Who Do You Think You Are? U.S. 2011 edition begins February 4th

Paula Stuart-Warren  Who Do You Think You Are?  Leave a comment
 December 16, 2010
NBC ANNOUNCES THE CELEBRITIES TRACING THEIR FAMILY TREES ON SEASON TWO OF ‘WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?’ PREMIERING FEBRUARY 4
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

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – December 16, 2010 – Viewers can take an up-close and personal look inside the family history of some of today’s most beloved and iconic celebrities when NBC’s “Who Do You Think You Are?” returns for its second season on Friday, February 4 (8-9 p.m. ET).  The celebrities who star in the series are Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Rosie O’Donnell, Steve Buscemi, Kim Cattrall, Lionel Richie, Vanessa Williams and Ashley Judd.
From executive producers Lisa Kudrow (“Friends,” “The Comeback”) and Dan Bucatinsky (“Lipstick Jungle,” “The Comeback”) – through their production company Is or Isn’t Entertainment and Shed Media U.S. (“Supernanny,” “The Real Housewives of New York City”) — “Who Do You Think You Are?” is an adaptation of the award-winning hit British television documentary series that leads celebrities on a journey of self-discovery as they unearth their family trees that reveal surprising, inspiring and even tragic stories that often are linked to crucial events in American history.

“I’ve been a fan of the U.K. version of ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ for a long time, so it’s very rewarding that the U.S. version is back with more compelling stories this season that are illuminating, touching and aspirational,” said Kudrow.  “This is such a unique show for network television and we’re all thrilled that the American audience has embraced it.”

From the trenches of the Civil War to the shores of the Caribbean, and from the valleys of Virginia to the island nations of Australia and Ireland, “Who Do You Think You Are?” will reveal the fabric of humanity through everyone’s place in history.  Each week a different celebrity takes a journey into their family’s past, traveling all over the world.  While giving viewers an in-depth look into their favorite stars’ family tree, each episode will expose surprising facts and life changing encounters that will unlock people’s emotions, show just how connected everyone is not only to the past, but to one another.

Ancestry.com is NBC and Shed’s official partner on the series and will help provide the research used to tell each story.  “We’re thrilled with this year’s strong lineup and look forward to helping Americans go on their own journey of discovery alongside the stars,” said Josh Hanna, Head of Global Marketing for Ancestry.com.

“Who Do You Think You Are?” is produced by Shed Media U.S. in association with Is or Isn’t Entertainment.  Alex Graham, Lisa Kudrow, Dan Bucatinsky, Jennifer O’Connell and Al Edgington are the executive producers. The unique, award-winning series is based on the popular BBC television documentary series from Wall to Wall Productions, created and executive-produced by Graham.

Shed Media U.S. is noted for its strong characters and memorable casting, and produces several popular television shows including: ABC’s “Supernanny,” Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York City” and “Bethenny Getting Married?,” Animal Planet’s “It’s Me or the Dog,” VH1’s “Basketball Wives” and CMT’s “World’s Strictest Parents.”  Is or Isn’t Entertainment has been developing and producing television and online content since 2003, producing the critically acclaimed and Emmy nominated series “The Comeback” currently making its own comeback on The Sundance Channel.  The company’s critically acclaimed web-series “Web Therapy,” won the 2010 Webby Award for Best Online Comedy — and recently had the unprecedented addition of Meryl Streep to its illustrious cast list.  Showtime is in talks to license 10 half-hour episodes comprised of actual webisodes, to air in early 2011.

Ancestry.com Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOM) is the world’s largest online family history resource, with nearly 1.4 million paying subscribers.  More than 6 billion records have been added to the site in the past 14 years.  Ancestry users have created more than 20 million family trees containing over 2 billion profiles.  Ancestry.com has local Web sites directed at nine countries that help people discover, preserve and share their family history, including its flagship Web site at www.ancestry.com.

Give your genealogical society a Christmas gift

Paula Stuart-Warren  Christmas  Leave a comment

Do any of you have your genealogical society (or maybe more than one) on your Christmas gift list or for end of the year donations?

Does your society have a wish list of books, CDs, databases, or equipment? Add something from that list to your last minute shopping. Have you noticed that no one has been helping with refreshments at the meeting?. Offer to do that for a year. Maybe you could offer to help staff a “Q & A” table at meetings or teach a class.

Has there been a drop in the number of members? Offer to send emails to those with lapsed memberships. Maybe you could offer your technology skills to update the computer that is causing problems or assist with the upkeep of the website.

Might your society benefit from some sort of fundraiser? How about chairing a silent auction in 2011. This means soliciting items for the auction and overseeing things on the day it is held.

You could combine a gift to your society with a New Year’s resolution to get some of your family research into print. Offer to write an article next year for a society publication and use your own research as the topic. It’s a bit of a selfish gift but so worthwhile.

Is your time quite limited due to family, work, and church or school obligations? Any society would appreciate a gift of a check. Whether it is for $25.00, $50.00 or more, it will be put to good use.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Family Celebrations

Paula Stuart-Warren  Christmas  Leave a comment

I was just thinking about how our family Christmas celebrations have changed over the years. As parts of the family added children, older family members died, and spouses were added the who, when, and where varied.

Until I had been married a few years Christmas Eve was always celebrated with my Dad’s side of the family. This meant Grandma and Grandpa Stuart, Aunt Dorothy’s family, and Aunt Jean’s family. Christmas Day was celebrated with Mom’s side of the family. When I was very young that included my Grandma and Grandpa Hanley, Aunt Jeanie, Grandaunt Catherine, and even my great grandmother we called Nana. In the late 1950s
my Mom’s sister Jeanie’s family would join us. That is the day that changed most dramatically as many of the elderly relatives died. Jeanie’s family grew and they didn’t venture out to join us.

My Grandma Gert Hanley lived until 1999 and until the last couple years of her life she always joined us on Christmas Day. She loved Christmas. We spent many of those Christmas’ at my sister’s home. They built it so that Grandma’s wheelchair could get into the house.

When my older two children were very young we still spent Christmas Eve with my Dad’s two sisters and their families. Christmas Day was spent at both my parents home and with my husband’s family. As our family grew and the kids found it a bit trying to leave their own presents and celebrating too early in the day we split Christmas between the families. Then we would celebrate Christmas Eve with my husband’s family and Christmas Day with my family. For many years they came to our home. This included my in-laws, my mother-in-law’s sister and brother, my husbands’ sister and brother and their growing families.

This is the second Christmas without either of my parents. I still find it difficult to celebrate without them. This year my older two children and their families will celebrate with me on Christmas Eve. My daughter and her family will stay overnight and I get to see the excitement of those three children on Christmas morning.

I always wanted to have Christmas at my own home for my parents, siblings, and their families. However, the many steps into my home prevented this due to the many years my grandmother and mother were in wheelchairs. That house was big enough for a real party. Now I am in a much smaller place but my daughter has convinced me that I do have room to have my family over for brunch on December 26th. I am looking forward to that.

I am guessing that Christmas celebrations have changed for your families over the years, too. It’s part of the normal changes in the life of any family. Whatever you do for your Christmas celebration, even if it isn’t on the exact day, be sure to hug those family members and let them know you love them. This works well by phone, too. for those who don’t live near you.

40 Best Genealogy Blogs nominee!

Paula Stuart-Warren  Blogs  3 Comments

In the July 2011 Family Tree Magazine, they will name the “40 Best Genealogy Blogs—the Family Tree 40.” I am honored to be among the nominees. Now I need your vote and please do vote for your other favorites, too!I like this way of letting other genealogists know about the many bloggers who share knowledge, experience, and tips with other researchers.

To vote, use the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ft40-2011voting.

The nominees are divided into eight categories. In each category, please choose five blogs (you’ll get an error message if you choose too many). Thomas MacEntee has prepared the full list on another blog and he added the author/editor of each blog. Click here for that list.

Voting is open until 11:59 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20. You may vote multiple times.(That’s Family Tree Magazine’s phrase — not mine, but of course I think it is a great idea.)

Research in original records

Paula Stuart-Warren  Repositories, Research  1 Comment

Yesterday when I was at the Minnesota Historical Society I noticed something that made me smile. I saw more than a dozen people sitting at tables researching in original records. Most of them stayed at it for many hours, going through file folders of records or multiple volumes of records. Others arrived later in the day to stay through the evening hours. I have no way of knowing exactly what they were working on, but it was exciting to see so many boxes of original records being used.

So often today, researchers including genealogists, historians, editors, writers, and others turn to online resources. I do that too. But the gems in those millions of files and record volumes at historical societies, archives, courthouses, and libraries are also waiting for us. I have no official statistics, but I would venture a guess that only a smidgen of those items have been microfilmed and/or digitized.

Even better is that this is a great time of year to do this type of research. Others are busy being in the holiday mood and that opens up lots of space and staff assistance time for dedicated researchers. Keep this in mind for 2011. From Thanksgiving week through New Year’s Day is a great time to research. Many of these places have an online presence that includes a catalog, other finding aids, and some other clues to the records they hold.

Update from FamilySearch

Paula Stuart-Warren  FamilySearch  1 Comment

Some neat images and additional indexing is being reported.

FamilySearch Wraps Up Genealogical Gifts for the Holiday Season

Nearly 4 million images added from 7 countries
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.See the chart below for
the complete list of newly added or updated collections.

Project Digital Images Indexed Records Comments
Brazil, Catholic Church Records 100,110 0 New images added to existing collection
Canada, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1900 85 79,936 New records linked to images; most images already published
Germany, Hessen, Darmstadt City Records, 1627-1939 55,528 0 New images
Guatemala, Civil Registration, 1877-1934 0 22,448 New records added to existing collection
Netherlands, Civil Registration, 1792-1952 1,505,610 0 Images added to existing collection
Netherlands, Zuid-Holland Province Civil Registration 6,349 0 New images
South Africa, Orange Free State, estate files, 1951-1973 79,466 15,879 New records linked to images; multiple images per record
U.S., Maryland, Register of Wills Books, 1792-1983 62,763 0 New images
U.S., Minnesota Territorial Census, 1857 342 156,888 New records linked to images; most images already published
U.S., North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 39,836 45,204 New records linked to images; partial collection, with more images to come
U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 2,040,944 1,371,394 New records linked to images; includes the states of Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Advent Calendar: Visit the historical society for Christmas gifts

Paula Stuart-Warren  Christmas, Historical Societies  Leave a comment

Your Christmas gift to a relative or friend could be historical in nature. Do you remember the last time you visited the county or state historical society’s gift shop? I love to browse in these. It might be the perfect place to purchase some of your Christmas gifts as I have done.

Many of these shops give discounts to members of the historical society. Maps, calendars, notecards, photographs, artwork, sculptures, jewelry, glassware, clocks, music, quilts, samplers, cookbooks, and foods made in the area. 

Much of these will have historical connections, some will be created or written by local artists and authors. Books on the history of baseball, county and state fairs, historic homes, inventions, and famous individuals born in the state are big sellers. A book or pamphlet might tell the story of a specific ethnic group or religion in the state. Key chains, ornaments, and knick-knacks that portray something related to the history of the county or the state make good stocking stuffers

For children, it might be a coloring book, paper dolls, or an activity book that is history related. Many of these gift shops have reproductions of old fashioned toys and dolls.

FamilySearch.org closer to changing

Paula Stuart-Warren  FamilySearch  Leave a comment

Over at the Ancestry Insider, the AI reports that the time is drawing close. That is, “FamilySearch is readying to replace www.familysearch.org with beta.familysearch.org possibly before the end of the year. “[The] FamilySearch website will change to a new version by [the] end of 2010,” says a December newsletter sent to Salt Lake area family history consultants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

To read the AI’s full comments click here. You might also want to read through some of the past posts there to learn more about the changes, procedures, and for tips that will help you use the new site.

I have mixed feelings about this change — but then again, we all get used to the status quo and may be just a bit reluctant to have things change. As with all other things, it will take time to get used to the new version. I do love all the records images and indexes on the beta site.

One week till the NEW U.S. National Archives website debut

Paula Stuart-Warren  National Archives  Leave a comment

Just received this press release from the National Archives. Note that you can click on the link to get a preview. I think that the overall look is less cluttered. I can’t wait to work on the full website next week!                                     
December 6, 2010
National Archives Web Site Gets New Look
Archives.gov Site Transformation to go live on December 13, 2010
Washington, DC… The National Archives and Records Administration will launch a redesigned Archives.gov web site on December 13, 2010, as part of its flagship Open Government Initiative.   
An interactive preview of the redesigned Archives.gov is online at:   archives.gov/open/redesign/preview/
“It’s essential for the National Archives to have a user-friendly online presence,” said Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero, (the first Archivist to blog, tweet, and launch a Facebook page). “We hope to reach new audiences while still engaging our long-time users, researchers and visitors.  This redesign – part of the National Archives flagship Open Government Initiative – reflects the ongoing effort to engage the public and make records of the National Archives easier to find and use.”
The new Archives.gov web site will feature:
  • A brand new home page voted by the public in July 2010;
  • A new interactive “Our Locations” map of NARA’s facilities nationwide;
  • Historical documents and streamlined access to military service records (81 percent of Archives.gov visitors are looking for this information);
  • Single topically organized sections focused on the needs of both casual browsers and professional researchers; and
  • Easy links to National Archives’ social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and both the Archivist’s AOTUS blog and other National Archives blogs.
The public and National Archives staff participated in the redesign process. A multi-faceted participatory approach, including online card sorts, voting on home page designs, and usability testing was used to gather input to create content organization on Archives.gov.
The interactive preview explains what has and has not changed and gives you the opportunity to walk through the redesign.  A web site is never done and this is the first step in a number of ongoing changes.  We look forward to your input.  Please contact us at [email protected].
For more information on the Archives.gov web site redesign, see http://www.archives.gov/open/redesign/
For more information on Open Government at the National Archives, see: http://www.archives.gov/open
To submit suggestions and feedback to the National Archives Web Staff, e-mail [email protected]

Registration is open for the 2011 NGS Conference

Paula Stuart-Warren  Conferences, National Genealogical Society  Leave a comment

Registration for the 2011 National Genealogical Society Family History Conference opened yesterday. It will be held in the Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston, South Carolina, 11–14 May. The convention center is conveniently located near the Charleston International Airport (CHS) and is surrounded by a number of hotels with restaurants and outlet stores nearby. Historic Charleston is twenty minutes away via taxi or shuttle service.

Click here for more details and to see the full program.