15 March 2024

Behind the Scenes with Ancestry Story Producers

Go Behind the Scenes with Ancestry Story Producers Nicka Sewell-Smith and Lisa Elzey on 16 April 2024. Get a sneak peek into how the Story Production team at Ancestry starts with an idea and turns it into a moving and memorable story. Learn the steps to crafts the perfect narrative to share with your own family.

 


 

The Power of AncestryDNA

 

With more than 25 million people in the AncestryDNA network, using DNA is an absolute must for the genealogical researcher. Join Crista Cowan, Ancestry's corporate genealogist, for a review of best DNA research practices and a deeper dive into the innovative new features and tools Ancestry has released over the past year.

 


 

MyHeritage Technologies for Researching Your Family

 

MyHeritage is sponsoring a webinar with Daniel Horowitz, their genealogy expert, at 6:00 p.m. (ET) on 20 March 2024. MyHeritage just announced several technological additions and updates at RootsTech. Horowitz will discuss the new and existing options from MyHeritage that can help you with genealogy research and family history discoveries. Register via Zoom for "MyHeritage Technologies for Researching Your Family" and plan to attend on Wednesday, 20 March.
 
Register for 20 March Zoom with MyHeritage

19 October 2023

The Fourth Quarter NGS Magazine is Now Online!



The October–December 2023 Issue of NGS Magazine is Now Online

The October–December 2023 issue of NGS Magazine, Volume 49, Number 4, is being printed and is now available online in the Members Only section of the website. Delivery of print copies depends upon USPS schedules. This issue’s theme is Sorting Out Identities.


EDITOR'S NOTE by Deb Cyprych


Names are crucial but unreliable markers of identity. When several people had similar names in one area, genealogists risk choosing the wrong person (and the wrong ancestors). Individuals whose names or other identifying characteristics changed can be missed in records, and the trail may seem cold for people with unknown surnames. Sorting out identities correctly is a constant challenge.

Other markers of identity, such as occupation and economic status, can differentiate people more precisely than names alone. Shannon Green discusses three techniques that can help researchers separate same-named people from each other and merge identities that appear to differ.

A case study with a surprising conclusion demonstrates the necessity of determining places and dates as identity characteristics. During a search for the parents of a man with minimal information, Julia Bagwell zeroed in on dates and places to separate him from others with the same name.

Every genealogist has an ancestress whose unknown maiden name blocks research of her birth family. Ann Lawthers describes a variety of records that may reveal a wife’s maiden name and recommends strategies specific to the search.

Sorting out the identities of African Americans with unrecorded, changed, and differing names requires knowledge of other distinguishing characteristics, particularly their kin. Tony Burroughs explores the complex history of African American naming and the resources that may help with identifying enslaved and free ancestors.

Immigrants often changed their names after arrival. Roslyn Torella investigates the typical reasons for changing names, the ways in which many names were changed, and the tools and resources for discovering the original surnames of immigrants.

Wrapping up the topic of sorting out identities, columnist Kathy Petlewski presents two case studies. One shows how changes in the spelling of a surname over time affect research, and the second recounts the evolution of the given names of eight siblings, including two who changed their first names entirely.

In other articles and columns, Robert Raymond explains the powerful set of tools researchers can adapt to improve outcomes, for searching the seven billion indexed historical records on FamilySearch; Cara Jones covers the value of local historical societies in genealogical research; Paul Woodbury provides instructions for DNA analysis, annotations, and citations; and Carla Cegielski outlines word lists, keyboards, and apps that can assist with translating records.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Features

  • People Are More Than Names: Techniques for Differentiating Identities by Shannon Green, CG 
  • Names, Dates, and Places: The Foundations of Genealogical Research by Julia M. Bagwell, CG
  • Finding the Elusive Maiden Name by Ann G. Lawthers, Sc.D 
  • The Challenges of Tracing African American Identities by Tony Burroughs, FUGA
  • Rediscovering an Immigrant’s Original Surname by Roslyn Torella
  • Search Tips and Tricks for FamilySearch by Robert Raymond

Departments

  • PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE by Kathryn M. Doyle
  • EDITOR'S NOTE by Deb Cyprych
  • NEWS
  • REFERENCE DESK
    • Making Sense of Name Inconsistencies by Kathy Petlewski, MSLS
  • SOCIETY FORUM
    • The Importance of Local Historical Societies in Genealogical Research by Cara Jones, CG
  • DNA DISCOVERY
    • DNA Analysis, Annotations, and Citations by Paul Woodbury
  • TECH TIPS
    • Translation Tools by Carla S. Cegielski

NGS Magazine is published quarterly to update members of the National Genealogical Society on NGS activities and to provide genealogists with special information and guidance on conducting effective genealogical research. The magazine is sent to libraries by subscription. Online access to NGS Magazine is available only as long as membership is active.



04 October 2023

Celebrate Family History Month with New Resources from NGS!

 

Celebrate Family History Month
 
Get Tips to Help You Scan, Record, and Write
October is Family History Month—a perfect opportunity to delve into the rich tapestry of your past. NGS is excited to support your genealogy journey as you explore, preserve, and share your family's unique history.
 
Whether you're curious about old photos and hoping to scan them, looking to record family members’ memories, or aiming to write stories that are part of your family's legacy, this is the moment to begin or restart a project. It's easy to put off these tasks, thinking there's always tomorrow. But as we're often reminded, the best time is now.
 
NGS created three resources to inspire you this month with steps to help make projects successful. Download
 
 
Sharing stories within your family cultivates a deeper connection between members in the past and present and the generations to come. (Remember to respect privacy. Discuss plans to ensure everyone is on board when conveying personal anecdotes and information.)
 
So, gather your family, dive into those photo albums or boxes, and collect the stories that weave the fabric of your family history. NGS is here for you every step of the way.
 
And pass this on—download free images on our site you can post on social media with #FamilyHistoryMonth and the link to ngsgenealogy.org/family-history-month.
 
Celebrate this October and invite people to join you!

02 October 2023

It's Official! ConferenceKeeper.org Is Now Part of NGS



As of 1 October 2023, ConferenceKeeper.org is now officially part of the NGS family. ConferenceKeeper is the most complete, entirely free, online calendar of genealogy conferences and events. 

Created in 2012, ConferenceKeeper was the brainchild of Jen Baldwin. In 2015, Baldwin passed it on to Eowyn Langholf Walker and Tami Osmer Mize. Mize has been its sole manager since 2016 and will continue in this role as a consultant for NGS.

ConferenceKeeper will continue to support local genealogical societies, libraries, and genealogy-related businesses by providing a wider audience for their programs. The website will offer its calendar of thousands of genealogical education opportunities as a free resource for everyone interested in furthering their knowledge of family history research. ConferenceKeeper will also continue to accept genealogy-related advertising. NGS member organizations will benefit from a special advertising rate and increased visibility for their events.

"We are thrilled to welcome ConferenceKeeper and its manager extraordinaire Tami Osmer Mize into the NGS family," said President Kathryn M. Doyle.

29 September 2023

NGSQ September 2023 Issue is Now Online


Mary (Cesta) Calabrese (1912–1997), circa. 1921



The September 2023 Issue of the NGSQ is Now Online

The September 2023 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume 111, Number 3, is available online in the members-only section of the website and printed issues are being prepared for mailing. The USPS is still experiencing delays in some areas for the delivery of print copies. We apologize if your print copy is affected.


CONTENTS:

FEATURE ARTICLES
  • The Recordless Marriage of Virginia Jones from Caroline County, Virginia, and Henry Brooks of Covington County, Alabama,” by Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, FASG

  • “Stanislao Cesta and Fortunato Cesta: Merging Identities,” by Eva Holmes, CG, AG

  • “A Family for Samuel Robbins of Sumner, Maine,” by Aaron D. Spohr, CG

  • "Willis Gay: The Testator, the Groom and Their Wives,” by Susan Michael, CG

EDITORS’ CORNER
  • Never Give Up

SIDELIGHTS
  • Dual Diagnoses
  • Husbands and Blackberries: Take Your Pick
  • The Butler Did It?

REVIEWS

  • Bon Tempo, Carl J. and Hasia R. Diner. Immigration: An American History. Reviewed by J. H. Fonkert, CG

  • Bakkala, Jenifer Kahn. The Maynard, North, and DeForest Families: A Story of Immigration, Industry, and Community. Reviewed by Aaron Goodwin

  • Middleton, Saundra. The Pioneering Life of Peter Kirk from Derbyshire to the Pacific Northwest. Reviewed by Jill Morelli, CG

  • Hackenesch, Silke, ed. Adoption Across Race and Nation: US Histories and Legacies. Reviewed by Janet Hall Werner, JD
  • Hämäläinen, Pekka. Indigenous Continent: The Epic Contest for North America. Reviewed by Tracy Neely


The National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ) is published four times per year, in March, June, September, and December. The journal is edited by Margaret R. Fortier, CG, and Mary Kircher Roddy, CG.


18 July 2023

The Third Quarter 2023 Issue of NGS Magazine is Now Online



The July–September 2023 Issue of NGS Magazine is Now Online

The July–September 2023 issue of NGS Magazine, Volume 49, Number 3, is being printed and is now available online in the Members Only section of the website. Delivery of print copies depends upon USPS schedules. This issue’s theme is Back to School.


EDITOR'S NOTE by Deb Cyprych

Since every family presents a unique research situation, genealogists are perpetual students. To identify ancestors correctly and place them appropriately in their historical setting, we need to learn about the techniques most likely to be effective and the nuances of the records, resources, and repositories for each ancestral locale and period.

Fortunately, educational opportunities for genealogists have increased dramatically due to virtual platforms. In the first article for this back-to-school issue, NGS Education Director Angela Packer McGhie surveys the changing landscape of education and its variety of options to suit individual needs—from self-study to formal courses—based on preferred learning style and other factors.

Genealogical societies can contribute to the education of members by offering special interest groups (SIGs) and small study groups as part of their programming. Cari Taplin discusses the operation of both types of groups and the tendency for member interaction to lead to more active participation in society projects.

Another way to go back to school is to visit university libraries, which can be intimidating to many genealogists. Tim Pinnick explains how to tap their wealth of resources for African American history and genealogy in databases, microfilm, government documents, journals, books, and theses and dissertations.

Resources produced by and for students can add depth and character to family histories. Gail Shaffer Blankenau demonstrates the targeted, well-researched information in dissertations and theses, which have become more available due to digitization and databases allowing public access. Thomas Stephen Neel examines the types of photos, community context, and glimpses of personality that appear in high school and college yearbooks.

In the final back-to-school article, Kathy Petlewski compares the evolution of educational systems in three colonies (Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia) to explore the likely experiences of ancestors and the availability of some colonial school records.

NARA archivist Claire Kluskens describes the scope and uses of a significant source for veterans and their families: the set of original bounty land warrant application files at the National Archives. NGS and NARA recently announced a joint project to increase accessibility by indexing and digitizing the 360,000 files.

The issue wraps up with Carla Cegielski’s investigation of search engines for identifying and accessing genealogical content, including general and genealogy-specific search engines, and Paul Woodbury’s analysis of potential clues in the profiles of mystery DNA matches for determining their identities, building their family trees, and ultimately discovering how they are related.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Features

  • Bounty Land Warrant Application Files by Claire Kluskens 
  • Genealogy Education: A Changing Landscape by Angela Packer McGhie, CG, FUGA
  • University Libraries and African American Research by Tim Pinnick 
  • Using Theses and Dissertations to Enhance Family History by Gail Shaffer Blankenau, MA
  • What Can Genealogists Learn from Yearbooks? by Thomas Stephen Neel, MLIS

Departments

  • PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE by Kathryn M. Doyle
  • EDITOR'S NOTE by Deb Cyprych
  • NEWS
  • 2023 NGS Awards and Competition Results Announced by Judy Nimer Muhn
  • SOCIETY FORUM
    • Form Strong Membership Bonds in SIGs and Study Groups by Cari Taplin, CG
  • REFERENCE DESK
    • Roots of Education in America: A Comparison of Colonial Experiences by Kathy Petlewski, MSLS
  • TECH TIPS
    • Search Engines for Genealogy by Carla S. Cegielski
  • DNA DISCOVERY
    • Considering Every Clue in the Identification of Mystery Matches by Paul Woodbury

NGS Magazine is published quarterly to update members of the National Genealogical Society on NGS activities and to provide genealogists with special information and guidance on conducting effective genealogical research. The magazine is sent to libraries by subscription. Online access to NGS Magazine is available only as long as membership is active.