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

NOTE: This article contains personal opinions.

The genealogy software world is changing around us. This week, I thought I would look at the history of such software and then look into the crystal ball to see if the future can be discerned.

I have been using genealogy programs in my home computers for 39 years. In 1984, I started with Family Ties, a program written by Neil Wagstaff. I ran it on a homemade CP/M computer with two 8-inch floppy disk drives and a huge memory capacity of 64 kilobytes. No, that is not a typo error: those were 8-inch floppy disks drives. Many of today's computer users have never seen an 8-inch floppy disk although the later 5 1/2-inch and 3 1/2-inch disks became quite popular.

Over the years, I kept upgrading both the hardware and the software in use. I upgraded from the CP/M operating system to MS-DOS, then to Windows 2.0 and through a series of Windows releases: 3.0, 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista and nowadays it is Windows 11. In fact, after using Windows for a few years, I finally made my best upgrade: to Macintosh OS X. 

Along the way, I have used many different genealogy programs: Family Ties, Genealogy on Display, The Family Edge, Personal Ancestral File (versions 1, 2, 3, and 4), Roots II, Roots III, Roots IV, Visual Roots, Ultimate Family Tree, Family Origins, Legacy, RootsMagic, The Master Genealogist, Reunion, MacFamilyTree, Heredis, and, most recently, Family Tree Builder. I have also used GRAMPS (for Linux, Windows, and Macintosh), GedStar (originally for Palm handheld computers), and The Pocket Genealogist (for Windows Mobile handheld computers) as well as The Next Generation of Genealogy Site Building and PhpGedView, both of which store their databases on web servers. Because of articles I have written in this newsletter over the past 27 years and in other online publications prior to the newsletter, I have also briefly used many other genealogy programs and have written reviews of many of them.

I won't claim to be an expert, but I do think I am experienced at a wide variety of genealogy programs. I also believe that I can see some trends. Today I thought I would write about those trends and even attempt to forecast the future. I won't go too far into the future, perhaps five years or so. After that, my crystal ball gets a bit cloudy.

Why Do We Use Genealogy Software?

The answer to that question is simple: to organize our research findings! Indeed, most genealogy programs are simply repositories for our findings. They are digital replacements for the three-ring binders and the photo albums that genealogists used for years. We conduct genealogy searches in a wide variety of ways and record the results in a program that is essentially a database along with specialized data entry software and reporting capabilities of various sorts. Use of computers adds convenience and speed to storing of information, but the primary reasons for doing all this haven’t changed much in many decades. 

The Past Thirty-Nine Years

Over the years, genealogists have enjoyed a variety of programs that allow us to enter our data, store it, sort it, analyze it, and print it out in a variety or reports. In the early days of home computing, each genealogist maintained his or her own data on a personal floppy or hard drive, with data typically maintained by only one person. Each genealogist's database was a separate "island" of data. There was no method of easily comparing the data stored on one computer's database against data stored on other personal computers. To be sure, there was a plethora of manual methods, such as reading microfilms, comparing notes with others at genealogy society meetings, or comparing notes with others on various online message boards. However, all these efforts were manual thirty-four years ago.

Let's compare our methodologies of 39 years ago with those of today. 

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The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society invites the community to opening of their exhibit “Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage of Santa Barbara, 1870s – 1970s” on Sunday, May 7. This free event will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Sahyun Genealogical Library at 316 Castillo Street in Santa Barbara.

“The Santa Barbara Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Exhibit will be a journey to discovery that we can experience together,” said Melinda Yamane Crawford, Genealogical Society member and Co-Chair of the Society’s Exhibit Committee. “We are delighted to welcome the community to learn more about our local Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino families and their many contributions to the rich and colorful history of Santa Barbara.”

Visitors to the event will enjoy historical accounts, photos, and artifacts from local AAPI families, a Chinese tea service, a Japanese choir singing and playing the tone chimes, and Bonsai trimming demonstrations. There will also be booths from community organizations, genealogy research assistance, appetizers, and more.

You can learn more on the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society web site at: https://sbgen.org/.

Jerry Springer, the ex-mayor of Cincinnati who gained a national profile with his eponymous, fight-filled TV talk show, has died at 79 after a “brief illness,” according to TMZ. 

Springer was born in the underground Highgate train station in London, then a makeshift bomb shelter, on Feb. 13, 1944. His parents were German Jewish refugees who escaped the Nazis with the help of World Jewish Relief. At the organization’s 2017 business dinner, he told his family’s story before quipping, “This is a general rule that I always follow: If somebody saves my life, I’ll always show up at their dinner.”

Springer learned more about the fate of his family on a 2008 episode of the British edition of Who Do You Think You Are? Both of his grandmothers died in the Holocaust, his paternal grandmother, Selma Springer, in the Theresienstadt ghetto hospital and his maternal grandmother, Marie Kallman at the Chelmno extermination camp.

When he was 4, Springer relocated with his family to Kew Gardens, Queens. After graduating from Tulane University and Northwestern Law, Springer worked as an aide to Robert Kennedy and as a lawyer in Democratic politics.

Springer said his family history “made me profoundly liberal,” adding, “it was instinctive for me to be involved with civil liberties. You don’t have to be lectured about tolerance when your family has been through the Holocaust.”

You can read more about the life of Jerry Springer in many web sites. I suggest starting at: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=jerry+springer&t=h_&ia=web. 

The following announcement was written by Findmypast:

England & Wales, Return of Owners of Land 1873 

Published in 1873, this book details all owners of land over one acre. New this week, there over 269,000 transcripts and images to explore, which should help you unearth a name, home address, and details of the land they held.  

Scotland, Return of Owners of Land 1873 

The same survey as above was carried out in Scotland. It similarly lists names, addresses, land sizes and valuations with just over 20,000 records. This collection is also new to Findmypast this Friday. 

Ireland, Return of Owners of Land 1876 

This existing collection has been updated and improved, and contains around 33,000 records. While the survey for Ireland was taken in 1873, the report was not published until 1876.   

Findmypast Photo Collection 

A further 814 historical photographs have been added to this collection, all taken by Daily Mirror photographer Bela Zola between 1947 and 1955. These wonderful images offer a real glimpse into daily life in postwar Britain. 

Newspapers 

Two brand-new royal titles, a Surrey title, and updates to a further 26 make up this week’s newspaper releases. 

New titles: 

·         Farnham Mail, 1986-1987 

·         King and His Navy and Army, 1903-1906 

·         Who’s who at the Coronation, 1902 

Updated titles: 

·         Birmingham Weekly Mercury, 1912 

·         Bristol Evening Post, 1990, 1992 

·         Burry Port Star, 1986 

·         Cambridge Independent Press, 1951 

·         East Kent Gazette, 1897 

·         Gloucester Citizen, 1951 

·         Herald Cymraeg, 1994 

·         Hertford Mercury and Reformer, 1897 

·         Hinckley Free Press, 1900 

·         Huddersfield and Holmfirth Examiner, 1877, 1890, 1892, 1960, 1963-1964, 1966-1969, 1973 

·         Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 1879, 1890, 1899, 1924-1926, 1929-1933, 1935-1936, 1938, 1940, 1944, 1946-1948, 1951, 1953-1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1965-1967, 1969, 1974, 1981 

·         Liverpool Evening Express, 1913 

·         Manchester Evening News, 1869, 1963, 1965-1972, 1974, 1976, 1987 

·         Marylebone Mercury, 1990 

·         New Observer (Bristol), 1980 

·         North Tyneside Herald & Post, 1991, 1998 

·         Nottingham Guardian, 1905 

·         Rochdale Observer, 1950 

·         Stratford-upon-Avon Herald, 1917-1918, 1920-1922, 1924-1934, 1975-1977 

·         The People, 1910-1913, 1919-1922, 1934-1938 

·         The Queen, 1861-1873, 1913-1917 

·         Walsall Advertiser, 1864, 1866-1867, 1869, 1871-1872, 1874-1875, 1877-1878 

·         Walsall Observer, 1988, 1997 

·         Western Daily Press, 1992 

·         Western Gazette, 1982  

·         Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, 1969-1972 

Heirlooms and beloved family possessions are special memories and kinship substances that help us stay connected to our family heritage and close ones. To lose one can be heart-wrenching. Brittany Thompson, a bride from Cape Coral in Florida, lost her only heirloom on the night of her wedding reception. When Thompson realized the bracelet on her wrist was missing, she started panicking. All her friends and family soon came to assist her and tried to help her recall every moment of the wedding reception night.

The bracelet belonged to her late grandmother—whom she never had a chance to meet—and was passed on to her as a family heirloom. Thompson's father, whom she just met two years ago through Ancestry.com, gifted her his mother's blue sapphire bracelet as something blue. "I was completely losing my mind," admitted the new bride, reports NBC2 News.

Thompson was wearing the bracelet for her wedding, which took place the day before she discovered it was missing. She called the wedding venue the next morning to check if they had received a bracelet from the event's premises. Thompson and her husband, together went to the venue, hoping to collect the lost bracelet but to their dismay, they had already cleaned the premises and emptied all the trash cans. But to their luck, the waste management workers were just leaving the premise. "As soon as we arrived, the garbage man had already dumped it into his truck," Thompson said. Her husband went to the truck, knocked on the door, and spoke to the driver. Thompson said the driver's name was Jeff.

Jeff then called his supervisor for permission to dig through the trash dump. Once he got the permission, he called the newlywed couple. "For him to do that — it’s not a shock for anybody that knows him," said Bill Jones, Divisional Vice President for Waste Pro. "Jeff did the right thing."

However, after digging through the trash for quite some time, Thompson almost claimed her defeat. But it was then that she found a ray of hope rising from the heap of trash. Thompson's eyes stuck on the hay sticking out of the trash. The hay was part of the wedding photo background, which was set in the venue premise. “And as I kept pulling stuff out of that bag, sure enough in one of the handfuls, there was the bracelet,” shared Thompson.

You can watch a YouTube video about this story at: https://youtu.be/MOKNzCE6LLw.

I was surprised today to read an article in the Concord Monitor web site that mentioned someone in my family tree. No, Ebenezer Eastman is not a direct ancestor but he is in the outer branches someplace in my family tree: a distant cousin many-times-removed.

The article states:

The "granite monument that was erected in East Concord as a tribute to Ebenezer Eastman, the first colonial settler of Concord. This beautiful monument is quite practical too because it is graced with four clocks to provide the time to all who care to glance. It has been said this Eastman monument is the first American monument that offers beauty and usefulness without distracting from the value of art.

"The Eastman Monument dates back to a festive event in the year 1924 where many attended this monument dedication. It was the Eastman Family Memorial Association that erected this monument, stating that Ebenezer was the first settler. There were in fact other settlers in our town prior to Ebenezer, people such as Henry Rolfe and Richard Urann that arrived the year prior to Ebenezer Eastman to work their land and settle. The Eastman family provided this monument as a tribute to their ancestors and invested in great quality to ensure the monument would survive the cruel New England winters of the future. The monument was designed by a known gentleman named A. Fehmer of the New England Granite Works of Westerly, Rhode Island. The material used was derived locally from the Granite State Quarry on Rattlesnake Hill and shipped to Westerly where it was carved and engraved under the watchful eye of designer Fehmer. The monument is seven feet square at the base and nineteen feet high. The brass clockworks are encased at the base to allow for easy access when servicing the clock. Our ancestors felt the clock was the center of consultation in their day, for those that passed by would certainly look at the monument to confirm the time of day or synchronize their own gold pocket watches."

The Eastman Family Memorial Association that erected this monument apparently has since faded away but the monument, made of granite, still remains.

You can read the full article by James Spain published in the Concord Monitor at: https://www.concordmonitor.com/Vintage-Views-50686212.

An article in the getgoldenvisa.com web site certainly will interest many readers of this newsletter who have Irish ancestry:

Ireland is a country steeped in rich cultural history and heritage. With its breathtaking landscapes, friendly people, and vibrant culture, it is no wonder that so many people wish to call it home. For those of Irish descent, obtaining Irish citizenship is a way to connect with their ancestral roots and embrace their Irish identity. 

Irish citizenship by descent is a process that allows individuals with Irish ancestry to claim their Irish citizenship and gain all the rights and privileges that come with it. From traveling freely across the EU to voting in Irish elections, becoming an Irish citizen can be a life-changing experience. This article delves into the intricacies of Irish citizenship by descent, exploring the eligibility criteria, application process, and benefits of becoming an Irish citizen through ancestry.

What It Means to Be an Irish Citizen

Irish citizenship comes with a range of benefits that extend beyond the borders of the Emerald Isle. As a member state of the European Union, being an Irish citizen grants you a set of rights that are available exclusively to EU nationals. These privileges are far-reaching and include the freedom to live and work in any EU country, including Ireland. Moreover, holding an Irish passport, which is ranked amongst the most powerful in the world, provides you with unparalleled access to global travel. Irish citizenship is a gateway to a world of opportunities and experiences, and its advantages extend beyond the shores of the Emerald Isle.

Advantages of Irish Citizenship 

Becoming an Irish citizen is a gateway to a world of possibilities, offering numerous benefits, extending far beyond the shores of the Emerald Isle. Holding an Irish passport is only one of the many privileges that come with Irish citizenship. 

You can read the (very long) full article at: https://getgoldenvisa.com/irish-citizenship-by-descent

Hmmm, your ancestry might be a bit different from what you thought it was. 

If you have ever felt you don’t quite fit into modern society, that could be the ‘caveman’ in you. Every one of us has inherited DNA that stretches back 50,000 years and more. Parts of that DNA may still play a part in our appearance and how we perceive the world.

Leading testing expert, Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), Clinical Lead at London Medical Laboratory, says: ‘Modern humans like ourselves only reached the British Isles around 40,000 years ago and, because of the impact of the last ice age, Britain was only continually settled around 12,000 years ago. Much of our DNA dates back much further than this, meaning our origins can be traced back to places far beyond Britain.

‘The journey that each of our ancestors took may be very different from that of our friends’ and neighbours’ ancestors, however, and these different migratory paths, from thousands of years ago, are still captured and represented in our blood.

‘Fascinatingly, the majority of Brits have a small amount of genetic material from humans who actually arrived here far earlier than modern man. Genetic testing reveals that people of European or Asian backgrounds have around 2 percent Neanderthal DNA, with some individuals having even more. People of African descent, in contrast, are likely to have far less, around 0.3 percent.

You can read more in an article published in the londonlovesbusiness.com web site at: https://tinyurl.com/yp3e27ru.

This is a reconstructed image of Ventura Jane Doe by Carl Koppelman, investigative genealogist with the DNA Doe Project and a forensic sketch artist.

Forty-three years after a young woman was found in a parking lot near Westlake High School in Thousand Oaks, she remains unidentified.

Now investigators with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the DNA Doe Project are asking the public to share information about a specific family tree.

The team of investigative genetic genealogists at the DNA Doe Project have been working to identify Ventura Jane Doe since 2018, analyzing distant cousin matches to her DNA profile and building a family tree to try to connect all her relatives and locate the right branch that will reveal her identity. It’s a daunting task, reaching all the way back to a couple who lived in a community known as Bajío de la Tesorera (or “La Blanca”) in the Mexican state of Zacatecas.

They have determined that one of Ventura Jane Doe’s parents is descended from Martin Parga (1847-1902) and Catarina Montellano (1853-1895), who had 14 children. Investigators would like to learn more about five of their daughters born in the latter half of the 19th century — Monica, Basilia, Feliciana, Josefa, and Sotera. Other than their birth records and a few records pertaining to Feliciana and three of her children, no records from the later lives of the five sisters or their descendants have been located.

“Due to a fire in the Civil Registry office in Ojocaliente, Zacatecas, where many of the births, marriages, and deaths of residents of La Blanca were recorded, much of the documentation was lost,” explained Carl Koppelman, investigative genetic genealogist with the DNA Doe Project.

There is a large community of people closely related to Ventura Jane Doe who currently live in the neighborhoods surrounding the Belvedere and Boyle Heights districts of East Los Angeles who have ancestral roots in La Blanca, Zacatecas, and have the same surnames of her closest known relatives — Parga, Lira, Aleman, Betancourt, Chavez, Chairez, Ramos, Ortiz and Ibarra. 

The DNA Doe Project is asking for anyone with information regarding the five Parga sisters — Monica, Basilia, Feliciana, Josefa, or Sotera, and any of their spouses/partners or descendants — to email case-tips@dnadoeproject.org with the subject “Ventura.”

For more about the DNA Doe Project, see dnadoeproject.org.