SHOW NOTES July 15, 2007

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 Ancestors 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 and type "Subscribe" in the subject line of your email.  Include your name, state & how you heard about the podcast in the body of the email. 

  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 

SHOW NOTES  June 17, 2007 

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

  SHOW NOTES - June 10, 2007

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! 

Click Here Type SUBSCRIBE in the subject line, and send you name, state and how you heard about the podcast. 

SHOW NOTES -  May 20, 2007  

Ancestry.com U.S. Military Collection  Free through D-DAY JUNE 6^, 2007

The collection because it contains the 267 issues motion picture newsreels called The United News produced by the U.S. Office of War Information during World War II. 

GEM:  A New View On Family History - Exploring Silent Movies

The people who performed in the silent movies were viewed intently by your ancestors.  They took in their hairstyles, decorating, morality, etc.This podcast includes an interview with Sam Gill, Archivist of the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, and retired archivist for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences in Hollywood. 

Sources for Silent Movies  Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum (& Edison Theater)  37417 Niles Blvd, Niles, CA

The Picture Show Man Website  (click festivals & events and search by State).  The Stanford Theater (Palo Alto, CA).  The Silent Movie Theater (Los Angeles, CA)

Netlfix:   They have an INCREDIBLE catalog of hard to find silent films. (as well as all their other movies & TV shows totaling over 75,000 titiles)  Mailing is very fast, and convenient (they provide postage paid envelopes & no driving!) The low cost per rental makes it a hard to beat - $4.99 a month gets you 2 movies (just $2.50 each).  And for $9.99 you can get an unlimited number of movies (one at a time).  If you watch 2 a week that's just $1.25 each!  I've become a huge Netflix fan - I LOVE it!

 (By using this link you contribute toward the cost of producing this podcast.  Thank you!)  Type "silent" in the search box.   
Click the GENRE matches Tab. There are many films, so keep clicking "More silent Films".

Recommendations To Get You Started: 

Mary Pickford in Daddy Long Legs, Through the Back Door, and Suds; Clara Bow in "It" & Wings.  Harold Lloyd in Safety Last & Grandma's Boy.  Douglas Fairbanks in The Nut, Mark of Zorro & The Mollycoddle. Lois Weber (Director)  The Blot (mentioned by Sam Gill.  Available on Netflix & through Amazon) 

Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

Amazon - Silent Movie Search:Select DVD  in the SEARCH area  Click GOClick BROWSE GENRES .  Next page click CLASSICS.

EBAY My Grandma's Diary Entry for Friday, Nov. 2, 1930
Podcast ragtime music by Frederick Hodges.

The next episode of the podcast will be published on Sunday, June 3, 2007.  This week I'm on a very special assignment - being mother of the bride!  However, next week's episode is going to be "supersized" (over 40 min.) and on a very special topic that I believe will bring your family history into clearer view.  In the meantime, sign up for the Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter by CLICKING HERE & sending an email with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line  & include your name, state and how you first heard about the podcast.  The June issue is about to be published & you won't want to miss it!   Talk to you soon, Lisa

  CLICK HERE Type SUBSCRIBE in the email subject line, and include your name, state & how you heard about the podcast in the email.

  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.   

 CLICK HERE

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. 

10. EBAY
Do a search on the school or town you are looking for to see if anyone out there is selling a yearbook that you need.  Be sure and also search for old photographs or postcards of the school.  Here's my trick: From the results page do a Completed Listings Search & email potential sellers to inquire about the books you are looking for.  You might get lucky like I did!

    
One of the yearbooks I found on Ebay

Don't be afraid to ask...Ebay sellers want to sell!  And if all else fails, set up an Ebay Favorite Search to keep a look out for you.  Go to my website and check out Episode #3 for instructions on how to do this.

SPECIAL NOTE:  As a special bonus for newsletter subscribers, I will be including a customized form just for researching your ancestor's high school years with the June 2007 newsletter.  It's a great little tool that I use all the time and it's a thank you gift to my subscriber family. 

If you haven't subscribed to the free newsletter yet, go to the top of these show notes & you'll see a red arrow pointing you to click on the email link to sign up.  Type the word SUBSCRIBE in the email subject line, and send me your name, state, and how you heard about the podcast.  

And as always, you can email me at genealogygemspodcast@gmail.com with comments & questions. 

 CLICK HERE  In the email subject line type: SUBSCRIBE  send your name, state & how you heard about the podcast

 

  SHOW NOTES May 07, 2007

   GEM #1:  Discover Pictures from the Past with Google

When you search in Google for an image, but when you click on it you get an error message saying the image has moved or is no longer there, try this technique:   

 

1. Using your mouse, highlight the URL website address that appears below the thumbnail 
2. press Control C on your keyboard to copy the address 
3. Now Click where it says WEB above the Google search box to go back to website searches. 
4. Place your curser in the search box by clicking inside it. 
5. Press control V on your key board and that will paste the url address into the search box. 
6. Click the SEARCH button. 
7. The first result or two should be from that website that had the image you wanted. 
8. Look at the last line of the result for that website and click on the "cache" link. 

Now you are looking at a cache version, or in other words an older version of the website, hopefully before the image was removed or moved.  By browsing through this version of the website, you will hopefully find the image you are looking for! 

GEM #2: Mother's Day Project: Decopage Plate

(The song "M-o-t-h-e-r" is a 1916 Edison recording.  Courtesy of U of C, Santa Barbara.)

The supplies:   

1. A clear glass plate with a smooth finish.    
2. A sponge craft brush  
3. A jar of decoupage glue  
4. Good, fine papercutting scissors scissors.   
5. Paint (choose a color you would like for the back.)
6. A flat paint brush  
7. Clear brush on acrylic varnish  
8. a selection of color copies of family photos (re-sized if desired)

Play with laying out your design to fit the plate.  When applying the cutouts, you'll be working in reverse: the first images placed on the plate will be in the foreground of the design when viewed from the front of the plate. Start by applying the decoupage medium to the RIGHT SIDE of the first image. Don't worry about brush strokes, but be careful not to go over it too many times, you don't want the ink to smear.  Glue the edges firmly to the glass. Turn the plate over to check the placement of images.  Adjust as needed.  When you have the photo placed where you want it, spread the glue over the back of the photo as well.  Turn the plate around so you can see the image from the front and work out the air bubbles from behind. Continue placing the images until the entire plate is covered.  Let it dry.  Use painters tape to tape off the edges before you apply the acrylic paint to the back of the plate.  Let dry.   Apply a second coat, or sponge on a second color if you want to.  Let dry.  If you want a glossy finish on the back, apply an acrylic varnish.

Email me  with comments & questions.