Thursday, February 11, 2016

February Research Group Review

There were 20 attendees at the Chula Vista Genealogical Society Research Group on Wednesday, 10 February 2016 at the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library Conference Room.

In the first hour, Randy discussed:

*  RootsTech 2016 Conference in Salt Lake City, including the program, Keynote and class videos, class syllabus, and parties, plus his photos and commentary about the conference.  He has a RootsTech 2016 blog compendium posted at  http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/02/rootstech-2016-conference-blog.html

*  His one day of research at the Family History Library finding probate and land records for his ancestors.

*  The major announcement about the purchase of Family Tree Maker assets by Software MacKiev, and the Ancestry.com announcement of working with FTM and RootsMagic desktop software. 

*  The addition of a large U.S. marriage collection on Findmypast.

In the second hour, the attendees discussed

*  Gary encouraged attendees to register for all CVGS events on the CVGS webpage "Events" page.

*  Karen Y. noted that the FREE Escondido Family History Fair is Saturday, 5 March from 9 to 5.  Registration is online.  CVGS will have a carpool for those interested.  More details to follow.

*  Susi asked how to deal with Smart Matches on MyHeritage.  Users can compare and accept (or not accept) information one person at a time, or many persons at a time.  There are also Instant discoveries which can add 10 or more persons to your MyHeritage tree based on information from other MyHeritage trees.  Record Matches are records in MyHeritage record collections that might apply to your persons in your MyHeritage tree.

*  Diane asked about the proper way to make gravestone inscriptions readable.  The group said to not use organic or corrosive material like shaving cream or flour, to use water to create contrast, to use a reflector to light up a darker gravestone face, to mind the shadows, and to use gravestone rubbings with butcher paper and a crayon.

*  Karen S. asked about finding digital newspaper articles.  The group suggested The Ancestor Hunt blog (www.theancestorhunt.com) for lists of available digital newspaper issues, the free Chronicling America site, state and regional newspaper collections, and commercial sites like Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com, GenealogyBank, NewspaperARCHIVE and MyHeritage.

*  Bobbie visited the Lake County, Illinois deed office and obtained several deeds from their record books.  She also investigated the plat maps available.  

*  Susan has had good fortune with Find A Grave requests in cemeteries in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.  She wanted to "pay it foerward" and accepted several requests for Singing Hills Memorial Park in San Diego County.  When she went there to inquire about the location of the graves, the company told her that they would not provide them because they have been sued by people who complained about similar requests and lost the suit.

*  Gary's Roff saga continues - he found a Yates County, New York database that has information about his ancestors, Philip 1, Philip 2, and Solomon.

*  Susan also had a plaque installed on the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery marker for her father.

The next CVGS Research Group will be on Wednesday, 11 March at 12 noon in the Conference Room of the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library.



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