Psst… Secrets of Happy Families Include Family History
In an exclusive interview with Lisa Louise Cooke, Bruce Feiler shares a family history tip from his book, The Secrets of Happy Families. Family History Leads to Happy Families At RootsTech 2016, Lisa Louise Cooke had a chance to sit down and chat with New York Times...
Celebrity Connection! Family Look-Alike Photos
Check out these celebrity cousin look-alike photos! A distant cousin of Katherine Hepburn compares photos with fun results. Last fall, I blogged about a web app that uses facial recognition software to compare how closely two faces "match." Since then, several people...
We Dig These Gems: New Genealogy Records Online
Here's our weekly roundup of new genealogy records online. Do you see any that may pertain to your ancestors? ALABAMA CIVIL APPOINTMENTS. A new database of civil servants appointed in Alabama (1818-1939) is now searchable at Ancestry.com. You'll find name, county,...
How to Find Genealogy Apps: New Premium Video
There's a new video tutorial on genealogy apps for Genealogy Gems Premium website members: "How to Find Essential Genealogy Apps for Genealogists." What are the best apps for genealogy? The ones that accomplish whatever you want to GET DONE. Like: consulting working...
Beginning Irish Genealogy Tips
Here are 3 essential tips for beginning Irish genealogy from Brian Donovan, Head of Irish Data and Development at Findmypast. Plus we'll highlight Findmypast's enormous collection of Irish records. It's March now, and time to start celebrating all things...
Free Video: Powerful Google for Genealogy Search Strategies
Boost your Google search skills with this free video class on Google for genealogy, presented at RootsTech 2016 by Google expert Lisa Louise Cooke. "Everyone should be using Google to search for their family history!" That's Lisa Louise Cooke's mantra. Google...
Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast Episode 132 Published
Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast episode 132 is ready for Genealogy Gems Premium members. There's something for everyone, from how family history can make families happier to how to use mtDNA tests for genealogy. The new Genealogy Gems Premium podcast episode 132 has...
We Dig These Gems! New Genealogy Records Online
New genealogy records online this week include a new index of WWII POWs from the US; British and Welsh newspapers, New York passenger and crew lists and more. Take a look! BRITISH 1939 REGISTER BROWSER. A new browsing tool is available to help Findmypast subscribers...
Genealogy Gems Book Club: More Recommended Reading
Looking for something good to read? The Genealogy Gems Book Club passes on four titles recommended by RootsTech attendees. We met so many avid readers at the Genealogy Gems Book Club Open House at RootsTech 2016! Several of them recommended some of their favorite...
Did Grandpa Work on the Railway? Railroad Records You’ll Want
Railroad records helped this woman FINALLY find the names of her grandfather's parents. Trisha has been searching for a while for the names of her grandfather's parents. We gave her several suggestions for where to search for parents' names, but in her case, they...
How to Use Your Mobile Device for Genealogy: Free Video!
Do you have a smartphone, iPad or tablet? Watch this free video lecture on how to use your mobile device for genealogy! Lisa Louise Cooke is a leader in teaching the genealogical community how to get the most out of their mobile devices. Her first book, Turn Your iPad...
RootsMagic, FTM and the Holy Grail of Family History Software
Are we getting closer to the "holy grail" of family history software: one that will sync with all the major genealogy websites? Ancestry.com’s unpopular announcement that it would be retiring its Family Tree Maker software was followed by a loud "never mind!" Software...
We Dig These Gems! New Genealogy Records Online
Here's our weekly roundup of new genealogy records online. Should you search for your ancestors in any of these databases? BRITAIN, MERCHANT SEAMAN. Findmypast.com has added nearly a quarter million records to its 1918-1941 database of British Merchant Seaman. IDAHO...
What’s So Special about US Special Census Schedules?
Who should pay attention to the US special census schedules? Anyone whose relatives appear in the US census between 1850-1880 (and some whose relatives show up in 1810-1820 and 1890-1910). Many records about our ancestors point to even more records. Such is the case...
Look-Alike Family Photos: These Relatives are 80 Years Apart
Do you have any look-alike family photos? Check out these uncanny resemblances--and more ideas for what to do with old family photos. Recently I heard from Season. "Thought you might enjoy a photo of my 87-year old grandmother at age 18 and my daughter now age 7," she...
New Resource for African American Family History
AmericanAncestors.org has created a new portal for African American family history research. Explore it for FREE in honor of Black History Month. The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) has created a new portal for African American family history...
The priceless gift my daughter gave me at Rootstech – Heritage Jewelry
Did you know you can memorialize a loved one's handwriting in a piece of custom jewelry? Check out this very special piece of heritage jewelry. Last week I celebrated my birthday at RootsTech 2016. What a party! A highlight was an impromptu birthday serenade by the...
We Dig These Gems! New Genealogy Records Online
Each week we scour announcements of new genealogy records online and share those we think our readers most want to know about. This week, it's all about Irish and US records! IRELAND CENSUS RECORDS. MyHeritage.com has added to its site "over 8.7 million Irish census...