Mar 21, 2016
Fisher opens this week's show with David Allen Lambert, Chief
Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and
AmericanAncestors.org, talking about the genealogy of the fictional
Crawley family of "Downton" Abbey fame. It's received a lot
of attention on the Extreme Genes Facebook page. David then
talks about another incredible discovery, by a tourist no less, of
a coin dating back to the early second century AD. Who found
it and where is it now? David explains. David then
gives the history of St. Patrick's Day. (Bet you didn't know
St. Patrick wasn't even Irish!) Hear David's quick summary on
the man for whom the holiday is named. David's Tech Tip is an
ancestral "longevity chart." What is it and how does it
work? Listen to the podcast to find out. David also shares
this week's guest user free database from
AmericanAncestors.org.
Next up is guest Judy Lucey, also of the New England Historic
Genealogical Society. Judy and an NEHGS colleague are
currently working on a handbook for Irish research. The good
news is (as we learned from Ireland Senator Jillian Van Turnhout
last week) Irish records are hitting the internet in record numbers
right now. So while Irish research in the past has been very
difficult, things are dramatically improving. Judy will have
some specifics and stories from the "Old Country" in this segment
of the show.
The good news keeps coming in the next segment, with Thom Reed of
FamilySearch.org. Thom is immersed in the Freedman Bureau
Project which began last June. These records give the first
extensive account of the freed slaves in the years immediately
following emancipation. (And because the destruction of the
South was so overwhelming, many poor whites sought services from
the government and are included as well.) Thom explains how
these records are breaking down the walls in African-American
research and fills us in on the present status of the indexing
project. Where can you find these records and how can you
help the project? Thom has the answers.
Then, Tom Perry from TMCPlace.com talks preservation. This
week, Tom does some myth busting. For instance "disks are
going away." Not so, says Tom! Hear his explanation.
He'll also explain how salvageable many disks really are.
(You won't believe the damage he's seen!) He then takes aim
at the myth that thumb drives are a great permanent storage
solution. Tom tells you why, when it comes to thumb drives,
you should be afraid... VERY afraid!
That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History
Show!