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GENEALOGY IN THE NEWS - JANUARY 2007
Library of Congress gets $2 million grant to scan 'brittle books'. Network World (US), January 31, 2007.
The East Tennessee Historical Society is seeking nominations from across East Tennessee for awards of excellence in the field of history. The Weekly (GA), January 31, 2007.
Ukraine is a place of wild contradictions, with one foot in the past and the rest of it rushing toward a bright future. The Mercury News (CA), January 30, 2007.
British Library announces national search for the greatest hidden treasures in UK public libraries. British Library Press Release (UK), January 30, 2007.
Florida : Since 1984, Hal Belcher has quietly labored to preserve Amelia Island's history. Florida Times-Union (FL), January 31, 2007.
The first Botetourt County (Virginia) genealogical fair that will be held in Fincastle in October. Botetourt County at one time encompassed five states. mainstreetnewspapers.com (VA), January 31, 2007.
The name Allen Parmer may not mean anything to anyone now living in Grayson County (Texas), but it was Mr. Parmer — or rather his wife, Susan, who frequently attracted Jesse and Frank James to this area. The Herald Democrat (TX), January 31, 2007.
The renovated Allen County Public Library (Indiana) is now open to the public. The Library’s genealogy collection is the second largest in the U.S. Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (IN), January 28, 2007.
James Little may not be the first black man ever to set foot in Lansing, Michigan but the recorded history of the area's black community begins with him. Lansing State Journal (MI), January 28, 2007.
Now 18, Katrina Clark is trying to persuade lawmakers to ban anonymous sperm and egg donations so others won't grow up with the same questions she had. Daily Press (VA), January 28, 2007.
A museum’s collection of tattooed Maori heads is returning to its ancestral home, more than 180 years after being taken from New Zealand. 24 Hour Museum (UK), January 29, 2007.
Francis Gaube, 91, and relatives spent six years investigating their ancestors. Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin (NY), January 30, 2007.
Following overwhelming response to the “African American Lives” PBS television series that traced the roots of prominent African Americans back to Africa, producers plan an essay contest to give the same opportunity to an “average” African American. Boston Herald (MA), January 27, 2007.
Tennessee : The Moore County cemetery contains the final resting place of a man who was lifelong friends with Davy Crockett, fought at the side of Gen. Andrew Jackson and was one of the first settlers of Bedford County. Shelbyville Times-Gazette (TN), January 27, 2007.
Pat Bernard has traced the lineage of several branches of her family, pursuing one as far back as 1559 in England. The Mining Journal (MI), January 28, 2007.
Man traces family history back to country's earliest days and has been awarded membership in the Society of Mayflower Descendants. The Morning Sun (MI), January 28, 2007.
Genealogy is like unraveling a mystery with subplots galore. The Monitor (TX), January 28, 2007.
California : A new book, “Orange County Place Names A-Z” spans the O.C.’s history from when the first settlers founded towns like Anaheim and Santa Ana in the mid-1800s, to more recently established cities. OCRegister (CA), January 25, 2007.
iFamily for Tiger is a genealogy program for Mac users that is not only easy to operate but offers an innovative approach to mapping the family tree. The Clarion-Ledger (MS), January 26, 2007.
Scotland's Old Parochial Records, which range from 1553 to 1854, are the last records to be transferred into digital images as part of a project to make all records held by the General Register Office for Scotland available online. publictechnology.net (UK), January 26, 2007.
"Howell Goes to War 1861-1865" has records of about 794 Civil War-era veterans and Howell-area (Michigan) residents of the time. The Ann Arbor News (MI), January 26, 2007.
Nampa, Idaho is using GIS to locate the final homes of its nonliving residents. govtech.net, January 27, 2007.
Tribal scholars say some faculty are falsely claiming American Indian heritage to boost their job prospects. Diverse (VA), January 25, 2007.
In a show of support for Liverpool’s new International Slavery Museum (ISM), the government has presented the development with a £500,000 capital grant. 24 Hour Museum (UK), January 24, 2007.
The two-volume, 1,677-page "History of Fort Wayne & Allen County, 1799-2005" should become the most comprehensive chronicle of the city - and Allen County - for many years to come. fwdailynews.com (IN), January 25, 2007.
Joan Jones returned to her ancestral roots last August after countless hours poring over her Norwegian genealogy. Lompoc Record (CA), January 26, 2007.
How many lost Jews are there? No one knows, but speculation is that the numbers are huge. A new organization is going to help people uncover lost Jewish roots. Chabad-Lubavitch Global Network, January 23, 2007.
The show's resonant message is the value of knowing one's own roots, with the accompanying encouragement that everyone could benefit from seeking them out. New York Daily News (NY), January 23, 2007.
Genealogical research brings life to history. Peninsula Clarion (AK), January 23, 2007.
This article is the third in a Centennial year-long series saluting families who were in Oklahoma about the time of statehood. The author is a direct descendent of the Perryman family. Greater Tulsa Reporter (OK).
Oprah Winfrey traces family roots on 30th anniversary of landmark miniseries. Newsday (NY), January 24, 2007.
African blood has run through British veins since at least the 18th century and perhaps since Roman times, a study suggests. The Times (UK), January 24, 2007.
Many people's interest in genealogy blossom after they see the thousands of records, obituaries and photos catalogued in the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center (Wisconsin.) Sheboygan Press (WI), January 21, 2007.
Author Cheryl Anderson recently donated a copy of her new historical book, "Detroit Firefighters 1865-2005: A Pictorial History of the People," to the Brighton District Library. Livingston Daily Press & Argus (MI), January 21, 2007.
The Tangipahoa African-American Heritage Center in Hammond, Louisiana will open the museum and genealogy center Feb. 11. The Advocate (LA), January 22, 2007.
UK : The National Archives' digitisation programme was a winner in the Award category of Central e-Government excellence: Take-up in the e-Government National Awards 2006. It is a case study in best practice. publictechnology.net (UK), January 22, 2007.
Tax records are often overlooked but invaluable alternative resources which may help researchers fill in some of the gaps in their family histories. Cincinati Post (OH), January 22, 2007.
Technological advances and a rising interest in genealogy fuel an interest in preserving memories. Orlando Sentinel (FL), January 20, 2007.
Suzette Bromley, previously a Port Huron Museum (Michigan) volunteer, has focused on researching and digitizing items in the museum's collections. Times Herald (MI), January 20, 2007.
Marvin Harper founded the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society (Alabama) in 1964. He fought like a pit bull to hang on to a local heritage that was fast being lost or demolished. Ledger-Enquirer (GA), January 20, 2007.
The goal of the Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project is to identify, protect, restore, and preserve as many of these cemeteries as possible. Tribune Star (IN), January 20, 2007.
Pike County (Alabama) is mourning the death of Margaret Pace Farmer, agreat lady who was arguably the most influential woman in Troy and Pike County history. The Messenger (AL), January 21, 2007.
Deb Nelson Gourley has published the English-language version of “History of the Norwegian Settlements” about the early Norwegian settlers in the Coulee Region (Wisconsin). The Onalaska Life (WI), January 18, 2007.
Lester Public Library in Two Rivers will inherit the Manitowoc County (Wisconsin) genealogy Web site, www.2manitowoc.com, upon the creator's death, according to library staff. Herald Times (WI), January 19, 2007.
Isle of Wight County, Virginia: A gravesite survey team recorded grave markings at 96 cemeteries over the past three years. Daily Press (VA), January 20, 2007.
Founded by a small group of Itawambians in 1982, in 25 years the Itawamba Historical Society has grown into the single largest source of information on Itawamba County, Mississippi. Itawamba County Times (MS), January 17, 2007.
A court ruled that companies can be sued for misleading consumers by concealing their involvement in the 19th-century American slave trade, but descendants of slaves cannot sue for reparations. Sacramento Bee (CA), January 17, 2007.
Members of the Vandalia Butler Historical Society (Ohio) have worked for the past 30 years to preserve much more than just sterile dates and names. Vandalia Drummer News (OH), January 17, 2007.
The Adams County Historical Society (Pennsylvania) has 20,000 pieces, and that's just objects. When you count in photos and documents, the number swells to more than 1 million. The Evening Sun (PA), January 17, 2007.
Irish-American Heritage Month (March) and St. Patrick's Day (March 17) 2007. US Census Bureau Press Release. January 17, 2007.
The National Archives (England and Wales) has launched its Freedom of Information request service to see entries from the 1911 Census. National Archives Press Release (pdf document), January 17, 2007.
Southern California Cherokee group draws 250 to its first meeting. San Bernardino County Sun (CA), January 16, 2007.
A pair of researchers, drawing on the experience of nearly 22,000 couples in the 19th century -- has measured the "fitness cost" of human reproduction. San Francisco Chronicle (CA), January 16, 2007.
A new reference room at the Coopersville Historical Museum will contain genealogy resources, plat books, books on local and state history and law books that have been unavailable to the public. The Grand Rapids Press (MI), January 16, 2007.
Internet and entertainment entrepreneur David O. Sacks today announced the launch of a new website, Geni.com, whose mission is to create a family tree of the entire world. Press release (CA), January 16, 2007.
"German Milwaukee" offers not just facts and photographs but recipes, each illustrated with a color photo. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI), January 16, 2007.
Read more about German Milwaukee
at Amazon.com.Cuban-Americans who lost their family histories when they fled the island nation are joining forces to rediscover their roots. Bradenton Herald (FL), January 14, 2007.
The Special Collections Department of the Axe Library on the campus of Pittsburg State University houses thousands of documents, photographs, paintings, artifacts and old periodicals that tell a history of southeast Kansas and beyond. Pittsburg Morning Sun (KS), January 16, 2007.
The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) is the host of the 27th Annual Jewish Genealogical Conference. slc2007.org.
A Scots expat has flown 10,000 miles home from Australia to meet the German nephew he never knew he had. Daily Record (SCT), January 15, 2007.
Genealogists, historians and seekers of family lore will have an easier time researching deaths, births and other details of daily life in New Hampshire when 350 years of state records move into a new building later this month. Concord Monitor (NH), January 13, 2007.
Geneticist Bryan Sykes has an answer. A review of his latest book 'Saxons, Vikings and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland'. The Advocate (LA), January 14, 2007.
Read more about this book at : Amazon.com
(United States), Amazon.co.uk
(United Kingdom), and Amazon.ca
(Canada)Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein and Footnote, Inc. CEO Russell Wilding today announced an agreement to digitize selected records from the vast holdings of the National Archives. NARA Press Release (US), January 10, 2007.
Historical UK ship passenger records available online for the first time. News from the National Archives (UK), January 10, 2007.
Bibb County, Alabama is rich in the kind of history that its old cemeteries offer. Tuscaloosa News (AL), January 14, 2007.
Hiring of groundskeeper among changes as Waterford (New York) Rural Cemetery turned over to town. Albany Times Union (NY), January 12, 2007.
As part of a series of events marking the bicentenary of the act to abolish the slave trade, Bristol's Empire and Commonwealth Museum is hosting an event that acknowledges the contribution of Bristol's African community to the city in the last 200 years. 24 Hour Museum (UK), January 12, 2007.
Author Clifford Neal Smith has compiled a valuable book for those researching the earliest land grants and claims in the Vincennes, Indiana area. Tribune-Star (IN), January 13, 2007.
Read more about French and British Land Grants in the Post Vincennes (Indiana) District, 1750-1784 from the publisher's Web site.
Two local men seek out historical documents and work hard to return them to their rightful owners. The Beaverton Valley Times (OR), January 11, 2007.
During this year, the City of Annapolis (Maryland), with scores of volunteers, will be making elaborate plans to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Annapolis Charter in 2008. The Capital (MD), January 11, 2007.
Cindy Balzer's father, Christopher Bridgeman Jr., disappeared more than 40 years ago, but new information suggests he was the victim of an unthinkable crime. king5.com (WA), January 11, 2007.
I experienced what many genealogists will recognise - an emotional rush of affinity with the people I was researching. BBC News (UK), January 11, 2007.
Whether you're interviewing the old relatives or the younger generations, avoid these interview snafus. The Albuquerque Tribune (NM), January 11, 2007.
A family treasure that has been hidden away for half a century is about to be handed over to those who will greatly appreciate it. YourHub.com (CO), January 11, 2007.
Memories of Mokena's past will not be forgotten, thanks to a project by the Mokena Area Historical Society (Illinois). suburbanchicagonews.com (IL), January 10, 2007.
How men and women today are reconnecting with their forebears through science. Genetic testing, to be precise. The Ledger (FL), January 10, 2007.
Visit Relative Genetics to learn more about genetic genealogy.
Also visit Genealogy and DNA Resources at Amazon.com
The Cuban Family History and Genealogy Project aims to turn more Cuban-Americans into amateur genealogists. South Florida Sun-Sentinel (FL), January 10, 2007.
The Jasper County Records Center (Missouri) is a primary source for such information and people from all over the country call and write for those materials. The Carthage Press (MO), January 8, 2007.
In celebration of Black History Month, February 2007, PBS will broadcast a lineup of new and encore presentations honoring and exploring African-American history. Press Release (VA), January 9, 2007.
The 2008 World Gathering of Clan MacIntyre will be the third weekend in July, 2008 in conjunction with the Taynuilt Highland Games. Electric Scotland (UK).
Mississippi : The Jones County family history book, “Echoes From Our Past,” is now available. Hattiesburg American (MS), January 8, 2007.
People come to genealogy with different goals, but too often they make an excuse for bad genealogy by saying, “Well, I’m just doing this for myself.” Lebanon Daily News (PA).
Those searching for community histories, biographical profiles or "how-to" articles will find the Periodical Source Index, or PERSI, to be an indispensable research tool. Cincinati Post (OH), January 8, 2007.
Two Americans with exactly the same first, middle and last names who each traced their ancestry to the same Irish town decided to meet, for the first time, in that town. Contra Costa Times (CA), January 7, 2007.
More personalized memorials are getting to be a big thing. Crescent-News (OH), January 7, 2007.
Beginners can make good use of what's hiding in their attics, at the libraries and historical societies. East Oregonian (OR), January 7, 2007.
"The History of Moss Point" (Mississippi) was compiled by Harry H. McDonald to mark the city's centennial in 2001. It contains official records and newspaper articles reaching back as far as 1725. The Mississippi Press (MS), January 7, 2007.
More on the DNA study to establish if modern-day Robsons are genetically linked to the notorious clan of warlords who ruled the Tyne Valley in the 16th Century. Sunday Sun (UK), January 7, 2007.
The cards feature photographs and signatures of each Home Guard member and personal details, including place of birth, rank and ‘distinguishing marks’ such as ‘scar on chin’. 24 Hour Museum (UK), January 4, 2007.
The Southern California Genealogical Society is proud to announce plans for the 38th Annual Genealogy Jamboree, slated for Friday through Sunday, June 8-10, 2007, in Burbank. GEN-EVENTS, January 1, 2007.
As the Internet grows, so grows the number of genealogical sites out there and the amount of old records now online. The Register-Guard (OR), January 1, 2007.
Kate Middleton, the girlfriend of Britain's Prince William, is a relative of the late children's author Beatrix Potter. monstersandcritics.com (UK), January 5, 2007.
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