Thursday, November 30, 2017

FamilySearch Free Sign-in Offers Greater Subscriber Experiences and Benefits

From the FamilySearch blog

Beginning December 13, 2017, patrons visiting FamilySearch.org will see a prompt to register for a free FamilySearch account or to sign in to their existing account to continue enjoying all the free expanded benefits FamilySearch has to offer.  Since its launch in 1999, FamilySearch has added millions of users, billions of various historical records, and many fun, new features like Family Tree, Memories, mobile apps, digital books, and dynamic help. In order to accommodate continued growth of these and future free services, FamilySearch must assure all its partners that its content is offered in a safe and secure online environment.  Patrons creating a free account and signing in fulfills that need.

Patron sign in will also enable FamilySearch to satisfy the ongoing need for user authentication. This authentication can deliver rich, personalized discovery, collaboration, and help experiences. Simply put, signed-in visitors can access more searchable content and enjoy more personalized services.
“A large percentage of our current site visitors are not benefiting from much of what FamilySearch has to offer because they don’t realize the need to simply sign in with their free account to do so,” said Steve Rockwood, FamilySearch CEO. “They are basically arriving in the parking lot but not coming inside for the main event,” he said about website visitors who do not sign in.

FamilySearch is committed to patron privacy and does not share personal account information with any third party without a patron’s consent.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Tri County Community College Peachtree Spring 2018 Genealogy Classes

Here is a list of the genealogy classes that I will be teaching this spring on the TCCC Peachtree campus (Indigo building classroom).

The Tuesday night class will be a pure genealogy research class track. The Thursday night classes will emphasize genetic genealogy and DNA testing. Prices for these classes are "very: inexpensive $10-$30 each. So I hope to see a lot of folks signing up for classes.

You are welcome to get on the class interest list right now. Call Lisa Long at (828) 835-4241. Seating for these classes are limited to seats available in the Indigo classroom so get on the list before we max out or you will miss out. We had to limit one of our classes during the fall semester due to the class being at max capacity.

Tuesday Night Classes

New-The Secret Lives of Women - Researching Female Ancestors
How do you research the women in your family tree? In some respects, the same way you research men. To discover their lives, you also must consider what documents and items were left behind by women. Women historically have not produced as many records as their husbands, since women's suffrage largely did not exist until the twentieth century. In this course we look at the specific record trail women left for us to help uncover our hidden female ancestors. 5 hrs.
January 23-30  Tuesday    6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.   $15

New-Researching in Libraries and Archives/Onsite Research
Researching in federal and state archives, libraries, historical/genealogical societies, courthouses and other repositories can be intimidating to the genealogist. In this course you will discover unique records that await you in archives that may add to your ancestor's story and your genealogical research. 5 hrs.
February 6-13  Tuesday  6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.   $15

Google for the Genealogist
Google is the world's leading search engine. If you own a computer, you probably use Google multiple times a day in a variety of ways. If you are a genealogist you may not have realized that genealogy and Google go hand in hand, and it’s not just for ancestor searches. Google can be an incredibly important tool in your family history research toolbox. In this course we will explore the world of Google and what it has to offer the family historian. 10 hrs.
February 20 – March 13   Tuesday   6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.   $30

New-Using FANs and Other Techniques to Knock Down Genealogy Brick Walls
Chances are, if you have spent any time at all working to compile your family history, you have run into difficulty finding at least one elusive relative and maybe even several of them. Within the genealogy community this problem is commonly referred to as a "brick wall." Some of brick walls may seem impossible to solve so everyone needs a little help and encouragement from time to time to jump-start the research. This course will bring you the momentum you need to get your family history research back on track. 10 hrs.
March 20 – April 10   Tuesday   6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.    $30

New-Researching Your Georgia Ancestors
The Peach State has a long and colorful history, making it an ideal state in which to conduct genealogy research. There are many historical and genealogical records available for Georgia, but you need to know where to look to find them. In this class you will learn where to find the records, repositories and the resources that will help you document that elusive Georgia ancestor. 2.5 hrs.
April 17   Tuesday   6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.   $10

New-Researching Your North Carolina Ancestors
Need help in finding your elusive North Carolina ancestors? In this class you will learn about research strategies you can use to document your NC colonial and state family history. Discover where to find the records, repositories and the resources you need to find that elusive Tar Heel family. 2.5 hrs.
April 24   Tuesday   6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.   $10


Thursday Night Classes


New - DNA 101 – The Foundations of Genetic Genealogy
A basic introduction to genetic genealogy and how it can be used in combination with traditional genealogical research. Course includes introductions to Y-DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and autosomal DNA testing, how each of these types of DNA are inherited, who you should have tested, where you should purchase these tests, and how these tests can be used for genealogical research. This course is a prerequisite for advanced genetic genealogy classes. 10 hrs.
January 25 – February 15   Thursday   6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.    $30

New- AncestryDNA
You’ve seen the ads on television. You may have even purchased a kit from them. Learn more about the test you took and the results you received from the most popular DNA testing company in the world? Then this genetic genealogy course is a must. 10 hrs.
February 22 – March 15   Thursday   6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.   $30

New - Researching Your DNA on the GEDmatch/FTDNA websites
What is the next step in your genetic genealogy research after you have finished your work at AncestryDNA? Next logical steps are uploading your results to GEDmatch and FTDNA, and both DNA websites can be intimidating. In this course we will start at the beginning and look at some of its basic, but very important tools that genealogists can utilize in their research. 7.5 hrs.
March 22 – April 5   Thursday   6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.   $25

New - Advanced DNA Analysis
This course will introduce some advanced techniques used by genetic genealogists including the use of triangulated groups, chromosome mapping, visual phasing, and phasing. Will introduce third party tools and examine how to analyze complex questions with DNA. 7.5 hrs.
April 12 – April 26   Thursday   6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.    $25


Thursday, September 14, 2017

Larry's Legacy Customized My Toolbar

Click on image to zoom in

I have had several of my Legacy class students ask me to post up what toolbar buttons I use on the My Toolbar tab on the menu ribbon in my Legacy 9 program. Here is the list of tool buttons starting on the left and moving to the right.

1. Customize
2. Help
3, Back
4. Split Screen
5. Genealogy Bank
6. FamilySearch
7. Ancestry.com
8. Map Family
9. Calendar
10. To Do List
11. Relationship Calculator
12. Report Menu
13. Link to FTDNA website (User defined button)
14. Link to GedMatch website (User defined button)
15. DNA SS - link to DNA Spreadsheet for all my testers (User defined button)
16. Search
17. Census List
18. GenSmart Program (User defined button)
19. Research Guidance
20. Hashtag Search
21. Master List
22. Marriage List
23. Name List
24. Add Person
25. Master Locations
26. Master Sources
27. History
28. Search results
29. Search Internet
30. Find a Grave

The My Toolbar tab on the Ribbon bar can be customized to show only the tools you want to use.  There are 15 default tools shown when Legacy is first installed.  There are also many other buttons that can be added to the toolbar to take you directly to main features in the program.

To customize the toolbar:

1. Click on the small icon in the lower-right corner of the Shortcut Toolbar group.  You can also click the Design button in the upper-right corner of the ribbon and choose Toolbars > My Toolbar.

2. Add, remove, or move tools as desired.

3. Click OK when you are finished.

To remove a tool from the toolbar, drag it off the Main Toolbar in the top row and drop it somewhere on the background.  Any tools to the right will move in to fill the space.

To add a new tool to the toolbar, drag it from the Available Toolbar Buttons box and drop it at the position you want to place it.  As you drag a tool over the toolbar, a vertical line will appear to indicate where the tool will be inserted.  Any tools to the right will move over to make room.  

Note:  There is room for up to 40 tools on the bar.  If it is full, any insertion of another tool will cause the existing tool at the right end to be removed.  If the Customize Main Toolbar window is narrower than your Legacy screen, you can stretch it wider to match, thus giving you more room to display tools.  Your Legacy program window width and your screen resolution setting determine the total number of tools that can be seen on the main toolbar.

 To move a tool from one position to another, drag the tool from its current position to the new position within the top Main Toolbar.  The other tools will be moved to make room and fill the space.

To create a custom toolbar button that will launch any program or open any web page, scroll to the bottom of the Available Toolbar Buttons list and then right-click on either of the two Custom buttons at the end of the list.  See Custom Toolbar Button for instructions.

To put all the standard tools back on the toolbar in the default order, click the Reset Default button.

The following tools are available for use:

 Back - Moves back one entry in the History List.  
  History List - Displays the History List.  
  Forward - Moves forward one entry in the History List.  
  Name List - Displays the Name List.  
  Marriage List - Displays the Marriage List.  
Search - Displays the Search screen.  
 Search Results - Displays the current Search List.  
  Report Menu - Displays the Report Menu.   
  Last Report - Displays the Option screen for the last report produced.  
  Merge - Displays the Merge popup menu where you can choose Manual Merge, Find Duplicates or IntelliShare.  
 To-Do List - Displays the General To-Do List.  
 Internet - Displays the Internet popup menu where you can choose various web-related options.  
 Calendar - Displays the month and year calendars and the date calculator.  
 Exit Legacy - Exits Legacy  
 Split View - Opens another view of the current family file as asks if you would like to open a different family file.  
 Import - Opens the GEDCOM Import screen.  
 Export - Opens the GEDCOM Export screen.  
 Legacy Charting - Opens the charting program where you can create many different kinds of wall charts.  
 Ancestor Book - Opens the Ancestor Book Options screen.  
 Descendant Book - Opens the Descendant Book Options screen.  
 Descendant Narrative Book - Opens the Descendant Narrative Options screen.  
 Multiple Lines of Descendant Book - Opens the Multiple Lines of Descendant Options screen.  
 Move Next - Displays the next record in the current Search List.  
 Move Previous - Displays the previous record in the current Search List. 
Search and Replace - Displays the Search and Replace screen.  
 Help - Opens the Legacy Help System.  
 Master Sources - Opens the Master Source List.  
 Master Locations - Opens the Master Location List.  
 Relationship Calculator - Displays the Relationship Calculator.  
 Search the Internet - Opens the Search the Internet screen.  
 Open a Family File - Prompts for a new family file to open.  
 Master Lists - Opens a popup menu containing all the master lists in Legacy.  
 Backup File - Starts a backup process by prompting for a file name for saving.  
 Set Colors - Opens the Colors tab on the Customize screen.  
 Ancestry.com - Opens the Ancestry.com web site in a browser window.  
 MyTrees.com - Opens the MyTrees.com web site in a browser window.  
 Family Group - Opens the Report Menu to the Family tab.  
 Desc Chart - Opens the Report Menu to the Descendant tab.  
 Pedigree Chart - Opens the Report Menu to the Pedigree tab.  
 Individual Report - Opens the Report Menu to the Individual tab.  
 Timeline Report - Opens the Report Menu to the Timeline tab.  
 Ancestor Chart - Opens the Report Menu to the Ancestor tab.  
 Picture Center - Opens the Picture Center where you can assign media files to individuals. 
 Publishing Center - Opens the Publishing Center where you can create books by combining many different reports.  
 Create CD - Opens Charting Companion where you can create a shareable CD.  
 GenealogyBank - Opens the GenealogyBank.com web site in a browser window.  
 Add Person - Pops up a submenu where you can add spouses, parents, children, or unlinked individuals.  
 Startup Family - Takes you to the starting individual in your family file (usually you).  
 Map Family - Starts the Map My Family screen to plot all the locations for the current person's family.  
 FamilySearch - Takes you to the FamilySearch Family Tree web site where you can search for family members.  
 FamilyLink - Opens the FamilyLink.com web site in a browser window.  
 General Information - Opens the General Information screen where you can see information concerning the current family file.  
 Census List - Opens the Census Search List where you can create a list of potential individuals who should be found in a particular census.  
 Customize - Opens the Customize Legacy section where you can make many types of changes to the program interface and appearance.  
 Research Guidance - Helps you locate records that may contain information about your ancestors.  
 Custom Button 1 - You can setup this button to launch any program or open any web page  Custom Button 2 - You can setup this button to launch any program or open any web page Custom Button 3 - You can setup this button to launch any program or open any web page
Custom Button 4 - You can setup this button to launch any program or open any web page Stories - Opens the list of Stories for the current person.  
 FindAGrave - Opens the FindAGrave.com web site in a browser.  
 Hashtag Search - Lets you search for groups of people with the same hashtags.  
 Chronology Comparison - Lets you compare two different individual's life events.  

Thursday, August 31, 2017

FamilySearch Digital Records Access Replacing Microfilm - Update

Salt Lake City, Utah (August 30, 2017 Update) - Thursday, September 7, 2017, marks the closing of an 80-year era of historic records access to usher in a new, digital model. FamilySearch is discontinuing its microfilm circulation services in concert with its commitment to make billions of the world’s historic records readily accessible digitally online. As its remaining microfilms are digitized, FamilySearch has provided additional information to users of its historic microfilm program.

FamilySearch, a global leader in historic records preservation and access, began microfilming historic records in 1938. Advancements in technology have enabled it to be more efficient, making an unbelievable tide of digital images of historic records accessible much quicker online and to a far greater customer base.

FamilySearch released a list of helpful facts and tips to help patrons better navigate the transition from microfilm to digital.

QUICK FACTS AND TIPS

  • Patrons can still order microfilms online until Thursday, September 7, 2017.
  • After film ordering ends, if customers need access to a particular film yet to be digitized, they can express interest to have it added to the priority digitization list by contacting FamilySearch Support (Toll Free: 1-866-406-1830).
  • All of the microfilm rented by patrons in the past 5 years have now been digitized by FamilySearch—over 1.5 million microfilms (ca. 1.5 billion images).
  • The remaining microfilms are being digitally scanned at a rate of 1,000 films per day and are projected to be complete by 2020.

FamilySearch Digital Records Access Replacing Microfilm

Salt Lake City, Utah (June 26, 2017) - FamilySearch, a world genealogy leader and nonprofit, announced today its plans to discontinue its 80-year-old microfilm distribution service. The transition is the result of significant progress made in FamilySearch’s microfilm digitization efforts and the obsolescence of microfilm technology. The last day for ordering microfilm will be August 31, 2017. Online access to digital images of the world's historic records allows FamilySearch to service more people around the globe, faster and more efficiently. 

A global leader in historic records preservation and access, FamilySearch and its predecessors began using microfilm in 1938, amassing billions of the world’s genealogical records in its collections from over 200 countries. Why the shift from microfilm to digital? Diane Loosle, Director of the Patron Services Division said, "Preserving historic records is only one half of the equation. Making them easily accessible to family historians and researchers worldwide when they need them is the other crucial component."

Loosle noted that FamilySearch will continue to preserve the master copies of its original microfilms in its Granite Mountain Records Vault as added backup to the digital copies online.

As the Internet has become more accessible to people worldwide over the past two decades, FamilySearch made the decision to convert its preservation and access strategy to digital. No small task for an organization with 2.4 million rolls of microfilm in inventory and a distribution network of over 5,000 family history centers and affiliate libraries worldwide.

It began the transition to digital preservation years ago. It not only focused on converting its massive microfilm collection, but also in replacing its microfilm cameras in the field. All microfilm cameras have been replaced with over 300 specialized digital cameras that significantly decrease the time required to make historic records images accessible online.

FamilySearch has now digitally reproduced the bulk of its microfilm collection—over 1.5 billion images so far—including the most requested collections based on microfilm loan records worldwide. The remaining microfilms should be digitized by the end of 2020, and all new records from its ongoing global efforts are already using digital camera equipment.

Digital image collections can be accessed today in three places at FamilySearch.org. Using the Search feature, you can find them in Records (check out the Browse all published collections link), Books, and the Catalog. For additional help, see Finding Digital Images of Records on FamilySearch.org.
Transitioning from microfilm to digital creates a fun opportunity for FamilySearch's family history center network. Centers will focus on simplified, one-on-one experiences for patrons, and continue to provide access to relevant technology, popular premium subscription services, and restricted digital record collections not available to patrons from home.

Centers and affiliate libraries will coordinate with local leaders and administrators to manage their current microfilm collections on loan from FamilySearch, and determine when to return films that are already published online.



Monday, August 7, 2017

Find A Grave is finally moving to its new site/look!


Just posted an update this morning to a Find a Grave memorial. When I clicked on the link to check it our, the link in the email message they sent me took me to the "new" Find-A-Grave website. There is a yellow bar across the top of the memorial I was looking at that said, "Preview Note: You can use this new version of Find A Grave to make changes on existing and new memorials. Back to the old site." That last sentence gave me the option to go back to the old site, but my experience with Ancestry related sites is this won't last long. So we get over the AncestryDNA setup changes, the new changes with MyHeritage acquiring Legacy software, and now Ancestry is moving Find A Grave to its new site/look. Oh just wonderful. If you don't want something to change, wait 15 minutes and it is guaranteed to change or just take one of my classes. ;-) So what is next, another AncestryDNA change, new tool or report graphic? My money is on the latter. 

Sunday, August 6, 2017

US National Cemetery Interment Control Forms

Arlington National Cemetery

While doing some research on one of my three great aunt's husbands this afternoon, I ran across a set of military records I have not seen before (now there is a shocker). If you had someone who was buried in any of the "US National Cemeteries" between 1928-1962, they now have the images from the US National Cemetery Interment Control Forms at Ancestry. These forms are a gold mine of family information. You must have an Ancestry sub or access to the Ancestry Library collection to access it. The link is http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2590. Good hunting de Larry Van Horn

Oh yes, this is my great aunt Marguerite Lillian Van Horn-Black-Warner-Lamb I was researching. She divorced the first two. She was the daughter of Dr. William Law Van Horn and Mattie Parry Mallory. She was born 8 Jan 1882 in Columbia, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, and died 20 Oct 1982 in Pinellas County, Florida.Her Find A Grave Memorial number is 21129411.



Alphabetical Statehood Dates




State & Statehood Date

Alabama
December 14, 1819
Alaska
January 03, 1959
Arizona
February 14, 1912
Arkansas
June 15, 1836
California
September 09, 1850
Colorado
August 01, 1876
Connecticut
January 09, 1788
Delaware
December 07, 1787
Florida
March 03, 1845
Georgia
January 02, 1788
Hawaii
August 21, 1959
Idaho
July 03, 1890
Illinois
December 03, 1818
Indiana
December 11, 1816
Iowa
December 28, 1846
Kansas
January 29, 1861
Kentucky
June 01, 1792
Louisiana
April 30, 1812
Maine
March 15, 1820
Maryland
April 28, 1788
Massachusetts
February 06, 1788
Michigan
January 26, 1837
Minnesota
May 11, 1858
Mississippi
December 10, 1817
Missouri
August 10, 1821
Montana
November 08, 1889
Nebraska
March 01, 1867
Nevada
October 31, 1864
New Hampshire
June 21, 1788
New Jersey
December 18, 1787
New Mexico
January 06, 1912
New York
July 26, 1788
North Carolina
November 21, 1789
North Dakota
November 02, 1889
Ohio
March 01, 1803
Oklahoma
November 16, 1907
Oregon
February 14, 1859
Pennsylvania
December 12, 1787
Rhode Island
May 29, 1790
South Carolina
May 23, 1788
South Dakota
November 02, 1889
Tennessee
June 01, 1796
Texas
December 29, 1845
Utah
January 04, 1896
Vermont
March 04, 1791
Virginia
June 25, 1788
Washington
November 11, 1889
West Virginia
June 20, 1863
Wisconsin
May 29, 1848
Wyoming
July 10, 1890
(Gayle Van Horn-Gayle's Family History: https://gayle-family-history.blogspot.com/)