About

DIY Historical Map Overlays in Google Earth

2012-02-14T12:59:56Z

Whether you download a historical map from an online digitized collection such as the Warrantee Township Maps available online from the Pennsylvania State Archives, purchase a historical map on CD, or scan one yourself at home, it is really easy to overlay the map on Google Earth and see your ancestor's property as it exists today.

To begin, all you need is a digital map image of some type - saved as an image file. Permissible file types include the most common graphic file types such as JPG, TIFF, GIF, BMP and PNG, as well as PGM, PPM, DDS and TGA. This can be something such as the Pittsburgh Warrantee Township Map that I used here, a land plat you have drawn yourself, or a historical map scanned from an atlas.

If you don't already use Google Earth (not Google Maps as the functionality is different), then you will need to begin by downloading and installing the free Google Earth software, available for both Windows and Mac. Then just open a new file and zoom in to the city or other location where you want to place your map overlay.

Next, click the "Add Image Overlay" icon and browse to the file on your computer that you want to add. When the image displays, leave the editing window open (you can minimize it to get it out of the way) and then use the green crosshairs in the center, and on the edges and corners of the picture to move it around, and resize and stretch the map until it matches with at least one geographic feature that would still look very much now like it did then. In my very basic example, I used the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in Pittsburgh to fit my map, but even then the river bends didn't match exactly - this could be because the river courses have changed a bit over the past century, or because the Warrantee Township maps weren't drawn exactly to scale.

For best results ...

DIY Historical Map Overlays in Google Earth originally appeared on About.com Genealogy on Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 at 12:59:56.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Sign the Petition! Genealogy Community Responds To Efforts To Remove Access to Social Security Death Index and Other Records

2012-02-09T21:50:10Z

I don't usually post straight press releases, but this one is too important and well-written to not pass along:

RPAC ANNOUNCES STOP ID THEFT NOW! CAMPAIGN WITH WHITE HOUSE PETITION

February 7, 2012- Austin, TX: The Records Preservation & Access Committee (RPAC) - a joint coalition of international genealogical societies representing millions of genealogists and family historians - announces the launch of its Stop ID Theft NOW! campaign with its We The People petition posted at WhiteHouse.gov.

Call To Action For IRS To Do Its Job
Each year, fraudulent tax refund claims based upon identity theft from recently deceased infants and adults are filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The current target is the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) or Death Master File since this file, as found on numerous genealogy-oriented websites, could possibly be the source of identity thieves acquiring a deceased person's Social Security number.

The IRS could close the door to this form of identity theft if, in fact, it were to use the Death Master File for the purpose for which it was created: to reduce fraud. If returns claiming a tax refund were screened against the Master Death File and matching cases identified for special processing, the thief should receive a rejection notice for the filing.

Tax Fraud and Identity Theft: Genealogists Are Not To Blame
The House Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Social Security is proposing to completely shut down use of the SSDI by genealogists as well as other industries such as banking and insurance that rely upon its information. Such an attempt is short-sighted and runs counter to the original purpose of the SSDI: to actually combat fraud.

Loss of Access to SSDI Affects More Than Genealogists
The SSDI is accessed by many different companies, non-profits and other entities besides individuals researching their family history. ...

Sign the Petition! Genealogy Community Responds To Efforts To Remove Access to Social Security Death Index and Other Records originally appeared on About.com Genealogy on Thursday, February 9th, 2012 at 21:50:10.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Advocating Records Access - How You Can Help!

2012-02-07T11:41:38Z

I wrote last week about the very real threat of losing all public access to the Social Security Death Master File, or SSDI. This would be a HUGE loss to anyone researching individuals in the U.S., whether you are researching ancestors, relatives, descendants of recovered military MIAs, missing heirs, etc. That's on top of the enormous threat to identity theft if this public database is no longer freely available to the many small and medium-sized businesses that use the death master file to verify an individual's identity in an effort to prevent fraud.

The Records Preservation & Access Committee (RPAC) has some great information for everyone, whether inside or outside the U.S., who uses and values the SSDI. For now they are encouraging formal responses to the Ways & Means Committee only for societies, but are strongly encouraging individuals to write to their Senators and Representatives. Since mail is often delayed, a faxed letter is even better. They also plan to launch a public petition ...

Advocating Records Access - How You Can Help! originally appeared on About.com Genealogy on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 at 11:41:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Cool New FamilySearch Indexing App!

2012-02-03T18:05:55Z

Yep, FamilySearch Indexing can now follow you everywhere. And guess what? It was out for the Android market first! But FamilySearch was able to quickly get through all of the Apple hoops, and the FamilySearch Indexing app is now also available in the Apple app store for both iPhone and iPad.

The new app is cool! Devin Ashby from FamilySearch let me check it out this morning. What's interesting is that because it is sized small enough to work on a smart phone, is only indexes a single field from a set of records. Generally this will be an individual's name, perhaps useful for indexing by name some of the hundreds of thousands of records that are only currently available only by browsing. It could, however, be used to index other single items from a given record set.

There are definitely limitations to indexing in such a small space. As Devin and I looked at the first name that appeared, it was hard to interpret the handwriting without any surrounding clues from the record. FamilySearch has the answer, however, because you can click to open the full record from which the name was extracted. If nothing else it is quick and easy. Index a few names while waiting to pick up your kids from an afternoon activity, or while in line at the grocery store. It's definitely less intimidating than trying to index an entire record batch on the desktop version of FamilySearch Indexing.

The FamilySearch Indexing app is in beta version right now, but free as is everything from FamilySearch so give it a try. You can currently find it on the Android Market as well as in the Apple App Store. Who knows? Maybe it will be the next great addiction after Angry Birds!

Cool New FamilySearch Indexing App! originally appeared on About.com Genealogy on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 18:05:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Call to Action - Save the SSDI

2012-01-31T03:49:29Z

Last month I wrote about several popular genealogy sites being pressured into removing or altering access to the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) through the actions of four Senators in support of a bill by Representative Sam Johnson (R - Texas) to remove all public access to the Death Master File, often referred to as the SSDI. This is an extremely valuable tool for anyone researching 20th century U.S. ancestors, and loss of access would be a huge blow for genealogists.

This Thursday, February 2, 2012, the Subcommittee on Social Security of the House Ways & Means Committee in Washington, D.C., will hold a hearing on the "accuracy and uses of the Social Security Administration's Death Master File," which is a fancy way of saying that they want to discuss permanently closing all public access. In case you still aren't worried, the committee is only allowing invited witnesses ...

Call to Action - Save the SSDI originally appeared on About.com Genealogy on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 at 03:49:29.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

RootsTech Live from Home for Free

2012-01-30T12:59:14Z

The popular RootsTech conference, now in its second year, will once again broadcast a number of its popular sessions over the Internet for those unable to attend the conference in person. These 14 sessions, a large increase over last year's live broadcast sessions, are free for anyone to view over the Internet -- the only caveat is that you have to watch them as they are streamed live during the conference which is being held later this week in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 2-4, 2012.

The free online sessions include ...

RootsTech Live from Home for Free originally appeared on About.com Genealogy on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 12:59:14.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Search for Sources, Not Just Surnames

2012-01-29T07:04:57Z

Genealogy records and documents are easy to find online, but it is not uncommon for genealogists to overlook unknown resources in favor of sites they use on a regular basis. Even if you keep good notes and try to stay on top of new sites and databases, there are new resources coming online every day -- and not all of them are advertised to the genealogical community (every few weeks I seem to find a new U.S. county has put its deed records online). This is why your search for ancestors should always include a review of known resources and a search for new ones (i.e. explore the website for each of the suggestions on this list!).

...

Search for Sources, Not Just Surnames originally appeared on About.com Genealogy on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 07:04:57.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Registration Open Today for the Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research (IGHR)

2012-01-17T09:48:34Z

It's one of the most popular of the many genealogical education opportunities open to genealogists, and one of the highlights of my year! Registration opens today, Tuesday, January 17, for the 2012 Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research (IGHR) at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. A few of the courses sell out within minutes, and many are closed by the end of the first day of registration, so if you're interested at all in attending I strong suggest you register today. You will have the opportunity to cancel without penalty until May 1, 2012, for a $75 cancellation fee.

To prevent an overload of the online registration system, the opening of registration for courses will be staggered, with different courses opening at different times. Once open, registration for each course will remain open until the course is full. At that time you can request to be added to the waiting list by following the applicable link on the Courses page. All registration times listed below are in Central Standard Time. ...

Registration Open Today for the Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research (IGHR) originally appeared on About.com Genealogy on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 at 09:48:34.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Saved by her Corset! The Interesting Case of Dora Bowman

2012-01-10T13:14:01Z

Even though I had no idea what I wanted for Christmas, my husband managed to find a way straight to my heart by giving me several old albums and diaries that he had located and purchased through antique dealers and eBay. A yellowed newspaper clipping tucked behind the photograph of a woman identified as Dora Bowman immediately caught my eye. She's the only named photograph in an album filled with gorgeous old photos, which seems a bit too coincidental to me, but her story is definitely captivating...

"Oh! Dan, don't kill me and I will be yours." It was a woman imploring for mercy. Over her stood a man with a cocked revolver. "D___ you, I will kill you," and with that he fired, but fortunately the ball struck the woman's corset steel and fell to the ground. Twice more the villian fired, but the bullets went wide of their mark.

Dramatic it may seem, but this is the true tale of an engineer named William Schipp, and the much younger Dora Bowman set in 1890 Omaha, Nebraska. Dora apparently lived with William in adultery for almost two years after he solicited her away from "May Morgan's sporting house," before she tired of his attentions and tried to break off their arrangement. ...

Saved by her Corset! The Interesting Case of Dora Bowman originally appeared on About.com Genealogy on Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 at 13:14:01.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

New Online Learning Opportunities - Most Free!

2012-01-09T11:11:04Z

It was a big week for announcements of new online learning opportunities for the genealogy community, including a variety of instructive webinars and videos. The majority of these are free to boot! Those which require a fee for participation are noted.

The U.S. National Archives & Records Administration has launched online videos of its most popular genealogy "how to" workshops, covering topics such as census, military and immigration records. These "Know Your Records" videos are available on the National Archives YouTube Channel for free viewing, with hopefully more to come. They are asking for help prioritizing from a list of 60 videos which include a number of interest to genealogists, so voice your opinion!

The Association of Professional Genealogists announced a move into the genealogy webinar space, hosting a free webinar for both members and non-members this week titled "Tax Considerations for Your Genealogy Business," presented by Jim Beidler, a genealogy business owner and senior tax adviser for H&R Block. The webinar is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. Pre-registration is recommended.

Several U.S. state genealogical societies also have upcoming genealogy webinars, including free webinar series open to the public from the Illinois State Genealogical Society, the Utah Genealogical Society and the Southern California Genealogical Society. The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania will also be hosting two webinars - each featuring a well-known national speaker - for a nominal fee. Learn more in Angela Packer McGhie's blog Adventures in Genealogy Education.

Looking for even more genealogical education opportunities? Check out these Genealogy Webinars & Online Seminars and Online Genealogy Classes & Tutorials, plus 10 Educational Opportunities for Genealogists

New Online Learning Opportunities - Most Free! originally appeared on About.com Genealogy on Monday, January 9th, 2012 at 11:11:04.

Permalink | Comment | Email this