Mission Statement:
ShoeString Genealogy provides Family Historians with information about how to research their ancestors both on the Internet and in libraries and other repositories. Besides how, we will show you where—locations for information and the relative value of each.
Here you will find useful, free Genealogy Charts and some free Genealogy Forms. And there are free Presentations on Genealogy Topics; Tips and Techniques; new Developments and Resources; and diversions such as Trivia Quizzes and Crossword Puzzles.
ShoeString Genealogy focuses on lowering the costs of research whilst raising the quality of information obtained. Although not all online resources are free, many are. Same for many repositories. We'll show you an abundance of excellent resources that are quite inexpensive, too.
Events:
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Fridae, 03-Jul-09, GENTREK will present "Family Medical Summary." Family health history really isn't about your deceased ancestors — it's about your living family members. Your living relatives can supply you with much health history information. Come learn our twelve-point system for putting it all together. Join us, won't you, at 4 pm EDT, or 9 pm British, in the AOL Genealogy Chatroom—UK.
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Fridae, 03-Jul-09, Paranormal Genealogy. Get spiritual with your ancestors. From 9 to 10 pm EDT, in the Genealogy Lookup Forum.
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Fridae, 03-Jul-09, in The American Civil War History chat room, will present the story of "Harlan Gause" who mustered into the United States Volunteers on Sept 5, 1862 as Captain of Company I, 4th Delaware Volunteers. The authority to raise this Regiment was granted by the Secretary of War to Col. A.H. Grimshaw, who commenced to recruit the Regiment early in 1862. Join us at 10 PM ET in the AOL chatroom, Ancestral Digs.
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Saturdae, 04-Jul-09, Mugs & Hugs. Fancy Jayne and Happy Dae host the ever-popular Saturdae wake-up chat. These are friendly chats, where any topic may come up—sometimes even genealogy. You don't have to remain the entire hour, but there's usually a Genealogy Tip o' the Dae. Each Saturdae, from 9am-10am EDT in AOL chatroom Ancestral Digs.
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Saturdae, 04-Jul-09, GLF-LIN hosts her chat, Notable Kin. Do you have a famous or infamous relative?" There is an associated board Famous Genealogy — you need to register in order to post, but registration is free. You'll find her in the Ancestral Room at 8:00 pm EDT in the GEN Trivia Room.
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Saturdae, 04-Jul-09, GLF-Rita will present Genealogy Trivia. It happens at 9:30 pm EDT in the Ancestral Room.
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Mondae, 06-Jul-09, GENTREK presents "Tick Marks on U.S. Federal Censuses, part 2." In order to properly interpret puzzling situations on census schedules, we must understand the instructions that were given to the enumerators. A partial knowledge is not sufficient. Join us at 9:00 pm EDT in the AOL Genealogy Chatroom.
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Tuesday, 07-Jul-09, GLF-GEORGE holds the New England States chat starting at 8pm EDT. Tonight — "New Hampshire 20th Century Timeline & Research Resources." This chat is held in the StateRoom. George also has resources in Massachusetts, since he resides in its western part. And he has full membership at NEHGS, along with ANCESTRY.COM and GENEALOGY.COM. Take advantage of these New England States chats.
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Wednesdae, 08-Jul-09, Urksacre will host the Genealogy Trivia. Participation is enjoyable and you may learn something, too. From 9:30 pm EDT, in the Genealogy Lookup Forum.
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Thursdae, 09-Jul-09, GENTREK will present "Tick Marks on U.S. Federal Censuses, part 3." In order to properly interpret puzzling situations on census schedules, we must understand the instructions that were given to the enumerators. A partial knowledge is not sufficient. Learn more from 10 to 11 pm EDT, in the Genealogy Lookup Forum — GENTREK Room.
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Thursdae, 09-Jul-09: PATS will continue his new series in "People, Places and Things of the American Civil War." Join PATS, Jayne and Rua, at 11 PM ET. You won't want to miss any of these presentations. We'll see you in the AOL chatroom, Ancestral Digs.
Tip o' the Dae
NAI Opt Out Tool
Advertisers who track online behavior say they will make their practices clearer. They will also offer easy options to opt out. The move only comes as the FTC and Congress scrutinize online behavioral advertising. Now there is a tool for opting out of multiple advertising networks. And there is only one Web site to visit. The Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) is a site focused on privacy concerns. It has the cooperation of over two dozen online advertisers. Find out how to opt out now!
Professional Genealogy Help
Would you like a professional genealogist to help you break down a brick wall, or professional help in researching your ancestors? I've exchanged tweets (on Twitter) with the PETTYs and visited their web site at Heirlines.com. I'd like to recommend them to you for professional research — they even offer a free genealogy consultation.
CIA Now Shares Info with You
The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 266 world entities. Their Reference tab includes: maps of the major world regions, as well as Flags of the World, a Physical Map of the World, a Political Map of the World, and a Standard Time Zones of the World map. Go see what they have at www.CIA.gov.
Two Million Pages from 19th Century Newspapers
The British Library has two million digitised pages from 19th century newspapers online, taking research out of its dusty reading rooms into people's homes. The pay-as-you-go service brings a century of history alive from Jack the Ripper to WG Grace. Visit the British Library and learn more.
Latin Genealogy Dictionary
Genealogy in Time has a dictionary of the most common genealogy terms in Latin. Latin appears everywhere in genealogy including in legal documents, in cemeteries, on buildings and in various religious documents. Take a look at Genealogy in Time and see if this resource will help you.
Unusual Headstones
This web site has compiled an interesting collection of photographs of unusual headstones. Some are rather puzzling and others display a wonderful sense of humour. Check out Unique Graves, Headstones and Tombstones.
100 Tools to Search the Deep Web
If you want to look beyond the most-used search engines this is a fine place to start. You can spend a lot of time exploring the links at this site, and finnd more than a few gems. Heck, I'd probably still be there if I didn't have to, you know, sleep and stuff like that. Well, check it out at the Online College Blog.
About Genealogy Research
Researching your family tree can be a great way to get to know your family that came before you. Who else in your family had black hair, or brown eyes? Where did your knobby knees come from? Genealogy research can be important for people who feel a need to get to know their ancestors better, or for researching family medical history. It can be a fun project to complete with older family members, or older siblings. Take a look at Randy Halverson's Tips at ISnare.com. That's I Snare, not I Snore.
Ireland Civil Registration Indices
On Olivetree Genealogy Blog, the Genealogy Blogger has posted Using Ireland Civil Registration Indices to obtain Vital Stats Certificates a three step process. The more recent article is on top (last in, first out) so you'll want to scroll down to permit reading these in sequence. I subscribe and recommend it to you without reservation.
WolframAlpha
A remarkable new search site was launched this past week. WolframAlpha isn't going to replace Google. In fact, it isn't designed to help you surf the Net. Rather, WolframAlpha is a computational search site -- it is designed to help you find answers.
Say you enter a math problem. WolframAlpha will return the result. Google can do this with simple equations, but try feeding it a complex calculus equation! Solving math problems is only one small feature. WolframAlpha is capable of so many more interesting feats.
The site is interesting to explore. You might try entering dates or names. Ask questions about science or the stock market. I was impressed by how smart this site is!
WolframAlpha is good for finding answers to tricky questions. You'll want to bookmark it. That way, you're prepared when your kids or grandkids ask for help with their trigonometry homework!
Classic Sketch
"The Fourth"
by Juanita Hamel, 1921
Even more eagerly than children count the days which must slip away before the Glorious Fourth arrives, she counts the men she sends away before the fourth appears.
While courtesy compels one to listen — if she isn't adroit enough to forstall a proposal she wishes to escape — one has only to say No until her heart demands she whisper "YES!"
Thought
Mustangs and Old Glory
