Archive for March, 2011

Surname Forum Activity
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Cormac Manley was my great-great grandfather. He married Barbara Gorham and their children were Mary Ann, Margaret, John, Barbara, James, Charles, Bridget, Winifred(Oona), and Honor. Cormac’s parents were James Manley and Mary Ann Carlin. Cormac was born in Erris(?)/Mt. Jubilee Village, Mayo, between Castlebar & Westport. My relative’s eventually settled into South Boston, Mass.
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Actor Steve Buscemi has played plenty of nefarious characters during his career. Now he’s searching through history to discover what kind of characters he has in his own family tree. You’ll learn what he uncovers in tonight’s all-new episode of <i>Who Do You Think You Are?</i> Ancestry.com is a sponsor of the show airing Friday nights at 8/7c on NBC. Watch a preview here. And visit www.ancestry.com/wdytya2011 Saturday morning for tips for success in your own family research.

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Famed and world renowned actress Elizabeth Taylor passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2011. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and her words moved many. As we look inside ourselves and remember the gift that Elizabeth gave us, we’re reminded of one of her quotes: “I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened, and I’m not afraid to look behind them.”

Ancestry.com allows you to look behind doors all of the time. In the spirit of Elizabeth, we looked behind some of our doors and found quite a few records of Liz. Included was her birth certificate, pictured here.

We also found her on a passenger list from the ship that brought this talented actress to the United States.

Survived by her family of four, Elizabeth’s son said that we lost the last great legendary actress.

Her memory will always be in our hearts and minds.

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Last month when I announced the February webinar for Family Tree Maker, hundreds of you posted questions for our experts. However, due to time constraints, only a limited number of topics could be covered. So today I wanted to take some time to respond to some of the questions and concerns that didn’t make it into the webinar. Hopefully I will provide information that is relevant to all of you.

I’d also like to thank everyone who comments on the blog posts, answers questions for other users, and shares their family history and Family Tree Maker experiences. I am proud to be a part of such an helpful and active community of users!

Now, to the questions.

Uploading/Downloading Trees to Ancestry.com

Where can I find directions about uploading and downloading trees to Ancestry.com?

You can view instructions in the software’s Online Help (select “Help for Family Tree Maker” from the Help menu) and in the digital copy of the Companion Guide that comes with your software (select “Companion Guide” from the Help menu and go to pages 31-32 and 257-260).

Can I keep my tree private if I upload it to Ancestry?

Yes. When you upload your tree, you have the option to make your tree public or private. By default, your tree will be public. If you want to keep your tree private, deselect the “Allow others to see my tree as a public member tree” option. If you keep your tree private, Ancestry members can still see names, birth dates, and birthplaces from your tree in search results. However, if they want to see your tree or any attached photos and records, they will have to use the Ancestry Connection Service to contact you. Then you can choose to give them access to your tree or not.

I want to put my tree on Ancestry but I don’t want to upload my entire tree. Can I upload only part of it?

Yes. When you upload your tree to Ancestry, you can include every individual in your tree or you can choose specific individuals or family branches to upload. You can also choose to privatize living individuals so that facts and relationships for living individuals aren’t uploaded.

If I download my tree from Ancestry.com into Family Tree Maker, will it include my pictures and documents?

Yes, your tree will contain all the facts, sources, and images you’ve manually attached to individuals in your tree.

I want to create a book using the online service on Ancestry.com but my tree isn’t ready to be put online. Can I make a book without uploading my tree?

In order to use the online publishing tool on Ancestry (available in Family Tree Maker on the Publish tab), you do need to upload your tree to Ancestry. That way, the program can automatically create family group sheets, pedigree trees, and timelines for you based on information in your tree. However, if you don’t want to keep your tree online, you can delete it after you finish your publishing project.

Backing Up Files

Can I back up my files to a flash drive?

Yes. To back up your tree to a flash drive, select “Backup” from the File menu. When the Backup window opens, select your flash drive from the “Removable media” drop-down list.

Does Family Tree Maker auto-save my tree? And how often?

Family Tree Maker saves your tree automatically every time you make a change.

Is it safe to overwrite my backup files?

When you create a backup file in Family Tree Maker, it automatically names the backup file using the current date. This can help you keep track of various backup files you’ve created. However, if you want, you can overwrite your backup files by using the same name every time you back up your files. I would recommend that you only do this if you’re sure you don’t need the previous backup.

When I use the Backup option, does it back up all my trees at once?

When you use the Backup option, only the tree that is currently open will be backed up. You must back up each of your trees separately.

Upgrading or Updating the Software

Will Family Tree Maker 2011 open my version 16 files?

Yes. You can import your old files directly into the software without losing any data. If you have multiple files in the old program that represent different families, you will need to import each one separately.

Will Family Tree Maker 2011 replace the old version of my software?

No. Family Tree Maker 2011 installs as a completely separate program and will not affect your old program.

If you want to learn more about how to upgrade to version 2011 or want to see what new features are available, you can download a free Upgrade Guide.

I want to make sure my software is up-to-date. What is the most current version number?

For Family Tree Maker 2011, the current version is 20.0.0.368. If you want to see what version you’re using, go to the Help menu and select “About Family Tree Maker”. You can also make sure your software is up-to-date by selecting “Check for Update” from the Help menu.

For Family Tree Maker for Mac, the current version is 19.2.1.241. If you want to see what version you’re using, go to the Family Tree Maker menu and select “About Family Tree Maker”. You can also make sure your software is up-to-date by selecting “Check for Updates” from the Family Tree Maker menu.

I am currently using a different genealogy program. Can I import my file without losing any information?

You can import Legacy Family Tree files, The Master Genealogist files, and FamilySearch Personal Ancestral Files (PAFs) directly into Family Tree Maker; your files will contain all your information plus any media items you’ve included. If your file was created in another program, you can export your tree as a GEDCOM, which Family Tree Maker can open. You won’t lose any of the data you’ve entered, but media items won’t be included in the file.

How-Tos

How do I add a second marriage for an individual?

To add a second spouse for an individual, select the appropriate individual on the People workspace (Family tab). In the family group view, click the “Choose Spouse” icon next to the individual’s name. Then choose “Add Spouse” from the drop-down list. Enter a name for the second spouse and click OK. Now, enter any information you have about the second marriage in the Marriage fields on the editing panel.

How do I indicate that someone is a stepparent?

You can choose a relationship type (such as stepparent) on the People workspace (Person tab). On the People workspace, select the individual who is the stepparent; then click the Person tab. Now click the Relationships button. Select the person’s stepchild in the list. In the Relationship drop-down list, choose “Step.”

I can ignore hints on Ancestry. Can I ignore hints in Family Tree Maker?

Yes. If you find a hint that isn’t relevant to anyone in your tree, you can chose to ignore the hint so it won’t appear in your hints list again. To ignore a hint, access the hint on the Web Search workspace; then click the Ignore record button in the Search result detail toolbar.

Can I organize my media items by various branches of my family?

Yes. To organize your media items by families, you can create a media category for each family. To create a media category, go to the Media workspace and select Categorize Media from the Media menu. In the window that appears, click the Add button. Enter a name for the category (such as Reed or Smith) and click OK. Repeat the step for other family branches. When you add a media item to Family Tree Maker, make sure you assign each item to the appropriate family category.

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The top three floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory blazed shortly before quitting time March 25, 1911, trapping 146 people, mostly women, in the inferno.

A stray cigarette or match dropped into a bin of fabric scraps is credited with starting
the the fire. The exits were locked by supervisors, who claimed the workers would
steal things if they weren’t carefully monitored, trapping them inside. Fire ladders
and hoses couldn’t reach the top floors. The fire escape collapsed under the weight
of fleeing workers. Many women jumped to their death rather than burn alive.

The Triangle factory is near the Lower East Side, a hub of Jewish immigrants in the
early 1900s, so many Jewish women worked at the factory and consequently died in the
fire. The factory still stands and is now a New York University classroom building,
with three plaques memorializing the devastation. (Click
here for more on Jewish women in the fire.)

Ironically, the
very garment these women were making under deplorable labor conditions is viewed historically
as a liberating fashion. The shirtwaist (depicted below) was paired with a skirt
to give women more physical mobility, which lead to social mobility as women flooded
into the workforce and into the streets to claim their independence. It was certainly
a far cry from the bustles, hoop skirts and corsets that confined women for generations
prior.

A list of the victims reveals horrifying details about the dead. Ignazia Bellotta’s
body was identified by the heel of her shoe. Esther Harris died after she broke her
back climbing down an elevator chute. The stocking of Julia Rosen was stuffed with
$842, several years worth of wages and the equivalent of $19,000 today. Srar Kupla
survived her eight-story jump to escape the fire for fire days before she died. (View
the entire victim list here.)

Six of the 146 people who died in the fire remained unidentified for nearly 100 years,
until independent researcher Michael Hirsch matched the victims with their names and
relatives. After the fire, investigators had assumed these unidentified victims were
recent immigrants with no family in the United States to claim the bodies. http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/victimsWitnesses/unidentifiedVictims.html

And while the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was a horrifying American tragedy,
it spurred sweeping reforms, including new safety and fire regulations, child labor
laws and workman’s compensation. It also ignited the American labor movement and union
membership.

If you subscribe to HBO, catch the documentary “Triangle: Remembering the Fire”. It
premiered March 21, but check local listings for repeats or visit
HBO’s website for more information.

We also created this slide show of photos from the fire.

For more on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, visit
Cornell’s website.

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If you’ve been looking to boost your family history search skills, one of our interactive Family
Tree University courses may give you the jumpstart you need. The next session
starts Monday, March 28, and here’s what we’re offering:

• Creating
  a Family History Book, taught by Nancy Hendrickson
• Discover
  Your Family Tree, taught by Grace Dobush
• Discovering
  Your Czech and Slovak Roots, taught by Lisa A. Alzo
• Exploring
  City Directories, taught by Diana Smith
• Finding
  African-American Ancestors in Newspapers, taught by Tim Pinnick
• German
  Genealogy 201, taught by James M. Beidler
• Google
  Earth for Genealogists, taught by Lisa Louise Cooke
• Land
  Records 101, taught by Diana Crisman Smith
• Organize
  Your Genealogy, taught by Nancy Hendrickson
• Source
  Documentation 101, taught by Charlotte Bocage
• Trace
  Your Polish Roots, taught by Ceil Wendt Jense

Use coupon code FTU0311 when you register to get 20 percent off your course, and you’ll
also receive the Organization
Made Easy expert webinar free.

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Good news, family historians! We’re offering one of our interactive online seminars for free to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.

Learn what life was really like during the war between the states for the soldiers
who fought and died in the conflict, as well as the civilians they left behind at
home. Take a virtual trip back to the 1860s with Michael O. Varhola, the author of
the new book Life
in Civil War America, to discover what your ancestors wore, said, ate, earned,
did for fun and more.

Registration for the live session includes:

* participation in the live presentation and Q&A session

* access to the webinar recording to view again as many times as you like

* PDF of the presentation slides for future reference

* coupon for purchase of Life in Civil War America or 2011 Civil War desk calendar

The Life in Civil War America webinar is scheduled for April 6 at 2 p.m. Click
here to reserve your spot.



UPDATE: If you cannot attend the free webinar when it is being broadcast, you
can still access the recording and handouts afterward by registering for the webinar. Click
here to register.

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Hopes of expanding the already voluminous Google Books collection (7 million books and counting) were shelved
by a New York federal district court Tuesday, the ruling citing anti-trust concerns.

Google previously reached a settlement with authors and publishers to digitize and
display excerpts of out-of-print books, even if the materials are not in the public
domain or explicitly authorized by publishers to appear in Google Books. This agreement
was challenged by the Authors Guild and subsequently struck down because it gave Google
a virtual monopoly on digitized books. The settlement also raised privacy rights concerns
because it would allow Google to track the books users read.

Despite the setback, the current digital collection allows users to search and preview
books, periodicals and other materials from libraries and publishers around the world.
Google books is an especially useful tool for genealogists, as users can often find
complete copies of published genealogies, directories, local histories and other useful
materials. (We’ve
bookmarked some of our favorite family history titles in our Google Books library.)

For more on using Google Books for genealogy, read this Genealogy
Insider blog post or watch the video below:

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Each
month we’ll release a new collection of carefully selected, discounted
products to help you achieve your genealogy goals. A limited number of
copies of each collection will be available, so get ‘em while the
getting’s good.

For March, we’ve put together the Ultimate
Family History Starter Collection. This multimedia bundle brings you our most
invaluable tips, tricks and how-tos to help you jump start your genealogy research.
There are only 50 copies of this collection left for March.

The Ultimate Family History Starter Collection contains:

• Discover Your Roots Spring 2011 digital issue
• Family Tree Essentials CD
• Beginner’s Guide to Genealogy digital download
• Your Unofficial Guide to Ancestry.com: Tips, Hints and Hacks for Finding Your Ancestors
  on-demand webinar
• Family Tree Magazine Web Guides CD
• Discover Your Family Tree Family Tree University course

If all the items were purchased separately, the price would add up to $122.94, but
we’ve bundled them together for $49.99. Save
$72.95 by purchasing the Ultimate Family History Starter Collection on ShopFamilyTree.com.

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When I got back from the Who
Do You Think You Are? Live show in London at the end of February, I not only had
a bag full of dirty laundry, but a slew of recorded interviews with fascinating genealogy
experts, exhibit hall brochures, treasured purchases and a mountain of digital photographs.

After firing up the washing machine, I sat down at my desk and wondered what I would
do with all those JPEG jewels. Photographs capture once-in-a-lifetime moments and
treasured family memories that we certainly don’t want to forget. But assembling them
in a way that can be enjoyed for years to come is not as simple as it was in the old
days when we sat down to our scrapbooks and prints.

Here are three tips for assembling your precious pics in a way that will delight you
and those you share them with:

Go Interactive

Genealogy Blogger Mark Tucker recently
emailed me a link to one of his posts on Zoom.it, a website
that allows you to create interactive displays of your favorite photos. This is really
slick for high-resolution shots that you want your audience to explore more in depth.

Here’s a Zoom.it of Hinchingbrooke House just north of London. If you’re a regular
listener of my Genealogy Gems podcast, then you will not only know the significance
of this house to the Cooke family, but also how incredible it is that I have any photographs
of this part of our trip at all! (Hear the full story in episode
106.)

To learn more about how to use Zoom.it yourself and to see a great example of how
it can be used with your own family history photos, check out Mark’s post Interactive
Online Family History Photos.

Create a Photo Collage

When assembling a presentation of photos, sometimes less is more. By picking out the
cream of the crop, you’ll ensure that your audience will stay enthralled.

But when it comes to creating a photograph collage with ShapeCollage.com,
more is better After downloading all of my photos to my hard drive, I just went to
ShapeCollage.com and downloaded the free software, navigated to the folder of photos
on my hard drive and added them. By selecting Text and typing “WDYTYA” my photos assembled
themselves in a creative way to tell the viewer what they were all about.

Video Slideshow

Video production software can also do a nice job of showing off your pics. Here’s
my collection spanning the three days of Who Do You Think You Are? Live 2011. It’s
the next best thing to being there!