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Archives for February 2021

Several free genealogy webinars to be offered this week

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Several free genealogy webinars will be offered this week on topics such as Italian research, DNA research, and the temperance movement.

Legacy Family Tree Webinars will present “British Genealogy Online” on Tuesday, March 2 at 8 p.m. Researching your family history in England and Wales has never been easier. Many digitized church records, census records and wills are online. Now that newspapers dating back to the 1600s are online, you can search for a name and find it anywhere in millions of pages instantly. Learn some of the key sites for British genealogy, many of which are free.

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7541184529720167695

Legacy Family Tree Webinars will present “Italian Catholic Church Records” on Wednesday, March 3 at 2 p.m. The presentation will discuss researching in baptismal, marriage and burial records of the Catholic Church in Italy. Tips for reading Latin and a brief case study will also be presented. Understanding these principals for Italy can also help with Catholic Church research worldwide.

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7865113849402525199

The Minnesota Genealogical Society will present “Finding Dirk: Insanity in the 19th Century” on Wednesday, March 3 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Many of us have ancestors who spent time in “insane asylums” during the 19th or early 20th century. Changing societal needs and expectations during the 19th century dramatically altered the treatment and housing of the mentally ill, establishing a legacy we live with today. Learn how to identify the many types of documents available publicly and the methods for obtaining court-held mental health records.

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2291609143983822603

Allen County Public Library will present “Can DNA Testing Help Solve Your Genealogical Problem?” on Thursday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. Case studies will be used to see if DNA testing could help solve each genealogical problem. There will be a discussion on which type of DNA test would be most helpful for each problem, and whom in the family would be the best person to test. Through these practical examples, you too can learn to evaluate if your genealogical problems could benefit from DNA testing.

To register, go to: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/4906609

Ontario Ancestors will present “Genealogy Escape Room” on Thursday, March 4 at 7 p.m. Escape Room™ turns the typical webinar format upside down! Each registrant will receive a Case Review File used to solve a series of online research tasks BEFORE the live webinar takes place. The webinar is the “reveal” where a step-by-step review of each puzzle, task, and clue all the way to the final “key” to open the door.

To register, go to: https://ogs.on.ca/zoom-meetings/march-webinar-thomas-macentee/

Legacy Family Tree Webinars will present “The 10 Percent: Free People of Color” on Friday, March 5 at 2 p.m. In 1860, there were more than 4 million enslaved people of African descent living in the United States. At the same time, there were nearly 400,000 free people of color (FPOC) living in the U.S. Learn more about this often not talked about group and how you may have FPOC in your own lineage.

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/83320303817899023

The Southern California Genealogical Society will present “Finding Your Ancestors in America’s Temperance Movement” on Saturday, March 6 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. The Temperance Movement was a social movement in the United States to reduce the consumption of alcohol in the United States in the 19th and early 20th Century The movement had a large effect on social lives and even politics.

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/613206841968877070

 

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Local Genealogy Groups to have virtual meetings in March

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Several local genealogy groups, all part of the Genealogy Federation of Long Island, will be having virtual meetings in March.

Wednesday, March 3 – Connetquot Public Library – 7 p.m. – “Italian Family Research on FamilySearch.org”

For Zoom login information, email dhaberst@connetquotlibrary.org

Thursday, March 4 – German Genealogy Group – 7:30 p.m. – “Organizing Your DNA Results”

This is a members only program. Members will be sent a link to the program. To become a member, go to: www.germangenealogygroup.com

Wednesday, March 10 – Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island – 7 p.m. – “Esther’s Children”

This program is open to the public. Check the website, http://jgsli.org for more information.

Saturday, March 13 – Italian Genealogical Group – 10:45 a.m. – “Methods for Accessing New York City Vital Records”

This program is open to the public. Check the IGG website, www.italiangen.org, for log-in information.

Saturday, March 20 – Irish Family History Forum – 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. –  “Making Sense of Family Stories/ Death and Burial Customs of 19th Century Ireland”

This is a members only program. Members will be sent a link to the program. To become a member, go to:  www.ifhf.org

Sunday, March 21– Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island – 2 p.m. – “Searching for Paterson Roots Remembered and Forgotten in Heritage Tourism Abroad”

This program is open to the public. Check the website, http://jgsli.org for more information.

The Patchogue-Medford Public Library will offer free Genealogy Research Discussion Group meetings on March 3, 10, 17 and 24 at 10 a.m. To register, go to the library website Calendar of Events – https://pmlib.org

In addition, the Brentwood Public Library will offer free webinars on March 5, 12 and 19 at 3:30 p.m. on a variety of topics. To register, go to the library website Calendar of Events – https://brentwoodnylibrary.org

 

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RootsTech Connect virtual conference to begin Friday

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RootsTech Connect will take place this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25-27, 2021.

You need to register to take part in this totally free event. To register, go to:  rootstech.org.

In addition, in order to take advantage of things like creating a personal video playlist, you will also need to create a free user name and password at FamilySearch.org

Don’t miss inspiring keynote speakers from around the globe, a massive learning library, and videos celebrating the cultures and heritages that make us unique. Available right now, you can go to the website and download a PDF of all sessions available in English.

Want to start early?  You can virtually access the Expo Hall beginning on Wednesday, February 24 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Explore the vendors and find helpful information before the event kicks off.

RootsTech 2021 preview video can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiKF0RZL_qA&list=PLGng78LVGBHFHc43LeCqkdJ5O0Zmv7v_U

In addition, there will be RootsTech Connect Research Help available Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Individual sessions will be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese. Group sessions will also be available on the following geographic areas: British Isles, Nordic Countries, Asian Countries, Germany, Latin America,  and U.S. and Canada.

To get information on how to sign up for these sessions, go to: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/RootsTech_Connect_Research_Help

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New database features information from Ridgewood Historical Society

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The German Genealogy Group recently added a new database to its website, the Onderdonk House Biographical Index.

This database was created from the biographical index card file of the Greater Ridgewood Historical Society (GRHS) located at The Onderdonk House in Ridgewood, Queens. It includes references to births, baptisms, marriages, deaths, cemetery information, and other types of records. The dates covered by the database begin in 1590 and run through 2007.

If a researcher wants a photocopy or scan of a card found in the database, the first card is free, 2-10 cards are $5. If more cards are required, please request an estimate from GRHS. Instructions for ordering a photocopy or scan are available on the Germany Genealogy Group website.

Additionally, staff at Onderdonk House can conduct research on your ancestors. The first hour is free. They will then provide you with an estimate of how much more time would be needed to complete your research request. The charge is $25/hour.

To begin searching the database, go to: www.germangenealogygroup.com and click on Database Searches and then scroll down to Other NYC and Long Island.

For more information on the Onderdonk House, go to: https://onderdonkhouse.org/

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Several free genealogy webinars to be offered this week

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Several free genealogy webinars will be offered at the end of February covering the topics of Italian genealogy, Canadian genealogy and Polish genealogy.

The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society will present “The African American Experience in Three of New York’s Southern Tier Counties, 1803-1960” on Monday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. The African American experience in the rural “Southern Tier” counties of western New York State is largely unexplored. Using his own extended family as a case study, Dr. Biddle will document and describe that experience from the region’s first European settlement in the early 1800s through the 1950s when social and economic forces led to the departures of many to urban centers to the north and west.

To register, go to:  https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/events/african-american-experience-three-new-york’s-southern-tier-counties-1803-1960

The Genealogical Society of Bergen County (NJ) will present “21st Century Italian Genealogy with a New Jersey Focus” on Monday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. There has never been a better time to do Italian genealogical research! With more and more records now available online, this talk provides a strong overview for the beginning researcher, while including some lesser-known resources that will be of interest to even the most advanced researchers. In addition to providing an overview of Italian research, the presenter will offer a special spotlight on Italian-American research in New Jersey.

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4794470341848324365

The Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will present “Using Evernote for Genealogy” on Monday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Are you afraid to close your browser for fear of losing something important? Ever filed something away carefully on your computer in a folder never to see it again? Is your desktop a mass of random documents you put there so you could find them again? Want a better way of handling the things you find? Learn the do’s and don’ts of using Evernote to make you a better genealogist.

To register, go to: https://torontofamilyhistory.org/event/evernote/?instance_id=1439

JewishGen Talks will present “What Jewish Genealogists Need to Know About Jewish Given Names” on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. The speaker will be Dr. Sallyann Amdur Sack. She is the editor of Avotaynu, the international Review of Jewish Genealogy and author or co-author of seven genealogy books.

To register, go to: https://tixoom.app/jewishgen/lua3ft6l

The Wellington County Branch of Ontario Ancestors will present “Canadian Genealogical Treasures” on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. The Canadiana website has a vast amount of material for family historians, but not many use it or even know about it. Canadiana’s rich genealogy and local history collection includes local and family histories, telling of pioneering, settlement and local government in early Canada.

To register, go to: https://wellington.ogs.on.ca/next-meeting/

Legacy Family Tree Webinars will present “Polish Genealogy Online” on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at  2 p.m. The main aim of the presentation is not just showing you the Polish genealogy databases, but also insight on how to look for Polish ancestors. Step by step we will check the most useful websites in the context of Polish political and social history.

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1594493483079692815

 

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Online obituary index available for Buffalo and Erie County

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The Buffalo History Museum has recently has its obituary index added to FamilySearch.org.

The index covers the years 1812-1986. The index was originally created by typing names and death dates on index cards. The index was created for obituaries but not death notices. An explanation of the newspaper abbreviations used can be viewed at the beginning of the images.

There is no name or keyword search for the collection. There is an alphabetical range and you can browse the images. Since it is only an index, one still needs to consult the actual newspaper to see the obituary.

Index cards were added until 2001 but are not included in this dataset.

For more information and instructions on using the index, go to: Buffalo Obituary Index

To get started searching this collection, go to:  https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/146676?availability=Family%20History%20Library

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Many free genealogy webinars to be offered this week

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Many free genealogy webinars will be offered this week covering the topics of DNA research, Canadian records and research organization.

The Wisconsin Genealogical Society will present “NUCMA and Its Cousins: Keys to Lost Ancestral Records” on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. Where might Great Aunt Sadie’s diary be today? What ethnic or religious organization records have survived for our immigrants? What repository houses the business records of an ancestor? As our families migrated westward, the records associated with them may have been left in several places. There may be substantial information buried away in a manuscript collection. There are many FREE finding aids online and off that lead to these nuggets that represent hundreds of years of material.

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2038509262954745612

New York Public Library will present “Researching Ship Records” on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. Get started using the genealogy research methods and resources related to  ship passenger lists for vessels arriving at U.S. ports in the 19th and 20th centuries.

To register, go to: https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2021/02/17/researching-ship-passenger-lists

Southern California Genealogical Society will present “10 Things a Genealogist Should Do Before Leaving a Library or Archive” on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 9 p.m. Have you ever gotten home from a genealogy research trip and said to yourself “I forgot to do that!” Learn the 10 things a genealogist should do before they leave a library or archives to make a research trip a success!

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1068136375030848270

The Chula Vista Genealogy Society will present “The DNA Dynamic” on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. Eastern time. DNA can confirm or deny relationships; it can connect to relationships long inactive; it can suggest potential close relationships, thereby breaking your brick walls.  Let’s examine some of these DNA Dynamics and how you may apply it to your research success.

To register, go to: https://chulavistagenealogysociety.wildapricot.org/event-4164290

The Utah Genealogical Association will present “Gravestones and Epitaphs of Our Ancestors” on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 9 p.m. Locating gravestones of our ancestors can solve mysteries in our families. This webinar focuses on the evolution and history of gravestones and markers along with the materials used to construct them. Particular attention is given to the usage of symbols, markings, and tracing the carvers used as a means to discover new information about our distant departed.

To register, go to: https://ugagenealogy.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QI0bf_87QrqfbfNurea0dA

Florida State Genealogical Society will present “Researching African American Ancestors: Funeral Programs and Photo Archives” on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. African American researchers will find funeral programs and photo archives invaluable. There is a rich tradition revolving around funeral programs. As a result, numerous archives have intentionally collected them, and many are now placing them online for all to access. In addition, explore some collections rich in photos of African Americans; maybe your ancestors are included.

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7033182669392086542

Legacy Family Tree Webinars will present “How to Locate an Ancestor in Ontario, Canada West or Upper Canada” on Friday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. This webinar will provide strategies and resources to help you discover where your ancestor lived in Ontario, Canada West or Upper Canada, when you don’t have a specific place of origin. These include the types of records you should search in your ancestors’ place of later settlement, as well as records that are specific to Ontario research. As the focus here is on locating your ancestor, we will focus on province-wide records and indexes.

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/846125187285094927

The Genealogical Forum of Oregon will present “Making Molehills Out of Mountains: Organizing Your Research” on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Do you love the research part of genealogy but dread the next step of data-entry and organizing your findings? You are not alone.  Organization allows you to better utilize research time. Learn methods for organizing documents and notes, building a better research log, and time management tips.

To register, go to: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYlc-GtqTIqG93uz7UgFoe-lf9aMjdd5Wwc

Lee County Library System will present “Map it Out in Ireland” on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. When determining which individual with the same name is your ancestor, knowing places of residence are important and maps can help.  Learn how mapping Irish locations can provide important evidence.

To register, go to: https://leelibrary.librarymarket.com/events/genealogy-webinar-map-it-out-ireland-separating-names

 

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Free access available to Newspapers.com this weekend

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The digitized newspaper website Newspapers.com is allowing free access to its Publisher ExtraNow edition through Monday, February 15 at 9:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

The following are some tips for searching digitized newspapers:

*Check spelling variations – Will, Bill, Billy and William might all be ways an ancestor was listed. Also, even names like Smith might be spelled as Smyth.

*Research siblings and cousins – Your ancestor may not be mentioned in an article, but an article about a sibling or cousin might have a clue to breaking down a brick wall.

*Research places of business – Look for ads or articles about that place of business for more information.

*Military units are often discussed – Military units are often discussed during a conflict or on special anniversaries even many years later.

To get started searching, go to: https://go.newspapers.com/freeaccess/

 

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MyHeritage.com offers free access to marriage collections

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MyHeritage.com will be offering free access to all marriage records from now until Tuesday, February 16, 2021.

Marriage records are extremely valuable because of the wealth of genealogical content they contain. You may learn how old the bride and groom’s age at the time of marriage, where the bride and groom lived, when and/or where they were born, the names of their parents, where their parents were born, what their occupations were, and more.

MyHeritage offers 158 marriage collections with 462,808,849 total records. You can access these records by creating a free account with MyHeritage.

To get started searching, go to: https://www.myheritage.com/research/catalog/category-2000/birth-marriage-death

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Many free genealogy webinars to be offered this week

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Several free genealogy webinars will be offered this week covering topics such as Chinese research, census records and Jewish genealogy.

The New York Public Library will present “Researching Vital Records” on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at noon. Vital records (birth, death, and marriage) are fundamental to genealogical research, but often difficult to track down. Learn how to search for and find these key documents through resources at NYPL and elsewhere. This webinar will also explore the history of state record-keeping practices, and offer a variety of search strategies to use in your genealogy research.

To register, go to: https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2021/02/09/researching-vital-records

Legacy Family Tree Webinars will present “Chinese American Research” on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. The Chinese Exclusion Act, in effect from 1882-1943, made it difficult for Chinese to immigrate to America but also created a myriad of documents, many stored in the National Archives, which help genealogists. Researchers often have to determine if family names are “real” or “paper” because of what people had to do to overcome discriminatory laws. The workshop will provide an introduction to these and many other resources, and offer suggestions on other available documents and organizations.

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4564025900074699023

The Fox Valley Genealogy Society will present “Think Outside the Box” on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Consider a different perspective.  Give your research a boost.  Maximize your research results with a change from traditional research methods while maintaining high standards. Tools like eBay, social media, the Internet, and other resources can prove to be very beneficial!

To register, go to: https://ilfvgs.org/webinar-think-outside-the-box-by-dan-jungclas-february-11-2021-700-pm-central/

San Diego Genealogical Society will present “The Coded Census” and “The 1950 Census – Are you Ready?” on Friday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. Eastern time. Understanding census codes can help you uncover more information about your ancestor and possibly assist in breaking down brick walls. Learn how to locate census code-related tools online and how to use them for a specific US census.  Participants’ will get up to speed on the history of the 1950 US Census, why the 1950 US Census form is radically different than previous forms, and how the data will be accessed.

To register, go to: https://www.casdgs.org/event-4022597

The Appleton Public Library will present “Deciphering Foreign Language Records” on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Learn the must-know tips and tricks that will make reading those foreign-language genealogical records much easier. From Microsoft Word hacks to invaluable online resources, discover the tools you need to make translating those foreign records much simpler – and much more fun.

To register, click on the calendar of events for February and select Feb. 13 – https://apl.org/

The Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogical Society will present two programs on Sunday, Feb. 14. At 2 p.m. learn about “The Basics of Jewish Research in Poland,” and at 3:30 p.m. listen to “A Deeper Dive into Galician Records.”

To register, go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpceytqT0iGtaiZa72Xug6PWRL4yNMAJzz

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