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Schedule: All Times are Mountain Standard Time
Thursday
8:30–9:50am A World of Information – Shane Robison Turning Roots, Branches, Trees into Nodes, Links, Graphs – Jay Verkler
3:00–4:00pm Digitally preserving Your Family Heritage – Berry Ewell

Friday
8:30–9:30am The Changing Face of Genealogy – Curt Witcher – Personal Archiving and Primary Documents – Brewster Kahle
9:45–10:45am Cloud Computing: What It Is and How It Has Been used – Brian Pugh
3:00–4:00pm The Power of PDF: Tools for Every Genealogist – Josh Taylor

Saturday
8:30–9:30am Personal Archiving and Primary Documents – Brewster Kahle
1:45–2:45 pm Virtual Presentations Roundtable – Thomas MacEntee

Thursday, February 10, 2011 8:00 AM – Saturday, February 12, 2011 4:00 PM (Mountain Time)

Registration fee includes entry to the Clark Planetarium dinner event, late access to the Family History Library, the closing reception event, three days of conference attendance, the ability to enter for prize drawings, the conference bag, and access to the Expo hall.

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Even though most cemeteries are public, not all are and I want to make sure I am respectful in doing my research. 

This past weekend I received a request from someone to photograph a family stone in Green Cemetery about 20 miles from where I live.  Since I had never been to this particular cemetery, I decided to take my son along to drive.. I get lost easily and even Google Maps didn’t have this particular cemetery on the map.

I have to admit, it was an exciting search but just a tad spooky to find this cemetery out in the middle of nowhere.  Off in the distance was a lone house.. the dogs barking furiously I’m sure because they sensed strangers a bit to close by.  I expected to have someone drive up asking what we were doing there and hoping they would believe me, but that never happened.

I found some wonderful old stones, some too hard to read and realized I had come a bit unprepared with no brush to softly brush away debris.  My hands hurt by the time we left using them as my only means to clear the stones.  Along the way we came across a second old cemetery (while stopped to make sure we weren’t lost),  named Cosby Cemetery and I took a few shots of the stones there.  I have decided that I am going to create pages with all these photographs and you can find them in the menu above.

As I travel I hope to add more cemetery photo pages.  This weekend I have two more photo requests and I am really looking forward to the search for these out of the way cemeteries and finding links for people searching for lost relatives.

If you have any photographs you would like to share you can either post them on FindAGrave.com or send them to me and I will happily post them on this site for others to benefit from.

Happy Trails.

Online:   Many gravestones and burials are online now and available to search, mainly for free:  FindAGrave is one example to search.  In addition, there are volunteers or members of local genealogy societies or of “Graveyard Rabbits” groups who have taken the time to go through cemeteries methodically, listing every stone and detail, often including a photo as well.

Start off by identifying the town or village your ancestor may have died in, and then identify a likely cemetery.  Remember that some families had grave sites on their property, particularly if they lived on a farm, or in a very sparsely populated area.  Histories of the area may give you more information on this possibility.

Search on a town website for the names of cemeteries in the area, or search at FindAGrave also.   Once you find a likely cemetery, begin searching using the surname, then search using first names.  Finally, go through the cemetery listings name by name.  It won’t take as long as you think it might, and the results are well worth the search.   For instance, you may well find married women with their maiden name listed as well – how helpful!   Also, the search function online for a cemetery may not pick up all your ancestors if their name is spelled slightly differently, or if only an initial is shown, or any number of reasons.  Therefore, search by surname, then search by first name, then go looking name by name by name.

Examine the year(s) in which your misplaced ancestor died.  Was there a war or skirmish on?  An epidemic?  Did a frontier area in the next county or state open up and everyone moved away except this one?  How can you find out this information?  Local newspapers, perhaps?  A lone interment (burial) can give you great clues to follow.  Multiple interments by one family could give you different clues.  For instance you may find that there were more James Terwilliger or Grover Buell burials than you knew, in one area.  Which one is ‘yours’?  How can you tell?  Think carefully about the kinds of details which will help you identify your ancestor.

Here’s another tip:  Look for first wives being buried in the same grave site or area as subsequent wives;  it would be misleading to think they are children, but an easy error to make.  Search for the details of birth and death, and remember that some women died in childbirth in the 1800s, so a death within 4 months of a birth may be another clue.

After doing some searching and identifying a very likely grave, you can write to the cemetery office to request more information about your ancestor.  Remember that the staff may be quite busy and may need proof of your relationship in order to comply with your request.   Provide details of why you believe this is in fact your great-grandfather, and ask if there is a fee for the service.   There may be nothing but the dates and names of the ancestors.   However, for example, my grandfather’s burial gave the cause of his death (massive heart attack), which I hadn’t known previously.

Look at newspapers in the area where your lone ancestor died:  there may be an article or mention of his death, such as an accident, illness, or the like.   Also look in the newspapers where his other relatives lived:  they may have picked up the information and provided it to local papers as well.  This is particularly true in the later 1880s and into the 1900s.   For example, details of the education as well as death of one of my great-grandfather’s sons were printed in the Port Townsend WA newspaper as well as in the East Berlin News PA, and noting that he died in New York city, NY.  If I had only looked in the New York City newspapers I would have missed the rich details reported in the other papers.

While we would like to think that gravestone carvings are “accurate”, errors can creep into gravestones carvings, as well as irregular spellings.  Be prepared to think creatively as you search for gravestones.  Also, find an additional source to confirm the details on a stone, before you conclude this grave is definitely of your ancestor. Some sources might be newspaper obituaries, articles, city/county histories, church notices and records, and the like.

While you are online at a cemetery, check the information provided, and see if there is a possibility of a volunteer taking a photograph of the headstone in question.  You may find that the volunteer is a long-time resident of the area, and is quite knowledgeable about history, perhaps even has more details about your ancestor at the local museum or archives.  Unless you ask, you’ll never know.  For example, I requested a photo of the headstones of my great-great-grandparents in a CT cemetery where they were listed on FindAGrave.   In less than 3 hours, I had 3 wonderful photos, plus information on the house in the background, and details of exactly where in the cemetery these individuals are buried.  How exciting!

As more and more clues are found, use every bit of information, and ask yourself more questions.  Is there a symbol etched onto the gravestone?  What does it represent?  Find out!  Write to the local genealogy society and ask questions.  Perhaps someone living in the town has the exact information you are searching about your ancestor – and may actually be a cousin.  Enjoy your searches!

Retired from the fields of individual rehabilitation and family counseling, Celia is excited to offer quality information, resources, and services for beginners in Genealogy. Check out other articles, newsletters, booklets, forms, online links and more on RootsBasic: Genealogy for Beginners, at http://www.rootsbasic.com

Author: Celia Lewis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Early Registration is $65.00

At the Door Registration is $75.00

One Day Registration is $40.00

Attend just a few classes for $12.00/ a class (At the door only)

Register Arizona Family History Expo

This is and entirely VOLUNTEER effort and always has been, which is rare in this day and age when everyone seems to be trying to turn their websites into money making endeavors and I was extremely impressed with some of the features they have.  (Free request a photo of a Gravestone is my favorite).  According to their site they have listings for over 56,000 graves!

I  decided to poke around a bit since I had recently lost an Aunt to see what information might be there.. I have to say what I found brought tears to my eyes.. literally.  I found my Aunt’s grave listing and the volunteer had also posted the Obituary but I also found my Uncle – her husband who I did not even know had passed and his obituary as well. I was so sad, but grateful, not only to know he had passed but that some kind person had posted the obituary.

I did a little more digging and since a good portion of my tree resided fairly close by I refined my search to show everyone in that particular cemetery and found the memorials for 5 more ancestors.

If you would like to “dig” around at FindAGrave.com, subscription is free, you can upload and add to their database, or put flowers or notes on a family grave.  Just one thing to mention, the first time I logged back in from the login page  it kicked me back to the login, after looking around a bit, I noticed that I was indeed logged in and it showed in my status bar on the left hand side of the page.  

I really recommend this website.. One word of caution, addiction is possible… 5 hours and 2am came and went quickly a few nights ago and Im still recovering from the sleep deprivation.

Happy Trails…

Were their relatives Irish or Scottish? Do they have ancestors that were English royalty? Kids will love finding out who they are related to and if they find something interesting this will just spur them on.

The best way to get the children interested in their family history is to tell them a few things about the life of their ancestors. For example, maybe you can tell them some of the things your mother or father told you. What kind of school they attended, where their days were spent when they were not in school – these facts are interesting to children.

The only transportation they had when they were small may have been a horse. If this is something that you know, share it with your children. It will get them interested in find out more about their family. Does your child know that your great-great grandfather was an officer in the Confederate War? Do you have any family heirlooms they would be interested in seeing?

Many people have the uniforms their relatives wore when they were involved in wars or other historical items that pertain to relatives. Perhaps the stove your grandmother cooked the family meals on is in storage or stored at a relative’s home. These types of stoves were often the type that used wood for cooking and baking. Show them and explain how the stove worked.

The clothes relatives wore many years ago may be packed away in the attic. Show your kids these items and allow them to experience first hand some of the things that were a way of life for their relatives. Tell them or better yet if possible, show them how people used to have to get water from wells.

Explain to them this was before water was available inside and people carried buckets from the well to do everything from cooking to washing their clothes. Is there an old washboard that you could use to explain how washing clothes was done before the washing machine was invented?

The process of tracing a family history can be quite interesting if it is properly introduced to children. They will become fascinated by seeing these items and hearing all the stories associated with growing up before all the modern conveniences we have today.

The more you can get them involved by making it something they want to learn about, the better the chance they will not find it boring. Sometimes instead of just a lot of names of ancestors, you can find pictures that will be of interest. The names may be intriguing to you, but your child will enjoy something more tangible.

Is their an old family home still standing that they could see? Old cemeteries are another source of interest. Family cemeteries often have very old headstones that kids find interesting. Take them to one and let them look around. They will find the names and dates fascinating. Arouse their curiosity and they will enjoy learning where their family originated and their genealogy.

Sherri D. Smith invites you to create your own unique family tree. With a name like Smith, she knows the tricks, tips, techniques and the best ways for researching your unique genealogy. For your free mini-course, 10 Tips To Unearthing Your Family History, visit http://www.genealogyresourcecenter.com.

Author: Sherri D Smith
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Before 1910 there was little conformity with the various states in keeping records of births, deaths or marriages. It is because of this that church records may be a good substitute for the missing information before then. In addition, church records may contain information not found in civil records, such as witnesses or parents. Many churches, such as Quaker ones, had a vital concern with what went on in their congregation. If the records survive, you can find missing pieces to your genealogy.

Since the census data was only taken every 10 years you may have gaps in family history time periods which require investigating. Before the 20th century many families moved often and these families may be hard to keep track of. One way to keep track of them is to trace church records. A census may tell you where children were born, but finding the baptism of these children may reveal that they lived in a different place prior to or after the census. This will guide you to more research in new areas.

You may luck out if a family member was a priest or minister. Many churches or religious organizations such as a Catholic dioceses kept, and still keep, detailed records of those serving the church. You may find family or immigrant information in these records.

You will not be able to purchase a one volume comprehensive guide to doing church record research. There is none available. The only way to begin finding where to look is to use state genealogy guides, local family history research center information, random calling of churches, internet research and state archives. Sometimes it is difficult to figure out which church your ancestor may have attended, unless some document specifically mentions the church.

One of the first questions you will have when beginning church record research for your genealogy is, “How do I find out what religious denomination my ancestors belonged to?”

One of the ways to find out is to pay attention to the denomination of the minister who married your ancestors. Logically, your ancestors may have been married by a minister of a similar denomination.

Another way to find out can be connected to your ancestor’s country of origin. Many Italian ancestors were Catholic, Germans were Lutheran or Reformed and the English, Anglican, Quakers or Presbyterian. Those of French ancestry were most likely Catholic or Huguenot. Many Irish were Catholic or Methodist. The Scottish were commonly Presbyterian. It was common for ancestors to change denominations somewhere in their history. Converting to Methodist was common for Quakers and Catholics who could not find a local church or support.

Another way to find your ancestors religious denomination is to simply figure out what common denominations were in the area in which they lived. Many areas were predominantly Calvinist, Methodist, Baptist or Catholic. Roman Catholics are well known for passing down their denomination to the next generations, so some traditions may exist related to that.

Another less common way to determine a denomination is to search for biographical sketches of your family that may exist in published form, either locally or in a repository, such as a regional archive or library. For families that were in the country prior to 1800, there are many biographical sketches available at various libraries.

If you are looking for help doing your genealogy go to Family History Research. The author, Mark D. Jordan writes from and resides in Pennsylvania.

Author: Mark D Jordan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

About Kentucky Death Records, 1852-1953

This database contains the following Kentucky death records:

• Death certificates, 1911-1953
• Mortuary records, registers of deaths, and death certificates for Newport, Louisville, Lexington, Covington, and Jefferson County, up to 1911
• Returns of death, 1852-1910 (not all years are extant for each county)

Border Crossings: From Mexico to U.S., 1895-1957 – Updated

About Border Crossings: From Mexico to U.S., 1895-1957

This database contains an index of aliens and some citizens crossing into the U.S. from Mexico via various ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexican border between 1895 and 1957.

Caribbean Obituary Collection – Updated

About Caribbean Obituary Collection

The collection contains recent obituaries from hundreds of newspapers.

Canada Obituary Collection – Updated

The collection contains recent obituaries from hundreds of newspapers, and can be browsed by location:

Australia and New Zealand Obituary Collection – Updated

About Australia and New Zealand Obituary Collection

The collection contains recent obituaries from hundreds of newspapers.

United States Obituary Collection – Updated

The collection contains recent obituaries from hundreds of newspapers and can be browsed by location.

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection – Updated

The collection contains recent obituaries from hundreds of newspapers and can be browsed by the following locations:

England, Alien Arrivals, 1810-1811, 1826-1869 – Updated

About England, Alien Arrivals, 1810-1811, 1826-1869

This data collection contains lists of aliens (non-British citizens) arriving in England between 1810 and 1869. The records come from the following National Archives collection series. These records were primarily created as a result of various acts passed by parliament to regulate immigrants and other incoming individuals.

London, England, Land Tax Valuations, 1910 – Free Index

About London, England, Land Tax Valuations, 1910

This is a collection land tax valuation rolls in the City of London taken in 1910. The Finance Act 1910 included the taxation in the increase in the value of land and in order to tax the increase the land had to be valued to begin with. These rolls are the baseline valuations of land in the different districts of London. The work was done by the District Valuation Offices of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. It involved the compilation of field books and maps that listed all property. The Domesday Books that comprise this collection is the summary of this information.

Source: Ancestry.com