May CCGS Meeting to Feature a Presentation by Seema Kenney on Using DNA as a Research Tool

Whether you've already taken or are still considering a DNA test to determine your kinship with someone or to trace your lineage, knowing how to work with the results you receive is crucial! Receiving the test results is one thing, understanding them and using them as a research tool are totally different things. Join us at the CCGS meeting on Tuesday, May 15, for a presentation by Seema Kenney on DNA Results as a Research Option.


Seema Kenney

Seema Kenney is an experienced software instructor and a professional genealogist. Her known roots are deep in New England as well as England, Germany, and Sweden. She has a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University; completed the ProGen study program; and she is an active member and officer of several genealogical societies.

Our CCGS meeting will be held at the Brewster Ladies' Library, Rte. 6A, Brewster, on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 10 a.m. Please consider arriving early for socializing and refreshments beginning at 9:30.

Received at the Library

While we probably are all experienced in using Ancestry.com, the cover story in Internet genealogy (Feb./March 2018) shares ways to find hidden treasures.  To cite just one example, were you aware that Ancestry contains lots of databases that don't include personal names (think the Sears Roebuck catalogs, or postcards)?  Ten interesting examples of databases that aren't traditional genealogy data are listed.  In "At your service: the generous genealogist" Sue Lisk recommends ways to help others that will expand your skills and horizons, such as mentoring other family historians, transcribing or indexing records, documenting family stories or grave sites.  "Do you have lost Irish ancestors?" centers around researching emigration from Cobh, the deepwater port for Cork City, from which about half of Ireland's emigrants departed.  George Morgan (co-founder of the Genealogy Guys Podcast) is interviewed about his work with the Florida History and Genealogy Library to digitize items from their collections.  "Digital Library on American Slavery" focuses on but goes beyond North Carolina, and includes the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database.  Check out the National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair, an online conference featuring NARA records since 1913, just one of the internet resources mentioned in "Net Notes" in this issue.

In Your genealogy today (March/April 2018) "Hints from Houdini" offers 5 techniques to improve your research that take inspiration from the famous magician: be imaginative, confident, skeptical, resilient, and focus on the women!  Joe Grandinetti makes some great finds in Ireland tracing his mother's lineage in "Return to your sources."  In "Electricity and family history" we are reminded that something we take so much for granted today was a common feature of our ancestors' lives only with the 20th century.  Using North Carolina as a case study, Diane Richards discusses the intricacies and eccentricities of state records, and how history affects them. Another article covers researching Scots-Irish ancestors in 18th-century Virginia..

Received at the Library

The featured article in Internet genealogy (Oct./Nov.2017) "Always an apprentice!" gives tips for improving your family history research: use maps, historical apps like WhatWasThere and HistoryPin, and find local histories and other books that give the flavor of your ancestors' lives.  Two articles elucidate slave records in Britain (including British Caribbean colonies) and in the American South ("Slave Insurance Records").  "Reaching the end of the roll" reviews the end of the LDS microfilm project, and covers workarounds while we await the completion of digitization in 2020.  YMCA WW1 Service Cards are an interesting new resource added to FamilySearch, giving information on over 27,000 civilian volunteers who aided the war effort.  FindMyPast has added a collection of Catholic parish records ultimately expected to contain 100 million records.  The 2017 release of genealogy software package Heredis is reviewed.

The Dec./Jan 2018 issue of Internet genealogy explores several less traveled avenues for your research.  The lead article treats lesser known manuscript and archival holdings in "Online finding aids reveal genealogical gems."  The author suggests that ledgers are particularly useful, but names a host of other records that can reveal genealogy facts, such as petitions, bank records, benevolent society records, and more, and she suggests ways to find them.  (A friend of mine works on transcribing records in Provincetown, and found the Pharmacy ledger particularly fascinating.) Another article treats military periodicals, which are scattered across the internet -- search using the unit's name/number, and don't forget state newspaper archives.  If you like to think about the big picture of our genealogy enterprise, you'll enjoy "The global village in 21st century genealogy," which looks at the theories of Marshall McLuhan in light of the internet.  As always, there are software and website reviews: the PRONI historical map viewer covers Northern Ireland; ProStamm is a new genealogy software; Jambios is a new platform for telling stories online in book format.

Received at the library

Family tree magazine always has interesting articles.  The Dec. 2017 issue treats DNA and adoption, the subject of our January meeting.  The featured article is the 75 best "state champions," the best state sites for genealogy (ours is www.digitalcommonwealth.org, well worth a look).  A collection of Sanborn fire insurance maps that will eventually reach half a million maps from all 50 states is being digitized by the Library of Congress and is available free on their website www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps.  A fascinating article on the history of mirrors reveals that King Henry VIII was an avid collector at a time when a small mirror was worth as much as an entire country estate!

The cover story for Your Genealogy Today (Jan./Feb. 2018) is about making sense -- or not -- of family stories.  "Small town genealogy" looks at how towns are preserving their history, an effort that probably many of our members are engaged in, whether here on the Cape or elsewhere.  "Constables and town watchmen" explains the history of these positions perhaps filled by our 17th-19th century relatives before the establishment of professional police forces.  A useful tool for organizing your research is timelines, or chronological spreadsheets, which can help you identify puzzles and gaps for further research as well as keep track of your research.  Another useful tool is the Genealogical Proof Standard, which can help you "Avoid common mistakes."  Diane Southard, somewhat tongue in cheek, compares contacting your DNA matches to a first date situation.

April CCGS Meeting (Tuesday, April 10th) Will Feature Noted Genealogist Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D.

The featured speaker at the upcoming CCGS general meeting on Tuesday, April 10th, will be the preeminent genealogist Dr. Thomas W. Jones. Dr. Jones' presentation to CCGS, entitled "Solving the Mystery of the Disappearing Ancestor", will touch upon the common frustration that we genealogists commonly encounter in not finding ancestors in the records and places where we logically expect them to be. In his lecture, Dr. Jones will explain seven reasons why such ancestors seem to have disappeared, provide examples of each from actual case studies and suggest strategies to help attendees find their elusive ancestors.


Thomas Jones

Tom Jones is an award-winning author, editor, educator, and researcher focusing on methods for challenging genealogical problems. He coordinates courses at GRIP (Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh), IGHR (Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research), and SLIC (Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy), and he speaks often for local, state, national, and international genealogical societies. Since 2002 he has co-edited the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, and he authored Mastering Genealogical Documentation and Mastering Genealogical Proof.

Please note that the April meeting is taking place on the second Tuesday of this month.

Our meeting will be held at the Brewster Ladies' Library, Rte. 6A, Brewster, on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 10 a.m. Please consider arriving early for socializing and refreshments at 9:30.

Researcher's guide to American genealogy

A new resource has been added to the research guides section of the book collection at the CCGS Library.  The fourth edition of The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy was released in 2017 by author Val D. Greenwood.  A substantial book of close to 800 pages, it is divided in two parts:

1. Background to research
2. Records and their use

The author takes the research process quite seriously, stating that "...the notion that when we are copying someone else's work we are doing family history research/genealogy is a misconception." (p.5)  His best advice to improve your research?  Document entire families, not just your direct line ancestors (p.10).

Part I is full of practical tips on a wide range of subjects.  For instance, the chapter on language covers handwriting, abbreviations, spelling, useful Latin terms, nicknames, numbers and more.  A chapter on correspondence covers filing of documents acquired, analyzing correspondence results, writing your letter, its appearance, choosing the recipients, and a checklist of good writing practices. Other chapter topics in Part 1 are: understanding genealogical research, planning, evidence, libraries and the National Archives, reference works, organizing your findings, computer technology, the internet, and family history.

In Part 2 there is a wealth of information concerning specific types of records that are encountered in family research.  The chapter on wills, for example, covers the different types of wills, probating, contested wills (a process usually providing great genealogical information!), the value of wills, problems specific to wills, and finding and using them.  Suffice it to say, no matter what kind of record you are investigating, this handbook will provide you with a thorough and thought-provoking overview.

I am very impressed with this book, and 75% of reviewers on Amazon gave it 5 stars, so I'm not alone.  If you are embarking on a new area of research, having trouble with something, or just wanting to tighten up your research practices, I think you would find valuable information and inspiration in this comprehensive guide.  Come by the CCGS Library and spend some time with it, why don't you?

March Meeting Presentation Will Focus on Use of University and Local Archives

At our March 20 meeting Joanne Riley, Archivist at the Joseph P. Healey Library, UMass Boston, will highlight the wealth of archived genealogical information that is open to the public for research. In her presentation entitled "Mining Family History Gold in University and Local Archives", Joanne will share examples of the archival collections at UMass Boston that are goldmines for family and neighborhood historians, including records from nineteenth-century social welfare organizations, mortuary records from the Massachusetts Catholic Association of Foresters, and the "Saturday Evening Girls" collection, which documents the young women in the North End in the early 1900's who helped create the highly valued "Paul Revere Pottery" style. In addition, Joanne will provide practical pointers for gaining access to the abundance of information preserved at other local and university libraries.



Joanne Riley

As UMass Boston's University Archivist and Curator of Special Collections, Joanne Riley initiated projects such as the "Massachusetts Memories Road Show", which works with local communities to collect and preserve residents' images and stories, including those of Brewster in 2008 and the "1919 Boston Police Strike Project", which invites community volunteers to help research the lives of the 1,100+ policemen who participated in that historic event. Joanne holds Master's degrees in ethnomusicology, academic technology and library and information science. She is deeply interested in family and local histories, from both a personal and professional perspective.

Our CCGS meeting will be held at the Brewster Ladies' Library, Rte. 6A, Brewster, on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 10 a.m. Please consider arriving early for socializing and refreshments at 9:30.


February 20 CCGS Meeting Features a Live Webinar About Facebook as a Tool for Genealogy Research

While Facebook is the world's largest online social network with more than 1.2 billion users, did you know that it can be leveraged as a genealogy research "work horse" to help find your ancestors? In this February 20 live webinar entitled "Facebook: A Tool for Genealogy Research" our presenter, Thomas MacEntee, will take you beyond the basics of setting up a Facebook account and simply posting status updates or playing games. His presentation will focus on developing the following skill set for genealogy research: Locating living relatives and others researching your same surnames; Locating Facebook Groups and Pages related to your genealogy research; Creating a Facebook Group to facilitate collaboration and participant interaction around a specific topic; Understanding the difference between a Facebook Page and a Facebook Group; and Protecting your privacy and ensuring an enjoyable experience when researching genealogy.

Thomas MacEntee

What happens when a "tech guy" with a love for history gets laid off during The Great Recession of 2008? You get Thomas MacEntee, a genealogy professional who is also a blogger, educator, author, social media connector, online community builder and more. Thomas was laid off after a 25-year career in the information technology field, so he started his own genealogy-related business called High Definition Genealogy. Thomas' new site Genealogy Bargains launched in March 2017 and is now his main focus. Genealogy Bargains posts daily deals and coupons on products such an AncestryDNA, 23andMe, genealogy books and webinars. Thomas describes himself as a lifelong learner with a background in a multitude of topics who has finally figured out what he does best: teach, inspire, instigate, and serve as a curator and go-to-guy for concept nurturing and inspiration.

Our CCGS meeting will be held at the Brewster Ladies' Library, Rte 6A, Brewster, on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 10 a.m. Please consider arriving early for socializing and refreshments at 9:30.

January Meeting Will Feature a Presentation on DNA Testing for Adoptees

DNA Testing is a valuable new resource for adoptees and others who are researching issues of unknown parentage. At our CCGS meeting on January 16, Thomas Greve, current President of the Falmouth Genealogical Society, will guide us on what tests are available to consumers, what information they can provide, and how to identify genetic ancestors using DNA matches. His presentation is entitled "Autosomal DNA Testing for Adoptees".



Thomas Greve

Thomas Greve is a genealogical researcher and speaker from Falmouth, Massachusetts. After
pursuing the history of his own family for over 10 years, he began researching professionally in 2016. Thomas currently serves as president of Falmouth Genealogical Society and holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University's Center for Professional Education. He is also a proud member of Unclaimed Persons, a group of volunteer genealogists who donate their time and research skills to assist medical examiners in locating the next-of-kin of deceased individuals. Thomas specializes in the use of DNA testing as evidence of identity and kinship, and enjoys helping adoptees locate biological family members.

The CCGS meeting will take place at the Brewster Ladies' Library, Rte. 6A, Brewster, on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 10 a.m. All are invited to come earlier for socializing and refreshments at 9:30.

CCGS Members' Annual Holiday Celebration

The annual December holidays meeting is the perfect time for members of the Cape Cod Genealogical Society to share stories, memorabilia, and/or photos that they have uncovered in researching family roots. Member accounts and treasured discoveries from family histories will surely inspire all of us to share our own findings with family and friends during upcoming holiday gatherings and in the year ahead. If you have a story to share, an artifact or photos from your family search, or even a recent discovery from DNA testing please consider sharing with fellow members during this annual holiday tradition (to volunteer please contact Ralph Ryall at ryalfrile@aol.com).

The meeting starts at 10 a.m., Tuesday, December 19, at the Brewster Ladies' Library, Route 6A, Brewster. Please come earlier (around 9:30) to socialize over coffee and holiday treats (please consider baking and/or providing some holiday treats to share with fellow members).