Genie Weezles will give a brief demonstration on how to use the FamilySearch Indexing Beta that we adopted as our chapter project for this year.
Afterwards, we will be taking a FIELD TRIP to Rumsey Map Islands, where hundreds of historical maps are on display. You can read about this fabulous collection here.
WHEN: Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIME: 6:00 p.m. SLT (same as Pacific Time) WHERE: Fire Pit at Just Genealogy SLurl
This meeting is open to all interested genealogists in Second Life. Please contact Ellington Sweeney for more information.
Greetings, Second Life genies! February isn’t just the month of love, but it is also when we celebrate Black History Month. Also known as African-American History Month, it is an annual observance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for the remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. We hope you will find some of the resources below to be helpful in your African-American genealogy research.
Be sure to check out this month’s genealogy events in Second Life. For more information, please contact Ellington Sweeney, either in-world, or at sweeney.ellington@gmail.com.
INSPIRATION:
FEBRUARY’S GENEALOGY RESEARCH & INFO RECOMMENDATIONS:
To help bring thousands of records to light, The Freedmen’s Bureau Project was created as a set of partnerships between FamilySearch International and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS), and the California African American Museum.Is this the year that you finally start your own personal history? This page on the FamilySearch wiki gives many recommendations on the hows and whys of writing a personal history. Ready to start?!
For over 40 years, Kristin Cleage Williams has been tracing her family history back through the generations. She started Finding Eliza in 2010 with the simple goal to organize and publish the genealogical information she uncovered. Her engaging style makes her a storyteller; however, she reveals how she discovers family histories out of genealogical records and oral recordings. Get inspired to research your own family history on Finding Eliza, and learn Kristin’s strategies for finding information about her ancestors. You’ll also learn about specific resources Kristin uses to find insight into African American history.
TWITTER FOLLOW:
@AfriGeneas – AfriGeneas™ is the premiere online destination for African American and African Ancestored genealogical research.
FEBRUARY SCHEDULE OF GENEALOGY EVENTS IN SECOND LIFE:
Monday, February 1 6:00 pm – Meet & Greet – Second Life Help Gather at the Just Genealogy firepit to discuss the ins and outs of SecondLife – how to sit, stand, fly, talk… Anything you might need help with! Hosted by Genie Weezles at the Just Genealogy Firepit http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Tuesday, February 2
6:00 pm – Tech Tuesday CANCELLED for this month.
Sunday, February 7 6:00 pm – Family History Chat
Join other family historians and genealogists of all skill levels for a casual discussion on the front porch of the Family History Centre in Adam ondi Ahman. Host varies, style is both Q&A and presentation. http://bit.ly/SLFamilyHistoryCentre
Thursday, February 11
6:00 pm – APG Second Life Chapter Meeting The award-winning Second Life Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) welcomes all to this monthly meeting. February’s meeting will include a re-cap of some of the interesting finds at RootsTech. Contact in-world Ellington Sweeney, Chapter President, or Genie Weezles, Chapter Representative. At the Just Genealogy Firepit http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Sunday, February 14 6:00 pm – Family History Chat
Join other family historians and genealogists of all skill levels for a casual discussion on the front porch of the Family History Centre in Adam ondi Ahman. Host varies, style is both Q&A and presentation. http://bit.ly/SLFamilyHistoryCentre
Tuesday, February 16 6:00 pm – Methodology Tuesday
Exploring old and new research methodologies with your fellow genealogists. The February discussion will be hosted by Ellington Sweeney, and the topic is the “DNA and the Reasonably Exhaustive Search.” At the Fire Pit in Just Genealogy. http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Sunday, February 21 6:00 pm – NEW! DNA Special Interest Group
Watch for the official announcement of this new special interest group! Will be held on the front porch of the Family History Centre in Adam ondi Ahman. http://bit.ly/SLFamilyHistoryCentre
Thursday, February 25 6:00 pm – NGSQ Study Group
The Second Life NGSQ Study Group focuses on a specific article from the National Genealogical Society Quarterly monthly. Please feel free to attend even if you are a prospective NGSQ member. Hosted by Ellington Sweeney. Click here for the 2016 Reading List. At the Just Genealogy Fire Pit. http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Sunday, February 28
6:00 pm – Family History Chat
Join other family historians and genealogists of all skill levels for a casual discussion on the front porch of the Family History Centre in Adam ondi Ahman. Host varies, style is both Q&A and presentation. http://bit.ly/SLFamilyHistoryCentre
For more information about Genealogy events in Second Life, please feel free to contact: (in-world): Genie Weezles, Clarise Beaumont, Ellington Sweeney.
December 23rd is National Roots Day, which encourages us to “look into our heritage, families, family history, and ancestry” as we gather with families and friends during this holiday season. Check out this month’s SL Genealogy Group Newsletter for a few resources to help you do this!
Please note that Tech Tuesday and the NGSQ Study Group will not meet in December, but will be back again in January. And you won’t want to miss the Second Life Chapter APG’s Holiday Party, which is always a blast! Details below in the Events section.
INSPIRATION:
December is the month when we look back at what we have accomplished in the past year, and look forward to what we would like to accomplish in the coming year. Did you reach your genealogy goals this year? Why or why not? Perhaps you need to work on a research plan for next year, or think about some specific educational opportunities? Attend a conference? Join a genealogical society or lineage society? There is so much to contemplate as we tie up our genealogical loose ends at the end of the year.
May your ancestor wishes come true in 2016! 😀
DECEMBER RECOMMENDATIONS:
WEBSITE OF THE MONTH:
StoryCorps StoryCorps is America’s oral history project. Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected more than 60,000 interviews with over 100,000 participants from all backgrounds — the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered.
What better time to collect these stories than the holidays, when we are gathered with our families to talk, reflect, and celebrate? The StoryCorps website provides the tools you need to prepare for and record your oral history interview. Afterwards, your recording can be archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress so that future generations can hear the stories – and the voices – of today. StoryCorps even has “an app for that!”
Here is a little Intro video for you by StoryCorps founder Dave Isay:
Be sure to check out the StoryCorps website before heading out to your holiday gatherings!
BLOG RECOMMENDATION:
Amy Johnson Crow
Genealogist Amy Johnson Crow is the inspiration behind 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and 31 Days to Better Genealogy. She has also started a vlog (video log) called Genealogy Weekly, and you can often find her “popping up” on Periscope. Wherever you find her, Amy is offering fabulous genealogy tips and advice, so you will definitely want to add her to your Feedly, Flipboard, Bloglovin’, or whatever reader you use!
Sunday, December 6 6:00 pm – Family History Chat
Join other family historians and genealogists of all skill levels for a casual discussion on the front porch of the Family History Centre in Adam ondi Ahman. Host varies, style is both Q&A and presentation. http://bit.ly/SLFamilyHistoryCentre
Monday, December 7 6:00 pm – Meet & Greet for New SL Users
Meet at the Fire Pit at Just Genealogy for this very informal meeting focusing on how to navigate and enjoy Second Life. http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Thursday, December 10 6:00 pm – Second Life Chapter APG Holiday Party
Let’s celebrate our 2015 accomplishments with a party! Santa usually makes an appearance, so be sure to tell him which ancestors you would like to find under your tree. Wear your holiday finest (formal) attire. Our favorite DJ, Jaffee Gaffer, will be on-hand once again, spinning holiday tunes while we dance the night away (or at least until 8:00 p.m. SLT). Hosted by DeeDee and Sherlock at their Winter Wonderland. All are welcome.
Sunday, December 13 6:00 pm – Family History Chat
Join other family historians and genealogists of all skill levels for a casual discussion on the front porch of the Family History Centre in Adam ondi Ahman. Host varies, style is both Q&A and presentation. http://bit.ly/SLFamilyHistoryCentre
Tuesday, December 15 6:00 pm – Methodology Tuesday
Exploring old and new research methodologies with your fellow genealogists. The December discussion topic is the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS). The meeting will be hosted by Genie Weezles at the Fire Pit in Just Genealogy. http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Sunday, December 20 6:00 pm – Family History Chat
Join other family historians and genealogists of all skill levels for a casual discussion on the front porch of the Family History Centre in Adam ondi Ahman. Host varies, style is both Q&A and presentation. http://bit.ly/SLFamilyHistoryCentre
Sunday, December 27 6:00 pm – Family History Chat
Join other family historians and genealogists of all skill levels for a casual discussion on the front porch of the Family History Centre in Adam ondi Ahman. Host varies, style is both Q&A and presentation. http://bit.ly/SLFamilyHistoryCentre
NOTE: All times listed are SLT or “Second Life Time,” which is the same as Pacific Standard Time. Need a time zone converter?
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For more information about Genealogy events in Second Life, please feel free to contact: (in-world): Genie Weezles, Clarise Beaumont, Ellington Sweeney.
Genealogist Tina Sansone will be the speaker for Thursday night’s Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) meeting. She will talk about her amazing experience working with the TV show “Who Do You Think You Are,” the resources she used, and how the show works behind the scenes. You won’t want to miss this fascinating talk!
WHEN: Thursday, November 12, 2015 TIME: 6:00 p.m. SLT (same as Pacific Time) WHERE: Fire Pit at Just Genealogy SLurl
We are pleased to announce that the speaker for Thursday night’s Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) meeting is Janice M. Sellers of Ancestral Discoveries. Her topic will be “Amazing Things You Can Find in the Newspaper about Your Relatives.”
WHEN: Thursday, October 9, 2015 TIME: 6:00 p.m. SLT (same as Pacific Time) WHERE: Fire Pit at Just Genealogy SLurl
Janice Sellers has researched her own family since 1975 and conducted research for others since 2005. She is the editor of three genealogical journals. She is also the vice president of the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society, and a board member of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California and California State Genealogical Alliance. She has been on the staff of the Oakland FamilySearch Library since 2000.
This meeting is open to all interested genealogists in Second Life. Please contact Ellington Sweeney for more information.