What Apps are You Using for Genealogy?

There are plenty of genealogy related apps to choose from. Some are quite popular, while others may have names that you are unfamiliar with. There are apps that were not designed specifically for genealogy, but are useful to genealogists anyway. What apps are you using for genealogy? The smartphone has become an incredibly helpful tool for genealogists. It allows you to do some genealogy research on the go and easily keep track of what you learned. Whether you are searching through records in a courthouse, or taking photos of the gravestones in a cemetery, your smartphone is right there, helping … Continue reading

Wisconsin Genealogy Resources

The state of Wisconsin is known as “The Badger State”. This is probably why part of their Medicaid program is called BadgerCare. Are you looking for more information about your ancestors who once lived in Wisconsin? There are many Wisconsin genealogy resources that can help you. Start with one that is in this blog! Interment.net has cemetery records online. Start by putting the first and last name of your ancestor into the search engine at the top of their page. Or, you can start by choosing a Wisconsin county. If there is a link, it indicates that Interment.net has information … Continue reading

Vermont Genealogy Resources

The nickname for the state of Vermont is “The Green Mountain State”. This explains why the state’s Medicaid program is called Green Mountain Care! Are you looking for information about your ancestors who once lived in Vermont? If so, then take a minute to explore the following Vermont genealogy resources. They are helpful, and many are free to use. Ancestry.com has a page that is filled with links to all of their collections of Vermont records. In order to access the majority of these records, you will need to have an Ancestry.com membership. Sometimes, a collection may be offered for … Continue reading

Mormons and Genealogy

One question that many new genealogists have, after seeing that many great genealogy resources are connected with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is why genealogy is so important to Mormons. For Mormons, family life is important, eternal, in fact, and it is central to God’s plan. Since family is an eternal structure, baptisms may be conducted for deceased family members. Genealogy research enters the picture when Mormons trace their roots in search of ancestors who died without learning about the Mormon Gospel. It is these ancestors who are then baptized by proxy in the temple, so … Continue reading

Why Your Ancestors Looked So Serious

Take a close look at the oldest family photos that you have. Or, walk into an antique store and browse through some really old photos. Why aren’t these people smiling? There are some really good reasons why they looked so serious in photos. Today, you can take your family to JC Penney, or Sears, or a number of other places, and have a family portrait taken. The photographer is going to encourage your family members to smile. You will probably be instructed to “Say cheese!” It is difficult to say the word “cheese” without smiling. It takes a second (or … Continue reading

Learn About the NSDAR, Genealogy Websites, Sleuthing, and More!

The pursuit of knowledge is an admirable goal. Genealogists might understand that more than most. After all, much of your favorite hobby consists of searching for information, facts, documentation, and family photos. It is easy to see why so many genealogists enjoy attending genealogy classes, workshops, webinars and courses. Here are some that will be happening soon. On November 7, 2012, the Port St. Lucie Community Center, which is located in Port St. Lucie, Florida, will have a genealogy class. It is called “Progressing from a rookie researcher to genealogical sleuth”. The class will begin at 1:00 in the afternoon … Continue reading

Doing Genealogy Wrong Leads to Prison

Making a simple mistake in your genealogy research is understandable, and generally harmless. However, intentionally doing genealogy wrong, in an effort to illegally make money for yourself, can result in a prison sentence. That’s exactly what happened to a women who was filing false tax returns with information she found while doing genealogy research. In April of this year, Shannon Kathlina Grimm, who lives in Montana, decided to do some genealogy research. The problem was, she wasn’t searching for information about her own ancestors. She also wasn’t helping other people fill in their family trees. Instead, Ms. Grimm was looking … Continue reading

Who Do You See In Baby?

When a new baby arrives, it is interesting to see what different family members say about the ways in which the baby seems to resemble others in the family. This weekend, my boys and I spent some time with my in – laws. Blake is now six months old, and his personality is blossoming. Dylan will be three in November, and his personality is very much evident as well. Over the course of the weekend, my mother – in – law was able to make some observations about the boys. She noticed that Blake has a widow’s peak hairline, like … Continue reading

TLC Might Pick Up “Who Do You Think You Are?” Show

“Who Do You Think You Are?” was a very popular genealogy television show, right up until it was cancelled. Genealogists lamented the lost of this unique program that got so many people excited about genealogy. There is a possibility that the show may return on a new network. The show “Who Do You Think You Are?” was once on NBC. Two entire seasons were aired, and the third was in progress, when NBC chose to cancel the show. Technically, NBC chose not to renew the show for a fourth season. I’ve no idea why. The show was sponsored by Ancestry.com, … Continue reading

Write Down Your Family Recipes

Genealogy has become increasingly intertwined with the internet. Now, there are classes you can take to learn how to set up your own genealogy blog. Once you have the blog, you are going to need to fill it with content. Now is a good time to collect up, and post, your family recipes that have been passed down through the generations. Family recipes are special. They are comfort foods that evoke memories of the relative who originally made the dish as well as thoughts of the family events and celebrations that the food was served at. These are the recipes … Continue reading