The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke - Your Family History Show

Published April 30, 2011 In this episode listeners chime in on Ancestry online trees, Lisa shares an inspiring story, and talks with Mike Litterst of the National Parks Service about the Civil War 150th Anniversary web site.   NEWS:   FamilySearch Over at , with their most recent additions to the website they are now up to 600 free    Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree App iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad: you get the app from the iTunes app store by searching for "genealogy" or 'jamboree" or point your iPhone's mobile browser to All other phones like the Android, and BlackBerry: point your mobile browser to The for Android is now also available in the Amazon App Store.   Jamboree Webinar Extension Series These are a great way to get to not only preview what’s coming at Jambopree, but also you get to  participate in some of the great presentations that happen at Jamboree even if you can’t make it there in person this year   RootsMagic Upcoming Free Webinars Tuesday, May 24, 2011 5pm Pacific / 6pm MDT / 7pm Central / 8pm Eastern   Watch the recording of Google Search Tips and Tricks with Lisa Louise Cooke     by an unnamed Daily Mail reporter published on April 13, 2011    Learn more about the Great War in Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast episode 67 The Western Front Association at the Who Do You think You Are? Live conference 2011 in London       MAILBOX:   Many listeners write in about Ancestry online trees.   Pam and Roxanne comment on the fact that the women in Steve Buscemi’s family tree on an episode of WDYTYA? were listed with their married names and not their maiden names.   "Thank you Lisa for all these wonderful podcasts, they are a highlight to my week and I always look forward to them.' Roxanne, Vancouver BC And finally, I always LOVE to hear when someone out there discovers the podcast, and Karen in Vermont did recently and wrote in: "A few weeks ago I was delighted to find your two podcasts: Family History and Genealogy Gems.  I am a self-taught family historian who has been working on the genealogy of my husband and myself for the past several years.  I wish I had found your podcasts when they first came out.  They would have undoubtedly made my job much easier!…Thank you so much for your podcasts and I can't wait to work my way through them all to see what other discoveries I can make!"     GEM:  Interview with Mike Litterst of the National Parks Service         NEWSLETTER: Sign up for the free and receive the free ebook – 5 Fabulous Google Search Strategies for the Family Historian.

Published April 8, 2011 In this episode we cover Census Records Tips and Tricks.   MAILBOX:   "Keep coming up with these gems, you never know where they may lead!" from Angela who asks about Date Discrepanies and Lookalikes  “All of her life my grandmother was sure that she hadn't been told the whole truth about her birth.”   Garry in British Columbia wrote in about A Gem Found in the    Letitia in Ashford, England writes “Picnic: Problem In Chair Not In Computer!”    Phyllis from Porland OR is a new blogger and has a question about the "First I want you to know how much I enjoy your podcasts.  I really appreciate all the hard work you put into getting information to us about how to successfully trace our family roots and for encouraging us to start a blog.    I started my blog last October.  The site name is and once word got out about the site, family members that I never knew I had contacted me to give me information about our ancestors.  I was even able to find a relative of my great grandmother and my great grandfather in Pescasseroli, Italy and have begun corresponding with them!  So exciting."   APP TIP:  If your iPhone or Android Genealogy Gems Podcast app is acting up check for app and phone updates        In each episode we usually upload a few extra bonus goodies.  With the last episode I included a video version of my interview with Dick Eastman, and I often include photos and other documents, and those are unique to the apps, so be sure and click on Bonus or Extras once you’ve selected a particular episode.   Sean writes in about Citing Wikipedia Sources in your family history research Sean recommends using the text "Permanent Link."  Read more about it at the Finding the Flock Blog   Ken in Washington DC has a beef with Ancestry "First, thank you for the time and effort in putting together your podcasts.  I walk several miles to work each day and find the podcasts a wonderful way to pass the time.  I started with all of your archived episodes when I found the series early last year, finished those up last summer, and now eagerly await each new one."   Tammy in Oklahoma asks about old WAC Broadcasts "I'm a long time listener and happy to say that I am now a Premium Member as well!" I was recently transcribing letters that my grandmother sent home while she served as a WAC in London and Paris during WWII.  Her name was Louise Liberty Osborne.  She was quite a character.   One of the last letters I was working on mentioned that she appeared on the National Broadcast of the U.S. Army Hour which was on Sundays from 12 to 1:30.  The letter is dated May 14, 1944.  Do you know if recordings of these broadcasts still exist?  that specializes in old radio logs Set up some Google Alerts ("army hour" + 1944 for example) and Ebay Favorite Searches.  There are also several Old Time Radio podcasts in iTunes    Susan writes: I love listening to your podcasts. You have so many great ideas for family research. I learn something new with every broadcast.  I was wondering if you or any of your listeners have had any luck in finding family records at a church in Germany.  Lisa's Suggestions: The best way to start is with familysearch.org.  Look up Osnabruck in the online.  Under the location you'll find a large number of record collections.  Click on Church records and follow the links to the records you need.  You can then order the microfilm from your local Family History Center (or if the records have been digitized and are online that should be indicated on the page) and view them at the center.  If you're new to using Family History Centers I've done several podcast episodes in my podcast on them and how to use their records. The is also a tremendous online free resource to learn more about doing German research and answer questions that pop up along the way.   GEM: Census Tips and Tricks Lisa interviews Jason Harrison of Familysearch

Published March 25, 2010   Dick Eastman joins Lisa in this episode to discuss Cloud Computing.   Season 2 of the is coming this March 28, 2011   featuring interviews with many of the experts who attended the RootsTech conference.    Curt Witcher's visionary look at "."      Brian Pugh of FamilySearch called       Big Thank Yous To: Le Maison Duchamp    The Genealogist’s Google Toolbox Book Reviews: Available at the Genealogy Gems Store at Lulu press:   Craig Manson of the GeneaBlogie blog   Ian Hadden at Ian Hadden’s Family History   1911 Scotland Census     MAILBOX:   Jennifer in CA wrote in about how much she enjoyed the about Evernote. Brandt asked a question about Fraternal Organizations:  From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State: Fraternal Societies and Social Services, 1890-1967 by David T. Beito a professor of history at the   GEM: Interview with Dick Eastman on Cloud Computing

Published March 8, 2011 Who Do You Think You Are? Live in London was fantastic!  I can't wait to tell you all about it in this episode!  Like the Genealogy Gems Podcast on Facebook Above: The gates at Hinchingbrooke House forged by Harry Cooke GEM: Create your own Family Reference Library and Catalogue with Jan Gow Recorded at the RootsTech conference in Salt Lake City Resources mentioned in the interview: Hooked on Genealogy Tours PO Box 25-025 Auckland 1130 New Zealand Phone:  64 9 521 1518 Beehive Books Jan Gow has been a genealogist, tutor, author and lecturer at local, national and international levels (and cruise ships) since 1985. Service includes the APG Board and the New Zealand Society of Genealogists as treasurer and president. Owner of Beehive Books (since 1987) and Hooked on Genealogy Tours (since 1992) – each year preparing and escorting genealogists to Salt Lake City and the UK. Awarded the AFFHO (Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations) Award for Meritorious Service to Family History in 2006

Published Feb 8, 2011  In this episode Lisa chats with Josh Taylor of NEHGS about genealogy, technology and the future. Tips for Getting the Most from a Conference 1. Sit up front 2. Introduce themselves to the people sitting next to them 3. Attend classes that wouldn’t normally attend.  Try new topics, and let the presenters really lay out the topic and see how it might apply to their own research. Genealogy’s Star Blog article:   Unveiled their new website which features Illinois Resources for Genealogy Researchers The U.S. National Archives Records Administration new Online Public Access prototype    So try it out at   send your comments and feedback to . NARA’s first mobile app: “Today’s Document.”   Tutorial video on how to use the new Today’s Document application: The Today’s Document is absolutely free and you can get it at the Android marketplace and the Apple iTunes Store.  The Library and Archives Canada recently announced that within the next seven years, they will put most of its services online.  Ancestry.com has decided to disconnect their Expert Connect Service as of March 18, 2011 Jenna wrote in saying that the recent episodes of the Genealogy Gems podcast weren’t showing up on her Genealogy Gems .  If this happens to you it may be because a more current version of the app has been released.  Simply check for the app update on your mobile device, download it and you’ll be up and running again as Jenna did.  Get the Genealogy Gems Android app at the Android Marketplace, or the in the iTunes store.     MAILBOX:  Bill Buchanan and Kim Fillmore wrote in about some great genealogy gems they found on   Update: The toolbar has been discontinued.   GEM: Interview with Josh Taylor of the TV series Who Do You Think You Are?    New Blog Series Check out Lisa’s guests post on the Genealogy Insider blog

Lisa's New Book is Here!   Genealogy Blog:     Lisa's Upcoming Appearances:   All day seminar on Google at the in Southern California conference Feb 10-12 in Salt Lake City to speak on Google Search Strategies   Tips to Avoid Disappearing emails First go to your spam folder and select the emails you want and then click the Not Spam button – it may be called something else in your email, but most services have one.  Create a Contact In your email system for the sender of the email.  So for my newsletter, you would just  add ur  as a contact.   GEM: Interview with Kory Meyerink 50 Most Popular Genealogy Websites   GEM:  Interview with Chris Bair (with thanks to Chris Bair for sharing)

Published Jan 5, 2011 NEWS: 1916 Candian census of the Prairie Provinces at the Library and Archives Canada You can access the digitized images of the 1916 census online in two different ways: by Province, District Name, District Number, and Sub-district Number. Using the ," you can browse the microfilm reels page by page.   New Video on the Civil War from NARA Inside the Vaults: Discover the Civil War In this video just under 4 minutes the creators of NARA’s Discovering the Civil War exhibition  share little-known facts and extraordinary discoveries found in the fantastic Civil War holdings at the National Archives.   For more information on the  Discovering the Civil War exhibition, head on over to .   BBC iPlayer To Go International Now if you’re like me, and you live outside of Great Britain,  at some point you probably popped in on the BBC website to check out the British version of the TV series Who Do You Think You Are? Only to discover that the video is shown on the BBC iPlayer and it’s blocked to international visitors to the site.  The scoop is that the BBC plans to offer overseas access to the BBC iPlayer.  However, it’s not going to be free.   on the BBC iPlayer for iPad So for now, stay tuned.   On the blogging front A.C. Ivory announced right after the new year that he has launched a new version of his   Google Gadgets Update   Cemetery Justice Search Tip:  When it comes to newspapers, Webpage addresses change a lot. In cases like this where you have some of the original text, just type a sentence or two exactly as it appeared in the article.  Or how it appears in the snippet that came with the search result where the link is now bad.  In this case I just typed a sentence or two exactly as kathy quoted it to me in the email and the new webpage for the article was the first item in the search results list.  That’s little gem that works nearly every time.   Mailbox: New Genealogy Blogger Cynthia DeBock   Check out her first post entitled   It's always fun to hear how folks got bit by the genealogy bug.     Jen Alford writes: I just wanted to thank you for the great how-to videos that you did for the family history wreath.  I made one for my mom for Christmas this year and I can't wait to see her reaction!  I've also started a genealogy blog http://jen-gen.blogspot.com and have been enjoying the responses from the family that read it.  Thanks for all the inspiration!  I'm a premium member and love all the extras you have on there.  Keep up the good work! It doesn’t get much nicer than that!  Thanks Jen!   GEM: The New Google EBooks is now available in the U.S. from a new . You can browse and search through the largest ebooks collection in the world with more than three million titles including hundreds of thousands for sale. VIDEO: Introducing Google eBooks   But even if you aren’t interested in buying ebooks don’t overlook Google eBooks.   Try this: Go to google.com/ebooks Search on the word Genealogy, In the upper left corner under price click the Free Only Link. Try searches on topics of interest to you and you’ll probably be surprised at what you find.  And since this is just getting off the ground, you will definitely want to check back periodically to see what’s been added.   APP USERS: Check out the Bonus Content PDF for 2 more Google Books Search Strategies!   GEM:  The New Google Earth 6 To download the new version just go to    The big difference you will notice is that Street View has changed. Instead of finding it in the Layers Panel, you will now find a person icon, or what’s referred to as the Pegman, in the upper right corner by the navigation tools. Zoom in, click and drag the Pegman icon on to the area where you want to see Street View and after a second or two thick blue lines will  pop up if street View is available in that area.  Just drop the icon and you’ll immediately be flown in to street view.  I guess the pegman icon is to represent that the view will be from a person’s perspective, at street level.   Another big difference is that street view is more stream lined. Rather than clicking from one camera icon to the next to move around, simply use the arrow keys on your keyboard to travel around, and as you do the view continues to update automatically. The idea here is that it’s doing it’s best to simulate the walking around the street experience.  And as before you can swing the map around for a complete 360 degree view, as well as look up and down. VIDEO - Learn Google Earth:Street View  Easy-to-use historical imageryIn the new 6.0 version, they’ve made it easier to find historical imagery. When you fly to an area where historical imagery is available, the date of the oldest imagery will appear in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. If you click on this date, you’ll instantly be taken back in time to view imagery from that time period. The Historical imagery controller will appear so you can  browse through all the historical imagery available for that location, or simply close the time control and return to the default view.  It’s very slick and a great time saver!  Learn more about how to use Google Earth for Genealogy, I’ve got the answers for you in the Google Earth for Genealogy DVD series available at

Published Dec 23, 2010 NEWS: Lisa's Upcoming Speaking Engagements: Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE Conference in London Lisa will be speaking on Sunday Feb. 27, 2011 at noon. Use the Promotional code SOG2425 to purchase discounted tickets. , January 21 & 22, Mesa Convention Center The Whittier Area Genealogical Society , January 29, 2011 in Columbus, OH, March 31 - April 2, 2011 in Edmonton, Canada, April 16 & 17, 2011 Southern California Genealogical Society in Burbank, CA, June 10 - 12, 2011 featuring a LIVE podcast! Coming Soon! Lisa's brand new book The Genealogist's Google Toolbox Stay Tuned for the release date! Book Lisa for your next society seminar or conference Click here for a list of available presentations, and Lisa's bio For more information or to request a booking email Launch of Podcast Android App The Genealogy Gems Podcast Companion App for Android is now available in the Android marketplace and at iPhone, iPod iTouch .  Give the App as a gift from the app page in iTunes. Click the down arrow next to the price. The new podcast media player on the for each episode. Just released: Premium Episode 60 Features Rootsmagic and Ancestry answers, and Rethinking Journals with 10 Questions You Need to Answer.   MAILBOX: Lee Van Bergen wrote in asking about the Genealogy Gems Podcast iGoogle Gadget. (Update: iGoogle has been discontinued) Amber Creix Prat wrote to share a resource: "Thanks for keeping up your podcast and I can't wait to listen to the next episodes of both the free and premium versions!" Check out Amber's genealogy blog called Tackling Brick Walls One Brick At A Time Research Question: Shelly Johnson wrote in for some advice on how to locate a death record for an ancestor who likely died in the early 20th century in Marylnad. Links and suggestions from Lisa According to their list state census records aren't available. Turn your attention to state and county death records in Maryland.  FamilySearch Wiki gives a good overview of what might be available.  Maryland State Archives website who died jan. 30, 1908 in Talbot Co., MD Archives of Maryland Online at New Blogger Premium Member Kevin Boyles started a new genealogy blog called ell them you heard about Rootsmagic on The Genealogy Gems Podcast! GEM: Interview with Kendall Wilcox, Do your own Generations Project: 1. What is your motivation for doing this?  What is your "why"? 2. Laser focus on your motivation 3. Populate the tree following the lines that will help you find answers to your why 4. Mix the chart with your family and social history 5. Walk in your ancestor's shoes 6. Share your experience and watch it ripple and impact others. (write, tell, blog, photo essay, etc.) The resources will be on the new blog website.  All future seasons will have an episode devoted to doing your own generations project. APP USERS: Check out the exclusive photo montage video!

Published Nov 20, 2010 T   Mesa Family History Expo January 21 & 22, 2011Mesa Arizona Convention Center.   - Effective Use of Technology Thursday, January 27th  -  Saturday January 29th  9:00AM- 5:00PM New England Historic Genealogical Society 99 Newbury St. Boston MA, 02116 Ancestry  Thegenealogist.co.uk reached an agreement with The National Archives, UK to acquire and publish online the 1911 England and Wales Census. The complete set of 1911 Census records go live on Ancestry.com by county, starting in late 2010 and completing in 2011.    NARA announced New Options Now Available for Reproductions of National Archives Holdings If you’re looking to order copies of NARA’s holdings – including copies now available in digital form – you can use one of the following methods: m from frpom the NARA website For microfilm orders, researchers can use the o   or FamilySearch recently published its first digital Chinese collection, along with additional digital image collections from Belgium, Germany, Guatemala, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, and Puerto Rico. Twenty million additional indexed records were also published for Civil War and Revolutionary War collections and the 1851 Census for England and Wales. Library of Congress  - 1100 finding aids will now lead remote and onsite researchers to more than 32 million archival items. Australian Newspapers The National Library of Australia has launched a new version of their and a user forum  Google Earth UpdatesThe Google Earth and Maps Imagery team has just released another extensive batch of aeriel and satellite images. Check out: The Baltimore Maritime Museum in Baltimore, Maryland U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Get the complete picture of the updated imagery KML download and view in Google Earth for viewing in Google Earth.     “Who Do You Think You Are?” is coming back for a second season in January 2011, and is already doing some at the State Archives in Trenton NJ.  Read about.   MAILBOX: From Pat:  “I just listened to your 100th episode with great nostalgia.  Can something so "young" in years still create nostalgia for breaking a milestone such as this?  YES!…I did notice how many callers mentioned blogging thanks to your encouragement and lessons.  I wonder if that might be an interesting survey--how many people started blogs directly thanks to your influence in Genealogy Gems?  I know I did!”  Michael wrote in about Google Earth for Genealogy: “I have very much enjoyed learning about GLO Records and Google Earth.  I went back to the site yesterday and discovered that they have enhanced their website. At …Thank you again for a great program, I have been plotting my families birth, marriage, death, burial, land patents, etc.  It has been very revealing and helpful in suggesting new places to go look for more info.” Robert wrote: “I am a relatively new listener to your Genealogy Gems podcasts…Being in the over 50 crowd and not very "techy savy", I had my daughter help me and now I am busy catching up on all the episodes.  I routinely listen to them when I go on my daily runs through my iPhone.  What a wonderful and I cannot begin to thank you enough.” See Lisa at: April 16 & 17, of 2011Edmonton, Alberta GEM: Professional Genealogist Interview with Alvie Davidson, of

Published Nov 7, 2010 In this episode we take a sentimental journey back over the first 100 episodes of The Genealogy Gems Podcast including some of Lisa's favorite gems and interviews, show milestones, and listener messages. Fave Gems: Google Site Search - Vehicular Forensics - The Band Venice - Lisa's story and Heritage quilts - Handwriting Analysis and Leatherheads - Irene Johnson, Genealogist and star of the Ancestors series on PBS - and Lisa Kudrow, Who Do You Think You Are? - Kendall Wilcox, the Generations Project - Forensic Linguistics for Genealogy with Dr. Robert Leonard - &   Thanks to the following folks for the messages of congratulations: The Staff at Lisa Alzo, Genealogist, Author and Speaker Holly Hansen, President of Sean Lamb, and A.C. Ivory, Denise Levenick, "Penelope Dreadful" of the Paula Hinkel, Chair of the Bruce Buzbee, President, Amy Coffin, Elizabeth O'Neal, Roger Grua Brandt Gibson Teri Chaffin Maureen Taylor  Dot Elder   Emails from Connie, Teresa, Simona, Chris and Crystal Blogs mentioned: and   Milestones: Newsletter ( and get the free Google Search Strategies e-book) Premium Membership Launched () The Genealogy Gems Toolbar - UPDATE The toolbar has been discontinued.   The first podcast in front of a live audience -   Sharing Gems: Christmas in July (Sweet Memories Candy Bars) Family History Dislay - Mother's Day Plate -   Video Gems: Subscribe free to the l at YouTube Socks to America - Sweet Land with Ali Selim - Heritage Quilts - Video:   by shopping online through the and website links on the Genealogy Gems website.   Thank you to our sponsor:   Listen to Crystal Bell's story in of the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy Podcast