A Sunday Walk Around the Blogs

Laura June wrote a lovely article that was published for The Verge, Who am I? Data and DNA answer one of life’s biggest questions. My personal feeling is that people rely too much on the Internet and DNA without really understanding basic genealogical research and methodologies (such as what constitutes “proof”), let alone that there are many, many other useful records found offline. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed Laura’s article, and hope that the limitations of technology in the genealogy field will one day be overcome.

Carl Zimmer, at National Geographic, discusses mathematics and genealogy in Charlemagne’s DNA and Our Universal Royalty. Be sure to check out the referenced scientific literature at PLOS Biology, The Geography of Recent Genetic Ancestry across Europe. Thanks to Redditor jjberg2 for posting these articles.

A Sunday Walk Around the Blogs

In Talented Tuesday: Sture Wallin, Soldier and Baseball Player, Susan W. Mosey describes the intersection of her grandfather’s life with the Great American Pastime.

It’s shallow, I know, but when I see neat New England tombstones, like that of Elanathen Ives and Abigail Frisbe posted by Les at Bits and Pieces, I wish I had New England ancestors, too. But just for the tombstones.

Robyn at Reclaiming Kin writes about Genealogical Shock Syndrome in Martha Simpson: Right Under My Nose. GSS is a common malady often found in victims of the more well-known but related disease, Genealogical Researchitis. Fortunately, there’s a remedy, as Robyn amply demonstrates.

GeorgiaArchivesMatters brings good news for supporters of the Georgia Archives in A New Beginning…Bill Signing Scheduled.

A Sunday Walk Around the Blogs

I absolutely love pictures of old things or old pictures of things. (Either one. I’m not picky.) Brenda Joyce Jerome’s post on the tomb of H. F. Given fits the bill perfectly. Isn’t that a beautiful monument? Brenda’s accompanying explanation is just icing on the cake.

Judy G. Russell explains the term upon the country, which clears up some of the puzzlement I’ve had over the past two years of dealing with Rabun County’s early writs and petitions. Thanks, Judy!

Here’s a neat story about Baxter Reuben Lowe and the Apollo Project, by J. R. Lowe at Genealogist Journal. Helping put men on the moon is the next best thing to being there.

The Archives.com Experts have been busy writing some very interesting articles. Of special note are:

• “Using Federal Direct Tax Records” by Diane L. Richard
• “Evernote: Your Virtual Research Assistant” by Thomas MacEntee
• “Research a Relative’s College Days” by Sunny McClellan Morton

A Sunday Walk Around the Blogs

Judy G. Russell, the Legal Genealogist, discusses the expansion of protection for genetic privacy by the federal government. Excellent news for those concerned about non-family members (like employers) gaining access to genetic tests.

Debbie Parker Wayne, at Deb’s Delvings in Genealogy, posted a nice discussion of Useful DNA Tests for Genealogy.

Kerry Scott, of Clue Wagon, describes how DNA testing causes gray hair.

And since we’re on the subject of genetic genealogy: If you’ve ever wanted to take the plunge, Family Tree DNA has a sale on its genetic tests right now. The sale ends tomorrow.

Y’all know how I’m always going on about Society publications? So it follows that I’m pretty interested in finding new ones. Michael Hait, on his blog Planting the Seeds, makes a case for the Pennsylvania Genealogy Magazine, and why it should be considered one of the top-tiered genealogy publications. He makes a good point.

Happy hunting!

A Sunday Walk Around the Blogs

Elizabeth Shown Mills has posted QuickLesson 16: Speculation, Hypothesis, Interpretation & Proof on Evidence Explained, the companion web site to her book of the same name. This woman’s mind is amazing.

Vivian Price Saffold has worked hard to gain support for the Georgia Archives, in part through her blog, Georgia Archives Matters, and can at last report a small victory: at the end of the 2013 session of the Georgia General Assembly, the Archives was budgeted $300,000 in funding for the upcoming fiscal year, slightly more than had been expected.

The National Genealogical Society, via Diane L. Richard at UpFront with NGS, announces a hands-on research week in Washington, D. C., to be held November 3 – 9 this year. The session is led by Craig Roberts Scott and Patricia Walls Stamm, and will include research at the National Archives and Records Administration, the Daughters of the American Revolution Library, and the Library of Congress. This one’s definitely a must-do!

Judy G. Russell has an epiphany regarding War of 1812 pension files, to every researcher’s benefit.

Happy Easter!

A Sunday Walk around the Blogs

Barbara Matthews discussed the 2011 Model Act and Regulations and its potential effect on genealogical research on the Massachusetts Genealogical Council’s blog, the MGC Sentinel. The Model Act regulates vital records. The latest version includes recommendations that would prohibit public access to these records well beyond what most states require now.

Angela McGhie of Adventures in Genealogy Education shares unexpected lessons (part one and part two) she learned from Thomas W. Jones’ recent lecture, “Variables in Professional Genealogists’ Approaches to Research,” presented at the Association of Professional Genealogists‘ recent Professional Management Conference in Salt Lake City, UT.

Speaking of Tom Jones, his highly anticipated new book Mastering Genealogical Proof is now available for pre-order through the National Genealogical Society.

A Sunday Walk Around the Blogs

I’m catching up on several weeks of blog posts and news articles with this one.

For those who are concerned about issues surrounding the Georgia Archives, Georgia Archives Matters has published a series of updates on legislation concerning funding and the possible move of the Archives to the University System of Georgia. Please read these posts and contact your state legislators in support of the Archives.

Dave Tabler of Appalachian History published an interesting story on a local-ish family, The Meaders Family of White County GA keeps pottery traditions alive.

Charlie of Carolina Family Roots shared some excellent tips on newspaper research and Chesterfield County SC research sources. If you’ve ever considered joining a lineage society, you might also be interested in his post, Pitfalls: Some Approved Genealogies Are Wrong.

Brenda Joyce Jerome of Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog discusses The Value of Researching Deeds.

Robyn at Reclaiming Kin shared an interesting post on the Legacy of the Rosenwald Schools.

Heather Rojo of Nutfield Genealogy published Photograph Friday ~ The Battle Road between Lexington and Concord. This area is definitely going on my travel bucket list!

Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist, brings another look at the law, this time the the laws of the church. (When I read Judy’s blog, I’m nearly always struck with a Who’da thunk? change of perspective.)

And just in time for St. Patrick’s Day…

• Heather Rojo found an Irish ancestor
• Dave Tabler tries some Appalachian-style Gaelic in Cead Mile Failte, says Kentucky
• Alison Murray at North Carolina Miscellany shares some St. Patrick’s Day recipes from the University of North Carolina’s collection.

A Sunday Walk Around the Blogs

What did Southerners do before large power companies and the TVA brought electricity to rural areas? They made their own power, of course! Appalachian History reprinted an article by Rabun Countian Linda Barden called A Look Back: When the Lights Came On. A fascinating look at the entrepreneurial spirit.

Judy G. Russell puts a new spin on historical context with her post, The law of holidays. Judy also published an excellent post on Copyright, terms of use and Pinterest. If you’re using that site, this is a must-read.

Last summer at Samford University Library’s Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research, I had the privilege of listening to a talk given by Michael Hait on his work reconstructing a Maryland slave community. Part of Michael’s research toward that end was published in the December 2012 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. Michael’s blog post Writing the Ridgelys describes some of his behind the scenes efforts on both fronts.

Whenever anyone uses probate records for research, I give a little cheer, so imagine my happy dance when Randy Seaver posted Mining Cornelius Feather’s Probate Records for Genealogy Nuggets.

The Internet has been a boon to genealogists in many ways, including the ability to research using digital images of original records. What happens when those images are taken offline and we need to provide a source citation for them? Harold Henderson addresses this problem in It’s Gone! Now What?

A Sunday Walk Around the Blogs

Amy Coffin ponders Genealogy as Therapy on The We Tree Genealogy Blog. (Yes, Amy, other genealogists do feel the same way.)

Diane L. Richard published Researching Poor Ancestors through Archives.com’s Expert Series.

Thomas MacEntee at GeneaPress announced new College and University Rates for the National Genealogical Society 2013 Family History Conference.

Check out these Old Hollywood Valentine Pin-ups from The Bees Knees Daily. What charming pictures!

A Sunday Walk Around the Blogs

Robyn at Reclaiming Kin takes a somewhat humorous look at pensions in Droppin’ Dime: Civil War Pension Records.

Craig Scott at Stump Craig explains the importance of voice in records when he helps a researcher sort out a father and a son, two of the same name.

Here’s a great tip from Melanie D. Holtz at Finding Our Italian Roots: always look for the original record, as she explains in I have the Estratto [extracted record]. I don’t need the original!