The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke - Your Family History Show

Published Jan 31, 2009 #1 Diane Haddad's Family Tree Magazine Genealogy Insider Blog The latest edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage & Culture has been published over at Small-leaved Shamrock http://www.small-leavedshamrock.blogspot.com The next edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture will be a St. Patrick's Day "virtual parade" online. Anyone who would like to particiate is welcome, whether or not they have Irish roots. For more information on how to participate or to check out the latest carnival head over to http://www.irishheritagecarnival.blogspot.com. Recent Genealogy Gems News Blog postings: I wrapped up my ten genealogy strategies for the new year on Jan 21, 2009 I also posted about the new American version of the television show Who Do You Think You Are? Set your recorders to Monday nights at 8PM on NBC starting April 20. Genealogy Gems Blog There are some milestones going on these days as well. The Library of Congress just crossed the 25,000 mark for books digitized. A good article appeared about that on the Voice of America website: Scanning Project Digitizes 25,000 US Library of Congress Book What's new at Lisa's Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast. Episode 12: I you a comprehensive overview of online family trees. And then we go straight to the source with an in depth interview with Kenny Freestone, Senior Product Manager at Ancestry.com whose primary responsibility is their online family tree tool. Episode 13: We continue exploring our tree options with Scott Huskey of Photoloom.com. They offer an incredible online visual approach to trees and research that centers around your own personal family photos. Then I talk to Sasha Masick of GeneTree, who spices up their family tree tool with a DNA testing component. Episode 14: You've got to tune in to hear how to go from one name and birth year, to three generations of family in 1 hour or less. It's absolutely possible, and I'll show you how in this episode. Then as we finish up with online family trees, I thought it was important to go over the techniques for following up on all those great connections you can make by posting your family tree online. We'll get started in Episode 14 talking about how to locate telephone numbers online, the prep work you need to do before you start to dial, breaking the ice and conducting the interview. Then we'll finish up in Episode 15 on Feb 6 with what we as the interviewer should be doing during the call, what to do if No Answers, we'll cover the "Must Ask" Questions, and how to wrap up the call. NEW RECORDS ONLINE The folks over at the 1911census.co.uk officially launched their website this month. And they have added many of the counties that were unavailable during beta testing including Lancashire, Essex, Kent, Yorkshire (West Riding), Nottinghamshire and Herefordshire so you can now access those British census records from 1911. Update: World Vital Records is now part of MyHeritage. Recently added 20 newspaper databases from Mexico and Canada ranging from 1833-1994: Agricultor Mexicano y Hogar (Ciudad JuÃrez, Chihuahua, Mexico) Apuntes Viejos (General, Mexico) Arte (Mocorito, Sinaloa, Mexico) British Columbian (New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada) Bytown Gazette (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) Cambridge Daily Reporter (Cambridge(Galt, Hespeler, Preston), Ontario, Canada) Canada Gazette (Ottawa, Federal Government Publications, Canada) Canadian Correspondent (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) Charlottetown Examiner (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada) Correo Espanol (General, Mexico) Correspondent and Advocate (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) Daily Mirror (London, England - London Area, UK) Diario del Hogar (Mexico D.F., Mexico) Drumheller Mail (Drumheller, Alberta, Canada) Edmonton Bulletin (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) Educador Practico Ilustrado (Mexico D.F., Mexico) Fin de Siglo (General, Mexico) Grand River Sachem (Caledonia, Ontario, Canada) Halifax British Colonist (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada) Halifax Citizen (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada) MAILBOX:Lisa answers an email from Rollei in Australia about photo preservation and Maria asks for advice on how to inquire about delicate subjects with an elderly relative. FAMILY HISTORY: Genealogy Made Easy GEM: Profile AmericaFeb 3: Income Tax History Gem: Family History ValentineReview Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 20 The gem was called Christmas in July and I showed you how to make cover a store bought candy bar with a home made Christmas Label that would evoke genealogical memories. The candy bar made a great stocking stuffer. Well, I'm up for chocolate any time of year, and Valentines day is a perfect time I think to take a new twist on that idea. printable publishing template This time we have a new theme to inspire us - the theme of Valentines Day and love. I'm guessing thereâs a romantic couple or two in your family tree. Perhaps your bar could pay tribute to one of them or to a few couples. You could give these candy bars celebrating the love of the past to your family of today. Your kids and their spouses, grandkids, you get the idea. Think how surprised and thrilled an elderly aunt or uncle would be to be remembered on Valentines day with a small package in the mail containing a family history candy bar. Valentine my grandmother received in school If your feeling a little more grand than a simple candy bar, consider buying a heart shaped box of candy, tracing the lid, and creating a label that could cover the entire label with a custom message of ancestral love. Use heavy weight or photo paper and attach it with a light coat of rubber cement or use double sided tape. If the box is just a bit bigger than a piece of printer paper you could put the digital file you create on your computer of the label onto a flash drive and take it into your local copy store to print out in the correct size. Here again is your chance to share some of your family's heritage with your family today. Kindle their interest in the familyâs history while showing them that you care with a sweet memories candy bar or valentine box. If you do create some sweet memory candy bars this Valentine's day be sure and snap a photo and email it to me. I really enjoy seeing what you guys come up with! GEM: Profile AmericaFeb 5: Bubble Gum Day Chewing Gum History

GEM: Profile America Jan 12 Frisbees GEM: Profile America Jan 13 Fuller Brush GEM: Interview with Sally Jacobs, The Practical Archivist PHOTO Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcastBe sure and listen to my other family history podcast called Family History: Genealogy Made Easy where in each episode what you need to know step-by-step to climb your family tree. Also in iTunes The Genealogy Gems TV Channel at YouTube

Published Dec 13, 2008 GEM: Name That Tune I'll See You In My Dreams was a big hit for Cliff Edwards who also performed it on the ukuele. In fact he was known as "Uulele Ike." If you think you know the name of today's mystery song, please email me call and leave the answer on the voice mail line at 925-272-4021. Dec. 24, 1968 In 1968 the three man crew of Apollo 8 became the first humans in history to orbit the moon. Their hastily-planned mission saw them enter lunar orbit on Christmas Eve after a three day voyage from earth. In one of a number of scheduled live TV broadcasts from the spacecrafts, the crew pointed their black and white camera at the lunar horizon and read the first ten verses of the Bible's book of Genesis. History of British Christmas Traditions I thought it would be fun to ask my friend James Mowatt of the Historyzine Podcast to tell us alittle bit about the history of Christmas in Britain, and describe how our British ancestors might have celebrated the holiday. From 1940: Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret's Christmas Speech (Below: Princess Elizabeth along with her younger sister Margaret sending Christmas Greetings over the radio airwaves.) From 1917: Christmas, Christmas, Blessed Blessed Day From 1916: Christmas Eve Music Box A solo performed by Robert Gayler on the Celesta - Fantasie on old German Christmas Carols. A celesta is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. It looks very much like a miniature upright piano or a large wooden music box. From 1913: The Bells of Christmasa collection of Christmas carols performed by the Edison Band (below) From 1911: A Christmas Classic - The Awakening of Scrooge Music Hall Performer Bransby Williams (b. 1870 - d.1961) recorded this for Edison Records.

Published Dec 1, 2008 Welcome all the NEW listeners who discovered the show at the Family History Expo in Mesa, AZ. We're so glad you"re on board! Watch this video to learn how to use the free iTunes software (you don't need an iPod to use it!), and subscribe to this podcast for free. Then watch this video to learn more about how to use the podcast website. Family History Expos TV Watching Family History Expo TV is like your own Video Conference! If you were lucky enough to go youâll get to see the folks you may have missed and get refresher info from those you did hear, and if you weren't able to attend, this is your chance to get some great tips and ideas from the experts who were there. The next Family History Expo will be in St. George Feb 27 & 28, 2009 Lisaâs Classes: Genealogy Podcasts 101 What You Must Know To Save Your Research From Destruction Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems Part I Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems Part II And while I was in Mesa AZ, I finally got a chance to sit down and interview Dick Eastman. Dick is always the one doing the interviewing and blogging, and I just thought it was about time I sat him down and got him to tell us his story. And you can hear that interview in itâs entirety in Episode 5 of my other podcast Family History: Genealogy Made Easy. I love getting to talk to genealogy experts up close and personal and I also have really gotten a lot out of going through the genealogy research process step-by-step. It's a great refresher for me as well as hopefully will help folks new to genealogy get started. It's a lot of fun! Fun at The Genealogy Gems News Blog The Genealogy Hoe Down featuring genealogy blogger Miriam Robbins Midkiff, Genealogy Podcaster DearMYRTLE, Family Tree Magazine Editor Allison Stacy, and managing editor Diane Haddad. Blog Post: Genealogists Run, Don't Walk, to Google! Houston Public Library's Fantastic Collection Coming Online. Listen to my interview with Susan Kaufman manager, Houston Public Library's Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research in the October 2008 episode of the Family Tree Magazine Podcast. Subscribe to The Family Tree Magazine Podcast free in iTunes. New at Ancestry: Search the U.S. City Directories database Sign up for the free Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter Calling all Norwegian researchers! The folks at Family Search are going to start indexing the 1875 Norway Census! In the first week of December, they will start indexing the 1875 Norway Census. This will be a large segment of the census for rural areas of Norway, but not the entire census. FamilySearchâs Historical Family Reconstitution unit has joined forces with the University of Troms in Norway to complete this project. The university is indexing the census records for the urban areas of Norway. Pass the word along that anyone interested in Norwegian genealogical research is encouraged to help by volunteering as a FamilySearch indexer. New Google Gadgets: iGoogle has been discontinued Read Listener Phil Hayes's blog post about his musical mom Jeanne T. Lewis. GEM: Interview with Curt Witcher, of the Allen County Library I got a chance to talk to Curt while attending the Federation of Genealogy Societies Conference in Philadelphia, PA this last Sept. 2008. Curt explains about the wide range of census records that many genealogists aren't taking advantage of. Name That Tune! The Darktown Strutter Ball Sheet MusicThe Darktown Strutter Ball Sheet Music You can even watch Guy Lombardo and Royal Canadians doing the Darktown Strutters Ball in the 1950s (video below) If you think you know the name of Mystery Song #3 that Lisa played on this podcast episode email the answer or call and leave the answer on the voice mail line at 925-272-4021 so your answer can be played on the show. A No Cost Way to Support the free Genealogy Gems Podcast. The holidays approaching and thereâs an easy way for you to get your online shopping done while supporting this show. By accessing websites like Amazon.com through the links on the Genealogy Gems homepage and throughout the website, Amazon gives The Genealogy Gems Podcast credit for your purchases. It doesn't cost you anything more, but by using the links on our website, you do a lot to help keep the free Genealogy Gems Podcast coming. Thank you! Visit the the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel where you can watch lots of great genealogy themed videos. Join the Genealogy Gems Podcast fan page at Facebook. Catch up on what's going on in the world of genealogy at The Genealogy Gems News Blog.

Published Nov 2, 2008 I am very happy to announce that I just launched my brand new podcast called Family History: Genealogy Made Easy. The new show really captures two areas of focus that are really sort of outside the focus of this show. First, I wanted to do a show that anybody could stumble upon and with absolutely no prior experience in genealogy be able to listen to and enjoy and that would walk them step by step through the process of doing family history research. It's like a long term free seminar that you can listen to and work along with! The other area I've wanted to focus on is success stories and words of wisdom from experienced genealogists. As I travel around going to conferences and as I read my email, I hear so many great stories. I wanted to have a show where I could really showcase these stories and the wisdom of experienced genealogists. Newbies to genealogy will get a sense of what they can look forward to, and more experienced genealogists like you guys can enjoy hearing personal stories from those that you have probably heard of in the world of genealogy. So that's what you'll find at Family History: Genealogy Made Easy - Personal conversations and stories from the experts, and a genealogy how to course all wrapped in to one. Flash video issue has been resolved. GEM: Profile AmericaCash Register History The James Ritty Patent at Google Patents. GEM: Interview with Colleen Fitzpatrick, The Forensic Genealogist Forensic Genealogist Website GEM: MacGenealogistBen Sayer reviews genealogy software for the Macintosh computer: MacFamily Tree. GEM: Quilting Family Traditions The ladies in our family are Connie Drew, Stacie Sanders, Steffanie Wicker, Shannon Stewart, Shellie Ireland and Brooke Drew Lee wrote me to say "Seeing your own love of quilts, you know how precious these handmade creations will be to our descendants throughout the generations. And so it goes, passing on skills, love and enjoyment across the generations through the use of sewing needles..." Great Family Tradition & Heirloom Ideas from Lee and Connie Drew: Sister Quilts - Round up relatives from the neighborhood or around the country and start a tradition that will create lasting heirlooms. If you don't have a lot of quilters in your family, how about doing cross stitch or scrapbook pages. Create a family tree wall hanging. There are so many mediums you could use. Quilting, applique, cross stitch, painting, the options are pretty limitless. I love how Connie incorporated family silhouettes into the tree. Create unique heirloom clothing. Not artistic or handy with a needle? How about creating custom shirts on a website like Cafe Press. Just upload your images and add text if you like. How about a shirt for each person with the photo of the ancestor they remind you of most? And you could still sew in a little tag that says it was created with love from grandma like Connie did. Whether you're really artsy or don't have a creative bone in your body, there's a project out there for you that will allow you to express yourself, and promote lasting family traditions. More Resources: Genealogy Gems Episode 39 on Heritage Quilts Genealogy Gems Presents Heritage Quilts Video at the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel American Quilterâs Society Website GEM: Linguistic Bit by James MowattHistoryzine Podcast Website GEM: Name That TuneAs you'll remember last episode (episode 53) I told you that I had recently inherited a reel to reel tape that was recorded in the 1960s by my husband's Grandfather and Grandmother Cooke. I played this first of several songs on the tape for you The Library of Congress American Memory Website had the old original sheet music. The song is entitled Hush-a-bye, Ma Baby with a subtitle of the Missouri Waltz. Lyric by J. R. Shannon. music from an original melody procured by John Valentine Eppel, and arranged by Frederic Knight Logan. Thanks to those who wrote and called in for identifying the song for me!In this episode I play another song in the hopes that you'll be able to do it again. Mystery Song #2 - NAME THAT TUNE! If you think you know the name of that song, please email me or better yet call and leave the answer on the voice mail line at 925-272-4021. There are lots of ways to contact me: Join the Genealogy Gems Facebook Group Catch up on what's going on in the world of genealogy at The Genealogy Gems News Blog.Visit the the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel where you can watch lots of great genealogy themed videos

Published Oct 20, 2008 October is Family History Month Lisa with her prized pumpkin Genealogy Gems Halloween Greetings Halloween Haunts Podcast by WHRO FM radio: Stories based on ghostly legends and lore of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Thanks to my friend Michelle Gabriele-Harrell producer off the Halloween Haunts podcast. In iTunes: Halloween Haunts 2006 Audio Podcast Series and the 2008 series Halloween Haunts Fright Bytes Video Podcast in iTunes iGoogle UpdateiGoogle has been discontinued. WorldCat: I also wrote a blog recently called Getting the Most Out of WorldCat and I wanted to mention that there is going to be a Free seminar Oct 28 at 2PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific online sponsored by WorldCat so I'll have a link to that posting so you can read all about it. MAILBOX: Kerry Steward called in about some comments I made on Genealogy Gems podcast Episode #40. Here are two articles about Henrietta Pruisner Tesch and Katherine Tesch Rugg's families. "Somewhat of a Record" and "Homer Woman Has Given Birth to 15 Children" GEM: Profile America - Oct. 13 Navy Month "Hit hard, hit fast, hit often" Admiral "Bull" Halsey (above) GEM: Interview with Yvette Arts, Director of Content Partnerships at World Vital Records Update: World Vital Records is now part of MyHeritage.com Strategies for getting the most out of World Vital Records from Yvette Arts: First-time users/browsing: Perform a Basic Search. You'll get the largest search results by just searching by last name. Look over the results to narrow down all the possibilities. Try adding first name next. Some combinations of first and last names are more difficult to find exact matches for than others (e.g., John Smith). But if you have an unusual name like Jared Quackenbush the search will only return a few results. Next, if you know the location enter a full state name in the Place search. There are some results in their databases, such as for Google Books, that may not come up via the geographic. Don't forget to try alternative spelling for a surname. Additional Search Tips: Entering a date is best when you only give a year. If you already know a lot about an ancestor and now want to know specific information, try the Advanced Search. Use broad search terms, not an exact year of birth. Although you may know this information, mistakes may have been made in a document, or a first name may be abbreviated (e.g., Geo* is a good search term for George or J* may bring up a John that is otherwise listed as Jn). Excluding a source from a search because you have exact knowledge about an ancestor could lead to less accurate search results. Sign Up For Genealogy Gems Premium Members Only Podcast Episodes & Videos GEM: Profile America - Oct 24 is the anniversary of Chips the U.S. War Dog being awared the Distinguished Service Medal Interview with Mary Ann Whitley who's father Herson Lamont Whitley served with Chips the US War Dog A Dog Called Chips by Mary Ann Whitley at the U.S. War Dogs Website GEM: The MacGenealogist - In today's MacGenealogist Minute with Ben Sayer, Ben's continues his reviews of Genealogy software for the Macintosh computer with a review of iFamily for Leopard. GEM: Name That Tune - I need your help. Several months ago I received a reel to reel tape that was recorded by my husband's Grandfather and Grandmother Cooke. I'm going to play one song on each episode in the hopes that one of you dear listener's will recognize the tune and email me with the name. Or leave a voice mail at 925-272-4021. Thanks! Support the Show: With the holidays approaching thereâs a wonderful way for you to do your online shopping while supporting this show. By accessing websites like Amazon.com through the links on the Genealogy Gems homepage and through the website, Amazon gives The Genealogy Gems Podcast credit for your purchases. It doesn't cost you anything more, but by using the links on our website, you do a lot to help keep the free Genealogy Gems Podcast coming. Thank you! Visit the the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel where you can watch lots of great genealogy themed videos. Join the Genealogy Gems Group on Facebook Catch up on what's going on in the world of genealogy at The Genealogy Gems News Blog.

Published Oct 6, 2008 "And this year I hit the jackpot when I was able to track down one of his long lost cousins who had a treasure trove of family history tucked away in the rafters of her garage." (Below: Bill and cousin) Premium episode all about how to tap into your inner private eye to find those long lost living relatives. Albert Farrington and chorus from 1914 sing "Rule Britannia" GEM: Interview with Rick Crume Websites Rick refers to in the show: British National Archives and in itunes Find My Past Ancestral Quest - new interface with New Family Search. Family Tree Magazine Podcast military records interview Roots Ireland Genealogy Gems Premium: Sign Up Now and use Coupon code SAVE20 to get 20% off the anual membership GEM: Interview with Dr. Christopher Watts Below: Harry Cooke's Apprenticeship Record, 1872 Additional Gems From Over The Pond: Lisa's Interview with Feargal O'Donnell of the Irish Family History Foundation. View the 2 part video series: Part 1 Video Part 2 Video British History Podcasts: Binge Thinking History with Tony Cocks Historyzine Podcast with James Mowatt More Ways To Stay In Touch: Genealogy Gems on Facebook The Genealogy Gems News Blog The Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel

Published Sept 22, 2008 Sept 16, 2008 Blog about my trip to FGS. Sign up for the FREE Genealogy Gems Newsletter I enjoyed hanging out at the Family Tree Magazine booth in the Exhibit Hall with editor Allison Stacy and Managing Editor Diane Haddad. September 2008 Family Tree Magazine podcast News from the Blogosphere VideoWhile you're at the Genealogy Gems News Channel you might want to click the SUBSCRIBE button which allows you to be notified when new videos are published so you donât have to check periodically. My article "Hitting the Heirwaves" is now out in the November 2008 issue of Family Tree Magazine. GEM: Interview with Jim Beidler - Chair of FGS 2008 Conference Jim & Lisa GEM: Profile America - ice cream cone Become a Premium Member Today:Use the Coupon code: SAVE20 to save 20% off annual membership GEM: MacMinutes with Ben Sayer, The MacGenealogist In today's MacGenealogist Minute with Ben Sayer, Ben's reviews Reunion 9, the leading Mac genealogy application. GEM: Podcaster Favorite Sayings Montage GEM: Census Abbreviations - Census Abbreviations page at the Ancestors Search website.

Published Aug 15, 2008 Welcome to the 50th Episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast! The Louise Carousel - Read the Blog GEM: Profile America August 16, 1862 Birthdate of Amos Alonzo Stagg GEM: A Little DayDreaming with Genealogy PodcastersThe Genealogy Guys DearMYRTLEBill Puller of the Genealogy Tech Podcast Anna-Karin Shander Mike O'Loughlin of Irish Roots Cafe GEM: Interview with Tim Russell of the Prairie Home Companion Tim Russel of A Prairie Home Companion radio show Prairie Home Companion's News From Lake Wobegon podcast Tim Russellâs website Listen to Tim on Minnesota's news station, 830 WCCO Radio website where he is the entertainment editor weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Tim and Lily Tomlin on the set of the movie A Prairie Home Companion Profile America â August 20, 1920: One of the nationâs first radio stations began broadcasting in Detroit GEM: Handwriting Analysis with Paula Sassi Alice McManus Genealogy Gems Premium Members are eligible to submit their ancestors handwriting for possible analysis by Paula on the show. Members should email a handwriting sample, a paragraph telling about the ancestor and why they would like to have the handwriting analyzed, and a photo of the ancestor if itâs available. Minnesota State Fair Podcast presented by MN Public Radio Minnesota State Fair Website Announce Best Bals Dolls Winner: Melissa Barker Join the Genealogy Gems Facebook Fan Page Subscribe Today to the FREE Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter for genealogy news & tips, and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes. The Song: The Family Tree featured on this episode is courtesy of the band Venice. See Venice LIVE at one of the following Concert Dates:

Published June 12, 2008 Episode 49 SHOW NOTES Coming in August: Want to know what it was like to work with Meryl Streep, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, and one of my favorites Lily Tomlin? Then tune in next month to episode 50. I'll be chatting with Tim Russell the wonderful voice actor from the radio show and movie A Prairie Home Companion. Above: Tim Russell and Garrison Keillor We talk about his love of family history and antiques, his amazing career in a very nostaligic profession of being a radio actor and of course his work with Garrison Keillor and al the folks at A Prairie Home Companion. YUMMY GEM: Lisa's Peach Pie...Just out of the oven... GEM: Genealogy Society Booth at County and State Fairs. There are many things we do as members of genealogy societies, but I think this was one of the best activities I've come across. Genealogy society members from neighboring areas come together to introduce the public to the joy of family history. NEW: Family Tree Magazine July 2008 podcast episode Podcasting Primer article including instructional video by Lisa Louise Cooke. The article will appear in the November 2008 issue, but is available now free online. All together it's a great resource for your friends who haven't yet tried podcasts. Share these resources with your friends and genealogy society. MAILBOX: Premium Member Maureen Stephan shares a valuable Gem she recently found. GEM: Train Robberies 7/18 U.S. Census Bureau GEM: Part Two of my Interview with Kathy LennonIn Episode 48 we got started on my interview with Kathy Lennon of the Lennon Sisters. Kathy is such a sweetheart and so fun to talk to that I just couldn't edit any of our conversation. So Iâm bringing it to you in two parts, and today is part two of our conversation. The Lennon Sisters In this episode Kathy talks about the tragic death of her father, and the strength of character of her mother and the values she passed on to her eleven children. She also shares some insight into being a famous Lennon sister, and tells us all about her newest venture which has a family history twist to it. Premium Members can submit ancestor handwriting samples to be considered for an upcoming handwriting analysis by Paula Sassi, Certified Graphologist. Iâll be selecting ones that I think will be interesting to all the listeners. More information in Premium Episode #7.