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

Published Oct 28, 2007 EPISODE 31 SHOW NOTES Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies. The book has been discontinued . A special little .  Update: iGoogle has been discontinued. The website is evolving every day with new content, so be sure and visit regularly at   Be sure to click on the Link.  And you'll also find lots of other great tips that we've talked about to make Google work harder for your genealogy research. Please do let your research friends and your local genealogy society know about it as a resource for them too, even if they don't listen to the podcast. Gem:  The Irish Jig performed by the National Promenade Band in 1914 for Edison Records  American Memory provides free and open access through the Internet to over 9 million items of written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience. These materials chronicle historical events, people, places, and ideas that continue to shape America. Advertising 1850-1920 Architecture and Interior Design 1935-1955 Baseball Cards 1887-1914 Broadsides and Printed Ephemera 1600-2000 Chicago Daily News - Photographs 1902-1933 7 different Civil War collections with many, many photographs Daguerreotype Photographs 1839-1864 Depression Era to World War II FSA/OWI Photographs 1935-1945 Film, Animated 1900-1921 There are several Folk Music Collections Great Plains Photographs 1880-1920 Maps and Cartographic Items 1500-Present New York City Films 1898-1906 Nineteenth-Century Books 1850-1877 Nineteenth-Century Periodicals 1815-1900 Ohio River Valley 1750-1820 Panoramic Photographs 1851-1991 Pearl Harbor and Public Reactions Audio Interviews 1941-1942 Posters, WPA 1936-1943 Prairie Settlement, Nebraska Photographs and Letters 1862-1912 Railroads Maps 1828-1900 Revolutionary Era Maps 1750-1789 San Francisco and 1906 Earthquake Films 1897-1916 Sheet Music 1820-1860 & 1870-1885 Slave Narratives Audio Interviews 1932-1975 Small Town Life, Mid-Atlantic Stereoscopic Photographs ~ 1850-1920 Southern U.S. Personal Narratives 1860-1920 Traveling in America Books ca. 1750-1920 Turn-of-the-Century America Detroit Publishing Company Photographs 1880-1920 Upper Midwest Books ca. 1820-1910 Utah and Western Migration 1846-1869 American Variety Stage - Vaudeville  1870-1920 Western U.S. Photographs 1860-1920 World War I Military Newspapers 1918-1919 World War I Rotogravures 1914-1919 World War II Maps Military Situation Maps 1944-1945 Some of my other favorite areas of the Collections and Programs are: The VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT The NATIONAL DIGITAL NEWSPAPER PROGRAM CHRONICALING AMERICA â HISTORIC AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS The PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ONLINE CATALOG :  LOC WEBCASTS Start by browsing the Biography and History listings. The library website also offers on a variety of subjects. The future: the library just signed a World Digital Library Agreement with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization pledging cooperative efforts to build a World Digital Library website.  World Digital Library at the . GEM:  Genealogy for the Next Generation To get the attention of the next generation for genealogy I Simposonized myself. Simpsonize Me is no longer available.

SHOW NOTES for Episode 30 Published October 21, 2007  Website News:  New this week you will find a search box on the left side of the under the navigation menu.  I hope that you will use it and find it helpful in getting to where you want to go.  GEM: Interview with Ali Selim, Director of Sweet Land? In episode 29 I told you about a wonderful movie that I saw recently called . It's a film about Norwegian immigrants in rural Minnesota following WWI.  I feel so passionate about it not only because it's about family history, but because it's such a rare thing to find a gem like this that you can watch with your entire family. Ali's Grandparents William and Sophie Niemeier of Minnesota. This week I had a chance to talk to Ali Selim, award-winning director of Sweet Land, and we chatted about his immigrant parents, the power of memories and some of the terrific actors that he features in the film.  Ali Selim, Director When you're done listening to the audio podcast, you can watch the Videocast below.  Just double click on the Play button.

Published Oct 7, 2007 Episode 29 SHOW NOTES GEM: I had the opportunity to talk with Anna Swayne of the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation recently.  Listen as we walk through this emerging area of genealogy step-by-step and get a solid overview of how DNA testing can assist us in our family history research.  Suggested Reading: Megan Smolenyak & Ann Turner by Colleen Fitzpatrick  - SMGF's founder, James LeVoy Sorenson, was featured in a USA Today article in June. The article focuses on Mr. Sorenson's work in genetic genealogy as well as his other companies.  Sign up for the free Genealogy Gems   Check out what's new at the Get Lisa's new book:  Genealogy Gems:  Ultimate Research Strategies is out of print. Visit the for her latest books.

Published Oct 2, 2007 Episode 28 Show Notes The first Genealogy Gems videocast was published last week:   Also available in the Genealogy Gems app.  Subscribe to the FREE Genealogy Gems Podcast ! Not only can you send video emails super quick and easy, but you can select one of their animated characters that you supply the voice for. Anytime you access Amazon through the links on my website and purchase any item on the Amazon site, you are supporting this podcast which I really appreciate!  Thanks to you guys I was able this week to double my podcast storage space which means I can create longer podcasts and also publish videocasts for you.  I hope you'll keep this in mind as we approach the holidays and you start doing your Christmas shopping.  It's because of you that the Genealogy Gems Podcast, website and videocasts are possible.  Thank you!  GEM:   GENEALOGY "COLD CALLS? My Lady of the Telephone was performed by Joseph A. Phillips and chorus for Edison Records in 1915    Interview with Carolyn Ender from Texas who has conducted dozens of cold call research calls.  1) Identify the person you want to call  2) Locate the Person's Phone Number        3) Plan ahead   Consider recording the conversation Consider getting a hands free phone   Consider time zones.   Choose a time when you are not rushed  Briefly review the family you are researching   Make note of specific questions you would like to ask.  Have your genealogy software program open    4) Get up the "nerve" to call  - Be prepared.  Say to yourself:  "I can do this.  This is important."  Remember, all they can do is say "no thank you." 5) Introduce Yourself  -   Immediately identify yourself with first & last name & town.  Indicate any family connection. Indicate who referred you to them. 6) Where to Begin  - Talk about the family line you are researching   Explain how you thought you might be related.  7) Reluctant Relatives  -  Share what youâve learned.  Share your own memories of a shared relative.   Mention something of particular interest in the family tree that might pique their interest.   Offer to mail them some information and call again once theyâve had a chance to look at it.  8) During the Call  - Take notes during the phone call.  Confirm information that you already have 9) When There's No Answer  - Leave a voice mail your name, number, why you are calling, & offer to call back.  10) Must Ask? Questions   Mailing address   Their birth date   Family photos, bible, documents? Copies only of course!   Can I keep in touch?   Can you suggest anyone else I might contact?  11) Wrapping up the call   - Thank them for their time.  Ask for email address. Offer to give them your address and phone number.   12) Create Documentation  Be sure to include the person's name, address, phone number and date of conversation. 13) Enter data into your genealogy database  -  This is a must.  Do it right away while it's on your mind  14) Create a To Do List  -  Go through the notes you typed with a highlighter pen to mark items you will want to research further.     15) Follow-up  Thank you card  Birthday cards & Christmas card  Follow up calls      GEM:

The First Genealogy Gems Videocast: The Socks to America.(click POD icon at left or the mp4 file at end of this posting to view.Please allow a few extra moments video file to load) This is the documentary spoof (or should I say "sockumentary") video about the immigration of the fictitious Sockish-Americans.  Currently featured on Roots Television, the video is now available for FREE download onto your video ipod exclusively with this unique video podcast.  Now you can "Sock It To Yourself" anytime you like!  Due to the Socks huge popularity, I'm pleased to offer Socks mugs & posters, which are only available through the .                      The Socks to America Mugs: Immigration Story & I'm A Genealogist (Caution: Don't drink & watch the video at the same time as you will be in danger of laughing which causes spitting!) And the Poster...

Published Sept 22, 2007 EPISODE 27 SHOW NOTES MAILBOX RE: WorldVitalRecords - is now part of RE: Judy's email chose "The Socks to America" as their homepage video last weekend.   Burning podcast episodes to CD: You can still do this, but why not just show folks at your genealogy society how to download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app so that they can enjoy it too? Thanks! Genealogy Societies are also welcome to use excerpts from my in their society newsletter when they include the following author credit "by Lisa L. Cooke, The Genealogy Gems Podcast at www.genealogygems.com".  GEM: Interview with DearMYRTLE - DearMYRTLE's Book ""  has been discontinued.

Published Sept 10, 2007 EPISODE 26 SHOW NOTES I'll be at the Northern Utah Genealogy Jamboree in Ogden this Saturday September 15, 2007.  (Listen to Episode 25) Gem:  Organizing Your Internet Favorite BookmarksTo Rename Bookmarked Websites in your Internet Explorer Favorites: In Internet Explorer click the yellow star with the green plus sign Click Organize Favorites  Click to highlight the website link that you want to rename Click the RENAME button. Type the new name Press Enter key A more comprehensive organization strategy: First Level example: FUNNY STUFF GENEALOGY RECIPES STOCK TRADING, etc. Within the GENEALOGY folder you could have: Blogs Libraries Podcasts Societies Military Resources Surnames - containing folders for each major surname I'm researching.  Etc... To Alphabetize Your Favorites: Click the yellow star favorites button on your Internet browser This will open up the window so you can see the folders in your Favorites list Right click you mouse anywhere in the white space of that window click SORT BY NAME And all your folders will snap back into alphabetical order.  Be sure and Newsletter   Announcing the premiere of the newest Genealogy Gems Production: . This video is a documentary spoof (a la Ken Burns) chronicling the immigration of the fictitious "Sockish" people (aka Sock Puppets). I invite Genealogists & Historians alike to sit back and enjoy a chuckle at our favorite pastime.

Published Sept 4, 2007 Book Announcement:  Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies from Season One of the Genealogy Gems Podcast is out of print. Please visit the for current book titles.  Newspapers:   The genealogy databases once included in World Vital Records is now part of . Gem:  Some newspapers carry a history section or a 'looking back'  column where they run old articles.  World Vital Records only had a sampling of years from the past newspapers that are digitized.  But the columns like "Twice Told Tales" that can be found in more recent newspapers, may include articles about the family that the website didn't have the originals of.  So don't dismiss those new issues - you may find some real gems! To subscribe to the Genealogy Gems Podcast Newsletter . The newsletter is absolutely free.

SHOW NOTES Episode 24  Published August 26, 2007 The National Archives and Records Administration has taken the leap and raised their record reproduction fees.  The don't become effective until October 1, 2007, so youâve go a window of opportunity to order records at the old lower prices.  .   - Create a Family History Calendar.  Consider highlighting an ancestor each month.  It would make a wonderful holiday gift.  My book Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies from Season One of the Genealogy Gems Podcast is now out of print. Please visit the for my latest book titles. Correction:  The title of the book I mentioned in Episode 19 called Papa's Way is incorrect.  The title of the book by Thyra Ferre Bjorn is . Here's another Swedish Book recommendation that I received from Anna-karin Shander who lives in Sweden and is host of Anna-Karin's Genealogical Podcast.  The book is called The Emigrants - The Emigrant Novels Book 1 by Wilhelm Moberg.  ordered my copy.  With Fall coming, doesnât it sound wonderful to curl up on the couch with some hot coffee and a novel called "The Emigrants"?  GEMS:  A Tour of Genealogy Gems TV  Genealogy Gems TV pages have been replaced. Now you will find all of our videos at the Please click the red SUBSCRIBE button while you're there. That way you'll be notified of each new video as it's published.    COMING SOON!  InternationalVideos from Germany, England and Sweden. Attention Podcast Listeners:  Take a picture of yourself listening on your computer or listening to the podcast on your ipod and email it to me at .  You can make it funny, make it serious, you can hold up a sign saying that you're listening to the show or what you think of it.  Whatever you want to do is fine with me.  Include your name and let me know in the email if it's ok to use or not.  You may find your photo on the upcoming Listeners page where I can show off my awesome audience.

Published August 19, 2007 Episode 23 SHOW NOTES The Mailbox: According to alert listener Richard, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests can receive acknowledgement letters from the US Dept. of Homeland Security / US Citizen and Immigration Services in just two weeks.  Richard's requests were placed on a speedier "simple track."  This means that response time has been drastically cut from the six months it took me to receive answers about 5 years ago.  This is good news for genealogists!  Better yet, you now have the option of requesting a CD with pdf file, instead of paper files, if the number of pages is over 15.  We"re all waiting with bated breath to hear back from Richard when he receives the final results from his request for his great grandfather's records.  GEM:  Follow up - Using Your Video iPod As A Genealogy Tool  Proactive listener Donna wrote this week to ask what the best format and resolution was for saving pictures to be viewed on the For photos to be viewed on a television screen, save them as JPEG files at 300 dpi resolution.       Update: Reduce the size of images quickly by running them through . Supply Checklist Photo Slideshow Troubleshooting Checklist  When plugging the  into your TV make sure each jack is firmly plugged in.   To begin slideshow, be sure to press the center iPod ENTER button TWICE when selecting the first image.    Make sure the TV Out feature under Photo Slideshow settings is set to ON.  Make sure your digital TV tuner is set to the appropriate input for the signal coming from the jacks that your iPod is plugged into.  GEM: Home Movie Hint  Please permit me to share a suggestion you may find useful...  I recently took a number of old movie reels (from the 1940s) out to be transferred to DVD, as I'd long intended to do. As much fun and as enlightening as these reels were to watch, I realized an unexpected bonus:  the scenes in these reels helped me identify my great grandmother and her sister in a photo I had sitting by.  Of course, I recognized my great grandmother and I suspected the other was her sister but these movies put that photograph in a context that allowed me to make that identification.  The clothing was the same and the  background matched so I was able to put names and approximate dates on these pictures!  The fuller context of the movie allowed me to identify the names, place and time for the photograph. I hurried down to the store with the rest of the movie reels.  I will remember that often photos are taken at the same events as movies were taken and that a single picture is merely a moment in time but movies can provide larger context. Thank you for your podcast and sharing your ideas.  I look forward to them."  Pat  Regarding Brick Walls:  If you're ready to give up you're probably closer than you think.  Or as they said in Galaxy Quest:  "Never Give Up, Never Surrender!"