Tag Archives: Resources

MyHeritage Announces Access to Entire US Census Collection

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MyHeritage

[Editor's Note: We received information about the new US Census collection at MyHeritage along with a neat infographic on life in the United States from 1790-1930 as experienced by our ancestors!]

MyHeritage Life in the USA 1790-1930

MyHeritage delivers historic U.S. Census records to millions of families worldwide

Travel back in time: Global family history network gives users a snapshot into the lives of their ancestors from 1790 to 1930

PROVO, Utah & TEL AVIV, Israel – May 1, 2013: MyHeritage, the popular family history network, today announced that it has added the entire collection of U.S. Federal Censuses conducted each decade from 1790 to 1930 to its growing database of billions of historical records.  Combined with innovative technologies and affordable prices, MyHeritage makes it easier and more accessible than ever to illuminate the lives of one’s ancestors during this fascinating period in American history.

Among the nation’s largest and most important set of records totaling around 520 million names, the Censuses provide information about individuals residing in the U.S. including age, address, education, occupation, place of birth, race, native language, marital status, relationship to head of household, neighbors – and more. Family history enthusiasts can now search the indexed images of the U.S. Censuses at http://www.myheritage.com/research and discover the legacy of former generations between 1790 and 1930 in the U.S.

To make discoveries easier, MyHeritage offers a sophisticated system of automatic record matching for the family trees on the site, dramatically reducing research time. New information uncovered in the Censuses triggers a domino effect of new discoveries within the MyHeritage global network of family trees and records. Resulting connections with other family trees could shed light on the roots of many families who immigrated to the U.S., connecting them to long-lost relatives abroad. Translated to 40 different languages, MyHeritage is the only company to deliver discoveries from the U.S. Censuses to a global audience.

The new records, which include the remaining fragments of the 1890 U.S. Federal Census mostly destroyed in a fire, complement the existing 1940 U.S. Census which is already available on MyHeritage. A summary of any census record can be viewed for free and users can choose between affordable pay-as-you-go credits or a data subscription for full unlimited access to all historical content, including the images of the original census pages.

“Adding the U.S. Censuses is paramount for offering a one-stop shop for family history”, said Gilad Japhet, Founder and CEO of MyHeritage. “With this move we maximize value for users by combining the best family tree tools and the most powerful matching technologies with a massive library of historical content. The U.S. Censuses add incredible new value for our users, who will receive a string of new discoveries, and act as a catalyst for taking research further into the past and across new borders. This is just the tip of the iceberg as we’re set to add significant additional collections of historical records, both from the U.S. and around the world, in 2013.”

The U.S. census records are also being added to WorldVitalRecords and FamilyLink, and will be made available soon to the users of Geni – three additional websites owned and operated by MyHeritage.

About MyHeritage

MyHeritage is a family history network helping millions of families around the world discover and share their legacy online. Pioneers in making family history a collaborative experience for the entire family, MyHeritage empowers its users with innovative social tools and a massive library of historical content. The site is available in 40 languages. For more information visit www.myheritage.com. 

The 1940 Census Release: A Year Later

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The 1940 Census - One Year Later

Can you believe that one year ago today, right about this time, many genealogists in the United States were poised at their keyboards awaiting the much anticipated release of the 1940 Census images? Whether you actually found something related to your family history that day or waited until the rush passed, you must admit that April 2, 2012, was a landmark day for genealogy!

With over 134 million names on over 3.8 million images , the volunteer genealogy community was able to index the 1940 Census in record time. What was anticipated to take almost a year, was completed on August 3, 2012, in only 123 days!

Some Ideas for Your 1940 Census Blog Post

If you decide to recap your experience with the 1940 Census images and index, here are some inspiration points for your blog post:

  • What did the release of the 1940 Census mean to you personally? What do you think it meant for the genealogy community and industry?
  • What did you hope to find prior to the release of the 1940 Census images and were you successful?
  • Did you feel that the 1940 Census release lived up to the hype or was it overblown?
  • Are you still finding treasures in the 1940 Census and how have they helped your genealogy and family history research?

Posts from GeneaBloggers About the 1940 Census

Here is what we were discussing in terms of the 1940 Census last year in March 2012 during the lead up to the release of the images and afterwards:

 

©2013, copyright Thomas MacEntee

RootsTech, Genealogy and DNA

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ancestral origins DNA test

I’m just returning home to Chicago from a busy week in Salt Lake City, Utah, where I not only attended the RootsTech conference but also squeezed in some genealogy research at the Family History Library. One topic of discussion, both at the library and the conference, was that of the ancestral origins DNA test and how far the technology has progressed, even in just the past two years.

DNA Testing Helps Expand the Genealogy Experience

Many of my readers here at GeneaBloggers know that I’m always looking for not just new ways to research my family history, but also new ways to experience that same history. I want to learn and understand every aspect of the daily lives of my ancestors including what they wore, what they ate, how they worked and more. Also, I’d love to know if they suffered from any ailments, diseases and conditions that impacted their descendants.

One way to get a better idea of who you ancestors were and how they connect to others around the world is through the use of a variety of DNA tests. I can’t believe how these tests have not only become more accurate in terms of their information, but also how much more affordable they are as compared to a few years ago.

Which DNA Test is Best for You?

There are a variety of different tests for understanding DNA and genealogy; a good starting point is one that helps determine the origins of your ancestry. With this type of test you not only gain a basic understanding of where your ancestors lived, but often are provided with a map which plots out those regions. In addition, the results of an ancestral origins DNA test are easy to share with other family members and can actually help spark an interest in your family history.

What Will You Find with a DNA Test?

As with genealogy and family history, a wealth of information and even some surprises, can be discovered once you decide to incorporate DNA testing into your research. With the improved technology and affordable pricing, there’s no better time than now to take that first step. Here’s your chance to see if DNA testing can open up new avenues of information for you and your family.

Moreover, collecting samples for the DNA test is so easy and quick to carry out. All you need to do is swab your cheeks with oral swabs you get in a home kit provided. Once you have collected the samples, you just let the swabs dry and send them back for testing. Your results will give you heaps of information about your very own ancient ancestral roots.