Tag Archives: Resources

The 1940 Census Release: A Year Later

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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.

Kickstarter and Genealogy: Revolutionary Voices Needs Your Support

Posted on by

Revolutionary Voices: A Last Muster Film

Last week, our friend Maureen Taylor, along with Verissima Productions, took a bold leap by launching a new concept for the genealogy community: crowdsourcing a family history-focused project through Kickstarter.

The concept of fundraising and “passing the bucket” in our community is not new.  Genealogists have done this in various ways and we have a history of funding projects that are important to our field. Past examples include the Civil War Sailors and Soldiers Database and the 1940 US Census. And don’t forget the Preserve the Pensions project to digitize the War of 1812 Pension Files!

Right now I’m asking friends of GeneaBloggers to consider contributing what you can to get this movie about Revolutionary War veterans and their images produced and accessible to all viewers!  As Maureen puts it:

“At some point in our lives we have all studied the American Revolution.. For most of us it seems long ago and far away, but it doesn’t have to…

Ten years ago, I was presented with an old photograph and asked to analyze it. Suddenly, I realized that I was looking into the face of someone who was a young adult during the Revolutionary War! While it may seem surprising, many of our founding countrymen and women lived into the photographic age…and I discovered that more than 200 years later, I could look directly into their faces.

I was mesmerized. I wanted to find as many of these photos as possible. My ten year journey led me through databases, private collections, and museum holdings, into small towns and large urban areas. So far, I have located over 200 of these images. Some of them are profiled in my two volumes: The Last Muster: Images of the Revolution (Kent State University Press, 2009) and The Last Muster: Faces of the Revolution (in press, 2013).”

I’ve done my part and I’m asking readers to please visit Revolutionary Voices: A Last Muster Film to learn more and throw some money in the bucket.  There’s only a month left before the fundraising deadline and every little bit helps!

Note: you can also help my sharing this post or the Kickstarter link on your Facebook page or even embedding the Kickstarter widget on your blog!

©2013, copyright Thomas MacEntee