The NGS annual conference gathers some of the most talented genealogy lecturers for a wonderful educational experience. As in recent years, the organizers are offering packages to stream a subset of the lectures online. The packages include, either of two sets of five lectures or a set of ten. Some people who attended the conference… Continue reading Register to LiveStream 2019 NGS Conference Lectures
Truth and Fiction
Not all sources are equal. When my third grader started researching a project for school this year, she hadn't learned much at school about getting information from trusted sources, like encyclopedias. She was apt to blindly trust anything on the web. In genealogy, often first we learn to cite our sources and then we learn… Continue reading Truth and Fiction
New York State Historic Newspapers
From New York State Historic Newspapers: The NYS Historic Newspapers project provides free online access to a wide range of newspapers chosen to reflect New York's unique history. To search the entire collection, use the Search Tab. Or, click on a county to search or browse geographically. I suggest that you use the option to… Continue reading New York State Historic Newspapers
FamilyTreeDNA Encouraging Transfers to Catch Criminals
Recently the genealogical community has been upset by FamilyTreeDNA changing its terms of service, without alerting its customers, to allow law enforcement searches. The company is now encouraging transfers to its database to catch criminals. The Atlantic and other news outlets have been writing about this new strategy: A DNA Company Wants You to Help… Continue reading FamilyTreeDNA Encouraging Transfers to Catch Criminals
Gedmatch Admixture Tools
The Gedmatch admixture tools can seem a little mysterious. Many of the big genealogy websites like Ancestry and 23andMe have come a long way in their admixture, or ethnicity, estimates, adding more and more people to their sample populations and attempting to identify an origin in a country or even a region of a country. … Continue reading Gedmatch Admixture Tools
Insight from Interviewer Terry Gross
Genealogists should interview their relatives to learn more about the past. Terry Gross is a professional interviewer for NPR's Fresh Air. Recently she was interviewed by The New York Times. The article How to Talk to People, According to Terry Gross includes tips about interviewing and general conversation. I wish it were longer, but it is… Continue reading Insight from Interviewer Terry Gross
Franklin Lewis Beckmann of Erie County, Pennsylvania, and Kings County, California, and Family
My ancestor Franklin Lewis Beckmann of Erie County, Pennsylvania, and Kings County, California, and Family
New Opt-Out Option for FamilyTreeDNA Law Enforcement Matching
FamilyTreeDNA has made a detailed announcement about the option for customers to opt-out of law enforcement matching, which follows. To see the option for a kit you manage, log in, click "Manage Personal Information," and click "Privacy & Sharing." The default for individuals in the United States: Click the slider if you would like to… Continue reading New Opt-Out Option for FamilyTreeDNA Law Enforcement Matching
New Diabetes Health Report at 23andMe
Genetic testing company 23andMe has just announced a new heath report. Those who have already done health testing with the company should now have access to this new report: Type 2 Diabetes. The report gives a percentage likelihood that the tester will develop Type 2 Diabetes between now and age 80. It also gives general… Continue reading New Diabetes Health Report at 23andMe
FamilyTreeDNA and Law Enforcement
Recently FamilyTreeDNA has been cooperating with law enforcement in a limited capacity. Much of the genealogy community has been surprised and upset by this news. The Legal Genealogist Judy Russell has written a number of blog posts about this topic: Opening the DNA floodgates 1 Feb 2019 One little change 3 Feb 2019 A Letter from Bennett… Continue reading FamilyTreeDNA and Law Enforcement
