The following is a press release written by the folks at Findmypast:

• Delve into your family’s stories with free access to records and newspapers on Findmypast between 6-10 June*

• Discover the remarkable actions of men and women at home and overseas in the largest collection of historical newspapers online

• Explore your ancestors’ military service and the lives they lived with records you won’t find anywhere else

• Preserve your family’s wartime stories for the next generation in a family tree on Findmypast
  

*Excludes 1921 Census and Tree Search

Between 6-10 June, Family history website, Findmypast, is making millions of its family history records free to access* to mark the 80^th anniversary of D-Day, so you can uncover and honor their stories and sacrifices. 

Explore your wartime ancestor’s story with the largest collection of British and Irish newspapers online, digitised in partnership with the British Library. 

Among the pages, you might find details of bravery or moving tributes to the fallen – rich details that can help you feel closer to your ancestors. You can also uncover the wider story of D-Day as it happened in the newspaper reports or look more closely at the impact of the war on your own community. Make sure to clip, save, and share articles of interest using the new Collections feature on Findmypast.

Findmypast’s family history records can paint a vivid picture of what your ancestor was doing during wartime. They may have been a prisoner of war, helped on the home front, or worked as a Red Cross volunteer. Discover their whereabouts on the eve of war in the 1939 Register and delve into the largest collection of British Army records anywhere online, including regimental records and the British in India collection, which runs right up to 1947.

Uncover those all-important life events in the most comprehensive collection of British parish records online, and check Findmypast’s vibrant Photo Collection for a glimpse into life during wartime.

Preserve your findings with Findmypast’s online family tree builder and share their legacy with family and friends. 

It’s also a perfect time to explore your own family archive for letters, diaries or photographs. Keep your ancestors’ memories alive by sharing their stories with your loved ones, and share your findings online using the hashtag #FindMyFamilyHero.

Jen Baldwin, Research Specialist at Findmypast said: "80 years on from D-Day and the stories of service and sacrifice remain extremely poignant and relevant to us today. We invite everyone to discover their own family’s wartime stories with free access to Findmypast’s records this weekend and preserve them for future generations.”

*Records on Findmypast (apart from the 1921 Census of England and Wales and Tree Search) will be free to access for all signed-in users from 10am GMT Thursday 6 June, until 10am GMT Monday 10 June 2024.

The following is a press release written by the folks at Ringling College:

Ringling College of Art and Design has announced the launch of a groundbreaking new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Undergraduate Certificate program, the first of its kind at an art and design college. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complex impact of AI on creative industries of all kinds.

The rise of AI has brought both opportunities and challenges to the world, and to the world of art and design. While AI tools can serve as powerful creative tools, the technology has been developed using methods that raise serious moral and legal concerns. Recognizing the need to address these issues head-on, Ringling College has designed a program that prepares students for careers merging AI with art, design, and creativity in a responsible and ethical manner.

“AI is scary, exciting, revolutionary, and sometimes feels like an existential threat to creators of all kinds. At Ringling College, we are committed to innovation and providing our students with the tools they need to thrive in constantly evolving creative professions,” said Rick Dakan, AI Coordinator at Ringling College. “The AI Undergraduate Certificate program is a proactive response to the rapid technological changes reshaping the creative landscape. We want our students to be equipped to shape the future of art with AI, not simply be shaped by it.”

The certificate program is available as an option to all Ringling College students pursuing studies in 13 different majors. The program will provide real-world applications. The three-course program covers fundamental AI and machine learning principles, their application in creative contexts, and the ethical, societal, and cultural implications of AI in art and design. Through hands-on experience with AI tools and a focus on responsible integration of AI in creative practices, students will gain the skills and knowledge needed to tackle real-world challenges and succeed in AI-driven creative industries.

“Creativity is the heart of the future,” said Dr. Larry R. Thompson, president of Ringling College. “All that creativity encompasses—imagination, design thinking, emotional intelligence, and a holistic perspective—will fuel our future economy, and society. AI is here, and here to stay. Therefore, it’s our responsibility as an institution of higher and creative learning to teach our students how to responsibly leverage this new tool to their advantage; much in the same way  as we did several years ago when the computer was introduced to art and design and became the new paintbrush.”

Upon completion of the program, students will have not only a certificate but also a portfolio showcasing their ability to innovatively apply AI in their creative work. This program will add another credential to their resume, positioning these students as competitive candidates in the job market. As the creative world continues to evolve, Ringling College remains dedicated to providing its students with the latest education and resources necessary to thrive.

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest Ringling College news in your inbox.

Baseball Digest, one of the world’s longest-running baseball magazines, has partnered with Jellyfish to create an 800+ edition digital archive, bringing nearly a century of baseball history to enthusiasts worldwide.

Jellyfish says the new fully-searchable digital archive features every issue of Baseball Digest dating back to its inaugural publication in 1942. This resource offers fans, researchers, and historians seamless access to decades of content, preserving the rich heritage of baseball for generations to come.

Subscribers to Baseball Digest can enjoy complimentary access thanks to the integration with the Darwin CX subscription system, added Jellyfish. New subscribers and those renewing their subscriptions can explore the archive at digital.baseballdigest.com.

According to Jellyfish, the launch has been met with overwhelming positive feedback, celebrating the archive's user-friendly design and the unprecedented access it provides to a comprehensive repository of baseball history. As Baseball Digest continues to publish new issues, the archive will be regularly updated, and will be a continually growing resource.

Patrick Knight, Jellyfish head of product said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Baseball Digest on this fantastic project which honour’s the magazine’s legacy while providing a unique resource for baseball fans everywhere.”

Jake Zimmerman, general manager of Baseball Digest said: “Over the years, Baseball Digest worked with various partners for digital distribution. Because we were disappointed, we ended up building our own system. Then we found Jellyfish. They have been superior to everyone we've used in pricing, support, publishing tools, security, on-boarding, communications, and passion. We couldn't be happier and highly recommend them.”

You can find out more about Jellyfish in our Publishing Services Directory.

The following is a press release written by the folks at TheGenealogist:

To mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, The Genealogist adds Enlistment Records to their Free Record Collections

In time to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day on 6th June, TheGenealogist has added United States WWII Army Enlistment Records (1938-1946) to its ever-growing Free Records Collection. In these records, we can find the names and particulars of American soldiers who joined up to serve their country and fight for freedom.

These records provide detailed information about enlistment dates, service branches, ranks, and more about US soldiers from this time.

While Operation Overlord, the code name for the Battle of Normandy, was an Allied operation consisting of British, Canadian and other Allied nations' troops, the Americans provided the bulk of the soldiers for the Liberation of Europe on 6 June 1945, and so this new record set will have many of the young men who fought in D-Day listed.

[American assault troops in a landing craft approaching Omaha Beach, Normandy, France]

This new addition brings the total number of Free Records you can access on The Genealogist to over 10.9 Million. There’s a rich collection for researchers to sink their teeth into, with records dating back to 1086!

Simply register for free at The Genealogist to access:

• The 1086 Domesday Records

• The Image Archive - Thousands of historic photos and illustrations

• US WW2 Enlistment Records

• UK Rolls of Honour

• Dam Busters Records

• War Memorials

• Tree View - A free family tree builder

You can research even further by registering for a free First Steps Subscription, giving you 3 months’ access to Births, Marriages, Deaths and the 1891 to 1911 census for England and Wales. Find out more at https://thegenealogist.co.uk/firststeps

Read TheGenealogist’s feature article where we explore the fate of four brothers whose enlistments can be found in these newly released records: D-Day – Operation Neptune 6 June 1944 and the real Private Ryanhttps://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2024/d-day--operation-neptune-6-june-1944-7495/

Lifetime Discount Offer!

For a limited time, you can claim a Diamond Subscription to The Genealogist for just £99.95, a saving of £40! Plus, you’ll also get a free year’s subscription to Discover Your Ancestors Online Magazine (Worth £24.99)

To find out more and claim the offer, visit https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBDDY624

This offer comes with a Lifetime Discount, meaning you’ll pay the same discounted price every time your subscription renews.

This offer expires on 31st July 2024.

About TheGenealogist

TheGenealogist is an award-winning online family history website, who put a wealth of information at the fingertips of family historians. Their approach is to bring hard to use physical records to life online with easy to use interfaces such as their Tithe and newly released Lloyd George Domesday collections. 

TheGenealogist’s innovative SmartSearch technology links records together to help you find your ancestors more easily. TheGenealogist is one of the leading providers of online family history records. Along with the standard Birth, Marriage, Death and Census records, they also have significant collections of Parish and Nonconformist records, PCC Will Records, Irish Records, Military records, Occupations, Newspaper record collections amongst many others.

A Florida man has been indicted in New York for his involvement in the assassination of his uncle, as a result of the utilization of a public genealogy database. According to Fox News, Rosario Prestigiacomo, 64, was discovered in his Queens residence in 2009 stabbed 16 times and assaulted with a shovel before passing away.

DNA on a fork discarded by his nephew, Anthony Scalici, resulted in his apprehension in February of this year, solving the case.

Queens District Attorney Melidan Katz announced in a press release that the grand jury indicted and arraigned Scalici, 41, on a second-degree murder charge on Thursday. ABC 7 has reported that this will be the first homicide suspect to be identified and apprehended in New York City through the use of the public genealogy database.

District Attorney Melinda Katz stated, "I established a Cold Case Unit to bring closure to grieving families and pursue justice on behalf of victims. The successful partnership between my office and the NYPD Cold Case Squad is exemplified by the perseverance and determination of the investigators in this, and every, cold case." "Defendants should be unable to evade justice, regardless of the passage of time."

Scalici could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. He is scheduled to appear in court again in July.

The following was written by GenWebinars:

• Frustrated by prerecorded webinars where you can’t ask questions or interact with the speaker?
• Discouraged by “live” webinars with very a limited time to ask your questions and no time for follow-ups?
• Limited with no time to commit to expensive multi-day courses or institutes?
• Dissatisfied when there isn’t enough time to cover a topic in the detail needed?
• Disappointed when you can’t chat one-on-one after a program as with in-person events, and have to publicly type your questions via chat?
• Annoyed when you can’t find the meeting link or handout?
• Displeased that the webinar you want is only scheduled once at an inconvenient time?

GenWebinars combines the convenience of individual genealogy webinars with the personal interaction and in-depth content of online courses and institutes.  Each session is as long as needed to explain a topic in detail, and is followed by an interactive question/discussion period allowing everyone to contribute.  There are no subscriptions or long term commitments, just sign up for only what you want, even if it’s part of a series.  Each webinar is scheduled multiple times to help insure everyone can attend, and accessing everything associated with a webinar such as the meeting link, handouts, and surveys is a breeze.

GenWebinars is owned, operated, and taught by Diane L. Richard and David M. McCorkle, award winning professional genealogists with over 30 years combined lecture experience.

For more information, please see Frequently Asked Questions or contact us at info@genwebinars.com.

You can read more, including a list of scheduled upcoming webinars, at: https://genwebinars.com/.

OSU Institute of Technology is proud to introduce the newly upgraded ContentDM platform, a digital archive system offering access to historical treasures for all. Gone are the days of scouring dusty shelves— with the improved ContentDM, the historical archives of OSUIT are now available at your fingertips. Users can now take a journey through time from the comforts of their own screens.

Clinton Gerkin, OSUIT library archivist and the driving force behind this project, has led us on a mission. He shares, “Our goal is simple: to preserve every facet of our institution’s history on this platform. The process of adding thousands of items has been extensive but immensely rewarding.”

Over 3,000 scanned photographs are already available. This journey wasn’t without its challenges, but as Gerkin reflects, “Navigating ContentDM was like solving a puzzle. But with each obstacle, we grew stronger, committed to preserving OSUIT’s legacy.”

Content DM is not just about photographs. It has the capacity to host a diverse range of media types, from audio to readable content, digitized books and yearbooks to audio recordings and graduation programs.

Enhanced search capabilities and visually appealing content are just the tip of the iceberg. Backed by the Oklahoma State University System, ContentDM opens doors to greater accessibility and usability, inviting users to dive deep into OSUIT’s history.

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Genealogical Society:

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) has released two, new books as part of its Research in the States series. The latest volumes are Research in Hawaii by Darcie Hind Posz, CG, FASG, and Research in Maine, by Eva Holmes, CG, AG. The books are available in the NGS store in both PDF and print versions. 

Both guidebooks provide detailed information on a wealth of resources including business, census, and court records; institutional, military, and vital records; directories and newspapers; and advice for researching female ancestors. The authors include the website address, physical address, and telephone number for each resource.

In Research in Hawaii, the author provides details for research distinct to Hawaii such as its rich oral genealogies. Posz includes information covering African American, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, Polynesian, and Portuguese ethnic records. The section on archives, libraries, and societies includes those centrally located in Honolulu and on each island with resources specific to ethnicity, occupation, region, and time period. Posz discusses unique resources that are essential to many family historians such as the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association Plantation Archives, which offers maps of plantations and camps where workers resided. Hawaiian land records for this state-land-state are thoroughly explained. The author also includes a glossary of Hawaiian words found in vital records. 

Research in Maine offers readers a comprehensive guide of where and how to find records of ancestors who lived in Maine. During the mid-to-late nineteenth century, Maine led the United States in shipbuilding. Its ships engaged in international trade stretching across both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Holmes provides family historians with a detailed guide on researching maritime records from diaries, ledgers, and logbooks in local cities and towns as well as out-of-state repositories. She also includes valuable information on cemetery records such as at the Maine Old Cemetery Association with information on over 7,100 cemeteries. The section on ethnic records covers African American, French, French-Canadian, German, Italian, Jewish, and Native Americans as well as Irish, Scots, and Scots-Irish.

The Research in the States series is edited by Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FUGA, FVGS. This series now covers research in thirty-three states, the District of Columbia, and the tribal records of Oklahoma’s American Indians. Purchase the newest books, Research in Hawaii and Research in Maine, in the NGS online store.

The following is a press release from the Polk County Public Library:

We have just added issues of the Tryon Daily Bulletin from 1951-1953, 1980-1982, 1990-1992. These join the issues already on our site from 1928-1951. Contributed by the Polk County Public Library, the issues from the 50s were added from microfilm. In addition, the Library’s staff scanned print issues from the 80s and 90s to add to our site. “The World’s Smallest DAILY Newspaper” is a true example of a local paper, with contents created locally and confined mostly to county or regional news.

Published 5 days per week, the Bulletin from these different time periods have things in common! On the left side of every front page is the column “Curb Reporter.” Starting with the day’s weather, it has brief snippets of local to international news. 

In all decades, you’ll find classified ads, committee and government meeting reports, and personal notes and mentions that have all but dropped off of newspapers today.

View all issues of the Tryon Daily Bulletin on the newspaper’s home page.

The following is a press release written by the folks at the Newark Public Library:

The Newark Public Library, in partnership with Advantage Archives, proudly announces free access to nearly 1.2 million pages of historical newspapers from Newark, New Jersey.

The Newark History Archives (https://newark.historyarchives.online) features the Newark Evening News from 1883 to 1971, providing a rich resource for educators, researchers, and the general public. Encapsulating nearly a century of journalism, the archive provides a practical means to explore how Newark’s community, economy, and politics have shifted over the years while providing a local perspective on national and international historical events.

Founded in 1883, the Newark Evening News served as Newark’s paper of record until its closure in 1972. It had bureaus in Montclair, Elizabeth, Metuchen, Morristown, Plainfield, Kearny, and Belmar, as well as bureaus in the New Jersey State House in Trenton and in Washington, DC. Throughout its nearly 90-year run, it was the primary source of news and information for residents of Newark and the broader New Jersey area. The newspaper was renowned for its comprehensive coverage, detailed reporting, and a broad spectrum of editorial content, which included everything from local news and statewide political affairs to cultural events and community issues, capturing the daily happenings and the city’s evolving story.

The digital reproductions of the Newark Evening News found in the online archive are indexed by date, and the collection is keyword-searchable. The intuitive platform allows users to explore, discover, and gain insights into the community’s development through the narratives of its residents, the significant events that have shaped its trajectory, and the historical forces that have influenced its present circumstances.

Beth Zak-Cohen from the Charles F. Cummings New Jersey Information Center was instrumental in bringing this project to life. She shares her enthusiasm: “We love the website; it’s so much easier to search than our previous system or than microfilm, and personally, I can’t stop looking things up just for fun!”

The project was made possible through support from Senator Cory Booker’s office and funding from a federal grant. It highlights the significant benefit of collaboration among libraries, government entities, and private organizations in unlocking our shared cultural heritage. It also showcases how leveraging technology can democratize access to historical knowledge, ensuring that this connection to the community’s past is inclusive, not just for those who can physically visit a library or afford a subscription to a pay-for-access service.

Jeffrey Kiley, Founder of Advantage Archives, says that partnerships of this nature are at the core of Advantage’s mission and vision: “We are very proud of our partnership with the Newark Public Library, and it is a privilege to be an active participant in their efforts to make the Newark Evening News more accessible. Our guiding principles center around building strong community-based partnerships to provide free online access to local history, and the library’s vision for this project aligned perfectly with our stated mission.”

Kiley’s business partner Chris Donohue explains, “We know that all good partnerships are reciprocal, so our role is to shoulder all of the ongoing costs associated with the platform, including storage, hosting, development, infrastructure, support, and maintenance of the digital archives to ensure that this content is always available and free to access. The archives do not require a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or any other ongoing costs or expenses to the institution or members of the Newark community.”

The Newark History Archive will be invaluable for researchers, genealogists, and historians. The easy-to-use platform will also be a powerful tool for educators, allowing them to integrate local primary sources into their lesson plans.

To access the Newark Public Library’s digital collection, visit the Newark History Archives

About the Newark Public Library:

Founded in 1889, the Newark Public Library has long been a cornerstone of community engagement, education, and historical preservation. The Charles F. Cummings New Jersey Information Center, located within the library, is dedicated to collecting and preserving materials related to Newark and New Jersey’s rich history.

About Advantage Archives: 

Advantage Archives forges strong, community-based partnerships with institutions across the United States with a shared goal of providing free online access to local history. These partnerships ensure that local primary sources are always available to provide a direct account of history from the perspectives of those who experienced it. For more information about creating a Community History Archive, please contact Advantage Archives at info@advantagearchives.com.