Dec 30
The Library of Congress has such a vast storehouse of all things relating to America’s people, events and history. Not to be forgotten is the collection of music that our ancestors played, danced, listened or sang to over the decades. At the online site for the Library of Congress is the National Jukebox with some 10,000 of the recordings anyone ...
Dec 29
It is nice to come across an online site that has a large selection of sources and information for the family researcher. Since 2006 there has been such a site titled Genealogy Trails which has compiled genealogical information from numerous sources. What makes this so amazing is that the collection of transcribed names, families, dates, facts, t...
Dec 28
New Year’s Resolutions - the Beginnings The time honored New Year’s resolutions go back to 2000 B.C. when the ancient Babylonians of the Middle East held their spring and fall equinoxes festivals. A new year was the New Moon, the first visible crescent after the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring. Back then, people marked the beginnin...
Dec 26
The Native American Indians can be a difficult research for family lineage. Today, numerous people claim to be ‘part-Indian’; however there were many years when it was not acceptable to say you had any Native Indian blood relations. People hid the fact they may have had a full-blood grandmother who was Cherokee or any other Indian tribe. Name...
Dec 24
The singing of Christmas carols began in England in the early 1400s. They were mostly ‘tall tales’ of the first Christmas in Bethlehem. During the Puritan reign in England of the 1600s the celebration of Christmas was stopped including the singing of carols. By the early 1800s the singing of carols began again with singers known as ’Waits’,...
Dec 23
In doing your family history research it is an opportunity to see how much your life style, briefs and traditions are influenced by the ethnic and cultural practices from other countries. What better opportunity than with the family favorite Christmas traditions. Here are some examples of customs at Christmas and where they originated. From Mexi...
Dec 22
A great expanded updated search engine site done by Google is titled ‘Google Patents’ and it allows you to research for any and all patents submitted by any person in the United States from the 1790s to the present time. This is far more complete than earlier databases for patent searches. Its sources are the official United States Patent and...
Dec 20
OK, you have worked on your family tree and have the pedigree chart in good shape with numerous names, dates and locations. The next step is to zero in on just one ancestor. That person could be a grandmother, a great uncle, your father or a great-great-great grandmother; any one relative who intrigues you the most can be selected. Start by ke...
Dec 18
With the newer technology it has become so simple and convenience to view on your home computer or on a mobile device short videos. The FamilySearch site (connected with the Family History Centers --- Latter-Day Saints Church of Salt Lake City) have now begun producing some interesting instructional short videos which are viewed through the YouTu...
Dec 16
To embrace your family’s ethnic background try to incorporate a few traditional ethnic Christmas customs. Here are some additional customs. For the ‘land down under’ - Australia, Christmas comes in the middle of their summer weather. Having family picnics is a popular method to celebrate Christmas. A favorite decoration is the native red-f...
Dec 15
You have learned some of your family’s ethnic and cultural background, why not add a touch of your family’s ethnic traditional customs in celebrating Christmas with the family this year? Traditional customs can vary tremulously and have also been modified over the decades. This is where you can enhance this Christmas season with some specia...
Dec 14
By the early 1900s there was a sharp decline in diphtheria and influenza. With use of vaccination, smallpox was much less a threat. Areas were being cleaned up. The medicine sciences were learning the causes and treatments for some diseases. Yet, there would still be some major pandemics. In Hawaii and then San Francisco the citizens suffered a...
Dec 12
When an epidemic of an infectious disease kills thousands of humans across vast regions it is referred to as a ‘pandemic’. It is far less common in the world in the 21st century, however throughout history in every location in the world our ancestors could find themselves in the midst of a pandemic. By understanding some of these regional and...
Dec 10
You have spent months or maybe even years researching and gathering anything and everything you can on your family ancestors. Most of the photos you have gathered are labeled; the documents are sorted and placed in organized files for easy reference. You have managed to keep an accurate and up-to-date pedigree chart with names and information on ...
Dec 8
Here are some suggested ideas to blend family history with some holiday gifts and cards: Rather than placing a written name tag on gifts instead us an old photo of that person, especially as a child to identify who is getting the gift. It might just keep everyone guessing. Place on cardstock and print the images out. It s...