Hello All -
The British family history magazine, "Your Family Tree," has in their latest issue (June 2008) the results from their poll regarding genealogy software. Here are the results:
The poll questions is: What is your family history software of choice?
Results:
46% - Family Tree Maker
28% - Family Historian
14% - Other
7% - Legacy
5% - Roots Magic
I am not really surprised by the results of the survey. Family Tree Maker has always been the top dog in software for family history. I am a bit surprised by the low results for Legacy and Roots Magic. One of the reasons could be that in the UK FTM and Family Historian are more widely available to the public (shops always stock FTM and FH). Legacy and Roots Magic are not as well known in the UK, but they are advertised in the UK genealogy magazines. Also, Family Tree Maker has been around much longer than the others, so it has a well established niche in the market. Family Historian does well in UK because it is a British program, and is widely available in this country. It is also a good program to work with too. Version 4 is just become available, and has lots of new and improved features. I must admit that I have not worked with Family Historian myself, but I do not doubt its popularity and quality.
I would like to see the results of this poll question in the US, and in other countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc. I wouldn't doubt that FTM would still be top of the list in these countries too.
I use Legacy and Roots Magic myself, and in my opinion they will become more popular, and will give FTM a run for its money in the future. The quality of these two programs is fantastic, and are excellent in publishing books and reports. They also have great add on programs that you can buy that are tailor made for Legacy and RM, such as Family Atlas, Genelines, Gensmarts, etc. Also, they have good websites for users and program news - Legacy has one of the best in this department. They really try hard to get their customers to learn the ins and outs of their program by producing cd tutorials and books. I mentioned previously that they just published on their website an online seminar of how to work with Legacy. I think if people give a try to Legacy or Roots Magic they will really like them.
However, as I have mentioned before on this topic, pick the program that is right for you and what you want out of it - publishing books, webpage creation, etc.
Let's see how things go next year if the same poll is taken - I think it might be a bit more spread out between the main contenders - FTM, FH, RM, and Legacy. Legacy and Roots Magic might just take a bit more share of the pie.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Family History As A Play?
Hello All -
I found this quite interesting - someone writing a play about family history/genealogy. The play is called "Making Up History: Searching For Annie Moore" written by Alia Faith Williams. I have copied the links of the play found on Roots TV - it is in four parts each being around 15-18 minutes long.
There were many Irish and Scots who immigrated to the US and Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which is the time period of this play for Annie Moore coming to Ellis Island from Ireland to make a new life for herself.
I think it is a great idea for create a play about family history, why not? Family history and genealogy doesn't have to be boring and academic, it can be fun and creative as well. One of the best things about family history is making it come alive - ancestors were more than dates, names, and places.
http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_irishroots3.php?bcpid=7045096001&bclid=1415680404&bctid=1143359315
http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_irishroots3.php?bcpid=7045096001&bclid=1415680404&bctid=1138334426
http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_irishroots3.php?bcpid=7045096001&bclid=1415680404&bctid=1143359316
http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_irishroots3.php?bcpid=7045096001&bclid=1415680404&bctid=1138126008
Until Next Time.
I found this quite interesting - someone writing a play about family history/genealogy. The play is called "Making Up History: Searching For Annie Moore" written by Alia Faith Williams. I have copied the links of the play found on Roots TV - it is in four parts each being around 15-18 minutes long.
There were many Irish and Scots who immigrated to the US and Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which is the time period of this play for Annie Moore coming to Ellis Island from Ireland to make a new life for herself.
I think it is a great idea for create a play about family history, why not? Family history and genealogy doesn't have to be boring and academic, it can be fun and creative as well. One of the best things about family history is making it come alive - ancestors were more than dates, names, and places.
http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_irishroots3.php?bcpid=7045096001&bclid=1415680404&bctid=1143359315
http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_irishroots3.php?bcpid=7045096001&bclid=1415680404&bctid=1138334426
http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_irishroots3.php?bcpid=7045096001&bclid=1415680404&bctid=1143359316
http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_irishroots3.php?bcpid=7045096001&bclid=1415680404&bctid=1138126008
Until Next Time.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Scottish Handwriting in Old Documents - Some Quick Tips
Hello All -
I am sure it has happened sometime along the line whenever you have been doing any research into your Scottish ancestors - those pesky old documents with the funny hand to read writing.
To help you out a bit, there is a website dedicated to help in this. It is http://www.scottishhandwriting.com/index.asp
ScottishHandwriting.com is a product of the Scottish Archive Network (SCAN).
The website has online tutorials to help you get to grips with reading these old documents with the funny handwriting. There is an interactive tutorial and a coaching manual. Palaeography, studying old handwriting, is a skill that is worth trying to learn. If you are fortunate enough to find documents regarding your ancestor(s) before say 1770ish in Scotland, then this website will be quite helpful to you in learning the basics.
Also, it helps to learn a bit of latin too. Most of the Scottish documents found before 1750 are in latin. You don't have to get too learned in the language (only if you want to), just be able to recognize a few important words such as Father, Mother, born, died, married, son, daughter, etc.
A good idea would be to take a sheet of paper of latin words and their english translation with you when you do any research in a repository - sort of a cheat sheet. An excellent website on learning latin words and simple phrases in genealogy is found at the familysearch.org website: http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Search/RG/guide/WLLatin.ASP
Another very simple and quick tip on helping to read the handwriting on documents (for example ones found in the Statutory Registers after 1855) is if you have trouble making out a word in a document, say for example a death record, look at the words around the word you are having trouble with. Look at the letters and see if they look the same as the word you are trying to make out. This may help in making sense of the word. Of course you don't have to worry about such bad handwriting from the Registrar until after the early 1900s, when the documents were starting to be typed with a typewriter.
Just think, there is always someone out there with worse handwriting than you.
I am sure it has happened sometime along the line whenever you have been doing any research into your Scottish ancestors - those pesky old documents with the funny hand to read writing.
To help you out a bit, there is a website dedicated to help in this. It is http://www.scottishhandwriting.com/index.asp
ScottishHandwriting.com is a product of the Scottish Archive Network (SCAN).
The website has online tutorials to help you get to grips with reading these old documents with the funny handwriting. There is an interactive tutorial and a coaching manual. Palaeography, studying old handwriting, is a skill that is worth trying to learn. If you are fortunate enough to find documents regarding your ancestor(s) before say 1770ish in Scotland, then this website will be quite helpful to you in learning the basics.
Also, it helps to learn a bit of latin too. Most of the Scottish documents found before 1750 are in latin. You don't have to get too learned in the language (only if you want to), just be able to recognize a few important words such as Father, Mother, born, died, married, son, daughter, etc.
A good idea would be to take a sheet of paper of latin words and their english translation with you when you do any research in a repository - sort of a cheat sheet. An excellent website on learning latin words and simple phrases in genealogy is found at the familysearch.org website: http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Search/RG/guide/WLLatin.ASP
Another very simple and quick tip on helping to read the handwriting on documents (for example ones found in the Statutory Registers after 1855) is if you have trouble making out a word in a document, say for example a death record, look at the words around the word you are having trouble with. Look at the letters and see if they look the same as the word you are trying to make out. This may help in making sense of the word. Of course you don't have to worry about such bad handwriting from the Registrar until after the early 1900s, when the documents were starting to be typed with a typewriter.
Just think, there is always someone out there with worse handwriting than you.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Legacy Software Seminar Online
Hello All -
I talk a fair bit about technology for genealogy research. This post is no exception. If you are thinking about software programs for your family history and are not sure about which one is best for you, Legacy Family Tree has an online seminar on their website. This seminar gives an overview and tips and tricks about the program.
I have just started using Legacy 7 Deluxe edition myself, and after using some of the other program out there I can wholeheartedly recommend it. I have just newly received it, so I am still learning about how the program works completely. However, from what I have learned so far, Legacy is a very user friendly program. It arranges things in a straightforward manner (I was able to work with it without looking at the manual). One of the features that I really like is their book publishing report. The program pretty much does it all for you - you just can do some appearance changes here and there to suit your preferences and it does the rest. The book will create its own table of contents and index, which is really nice.
I am also a fan of Roots Magic, which is another very good and user friendly program. But, I think Legacy has got a slight edge for me right at the moment.
To view the seminars online just go to Legacy's website at http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/seminars.asp
They are in three different versions, so one of them will work for you.
I talk a fair bit about technology for genealogy research. This post is no exception. If you are thinking about software programs for your family history and are not sure about which one is best for you, Legacy Family Tree has an online seminar on their website. This seminar gives an overview and tips and tricks about the program.
I have just started using Legacy 7 Deluxe edition myself, and after using some of the other program out there I can wholeheartedly recommend it. I have just newly received it, so I am still learning about how the program works completely. However, from what I have learned so far, Legacy is a very user friendly program. It arranges things in a straightforward manner (I was able to work with it without looking at the manual). One of the features that I really like is their book publishing report. The program pretty much does it all for you - you just can do some appearance changes here and there to suit your preferences and it does the rest. The book will create its own table of contents and index, which is really nice.
I am also a fan of Roots Magic, which is another very good and user friendly program. But, I think Legacy has got a slight edge for me right at the moment.
To view the seminars online just go to Legacy's website at http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/seminars.asp
They are in three different versions, so one of them will work for you.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Interview Questions To Get You Started
Hello All -
If you are looking to get started into researching your family history, one of the first steps is to interview family members. In the Family Tree Magazine (USA) newsletter, there is a good article on some good questions to ask your relatives to help get you started. There no doubt will be more questions that will come to mind, as well as follow up questions from the ones you have asked. But, here are 20 questions to get you going on the right track.
Here is the excerpt from the magazine article:
"The best tactic for oral history interviews is to ask open-ended questions (rather than ones with yes or no answers), and to focus on people's memories and experiences. It's much more interesting-for you and the interviewee-to talk about the stories and emotions behind the events in your family's past. Use these questions as a springboard for planning your interview:
What's your first memory?
Who's the oldest relative you remember (and what do you remember about him or her)?
How did your parents meet?
Tell me about your childhood home.
How did your family celebrate holidays when you were a child?
How did you meet your spouse?
Tell me about your wedding day.
Tell me about the day your first child was born.
What were your favorite school subjects?
Tell me about your favorite teacher.
Tell me about some of your friends.
Describe your first job.
What did you do with your first paycheck?
What was your favorite job and why?
Who are some of your heroes?
Where were you when you heard that President Kennedy was shot? (Add or substitute other important historical events.)
What is your experience with or opinion of computers? (Add or substitute other modern conveniences, such as television, microwaves and cell phones.)
Tell me about some of your favorite songs (also books, movies and television shows).
Tell me about some of the places where you've been happiest.
What haven't we talked about that you'd like to discuss in the time we have left? (This is a good way to begin wrapping up the interview.)"
If you are looking to get started into researching your family history, one of the first steps is to interview family members. In the Family Tree Magazine (USA) newsletter, there is a good article on some good questions to ask your relatives to help get you started. There no doubt will be more questions that will come to mind, as well as follow up questions from the ones you have asked. But, here are 20 questions to get you going on the right track.
Here is the excerpt from the magazine article:
"The best tactic for oral history interviews is to ask open-ended questions (rather than ones with yes or no answers), and to focus on people's memories and experiences. It's much more interesting-for you and the interviewee-to talk about the stories and emotions behind the events in your family's past. Use these questions as a springboard for planning your interview:
What's your first memory?
Who's the oldest relative you remember (and what do you remember about him or her)?
How did your parents meet?
Tell me about your childhood home.
How did your family celebrate holidays when you were a child?
How did you meet your spouse?
Tell me about your wedding day.
Tell me about the day your first child was born.
What were your favorite school subjects?
Tell me about your favorite teacher.
Tell me about some of your friends.
Describe your first job.
What did you do with your first paycheck?
What was your favorite job and why?
Who are some of your heroes?
Where were you when you heard that President Kennedy was shot? (Add or substitute other important historical events.)
What is your experience with or opinion of computers? (Add or substitute other modern conveniences, such as television, microwaves and cell phones.)
Tell me about some of your favorite songs (also books, movies and television shows).
Tell me about some of the places where you've been happiest.
What haven't we talked about that you'd like to discuss in the time we have left? (This is a good way to begin wrapping up the interview.)"
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Gathering 2009 Edinburgh
Hello All -
If you are looking for something to do this summer in July, why not go to Edinburgh to The Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh. It is from the 25th July to the 26th July at various locations throught the city. You will need to view the website for all the details as there is too much to mention here to give it justice. The website is http://clangathering.org/
There will be a genealogy/family history tent there. The programme is called Scotland Lives. Here is an excerpt from the website describing the event.
"Scotland Lives!
There will be book readings and signing sessions by international best-selling authors, talks on heraldry and genealogy, as well as a retail area with fiction and non-fiction titles from Scottish authors published by Birlinn Books. The programme is as follows:
Visitors can find out more about their ancestry through Scotland's People whose experts will be offering advice on how to access one of the largest online sources of Scottish genealogical information and trace their family tree. The Scottish Genealogy Society and Family Tree DNA will also be present.
There will be an opportunity to find out more about heraldry through The Heraldry Society of Scotland and the Scottish Armigers Society who maintain the oldest continuously-maintained official record of Arms in the world.
Part of the Highland Games and Scottish Festival weekend events. Admittance to this event is with a Gathering 2009 Passport or a Highland Games and Scottish Festival ticket only."
It looks like July in Scotland will be a good place to be for Scottish genealogy - you have The Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh and also the International Genealogy Festival in Glasgow. More details on this one can be viewed at their website: http://www.homecomingscotland2009.com/whats-on/events/international-genealogy-festival-4707.html
So mark your calendars: International Genealogy Festival 21-24 July in Glasgow
The Gathering 2009 25-26 July in Edinburgh
If you are looking for something to do this summer in July, why not go to Edinburgh to The Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh. It is from the 25th July to the 26th July at various locations throught the city. You will need to view the website for all the details as there is too much to mention here to give it justice. The website is http://clangathering.org/
There will be a genealogy/family history tent there. The programme is called Scotland Lives. Here is an excerpt from the website describing the event.
"Scotland Lives!
There will be book readings and signing sessions by international best-selling authors, talks on heraldry and genealogy, as well as a retail area with fiction and non-fiction titles from Scottish authors published by Birlinn Books. The programme is as follows:
Visitors can find out more about their ancestry through Scotland's People whose experts will be offering advice on how to access one of the largest online sources of Scottish genealogical information and trace their family tree. The Scottish Genealogy Society and Family Tree DNA will also be present.
There will be an opportunity to find out more about heraldry through The Heraldry Society of Scotland and the Scottish Armigers Society who maintain the oldest continuously-maintained official record of Arms in the world.
Part of the Highland Games and Scottish Festival weekend events. Admittance to this event is with a Gathering 2009 Passport or a Highland Games and Scottish Festival ticket only."
It looks like July in Scotland will be a good place to be for Scottish genealogy - you have The Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh and also the International Genealogy Festival in Glasgow. More details on this one can be viewed at their website: http://www.homecomingscotland2009.com/whats-on/events/international-genealogy-festival-4707.html
So mark your calendars: International Genealogy Festival 21-24 July in Glasgow
The Gathering 2009 25-26 July in Edinburgh
Friday, May 15, 2009
National Library of Scotland Online (Maps & Books)
Hello All -
I thought I would give a plug for the online digital archives of the National Library of Scotland today. I was having a look at their website and thought their digital library is an excellent tool to be used as a social history resource for anyone who is thinking about writing their family history as a book.
I am very big on maps. I always like to put them in my research reports for my clients. In my opinion, it gives a better picture of an ancestor - where they lived, what was around them at that time in history, etc. It is also interesting to see more modern maps and compare them to the older ones. There are many cases where an ancestors residence is no longer there, or has totally changed in its appearance. For example, a particular family on our side had a farm not far from where we live (you could actually see the area from our back window), but when you see it now, there is nothing but houses there - there is no trace of that farm anymore. But if you saw a map of that area about 100 years ago, you would see the farm plainly with no houses anywhere near it (just open fields).
A great place to find old Scottish maps online is at the National Library of Scotland in their online maps collection. You can view them at this link http://www.nls.uk/maps/index.html.
The National Library of Scotland also has a digital library. It can be viewed here http://www.nls.uk/digitallibrary/index.html. The digital library has quite a good number of online publications from their collection. It can be good social history resource for looking more in depth at Scottish history and life. A good family history should have elements of social history to make your ancestors "come alive." Ancestors should be more than just a name and a date and a location - how did they live, what was it like in their town or village at that time, etc.
I thought I would give a plug for the online digital archives of the National Library of Scotland today. I was having a look at their website and thought their digital library is an excellent tool to be used as a social history resource for anyone who is thinking about writing their family history as a book.
I am very big on maps. I always like to put them in my research reports for my clients. In my opinion, it gives a better picture of an ancestor - where they lived, what was around them at that time in history, etc. It is also interesting to see more modern maps and compare them to the older ones. There are many cases where an ancestors residence is no longer there, or has totally changed in its appearance. For example, a particular family on our side had a farm not far from where we live (you could actually see the area from our back window), but when you see it now, there is nothing but houses there - there is no trace of that farm anymore. But if you saw a map of that area about 100 years ago, you would see the farm plainly with no houses anywhere near it (just open fields).
A great place to find old Scottish maps online is at the National Library of Scotland in their online maps collection. You can view them at this link http://www.nls.uk/maps/index.html.
The National Library of Scotland also has a digital library. It can be viewed here http://www.nls.uk/digitallibrary/index.html. The digital library has quite a good number of online publications from their collection. It can be good social history resource for looking more in depth at Scottish history and life. A good family history should have elements of social history to make your ancestors "come alive." Ancestors should be more than just a name and a date and a location - how did they live, what was it like in their town or village at that time, etc.
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