I got sidetracked with the slideshow and enjoyed seeing my Headliner Blog

ImageChef.com I Am Awesome

The Big Question for my gg-grandfather, James Kerr

Another narcissistic one - To My Kids….someday, perhaps?

Thanks Randy for the SNGF!

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More fun:

How to make a Genealogy Newspaper with your Twitter feed!

Listen to a podcast.

Amy Coffin of We Tree Blog has challenged us to listen to a genealogy podcast.

A podcast is “radio on the internet” that you can download and listen to any time.

The two genealogy podcasts I listen to on a regular basis are The Genealogy Gems Podcast and The Genealogy Guys.  I’ve decided to expand my horizons and see what is out there in the genealogy podcast world.

Here is a list of regularly updated Genealogy Podcasts:

• The Genealogy Gems Podcast

• The Genealogy Guys Podcast

• The Family Tree Magazine Podcast

• Irish Roots Cafe Podcast

• Family History: Genealogy Made Easy

Elyse Doerflinger of Elyse’s Genealogy Blog has written an excellent article on “Podcasts: Download Your Genealogy” in the August/September 2010 issue Internet Genealogy Magazine.  She mentions several other podcasts you might want to check out.

Subscription online genealogy databases…detective work made easy?  Or not?

Genealogy detective work made less expensive?  Perhaps….

One such genealogy database is Archives.com, launched in July 2009.  Archives “helps every day people and advanced genealogists trace their family trees”.  They have compiled a “database of over one billion fully searchable records and historical documents and are constantly adding new, premier collections.”  It is also billed as a less expensive means of researching one’s ancestors.  Regular cost is $39.95/year with other shorter term options available.

My access to the site was through a free demo membership as part of a Geneablogger Welcome Bag received at the recent SCGS Jamboree in Burbank California.  I decided to take Archives for a short test drive.

Please note I’m not the first to blog about Archives.  Fellow geneablogger Randy Seaver wrote about this service on his Genea-Musings website in April 2010.  His comments were followed up by a reply from Archives.  Family Tree Magazine wrote an article on their blog soon after Archives launched, and there have been others.

Archives Test Drive – The “Aumack” Test

The search individual I used was Jacob Aumack, my husband’s great great grandfather, born in Montgomery County, NY in 1821 and a resident of Michigan most of his adult life.   I have collected a fair bit of information about this individual over the years from both free and paid databases along with information from more conventional sources.   I know he was a civil war vet and which regiment he fought in. I have also collected newspaper reports and stories from local history books about this family, along with Jacob Aumack’s probate and other information.   We are privileged to have an extensive well documented book about the Aumack family researched by distant cousins. The name is relatively unusual as are the various surname variants.  I consider myself to be a competent researcher having spent 20 years researching genealogy and almost 35 years in medical research.  Researching Jacob Aumack will be a good test drive of the search capabilities of Archives.com in comparison to two other large databases I subscribe to (Ancestry and Footnote).

My goal: to see what Archives.com could tell me about Jacob Aumack (and associated family members) in a cost effective manner.

Search #1.  Entered name “Jacob Aumack” only (no dates, USA location only).

Results: 61 results were found and a suggestion to “Save Record” so it can be added to one’s family tree and access it any time through the “My Records” tab (when logged in).

Additional Sources were also suggested (note these are all FREE websites easily accessible to anyone.  For a new researcher this information may be of value.  Seasoned researchers know these websites).

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp
http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html

Okay, 61 results are manageable.  Let’s see what we’ve got.

Births (4) - Bingo!  The first record of the four is our Jacob Aumack.  The source is the U.S. 1860 Federal Census Index and lists Jacob (age 39), his wife (Harriet) age 37 and the names and ages of the five children.

The catch – in order to view the actual image, one has to pay $2.95.  Archives.com has partnered with Footnote.com and the image is viewable at Footnote.  It turns out this image is one of the FREE images available on Footnote.    (And an image I had saved previously from my Footnote.com and Ancestry memberships).  I also save the typed version of this record to the Archives “My Records” section.

The other 3 Jacob Aumacks birth records are intriguing although they aren’t the correct Jacob.  I think I know where they fit into our story but I move on with my mission at hand after a quick peek.  (As we genealogists know, it is sooooo easy to get side tracked!).  I can come back to these later either on Archives or on Footnote, where the images are held.

Deaths (11) - no results match.  This is not surprising as it appears their source is the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). Our guy died in 1917 prior to the start of that index (1937 to current). It is important to note one can search free through a couple of other online databases (Genealogy Bank and Ancestry/Rootsweb).  My preference for SSDI searches is Genealogy Bank because of the way they present their results).

A couple of the records returned were from the California Death Index, none of them Jacob.

Other Vital Records (8) - We have a match on the first record:  Jacob’s death on the 15 November 1917 at the age of 96.  This record was from the free site familysearch.org.  Records found on familysearch.org can be accessed through a LDS Family History center.

I was given the option of ordering a hard copy of the record from VitalChek if I wish.  It appears one has to go through the whole search process again to order the record – state, city etc.  The familysearch.org gave me Pipestone, Berrien County Michigan, but not the city.  At this point one is stymied unless one has the city.  I happen to have this information from other sources.  (City is Eau Claire) and was able to proceed to the order window.  Cost of a 1st copy is $36  + a $8.50 VitalChek fee (shipping fees not included).   Total cost $44.50 + shipping.  I abort the order and move on.

The other 7 records do not belong to our Jacob or his immediate family.  Next!

(I did check them and have a good idea where they fit in.  Just about all the Aumacks in that time period in that part of the world are connected).  Again, back to the search at hand.

Living People Search (22) – nothing there. Our Jacob died in 1917.

Cemetery Listings (6) - nothing there.  This search was of 168 cemeteries with information collected from the SSDI and California Death Index.  This is a similar search to the Death Records above.

Note at each step we are given the option to set up an “Ancestor Alert”.  An Ancestor alert will notify you if your search term is found anytime in the future.  I assume it is similar to a ‘google alert’.    I enter Jacob Aumack into my Ancestor Alert.

Original Obituary Listings (3) - no matches

Surname History was rather interesting and gave a map of the name distribution, name variants and the possible origin of the name (Dutch or German: see Aumick).

Aumack Surname History Map

My next steps would be to run additional names from the family and expand the search. I’d also search surname variations, perhaps neighbors and families that have married into our Aumack family and so on.   I’d keep a research log and document my sources as I go.

Did Archives Come Through?

Did Archives meet my goal of finding information about Jacob Aumack? Yes, and no.  I didn’t find anything new, but then again I’m probably not a typical user of this service, being an experienced researcher. Archives did bring some other Aumacks to my attention which I will explore in greater depth.

In my opinion, Archives.com could be a useful screening tool for new researchers, but less useful for seasoned ones or those that already have paid access to the large online (and more expensive) genealogy databases.

It is important to be aware that some of the information can be searched and possibly obtained elsewhere for free.

Cost vs Search Trade Off

Was Archives cost effective? Membership is $39.99 plus additional costs to access individual records.   This could add up if one gets on a roll.  (It happens with genealogy).   There are options to purchase for shorter time periods and there is a 7 day free trial.

I believe Ancestry and Footnote give the genealogist better search capabilities and more records but then again they cost more.  The annual world deluxe membership for Ancestry at the time of writing is $299.40/year.  Ancestry US or Canadian memberships are less.  Footnote is currently $79.95/year. They regularly offer specials at less.  Both have free trials as does Archives.com so I suggest trying before buying.

The end user would need to weigh the cost vs search trade off.

Other info about Archives.com:

• Expert Genealogy Articles for free
• Ability to create an online family tree and attach records (membership option only)
• Ability to save records
• More records being added.
• County Records Search

Recommended Action -  Try the Archives free 7 day trial or short term membership to see if it meets your needs first.  Give it a pass, if you already have a Footnote or Ancestry membership.

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Links to databases mentioned:

• Ancestry – www.ancestry.com
• Archives – www.Archives.com
• Footnote – www.footnote.com

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Disclaimer:  I received my demo member copy of Archives.com free as part of a Geneablogger Welcome Bag at a large genealogy conference, the Southern California Genealogical Jamboree in Burbank, California June 2010.  The compensation I may receive as an referral marketer to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics does NOT affect the topics or posts I make in this blog.

Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it,

2) Try your name, your local society, favorite genealogy terms, whatever you want. Do at least three, and as many as you want if you have time. Be creative! Have fun!

3) What did you learn from this exercise?

1.  My Feeling Lucky Findings:  (note these are all from www.google.CA not .com. The search engine defaults to the .ca in Canada.

• “Joan Miller” – gave me a real estate company.  One of the Realtors has the same name as me.  Do you know how many Joan Millers there are in the world? Lots!

• “Luxegen” – arrived at my website Luxegen Genealogy – http://www.luxegen.ca .  That’s a good thing!

• “Alberta Family Histories Society” – landed right on the AFHS webpage -http://www.afhs.ab.ca/

• I’m the creator and caretaker of our newly launched blog at the AFHS so that was my next “Feeling Lucky” search: Bingo...that’s where we landed.  Even without quotes we got there.

• “family history luxegen” bought up a page called Topsy that linked back to a post of mine where I discuss citing sources.  It appears my post was picked up by Topsy from my Tweets @luxegen.

• “Surname Saturday” brought up Thomas MacEntee’s Geneabloggers website.

• “Genealogy Conferences” brought me to About.com’s Genealogy Events page.

• “Conferences Genealogy” (with the terms reversed) took us to the Geneablogger Conference page.

2.  What did I learn?

• Luxegen and the new AFHS blog are being found on the first “Feeling Lucky” search

• My tweets on Twitter are being indexed by directories I didn’t know about

• Reversing the order of the search terms gives different results.

Thanks Randy for another fun SNGF.

Many genealogists are posting educational and useful content on a daily basis on their blogs.  I learn something new every time I check my blog reader.

There are blogs that cater to surnames or personal research.  There are regional blogs, blogs written by ‘graveyard rabbits’ doing cemetery indexing, blogs for pro-genealogists, blogs by libraries and archives.  Whatever your interest there is probably someone out there writing about it.  People can leave a comment on a blog and good discussions and suggestions can follow.

The quickest way to determine if new content has been added to a blog is to subscribe to the RSS feed.  RSS stands for really simple syndication.    It is the big orange RSS button on the right hand side of the blog.

View the following YouTube Video to learn how to subscribe to a blog from a RSS feed.

In the video we are given 2 things
1. how to get a RSS reader
2. how to subscribe to blogs and news

Google has a reader build into their Gmail account and is the one I recommend if you are just starting out. (Register for a gmail account here if you don’t have one).  Once set up with a reader go to your favourite blog We’ll use this one as an example.
http://www.luxegen.ca

Click on the big orange RSS feed button at the top of the page (right hand side) and subscribe.  All new content to the blog will appear in your reader.

To view your reader:
If you are doing this in gmail, open up your web browser to http://www.gmail.com, log in and choose “Reader” at the top left of the page.  You will see the latest headlines from all the blogs and news that you are subscribed to.  I have Dick Eastman’s blog in my reader along with the other genealogy blogs I am following.  I can quickly scan the subject lines to see if there is an interesting blog post I want to read.

Go to http://www.geneabloggers.com for a list of genealogy blogs and subscribe.

But before you do that, don’t forget to subscribe to my blog by clicking on the big orange RSS button at the top of the page today!

I was recently at my mother in law’s and she has a whole drawer full of announcements from the various cousins about the latest weddings and babies.  Talk about babies!  There must have been a dozen in the last year.

My laptop was out, my family tree program fired up and I was systematically working my way through the announcements, entering as I went.  I always enter a source but I must admit I haven’t been very consistent about the format.

And there IS a standard format .

A good genealogy buddy, Thomas MacEntee has compiled a research log (in part from Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills) that has many basic source citation types for archival items.  This log is entitled Genealogy Source Citations Reference Guide and is available as a pdf file.

Here is an example of how one would do a family record such as a wedding invitation or birth announcement.

 
Private Holdings: Artifact
 
[Compiler] [Artifact Name] [Creation Date] [Current or Last Known Owner] [Owner’s Location][Year Owned]

Thanks Thomas for putting together this resource!

Christine Hayes of the Calgary Public Library was kind enough to compile a list of the genealogy resources available at our local library.

The Calgary Public Library has an interesting and eclectic collection of material for genealogists.  Our focus is on Canadian research but our collection includes information for researchers looking for ancestors in many different places.

What we have:

• Handbooks and guidebooks for a wide variety of places and records types.

• Complete Canadian census on microfilm including the two censuses of the Prairie Provinces from 1906 and 1916

• Canadian Ships lists on microfilm 1865-1919

• Indexes to vital statistics records, wills and probate, passenger lists

• Compiled lists

• Land records indexes and microfilm

• Newspaper and magazine indexes and compilations

• Cemetery transcriptions for southern Alberta

• Directories for Calgary and Southern Alberta

• Voters’ Lists for Calgary

• Historical Alberta newspapers on microfilm

• Local Histories for Southern Alberta

• Biographical and heraldic dictionaries

• Bibliographies of genealogies and local histories

• Atlases, maps, and gazetteers

• Biography clipping files for Calgary

• Online resources such as Ancestry LE, Toronto Star Pages from the Past, Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Biography and Genealogy Index

• And lots and lots of other interesting things.

We have a Community Heritage and Family History Blog, accessible from the Calgary Public Library website (www.calgarypubliclibrary.com).   It looks at matters historical and genealogical.  We like to highlight some of our lesser known resources for people interested in heritage.

We also offer programs such as our Genealogy Saturdays on the last Saturday of each month from September to June.  The day starts at 10:00 am with Family History Coaching where volunteers from Alberta Family Histories Society and Calgary Public Library staff assist customers one-on-one with genealogy questions.  Next is the Genealogy Meet-Up where people get together to learn and share.

1.  GENUKI:  www.genuki.org.uk/big/irl

2.  Fianna Hideaway & Guide to Irish Genealogy:  www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~fianna

3.  Irish Ancestors: www.irishtimes.com/Ancestor

4.  National Archives of Ireland:  www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

5. The National Archives (UK) - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

6.  Public Records office of Northern Ireland: www.proni.gov.uk

7.  Cyndis List: http://www.cyndislist.com/ireland.htm

[Please comment below if you have have additional websites for Irish Genealogy research].

Luxegen Genealogy on Alltop

There are blog directories and then there is THE blog directory.

Alltop is THE quintessential blog directory.  In fact it is more than a directory, it is a news aggregater of the top news stories in each category.

Alltop does this by “collecting the headlines of the latest stories from the best sites and blogs that cover a topic. We group these collections — “aggregations” — into individual web pages. Then we display the five most recent headlines of the information sources as well as their first paragraph. Our topics run from adoption to zoology with photography, food, science, religion, celebrities, fashion, gaming, sports, politics, automobiles, Macintosh, and hundreds of other subjects along the way.”

I am thrilled and honoured that my Luxegen Genealogy and Family History blog (where you are right now) has been included in the genealogy category of Alltop!

Thank you Alltop!

I’ve been borrowing books from the Alberta Family Histories Society library, some of which I wish I had available all the time at home for reference.

My latest purchases are:

• Finding Your Ancestors in English Quebec by Althea Douglas

• Finding your Irish Ancestors by Dr. Penelope Christensen

• Researching Irish Court Records by Brian Hutchinson

• Researching Irish Census Records…Including Census Substitute Records by Brian W. Hutchison

The more I know about the hows and whys the more likely I’ll solve our KERR brick wall and get them out of Quebec and back to a specific place in Ireland.

P.S. I am sooooo lovin’ being retired.  I have time to play