RootsWeb Review: RootsWeb's Weekly E-zine 19 December 2007, Vol. 10, No. 51 (c) 1998-2007 RootsWeb.com, Inc. http://www.rootsweb.com/ * * * Having trouble reading this newsletter? The online version is available at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/review/2007/1219.txt * * * ROOTSWEB HELPDESK: Check here for site maintenance announcements: http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/ * * * ROOTSWEB NEWSROOM: Check here for the latest RootsWeb news: http://blogs.rootsweb.com/newsroom/ * * * ROOTSWEB STORE: Check here for the latest in genealogy books, software, photos, and more: http://www.therootswebstore.com/ * * * ROOTSWEB REVIEW ARCHIVES: Check here for previous editions: http://e-zine.rootsweb.com/ ============================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Editor's Desk: News and Notes 1a. See You in Two Weeks 1b. Washington State Archive's Photograph Collections 1c. ISFHWE Annual "Excellence in Writing" Competition for Genealogists 2. Using RootsWeb: The New HelpDesk Revisited 3. Connecting Through RootsWeb: Searching for Stanleys 4. Bottomless Mailbag: A Cemetery Story "Un-Du" That Sticky Problem Sticky Solutions 5. New at RootsWeb 5a. New User-contributed Databases 5b. New/Updated Freepages and Homepages by Individuals 5c. New/Updated Freepages and Homepages by Counties, States, and Genealogical/Historical Societies 5d. New Mailing Lists 6. Humor/Humour 7. Subscriptions, Submissions, Advertising, Reprints ============================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Editor's Desk: News and Notes 1a. See You in Two Weeks Because of the holidays, the RootsWeb Review will not be appearing next week. Regular issues will start up again on Wednesday, 2 January 2008. 1b. Washington State Archive's Photograph Collections The Washington State Archive's photograph collections are now available online at the Washington State Digital Archives. These records contain nearly 3,000 photographs from various collections, dating from 1860-2001. Images include pictures of Washington State officials, historic photos of state buildings and grounds, and promotional photos of Washington scenery from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov 1c. ISFHWE Annual "Excellence in Writing" Competition for Genealogists The International Society of Family History Writers and Editors is sponsoring its annual "Excellence in Writing" competition to recognize talented genealogy writers. The contest has four categories: Category I -- Newspaper Columns Category II -- Magazine/Journal/Web Articles Category III -- Genealogy Research Story. This category is for original, unpublished articles between 1,000 and 3,000 words. The articles should tell the story of genealogical research using one of these topics: "The Search for Ancestors," "Sorting Out the Entangled Roots of . . . ," or "Encounters with a Family Skeleton." Category IV -- Want-to-be Writer/Columnist. Entrants in this category aspire to be writers or columnists in the field of genealogy or family or local history. The submissions in this category are original and unpublished, between 500 and 1,000 words. Entries must be received by the coordinator no later than 15 February 2008. Send entries (along with your check for the appropriate entry fee(s) and membership dues) to: Yolanda Campbell Lifter ISFHWE Competition Coordinator 1920 Eva Lane Malabar, FL 32950-3219 Rules, information, and entry forms are available at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~cgc/contest.htm. Address further questions to Yolanda Campbell Lifter at ylifter@ohiofamilyresearch.com. 2. Using RootsWeb: The New HelpDesk Revisited By Jana Lloyd Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com One month ago, we announced that a new HelpDesk was coming to RootsWeb. Although the page was not released as early as anticipated, it has now been active for about three weeks, with lots of success. This new HelpDesk contains updated articles on everything from how to post a message on a message board to what RSL stands for. (Don't know? Read the HelpDesk article: http://rootsweb.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/rootsweb.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3138.) New articles are being updated and added all the time. I talked with some members of the HelpDesk team this week and they are excited about the new HelpDesk. They can view a history of every question an individual user has asked. They can also keep track of other statistics, such as how many people are opening and viewing articles, and which ones are most visited. "We don't know for sure," one member of the HelpDesk team told me, "because we couldn't keep accurate statistics using the old system. But, our best guess is that the new, updated HelpDesk has reduced the number of questions we are getting by about 25 percent." Here are a few tips to keep in mind when using the new HelpDesk: 1. Right now, you can only get to the new HelpDesk by clicking on the "Help" tab at the top of the RootsWeb homepage: http://rootsweb.custhelp.com. If you click on the "FAQs and Help-Related Resources" link under the "Help" heading further down on the homepage, you will be taken to the old HelpDesk page. 2. The first time you use the new HelpDesk you will be asked to register. You will only have to register once. Registering helps the staff keep track of your questions and question history. 3. If you want to send a link to a Help article in an e-mail or add it to a document, you could copy and paste the entire URL; however, this can be quite lengthy. For example, the full URL for the RSL article I cited above is this: http://rootsweb.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/rootsweb.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_sid=P4-FZsTi&p_lva=&p_li=&p_faqid=3138&p_created=1193857244&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0xOTcmcF9wcm9kcz0mcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PSZwX2N2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfcGFnZT0x To make the link shorter, locate the part of the URL that reads "faqid." There should be an equal sign plus a four-digit number after this (in the above URL the number is 3138). Delete everything after this number. You get a shorter URL, which will still link to the full article: http://rootsweb.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/rootsweb.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_sid=P4-FZsTi&p_lva=&p_li=&p_faqid=3138 Still lengthy, but better. Good luck using the new HelpDesk. We hope you will find it as helpful as we have. And please take a few minutes to browse the articles and familiarize yourself with the new look and feel of RootsWeb Help. http://rootsweb.custhelp.com * * * * * * * * * * Advertisements * * * * * * * * * * REQUEST A SEARCH FOR YOUR ANCESTORS AT THE WORLD'S LARGEST GENEALOGICAL LIBRARY ANCESTOR SEEKERS researchers at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City will search this vast collection for your ancestors from the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, or Europe. Friendly service, affordable prices. For a no-obligation research plan and quotation visit http://www.ancestorseekers.com/research/ For help from professional genealogists in England or Scotland visit http://www.britishancestors.com/research/ Or join us 13-18 April for our TENTH SALT LAKE CITY RESEARCH TRIP--the dream genealogy vacation! * * * * * * * * * * End of Advertisements * * * * * * * 3. Connecting Through RootsWeb: Searching for Stanleys By Denise Fransaer Corke deeco@keynet.net I have been researching my husband's English Stanley family for about thirty years. After several years of searching, I found a book in a genealogy library about the William Penn Expeditions. I had traced one ancestor back to 1661 and hoped to find out where the family originated through this book. The only thing that the book told me was that I was on the wrong track. In desperation, I typed the name into RootsWeb and found several others searching for the same ancestor. Most of the information did not quite fit what I had until, to my delight, I found someone whose family information did match. What's more, the person had traced this very family back for generations! I contacted the researcher to thank him for all the work that he had done and he told me that most of the information was right there on RootsWeb. Not only did I find several new generations but also learned about the area in England where the family all originated. 4. BOTTOMLESS MAILBAG [Editor's note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the editor or of RootsWeb.com.] ------------------------------------------------------------- A Cemetery Story By Nancy Lindroth Augusta, Georgia ndlind@knology.net In May 2002, my sister-in-law and I traveled to West Virginia and Pennsylvania to do research on the McMILLAN and KERN families of Ohio and Marshall Counties in West Virginia and the KERN and HORN families of Washington and Green Counties in Pennsylvania. While wandering around cemeteries we came upon the most unusual method of "communicating from the grave"--so to speak. A McMILLAN relative who lived near a Green County, Pennsylvania, cemetery left a message for all researchers. He took a piece of aluminum about 3" by 4" and punched a message into it that included his name and phone number. He made a hole in the corner and attached it with wire to a quarter-inch rod, which he stuck in the ground next to a McMILLAN headstone. What a great idea. The wonder of wonders about this find--it was late in the day, and we were tired. We had trouble locating the cemetery and were about to turn around and head for our hotel when we finally found it. Even more amazing though, Brooks--the creator of this wondrous tool--and my father-in-law share paternal and maternal great-grandparents. Two McMILLAN brothers married two KERN sisters. As Brooks lives in the area, he had a wealth of information and photographs, but nothing on my father-in-law's family, who left for the Alpena, South Dakota, area in the late 1800s. He and I are still looking for McMILLAN information and communicate on a regular basis. I'm researching Revolutionary War records and he's working the DNA angles. What a great find. So if you are missing some folks, you may want to try this. It won't blow away, it won't rust, and the color blends with the granite. Of course, you may want to check with the cemetery first. * * * "Un-Du" That Sticky Problem By Toni Wick Francisco Anchorage, Alaska A possible solution to "A Sticky Photo Problem" by Joy Weaver is to try a product called "Un-Du." I was able to remove hundreds of photos stuck in those old magnetic-type albums without any damage to the picture or the writing on the backs. You just saturate the black paper with this product, let it sit for a couple of minutes while the glue softens, then remove the paper. Any liquid that gets on the actual picture does not damage it. It evaporates and the pictures are fine. I found the "Un-Du" at Michael's Craft Store. * * * Sticky Solutions By Mike Michaelski One way to treat old photos that have something stuck to their back is a sweat box, something stamp collectors have been using for quite some time to gently remove a stamp from a valuable cover. To make one, simply find a plastic container larger than the photograph, wet a sponge, and place the sponge in the bottom of the container. Then build a platform to keep the picture from actually touching the sponge--half a dozen pencils of the right length will do nicely. Then lay the picture on the platform and put the top on. Wait about a day to open the container, then lay the picture face down and carefully use some tweezers to lift up the black paper. If it does not come off, put some more water on the sponge and give it another day. The concept here is to introduce moisture into the paper and loosen it from the glue, but not to actually wet the photo. Done carefully, this will get all but the most stubborn glues to let go of the paper. The photo will need to be dried between layers of paper towels afterward-- actually, it is best if you can find a photo dryer, which is built precisely for drying photos after they were developed. The main concern will be that the photos will tend to curl up when drying out again. 5. New at RootsWeb 5a. New User-contributed Databases at RootsWeb http://userdb.rootsweb.com/submit/ ------------------------------------------------------------- The following databases have come online recently. They are searchable, but not browseable. ENGLAND. Staffordshire. Handsworth. St Mary's church records. 38 records. Paul Barnett. http://userdb.rootsweb.com/intl/ MINNESOTA. Ramsey County. Name Index to the Lost Jewish Community of the West Side Flats, 1882-1962. Gene H. Rosenblum. 344 records. Janice M. Sellers. http://userdb.rootsweb.com/bookindexes/ 5b. New/Updated Freepages and Homepages by Individuals To Request a Free Web Account: http://accounts.rootsweb.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------- Can your cousins find your website at RootsWeb? Has it ever been mentioned here or do you have a new, updated, or substantially revised website at RootsWeb (it will have "freepages" or "homepages" in the URL)? Send the URL, the title of the website, the name of the author, and a BRIEF description of the site, including major surnames, to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com * * * If your genealogy- or history-related site is located somewhere other than at RootsWeb.com, you can add the link here: http://resources.rootsweb.com/~rootslink/addlink.html * * * The Reno County, Kansas, Genealogical Society Web page. This site has many new updates, the largest one being interment lists for all fifty- four county cemeteries. See the What's New page for the latest updates. http://rootsweb.com/~ksrcgs 5c. New/Updated Freepages and Homepages by Counties, States, and Genealogical/Historical Societies To Request a Free Web Account: http://accounts.rootsweb.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------- Some of these Web pages might not be accessible yet. They are created by volunteers, so if one that interests you isn't up yet, please check again in a few days or next week. http://www.rootsweb.com/~xxxxxx[accountname] * * * Note that the ~[tilde] before the Web account name is required. For example, the Logan County Historical Society (Arkansas) website is at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~arlchs/ * * * DAR = Daughters of the American Revolution USGW = USGenWeb DAC = Daughters of American Colonists U.S.A. arlchs -- Logan County Historical Society (Arkansas) desdac -- Delaware State Society DAC ilchp -- Illinois County History Project njhahs -- Holland America Historical Society (New Jersey) ontbhs -- Bedford Historical Society (Ontario) orbrhc -- Burnt River Heritage Center (Oregon) wihf -- Wisconsin Heritage Foundation wirichl2 -- Richland County (Wisconsin) USGW wvddcdar -- Daniel Davisson (West Virginia) Chapter DAR CANADA nsehhs -- East Hants Historical Society (Nova Scotia) WALES wlsfcc -- Friends of Cathays Cemetery (Wales) 5d. New Mailing Lists To Request a New Mailing List: http://resources.rootsweb.com/adopt/ ------------------------------------------------------------- For information and an index to the more than 30,000 RootsWeb-hosted genealogy Mailing Lists and for easy subscribing (joining) options go to: http://lists.rootsweb.com/ NEW SURNAME MAILING LISTS ALBA BRACERO CAMACHO CARRASQUILLO FUENTES LENNARD MCELRATH NIEVES POUTRE SALGADO SERRANO SHOPTAUGH WARTICK NEW REGIONAL MAILING LISTS No new regional mailing lists NEW ETHNIC OR SPECIAL INTEREST MAILING LISTS 1-25TH-LONDON -- A mailing list for descendants of members of the 1-25th London Cycle Regiment from World War I. Please visit our website: http://www.simonpg.com/1-25th/index.htm CAN-GENEALOGY-SOCIETIES -- This is a mailing list for the various genealogical societies of Canada and for advanced individual researchers to share information and ensure the preservation of historical information, historical sites, historical documents, etc. GEN-COURTRECORDS -- This is a mailing list for discussing genealogical data that can be gleaned from county, state, and federal court cases through legal case report books, law digests, and actual case files, with an emphasis on legal terminology and how to access such records through law libraries and other sources. 6. Humor/Humour My mother-in-law was called Libby and I naturally assumed her full name was Elizabeth. It wasn't until she died that the truth of her real name came to light. I found her birth certificate, which declared her name as "United States Liberty" Barrett. No wonder she went by Libby. Her brothers were named after presidents: George Washington Barrett, Abraham Lincoln Barrett, and Franklin D. Barrett. Her parents were Italian immigrants who were happy to be living in America. --Thanks to Darlene L. Pirozzi * * * My great-grandfather, Luther Steuart, had a sister named Bertie Steuart. Her married name was Bertie White. She named her two daughters after objects found in nature. One daughter was named Rose Bud, and one was named Snow: Rose Bud White and Snow White. --Thanks to Donna Chaffee * * * Found a funny or "proper name for the job" in old records, or an amusing entry in census, parish, church, or other records? Send them to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com. We also welcome other humorous genealogy-related submissions. 7. Subscriptions, Submissions, Advertising, Reprints ------------------------------------------------------------- SUBSCRIPTIONS. To manage your e-mail communications (i.e. to subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, or to sign up for others), visit our newsletter management center any time at: http://newsletters.rootsweb.com/ If you use a spam-filtering program, in order to receive the RootsWeb Review please make sure that you're allowing e-mail from: rootswebreview@email.rootsweb.com The RootsWeb Review is a free publication of The Generations Network, Inc., 360 West 4800 North, Provo, UT, 84604 * * * The RootsWeb Review does not publish or answer genealogical queries, and the editor regrets that she is unable to provide any personal research assistance or advice. RootsWeb Review welcomes short (500 words or less) articles, humor, stories, or letters, and reserves the right to edit all submissions. The announcement of books and products is provided as a community service and is not an endorsement in any way. All mail sent to the RootsWeb Review editor is considered to be for publication--send in plain text (please, no attachments) to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com and please include your full name and e-mail address in the text. * * * ROOTSWEB REVIEW ADVERTISING CONTACTS. Ad Sales Worldwide: Tami Deleeuw, tdeleeuw@tgn.com * * * REPRINTS. Permission to reprint articles from RootsWeb Review is granted unless specifically stated otherwise, provided: (1) the reprint is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the following notice appears at the end of the article: Previously published in RootsWeb Review: 19 December 2007, Vol. 10, No. 51. * * * *