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Latest Standard Edition Articles

  • 5 Jul 2023 1:45 PM | Anonymous
    • Who: Plaintiff Ethan Shebesh filed a class action lawsuit against Ancestry.com and Geneanet SA.
    • Why: Ancestry.com allegedly uses consumers’ identifying information for commercial purposes without their consent in violation of Illinois law.
    • Where: The Ancestry.com class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.

    An Ancestry.com class action lawsuit alleges the company uses consumers’ identifying information for commercial purposes without their consent in violation of the Illinois Right to Publicity Act (IRPA).

    Plaintiff Ethan Shebesh filed the Ancestry.com class action lawsuit June 29 against Ancestry.com and Geneanet SA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ancestry.com.

    The defendants own and operate www.geneanet.org, a genealogy website that allows users to share their genealogical information and connect with relatives and other Geneanet members.

    “As with other genealogy websites, Geneanet allows its users to upload family history to build out an online family tree,” the Ancestry.com class action lawsuit explains. “The information uploaded may include relatives’ names, as well as documents, photographs, historical documents, news articles, and the like.”

    Plaintiff says his full name appeared on Ancestry.com website to promote paid premium Geneanet memberships

    Shebesh says he is one of 8 billion individuals identified on the Geneanet website. When searching for his last name, he discovered his full name and his spouse’s full name listed in the “free preview” search results.

    When he clicked on his name on the free preview page, he was directed to a “Profile” page that included his full name, as well as the names of his parents, spouse, and half-siblings. The page also featured an orange “Become Premium” button urging users to sign up for a paid membership.

    You can read more about this story in an article by Anne Bucher published in the TopClassActions web site at: https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/privacy/ancestry-com-class-action-claims-website-shows-identifying-info-during-advertising-memberships/.

  • 5 Jul 2023 8:50 AM | Anonymous

    The following announcement is from the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration News:

    By Angela Tudico | National Archives News

    WASHINGTON, June 30, 2023 — Dr. Randa Tawil, one of two 2022 Cokie Roberts Women’s History Fellows, spent November 2022 here at the National Archives, researching Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) case files to explore the correlation between pregnancy and deportation for early 20th-century migrants to the United States.

    refer to caption

    Enlarge

    2022 Cokie Roberts Women's History Fellow Randa Tawil.

    To answer questions about mobility, gender, sexuality, immigration, and hardening border restrictions in the early 1900s, Tawil looked at how INS officials worked with doctors to enforce public charge laws against single pregnant women months after their arrival to the United States.

    “I had never heard of women being deported so late in their pregnancy and for this reason,” Tawil explained. “These women were not visibly pregnant when they arrived in the U.S. and subsequently sought medical care in hospitals for their pregnancies, and the government used that moment, simultaneously with the latest advances in the field of obstetrics, to decide when a woman became pregnant in order to enforce immigration restrictions. That was an interesting timeline that I wanted to delve into.”

    Her findings will appear in the forthcoming chapter, “Time Difference: Pregnancy and Deportability in Early 20th Century United States,” that will be published in late 2024 in the anthology, “The Hidden Histories of Unauthorized European Immigration in the United States,” edited by Deborah Kang and Danielle Battisti. 

    Tawil was already familiar with the National Archives and the INS case files prior to this project and was researching her book in progress, “Race in Transit: Mobilities Between Greater Syria and North America,” when she found a case file for a single pregnant European woman that did not fit with her research on Syrian migration, but which she said she felt compelled to pursue.

    Tawil credits the fellowship for affording her the time and a community of support required to reveal the experiences of these female migrants, albeit filtered through the official government reporting available in the files.

    refer to caption

    Enlarge

    Report to the United States Commissioner of Immigration, 1907. National Archives, Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Photo courtesy of Randa Tawil.

    “These are government records so they appear complete and correct, but they don’t tell the full story of these women, and we’re never going to know that story fully–that’s history,” Tawil said. “But some recovery and meditation on these glimpses into the past and making these marginalized people actually be the agents of history is something that’s important.”

    Tawil is an assistant professor of Women and Gender Studies at Texas Christian University. She earned her doctorate from Yale University and her bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University, both in American Studies.

    She is conducting her research as a 2022 recipient of the Cokie Roberts Women’s History Fellowship. Supported by the National Archives Foundation, the fellowships are awarded to early to mid-career historians, journalists, authors, or graduate students who perform and publish new research to elevate women’s history using records held by the National Archives.  

    “This fellowship is a testament to Cokie Roberts’ prescience,” Tawil noted. “This history is important, and it might take more support to write it. But ultimately it’s producing some of the most interesting work out there.”

    The fellowship launched in 2019 to honor noted author and journalist Cokie Roberts, who spent her career shining light on the stories of many women who had an impact on U.S. history.

    “Cokie was a leader on our board and a lifelong advocate for the Archives,” said Jim Blanchard, President and Chair of the National Archives Foundation Board of Directors and former Michigan governor. “These fellowships are a wonderful tribute to her ongoing inspiration to the field of women’s history.”

  • 5 Jul 2023 8:33 AM | Anonymous

    The following announcement was written by the Augusta (Georgia) Genealogical Society (Reminder: You can attend VIRTUAL presentations from anywhere in the world):

    July 2023 Virtual Genealogical Program

    "Using Revolutionary War Records"

    When:  Saturday, July 22, 2023

    Time:  11:00 am - 12:00 pm  EST

    Where: Online

    Price:  FREE to AGS members and $10 for nonmembers

    Click here to register:  https://www.augustagensociety.org/

    The registration deadline is June 20, 2023

    Limited seating to view the virtual presentation will be offered at the Adamson Library. To reserve a seat, please call (706) 722-4073.

    Presenting

    Melanie McComb, Genealogist

    New England Historic Genealogical Society

    Understand how to locate and best utilize Revolutionary War muster rolls and service records for your ancestor. An overview of using local, state, and federal sources to determine whether your ancestor served during the war will be reviewed.

    Melanie McComb, a Genealogist, assists library visitors in Boston at the NEHGS, both on-site and online, with their family history research. She is an international lecturer who teaches a variety of topics. Melanie holds a B.S. degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. She previously served as the social media coordinator for the NextGen Genealogy Network, a non-profit that creates a community for younger genealogists, where she managed the Facebook and Twitter accounts.

    The program flyer is available at https://filedn.com/lwhnSvLzTkI41rItzEOPak0/graphics/AGS%20%20Program%20July%2022%202023%20Revolutionary%20Records.jpg.

    JOIN AGS NOW and enjoy the benefits of several programs, which will be free to members in 2023.

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

  • 5 Jul 2023 8:27 AM | Anonymous

    I could use this to re-create digital images of places where my ancestors lived:

    Using old insurance fire maps, researchers have enabled a machine-learning system to recreate 3D models of neighborhoods that no longer exist. Not only could the technique lead to VR tours of the 'hoods, but it could help study the economic impact of urbanization.

    In 1866, a young surveyor named D. A. Sandborn was contracted by the Aetna insurance company to create insurance maps for several cities in Tennessee. That project, along with an atlas he made of the city of Boston, led Sandborn to found a company that still provides insurance companies with maps to this day. In total, the company has created maps that have helped insurance companies evaluate the fire risk to about 12,000 cities and towns in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

    Because the maps have been around so long, they have proven to be an invaluable historical archive; a record of the way urban areas have grown and, in some cases, dwindled in North America for over a century. The map collection was eventually digitized and the Library of Congress now has over 35,000 maps in its online collection.

    Working with this digital archive, a doctoral student in geography at The Ohio State University named Yue Lin carried out a study in which he created machine learning tools allowing a computer to comb through the records to extract data such as their footprints, the materials they were built from, and what they were used for.

    A whole new approach

    "The story here is we now have the ability to unlock the wealth of data that is embedded in these Sanborn fire atlases," said Harvey Miller, Yue's co-author and professor of geography at Ohio State. "It enables a whole new approach to urban historical research that we could never have imagined before machine learning. It is a game changer."

    You can read more at: https://newatlas.com/science/maps-lost-neighborhoods-vr-landscapes/ 

  • 5 Jul 2023 8:02 AM | Anonymous

    NOTE: This article is not about any of the "normal" topics of this newsletter: genealogy, history, current affairs, DNA, and related topics. However, I find it to be very interesting so I decided to publish the information here.

    Leonardo da Vinci, the master of many disciplines, transformed humanity's horizons through his art, science, and ingenuity. Today, in collaboration with 28 institutions from around the world, Google Arts & Culture unveils Inside a Genius Mind — the largest online retrospective dedicated to the genius of the Renaissance, showcasing his extraordinary codices alongside his artistic and scientific contributions.

    From the stages of his life to dispelling myths, and examining his masterpieces up close, everyone can delve into Leonardo's mind as we’ve brought together for the first time 1,300 pages from his collections of volumes and notebooks. The codices, brimming sketchesideas, and observations, offer a window into the boundless imagination of one of history's greatest polymaths. With the aid of Machine Learning and the curatorial expertise of Professor Martin Kemp, the accompanying experiment also called "Inside a Genius Mind" unravels these intriguing and sometimes mysterious materials.

    You can read the original article at: https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/arts-culture/leonardo-da-vinci-inside-a-genius-mind/. 

  • 3 Jul 2023 5:44 PM | Anonymous

    I haven't had a chance to use this new web site yet but the advertisements and reports from early users sound great. Here is some of the promotional claims from the site: https://weare.xyz/:

    Free your stories from outdated technology and paper files, inspire your family with a living online archive.

    We've made it so easy. Establish an interactive archive at the heart of your family.

    Create your online site with ease Our super simple interactive tree builder. Automatically organizes your site (built by a GEDCOM in seconds).

    Showcase your story like never before. Create, curate and enrich a kaleidoscope of captivating artefacts, photos, videos & stories.

    Engage family to ensure your story is passed on. Ask for help to fill in the gaps, and even see relatives record their own lives as children and adults.

    Interactive Archive Builder: At its core, We Are [...] is an online Family History content management system complete with one of the most advanced family tree indexing and display engines developed to date

    Family Involvement & Personalisation:

    • Personalised access for each relative,
    • Freedom to contribute and collaborate,
    • 'Ask family' button on every page,
    • Comment threads under all content items,
    • Share to social media and messaging


    Effortless Backups for Peace of Mind

    We Are [...] is a well organised online repository for all your family history related materials. With a click, you (and your family) can download everything into folders on your hard drive which mirror you website sections. Content is repeated in all relevant folders for ease of access.

    As well as media files, this offline backup contains print ready pdfs of all your articles and trees, so you have the added benefit of being able to create physical copies.

    Simply uploading content onto your We Are [...] site sorts and organises it in an easy to understand structure. No more anxiety about others needing to access your hard drive, locate and comprehend your research.

    Summary of benefits

    The moment family members join your shared family archive, you have already started passing the baton and sharing stewardship of your family history.

    Automatic and very clear organisation of content into folders that will make sense to relatives.

    Family can download directly, removing complication of sharing and distributing hard drive based content.

    Online content can be extracted in print ready PDFs, offering the added security of generating physical copies.


    WeAre.xyz is a commercial web site and charges fees for its services. However, the first 30 days are available free of charge so you get a good chance to try it out and see how you mike it at no charge.

    Fees vary from free (with up to 100 megabytes of storage space) up to $19/95 a month (or $199 a year if paid 12 months in advance) for unlimited storage space. 

    The site also contains a vast family tree spanning most, if not all of the royal families of Europe going back to before the time of William the Conqueror. The tree and site are constantly being refined and updated; the further back you go the more raw the data. You can use the free site all you want at no charge.

    There is a lot more information to absorb at: https://weare.xyz/. You might especially want to read the Frequently-Asked Questions at https://weare.xyz/faqs/


  • 3 Jul 2023 5:21 PM | Anonymous

    I have been predicting for years that microfilm is about to disappear. Major proof of that has just been announced by FamilySearch:

    Due to the rapidly diminishing supply of microfilm, the ability to request copies of microfilms from the Granite Mountain Record Vault to be viewed in the FamilySearch Library will no longer be available after Saturday, July 15, 2023. We are currently working on alternate methods of access for microfilmed records that cannot be released to the public online. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we develop these alternative options.

    If you have any additional questions, you may contact the Family History Library at FHL-SLC-FilmRequests@churchofjesuschrist.org.  

  • 3 Jul 2023 4:53 PM | Anonymous

    The following announcement was written by the organizers of the 2023 International Conference on Jewish Genealogy:  

    Join us for the 2023 International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, where genealogists from around the world will come together for an unforgettable gathering.

    We are excited to meet in person in London, England from Sunday, July 30 to Thursday, August 3, 2023 after a long wait since our last in-person event in 2019.

    We are happy to share that early bird pricing has been extended until July 15th.

    This year’s conference features more than 100 speakers covering virtually every aspect of Jewish genealogy over the course of 200 sessions. Conference track themes are Commonwealth Track, Jewish Communities Worldwide and the Shoah, Migration, Methodology, Technology/Computer Labs, DNA, and Storytelling.

    The Conference will include lunches, computer labs, and networking through Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Birds of a Feather (BOFs) sessions. An Exhibitor Hall and Resource Room will include genealogy experts, mentors, and archivists, and free access to online genealogy databases for a one-stop research experience at the conference site.

    Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to expand your knowledge, connect with fellow genealogists, and contribute to the field of Jewish genealogy. Visit our website at www.iajgs2023.org to find all the conference details and register for the event. We can't wait to see you in London!

  • 3 Jul 2023 4:42 PM | Anonymous

    In honor of July 4th, MyHeritage explored the family history of Steve Doocy, host of Fox & Friends, and surprised him with information about his connection to the first 3 presidents of the United States: George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson.

    You can learn a lot more about Steve Doocy’d ancestry in the MyHeritage Blog at: https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/07/steve-doocy-of-fox-friends-discovers-hes-related-to-the-first-3-presidents-of-the-united-states/ 

    Watch the video segment from the Blog at: https://youtu.be/49oU-YK4JH4

  • 3 Jul 2023 4:38 PM | Anonymous

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

    (+) Using a Cell Phone When Traveling Overseas

    18 Million Records Categories Added to MyHeritage in the First Half of June 2023

    More Than 100 U.S. Leaders — Lawmakers, Presidents, Governors and Justices — Have Slaveholding Ancestors, a Reuters Examination Found

    Catholic News Archive Adds 14 More Years of the Catholic Standard & Times to Its Digital Collection

    “Overcoming Pitfalls” Virtual Genealogy Class slated for July 8

    ‘Map’ of French Canadian Population Uses Genes and Genealogy

    From the Montana Historical Society: Digitized Haynes Photographs Provide World-Wide Access

    Queens and the Bronx New Naturalization Database Now Online

    New Military Records from Washington State

    Hermitage Amsterdam Rebrands as H’ART Museum

    ‘Reconstructing the Black Archive’ Aims to Create a More Complete Picture of History in South Carolina

    To Save Cherokee Language, a Digital Tool Shares Tales of Standing Rock and Big Snake With the Next Generation

    Ancestry Releases New Database Containing Historical Records From Chinese Exclusion Act Era

    SLIG Announces Scholarship Recipients for the 2023-2024 Program Year

    Register Now for London Conference on Jewish Genealogy

    Jerusalem Cinematheque's Israel Film Archive Is Launching a Brand-New Website

    Nearly Two Thirds of Family Historians Are Distressed by What They Find – Should DNA Kits Come With Warnings?

    International African American Museum Visitors Share Their Stories

    Virtual and Augmented Reality Bring Historical Objects to Life

    From TheGenealogist: New Occupational Records Reveal Biographical Details of Those in the Arts - Find Out More About Ancestors Who Were Writers, Artists, Actors and More

    New Partnership Between Findmypast and Library and Archives Canada Reveals Secrets of 1931 Census

    Findmypast Records Release: Discover Duels and Exciting New Records From the US and Canada

    It is the Third Day of the Month: Back Up Your Genealogy Files

    Your Blood Type Can Make You More Likely to Get COVID, New Research Suggests

    RSS Reader Apps to Change How You Get News Feeds and Updates

    Tor Browser Is Very Much Still a Thing and Getting Updates

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