Today is Friday, May 25, 2012 and here is what’s available in terms of events in the genealogy blogosphere:

Items of Note

• Happy Blogiversary to the Illinois State Genealogical Society blog (started May 25, 2010).

• Today is Cookie Monster’s Birthday, Geek Pride Day, National Missing Children Day (US), Towel Day, and World MS Day

• Look for the Genealogy Blogging Events for the Week of May 25 – June 1, 2012 later this morning.

Daily Blogging Prompts

Family Recipe Friday – is an opportunity to share your family recipes with fellow bloggers and foodies alike. Whether it’s an old-fashioned recipe passed down through generations, a recipe uncovered through your family history research, or a discovered recipe that embraces your ancestral heritage share them on Family Recipe Friday. This series was suggested by Lynn Palermo of The Armchair Genealogist.

Follow Friday – create a post in which you recommend another genealogy blogger, a specific blog post, a genealogy website or a genealogy resource. Tell us why they are important to the genealogy community and why we should follow.  Follow Friday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers and was suggested by Earline Bradt of Ancestral Notes.

Friend of Friends Friday – if you have encountered records of enslaved ancestors, whether they are your own ancestors or not, make it a point to transcribe those records and get them posted on the Internet via your blog. Friend of Friends Friday is an important service to the genealogy community – both Leslie Ann of Ancestors Live Here and Greta of Greta’s Genealogy Bog have been posting to this series for some time now and their inspiration is much appreciated.

Friday Funny – have you come across something genealogy-related that makes you laugh or smile? Post images, stories, quotes and more during Friday Funny. Friday Funny is a daily blogging prompt suggested by Jennie Pak of They Came to Montana.

Funeral Card Friday – do you have a collection of memorial cards for your ancestors or family members, the kind that funeral homes produce and give out to mourners? Post images of these cards and stories about the person memorialized during Funeral Card Friday. Funeral Card Friday has been an ongoing series by Dee at Funeral Cards & Genealogy.

To ensure that your blog post is included in the “roll-up” widgets above, include the name of the blogging theme in your post title. Examples: Black Sheep Sunday – Paige Turner; Tombstone Tuesday – Pearl E. Gates.

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If you would like your event or Daily Blogging Prompt included, please contact Geneabloggers at geneabloggers [at] gmail [dot] com.

©2012, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Post from: GeneaBloggers

Genealogy Blogging Beat – Friday, May 25, 2012

copyright 2012, Thomas MacEntee

If you want to attend one of the best genealogy events on the West Coast (and in the United States in my opinion), make sure you register for this year’s Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree by end of day on Sunday, May 28, 2012!

The 43rd annual Jamboree will take place from Thursday, June 7 through Sunday, June 10 in Burbank, California, and includes the following events:

• Family History Writer’s Conference
• Tech Tracks
• Kid’s Camp
• Movie Night
• Research Morning at the SCGS Library
• Autry National Center Tour
• Genealogy World Discussions
• Genealogy Society Development Workshop
• Beginners Genealogy First Steps
• Beginners Genealogy Next Steps
• Librarians’ Genealogy Boot Camp
• Hollywood Gala – What are you wearing? Jeans, T-shirts, Evening wear!, Fancy hair styles? You will see it all!
• Saturday Breakfast And the Rockets’ Red Glare: Online Resources for War of 1812 Research
• Saturday Breakfast – Jamboree Genealogy Idol
• Saturday Banquet – How “Psychic Roots” Became an Unsolved Mystery
• Sunday Breakfast – The Strange and Unexpected, Dealing with Research Surprises
• Sunday Breakfast – Cigars, Murder and Women: Reconstructing A Signature Quilt’s Community

In addition you can select from over 130 presentations delivered by 63 speakers! And there will be over 60 members of GeneaBloggers in attendance – see here for more details.

SCGS 2012 Jamboree – Don’t miss it!

Disclosure: Please see Disclosure Statements for more information on my material connection with the Southern California Genealogical Society, SCGS Jamboree and other genealogy vendors.

©2012, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Post from: GeneaBloggers

Last Call – SCGS Jamboree 2012!

copyright 2012, Thomas MacEntee

This week’s topic for Open Thread Thursday is:

Is there something about the cult of celebrity and researching their roots that makes for strange bedfellows when you mix famous folks and genealogy? While we as genealogists love the media exposure, do we sometimes pursue it to our own detriment and in a way that harm’s our field?

Do we as genealogists sometimes throw reason and good research practices out the window in order to be affiliated with a television show or a story? Is there pressure to come up with a story that doesn’t exist or to stitch together evidence to reach a conclusion that doesn’t meet the Genealogical Proof Standard or even qualify as a reasonably exhaustive search?

Or is it more a matter of a media industry which does not fully understand genealogy and family history research? In this age of the quick sound bite, does the media “dumb down” what we do and seeks out a story that really isn’t there or a story to fit a desired conclusion?

Have you had your own encounters with the media involving your own research or some aspect of genealogy? Tell us about your experience and what you think celebrity genealogy does for the genealogy industry.

Post your responses in the comments or at a post on your own genealogy blog and place the link here in the comments.

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I can be as big a fame whore as the next person – there is something special about personally talking with the stars or the producers of Who Do You Think You Are? You get giddy, you tell friends and colleagues, you somehow think it makes you special. But it doesn’t make you a better genealogist.

And I think that researching the roots of the famous is not the issue here – it is hasty and sloppy research that doesn’t follow the Genealogical Proof Standard combined with a basic lack of understanding about genealogy from the media as well as the general public.

But even when the standards are followed, care should be taken when dealing with the media in relating evidence and a conclusion, especially when those “wiggle” words are used.  In the recent case of politician Elizabeth Warren’s supposed Cherokee roots and the recent involvement with the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), I truly believe that sound research was in practice and in process. See Garance Franke-Ruta’s excellent article at The Atlantic (Is Elizabeth Warren Native American or What?) for an overview of the controversy.

But, most of the media ignored the “qualified” answer as well as those wiggle words and ran with a story while the research was still being undertaken. This is why it can be better sometimes to not present a “half time” view of research until a reasonably exhaustive search is done and the results can be presented as a whole. There are times when I think it would be nice to be part of a “hot” story, but as I evolve in my genealogy career, very often I find myself putting the brakes on my involvement in order to stop a “run away” story that can take on a life of its own. And with today’s marriage of traditional media and social media, that is one fast moving train that often can’t be stopped or steered effectively.

Another example is the recent broadcast of Who Do You Think You Are? involving Jason Sudeikis and his alleged bigamist great-grandfather. As you can see in a recent discussion over at a new blog, The Lineal Arboretum,  there is a lot more research involved than what was shown in the episode. Perhaps as genealogists we use a much more critical eye when research results are presented in such shows, and we should. Again, in 42 minutes, a television show is going to make it all look so easy.

This approach does bring newcomers to the field of genealogy and we all seem to benefit – professional genealogists, genealogy vendors and even genealogy societies.  But often it can be quite a bit of work to “undo” the mindset that arrives with the newcomers, and convince them that genealogy is not “magic.” Genealogy is a process which has research standards and an industry with professionals committed to those standards.

Sometimes I wonder if having the media spotlight on genealogy is not just more trouble than its worth but harmful to the industry. Or perhaps we as genealogists just need bigger voices when it comes to the media and we need to start controlling the conversation.

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This is a great topic for this week’s Open Thread Thursday! And please, if you have a topic you’d like to see discussed among your genealogy blogging colleagues, please contact us and we’ll take it under consideration.

Disclosure:  Please see Disclosure Statements for more information on my material connection with genealogy vendors and organizations.

©2012, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Post from: GeneaBloggers

Open Thread Thursday: Does Celebrity Genealogy Mean Sloppy Research?

copyright 2012, Thomas MacEntee

Today is Thursday, May 24, 2012, and here is what’s available in terms of Daily Blogging Prompts and other related events in the genealogy blogosphere:

Items of Note

• Today is Hug Your Cat Day and Morse Code Day.

Daily Blogging Prompts

Thankful Thursday – Create a post that expresses gratitude for a person (past or present), resource, family history tool or anything connected to you or your and family history that has had a positive impact on your life. This prompt has been suggested by Carolyn Murphy of Family Tree Gal and has been in use by Mary Warren of Mary’s Musings for the past year.

Thrifty Thursday – do you have some neat ways of saving money when it comes to genealogy? Have you located a bargain on some research resource or office supply? Post about it during Thrifty Thursday! This series has been suggested by Judy Webster of Queensland Genealogy.

Thriller Thursday – Are there murders, bizarre accidents or other thrilling stories among your family history? Tell us about them through words and pictures during Thriller Thursday. This is an ongoing series by Anne Kruszka at Gene Notes.

Those Places Thursday – do you often think back to places where you lived and worked at one time? What about those places where your ancestors spent time? Post about “those places” with photos and stories on Those Places Thursday. This has been an ongoing series by Cheryl Palmer of Heritage Happens.

Treasure Chest Thursday – create a post with the main focus being a family treasure, an heirloom or even an every-day item important to your family. A special thanks to Leslie Ann Ballou of Lost Family Treasures for suggesting Treasure Chest Thursday as a daily blogging theme!

To ensure that your blog post is included in the “roll-up” widgets above, include the name of the blogging theme in your post title. Examples: Black Sheep Sunday – Anita Bath; Tombstone Tuesday – Aleta Buffet.

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If you would like your event or Daily Blogging Prompt included, please contact Geneabloggers at geneabloggers [at] gmail [dot] com.

©2012, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Post from: GeneaBloggers

Genealogy Blogging Beat – Thursday, May 24, 2012

copyright 2012, Thomas MacEntee

Today is Wednesday, May 23, 2012, and here is what’s available in terms of Daily Blogging Prompts and other related events in the genealogy blogosphere:

Items of Note

• Today is Admission Day (US -SC), and National Taffy Day (US).

Daily Blogging Prompts

Wedding Wednesday – a great way to display those old wedding photos or scan wedding invitations and announcements! Suggested by Carol of Reflections from the Fence and in use by several genealogy bloggers.

Wednesday’s Child – Post photos of gravestones of children. A sad topic indeed but posts can give life to the stories of these young souls. This has been an ongoing series by Amy at Gravestoned.

Wisdom Wednesday – an alternative to Wordless Wednesday for those who just can’t post without words! Create a post in which you share words of wisdom about any number of things including weddings, marriage, children, work, and so on.  A post  could include such things as favorite sayings of grannies, superstitions, that sort of thing.  Words of wisdom should have their origins in the past and have been passed on from generation to generation. Wisdom Wednesday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers suggested by Jennifer Geraghty-Gorman of On a Flesh and Bone Foundation: An Irish History.

Wordless Wednesday – a great way to share your old family photos! Create a post with the main focus being a photograph or image. Some posters also include attribute information as to the source of the image (date, location, owner, etc.). Wordless Wednesday is one of the longest running “memes” in the blogosphere and is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Workday Wednesday – a way to document your ancestors’ occupations (they weren’t all farmers), transcripts of SS-5s, photos and stories of ancestors at work, announcements of retirements, etc. This prompt has been suggested by Denise Spurlock of the Denise’s Life in the Past Lane and Reflecting on Genealogy blogs.

To ensure that your blog post is included in the “roll-up” widgets above, include the name of the blogging theme in your post title. Examples: Black Sheep Sunday – Juan Nightstand; Tombstone Tuesday – Bessie Mae Mucho.

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If you would like your event or Daily Blogging Prompt included, please contact Geneabloggers at geneabloggers [at] gmail [dot] com.

©2012, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Post from: GeneaBloggers

Genealogy Blogging Beat – Wednesday, May 23, 2012

copyright 2012, Thomas MacEntee

Today is Tuesday, May 22, 2012 and here is what’s available in terms of Daily Blogging Prompts and other related events in the genealogy blogosphere:

Items of Note

• Today is National Maritime Day (US), and Neighbor Day.

• Helen Spencer, of Save Every Step, has started a “blog hop” series which runs each Tuesday and is entitled Life’s A Journey. This is a great way to join in the fun and post your own memories!

Daily Blogging Prompts

Talented Tuesday – Got ancestors who had a special talent? Be it musical, comical, or any manner of skill, post at your genealogy blog through words and pictures.

Tech Tuesday – Have you stumbled upon a piece of technology or new Web-based application that would be of interest to your fellow genealogy colleagues? Post at your blog on Tech Tuesday and show us the ins and outs of this technology and how it can benefit the genealogy community.  This is a new series suggested by Donna Peterson of Hanging with Donna and in the past there have been many iterations of this series: the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) blog Narations as well as The Family Curator by Denise Levenick.

Tombstone Tuesday – To participate in Tombstone Tuesday simply create a post which includes an image of a gravestone of one or more ancestors and it may also include a brief description of the image or the ancestor. This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Travel Tuesday – Do you have images, quotes or stories about trips your ancestors or family took during their lives? Or have to ventured out on travels to your ancestral homeland as part of your genealogy research? Travel Tuesday is a daily blogging prompt suggested by Susan Donaldson of Family History Fun.

Tuesday’s Tip – What advice would you give to another genealogist or family historian, especially someone just starting out? Remember when you were new to genealogy? Wasn’t it great to find tips and tricks that worked for others? Post your best tips at your genealogy blog on Tuesday’s Tip. This series was suggested by Susan Petersen of Long Lost Relatives and, in fact, this has been an ongoing series by Lynn Palermo at The Armchair Genealogist and by Miriam Robbins at AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors.

To ensure that your blog post is included in the “roll-up” widgets above, include the name of the blogging theme in your post title. Examples: Black Sheep Sunday – Andrea Dorea; Tombstone Tuesday – Nequelle Anne Dyme.

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If you would like your event or Daily Blogging Prompt included, please contact Geneabloggers at geneabloggers [at] gmail [dot].com.

©2012, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Post from: GeneaBloggers

Genealogy Blogging Beat – Tuesday, May 22, 2012

copyright 2012, Thomas MacEntee

I have the great pleasure of introducing you to Jerry Jones and his blog, The Jones Genealogist, described as, “ . . . 50 years of Genealogy”

Jerry manages nine additional genealogy blogs:

• Cadwallader Jones, described as, “ . . . My Heart’s Blood
• Ge-ne-al-o-gy 101, described as, “ . . . For the budding genealogist on their family tree.”
• Ge-ne-al-o-gy 201, described as, “. . . For the branching genealogist.”
• Ge-ne-al-o-gy 301, described as, “. . . For the climbing genealogist.”
• Historic Danville KY
• The Brick Wall Protocol, described as, “. . . Genealogy for Generations.”
• The Jones Surname DNA, described as, “. . . Connecting the lose ends.”
• The Jones Surname, described as, “. . . Dedicated to the history, origins, and genealogy of the JONES surname.”
• Welsh Genealogy, described as, “. . .Land ofEagles.”

How Jerry Got Started in Genealogy

Jerry has been on his genealogy journey for 52 years now. It all started when he was playing hide and seek in his “Granny’s” bedroom closet.  Jerry tells us all about it in his, “Fully described post: see 50 Years of Genealogy, July 7, 2010, my very first post.”

Jerry’s Family and His Blog

“I have a fair number of family members (my Mom and Dad, now in their 80’s) aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. who follow and leave comments.

They have made copies of my blog (book) and given it to me as a gift. My youngest daughter’s comments are posted on a recent post titled: The Hours of Our Days.”

How Jerry Follows the Rest of Us

“I follow a number of blogs that can be read from my blog sight.”  On a typical day, Jerry will follow about four to six blogs.

Jerry’s Thoughts on Blogging

Jerry started blogging when he needed an easier way of sharing family information, “Had been doing a family newsletter since 1989 titled The Jones Genealogist . . . I wanted to keep the name and concept going. Other blog titles try to tell the readers what they are about. My newsletter was getting more and more difficult to maintain, and the electronic network was an easy way to keep things going.”

Jerry had a few concerns when it came to blogging, “Would find folks not interested. Thought there would be a catch somewhere along the line . . . nothing for free you know.”

What Jerry Loves Most About Genealogy

“Putting flesh on the bones of the ancestors.”

Jerry’s Time Capsule Message

“We are the chosen: see post – To Genealogists Everywhere : We are the Chosen, November 12, 2010.”

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Please take a moment and head on over to Jerry’s blog(s). Leave him a comment letting him know you stopped by. Welcome Jerry, it’s great to have you here!

© 2012, copyright Gini Webb

Gini Webb lives in San Diego, California and manages her own blog, Ginisology, while also researching her own German heritage, recently retired, enjoying life with wonderful husband Steve and visiting with her now seven grandchildren!

Are you a genealogy blogger who would like to be interviewed for the “May I Introduce To You . . .” series? If so, contact Gini Webb via e-mail.

Post from: GeneaBloggers

May I Introduce To You . . . Jerry Jones

copyright 2012, Thomas MacEntee

Today is Monday, May 21, 2012, and here is what’s available in terms of Daily Blogging Prompts and other related events in the genealogy blogosphere:

Items of Note

• Today is American Red Cross Day (US), and Victoria Day (CAN).

• Check back this afternoon for our series May I Introduce To You with an interview of genealogy blogger Jerry Jones of The Jones Genealogist blog.

Daily Blogging Prompts

Amanuensis Monday – An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme which encourages the family historian to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin – some we never met – others we see a time in their life before we knew them. A fuller explanation can be found here.

Amanuensis Monday is a popular ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

Madness Monday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor who either suffered some form of mental illness or an ancestor who might be hard to locate and drives you mad. This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Mappy Monday – do maps, deeds and land records factor in to your family history? Join us for Mappy Monday where you can post map images and how they relate to your research or discuss other aspects of land ownership and your ancestors. Several members of GeneaBloggers suggested this type of theme and in fact Holly Spencer of Ravenna Area Historical Society Blog has been using this theme since March 2009.

Maritime Monday – Post about anything to do with the sea: ancestors who were sailors, shipwrights, fishermen, or coastguards including images, records and links. Maritime Monday is an ongoing series created by Ros Haywood at the GenWestUK blog.

Matrilineal Monday – Post about the female line of one of your families you are researching. Matrilineal Monday is an ongoing series by Jennifer Geraghty-Gorman of ‘On a flesh and bone foundation’: An Irish History.

Military Monday – We all have ancestors who have served in the military. Military Monday is a place to post their images, stories and records of their service in various branches of the military. Military Monday is an ongoing series by Cindy at Everything’s Relative – Researching Your Family History.

Mobile Monday – Do you use mobile applications on a SmartPhone to assist with your genealogy research? Post a review of any applications you’ve used or post about what you’d like to see in a mobile application related to genealogy. This is an ongoing series created by A.C. Ivory of the Find My Ancestor blog.

Motivation Monday – do you have a set of genealogy-related goals you want to tackle? Do you have tips on getting motivated? Whether you want to lend advice or you need advice, participate in Motivation Monday at your blog and tell us what’s on your genealogical plate. This is an ongoing series created by Dionne Kurti at Finding Josephine.

Mystery Monday – Closely related to Madness Monday only these missing ancestors might not cause madness! Mystery Monday is where you can post about mystery ancestors or mystery records – anything in your genealogy and family history research which is currently unsolved. This is a great way to get your fellow genealogy bloggers to lend their eyes to what you’ve found so far and possibly help solve the mystery. Several genealogy bloggers have been using Mystery Monday as an ongoing series including Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings, Kathleen Moore of The Misadventures of a Genealogist and Betty Tartas of Betty’s Boneyard Genealogy Blog.

To ensure that your blog post is included in the “roll-up” widgets below, include the name of the blogging theme in your post title. Examples: Black Sheep Sunday – Honey Dijon; Tombstone Tuesday – Ida Slapter.

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If you would like your event or Daily Blogging Prompt included, please contact Geneabloggers at geneabloggers [at] gmail [dot] com.

©2012, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Post from: GeneaBloggers

Genealogy Blogging Beat – Monday, May 21, 2012

copyright 2012, Thomas MacEntee

Today is Sunday, May 20, 2012 and here is what’s available in terms of Daily Blogging Prompts and other related events in the genealogy blogosphere:

Items of Note

• Today is Eliza Doolittle Day.

• Each Sunday, Olive Tree Genealogy offers a new blogging prompt under the heading Sharing Memories – Genealogy Journal Writing. This week’s prompt: Surgeries

• Each Sunday, The Turning of Generations offers a new blogging prompt under the heading 21st Century Organized Family Historian.

Daily Blogging Prompts

Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Church Record Sunday – describe a specific church record or a set of records held by a church or denomination and how they can assist genealogists. This is an ongoing series developed by Gena Philibert Ortega at Gena’s Genealogy.

Sentimental Sunday – discuss a sentimental story or memory about an ancestor, or maybe even a family tradition that touches you. This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers and was suggested by Renate Sanders at Into the Light.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

To ensure that your blog post is included in the “roll-up” widgets above, include the name of the blogging theme in your post title. Examples: Black Sheep Sunday – Crystal DeCanter; Tombstone Tuesday – Emma Grate.

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If you would like your event or Daily Blogging Prompt included, please contact Geneabloggers at geneabloggers [at] gmail [dot] com.

©2012, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Post from: GeneaBloggers

Genealogy Blogging Beat – Sunday, May 20, 2012

copyright 2012, Thomas MacEntee

Week #21 – Ancestor Tales of Hardship

Week 21: Ancestor Tales of Hardship: In genealogy, there are plenty of clouds in the form of sad stories and hardships faced by our ancestors. These tales should not be forgotten because descendants can learn from them. Share with us a particular ancestor’s hardship story. How did these events impact your life?

This challenge runs from Sunday, May 20 through Saturday, May 26, 2012.

Here are the latest 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy posts from members of GeneaBloggers:

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52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. If you do not have a genealogy blog, write down your thoughts on your computer, or simply record them on paper and keep them with your files.

© 2012, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Post from: GeneaBloggers

Ancestor Tales of Hardship – 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy

copyright 2012, Thomas MacEntee