Show Notes
In the previous episode, The Genealogy Guys Podcast announced that, in partnership with MyHeritage.com, we were giving away a FREE MyHeritage DNA Kit. The winner is Shontè Anthony from Maryland. An email with the code to redeem the kit is in the mail! News You Can Use and Share! The Black Cemetery Network (BCN) at https://blackcemeterynetwork.org is hosting an event in Tampa, Florida on 14 October 2023 from 10 AM to Noon to commemorate Black History and the Memorial Park Cemetery. It will begin with presentations at the C. Blythe Andrews Library, 2607 E. Dr. MLK Jr. Boulevard, followed by an on-site walk in the Memorial Park Cemetery next door. You are cordially invited to join us for this exciting event and to help spread the word. Drew Smith and I, along with volunteers from across the country, have been deeply involved with the Zion Cemetery Project in Tampa for several years. It seeks to document all of the people interred in the "erased African-American cemetery" and bring their stories to life. All of the tombstones were removed, and portions of the property were "developed," leaving this sacred ground partially covered by buildings and the cemetery erased. The University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa has been supporting and promoting this work. The Black Cemetery Network was established and strives to support and publicize efforts across the U.S. to trace the "erased" cemeteries and promote projects like the Zion Project to un-erase them and to honor those buried in these cemeteries. As the Zion Project work is approaching its end, Drew and I, USF, and the Black Cemetery Network are about to begin work on three (3) "erased" cemeteries in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, and beyond in that county. We are very proud to be part of these projects and to recognize and celebrate the lives of those early residents who built and shaped our communities.
Registration for RootsTech 2024, the premier global family history conference, is now open. The event will be held from 29 February through 2 March 2024 in both in-person and virtual formats, from the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Learn more and register at https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/home. MyHeritage has announced the release of PhotoDater™, a groundbreaking, free new feature that estimates the year a photo was taken using AI technology. MyHeritage added 89 million historical records to its site in August 2023. George summarizes these collections. Drew recaps the highlights of the newest record releases at FamilySearch in August 2023. Interview Drew talks with Rick Voight, CEO of Vivid-Pix, and Sue Kaufman, manager of the Genealogy Collection at the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research in Houston, Texas. They discuss the initiative of the National Genealogical Society and Vivid-Pix and the cross-country tour that Rick is making to share the information. Listener Email In a follow-up to our discussion in episode #418 about the U.S. Patent and Trademark Database (USPTO at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/search, Kim writes about a patent filed and approved by great-grandfather James D. Nairne (#1,088,443), and wants to know more, including whether it was used and/or whether it was transferred. Carol Ansel, Director of the Godfrey Memorial Library (https://www.godfrey.org/scholar/godfrey-home.html), wrote to expand on Drew's description of their collection and services. Jean wrote about a recent search in the deed records in Suffolk County [New York] for an entry for her great-grandfather, Adolph J. Mueller. The deed concerned the sale of paint to the Charles H. Brown Paint Company for the sum of $1. She is looking for the reason why this transaction was recorded in a deed book. Nicole is researching her Dulaney ancestral line from Virginia, supposedly back to Ireland. Drew shared some insights during our last episode. Nicole describes her research and asks for recommendations for more records of Samuel Delany
More from The Genealogy Guys Podcast & Genealogy Connection
News You Can Use and Share RootsMagic 12 has just been released. MyHeritage has added 338 million records in August and 450 million records in September. Ancestry released an update to its DNA regions. Registration is now open for RootsTech 2027. Drew shares newly released records at FamilySearch. Listener Email Carol writes about obtaining Swiss canton records from FamilySearch online or in person from the FamilySearch Library. George discusses how he used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate a handbook of genealogical AI prompts. He steps through his process and how he combined three results into a single prompt library in an MS Word document. Drew describes how he used AI to migrate from one iMac computer to the new Studio and display. The checklist this assistant compiled captured the details and nuances of migrating computers. Please email us at [email protected] with your questions and comments. And please support us on Patreon!
News You Can Use and Share! Drew talks about the new Y-DNA offerings from MyHeritage. George highlights millions of new records added at MyHeritage during July and August. Drew discusses a new Ancestry DNA feature for finding relatives from particular regions. Nathan Dylan Goodwin has released a new book from a new series; The Dover Trunk Murder is the title. Drew highlights the millions of new records made available at FamilySearch during July and August. Drew discusses the establishment of an AI SIG in our local genealogical society and recommends that other societies do the same. George discusses MyHeritage's OldNews and the plethora of information available from these records. Drew talks about genealogy institutes such as SLIG, IGHR, GRIP, and GenFed and their value. CORRECTION: IGHR does not now offer an in-person option, only a virtual one. Apologies from Drew for that error. Please let us hear from you at [email protected] with your questions and comments. And please support us at Patreon!
News You Can Use and Share! Highlights of awards made at the NGS Conference this year. NewspaperFinder is a database for locating and accessing digitized newspapers at https://newspaperfinder.com/. George highlights millions of new records added at MyHeritage during May and June. Archivists from 30 countries convened in Kazakhstan to explore digital records access. Drew highlights the millions of new records made available at FamilySearch during May and June. Listener Email Jean complimented Drew's recent appearance on DearMyrtle's online show. Drew discusses his recent participation in the GRIP immersive genealogy training institute, and he fills us in about other institutes. Please let us hear from you at [email protected] with your questions and comments. And please support us at Patreon!
News You Can Use and Share The Zion Cemetery Project in Tampa has moved a step closer to the realization of the creation of a dedicated memorial site. The City of Tampa has agreed to trade land with one of the two major landowners whose building spans some of the Zion Cemetery site. This is a project win in which The Guys were deeply involved, and they celebrate this victory. MyHeritage has introduced Infographics, a new tool that takes your MyHeritage family tree data and generates an attractive graphic highlighting the individuals and events in their lives. MyHeritage's new AI tool, Scribe AI, is now available for iOS and Android devices. George shares details about My Heritage's new record releases. The BBC reported on a new database that allows you to search Nazi Party Membership Cards from Germany for the names of members. Margaret Lance Cheney was awarded the Fellow of the Ohio Genealogical Society. She has served OGS for many years as president and in other capacities. Congratulations on this well-deserved, long-overdue recognition! RootsMagic has announced that Ancestry has changed its API (Application Program Interface) and that RootsMagic has released a new version of the software, Version 11.2.0.0, and that users should upgrade to the newest version in order to connect with Ancestry changes. Older versions of the program still work, but they will no longer connect with Ancestry. FindMyPast has released Ireland, Directories and Almanacs 1844-1928, and the Ireland National Census of 1928. In March, FamilySearch added more than 30 million records from 28 countries. Drew highlights the millions of new records available at FamilySearch. What We're Up To Drew recently presented in person at the Sacramento Genealogical Society in California. Drew announces that RootsTech 2027 is now accepting speaking proposals. Drew will be presenting at the Genealogy Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), hosted by the National Genealogical Society (NGS). There are both in-person courses and online courses available. George shares that his research on two intermarried lines can be traced back to 15th-century England. These include his fourteenth great-grandparents. The Guys discuss the need for backups for all of your genealogical society officers. This can prevent the loss of access to essential resources and procedures for the organization. Please let us hear from you at [email protected] with your questions and comments.
The Guys return after George has been exploring new treatment options for effective management of severe depression. More details can be shared if you email [email protected]. The Guys are devastated at the news that the historic courthouse in Rome, Floyd County, Georgia, was destroyed by fire on 23 March 2026. This is the epicenter of George's research into his maternal ancestry. The Guys are celebrating 20 YEARS of the podcasts! News You Can Use and Share WikiTree is one of the biggest collaborative genealogy research sites on the Internet. WikiTree invited George to share his GEDCOM and allow WikiTree volunteers one week to collaborate on his ancestral research. The WikiTree Reveal can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2Ea6XxZFRY&t=2402s. Nathan Dylan Goodman's latest book, The Hop-Picker Murders has been released. Drew reviews the latest installment of the Forensic Genealogist mysteries with Morton Farrier. MyHeritage has released UK and Ireland incoming and outgoing passenger lists (1678-1960). They also released Nonconformist Births, Deaths & Burials. MyHeritage has released the Spanish Newspaper Collection on OldNews.com. MyHeritage has published the England & Wales Probate Index (1858-1995) and the 1890 New York Police Census. MyHeritage has now expanded its contents and it is now available in 50 languages, perfect for precise research! MyHeritage is now home to the complete Swedish Births (1850-1920), Marriages (1850-1945), and Deaths (1850-1945). MyHeritage introduced Scibe AI, a powerful new feature that uses AI to transcribe, translate, and analyze historical documents and photographs. FamilySearch announces a collaboration with America250 to celebrate the founding of the United States in 1776. FamilySearch in March added more than 30 million records from 28 countries. Listener Email Judy asks about legal obligations to register a name change in the U.S. Drew responds in detail. Laurie asks about George's deep dive into Scots-Irish records and reference books he has found helpful and instructive. Drew recaps his experiences at RootsTech 2026 in Salt Lake City. Drew will be presenting in person for the Sacramento Roots Cellar Spring Seminar on 18 April 2026. Get the details and register online at https://www.rootcellar.org/. Please let us hear from you at [email protected] with your questions and comments.