We've all heard the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words." And as family historians, we know it's true.

Further, if you happen to blog or write about your ancestors like I do, you try to make a picture, your family history, your genealogy research come alive with words ~ for yourself, your loved ones, your descendants, and others in general.

But what about an interactive ancestor image? An ancestor's image where the viewer can click on a portion of the image and, well, a portion of the family story is told? Now, wouldn't that be cool? I mean, sure, for us, that'd be cool, but it'd also be awesome for those in our family who just want pictures with a fast and easy family history story.

Or how about the younger ones in the family who want it digital, mobile, and easy to look at?

Well, you can do that with ThingLink. You can make your ancestors' images interactive with ThingLink. It's a web-based application that, after setting up a free account, allows you to upload an image and tag it {or annotate it} with captions {description}, links, audio, video, and whole lot of other rich media tags to your ThinkLink Interactive Image. Once done, you can set the image to be unlisted {private} or leave as public {default}. And you can also allow others to edit the annotations on {or add them to} the photo as well, which is kinda nice if you're wanting to collaborate with other family members. {The default is to not allow that.}

ThingLink hosts the image on their servers for you and then you can choose to share it to popular social media sites or embed it on a website or blog. If you leave the interactive image as public, then it's also indexed by Google which means it's another way for potential cousins to find and collaborate with you.

So? I thought it was such a neat idea, I decided to try it out for you this morning {which was easier said than done when you consider my old laptop passed away last Saturday and I now have a new one and I'm not done loading it with all my, um, "stuff."} But? I just had to do it because I already knew what image I wanted to annotate and link ~ my newly acquired photo of my 2nd great grandparents, Daniel and Annie (O'Brien) Vaughan.

*big sigh*  And?

Totally worth the trouble. =) Below, embedded in this blog post, is the image that I annotated on ThingLink {after I loaded the drivers to my scanner, scanned it again so I could play around with my new Photoshop Elements 11. Wow. Version 11 is a little different than my old version 7. And wow it's been a long morning.}

If you hover over the image, captions {which ThingLink calls descriptions} and links to blog posts I've written about them will pop up so you can learn more about everyone. I even added a short video that I previously created about my Great Grandmother, "Boo," with me reading her baptismal record out loud.

How cool is that?

It was super easy to make. Now, it officially resides on my account at ThingLink and you can take go take a look at it over there. In fact ThingLink, itself, is a free social platform where you can follow others on there who are also making Thingies on ThingLink. {I've decided that's what I'm gonna call the ThingLink Interactive Images ~ Thingies.} And? They have stats, comments, etc. available for each, um, Thingy, you create. Also, when someone visits the ThingLink Interactive Image you have created {either on ThingLink or wherever it's embedded}, they can "Touch" it virtually. Kinda like leaving a virtual "I was here" note to it or the equivalent of a Facebook 'Like."

Plus, they have a free ThingLink app for Facebook Pages and a free ThingLink app for your iOS device. {That's right. Thingies-to-go.}

So, yes, a picture may be worth a thousand words. But a Thingy is worth even more words and is way more fun!

And who doesn't like fun?!?

So, go forth, have some fun, and make some thingies! I mean, ThingLink Interactive Images. ;)

~Caroline

The What's Up Genealogy? Show is Back!

I'm pleased to announce the What's Up Genealogy? Show returns this Friday evening, 21 Jun 2013, at 8pm Central Time. It'll be chock-full of genealogy news, genealogy research tips, and technology tips to help you with your research.

Plus? We are honored to have Tina Lyons for our interview. Tina, who authors the blog, GenWish List, is the Vice President of the Indiana Genealogical Society as well as the Publicity Chair for the Federation of Genealogical Society's 2013 Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana. And? We're going to get real and talk about genealogical societies and genealogical conferences. Are they relevant in the year 2013? Can they really help you with your research? Are they worthwhile? How can they help you in your research? Basically, we're going to cover it "all."

And? I'm privileged to have Linda McCauley, Tessa Keough, Gena Philibert-Ortega, and Jerry Kocis joining me on the panel once again. {How lucky can I get?!?}

Oh, that reminds me. Bring your questions and comments. We'll do our best to address them and answer them during the show!

Visit the What's Up Genealogy? Show Episode 10 with Tina Lyons Event Invite on Google+ for more details on how to watch the new episode live on Friday night. See y'all there!

Note: The show is broadcasted live and then archived to the 4YourFamilyStory YouTube Channel just in case you aren't able to join us live. Technology is awesome, no? Oh, and don't forget to subscribe to the 4Your FamilyStory YouTube Channel. ;)

Questions? Contact me. Want to be interviewed on an upcoming show? Contact me.

~Caroline

Have you ever made a mistake? Perhaps a typo in something you wrote? Maybe you put the wrong date on something?

How about when you transcribe or abstract information from a document while doing genealogy or family history research?

Of course you have. Everyone makes mistakes. It's a part of life. It's part of being human.

So it stands to reason when you're looking at an index entry for your ancestor online that it just might be wrong. Or maybe when you pull down that book of will abstracts off the library shelf, that it, too, might have some errors. Maybe not all of it, but something in there might be wrong which makes it wrong-ish.

Which is why those resources make great clues.

And why they also need corroboration with some other clues before you can definitively say a certain statement is true or false.

That's right. You're going to have to keep looking for more clues. Finding one clue doesn't mean stop. It means it's time to find more clues. And if you can find them and have access to them this is why looking at the original document {or digital copies of the original document} will be much more helpful to you. Double check that index entry in that online database or from that library book. Was it right? Was it wrong? Wrong-ish? Was there more information that you needed on the original document that was not on the index entry?

How will you know for sure someone wasn't being human and made a mistake that profoundly affects the way you think about something and your research if you don't look for yourself?

Further, I've found way more information that I needed for research on original documents than in indexes. Sure, I use the indexes to help me in my research. In fact, an index tells me there's an original document somewhere that I need to get my hands on. It's like a big red flag that indicates this came from somewhere else.

But then?

Make sure that document is correct. The more I research, the more I find original documents have mistakes too. 'Cause, you know, humans create those too. Imperfect humans. In fact, my own birth certificate had a typo in it. Then when I lost it {Yes, I lost it.} and ordered a copy of it, the clerk who typed it out did not make the same typo as the first one had, but made a different one. That's right. My birth certificate is still wrong-ish. {Interestingly, both typos involve my mother's maiden name. Their typing skills need some work. Definitely their editing skills could use some, you know, use.}

Likewise, on my 2nd great grandfather's death certificate, his last name is misspelled just a bit, his death date is listed as his birth date, his parent's names are misspelled just a bit, and his parent's places of birth are wrong.

So. Good thing I ordered that microfilm roll that contained his baptismal record in it and his mother's death record. {Yeah, that wasn't online.} And good thing I ordered his Civil War pension record. {Nope. Not online either.} And it's also a pretty good thing I found his father's baptismal record. {That was online.} Plus, all those census records I found came in pretty handy for all sorts of corroboration. {All online.} And then finding my 2nd great grandmother's Proof of Heirship public affidavit in land records stating he died on such-n-such date without a will was kinda handy too. {She also listed all their living children -- his heirs -- and their spouses. Digital copies all online and for free.} And then his Knights of Pythias (fraternal order) records {Not online. At all.} were nice too because they corroborated his membership and death date. {By the way, the fraternal order clue came from his death certificate.}

And that's how I knew his death certificate, though official and created at the time of his death, was, you know, wrong-ish.

Those humans had made mistakes when they filled out his death certificate just like those humans had made mistakes when they filled out my birth certificate -- both times. {Will the 3rd time be a charm? Will they look over their work to see if it's correct? I'll let you know.}

But? The 3 things that will profoundly affect your family history research? The 3 things that can break-down that genealogy research brick wall?

1. Looking for original documents {or digital copies of original documents} wherever they may be.
   
2. Questioning those original documents.
   
3. Repeat.

~Caroline

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This weekend's challenge involves a postcard sent to a Mr. and Mrs. B.C. Godwin in Princeton, Texas from a "Newt" who happened to be passing through Burbank, California in 1953. And we'll be using every genealogy and family history online research technique we can think of to solve this 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge!

How did they know each other? Who was Newt? What was his last name? What was the "Port of Hollywood" that he saw? Who were his parents, siblings, etc.? What did he do for a living? Achievements in life? What was his story? 

And how did he know the Godwin couple in Princeton, Texas? Who were they? Did they have any children? Who were their parents, siblings, etc.? What was their story, and how did it merge with Newt's story? And what was going on in the world in 1953? What was life like then?

And do any of them have any living descendants who we can return this postcard to?

Can the Ephemera Whisperers put Newt and Mr. and Mrs. B.C. Godwin from 1953 back into history where they belong? Can we find their family stories? Can you help and be an Ephemera Whisperer and coax the story from this postcard? 

In 48 Hours?

You've just been challenged! Good luck!


Come join us in the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge Forum this weekend to watch, learn, and be challenged! Put those genealogy and family history research skills to good use and learn some new techniques for your own research. Please do not post any research or help here on this blog in the comments. All research and help should be shared in the private forum to protect the privacy of any living individuals. Thank you! 

~Caroline

I've made a few changes with the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge. Previously, we've concentrated on finding the story behind a piece of ephemera, researching everything and everyone even remotely related to any clue on the piece.

And that's not going to change.

However, because it was a public forum and indexed by Google, the Ephemera Whisperers refrained from discussing any research done on living individuals related to the pieces of ephemera. The idea was that it's indexed on Google so if descendants are searching on Google, they might find the ephemera and contact me if they wanted it back. And that's happened several times now which is a very awesome experience to be able to do for a family.

And I'd like to be able to do more of it. 

Reunite researched pieces of ephemera with the family it once {and in mind still} belongs to, that is.

So, I've made the 48 Hour Ephemera forum private. I think this will help us out in 2 ways. While actively searching for the story or stories behind the ephemera piece we also will be searching for living descendants. At that point, I will contact the family and let them know about our Ephemera Rescue in the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge, and see if they'd like the piece back. And then send it to them.

I also think it will help those Ephemera Whisperers who are a bit self-conscious about researching or searching in front of the whole wide world, so to speak, to be more comfortable in joining in on the challenge.

Now, can you still lurk in the forum and just watch? 
Yes. You just have to join as a member for free and after I approve your request, you may be an Ephemera Whisperer with us or just watch to get ideas on online research and search methodologies. {No 2 researchers tackle the same research problem in the same exact way.} You just have to promise to not reveal any information on living individuals, or contact them. {I'll do that.} If you do, rest assured, that'll be the fastest way to be kicked out of the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge. {Don't make me do that, please.}

What's this week's 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge?
This weekend's challenge involves a Frank Smith. I know. {groan} A SMITH! But? While in Athens, Georgia, he sent a postcard to a Mr. J.D. Henson in East Lake, Alabama in 1907.

Which begs the question, "How did Frank know J.D.?"

And that's part of the challenge this weekend in the forum. Along with trying to figure out how they knew each other, we'll try to figure out who else they knew, who they were related to, what they did for a living, where else they had lived in their lifetimes, what their passions were, what flavor of ice cream they preferred, etc. 

Gotcha. {Not really because if you can figure that out? Bonus points for you! Hey, some of those newspapers covered lots of little details in their articles.} Basically, we're going to try and uncover as much info as we can online in 48 hours.

And another part of the challenge will be to find living descendants of the previous owners of the postcard so that it can be returned. And then every Monday, I'll have a blog post for y'all with a summary of what we found out in the forum for those who don't want to join us in the forum. Also, that way Google will index the information and living descendants who are looking can contact me through my blog.

So. Can the Ephemera Whisperers put Frank Smith and J.D. Henson from 1907 Alabama back into history where they belong? Can we find their family stories? Can you help and be an Ephemera Whisperer and coax the story from this postcard? 

In 48 Hours?

You've just been challenged! Good luck!

Join us in the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge Forum this weekend!

~Caroline

Today is an important date.

Today is the day 77 youth were inspired to learn about their family history by local Las Vegas attorney, Todd L. Moody, JD, at the National Genealogical Society's 2013 Conference's Youth Camp held in the morning on the last day of the conference, Saturday, 11 May 2013.

The boys and girls -- some of which were Boy Scouts earning merit badges -- were provided information on how to start their family history journey by being shown an example of some family history documents and then being asked to list down important dates either about an ancestor or about themselves so they could later break down into small groups and write biographies, or autobiographies.

Understandably, many decided to write about themselves, which is what we, as family historians, sometimes forget to do. Write about ourselves. We focus so much on the dead, we forget to record the living, especially ourselves.

Of course, when it comes to our own important dates, it's sometimes hard to list those important dates. After all, what is important? Is it important enough to record?

And this was certainly something that came up with the youth in the camp. Here's what I overheard while they were eagerly brainstorming:

"Is Chicken Pox an important date?"

"What day was I adopted? Do you remember? I know I was wearing my pretty new dress..."

"What day did we receive our medallion?"

"I don't know any important dates."

I wanted to yell out, "Write it all down! Don't leave anything out!"

But then they would've wondered who the crazy lady in the red top was in the back of the room and why she was yelling to write all those details down.

And I would've told them. It's because a person's stories and personality are in those details. That's how we'll know who you really are or were. As family historians, we yearn for those small and seemingly insignificant details about our ancestors. {Can I get an, "Amen"?}

It's why after finding out a fellow researcher has inherited their ancestor's personal diary we celebrate with them while secretly thinking, "I want that. Why can't I get one of those? Why them and not me?"

It's why we do happy dances in the middle of cemeteries and fist pump, "Yes," after, of course, making sure there are no interments being performed at the moment.

It's why we tear up and our hearts ache at microfilm readers after finally finding out that our 3rd great grandmother passed away after having her previously-unknown-to-us 4th child and then finding out that her 4th child passed away several months later -- all between when the censuses were recorded and well before the time period vital records were recorded.

It's why we smile and nod our heads when after reading about the school supplies and school clothes our second great grandmother listed in her daily farm journals of expenses, we realize some things just don't change.

It's those details that lead us to stories about our ancestors.

It's those details that will lead others to who you really were.

So, yes, when you had Chicken Pox is an important date.

Tell us about that dress you wore on the day you were adopted. You know, the dress that put that beautiful smile on your face and that dreamy look in your eyes when you were trying to remember the date you were adopted.

And tell us all about your medallion. Why did you get it? When did you get? And how did it make you feel when you got it? What were you wearing when you received it?

Write down any and all dates you can remember. They're all important -- even if you don't think they are. We do. And someone else will too. Maybe -- no, especially -- the older "You" will.

Tell us everything about you.

And don't forget to tell us about today.

For today is an important date.

It's the day you started learning about your family history.

~Caroline

I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm tired. But I've had lots of fun here this week at my first ever National Genealogical Society Conference. Hello?!? Genealogy and Vegas. Of course, I had fun! My bags are packed, and I'm gonna try to squeeze in 2 sessions this morning and a quick vlog before heading to the airport to catch my flight back home. It's always fun to visit somewhere else. But it's always better to go back home...especially when "home" is Texas. ;) And tomorrow is Mother's Day and there's no place I'd rather be to celebrate it than with my kiddos. So I'm hurrying back today to spend the day with them tomorrow.

8am - First up, is "Baker's Dozen Steps to Writing Research Reports," presented by Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL. Several years back, I watched her give a presentation about being a professional genealogist on the NGS website, and I thought to myself at the time, "I need to see her give a presentation in person." And now here's my chance. I do research reports all the time, but here's a chance to learn how a seasoned professional does them and learn her tips and tricks. We are always learning how to perfect what we do, or at least we should be, and I'm taking this chance to get better at what I do.

9:30am - Next, I had planed to go to, "Landlords and Tenants: Land and Estate Records for Irish Family History Research," being presented by Brian Donovan. Sure, I've identified my 2nd Great Grandmother's, Annie's, parents in Dublin, Ireland, where they married in 1831, but I can already tell, it's gonna take some fancy detective work and a wee bit of Irish luck to find anything else. So. Why not tenant and landlord records? BUT? The book signing for the NYC Research Guide is at this time. So, I'll be standing in line. And then I'll make a note to buy this CD.

11am - If I'm not pulled away by any new and shiny objects, the last session for me at the conference will be, "Child of No One: The Law and Your Illegitimate Ancestor," being presented by Sharon Tate Moody, CG. Many of our ancestors were illegitimate. In fact, the more I dig around in the earth that surrounds the roots of my family tree, the more illegitimate ancestors I find. It doesn't surprise me. Our ancestors were human, after all, faced with, well, life. Just like us. So I'd like to hear Ms. Moody and her ideas and suggestions on taking overheard family rumors and using them as clues to evidence. I have some of my own techniques to do this, but I'd like to see if there is anything I've been missing...something that can make me better at what I do. After all, that's really why I'm here in Vegas. =)

And then I'm grabbing my bags and headin' on home. 'Cause Dorothy was right. There's no place like home, y'all. Okay. So the "y'all" is mine. ;)

But she was definitely right about home. There is no place like it.

~Caroline

Don't forget: Keep up with the NGS 2013 conference happenings, tweets, pics, and such by visiting the NGS 2013 RebelMouse Page I created.

Two days down, two days to go! Okay. Seriously. Vegas never sleeps. It's crazy here. And? I'm seriously not getting enough sleep. I'm gonna have to pay an extra baggage fee at the airport for the return trip home just for these bags underneath my eyes. Perhaps a turn at the slots will help me to afford the extra baggage fee. It's worth a shot, I think, eh?

I might as well 'cause I've no plans for sleep until I'm on that plane headed for home. Sleep can come later because I'm having a rip-roaring time getting to meet people in person who I've previously met online. Wow. And? I'm meeting new folks too. And this is why going to a conference just can't be beat. Maybe you can't make all of them -- not many can. {And I'm one of the ones who can't.} But if possible, going to at least one is well worth the price and time it takes. It's SO awesome to meet up with people I already know but don't get to see in person, and to meet new people and make new friends.

So. What's the plan of attack for Friday? I dunno...let's see...

8am - I'm really looking forward to hearing J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA, present, "Bible Thumper or Pious Pilgrim: Religious Ancestors on the Frontier." Sometimes the only type of socializing our ancestors did was to go to church. So it makes sense to look for evidence of the their church-going ways to help find evidence of other parts of their lives. I'm hoping to learn some new research strategies for researching ancestors on the frontier via their religious ways.

9:30am - I know. I'm bucking the trend here and not going to Elizabeth Shown Mills' "Helen F. M. Leary Distinguished Lecture," but I figured that one was going to be packed and I really wanted to not miss the first session so I could wait to get a seat to what promises to be a very awesome lecture by ESM. And? David F. Holland, PhD, is giving an awesome presentation called, "'The Tribal Way:' The Paradox of the Family in Early American Religion." And I also hear this was going to be his last genealogical conference as he has accepted a position at Harvard Divinity School. So, I'll be buying a CD of the ESM presentation, and going to see what Harvard Divinity School had to have. And I want to find out just what the paradox is and how knowing that paradox can make me a better researcher by understanding what my ancestors were going through at the time.

11am - You're probably wondering, "Why is Caroline attending a lecture about researching in pre-1880 New York?" Well, my DAR line that I'm working on has some pre-1880 New York roots that I need to unearth. {Did you see what I did there? ;)} I have a Miss Barbara Stuck/Stock who marries a Mr. Rook in New York and then they have all of their children there right before heading west and finally settling in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Her family isn't the problem. Mr. Rook's is. I don't even have his first name, but I've identified her family and where they were living. They had to marry somewhere there. I hope. SO? What and where do I need to look? I'm hoping Laura Murphy DeGrazia, CG, FGBS, can shed some light on my research problem with her presentation, "Spanning the Great New York Abyss: Connecting Generations When No Vital Records Exist." Mr. Rook, it's time for you to come out, come out, wherever you are. You're hiding is over and your place in the family tree is waiting.

Lunch - Wednesday and Thursday, I grabbed a pre-made sandwich from the deli at my hotel before catching the monorail to the LVH where the conference is located. And then I inhaled it while working through lunch. However, I've a lunch scheduled today with a geneablogging friend who I only get to see in person once a year.

2:30pm - I want to learn more about how use to Congressional records as a resource while researching. I mean, what can they tell me about my ancestors and their family stories? I'm planning to find out not only what they can tell me, but how to effectively research them in, "Treasures in the Records of the U.S. Congress," being presented by David Rencher, AG, CG, FIGRS, FUGA. I'll be diggin' for treasure, matey.

4pm - Admittedly, I've no current research in Southern Nevada, but? This presentation, "The Six-Week Cure: Divorce Ranches in Southern Nevada," being presented by Courtney Mooney, AICP, sounded too good to pass up. Because of my Big Paw Paw's penchant for women, I'm all too familiar with divorce records, but I'm simply curious about these divorce ranches. And I just never know when this information might come in handy. And I figured since I was going to try to hear David Rencher speak at 2:30pm, that Tom Jones' presentation at 4pm would be next to impossible for me to get a seat in. So. I'll be purchasing a CD of his presentation which will be nice to listen to when I open up his book when I get home. And after I catch up on my sleep.

5:30pm - I'll be stopping by the Internet Cafe to check in on the ongoing 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge and to do my end-of-the-day vlog post to be uploaded on my YouTube Channel. I wonder what the highlight of my day will be? And I wonder which genealoblogger friends I'll have with me? Then I'll be off for dinner and some more nightlife in Sin City, where the party never seems to stop.

Keep up with the NGS 2013 conference happenings, tweets, pics, and such by visiting the NGS 2013 RebelMouse Page I created.

~Caroline

Okay, so riding the monorail is definitely the way to go when you're in Las Vegas and you need to get from one hotel located on the strip to another.

And? Apparently Sin City never sleeps. And neither do I when in Sin City. Had a fabulous time last night in Vegas. One word? Wow!

Now, my plan for Thursday promises to be another busy one. So here's what I plan to do:

8am - Pam Stone Eagleson, CG, is presenting "Grandma's Treasure Chest: Investigating and Evaluating Family Artifacts," and I'm excited to see this given that whole ephemera obsession thing I've got going on. Am I using all the research techniques as possible? I dunno, but I plan to find out.

9:30am - I'll be giving a mini-workshop/demo in Pentandra's Booth #135 in the Vendor Hall. Come join me and I'll show you how to create free images for your blog or website with your iPhone and 3 photo-editing apps. These are invaluable tools for those who do not want to or cannot spend a lot of money on images, but want to make their blogs or websites more interesting, more engaging, and more "pinnable" for Pinterest.

11am - Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FVGS, is presenting "Feme Covert or Feme Sole: Women and the Law." Let's face it. Our female ancestors are difficult to trace, and this presentation sounds like there'll be some good tips and suggestions for tracing them.

Lunch - I plan to hit the Vendor Hall to visit with vendors, and then I'll check in with the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge Forum to see how the challenge is progressing.

2:30pm - D. Joshua Taylor, MLS, is presenting, "Borders and Boundaries: Creating Localities Profiles for Research." Now, if I'm interpreting the description of this presentation correctly, I've developed my own system for this, so it'll be interesting to see if the way I do it measures up. Am I missing anything? Am I doing it in the most efficient way? If I can snag some tips on doing this better, I'll be a happy camper.

4pm - I'm going to try and catch "Methods and Strategies: Reconstructing a Family History," being presented by Deborah A. Abbott, PhD. Her presentation promises research strategies for tracing a family's migration over 150 years. Though we tend to look at our ancestors as sitting in a tree of our own making, the truth is that our ancestors moved around, and we have to keep that in mind when researching them. I can't wait to hear some of her suggested methods and strategies. Have I been missing something in my own research workflow that could make my research life easier? Really looking forward to this one.

5:30pm - I'll hit the Internet Cafe to make sure the third and last 48 Hour Ephemera is set-up and ready to go, and see how the challenges are coming along. And I'll do my end-of-day vlog post with some geneablogger friends. Then? Off to dinner and hitting the strip for some Sin City nightlife. The lights are calling... =)

Keep up with the NGS 2013 conference happenings, tweets, pics, and such by visiting the NGS 2013 RebelMouse Page I created.

~Caroline