insider Blog by Diane Haddad at Family Tree Magazine.  National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections  (NUCMUC) is celebrating it's 50^th year.

National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections is a free Library of Congress program.  Information about the manuscript collections of participating US libraries is being entered into the WorldCat library catalog search engine.

Family History: Genealogy Made Easy
Episode 38 - Features the Footnote Maven

Randy Seaver"s article on the Genea-musings blog

Footnote Mavenâs post about the episode

Episode 39 of the Family History podcast features the very gifted writer Denise Levenick who write the Family Curator blog, and also has an alyer ego known as Penny Dreadful who writes occasionally for the Footnote Mavenâs Shades of the Departed blog.

And you get two bloggers in this episode because it also features my interview with Schelly Talalay Dardashti who writes the Tracing the Tribe blog on Jewish genealogy. 

Both these ladies are very experienced bloggers and will give you great tips on blogging, including dispelling the myth that you have to be technically inclined to blog!  

Google Books:
Read Lisaâs blog post on the subject 

Books Rights Registry 

So what do you think about this?  Have you published your family history?  Does it matter to you who owns the digital rights to your work?  Iâd like to hear your thoughts on this.  Email Lisa or call the voice mail line at 925 272-4021 to have your thoughts included on the show.

GEM:  Profile America
August 1 - First US Census

GEM: Tony Burroughs
Tony Burroughs is an internationally known genealogist, author, and former adjunct genealogy professor at Chicago State University. He lectures throughout the United States and Canada on all aspects of genealogy.  

 
(Above: Lacey Cooke, Tony Burroughs, Lisa Cooke)

He is the author of the book Black Roots: A Beginners Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree published by the Fireside Division of Simon & Schuster and I recently had a chance to sit down and talk with Tony about his work and his approach to the research process.    

Tony was so much fun to talk to  and has so much knowledge about such a variety of subjects.   If youâd like to see my interview with Tony that was filmed at the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree you can view it in itâs entirety at the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel.

GEM: My Mother Was A Quilter by Lee Drew
Lee's Website his FamHist Blog  and his Lineagekeeper blog

GEM:  Profile America
August 2 â The First News Reel

Sign up for the free Genealogy Gems e-Newsletter: 
To stay up on everything going on at Genealogy Gems be sure and sign up for the free e-newsletter. Just go to the website and click the Sign up button in the column on the left and when you do that youâll get the 20 page e-book on Google Research strategies as a thank you gift. 

See Lisa in person:
Family History Expo
Sandy, Utah just outside Salt Lake City
August 28 & 29, 2009

Email Lisa with your questions and comments

The Genealogy Guys are going to be at the Federation of Genealogical Societies conference in Little Rock, AR  Sept 2-5 2009 recording their show before a live audience on Sept 3 at 3:30 pm.

Listen to Drew Smith interview Lisa on the Genealogy Guys Podcast Episode 177

The Library of Congress has launched "The Library of Congress on iTunes U, featuring historic video and sound recordings. 

Download iTunes

Lisa discusses the start up and rocky road of the new social networking website for genealogists called Genealogy Wise by familylink.com

Paul Allen's Apology to Terry Thornton 

So where do we go from here?  Well, I still wholeheartedly encourage genealogists to network

Friend Lisa on Facebook

Join the Genealogy Gems Podcast facebook group

Friend Lisa on GenealogyWise

Join the Genealogy Gems Podcast group on GenealogyWise

Where Are Paper of Record's Records?

It"s all still pretty murky.  But it seems to be a pretty unanimous decision that Paper of Record was really a terrific newspaper website and though Google and WVR so far are not offering the same kind of search capabilities, they both seem to have some of the content.  So my recommendation is to check Google News Archive first - which is free, and then check to see if WVR has the newspaper youâre looking for. 

Lisa's Video on the Google News Timeline

Premium Members can watch the Premium Video Using The Google News Archive for Genealogy.  Become a Premium Member Today.

If you have information about the progress being made with the paper of records content Iâd love to hear from you so I can update everyone here on the show.   Email me or call the voice mail line at 925-272-4021 to leave a message that I can play on the show.

GEM: Profile America
40^th Anniversary of the Moon Landing â July 20

Visit NASAâs websiteâs Apollo 40^th Anniversary pages

Watch the Launchâ
âas you would have seen it on July 16, 1969, at 9:26 AM EDT T-minus 00:5:59 and counting

GEM: Interview with Geneablogger Thomas MacEntee
Thomas talks about how to do genealogy blogging, his own numerous blogs, and some tips for you to get started blogging about your own family history. 

Watch the video version of this interview at the Genealogy Gems TV Channel at YouTube  

Thomas MacEnteeâs Blogroll:

Geneabloggers

Grandma Austin's Diaries   

Bootcamp for Genea-Bloggers

Destination: Austin Family

And I Helped! 

Lowville Obituaries

Lowville Long Ago

The Graveyard Rabbit of New York Rural Cemeteries   

A Catskill Christmas                 

GEM: The July 2009 Family Tree Magazine Podcast Episode
Snippet of my interview with Eric Grundset, Library Director at the DAR Library

Ericâs fave collection:
GRC National Index
2 Volume â Vital Records of Americans in China and Korea

Mark your calendars: Join Lisa at the Family History Expo in Sandy, Utah just outside Salt Lake City August 28 & 29, 2009.

Sign up for the Family Tree Webinar...
Finding Your Family in Old Newspapers:
Top Web Sites for Getting the Scoop on Your Relatives

When: Wednesday, July 29th at 7:00 pm Eastern / 4:00 pm Pacific
Duration: 1 Hour
Cost: $29.99
Presenter: Lisa Louise Cooke
Be aware: SPACE IS LIMITED!

My Table Mates at the Friday Night Jamboree Banquet

Read Lisa's Blog Posts about this year's Jamboree:

Tukufu Zuberi Wows Researchers at Jamboree

Listen to Lisa's one on one interview with Tukufu in Episode 63

How My Mom Prepared Me For The Geneablogger Summit
Photo Above:  With Dick Eastman

Top 10 Things I Noticed At The Geneablogger Dinner 

NEWS:

Family Tree Magazine Webinar
Finding Your Family In Old Newspapers

Lisa's article called Grave Transformations appears in the September 2009 issue of Family Tree Magazine on news stands now.

Watch the Grave Transformations video for step-by-step instructions.

GEM: Interview with Randy Seaver, Genealogy Blogger

 Randy's Blogs:

The Geneaholic Blog

The Genea-Musings Blog

To purchase an "Iceberg" poster that Randy refers to in the interview, email the California Genealogical Society and Library at calgen1898@calgensoc.org or call 510-663-1358.

I've written a blog post about the D-Day anniversary that includes an article that appeared in the Yorkshire Post about how the memory of WWII is slipping through the cracks of time. 

In my own family my grandfather"s brother Elzie Cecil Moore who we called Uncle Elzie participated in the invasion of Normandy and received the bronze star and a purple heart for a shot he took to his shoulder during the invasion.  Shortly after that he received a second purple hear for a shot he received through his face.  Growing up I always noticed that scar on his chin and thought it was a cute dimple, not realizing until I started asking questions about family history that it was from a bullet.

Above:  Elzie in Boot Camp

My Grandmother Pauline Moore worked at the Kaiser Shipyard in Richmond, California building the Navy ships that sailed the Pacific.  She was the secretary to the Dock Yard Manager for Yard #2 and that meant that she helped hire and process all the Rosies.   In fact, when the Yard was finally closed down at the end of the war, Grandma was the last women through the gates.  Like so many women she sacrified time with my dad was born in 1939 and was not yet in school.  But she often told me it was one of the happiest times in her life because everyone was pulling together.

Above:  Grandma Pauline and my dad during WWII

Check out the post D Day Anniversary on the Genealogy Gems Blog where you will find a link to the Yorkshire Post as well as a video of the events of D Day.    

NEWS:
On the genealogy conference front there are several great events coming up:    

The Family History Expo in Loveland, Colorado June 12 - 13, 2009.  

The Southern California Genealogical Jamboree in Burbank, CA on  June 26 â 28, 2009 which Iâll be attending. Iâll be teaching two classes on Google, a beginning and Advanced, and Iâll also be on the panel for the Son of a Blogger Summitt with Dick Eastman, Steve Danko, DearMyrtle, George Morgan and others.  And when Iâm not doing that Iâll be at the Family Tree Magazine booth in exhibit hall.   

You can get more information about the Jamboree at the Jamboree 2009 Blog. And you can register at the Southern California genealogical society Website.  

The 29th annual International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies International Conference on Jewish Genealogy being held August 2 â 7, 2009 in Philadelphia, PA  You can register at the IAJGS website.      

Iâll also be at the Family History Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah August 28 & 29, 2009 

Genealogy Records Update:
In May of 2009 FamilySearch announced that it has published millions of records from Southern states to its free online collection.        

The most recent additions to the Indexing Project:    
Alabama Statewide Deaths 1908 to 1974 (Index) 
Arkansas County Marriages: 1837 to 1957 
Civil War Pension Index Cards (Digital Images) 
Florida Deaths 1877 to 1939 (Index) 
Florida State Censuses: 1855, 1935, 1945 (Digital Images) 
Georgia Deaths 1914 to 1927 
Louisiana War of 1812 Pension Lists (Images) 
North Carolina, Davidson County Marriages and Deaths, 1867â1984 (Digital Images) 
Texas Death Index 1964 to 1998 (Index) 
Texas Deaths 1890 to 1976  
West Virginia Births 1853 to 1990 (Index) 
West Virginia Marriages 1853 to 1970 (Index) 
West Virginia Deaths 1853 to 1970 (Index)

Thank you for supporting this free podcast
by clicking the Amazon
and other sponsor links
to do your online shopping!

GEM: Interview with Kathy Meade of Genline.com

Lisa talks with Kathy about Genlineâs new Transcription Service

Also check out Lisaâs other interview with Kathy Meade in the June 2009 episode of the Family Tree Magazine Podcast     

Swedish Parish Look Up  
You need to be registered, but no credit card is required to register.    Visit with Kathy in person at the upcoming Family History Expo in Loveland, Colorado on June 12 â 13, 2009. 

She will also be at the Southern California Genealogical Jamboree in Burbank, CA June 26 â 28, 2009. 

Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member

GEM: Paper of Record / Google News Archive
Hereâs a comprehensive list of what is currently online in the Google News Archive, as well as content that will be added in the next three months, and the records that at this point in time will not be added due to lack of display rights.         

Google News Archive Timeline Video

(This podcast episode is an Enhanced Version which will include images that will appear on your Video iPod screen or in iTunes artwork area.  Download the mp4 file to your hard drive or download in iTunes)

Lisa reads an email from Mark Winter in Hixson, TN
TIP:  "I use my digital camera to help document my findings.  It is also very helpful in copying photographs so I don't have to take the originals.”

QUESTION:  “I have had several relatives ask for book of the family.  In a podcast do you discuss considerations in what kind of "book" to produce?”

ANSWER: The Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 13
I cover publishing family history books using Kodak Gallery. 

I think these books are great for creating something beautiful and easy to read to share with non-genealogist relatives.  They love them because they can read them in one sitting and they can be packed full of wonderful old family photos.

Of course there are many different approaches you can take when publishing a family history book and the Kodak books are just one approach.  Stay tuned because I plan on covering publishing more in depth in the future on the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast.

If you want to share your genealogy stories or have a question do like Mark did and drop me a line.

GEM: Profile America - Odometer

 
Inventor William Clayton 

GEM: Interview with George Morgan

The Genealogy Guys Podcast

The Southern California Genealogical Jamboree Website

The Official Guide to Ancestry.com

How to do Everything Genealogy 2^nd Edition

Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member Today

GEM: Profile America - Mother's Day

Since this episode is being published on Mother"s Day I want to wish all of you mom’s out there a wonderful relaxing day with your family.  And I want to send a personal Mother’s Day greeting to my Mom – Ellen Koehn - thank you and I love you very much!

Get a free copy of my e-book 5 Fabulous Google Strategies for the Family Historian as a thankyou for signing up for the free e-newsletter. 

NEWS:  Lisa discusses 9 newspaper databases being launched by Genealogy Bank 

MAILBOX FOLLOWUP:  Russ Worthington's answers to a listener"s question on familial relationships in Family Tree Maker.

How To Re-Order Spouses

How to Enter Intra-Familial Marriages  

 Listen to Family History: Genealogy Made Easy

GEM: Online Downloadable Source Citations
Itâs A Gem of An Idea!  Mark Tucker who writes the ThinkGenealogy blog posted a provocative video on April 20, 2009.  The blog post is entitled Better Way To Cite Online Sources.   

The heart of his proposal is this:  In order to encourage quality genealogy research among their customers, shouldnât the websites that sell access to genealogical records online also provide a source citation for those records that the user can download and include in their research?  As it stands today, when we download letâs say a page from a census record or a page from a newspaper, thereâs often times nothing on the digitized image itself to indicate which database it came from, or even a location or date. 

Mark emailed me to say âever since our interviews in St. George, I have not stopped thinking of ways to get the message out for simplifying citing sources using Evidence Explained.â  And he sent me a link to a message board post from Elizabeth Shown Mills.

Randy Seaverâs comments on the subject at the  geneamusings blog 

This last week I had a chance to sit down and interview genealogy blogger and lecturer Stephen Danko for the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast and I took the opportunity to ask him for his input. 

 
     Lisa & Stephen Danko

We really need to hear from at this point are the genealogy subscription records websites themselves.  Itâs their product that we are talking about.  And in the end, these digitized genealogy records we are talking about citing sources for are indeed âproducts.â   And for companies like Ancestry and World Vital Records / familylink.com this is about business. 

I contacted both Ancestry and World Vital Records to do brief interviews with their reps about this proposed idea, and how they see it potentially fitting in to their future business plan, and also to hear what they think of this grass roots effort amongst their valued customers - In these tough economic times it must be great to see the interest that their customers have in their product and their willingness to stay engaged with them and provide input as to what elements could be added to their products to add increased value and draw for their customers.

Iâve done many interviews with folks from Ancestry with the help of their very efficient and responsive publicist, as well as interviews with folks at familylink.  Most recently I had a great time interviewing the COO of familylink Steve Nickle who gave us a terrific sneak peek at their newest venture called Genseek.  And you can listen to that interview in Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 61.  

In this episode I will play for you the responses from both Ancestry and familylink / World Vital Records to my inquiry about whether record sites providing source citations for the records they provide to their customers. 

Yep, you heard it correctly.  For the first time in two years of this podcast not only did they not provide a telephone interview, they didnât respond to my inquiry at all.   Thatâs never happened before.  The silence is deafening!

As a genealogy media producer Iâm pretty disappointed in both Ancestry and World Vital Records responses because any time they send out a press release or want to talk about a new venture they are launching I have welcomed the information and provided it here on the show and on my blog, as so many of us who podcast and blog do â and that kind of passing the word on has got to help their bottomline. 

This is the first time that I havenât had a reply within 24 hours of an interview inquiry with Ancestry.  And I think that tells us a lot!

Elizabeth Shown Mills:  âI suspect theyâll do that catch-up (and sheâs referring to how these companies will have to go back and cite sources for the thousands of databases theyâve built up over the years) only if newer companies adopt Markâs recommendation and the older companies then feel the pressure to compete.â

So what do you think?  This is one of those questions that affects all of us.  Send me an email or leave your comment on the Genealogy Gems voice mail line at (925) 272-4021 and I will play it on the next episode.  Let your voice be heard! 

GEM:  Google News Timeline
The Google News Timeline can pull from lots of different sources:

1. Newspapers
2. Magazines
3. Blogs
4. Wikipedia
5. various media sources
6. even Baseball scores. 

So letâs do a search that could possibly help us with our family tree.  In my case Iâm going to search on the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake.

1. Go to www.newstimeline.googlelabs.com
2. In the Search box at the top of the page type in â1906 San Francisco Earthquakeâ
3. click the ADD QUERY button

The Timeline then appears and youâll see columns running across the screen  from left to write, each column representing a month on the timeline. 

To edit the columns:

1. Go to the top on the sort of toolbar
2. Click the SHOW drop down menu
3. Revise your timeline to have each column represent a day, week, month, year or decade.  

You can also click the SIZE drop down and you can select from small medium or large. 

GEM: Interview with Maureen Taylor
Maureen discusses her upcoming appearance at the Southern California Genealogical Jamboree

   Maureen Taylor

GEM:  Profile America
Casey Jones 

Share the Podcast...If you enjoyed what you heard in todayâs show and you find this free podcast helpful then be sure and spread the word.  Podcasts are still fairly new to most folks, and your friends, and genealogy society may just need someone like you to introduce them to the wonderful world of free podcasts.  So I hope youâll help me get the word out by sharing the website address www.genealogygems.tv

Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast episode 23

The Genealogical Proof Standard is a tool that the pros use and I really want to encourage all researchers professional or not, to follow it as well because it causes you to stop and think before passing on information.  In episode 23 I'm providing you with a free downloadable research worksheet that incorporates the elements of the GPS while prompting you to find and even more importantly document those sources. 

NEWS:  In March Ancestry reported that they added or updated more than 775 databases and or book titles on Ancestry.com. That's an average of more than 35 titles each weekday.

New and Updated Content and Web Site Improvements at Ancestry are covered.

MAILBOX:  Listener Question regarding Family Tree Maker 2009 Platinum Edition.

"I have at least one instance in my husband's tree where two first cousins married. This, of course means that some of the tree overlaps itself. I can not get the FTM software to recognize that the people are the sameâDo you or any of your listeners know if I am just missing something or can it not be done??â

If you have an answer to this dilemma please email me at or call in and leave the answer on the voicemail line to be played on the next episode at (925) 272-4021 

GEM: Interview with Tukufu Zuberi

By now you have probably heard that the Southern California Genealogical Society is holding their annual Jamboree on June 26 through the 28.  But what you may not know is that thereâs a lot more to the Jamboree than just great classes and the exhibitors.  For example, at the Friday night banquet they have arranged for a very special keynote speaker - and Iâm really excited to have him on the show with me today.  You know his as one of the sleuths on the PBS series History Detectives, Tukufu Zuberi.

Get the HISTORY DETECTIVES book

Dr. Tukufu Zuberi is an important academic voice. He is the Lasry Family Professor of Race Relations, Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology, and the Faculty Associate Director of the Center for Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania

He is best recognized for his research on African and American society, and for developing and expanding the Africana Studies program at the University of Pennsylvania

(Below: A History Detectives episode)

Tukufuâs Web Site

Check out the Southern California Genealogical Jamboree Blog for everything you need to know about this exciting upcoming event.

Download the Jamboree brochure today to start planning!

Tukufu Zuberi will be the Keynote speaker at the Jamboree's Friday evening Banquet.  Friday evening, June 26, 2009
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. 

Sign up for the free Genealogy Gems e-newsletter and receive the FREE 20 page downloadable e-book 5 Fabulous Google Research Strategies for the Family Historian

 The show is all about making improvements and changes in your life and I got a chance to share what genealogy has meant in my life and how it can be a positive journey for everyone regardless of their background.  

Jim Mowatt over at the Historyzine podcast invited Lisa to be a part of the show.  Jim has always been a macro history guy, but he has finally caught the genealogy bug and he invited me to come on and give a pitch to his listeners about why researching their own family history can be fascinating and actually dove tail into their love of world history.   Historyzine Episode 14.  

Genealogy Gems was featured in the March 20, 2009 World Vital Records Newsletter.  I recently interviewed Steve Nickle the President and Chief Operating Officer for familylink about their brand new website that will be launched here in the next few months called GenSeek. Genealogy Gems Podcast episode #61.    

In today's episode itâs time to shake off Winter and weâre going to do some Genealogical Channel Surfing!  

GEM: Part 3 of Lisaâs Interview with Darby Hinton, Actor and Producer   Grab your surf board and get ready to ride the wave of the final segment of my interview with Darby Hinton who played Fess Parkerâs son for 6 years on the old Daniel Boone series.  In todayâs episode Darby is going to tell us all about his brand new television series that heâs working on called Hintons Living History.   

In Episode 60 Darby Hinton shared what it was like growing up in Hollywood the son of an actor, and a child actor himself.  

Above: Darby Hinton as Israel Boone on "Daniel Boone"

In Episode 61 I got a chance to share the research that I did on the Hinton Family Tree with Darby & his wife Shan.

In this final interview, Darby explains how his background in Hollywood and his interest in his family history have merged together in an exciting new television series that heâs producing called Hintons Living History.

GEM: Hang Ten with Ken Marks, Executive Producer of Legend Seekers.  We spent Episode 22 of my Family History Genealogy Made Easy podcast talking to Ken about this new show that features the discovery and portrayal of real life family history stories. 

 In todayâs interview, Ken is going to give us a personal look at their brand new website that just launched this week, and how YOU can submit your own family stories for inclusion in the series!   So grab your remote and get ready to channel surf the genealogy wave!    

GEM:  Profile America
A Favorite Drink Goes on Sale March 30, 2009 

GEM: Who Do You Think You Are TV Series Scheduled   Bloggers are reporting that the new Who Do You Think You Are TV series which is coming to America from the UK has won itâs spot back on the Spring calendar.   Itâs great to see this wave of genealogy shows hitting the airwaves, and my hope is that it will bring genealogy to the forefront of the television viewers minds as a fun and challenging endeavor.  

Sign up for the free Genealogy Gems e-Newsletter  

We talked about how to set up a genealogy iGoogle page, Google Alerts, Site Search and a wide range of brand new Google tools that can be used to move your research forward.

MAILBOX:  I got an email from Tina Kelly who lives in the United Kingdom and she has a question about obtaining vital records here in the U.S. and since I have lots of listeners outside the U.S. I thought this would be worth sharing.

GEM: Interview with Steve Nickle, President of Familylink.com  Steve Nickle, President of Familylink.com shares some exciting news about a new website they are preparing to launch called GenSeek.

Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member Today 
Use the Coupon code: SAVE20 to save 20% on the annual membership.

GEM:  Part 2 Interview with Darby Hinton of Daniel Boone Fame  In our last episode #60 we got to spend some time with Darby Hinton who was a child star back in the 1960s, and for six of those years he played Isreal the son of Daniel Boone played by Fess Parker in the hit TV series Daniel Boone. 

In part 2 of my interview with Darby and his wife Shan I get to share what I found on the Hinton Family History.

(Above: Darby's grandfather Edward L. Hinton holding Darby's father)

I've got more genealogy podcasting for you over at the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast. In Episode 21 I'm going to share a tool with you that will help you navigate your genealogy research.  It's called the Genealogical Proof Standard, or GPS.  And my special guest on the show is Mark Tucker of the ThinkGenealogy blog who has created a terrific visual map of the GPS.   

Listen to Family History: Genealogy Made Easy Episode 21

Subscribe in iTunes

Sign up for the free Genealogy Gems e-newsletter because that"s how youâll find out about whatâs coming up in the show, where Iâll be speaking and some of the cool websites and tips that are only mentioned in newsletter. 

In today"s episode is part one of Lisaâs interview with Darby, who talks about his TV career which started before he could even walk.  Darby has appeared in in movies like the Son of Flubber, and classic TV shows like Mr. Ed, Wagon Train, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and The Big Valley.  But of course we all know him as Isreal the son of Daniel Boone, played by the wonderful Fess Parker.  He had a fascinating childhood meeting the likes of Walt Disney and having Charleton Heston for a godfather. 

GEN CLASS WINNER:  Linda Scham of Illinois is the winner of the two free genealogy classes courtesy of  GenClass.com  Congratulations Linda!

MAILBOX:  Listener Teresa Redway emailed a brickway about her ancestor Isaac Lovell born in 1844 in Bristol, England. Lisa recommends  investigating both Isaac and Alfred further in England.  Look in church records for Alfred as a witness to the events of others in the church.

Locate birth records in Allegheny County, PA:  Start with the US GenWeb site to find out more about the records available in that county as well as the history of county.  Allegheny County US Gen Web site 

Another option is the vitalrec.com website. Click through to Pennsylvania and Allegheny County to find more information on the vital records for the county. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, PA hold birth records for Pittsburg from 1870 to 1905.  Fee: $5 US which is a non-refundable fee for search and copy of a Birth record. 

For Historical Context, Teresa can check out what was going on in Pennsylvania from 1869-1874 at the Explore PA History website.  About.com website has a timeline on Pittsburgh history.  The Carnegie Library of Pittsburg also has a chronology of the cityâs history and lots of other great info.  The March 2009 issue of Family Tree Magazine article called "Hard Timesâ by Fern Glazer on page 29. 

GEM: Interview with Darby Hinton of Daniel Boone Fame 

Darby Hinton was just seven years old when he signed on to play Isreal, the son of Daniel Boone which ran from Sept 24, 1964 to September 10, 1970 on NBC.  And over 165 episodes he worked and played alongside the 6 foot 6â actor Fess Parker on the film sets in California and Utah.  

In this episode youâll hear part 1 of my three part interview with Darby Hinton  and his lovely wife Shan.  Today weâre going to start back at the beginning as Darby shares his memories of how he broke into the TV business, and what it was like to be working on the set of Daniel Boone.

Watch The TV Legends 7 part interview with Fess Parker on YouTube

Here's an excerpt from the first episode of Daniel Boone...

Family Reunions

I'd love to hear from you if you"ve held a family reunion.  What kinds of activities did you plan, and what kinds of things did you wish you had thought of back in the planning stage?  I've been toying with the idea of having a family reunion on my mom"s side of the family, but I could really use some good advice on the subject.  So drop me a line  if youâve organized a family reunion before and tell me about your experiences. 

Conferences:

The Southern California Genealogical  Society is well into their planning for their 40^th Annual Genealogy Jamboree which will be held June 26-28, 2009, at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, in Burbank, California

They just announced their list of speakers which you will find on The Genealogy Gems News Blog 

Iâll be there teaching my Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems Seminars, Parts I and II as well as participating in the Son of a Blogger Summit.  The Official Jamboree blog

Who Do You Think You Are TV Update 

New Kindle 2

I wrote about Amazon.comâs recent announcement that the New Kindle 2 is ready for pre-order.  I would really like to hear from you if you have or have used a Kindle. So check out the Kindle and the improvements that have been made.  

Any time you go to Amazon from one of our website links and purchase something you help keep this genealogy podcast free.  Thank you very much for your support!

Lincoln's Birthday:

8 Civil War Era Records Coming Online in Feb. 2009  

Ancestry has just announced that they have posted five of those databases:

1.  Abraham Lincoln Papers (from the Library of Congress)

2. The New Orleans Slave Manifests, covering 1807

3. The Confederate Pension Applications from Georgia        

4. The Confederate Applications for Presidential Pardons

5. The U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and

Ancestryâs Civil War Collection

Family History: Genealogy Made Easy

Episode 16: The Family History Library including catalog research tips that will help you get even better search results!

GEM: Profile America - The First U.S. Presidential Picture

Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member

GEM: Interview with Holly Hansen - Family History Expos

Watch videos at The Family History Expos TV channel at YouTube
Listen to the conference speakers and exhibitors at podcast.

Feb 27 & 28, 2009:  St. George, UT
|May 9, 2009: Logan, UT
June 12 & 13, 2009:  Colorado
Aug 28 & 29, 2009:  Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 16 & 17, 2009:  Redding, California
Jan.  22 & 23, 2010: Mesa, AZ

More information and registration

GEM:  GenClass with Lisa Alzo

One lucky listener is going to win not one but TWO free classes from Gen Class!  Lisa Alzo and the folks at GenClass have been gracious enough to provide me with 2 classes to give away FREE, which is a great educational opportunity.  And education is a big part of what I want to provide here on the show as well.   So hereâs what you need to do to have a chance to win:

Send an email with your name, state, and email address and the topic you would most like to learn about in 2009 on an upcoming podcast episode by midnight on Sunday Feb. 21, 2009

I will draw one lucky winner from all of the email entries. The winner will get their choice of any of the two classes provided by GenClass.  Iâll be announcing the winner on the Genealogy Gems News Blog and Episode 60 of the Genealogy Gems Podcast.   Thanks to the folks at GenClass, and good luck! 

GEM: Profile America â Number Please?

Sign up for the FREE Genealogy Gems e-newsletter

#2. From Paper (or Film) to the Web

#3  Online Searching: It's Complicated

#4 Inside Ancestry.comâs Top-Secret Data Center 

#5 Diane reveals the secret identity of the mysterious Ancestry Genealogy Blogger.  Or does she?  Youâll have to check that one out for yourself. 

In fact if youâre an Ancestry user or are considering a subscription I highly recommend Dianeâs blog series at the Genealogy Insider. 

The latest edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage & Culture has been published over at Small-leaved Shamrock http://www.small-leavedshamrock.blogspot.com 

The next edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture will be a St. Patrick's Day "virtual parade" online. Anyone who would like to particiate is welcome, whether or not they have Irish roots.  For more information on how to participate or to check out the latest carnival head over to http://www.irishheritagecarnival.blogspot.com.

Recent Genealogy Gems News Blog postings:

I wrapped up my ten genealogy strategies for the new year on Jan 21, 2009 

I also posted about the new American version of the television show Who Do You Think You Are?  Set your recorders to Monday nights at 8PM on NBC starting April 20. 

Subscribe for free to the Genealogy Gems News Blog 

There are some milestones going on these days as well.  The Library of Congress just crossed the 25,000 mark for books digitized.  A good article appeared about that on the Voice of America website: Scanning Project Digitizes 25,000 US Library of Congress Book

Whatâs new at Lisaâs Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast. Subscribe to the show for free in iTunes

On January 16, 2009 we started in on Online Family Trees.  Read more  

The more I explore them the more I become convinced that they are a powerful research tool that I predict in the next few years will become an absolute necessity for family historians. 

Episode 12: I you a comprehensive overview of online family trees.  And then we go straight to the source with an in depth interview with Kenny Freestone, Senior Product Manager at Ancestry.com whoâs primary responsibility is their online family tree tool. 

Episode 13:  We continue exploring our tree options with Scott Huskey of Photoloom.com.  They offer an incredible online visual approach to trees and research that centers around your own personal family photos.  Then I talk to Sasha Masick of GeneTree, who spices up their family tree tool with a DNA testing component. 

Episode 14:  Youâve got to tune in to hear how to go from one name and birth year, to three generations of family in 1 hour or less.  Itâs absolutely possibly, and Iâll show you how in this episode.  Then as we finish up with online family trees, I thought it was important to go over the techniques for following up on all those great connections you can make by posting your family tree online.  Weâll get started in Episode 14 talking about how to locate telephone numbers online, the prep work you need to do before you start to dial, breaking the ice and conducting the interview. 

Then weâll finish up in Episode 15 on Feb 6 with what we as the interviewer should be doing during the call,  what to do if No Answers, weâll cover the "Must Askâ Questions, and how to wrap up the call.  
 

NEW RECORDS ONLINE

The folks over at the 1911census.co.uk officially launched their website this month.  And they have added many of the counties that were unavailable during beta testing including Lancashire, Essex, Kent, Yorkshire (West Riding), Nottinghamshire and Herefordshire so you can now access those British census records from 1911.

World Vital Records recently added 20 newspaper databases from Mexico and Canada  ranging from 1833-1994:

Agricultor Mexicano y Hogar (Ciudad JuÃÃrez, Chihuahua, Mexico)
Apuntes Viejos (General, , Mexico)
Arte (Mocorito, Sinaloa, Mexico)
British Columbian (New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada)
Bytown Gazette (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Cambridge Daily Reporter (Cambridge(Galt, Hespeler, Preston), Ontario, Canada)
Canada Gazette (Ottawa, Federal Government Publications, Canada)
Canadian Correspondent (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Charlottetown Examiner (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada)
Correo Espanol (General, Mexico)
Correspondent and Advocate (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Daily Mirror (London, England - London Area, UK)
Diario del Hogar (Mexico D.F., Mexico)
Drumheller Mail (Drumheller, Alberta, Canada)
Edmonton Bulletin (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
Educador Practico Ilustrado (Mexico D.F., Mexico)
Fin de Siglo (General, Mexico)
Grand River Sachem (Caledonia, Ontario, Canada)
Halifax British Colonist (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
Halifax Citizen (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)

MAILBOX:
Lisa answers an email from Rollei in Australia about photo preservation and Maria asks for advice on how to inquire about delicate subjects with an elderly relative.

Subscribe to GENEALOGY GEMS PREMIUM today and save 20% by using this coupon code:  SAVE20

FAMILY HISTORY: Genealogy Made Easy

GEM: Profile America
Feb 3:  Income Tax History

Gem:  Family History Valentine
Review Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 20

The gem was called Christmas in July and I showed you how to make cover a store bought candy bar with a home made Christmas Label that would evoke genealogical memories.  The candy bar made a great stocking stuffer.  Well, Iâm up for chocolate any time of year, and Valentines day is a perfect time I think to take a new twist on that idea. 

printable publishing template

This time we have a new theme to inspire us - the theme of Valentines Day and love.  Iâm guessing thereâs a romantic couple or two in your family tree.  Perhaps your bar could pay tribute to one of them or to a few couples.   

You could give these candy bars celebrating the love of the past to your family of today.  Your kids and their spouses, grandkids, you get the idea.  Think how surprised and thrilled an elderly aunt or uncle would be to be remembered on Valentines day with a small package in the mail containing a family history candy bar. 

 
Valentines my grandmother received in school

If your feeling a little more grand than a simple candy bar, consider buying a heart shaped box of candy, tracing the lid, and creating a label that could cover the entire label with a custom message of ancestral love.  Use heavy weight or photo paper and attach it with a light coat of rubber cement or use double sided tape.  If the box is just a bit bigger than a piece of printer paper you could put the digital file you create on your computer of the label onto a flash drive and take it into your local copy store to print out in the correct size.

Here again is your chance to share some of your familyâs heritage with your family today.  Kindle their interest in the familyâs history while showing them that you care with a sweet memories candy bar or valentine box.

If you do create some sweet memory candy bars this Valentineâs day be sure and snap a photo and email it to me.    I really enjoy seeing what you guys come up with!

GEM:  Profile America
Feb 5:  Bubble Gum Day

Chewing Gum History

REGISTER TODAY FOR CONFERENCE

Iâll be there teaching 4 classes, as well as conducting lots of new video interviews for Family History Expos TV channel on YouTube. 

And of course be sure and stop by the Genealogy Gems Booth in the Exhibit Hall and say Hi!  If youâd like more information or youâd like to register for the 2 day conference go to www.familyhistoryexpos.com

Richard Knerr (right) and Arthur Melin, founders of Wham-O

GEM: Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree

Paula Hinkle, Co-Chair
Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree.

June 26 - 28, 2009
Burbank, CA

I will be there teaching classes and at a booth in the Exhibit Hall.

Website
Email for more information 

GEM: Profile America
Jan 13 Fuller Brush

 Red Skelton as The Fuller Brush Man

GEM:  Interview with Sally Jacobs, The Practical Archivist

PHOTO

Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast
Be sure and listen to my other family history podcast called Family History: Genealogy Made Easy where in each episode what you need to know step-by-step to climb your family tree.  Also in iTunes

The Genealogy Gems TV Channel at YouTube  

Email Lisa

The Genealogy Gems News Blog

GEM: Name That Tune

I'll See You In My Dreams was a big hit for Cliff Edwards who also performed it on the ukuele.  In fact he was known as "Uulele Ike."

If you think you know the name of today's mystery song, please email me call and leave the answer on the voice mail line at 925-272-4021.

Dec. 24, 1968  

In 1968 the three man crew of Apollo 8 became the first humans in history to orbit the moon.  Their hastily-planned mission saw them enter lunar orbit on Christmas Eve after a three day voyage from earth.  In one of a number of scheduled live TV broadcasts from the spacecrafts, the crew pointed their black and white camera at the lunar horizon and read the first ten verses of the Bible's book of Genesis.
 

History of British Christmas Traditions

I thought it would be fun to ask my friend James Mowatt of the Historyzine Podcast to tell us alittle bit about the history of Christmas in Britain, and describe how our British ancestors might have celebrated the holiday.

From 1940: Princesses Elizabeth and Margaretâs Christmas Speech
(Below: Princess Elizabeth along with her younger sister Margaret sending Christmas Greetings over the radio airwaves.)

From 1917:  Christmas, Christmas, Blessed Blessed Day   

From 1916:  Christmas Eve  Music Box  
A solo performed by Robert Gayler on the Celesta - Fantasie on old German Christmas Carols.     A celesta is  a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard.   It looks very much like a miniature upright piano or a large wooden music box.

From 1913: The Bells of Christmas
a collection of Christmas carols performed by the Edison Band (below) 

From 1911: A Christmas Classic â The Awakening of Scrooge  
Music Hall Performer Bransby Williams (b. 1870 - d.1961) recorded this for Edison Records. 

Watch this video to learn how to use the free iTunes software (you don't need an iPod to use it!), and subscribe to this podcast for free.

Then watch this video to learn more about how to use the podcast website.

Family History Expos TV

Watching Family History Expo TV is like your own Video Conference!  If you were lucky enough to go youâll get to see the folks you may have missed and get refresher info from those you did hear, and if you werenât able to attend, this is your chance to get some great tips and ideas from the experts who were there. 

The next Family History Expo will be in St. George Feb 27 & 28, 2009

Lisaâs Classes:
Genealogy Podcasts 101
What You Must Know To Save Your Research From Destruction
Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems Part I
Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems Part II

And while I was in Mesa AZ, I finally got a chance to sit down and interview Dick Eastman.  Dick is always the one doing the interviewing and blogging, and I just thought it was about time I sat him down and got him to tell us his story.  And you can hear that interview in itâs entirety in Episode 5 of my other podcast Family History: Genealogy Made Easy.

Subscribe for free to Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast in iTunes.  I love getting to talk to genealogy experts up close and personal and I also have really gotten a lot out of going through the genealogy research process step-by-step. Itâs a great refresher for me as well as hopefully will help folks new to genealogy get started.  Itâs a lot of fun!

Fun at The Genealogy Gems News Blog

The Genealogy Hoe Down featuring genealogy blogger Miriam Robbins Midkiff, Genealogy Podcaster DearMYRTLE, Family Tree Magazine Editor Allison Stacy, and managing editor Diane Haddad.

Blog Post: Genealogists Run, Donât Walk, to Google!

Houston Public Libraryâs Fantastic Collection Coming Online.  Listen to my interview with Susan Kaufman manager, Houston Public Libraryâs Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research in the October 2008 episode of the Family Tree Magazine Podcast.  Subscribe to The Family Tree Magazine Podcast free in iTunes.

New at Ancestry: Search the U.S. City Directories database

Sign up for the free Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter

Calling all Norwegian researchers!  The folks at Family Search are going to start indexing the 1875 Norway Census!   In the first week of December, they will start indexing the 1875 Norway Census. This will be a large segment of the census for rural areas of Norway, but not the entire census.  FamilySearchâs Historical Family Reconstitution unit has joined forces with the University of Tromsà in Norway to complete this project. The university is indexing the census records for the urban areas of Norway.  Pass the word along that anyone interested in Norwegian genealogical research is encouraged to help by volunteering as a FamilySearch indexer.

New Google Gadgets: 
Age Difference Calculator
A Google Newspaper Achives Search Gadget
The Sirius People Finder
Tombstone Calculator Gadget
www.siriusgenealogy.com

Read Listener Phil Hayesâs blog post about his musical mom Jeanne T. Lewis. 

GEM: Interview with Curt Witcher, of the Allen County Library

I got a chance to talk to Curt while attending the Federation of Genealogy Societies Conference in Philadelphia, PA this last Sept. 2008.  Curt explains about the wide range of census records that many genealogists aren't taking advantage of.

Name That Tune!   The Darktown Strutter Ball Sheet MusicThe Darktown Strutter Ball Sheet Music You can even watch Guy Lombardo and Royal Canadians doing the  Darktown Strutters Ball in the 1950s (video below)     

If you think you know the name of Mystery Song #3 that Lisa played on this podcast episode email the answer or call and leave the answer on the voice mail line at 925-272-4021 so your answer can be played on the show.

A No Cost Way to Support the free Genealogy Gems Podcast. The holidays approaching and thereâs an easy way for you to get your online shopping done while supporting this show. By accessing websites like Amazon.com through the links on the Genealogy Gems homepage and throughout the website, Amazon gives The Genealogy Gems Podcast credit for your purchases. It doesnât cost you anything more, but by using the links on our website, you do a lot to help keep the free Genealogy Gems Podcast coming. Thank you!

Visit the the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel where you can watch lots of great genealogy themed videos.

Join the Genealogy Gems Podcast fan page at Facebook.

Catch up on what's going on in the world of genealogy at The Genealogy Gems News Blog. 

First, I wanted to do a show that anybody could stumble upon and with absolutely no prior experience in genealogy be able to listen to and enjoy and that would walk them step by step through the process of doing family history research.  It's like a long term free seminar that you can listen to and work along with!

The other area Iâve wanted to focus on is success stories and words of wisdom from experienced genealogists.  As I travel around going to conferences and as I read my email, I hear so many great stories.  I wanted to have a show where I could really showcase these stories and the wisdom of experienced genealogists.  Newbies to genealogy will get a sense of what they can look forward to, and more experienced genealogists like you guys can enjoy hearing  personal stories from those that you have probably heard of in the world of genealogy. 

So thatâs what youâll find at Family History: Genealogy Made Easy â Personal conversations and stories from the experts, and a genealogy how to course all wrapped in to one. 

No matter what experience level you are at in genealogy I hope you will subscribe to the new show this week.  Itâs a weekly half hour show and you can find it in iTunes right along with this podcast.  

Flash Alert:  I recently received a prompt to upgrade the free Flash player on my computer and have had nothing but problems.  Iâve been checking into troubleshooting websites and there is quite an uproar about all the glitches it causes.  Please be careful, and note that you will very likely have troubles with the click to play buttons on the Genealogy Gems website if you do elect to upgrade.  Iâll keep you posted when I hear more about fixes.  It appears that capability to view HD is the main focus of the upgrade, so if thatâs not a high priority, you may way to stay with the player you have for now.  

GEM: Profile America
Cash Register History 
The James Ritty Patent at Google Patents.

GEM: Interview with Colleen Fitzpatrick, The Forensic Genealogist
 Forensic Genealogist Website

GEM: MacGenealogist
Ben Sayer reviews genealogy software for the Macintosh computer:  MacFamily Tree.

GEM: Quilting Family Traditions

The ladies in our family are Connie Drew, Stacie Sanders, Steffanie Wicker, Shannon Stewart, Shellie Ireland and Brooke Drew 

Lee wrote me to say "Seeing your own love of quilts, you know how precious these handmade creations will be to our descendants throughout the generations. And so it goes, passing on skills, love and enjoyment across the generations through the use of sewing needles...â

Great Family Tradition & Heirloom Ideas from Lee and Connie Drew:

1. Sister Quilts â Round up relatives from the neighborhood or around the country and start a tradition that will create lasting heirlooms.  If you donât have a lot of quilters in your family, how about doing cross stitch or scrapbook pages.
2. Create a family tree wall hanging.  There are so many mediums you could use.  Quilting, appliquÃ, cross stitch, painting,  â the options are pretty limitless.  I love how Connie incorporated family silhouettes into the tree.
3. Create unique heirloom clothing.  Not artistic or handy with a needle?  How about creating custom shirts on a website like Cafà Press.  Just upload your images and add text if you like.  How about a shirt for each person with the photo of the ancestor they remind you of most? And you could still sew in a little tag that says it was created with love from grandma like Connie did.

Whether youâre really artsy or donât have a creative bone in your body, thereâs a project out there for you that will allow you to express yourself, and promote lasting family traditions.

More Resources:

1. Genealogy Gems Episode 39 on Heritage Quilts 
2. Genealogy Gems Presents Heritage Quilts Video at the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel
3. American Quilterâs Society Website 

GEM: Linguistic Bit by James Mowatt
Historyzine Podcast Website

GEM: Name That Tune
As youâll remember last episode (episode 53) I told you that I had recently inherited a reel to reel tape that was recorded in the 1960s by my husbandâs Grandfather and Grandmother Cooke.  I played this first of several songs on the tape for you

The Library of Congress American Memory Website had the old original sheet music.  The song is entitled Hush-a-bye, Ma Baby with a subtitle of the Missouri Waltz.  Lyric by J. R. Shannon.   music from an original melody procured by John Valentine Eppel, and arranged by Frederic Knight Logan.

Thanks to those who wrote and called in for identifying the song for me!In this episode I play another song in the hopes that youâll be able to do it again.  Mystery Song #2 - NAME THAT TUNE!

If you think you know the name of that song, please email me or better yet call and leave the answer on the voice mail line at 925-272-4021.

There are lots of ways to contact me: 
Email me 
Visit me at Facebook
Join the Genealogy Gems Facebook Group
Catch up on whatâs going on in the world of genealogy at The Genealogy Gems News Blog.
Visit the the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel where you can watch lots of great genealogy themed videos

Lisa with her prized pumpkin

Genealogy Gems Halloween Greetings 

Halloween Haunts Podcast by WHRO FM radio:  Stories based on ghostly legends and lore of Hampton Roads, Virginia.  Thanks to my friend Michelle Gabriele-Harrell producer off the Halloween Haunts podcast.

In iTunes:
Halloween Haunts 2006 Audio Podcast Series and the 2008 series Halloween Haunts Fright Bytes Video Podcast in iTunes 

iGoogle Update
Oct. 16, 2008 blog post on my Genealogy Gems News Blog about the NEW iGoogle that was just launched this week in the U.S.   

7 part iGoogle Video Series walks you step by step on the computer screen through set up to getting the full potential.  It's just one of the things you get when you become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member.  Sign Up Today

Family History Expo
On November 14 & 15 Iâll be at the Family History Expo at the Mesa Conference Center in Mesa AZ.  Iâll be there teaching my 2 part class Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems, and Iâll have the Genealogy Gems Podcast booth in the Exhibit Hall so I hope if youâre in the area you will stop in and say "hiâ.  For more information or to register.

WorldCat:  I also wrote a blog recently called Getting the Most Out of WorldCat and I wanted to mention that there is going to be a Free seminar Oct 28 at 2PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific online sponsored by WorldCat so Iâll have a link to that posting so you can read all about it.

MAILBOX:   Kerry Steward called in about some comments I made on Genealogy Gems podcast Episode #40.  Here are two articles about Henrietta Pruisner Tesch and Katherine Tesch Rugg's families.
"Somewhat of a Record" and
"Homer Woman Has Given Birth to 15 Children"

GEM: Profile America - Oct. 13 Navy Month

âHit hard, hit fast, hit oftenâ  Admiral âBullâ Halsey (above)

GEM: Interview with Yvette Arts, Director of Content Partnerships at World Vital Records

Strategies for getting the most out of World Vital Records from Yvette Arts:

First-time users/browsing: Perform a Basic Search. Youâll get the largest search results by just searching by last name. Look over the results to narrow down all the possibilities. Try adding first name next. Some combinations of first and last names are more difficult to find exact matches for than others (e.g., John Smith). But if you have an unusual name like Jared Quackenbush the search will only return a few results.

Next, if you know the location enter a full state name in the Place search. There are some results in their databases, such as for Google Books, that may not come up via the geographic. 

Donât forget to try alternative spelling for a surname.  

If you descide to subscribe, I hope youâll do so here which helps support this free version of the podcast. 

Additional Search Tips:  Entering a date is best when you only give a year.  If you already know a lot about an ancestor and now want to know specific information, try the Advanced Search.  Use broad search terms, not an exact year of birth.  Although you may know this information, mistakes may have been made in a document, or a first name may be abbreviated (e.g., Geo* is a good search term for George or J* may bring up a John that is otherwise listed as Jn). Excluding a source from a search because you have exact knowledge about an ancestor could lead to less accurate search results. 

Sign Up For Genealogy Gems Premium Members Only Podcast Episodes & Videos

GEM: Profile America - Oct 24 is the anniversary of Chips the U.S. War Dog being awared the Distinguished Service Medal      
Interview with Mary Ann Whitley whoâs father Herson Lamont Whitley served with Chips the US War Dog 

A Dog Called Chips by Mary Ann Whitley at the U.S. War Dogs Website 

GEM:  The MacGenealogist - In todayâs MacGenealogist Minute with Ben Sayer, Benâs continues his reviews of Genealogy software for the Macintosh computer with a review of iFamily for Leopard. 

GEM:  Name That Tune - I need your help.  Several months ago I received a reel to reel tape that was recorded by my husbandâs Grandfather and Grandmother Cooke.  Iâm going to play one song on each episode in the hopes that one of you dear listenerâs will recognize the tune and email me with the name. Or leave a voice mail at 925-272-4021.  Thanks!

Support the Show:  With the holidays approaching thereâs a wonderful way for you to do your online shopping while supporting this show.  By accessing websites like Amazon.com through the links on the Genealogy Gems homepage and through the website, Amazon gives The Genealogy Gems Podcast credit for your purchases.  It doesnât cost you anything more, but by using the links on our website, you do a lot to help keep the free Genealogy Gems Podcast coming.  Thank you!

Visit the the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel where you can watch lots of great genealogy themed videos.

Join the Genealogy Gems Group on Facebook

Catch up on whatâs going on in the world of genealogy at The Genealogy Gems News Blog.

Premium episode all about how to tap into your inner private eye to find those long lost living relatives.  

Albert Farrington and chorus from 1914 sing "Rule Britannia" 

GEM: Interview with Rick Crume
Websites Rick refers to in the show: 

British National Archives and in itunes

Find My Past 

Ancestral Quest - new interface with New Family Search. 

Family Tree Magazine Podcast military records interview

Roots Ireland 

Genealogy Gems Premium:  Sign Up Now and use Coupon code SAVE20 to get 20% off the anual membership 

GEM:  Interview with Dr. Christopher Watts

Below: Harry Cooke's Apprenticeship Record, 1872

Additional Gems From Over The Pond:  

Lisa's Interview with Feargal O'Donnell of the Irish Family History Foundation.  View the 2 part video series:

Part 1 Video 

Part 2 Video

British History Podcasts: 

Binge Thinking History with Tony Cocks 

Historyzine Podcast with James Mowatt 

More Ways To Stay In Touch:
Email Lisa
Genealogy Gems on Facebook  
The Genealogy Gems News Blog
The Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel 

Sign up for the FREE Genealogy Gems Newsletter

I enjoyed hanging out at the Family Tree Magazine booth in the Exhibit Hall with editor Allison Stacy and Managing Editor Diane Haddad. 

September 2008 Family Tree Magazine podcast

News from the Blogosphere Video
While youâre at the Genealogy Gems News Channel you might want to click the SUBSCRIBE button which allows you to be notified when new videos are published so you donât have to check periodically. 

My article âHitting the Heirwavesâ is now out in the November 2008 issue of Family Tree Magazine. 

GEM: Interview with Jim Beidler â Chair of FGS 2008 Conference

Jim & Lisa

GEM: Profile America â ice cream cone

Become a Premium Member Today:
Use the Coupon code: SAVE20 to save 20% off annual membership

GEM: MacMinutes with Ben Sayer, The MacGenealogist

In todayâs MacGenealogist Minute with Ben Sayer, Benâs reviews Reunion 9, the leading Mac genealogy application.

GEM:  Podcaster Favorite Sayings Montage

GEM: Census Abbreviations - Census Abbreviations page at the Ancestors Search website.  

eMail Lisa

GEM:  Profile America
August 16, 1862  Birthdate of Amos Alonzo Stagg

GEM:  A Little DayDreaming with Genealogy Podcasters
The Genealogy Guys
DearMYRTLE
Bill Puller of the Genealogy Tech Podcast
Anna-Karin Shander
Mike O'Loughlin of Irish Roots Cafe 

GEM: Interview with Tim Russell of the Prairie Home Companion

Tim Russel of A Prairie Home Companion radio show

Prairie Home Companion's News From Lake Wobegon podcast
Tim Russellâs website

Listen to Tim on Minnesota's news station, 830 WCCO Radio website where he is the entertainment editor weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m.  

Tim and Lily Tomlin on the set of the movie
A Prairie Home Companion

Profile America â August 20, 1920:   One of the nationâs first radio stations began broadcasting in Detroit   

GEM:  Handwriting Analysis with Paula Sassi

Alice McManus

Genealogy Gems Premium Members are eligible to submit their ancestors handwriting for possible analysis by Paula on the show.  Members should email a handwriting sample, a paragraph telling about the ancestor and why they would like to have the handwriting analyzed, and a photo of the ancestor if itâs available. 

Minnesota State Fair Podcast presented by MN Public Radio
Minnesota State Fair Website

Announce Best Bals Dolls Winner:  Melissa Baker

Catch Up With Lisa At One Of The Following Conferences:

FGS Conference, Philadelphia, PA, Sept 3 & 6, 2008
"Treasure Trove of Genealogy Gems Craft Projectsâ class at 5pm on Sept 4.  Stop by the Family Tree Magazine Booth in the Exhibit Hall to say âhiâ and listen to The Family Tree Magazine Podcast Episode #3 

The Digging For Your Roots Seminar, Concord, CA, Sat. Oct. 1, 2008 
Treasure Trove of Craft Projects class at 9:15 am and 2:15 PM. 

The Family History Expo, Mesa, Arizona, November 14 & 15, 2008
Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems Parts I & II (Nov 15) 

Email Lisa
Visit Lisa on Facebook:  Lisa Louse Cooke
Join the Genealogy Gems Facebook Fan Page
Add the Podcast to your Facebook page
Add the Genealogy Gems News Blog  to your Facebook page

Subscribe Today to the FREE Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter for genealogy news & tips, and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes.

The Song: The Family Tree featured on this episode is courtesy of the band Venice.  See Venice LIVE at one of the following Concert Dates:

Friday, September 12, 2008
Pine Mountain Logs show (the alter ego of Venice)
Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach, CA  92075
(858) 481-8140.  21 and over

European Dates:
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Theater De Storm, Haitsma Mulierweg 11, 7101 BX Winterswijk
tel. (0543) 51 92 85
Reserveerlijn (0543) 51 43 65

Wednesday, November 12, 2008
De Tamboer, Hoofdstraat 17, 7902 EA Hoogeveen
tel. 0528 280 180

Friday, November 14, 2008
Rabotheater Hengelo, Beursstraat 44, 7551 HV Hengelo,
tel. Kantoren (ma-vrij 9.00-17.00):
074 255 67 77
tel. Kassa (ma-za 12.00-16.00):
tel. 074 255 67 89

Coming in August:  Want to know what it was like to work with Meryl Streep, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, and one of my favorites Lily Tomlin?  Then tune in next month to episode 50.  I'll be chatting with Tim Russell the wonderful voice actor from the radio show and movie A Prairie Home Companion. 

Above:  Tim Russell and Garrison Keillor

We talk about his love of family history and antiques, his amazing career in a very nostaligic profession of being a radio actor  and of course his work with Garrison Keillor and al the folks at A Prairie Home Companion. 

Below:  Watch a clip from the movie A Prairie Home Companion

YUMMY GEM:  Lisa's Peach Pie...Just out of the oven...

GEM:  Genealogy Society Booth at County and State Fairs.  There are many things we do as members of genealogy societies, but I think this was one of the best activities I've come across.  Genealogy society members from neighboring areas come together to introduce the public to the joy of family history.

NEW:  Family Tree Magazine July 2008 podcast episode

Podcasting Primer article including instructional video by Lisa Louise Cooke.  The article will appear in the November 2008 issue, but is available now free online. 

All together it's a great resource for your friends who havenât yet tried podcasts.  Share these resources with your friends and genealogy society.   Email this link: http://familytreemagazine.com/podcast/podcast_howto.asp

MAILBOX:  Premium Member Maureen Stephan shares a valuable Gem she recently found.

GEM: Train Robberies 7/18 U.S. Census Bureau

GEM: Part Two of my Interview with Kathy Lennon
In Episode 48 we got started on my interview with Kathy Lennon of the Lennon Sisters.  Kathy is such a sweetheart and so fun to talk to that I just couldn't edit any of our conversation.  So Iâm bringing it to you in two parts, and today is part two of our conversation. 

The Lennon Sisters

In this episode Kathy talks about the tragic death of her father, and the strength of character of her mother and the values she passed on to her eleven children.  She also shares some insight into being a famous Lennon sister, and tells us all about her newest venture which has a family history twist to it.

 The Independece Day 20% discount on Genealogy Gems Premium membership expires 7/20/2008. Coupon Code 28F10F

Premium Members can submit ancestor handwriting samples to be considered for an upcoming handwriting analysis by Paula Sassi, Certified Graphologist.  Iâll be selecting ones that I think will be interesting to  all the listeners.  More information in Premium Episode #7. 

Now through July 31, 2008 Premium Members enter to win a pair of Best Pals dolls in a Best Pals tote bag, autographed by Kathy and Janet Lennon of the Lennon sisters.  Members should head over to the Members Forum to post a story of an ancestorâs best pal, or a memory of one of your own best pals.

This special episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast is dedicated to the men and women serving in the U.S. military

Patrick Henry's speech performerd by Harry E. Humphrey on Edison Blue Amberol, 1912 

The Continental Congress - The You Are There radio show took historic events and dramatized them with "live radio" coverage style.  C1947-1950 

The Star Spangled Banner performed by Thomas Chalmers and chorus (including Elizabeth Spencer).  Edison Records, 1915 

Washington's Farewell Address performed by Harry E. Humphrey for Edison Blue Amberol  1912 

If Washington Should Come To Life performed by Billy Murray on Edison Gold Moulded Record, 1906 

Thomas Jefferson March performed by United States Marine Band on Edison Standard Record, 1909 

Under Freedom's Flag performed by  Edison Military Band on Edison Gold Moulded Record, 1908 

Fourth Of July Address at Hyde Park, NY by President Roosevelt (4 Jul 1941

My Country 'Tis Of Thee performed by Edison Male Quartette on Edison Gold Moulded Record, 1903 

Edison recordings courtesy of the University of California, Santa Barbara 

Genealogy Gems Premium Member
Melissa Roberge's great grandfather
Robert W Hicks

GEM: An Interview with Kathy Lennon

Listen to Part One of my exclusive interview with one of America's Sweethearts, and let me tell you, she is a gem!  You know Kathy Lennon from her more than 50 years with the Lennon Sisters, but you may not know that she is also an avid family historian. 

The Lennon Sisters Website
Best Pals Website 
Lennon Sister Paper Dolls

CONTEST - Premium Members post your stories  in the Forum for a chance to win a pair of Best Pals Dolls!  Who Were Your Best Childhood Pals?

Genealogy Gems Premium Members are invited to come share your stories of childhood best pals, your own story or perhaps one about an ancestor, and be entered in our Best Pals contest for a chance to win a beautiful pair of Best Pals dolls, each with their own signed certificate of authenticity, and delivered in a Best Pals Tote Bag.  It's over a $60 value!  You may enter as many stories as you wish.  The winner will be contacted by email on July 31, 2008.

Kathy and Janet as children with dolls

Best Pals Dolls

 
Kathy & Janet & The Best Pals

The Lennon Sisters upcoming performances:
November 1 - December 6, 2008
Tony Orlando and the Lennon Sisters Show
Welk Resort Center, Branson, MO.
The Welk Resort at Branson   

NEWSLETTER UPDATE:  The free Genealogy Gems Podcast newsletter will soon see a new, colorful email publication.  Iâm so happy to finally get the newsletter updated and I hope you enjoy the photos and the much easier to read format. 

If youâd like to receive  the free new and improved email newsletter drop me a line with you name, state and how you first heard about the podcast.  Or head to the website. And very soon, you will be able to sign up right on the website without having to send a separate email.  I hope you enjoy this much more visually creative version of the newsletter!

EMAIL ME

The University of Wisconsin digital Collection

"Great aunt Pollyâ is at the top of page

 The University of Wisconsin / The nineteen hundred and eight badger Volume XXII (1908) Book II: classes, pp. 122

Email me 

GEM:  Childhood Memories

 TVParty Website

Captain Kangaroo...

...and more recently....

Captain Satellite on TVParty.com  

The "DOO BEE SONG" came from this album from my childhood collection

GEM: Family Tree & Me
Interview with Shirlene Dymock
Family Tree and Me website

GEM: Girding Your Loins with James Mowatt
You can find The Historyzine Podcast at Jim's website and in iTunes

GEM:  Birthday Alarm
Ideas for Strengthening Your Family Using Birthday Alarm

1. Enter ancestor birthdays into Birthday Alarm to help you make note of it in your family blog, or family newsletter.
2. Use it as a prompt to send a an email to a list of contacts that you've worked with over the years to research that ancestor.
3. Use the ancestor"s birthday alarm to generate a dinner time conversation about that ancestor on their special day.  Display a photo on the table, tell stories about them, and teach you children about the history of that side of your family. 

GEM:  Paula Sassiâs analysis of Lars Johan Larsonâs signature
Congratulations to Genealogy Gems Premium Member Melissa Roberge, the winner is of the handwriting analysis by Paula Sass, Certified Graphologist.  And a special prize has been awarded to Premium Member Diana Larson for her terrific post in the Message Forum.

Lars signed his name as the enumerator on the 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Sibley County Minnesota. 

GEM:  Premium Update
Hereâs whatâs new in the Genealogy Gems Premium Membership areaâ

Premium Episode #1 -  Iâll walk you through step by step on how to set up the Google Toolbar and use the features that will speed up your online searches tremendously!

Premium Episode #2 - We do an in depth study of the records of the Works Progress Administration - the WPA â with certified genealogist and national speaker Paula Stuart Warren.  And as a special BONUS feature for members, Paulaâs 4 page reference guide on the WPA called The WPA Era: What It Created For Genealogists is available for download in the Premium Episode #2 show notes.

Premium Episode #3 â Youâll get  7 Key Strategies From A Professional Private Investigator that will help you find your living relatives.  Strategies that brought me fantastic results!

Sign Up Today for Premium membership.  Now through May 31, 2008 you can take advantage of the 20% discount on the annual subscription price by signing up for the Genealogy Gems Newsletter.  Send an email with your name, state or country and how you first heard about the podcast.   

GEM: Special Announcement
Iâm very excited to announce that Iâve signed on as the Producer and Host of the new Family Tree Magazine Podcast.  It will be a free monthly half hour show available at the Family Tree Magazine website.  Episode One is jammed packed with great information and interviews, so stay tuned for the upcoming launch date. 

Sign Up for the FREE Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter

Bogus Websites:

To quote their email "The Generations Network, Inc. is encouraging consumers to validate and verify the legitimacy of a website before providing credit card information or paying for services.â? 

This is good advice.  You know the rules on the Internet really shouldn't be much different than the rules in our daily lives.  Find out about someone"s character and background before you hang out with them, and get referrals for unknown companies from people you trust.   

Family Tree Kids:

Diane Haddad on NBC San Diego

Family Tree Kids Website

Tama Generations

Movie Gem:  Leatherheads:

Iâll have a link to the official website in the show notes as well as a video preview of the  movie.  Leatherheads Website

MAILBOX:

Pat Dalpiazâs grandfather "Weenie" Flynn was a star quarterback on the St. Bonaventure University (Alleghany NY) football team for 3 years.  He appeared in Ripley's Believe It or Not for his football leadership weighing only 117 pounds and leading the team to impressive victories. 

Randy Borkowskiâs website

Deanna Bullock wrote in to give a very good reason why you should subscribe to the free Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter.  SUBSCRIBE NOW  

GEM: Analyzing Your Ancestors Handwriting

Story of how Grandmpa JB and Grandma Paulineâs letters came into my possession:  Episode 39.    

Listen to some of the letters in Episode 41. 

Paula Sassi, Certified Graphologist. 
Email.  Website  www.handwritingconsultants.com

VIDEO: Paula Sassi featured on San Diego's Fox 6 News

Learn more about Handwriting Analysis at http://www.handwriting.org/

GEM: Genealogy Gems Premium

I am VERY excited to announce that we are launching a new service:  Genealogy Gems PREMIUM.  If you enjoy the free podcast episodes that weâve made available, your gonna LOVE Genealogy Gems PREMIUM!

Premium Members are going to have access to an exciting new area of the website available only to Premium members.  There youâll find Members-only premium podcast episodes.  You wonât be able to hear these anywhere else!  It will be everything you love about the episodes youâve heard so far, and much more.  

BONUS FEATURES:

1. Members Only Message Board Forum. 
2. Gnealogy Gems Crossword puzzles
3. Behind the Scenes with Lisa
4. Complete archive of every Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter!

For about the cost of a gallon of gas or a gourmet coffee a month youâll get all of these exclusive podcasts and videos! You wonât find them on iTunes. 

Paula Sassi certified graphologist has graciously agreed to analyze some lucky premium members ancestorâs handwriting.  So once you are a Premium member, you will be entered for a chance to win an analysis of an ancestor's handwriting to be featured on a Premium episode. 

And finally, I have a very special offer for newsletter subscribers:  I will be emailing out to all subscribers a coupon code valid through May 31, 2008 that you can use to get 20% off an annual Premium subscription.  If you arenât currently subscribed to the newsletter, just send me an email today with your name, state and how you first heard about the podcast and you will receive the coupon code in an email.

So wonât you join me, and become a Genealogy Gems premium member today!  I guarantee youâre gonna love it, or your money back. 

Email Lisa

Sign up for Newsletter: mailto:genealogygemspodcast@gmail.com with your name, state or country and how you first heard about the podcast.   I encourage you to do that today so you won't miss a thing!

MAILBOX:  Email from Linda Kvist in Sweden that includes a fun story about an immigrant who didn"t immigrate:

"They were somewhat surprised that my father did contact them. In the church examine rolls it said that my dads grandfather emigrated to the US! He left the place and never came back. We know he never got to the US though. He met he's wife and the settled down in the area where she was born. So, in a way, we solved a clue for them as well!"

GEM:  Mar 22, 2008 was the anniversary of the First Bank Robbery Profile America is brought to you  by the U.S. Census Bureau.

CBSNews.com that takes a look at the precedent for bank robbery that Edward Smith set by profiling some of the most famous robbers in history.   48 Hours Mystery Article 

GEM: Kidnapped!  Listener Greg Norland sent me a note to let me know about an intriguing podcast episode of the Chicago Public Radioâs This American Life show that he had recently heard.  The Ghost of Bobby Dunbar

Song: Mystery of the Dunbarâs Child by Richard "Rabbittâ? Brown.

Here are a few pieces of the puzzle that Bobby Dunbar's granddaughter, Margaret Dunbar Cutright likely looked to when working on finding the truth about her grandfather.  From The Constitution newspaper, in Atlanta, GA.  On April 25, 1913  âHave the Parents Got Wrong Child?â?

The 1920 census of Opelusas City, in Fort Landry, Louisianna

Look for Percy and Lessie Dunbar, and their two children Robert age 11 and Alonozo age 9.  Or were they both their children?  Be sure and take a look at the census during the last few minutes of The Ghost of Bobby Dunbar as they give the ending to the story and what happened to the people involved. 

Email me with your thoughts or comments on the Ghost of Bobby Dunbar.

GEM: Prison Records:  My cousin Carolyn Ender shares her journey in locating the prison records for a man named George Jump who married her grand fatherâs sister.

Carolyn's Research Approach:

1. Try to determine the facility / town where you think they served their time.
2. Locate birth & death dates & the county where they lived during the suspected timeframe.
3. Contact the Genealogical & Historical Society for that county and ask where you might find inmate records.  Possibly the closest Corrections Dept.
4. Send a letter to the Corrections Dept. You may be directed to the Bureau of Prisons (www.bop.gov)  if it is a federal crime.
5. Complete a Freedom of Information Act request form & provide copy of the death certificate. (Listen to Episode 27 and Episode 32 for more information of the FOIA.) 
6. The BOP may refer you to NARA. They gave Carolyn a particular file # to ask for. 
7. NARA requires written consent from the inmate's family members or they black out the info regarding family members.  They will require payment for copying. 

If you know the inmate served in a Federal institution for a Federal crime, you can go straight to the Bureau of Prisons.  Consideration will have to be given to whether or not the inmate is deceased, how long he's been deceased, are his children living etc.  For State records, you could probably start with that state's Department of Corrections. 

GEM: Blog And Podcast Gadgets: Step-by-step instructions for Google Gadget customization can be found at the Genealogy Gems - Google Genealogy Research Strategies page.

GEM: Free digitised British newspapers access 1600-1900
Scottish Genealogy News and Events.  Temporary free trial to 17th, 18th and 19th Century British and Irish newspapers at the Gale Digital Collections website. You will need the following details to log in:
E-mail: rcc1934@aol.com
Login: virtual
Password: books

"Bonnie Scotlandâ? was performer:Alexander Prince circa 1914 for Edison Amberol and it is courtesy of the University of California, Santa Barbara Library.

Thank You!  We appreciate when you support this free podcast by doing your Amazon shopping through the Amazon search boxes on the Genealogy Gems website.

My Own Grandpa Video:

                        
                      The Family History Silhouette Cake
       

My facebook page

MAILBOX:  Roxanne Diakow Moos wrote to say that she visited an aunt and uncle in Saskatchewan Canada, and they took her to visit the old homesteads of two sets of great grandparents.  "To others who look at my family history album and see those pictures they see a picture of land with nothing on it but a field but to me I can picture an old building that used to be there that raised a family and can almost picture the kids (my grandmother and her siblings) running around playing.â?

Learn about Tyler MacNivenâs journey to find his fatherâs birthplace in Japan in the March 4 Genealogy Gems News Blog  

GEM: Canadian Border Crossings with Kathyrn Lake Hogan - Kathryn shares with us about Canadian Border Crossings into the United States and how many of our ancestors used this economic route to immigrate.

GEM:  Digital Preservation Tips from the Library of Congress - Digital preservation Cheat Sheet. covering Computer files, finding Digital Materials, Digital Photos, email, and storage disks. And the Digital Preservation Quiz

GEM: Interview with Richard Black of the Godfrey Memorial Library

GEM:  U.S. Census Bureau - Flu Epidemic's 90th Anniversary, and the new U.S. Census History website (listen to interview: Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #43) Genealogy Gems News Blog on March 10.  Email Lisa with comments, suggestions and requests for the website and Iâll be forwarding all the information to the Director of History at the U. S. Census.

New at the Genealogy Gems News Blog:  A tribute to Womenâs history month, the new TV series Who Do You Think You Are being developed for American audiences by NBC, and Senior Moments Anyone? 

Visit the Genealogy Gems Website now - New stuff: movie recommendation, genealogy videos.  

Book: Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies from Season One of the Genealogy Gems Podcast.  The book has everything covered in  the first 20 episodes and lots more including photos, website addresses and step-by-step how to information.  Itâs available in paperback as well as immediate digital download.  

Contact Lisa at Genealogy Gems

 
The newest addition to the Cooke household: Vinney

Genealogy Gems News Blog :  The British newspaper the Daily Mirror will soon be making available online newspaper issues back to 1903. 

MAILBOX:  You can see the photo of Michelle standing in the spot of her ancestor's homestead on the Genealogy Gems Podcast Listeners Page

 
Lisa at the ranch my great grandparents worked it in 1918.

GEM:  Interview with Dylan Barrell, Director of Digital Business for Borders Books about the new Borders Concept stores that will feature genealogy.

Upcoming Borders Concept Stores in 2008:
Las Vegas, NV - Town Square â April
Panama City Beach, FL â Pier Park â May
National City, CA â Westfield Shoppingtown Plaza Bonita â May
Alameda, CA â Alameda Town Center â May
Noblesville, IN  â Hamilton Town Center â May
Southbury, CT â Southbury Plaza â May
Mira Loma, CA â Eastvale Gateway Mall â  May
Lone Tree, CO  â Park Meadows Mall â May
Wareham, MA â Wareham Crossing â June 
 Baton Rouge, LA â Mall of Louisiana â July
Allen, TX â Watters Creek at Montgomery Farms â July
Tukwila, WA  â Westfield Southcenter Mall â July
New Orleans, LA â Garden District - October

GEM:  New History Web Site from the U.S. Census Bureau Interview with Bill Maury, Chief of History Staff at the U.S. Census Bureau  

Genealogy Gems Crossword Puzzle

Sign up for the FREE monthly Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter TODAY

Dear MYRTLE's interview with Lisa Louise Cooke of Genealogy Gems on her Feb. 12, 2008 episode.  And Dear old Myrt also listed Episode 15 of the Genealogy Gems podcast in her weekly Best of the Internet blog column under Podcast. 

Venice Upcoming Live Shows:
Saturday, March 8, 2008: Acoustic Music San Diego - an acoustic Venice show.  (619) 303-8176 

Friday, April 4, 2008: Pine Mountain Logs show at the SohO Restaurant and Music Club (805) 962-7776  The Logs are Venice's alter ego - they perform only cover tunes!

Saturday, April 5, 2008: Pine Mountain Logs show at The Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA (858)481-8140 

Visit Venice at http://www.venicecentral.com/

MAILBOX: Gary Falsken recommends the history podcast "Napoleon 101â? hosted by The Podcast Network.

GEM: Interview with Allison Stacy, editor of Family Tree Magazine
The Genealogy Insider Blog featuring the Family History Expo

GEN: Interview with Kathy Mead of Genline.com

You know this episode is very special to me because it fall on the first birthday of the Genealogy Gems Podcast.  There are several exciting things in the works for Genealogy Gems this coming year.   Genealogy Gems Newsletter Sign Up.

What was your favorite gem this last year? Email Lisa

Thank you for listening.  You guys are awesome!  We have no intentions of having Genealogy Gems podfade, and it"s because of you that weâre still here!  Venice song:   Weâre Still Here

A table full of listeners joined me at the Friday night banquet.  Jack Duffy and his daughter Anna Marie, Mark Baldwin, and Sue  and Albert Sevy all joined my husband and I and we had a grand time. 

- Day of the week at the Search for ancestors website
- Thanks to George Morgan of the Genealogy Guys Podcast for talking about the Genealogy Gems Podcast on their Jan 16, 2008 podcast. 

MAILBOX
From Betty:  Abbott & Costello Christmas DVD features several spots for Christmas Seals featuring celebrities such as Rosemary Clooney.
From Melissa: a silhouette done 30 years ago in Paris by a street vendor.  Listeners page   
Jim Mowatt of HistoryZine Podcast in Britain    

GEM:  Lulu.com
My book Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies from Season One of the Genealogy Gems Podcast   At Lulu you'll find genealogy digital CDs, Videos, Calendars, Music and artwork.  A quick search of your surname or county where your ancestors lived could result in some real gems.  Save on the combined shipping.   

GEM: Valentines Special
Sit back and enjoy these yesteryear stories of loveâand perhaps they will inspire you to ask around your family for the origins of the ties that bind in your tree.  First, a Depression era story of love between Pauline Herring &JB Moore  

Nov. 2, 1934  Remember me and donât forget,  the blue eyed Girl is my pick yet.   (Below: Valentine JB sent to Pauline)

Next, is the story of Raymond Cooke and Isabelle Osborne.  Raymond was born in Tunbridge Wells, England in 1894.  He immigrated from England to Saskatchewan Canada in 1912, and in his autobiography he tells the story of how his love of music led to his finding the love of his lifeâ 

âTake your girlie to the moviesâ was performed by Irving Kaufman on May 19, 1919.  Story read by Jim Mowatt of the Historyzine Podcast.Ragtime music by Frederick Hodges  available on CD.

Raymond Cooke and Isabelle Osborne 50^th wedding anniversary 

If youâre enjoying the Genealogy Gems website, please consider nominating for the Family Tree Magazine âSite of the Week.â Fill out and submit the nomination form

Happy Valentines Day!   

Take Your Girlie to the Movies   
When the show is over And its time to leave
Donât forget to brush the powder From your sleeve...
Take your girlie to the movies if you canât make love at home 
(Original sheet music at the Indiana University Sheet Music Collections website!  Take Your Girlie to the Movies Sheet Music)

The Genealogy Gems News Blog: "Why should Lou Dobbs Care?â?. And be sure and vote on the new poll question:  How do you listen to the podcast?

Family History Expo 2008 in St. George, UT.  I'll be attending the Friday night Banquet and I want to invite you to come sit at my table with me.  If you"re going to be a the Family History Expo, have purchased your banquet tickets (available online at the MyAncestorsFound.com website,) and you would like to dine together, drop me an email at with your name. (and anyone you might be attending with)  Confirmation will be by email.

Thanks to the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre    and DearMYRTLE  for their recent acknowledgements of The Socks To America Video.  Watch The Socks To America

MAILBOX:

(Left to right they are Guy M. Denton, Gladys V. Denton, Dorothy J. Denton and Guy V. Denton.) âGuy V. Denton 1895-1959 purchased this quilt from a lady from Arkansas who was traveling through Howard, KS.  Itâs obvious that it was not made with new materials as it did not wear well.â?  Kevin Clark, Cedar Park, Texas

From Deb Atchley: âmy quilters only gave me initials - not full names and birth dates.  I think I've solved most of the puzzle though. â

 From: Linda Kvist  - Pod Cards in Reunion 9 genealogy software

I donât know if this is possible to do in any other genealogy software, perhaps you or any listener know?â?

 GEM:  Traits Handed Down
African American Lives
African American Lives the book 
Chris Rock and Oprah arenât the only ones who have found significant tendencies and traits surface in their family history.  I feel compelled in this episode to share my top 10 list of important traits that I inherited from my ancestors!

GEM:  Care, Storage & Display of Heritage Quilts with Ellen Koehn

Quilt by Ellen Louise Koehn that hangs in Lisa's home...

PLEASE NOTE: All of the recommendations in this gem are
âUse at your own risk.â?  While they are things that have worked successfully for our guest, you must use your own judgment as to who to proceed with your own unique quilt. 

At the grocery store:  Orvis Soap & Easy Wash.  Ellen also recommended the book Clues in the Calico by Barbara Brackman

iTunes:  If you are new to the podcast, be sure that you go back to the new Genealogy Gems subscription listing that you created in your podcast directory and click that GET ALL button.  Clicking the SUBSCRIBE button will only give you the most recent show and future shows.  By clicking GET ALL all the previous episodes will download for you.  

Go to the official Genealogy Gems Website and be sure and sign up for the FREE Genealogy Gems Monthly Newsletter

1890 census: visit the National Archives pages

New Poll Question at Genealogy Gems News Blog:
Are you a member of your local area genealogy society?

MAILBOX:

Diana Larson wrote to recommend the American Girl Collection: 

"The American Girls Collection books are a great way for children (and adults) to learn about children living through different periods in American historyâAlthough the stories themselves are fictional, they are thoroughly researched, and each book concludes with a brief section containing factual information, photographs, and artwork about that particular time period...â?

Cathy Paris wrote in about the podcast.  View her family history videos about her dad, Gil Merrill born in 1913 in Franklin, NH

EMAIL LISA at the Genealogy Gems Podcast

The Genealogy Reviews Online Blog

GEM: Lisaâs History Podcast Picks

Binge Thinking History
By Tony Cocks
Website: http://bingethinkinghistory.libsyn.com/

Dan Carlinâs  Hardcore History
Website: http://www.dancarlin.com/

Digging for the Truth by the History Channel
Josh Bernstein is the host of this series on the History Channel. 
Season One.   2005.    4 episodes.  http://www.history.com/minisites/diggingforthetruth/
Season Two 2006.  12 episodes

Great Moments in History - by John G. Stockmyer. 10 episode free audio book published as a podcast
Website:  http://www.podiobooks.com/title/great-moments-in-history

History According to Bob 
Website: http://www.summahistorica.com/
Bobâs website devoted to WWI history:

The History Capsule
Website:  http://www.mystery-otr.net/mpir-radio/

History Center - From the History Channel
Website: http://www.history.com/media.do?id=hc_podcast213_immigration&action=clip

History In Our Time â BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/

Historyzine: The History Podcast by Jim Mowatt
Website:  http://historyzine.com/

Journeys into American History by Dennis Humphrey
presents history through Old Time Radio programs. 
Website:  http://www.podango.com/podcast.php?podcastId=395

Just Another Day â The History Channel videocast hosted by Adam Hart-Davis.  Also How London Was Built & History in the Headlines.  Website: http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/podcasts/podcasts.php

http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/microsites/line_of_fire/

Mattâs Today in History

Website:  http://mattstodayinhistory.blogspot.com/

My History Can Beat Up Your Politics Podcast

Website:  http://myhistorycanbeatupyourpolitics.blogspot.com/

BRITISH HISTORY:

The National Archives Podcast Series
Podcast Website:  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/rss/podcasts.xml
National Archives Website:  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Tudor Cast by Laura Eakins
Website:  http://tudorhistory.org/podcast/

REGIONAL SPECIFIC:

Abilene and Taylor County, Texas History Podcast
Stories , legends, and tales b David Gibson
Website:  http://abilenetexashistory.com/

DELWARE:  This Day in Delaware History. 
Brief historical facts from the first state in the Union compiled by the Deleware Archives. 
Website:  http://www.delaware.gov/

INDIANA:  Moments of Indiana History
Produced by WFIU Public Media in Bloomington, IN.
Website: http://momentofindianahistory.org/

MINNESOTA:  Almanac: Hands on History
Twin Cities Public Television
Website:  http://tpt.org/history/

MISSOURI:  Missouri Irish History and Legend: Ireland to America
Website:  http://www.irishroots.com/podcast2/rss.xml
From Michael OâLaughlin of the Irish Roots Podcast

OZARKS:  Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
The Museum is located in Springdale, Arkansas  
Website:  http://shilohcast.blogspot.com/

PENNSYLVANIA:  Explore PA History
Website:  http://witf.org/FM/podcasts.php
Produced by WITF radio in Pennsylvania, this podcast covers a wide range of topics and at last count had 66 episodes!

SAN FRANCISCO:  Sparkletack The San Francisco History Podcast
Website:  http://www.sparkletack.com/

Valley Forge History & Culture
By the National Park Service. 
Website:  http://www.nps.gov/vafo

GEM:  Heritage Quilts 

         
             Lenora HERRING              William Jefferson MOORE

                        Grandmother Pauline's Letters

                         The Quilt found in the suitcase

â?This quilt is for Ronald L. Moore.   It is the last quilt his Grandmother Herring made before her stroke and death.  She loved him so much.  I love you so very much Ron. 
I am so proud of you as a son.  All My Love, Motherâ?

A job started really by her mother Lenora Herring who had made the quilt.  From great grandmother Herring to my young daughters, the quilt had spanned five generations of us stubborn Moores, and brought us all back together again. 

Here's a photo of the flour sack quilt that Carolyn refers to in the video:

The quilts have always cared for the family â first warming them and then bringing them together, and now leading us to other ancestors we didnât know.  Women may not have had a lot of time to use the power of the pen to document history, but they did have some mighty powerful sewing needles!

Coming Soon: An expert quilter who will pass on some ideas for all of us on how to properly care for our heritage quilts. 

Sequence and Dutch Blitz:
It's is a fast-paced card game that I understand was created by Werner Ernst George Muller, a German immigrant from Bucks County,Pennsylvania. The game is supposed to be very popular among the Pennsylvania Amish and Dutch community.  It"s a lot like playing speed solitare with three other people all at the same time. 

The Genealogy Gems video about the history of the Christmas seal called "How You Ancestors Made A Difference"

It is also now being featured on the RootsTube Channel at Rootstelevision. 

Genealogy Gems News Blog features my New Years Resolution for 2008:  To have even MORE genealogy fun!  

Be sure to subscribe to the blog so that youâll be alerted when new items are published.  If youâre using iGoogle for your homepage, you can click the Google icon on the blog and add it, or you can add it to you Google Reader. 

Subscribe to the free Genealogy Gems Newsletter.    Send an email with your name, state (or country) and how you heard about the podcast.

Maureen Taylorâs blog about what to do with your Christmas cards when Christmas is over. 

MAILBOX:
Richard Yehle wrote in about  Genealogy Gems Episode 36 where I talked about the passport database at Ancestry and finding the back of the original form with the picture.   He gives some great examples of how, sometimes, there is even more to be discovered!

Richardâs experience with the passports is such a great example of not just looking for what you expect to find, but looking for the unexpected. 

GEM:  Venice Interview
âMay You Alwaysâ? was sung by The Lennon Sisters on the Lawrence Welk Show.

 Lennon Sisters Website

The Lennon Sisters are the eldest of 12 siblings in the Lennon family, and certainly NOT the only ones with musical talent.   I recently had an opportunity to meet with their younger brothers Pat and Kipp and first cousins Michael and Mark who musically merge as the group Venice. 

Watch a video of Venice performing âThe Family Treeâ?

âThe Family Treeâ? debuted in 1999 on the bandâs album entitled Spin Art. 

The Lennon Family Tree: all the guys are the grandchildren of Herbert Lennon who was born in Wisconsin.  His father John died in his thirties from a heart attack at a community picnic just before the turn of the century.  Herbert was raised by his mother Minnie under the roof of his grandparents, James and Kate Lennon.  Judge James Lennon of Appleton Wisconsin was born in Ireland in 1840 and immigrated in 1849 to America with his parents James and Mary Lennon.  James and Mary would be the great great great grandparents of the guys. 

Kipp Lennon, Lisa Cooke & Pat Lennon - Dec. 2007
(c2007 all rights reserved)

Irish Roots Cafà Podcast

Jimmy Lennon Jr., Mike Tyson &
boxing announcer Jimmy Lennon.

Video:  Adobe Hacienda Video (Live)

Be sure and visit the Venice website! and Venice Page at Genealogy Gems

NEW AT THE BLOG: 

New poll question at The Genealogy Gems News Blog:  Do you listen to the podcast the week it is published?   

THE MAILBOX: 
Follow up to Episode 26 & the Passport Database at Ancestry...Will Haskell told us about his grandfather, Merrill Haskell, traveled to Russia in 1919 in his work as a public accountant for the YMCA. 

 Merrill Haskell's Passport application -
but the woman's photo on the left doesn't match.

 A turn of the page reveals his grandfather!

GEM: itunes GET ALL
When you subscribe in iTunes to the podcast, only the most recent episode will download to your computer or iPod, so be sure to remember to go back to the Genealogy Gems Podcast listing in iTunes and click the GET ALL button so that all of the back episodes will download.  You donât want to miss a thing!   

Gem:  Search Yahoo and Google at the same time with POLYCOLA.COM

GEM: The History of the Christmas Seal - How Our Ancestors Made A Difference!
It's very likely that your great grandparents, grandparents and parents put Christmas Seals on the Christmas cards and packages.  It all started on a stormy December night in 1903 a postman named Einar Holboell was working late in a post office sorting large piles of Christmas mailâ 

Put this stamp with message bright
On every Christmas letter;
Help the tuberculosis fight,
And make the New Year better. 
The American Lung Association . 

Thank you so very much for supporting the podcast! 

iTunes Goal:
Only six more five star reviews to go before we hit 25 for Genealogy Gems by the end of the year!  If you have an iTunes account and are enjoying the podcast, please go to the Genealogy Gems listing in iTunes and leave your positive review now.  Thanks! 

Song: End of a Perfect Day and the Christmas Movie Remember the Night

Exclusive Kodak Gallery Discount: 20% OFF Photo books, Calendars & Cards through Dec. 11, 2007!  Go to the Genealogy Gems Store for more information and to find the link to Kodak Gallery.

Got an iTunes Account?
If you"re enjoying the podcast, Iâd appreciate it if you left a 5 Star positive review at the Genealogy Gems iTunes page.  This link will take you there: Genealogy Gems at iTunes.  Thanks!

NEW:  The Book Has Gone Digital!
Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies from Season One of the Genealogy Gems Podcast is now available in a digital download format!  This is a great chance to get the book for just $9.95 and no shipping costs!  Go to http://www.lulu.com/content/1139806

GEM:  U.S. Passport Applications on Ancestry.com
My Genealogy Gems News Blog from December 5, 2007 continued...Not wanting to leave the database empty handed, I decided to search for some of my favorite Hollywood film stars: Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks.   

Lesson 1:  Be sure when you are searching the database to click the NEXT button and check the backside of the application page for a photo.

Douglas Fairbanks & Mary Pickford Passport Photos

Lesson #2:  If your ancestors were servants or employees of those that may have traveled, it would be worth searching for those employers. 

GEM:  The History of Sound Recordings
You know the invention of sound recording was quite a milestone in genealogy if you think about it.  Never before had we had documentation of our ancestors voices.  There is certainly something very special about hearing not just the words, but the tone, and inflections. 

Well, all of this sound recording was made possible by Thomas Edison, who 130 years ago this week .
University of California, Santa Barbara

Book: Innovate Like Edison
A new book by Edisonâs Great Grand-niece Sarah Miller Caldicott  and Michael Gelb. 

The Life of Thomas A. Edison at the Library of Congress
Recorded Sound Reference Center at the Library of Congress

LISA'S 10 GOLDEN RULES
for making your own family history sound recordings.

#1  Get a reliable and affordable method of digital recording.
Free recording/editing software: Audacity

For portable recording you could use a handheld digital recorder, but I like to use my iPod with the Micro Memo Digital Voice Recorder
Using your iPod as a Family History Tool from Episode 22 of the Genealogy Gems Podcast. 

#2 Make A List of Those You Would Like to Interview

#3  Prepare Your Questions Ahead of Time

#4  Keep The Interview Relaxed And Comfortable.

#5  Donât Worry About Getting Everything The First Time

#6  Respect the interviewees wishes

#7  Take The Time To Edit

#8  Make Cataloguing A Priority

#9 Get Written Permission If You Plan On Sharing The Recording

#10 Follow up with a thank you

Genealogy Gems News Blog "What's in a Name?â?   

My Facebook Profile:  Lisa at Genealogy Gems.  Make a friend request and then take the Genealogy Gems Quiz.

Check out the genealogy quizzes at FunTrivia.com 

YAHOOOOO - thereâs a genealogy gal on the Genealogy Gems Listener page!  Beth Green answered my call on Episode 30 and emailed a Simpsonized Version of herself.  Check it out at the LISTENERS page. 

GEM:  A Little Help From Your Friends

My Top Three Tips for Tapping into the Strengths of Others: 

Tip #1  Swap brick walls

Try swapping brick walls with another researcher and look them over with a fresh pair of eyes.  I like to think of it as being a cold case detective.   Someone who pulls out an old file and goes over it with a fine tooth comb to see if anythingâs been missed. 

Tip #2 - Assess your weaknesses
Look honestly at your office and your research and make a list of areas where you could improve.  Then set out to find someone in your local genealogical society who has a strength in that area. 

Tip # 3 - Two heads are better than one
Try working alongside a fellow genealogist.  Two heads are always better than one, and having someone that you can share the journey with is a wonderful thing.  There are over 500 genealogy groups on Facebook alone! Or try one of the new genealogy social networking sites that have been popping up lately.  Genealogy Social Networking Websites

GEM: The Library of Congress Webcasts:
Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an American Community
Presented by Laura Cohen Appelbaum and Wendy Turman of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington.   

Library's Map Treasures are Highlighted in "Cartographia a book and presentation by Vincent Virga

GEM: Genealogy through the Looking Glass
Iâve enjoyed using childrenâs books for many years to become acquainted with new and sometimes complex subjects.  They are little gems just waiting to help you take on a new area of genealogical research.

For instance, does the subject of DNA still seem a bit foggy to you?  
Try "Genes & DNA" by Richard Walker, and "DNA is Here to Stay" by Fran Balkwill.  

âComing to Canada: Building a new life in a new landâ? by Susan Hughes  is a great first timers introduction to the subject.  

The Irish Potato Famine: Irish Immigrants Come to America (1845-1850) by Jeremy Thornton .  âFeed the Children First: Irish memories of the Great Hunger" edited by Mary E. Lyons. 

Juvenile Books can also be a great quick resource for the history of states and countries that you are unfamiliar with and have just discovered your ancestors spent time in.  So when you stumble into new territory, try taking a childâs eye view and perhaps a childâs curiousity as you approach the situation. 

GEM:  Now for a little Pixie Dust
Lab Pixies Google Gadgets 

My Favorites:
LabPixies TV
My del.icio.us
Countdown
Babylon Translation Box
LabPixies Clock
LabPixies Radio
TechBlogs
Flickr Slides

Contact Lisa
Free monthly Genealogy Gems Newsletter

Looking for a great Christmas gift? 
Lisa L. Cooke is the author of
Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies
from Season One of the Genealogy Gems Podcast
now available. 

Genealogy Gems News Blog

New videos for you at the Genealogy Gems website:
Genealogy for the next generation: "Family History Research - Child Detectives"
Genealogy Junction
Getting started documents for free download

"Family Tree" & "Circle of Life" by Venice.

A very moving video highlighting a collection of photographs at the Library of Congress' American Memory collection taken by Lewis Hines of child labor in the early 19^th century.   

MAILBOX:

Wreath by creative podcast listener Linda Kvist, Sweden

"The Emigrants" movie review 

Create your own Family History Christmas Wreath by watching the
4 part video how-to series

An email from Beverly Shaw :
(my apology to Beverly - I mistakenly credited her email to Barbara Murphy in the show & didn't catch the error in time)
"I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your Candy Bar idea.  Last month my husband's family had a reunion to honor his mother who passed away last year.  I created candy bars for the reunion using your idea.  Since Momma was an avid crocheter, I found a background of a crocheted doily and added 2 different photos that fit the theme.  I designed it so that I could fit 2 on each 8 1/2 x 11 sheet and printed a master copy.  I then took my master to Office Max and had them make 50 copies.  After wrapping a mixture of Hershey Milk Chocolate Bars and Hershey Milk Chocolate with Almond Bars, I filled a basket with the 100 Candy Bars, tied a bow on the basket handle and they were given out as mementos.  I am attaching a picture of the filled basket.  Thank you again. I received many complements."

If you"re looking for stocking stuffer ideas, there's still plenty of time to make the Sweet Memories candy bars which I described in detail in Episode 20  and in my book "Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies"

Beverly Shaw's beautiful Swee Memories candy bars

From Barbara Murphy:
The German, Irish and Italian groups of the genealogy societies on Long Island have put together new genealogy databases online. www.theggg.org and www.italiangen.org

Follow up on Google Gadgets:
Email from Meg Baker who developed the wonderful American Memory google gadget that I told you about in Episode 33. 
Meg Baker's Google Gadgets

GEM:  A Thanksgiving Celebration

Thanksgiving at the Library of Congress

What Shall the Harvest Be?

Sowing the seed by the daylight fair,
Sowing the seed by the noonday glare,
Sowing the seed by the fading light,
Sowing the seed in the solemn night:
O what shall the harvest be?
Refrain
Sown in the darkness or sown in the light,
Sown in our weakness or sown in our might,
Gathered in time or eternity,
Sure, ah, sure will the harvest be.
Sowing the seed by the wayside high,
Sowing the seed on the rocks to die.
Sowing the seed where the thorns will spoil,
Sowing the seed in the fertile soil:
O what shall the harvest be?
courtesy of the University of California, Santa Barbara

Sarah Josepha Hale

"OUR NATIONAL THANKSGIVING by Sarah Josepha Hale
We are most happy to agree with the large majority of the governors of the different States -- as shown in their unanimity of action for several past years, and which, we hope, will this year be adopted by all -- that the LAST THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER shall be the DAY Of NATIONAL THANKSGIVING for the American people."

Contact Lisa

Sign up for the free Genealogy Gems E-mail Newletter

The New Genealogy Gems News Blog
Subscribe to the blog by clicking the Google icon on the Blog page

Newsletter:
Subscribe to the free monthly Genealogy Gems email newsletter

IGoogle:
If you haven't created your own genealogy iGoogle homepage just listen to Episode 15 and of course it"s all covered step-by-step in my book Genealogy Gems - Ultimate Research Strategies. 

Upcoming Conference Appearance:
FamilySearch and My Ancestors Found have just announced that they are co-sponsoring the Family History EXPO at the Dixie Convention Center in St. George UT on Feb. 8 & 9 2008.  Iâm very excited to let you know that Iâll be teaching a class on how to use Google for your family history research. 

All of the old Edison recordings on this episode are courtesy of the University of California at Santa Barbara

GEM:  This old dog learned a new trick â or how I got in touch with my own podcast:
Hereâs a new technique for retrieving a past podcast episode and being able to have just that one episode come up on the page. This is great because itâs easier to read through, and you then have a URL address in your browser that you can copy and paste if you want to send it to someone.

Hereâs how to do it:

1. From the Genealogy Gems.TV homepage click the PODCAST button
2. Which will take you to the Podcast show notes page. 
3. Look down the right hand side of the page  and click on the orange RSS button right below the word Syndication.  This opens up a page that gives you all the show notes in a simple text format. 
4. Thereâs a box in the upper right corner called "Displayingâ?. 
5. Start typing âiGoogleâ? in the box and it will immediately start showing only episode show notes that include that word.
6. Look down the show notes in the results to find the one you want.
7. Click the blue title (ex. âGenealogy Gems Episode 15â?) and you will get the complete episode 15 show notes on one podcast page.  At the end of the show notes is the direct download link for episode 15 if you want to listen to the episode or save it to your hard drive.  This is how you can listen from the website ,because the media player, even though it still appears will only play the most recently published episode. 

GEM:  Google Gadget for American Memory:
Hereâs a follow up to the segment on The Library of Congressâ American Memory project from episode 32.   You can now add American Memory to your iGoogle page! 

How to get the American Memory Google Gadget:

1. Go to your iGoogle homepage.
2. Click the link in the upper right corner that says âAdd Stuffâ?
3. In the upper right corner is a Search for Gadgets Box.
4. Type in the words âAmerican Memoryâ?
5. the American Memory Search gadget will appear
6. Click the âAdd It Nowâ? button (it will turn yellow and say âAdded.â?)
7. G back to your iGoogle homepage
8. Your new gadget in the upper left corner of your iGoogle page.

GEM:  Genealogy Podfading:
I really appreciate your partnering with me to keep the Genealogy Gems Podcast from podfading as so many others have done.  Christmas is a great time to lend your support.  Our sponsors are established, trusted and secure, and your information is ALWAYS private.  Thank you friends!

GEM:  Silhouettes by Kathryn Flocken:
Hereâs another little blast from the past gem  in Episode 6.  I got an email from Kathryn recently which included a really neat short video about the silhouette work that she does:

Video:

Kathryn Flockens Paper Portraits webpage

Silhouette of genealogy podcaster Lisa Louise Cooke by Kathryn Flocken

GEM:  History of the Census and Its Samples:
There are 2 areas to explore: 

Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses from 1790-2000
It contains a record of all census questions, enumerators instructions, and brief histories of every census.
And...
Histories of Enumeration Procedures for Each Census:
The procedural histories provide detailed information on the collection and processing of each item on the questionnaire. You will learn how enumerators were selected, how they were trained and supervised, and how the public was prepared for the census takerâs visit.

If youâd like to learn more about how the history of the census and a website like this can be of real help to you in your own family research, go to the July 2007 Genealogy Gems newsletter back issue and read the article featuring a listener question that was answered using this history of the census information.   

Email Me with comments and questions

I hope youâre busily working on your Family History Christmas Wreath from episode 32.  There are 4 videos there on the website to walk you through how to do that.  Have fun!

DearMYRTLE Website

Episode 27

  The Mailbox: 

Email From Dave Green:

"Attached (is) a find on ebay. I hadn't thought to look there for family mementos. I typed in the tiny town of Fiat, IN and it came back with a matchbook from the store my grandparents had owned there!  Thanks for the valuable gem.â?

Genealogy for the Next Generation

The Genealogy Gems Listener page - see Simpsonized Dave

Email from Judy in Memphis:

Hi, Lisa, a few weeks ago I contacted you and said I was going to do the Sweet Memories candy bars this Christmas. I thought you would enjoy seeing how they turned out! I have only actually put the candy in two to try it out but will wait until closer to Christmas so the candy will be fresh. I used the 3.5 oz Dove Bars, dark chocolate. I will send them to 47  people in the family who will enjoy the candy and hopefully the memories. The front says:  "In Memory of Daddy, (Kenneth) who gave us our love of chocolate and Mother (Mildred) who made all those wonderful desserts. Love, Judy."  The three children on the front are my two sisters and me at Christmas about 1946. The picture on the back is of the same children and our parents, about 1960. I hope they enjoy this little gift. Thanks so much for the idea.

Again, I love the podcast and have gotten a lot of useful information. You make it really fun.

GEM:  Invite Your Ancestors to Christmas - Create A Family History Christmas Wreath

Joy to the World  Edison Records  1906  Courtesy of University of Santa Barbara

This week, I"m very please to be publishing my first Christmas project instructional video sharing with you how to create your own family history Christmas Wreath.  This wreath is so beautiful, and Iâm really excited to have found a way to incorporate more wonderful family photos into our holiday decorations.  Iâve done my best to give you step by step instructions so that you can make your wreath right along with me. 

Watch the four part video which in total runs about 35 minutes - Here's an example:  Part 1

WATCH ALL FOUR EPISODES

I really hope that you will take the time to create this lovely wreath.  I had so much fun making it, and Iâve already gotten oos and ahs from people who have seen it. I guarantee if you invest your love and time into making it, it will be appreciated by everyone who sees it.

And I would love to see your finished projects!  So email me a photo as Judy from Memphis did with her Christmas candy bars.  It would be inspiration for us all!

Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies. Thanks to those of you who have bought the book.  You guys are great. 

A special little Halloween hello from Genealogy Gems. 

Sad news:  The This Week's Genealogy Gems Google Gadget has crashed.   However, I will likely create a new custom gadget in the near future so I"ll keep you posted.  To receive the code for the gadget just be sure to sign up for the free Genealogy Gems monthly newsletter because thatâs the email list I use to personally email you the code so you can install it on your iGoogle page.   Newsletter Sign Up & Back issues

The website is evolving every day with new content, so be sure and visit regularly at www.genealogygems.tv  In the Resources section you will find lots of great genealogy research strategies.    Be sure to click on the Google Research Gems Link.  I have a special gadget there that will provide you with a new Google tip every day.  And youâll also find lots of other great tips that weâve talked about to make Google work harder for your genealogy research.

Please do let your research friends and your local genealogy society know about it as a resource for them too, even if they donât listen to the podcast.

Gem:  The Library of Congress

The Irish Jig performed by the National Promenade Band in 1914 for Edison Records courtesy of University of Santa Barbara.

AMERICAN MEMORY

American Memory provides free and open access through the Internet to over 9 million items of written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience. These materials chronicle historical events, people, places, and ideas that continue to shape America.

Browse American Memory

1. Advertising 1850-1920
2. Architecture and Interior Design 1935-1955
3. Baseball Cards 1887-1914
4. Broadsides and Printed Ephemera 1600-2000
5. Chicago Daily News - Photographs 1902-1933
6. 7 different Civil War collections with many, many photographs
7. Daguerreotype Photographs 1839-1864
8. Depression Era to World War II FSA/OWI Photographs 1935-1945
9. Film, Animated 1900-1921
10. There are several Folk Music Collections
11. Great Plains Photographs 1880-1920
12. Maps and Cartographic Items 1500-Present
13. New York City Films 1898-1906
14. Nineteenth-Century Books 1850-1877
15. Nineteenth-Century Periodicals 1815-1900
16. Ohio River Valley 1750-1820
17. Panoramic Photographs 1851-1991
18. Pearl Harbor and Public Reactions Audio Interviews 1941-1942
19. Posters, WPA 1936-1943
20. Prairie Settlement, Nebraska Photographs and Letters 1862-1912
21. Railroads Maps 1828-1900
22. Revolutionary Era Maps 1750-1789
23. San Francisco and 1906 Earthquake Films 1897-1916
24. Sheet Music 1820-1860 & 1870-1885
25. Slave Narratives Audio Interviews 1932-1975
26. Small Town Life, Mid-Atlantic Stereoscopic Photographs ~ 1850-1920
27. Southern U.S. Personal Narratives 1860-1920
28. Traveling in America Books ca. 1750-1920
29. Turn-of-the-Century America Detroit Publishing Company Photographs 1880-1920
30. Upper Midwest Books ca. 1820-1910
31. Utah and Western Migration 1846-1869
32. American Variety Stage - Vaudeville  1870-1920
33. Western U.S. Photographs 1860-1920
34. World War I Military Newspapers 1918-1919
35. World War I Rotogravures 1914-1919
36. World War II Maps Military Situation Maps 1944-1945

Some of my other favorite areas of the Collections and Programs are:

1. The VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT
2. The NATIONAL DIGITAL NEWSPAPER PROGRAM
3. CHRONICALING AMERICA â HISTORIC AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS
4. The PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ONLINE CATALOG

Prints & Photos LOC online database: 

1. 20s Fads
2. Ellis Island prints & photos
3. WWII women working
4. Civil War Soldiers
5. Entertainment
6. Americana

LOC WEBCASTS

Start by browsing the Biography and History listings.

The library website also offers RSS feeds and email Subscriptions on a variety of subjects.

The future: the library just signed a World Digital Library Agreement with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization pledging cooperative efforts to build a World Digital Library website. 

World Digital Library at the Worlddigitallibrary.org.  Video

GEM:  Genealogy for the Next Generation

To get the attention of the next generation for genealogy I Simposonized myself.

Genealogy for the Next Generation at Genealogy Gems. 

Simpsonize Me!     Itâs totally free, and really fun.

Calling all Ladies:  Notice a trend on the Genealogy Gems Listener Page?  Only men have sent in photos!  Come on ladies, you need to be represented!  Email a photo of yourself listening to the podcast on your ipod or computer, or holding up something that you've found since listening to the podcast, or both. 

Website News:  New this week you will find a search box on the left side of the Genealogy Gems homepage under the navigation menu.  I hope that you will use it and find it helpful in getting to where you want to go. 

GEM: Interview with Ali Selim, Director of "Sweet Landâ?

In episode 29 I told you about a wonderful movie that I saw recently called Sweet Land. It's a film about Norwegian immigrants in rural Minnesota following WWI.  I feel so passionate about it not only because itâs about family history, but because itâs such a rare thing to find a gem like this that you can watch with your entire family.

Aliâs Grandparents William and Sophie Niemeier of Minnesota.

This week I had a chance to talk to Ali Selim, award-winning director of Sweet Land, and we chatted about his immigrant parents, the power of memories and some of the terrific actors that he features in the film. 

Ali Selim, Director

When you're done listening to the audio podcast, you can watch the Videocast below.  Just double click on the Play button.

 More "SWEET LAND" film clips

Sweet Land is a story about family history, focusing on Norwegian immigrants in Minnesota circa 1920.  If you love historical fiction, and quiet thoughtful movies that you can watch with your entire family, then this is the videocast for you.  Sweet Land is available on DVD, and the beautiful nostalic music soundtrack is available through .  Take it from your friend, you'll love it.

P.S. Rather read?  Try Sweet Land: New & Selected Stories

GEM: Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation

I had the opportunity to talk with Anna Swayne of the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation recently.  Listen as we walk through this emerging area of genealogy step-by-step and get a solid overview of how DNA testing can assist us in our family history research. 

Suggested Reading:
Trace Your Roots with DNA: Use Your DNA to Complete Your Family Tree   by Megan Smolenyak & Ann Turner

DNA & Genealogy by Colleen Fitzpatrick 

USA TODAY article - SMGF's founder, James LeVoy Sorenson, was featured in a USA Today article in June. The article focuses on Mr. Sorenson's work in genetic genealogy as well as his other companies. 

Free Genealogy Gems Newsletter: Send an email with your name, state or country and how you heard about the podcast, and I'll get the Oct issue out to you right away, and you"ll be all set to receive each monthly issue. 

Check out whatâs new at the Genealogy Gems Website

   Get Lisaâs new book:  Genealogy Gems:  Ultimate Research Strategies from Season One of the Genealogy Gems Podcast.  Packed with step-by-step instructions for everything covered in the first 20 episodes, and much more!

The first Genealogy Gems videocast was published last week: The Socks to America.  It's available through iTunes where you can download it to your video iPod.

Now's the time to subscribe to the FREE Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter!

Logitech Webcam Not only can you send video emails super quick and easy, but you can select one of their animated characters that you supply the voice for.

Anytime you access Amazon through the links on my website and purchase any item on the Amazon site, you are supporting this podcast which I really appreciate!  Thanks to you guys I was able this week to double my podcast storage space which means I can create longer podcasts and also publish videocasts for you.  I hope you'll keep this in mind as we approach the holidays and you start doing your Christmas shopping.  It's because of you that the Genealogy Gems Podcast, website and videocasts are possible.  Thank you! 

GEM:   GENEALOGY "COLD CALLSâ?

My Lady of the Telephone was performed by Joseph A. Phillips and chorus for Edison Records in 1915   

Interview with Carolyn Ender from Texas who has conducted dozens of cold call research calls. 

1) Identify the person you want to call 

2) Locate the Person's Phone Number 

Anywho.com 
People.yahoo.com 
Google.com 

3) Plan ahead  

Consider recording the conversation
Consider getting a hands free phone  
Consider time zones.  
Choose a time when you are not rushed 
Briefly review the family you are researching  
Make note of specific questions you would like to ask. 
Have your genealogy software program open   

4) Get up the ânerveâ? to call  - Be prepared.  Say to yourself:  âI can do this.  This is importantâ?.  Remember, all they can do is say âno thank youâ? 

5) Introduce Yourself  -   Immediately identify yourself with first & last name & town.  Indicate any family connection. Indicate who referred you to them.

6) Where to Begin  - Talk about the family line you are researching  
Explain how you thought you might be related. 

7) Reluctant Relatives  -  Share what youâve learned.  Share your own memories of a shared relative.   Mention something of particular interest in the family tree that might pique their interest.   Offer to mail them some information and call again once theyâve had a chance to look at it. 

8) During the Call  - Take notes during the phone call.  Confirm information that you already have

9) When Thereâs No Answer  - Leave a voice mail your name, number, why youâre calling,   & offer to call back. 

10) âMust Askâ? Questions 

1.             Mailing address 
2.             Their birthdate 
3.             Family photos, bible, documents? Copies only of course! 
4.             Can I keep in touch? 
5.             Can you suggest anyone else I might contact? 

11) Wrapping up the call   - Thank them for their time.  Ask for email address. Offer to give them your address and phone number. 

 12) Create Documentation  Be sure to include the person's name, address, phone number and date of conversation.

13) Enter data into your genealogy database  -  This is a must.  Do it right away while itâs on your mind 

14) Create a To Do List  -  Go through the notes you typed with a highlighter pen to mark items you will want to research further.    

15) Follow-up  Thank you card  Birthday cards & Christmas card  Follow up calls     

GEM:  Sweet Land    

Click twice on the arrow to view movie clips 

 Enjoy!

This is the documentary spoof (or should I say "sockumentary") video about the immigration of the fictitious Sockish-Americans.  Currently featured on Roots Television, the video is now available for FREE download onto your video ipod exclusively with this unique video podcast. 

Now you can "Sock It To Yourself" anytime you like! 
Due to the Socks huge popularity, I'm pleased to offer Socks mugs & posters, which are only available through the Genealogy Gems Cafepress Store.

The Socks to America Mugs: Immigration Story & I'm A Genealogist

(Caution: Don't drink & watch the video at the same time as you will be in danger of laughing which causes spitting!)

And the Poster...    

MAILBOX

RE: WorldVitalRecords - All "Recently Added Databasesâ? on the site are offered for 10 days free when they are added.

A quick way to find keywords on a webpage such as the databases listed on World Vital Records is to use the âFind on this pageâ? Function of Internet Explorer:

1. From the homepage click on the the  âBrowse all recently added databasesâ? link
2. From the top of this page that has the entire listing of databases press the Control key and letter E key on your keyboard at the same time which will access the edit menu
3. Press the letter F on your keyboard to access âFind on this pageâ? function.  This will make the FIND window pop up.
4. Type your key word in the search box in the Find window
5. Click the NEXT button

RE: Judy Gorman's email:  Socks to America Video

Rootstelevision chose "The Socks to America" as their homepage video last weekend.  It now appears on their Roots Living Channel and Roots Tube channel.

Sock it to Me!  Express your Sockish-American side with Socks to America Posters and Mugs!  They would make hillarious holiday presents for your fellow genealogists.

Many listeners burn the podcast to CD for listening away from their computer, and I think donating them to your local genealogy society after you are done with them is a great idea.  Here is a link to an official Genealogy Gems Podcast CD Label.   It's formatted specifically for CD Stomper Label System which I use to create all kinds of professional looking labels for CDs and DVDs.   

Genealogy Societies are also welcome to use excerpts from my newsletter in their society newsletter when they include the following author credit "by Lisa L. Cooke, The Genealogy Gems Podcast at www.genealogygems.TV". 

GEM: Interview with DearMYRTLE -
DearMYRTLE Website
DearMYRTLEâs Book âThe Joy of Genealogyâ? 
DearMYRTLEâs Family History Hour can be found in iTunes and at her website

I'll be at the Northern Utah Genealogy Jamboree in Ogden this Saturday September 15, 2007.  Booth #302. (Listen to Episode 25)

Gem:  Organizing Your Internet Favorite Bookmarks
To Rename Bookmarked Websites in your Internet Explorer Favorites:

1. In Internet Explorer click the yellow star with the green plus sign
2. Click Organize Favorites 
3. Click to highlight the website link that you want to rename
4. Click the RENAME button.
5. Type the new name
6. Press Enter key

A more comprehensive organization strategy:
First Level example:
FUNNY STUFF
GENEALOGY
RECIPES
STOCK TRADING, etcâ

Within the GENEALOGY folder you could have:

Blogs
Libraries
Podcasts
Societies
Military Resources
Surnames - containing folders for each major surname Iâm researching. 
Etc...

To Alphabetize Your Favorites:

1. Click the yellow star favorites button on your Internet browser
2. This will open up the window so you can see the folders in your Favorites list
3. Right click you mouse anywhere in the white space of that window
4. click SORT BY NAME

And all your folders will snap back into alphabetical order. 

Be sure and subscribe to the free Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter...Coming in the October edition: yet another way to use your iPod as a family history tool.  Go to the Newsletter page and send an email to subscribe.    

Announcing the premiere of the newest Genealogy Gems Production: The Socks to America. This video is a documentary spoof (a la Ken Burns) chronicling the immigration of the fictitious "Sockish" people (aka Sock Puppets). I invite Genealogists & Historians alike to sit back and enjoy a chuckle at our favorite pastime.

It is jammed packed with genealogical gems that you can use straight from the book, or as you listen along to the podcast at GenealogyGems.tv.   It was really important to me that the book be able to stand alone as a resource tool in addition to being a companion manual to the first twenty episodes of the podcast.    You will find everything written out in step-by-step instructions, plus lots of photos, as well as many things that I never got a chance to talk about on the podcast or include in the newsletter. 

Lulu is very cool because you can preview several pages of the book. It's very safe and secure to order with them online.  Shipping hint: When you're checking out the shipping will automatically show as Priority Mail.  If youâre not in a huge hurry, use the drop down menu and select media mail - itâs much less expensive.  It usually takes about a week to receive Media Mail.

German history videos

Allen county Library

I hope to see you at the  Northern Utah Genealogy & Family Heritage Jamboree at the Marriott Hotel, in Ogden on Saturday, September 15, 2007.  I will be in Booth 302 in the Exhibition Hall.  Stop by and say hello.  For more information or to register online visit the My Ancestors Found website.

Newspapers:   The Genealogy database site World Vital Records is providing "increased accessâ? to the collection of NewspaperArchive.com database.  The first release of the NewspaperArchive.com data (40 million records ranging from 1759 to 1923) went up Aug. 27, 2007. And World Vital Records is giving 10 days of free access to these new additions  BROWSE 

Gem:  Some newspapers carry a history section or a 'looking backâ  column where they run old articles.  World Vital Records only had a sampling of years from the past newspapers that are digitized.  But the columns like âTwice Told Talesâ? that can be found in more recent newspapers, may include articles about the family that the website didnât have the originals of.  So donât dismiss those new issues â you may find some real gems!

To view a sample back issue of the newsletter CLICK HERE

To subscribe to the Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter CLICK HERE.

The newsletter is absolutely free.  Just type the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line of the email, & send your name, and how you first heard about the podcast.  Youâll get the current issue and as a special bonus, an email giving you access to the âThis Weekâs Genealogy Gemâ? Google gadget.  (see Episode 15)  I know youâll enjoy it.  So be sure to sign up today.

The National Archives and Records Administration has taken the leap and raised their record reproduction fees.  The new fees donât become effective until October 1, 2007, so youâve go a window of opportunity to order records at the old lower prices. 

Presidential Archives Uncovered.

KodakGallery  - Create a Family History Calendar.  Consider highlighting an ancestor each month.  It would make a wonderful holiday gift.  Save 25% off calendars with coupon code SCHOOLCAL at Kodak Gallery

My NEW book Genealogy Gems â Ultimate Research Strategies from Season One of the Genealogy Gems Podcast will be out VERY soon,.  It will include step by step details from everything covered in Episodes 1 through 20.   Check the website often for the official publish date. 

Correction:  The title of the book I mentioned in Episode 19 called Papaâs Way is incorrect.  The title of the book by Thyra Ferre Bjorn is Papaâs Wife.

Hereâs another Swedish Book recommendation that I received from Anna-karin Shander who lives in Sweden and is host of Anna-Karinâs Genealogical Podcast.  The book is called The Emigrants â The Emigrant Novels Book 1 by Wilhelm Moberg.  ordered my copy.  With Fall coming, doesnât it sound wonderful to curl up on the couch with some hot coffee and a novel called âThe Emigrantsâ??  The Emigrants by Wilhelm Moberg

GEMS:  A tour of Genealogy Gems TV 

In Episode 24 I take you on a tour of the new videos on the Genealogy Gems TV webpage.  Click on the VIDEOS button or on the Genealogy Gems TV icon in the top right corner of the home page to check out all the new videos.   

Comedies
Our Summer Vacation
Family Tree Part One & Two- Starring Julie Andrews and Gene Kelly
A Son's Tale
Fast Talking High Trousers
Ask A Ninja - What is Podcasting?

Documentaries
A Nurse In Training Part One & Two

Research
Library Genealogy Tour - Arlington Heights Memorial Library
Tracing Your Roots

Silent Movies
Harold Lloyd  Safety Last & Documentary: The Third Genius
Mary Pickford:  Daddy Long Legs, PollyAnna and Mary and Cat
Douglas Fairbanks:  The Thief of Bagdad and Zorro
 
COMING SOON!  International
Videos from Germany, England and Sweden.

Attention Podcast Listeners:  Take a picture of yourself listening on your computer or listening to the podcast on your ipod and email it to me at genealogygemspodcast@gmail.com.  You can make it funny, make it serious, you can hold up a sign saying that youâre listening to the show or what you think of it.  Whatever you want to do is fine with me.  Include your name and let me know in the email if itâs ok to use or not.  You may find your photo on the upcoming Listeners page where I can show off my awesome audience. 

The Mailbox:

According to alert listener Richard Yehle, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests can receive acknowledgement letters from the US Dept. of Homeland Security / US Citizen and Immigration Services in just two weeks.  Richard's requests were placed on a speedier "simple track.â?  This means that response time has been drastically cut from the six months it took me to receive answers about 5 years ago.  This is good news for genealogists!  Better yet, you now have the option of requesting a CD with pdf file, instead of paper files, if the number of pages is over 15.  We"re all waiting with bated breath to hear back from Richard when he receives the final results from his request for his great grandfatherâs records. 

GEM:  Follow up - Using Your Video iPod As A Genealogy Tool 

Proactive listener Donna wrote this week to ask what the best format and resolution was for saving pictures to be viewed on the Video iPod. 

For photos to be viewed on a television screen, save them as JPEG files at 300 dpi resolution.      

For photos strictly viewed on your iPod, resize them to reduce their ipod storage requirements.  Hereâs how: 

To Reduce Image Size: 

1. Copy and paste the photos into your IPOD IMAGES folder (see Episode 22 re: folder) 
2. In Windows XP, click MY COMPUTER icon on your desktop 
3. Go to your IPOD IMAGES FOLDER 
4. Click a photo that you want to downsize so that itâs highlighted. (To highlight all the images click on the first image, hold down the SHIFT key and then click the last image in the folder.)   
5. Look to the blue side bar on the left under FILE AND FOLDER TASKS and click on EMAIL THIS FILE which will open up a little window called SEND PICTURES VIA E-MAIL 
6. Make sure the MAKE ALL MY PICTURES SMALLER button is selected 
7. Click OK 
8. An email message will open with all the photos you selected attached, but at reduced sizes.  
9. Double Click on the first image to open & view it in the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer 
10. At the bottom of the window click the COPY TO icon. 
11. Keep the original file name and click SAVE 
12. It will ask you if you want to replace the original.  Click OK 
13. Follow that procedure with each photo.  

I was able to reduce my original 1.24 MB photo to just 141 KB.  This saves LOTS of room on your iPod! 

Supply Checklist

1. Video iPod
2. MicroMemo Digital Recorder for Video iPod
3. A/V Cable for viewing iPod through your TV

Photo Slideshow Troubleshooting Checklist 

1. When plugging A/V cable the  into your TV make sure each jack is firmly plugged in.  
2. To begin slideshow, be sure to press the center iPod ENTER button TWICE when selecting the first image.   
3. Make sure the TV Out feature under Photo Slideshow settings is set to ON. 
4. Make sure your digital TV tuner is set to the appropriate input for the signal coming from the jacks that your iPod is plugged into. 

GEM: Home Movie Hint 

Please permit me to share a suggestion you may find useful...  I recently took a number of old movie reels (from the 1940s) out to be transferred to DVD, as I'd long intended to do.

As much fun and as enlightening as these reels were to watch, I realized an unexpected bonus:  the scenes in these reels helped me identify my great grandmother and her sister in a photo I had sitting by.  Of course, I recognized my great grandmother and I suspected the other was her sister but these movies put that photograph in a context that allowed me to make that identification.  The clothing was the same and the  background matched so I was able to put names and approximate dates on these pictures!  The fuller context of the movie allowed me to identify the names, place and time for the photograph.

I hurried down to the store with the rest of the movie reels.  I will remember that often photos are taken at the same events as movies were taken and that a single picture is merely a moment in time but movies can provide larger context.

Thank you for your podcast and sharing your ideas.  I look forward to them.â?  Pat Dalpiaz 

Regarding Brick Walls: 

If youâre ready to give up youâre probably closer than you think.  Or as they said in Galaxy Quest:  âNever Give Up, Never Surrender!â? 

THE MAILBOX
"âI also wanted to share a couple of photographs with you, she says.  During your third episode, you talked about creative ways to display your family history treasures, and I wanted to share with you something absolutely wonderful my aunt did for me.

When my grandmother had to downsize and move into an assisted living facility, my aunt stumbled upon a beautiful silk baby dress and a pair of leather button-up baby shoes that had belonged to my grandmother.  She had these framed for me along with a photograph of my grandmother on her 1st birthday wearing them!  She gave the finished product to me because she knew how much I am fascinated by our family's history.  Sincerely,  Diana Larsonâ?

  
Eleanor Mae Lees - 1st birthday

Email from Barbara Murphy, NY:
âOn this weeks episode #21 you were talking about writing your memories. I received a book from my daughter last Christmas that does just what you are talking about.  It is "A Mother's Legacy; Your life story in your own words.  I think it is terrific because there was no way I was going to write anything anytime.  This book is a month by month calendar book.  Each month has questions to write aboutââ?

Anna-Karin's Swedish Genealogical Podcast

Use the time while you"re downloading podcasts to make a few entries into a memory book!  Thatâs a gem of an idea!

GEM:  Turn Your Video iPodInto A Family History Tool 

MicroMemo High-Fidelity Digital Audio Recorder for the Video iPod by XtremeMac

The Micro memo snaps easily into the connector at the base of the video ipod.  It has a flexible microphone and built in speaker. When you plug it into your ipod it automatically puts your ipod in Voice Memo mode with the option to start recording.

How To Record

1. From Voice Memo mode Select RECORD
2. When youâre done you just select STOP AND SAVE

How To Download Recordings to Your Computer

1. Plug iPod into your computer
2. Open up iTunes (it will detect that you have new recorded voice memos on your iPod, and will ask you if you would like to download them into iTunes.)
3. Click OK

How Two Use Two Desktop Microphones For An Interview

1. UnPlug the MicroMemo microphone from the MicroMemo unit
2. Plug in a Microphone & Headphone Splitter;
3. Plug two computer desktop microphones into the splitter

How To Record With An External Microphone Or Other Source In Stereo

1. UnPlug the MicroMemo microphone from the MicroMemo unit
2. Flip the switch above the microphone jack on the Micro Memo to LINE. 
3. Plug in your stereo microphone or cable from other source into MicroMemo
4. Record as usual

How To Load Images Onto Your Video iPod:

1. Create a IPOD IMAGES file folder on your computer
2. Scan or copy photos and documents and save them to the file
3. Plug your iPod into your computer
4. Open up iTunes.
5. From the gray menu tabs Click PHOTOS
6. Click the SYNC PHOTOS FROM box
7. Click the gray box to choose a folder from your hard drive.  (This will open a window called BROWSE FOR FOLDER.  Navigate your way to your IPOD IMAGES folder.)
8. Click on the IPOD IMAGES folder (the folder icon will open but you wonât see image files)
9. Click the OK button.
10. Click the ALL PHOTO button
11. Click the INCLUDE FULL RESOLUTION BUTTON.
12. Click the gray APPLY at the bottom right corner of the screen.

ITunes has now copied all of the photos from that folder onto your iPod.  Youâll see that happening in the box at the top of the Itunes screen.

How To View Your Images On Your iPod

1. Eject your iPod from iTunes.  The main menu will appear on iPod video screen.
2. Select PHOTOS from iPod menu
3. Select PHOTO LIBRARY to view thumbnail images
4. Scroll to the image you want to view and select it

How To View Your iPod Photos And Videos On Your Television

1. You will need:  A/V Cable for the video iPod
2. Plug one end of the cable into the headphone jack of your iPod
3. Plug the three plugs into the corresponding yellow, white & red jacks on your TV.
4. Turn on your ipod
5. From menu select VIDEOS
6. Select VIDEO SETTINGS
7. Select TV OUT and set it to âONâ?
8. Click the MENU button and go back and select the video you want to watch
9. Press play
10. You will probably need to change your TV tuner to an AV input

How To Create A Photo Slideshows In Your iPod

1. Start at PHOTOS menu
2. Select Slideshow Settings. 
3. Set the time per slide (I suggest 5 seconds)
4. Select MUSIC. Select a music Playlist, or Random. 
5. Set the REPEAT and SHUFFLE PHOTOS settings to OFF.
6. Select TRANSITIONS  (I like Dissolve)
7. Navigate your way back to the PHOTOS page
8. Select the folder of photos you want to play as your slide show.
9. When you see the list of thumbnails and the yellow box is around the first image youâre ready to go so hit play. 

So now you can gather the family around the television set and share your photos, and videos in big, living color with your Video iPod

I hope if you do purchase any of the items I mentioned today, youâll do it through the links on my website.  The links simply tell the vendor who referred you.  The price is the same and your personal information goes ONLY to the vendor.  By purchasing through my website link, you help support this podcast and defer the production costs.  So we all win.

Your iPod is fun AND hard working.  Happy listening AND viewing!!

Genealogy Reviews Online blog: Genealogy Gems - You've Got to Check this One Out. 

Lisa's Movie Pick:  Full of Life (1957).  It's a really heartwarming movie about immigrants and their American born children that you can watch comfortably with your kids and your grandkids.  

The novel by John Fante is still available:  Full of Life by John Fante

Turner Classic Movies  

GEM:  Freedom of Information Act Follow Up

Email from Richard Hrazanek:  "I loved the tip about requesting your ancestor's immigration file through the Freedom of Information Act. Do you know if you can do the same thing with a person's military record.â?

FOIA can assist you in obtaining military records.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Website article: How to use the Freedom of Information Act.  

Rod Powers of About.com does a great job outlining how to obtain military records 

The National Archives website article: Access to Military Records by the General Public, including genealogists who are not next-of-kin

Timothy E. Blaiseâ website devoted to the 4th Infantry Division 224th Infantry Regiment Company "D" which his uncle served in.  Timothy outlines his experience with obtaining military records.  

GEM:  Thanks for the Memories

Get a piece of paper or pull up a word document.  Close your eyes for a second, and visualize a favorite memory from your childhood.  In my case I started with a favorite place, my maternal grandmaâs house.  But perhaps yours is the back alley where you and your friends played baseball, or your great uncle's garage where he showed you how to work on cars.  Whatever is meaningful to you. Now, open your eyes, and write your thoughts one at a time.  Just free flow it. They donât have to be complete sentences. 

Later you can try your hand at writing more of your actual experiences or memories of a person.  Again, it doesnât have to be a novel or sound really professional.  Itâs just the memories from you heart.

Tie together this gem with episode 20âs Sweet Memories gem where we made a family history chocolate bar label for a candy bar that could be tucked in a Christmas Stocking as a gift.  Replace the Ingredientâs list on the back label with a text box that includes these free flowing memories about the photo that appears on the front label. 

Book Recommendation:  Home and Home Again by George and Helen Papashvily.

GEM:  German Homeland - Part 2

Here's a checklist of other types of records that might contain information about your ancestor"s home town.

1. Death Certificates
2. Marriage records
3. Church records
4. Obituaries
5. Tombstones & cemetery records
6. Probate records
7. Delayed birth certificates
8. The Germans to America book series
9. German passenger departure lists.

Bremen Passenger Lists 1920 - 1939
While most of the Bremen, Germany passenger departure records were destroyed -- either by German officials or during WWII -- 2,953 passenger lists for the years 1920 - 1939 have survived. The Bremen Society for Genealogical Investigation, DIE MAUS, has put transcriptions of these surviving Bremen passenger records online.

Hamburg Emigration Lists - BallinStadt â Port of Dreams

Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1872
German emigrants left through Hamburg in 1872. It's available free online HERE.

A research outline from FamilySearch for Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934

Look sideways, at brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, even friends.   If you can determine where one of them was born, you will have an EXCELLENT place to look in Germany for your ancestors!

In addition, determine if your ancestors had traveling companions on their way to America and look into their backgrounds.  Go back to the census and check out your ancestors first recorded American neighborhood.  Where were their neighbors from?  Folks often settled near family and friends from the old country.

The Freedom of Information Actâ

is a federal statute that allows any person the right to obtain federal agency records unless the records (or part of the records) are protected from disclosure by any of the nine exemptions in the law. 

It can take up to six months to receive a reply.  I've obtained two ancestor files so far, and both contained information and photographs that I had never seen before.  No fees are required when you make the request.  And the first 100 pages of copying and two hours of search time are free!  

FOIA Request Process

1. At the bottom of the page on the left is a link to the two page G-639 form.  Click on the link, and print.
2. Fill out the information as completely as possible. 
3. Make a copy of the form for your follow up records and keep it in a pending file in your desk
4. Put the original form in an envelope and clearly mark on the front "Freedom of Information Requestâ? and mail it.
5. Mark in your calendar six months from today to follow up on the request.  Also indicate that the copy is in your pending file.

GEM:  Christmas in July

Sweet Memories Candy Bar Stocking Stuffers

CLICK HERE FOR TEMPLATE

First, youâll need the following items:

1. A 3.67 oz size chocolate bar  
2. A couple of sheets of high bright white printer paper. I use hp Premium Choice ink jet paper 98 brightness, 32 lb weight. 
3. A computer & printer
4. A publishing software program such as Microsoft Publisher
5. Double sided tape
6. Scissors
7. Scanned family photos.  (I like using old Christmas Photos)

Hereâs how to create the label:

Scan the photos you want to include on the label

Open a new page in Microsoft Publisher

Use the Rectangle Tool to create a 7 Ââ? high x 5 Ââ? wide rectangle

Insert a background image using the INSERT IMAGE function, and then resize it to fit just over the rectangle.   Another  option is to select the rectangle, and use the FORMAT FILL COLOR function to color the box.

Use INSERT IMAGE to add your photos, and resize them to fit.   Measure down 2â? from the top of the label, and thatâs where the top of the front side photo is placed. Set it Ââ? from the left edge.  

The backside photo should begin 5â? from the top of the label, and be set Ââ? from the left edge.

Insert the text boxes.  The  "Sweet Memoriesâ? and Ingredients text boxes are about 3â? wide and 1 1/4â? high.  Format with the borders and colors that you want.   Reflect your own family values in the Ingredients list.

To Print:  From the menu, click FILE then PRINT and then click the PROPERTIES button.  From this window select âhigh resolution paperâ or âHigh Brightnessâ? as the Media Type, and select HIGH for the Print Quality to get the bestlooking label.  Print the label & cut out carefully. 

Folding guidelines: The first fold line is 1 Ââ? from the top of the label, and the second fold line is 4 Ââ? from the top of the label.

Use a small piece of double sided tape to stick the label to itself on the backside snugly. 

Now you have your own custom family history themed chocolate bar ready to tuck in Christmas stockings this year.  Theyâre guaranteed to put smiles on everyoneâs face on Christmas morning, and hopefully inspire a bit of curiosity about the family tree. 

August Episodes - In order to get the book finished and prepare for some exciting new episodes for Season Two Iâm not going to make any promises about how often new episodes will be published in August of 2007.  However, I will be putting out a couple of new podcasts as well as doing some blogging on the website so check back often.

Music courtesy of UC Santa Barbara:  Deutschlands Ruhm performed by the Johann Strauss Orchestera for Edison Records  in 1913. Homeland, sung by the soprano Elizabeth Spencer, recorded by Edison records in 1911

GEM:  A Long Look Sideways

Have you ever heard the piece of genealogical advice that says if you get stuck with your own ancestor, look sideways  - at their siblings, aunts and uncles?  Well in this episode we stretch this idea even further by looking at folks who aren't even related to us in order to get a clearer view of our ancestor"s lives.

EXAMPLE  Hereâs a list of books that Iâve found that are about specific locations and experiences that apply to my ancestors:

1. The Kinta Years by Janice Holt Giles (Oklahoma)
2. Tunbridge Wells - I was born on the Pantiles, By Josephine Butcher (England)
3. Still Life â Sketches from a Tunbridge Wells Childhood by Richard Cobb (England)
4. Rebecca of Blossom Prairie by Maurine Walpole Liles (Texas)
5. Papaâs Wife by Thyra Ferre Bjorn -1956 (Sweden)
6. Anything Can Happen by George and Helen Papashvily â1940 (immigrant experience)

Places to find old or out of print books:

Ebay.com, Amazon.com, Google Search, Garage Sales

GEM:  Finding Your German Ancestorâs Town of Origin

A little German village can seem like a needle in a haystack when youâre starting with ancestors who made it to the shores of America.   But once youâve found that gem, it will open up all kinds of records from their native land, and likely take you back several more generations.

There are three important pieces to this Ancestral puzzle:

1. The village name
2. The Parish it belonged to
3. The district or Kreis it was part of

First step: find them in the most recent census and work backwards.  Look for immigration information. 

The naturalization process created a lot of paperwork, and in that paper work your ancestors were asked for specific information about where they were born, where they immigrated from, the ship they traveled on, and when they arrived in America.  Naturalization was applied for at the county courthouse in most cases.

Try the free GenWeb website  http://http://usgenweb.com/  for the county where you think your ancestorâs applied for citizenship to see what resources they have available.  Also, look up the county courthouse online for records and contact information.

Declarations of Intent:  The first document filed for citizenship
Petitions for Naturalization:  The final papers

The more recent the naturalization, the more likely you will find listed the place of birth, date of emigration and the ship on which they sailed.

Brush up on your German border history.   Most recent border changes occurred in 1945 and 1871.  Wikipedia 

Consult a gazetteer at the library or online, and look up the town. This should indicate the parish and Kreis.

Check familysearch.org:  Enter the last name, and the country as Germany to see if people with the same last name are listed in the same location you have pinpointed in Germany. 

Also, Search PLACE under the Family History Library link to find out what records they hold for that village.  Suggestion:  Put the village name in the first field and the kreis in the second.

Next, Timelines are a great tool for seeing the bigger picture and determining how the little bits of information fall within it.

One of my favorite German sites is Genealogy.net German Genealogy website http://www.genealogienetz.de/reg/ger1871.htm

Email me & Visit the complete website at genealogygems.tv

SHOW NOTES July 8, 2007 

In addition to this Genealogy Gems Podcast website, I've launched the new website at Genealogygems.tv 

From the Homepage of the GenealogyGems.tv website click on the TV set on the right side of the page to go to the Genealogy Gems TV page where you can watch my "Our Summer Vacation" video that just took 2^nd place in the Rootstelevision.com Wild Roots Contest. 

GEM:  Colorado History

The song That Railroad Rag performed by Edward Meeker.is an Edison Recording from 1912, Courtesy of the University of California, Santa Barbara   

Colorado Historical Society 

Georgetown Loop Page

Georgetown Loop Railroad website

Colorado State Archives Website

Family History pages

GEM:  Vehicular Forensics

 
Above: Original Photo

Applying your own CSI "Alternative Light Source" to reveal the license plate number on an a car in an old photo. 

 Left: Before

1. Open up the photo editing software that probably came with your computer 
2. Open the photograph in question in the program  
3. Use the trim feature to zoom in on the license plate 
4. Zoom in to make it easier to see  
5. Try using both the Brightness and Contrast feature of your program in combination until you achieve a favorable result. 
6. Apply Auto Sharpen for further detail. 

 Left: After technique

Compare the plate with plated found on LicensePlates.TV 

Check the state's Department of Motor Vehicles website for license history 

Try the state's archive website online catalog for 'motor vehicle records'

Paul Young Willys Overland Knight Registry website

Email me

Book Alert:  No more note taking required! My new book The Comprehensive Guide to Season One of the Genealogy Gems Podcast -The First Twenty Episodes is set for publication in August / September 2007.  Subscribe to the newsletter for special notification.

Ragtime music courtesy of Frederick Hodges

CLICK HERE

  SHOW NOTES June 24, 2007 

NOTE:  Though I mentioned in this week's podcast that the new website is up and running, there have been some problems with coordinating it with itunes.  So in order to get this podcast to you in itunes, I've delayed the launch of the website.  Thanks for your patience.  I highly recommend that you subscribe to the newsletter as this is the email list I will use to listeners if it turns out that I must move my podcast feed. 

Saw the movie "Waitress" this week.  Nothing to do with genealogy, but boy it was one terrific movie and I can't recommend it enough.  If nothing else, seeing Andy Griffith again in a movie was worth the price of admission.  But it"s also a great story done in a really fresh way.   

http://waitressmovie.net/  

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/waitress/  

GEM:  A Few Gems From The Great White North - Canadian Research  

The song O Canada courtesy of the University of California, Santa Barabara   

The Library & Archives Canada
Be sure to visit their Canadian Genealogy Centre.  I also highly recommend you take a fascinating journey by visiting the Moving Here, Staying Here. The Canadian Immigrant Experience

Archives Canada   

GEM: Searching with Synonyms in Google  Place a tilde (~) character directly in front of the relevant keyword in the search box.   For example, a search for "burket ~genealogy" would not only bring up sites that include 'burket and genealogy," but also "burket and family history," or "burket and family tree"    

Coming Soon: The Comprehensive Guide to Season One of the Genealogy Gems Podcast - the First Twenty Episodes.  So don't worry about extensive notetaking while you listen to the podcast.  Hopefully by September you will have everything at your fingertips in this new book which will be available through the Genealogy Gems Podcast website Store page. 

Email me 

GEM:  Genealogy Play Day! 

SONG:   Ev'rything's funny to me performed by Sallie Stembler. 
Issued by Edison Standard Record, 1909  

Genealogy Genius Quiz

Fun Genealogy Logic Puzzle

Interesting and Fun Genealogy Aids 

Legends , Lies & Cherished Myths of World History

Ragtime Music courtesy of Frederick Hodges Music Visit his website at Frederickhodges.com  Songs are from the album: Picnics. 

Genealogy Fun Time  

Song:  I think I hear a woodpecker knocking at my family tree performed by  Edward M. Favor.  Issue by Edison Standard Record, 1910 

Old Picture .com

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: No more note taking required! 

My new book The Comprehensive Guide to Season One of the Genealogy Gems Podcast -  The First Twenty Episodes is set for publication in August / September 2007.  Subscribe to the newsletter for special notification, or check back to this website often for more details. 

Email me with questions or comments

GEM  I Love to iGoogle & You Will Too!

Create An Account 

Go to:  https://www.google.com/accounts/ManageAccount   
Create A GENEALOGY Tab 
Autofill Gadgets  

How to Add an rss Feed Gadget for this Podcast
Start from your GENEALOGY tab of your igoogle home page.  
Go to genealogygemspodcast.com.   
Click on ADD TO GOOGLE icon 
Click on ADD TO GOOGLE button  
Your new Genealogy Gems Podcast gadget will be in the upper left corner.     

BONUS:  I have created a special gadget just for you called This Week's Genealogy Gem.   I will be emailing all of my newsletter subscribers an invitation to add the Genealogy Gem gadget to your igoogle homepage.       

Email me

If you have an itunes account & are enjoying the podcast, please click this ITUNES REVIEW LINK  and leave a positive review in Itunes.  Thanks for your support! 

SHOW NOTES -  May 20, 2007  

Ancestry.com U.S. Military Collection  Free through D-DAY JUNE 6^, 2007

  SHOW NOTES   May 20, 2007

Ragtime music is by the talented Frederick Hodges 

From the MAILBOX
from Allan Scahill: 
List of genealogical resources that can be found in the home:  http://www3.telus.net/public/ascahill/Sources.htm#sources  

GEM #1 - Memorial Day - WW II Service Records

Music courtesy of the University of Santa Barbara Library featuring the Chorus of Male Voices singing U.S. Army Camp Songs, an Edison recording from 1918

Two free must check websites:

#1 NARA (The National Archives and Records Administration)  Search the WWII enlistment records and prisoner of War records at archives.gov/aad

#2 Search for soldiers traveling overseas or returning home after the war with Steve Morse's All New York Arrivals Search form http://stevemorse.org/ellis/passengers.php?mode=ny  

For more information & historical background on Memorial Day: 
U.S. Memorial Day website http://www.usmemorialday.org/

GEM #2 Publish Your Own Family History Book

My videos A Nurse In Training Part 1 & Part 2 can be seen at Rootstelevision.com on their RootsTube channel (See Episode 5 of the Genealogy Gems Podcast)  The video was taken from a book that I self published.  Books are still hard to beat for telling a story in words and pictures in an extremely easy to use way.

My Top Six Tips For Making Your Book Fascinating to Your Reader:

#1 The book should convey an overall theme  
#2 Be readable in one sitting  
#3 Contain the best of the best of what you have
#4 Use lots of photos and graphics
#5 Be in chronological order
#6 Be high QUALITY

I create my books in the Kodakgallery.  There are several websites out there offering the ability to publish your own book.  I chose Kodakgallery because it was easy to use, price competitive, FAST publishing & shipping, and Excellent quality.

For my Family History Books I use:

The Classic Photo Book (9" x 10 1/4") 
10-20 double sided pages
Leather cover (I've also used linen & smooth matte) 
Time After Time Page Design  

I'm going to walk you through the steps of setting up a book in Kodak Gallery because it's a resource I feel very comfortable recommending.  If you decide to use Kodak, I really appreciate you accessing it through this link because it will help support the production & costs associated with producing this podcast. 

1. In the Photo Books area of the website click CREATE BOOK
2. Select a cover material that compliments the theme and contents of the book.Click the NEXT button.
3. Choose a page design for your book.
4. Click NEXT A box will pop up - select fill page by page Add content to your book.
5. Anywhere you see a text box click inside of it and start typing.
6. To upload photos look below the image of the book and click the Upload Photos link. 
7. Browse your hard drive and select the photos and images you want to include
8. Grab the photo with your mouse and drag & drop it into the DRAG PHOTO HERE box
9. Keep clicking next page until you have filled all the pages. 
   

A Nurse In Training  

Remember, your research CAN be fascinating and understandable to others in your family.  It just takes a little creativity and effort.  What good is it sitting on a shelf?  Don't wait until your DONE with your research.  It'll never happen!  Start putting pieces of your family history directly into your family's hands with a beautiful family history book.    

You can email me with comments & questions.   

Type SUBSCRIBE in the email subject line, and include your name, state & how you heard about the podcast in the email.

   SHOW NOTES  May 13, 2007

Happy Mother's Day! 

News: If you'd like to see me being silly on the world wide web check out Rootstelevision.com & watch my video called Our Summer Vacation.

TODAY'S GEM - High School Graduation

Top 10 Tips for finding the Graduation Gems in your family history.

1.  Establish the Timeline

Check your genealogy database to figure out when your ancestor would have attended school.  I am going to be focusing on high school, but this could just as easily apply to researching the college years.

2.  Family Papers & Books

We always start our research at home, so go through old family papers & books looking for Senior Calling Cards, High School Autograph Books, Journals & Diaries, Senior Portraits, & Yearbooks

Senior Calling Card from 1930

Yearbook Entry from 1930

3.  Newspapers

Search for announcements,  honor rolls & other articles about end of the year activities

. 
Honor Roll & "Play Day" article from the Chowchilla newspaper, 1930

It is easy to say search newspapers, but it's not always that easy to find them.  So here are some ideas of where to look for historical newspapers...

Ancestry.com ($)

The Local Pulbic Library website in the town where your ancestor attended school.  

Library of Congress 

Family History Center in Salt Lake City.  Search the Family History Library Catalog online for your ancestor's location to find what newspapers they may have. 

Historical and genealogical societies.  

U.S. state archives and libraries   

4. The State Library
Wisconsin Dept of Education website for list of state libraries

5.  State Historical Societies
In addition to newspapers as I mentioned before, state historical societies might have old yearbooks & photos.

6.  Rootsweb.com
Check the Message Board for the county & state you are looking for, as well  post a message asking if anyone has access to yearbooks or other school info.

7.  Websites focused on Yearbooks
Yearbook Genealogy.com website  & The National Yearbook Project

8.  The US GENWEB site 
Search on the county website where the school was located.

9.  Call the School 
If they don't have old yearbooks, they may be able to put you in touch with a local librarian or historian who does.  Get the number from http://whowhere.com.  Call around 4:00 pm, when the kids are gone but the school office is still open.