The Genealogy Guys Podcast & Genealogy Connection – Details, episodes & analysis

News You Can Use and Share!

• MyHeritage added 20 million historical records in June.
• MyHeritage and Family Tree DNA announced a new partnership to connect DNA tests to family trees.
• JewishGen announced a new partnership between its Romania Research Division and the Jewish Federation of Romania to photograph and document Jewish graves.
• Drew talks about 19.4 million historical records released by FamilySearch in May 2024.

Book Review

The Guys review the latest book by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, The Deserter’s Tale, a new Morton Farrier genealogical crime mystery.

Listener Email

• Sam writes about the new RootsMagic 10 update and the book. Drew warns listeners about some fake book entries in Amazon.
• Stacy Cole responds to an earlier email about her strategies in researching the James James family in Georgia.

The Guys discuss their experiences at the South Carolina Genealogical Society's summer workshop at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

George shares how Patrick McCawley, the Deputy Director of Archives and Records Management, spent time sharing with him a history of South Carolina’s geopolitical organization from colonial times to the present. From parishes to electoral districts to counties and boundary changes, George now has a deeper understanding of South Carolina for his research there.

Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started.

And don’t forget to order Drew’s new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy, from Genealogical Publishing Company (https://genealogical.com/) or Amazon.com.

Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com.

News You Can Use and Share!

• MyHeritage added 123 million historical records in April and May.
• MyHeritage added millions of Nordic newspaper pages to OldNews.com.
• RootsMagic has released Version 10 of its award-winning software.

Listener Email

• Jean-Daniel wrote to share an update about his research into Blaise Farny.
• Karin educates us about names for Austrian ‘sailors’.
• Lisa wrote to compliment Cathleen from New Hampshire’s research of her mother’s paternal grandfather, Georg Sokop. She was inspired to research a friend’s Jewish ancestry using DNA.
• Ray has been researching his third great-grandfather, James James, and located two people of that name in close proximity. The county courthouse burned, and he is asking for other records to distinguish between the two men.

Drew discusses the upcoming South Carolina Genealogical Society’s upcoming conference at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History on 12-13 July 2024. He is presenting, and George will be there observing and conducting personal research in the archive.

George shares how he is preparing for his genealogical research at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, at the Newberry County courthouse, and in the upstate South Carolina environs.

Drew discusses new features of AncestryDNA tools.

Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started.

And don’t forget to order Drew’s new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy, from Genealogical Publishing Company (https://genealogical.com/) or Amazon.com.

Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com.

The Genealogy Guys Podcast, in partnership with MyHeritage.com, is giving away a FREE MyHeritage DNA Kit. Please send an email to genealogyguys@gmail.com with your name and mailing address by no later than midnight U.S. Eastern Time on 31 August 2023 for your chance to win!

News You Can Use and Share

• American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society has announced the 10 Million Names Project. The Project is a collaborative effort dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America (specifically, the territory that would become the United States) between the 1500s and 1865. Learn more at https://10millionnames.org/.
• A great new book written by African-American and Native American expert Angela Walton-Raji has been published by Arcadia Publishing, Inc., titled Oklahoma Freedmen of the Five Tribes. It is now available at Amazon.com.
• Drew recaps the highlights of the newest records releases at FamilySearch.

Listener Email

• Lisa sent a follow-up about her census mystery searching for her ancestor Felice Giuseppe Maturo and his brother, Liberato Maturo, in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census in New Haven, Connecticut.
• Mell wrote to ask for suggestions to research her ancestor Felix White in the area around Columbus, Muskogee County, Oklahoma.
• Lisa wrote about the Ancestry Hints, what they are and aren’t. This includes the “Family Data Collection” and “Geneanet Community Trees”.
• Nicole is researching her Dulaney ancestral line from Virginia, supposedly back to Ireland. Drew shares some insights.

Thank you to all our Patreon supporting members for their support. Your Patreon support helps us improve our technology and provide even more podcast content to you! You can join us for as little as $1 a month or as much as you’d like to contribute. Visit https://www.patreon.com/genealogyguys to get started.

Please also tell your friends and your genealogical society about our free podcasts, our blog, and our Genealogy Guys Learn subscription education website.

And don’t forget to order Drew’s new book, Generation by Generation: A Modern Approach to the Basics of Genealogy, from Genealogical Publishing Company (https://genealogical.com/) or Amazon.com.

Please let us hear from you at genealogyguys@gmail.com.

The Genealogy Guys and Vivid-Pix announce that nominations are being accepted for the next round of the Unsung Heroes Awards. Nominations are due by May 15, 2019, and winners will be announced on June 1, 2019.

The Genealogy Guys announce that Cyndi Ingle, founder of Cyndi’s List, will join the podcast for a regular feature called "Cyndi Says".

News You Can Use and Share

• Findmypast has added Poor Law and BMD records for Kent.
• Drew recaps free FamilySearch record additions.

Book Reviews

George reviews the following books:

• Writing a Memoir - from Stuck to Finished! by Karen Dustman
• Published: The Proven Path from Blank Page to Published Author by Chandler Bolt
• Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Families: Baldy, Kerstetter, and Long by Gregory Edwin Price
• From the Emerald Isle to the Cream City: A History of the Irish in Milwaukee

The DNA Segment with Blaine T. Bettinger

This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on DNA testing on ancestral artifacts such as envelopes, stamps, and hair samples, and also covers testing the recently deceased.

Our Listeners Talk to Us

• John shares his spreadsheet for comparing families in the early US federal censuses (1790-1840).
• Lili let us know that she was successful in getting her lineage society application submitted and approved. Congratulations, Lili!
• Neal is trying to obtain a War of 1812 Discharge Certificate for his ancestor from the National Archives and Records Administration.
• Daniel’s ancestors and family members changed surnames, and he is asking for some reasons why they might have done so.
• Ryan is looking for resources about his ancestor who moved from Philadelphia to Nebraska and then back again to help him understand the reasons, the migration route, and more.

Margaret Cheney is the current president of the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS), and has served in many roles at the state organization level and as part of her local OGS chapter. She talks about how she first became involved with her local society, about the upcoming OGS conference, about lineage societies, and about why it is important for society members to volunteer.

The Genealogy Guys are using their new sound mixer beginning with this episode. Visit our blog for details about the new equipment. Sincere thanks go out to our sponsors and generous Patreon supporters for making this improvement possible.

The Guys discuss their great experiences at the 2019 Podfest Multimedia Expo.

News You Can Use

• MyHeritage has added 7.1 million records of Norwegian Censuses in four collections.
• The Canadian Research Knowledge Network has made more than 60 million pages of digitized Canadian heritage documents accessible.
• Findmypast has added 23 million new U.S. marriages to its site for searching.
• Drew recaps free FamilySearch record additions.

Blaine T. Bettinger and the DNA segment

This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on recent announcements from MyHeritage regarding their new DNA tools: AutoCluster and the Theory of Family Relativity.

Our Listeners Talk to Us

• Listener response to a call for how you use spreadsheets in your research has been strong.
• Another Laura tells us she uses spreadsheets when extracting from indexes; to compile each year’s data when doing city directory research; and to create a combination timeline/family group sheet/timeline.
• Sherry paid for a DNA test for a cousin who has since died. Are there legal questions she should be aware of if she wants to submit the data to GEDmatch?
• Bill reports that he has had problems with Ancestry tree data disappearing from RootsMagic. He believes it is an API problem. George heard from another friend on Sunday who has experienced the same problem.
• Tom reports that the new Ancestry beta color coding tag system has rendered a Google extension inoperable. Drew tells how to opt out of the Ancestry beta.
• Spencer shares two important topics:
  • Masonic records include applications to join and these can contain much genealogical information.
  • The librarian at the Webster Memorial Library in Decatur, Van Buren County, Michigan, plans to break up the collections placed there by the Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society. Some materials would be moved to a basement and would no longer be accessible by researchers. Email to the Van Buren Library Board of Directors Chairman, Bruce Cutting, at cutting@ontrakcom.com to complain about this situation is welcome. The Guys make suggestions about written agreements that should be created and signed to clarify such situations.

Visit The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com for more news!  And send questions or comments to the podcast at genealogyguys@gmail.com.

The Genealogy Guys Podcast and Vivid-Pix announced the first winners of the Unsung Heroes Awards at RootsTech 2019. Visit the blog for details about the winners.

Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., joins us for discussions with Drew about DNA topics on episodes of The Genealogy Guys Podcast starting this week.

The News

• MyHeritage made a number of announcements at RootsTech 2019:
  • Database has doubled since RootsTech 2018.
  • 5 million MyHeritage DNA kits have been sold, the most sales in Europe.
  • New AutoClusters tool has been introduced to MyHeritage DNA.
  • Theory of Family Relativity DNA tool has been introduced to MyHeritage DNA to facilitate matching.
  • MyHeritage has completed digitizing of all of Israel’s cemeteries, searchable online with images, locations, and fully transcribed records.
  • MyHeritage has extended their DNA Quest pro bono initiative to reunite adoptees through free genetic testing.
• Ancestry announced 94 new and updated communities for people of African American and Afro-Caribbean descent.
• Ancestry announced several new DNA tools, and Blaine and Drew will discuss them later.
• Stephen and Tabitha King have donated $1.25 million to the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
• Findmypast added over 23 million new U.S. marriage records to their collection.
• Findmypast also added Yorkshire Baptisms, Marriage Banns, Marriages, and Burials, and an update to the 1939 Register.
• Findmypast has acquired RootsFinder, Inc, a free family tree builder.
• Findmypast announced a project to digitize and publish the 1921 Census of England and Wales.
• The Archives of Manitoba, Canada, is digitizing over 1,000 reels of microfilm for the Hudson’s Bay Company (1670-1870) and placing the records online.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has donated $2 million to the International African American Museum being built in Charleston, South Carolina.
• RootsTech London will take place on 24-26 October 2019.
• Drew recaps the highlights of the January 2019 record additions and a look at what’s coming this year.

A Discussion with Blaine T. Bettinger

This week’s discussion between Blaine and Drew focuses on Ancestry.com’s newly announced DNA tools. They include a new tool called ThruLines, and a new tool for working with and marking matches (in beta mode), and a Tree Tagging tool (also in beta mode).

Listener Email

• Listeners Barb and Vicki also responded to Laura’s inquiry in Episode #357 about uses for spreadsheets in genealogy.
• Bill reported he had a loss of data between RootsMagic and Ancestry. George referred him ASAP to RootsMagic’s Customer Support, and also described how he backs up his RootsMagic data on his computer, on Dropbox, and at an offline storage service.
• Tom advises Jewish researchers not to ignore German Catholic records as he has made discoveries of Jewish families’ information in those collections.
• Tom advises us that he has acquired very old photo albums, and that he in one case reunited it with the descendants. But what about the other one?

The Guys would like to express our sincere gratitude to our Patreon supporters. Your financial contributions are an investment in our ability to provide our services to the genealogical community for free since 5 September 2005.

The Genealogy Guys have returned from their working cruise in the Caribbean on the Norwegian Epic. They want to thank Pat Adams, Annette Burke Lyttle, and Dale Heins of The Villages and Anna Pellegrini of Anchors Aweigh Cruises & Tours for a fabulous trip. You’ll find more details on The Genealogy Guys Blog.

Don’t forget to get your nomination/submission form in by midnight Eastern Time on 15 February for the first quarterly Unsung Heroes Awards. The Guys and Vivid-Pix RESTORE are sponsoring these awards to sing the praises of individuals, societies, libraries and archives, and young people under age 21 who scan/digitize, index, and transcribe records to make them accessible to researchers worldwide. Nominees need not be huge, prolific producers. You can even nominate yourself. First awards will be made at RootsTech, and we’ll select winners every quarter!

The Guys will be announcing another huge revelation of a great new segment on The Genealogy Guys Podcast and can hardly wait! Stay tuned to the podcast, The Genealogy Guys Blog, and our Facebook page.

And don’t overlook The Genealogy Guys Blog for more exciting news, commentary, tips and methodologies, and some of our personal research and stories!

The News

• MyHeritage added 22.7 million new records during December 2018 and instituted a new DNA upload policy.
• MyHeritage will be demonstrating new features and making announcements at their booth at RootsTech. They’ll also be live streaming some of their presentations.
• MyHeritage has announced that their webinar arm, Legacy Family Tree Webinars, will begin presenting webinars in other languages, starting with one in Spanish, “Cómo explicar los grados de relación familiar” on Feb 13, 2019. Check https://familytreewebinars.com for the schedule as it is announced.
• Heather Yvonne McLean of New Zealand has been awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for her services to genealogy and historical research. She has invested more than 30 years’ service transcribing tombstones.
• Genealogy author Nathan Dylan Goodwin has a new short story out, a prequel to one of his characters. It is called The Asylum and is available at Amazon for $.99. However, reader can visit his website at nathandylangoodwin.com for a link where they can download the story for free.
• The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) has received a wonderful collection of the records and publications from Kinship Books with more to come.
• Findmypast has released parish baptisms, marriages, and burial records for Norfolk, Kent, and Middlesex, a new version of the 1939 Register, England Roman Catholic Parish baptisms, marriages, and burial records, Mexico baptisms, marriages, and burial records, Lancashire Wills and Probates, and more newspaper records.
• FamilySearch had 5.8 billion records online at the end of 2018 and released a recap of the major additions for the year.
• Drew recaps the highlights of the January 2019 record additions and a look at what’s coming this year.

Listener Email

• Deb is considering purchasing RootsMagic Version 7 but wonders if she should wait until the forthcoming Version 8 is released. RootsMagic tells us that anyone who buys Version 7 now will get Version 8 and its registration key free. Nathan also wrote to let us know he had received the same information.
• Traci reminded The Guys that the DNA Doe Project, another non-profit volunteer group working with law enforcement, solved six John/Jane Doe cases. Learn more at http://dnadoeproject.org.
• Laura wants to know how people use Excel in genealogy. She is looking for a book on the subject as well. Drew also directed Laura to CyndisList at https://www.cyndislist.com/ where he did a search for “spreadsheet template” where there are many resources listed, including some genealogy templates. Listeners, please email us your ideas and uses to share with Laura!
• Keith shared a site called markeverygrave.com where you can purchase small, inexpensive grave markers and permanently affix markers.
• Drew had a shout-out from another member of the Florida Podcasters Association.
• Ed wrote with a question about the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) and why it should be an essential part of your research.
• Jim wrote about having read a fictional book that mentioned the deaths at the Dozier School for Boys. He recalled Drew’s involvement in the real-life research and asked if there has been any updates.
• Laura wrote how much she enjoyed the recent interview Drew conducted with Kenyatta Berry. She also explained her emotions at standing at her Revolutionary War ancestors’ homes and learning more about them, including their slave ownership.

The Guys would like to express our sincere gratitude to our Patreon supporters. Your financial contributions are an investment in our ability to provide our services to the genealogical community for free since 5 September 2005.

George and Drew welcome their newest podcast sponsor, Vivid-Pix, with an interview with its CEO, Rick Voight.  Rick shares his background in the photo industry, and describes his company's RESTORE photo and document restoration software.

George and Drew then announce the partnership between The Genealogy Guys and Vivid-Pix as sponsors of the Unsung Heroes Awards program for individuals and organizations who scan, digitize, index, and/or transcribe photos and documents. Details about the program can be found at vivid-pix.com/unsungheroes, and nominations for the first set of awards are due by February 15, 2019.

Kenyatta Berry returns to Genealogy Connection to discuss her new book, The Family Tree Toolkit.  To learn even more about Kenyatta, also listen to Genealogy Connection #010.

Questions or comments about the show? Email genealogyguys@gmail.com