Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  

Don't Forget!  This Thursday, the 25th of October, is the last meeting of the year...  Be sure to come with your questions to get you through until January when meetings resume : )

Smartphone Apps for Genealogy

Smartphone Apps for Genealogy
February 15, 2012  By James Tanner

One of the hallmarks of technology is its rapid change. The world of apps (or applications, i.e. software) related to genealogy on smartphones is growing at a staggering rate. Just a few months ago, the Android Market had just a few offerings. The number of smartphone apps has increased so quickly that it is now very difficult to review all of them. Genealogists can now pick-and-choose while only a few months ago there were very reduced offerings.

One of the big events of 2012 is the introduction of the 1940 U.S. Census that will be going online on April 2, 2012 on the U.S. National Archives website. With the advent of the census records, FamilySearch has announced a major initiative to index the entire census is record time. At almost the same time as the announcement of the intitiative, FamilySearch announced a free app for mobile devices to do indexing. The Apple iOS FamilySearch Indexing app is available for both iPhone and iPad. The same app is also available for Android devices in the Android Market.  

The apps are described, in part, as follows:
This mobile app is expected to complement the FamilySearch indexing program, which has been operating since 2006. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers from around the world have contributed their time to index genealogical records using the FamilySearch indexing desktop software. Today there are more than 2.5 billion freely searchable names in the familysearch.org database, thanks largely to their efforts. Your mobile contribution to this effort, however large or small, is greatly appreciated. To ensure quality and accuracy, the system compares your work with answers from other volunteers until a “consensus” is reached.

The recent RootsTech 2012 Conference had its own app for both iPhone/iPod/iPad and Android. There is a TechTips article about the new app.

Some of the major genealogy database programs have had apps for some time or are now just adding them. These apps usually allow you to enter information both on your computer and on your smartphone and the synchronize the information between the devices. Here is a list of the apps I have found lately. Unless otherwise noted, the apps are available for both Apple iOS and Android phone users. Some of the apps are free, others have a charge. Although the apps may be free, the main application, such as Ancestry.com may have a charge.

Legacy Family Tree’s Families app for smartphones $
Ancestry.com Family Trees app for smartphones
MyHeritage.com app for smartphones
Reunion app for iPhone (Mac only)
Mobile Family Tree Pro (iPhone/iPod/iPad)
Family Tree app for Android in English and Chinese  (there is a app by the same name but not the same name for iPhone/iPod/iPad)

Some of these apps have very special audiences. The Family Tree app for example, is primarily in Chinese and according to the reviews, the English implementation is not complete.

There are currently 81 genealogy apps in the iTunes store for Apple iPhones. The Android Market has also increased its offerings with 241 apps available. 

Some of the stand-alone apps include:
GedStar Pro (Android)
Family Bee (Android)
GeneDroid (Android)
GedView (iPhone)
Mobile Tree (iPhone)

Basic Software Tools for Genealogists

Basic Software Tools for Genealogists
February 22, 2012  By James Tanner

Unless you have an unlimited budget, you need to prioritize your hardware and software purchases for genealogy. This post is intended to assist you in making informed decisions about where to allocate your software dollars to have the most useful computer system. Having the right software to assist you with your genealogical research is like having the right tools for any job. Without the right tools, you might spend needless time and even more expense than is necessary to acquire, organize, document and ultimately display your research findings.

Once you have a computer system, your first priority is to have a connection to the Internet. Many of the online resources on the Internet consist of digitized images of documents and books. To adequately view these images, you will need a fast Internet connection. The slowest connection is dial-up that uses regular telephone lines. You will find trying to do research with a dial-up connection to be very slow and frustrating. The faster Internet connections are termed “broadband.” This can be either through a local service provider, such as a cable TV system, or through a wireless provider. There is a monthly charge for the connection. All newer computers also come with a wireless connection capability called “wifi.” If you cannot afford Internet service you should investigate if there is a free WiFi connection near to where you live, computer access in your local library, or other type of access to the Internet. For more information see Wikipedia:Internet access.

The program you have on your computer to access the Internet is called a browser. There are several browsers available, all of which are a free download. When you purchase a computer in today’s market, it will almost always come with a browser already loaded on the hard drive. The most popular browsers in no particular order are as follows:

Internet Explorer (usually supplied with Windows Operating Systems)
Mozilla Firefox (a free download)
Goggle Chrome (a free download)
Safari (usually supplied with Apple OS X operating systems)
Opera (a free download)

The type of software your computer uses depends on the type of processor and the operating system. Although there are many different computer chips, there are only two basic operating systems, those sold with Apple computers known as OS X and those that have a Microsoft Windows operating system. All computer systems change over time as newer and faster processors are developed. It is important to determine the latest versions of the operating systems and make sure you have a version of the operating system that will operate with your computer and that will also work with the programs you choose to purchase. Present-day computer systems do so much more than they did even a few years ago, so it is important to stay up-to-date.

There are probably millions of software programs, if you include all the computer games in the world, but as genealogists there are not unlimited choices. But even before you investigate a genealogy program, you should consider a basic word processing/spreadsheet combination program. Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel are the two most popular programs for both Apple and Windows computers. There are some free downloadable alternatives, but my personal experience has not been overly positive with these free programs. Apple also has word processing and spreadsheet program called iWork. You can also buy a bundle Microsoft programs that includes Word and Excel called Microsoft Office.

Once you have a basic computer setup, you can start to think about storing your genealogical information on your computer. Essentially, you have multiple choices, either store your information online or on your local computer’s hard drive, or both. The consensus among most genealogists is that a local computer-based genealogy program should be you first priority. Online programs can be used to backup your data or to share with others, but should not be a substitute for have your own data locally on your own computer. This may change over time and it is possible that genealogists in the near future may think having your data on a local machine to be hopelessly outmoded. But right now, local storage of your genealogical data is the best practice with backups both online and on separate external hard disks.

You can download an adequate genealogy program for free from the Internet, but in most cases you get what you pay for. The venerable old Personal Ancestral File program is free for Windows computers. If you need support, and want a program used by most of the genealogists, there are several commercial programs that work very well. A list of some of the most popular programs follows (in no particular order):

RootsMagic (PC)
Family Tree Maker (PC and Mac)
Legacy Family Tree (PC)
Ancestral Quest (PC)
The Master Genealogist (PC)
Reunion (Mac)
MacFamilyTree (Mac)

Some of these commercial programs have free downloadable versions of their programs also.
Once you have a genealogy program, you are ready to go to work either transferring your data from one of your relatives or entering it yourself.

From here the choices of programs and add-ons are almost infinite. You might consider a program to store and catalog photos. There are programs that will assist you in searching for genealogical information. There are programs print or display your data on wall charts or other large scale prints. At this point you might want to do some exploration online or attend a genealogy conference. The best way to get a feel for what is out there is to talk to other genealogists. There may be a genealogy club or other organization near you. You can also visit one of the many FamilySearch Centers around the world and talk to some experienced genealogists.

Any recommendation, evaluation, opinion, or endorsement of a specific product, brand, work, practice, or entity in this post, or the comments following, reflects the sole opinion of the author and not those of FamilySearch, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or their affiliates.

About James Tanner
I have more than thirty years' experience in law, computers, and over twenty years experience as a research genealogist. I presently serve as a volunteer at the Mesa Regional Family History Center in Mesa, Arizona, where I alternate between helping patrons and teaching classes. I am most interested in the technological aspects of genealogical research because of my strong technology background.

Free Mobile Applications For Genealogists

by Heather Kramer | May 1, 2012

Heather Kramer, MLIS, CA, is a librarian and certified archivist who has been researching and writing about her family’s history since she was a youngster.

Favorite Genealogy Quote

“Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Handheld devices such as smart phones and tablets have made mobile applications (apps) popular tools to use for personal activities. There are many different types of mobile apps that cover a variety of subjects and topics. With apps individuals can sort music, watch video, listen to podcasts, read a book, record notes, play games, shopping, banking, and a variety of other interests. Mobile apps are added to app stores daily and the availability of genealogy apps has expanded significantly in the past year. However, each company that produces handheld devices can create or maintain specific standards for mobile apps. An individual that has an iPhone or iPad will have access to different apps that an individual with an Android, Samsung, or other device. The wonderful thing about using mobile apps is that the companies that create them constantly update services, so while one mobile app is only available for a particular handheld device today it may be available on a different one tomorrow.

Genealogy On The Go

Although genealogists have just begun to explore the possibilities of mobile apps for family history, with more and more individuals using such devices the likelihood of additional functions and compatibility is increasing. This makes sense given that genealogy is such a mobile pursuit with genealogists visiting libraries, archives, cemeteries, society meetings, and other such places. Bulky items such as binders and folders require constant lifting and physical storage space. It can be arduous to document lineages when on the go because it can be difficult to remain organized and focused when carrying and sorting through papers or files. To aid genealogists, there are a number of free mobile apps that can be used for family history organization and documentation while on the go.

Google

Google is one of the genealogist's best tools on the internet. Whether using Google as a search engine, Google Maps, Google Earth, or Google Books, the Google app is a gateway for access to articles, coordinates, books, and images. Google Books is an important search tool! When searching using specified names, dates, or locations, the genealogist is provided with free information from historical and legal sources.

Google Maps and Google Earth are especially helpful in geotagging points of hard to find places, such as a tombstone or homestead, for future reference. Documenting locations with dates, names, photos, and other information can also be helpful.

Geotagging is an important concept for using mobile applications and is a form of additional documentation. Longitude and latitude coordinates are used as points of reference and citation for places and objects. This is a bonus for genealogists as the location of cemeteries, unmarked graves, homesteads, camp sites, migration patterns, and ghost towns can be tagged and shared with others through social media sites. For a return visit, let Google Maps provide directions for you!

Facebook

Facebook is the number one social networking site on the internet and presents opportunities for genealogists to connect with other researchers, family members, societies, and the next generation of genealogists. Using the app also gives the genealogist a unique way to communicate on projects, seminars, and links for up to date research tips. Joining genealogy societies and group pages will also keep the researcher in touch with those of similar interests. The site can also be used as an ad hoc bookmarking site as it allows adding links to articles, websites, and photographs to read or browse for later. Many websites also have a share feature which will allow for linking the site to a profile homepage.

Surname groups are also a popular method of sharing family stories or lineages. While many surname groups have already been created if there is not one for the particular surname being researched, consider starting one. Surname groups can be great places of collaborative research. In addition, researchers can also let others know about where they are in their research, if they have hit a brick wall, or if they have found something of great interest.

Billion Graves

Using the built in camera on a handheld device, Billion Graves allows for capturing images of tombstones and cemeteries, attaching GPS coordinates, and uploading the images to the website instantly. Maps available with the mobile app record the exact location of the cemetery or specific tombstone for easy location.

The mobile app also provides information about the nearest identified cemeteries to your current location and if there are any images available for that cemetery. Another great reason to use Billion Graves is to resource share transcription of tombstones with other users.

Tombstones often record vital pieces of information about the individual(s) buried there, such as birth and death information. However, locating an ancestor's final resting place may also yield other clues. Many ancestors preferred to be buried near family. Locating a family plot could provide additional names to research. Being able to record the exact tombstone location through Billion Graves will preserve the context of the burial spots for other researchers.

Evernote

Evernote is a creative space for text, images, and audio notes. Whether storing notes about family lineages or using a smart phone's or tablet's built in camera to upload images of books or objects, the Evernote mobile app allows for building a library of documentation. Users of the mobile app have the ability to create multiple notebooks for different families to organize and sort information. Notes can be tagged using multiple terms to help researchers retrieve information later on. To add more notes, images, or audio to a specific notebook, there is a click and drag feature available.

There is also a built in sync system from the mobile app to the home computer to allow easy recovery on a personal desktop. There are also sharing features which are important when sending information to other researchers. Information can be shared through social network sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. The mobile app also has the ability to convert notes into .pdf to send them to others via email.

The Shoebox mobile app through 1000Memories allows for capturing family history photos, albums, and scrapbooks using a handheld device. The images are then uploaded to the 1000Memories website for adding notes, stories, captions, dates, and places. Images are stored on the site for free and may be stored publicly in the Internet Archive.

Those attending reunions or family functions will find the mobile app a handy tool in capturing images. Families can compile photographs and documents brought by attendees into family history albums and tag individual family members to view the photos on the website. The image may also be shared using Facebookor Twitter.

Obituary

Browsing the Obituary mobile app will provide information from thousands of newspapers across the United States, Canada, and England. The website for Obituary may also be visited for a list of newspapers included and updates for the mobile app. The listings are for current obituaries only. Obituaries have great genealogical information about the deceased such as birth, death, parents, accomplishments, and survivors. This could help locate cousins or distant relatives for additional research questions or materials. Images may also be included in the obituary.

Once an obituary is located it can be shared via social media or email for future use.

Book Crawler Lite

Book Crawler Lite is a free mobile app that allows for the building of a personal library. Many researchers collect books and papers for their own personal use at home. Using the mobile app, researchers can stay organized and on top of books they have already searched through or list books at home.

The mobile app provides three different ways to create a book in the library: manually enter information, import information from Google Books, or scan the ISBN number on the back of book using the built in camera. However data is entered into the mobile app, there are different fields that can be customized for information of each individual book through tagging and comments.

For those that use a library regularly, this is also a good method to save information about books needed through inter-library loan. Using the mobile app to scan ISBN numbers on a library visit, can also assist in saving citation data for later use.

Are you a Droid owner? A similar app is available called Book Catalogue that also allows for manual entry, ISBN scan, or importing information from Google Books, Amazon, and LibraryThing.

Accessing Apps

Mobile app stores are standard on handheld devices. Visiting a mobile app store through the different companies and smart phone providers will allow researchers to search for genealogy apps by using the specific titles or search terms.

More mobile apps are being added to mobile app stores each day. A year ago there were only a few mobile applications for genealogists and family historians to use. The numbers have increased significantly since then and today there are over one hundred given the mobile device provider. Using mobile apps for family history is a growing phenomenon and will be an important method of searching, organizing, and documenting genealogy research in the future.

How do you know which Image Type to choose?

June 11, 2012 

Are you one of the many who are confused on when to mark an image as “Blank” and when to use “No Extractable Data”? Are you unsure when to mark an image unreadable? How do you know it’s really a duplicate? Let us help clear up the confusion.

What’s the difference?

A “Normal” image is readable and contains the appropriate information. For example, if you download a batch of death records, and the image is a Certificate of Death and is readable, you would mark the image type as Normal.

A “Blank Image” could be a completely blank form or could possibly contain header data, such as page and sheet numbers, letters, or location information. However, if there are no records listed on the document, this type of image should be marked as a Blank image. Be sure to scan the entire image before marking the image as Blank Image.

This is an example of a blank image from a census project.

A “Duplicate Image” is an exact duplicate of another image in the same batch. This happens if the image was filmed twice. Index the image that is easiest to read, and mark the other image as aDuplicate Image.

A “No Extractable Data Image” has record information on the image; however, the information does not match the project being indexed. An example would be finding a birth record in the Texas Deaths project. In such a case, this image would be marked as a No Extractable Data Image.

Left Image: If working in Texas Deaths and you see this image, you would mark it as Normal because it is a certificate of death and is readable. Right Image: If working in Texas Deaths and you see this image, you would mark it as a No Extractable Data Image because it is a certificate of birth and does not belong in the Texas Deaths project

The “Unreadable Image” is used if the whole image is too light, too dark, or too damaged for you to index any of the required information. However, if some of the image is readable, such as a torn page, mark the image type as Normal, index what you can see, and mark the missing required fields as Blank.

This is an example of an Unreadable Image. There is information written, but it is too faded to transcribe.

Why does it matter?

Indexers need to be aware of how to correctly label the header data. When the A indexer marks an image as Blank and the B Indexer marks it as No Extractable Data, it flags the document to go to arbitration. When both indexers correctly label the header data, it saves the arbitrator from having to review these fields.

Are you worried about mislabeling?

If the image is marked Blank or No Extractable Data by both indexers, it will be sent back to the Indexing Operations team for a quality check to make sure the image was marked correctly.

What does the question mark mean in my Arbitration Results? 

In the past, the question mark meant that your batch had been returned by the arbitrator for re-indexing. Now the question mark will also appear when you correctly mark an image as Blank or No Extractable Data because there is no information to review.

We want to meet your needs. Let us know what training tip we should cover in the next newsletter. Post a comment below, or e-mail us atfsindexing@familysearch.org.

A mobile app for indexing!

The Mobile App–Unwrapped

In February 2012, FamilySearch International quietly released an early version of a new mobile indexing application (indexing software for popular smartphones and tablet computers). Many volunteers were and are excited about the possibility of doing indexing from their mobile devices and the number of people downloading the app has surpassed expectations. We have received several questions regarding the new app and its future that are addressed here.

Question: How does the mobile indexing app work?

Answer: The indexing app displays image “snippets” from handwritten historical documents such as birth, marriage and death certificates, census forms and naturalization records. Each snippet contains a single name, date, place-name, or other relevant information from these documents. You simply transcribe (index) what you see in the image.

Question: What accuracy or quality model is used with this app?

Answer: To ensure quality and accuracy of the indexing submitted from mobile devices, the system compares your work with answers from other volunteers until a “consensus” is reached (currently 3 out of 4 matching answers at a minimum). This is slightly different than the traditional A key + B key + arbitration model that we use in the standard indexing system.

Question: What platforms are supported?

Answer: The mobile app supports both iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android platforms and is available for free in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

Question: Do I use the same account for the mobile app as I do for the standard indexing system?

Answer: Yes. Remember, this app is in its early stages of development and is not yet fully integrated into the indexing system, which means that your mobile contributions will not appear in your history within the standard FamilySearch indexing software or on administrative reports. We plan to include this integration in future versions. Note: It is not necessary to have the desktop program in order to use this app.

Question: Is the work being done on mobile devices really going to be used?

Answer: Yes. In the current version of the app, you will see a combination of image snippets from collections that have already been indexed as well as from new collections. Reusing previously indexed snippets will help us determine the quality of results in order to make future improvements to the system. All of the work being done by volunteers on the mobile indexing app will eventually be added to increase the searchable database on familysearch.org.

Question: How is my mobile indexing work helping FamilySearch right now?

Answer: In addition to providing real indexing that will eventually be incorporated among the searchable records on FamilySearch.org, your efforts using the mobile app help to give “real world” testing to a product that we expect will be a key pillar in our future indexing program. This is testing that we could never simulate in a laboratory or software development setting.

Question: What is the future for the mobile indexing app?

Answer: FamilySearch will be working to enhance the user experience of the app as well as to add more features. Some of these features include giving administrators access to reports, keeping track of indexer statistics such as records complete and images skipped, as well as a tutorial on indexing with the mobile app.

We’d love your feedback. Send your comments and suggestions on the mobile indexing app to fsindexing@familysearch.org. Your contribution to this effort, however large or small, is greatly appreciated.

Note from Catherine: you may notice that the NAME of the app is not mentioned.  I finally found it in the App Store: "FamilySearch Indexing." It is indeed free, and although I haven't had a chance to use it yet, it should be easy.  You must sign in first, or create an account. Enjoy!

And, of course, you all know about the "Ancestry" app, and "Resting Spot," "My Family Tree"...  There are many listed. I can't tell you which are any good, but I've been able to create my entire family tree on the Ancestry app - what I know - and refer to it, change it, add pictures and stories. And it's free.

A poignant story

You must click this link.

Some people are never forgotten.

Who do you think you are...

I heard on the radio that "Who do you think you are?" is a program that is produced intermittently, and may not be cancelled. If I understood it correctly, it could come back when NBC needs something to fill up time.

We'll see!

I finally got into our blog. Looks great, thanks to those who made it possible. This will be very helpful especially between meetings.  See you at the next meeting.  Mickey

Meeting tonight!

Handouts were given to everyone who checked in, and were very helpful and informative, like all the handouts we receive from Leslie.

Newest genealogiy records on the Internet

DEATH RECORDS: ten documents every genealogist should acquire:
Ten places to look for a death record
Death certificate
Funeral record
Cemetery record
Obituary
Social security record
Probate records
Private death records
Coroner and medical examiner records
Military records
Church records

Using the 1880 DDD Census

Abstracting and transcribing genealogical documents

Getting stumped on Zane's trace

See what you missed?

NBC has cancelled Who Do You Think You Are...

Well it's official....  Who do you think you are is NOT coming back for a fourth season...  NBC has dropped the show.  Shedd Media and Ancestry.com are looking at other options to bring it back on another channel - go here to read more...

 http://blog.familytreemagazine.com/insider/2012/05/14/NBCWontRenewWhoDoYouThinkYouAre.aspx?et_mid=556499&rid=2673976

I wonder if they had any more episodes in the can at the time of the cancellation - as I understand it, there were a lot of celebrities that wanted to be on the show.

So sorry, Les

Library club webpage and questions

Hi!

If you've had the chance to check out the club's website, you'll notice the changes made. It looks great! Thanks, Janet and Vince, for doing that.

Janet, Vince: Is it hard to update that page? I was thinking that new links every month would keep people coming back to look at it. If it were possible to add the links that Leslie gives us every month, and perhaps the ability to upload/download the materials that she passes out, I think that would be a wonderful way to keep anyone who has to miss a meeting up to date with the information. Is it at all possible?

Yeh!  I finally found a way to add to the blog!!   Vince

The Look of the BLOG!

Thanks for the comments - this is a template from the website, and I wasn't sure if it would be "too much."

Looks like the blog is coming along nicely...  Kudos to Catherine for keeping it up!

Les

Translating Documents

Looking for help with translating documents. Try Mango Languages for libraries. The library has a subscription to the service. Go to this link and sign up - http://www.mybpl.org/bpl/node/117?q=node/117#languagecoach.

from Lynne

I have searched for medical records from 1977 and from 1984 to no avail.  The hospitals and doctors told me that after three years they are microfilmed, after 20 years destroyed.  The cause of death is on the death certificate - if it was a tragic death, or accident, often there is information in the newspapers.  My great  grandfather was killed in a horse and buggy accident.  He was hit by a train.  My great grandmother received a nice settlement from the train company, and this made the headlines in the Mt.Vernon newspaper, with all the details. 

Dumb Questions

Dumb questions:  I would like to find my grandmother's death certificate in Kankakee, where she passed away in 1949. Anyone know where I would go? Also, her medical records. How long are those kept?

My grandfather died two months later in Chicago in 1949. Would his medical records be anywhere after all this time?

Peek You to find your friends - from Vince

A smart way to find people online

Whether you want to connect with old friends or just find more information about someone you know, a Google search might not be the best method. PeekYou is a more useful way to find people online. It crawls dozens of sites - including social media and news sites - to gather information for your search. It will even search Wikipedia and fan sites. PeekYou does a great job of cataloging well-known people, too. It finds tons of resources on newsmakers and celebrities and assigns them a "peek score," which tells you how notable they are. Search your friends - or for yourself - by full name or username. You'll be surprised at what you find! Just a note: PeekYou's free search will give you basic information, but will offer you more results for a fee. You don't have to pay for more if you don't want to. Cost: Free Link: www.peekyou.com System: Windows XP, Vista, 7; OS X

Ancestry.ca Offers Free Access to French-Canadian Collection

Please note the following:

April 12, 2012

Ancestry.ca Offers Free Access to French-Canadian Collection

The following announcement was written by Ancestry.ca:

   MONTREAL (April 12, 2012) Ancestry.ca, Canada’s leading family history website, is giving Francophones a reason to stay close to their computers this weekend with unprecedented access to its vast collection of French historical records.

   The collection contains more than 14.5 million historical documents outlining the histories of millions of people in Quebec and France, and will be available free from April 17-22.

   Among the free collections is the Drouin database, the pre-eminent collection of French-Canadian historical records available anywhere in the world.  The records span 346 years from 1621 to 1967 and include 37 million names in baptism, marriage and burial records, plus a compilation of church records from Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and various New England states.

   From the early 1600s, the Catholic parishes of Quebec kept meticulous records of their members’ baptisms, marriages and burials. The Quebec Government soon required the Catholic Church to provide it with copies of all its records and in doing so became the central holder for Quebec’s vital records.

   Also included in this promotion is the Tanguay collection, the premier genealogical dictionary of French-Canadian families. This large, seven-volume collection was published by the French-Canadian priest and genealogist Father Cyprien Tanguay from 1871 to 1890.

   Father Tanguay devoted much of his life to researching archives and parochial records throughout Quebec, the Maritimes, Ontario and old French settlements in the United States and France. Through his original research, he successfully traced ancestors of many early French-Canadian colonists back to Normandy and other parts of France.

   Entries in this collection detail family pedigrees with baptism, marriage and burial dates and places.

   Together the Drouin and Tanguay collections encompass much of the history of French-Canadians. But those interested in their French roots will also be able to discover their ties to France with documents found in France, la Collection de la Haute-Bretagne (1501-1907) which contains 350 years of marine history, and more than 4 million names.

   “French-Canadian historical records are some of the oldest and most comprehensive in the world, painting the lives of people in vivid detail and proving a massive resource for those with French-Canadians roots,” said Roger Dunbar, Managing Director, Ancestry.ca. “We’re thrilled to offer these records to all Canadians with Francophone and French heritage and hope it helps them on their way to discovering more about themselves and their past.”

Also note:

Nancy Jones said...

Please note that the Drouin Collection isn't only French-Canadian Records nor is it only Catholic. All available parish records of the Province of Quebec are included: Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, United Church, English Catholic etc. Also records from English parishes are in English.

It is a misnomer to call it an only French-Canadian collection. Areas of Quebec, esp. Montreal and areas towards the US and Ontario borders were strongly English; and some areas still are. There was also a vibrant English community in Quebec City. We might now be in a minority but we anglophone Quebecers are still here!

*************************************************************************************

I have used both of these collections and they are excellent - please note, however, that there are some errors in the Fr. Tanguay's compilation...  MAKE SURE TO CHECK AND VERIFY ALL FINDS before you commit them to your gen program.

Thanks,

Les

Leslie says...

For all of you who are frustrated with finding ANYONE on the 1940 census...

Here are more detailed explanations for the different sites that are hosting the 1940 census - FREE - Just click on the links or copy and paste:

The National Archives:

http://blog.familytreemagazine.com/insider/2012/04/02/FirstLookFinding1940CensusRecordsOn1940CensusArchivesgov.aspx?et_mid=548024&rid=2673976

Ancestry:

http://blog.familytreemagazine.com/insider/2012/04/03/FindingFamilyInThe1940CensusOnAncestrycom.aspx?et_mid=548024&rid=2673976

FamilySearch - The Mormons:

http://blog.familytreemagazine.com/insider/2012/04/04/UsingThe1940CensusCollectionOnFamilySearch.aspx?et_mid=548024&rid=2673976

MyHeritage:

http://blog.familytreemagazine.com/insider/2012/04/04/Using1940CensusRecordsOnMyHeritage.aspx?et_mid=548024&rid=2673976

Hope this helps!

Les

Leslie adds...

Leslie says:

Diane Hadad from the Genealogy Insider is in rare form today!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Eight Excuses to Tell Your Spouse, Kids, Coworkers and Friends

So You Can Search the 1940 Census in Peace   

Posted by Diane

Start memorizing these excuses now! You'll need them to roll right off your tongue next week when you're forgetting about dinner, ignoring the house and putting off work in order to search the 1940 census:

Your spouse:

"I'm just trying to deal with some schedule problems. Sorry it's taking so long."

“Can it wait? I’m busy doing taxes.”

Your kids:

“I was on the internet ordering you presents just for being so good. Now go do your homework before I change my mind.”

Your coworkers:

“___ , hold my calls. I’m going to be tied up with the Washington account all day.”

Your boss:

"I was just pulling together those names—er, I mean numbers—you requested." (Important: Have a spreadsheet open you can click to if your boss pops up over your shoulder.)

Your friends:

“Can’t make it to choir practice/book club/happy hour on Monday—I’ve got a nasty case of enumeritis.”

“I can’t talk right now. I'm spending time with relatives.”

“Tonight’s not good. I have a date with Steve Morse.”