In most cases thus far, I’ve been able to find family and friend’s family in 5-15 minutes. Where did your family live? Who was living with them? The first video outlines the methods of finding them and the second video, releasing Thursday at noon, answers questions about navigating between pages and some of the new responses to the census questions. Check them out and find your family!!
Author: Ancestry Consulting by Aimee
#HistoryForUkraine
This weekend select genealogists, including Judy Russell, who is always worth watching, will be speaking at this event. It includes a stellar line-up of leading historians and genealogists from all over the world, and over 24 hours of live-streaming their talks for your entertainment.
There’s no charge to watch, and throughout the live stream, they’ll be inviting you to donate to their JustGiving page, with all funds being passed to the British Red Cross Society’s DEC Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal.
Something worth putting on your calendar.
RootsTech Expo Hall DEALS
RootsTech is always a great place to renew memberships or get new products due to the discounts offered. Being virtual, not as many amazing deals this year, but here are my takes:
Go to RootsTech Expo Hall for more information and other deals not listed here! https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/expohall/
*Notes added are my opinions – I am not “sponsored” by anyone.
DEALS
MyHeritage is giving you free advanced DNA tools when you upload your DNA (which is free). They are also offering 50% off their complete subscription plan and DNA kits are on sale.
FamilyTreeDNA is offering a lot of discounts on their various DNA tests. They also allow you to upload your DNA for free.
American Ancestors – Society with a number of early American records – $25 off.
Geni – world family tree with sources – half off.
National Genealogical Society – very worthwhile membership – $10 off membership.
INNOVATORS
My favorite new innovator – TrackUBack.com – REALLY cool tree visualization, added historical facts and wonderful maps (and map layering capabilities) for your ancestors – Free Version or $63 a year for all the bells and whistles.
My second favorite new innovator – TheGenealogist.co.uk – Cool map capabilities with layering historical maps. They appear to be also a good resource for records in the United Kingdom, but I haven’t checked that out yet. Discount being offered for Diamond Subscription.
Check out other innovators – https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/session/innovators-portal-main-stage?lang=eng
MORE DEALS
DNA:
DNAPainter – great site! $10 off subscription.
GENEALOGY PROGRAMS:
FamilyTreeMaker – my preferred computer genealogy program – half off the program.
Ancestral Quest – $10 off.
MacFamily Tree – 50% off.
MAGAZINES:
FamilyTree (United Kingdom Ancestors) – ½ off subscription.
FamilyTree Magazine – save 22%.
Who Do You Think You Are? – British magazine – free issue download and other subscription discounts.
MEMBERSHIPS:
ArkivDigital – Swedish records – 13% off.
Cite-Builder – building source citations – 25% off first year.
Essex Society for Family History – United Kingdom records – extra 12 month membership with paid membership.
Legacy Family Tree Webinars – half off subscription – although I just watch the free webinars as they come out.
Mayflower Society – 10% off books.
New York Genealogical & Biographical Society – great for NY research – $7 off membership.
Ontario Ancestors – The Ontario Genealogical Society – 25% off membership.
Virtual Genealogical Association – virtual classes – $15 annual membership.
MEMORY COLLECTION AND GENEALOGY STORAGE:
Ancestral Logs – assign genealogy tasks with family – 50% off.
Audiobiography – audio memories – 10% off.
Collectionaire – Web app for organizing and sharing family memories – half off the annual basic subscription.
Fareloom – create family cookbooks – 20% off.
GenerationStory – 20% off.
A Life Story Video – creating your life story – 35% off.
MemoryWeb – photo organizer – 50-25% off.
Permanent – digital storage – 1G free.
Rankonto Inc – oral histories – 3 months free with paid subscription.
Rosetree Media – digitization of photos, videos, etc. – 20% off.
Shotbox – uses phone to replace scanner – various discounts.
Vivid-Pix – photo and document restoration – various discounts.
Favorite Free Genealogy Websites (plus a few that are worth the $)
I’m often asked what websites and books I use most for my professional research. Below is a video outlining my favorite family history websites which is premiering Tuesday 7am (pacific). The next video is about my favorite genealogy books and available now.
Here are links to the books from the video on Favorite Genealogy Books (the links below are through my Amazon affiliate account where I receive a small commission, but there is no additional cost to you).
Process Oriented Books:
Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones https://amzn.to/3teXbAB
Professional Genealogy by Elizabeth Shown Mills https://amzn.to/3q3VLXw
Genealogy Standards by Board for Certification of Genealogists https://amzn.to/32ZnDDq
Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills https://amzn.to/3JQwIiz – Older book (I have) Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian by Elizabeth Shown Mills https://amzn.to/3f1Uxpt – I also have (helps you build citations) QuickSheet: Your Stripped-Bare Guide to Citing Sources https://amzn.to/31CpQE34:58
DNA Books:
The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine T. Bettinger https://amzn.to/3qST1LO5:42
General Resource Books:
Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses 1790-1920 https://amzn.to/3n7nHrD
United States Atlas 1890 and Complete Post-Office Directory by Eleanor S. Hutcheson https://amzn.to/3t7sKvQ
Cemetery Iconography: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism by Cassidy Madariaga – not available – alternate – Stories in Stone by Gibbs Smith https://amzn.to/3HJWuTN
Courthouse Research for Family Historians by Christine Rose https://amzn.to/3fkIdkp
Nicknames: Past and Present by Christine Rose https://amzn.to/3q6Ln1a What Did They
Mean by That? By Paul Drake https://amzn.to/3r7vkiK10:17 African American Research:
The Best of Reclaiming Kin by Robyn N. Smith https://amzn.to/31CnQvx
A Genealogists Guide to Discovering Your African-American Ancestors by Franklin Carter Smith and Emily Anne Croom https://amzn.to/3JT3jnS
Directory of African American Religious Bodies – Howard University https://amzn.to/3q3VLXw
Ari Wilkins – African American Researcher – https://www.blackgenesis.com
SOME ADDITIONAL BOOKS:
These missed the show, but I just ordered them – one on land grants, land grants and deeds are essential for genealogy research, the other on tax lists, another frequently overlooked resource for difficult genealogy problems.
Military Bounty Land, 1776-1855 by Christine Rose – https://amzn.to/3GqIwG9
The Genealogist’s Guide to Researching Tax Records by Carol Cooke Darrow and Susan Winchester – https://amzn.to/3trx3Cu
Win an Ancestry.com DNA Kit!
OFFICIAL RULES
How to enter – complete all three steps:
- Like a video from my channel “Aimee Cross – Genealogy Hints.”
- Comment on a video from my channel “Aimee Cross – Genealogy Hints.”
- Subscribe to my channel “Aimee Cross – Genealogy Hints.” You must make your subscription public to be entered in drawing (see below for instructions).
Visit Aimee Cross – Genealogy Hints
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. Must be 18 years or older and U.S. Resident. Void where prohibited. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, sanctioned, or associated with YouTube.
Winner will be drawn from qualifying entries and announced December 15, 2021 at 4:00 pm Pacific Time.
To make your subscription public on YouTube:
- Sign into YouTube
- On top right, click profile
- Click “settings”
- In left menu, select “privacy”
- Turn off “Keep all my subscriptions private” – slider should be on left.
YouTube Debut
After much encouragement from my son Jake, I’ve finally begun a YouTube Channel “Aimee Cross – Genealogy Hints.” New videos will be added next week.
My objective is to provide quick hints for better family history research. Please visit and subscribe!
Happy Veteran’s Day!
The fighting of “The Great War,” World War I, ended with an armistice on this day in 1918. In 1954 November 11 was set aside to honor not just those veterans, but American veterans of all wars. Thank you to all veterans out there! We owe our freedom to you.
While you may not have a veteran in your family history, you undoubtedly have one who filled out a draft card for WWI or WWII, both available now to researchers. Below is my great-grandfather George Cecil Stevenson’s WWI draft card. These are available on FamilySearch.org. You must create an account but the account is free.
Note there are two pages to WWII draft cards as well, but on some websites, such as Ancestry.com, you will see the first image only, you much click to see the second page. Please be sure to do so as it has a physical description and other information.
Rootstech will be Free in 2021
One of the events I look forward to each year is Rootstech in Salt Lake City, Utah. Next year it will be virtual and FREE! It is the world’s largest genealogy conference. There will be dozens of classes in multiple languages available on demand throughout the year! Don’t miss this great opportunity. Click here for more info and to sign up.
Online Personal Genealogist for Hire
Receive hands on help via Zoom conferencing. I will help you begin your genealogy research, guide you through the research process or help you advance your research.
This service includes a review of your family history project and two Zoom sessions – three hours of professional research help for $125!
Call (214) 509-7292 or email aimee@ancestryconsultingbyaimee.com to schedule.
Father’s Day
One of the things I love about genealogy is the inevitable development of a greater appreciation of our ancestors. As we near Father’s Day we have the opportunity to celebrate our dads, granddads, etc. I ran across this card my grandmother gave to my grandfather and it made me laugh!
What’s your favorite memory of your father or grandfather?
Ancestry Consulting by Aimee 