Saturday Serendipity (July 29, 2017)

Here are a few recommendations for your weekend reading.

1.  First .  .  .  Greetings from the Adirondacks in upstate New York where we have been off the grid without any internet for the last week!  I must thank reader Linda Shufflebean for pointing out that a portion of last week's Saturday Serendipity was unreadable due to an author/editor's error. It could not be corrected until we returned to the 21st century and internet access late this afternoon.  The error has now been corrected and the full text of Item 1 can now be read by those who are still interested. 😀    

2.  Here is an interesting post on The Vault by Slate staff writer Rebecca Onion. If you have ever heard about clothing being made from feed bags during the Depression (or perhaps have such an item made by an ancestor or relative), you will find this piece -- "How Depression Era Women Made Dresses Out of Chicken Feed" -- and its illustrations of interest.   

3.  This week The Weekly Genealogist of NEHGS called to our attention a very important editorial by the Editorial Board of the New York Times. The editorial is about the importance of saving the next scheduled (and Constitutionally required) national census in 2020. Given the huge importance of the decennial national census to genealogists, you can -- and should -- read the editorial here.      
        
4.  My family knows that among the categorizations I have opined on over the years is the separation of folks into two general groups when it comes to outdoor activities and memories: (1) there are lake and mountain people; and (2) there are ocean and seashore people. Despite the fact that I was born in the Ocean State of Rhode Island, I am and have been since an early childhood in New Hampshire a confirmed and committed lake and mountain person. [This is evidenced by the fact that this week's Saturday Serendipity is written from the Adirondacks where Molly and I have vacationed for more than 41 years now.] Having spent the last week in the Adirondacks with our two sons, our daughter-in-law, our two granddaughters, and Molly's sister creating new lake and mountain memories, I was thrilled to see that Linda Shufflebean of Empty Branches on the Family Tree blog wrote this week of her memories of Little Sebago Lake in Maine during the 1950s (illustrated with some wonderful photos). If you too are a lake and mountain person, do have a look at Linda's post and her photos here; it is sure to stimulate some of your favorite lake memories too.    
     
5.  And finally, since I had time to revisit some reading I have put off until the summer, I want to recommend another post from Wait But Why blog by Tim Urban. I have recommended reading some of Tim's posts from time-to-time and, as Tim himself has written, some of the posts are not entirely G-rated. This post is long, but fascinating, and is worth the time to read it at your leisure. Is it directly or indirectly related to genealogy?? I'll let readers decide, but consider that Tim is discussing what may be a new normal -- if not a new reality -- for our descendants. Read "Neuralink and the Brain's Magical Future" here.   
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Copyright 2017, John D. Tew

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Saturday Serendipity (July 22, 2017)

Here are a few recommendations for your weekend reading.

1.  Readers of this blog know that like many other users of the Family Tree Maker (FTM) genealogy application, I have been awaiting the long-delayed release of the new Software MacKiev FTM 2017.  This week MacKiev posted three updates including its "Final Update" of July 18.  MacKiev notes that all emails have been sent to the pre-purchasers and waiting purchasers of FTM 2017.  As part of the final update MacKiev stated, "[W]hile the circumstances that prompted these reports were not what we would have wished for, we’re glad we had this opportunity to share our thoughts with you. To show you more than we would have otherwise about how we work. About our stubborn dedication to get it right. And about our delight at the FTM community’s encouragement to do just that. So we won't say goodbye. Just so long for now. And stay tuned." You can read all of tis week's updates here.

Having waited somewhat patiently for the final release of FTM 2017, I must say that I download my prepaid copy today and the download was easy, smooth, and without any installation problems. The syncing of my Ancestry trees was also easy and smooth so far.  The first hour of use was without any major bumps, but I am tracking a few possible suggestions for the future.  At this point I have to state that the wait appears to have been worth it and that MacKiev went to great pains to make sure the role out and functionality would be s easy and smooth as possible!   

2.  The General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) and the New England Historical Genealogical Society (NEHGS) have just announced the launch of a new database to bring the authenticated five-generation Mayflower genealogies (known as the "Silver Books") in searchable form to a computer near you!  The first release will include genealogies of eight Mayflower passengers: James Chilton; Richard More; Francis Eaton; Edward Fuller; Samuel Fuller; John Howland; Degory Priest; and Edward Winslow. You can read more about the joint project and the new searchable online database here. This is yet another good reason to join NEHGS if you have not already done so!    

3.  If you have seen the Civil War movie "Glory," then you will recall that the commander of the heroic, first all-black regiment was Col. Robert Gould Shaw of Boston, Massachusetts. Col. Shaw was killed during the 1863 assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina.  As he led the charge, he carried in his hand a British-made sword. That sword has now been donated to the Massachusetts Historical Society and will be displayed there. Red more about the sword and the donation here.       
        
4.  The Weekly Genealogist of NEHGS noted an interesting article this week about the accents of Colonial Americans. Did the residents of colonial America sound like their counterparts in Great Britain or not? Find out by reading "When Did Colonial America Gain Linguistic Independence" here.     
     
5.  Marian B. Wood of Climbing My Family Tree blog has a very useful post this week about a good way to caption family photos with context and location as well as the usual people identification and date.  Read this interesting post here.         
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Copyright 2017, John D. Tew

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Saturday Serendipity (July 1, 2017)

Here are a few recommendations for your weekend reading.

1.  Diane L. Richard of UpFront With NGS blog is reprising older posts this summer to revisit some of her favorite genealogy-related resources. The reprised post this week was from a piece originally published on June 27, 2014 and it deals with a source for death indexes and records. Go here to learn more about Joe Beine's Online Searchable Death Indexes & Records and to get a link to the site.     

2.   For those who are not members of NEHGS (New England Historic Genealogical Society), give the NEHGS databases a whirl FOR FREE during the June 29th through midnight (EDT) Thursday, July 6th free roaming period. All you need do is enter a "guest registration" and search away! Here is your link to American Ancestors where you can become a guest and get started.

3.  Here is an interesting article in The Atlantic that was recommended in this week's Weekly Genealogy newsletter from NEHGS. Read how the combination of state cancer registry data and Mormon genealogy records led to confirmation of a genetic cause for colon cancer as well as mutations for cardiac arrhythmia and melanoma.   
        
4.  James Tanner of Genealogy's Star blog posted Part I of a series on "levels of backup and storage" for genealogists. Read this useful and informative post here and return for further parts as they become available.   
     
5.  The maternal line of my wife Molly is from Canada and because the summer of Molly's birth was so brutally hot, her mother ventured north to Ontario for cooler weather and some time at her family's cottage on Lake Simcoe .  .  . and thus Molly was born in Toronto. Marian Wood of Climbing My Family tree blog posted today about her Canadian experience in attending Expo 67 in Montreal as part of her recognition of Canada Day (July 1st). This reminded me that not only is today Canada Day (much like our 4th of July), it is the 150th anniversary of that holiday celebration. Read Marian's post here and wish all your Canadian family and friends a very HAPPY CANADA DAY!   
    
6.  And finally, if you ever wondered what a wealthy woman in the 1700s actually wore when getting dressed -- and how long it would take each day (with assistance) to get dressed in all the layers you will learn were actually worn -- have a look at this 7 and a half minute video by the National Museums Liverpool to find the answers. 
         
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Copyright 2017, John D. Tew

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