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Tag: genealogy

  • Genealogy Site Adds 3.2M New American Indian Records

    Genealolgy site Ancestry.com has added millions of new American Indian records for the use of those who think they may have American Indian blood, according to AP.

    The idea came about due to a slim 5.2 million people identifying themselves as having American Indian or Alaskan Native ancestry on 2010 U.S. Census forms.

    Estimates as to those who have American Indian in their genealogy were much higher.

    Ancestry.com figured that a lot of times, people just don’t know their genealogy very well or that they have American Indian blood.

    So, to help solve that problem, the genealogy website has partnered with the Oklahoma Historical Society to add the American Indian historical records, as well as images, to its website.

    Ancestry.com will now have more than 10 million American Indian historical records. That makes it the largest online collection of American Indian genealogy out there.

    The new info includes census counts, treaties, land allotments, marriage certificates and citizenship from over 570 tribes.

    More specifically, records will include Oklahoma and Indian Territory Dawes Census Cards for Five Civilized Tribes from 1898-1914, Oklahoma and Indian Territory Indian Censuses and Rolls from 1851-1959, ratified Indian Treaties and Chiefs from 1722-1869, Oklahoma Indian Land Allotment sales from 1908-1927, and records related to enrollment of Eastern Cherokee by Guion Miller from 1908-1910.

    Pretty amazing stuff going on the the world of genealogy!

    Lisa Arnold, senior content strategist at Ancestry.com, said, “We were able to tell a more complete story by going back further. This will be the most comprehensive collection of Indian records.”

    She added, “People are really, vitally interested in this.”

    If you weren’t all that interested in your genealogy before, perhaps you will be now that there is a possibility that you could have American Indian blood. It’s worth a look, anyway!

    What do you think of the huge new genealogy records addition?

  • Genealogy: Three Tips To Get It Right

    Genealogy: Three Tips To Get It Right

    If you have ever wondered where you came from, you may want to give genealogy a try. Genealogy is more than just studying the past, it can help you learn more about your family and maybe even yourself. Whether you are just now starting to research your genealogy or have been doing it for a while, you may be in need of some tips to ensure that you are creating a family history the right way and leaving something special for future generations in your family to enjoy.

    Photos
    You may or may not know how hard it can be to find a photo of an ancestor or relative. Photography was not nearly as common a century ago as it is today, which is why some people have no photos of their ancestors. That doesn’t mean you can’t start a photo album for your family history or genealogy project. Take photos of as many living relatives as you can and upload them to a family tree online or make one out of paper. Your future relatives will thank you.

    Subscription Services
    Yes, they are expensive but they are also worth it if you are serious about genealogy. There are numerous free family search sites online, but most of them do not have as many documents as the subscription service sites. If you can’t find the right records, you are much more likely to give up on genealogy or guess about it. If you guess wrong, you could ruin your family’s entire history. Most subscription sites have free or discounted trials, give one a try.

    Share Online
    Even if you don’t plan on making your family tree or keeping track of your genealogy online, you may want to consider it. The Internet allows you to reach people all over the world and you may be able to connect with family members you never even knew existed. These family members may also have an interest in genealogy and you can compare notes or work on your family history together.

    If you are going to start working on genealogy, you might as well do it right. Let these tips help you and good luck with your family history search.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Genealogy Tool Can Now Pinpoint Ancestry Through Genetics

    Genealogy is a fun pastime for many people throughout the world. Tracking down ancestral information and filling out family trees is a way for many to connect with the past.

    Beyond birth and death records, however, the study of genealogy is now being pushed forward faster than ever thanks to genetics. Genetic research can provide people throughout the world with an accurate description of their genetic lineage, and now a new technique can even pinpoint their origins on a map.

    A new study published in the journal Nature Communications has demonstrated the accuracy of a new technique that can identify the place of origin of any person using their genetic makeup. While this has been possible for some time, previous methods were not suitable for people in places with large populations of immigrants.

    The new technique uses a “Geographic Population Structure” tool to pair genetic population distributions with individual genetics. The tool uses a database of genetic information from across the world, which holds the genetic mixtures unique to people around the world that were created through migration and other factors. In some cases these genetic markers are accurate enough to identify individual villages of origin.

    The researchers were able to take unknown genetic samples and identify their location of origin. This was done by cross-referencing the samples’ mixture of genetic characteristics with the database.

    “We were surprised by the simplicity and precision of this method,” said Tatiana Tatarinova, a co-author of the study and an associate professor of Research Pediatrics at the University of Southern California. “People in a given geographical area are more likely to have similar genetics. When they also have genetic traits typically found in other, distant regions, the geographical origin of those traits is generally the closest location where those traits can be found.”

    Tatarinova and her colleagues have set up a website where people can use the new tool for free. The tool does require that people already know their DNA genotype.

    In addition to the obvious use of the technology for genealogy, the new method could also be used in other important fields. The study’s authors believe the technique could be used to help people in high-immigration parts of the world discover their origins, giving them insight into their genetic health risk factors.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Genealogy Subscription Sites: Worth The Cost?

    Genealogy Subscription Sites: Worth The Cost?

    If you want to know more about your family’s history and where you came from, you may enjoy genealogy. Genealogy involves searching historical records and family stories to find out more about your ancestry. The Internet has made it easier than ever to research genealogy, and there are plenty of ancestry sites that will help you locate the records you need. Most of these sites charge a subscription fee. The question is, are they worth the cost?

    If you plan on putting a lot of time and effort into your genealogy or family history project, you may find that ancestry subscription sites are well worth the cost. These sites offer access to records that you may not be able to find anywhere else and they are easy to search and distinguish between family members.

    Ancestry.com is one of the most popular genealogy sites and has the most records online. There are several subscription plans to choose from and prices start at $19.99 a month. You can sign up for a 14 day free trial before you buy a subscription and you can cancel at any time. The site offers war records, census records and allows you to search through birth records, death records and marriage records.

    World Vital Records is another site that charges a fee and allows you to search through records that are hard to find elsewhere. The site offers many of the same records as Ancestry.com and they offer a 7-day free trial. Many of the records available on the site come from other family trees.

    So what makes the subscription sites better than the free sites? Subscription sites offer more support and a bigger records selection. Many free sites such as FamilySearch.org, use Census information and other public records but do not offer access to certain types of documents such as war records or immigration records. Subscription sites also offer better customer support. You can contact customer support for questions about certain records or question on how to use the site.

    Subscription sites also have large communities where you are more likely to find family members or other people who are looking for the same records or ancestors as you. You can also find family trees that are complete and even discuss your ancestry with other members. Many people who use subscription sites find a lot of help from other members who have been doing genealogy longer and know the ropes. Some experienced members will even offer to help other site subscribers find records of family members.

    Most people who pay for genealogy subscriptions believe they are well worth the cost. If you are new to genealogy or only interested in doing it occasionally, you may want to start with a free ancestry site first. If you want are having trouble finding the records you need on a free site, you may want to consider paying for a subscription site.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Genealogy: 3 Reasons You Should Try It

    Genealogy: 3 Reasons You Should Try It

    Genealogy is a popular hobby that many people enjoy. It is also a great way to learn about your family history and your ancestors. While millions of people enjoy genealogy, not everyone is willing to give it a try. Some people don’t know where to start, some are afraid they won’t be able to stop once they do start and others are afraid of what they might find. If you are considering giving genealogy a try but can’t make up your mind, consider the following points.

    Connections
    While you might think you know most of your family members, genealogy will prove to you how few you really do know. You can create connections with relatives you never knew existed and learn about your family’s history with stories shared between family members. You can also introduce your children to extended family members and their lifestyles.

    Learn From The Past
    There is an old saying that goes, “Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.” While your ancestors may not have made any serious mistakes in the past, it doesn’t mean you can’t learn from them. You can learn about inheritances, family medical problems and even find out if you are descended from immigrants.

    Create A Project For The Future
    If you have ever wanted to leave something behind for your children but aren’t sure what it should be, a family tree or family history could be it. Your children will enjoy learning about the past as much as you and may even want to use your genealogy research for class project or a family tree of their own. Your children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren can add on to your family tree or family history project and you may even start an amazing family tradition.

    Genealogy doesn’t have to take up all of your free time, cost a lot of money or be complicated. If you are trying to decide if you should start a family history or family tree, the answer is yes. Give it a try. What do you have to lose?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Genealogy: A Sense Of Self And The Past

    Genealogy, which is a search for “family history” has been around for centuries. Knowing where you came from can be a link to your past, present and future. A search for your “family tree” can be a fun, interesting journey but it can also be frustrating when you hit dead ends.

    The recent influx of interest is spurred by many classes that are taking place all over the country, teaching the best methods for searching for great grandmas and grandpas, and even their original lineages.

    Many opt for hiring a board certified Genealogist who can reach further into the past through oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family. Their results are sometimes given in charts along with written narratives.

    The motivation to find family history can be linked to family health history, country of origin of ancestors, preserving the past and future in knowing precisely where families originated.

    Questions such as “where did my grandparents meet and marry” or “was my father legitimate” can be answered.

    This is a project that can be taken on by the entire family, for an interesting and enlightening activity. It can be done in steps, but experts warn, it takes patience.

    Frank Faulker, the head of the Texana/Genealogy department at Central Library, said the first step is talking with relatives.

    “Get names and dates and places for births, marriages, deaths,” he said. “They’re not going to have everything, but it’ll give you an idea of what you need.”

    “There is no easy button,” said Debbie Countess, a Texana/Genealogy librarian who leads the workshops. “It’s like doing a puzzle, fitting the pieces together. It takes patience.”

    One source that many find helpful is a very popular website, “Ancestry.com” where more and more data is uploaded regularly and might just get you some important information.

    There are classes for those who just don’t have the family background information to even get started. Search public libraries and Google for classes in your area. There are genealogists that can get you started, and many are free.

    Learning your family history can reveal decades of information about your heritage, nationality, marriages, divorces, siblings and might also include funny anecdotes about family members which can be extremely rewarding.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons