This month, the Second Life Virtual Genealogical Society will be taking a tour of the Community Virtual Library to see the new exhibit “Genealogy Journey: Finding Our Ancestors, Discovering Ourselves.”
This instructional exhibit teaches visitors how to: begin researching their family history, conduct responsible research, utilize tools and resources for understanding DNA results, and find genealogy educational activities in Second Life. This exhibit is presented by Cheri Daniels.
Cheri Daniels (a.k.a. Sifriya Devin), curator of the exhibit, will be our special guest host for this event. Read more about her exhibit HERE.
Please meet at the Just Genealogy Fire Pit for a brief business meeting before the tour.
WHEN: Sunday, 12 August 2018 TIME: 5:30 p.m. SLT (same as Pacific Time) WHERE: The Fire Pit at Just Genealogy SLurl
Hey guys and ghouls! Come out tonight for some frightfully good fun at our Just Genealogy Halloween Party!
WHEN: Monday, October 30, 2017 TIME: 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. SLT (same as Pacific) WHERE: Just Genealogy Dance Floor in Wollah (click here for Slurl)
Our favorite DJ, Jaffee Gaffer, will be spinning the tunes, so hop on a dance ball and dance the night away (for an hour or so). Be sure to enable your media player so you can hear the music.
WHEN: Thursday, July 14, 2016 TIME: 6:00 p.m. SLT (same as Pacific Time) WHERE: Fire Pit at Just Genealogy SLurl
This month’s featured speakers will be Dean and Cynthia Richardson of Genlighten, who will present “Offering Research Services Online: What We’ve Learned from Our Adventures with Genlighten.com”:
We will share some of the insights that we’ve gained from working with our providers, and give tips for creating strong, effective profiles on whatever platform people chose to use (for example, business website, APG list, blogs, marketplace websites like Genlighten), as well as talk about some things that leave clients feeling happy and satisfied. We’ll also touch briefly on the “Now What?” part of waiting for clients to find us online, and ask for input on what professionals would like to see in terms of marketplace tools to help advertise and manage their online services.
About Dean Richardson: Dean was introduced to genealogy by his wife, who ushered him up to the genealogy section of the local university library one night to show him the New York Times obituary for his Civil War ancestor. That was thirty years ago, and he’s been hooked on family history ever since. Dean’s responsibilities at Genlighten range from front-end design and Rails back-end development to inbound marketing and search-engine optimization.
About Cynthia Richardson: Looking for a way to turn her passion for historical document research into a source of income, Cynthia taught herself HTML and CSS and built chicagogenealogy.com back in 2003. Since then, she’s performed Chicago-area genealogy lookups and custom research for thousands of delighted customers. She’s also served as volunteer and director at the Wilmette Family History Center. At Genlighten, Cynthia handles customer support inquiries, maintains our online help facility, and curates our community-generated content. When you call or e-mail us, she’ll usually be the one you chat with.
SL-APG meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month (except August), at 6:00 p.m. Second Life Time (same as Pacific Time), at the Fire Pit in Just Genealogy. Meetings are open to all interested genealogists. Please contact Ellington Sweeney for more information about this group.
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.
Greetings, Second Life genealogists and family history enthusiasts! Hope you enjoyed your holidays, and are looking forward to an amazing new year of genealogy breakthroughs and insights. January means a fresh start, and time to review your goals and priorities for the coming year. January is also National Hobby Month, so very appropriate for genealogists to make new plans on how to tackle those research obstacles! It’s also National Bath Safety month, and National Oatmeal month, but I’m not quite sure how to tie that in here 🙂 Anyway! Check out this month’s genealogy events in SecondLife, as well as some useful research sites and info in this newsletter. Please contact Genie Weezles either inworld, or at relativelycurious@gmail.com.
INSPIRATION:
Preserve your memories, keep them well, what you forget you can never retell. ~ Louisa May Alcott
JANUARY’S GENEALOGY RESEARCH & INFO RECOMMENDATIONS:
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?!
Caroline Pointer’s blog includes all sorts of helpful information including blog prompts, and multiple ways to use your online presence to make it easier for new cousins to find you and connect.
JANUARY SCHEDULE OF GENEALOGY EVENTS IN SECOND LIFE:
Sunday, January 3 6:00 pm – Family History Chatin Second Life.
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, January 4
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! At the Just Genealogy Firepit http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Tuesday, January 5
6:00 pm – Tech Tuesday Relatively Curious’ Genie Weezles hosts a discussion at the Just Genealogy Firepit on some helpful technology tools including one that will be a big help to anyone who tends to keep LOTS of tabs open at the same time when using the Chrome browser, as well as another creative alternative to Excel spreadsheets. Intrigued? Everyone is welcome ! At the Just Genealogy Firepit http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Sunday, January 10 6:00 pm – Family History Chatin Second Life.
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, January 14
6:00 pm – APG Second Life Chapter Meeting The award-winning Second Life Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists Second Life Chapter welcomes all to this monthly meeting, recognizing that only members may vote. January’s meeting will include voting on this year’s officers. Contact in-world Gtownma Deed, Chapter President or Ellington Sweeney, Vice President. At the Just Genealogy Firepit http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Sunday, January 17 6:00 pm – Family History Chat in Second Life. 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, January 19 6:00 pm – Methodology Tuesday in Second Life. Exploring old and new research methodologies with your fellow genealogists gathering around the fire pit in Just Genealogy and the meeting will be hosted by Gtownma Deed. Watch for topic here and on the Genealogists in Second Life facebook page. http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Sunday, January 24 6:00 pm – Family History Chat in Second Life. 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, January 28 6:00 pm – NGSQ Study Group in Second Life. 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, January 31
6:00 pm – Family History Chat in Second Life. 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.
We’re sorry this is coming to you late this month (real life, you know)! But please enjoy this Native American Heritage month newsletter highlighting some useful research sites, and this month’s calendar of scheduled activities and genealogy events in Second Life. Please contact Ellington Sweeney either inworld, or at sweeney.ellington@gmail.com.
INSPIRATION:
NOVEMBER’S GENEALOGY RESEARCH & INFO RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is the branch of the federal government in the United States charged with maintaining a good relationship between the government and the individual Indian tribes. Indian Affairs does not conduct genealogical research or maintain a database that you can query in order to find information on your ancestor, however, they do provide a “Guide to Tracing Your Indian Ancestry,” as well as several other documents, which provide some general information on the process.
Blogger Angela Y. Walton-Raji writes about the lives of “blended families from African & Native American families,” including Choctaw culture, the lives Choctaw Freedmen, and other items of interest to researchers of Native American heritage.
NOVEMBER’S SCHEDULE OF GENEALOGY EVENTS IN SECOND LIFE:
Thursday, November 12 6:00 pm – APG Second Life Chapter Meeting
The award-winning Second Life Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists Second Life Chapter welcomes all to this monthly meeting, recognizing that only members may vote. Formal presentation topics will vary. Contact in-world Gtownma Deed, Chapter President or Ellington Sweeney, Vice President. At the Just Genealogy Firepit http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Sunday, November 15 6:00 pm – Family History Chat in Second Life. 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, November 17 6:00 pm – Methodology Tuesday in Second Life. Exploring old and new research methodologies with your fellow genealogists gathering around the fire pit in Just Genealogy. http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit The November reading is Shelia Benedict’s “Using Newspapers Effectively,” OnBoard 9 (September 2003): 20-22, and the meeting will be hosted by Gtownma Deed.
Thursday, November 19
6:00 pm – NGSQ Study Group in Second Life. 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 2015 Reading List. At the Just Genealogy Fire Pit. http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Sunday, November 22 6:00 pm – Family History Chat in Second Life. 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, November 29 6:00 pm – Family History Chat in Second Life. 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
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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.
Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble. Fillet of a fenny snake, In the caldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting, Lizard’s leg and howlet’s wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Hey guys and ghouls, come on out for some frightfully good fun at our Halloween Party, Thursday, October 29, 2015, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. SLT (same as Pacific Time).
Dress as your favorite ancestor, or just come as you are. Costumes are encouraged, but not required.
Watch where you tread. Graves of the dearly departed are all around. But as genealogists, we’re pretty much used to that, right?
Cross the bridge and enter the haunted forest, if you dare. Or just hang out and dance the night away – our favorite DJ, Jaffee Gaffer, will be spinning some spooky tunes!
Don’t be a DEADbeat like this guy and miss the party! 😀
I somehow managed to volunteer myself to moderate the October “Methodology Tuesday” discussion! So for this month, I have selected a reading by Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, titled, “The Genealogical Proof Standard: How Simple Can It Be?” (OnBoard 16, September 2010).
This is a short, fun, easy, read, which discusses how some genealogists believe that “applying the GPS requires gargantuan investments in research, reasoning, and writing,” or that it only applies to problems with no obvious solution. Not so, according to Mr. Jones: the GPS applies to ANY genealogical problem, large or small! 😀
Be sure to join us at the Just Genealogy Fire Pit on Tuesday, October 20th, at 6:00 p.m. SLT, to share your thoughts on this article. Genealogists of all levels are welcome. Contact Ellington Sweeney, by email or in-world, if you have questions.
