New U.S. Vital Records Online: Freedmen’s Bureau, Statewide Databases and More
Millions of U.S. vital records have recently been published online! These include updates to the U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index; nationwide obituary, funeral home, and cemetery databases; Freedmen's Bureau field office records; a new African...
Episode 206 – Publishing Family History Books
Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 206 with Lisa Louise Cooke In this Blast from the Past episode: Lisa reprises a favorite research detour into vehicle forensics to identify an old family car and shares tips for creating short family history books like those she given as...
Cold-Calling Your Kin: How to Contact Distant Relatives
Need to contact distant relatives? Got cold feet? Follow these steps and you'll warm right up--and hopefully, so will those you contact! Today, online trees, social media, and email make it easier than ever to find relatives you don't know well (or at all). And there...
FTM’s 101 Best Genealogy Websites: Here’s the Latest List!
Family Tree Magazine has released its newest list of 101 best genealogy websites--and we're on the list! This year's list is all about the best free genealogy websites--for US.research, military records, tech tools and more. Each year, Family Tree Magazine publishes...
Get the Big Picture and the Little Details
I'm excited to keynote Family Tree University's Fall Virtual Genealogy Conference, September 15-17, 2017. Get three days of video presentations packed with DNA research strategies, the latest tech tools, organization and preservation tips, and MORE! Sign up by...
Best of New and Updated Genealogy Records Collections
This week the entire Genealogy Gems team is heading to Dallas to present a two day event at the Dallas Public Library. With Lisa, Sunny and Diahan so busy, I've decided to take the reins this week and bring you a roundup of my favorite genealogy records of 2017! This...
5 Expert Tips for Using Meyers Gazetteer for Your German Genealogy
Track down your German ancestors with Germany genealogy expert Jim Beidler. He's here to share great tips for using MeyersGaz.org, the recent online collection of crucial historical German maps. The Meyers Gazetteer is a comprehensive, indexed map to every place name...
Unclaimed Persons Project Offers Opportunity to Apply Your Genealogy Skills
When the recent press release from the Unclaimed Persons project crossed my desk, it jumped out at me in a very personal way. I majored in Forensic Anthropology (the study of human remains) in college, and was no stranger to coroner’s offices. I’ve witnessed...
Free Genealogy Records from Around the World: Newly Online!
Free genealogy records, newly available online, may be able to take you around your ancestor's world! This week's record destinations include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, France, Italy, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Russia, and...
How to Find Original Manuscripts with ArchiveGrid
Original manuscript records may reveal genealogical gems about your ancestors. Find these old records in archives around the country using this little-known, free online tool: ArchiveGrid. Manuscript records such as old diaries, letters, vital record collections,...
Beginning Swedish Genealogy: Tips from Legacy Tree Genealogists
Beginning Swedish genealogy can be daunting. But don't let language barriers or unfamiliar naming traditions deter you! Check out these getting-started tips from an expert at Legacy Tree Genealogists. This guest post comes from Paul Woodbury, a Senior Genealogist with...
Stunning Irish Historical Maps and More: New Genealogy Records Online
Digitized Irish historical maps are among new genealogy records online. Also: Irish civil registrations; Irish, British, and Scottish newspapers; Westminster, England Roman Catholic records; wills and probates for Wiltshire, England and, for the U.S., WWI troop...
AncestryDNA Privacy Policy Update: Why This Change Is Good
An update to AncestryDNA's privacy policy requires us to take to take one more step when managing someone else's DNA test. Here's why Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard thinks that's a good thing. Like many teenagers, my 14-year old sees every situation only from her own...
FGS Webinar Series on Society Management Begins Soon
The FGS Webinar Series on Society Management has just been announced and it's starting soon. This new free webinar series is focused on the leadership and management of non-profit societies. If you belong to a genealogical society you'll want to let your leadership...
Find Your U.S. Ancestors in These New Genealogy Records Online
Learn more about U.S. ancestors in new genealogy records for Navy and Marine officers, WWI veterans, historical and genealogical journals, and new genealogy records for 12 U.S. states: Ala., Ark., Hawaii, Kan., La., Mass., Miss., Mont., N.Y., Texas, Utah, and Va. ...
Celebrate Your History! Create a Family History Video
Celebrate your stories with video--whether it's your family history, the story of your business, or an event or pastime you want to share. Check out 5 weeks of great video ideas from Animoto, including my own family history video on an ancestor's immigration story....
Episode 205
The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #205 with Lisa Louise Cooke This episode breaks two huge pieces of genealogy news and shares two great conversations: FamilySearch ends microfilm lending: how you can get the records you need; RootsMagic adds Ancestry.com...
A Family History Murder Mystery: The New Genealogy Gems Book Club Pick
"A true story of passion, family, and forgiveness in Southern Italy." The subtitle to this family history murder mystery promises a LOT--and it delivers! It's the new pick from the popular Genealogy Gems Book Club. As a child, Helene Stapinski heard stories...