Saturday Serendipity (June 11, 2016)

Here are just a few recommended items of interest for your reading pleasure . . .

1.  As readers of Saturday Serendipity have no doubt noticed, I often recommend reading items mentioned in The Weekly Genealogist newsletter from NEHGS. If you are not a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, you should certainly consider joining --especially if you have New England roots. But don't rule out membership if you are not aware of any New England connections. NEHGS is the oldest and largest genealogical society in the United States having been founded in 1845. Its collections, databases, and publications are not restricted to New England and it's magazine and website are titled "AmericanAncestors" in recognition of this fact!        

2.  Speaking of The Weekly Genealogist, two interesting articles were mentioned this week that certainly illustrate how NEHGS provides more than just research and insight into New England roots. A short piece on digitizing genealogical records here provides a look into the benefits and the process of digitizing genealogical materials. Another article mentioned is a BBC News piece dealing with the "unsettling art of death photography."  Taking photographs of dead family members is not a usual or accepted practice these days and is rare outside of criminal investigations, but in Victorian England before the advent of inexpensive snapshots allowing cheap and easy live portraits of family members it was a way of preserving images of the dead and commemorating the fact of their lives -- even to the extent of propping up the dead to pose in family portraits.  Have a read, learn what "trinkets of memento mori" are, and view some poignant examples of death photography at the link provided.    
  
3.  Heather Rojo at Nutfield Genealogy blog posted a nice reminder of how librarians can be of great assistance to genealogy research.  Have a look here at "Ten Ways a Librarian Can Help You with your Genealogy Research."     

4.  I am always amazed at the constantly growing number and variety of online resources available to inform and assist our interest in genealogy and history. Many of you no doubt are WAY ahead of me in discovering some of these resources, but I have to give a tip of the hat to Nancy Messier at My Ancestors and Me blog for introducing me to the Sepia Saturday blog where folks post "historical photographs of any age or kind."  If you too have never seen Sepia Saturday, have a look here -- but be sure you have more than a few minutes to browse since you might find yourself in a viewing jag before you know it.

5.  UpFront With NGS blog posted a useful piece about the genealogy resources available on YouTube. Check out the post and get some sample links to look at here. And also at UpFront was a post about a very intriguing idea for pay-for-view databases -- one day (24 hour) subscription access options!  I think this option is a GREAT idea and more database sites should explore it to attract customers.  UpFront highlights such access to RootsIreland for those of us who want to explore Irish roots.  Read about the one day subscription option here.         

6.  And finally, another good read at New England Folklore blog by Peter Muise. Read here about a  "fairy village" in Middlebury, Connecticut and the gruesome story that goes with it. You can also view a video about the village, but be advised that it is 13.5 minutes long. 
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Copyright 2016, John D. Tew

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