Working With Ancestry.com Trees--Part I-Integrating Materials from Ancestry.com

I just completed my first webinar on using the online trees at Ancestry.com--we focused on integrating census and other Ancestry.com databases and images into your file without confusing yourself in the process. It's easy to really mess things up if you are not careful.

Here's what one attendee had to say:

"Thank you for the webinar. I am just now entering our family tree after much research. Now I have a better understanding of how to do this part more accurately."


You can order the media file here for $4.50. 

Genealogical Proof Standard Webinar Released

I just wrapped up my webinar on the "Genealogical Proof Standard for the non-Professional" today. We discussed:

• exhaustive searches
• compilation and citation
• resolving conflicts
• and a variety of terms and definitions

Quick easy examples were given--complex problems can't be used as numerous illustrations in an hour session. My goal was to get concepts across--and I think we did that. I could have kept talking for another hour. The intent of the session was to make the point that all of can learn something from implementing the standards in our research--whether we intend to "publish" or not. 

The recording (video and audio) along with the handout, can be ordered securely here for $8.50. Download is immediate and you can view as many times as  you want.

Did You Check the Locations It Includes?

Ancestry.com has databases that are in "progress." So does FamilySearch, Fold3, GenealogyBank, etc. etc.

Make certain you know if they have the records/location you need in the database.

I was reminded of this when attempting a search in Ancestry.com's California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968. The man I was looking for was in Colusa County. No wonder I couldn't find him--when I browsed the records, Colusa County was a no show.

Of course, Ancestry.com will let me put Colusa County in the search box.

It never hurts to "browse" the data by location to make certain it is actually in there. Otherwise you may be wasting time. 

Lists of Closed and Renamed Colleges in the United States

If you are looking for an "old" college--try this site http://www2.westminster-mo.edu/wc_users/homepages/staff/brownr/ClosedCollegeIndex.htm

No Years On Ancestry.com's Directories and Listing the Dead

The image below is part of the 1956 directory for the Monmouth, Illinois which is part of the U.S. City Directories (Beta) at Ancestry.com.

As of the time this post was written (and published) there were directories in the U.S. City Directories (Beta) at Ancestry.com that had no apparent associated "residence year." These entries were listed without a year on the results--without a year. 

Just something to keep in mind when using this database U.S. City Directories (Beta) at Ancestry.com. We'll post an update if necessary.

And note that John R. Neill is listed in the directory index, even though he's deceased. Actually when this directory was published he had been dead twenty years. Sometimes the dead are listed.

Irish Immigrants to New Brunswick?

If your ancestry includes Irish immigrants to New Brunswick, you might want to try out this special section of the New Brunswick Provincial Archives website, "The New Brunswick Irish Portal." And you might be surprised, your Irish immigrants to the United States might have stopped off for a few years in Canada--mine did.

Is the URL Hiding a Clue?

A relative died recently and all the online obituaries and death notices, etc. listed only his middle initial. Interestingly enough the URL of the death notice at the funeral home website contained (I think) his middle name of Perry. Everything else listed just "P."

Never hurts to look at that website address.

20th Century German Maps at BYU

If you've got German families, you might want to take a look at these maps on the Brigham Young University Library website--parts of Poland are supposed to be included.

Card Index to Maryland State Patents

If you have ancestors who might have received a patent in Maryland, you might want to visit this online card index to these patents at the Maryland State Archives website http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/stagser/s1400/s1426/html/index54.html

Using Fold3 Webinar for Download

Today's webinar on "Using Fold3" went fairly well--there were lots of good comments and emails afterwards indicated that several got new ideas for searching on the site.

This webinar provided a broad overview of what was on the site and provided some actual live demo of searching and interacting with the information. The image interface is different from some and the searching is slightly different so both those things were demonstrated for some representative databases on the site.

This presentation is geared towards those who have not used Fold3 or have limited experience with it.

You can download the webinar now at the introductory rate of $6.

Researching Female Ancestors Webinar

My webinar "Researching Female Ancestors" was recorded today. In giving the presentation live, a few ideas for my own research crossed my mind as well.

This presentation discusses approaches and techniques for determining an ancestor's maiden name and locating "missing" females. Geared towards the advanced beginner or intermediate researcher, it focuses on American records and sources. The content is not specific to any one time period and many of the approaches can be refined for different locations or types of records.

If you are stymied on your female ancestors--and half your ancestors are female--consider purchasing the webinar (and handout) at the introductory price of $6.

FamilySearch Research Guides

The "old" research guides are still on FamilySearch in case you thought they had totally been replaced by the Wiki. You can link to the "A" section here and maneuver through the rest of the alphabetical directory as needed.

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rhelps.asp

Wildcards at Ancestry.com-Begin the Term?

Perhaps I missed the news release, but today Ancestry.com allowed me to search for the 1910 census for the following name combination:

*lliam as the first name

*vetter as the last name

Very cool. I was not aware that wildcards could be used as initial search terms. I'll have to go back and experiment with other names. If this is not a recent change, it could be that the old way is so ingrained in my head that I never thought to try it any other way.