- FGS Convention in Cincinnati
The Federation of Genealogical Societies and the Ohio Genealogical Society are sponsoring the FGS’ annual conference August 19 to 22 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The theme at this year’s conference is "Immigrant Dreams: The Settlement of America." This is always one of the largest annual genealogy conferences held in the U.S.. If you have the time available and can travel to Cincinnati, you will want to put this one on your calendar.
 This year’s schedule includes more than 140 presentations, seminars, luncheons and workshops. That’s a lot to squeeze into four days! At some times there will be as many as eight sessions being held simultaneously.
I have written several times recently about the controversial new proposal by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration to consolidate their records centers. I noticed that a recent addition to the FGS conference sessions includes a talk by a representative from the National Archives. The name of the representative hasn’t been announced yet, but he or she will speak on "Policy Issues Impacting Genealogists." The announcement says that the representative will discuss the closing of some regional archives, consolidation efforts, and computerization. The representative will also address questions from the audience. Two forums are scheduled: Thurs., 20 Aug. at 10:30 a.m. and Fri., 21 Aug. at 9:30 a.m.
The official conference hotel is the Cincinnatian Hotel at 601 Vine Street. You can make a reservation there by calling 513-381-3000. There is a conference rate for FGS attendees. You can also find a lot of other hotels in downtown Cincinnati as well as in the suburbs.
I plan on being at this conference and hopefully will send that week’s newsletter from the convention center. Usually there are a number of new announcements of interest made at the FGS conference; hopefully I can report them immediately that week.
A conference program is available by contacting FGS toll-free at (888) FGS-1500 or via e-mail at: fgs-office@fgs.org. The conference program is also available online at: http://www.fgs.org/fgs-c98.htm
- Family Tree Maker Version 5.0 Announced
Broderbund’s Family Tree Maker genealogy software is the most popular genealogy software available today. The company has announced a new Version 5.0 to be available soon. Here is the text of their press release:
With over 2 million copies sold, more people trust their family history to Broderbund's Family Tree Maker(R) than to any other commercially available genealogy program. Now, Broderbund is releasing Family Tree Maker version 5.0, with additional features to help you discover and preserve your family history more easily than ever.
New Version Features Advanced Research Tools
 Genealogy enthusiasts often trace several different branches of the family at once. Keeping track of what needs to be done for each family line used to be quite a task, but version 5.0 of Family Tree Maker includes a new tool called the Research Journal -- it's part "To-do list" and part advice column, so it helps you at all stages of family history research. This valuable tool lets you plan and track your research. It lets you prioritize and categorize specific tasks, and note when they're completed. Then, as you add new names, dates, and facts to your tree, you can have Family Tree Maker analyze the information and recommend which resources to search for additional details about your family.
As you uncover new information about your relatives, you'll want to track all the facts and details for everyone in your family -- ranging from medical information to important family events, personal characteristics, hobbies, and more. Now, Family Tree Maker can accommodate all that information with new unlimited fact and event fields, then include the information in printed trees and reports. You can even store alternate facts like multiple birth dates for one individual (good for when you're not sure which date is accurate). To keep track of where you got your information, Family Tree Maker lets you document your sources for each fact.
New Ways to Display Family Information
Family Tree Maker also features a new Hourglass tree, which allows you to show both ancestors and descendants together in the same tree. Most family trees are created to show either the ancestors or descendants of a particular person, but this new tree style displays ancestors above and descendants below a primary individual. Family Tree Maker is the only genealogy software program to offer the exciting Hourglass format.
When researching their family trees, people often wonder what events impacted their ancestors' lives. Family Tree Maker's new Historical Timelines help you put your family history into a timely perspective by plotting the life of each family member alongside major historical events.
In addition, Family Tree Maker now has improved tree formatting for professional-quality family trees. You can now color code individuals by gender or by generation, so a quick glance at your family tree can provide more information than ever before.
New Deluxe 10-CD Set Includes More Historical Data -- Right in the Box -- Than Any Genealogy Program
When you purchase the new Family Tree Maker Deluxe 10-CD Set, in addition to the new features listed above, you get 10 CDs packed with historical information about millions of people. In fact, you're guaranteed to find your own ancestors! The package includes the mammoth 2-CD FamilyFinder(TM) Index, which tells you which historical records include information on over 170 million people; the 2-CD set of Social Security Death Benefits Records, volumes 1-5 of the World Family Tree(TM), including actual family trees for tens of thousands of families; and an International Marriage Records Index covering more than 1 million marriage records from the US and abroad. In addition, to pinpoint other historical resources which may include your relatives, use the FamilyFinder Index, a listing of the names of more than 170 million individuals who appear in more than 100 Family Archive CDs containing centuries of government and private archives. The FamilyFinder is the largest master index of its type, and while it doesn't contain actual records, it does tell you exactly where to find information about each person in the list. You'll save money purchasing Family Archive CDs rather than databases produced by other companies, because only Family Tree Maker's FamilyFinder will tell you which databases include your relatives before you buy. (Broderbund also offers a 90-day money-back guarantee to ensure you find helpful information on CDs you've purchased.)
The sheer number of people and records referenced by the FamilyFinder Index gives you a head-start that will accelerate your research by weeks, even years, right from your own desk! You can either browse the index by typing in a family name, or for a more thorough search, use the Research Journal to run a FamilyFinder Report(TM). It automatically compares all the names in your family file against the entire 170 million names in the FamilyFinder Index, plus thousands of genealogy sites across the Internet, then presents the results in an easy-to-read report so you know which leads will prove most promising. This search, which Family Tree Maker completes in minutes, would have otherwise taken weeks of meticulous research.
Powerful Internet Genealogy Tools
You can also link from Family Tree Maker directly to www.familytreemaker.com for free tools to help you find information about your family on the Internet. First, use the Internet FamilyFinder(TM) -- the only Internet search engine developed specifically for seeking genealogy information. The Internet FamilyFinder indexes over 130 million names from nearly three million web pages worldwide and is growing quickly. Second, you can sign up for free Internet FamilyFinder Agents(TM) that will scour the Internet night and day for important clues in the search for your ancestors, and e-mail you when they find new information. Then, to find websites focused on a particular topic (like adoption, or tracing Irish roots, etc.), use the Genealogy SiteFinder. With more than 40,000 organized links to other websites, it's the largest listing of links focused on genealogically-relevant topics, and it includes a description of each linked site so you know what information you'll find before you click through. If you've hit upon an apparent stopping point in your research, you can place an online request for the services of one of the nation's leading genealogy research firms. In addition, you'll find valuable information about millions of people on the thousands of home pages and family trees published at www.familytreemaker.com; in fact, about half of all the actual family data available free online is housed at this site. Finally, you can get ideas and advice from www.familytreemaker.com's active online community -- tens of thousands of real people who exchange messages, ideas, and questions daily using the site's genealogy classified ads and message boards.
Still Includes the Features That Made Family Tree Maker the No. 1 Genealogy Program
In addition to these exciting new features, the new version of Family Tree Maker still includes dozens of features that have made it the best-selling and top-rated genealogy software program. You can:
-- Include favorite photos, scanned documents, and even video and audio clips to bring your family history to life. Print album-style scrapbooks or play on-screen slide shows.
-- Customize family trees, reports, and other printouts with your choice of information and individuals, as well as your favorite borders, fonts, colors, and styles -- you have more flexibility with your printouts using Family Tree Maker than any other genealogy program.
-- Create a professional-quality family book complete with family trees, cherished photos, favorite family stories, automatically-generated table of contents and index, and more.
-- Create your own family Web page FREE, including your family book, or reports and family trees.
-- Get valuable how-to advice, addresses of records offices and easy-to-use form letters for requesting information, and more at the Internet's most popular genealogy site, www.familytreemaker.com
Availability and System Requirements
The Family Tree Maker Deluxe 10-CD Set includes the program with the FamilyFinder Index on 2 CDs, 2 Social Security Death Index CDs, 1 Marriage Records Index CD, and 5 World Family Tree CDs. Average street price is approximately $82. (Similar Deluxe 4-CD set includes the program with the FamilyFinder Index on 2 CDs and 2 Social Security Death Index CDs. Average street price is approximately $45.) These Editions of Family Tree maker are available on store shelves worldwide, can be ordered by calling Broderbund Software at 1-800-474-8696 or 415-382-4770, or by visiting www.familytreemaker.com.
Family Tree Maker requires Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98; 486 or faster; 8 MB RAM (16 MB recommended); minimum 20 MB free hard disk space; 2X CD-ROM or faster; 640 x 480 display, 16 colors or higher. Works with most popular printers (monochrome and color) supported by Windows. Optional: Modem for connecting to Family Tree Maker Online (user is responsible for all Internet access fees); Video capture board and sound board (for video or audio clips); Scanner (for digitizing graphic images). As with all Windows programs, a faster processor, more RAM and more free disk space will enhance performance. 20 MB of program files will be copied to your hard drive; the rest of the data will remain on the CD-ROMs to be accessed during program use. Also may require minor adjustments to the configuration of your operating system and/or updates to the hardware component drivers.
I hope to obtain a copy of version 5.0 as soon as it becomes available and will then write about it in this newsletter.
- "DAYS" – a Calendar Program Edition
Otto C. L. Thygesen of Denmark wrote a program for use by genealogists to help Danish and Norwegian genealogists decode dates found in old records. The program was released some time ago in Danish; now an English version is available. While primarily designed for use with Danish and Norwegian records, the program is useful for some other nationalities as well. Best of all, the program is completely free to anyone who wishes to download it. The program does require Windows 95 to operate.
The program can translate such dates as "15. søndag efter trinitatis 1802" or "Eulogius ep. conf. 1736" into modern English equivalents. Quoting from the program’s announcement:
DAYS is a program designed to assist genealogists in finding dates of named days and generally navigate in and between the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The original program was in Danish and intended for Danish/Norwegian genealogists.
The database contains close to 5,000 names of days. The major part of these names are in Latin, many are in Danish, some in Norwegian, a few in Swedish, and some in German. The duchies Slesvig (Schleswig) and Holstein were part of the Danish Monarchy until 1864 and the German language was not uncommon in Danish towns up through the first half of the 19th century. In general the names are as they appear in Danish/Norwegian sources and include some names and feast not found outside these countries. However, as most of the names are international (European), the program may also be of use outside the Scandinavian language area.
FUNCTIONS
The DAYS program has the following functions:
- Display of calendar months. Julian (year 600-2099), Gregorian (year 600-2099) and the Republican calendar (Sep. 22nd 1792 - Dec. 31st 1804). It shows only one calendar only at a time.
- Conversion of dates between Gregorian calendar and the two other calendars.
- Information about movable feast days for all years in the Julian and the Gregorian calendar.
- Information about the parameters of the years (Metonic Number, Dominical Letter etc.) for Julian and Gregorian calendar.
- A lookup function has nearly 5,000 names of days with automatic setting of the calendar to the right date or the first day of a period.
- Display of all names for a given date, fixed as well as movable names.
- Lookup of words connected with the calendar, old names for days, months, etc.
- Dates may be adjusted by x years, y months z weeks and s days in both directions from a fixed date. Optional correction for erroneously uses of Julian calendar in connection of computing age etc.
- The origin and basis of the calendars plus a lot more is explained in the help-file.
- Optional uses of the "Danish/Norvegian" calendar which automatically shifts between the Julian calendar before February 19th and the Gregorian after February 29th year 1700.
- The extensive help-file also gives a lot of information about calendars.
I used DAYS for a bit on my Windows NT system and can verify that it seems to fulfill those claims. Two versions are available on the Website: one without the installation program and one with an installation program. I first downloaded the one with the installation program but could not get it to install on my Windows NT system. I went back and downloaded DAYS1_2c.ZIP, the file without the installation program. I unzipped it in the old-fashioned way and everything worked properly. The first problem may have been because I am running Windows NT while the program clearly states that it is for Windows 95. I didn’t spend any more time researching this; I was quite satisfied to unzip it myself.
I am not an expert in old Danish and Norwegian calendars, so I cannot say that all the data is perfect. However, the program seemed to perform all the functions described and did so in a very user-friendly manner. Did you know that Whitsun was on May 31 this year? That’s the date listed in DAYS.
Again, DAYS is freeware. There is no registration fee. You can obtain the English version of DAYS from: http://www.thygesen.suite.dk/EngDage.htm. The Danish version is available from a different page at the same site: http://www.thygesen.suite.dk
-Ancestry’s State By State Resource Pages
The following is an announcement from Ancestry, Inc.:
Ancestry.com has added a new feature to its website. Sometimes you wonder: Where do I write for vital records in Alabama? Where can I find military records in Connecticut? What about land records in Pennsylvania? And court records? Now this important research information for every state is just a click away.
Each state page includes free information and addresses for obtaining important records, as well as some important additional resources like libraries, historical societies, etc. Census statistics from 1890 to 1990 are also available.
For Ancestry subscribers, there is also a list of databases, maps, and excerpts from critically acclaimed Ancestry publications like "The Source," "RedBook," and "U.S. Military Records," now easily found by state.
You can access this handy reference guide from the home page at: http://www.ancestry.com
Just scroll down to the state abbreviations and click on the state of your choice.
Another new feature at Ancestry.com, is our Press Room at: http://www.ancestry.com/pressroom.htm
Stop by and find out about the organization, current events, updates to Ancestry.com's site, and more.
In other news about Ancestry.com, the May 1998 Nielson I/PRO I/AUDIT report says that the site now serves the needs of more than 1.3 million genealogists around the world each month.
- Electronic Family Connections
In the June 27 edition of this newsletter I wrote about Dr. Lyman Platt’s new book "World Book of Generations – A Genealogical History." Dr. Platt has another project that he has started, called "Electronic Family Connections." Here are a few excerpts from what Dr. Platt told me:
The sole purpose of this company is to do something I've wanted to do for years. I'm not in this to make money, but to create a service that will be significant in the genealogical world.
Over the last seven years, in my spare time, I have been creating a core database of genealogical information on individuals that is totally linked, all dates and places are documented, and I'm ready to begin working with others to increase the size of the database and to soon make it available for others to use. I have begun publishing a newsletter…... It will explain the initial details of this endeavor. Basically, however, it consists of the following:
The core database only receives information that is linked to it, so it is fully integrated. The data must be documented. Individuals who submit their pedigrees to EFC and who tie into that core data will be able to access their entire pedigree that is there and be able to then work with us in extending dead ends.
Membership in EFC is $20.00 a year, with monthly mailings of the newsletter for the time being. We are not interested in a large group of people initially, but want to start with a small group of mostly New England, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Utah families, and make sure that as we develop, we have the abilities to service the membership in a meaningful way.
I expect it will take several years to have all of the equipment and servicing capabilities in place. In the meantime we have a core of professional researchers that are being added to the group that have formulated the documenting requirements and that will review the pedigrees that come in for inclusion or for placing in a holding file until they can be linked to the core data.
I would be interested in hearing from any of your readers that would like to work with us in this effort. It is my opinion that the end product will be where people go who are interested in an accurate record, who are anxious to see the plethora of undocumented data put in its proper perspective, and who want to make a lasting contribution to the genealogical field. I can be contacted at Lyman D. Platt, Ph.D., 316 W. 500 N., St. George, UT 84770, or a lplatt@infowest.com
If you think you might have an interest in this new project, look at the first newsletter at: www.angelfire.com/fl/LinkedFamilies
- New Palladium V.P.
I have written quite a bit about all industry shifts going on within the genealogy world. For instance, Palladium acquired CommSoft last year, Broderbund acquired Parsons Technology, Softkey International became The Learning Company and then acquired both Mindscape and Broderbund, Corel sold its genealogy program to IMSI who turned around and sold it to Mindscape and on and on. Some of the people involved get promoted, others effectively get demoted or change jobs. With that as a backdrop, it is interesting to note a change of company for one key player.
Marc Roegiers, until recently the Senior Vice President of Product Development for Mindscape, has now accepted a position as Senior Vice President of Product Development at Palladium. Roegiers will oversee Palladium's expanding product development department as well as focus on expanding the company's strong Internet presence.
"Palladium is at a key juncture in its growth and development cycle, and we are fortunate to have an individual of the caliber of Marc joining our team," said Ed Bernstein, president and CEO of Palladium Interactive. "Marc brings a wealth of development experience to us and will be instrumental to our continued success in the home hobby software market."
With over 12 years of high tech experience, Roegiers was instrumental in the success of many popular software titles such as Mavis Beacon for Kids, The Miracle Piano Teaching System, and the Mario line including Mario is Missing Deluxe, Mario's Time Machine and Mario's Early Years.
"I am excited to join a company with such tremendous momentum," said Roegiers. "Palladium has established a reputation as a company that produces innovative software titles that enhance people's daily lives, and I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the company."
- Still More Genealogy Software At The Learning Company
This is the story that won’t end: Two weeks ago I wrote that The Learning Company’s latest acquisition of Broderbund meant that it would have two competing genealogy programs in its catalog: Broderbund’s Family Tree Maker and Parson Technology’s Family Origins. Last week I wrote that I had overlooked a third product: Mindscape’s new genealogy program called Family Tree Creator. The third program arrived because The Learning Company acquired Mindscape some months ago.
Now Paul Allen, the president of Ancestry, Inc., tells me that there is a fourth genealogy program already in The Learning Company’s catalog! Softkey International (which bought the Learning Company and then changed its own name to the Learning Company and now has bought Mindscape and Broderbund) has had a genealogy program of its own for at least two years. "Family Tree" is still available in a box with the SoftKey label. It is a rather "low end" genealogy program that I found at a local store selling for $12.95.
OK, so now the company executives have four genealogy programs. That ought to be interesting for them. Which one will survive? My prediction is… all of them. Or, at least most of them will survive and will be sold under different labels.
How can this be? Look at other businesses for a moment. General Motors seems to do well while simultaneously selling Chevrolets and Cadillacs, along with Buicks and Oldsmobiles. And MTV owns both the MTV channel as well as VH1. AOL owns both AOL and CompuServe. And in the publishing industry, there are all sorts of competitive-looking products produced under the same roof. If the executives at The Learning Company are smart, they will blanket the marketplace with multiple genealogy products. And I believe they are smart….
- Finding Their Own Surnames
Some things you just take for granted, such as having a surname. It was with some surprise that I read an article from the International Herald Tribune describing some changes going on in Mongolia. Writer Thomas Crampton reports, "...After getting by on a first-name basis for more than 60 years, Mongolians this week are supposed to start using surnames again. If only they can find out what they were.
"In what must be one of the largest genealogical projects ever undertaken, all of Mongolia's 2.5 million citizens have been ordered to search for their roots. The deadlines for using three names on legal documents - one's surname, given name and the father's name - is Wednesday. But the government sees months, if not years, of research ahead.
"The names were banished along with many other aspects of Mongolian culture by the Soviet-backed Communist government that came to power in 1924. The suppression of names was intended to crush allegiances that might supersede loyalty to the state.
The article goes on at some length about the many changes instituted years ago when the Communists took over the country. Among other things, the Communists confiscated the centuries-old family trees that central Asian nomads had sewn into silk or written on parchment. Families were not allowed to use surnames, and children were raised without knowing the surnames of their parents or grandparents. But now the times have changed.
"'Older generations often remember family names, so I encourage people to go back to their parents or grandparents,' said Ts. Tsedev, head of Mongolia's Civil Registration and Information Agency, who first learned his family name seven years ago and has been obsessed with genealogy ever since.
"In his spare time, Mr. Tsedev has helped compile what he calls the world's most complete list of Mongolian names. He hopes that the list of 1,300 names, organized by region, will help jog faded memories. 'People can look for the village where their family came from, see the names and maybe remember what they were called,' he said. Those who can't figure out their family name, or don't want to be bothered, can adopt any name they choose.
"While trying to allay concerns that a significant portion of Mongolia's population will adopt the family name of the national hero, Genghis Khan, Mr. Tsedev said relatives of the country's cosmonaut were certain to prefer the name 'Gurragchaa', the first Mongolian who went into space.
You can read the full story at: http://www.iht.com/IHT/TC/98/tc070198.html. My thanks to Bob Paulson of Isernhagen, Germany for passing this story along.
- Home Pages Highlighted
The following is a list of some of the genealogy-related World Wide Web home pages that have been listed recently on http://www.rootscomputing.com. Some of these sites may charge a fee for their services:
The Ohio Genealogical Society - This site contains information about the organization as well as some online databases to help with Ohio research: http://www.ogs.org.
One name study of the Keillor family, mainly in Scotland and England: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lane/8397/.
Some of the earliest settlers in Michigan. The Jenks, Lee, Botsford, and Munn families of Oakland County in the early 1820s: http://pages.prodigy.net/PAShaul/shaul.htm.
Maxfield Genealogy - for sharing information regarding the Maxfield surname and specializing in the descendants of William Maxfield of Cumberland County, Maine: http://www.users.fast.net/~max/.
Ackley family genealogy: http://www.geocities.com/heartland/prairie/4437.
Robinson family of Fauquier County Virginia who migrated to Athens county, Ohio and westward: http://www.gcis.net/robinson.
"Whitby World Wide", all about the Whitby surname: http://www.whitby.org.
Luke family genealogy: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/1406/luke.html.
Cygnal Software, creator of Family History Composer for the Macintosh: http://home.att.net/~paulrswan/.
The Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island, a resource for Jewish genealogists in the Long Island and New York area: http://www.jewishgen.org/jgsli.
Genealogy Help Network, a site that assists others in the pursuit of their family history: http://ghn.genealogy.org.
The Wilson Network currently lists data for Wilson being researched in 14 countries and all 50 states: http://members.tripod.com/~Wilson_Network/index.htm.
Genealogical Society of Bergen County, New Jersey: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge/9759.
Hickinbotham/Higginbotham surname site dedicated to finding family all over the world: http://www.dangly.com/hickinbotham/.
Keith, Keath and Keeth families in North America: http://keithclan.com/.
To submit your home page to this newsletter, enter the necessary information at: http://www.rootscomputing.com/register.htm. Due to the volume of new Web pages submitted, I am not able to list all of them in the newsletter.
COPYRIGHTS: While the contents of this newsletter are copyright by Richard W. Eastman and by Ancestry Publishing and by others so designated, you are hereby granted rights, unless otherwise specified, to re-distribute articles from this newsletter to other parties provided you do so strictly for non-commercial purposes. Please limit your re-distribution to one or two articles per newsletter; do not re-distribute thenewsletter in its entirety. Also, please include the following words with any articles you re-distribute:
The following article is from Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright 1997 by Richard W. Eastman and Ancestry, Inc. It is re-published here with the permission of the author.
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