Challenge #1 – ’52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History’

Amy Coffin has authored a brand new series of personal history prompts for our use this year. If you’re looking for a little help getting your personal history together in a manageable amount of time per week, these challenges will serve you well.

Here’s this week’s challenge: New Year’s

View the entire description of this week’s challenge, by using my Examiner.com, Phoenix Genealogy Examiner link. Click here.  I invite you to click “subscribe” at the top if you’d like my articles automatically delivered to your inbox each week. Click the RSS icon if you’d like to receive posts via feed reader.

Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog has put together the helpful ’52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History’ series. These prompts are hosted on the GeneaBloggers website. You may be interested in seeing posts about the challenge from other GeneaBloggers.

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Looking for UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS? Click here

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn: Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ? I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter. Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation from Amy Coffin or GeneaBloggers.com for writing this post. I am listed on the GeneaBloggers Blog Roll because I find it to be a valuable, shared community resource. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Last Challenge, #52 – 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy

Here’s your weekly challenge: Tools and Resources

View the entire description of this week’s challenge, by using my Examiner.com, Phoenix Genealogy Examiner link.  Click here.

Many thanks to Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog who has put together a great series of weekly prompts for our challenge this year.  Also thanks to Thomas MacEntee who hosted this challenge on the GeneaBloggers website.

Remember the upcoming AZ Family History Expo to be held in Mesa, AZ on January 21-22, 2011.  Click here for more information or to register.

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Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation from Amy Coffin or GeneaBloggers for writing this reminder. I am listed on the GeneaBloggers Blog Roll because I find it to be a valuable, shared community resource. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”   I am a Blogger of Honor this year for AZ Family History Expo for which I will receive a Tweet Pass for entrance and will attend the Friday event without charge. I have attended the Expo at my own expense before and highly recommend it based on my personal experience there.

‘Who Do You Think You Are?’: NBC Announces The Celebrities Tracing Their Family Trees On Season Two

Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Rosie O’Donnell, Steve Buscemi, Kim Cattrall, Lionel Richie, Vanessa Williams and Ashley Judd Take a Look Inside Their Family Histories on NBC’s Genealogy Alternative Series Produced by Lisa Kudrow.  To read the entire announcement, click here.

 

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Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation from NBC for writing this post.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Big Changes at FamilySearch.org

Here is an announcement from FamilySearch.org dated 12/14/2010:

Updated Site Now Available; More Improvements to Come

SALT LAKE CITY–FamilySearch announced several changes today for its family history website,  FamilySearch.org. Online patrons will find millions of new records and images, over 40,000 helpful articles, over 100 interactive courses of instruction, and a dynamic forum to ask personal genealogy questions. The changes have been in testing for some time. FamilySearch will continue to implement the new website in phases to ensure all critical elements are functioning as desired. Once complete, the website will be promoted more broadly.

The new site offers the following free benefits to FamilySearch patrons:

• Millions more scanned, historical documents and indexes that are published more frequently.
• An improved search experience that looks through more content and gives more accurate results.
• A thriving online genealogical community where patrons can give and receive help.
• One user name and password for all FamilySearch products and services.
• Responsive, reliable, and scalable hardware and software that will allow the site to grow and improve.

FamilySearch has published a helpful document called “Adjusting to the New Version of www.familysearch.org” and a video tutorial that summarizes the changes to the new site.  These new guides can be found under the “Changes at FamilySearch.org” link.

The prior version of the site will still be available through the transition period.

To link to the actual announcement, click here.

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Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation from FamilySearch for writing this post.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Challenge #51 – 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy

Here’s your weekly challenge: Next year’s goals

View the entire description of this week’s challenge, by using my Examiner.com, Phoenix Genealogy Examiner link.  Click here

Remember to choose only the challenges that suit you and fit into your schedule.
These challenges are meant to be a blessing, not a burden!

Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog has put together the helpful 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy series. These prompts are hosted on the GeneaBloggers website. You may be interested in seeing posts about the challenge from other GeneaBloggers.  Both sites have been voted among Family Tree Magazine’s Top 40 Genealogy Websites this year.

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Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation from Amy Coffin or GeneaBloggers.com for writing this post. I am listed on the GeneaBloggers Blog Roll because I find it to be a valuable, shared community resource. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Records Update: FamilySearch Wraps Up Genealogical Gifts for the Holiday Season

Here is an update from FamilySearch:

Nearly four million new digital images are now available on Beta.FamilySearch.org. These collections include the first images from South Africa, as well as records from Brazil, Canada, Germany, Guatemala, the Netherlands, and the United States. About 1.7 million of these records are indexed.
Click here to see the chart for the complete list of newly added or updated collections.

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Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation from FamilySearch for writing this post.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Challenge #50 – 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy

Here’s your weekly challenge:  Regional Archives

View the entire description of this week’s challenge, by using my Examiner.com, Phoenix Genealogy Examiner link.  Click here

Remember to choose only the challenges that suit you and fit into your schedule.  These challenges are meant to be a blessing, not a burden!

Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog has put together the helpful 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy series. These prompts are hosted on the GeneaBloggers website. You may be interested in seeing posts about the challenge from other GeneaBloggers.  Both sites have been voted among Family Tree Magazine’s Top 40 Genealogy Websites this year.

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Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation from Amy Coffin or GeneaBloggers.com for writing this post. I am listed on the GeneaBloggers Blog Roll because I find it to be a valuable, shared community resource. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

Archives.com Integrates 40 Million New Records and 110 Million Newspaper Pages

Here is an excerpt from a press release recently posted by archives.com:

Already one of the most trafficked family history websites in the U.S., Archives.com is focused on adding new engaging content to help users discover more about their ancestors. New record collections now available on Archives.com include:

40 Million Vital Records: Vital records document significant life events including birth, death, marriage, and divorce. These are the building blocks of family history research. Archives’ collection of U.S. vital records has been developed through the expansion of existing collections and the addition of records from states including Texas, Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, and Utah.

110 Million Newspaper Pages: Archives has joined forces with Newspaper Archive to make millions of newspaper pages viewable on Archives.com. Users now have easy access to this historically significant repository with content dating back to 1753 and billions of indexed names.

300,000 Cemetery Records: Partnering with cemetery mapping pioneers Names In Stone, Archives.com now offers access to more than 300,000 indexed burial records.

In spite of this huge record expansion, Archives has not raised the cost of membership, and remains committed to affordability while adding new records, functionality, and resources. Archives.com’s enhanced database and new partnerships demonstrate a major leap forward for value-conscious consumers that want to start researching their family history. To search Archives.com, log in or start a free trial membership.

Click here to read the entire press release.

Click here to go to archives.com.

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Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation from Archives.com for writing this post.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Meet the Bloggers of Honor for the AZ Family History Expo 2011

Bloggers of Honor are people are selected by Family History Expos to “provide information and updates about the Expo to members of the genealogy community.”  They help [Family History Expos] make each Expo a virtual event by sharing on Twitter, Facebook and blogs about the sessions, Expo news, exhibitors and more.

To view the list of Bloggers of Honor, click here.

I’m grateful to have been selected as a Blogger of Honor at the 2011 AZ Family History Expo.  Please join me in Mesa Jan 21-22.

Last year was my first year to attend, and I was not disappointed in the least!  The speakers were fantastic, the exhibit hall was buzzing with happy family history seekers, lunch (served there for a small cost) was delicious.  I met some wonderful people, who have become online friends throughout this year, and I learned more about family history, genealogy and using social media and technology in regards to searching for ancestors.  The atmosphere was warm and friendly, and I can’t wait to get back there for more this year.
Please save the date:
Jan 21 and 22, 2011

Mesa Convention Center
263 North Center Street
Mesa, AZ 85201

I think you’ll be glad you did.

National Genealogical Society 2011 Family History Conference

The National Genealogica Society 2011 Family History Conference will be held May 11-14, 2011 in Charleston, South Carolina.  Pre-registration is now open.  Click here for details. 

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Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I have not received any compensation for writing this post from ngsgenealogy.org.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”