Preservation

Tony from the Schaumburg Library shared this on his blog, Preservation from the National Archives, covers all materials.

http://www.archives.gov/preservation/

More ITALIAN genealogy

POINTers in Person-Pursuing Our Italian Names Together

The PiP1-POINTers group is meeting on Saturday, 2013-Feb-2, 10:30am, at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 South Roselle Road, Schaumburg, IL 60193

Naperville Family History Center 2013 Classes

FHC in Napervile is offering classes on Wednesday afternoons, repeated on Thursday evenings.

Classes For 2013 - Naperville Family History Center

sites.google.com

Need a nudge to get started writing your family history?

Take the challenge with The Armchair Genealogist for 28 days of motivation.

The Family History Writing Challenge

familyhistorywritingchallenge.blogspot.com

Casa Italia Creates Genealogy Department

Casa Italia Creates Genealogy Department

January 4, 2013

casaitaliaheritage Education, Genealogy Branching Out, Casa Italia Chicago,Chicago Italians, Dominic Candeloro, family history, Genealogy, Generations, homeschool,italian ancestry, Italian culture, Italian language, Jennifer Holik 2 Comments

Chicago, Illinois – January 4, 2013: Jennifer Holik of Generations collaborates with staff at Casa Italia Chicago to create a new genealogy department. The mission of the Genealogy Department is to collect, catalogue and preserve vital records, documents, published materials, artifacts, and stories pertaining to the family history of Italian Americans in Chicago.

This department’s dedicated and energetic team works in conjunction with the Roselli Library goal of building the most comprehensive archive of Chicago Italian Americana in the Midwest. Scholars, students, authors, and family historians can utilize these materials to research a number of fields including sociology, religious studies, demography, and immigration. Currently, our resources include archives, newspaper articles, religious histories, oral history transcripts, ancestral town information, videos of past genealogy programs, Fra Noi articles and newspapers, the Communes of Italy publications, and many other genealogical references.

 The department will present programs throughout the year for adults and children. A monthly genealogy group will form offering research assistance and programs presented by local genealogical speakers.

Casa Italia Chicago is a non-profit organization in Stone Park, Illinois, where people meet to pursue common goals, preserve our past, celebrate our heritage and ensure passage of values to future generations. Casa Italia offers a children’s summer camp, Italian language classes, and cultural programs throughout the year.

 For more information, follow us on FaceBook, Twitter, our blog, or contact Genealogy Department Manager, Jennifer Holik.

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.