Family History Preservation

press-citizen.com | Local News

2006-09-27T14:49:00.000-05:00

press-citizen.com | Local News: "Researching her family history has made one Iowa City resident eligible to join a number of different -- and unique -- groups."

Family history inspires woman's tale

2006-09-24T21:00:00.000-05:00

Family history inspires woman's tale: "Ladalia Postell said she was so impressed by stories about her white great-grandmother facing up to racism by marrying a black man that she wrote a book about the couple and the people she imagined lived in their home over the years. "

VOA News - Great-Grandma Did What?! Becoming an Explorer of Family History

2006-09-18T11:33:00.000-05:00

VOA News - Great-Grandma Did What?! Becoming an Explorer of Family History: "People study their family history for different reasons. For some, genealogy is important to their religion. This is especially true for Mormons.
Genealogy is also important for membership in some historical or cultural organizations. These include the General Society of Mayflower Descendents and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Candidates for membership may be asked for evidence about when their families came to America.

Other people who get involved in genealogy may want to confirm stories they heard about a family member. Or they may just want to learn more about the strange-looking people in old family pictures."

St. James News - News

2006-09-15T16:22:00.000-05:00

St. James News - News: "The Yates Museum, just outside of Madelia, is a place where Yates family history, Madelia history, and pioneer history all run together. The museum will be open for its 30th anniversary on Saturday, and Sunday, Sept. 16 and 17, during Madelia's Younger Brothers Capture celebration.

The farm itself is a historic place. Ruth told how the spot where the two branches of the Watonwan River come together, which is on their farm, was a meeting place for the Native Americans who lived in the area."

Protecting Your Family History From Disaster

2006-09-06T21:44:00.000-05:00

Protecting Your Family History From Disaster: "People who evacuated in the path of Hurricane Katrina a year ago tried to grab what they could. Despite the loss of their homes and neighborhoods, however, many say that what they regret the most is the loss of their family mementos - pictures, albums, family heirlooms... Do you have a plan in place in case disaster strikes you? "

The Beaumont Enterprise - Preserving history: Southeast Texas scrapbookers tell family stories with style, flair

2006-08-30T17:00:00.000-05:00

The Beaumont Enterprise - Preserving history: Southeast Texas scrapbookers tell family stories with style, flair: "'As a nation, we've dealt with a lot of tragedy and trauma in the past few years. When you preserve your family's history, you provide a sense of continuity and security. That helps people feel grounded and to have a sense of something worthwhile to pass on to the next generation.' "

Stuck Like Glue

2006-08-29T15:04:00.000-05:00

Stuck Like Glue: "Glue.
It seemed like such a good idea at the time...
But as many of us know (thanks in large part to the efforts of scrapbookers) the acids in glue can cause staining and will actually eat away at photographs and other paper items. And to add insult to injury, many of our treasured family pictures are glued onto acidic scrapbook pages.
So. What should you do?"

Exploring their roots: Passing on family history to younger members is vital to Jones descendants

2006-08-14T14:11:00.000-05:00

Exploring their roots: Passing on family history to younger members is vital to Jones descendants: "Catherine Miller knows what it takes to put on a big family reunion -- good food, family history books with old photos, games and fun, T-shirts, goody bags and door prizes.

But the most important part is providing time for relatives - especially younger family members - to learn about each other and their extended family. "

The Daily News, Jacksonville NC

2006-08-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

The Daily News, Jacksonville NC: "We might have a very few things that stay with us in our lives. To have something you can look back at and know that it is part of your family, your heritage; however large or small it may be, that is special, Golden said."

Pasadena Star-News - Family history gets a boost

2006-08-09T15:20:00.000-05:00

Pasadena Star-News - Family history gets a boost: "Now, thanks to 'genetic genealogy,' easily accessible DNA tests can link people not only to immediate family but to descendants as far back as thousands of years.
The latest tool for genealogists has spurred interest in the subject so much that it is currently the No. 1 hobby in the country, said Miriam Benell, one of the founding members of the Whittier Area Genealogical Society (WAGS).
'Sometimes you run into brick walls in your research,' said Benell, 65, who helped found WAGS in 1981. 'DNA can sometimes break through and help establish the link you're looking for.' "

HP Feature Story: Rebuilding lives, restoring memories (April 2006)

2006-07-09T11:56:00.000-05:00

HP Feature Story: Rebuilding lives, restoring memories (April 2006): "In a recent episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in New Orleans, a worldwide HP team of digital imaging experts restored hundreds of damaged photos for families affected by Hurricane Katrina bringing precious memories back home again."

Web generation preserves memories online - Yahoo! News

2006-06-25T17:06:00.000-05:00

Web generation preserves memories online - Yahoo! News: "John Shin refuses to buy a copy of his high school yearbook. Instead, he's turning to the Internet to preserve and share memories of his sophomore year."

HometownAnnapolis.com, Lifestyle - Family digest

2006-06-22T15:54:00.000-05:00

HometownAnnapolis.com, Lifestyle - Family digest: "Designer Wendy Bellissimo has partnered with Pampers and Dreft to create a keepsake that every mom or mom-to-be can appreciate for years to come: a scrapbook to capture treasured moments of the new baby.

The limited edition baby shower scrapbook, 'Sweet Baby Memories,' is available for free while supplies last to the first 5,000 households (limit one per household.)

The scrapbook, designed exclusively for Pampers and Dreft, was created with a baby shower in mind and is a unique gift that includes a special area for experienced moms to share their words of wisdom with the new mom-to-be. In addition, the album features one-of-a-kind designed pages that include Ms. Bellissimo's sweet and delicate creative touches beloved by many moms, so new parents can begin collecting their most cherished memories before, during and after pregnancy to celebrate this exciting moment for years to come.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.sweetbabymemories.com. "

KESQ NewsChannel 3 Palm Springs, CA: Fire destroys Indio home

2006-06-21T14:23:00.000-05:00

It's something you just don't even want to think about but everyone knows that in an instant your home could go up in smoke and flames. If it happened to you (God forbid) would you have safeguards in place to protect your irreplaceable family photos?

We recommend:

Make copies of irreplaceable photo prints or keep your negatives in your safe deposit box

Keep your precious memories in a fire proof safe

Regarding digital photos: Always backup the backup of your backup media

Distribute copies of photo prints, negatives, around family members so that one tragic event won't wipe out your history

KESQ NewsChannel 3 Palm Springs, CA: Fire destroys Indio home: "Only a few family photos & mementos is what's left from this family's bedroom that was completely gutted by fire."

Lowell Sun Online - On a Lowell corner, a long family history

2006-06-19T06:07:00.000-05:00

I am the proud step-parent to two bright and talented young people. And I have been blessed beyond measure with four energetic and adorable grandsons. Never having had children of my own, I sometimes feel a little regret that my family name won't be passed on to another generation. Here's some news about a family that found another way to preserve the family name.
Steve

Lowell Sun Online - On a Lowell corner, a long family history: "In order to keep the memory of his family alive, he established the Alfred H. and Kathryn E. Coburn Park Maintenance Fund to renovate and maintain the plot of land that his family donated to the city of Lowell in 1907. "

DenverPost.com - Family values Juneteenth history

2006-06-18T17:31:00.000-05:00

DenverPost.com - Family values Juneteenth history: "'I want them to understand why we're here. It's more than just buying popcorn,' said Garrett-Mills, who last year took her family on a pilgrimage to Texas to explore her family's history. "

Organizing Your Photos

2006-06-16T16:25:00.000-05:00

Okay, I bet you all think we've dropped off the planet. Not so. I've just been very busy revamping my business and website.

One of the tasks I've undertaken may be of special interest. Susan and I collaborated to create a new ebook called "How To Organize Your Photos". If you've been thinking of getting out those boxes and bags of photos and start getting them into albums, this ebook is made to order for you. We'll show you step by step how to make it not seem like such an insurmountable task.

For a limited time I'm making this ebook available free on my website http://www.applauseav.com

Simply fill out the form upper left on the page and we'll fire it right out to you. Happy organizing!
Steve

Local News - Peterborough Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More

2006-05-12T09:39:00.000-05:00

Every life has a story to tell. Some are short stories and others not all that short ...

Local News - Peterborough Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More: "And the further she looked into the lives of her great-grandparents, the more she realised her family history could make a great novel.

Louise (42), who also writes a column for The Daily Telegraph newspaper, began digging into her past when she was taking a short break in her career to have her first daughter.

She uncovered the fact that her great-grandfather was born to a Romany woman in a Werrington graveyard back in the late 1800s. The plight of this baby, and the women in his traveller family, gave Louise the perfect plot for the novel Stone Cradle, which was published last week.

It tells the remarkable story of the lives of Romany families in the Peterborough area and paints a fascinating picture of the city through the last century."

South Bend Tribune

2006-05-10T09:23:00.000-05:00

It's so important not to overlook items such as this for their value as a potential family heirloom. I'd also suggest additional documentation should be kept such as, in this case, photos of the quilt and stories about those who handcrafted it.

South Bend Tribune: "'I have something to show you,' Decker said.

She handed over a family quilt, each square crafted by the Santellan children and grandchildren for the patriarch and matriarch of the family, Antonio and Anastacia, on Aug. 8, 1991, their 60th anniversary. "

Breadboard carries slice of family history

2006-05-05T00:34:00.000-05:00

Family History is about more than just photos and video. It's about all of the simple things that bring back memories of days gone by. Here's a great example.

Breadboard carries slice of family history: "In the late 1960s or early 1970s, my Mama in southern Alabama gave me a breadboard that had been in the family 60 years or so, making it nearly a century old now.

The board is more than 2 feet long, about 18 inches wide, and has sloping sides that give it the appearance of a shallow racing boat. It has a short handle at each end, and is gnarled and chipped from age. Years ago, it graced the wall of our kitchen, kept handy for our daily bread. Its smooth interior patina shows how much it has been used.

I believe the board originally belonged to either my maternal grandmother or great-aunt, and since theirs was such a tumultuous time for African-Americans, I think they wanted to be sure I moved to the future with a relic from the past. I remember boarding the airplane with the old board stuck under my arms, drawing the attention of a friendly cabin attendant who smiled and said, 'Makes good eating, doesn't it?' And good memories, too. "

Digital Editing Systems for Beginners

2006-05-04T01:24:00.000-05:00

Today I found this webpage by Gary D. Collier with an interesting no nonsense approach to getting started in video editing for your home videos. I hope you find it helpful.

Family Video Co-op: "If you are just getting started in video editing and mainly want to have fun, here's a start on what you need to know about digital editing systems.

If you're using Windows, you need a computer with at least a firewire or USB hookup, and some kind of import/export device, either internal or external. (That way you can import video from a camcorder or a VCR). Also, you need a lot of memory (minimum of 512 mb ram) and a Pentium 4 with 2.5 gh chip (or comparable) with hyperthreading. Also get at least a 40 gig. hard drive or bigger. These are not minimum standards, these are just the ones you want, or better. Your video editing life will be so much better this way. Don't listen to a computer salesmen tell you that hyperthreading isn't needed: s/he may not know anything about video editing on computers. It's very helpful even though you won't see it at work.

Windows XP comes with Windows Movie Maker 2 (WMM2) which allows you to import edit, and export to a VHS tape, CD, or DVD. (If you want to make DVD's, you might also want to get My DVD, a program designed to work with WMM2. Editing is simple and intuitive, and the quality is decent. The special effects (such as transitions) include slow motion -- a very nice touch for your videos with music. And there's much more. If all you want is very basic editing ability, then this is really all you need. You're in business.

If you want a step up from the basic, get Pinnacle Movie Studio 9 and Hollywood FX Pro along with it. This is still not a professional version, but for an amateur wanting to have fun, this software will help you 'cook' and will be all you need. Editing features are great, easy, and fun, and you have more ability to control the settings of your project than with WMM2. Plus, if you watch what you're doing when "

Videotape Your Memoirs

2006-05-03T00:30:00.000-05:00

Videotape Your Memoirs: The Perfect Way to Preserve Your Family's History: Books: Harriet Kinghorn,Suzanne Kita:

"Book Description
If you had your father's or mother's autobiography, wouldn't you consider it to be among your most prized possessions? While you may no longer be able to fill this particular void, you can ensure that your heirs will not suffer the same sort of loss. Everyone of us has a story to tell, yet, for various reasons, writing is so daunting a task that most people never get around to starting their memoirs let alone finishing them. Well, today, thanks to the modern videotaping technology, this barrier to leaving one's memoir is gone. By videotaping your memoirs, you will give your loved ones the chance to see you as a real person during the various stages of your life and to learn about the significant events and changes of your life.

Everyone's life's journey is unique, interesting, and important. Unfortunately, many of us hedge on this. 'Oh, my life has been ordinary,' we say. 'There's nothing special about it.' On the contrary, each person's life is too valuable to go unrecorded or to be forgotten. Your experiences are your own greatest treasure. Leaving your memoirs is a gift that only you can give, one that those close to you will treasure. One that will be cherished and passed down generation to generation.

Remember, if you don't record the stories about the events of your life, no one will, and knowledge of these events will disappear for all time. Videotaping Your Memoirs, The Perfect Way to Preserve Your Family's History, the first book of its kind, is your guide to recording the times of your life. Let your memories lead the way! Learn how to: 'Choose your equipment � Organize your thoughts � Enlist the help of others � "

How To: Summer Photo Fun

2006-05-02T16:07:00.000-05:00

How To: Summer Photo Fun: "You may remember a few years ago seeing pictures made up of thousands of little pictures were all the rage, often sold under the trade name Photomosaic. These clever montages were developed by a student at MIT's Media Lab. Wouldn't it be great if you could create your own photo montage of your favorite vacation picture, made up of your other vacation pictures? Well, now you can by using Frank M. Midgeley's MacOSaiX.

With MacOSaix, you choose the picture you want for your montage and then select image sources to provide the individual tiles that make up your picture. You can choose folders from your own computer, or downloaded from Google Images based on keywords, or choose glyphs (which are different characters and fonts chosen at random from your system). Select how detailed you want your picture to be by choosing the number of tiles you want your montage to have. While it is true that the more tiles the better looking the montage, the downside is that it takes longer. Once these options have been chosen, let MacOSaix go at it. It's a fun process to watch as your image slowly gets made as MacOSaix chooses the best tiles. I found that a combination of local pictures and Google pictures works best.

Now that your vacation is captured all in one picture, what's next? You can e-mail it to your friends, create an iCard with it if you have .Mac, or post it on a Web site. If you don't have .Mac, you can use Steve DeKorte's Postcard to make graphical postcards of your own, even letting you customize the stamp and postmark and type a short message. It's a simple application, but lots of fun if you want to create personalized postcards for holidays or special occasions."

Photographing babies

2006-05-01T21:16:00.000-05:00

Seems to me that when we talk about preserving family history, we tend to focus on the older generations. That is indeed important but don't forget that babies only stay babies for a short time. Preserving their development is as much a part of family history as getting video of the grandparents.

Photographing babies: "Before you know it, your baby will have left the crib for the classroom. Make picture-taking a part of your lifestyle so you can catch all those amazing firsts.

Take pictures frequently
Catch each step of baby's development—the first smile, the first bath, the first tooth, the first step. Babies change so rapidly, make sure you capture all the milestones before they become history. Or show a day in the life of baby. From the morning's waking stretch to the evening's yawns, track your child for one full day. You'll have a series you'll cherish for years to come.

Capture feelings
A smirk, a frown, a wail—capture all the emotions, not just the pretty smiles. Babies are uninhibited and uncensored. Show it in your pictures.

Get close
Fill the camera's viewfinder or LCD display with your subject to create pictures with greater impact. Step in close or use your camera's zoom to emphasize what is important and exclude the rest. Check the manual for your camera's closest focusing distance. "

Family Histories Go World Wide

2006-04-28T18:12:00.000-05:00

Web Hosting Domains CMS - Family Histories Go World Wide: "Every day key history in our communities is slipping away. People pass away, move, lose their memory, records are misplaced plus a whole host of other reasons history is lost. Families can now preserve their histories world-wide on the Internet with the new technologies at NewFuture.

Carlsbad, CA, USA, September 6, 2005 (XTVWorld.Com) -- NewFuture is launching the Family Histories Program. It has three main objectives:

One, to help preserve history in our respective communities.
Two, to act as a fund raiser for the local historical societies.
Three, to spur community involvement and to spread "good old get to know your neighbor" camaraderie.

This is an easy project to get started in your community:

Have the local historical society get their own new website at NewFuture.ws. (The .ws address will allow the historical society to launch their fund raising.)

Through the historical society's newsletter, the local newspaper or better yet both, ask families to get their own websites at (your local historical society's name).ws. The websites are cheap--only ten dollars a month and families get a complete program with their families' own personalized name site, complete hosting and ten email addresses so everyone in the family can have their own with their family name.

Plus, they get an easy but excellent site builder program included. This allows the family to put on the web the family history complete with photos."

New Technology in Photography

2006-04-27T10:14:00.000-05:00

Organizing family photographs in the future will no doubt have it easier if this technology takes hold.

The Coloradoan - www.coloradoan.com - Ft. Collins, CO.: "Soon to emerge from the company's research labs, Kodak said, are software applications that will recognize and remember faces in hopes of making it easier for consumers to find pictures of friends and family.

The company is also working on software that will automatically place images into specific computer folders based on their content, as well as a photo-blogging prototype to make it simpler for groups to share images"

Photography: The Basics

2006-04-27T10:01:00.000-05:00

Today we take it for granted that we can just gather the family together, snap a picture and instantly see the result. Our ancestors didn't have it that easy. Here's an interesting post by Colin Hartness that traces the beginnings of photography.

this is logan camera blog: "Now photography is a big part of our culture, something that everyone recognizes. Most everyone has family photos lying around their house, many people take these photos on a regular basis, preserving precious memories for years to come. Even if you don?t have your own camera, you have seen photos in magazines, used on billboards and advertisements and more. "

Preserving Photos on Wood

2006-04-26T10:39:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting and unusual way to preserve a special photograph.

Wood Art by John Norris - Your Photos: "Saving Memories'
Let us preserve your favorite photo on wood

Send us your photo or document and John will literally hand sculpt your photo into the grain of the wood. It is then preserved in a deep glass like resin finish that will last forever. "

New DVD Teaches Homemakers and Bored Kids How to Edit Memories to a DVD

2006-04-25T18:01:00.000-05:00

New DVD Teaches Homemakers and Bored Kids How to Edit Memories to a DVD: "Idaho Falls, ID (PRWEB) March 31, 2006 -- A new DVD being released by Harmonial Press on April 16th promises to make summer less boring for kids and stay-at-home parents seeking constructive summer fun. The DVD entitled 'The Homemakers Guide to Editing Video Memories' will cost $24.99 and can be purchased at www.harmonialpress.com.

Gary Johnson, a self employed father produced and narrated this video. After two decades of hard earned marketing and computer knowledge in industry, he conceived of this video while filming an infomercial for a nonprofit client and later learning how these same techniques can be duplicated using only a common household personal computer and a camcorder.

After wide spread praise for his instruction in a video editing seminar, he felt confident that this would be a great DVD to target to other parents looking for something constructive for their kids to do this summer. He says, 'I learned that even the great Steven Spielberg began making movies with a family video camera and with today's technology the results can look even more professional.'"

Kids and Family History

2006-04-25T09:43:00.000-05:00

24-7 Family History Circle - Kids and Family History, by Juliana Smith: "To Sum Up When my daughter and I finished our tour of the memorial that day, she thanked me for taking her there. By putting the history with the family history, it really had a much more profound impression on her, and we both enjoyed the time together. And lest you think these ideas won't work, I ran this article by her before publishing it. These projects earned her seal of approval and hopefully will also earn the approval of your family too."

Photo Preservation, Organization & Sharing

2006-04-23T17:29:00.000-05:00

The #1 Online Directory For All Your Photography Needs - Photography Articles: "Photomax is the easy, fast, and free solution to the difficulties most people face with digital photography today. Whether it's preserving your paper prints, uploading your digital photos, organizing, or sharing your pictures, Photomax does it all. With the rapid adoption of digital cameras and the common problems that most customers face, you can help bring satisfaction to countless customers. Photomax makes digital photography easy for consumers and makes building a successful business easy for you. Only Photomax offers all of the following benefits:
Photo Preservation - Photomax helps you preserve your precious prints, slides, negatives, or digital photos!
Photo Organization - with Photomax, you can easily organize your digital photo clutter into online photo albums for everyone to enjoy!
Sharing Made Simple - when you upload your photos to photomax.com, it's easy to invite family or friends to view your online photo albums!
Enjoyment Through Exciting Products - Photomax brings you the opportunity to cherish your memories by placing them in Movie Magic� DVDs, Slideshow DVDs, Photo Books, Photo Cards, specialty products, and of course, prints! "

New Polaroid DVD Recorders

2006-04-21T12:17:00.000-05:00

If you have more than a dozen famiy videos on VHS that you need to have transferred to DVD, and you're not afraid to try new technology, this might be worth a look. Please note, I am not familiar with this product and this is not a personal recommendation.

New Polaroid DVD Recorders Deliver Ease-of-Use and High-Quality Personal Video Creation by Incorporating YesDVD and LSI Logic Technologies @ SYS-CON Media: "'Home movies stored on VHS tape or camcorder cassettes have finite life,' said Greg Ayres, COO of YesVideo. 'Authorities on the subject of magnetic videotape media state that tapes can significantly degrade in as few as fifteen years. Through this relationship with Polaroid and LSI, we are enabling consumers to automatically create a professionally-featured DVD from their home movies that provides a better way to view them, share them, and organize them.'"

iTunes To Sell You Your Home Videos

2006-04-20T14:35:00.000-05:00

Wow, here's a news flash for you! Steve Jobs is getting into the home video business. Read on:

iTunes To Sell You Your Home Videos For $1.99 Each | The Onion - America's Finest News Source: "The OnionSearch News Archives

Jobs shows off the new software with a clip from the Patterson-Jones wedding that he downloaded live.'Ladies and gentlemen, the future of home-video viewing is now,' Apple CEO Steve Jobs said at a media event Tuesday morning. 'As soon as you record that precious footage of your daughter's first steps, you'll be able to buy it right back from iTunes and download it directly to your computer and video iPod.'

Jobs emphasized that the videos will be presented unedited and in their original form, save for a small Apple logo in the lower right-hand corner of the image to protect the company's copyrighted materials from Internet piracy."

Paper Scrapbooking tips from Katie

2006-04-19T01:24:00.000-05:00

Katie the Scrapbook Lady: "Paper Scrapbooking is what I used to think of as a redundant name, but now that I'm mainly a digital scrapbooker, I find myself needing to make the distinction.

The majority of my visitors are paper scrappers, and until 2005, so was I. This refers to scrapbooking with archival quality papers, adhesives and embellishments. There are tons of magazines and websites devoted to this topic so I won't attempt to cover all of that information here. Rather, I will share with you the best tips I learned over the years:"

What secrets lurk in your family’s past?

2006-04-19T00:14:00.000-05:00

Hampstead and Highgate Express: "Genealogy officer Else Churchill is among a team at the society, based in Goswell Road, who help people trace their relatives - aided by a vast resource of historical records.

'If you have the kind of mind that likes crossword puzzles and detective stories and you enjoy the challenge of putting things together, then family history is for you,' says Else, who first researched her own family because she was tired of being asked if she was related to Winston Churchill (she isn't)."

Photo Preservation

2006-04-17T20:05:00.000-05:00

Photo Preservation: "Photographs are wonderful, mysterious things. Yet we have become so accustomed to them that we take them for granted. 1999 marked the 160th anniversary of the public introduction of photography. Prior to 1839 you could not see what distant places truly looked like, or see yourself as you appeared when you were younger. Most people didn't know what the President of the United States really looked like, or the King or Queen of England. Oh sure there were pictures, artists drawings and paintings, but they were all interpretations -- even the most faithful representations were influenced by the style, medium and mind of the artist. Along came the invention of photography, and all that changed overnight.

With every picture you take, you are freezing a moment in time; capturing a view that can never be exactly the same again. You may have a closet full of such frozen moments, or just a few rolls from your last vacation. If you want to be able to enjoy those moments far into the future, you need to take some care in the handling and storage of those images. If you have family photos handed down from earlier generations, you have a responsibility to future generations to pass them on in as good condition as possible.

When taking care of older photographs it helps to know something of the process by which they were made, but it not essential. If you would like to learn more about Identifying and Dating Old Photographs there is considerable information available. In practice, all photos need to be protected from the same dangers. Light is enemy number one. Chemical degradation is another problem, and much less easy to deal with. And of course you must protect them from physical damage, be it the curiosity of children or the fury of storm, flood or fire. "

Preserving Old Documents

2006-04-17T20:00:00.000-05:00

Preserving Old Documents: "The preservation and conservation of family documents and photographs is a topic which interests many who research genealogy. Not only do those sources often provide valuable research information, but most of us have documentsand photos that we know we should take proper care of, but we are not sure how.

In an effort to answer, 'How do I?', I have compiled a list of some of the most frequently asked questions regarding preservation. A few of the questions and answers concern simple conservation procedures. Often when one has an item in need of treatment, the advice offered is take it to a conservator. However, in all honesty, the majority of the time the item is not worth the expense nor the effort of professional treatment, and there are some simple techniques that you can try at home.

PLEASE BE ADVISED that any treatments you perform on an item, you do at your own risk. DO NOT attempt to treat or repair a valuable or very fragile item; in that case, do seek the services of a professional conservator. "

Free Family Tree Maker Software

2006-04-13T11:32:00.000-05:00

I'll be brief and to the point here: Preserving family history is my passion. Free is my favorite price. Enough said.

FREEgiftworld.com - Free Gift!!!: "Features:
Massive toolset for exploring family history
Powerful database organization tools
One-click searching to find leads on your ancestors"

Uncovering Your Ancestry through Family Photographs

2006-04-12T11:47:00.000-05:00

Dick Eastman provides an interesting and informative book review of Maureen Taylor's recently updated Uncovering Your Ancestry Through Family Photographs.

Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter: Uncovering Your Ancestry through Family Photographs: "Uncovering Your Ancestry through Family Photographs is an excellent 'how to' book for anyone who has a collection of old family photographs or for the newcomer who just unearthed the first such photo. It will be very helpful for genealogists, scrapbookers, and history buffs alike. The book is lavishly illustrated with examples of everything discussed in the book. It is easy to read and packed with great information. I'd call that a winner."

Videotaped Eulogy

2006-04-11T15:38:00.000-05:00

Whether you do it yourself, or hire the services of a professional, there are endless opportunities to capture the essence of our loved ones. Here's an article I found with an example of preserving memories after a loved one was gone.

Connecticut News from The Hartford Courant ::: State, National, & World News On courant.com: "Rosenblum had just one regret: that the eulogy wasn't videotaped.

So, her kids, who live in three different states, used a video camera to tape a repeat of the eulogy.

'So now we had video of just that,' Rosenblum said.

But the intergenerational tribute to the family's matriarch didn't stop with the eulogy. The Rosenblums wanted to create a video from Mildred's life, combining their home movies with photographs and music."

The DV Show...Podcasting the Ins and Outs of Digital Video

2006-04-11T12:57:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite podcasts in the video realm. Admittedly, some of the information is geared to professionals, but a great deal of the information is very helpful to the home videographer wanting to capture and preserve family videos. You can even write in to ask questions or offer your own tips. Happy listening!
Steve

The DV Show...Podcasting the Ins and Outs of Digital Video: "The DV show is the only weekly Podcast having more useful information about desktop video editing and production than anywhere else on the Web. Digital video editing, nonlinear editing, streaming media, software releases, tutorials, business tips, technical help, download of the day and news on the latest products to make everything easier. It's where professional and consumer desktop video users go to stay on the cutting edge. "

Beginning in Videography

2006-04-11T11:10:00.000-05:00

Hardware and More - Beginning in Videography: "If you're looking to get into videography and video editing as a hobby, the options can be daunting. Here is a small question and response that may help you get started in this fun and rewarding hobby."

Create Home Movies Effortlessly with Windows Movie Maker 2

2006-04-10T11:16:00.000-05:00

Windows Movie Maker 2 comes bundled with Windows XP. A lot of people either are not aware of this software package, or have not explored the possibilities. If you are even moderately techno savvy, you may well find this a great way to preserve your home videos in a fun to watch digestible form.

Create Home Movies Effortlessly with Windows Movie Maker 2: "Windows Movie Maker 2 makes it easy for just about anyone to make movies on their computer. Just build your storyboard, edit your clips, add music, and you'll have your first movie ready to go!"

When Ethics Get Personal

2006-04-09T13:22:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone. I found this post on Dennis Dunleavy's blog The Big Picture. It's interesting to me that everyone looks at scrapbooking in their own unique way. There were some great comments on this one too. Enjoy.

Dennis Dunleavy: On the Great Scrapbook Pile of History: When Ethics Get Personal: "On the Great Scrapbook Pile of History: When Ethics Get Personal
There is an interesting article about the ethics of editing scrapbook photos in The Salt Lake Tribune this week. The author, Rebecca Walsh, tells the story of manipulating family photographs in various ways to produce a 'much more satisfying' scrapbook for the 'future grandchildren who will look at the book.'

Walsh shares the reaction she received from photojournalists at the newspaper when she told them what she was doing to 'beautify' her personal account of the family's history, including adding and removing people and objects, and staging pictures weeks after an event to produce pictures that were more 'quintessential.'

Walsh notes:
Newspaper photographers recoil at the idea of misrepresenting time and season. And posing their subjects makes them uncomfortable.
'If I'm going to open a scrapbook, I expect it to be an accurate depiction of family history,' says Salt Lake Tribune Photo Editor Scott Sommerdorf. 'You're diminishing the value of your scrapbook as a historical record if you're cutting people out or changing history. You have to decide: Is it art or is it journalism?' "

Creative Memories

2006-04-08T18:40:00.000-05:00

We are very excited because Susan has just become a Creative Memories Consultant. She's a natural for the job and I bet she'll be very successful (Steve's opinion). Here's a little info about Creative Memories:

Creative Memories - our Consultants help you preserve memories in photo scrapbook albums: "Your first car was a monstrous '79 thunderbird. First pet? A goldfish named Frank. First date? It's OK to talk about it. It was all real. It's all part of who you are.

You see, the small stuff doesn't just matter. The small stuff is everything. It's part of your story. And you're the only who can tell it.

Our Consultants help you capture life's little (and big) stories, so they can be retold in photo-safe scrapbook albums. "

Grandparents Day Activity Kit

2006-04-07T01:37:00.000-05:00

Grandparents Day Activity Kit - www.somethingtoremembermeby.org: "The second key to effective intergenerational communication is the use of story -- sharing stories through books, as well as your own life stories. A grandparent can't 'tell' a child very much. But a child will listen to a story. There's an old folktale told in Eastern Europe about Naked Truth walking down the street and people averting their eyes. It's only when Naked Truth dons story's fine attire -- plot to inspire, poignant prose, metaphor, emotion that evokes tears and laughter -- that Naked Truth is invited into people's homes as a welcome guest.

Through sharing your and other stories, you can open the world for grandchildren. To Navajos, a person's worth is determined by the stories and songs they know, because it is by this knowledge that an individual is linked to the history of the entire group. The very word 'story' comes from 'storehouse.' A story is a store or a storehouse. Things are actually stored in a story, and what tends to be stored there is meaning. Through story, children get a sense of what the world means. Explains communication professor Walter R. Fisher:

Stories are more engaging than other forms of discourse in that they come closer to capturing the experience of the world, simultaneously appealing to the various senses, to reason and emotion, to intellect and imagination, and to fact and value."

Interviewing Senior Citizens and Grandparents

2006-04-07T01:28:00.000-05:00

Interviewing Senior Citizens and Grandparents | eThemes | eMINTS: "Title: Interviewing Senior Citizens and Grandparents
Description: These sites include sample questions for interviewing senior citizens, the elderly, and grandparents. There are also sites about Grandparents' Day, and collecting the life stories of others. There are links to eThemes Resource on grandparents, Grandparents Day, and aging."

Choosing a Camcorder

2006-04-06T13:40:00.000-05:00

If you travel or you've got kids or grandkids you need a camcorder. Don't let another precious memory go by without preserving it. They're easy to use and affordable. You'll find Amazon.com to be a great place to find whatever brand you're looking for. Be sure to check out the article below first so you'll know what features to look for.

Choosing a Camcorder: "Today's camcorders are so much better then just a few years ago. If you have an old VHS model that you usually lug over your shoulder to video the family memories, now is the time to pick a model which will be lighter with better quality video and will probably cost less then you paid years ago."

Preserve Your Family History (A Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Oral Histories)

2006-04-04T20:21:00.000-05:00

Preserve Your Family History (A Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Oral Histories): "Do your grandmother and grandfather -- mother and father -- aunts and uncles -- tell stories about the 'good old days?'

Have you wanted to write down those stories to preserve them for generations to come but don't how to go about it?

Guess what? You don't need 'literary talent,' special training or special equipment. All you need to preserve those stories is a list of people to interview, a willingness to listen, a set of questions to ask, a tape recorder, and a copy of Preserve Your Family History (A Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Oral Histories).

Preserve Your Family History provides instructions and tips based on the author's nine years of experience as a newspaper reporter in interviewing people and writing their stories. The book also includes more than 400 questions on 30 different subjects to help you conduct your interviews.

About the Author
LeAnn R. Ralph worked as newspaper reporter for nine years. She is the editor of the Wisconsin Regional Writer, the quarterly publication of the Wisconsin Regional Writers' Assoc. and is the author of the book, Christmas in Dairyland (True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm)."

DVD Transfers

2006-03-28T10:42:00.000-06:00

http://www.applauseav.com/transfer.html:
"Video tapes deteriorate every time they're played and can become completely unplayable if:

they stretch or shrink

the glue binder gets sticky or disintegrates

they break or become creased or crumpled

they are accidentally erased by a strong magnet

they are 'eaten' by a misadjusted or abused VCR

DVD is an excellent medium for storage of your priceless memories. Although not indestructible, a DVD can be played thousands of times without deteriorating its condition or degrading the quality of playback.

Your DVD will deliver playback quality superior to the original media. "

Family flicks! Home movie-making made easy

2006-03-28T00:01:00.000-06:00

Family flicks! Home movie-making made easy: "Family flicks! Home movie-making made easy
Simple suggestions for creating your own films
Published: June 30, 2004
By Catherine Wood
Gone are the days when eyes glaze over at the mere mention of sitting down to watch your latest home movie. Digital video (DV) editing software means you can use your home computer to jazz up and trim hours off that family vacation footage. Best of all, it doesn't take too much equipment or time.

Greg Speiser, a high-school teacher, says he has always enjoyed dabbling with video editing. These days his typical home movie runs the length of one three-minute song and takes about three hours to produce.

'Most of the time I do short vignettes, such as a weekend trip to the family cabin or my wife and son making popcorn,' says the father of a two-and-a-half-year-old boy. They usually watch the movies on their computer, but he has also transferred some to VHS tape and compressed files to e-mail to family and friends."

Secrets of Photographing Your Children and Family

2006-03-25T11:43:00.000-06:00

3/22-3/29: Secrets of Photographing Your Children and Family: "Learn the secrets of photographing your family from an award winning photographer. Jamie Westdal is best known for the thousands of portraits she has taken of Bay Area children and families. While she is technically a master photographer, her unique gift is in creating an environment where people relax enough to let her beautiful pictures happen. Her portraits (featured at numerous shows as well as in countless homes) come out looking like the best candid photo ever taken of the subject.

Whether you have a digital or film camera, a point and shoot or a 35mm camera, Jamie will teach you how to get better pictures of your family. Learn how to use your camera, its settings and how to set up photos that are lit well & beautifully composed.

**This is a two part class. Please bring in five photos that you�ve taken of your family to the first class. The second class will be a critique session to talk about the images you take of your family using these new techniques.

Instructor: Jamie Westdal, a professional photographer with a busy and successful studio at Orinda Theatre Square. Learn more about Jamie Westdal by visiting her website at www.jamiewestdal.com.

Dates/Times: Wednesdays, March 22 AND March 29, 2006 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. "

Family History and Genealogy Records

2006-03-24T02:27:00.000-06:00

FamilySearch.org - Family History and Genealogy Records: "Get Started With Family History
How do I get started?
Helpful research guidance
Why family history?
Forms, maps and guides

Search Genealogy Records & Library
Explore the Family History Library Catalog
Birth, Marriage & Death Vital Records
U.S., British, & Canadian Census Collections

Preserve And Share Your Family History
Add your family tree and discover more about your ancestors
Find people with similar genealogy interests
More helpful web sites "

DearMYRTLE - Family History Project

2006-03-23T00:20:00.000-06:00

DearMYRTLE - Family History Project: "Family History Project
DearREADERs
Yesterday I met with a couple in their early 80s who are interested in doing something on their family history. The husband purchased a tape recorder two weeks ago, and it is nicely kept in its original packaging. I wrote up a few suggestions, realizing that they aren't totally into the heavy research at old courthouses. Something about how they've gotta learn to walk before they can run. Here's what we're planning:
Suggestions for your personal history:
VIDEO PROJECT I - Gather old photos & label them. Video tape the photo identification project, and tell a story about each individual as it occurs to you.
VIDEO PROJECT 2 � Look at heirlooms and artifacts around your home and describe them. (For example, the gator skin.)
TAPE RECORDING � Tape sessions of your personal history, and have a secretarial service transcribe them. Think of this as short stories. Then you don�t have to worry about chronological order. If you have pictures that go with the story, we can insert them as well.
JOURNAL JAR � Chock full of tiny slips of papers with ideas to jog your memory. Have fun! "

Family Legacy Video Cafe: Another opening, another show...

2006-03-22T23:57:00.000-06:00

Family Legacy Video Cafe: Another opening, another show...: "Another opening, another show...
Imagine you're in a theatre, waiting to see the latest hit musical. The house lights dim. Audience chatter ceases. Then, from the orchestra pit, comes the first notes of the overture. During the next few minutes you enjoy a sampling of the musical delights to come. Your excitement builds, your anticipation grows, and, by the time the curtain rises, you're totally focused on the show.

Think of the opening of your family history video as the overture to your program. An effective opening can create a mood, establish a visual style and set the stage for your entire program. Do the job well and you'll rivet your audience's attention to the television screen."

Genealogy & Family History Publishing - AAG International Research - Professional Genealogists & Family Historians

2006-03-21T16:07:00.000-06:00

Genealogy & Family History Publishing - AAG International Research - Professional Genealogists & Family Historians: "GENEALOGY &
FAMILY HISTORY PUBLISHING
Our staff of Professional Genealogists and Family History Publishers specialize in Genealogy and Family History research, development & publication of your family's genealogy and family history. Whether you have spent years accumulating your genealogy and family history information, or you are just beginning to explore your family history, we can provide you with the professsional assistance which you will need to insure that your family history is professionally published.
Let our staff of Professional Genealogists and Family History Publishers assist you with researching and publishing your Genealogy & Family History. No better record of your family history exists than a complete narrative and documentation of your family heritage and traditions from earliest recorded times."

Family Tree - build your Family Tree website

2006-03-20T13:39:00.000-06:00

Family Tree - build your Family Tree website: "It's Free. Build your Family Tree website online. Invite friends and family to view or update your site. Just signup for a free site, add names of your relatives and TribalPages will instantly create your family tree website. Check out a sample website "

Getting Started in Genealogy and Family History

2006-03-15T17:32:00.000-06:00

Getting Started in Genealogy and Family History: "Genealogy is the study of the descents of families and persons from an ancestor or ancestors. This study is undertaken by many people out of interest in their personal and family origins. As a hobby it can become pleasantly addictive, at least to the person concerned. However the study is also undertaken professionally, not just in order to provide a commercial service that can be used by people who are seeking help in researching their origins, but also for very serious legal and financial reasons. Thus there are accepted standards for doing genealogy 'properly' - standards that we recommend you seek to learn and emulate.

The term Family History used to be regarded as synonymous with Genealogy, but now it applies to biographical research into one's ancestors - the aim typically being to produce a well-documented narrative history, of interest to family members and perhaps future generations. Thus the study of family history involves putting flesh on the skeleton that is produced by genealogy - and involves the study of the historical circumstances and geographical situation in which ancestors lived. (The resulting ability to associate historical events with particular generations or individuals of your family can help history come really alive for you.)"

Scrapbooking

2006-03-15T16:15:00.000-06:00

Scrapbooking: "(Via Press Release) - Kim Luty uses scrapbooking to illustrate that it's our differences that make us the same.

'The scrapbooking market has traditionally presented an extremely limited number of products targeting people who are outside what most of us call 'the norm,'' says craft industry professional Kim Luty. A scrapbooking enthusiast as well as a professional, Luty says it was difficult, if not impossible, to 'find images of blended families, unmarried adults, single parents, active seniors, people with curbs and the disabled.'

Even more troubling, she felt, was the lack of diversity within the product lines. She found scrapbook kits with images that were appropriate for people of color, or for people of one religious background or another, but 'They seemed very 'one note' to me,' she says.

To Luty, existing scrapbooking products 'didn't represent the diversity of people and lifestyles that I see all around me every day.' She decided to address the situation and today, with her company Same-Differences, Luty wants to change the world of scrapbooking to look more like her world, 'a magnificent tapestry made up of beautiful, but different threads.'

Luty's products distinguish themselves from other mainstream offerings for croppers with an unusual attitude towards the dissimilarities that define people. 'Same-Differences presents images of a broad spectrum of ages, abilities, colors, enthnicities, and physical attributes,' observes Luty. "

Scrapbooking

2006-03-15T16:09:00.000-06:00

Scrapbooking: "Today, a company called Twig Your Scrapbook eLearning Center, LLC, officially announced its new scrapbook class called 'Twig'.

Twig actually first went live on January 1, 2006 by launching its website where scrapbookers can take live interactive classes online.

The classes offered fulfill all levels of scrapbooking, from beginner classes to intermediate project based classes.

Angie Long, Twig's Owner and President says it's a challenge just to explain the concept of online interactive classes to scrapbookers."

Family Photography Tips News And Information

2006-03-15T10:09:00.000-06:00

Family Photography Tips News And Information: "Find up-to-date news and information about the topic of family photography along with news and information on family portrait poses, beginner photography, and more."

Family History Preservation, Living History, and Family Documentaries on DVD - Family Time Capsules

2006-03-14T12:59:00.000-06:00

Family History Preservation, Living History, and Family Documentaries on DVD - Family Time Capsules: "We believe DVDs are the most versatile format for preserving living family histories because they allow individuals an opportunity to hear and see the expressions and mannerisms of their family members as they tell stories or relate personal experiences, all in high quality digital video. DVDs also allow users to browse their living family histories easily like chapters in a book. "

Welcome to Family History Preservation

2006-03-14T10:54:00.000-06:00

Most of us are pretty much aware of our parents' values. I remember Mom and Dad dragging me to church every Sunday dressed up in freshly polished shoes, dress pants, sport coat and a white shirt and tie. I also remember my parents teaching me to respect my elders, that honesty is always the best policy, and that there's nothing more important than giving and receiving love.

But I know a lot less about my grandparents, who they were, what their lives were like and what was important to them. And I know almost nothing about my great grandparents. Come to think of it I don't even know their names. And you know what, I think that's sad. I think who my ancestors were has a great deal to do with defining who I am. But they didn't share any of that with me... no photo albums, no letters, and not surprisingly ... no audio or video recordings. (Go figure.)

So I decided that I'm going to start a tradition in my family by preserving my family history. My wife Susan is working on the photo albums. And I've taken most of our old VHS video recordings and restored them to DVD. I have other projects in mind too, but more on that later.

Steve Mark
producer of family history videos
Applause Audio Video Services
http://www.applauseav.com

Family History Preservation

press-citizen.com | Local News

Family history inspires woman's tale

VOA News - Great-Grandma Did What?! Becoming an Explorer of Family History

St. James News - News

Protecting Your Family History From Disaster

The Beaumont Enterprise - Preserving history: Southeast Texas scrapbookers tell family stories with style, flair

Stuck Like Glue

Exploring their roots: Passing on family history to younger members is vital to Jones descendants

The Daily News, Jacksonville NC

Pasadena Star-News - Family history gets a boost

HP Feature Story: Rebuilding lives, restoring memories (April 2006)

Web generation preserves memories online - Yahoo! News

HometownAnnapolis.com, Lifestyle - Family digest

KESQ NewsChannel 3 Palm Springs, CA: Fire destroys Indio home

Lowell Sun Online - On a Lowell corner, a long family history

DenverPost.com - Family values Juneteenth history

Organizing Your Photos

Local News - Peterborough Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More

South Bend Tribune

Top 7 video editing software programs for beginners

Breadboard carries slice of family history

Digital Editing Systems for Beginners

Videotape Your Memoirs

How To: Summer Photo Fun

Photographing babies

Family Histories Go World Wide

New Technology in Photography

Photography: The Basics

Preserving Photos on Wood

New DVD Teaches Homemakers and Bored Kids How to Edit Memories to a DVD

Kids and Family History

Photo Preservation, Organization & Sharing

New Polaroid DVD Recorders

iTunes To Sell You Your Home Videos

Paper Scrapbooking tips from Katie

What secrets lurk in your family’s past?

Photo Preservation

Preserving Old Documents

Free Family Tree Maker Software

Uncovering Your Ancestry through Family Photographs

Videotaped Eulogy

The DV Show...Podcasting the Ins and Outs of Digital Video

Beginning in Videography

Create Home Movies Effortlessly with Windows Movie Maker 2

When Ethics Get Personal

Creative Memories

Grandparents Day Activity Kit

Interviewing Senior Citizens and Grandparents

Choosing a Camcorder

Preserve Your Family History (A Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Oral Histories)

DVD Transfers

Family flicks! Home movie-making made easy

Secrets of Photographing Your Children and Family

Family History and Genealogy Records

DearMYRTLE - Family History Project

Family Legacy Video Cafe: Another opening, another show...

Genealogy & Family History Publishing - AAG International Research - Professional Genealogists & Family Historians

Family Tree - build your Family Tree website

Getting Started in Genealogy and Family History

Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking

Family Photography Tips News And Information

Family History Preservation, Living History, and Family Documentaries on DVD - Family Time Capsules

Welcome to Family History Preservation