PERSI for Genealogy and More Updated Genealogical Records for a New Year!
With an update to PERSI for genealogy, Pennsylvania birth and death records, and a tidbit or two from the United Kingdom and Scotland, you will start this year off right! It's a new year and we are ringing in some great new and updated genealogical record collections....
Pinellas Genealogy Society Seminar
Follow me, Lisa Louise Cooke, in 2017 as I share Google research techniques, newspaper research for genealogy, finding living relatives, and much more. I'll be in Florida in February - here's the scoop! The Annual Pinellas Genealogy Society Seminar, co-sponsored by...
DNA Testing: 3 Tips Before You Ask Your Relatives to Spit
Here's what you need to know before you encourage your relatives to join you on your genetic genealogy journey. There are a few things to think about before they spit in that tube and our DNA Guide, Diahan Southard, is here to help! Did you see those holiday price...
How to Get Started with Using DNA for Family History
Anyone can Test DNA for Family History From Diahan Southard, Your DNA Guide here at Genealogy Gems: DNA testing is one of the most personal ways to get involved in your family history. You have DNA from your parents, who have DNA from their parents, and so it goes,...
Ending 2016 on a High Note with New and Updated Genealogical Collections
End 2016 on a high note with these new and updated genealogical record collections. Lisa soaked in Christmas tunes of Harlan County Kentucky's pride and joy, Jordan Smith (winner of The Voice,) in a concert over the holidays. Harlan County can also be very proud of...
Living in the Past: Ruth Goodman Shows Us How It’s Done
What was it like to live in the Tudor age or the 1940s? Would you rather "watch" the answer or "read" it? Well, you can do both with these popular BBC historical documentary series and their companion books. Ruth Goodman is known to BBC watchers as the woman who...
How Facebook Users Reunited a Bible with its Family: Facebook for Family History
These genealogy sleuths used Facebook for family history when they responded to a plea to help return a family Bible to its family. Back on March 21, Donna Whitten posted a video on her church Facebook page. Her post says, “How far would you go to get back something...
The History of Genealogy Gems and of Christmas Seals
Dear Beloved Listeners, Readers, and Viewers, I'm writing to you today to tell you how much you mean to me. You're the reason why I can't wait to grab my phone before I get out of bed, just to see what you've had to say. Your emails of shared success stories,...
Open the Gift of New and Updated Genealogical Collections From Around the World
Happiest of holiday greetings to you! Celebrate with us as we share the gift of new and updated genealogical collections like censuses, histories, and school records from all around the world. This week: the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Peru, Ecuador, and the...
Episode 198
This episode's got a bit of holiday sparkle! Lisa Louise Cooke welcomes Genealogy Gems Book Club author and Victorian lifestyle expert Sarah Chrisman to the show to talk about Victorian holiday traditions, some of which may still live on in your own life. Following...
MyHeritage DNA Matching – What I Like About It
MyHeritage DNA is new on the scene of genetic genealogy. With the recent launch of their DNA Matching, I decided to give it a test drive for you. I have now uploaded my test results from another company. Follow along as I share what I like about the...
Virtual Reality (VR) and Google Earth Converge
Google has announced that it is bringing Google Earth to the HTC Vive virtual reality (VR) headset. Here's what that could mean for family historians. Google Earth VR (virtual reality), which is available through Steam, allows users to visit various landmarks around...
A Blizzard of New and Updated Genealogical Records
It's snowing like crazy in some parts of the U.S. this week and it's blown up a blizzard of great new and updated genealogical record collections! Take a look at this week's round-up for Bishop's Transcripts in England, Veteran Memorials in New Zealand, and records...
The Gift of Family History Video
Are you having a hard time coming up with the perfect gift for someone special on your list? The gift of video gives all year round, and doesn't require you to buy the correct size. Make your video about family history, or the memories of the recipient, and get ready...
Amazing Women in World War II: A Censored Journalist Turns Spy
Last week was the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Among the amazing women in World War II was a reporter whose story of the bombing of Honolulu was so vivid the editor wouldn't publish it. She went on to become a spy. Reporter Betty McIntosh was working...
Victorian Fruit Cake Recipe: Tasty and Tasteful
This recipe for a Victorian fruit cake skips the poor-quality candied fruit that gives some pre-made modern fruitcakes a bad reputation (especially in the US). Instead, fresh coconut, citron and almonds fill this cake to bursting with natural flavors and...
The Royal Irish Constabulary Records in New and Updated Genealogical Collections
New and updated genealogical collections for the Royal Irish Constabulary are just the tip of the iceberg this week. Scroll down for more cool finds for New South Wales, Scotland, U.S. marriages, and an update to the Freedmen's Bureau collections at FamilySearch....
Gripping Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor: Honoring WWII Ancestors
The bombing of Pearl Harbor unfolds from the horrified notes in deck logs of ships in this short video narrative. Learn more about these and other resources for researching WWII ancestors at Pearl Harbor. Today is the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor,...