Indholdsfortegnelse for September/October 2024 i Family Tree

Every family has one: the custodian for all the “stuff” that gets handed down from generation to generation. Because of my day job, I’m quickly becoming that person in my family—but not the only one! I’m fortunate to have a maternal uncle and a paternal cousin who have done years of research on the history of their respective families. Their work has been invaluable to me. But I know someday all the materials that come my way from them and others—papers, photos, heirlooms—will be overwhelming. My grandmother, for example, kept just about every receipt she ever generated. Someone (read: me) will have to sort through those boxes, separating the genealogically important from the irrelevant. In this issue, we cover that oh-so-common problem: what you should do with all the stuff you…

THE INTERNET ARCHIVE <www.archive.org> and Library and Archives Canada <library-archives.canada.ca/eng> announced a new partnership that will bring online some 100,000 out-of-copyright publications. On-location operators will use six new digitization workstations at the Library and Archives’ facilities in Gatineau, Quebec, to scan the books, some of which date to the 1200s. Learn more at <www.internetarchivecanada.org/2024/07/01/internet-archive-canada-launches-digitization-project-with-library-and-archives-canada>. These private-public partnerships are increasingly important for historical-records access. We reported last issue that the US National Archives renewed its partnership with Ancestry.com, and had set an ambitious goal to digitize an additional 500 million records by 2026.…

THE BOARD FOR CERTIFICATION OF GENEALOGISTS (BCG), which awards credentials to qualifying researchers, published official guidance on how artificial intelligence can be used in applications. Per a blog post <www.bcgcertification.org/bcg-ai-portfolio-july-2024>, BCG applicants may use AI for online searches, spelling- and grammar-checking tools, and translations. However, work submitted as part of a research portfolio “must be entirely the applicant’s own…not written or generated by AI.” Regulations stipulate that work in an application can’t have been reviewed, critiqued or proofread by another “individual” (including an AI tool). The guidance serves as a reminder that AI has many uses—and that organizations can and will restrict how tools are used when deciding whether to publish or evaluate research. For more on AI and genealogy, see our interview with Steve Little on page 5.…

These machines lead the pack in the race to digitize your precious family photos and documents. The prices listed here are the suggested retail values from manufacturers; you may find reduced prices through other sellers. FLATBED SCANNERS Canon CanoScan LiDe 400, $89.99: Features colorrestoration, cloud backup and dust-removal. HP DeskJet 4255e Wireless All-in-One Color Printer, $99.99: Low-cost option that functions as both a printer and auto-document feeder with 60-sheet tray. Epson Perfection V600, $349.99: With a built-in transparency unit, it can handle any transparencies and negatives up to 3x10 inches, including 35mm filmstrips and mediumformat panoramic film. PORTABLE SCANNERS Epson WorkForce ES-50, $129.99: Small and lightweight, this is designed for documents but is well-regarded for scanning photos, too. Plustek ePhoto Z300, $199: Supports 3x5-, 4x6-, 5x7-, and 8x10-inch photos plus letter-size paper.…

German church books are typically the most-informative resource for genealogists looking to find their ancestors in the homeland. But civil records (officially Standesamtregister, or Standesamt records after the office that created them) are increasingly available online, and are purported to document some 98% of the German public. That makes them critical documents to consult if you’ve either exhausted church records or they’re not accessible for whatever reason. Here’s what you should know about German civil records: when they were created, what details they included, and how you can find them today. A History of German Civil Registration As a general rule, German civil records started in 1876, when the German Empire mandated their creation. There are a few notable exceptions, however. Provinces that were once part of Prussia had civil…

1 Preserve the paper. School notepads and folders were made to be inexpensive and short-lived. Unfortunately, high-pulp newsprint paper degrades quickly due to its high-acid content. And elementary school paper—where first attempts at handwriting were made—often have blue and red ink that fades or bleeds. Preserve special samples by placing them in an acid-free folder or polyester sheet protector isolated from other materials. Be careful to avoid smearing pencil or pastel. 2 Clean lunch supplies. Character lunchboxes and treasured kitchenware like Thermos cups have been schooltime staples for decades. Gently clean boxes inside and out using a soft sponge and distilled water. Use a nylon scrub sponge on any caked-on food or dirt, then dry thoroughly. Display on a shelf away from direct light, or wrap in a cotton pillowcase…

Family archives can arrive without warning. One day you’re creating a research plan, perusing online databases, analyzing information, and recording results and conclusions. Then suddenly, you’re the keeper of the family “stuff.” A relative passes away or downsizes, and boxes of photos, documents, and memorabilia arrive on your doorstep. As a genealogist, you know those old photos, loose papers, and fragile letters likely hold a wealth of information about your family. And somewhere in those boxes could be the key to an elusive ancestor you’ve been seeking for years. With a good plan and the right supplies, you can conquer the chaos to create an organized and accessible family archive. Fine-tune your archival skills with this guide to confidently work with your family collection and preserve your inheritance for the…

Family memorabilia and the trappings of past lifetimes live on in attics, basements, closets and storerooms. They exist in limbo: no longer wanted or used by the family, but unable to be thrown away. But that detritus may contain many genealogical riches—maybe even heirlooms of surprising value. Amid the trunks, old clothes and unused furniture are sure to be wonderful treasures and unexpected curios. A family Bible, old journals or framed portraits have obvious utility to family history. But what will you do with a box full of funeral cards? Or an album of morbid post-mortem photographs? Or a strange framed wreath that looks like it was made from … hair? The Latin phrase Memento mori comes to mind: “Don’t forget that you have to die.” Philosophers and theologians encourage reflecting…

Cemetery records have been compiled in some organized manner for nearly 200 years and are a wealth of informative clues about our ancestors' lives. Going to the cemetery is my chosen way to research them, since you'll almost certainly find surprises along the way: a mysterious unmarked grave that reveals a previously unknown child, for example. If you’re already there on the grounds, you can immediately start researching them. This guide to cemetery records unearths just a fraction of what you can find on hallowed ground. CLUES IN CEMETERY RECORDS All cemetery records include the deceased’s name and date of burial. But they may also include the deceased’s date of birth and death, age at death, place of birth, place of death (possibly a detailed address), residence at time of…

Q My ancestor John Fraser purportedly immigrated after serving with the Scottish Fraser Regiment in the French and Indian Wars. How can I learn more about him and his service? A There were actually two historical “Fraser Highlanders” regiments: The 78th was raised in Scotland in 1757 to fight in the Seven Years War (a.k.a. French and Indian Wars); the 71st was raised in 1775 for the American Revolutionary War. Several books and websites celebrate these famous “regiments of foot.” The Fraser Highlanders by J.R. Harper (Society of the Montreal Military & Maritime Museum) covers both but focuses on the 78th. You can search a few pages on Google Books; that turns up a Captain John Fraser among the officers. The Internet Archive <www.archive.org> also has information on the 78th,…

Run an obituary search using “5 Tips to Find Obits Online.” Did you find your ancestor? Do you know the date and place of death? Look for an index book or online index of obituaries and death notices for the rough time and place your ancestor lived. They may be mentioned in research guides, the websites of local libraries or archives, or the Resources section of this cheat sheet. Great! Write a source citation. Use the citations in this cheat sheet as examples. Use the U.S. Newspaper Directory at Chronicling America <chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/search/titles> to identify newspapers in the deceased’s time and place that might have covered the news. Consider ethnic, foreignlanguage, trade and religious publications. Note which repositories hold the paper, along with dates covered and the format. Is the newspaper…

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) seems to be on everyone’s lips these days. Though we’ve been using AI in various ways for years, new chatbots like ChatGPT <www.openai.com/chatpt> and Google’s Gemini <gemini.google.com> have the potential to reshape how we perform many tasks—including some for family history research. Do the tools live up to their reputation? We sat down with Steve Little, the National Genealogical Society’s AI Program Director and founder of <www.aigenealogyinsights.com>, to separate the truth from the hype. He also shares a useful framework for making the best use of them. 1 In layman’s terms, what is ChatGPT? It is a new flavor or variety of artificial intelligence—a new way for people to use the computer—called a large language model. Some folks may have heard that these chatbots are very good…

Some highlights from the major genealogy websites: Wills and deeds, 1700s–2017: FamilySearch quietly added collections of these valuable (but often-overlooked) records for most US states. Articles of enslavement: In honor of Juneteenth, Ancestry.com published a free collection of newspaper articles mentioning more than 100,000 enslaved people <www.ancestry.com/c/articles-of-enslavement>. Newspaper indexes: Ancestry.com and MyHeritage have each rolled out collections of indexed stories from their sister newspaper websites: Newspapers.com and OldNews, respectively. You’ll need a paid subscription to either site to view entries, which number in the millions for each country. ● Ancestry.com: England; Scotland; Ireland and Northern Ireland; Wales; Canada; Australia and New Zealand; and the United States (subdivided by state) ● MyHeritage: New Zealand; Norway and other Nordic countries; Germany; Austria; Czechia; the United Kingdom; and the United States…

Do you have family photo albums and boxes of slides and negatives? What about old letters and family Bibles? Maybe you have home movies, too, but no projector to view them. Converting these items to digital allows you to edit and improve images, then easily share and attach them to your family tree (online or on your computer). Digital copies also serve as a backup in case of natural disaster. If you started researching your family history before computers and the internet became popular, you probably accumulated a lot of paper research notes and correspondence. Digitize them, too, and you can discard many of the originals and replace them with searchable files on your computer. The prospect of digitizing your family pictures, videos and records may seem overwhelming. These steps…

Each state-by-state guide includes: • How-to tutorials for finding records Notes on how and when key documents were kept in the state, including vital records, state censuses and land records • Historical summaries and timelines Narrative history with special emphasis on events that affected your ancestors, including year of statehood, large migrations, and major border changes • Links to key resources Websites, books, and archives and organizations for further research READ AS PART OF FAMILY TREE MAGAZINE Each issue contains two newly updated guides on a rolling basis. Subscribers collect all 52 guides. VIEW ONLINE FOR FREE <www.familytreemagazine.com/explore-by-state> New states added each month. PURCHASE & DOWNLOAD PDFS <store.famlytreemagazine.com/genealogy-research-state-guides> Purchase ($9.99 per guide; $49.95 for full collection) includes per petual access to the most-recent version of the guide. RESEARCH GUIDE PUBLICATION HISTORY…

1 From All Digitized Titles, you can filter the site’s collection by state, ethnicity or language. It’s a rough sort at best. But you can quickly see how many issues have been digitized and for what time period. Note: Chronicling America might not have every issue of a newspaper between the listed dates. Because of copyright restrictions, Chronicling America is strongest for public-domain newspapers published before the mid-1920s. But it does have some coverage for later years—for example, WWII-era Japanese American Newspapers. 2 My favorite part of the site’s new interface is the ability to view all digitized pages on a map (All Digitized Titles > View All Titles on a Map). Zoom in to see those that might be nearest your family’s location, including papers for nearby cities. Click a…

1 Search for the person’s name. If possible, narrow your search to the time period and place the person died or to a specific paper. Keep in mind, though, that several papers—even those published elsewhere—may have carried the story. 2 Try spelling variants, initials and nicknames. Newspapers didn’t always get the name right, and typos weren’t uncommon. Some newspaper search sites let you use wildcards to catch misspellings. Typically, ? stands in for one letter and * stands for zero or more. Check the search tips for the site you’re using. 3 Try other terms. The name of a surviving spouse or otherrelative, or a home address, might pull up the article. For a married woman, try a search like “Mrs. Michael Smith.” 4 Browse. Faded and fuzzy newspaper print…