Simply Mahvalous Websites and Blogs

Dae Powell over at Shoe String Genealogy has written a most informative and useful article about reading and deciphering different handwriting styles through the years.  His site is full of help for beginners and seasoned genealogists alike.  I love his page of charts, forms and checklists and his article on the Works Progress Administration (WPA) is brilliant!

Probing The Past, Virginia and Maryland Probate Inventories 1740-1810 is brought to you by George Mason University, Gunston Hall Plantation and Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.  Probate records provide valuable information about the lifestyles of people during the colonial and early national periods.  325 probate inventories from the Chesapeake region of Maryland and Virginia for the period of 1740 to 1810 were transcribed and the household items entered into a searchable database.  This is the place to learn all about Colonial Era probates.

Repositories of Primary Sources for the Western United States and Canada can be found on the University of Idaho Special Collections site.  

Pattie and Pam are the authors of Technology Tamers.  This blog is devoted to using MS word for genealogy.  Each post is a lesson on how to do a specific task in MS Word.  Check out the Label list in the left sidebar.  They make it so easy to understand, even I can follow the instructions!

Documenting the American South is a digital publishing iniative that provides access to text, images and audio files related to southern history, literature and culture.  It currently has 15 collections of books, diaries, posters, artifacts, letters, oral history interviews and songs.  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sponsors the site and the texts and materials come primarily from its holdings.    Here I found oodles of information about the Methodist Church in North Carolina.  My 3rd great grandfather - H.A.T. Harris was a Methodist minister.  He started out as a Circuit Rider in Lincoln County, North Carolina and ended up as the minister of the Methodist church in Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa. His life as a minister is documented and much of it in the archives maintained by the Methodist church.

Christmas Video Series - Part 3

Continuing with my Christmas video series to show my appreciation and undying love, I present to you something a little, er ummm,  different.

The Cast of Characters

FootnoteMaven - The FootnoteMaven

Elizabeth Swanay O'Neal - Little Bytes of Life

Thomas MacEntee - Destination Austin Family

Diana Ritchie - Random Relatives

Donna Pointkouski - What's Past Is Prologue

Christmas Video Series Part 2

As you might remember from last week, I made a series of Christmas videos starring people who almost always leave a comment, have given me encouragement, acted as mentors and just plain made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Today I give you the second video in the series.

The Cast of Characters

Randy Seaver - Geneamusings

Jennifer Holik-Urban - Generations

Doreen Paul -  Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay

Amy Coffin - The We Tree Genealogy Blog

Michelle Goodrum -  The Turning of Generations

Appreciation For Commentators, Mentors and Warm Fuzzies

Blogging is really easy to do.  Blogging on a regular basis is a bit tougher.  

But  you know what makes it easier?  When I read the comments that readers have left for me.  Some tell me that they have learned something new and some just want to say I have made them smile.  There have even been a few that have taught me a thing or two!

I appreciate each and every one of you more than you'll ever know.  And to show you how much I have made a series of Christmas videos that star people who never fail to leave a comment, have given me encouragement, act as mentors and just plain make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.


To kick off the series of Christmas videos I enlisted the help of some CG's and some not :


Brenda Dougall Merriman who has a most excellent blog that is conveniently named Brenda Dougall Merriman!


Paula Stuart Warren - Paula's Genealogical Eclectica


Marian Pierre-Louis - Marian's Roots and Rambles


Deborah Lord Campisano who doesn't have a blog YET, but says she will soon.


And I couldn't resist playing a part in this one, so the 5th wheel is me.


Stay tuned for the next one!

Blog Caroling - Everybody Sing!

My dear friend, the footnoteMaven is continuing the tradition she started of "Blog Caroling."  What is it all about you ask?  Well, "Blog Caroling" is posting the lyrics, a video or anything really of your favorite Christmas carol on your blog.  For complete directions on how to join us, head on over to footnoteMaven's and read all about it.  

Now where did I put that video of Eartha Kitt, hmmmm???

Ooooh Look - Something Shiny

Well it's happened to me again.  I begin a search for information for an article I am trying to write and 25 hours later I am full of all kinds of useless information and no closer to finishing the article.  Don't laugh - I KNOW it has happened to you too!


IT ALL STARTED when I happened upon the NARA blog called "Prologue: Pieces of History" and the post by Hillary - What's Cooking Wednesday:  Truman and the no-turkey Thursday.  President Harry S. Truman delivered the first televised presidential speech on October 5, 1947.  Speaking from the White House, Truman appealed to Americans to conserve food for starving people in Europe - no meat on Tuesdays, no poultry on Thursdays.


Ooh - I need to learn how this affected my rural SouthEast Kansas ancestors who were farmers.   Clickity- clack goes my keyboard and I do a search for "Americans no poultry on Thursday."  I scan down the list of results and this pops out at me-


Mike the Headless Chicken


No way can I move on without checking that out first.  In 1945 a man attempts to behead a chicken for dinner and botches the execution.  With the brain stem and one ear left intact, the damn bird lived.  The owner named it Mike and took the chicken on the road.  Don't believe me?  Check out the Life Magazine photo shoot of Mike the Headless Chicken.  There is even a festival celebrating Mike's will to live in Fruita, Colorado every year in May.


So now I am thinking I need to find out about sideshows and carnivals back then.  Maybe my ancestors lived in areas where they frequented and maybe had the opportunity to attend one. Clickity clack type type type and now I find "Rural Kansas Tourism" that has such gems as "Bicycle Mystery" and  "The Biggest Ball of Twine."    But the best find of all?  My ancestors were living in the thick of the carnies and Freak Shows.  Kinsley, Kansas is where you will find the National Foundation for Carnival Heritage Center.  Boy, I never saw that coming. They even have a Facebook page!   Kinsley is also called Midway, USA because it is exactly 1561 miles to San Francisco and exactly 1561 miles to New York City.


By this time I can't even remember what the hell I was searching for in the first place.  Figuring my brain needs  some R & R from the information overload, I spent the next two hours playing "Angry Birds."  After dinner and some T.V. viewing, I am back at the computer going through my email.  It's now 1:00 am and I am just about to shut the computer off and all the sudden remember about the article that I need to have finished by the next morning.  


And so clickity clack,  I begin again with the searching. So let's hear about the last time you saw "Something Shiny", where did it take you?

I Am Just All Kinds of Festive!

Changing my blog design was the most scariest thing I have ever attempted tech-wise.  I hope I have done everything right so when the holidays are over, I can put things back the way they were.  If not, make friends with the peek-a-boo Santa above now.


It was actually pretty easy to do.  So easy that it makes me think I might have screwed something up. Ha Ha


Anywho, you can decorate your blog too!  If you are using the Blogger platform then I STRONGLY suggest you watch a couple of 3 minute videos by Thomas MacEntee.  Unless of course you are a tech geek, in which case never mind what I just said and get your blog all kinds of Festive!


If you are tech-challenged like me then head on over to Geneabloggers and read the post "Have You Decorated Your Blog For The Holidays?" and watch the 2 very short instructional videos.  Then take your new-found knowledge and head over to "Resources For Holiday Blog Decorating".  Plan on spending some time ogling the delicious holiday blog eye candy.  I changed my mind a hundred different times trying to decide on the decorations.


Once you have your blog decorated, shout it out loud so we can all come visit your place and be awed by your creative genius!

From Me To You - A Thanksgiving Video

MY  1st  ANNUAL THANKSGIVING VIDEO

My gift to you.  You are welcome.

STARRING

BILL WEST - West In New England

LISA ALZO - The Accidental Genealogist

MARIAN PIERRE-LOUIS - Marian's Roots and Rambles

PAULA STUART WARREN - Paula's Genealogical Eclectica

RANDY SEAVER - GeneMusings

What Do I Want From A Genealogy Society Website?

Did I happen to mention that I recently was appointed Secretary for the California State Genealogical Alliance?  No?  Well now you know.  I am so thrilled to be working with Alliance to further genealogical endeavors in the State of California.

The California State Genealogical Alliance Blog  is our current endeavor to reach out to not only the membership, but to the entire genealogical community.  Managed by Gena Ortega, there are currently four bloggers:  CSGA webmaster, Cat Nielsen will be posting about  CSGA webite news.  Special Projects Chair Cath Madden Trindle, CG will report on Alliance projects , the Online California Research Guide and give reviews of California resources.  Legislative Watch Chair Junel Davidsen, CG will keeps us updated on legislation that affects the genealogical community and present a "Find of the Month."  And me?   I will be contributing to the blog with a monthly spotlight on member societies and present a Volunteer of the Month.  Do you know of a volunteer that deserves special recognition for their efforts?  Please contact me by either leaving a comment or email me directly at  :   sherifenley at gmail dot com    so I can make them a rock star.

Writing the first post that spotlights a genealogical society got me to thinking - what do I want to see on a genealogy society website?  I am tech-challenged beyond mortal comprehension so I am not sure how difficult it is to make the items on my list happen, but for what it may be worth here is what I like to see on a genealogy society website:


I adore sites that have  a clean, sharp, uncluttered  look and are easy to navigate.

The landing page of a society's website should tell me exactly what I am going to find on the site and clearly labeled buttons for me to click and take me there.  Example:  Let's say I read somewhere that Our City Genealogical Society has an obituary index located on their website.  When I arrive at the website I do not want to have to spend time looking for it. There should be a button for me to click on and whisk me away to the index.

One of the first things I look for are PHOTOS - photos of special and even not so special events and meetings that include the membership.  Photos that show the benefits of membership.  Photos of smiling genealogists enjoying time spent with others who share the same interest and passion.  Photos that make me want to belong.


Another section I really enjoy is the History of the Society.  When was it established?  How many people are currently members?  Who was the first president?  Special achievements?

An important part that I see lacking on many websites is the Contact Page.  It does not please me when the only way to contact the society is to mail  a letter to a P.O. Box.   Who are the current board members and what is their email address?  I appreciate the convenience of  a contact form right there on the site to fill out.

One of the best ways to get the feel for a society and the way they run things is to read their Newsletters.  I understand that the most current newsletter is a benefit of membership and have no problem with that. However, a sample of a  newsletter from the last year is not an unreasonable request.   I have come across quite a few society websites that only have newsletters from 10 years ago.

And last, but certainly not least is the section about Membership.  In a perfect genealogy world, one could become a member simply by filling out an online form then click a button to pay the dues online.  Having to print an application form, fill it out by hand, write a check, buy a stamp and mail it practically guarantees that I won't be a member of that society anytime soon.  I am lazy that way.  Make it as easy as possible for people  and I'm going to bet that you will see membership numbers rise.


So there you have it.  My rants and raves.  What about you?  What do you want from a genealogy website?

My Flip Pal Project

I had envisioned using the Flip Pal as the sharpest tool in my onsite research kit.  Totally for book nerdy geekoid uses, oh let me count the ways!

Wracking my brain to come up with something artsy-crafty has almost put me in a coma.  I did not inherit the Martha Stewart gene from my mother, much to her chagrin.  However -  I did have my mother in mind when I finally came up with this home made gift for her.

Lately, the first sentence out of my mother's mouth has been - "I don't see enough of you!"  Mother lives a mere 2 1/2 hours away from me and I really need to make an effort to spend more time with her.  So this is where my brilliant, oh so clever idea for a gift stems from.  My mother wants to see more of me.  Well, with the help of my little friend Flip Pal, I am going to create a one of a kind gift that I'll bet never, ever occurred to Martha Stewart.

THE  INGREDIENTS

1  legal size piece of paper, a paper doll figure pattern,  6 little photos of me ( I suppose you could substitute a different photo, but it wouldn't mean as much to my mother), a couple of festive-colored garments of your chosing - I chose a green velour jacket and a  red sweatshirt that my mother made me take home the last time I visited with her. ( Bonus points for  using something with  sentimental value.), red and green markers and glue.

LET'S  BEGIN

Fold the paper in half lengthwise.  Then fold the paper accordian style 2 inches in width.

Trace the doll figure onto the folded paper.  Draw the lines for the hands and feet all the way to the edges of the paper.  Next cut out the doll through the whole thing taking care not to cut in the red "x" area as shown above.  When you are finished cutting, stretch out the paper.  Do you have something that resembles this? :

If you answered yes, then move along to the next part.  If what you have isn't even close, then talk to me after class - there are support groups to help you with this kind of thing.

OK, here is where the Flip Pal comes into play.  To make dresses for the me-dolls, I first scanned the red sweater and then the green jacket, printed the scans and then cut out hourglass shapes  for dresses.   

THE FINISHED HEIRLOOM MY MOTHER WILL CHERISH FOR ETERNITY

I am going to tie a ribbon to the donuts on the ends of the hands so Mother can hang me practically anywhere she choses.   I think this is a huge step up from the reindeer ornament, don't you?   

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Flip-Pal which means that when you click on a link, graphic or text, and then purchase from them, I receive a small referral commission. Flip-Pal provided me with an evaluation scanner to participate in the Simple Gifts Blog Hop, which I will not be required to return.

Be sure to visit the other participants in the Flip Pal Simple Gifts genealogy blog hop:

Drusilla Pair
Find Your Folks
http://www.findyourfolks.blogspot.com

Marian Pierre-Louis

          Marian's Roots and Rambles

                    http://rootsandrambles.blogspot.com

Caroline Pointer

For Your Family Story

http://www.4yourfamilystory.com/blog.html

Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Nutfield Genealogy

http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com

Nancy Shively

Gathering Stories

http://nancyshively.blogspot.com

Julie Cahill Tarr

GenBlog

http://genblogjulie.blogspot.com