Creators at Crossword Solver have made a database linked with Goodreads.com that will allow searchers to find the top books in the categories of historical, mystery, romance, thriller, sci-fi and fantasy in the setting of their choice.

Information also shows which cities and states are the top in each respective category and how many books are based in those locations.

You can read more in an article written by Dominic Genetti and published in the Edwardsville Intelligencer at https://bit.ly/3KE0o1o.

The deadline for completing Scotland's census has been extended until the end of May because of low completion rates.

Just under a quarter of households have still to send a response to the survey.

The Scottish government said it would keep it open for an extra four weeks, until 31 May.

Scotland's constitution secretary, Angus Robertson, told Holyrood it was important for the government to hear the voices of the households still to return their surveys.

Census letters were sent to 2.7 million homes, representing 5.5 million people.

Two million households have filled in their survey responses, equating to 77.2%, but an estimated 604,000 had still to submit them last week.

You can read more in an article in the BBC News web site at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-61255699.

The following announcement was written by the Augusta Genealogical Society:

Using Maps for Genealogy Research

Using Maps for Genealogy Research

When: Saturday, May 21, 2022 Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pm EST

Where: On Line - Register at www.augustagensociety.org

Registration deadline is May 14

Price: Free to AGS members and $10.00 for nonmembers Speaker:

Phillip Sutton, MSLIS

This presentation will describe how maps in the collections of The New York Public Library and elsewhere can be used in genealogical research. We'll look at fire insurance maps and atlases, military and topographical maps, county maps and atlases, and other types of maps to locate records, discover where our ancestors lived, and what their lives were like.

Philip Sutton is a reference librarian at New York Public Library's Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History, and Genealogy, where he also teaches and writes about genealogy and building history research. Sutton is a visiting Assistant Professor at the Pratt Institute, where he teaches a class in Genealogy and Local History.

The Augusta Genealogical Society is a non profit organization founded in Augusta, Georgia in September 1979.

If you are feeling a bit peckish do you enjoy a bit of scran or docky? Perhaps if you have a sweet tooth then a bag of cooshies or jumbles might hit the spot.

Since the 1950s, the University of Leeds has been home to an extensive library of English dialects – and now the historic archive is accessible to the public. You can learn how your ancestors sounded when they spoke.

During the 1950s and 60s, fieldworkers from the University travelled across the country to record the language and lifestyles of speakers across England, known as the Survey of English Dialects. It remains the most famous and complete survey of dialects in England and the findings have been preserved in the University’s Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture, a unique and nationally important multi-media archive.

Now, the recordings can be heard by the public with the launch of the University’s Dialect and Heritage ‘In Your Words’ Project, led by the School of English and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

You can read more at the University of Leeds web site at: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/main-index/news/article/5072/historic-dialect-recordings-archive-digitised-for-the-public.

The Vivid-Pix Blog has an interesting story telling how the company installed the Vivid-Pix Memory Station photo digitizing and restoration system to help seniors reminisce and reconnect with loved ones through photography to help reduce dementia. This is especially interesting because the city (Rochester, New York) is the birthplace of modern photography.

The same article briefly describes Memory Station, a one-click scanner/software bundle from Vivid-Pix that helps people digitize, restore, and save precious print images without sending them to a scanning service.

Here is a quote from the article that I consider to be especially relevant:

“By engaging with residents and listening to their insights, we create content that helps them learn and use technology,” described Rick Voight, CEO, Vivid-Pix. “Computers are intimidating. By listening to users, creating clear instructions and motivation, we engage residents to do something they want to do – pull photos from the closet and relive cherished memories. We also get to hear wonderful stories!”

You can read Vivid-Pix Helps Seniors “Tell Your Story” in Rochester, NY at: https://www.vivid-pix.com/blog/vivid-pix-helps-seniors-tell-your-story-in-rochester-ny-the-city-that-brought-photography-to-the-world/

The following announcement was written by Findmypast:

Findmypast adds new UK electoral registers and the 1950 US Census Image Browse 

UK Electoral Registers & Companies House Directors 

Nearly 125 million new records have been added into this existing record set, mostly from the year 2021. An ideal resource for discovering cousins and distant relations, the records can give names, estimated ages and addresses. 

1950 US Census Image Browse 

Entirely free to browse, this once-in-a-decade glimpse into US history could help researchers find relatives’ names, addresses, places of birth, occupations and more. It’s brand new to Findmypast this week, and could be used to trace pond-hopping UK relatives. 

Newspapers 

Five new newspaper titles have been added to the British Newspaper Archive this week, with updates to a further three. 

New titles:

• • City Life Record, 1921
  • Forest Hill & Sydenham Examiner, 1895-1933
  • Insurance Opinion, 1919
  • Managing Engineer, 1918
  • Vigilance Record, 1916

Updated titles:

• • Cheltenham News, 1987
  • Edinburgh Evening News, 1925, 1927-1928, 1930
  • Sydenham, Forest Hill & Penge Gazette, 1882-1894, 1905-1939, 1946-1949, 1951-1962

The following announcement was written by the organizers of the Family History Show:

Saturday 25th June 2022 & Saturday 24th September

The Family History Show is returning to York and London!

After surveying previous attendees, over 81% were looking forward to attending a show in person. With nearly two years of not having the freedom and interaction of a physical show, we found that people were looking forward to enjoying a great day out again, listening to live talks and asking questions face-to-face to experts and exhibitors. We have had many requests to hold another show and we are only too pleased to welcome everyone back!

Help ensure the future of family history events like this by voting with your feet today.

We have the great pleasure of announcing that The Family History Show – York is making a welcome return to the Racecourse at York on Saturday 25th June 2022 and The Family History Show – London to Kempton Park on Saturday 24th September.

Packed with exhibitors attending from all over the UK, plus family history societies and genealogy supplies companies returning at last to a physical show, this long-awaited chance to talk face-to-face with stall holders is a must for your diary.

These events are not just for those who have Yorkshire or London Ancestors – these family history shows will appeal to all visitors. Everyone is very welcome and there will be so much to see throughout the day at both events. There will be plenty of parking, refreshments will be available all day, you can talk with experts who can help with your research queries and watch FREE talks held throughout the day.

These events are organised by family historians for family historians. Do you really know who you are? Come and find out - you may be surprised!

The Knavesmire Exhibition Centre, The Racecourse, York

Each show features:

• Free talks held throughout the day in two large lecture areas
• Book a free personal 1-2-1 session with an expert, or visit our special Expert Panel at the end of the day where our experts combine to give a talk full of handy research tips and answer your questions in a Q&A session.
• Free Parking and Local Train Station
• All Day Refreshments
• Wheelchair Friendly Venue

Early-bird Ticket Offer

Get your tickets now and save, Only £6 (£8 on the day) and you’ll also get a goody bag on entry worth over £17.

Save 50% by getting two tickets for £8 for the York show here: https://thefamilyhistoryshow.com/york/tickets/

Talks you can look forward to at the York show include:

Nick Barratt - The Future of Family History

Looking at the ways family history research is changing as a result of technology and the media, with some opportunities that this may present for the future. A timely warning that the excitement around new digital releases should prompt us to think about how we use the wealth of data available.

Mia Bennett - Using DNA to Support Family History Research

This talk is aimed at people who want to practically apply DNA insights to their family history research. DNA is the new tool in our toolkit for helping us take our family history further. It looks at some of the methods and techniques you can use when working with your DNA results. In addition, little tips will be given along with a few practical examples to help you visualise what you need to do to progress your family history research.

Jackie Depelle - Writing Your Family History

Have you done all your family history research and now wondering what to do with it?

Learn how to organise and develop your hard work and research into a framework that can be shared with others, in a variety of different ways. Move on from record sheets and charts.

Keith Gregson - Genealogy Hints and Tips

This talk explores how with research and the right tools you can step back in time looking at where your ancestors lived, worked and spent their leisure time. Following the routes they may have taken, on old maps and looking at the views they may have seen.

Mark Bayley - Breaking Down Brick Walls

Mark shows techniques and data sets that can remove those obstacles to completing your family history.

Mark Bayley - Mapping Your Ancestors

Mark discusses how to get the most out of map-based record sets, what’s available online and demonstrates a fantastic tool for viewing them.

Early-bird Ticket Offer

Get two tickets for £8 for the York show here: https://thefamilyhistoryshow.com/york/tickets/

Check out Family History TV on YouTube with their free short videos. These how-to-guides are by leading experts covering a variety of topics. Their speakers specialise in subjects from the world of British Genealogy, Military History, DNA, House History and Social History and many of them are past and present speakers from The Family History Show. Watch a short video now at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnBEpCg-QwVzkq-zU4GDGg

Find Out More at: https://thefamilyhistoryshow.com/

Allegations against Dr. Paul Brennan Jones surfaced in 2019, when the now-grown children of his former patients found each other through DNA tests.

A jury has awarded $8.75 million to families who alleged a former Grand Junction, Colorado doctor lied to his patients and used his own sperm to impregnate more than a dozen women using artificial insemination decades ago.

In the lawsuit, filed in 2019, Maia Emmons-Boring, her sister Tahnee Scott and their mother Cheryl Emmons alleged Dr. Paul Brennan Jones of Grand Junction lied to Emmons when, in the early 1980s, he told her he would use anonymous sperm donations during separate rounds of artificial insemination.

The jury found Jones and his former practice, now called Women's Health Care of Western Colorado, liable for negligence and fraud, among other claims.

You can read more about this story at https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/grand-junction-fertility-fraud-case/73-b5069abd-eeff-472a-a059-43e6d05a397b

The original story (published more than 2 years ago) may be found at: https://www.9news.com/article/news/investigations/did-a-fertility-doctor-use-his-own-sperm-to-impregnate-multiple-women/73-e4f506d0-5dd5-4cf8-8e9f-67729248cd9c

The following announcement was written by the Society of Genealogists:

Count Down to CONFERENCE

The Future of Genealogy

Young Genealogists at the Helm

Saturday 7 May 2022 8am - 8:15pm (BST)

The Society of Genealogists, in collaboration with The Family History Federation, is looking forward to hosting this exciting online Zoom event on the 7th of May.

The conference provides a platform for genealogists under 35 to come together, exchange ideas and support each other. This is an international event to connect young people from around the world and help shape the future of the genealogy community. Youth-led, sessions will include a facilitated safe space to discuss what young people want from the community and family history societies, with a range of presentations, panels and discussions.

This event will be led by our young genealogists but is open to all to attend. If you are a genealogy society officer or programme secretary or educator looking to engage young family historians then this is the conference to learn about their expectations and interests.

The conference programme includes ten diverse sessions from young genealogist influencers and historians who will look at sources, resources and the world of genealogy from their perspective. Talks will include (amongst others) - The Effects of DNA Testing Results on Biological and Family Identities; Building a Bridge between Generations; Using Family History to Comprehend the Roots of Climate Crisis: Reflections on Personal Experience.

Representatives from commercial organisations including Ancestry, Findmypast and My Heritage as well the Society of Genealogists and Family History Federation will take form an industry panel from leading genealogy organisations and young family historians to discuss the issues, answer questions and hear the insights and concerns of young family historians.

A PDF copy of the programme is attached and online line here Layout 1 (prismic-io.s3.amazonaws.com)

Cost is £1.50 which covers your registration fee. Everyone is welcome, come for all or part of the day

Bookings can be made Conference: The Future of Genealogy – Young Genealogists at the Helm - Society of Genealogists (arlo.co)

Door prizes and prize draw donations for attendees include:

• TWO free annual memberships from Society for One-Place Studies

• One £20 voucher to be spent with Devon FHS (either on membership, attending an event or publications)

• TWO FREE COURSES (for any course, without assessment) from Pharos Tutors

Other offers and discounts available to attendees include:

• 20% off your first year of Society of Genealogists’ membership

• 60% discount from MyHeritage for first-time users

For six young citizens of the Cherokee Nation, June will mark a tough journey.

It’ll be a grueling bike ride across seven states, but it’ll also be a journey of reflection into the past and what their Cherokee ancestors endured along the infamous Trail of Tears.

The six cyclists: Kortney Dry, 24, and Kayce O’Field, 24, both of Tahlequah; Emily Christie, 24, of Stilwell; Jeanetta Leach, 23, of Rocky Mountain; Madison Whitekiller, 23, of Verdigris; and Desiree Matthews, 18, of Watts, were selected recently to participate in the 2022 “Remember the Removal” bike ride. Their trek will retrace a roughly 950-mile-long path followed by Cherokee people who were forcibly removed from their native lands in Georgia to Oklahoma in the late 1830s.

This marks the first year for the team to be composed entirely of Cherokee women.

You can read more in an article in The JournalRecord web site at: https://journalrecord.com/2022/04/27/young-women-to-follow-trail-of-tears-path-of-their-ancestors/.