The State Historical Society of North Dakota says it has added more than 50,000 additional newspapers to its digital archives. The papers date as far back as 1883 and run through the 1930s.

The project was done in partnership with the North Dakota Genealogy Society. To date, more than 1.4 million pages of historical newspapers have been archived by the state, and are free and available for the public to view.

“Whether an individual is doing family history or working on a school paper, the newspapers are a great primary source and full of information not found elsewhere,” said State Archives Director Shane Molander.

You can view the archives online at ndarchives.advantage-preservation.com.

Are you fed up with search engines that search your searches to determine and save whatever it is you are searching for. For search engines that also offer email services (such as Google/Gmail), are you also fed up with those companies reading your email to collect all sorts of personal information about you, and selling that information to anyone who will pay for it? (Such as various political parties, foreign governments, hackers, merchants, and more?)

If so, let me introduce you to Qwant.

Yes, stop using Google or Bing or other shady search engines. Start using Qwant.com in their place.

An Alternative Made in France That Implements European Legislation

Qwant advertises:

Qwant Search: The search engine that doesn't know anything about you, and that changes everything: zero tracing of your searches, zero personal data use, zero targeted advertising.

At Qwant, we don’t know who you are. We don’t target you with ads or keep your search history. Because your age, gender, and interests belong only to you. And so with each new search request, you get a blank page to begin anew.

Being informed should not turn you into a Click Machine. Turning our users into click machines goes against our ethics. That's why, at Qwant, we don't track advertising or analyze your personal data. Qwant puts aside the algorithms that pre-format the web and turn you into a commodity.

By not tracking our users, our search engine offers you a completely unfiltered overview of the Internet and guarantees neutral results. Your search results are never locked into certainties. Thus, your previous searches don’t influence the results of your next ones.

Qwant does not place any advertising cookies in your browser. Therefore, any advertisements that appear during your browsing will be linked to your search keywords, and not to your user profile.

Nowadays it is common to refer to data as, “black gold”. Not at Qwant. We don’t sell your data to third-party organizations, for advertising or for any other purposes.

Qwant Maps: The map service that finds the right addresses and guides you around without tracking you. (I am not sure how often the maps are updated. For instance, it doesn't show the street where I live. Admittedly, I live in a housing development that was only created about 3 years ago and new streets are still being established today.)

Qwant Junior: The only secure search engine designed for children's learning and their parents' peace of mind.

Qwant is always available thanks to the Qwant mobile app (mobile apps are available on Google Play and on the Apple App Store).

Qwant is based in France. In order to respect the French and European legislative frameworks, Qwant thoroughly incorporates the RGPD. We respect all fundamental rights, including the right to be forgotten, which gives you the possibility to have your data deleted.

All in all, Qwant looks like a winner! I am using Qwant nowadays and, so far, I am very happy with it.

I suggest you try it out for yourself. You can do so by going to: https://www.qwant.com

UPDATEDHouston, Muscogee, and Talbot Counties, Georgia, U.S., Marriages, 1826-1852	12/6/2022
UPDATEDCamden County, New Jersey, U.S., Marriages, 1837-1910	12/6/2022
UPDATEDMississippi, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1826-1900	12/6/2022
UPDATEDMaine, U.S., Compiled Marriages for Belfast, Hallowell and Pittsdon, 1748-1875	12/6/2022
UPDATEDGeorgia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900	12/6/2022
UPDATEDVirginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900	12/6/2022
UPDATEDMissouri, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900	12/6/2022
UPDATEDColorado, U.S., Compiled Marriages from Mesa, Arapahoe and Boulder Counties, 1859-1900	12/6/2022
UPDATEDMaryland, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1667-1899	12/6/2022
NEWAlaska, U.S., Pribilof Islands Vital Records and Census Records, 1877-1970	12/5/2022
NEWAlaska, U.S., Jail Book of St Michael Island, 1899-1905	12/5/2022
NEWAlaska, U.S., Masters and Owners of Vessels Oaths, 1893-1997	12/5/2022
NEWAlaska, U.S., Deed and Tract Books, 1906-1975	12/5/2022

This is a quick reminder for anyone with Irish ancestry: make sure you know about and occasionally check irishgenealogy.ie.

This web site has links pointing to all sorts of Irish genealogy resources. For instance, here is a list from the site's home page:

• What are the Civil Records
• What Civil Records are on-line
• What information is on the Indexes that are on-line
• I want to get a copy of a certificate, what do I do
• Can you explain the location to me
• Notice concerning possible redaction of Historic Birth Records
• Notice concerning possible redaction of Historic images of marriages over 75 years old
• Notice concerning cancelled records
• What years are covered by the Historic records of Births, Marriages and Deaths
• Frequently Asked Questions

The web site may be found at: irishgenealogy.ie.

Here is a list of all of this week's articles, all of them available here at https://eogn.com:

(+) Store Your Files Online at No or Low Cost

Is It Unverified Data and Will It Always be Unverified?

1960 Census: NARA’s Already Working Toward 2032

National Archives Begins Work on 1960 Census Records Release

Estonia is Establishing a Database Of World War II Refugees

Full Siblings Placed for Adoption Find Each Other Thanks to MyHeritage DNA

Synium Software GmbH’s MacFamilyTree 10 named an App Store Award Winner by Apple

Inside the Diet That Fueled Chinese Transcontinental Railroad Workers

1921 Scotland Census Records are Now Released and Are Available Online

Canadian Estate Files During World War I

Holocaust Survivors Offered Free DNA Tests to Help Find Family

IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy Announced for London, July 30 - Aug. 3, 2023; Call for Proposals Now Open

Ohio Genealogical Society Call for Lecture Proposals for 2024 Annual Conference

Hoopar Brothers Gravestone in Edison, New Jersey

National Museum of African American History and Culture Examines the Impact of Race

It's an 'Exciting Time' for DNA Genealogy in Solving Cold Cases, Experts Say. But Some Urge Caution

The Mary Eliza Project: Boston's Ward 11 Voter Records Are Now Available

Findmypast Releases New Norfolk Records This Week

Sperm Counts Worldwide Are Plummeting Faster Than Previously Believed

Always Wanted to Own a Giant Cruise Ship? Here’s Your Chance

The following announcement was written by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC):

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) hosted the inaugural National Conversation on Race: Reckoning with Our Racial Past this month, the first in a series of conversations across the U.S. that will bring together diverse groups of individuals to discuss race and racism in historical, cultural and contemporary contexts. The panel discussion explored how events during the past two years have affected and shaped the ongoing legacy of race and racism in the U.S. The program, part of Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past initiative, included remarks from Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III and a musical performance by composer and producer Nolan Williams Jr.

The museum will hold its annual Freedom’s Eve program, providing a look into how enslaved African Americans celebrated New Year’s Eve in the past and how the African American community uses food to help bring good fortune into the new year. The two-part program will include curated in-person activities to help plan goals for the new year and conclude with a virtual concert featuring piano prodigy Matthew Whitaker.

This year, beginning Dec. 26, the public can view a new video on Kwanzaa’s history and how to celebrate featuring museum specialist and oral historian Kelly Navies. The public can view the video and learn more about this seven-day celebration of African American culture on the museum’s Kwanzaa webpage. Users can find enlightening videos, unique family activities to do at home and special holiday recipes rooted in Black culinary traditions. 

December highlights also include the continuation of the museum’s Dine and Shop Pass option. NMAAHC offers a two-per-day limit of passes to access both the museum store and Sweet Home Café between 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during regular operating hours. Visitors can enjoy a fusion of rich African American culture paired with present-day food traditions like southern buttermilk fried chicken, savory collard greens and mouthwatering macaroni and cheese at Sweet Home Café. Afterward, visitors can stop by the museum store to purchase the perfect holiday gift. Passes must be reserved 48 hours in advance at 8 a.m. ET on a rolling basis. 

A full list of all the December In-Person and Virtual Programs may be found at: https://tinyurl.com/4yf6cvdh.

The following announcement was written by the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS):

Hundreds of genealogists from the U.S and all over the world are expected to descend on London, England, this summer for the 43rd Annual IAJGS (International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies) International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, Sunday, July 30 – Thursday, August 3, 2023. The conference hotel is a stone’s throw from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

This is the first time since 2019 that the conference will be held in person and the first time since 2001 that professional and amateur genealogists will have gathered in London.

IAJGS has also announced that the Call for Proposals is now open until January 15 Eastern Standard Time.

The conference will feature more than 100 speakers, with more than 200 sessions covering virtually every aspect of Jewish genealogy. Programs at the Conference will be geared from first-timers to conference veterans, and will include lectures, lunches, computer labs, and networking through Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Birds of a Feather (BOFs). An Exhibitor Hall and Resource Room will include genealogy experts, mentors, and archivists for a one-stop research experience at the conference site.

Proposed abstracts which meet one of the following theme categories are encouraged, along with other broad topics in Jewish genealogy as well. The Conference tracks are: Commonwealth Track, Jewish Communities Worldwide and the Shoah, Migration, Methodology, Technology/Computer Labs, DNA, and Storytelling. Presentations will be 45 minutes, with 15 minutes for Q & A. In addition, non-traditional presentations can be submitted for Computer Labs, Panels and Short Sessions.

Details on the Call for Proposals can be found on call.iajgs2023.org.

“We are excited to be able to have an in-person conference once again and host it in an international city,” said Chuck Weinstein, lead chair. “We are encouraging genealogists, both new and veteran speakers, to submit proposals for topics they are interested in presenting.”

The Conference is hosted by IAJGS, an umbrella organization of nearly 90 Jewish genealogical organizations worldwide. The Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain is the local co-host. Leigh Dworkin, president of the Great Britain Society, is the Conference local co-chair. “We are excited to be hosting this year’s Conference in London for the first time since 2001. As an international city with a vibrant Jewish history and population, London offers genealogists a wide array of resources such as archives, museums, libraries, synagogues and cemeteries relevant to furthering visitors’ family history research.

Planning for the Conference is now in progress and details of the conference, including registration and hotel reservations, will be posted on the conference website: www.iajgs2023.org as they become available.

The IAJGS coordinates and organizes activities such as its annual International Conference on Jewish Genealogy and provides a unified voice as the spokesperson on behalf of its members.

The IAJGS’s vision is of a worldwide network of Jewish genealogical research organizations and partners working together as one coherent, effective and respected community, enabling people to succeed in researching Jewish ancestry and heritage. Find the IAJGS at: www.iajgs.org and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/iajgsjewishgenealogy.

The JGSGB aims to promote and encourage the study of and research into Jewish Genealogy and is the only Jewish Genealogical Society in the United Kingdom. Find us at www.jgsgb.org.uk, on Twitter at @JewishGreat, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/JGSGB.

The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman. 

I travel a lot and occasionally find myself in need of a file that I left "back home." I need a way of quickly and easily obtaining any files that I need, but there are times when remote access is not an option since it requires my computer to stay powered on and have constant Internet access. If you do not want to leave your computer powered on all the time, uploading your files to a server on the web is the best solution. 

There is a second advantage as well: uploading the files to an online server is also a great method of making backups of your important files. I’ve long preached the utter importance of backing up your critical genealogy files. If your primary computer ever fails, an online storage service lets you easily retrieve any of the files you earlier uploaded to the service.

You can find a number of web services that let you upload files. A few of them even provide some amount of file space free of charge.

With any online file storage service, you need to make sure that security is sufficient to meet your needs. In most cases, that means the file needs to be encrypted, either automatically or manually by you, before it leaves your computer and is transferred to the online file storage system. Encrypted files cannot be decoded by anyone without the encryption key, not even by the employees of the file storage service.

The remainder of this article is reserved for Plus Edition subscribers only. If you have a Plus Edition subscription, you may read the full article at: https://eogn.com/(*)-Plus-Edition-News-Articles/13011317.

If you are not yet a Plus Edition subscriber, you can learn more about such subscriptions and even upgrade to a Plus Edition subscription immediately at https://eogn.com/page-18077.

Genealogists study the lives of humans throughout the ages. It appears that future genealogists will have it easier to make such studies due to a dwindling number of humans.

Five years ago, a study describing a precipitous decline in sperm counts sparked extreme concerns that humanity was on the path to extinction. Now a new study shows that sperm counts have fallen further and the rate of decline is speeding up, raising fears of a looming global fertility crisis. From a report:

The initial study, published in July 2017, revealed that sperm counts -- the number of sperm in a single ejaculate -- plummeted by more than 50 percent among men in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand between 1973 and 2011. Since then, a team led by the same researchers has explored what has happened in the last 10 years. In a new meta-analysis, which appeared in the journal Human Reproduction Update, researchers analyzed studies of semen samples published between 2014 and 2019 and added this to their previous data. The newer studies have a more global perspective and involved semen samples from 14,233 men, including some from South and Central America, Africa, and Asia. The upshot: Not only has the decline in total sperm counts continued -- reaching a drop of 62 percent -- but the decline per year has doubled since 2000. The 2017 report also revealed that sperm concentration (the number of sperm per milliliter of semen) dropped by an average of 1.6 percent per year, totaling more than a 52 percent among men in these regions over the previous four decades.

OK, this article is off-topic. But how often do you read about "bargains" like this one?

Do you have an urge to own the largest yacht at the local yacht club? (I am assuming your local yacht club has dock space enough to handle this thing.)

One of the world’s newest and largest cruise ships, the 150,695-ton World Dream, will be auctioned off to the highest bidder at a sheriff’s sale on Dec. 21 — and anyone can bid.

World Dream as it looked at its debut in 2017.

That means that — with a high-enough bid — you could be in possession of one of the world’s most state-of-the-art cruise vessels in time to visit it for the holiday week between Christmas and New Year’s Day

Not that you could do much with it — at least not initially. The 18-deck-high ship, currently anchored off Singapore, is designed to operate with a crew of nearly 2,000 people, none of which would come with the purchase.

Originally built at a cost of nearly $1 billion for the now-defunct, Asia-based line Dream Cruises, the five-year-old vessel is being sold “as is, where is,” according to the office of the sheriff of Singapore, which is conducting the auction. That means that it won’t come with crew or formal instructions on how to operate it.

Plus, you better be ready to pick it up... in Singapore. And bring a crew as you can't handle it alone.

World Dream has been under arrest in Singapore since Dream Cruises and its parent company, Genting Hong Kong, went out of business earlier this year.

The vessel auction is being conducted by the sheriff of Singapore by court order to raise money to pay off the company’s debts.

According to a notice of the sale on a Singapore government website, anyone who puts down a $50,000 deposit can bid on the vessel. If you don’t win the bidding, you get the $50,000 back.

Before you put in a bid for just a few dollars, hoping for a bargain, know that there’s a caveat to what you’ll end up paying: In addition to the winning bid, whoever buys the vessel will also have to pay for the unconsumed fuel remaining in the ship’s fuel tanks, which is worth $1,175,887, according to the sheriff’s office.

You can read more at: https://thepointsguy.com/news/world-dream-cruise-ship-auction/.