Genealogy Gems - Your Family History Channel

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #214 with Lisa Louise Cooke www.GenealogyGems.com Download our App! In this episode, Irish expert Donna Moughty joins host and producer Lisa Louise Cooke to talk about Irish genealogy—to help you get a jump on yours before everyone starts talking about their Irish roots on St. Patrick’s Day next month! Also in this episode: Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard has DNA news and an answer to a listener who called in with a question about YDNA. Other listeners write in with inspiring successes Michael Strauss musters in with tips on finding your ancestors in the five branches of the U.S. military. NEWS: MYHERITAGE DNA MATCHING UPDATE The MyHeritageDNA test matching algorithm has gotten better—AND they’ve added a chromosome browser. Time to test with MyHeritage DNA or upload your results from another company for free? Click here to read all about it! MAILBOX: LISTENERS ON FAMILY HISTORY VIDEOS Muffy in Seattle sent this link to her family history video. Great job! Melissa asked about finding copyright-free music to add to family history videos. Lisa’s tips: Unfortunately, free royalty-free music sites are few and far between. You're smart to be cautious because if you were to put your video on YouTube they have the technology to identify any song that is used that is a violation of copyright. YouTube does make free music available: Sign into YouTube with your Google account Click on your picture in the upper right corner and go to your Creator Studio. Upload your video (you can keep it private if you wish) and then on the video page click "Audio" (above the video title). Choose among the many music tracks there. Once you've added a track and saved it, you should be able to download the video with the music included. The other source of music I use is music that comes with the programs I use (Animoto and Camtasia). GENEALOGY BUSINESS ALLIANCE GBA Buzz game for RootsTech 2018; Play the game. See websites for complete rules. Lisa Louise Cooke uses and recommends RootsMagic family history software. From within RootsMagic, you can search historical records on FamilySearch.org, Findmypast.com and MyHeritage.com. Keep your family history research, photos, tree software files, videos and all other computer files safely backed up with Backblaze, the official cloud-based computer backup system for Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems. Learn more at https://www.backblaze.com/Lisa. INTERVIEW: DONNA MOUGHTY ON IRISH RESEARCH Preparing for Success in Irish Records by Donna M Moughty The following review appeared in the January 2018 newsletter of the Midwest Genealogy Center, Mid-Continent Public Library:  “If you want a quick guide on how to get started on Irish research, this short, four-page guide is an excellent resource. This guide will help you start your research in the United States, so you can figure out where in Ireland your ancestor came from. It is organized into 12 steps with helpful websites added. This guide is the first in the Irish Research Series by Donna M Moughty.” Donna Moughty, shown left with Lisa Louise Cooke, is a professional genealogist and former Regional Manager for Apple Computers. She has been conducting family research for over 20 years. She teaches classes for beginners and lectures on a variety of subjects including Internet, Irish research, and computer topics. In addition, she provides consultations, research assistance, and training. She is a member of Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speakers Guild. Websites mentioned in their conversation: irishgenealogy.ie National Library of Ireland rootsireland.ie moughty.com Donna’s Irish guide series Get the value-priced bundle of three or purchase them individually through the links below: Preparing for Success in Irish Records Research - Guide #1 (reviewed above): Without the right preparation, researching in Ireland can be frustrating! Before you jump the pond, start your research at home to determine a place in Ireland, as well as details to help differentiate your person from someone of the same name. This research guide will walk you through the process of identifying records in the US to set you up for success in your Irish research. Irish Civil Registration and Church Records - Guide #2. Civil Registration for all of Ireland began in 1864, with Protestant marriages dating back to 1845. Even if your ancestors left before that date, they likely had relatives that remained in Ireland. Prior to Civil Registration, the only records of births (baptisms), marriages or deaths (burials) are in church records. This Reference Guide will explain how to use the new online Civil Registration records as well as how to identify the surviving church records for your ancestors in Ireland.  Land, Tax, and Estate Records - Guide #3 (NEW!). Had the Irish census...

Here's a quick 5 minute preview of my exciting new genealogy class called "Time Travel Technology". Genealogy Gems Premium Members can watch the full 35 minute premium video. Become a member by going to https://lisalouisecooke.com/premium-membership/ . This 5 minute preview will take you on a journey through time and explore the innovative and technological advancements that can help you in your genealogy research today! Premium video classes also include downloadable handouts so that you can put what you learn into action. Enjoy the free preview! Lwww.GenealogyGems.com Instructor: Lisa Louise Cooke

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #213 with Lisa Louise Cooke www.GenealogyGems.com Download our App! NEWS: HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR TO KEYNOTE ROOTSTECH Click here to read about all RootsTech keynote speakers Click here to read about the Genealogy Gems experience at RootsTech 2018 Click here to hear Lisa Louise Cooke’s conversation with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in the Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 133 GEMS NEWS: UPDATED PREMIUM VIDEO Genealogy Gems Premium subscribers can now enjoy an updated version of Lisa’s Premium video, “Making Evernote Effortless.” You’ll learn how to use Evernote’s: Quick Keys: Help you get things done faster Search Operators: Digging deeper and faster into your notes Shortcuts: Learn how to set them up to accomplish repetitive tasks faster Reminders: Help you track and meet deadlines Note Sharing: Collaboration just got easier Source Citation: Merging notes to include sources; Source Citation with “Info” feature Web Clipper Bookmarklet: a hack for adding it to your mobile tablet’s browser   Lisa Louise Cooke uses and recommends RootsMagic family history software. Keep your family history research safely backed up with Backblaze, the official cloud-based computer backup system for Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems. Learn more at https://www.backblaze.com/Lisa. Animoto.com. BONUS CONTENT for Genealogy Gems App Users If you’re listening through the Genealogy Gems app, your bonus content for this episode is a lightning-quick tech tip from Lisa Louise Cooke on how to undo that last browser you just closed and didn’t mean to! The Genealogy Gems app is FREE in Google Play and is only $2.99 for Windows, iPhone and iPad users MILITARY MINUTES: REGULAR, VOLUNTEER OR MILITIA? To gain a better understanding of what life in the military was like for your ancestors, it is essential to know in what capacity someone may have served. Did your ancestor serve in the regulars, or was he a volunteer soldier, or did he have service with the local militia? These terms are generally associated with the records of the United States Army. The other branches enlisted men using different terminology. Free download: Military Service Records at the National Archives by Trevor K. Plante (Reference Information Paper 109) Click here for National Archives reference materials for military acronyms, abbreviations, and dictionaries that will aid genealogists when researching how exactly their ancestors served Journal of the American Revolution: Explaining Pennsylvania’s militia: One of the best examples of how colonial militias operated (laws, rules, and regulations, and parent organizations). Pennsylvania followed very closely the doings of other colonies during the same period. Samuel Howard in the Civil War Because of his age he wasn’t able to enlist until 1865 when he turned 18. He was a volunteer soldier who served as a substitute for another man who was drafted. After his discharge, he again enlisted in the Regular Army in 1866. He was assigned to the 13th U.S. Infantry, where he served one month before deserting at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Samuel was married in 1867 (this may have some relevance to his decision to leave the military). He lived in Pennsylvania from the end of the war until his death in 1913. Shown here in 1876, Lebanon, PA. Both his Regular and Volunteer Army enlistment forms are included here, along with the above photograph of Samuel with his wife circa 1876 from an early tintype. The forms look very similar, as each contains common information asked of a typical recruit. However they are decidedly different as the one covers his Civil War service and the other his post war service when he joined the regular Army after the men who served during the war would have been discharged. MyHeritage.com is the place to make connections with relatives overseas, particularly with those who may still live in your ancestral homeland. Click here to see what MyHeritage can do for you: it’s free to get started. http://www.myheritage.com/?utm_source=ppc_lisa_cooke&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=site_052015&tr_ad_group=website   GEM: AN INSPIRING FAMILY HISTORY VIDEO   Watch this inspiring Where I’m From video based on poem by Tom Boyer How to create your own family history videos Learn more about the Where I’m From poetry project and hear a conversation with the original author, Kentucky poet laureate George Ella Lyon in the free Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 185. Hannah’s Animoto Advice: You’ll find when using the video templates, timing the photos to the narration can pose some challenges. Originally, when she put the photos in place and “previewed” the video, the narration didn’t line up at all with the images. Hannah explains: “When I was in...

Here's a genealogy tech tip for you! Have you ever clicked a book marked linked only to find that the page is missing? I was trying to find a page at Ancestry.com that has free downloadable genealogy charts and forms. The link I had went to a missing page. This happens quite often when pages get moved or renamed. Get around it by going to Google and pasting the URL you have. Remove the tail end of the URL back to the original folder. Click Enter. The new page will likely appear at the top of the results. If not, try searching for the name of the original page. Even better, do a SITE search; episode 154 site:lisalouisecooke.com This search will search the specified site for the keywords. Pretty slick! If you liked this tech tip, I would be ever so grateful if you clicked the SUBSCRIBE button for this channel. That will let me know I better get busy and make more tech tip videos :-) Wishing you technological success and loads of genealogy gems! Lisa

GENEALOGY SOCIETIES, GROUPS AND LIBRARIES: Genealogy Gems is your partner in genealogy programming. The Genealogy Gems Society Package is a subscription licensing service for genealogical groups. Your cost-effective way to provide superior quality genealogy presentations by our team of experts at your meetings. Learn more at https://lisalouisecooke.com/society/ License to show video recordings of Lisa’s most popular classes Here's the current archive: https://lisalouisecooke.com/society-videos/ If you have questions please email us at service @ genealogy gems .com

Inspired by the poem, Where I'm From, that Tom Boyer wrote and submitted to the Genealogy Gems Podcast. This video was created by Hannah using Animoto. We hope it inspires you to tell your own story. Why not start by writing your own Where I'm From poem?

Create this TIMELES DIY gift that your family will love. It's the perfect solution for gifts for Christmas, birthdays, Mother's Day and Father's Day, and more! Old nonworking watches are easy to come by. Dig through your jewelry box, thrift stores, eBay, garage sales, ask friends and family. If you enjoy this video, please Subscribe to this channel. Leave a comment and let me know if you'd like to see more ideas like this, and is you make a family history watch yourself. Listen to my Genealogy Gems Podcast to learn more about how to discover and honor your family's history at https://lisalouisecooke.com/podcasts/

It's so easy to capture your family's memories with video these days. Here's a brief example of a video I've been working on. Learn more about how to create these yourself at https://www.genealogygems.com/video

The Genealogy Gems PodcastEpisode #212with Lisa Louise Cooke www.GenealogyGems.com Download our App! In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke speaks with Contributing Editor Sunny Morton about turning our fleeting scraps of recollections into meaningful memories. Also: Genealogist Margaret Linford tells us how she got started in family history. Like many of our best stories, it’s not just about her, but someone who inspired her. 2017 could be called “the year of DNA.” Diahan Southard looks back with a special DNA news digest. Finding missing ancestors: tips and success stories from Genealogy Gems fans NEWS: WIKITREE HONOR CODE WikiTree.com WikiTree Press Release on 100,000 signatures Learn more about using individual v. global/community family trees on Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, Findmypast.com and MyHeritage.com in Sunny Morton’s quick reference guide, Genealogy Giants: Comparing the 4 Major Websites. NEWS: FAMICITY ADDS GEDCOM UPLOAD Famicity.com NEWS: DNA YEAR IN REVIEW WITH DIAHAN SOUTHARD As evidence of its now proven usefulness in genealogy research, the genetic genealogy industry is growing at a fast pace. Ancestry.com has amassed the largest database, now boasting over 6 million people tested, and is growing at breakneck speeds, having doubled the size of its database in 2017. As the databases grow larger and our genealogy finds become more frequent, we can’t ignore that this kind of data, the correlated genetic and genealogical data, amassed by these companies, has great value. In November, MyHeritage announced an effort by their scientific team to “study the relationship between genetics and behavior, personal characteristics, and culture.” These studies are not new, as 23andMe is in open hot pursuit of the connections between genetics and our health, and always has been. All of our genetic genealogy companies are involved in research on one level or another and every person who swabs or spits has the opportunity to participate in other research projects (click here to read up on the consent policies at each company). At the time of testing, you have the option to opt in or out of this research, and the ability to alter that decision at any time after you test, by accessing your settings. According to an article in Fast Company, it seems we as a community are very interested in helping with research: 23andMe reports an over 80% opt-in-to-research rate among their customers. And I’ve got some breaking news for you: Family Tree DNA just started a consumer awareness campaign to reinforce the message that they will never sell your genetic data. That’s another important topic worth talking about in a future episode, so stay tuned! All our genetic genealogy companies realize that you might want to do more with your data than just look for your ancestors. This year Family Tree DNA has partnered with Vitagene in an effort to provide insight into your health via your genetic genealogy test results. Of course 23andMe is the leader in health testing when we look at our top genetic genealogy companies. This year 23andMe finally succeeded in passing several of their health tests through the FDA, a huge leap forward in their efforts to provide health testing directly to consumers. While health testing has certainly seen an explosion of interest this year, it is not the only way that our companies are using the data they have amassed. AncestryDNA took the DNA and pedigree charts of two million customers who consented to research and, using some really fancy science, were able to provide amazing insight into our recent ancestral past with the creation of their genetic communities. These genetic communities enhance our understanding of our heritage by showing us where our ancestors may have been between 1750 and 1850, the genealogical “sweet spot” that most of us are trying to fill in. Living DNA, a relative newcomer to the genetic genealogy arena, announced in October of 2017 their intention to use their database to help create a One World Family Tree. To do so, they are collecting DNA samples from all over the world, specifically those who four grandparents lived in close proximity to each other. Along with this announcement, Living DNA is allowing individuals who have results from other companies and want to help with this project, to transfer into their database. So it seems that with growing databases come growing options, whether to opt-in to research, to pursue health information from your DNA test results, or to help build global databases for health or genealogy purposes. Recognizing the growing appeal to non-genealogists as well, AncestryDNA added to their list of options the ability to opt-out of the match page, and there are rumors that Living DNA will soon be adding the option to opt-in to matching (they do not currently have a cousin-matching feature as part of their offering). It can be tricky to keep up with all that...

Documents alone can be boring to non-genealogists. Capture your family's imagination by telling their family history story with Google Earth. See how easy it is to turn the genealogical information you've collected into compelling multi-media stories. These tours will help everyone in your family appreciate your genealogical research and protect as a legacy for generations to come. Enjoy! To learn more: Visit https://lisalouisecooke.com/free-google-earth-for-genealogy-video-class-by-lisa-louise-cooke/ to watch my full length free class exploring more ways to use Google Earth for Genealogy. ♥ Become a Premium Member here: https://lisalouisecooke.com/premium-membership/ ⌚ Jump to Video Sections: 0:00 Introduction 02:55 video embedded in Google Earth (example) 06:13 custom map overlay (example) 07:16 3D models in Google Earth (example) 👍 & 💬 SUPPORT: Please give this free video a thumbs up, & comment thank you! – Lisa ⭐Get your official Elevenses with Lisa mug: https://genealogy-gems.myteespring.co/?_ga=GA1.2.1090603222.1607097375 🛒 Shop my store: https://www.shopgenealogygems.com/ where you can get my book. ▶ 👀 WATCH NEXT: Elevenses with Lisa Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvm6LYBUaNE&list=PLO4MJCRLjwXh9lNuXaCtIPMgnIUP0zITb ✏SIGN UP for our newsletter & receive my free genealogy search cheat sheet. https://lisalouisecooke.com/newsletter-form/ Join the Genealogy Gems Family: 💎 My Genealogy Gems Website: https://lisalouisecooke.com/ 💎 The Genealogy Gems Podcast: https://lisalouisecooke.com/podcasts/ 📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GenealogyGems/ ▶ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaCooke 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast/ 📌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke/ #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #googleearth

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #211 with Lisa Louise Cooke www.GenealogyGems.com Download our App! In this episode, host and producer Lisa Louise Cooke talks with Barry Moreno, Historian at Ellis Island. Hear about the life cycle of this busy U.S. immigration station (1892-1954) and Barry’s research into thousands of Ellis Island employees—men and women—who worked there. HelloFresh: Visit: Visit www.hellofresh.com and use promo code gems30 to save $30 off your first week of deliveries. More episode highlights: Archive Lady Melissa Barker tells us about the National Archives Citizen Archivist program—and Lisa profiles a volunteer effort coordinated by the British Library to geo-tag thousands of old maps that are already online. A giant genealogy lost-and-found! Two listeners write in about rescuing old artifacts and returning them to those who might be interested. Military Minutes contributor Michael Strauss talks about Official Military Personnel Files for 20th-century US servicemen and women—files that were unfortunately partially destroyed. Hear what he learned about his grandfather. Get more Genealogy Gems at www.GenealogyGems.com Get the complete show notes for this episode here: https://lisalouisecooke.com/2017/11/episode-211/

Click our channel name (above) to see all the genealogy videos here on the Genealogy Genealogy Gems YouTube channel. And please click the SUBSCRIBE button to stay in touch with us. In this video, I've got a quick sneak peek for you on what Sunny Morton covers in her video class Sharing Your Own Life Stories More Meaningfully. Genealogy Gems Premium Members can watch the full length 60 min. class and download the class handouts for easy reference. Your story is just as important as your ancestors' and there's no better time to tell it than starting today. Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member https://lisalouisecooke.com/premium-membership/

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode #210 with Lisa Louise Cooke. www.GenealogyGems.com Download our App! In this episode: Chicago Fire History - You’ve heard of “burned counties,” a phrase used to describe places where courthouse fires or other disasters have destroyed key genealogy records? In this episode, a listener presents the problem of her burned city—Chicago. DNA Health Reports - Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard shares some of the latest buzz about DNA health reports you can get with your DNA tests for family history—and some opinions about them Genealogy Book Club - News from the Genealogy Gems Book Club Beginning Swedish Genealogy - Get-started Swedish genealogy tips from Legacy Tree Genealogist Paul Woodbury Unprocessed Records at the Archives - The Archive Lady Melissa Barker shines the spotlight on archival collections that haven’t even been processed yet (and suggestions for getting to them) The 1950s Census - Five years away from the release of the 1950 US census, Lisa has tips on researching your family in the 1940s and preparing for its release Complete show notes can be found at: https://lisalouisecooke.com/2017/10/episode-210/

The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke Episode 209 www.GenealogyGems.com Download our App! In today’s episode: David Ouimette of FamilySearch is known to his colleagues as “the Indiana Jones of genealogy” because of his globe-trotting adventures in curating record treasures. He joins us to talk about the millions of records being digitized around the world right now. Lots of excited emails from you! Compiled military service records from Military Minutes expert Michael Strauss GENEALOGY GEMS EVENTS: Thanks for a great seminar, Texas Czech Genealogical Society! See Lisa Louise Cooke in October: Jewish Genealogical Society of Colorado Seminar October 15, 2017 Denver, CO Wilson-Cobb History and Genealogy Research Library October 21, 2017 Roswell, NM NEWS: ROOTSMAGIC UPDATE MAILBOX Gray recommends Lisa’s free Family History: Genealogy Made Easy Podcast MAILBOX: FREE WEBINAR RESPONSES “Reveal Your Unique Story through DNA & Family History” RootsTech 2018: A First Look NEW GENEALOGY GEMS PREMIUM VIDEO Develop your search superpowers to uncover information about your family history on the web with Google at lightning speed! Explore tools like Image search, facial recognition, finding specific types of files, how to find the answers you need, and more. Click here to watch a class preview; click here to become a Genealogy Gems Premium member. BONUS CONTENT for Genealogy Gems App Users: If you’re listening through the Genealogy Gems app, your bonus content for this episode is an easy-to-access version of the new Genealogy Gems Premium video, “Google Search Secrets.” The Genealogy Gems app is FREE in Google Play and is only $2.99 for Windows, iPhone and iPad users. INTERVIEW: DAVID OUIMETTE OF FAMILYSEARCH: “THE INDIANA JONES OF GENEALOGY” David Ouimette, CG, manages Content Strategy at FamilySearch. He has conducted research and analyzed archival materials in dozens of countries in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. David lectures regularly and has written for genealogists, including Finding Your Irish Ancestors: A Beginner’s Guide. Genealogy Gems Contributing Editor Sunny Morton is the author of “Genealogy Giants: Comparing the 4 Major Websites.” Use this jammed-packed cheat sheet to quickly and easily compare the most important features of the four biggest international genealogy records membership websites: Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, Findmypast.com and MyHeritage.com. Consult it every time your research budget, needs or goals change! Start creating fabulous, irresistible videos about your family history with Animoto. You don’t need special video-editing skills: just drag and drop your photos and videos, pick a layout and music, add a little text and voila! You’ve got an awesome video! Learn more here: https://lisalouisecooke.com/family-history-videos/ MILITARY MINUTES: COMPILED MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS If a clue found in your ancestor’s US draft registration records listed military service you will want next to search for his Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR). The Compiled Military Service Records (often abbreviated at CMSR or CSR) record the name, unit, and period of service of the veteran along with information related to military service from the Revolutionary War to the end of the hostilities of the Philippine Insurrection after the turn of the 20th century. The information varies greatly from each of the war periods that recorded this information. Besides the identifying features listed above, they typically contain muster in/out information, rank in/out details and further highlight the soldier career by recording promotions, prisoner of war memorandums, casualties, and a number of personnel papers which may include enlistment papers and other related documents. Several of the war periods also provide physical...GET ALL THE SHOW NOTES AT http://genealogygemspodcast.com/episode-209

Click our channel name (above) to see all the genealogy videos here on the Genealogy Genealogy Gems YouTube channel. An please click the SUBSCRIBE button to stay in touch with us. In this video, I've got a sneak peek for you on what we cover in my class "5 Google Search Secrets Revealed for Genealogy". You'll develop your search superpowers to uncover information about your family history on the web with Google at lightening speed! We'll explore tools like image search, Facial Recognition, finding specific types of files, how to find the answers you need, and much more. Genealogy Gems Premium Members can access the full length class. Learn more at my website: www.GenealogyGems.com Instructor: Lisa Louise Cooke

The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke www.GenealogyGems.com Download our App! In this episode: A free webinar! Great comments from you: An inspiring Google Books success story, how one listener gets her shy husband talking about his life story, and a listener’s own version of the poem, “Where I’m From” The Archive Lady talks to us about historical scrapbooks at archives that may be packed with genealogy gems for us A genealogy hero who saved a life story Your first look at RootsTech 2018 Get the show notes with all the clickable links here: https://lisalouisecooke.com/2017/09/episode-208/ NEWS: FREE WEBINAR “Reveal Your Unique Story through DNA & Family History” NEWS: FIRST LOOK AT ROOTSTECH 2018 MAILBOX: PAT INTERVIEWS HER SHY HUSBAND Pat’s tip: When someone is shy about sharing life stories, interview them informally while traveling. Pat uses her iPad to transcribe his responses, then polishes it up when she gets home and transfers it to her own computer. “Eventually we will have enough to write the story of his life, with lots of pictures. And it's completely painless.” MAILBOX: GOOGLE BOOKS SUCCESS STORY FROM KIM Get another inspiring genealogy discovery using Google Books—with how-to tips and a free video preview of Lisa Louise Cooke’s Premium video tutorial, “Google Books: The Tool You Need Every Day” MAILBOX: “WHERE I’M FROM” POEM SUBMISSION Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 185: Learn more about the “Where I’m From” poetry project and hear a conversation with the original author, Kentucky poet laureate George Ella Lyon. THE ARCHIVE LADY: HISTORICAL SCRAPBOOK Scrapbooks are one of my favorite record sources to do genealogy research in and to also process in the archives. There are all kinds of scrapbooks; each and every one is unique and one-of-a-kind. They were put together with love and the hope that what was saved and pasted onto those pages will be remembered. The origins of scrapbooking is said to go back to the 15th century in England and it is still a hobby enjoyed by many today. Most archives, libraries, historical and genealogical societies have scrapbooks in their collections. They will most likely be found in the Manuscript Collection as part of a specifically named collection. Scrapbooks contain all kinds of wonderful genealogical records, photographs and ephemera. There is even a scrapbook in the Houston County, Tennessee Archives that has candy bar wrappers pasted in it. This particular scrapbook is one of my absolute favorites. It was compiled and owned by Evelyn Ellis and dates to the 1930’s and 1940’s. Among the normal newspaper clippings and event programs are interesting pieces such as a Baby Ruth candy bar wrapper with a handwritten note by Evelyn that reads "Always remember June 11, 1938 at Beach Grove at the Ice Cream Supper." There is also an original ticket pasted into the scrapbook from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee where Evelyn Ellis visited and recorded her comments on April 1, 1939. There are scrapbooks for just about any subject. Aside from personal scrapbooks, you can find war scrapbooks, obituary clipping scrapbooks and scrapbooks that collected and recorded local or national events. The obituaries found in scrapbooks could be a real find because sometimes they are the only pieces of the newspaper that survive and can be a treasure trove for any genealogist. Many scrapbooks contain one-of-a-kind documents, photographs and ephemera. To find scrapbooks in an archive, ask the archivist if they have any scrapbooks in their records collections. Many times scrapbooks are housed with a particular manuscript collection and will be listed in the finding aid. Some archives have a collection of just scrapbooks that have been donated to them and can be easily accessed. Most scrapbooks will not be on research shelves and will be stored in back rooms at the archives and will have to be requested. You should also check the archives online catalog for any listings of scrapbooks before you jump in the car and drive to the archives. I encourage all genealogists to check with the archive in the area where your ancestors were from and see if they have any scrapbooks in their archived records collections. Scrapbooks are like time capsules: you don’t know what will be found in them until you open them up. BONUS CONTENT for Genealogy Gems App Users If you’re listening through the Genealogy Gems app, your bonus content for this episode is a PDF with tips for what to do if your own scrapbook gets wet....

Catapult your family history through deeper DNA testing and cutting-edge tools, free websites, expert Google strategies, and ready-to-go video designs. This free, full length 90 minute recorded event, brought to you by Animoto is designed to provide you with a foundational understanding of DNA and how it can tell your story, quick Google and genealogy research strategies to help you fill in the blanks in your family history story, and step by step how to information on how to pull it all together in a compelling video that everyone in your family will LOVE! 0 - 8:50 Lisa's story, and get inspired! 8:50 Beginning DNA with Diahan Southard 30:00 Googling the Gaps to fill in your story with Lisa Louise Cooke 57:30 Digging Deeper with DNA to tell your story 1:19:00 Learn how to create story videos with Animoto 1:32:42 Watch to the end to see our behinds the scenes Animoto video! And I want to hear from you! What ideas from this video did you put into motion? Did you create a video? Share your comments and video links in the comments section. And please, do me a favor and share this video with your friends! To learn more visit these free resources: https://lisalouisecooke.com/family-history-videos/ https://lisalouisecooke.com/animoto/ Learn more about your presenters: Lisa Louise Cooke www.genealogygems.com Diahan Southard: https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ Animoto (Beth Forester): http://bit.ly/2xQ5gPE

Family History Video Inspiration! I'm sharing with you a story that unfolded during my genealogy research and that came to life in this Animoto video. It's the brief story (just 1 min. & 19 sec.) of Harry Cooke and his son Raymond, the challenges they faced, and their brave building of a new life in Canada. As you can see, family history storytelling can be quick and compelling, and it can make use of the fascinating items that you find in your genealogy research journey. Here are two resource links to get you started making your own videos: https://lisalouisecooke.com/animoto/ https://lisalouisecooke.com/family-history-videos/ Thanks for watching and be sure to subscribe to my channel to get all our upcoming free genealogy videos.

I’m a pretty lucky lady. My business is a family business. All three of my daughters and my husband work with me to create Genealogy Gems. But our company family also includes Sunny Morton, our Editor and Book Club Guru, and Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard. As we capture memories throughout the year for generations to come, it makes sense to capture all the families we a part of: businesses, teams, churches, and yes, even genealogy societies. This year has been an important one for the Genealogy Gems family. It’s our 10th year serving people around the world who yearn to learn more about their family history. So, I temporarily set aside my workload this last weekend and devoted some important time to recording our history. There’s no better use of your time than telling the story of the families that mean most to you. Every single one has a story, and I can’t think of a better person to tell that story than you! 🎬 Learn more at https://lisalouisecooke.com/family-history-videos/

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 207 with Lisa Louise Cooke www.GenealogyGems.com Download our FREE App! In this episode, Lisa welcomes Mary Tedesco, a co-host of PBS’ Genealogy Roadshow. Mary shares stories and tips about tracing Italian and Italian-American roots. Also: FamilySearch updates since the end of microfilm lending (and how YOU helped make the last days of lending more effective); A listener uses Google to find her mysterious great-grandmother, with a success story she calls a “game-changer” for her genealogy research. NEWS: DOUBLE THE FUN WITH MORE GENEALOGY GEMS PODCAST This episode launches the NEW twice-monthly Genealogy Gems Podcast format. From now on, watch for two free episodes every month, each about 35-45 minutes long. If you haven’t downloaded the Genealogy Gems app for easier listening on your mobile device, consider doing so now to make it twice as easy on yourself—and get twice the bonus content from now on! If you’re listening through the Genealogy Gems app, your bonus content for this episode is…. The Genealogy Gems app is FREE in Google Play and is only $2.99 for Windows, iPhone and iPad users. Special Deal: Care.com To save 30% off a Care.com Premium membership, visit http://www.care.com/gems Special Deal: Hello Fresh I had so much fun opening the box. They even sent me an apron! Visit hellofresh.com and use promo code gems30 to save $30 off your first week of deliveries. NEWS: FREE WEBINAR 9/23 LIVE FROM NYC Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems presents: Reveal Your Unique Story through DNA and Family History Sponsored by Animoto DATE: Saturday, September 23, 2017 TIME: 11:00 AM EST REGISTER NOW at https://lisalouisecooke.com/webinar/ Learn from Lisa Louise Cooke, Diahan Southard and Animoto’s Beth Forester: Your DNA testing options (there are more than you think), and possible outcomes The best free resources for going beyond DNA, back several generations in your family (quickly!) Creative ideas for filling in the story gaps How to expand your story in ways you never expected by finding DNA connections Share the story you’ve uncovered with the world through riveting video Can’t attend live? Register anyway to receive the slides and the video recording afterward. I chat with Hannah about Hurricane Harvey Keep your family history research, photos, tree software files, videos and all other computer files safely backed up with Backblaze, the official cloud-based computer backup system for Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems. Learn more at http://www.backblaze.com/Lisa.

Date: Sat. Sept. 23, 2017 Time: 11:00 AM Eastern Length: 90 minutes including Live A&Q Register at https://events.genndi.com/register/169105139238464863/a65a2c57c6 Your DNA Guide dispels the myth that there's just on DNA test There are more options, and possible outcomes, than you might think! Creative ideas for filling in the gaps in your family's story 3 Online Tools to go well beyond names and dates. ​​​​​​​Then we'll expand your story in unexpected ways by finding DNA connections. Share the story you’ve uncovered through awesome video​​​​​​​ Lisa & Beth will show you how easy it is to tell your story like a pro!

In this video class, you will learn how to find the unexpected when using Google Books for family history. Technology continues to explode with so many great new tools, many of which can help you in your genealogy research. Whether you are just beginning to learn how to find your family history, or you've been doing genealogy research for years, you'll improve your skills with this class. Genealogy Gems Premium Members can access the full length class. Learn more at my website: www.GenealogyGems.com Instructor: Lisa Louise Cooke, author of the book The Genealogist's Google Toolbox available at https://www.shopgenealogygems.com

I've heard from many Genealogy Gems listeners that they are worried about what the discontinuation of FamilySearch's microfilm lending program will mean for their genealogy research. I invited Diane Loosle, Director of the Patron Services Division at FamilySearch to join me in this special podcast interview to talk about the service ending August 31, 2017, what it means to genealogists, and how you can get access to the genealogical records you need for your family history research. After you listen to the interview, you can learn more at the Genealogy Gems Blog: The End of FamilySearch Microfilme Lending: https://lisalouisecooke.com/2017/06/the-end-of-familysearch-microfilm-lending/ Browse only databases at FamilySearch are easy to use: https://lisalouisecooke.com/2016/06/browse-only-databases-familysearch/ Subscribe and listen to the free Genealogy Gems Podcast in iTunes, Apple's Podcasts app, the Google Play Music app, and in the Genealogy Gems Podcast app - https://lisalouisecooke.com/get-app/ Transcription: available at https://lisalouisecooke.com/2017/08/special-episode-the-end-of-familysearch-microfilm-lending-program/   FamilySearch's Goal for Microfilm and the Family History Library It seems like only yesterday I was interviewing Don R. Anderson, Director of the Family History Library about the future of the library and FamilySearch. Back then, in 2009, he made the startling statement that their goal was to digitize all of the microfilms in FamilySearch's granite vault. (Click here to listen to that interview in my Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast episode 16.) Fast forward to today, and we see that in less than ten years that end goal is within sight. We are also seeing the ending of a service nearly every genealogist has tapped into at some point: the microfilm lending program. Family historians have been able to place orders for microfilm to be shipped to their local Family History Center where they could then scroll through the images in search of ancestors. On August 31, 2017, this service comes to an end. Fear of the Unknown It's sort of scary to see this come to an end before every last roll of microfilm has been digitized and put online (just head to social media to read some of the concerns). It's definitely been comforting to know that the records you need are just an order form and two weeks away. I have always found that being armed with information helps alleviate fear, and so upon hearing the news, I reached out to FamilySearch to arrange a special interview with Diane Loosle, Director of Patron Services at FamilySearch. In this special Genealogy Gems Podcast interview, we take the time to really comb through what the end of the microfilm lending program means for you, and what your options are for records access going forward. I've been anxious to get this information into your ears and hands, and have spent the entire weekend producing this episode and transcribing it for you. What follows is part one of the two part interview. The Interview: The End of the FamilySearch Microfilm Lending Program Lisa: One of the constant challenges for genealogists is gaining access to genealogical records that they need for their particular family history research. I imagine that you've had that challenge yourself. Thankfully, since 1938 the FamilySearch organization has been microfilming records around the world. They've been making these records available through the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and through a tremendous lending program with their Family History Centers located worldwide. And that may be where you've gotten your hands on a couple of microfilms and records over the years. But of course, as the Internet has been more accessible over the last two decades, this is changing the landscape of record access. So more and more we are gaining access to digitized records online, and this has led to a really big change in the long-standing microfilm lending program. I've invited Diane Loosle, the Director of Patron Services Division at FamilySearch, to talk about the change that's occurred, what it means for you, and what your record access options are going to be going forward. Diane, thanks so much for joining me today. Diane: I'm so happy I could come, and thank you for inviting me.

The Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 206 with Lisa Louise Cooke www.GenealogyGems.com Download our FREE App! In this episode: Lisa reprises a favorite research detour into vehicle forensics—to identify an old family car—and shares tips for creating short family history books like those she given as holiday gifts to loved ones. Hear letters from listeners on a special adoption discovery and a 1940 census mystery that now makes more sense. Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard weighs in with 4 reasons to take a DNA test, if you haven’t taken the plunge yet. Genealogy Gems Editor Sunny Morton spotlights the current Genealogy Gems Book Club title, Murder in Matera. The vehicle forensics and family book segments originally appeared in Genealogy Gems Podcast episodes 18 and 13, respectively, and are being republished here for web audiences. MAILBOX: RICHARD ON THE 1940 CENSUS 1940 census tip: Listen in Genealogy Gems Episode 201 or read it on the Genealogy Gems blog. Evidentia software helps genealogists organize and analyze their research discoveries. Free 14-day trial available. MAILBOX: ADOPTEE DISCOVERY Read the article here. Tips for using DNA to solve adoption mysteries, taken from a conversation between genetic genealogy experts Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard and CeCe Moore from DNA Detectives. Join our conversations on the Genealogy Gems Facebook page. BONUS CONTENT for Genealogy Gems App Get the app here. If you’re listening through the Genealogy Gems app, your bonus content for this episode is an audio excursion with Lisa on an old railroad track up to a silver mine in the Colorado Rockies, an excursion she originally shared in Episode 18 of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, not now available online, and is being republished here exclusively for your enjoyment. The Genealogy Gems app is FREE in Google Play and is only $2.99 for Windows, iPhone and iPad users GEM: MAKING FAMILY HISTORY BOOKS Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 2 with a segment on transcribing diaries was republished as Genealogy Gems episode 134. “A Nurse in Training, Part 1” “A Nurse in Training, Part 2” Qualities of a successful short family history book, from Lisa Louise Cooke The book conveys an overall theme. Start by reviewing all the available material you have. That will give you a good sense of what the time period was like for your ancestor. You’ll also start to understand their goals, experiences, and emotions. Ultimately a theme should begin to surface. In the case of A Nurse In Training, I wanted to communicate my grandmother as a young woman taking on a new adventure away from home that ultimately led to this warm, caring woman’s successful career as a nurse. I also tucked a bonus subplot in there of how she just happened to meet her husband at the same time! You don’t need every scrap of research and every photo to get this theme across. It’s your job to be a sharp editor and to pick out the critical pieces. You want the words and photographs that clearly communicate your theme to the reader. #2. The book can be read in one sitting. Like it or not, if it takes too long read, they probably won’t. Strive to create a book that doesn’t look intimidating. I create books that are ten to twenty double sided pages. People will be willing to pick up a thinner book off the coffee table. If it’s well done they’ll find that all of a sudden they’ve finished the entire book without wanting to put it down. The final goal is that they will walk away with a real sense of having gotten to know that ancestor. #3. It contains the best of the best of what you have. This goes back to conveying the theme and being a strict editor. My grandma had many funny stories, but there just wasn’t room for all of them. I picked the best of the best. Anyone who reads the book should hopefully come away with the fact that she had a sense of humor and could laugh at herself. So keep the content of your book focused, full of graphics and photos, and including the best of the best. If you can capture their interest in the first three pages, you’ll have them for the entire book. #4. There are lots of photos and graphics. A picture is definitely worth a thousand words. Since the number of words in this size book will be limited, photographs will be your best friend. If you’re lacking in family photos, many of my previous podcasts will give you countless ideas for locating associated photos. In A Nurse In Training I included scanned images of skating rink tickets, programs and announcements from my grandma’s scrapbook, and journal pages in my grandmother’s own hand. These types of items really add texture and interest to your book, as well as help the reader to see that you’ve really done your homework. #5. Keep it in...

Check out this genealogy gem that brings data visualization to historical newspapers research. In this demo I'll show you what I love about it, and how you can use it for your own family history research. Please subscribe to my channel - it helps us get found by other family historians - thank you! Links: http://usnewsmap.com/ https://lisalouisecooke.com/ Get the Genealogy Gems Podcast app: https://lisalouisecooke.com/get-app/