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Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
| IN THIS ISSUE: |
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The Master Genealogist 4.0 Is Released |
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Click Here for Dick Eastman's Archive |
| April 27, 1999 |
- The Master Genealogist 4.0 Is Released The Master Genealogist is one of the better genealogy programs available today with enough features to satisfy the most demanding researcher. Now Wholly Genes Software has released an updated version with even more features. Here is the full news release: Wholly Genes Software of Columbia, Maryland, is proud to announce the release of The Master Genealogist, Version 4.0. This major new release of TMG sports a new menu system, new navigational aids, improved language translations, and a number of other enhancements that were requested by users. By far its greatest innovations, however, are provided by the integration of a powerful drawing tool, Visual Chartform. With this exclusive new feature, TMG v4.0 produces stunning wall charts and fan charts with unparalleled flexibility. Ancestor and descendant box charts support images and can be printed on individual sheets or on large format printers for eye-popping charts that cover a wall. Fan charts can be printed in any size and can be configured as a small wedge, full circle, or any user-defined angle. While default settings produce charts that would draw a crowd at a family reunion, each new report type includes dozens of options with which the user can customize.... colors All of these charts also support... - any Windows printer or device (fax, etc.) Visual Chartform uses a true 32-bit interface and supports... - "live" editable objects! The Silver Edition of The Master Genealogist v4.0 includes a limited edition of Visual Chartform, which supports Descendant Box Charts with a top-down orientation only. For Ancestor Box Charts and Fan Charts, users must upgrade to the Gold Edition. A quick tour and sample charts from Visual Chartform are available at http://www.whollygenes.com. Wholly Genes Software also continues to add to its exclusive data transfer technology, GenBridge. With this unique feature, The Master Genealogist v4.0 imports data directly from a long list of genealogy software packages, circumventing the many types of data loss and corruption commonly associated with GEDCOM transfers. With the additional ability to import directly from Family Tree Maker(tm) v5/v6 and Personal Ancestral File(tm) v3.0, GenBridge will import genealogical data directly from more than 30 formats. These new import modules are not available at this writing but are expected to be downloadable from the company website by 1 May 1999. The retail price of The Master Genealogist v4.0 Gold Edition is $99.00 and the Silver Edition is $59.00. Dealer prices may be lower. Upgrades to v4.0 start at $29.95 (free if purchased since 1 Dec 1998) and are downloadable. All prices exclude shipping/handling. To place an order, call 1-877-TMG-FAMILY (toll-free in the U.S.) or visit http://www.whollygenes.com for online ordering information, or to find a dealer near you. Upgrades are not available through dealers. Visual Chartform requires Windows 95/98/NT. Although The Master Genealogist v4.0 will continue to run under Windows 3.x, those users will not have access to the new box charts and fan charts that are produced through Visual Chartform. Wholly Genes, Inc., is a Maryland corporation founded in 1992 and dedicated to providing professional-caliber research tools to genealogists and family historians. Its flagship product, The Master Genealogist, was designed by professional and amateur researchers with a special emphasis on real-life research problems like uncertain data, conflicting events, adoptions, and name variations. The Master Genealogist, Visual Chartform, and GenBridge are trademarks of Wholly Genes Software. Family Tree Maker is a trademark of Broderbund Software, Inc. Personal Ancestral File is a registered trademark of the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I hope to write a review of this new update shortly. The new Visual Chartform looks especially interesting. Until then, you can find more details at: http://www.whollygenes.com Last week I wrote about Mattel’s new announcement regarding layoffs. The information I quoted was from a Mattel press release as published on Business Wire. However, a couple of The Learning Company’s employees wrote to dispute my republishing Mattel’s press release. One wrote: I feel your statement about the Mattel layoffs is a bit misleading, in that it sounds as if people here at the company aren't sure if layoffs will affect the genealogy group or not. There are no plans for layoffs within the genealogy business at this time. (In fact, while we're very close, the merger of The Learning Company and Mattel has not been completed yet, and we are still two different companies.) Mattel understands the importance of the genealogy programs to its overall product line-up. In fact, the "online venture" press release which you quoted discusses only seven brands out of more than 100 titles published by The Learning Company and Mattel, and Family Tree Maker is one of the brands mentioned. Mic Barnette passed along the following information of interest to genealogists in Texas: Hi Fellow Genealogists: In case you have not heard there is a bill in the Texas Legislature that might close the indexes to death and birth records in Texas for 25 and 50 years, respectively. My column on Saturday April 24 will state most of what we know about the bill at this time. The column is already on my website at http://barnettesbooks.com Just click on read the columns. Scroll down and click on April 24. The column was submitted this morning for a Saturday publication date. Since being notified of this bill by Tommy Burns of Houston, I have found out only a little bit more. Supposedly, the bill was submitted to clarify the current law. The intent of the bill was to clarify the existing law and help open birth and death indexes in counties where the county clerk felt they were closed (At the same time, other county clerks felt the indexes were open). While in committee an amendment was placed on the bill stating the indexes would become open and public when the actual records (birth and death records) became open and public. According to the amendment the indexes would be closed for 25-50 years until the records themselves are public. The HB 836 passed the Public Health Committee in the State House of Representatives on March 30. It was referred to the Senate State Affairs Committee. As of today, the bill does not have a Senate sponsor. If we cause enough rancor, it is possible no one will take on the sponsorship of the bill and it will die in committee. On the other hand, if a sponsor is found, we want to be on record requesting a hearing. At that hearing, we would need to flood the room with genealogists and other concerned citizens. While a law clarifying the present confusing law might be welcome, amendment on HB 836 closes the birth and death indexes until the actual records become public which is 25-50 years. Monday night I contacted Jack Brissee, Chair of the FGS/NGS Records Preservation and Access Committee. Jack and his committee work with genealogists and other organizations all over the country when records are threatened with closure or misuse. He jumped on it and has faxed a letter to the Chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee. He has urged everyone to contact all genealogists, genealogical, historical and other concerned organizations to write a calm, collected, but, concerned letter to the Chair of the Senate Affairs Committee and to our own Senator concerning this bill. The Honorable Florence Shapiro Another bill in the legislature each of you should be aware of is HB13. This bill seeks to allow adoptees to obtain their original birth certificate upon reaching the age of 21. HB 13 has met with the hostility of child placement services and birth mothers. Currently it is held up in committee where it may die. Part of the HB 13 awareness may have had some effect on HB 836 because both have to do with vital statistics registration. If you wish to pass this letter around, please feel free to do so. I have included this mailing to a number of my columnist colleagues around the country who might wish to be alert to what is happening down here in Texas. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who hears any news on this matter. Thank You, - Pettit’s Genealogy on the Internet I had a chance to read a new book this week that was quite interesting. "Genealogy on the Internet" is a 156-page paperback written by Sheri Pettit, UE. Ms. Pettit gives a very good overview of the topic of online resources to aid in your genealogy research. Each chapter gives a brief overview without going into great depth. However, most of the chapters do give references where the reader may find still more information, if desired. The chapters in this book include: Introduction The author and the publisher are Canadian, but most of the information in this book will apply anywhere in the world. The only exception is the section on dial-up bulletin boards; most of the ones listed in the book are in Canada. However, that consumes only a few pages. Everything else seems to apply equally to an international audience. I particularly liked the "Privacy Online" chapter. This should be required reading for every new online genealogist! While this is a small booklet, it does pack a lot of information within its covers. "Genealogy on the Internet" lists for 15.00 Canadian dollars, which works out to about $10.00 in U.S. funds. The company also lists a $5.00 (Canadian) shipping charge although they might want a bit more to ship to anyone outside of Canada. Anyone in the world can pay for this on a charge card and the credit card company will work out the conversion rate. International orders are simple when credit cards are used. For more information, look at: http://www.genealogystore.com/ or send an e-mail to HeritageProductions@cheerful.com - Family Chronicle’s Introduction to Genealogy Family Chronicle Magazine always has interesting "how to" articles, many of them aimed at the genealogy newcomer. Now the company has published a new book aimed at the same audience. The articles cover a wide variety of topics. Here is a sample of just a few: First Things First - how to begin your research. Top 10 Genealogy Books - Ron Wild presents the picks of library managers, book publishers and distributors. Finding Your Vital Records - Tips on dealing with documents and searching for certificates Census Research Separate articles on researching the records of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Benelux Countries, Denmark and Iceland, England and Wales, Finland and Sweden, France, Germany, Greece and the Balkans, Ireland, Italy, Norway, the Russian Empire, Scotland, Spain and Portugal and Switzerland Passenger Ship Lists Even the above is an abbreviated list. There are more than 50 different articles in this 160-page book, all aimed at the genealogy newcomer. Each article is brief, typically three pages or so. The book is also well illustrated; there must be hundreds of photographs within it. For instance, the article called "The Path to Naturalization Records" has pictures of a typical index card of a naturalization proceeding as well as two examples of different Declaration of Intent forms. The article ends with a reference to specialized books for anyone interested in reading more about the topic. All in all, Family Chronicle’s "Introduction to Genealogy" lives up to its name. It is an excellent beginner’s guide. Introduction to Genealogy’s U.S. price is $20.00 plus $5.00 shipping; The Canadian price is $25.00 Canadian plus $5.00 shipping. Orders to other countries cost $20.00 U.S. funds plus another $7.00 for shipping. For more information, look at: http://www.familychronicle.com/ - Live Internet Chat with Ruth Carr Here’s another chance for you to participate in an online chat. This one features Ruth Carr, chief librarian of the U.S. history, local history, and genealogy division of the New York Public Library, who will be joining design director Eric A. Pike and style editor Stephen Earle, creators of the "Family Tree" story in the April issue of Martha Stewart Living. The chat takes place on Tuesday, April 27, at 4:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time (20:00 GMT). The producers of this program invite everyone to "Bring your questions and take part in the discussion on Researching and Making a Family Tree." Details on how to participate are available at: http://www.marthastewart.com/nav/chat.html - George Washington Bicentennial 1999 If you’re traveling to the state of Virginia this year, you may want to take in the festivities planned in honor of George Washington’s death 200 years ago. Visitors will be able to enjoy a variety of events and exhibitions in celebration of the "George Washington Bicentennial 1999." Perhaps the most famous Washington residence is Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, which will extend its opening hours. Here you can see over a hundred 18th century objects, including a number of items that were owned by Washington. Other locations joining in the celebration include: Christ Church in Alexandria, site of a pew Washington purchased Gadsby's Tavern Museum in Alexandria, a favorite spot where George and Martha Washington danced on his last birthday Woodlawn Plantation, a National Trust property near Mount Vernon with 125 acres of gardens and grounds, which was a wedding gift from Washington to Nellie Custis, Martha Washington's granddaughter, at her marriage. The Mary Washington House in Fredericksburg, a gift from Washington to his mother, which was visited by some of his acquaintances, including George Mason, Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette The Rising Sun Tavern in Fredericksburg, originally built by Washington's brother, Charles, as a residence that was made into a popular tavern. Ferry Farm, on the banks of the Rappahannock River, across from Fredericksburg, which was Washington's boyhood home and traditionally described as the site of the cherry tree he chopped down and then confessed, "I cannot tell a lie." Colonial Williamsburg, capital of the Virginia colony and site of the largest living history museum in America, where Washington met his future wife, Martha Dandridge Custis. Yorktown Battlefield Colonial National Historical Park in Yorktown, site of preserved British earthworks and reconstructed American-French fortifications. This is where colonial forces defeated British forces led by General Cornwallis in 1781. Yorktown Victory Center in Yorktown, host of "The Washingtons of Colonial Virginia," an exhibit about Washington's ancestors that will open on June 4. Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, where you can glean a more personal look at a 184-piece collection of Washingtoniana, documents and displays in an exhibit of "George Washington: The Man Behind the Myths" through October 3. To request a brochure detailing all the Washington events in Virginia, you can call 1 (888) 828-4787. For online information about other Washington events around the country, point your browser to: http://www.gwashington1999.org. Former President Jimmy Carter recently added a preface to the paperback version of his book, "Living Faith," that describes the response to his personal history of faith that he received from extended family members about whom he didn't know before. The preface created quite a stir. It seems that Mr. Carter keeps a computerized record of all who claim a blood relationship. His database now contains more than 800 family members related to his great-great grandfather, Wiley Carter. Many of these descendants gathered to attend a family reunion last year. Many of the attendees had never crossed paths before. Last year was the 200th anniversary of Wiley Carter’s birth. Apparently Jimmy Carter’s book is quite a hit within the extended family. - "It's A Nice Obituary, But I'm Not Dead Yet!" The London Daily Telegraph recently carried a very nice obituary describing the life of recently-departed folk rock musician Dave Swarbrick. Friends and family were quite impressed with it, as was Mr. Swarbrick himself. It seems that Swarbrick, a member of veteran British group Fairport Convention, is still very much alive and is recovering in a British hospital from a chest infection. The 58-year-old musician was reported as "tickled pink" with the obituary. The Daily Telegraph has since published a retraction and apology. 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: Simcoe County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society: Gidley Family Web Page: Kentucky Polston/Poston Family with an online database of 11,961 individuals and 2,322 surnames: The Gregg family site, genealogy with Scottish ancestry and history. Other names listed include Hunter, Hartong, Paxton, and Rothrock: Doolittles of America, Inc. - descendants of Abraham Doolittle 1620-1690, a founding father of Wallingford, CT & the patriarch of most Doolittles found in North America: Fergus research worldwide website includes origin of the surname and variations, primary records, secondary records, personal records (Bibles and letters), current and ongoing research, info on Fergus mailing list and more: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~fergus00/family.htm A database of McCan[d]less families and research notes on this family and affiliated families: Over 75,000 North Central West Virginia names: Tennyson Family History: Connecticut Society of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America: The Vaught Connection, affiliated with the Vaught Association with 1700 members: Herald surname website: Jickling Connection - for researchers and descendants of Jicklings, any time and any place: Godwin family message boards, links, photos, and chat room: German and Austrian Genealogy in Upper Palatinate: The Frasers is dedicated to people of the Fraser name: Origin and history of the surname of Rudich, a family from Bukovina- Austria Romania, with the towns currently located in the Ukraine: Jean's Founding Florida Pioneer Settlers Home Page - Pioneers who settled in East Florida territory before 1845 and their descendants: Luce ancestors from the Jersey Islands, Channel Islands: The Gardner/Garner family of Cleveland County, North Carolina:
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.
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