Ancestors Alive! Genealogy: From Paper To People

Have you heard of a holiday called Juneteenth? Do you know what it is, or why it's important in American history? Well, listen here - this is the episode for you. This is straight-up history - Ancestry.com is on the blink, so we're steering clear of Ancestry lessons for a few weeks in order to let them get themselves together again. And since there's a holiday to discuss, why not use the opportunity to learn in a whole new way? We've got quotes from the Emancipation Proclamation and General Order #3, from Henry Louis Gates Jr and from an array of private researchers who were good enough to lend us their views and understanding of Juneteenth. Grab your Faygo Red Pop. It's time to learn! Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

It's our first mail bag, filled with questions and answers from the FPPP community! What's up with Ancestry, which of their records are good, do you believe a record over a human or vice-versa, and how do you make your slave-holding ancestors' info available to researchers of color? There are lots of goodies in this bag, provided by the entire group, so hop on in with us - there's plenty of room. Also, I'm introducing everyone to a new episode concept, and am asking for recipes for the new Family Cookbook series, a mini-ep within the FPPP podcast series. And finally, there's homework - prepare yourself for a lesson (or two) in the wonders of genealogy on Twitter by dipping your toe in the water of genie Twitter. Ready? Steady? Listen! Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

This week is something special: my first-ever interview! My friend Christopher Harris joins the podcast to discuss his 12-year learning curve about family history through folklore, DNA, and African-American documentary methodology. He’ll discuss with us how he records conversations and organizes his work, treeing vs shrubbing, the key role that DNA and GEDmatch play, and how genealogy led him to make jollof rice on Facebook live. He’ll also talk about the importance of Freedmen’s Bureau records in FamilySearch and tell us some long-buried stories that he’s learned about his ancestors that would have been lost but for his work. I think you’ll enjoy this change of pace. I know I did. Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

Understanding the historical genesis and management of the decennial Federal Census, the digitization or "indexing" of the Census by FamilySearch, and the proper utilization of Census records in Ancestry is important to good Hygienealogy. And in Ancestry, Federal Census records don't always work the same way - some add all family members to your tree at once, while others only add one person at a time. So, why is that? And what ARE all of the origins of these records? I'll talk about that today in Hygienealogy 2: The Federal Census. You're going to want to listen to this one twice - once just to hear it, and another time in front of Ancestry so you can see the screens I'm describing. We're making up for lost time, folks! Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

If you listen regularly but haven't started supporting the podcast financially, it's time to consider anteing up, my pumpkins! 2000 downloads, 200 listeners, and only 6 supporters. Can you help support this work? This ep is a twofer - first, I discuss shrubbing versus treeing, and why my way is better (surprise!), and second, I talk about some basic etiquette and understanding concerning various points of view surrounding the Golden State Killer task force's use of GEDMATCH's DNA database to find a solid lead to a viable suspect. Shrubbing is a tree-building technique that will make you a better genealogist, and I hope that my discussion of the Golden State case will make us all slightly better people. There are very good reasons why some people are unhappy about privacy issues and DNA research. I quote Teresa Vega, a member of #BlackProGen, and she sums it up quite nicely. But the ultimate point, as always, is this: don't be a Jeffrey. Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

An Australian listener pointed out to me today that the fantastic $59 DNA sale on Ancestry that runs through April 29th 2018 only applies to the US. That's not fair! In fact, AncestryDNA didn't even provide an Anzac Day sale. That's like AncestryDNA ignoring Memorial Day or Veterans' Day here in the US. I say we start a Twitter campaign to change this for Australians, my #1 non-USA listenership! And I want to know how others outside the USA are being given, or not being given, AncestryDNA sale prices. Let's pick a Twitter hashtag and get to work, friends. Meet me on Twitter! Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

I'm baaaaaaack! I think it's time to revisit the basics of the podcast - just in time for lucky episode #13! But why am I here? Having learning disabilities and neurological issues has made me sensitive to the needs of a range of non-traditional students. Also, I'm self-righteous and I tend to think that other people are wrong. Mix these together with a love for teaching and a real desire to create community and you have From Paper To People! And while I DO want support through Patreon, I am not looking for genealogy clients. I know, I know, other podcasters think it's crazy too. But listen and you'll understand better. Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

Are you new to Ancestry.com? Do you like the FamilySearch interface better? Do hints just freak you out? Are all those possible document matches overwhelming you? If you answered "yes" to one or more of those questions, this episode is for you. "Keeping It Orderly, Or Hygienealogy" is all about prioritizing the hints that you get from Ancestry for any given ancestor, and creating a plan of attack that lets you add best evidence to your tree. It lets you minimize confusion and maximize the data you draw from every record. It's where you want to be. Give me 20 minutes, and I'll give you some peace of mind. And the podcast is now available on Spotify!!! Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

Findagrave.com is another great way to provide service to the world of genealogy and family history. It's maintained by a worldwide army of genie geeks with cameras, and who can resist that? Membership is free, people who request photos REALLY appreciate the service rendered, and lots of cemeteries out there are in desperate need of documentation. This week, I tell "The Cautionary Tale of Baldrick's Cemetery" to illustrate. You'll see what I mean. This week I also discuss how you can make a friend with the spirits of those you research by doing this kind of work. Don't believe that life goes on after death? That's cool - make a friend in the here-and-now by doing something nice for him or her on Findagrave! Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

There are a lot of ways that we can serve one another in the world of family history. I like direct service the best. Researching for one another, teaching others, and giving back to those who deserve to have their family repaired or at least explained is very important to me. In this episode, I discuss lookups, the most basic building block of genealogical trading cards. I talk a lot about my favorite thing in the world, Reparational Genealogy (researching and teaching for African-American researchers and students who have no experience and a deep hunger to understand their roots), which is service at a deep level. And, I talk about an idea I'm cooking up, Genealogists for Social Justice - a sort of Marvel superhero band of researchers who fact-check politicians who make shifty claims about themselves and their opponents and constituents. It's a mixed bag, but the through-line is clear: genealogy IS service. Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

Sometimes, it's good to just stop and take a breath. This week, I'm discussing how to keep it simple in research by focusing all of your energies on one tree, where you provide for everyone in your family - biological parents, step parents, foster parents, and adoptive parents. You'll learn how to handle nervous relatives who might not want their secrets spilled, and why, regardless of your family situation, having one big picture is the best way to approach genealogy. Family history is fraught with fear and secrecy, among the living and for the dead. It's also laden with wonderful surprises. Negotiating the former and discovering the latter is hard enough - Keep It Simple, Researcher: One Life, One Tree. Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

Biography can be really dry and boring stuff, a string of facts without seasoning or flavor. In this episode, I'll teach you how to use genealogical research of your subject to add spice and life to a biographical book or project. I'll tell you how I'm using it to write a book of my own, and show you how much juicy deliciousness you can add to basic facts if you work to understand the entirety of your subject's life. If you want to stand out from other biographers or non-fiction writers and find a style that is uniquely yours, season with family history. Then, call me with a question you want played and answered on air! Over 300 downloads now...thank you :) Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

I hate Valentine's Day, so this holiday episode is all about death records. They rock my world. The focus is on Social Security and county-level death records, featuring my favorite: DEATH CERTIFICATES! Learn about the 6 W's of assessing the purpose and value of a record before you ever use it, and then we'll talk specifics about the US Social Security Applications and Claims Index, the US Social Security Death Index, death certificates and death indexes. Even if you're from outside the US, the 6 W's will be useful to you in creating best practices and in assessing best evidence. Put down the red wine and chocolates - it's genealogy time! Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

Genealogy is populated with lots of groovy people, and just enough Jeffreys doing things the wrong way to thoroughly annoy the rest of us. Don't be a Jeffrey, be awesome! Follow the best practice and best evidence guidelines for Ancestry in this episode and you'll go far, Cousin. Happy Black History Month to all. And as the international strength of the podcast is growing, financial supporters are jumping on board. Join the crowd, and invite your friends! All are welcome here. Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.

"Cage Match! Ancestry vs FamilySearch" is about the pros and cons of using Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org, the two main family tree sites used by the majority of researchers I know. Each has assets and drawbacks, but they're best used together. And get a load of my fan hot spots! All kinds of folks are tuning in. Add your friends and family to the list! Join the Facebook group and participate! facebook.com/groups/FromPaperToPeople and answer those three questions! Please rate and review the podcast at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H or facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy. If you want to be on the podcast from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD using the Zoom platform and a good mic and earphones (how about that Family Cookbook series??), you can contact me at https://bit.ly/2Kxb6rm. Stop by the website at ancestorsalivegenealogy.com (social media links there, too!). Sponsor the podcast at patreon.com/AncestorsAlive for super-fantastic rewards, and now at Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/frompapertopeople. Subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/2lmhYha.