#1  Diane Haddad's Family Tree Magazine Genealogy Insider Blog New and Next at Ancestry.com

#2. From Paper (or Film) to the Web

#3  Online Searching: It's Complicated

#4 Inside Ancestry.comâs Top-Secret Data Center 

#5 Diane reveals the secret identity of the mysterious Ancestry Genealogy Blogger.  Or does she?  Youâll have to check that one out for yourself. 

In fact if youâre an Ancestry user or are considering a subscription I highly recommend Dianeâs blog series at the Genealogy Insider. 

The latest edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage & Culture has been published over at Small-leaved Shamrock http://www.small-leavedshamrock.blogspot.com 

The next edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture will be a St. Patrick's Day "virtual parade" online. Anyone who would like to particiate is welcome, whether or not they have Irish roots.  For more information on how to participate or to check out the latest carnival head over to http://www.irishheritagecarnival.blogspot.com.

Recent Genealogy Gems News Blog postings:

I wrapped up my ten genealogy strategies for the new year on Jan 21, 2009 

I also posted about the new American version of the television show Who Do You Think You Are?  Set your recorders to Monday nights at 8PM on NBC starting April 20. 

Subscribe for free to the Genealogy Gems News Blog 

There are some milestones going on these days as well.  The Library of Congress just crossed the 25,000 mark for books digitized.  A good article appeared about that on the Voice of America website: Scanning Project Digitizes 25,000 US Library of Congress Book

Whatâs new at Lisaâs Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast. Subscribe to the show for free in iTunes

On January 16, 2009 we started in on Online Family Trees.  Read more  

The more I explore them the more I become convinced that they are a powerful research tool that I predict in the next few years will become an absolute necessity for family historians. 

Episode 12: I you a comprehensive overview of online family trees.  And then we go straight to the source with an in depth interview with Kenny Freestone, Senior Product Manager at Ancestry.com whoâs primary responsibility is their online family tree tool. 

Episode 13:  We continue exploring our tree options with Scott Huskey of Photoloom.com.  They offer an incredible online visual approach to trees and research that centers around your own personal family photos.  Then I talk to Sasha Masick of GeneTree, who spices up their family tree tool with a DNA testing component. 

Episode 14:  Youâve got to tune in to hear how to go from one name and birth year, to three generations of family in 1 hour or less.  Itâs absolutely possibly, and Iâll show you how in this episode.  Then as we finish up with online family trees, I thought it was important to go over the techniques for following up on all those great connections you can make by posting your family tree online.  Weâll get started in Episode 14 talking about how to locate telephone numbers online, the prep work you need to do before you start to dial, breaking the ice and conducting the interview. 

Then weâll finish up in Episode 15 on Feb 6 with what we as the interviewer should be doing during the call,  what to do if No Answers, weâll cover the "Must Askâ Questions, and how to wrap up the call.  
 

NEW RECORDS ONLINE

The folks over at the 1911census.co.uk officially launched their website this month.  And they have added many of the counties that were unavailable during beta testing including Lancashire, Essex, Kent, Yorkshire (West Riding), Nottinghamshire and Herefordshire so you can now access those British census records from 1911.

World Vital Records recently added 20 newspaper databases from Mexico and Canada  ranging from 1833-1994:

Agricultor Mexicano y Hogar (Ciudad JuÃÃrez, Chihuahua, Mexico)
Apuntes Viejos (General, , Mexico)
Arte (Mocorito, Sinaloa, Mexico)
British Columbian (New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada)
Bytown Gazette (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Cambridge Daily Reporter (Cambridge(Galt, Hespeler, Preston), Ontario, Canada)
Canada Gazette (Ottawa, Federal Government Publications, Canada)
Canadian Correspondent (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Charlottetown Examiner (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada)
Correo Espanol (General, Mexico)
Correspondent and Advocate (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Daily Mirror (London, England - London Area, UK)
Diario del Hogar (Mexico D.F., Mexico)
Drumheller Mail (Drumheller, Alberta, Canada)
Edmonton Bulletin (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
Educador Practico Ilustrado (Mexico D.F., Mexico)
Fin de Siglo (General, Mexico)
Grand River Sachem (Caledonia, Ontario, Canada)
Halifax British Colonist (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
Halifax Citizen (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)

MAILBOX:
Lisa answers an email from Rollei in Australia about photo preservation and Maria asks for advice on how to inquire about delicate subjects with an elderly relative.

Subscribe to GENEALOGY GEMS PREMIUM today and save 20% by using this coupon code:  SAVE20

FAMILY HISTORY: Genealogy Made Easy

GEM: Profile America
Feb 3:  Income Tax History

Gem:  Family History Valentine
Review Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 20

The gem was called Christmas in July and I showed you how to make cover a store bought candy bar with a home made Christmas Label that would evoke genealogical memories.  The candy bar made a great stocking stuffer.  Well, Iâm up for chocolate any time of year, and Valentines day is a perfect time I think to take a new twist on that idea. 

printable publishing template

This time we have a new theme to inspire us - the theme of Valentines Day and love.  Iâm guessing thereâs a romantic couple or two in your family tree.  Perhaps your bar could pay tribute to one of them or to a few couples.   

You could give these candy bars celebrating the love of the past to your family of today.  Your kids and their spouses, grandkids, you get the idea.  Think how surprised and thrilled an elderly aunt or uncle would be to be remembered on Valentines day with a small package in the mail containing a family history candy bar. 

 
Valentines my grandmother received in school

If your feeling a little more grand than a simple candy bar, consider buying a heart shaped box of candy, tracing the lid, and creating a label that could cover the entire label with a custom message of ancestral love.  Use heavy weight or photo paper and attach it with a light coat of rubber cement or use double sided tape.  If the box is just a bit bigger than a piece of printer paper you could put the digital file you create on your computer of the label onto a flash drive and take it into your local copy store to print out in the correct size.

Here again is your chance to share some of your familyâs heritage with your family today.  Kindle their interest in the familyâs history while showing them that you care with a sweet memories candy bar or valentine box.

If you do create some sweet memory candy bars this Valentineâs day be sure and snap a photo and email it to me.    I really enjoy seeing what you guys come up with!

GEM:  Profile America
Feb 5:  Bubble Gum Day

Chewing Gum History

REGISTER TODAY FOR CONFERENCE

Iâll be there teaching 4 classes, as well as conducting lots of new video interviews for Family History Expos TV channel on YouTube. 

And of course be sure and stop by the Genealogy Gems Booth in the Exhibit Hall and say Hi!  If youâd like more information or youâd like to register for the 2 day conference go to www.familyhistoryexpos.com