Zamora Family Christmas Card

Merry Christmas
From the Zamora Family
William, Renee, Philip, Garrett &
Marie (Conlon)

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To view our family Christmas Card click here

Search the Joseph Smith Papers for your Ancestors on FamilySearch.org

The following is from the FamilySearch Blog.

Did Your Ancestors Interact with the Prophet Joseph Smith?

December 15, 2014 By Paul G. Nauta

The Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is pleased to announce an exciting collaborative effort between the Joseph Smith Papers Project and FamilySearch. FamilySearch.org users can now easily view documents in the papers of Joseph Smith that mention their direct ancestors. With just a few clicks, it is now easy to see how your ancestors interacted with Joseph Smith and other early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The new website is free and available now at FamilySearch.org/josephsmithpapers#.

“Using the power of FamilySearch.org and the scholarship of the Joseph Smith Papers Project, descendants of early Church members can now connect to original source documents where their own progenitors are mentioned,” said Elder Steven E. Snow, Church Historian and Recorder. “Seeing our ancestors in the original papers will provide insight and inspiration as we see how our own lives intersect with the . . . history of the Church,” he continued.

The new website combs through all the digitized pages of the Joseph Smith papers and compares names from the documents with the names of ancestors in your family tree on FamilySearch.org. You can then easily view original historical documents from Church history containing ancestors’ names and search other related historical records on FamilySearch.org.

(read more..)

Family ChartMasters - Instant Family History Gifts

The following is from Zap The Grandma Gap and Family ChartMasters.

Instant Family History Gifts--Because A Scented Candle

Never Changed Anyone's Life

E-Books Now Available
Now all of our Zap The Grandma Gap Books are available in e-book format!

With hundreds of live links to all of the best genealogy sites all over the web and now with instant delivery, these e-books are sure to be a hit with your family members.  We hope this new delivery system will make it even easier to share your family history with your family members.

I am offering an introductory sale on all of the e-books.  For complete details on this sale and for gifting options, please take a look at the full blog post on the Chart Chick or  

Gift Certificate Sale

Taken from The Chart Chick blog:

I am running a sale on gift certificates from now until December 22nd. Even if you are a wait-until-the-last-possible-second kind of shopper, you can get an instant gift that doesn't come with a killer price tag. From now untilDecember 22nd, I am offering 25% off of all gift certificates.  It's so easy and you can print the gift certificate directly from your computer immediately after purchase. Not to mention your loved ones still get a meaningful gift, to their exact specifications, with only a few mouse clicks from you. You save money and get all of the praise without the hassle and sweat. This is absolutely the best way to go as Christmas and Chanukah approach.

Continue reading this post on The Chart Chick Blog for full details on how to get your instantly downloadable gift certificates.  Or just

Upcoming ISGS Webinars

The following is from the Illinois State Genealogical Society.

Upcoming  ISGS Webinars



Join us on Tuesday, January 13, at 8:00 PM Central, when Lisa Louise Cooke will teach us how to unlock mysteries in our genealogy research Using Google Earth for Genealogy. To attend this webinar, register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2933074072977427457.

Last week's webinar, HeritageQuest Online - The Ins and Outs, presented by C. Ann Staley, CG, CGL, is now available to ISGS members in the Members Section of the ISGS website (http://ilgensoc.org/members.php).

Upcoming Webinars

January 13 – Using Google Earth for Genealogy

Presenter: Lisa Louise Cooke
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2933074072977427457

February 3 – Basic Scandinavian Research*

Presenter: Diana Smith
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6829079176792483329
* This webinar is held one week earlier than our regular schedule to accommodate those attending the FGS 2015 and RootsTech conferences

March 10 – Finding Your Femme Fatales: Exploring the Dark Side of Female Ancestors

Presenter: Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A.
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/792741648604580353

For the complete list of upcoming webinars, visit http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=234.

Support the ISGS Webinar program by making a financial contribution, which will help ISGS expand its educational offerings in a virtual manner.  To learn why we need your help, or to make a contribution, please visit  http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=345.

Please direct any questions to the ISGS Education Committee at isgseducation@ilgensoc.org.

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 The 2015 ISGS Webinar Series is Sponsored by FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org).
  

SLIG - Check Out Extra Events!

That following is from the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, sponsored by the Utah Genealogical Association. You do not have to register for a full course in order to take advantage of these events.

Evenings at the 20th Annual Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy are packed with exciting events.   Please consider the following that may be added to your original registration online.  

Colloquium Banquet:  The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy will hold its first annual SLIG Colloquium on Saturday, January 10, 2015.  Leaders in our field will come together for a day of discussion on topics such as inter-field integration and DNA.  SLIG participants and guests are invited to join us in celebrating this exciting event that evening at the Academic Colloquium Banquet.  Banquet tickets are $45; colloquium presenters will present a synopsis of their colloquium presentations.   

Plenary session:  Our 20th anniversary plenary speaker will be Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG.  She will present "What's the Evidence?” on Monday, January 12th at 7:00 PM.  The plenary is open to both SLIG students and the public - feel free to bring your travel buddy with you.  Please RSVP through the registration system for planning purposes.

 

Premier Viewing of Genealogy Roadshow:  Join hosts of PBS’ Genealogy Roadshow, Josh Taylor and Mary Tedesco, for a preview of the new season’s first episode.  The screening will be held following the plenary session onMonday, January 12th at 8:15 pm and will be followed by an open Q&A with the hosts.  No cost.

Evening Classes:  Your days at SLIG are likely spent pouring over exhaustive amounts of information.  Our evening classes are set to enhance your research skills with technology and context.  Four classes are  available at a cost of $10 each:

     

Tuesday, January 13, 7:00 pm:

     "Turning Biographical Facts into Real Life Events: How to Build Historical Context,” John Philip Colletta, PhD.  

     "Tech No Genealogist Should be Without: Powerful Solutions for Surviving the Data Avalanche," Valerie Elkins.  

     

Thursday, January 15, 7:00 pm:

     "Geo-Genealogy: Finding and Interperting Where your Ancestors Lived,” presented by Jay Fonkert.  

     "Nifty & Powerful Technologies for Genealogical Analysis & Documentation,” Ron Arons

Mini-Problem Solving Roundtable:

Wednesday we are offering a unique peek into our problem solving course, where students bring their own research problem to discuss.  Roundtables will be set up based on a focus area or region and time period, each with a professional on hand to lead the discussion and guide the group in developing next research steps.  It's like crowd sourcing your research problem.  Participation is free, but is seating is limited, so make sure you sign up.  You will be asked to submit your region or focus area and time period immediately following registration and be prepared to discussed your research problem at your roundtable at the event.

Last Genealogist Standing:  Craig Scott will offer his fun and popular gameshow, "Last Genealogist Standing,”Wednesday evening at 8:30 PM.  No cost; registration is not required.

Completion Banquet:  David Rencher, AG, CG, Chief Genealogical Officer at FamilySearch will give the keynote address at our 20th anniversary completion banquet to be held Friday, January 16th at 7:00 pm.  The banquet is preceded by a networking social (no-host cash bar) at 6:00 pm.  While students will receive their completion certificates at the end of their class, the banquet gives us an opportunity to celebrate the week, confirm new acquaintances, and get a sneak peak at what’s coming for 2016. The Utah Genealogical Association will announce the newest Fellow of UGA (FUGA) and give out several other awards at the banquet.   Included with SLIG registration, but ticket required; guest tickets also available for $60.

To Add Evening Events to your Registration:  Go to the SLIG website (www.slig.ugagenealogy.org), SLIG Registration page.  Click on “use this link” (under “Current Registration Info for SLIG 2015) to retrieve your registration with your email address and SLIG confirmation number.  You will then be able to add the evening events of your choice to your existing registration.  If you have forgotten your confirmation number, you can email the slig-registrar@ugagenealogy.org to obtain it.  

23andMe Study Sketches Genetic Portrait of the United States

The following is from 23andMe.

23andMe Study Sketches Genetic Portrait of the United States

First large-scale nationwide analysis yields maps of genetic ancestry that reflect US history

Mountain View, Calif. – December 18, 2014 – 23andMe, Inc., the leading personal genetics company, today announced the publication of a study that pinpoints fine-scale differences in genetic ancestry of individuals from across the United States.

Since immigrants first arrived more than four hundred years ago, the United States has served as a meeting place for peoples from different continents. This study illuminates how American history and the ongoing mixing of peoples with African, European, and American origins can be seen in our DNA.

“The relationship between genomics and historical events can shed light on our collective understanding of the history of the population of the United States, and the history of our country itself,” said Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard. “This study helps us build a bridge between data and the people and events that shaped our nation’s history, revising long-held notions of who we are as individuals and as a country. In a unique way, genomics helps put a multicultural face on American history.”

Led by 23andMe population geneticist Dr. Katarzyna Bryc, the study generated the first dense, state-by-state maps showing the gradients of ancestry within populations of self-identified African Americans, European Americans and Latinos across the United States.

The study leverages samples of unprecedented size and precise estimates of ancestry to reveal the rate of ancestry mixing among American populations, and where it has occurred geographically:

·         All three groups - African Americans, European Americans and Latinos - have ancestry from Africa, Europe and the Americas.

·         Approximately 3.5 percent of European Americans have one percent or more African ancestry. Many of these European Americans who describe themselves as “white” may be unaware of their African ancestry since the African ancestor may be five to 10 generations in the past.

·         European Americans with African ancestry are found at much higher frequencies in southern states than in other parts of the United States.

The ancestry proportions point to the different regional impacts of slavery, immigration, migration and colonization within the United States:

·         The highest levels of African ancestry among self-reported African Americans are found in southern states, especially South Carolina and Georgia.

·         One in every 20 African Americans carries Native American ancestry.

·         More than 14 percent of African Americans from Oklahoma carry at least two percent Native American ancestry, likely reflecting the Trail of Tears migration following the Indian Removal Act of 1830.

·         Among self-reported Latinos in the United States, those from states in the southwest, especially from states bordering Mexico, have the highest levels of Native American ancestry.

All three groups – African Americans, European Americans and Latinos – showed asymmetrical male and female ancestry contributions, with more European male and more Native American and African female ancestors. This asymmetry is likely a legacy of slavery, unbalanced sex ratios in frontier settings, as well as other social factors in early US history.

The study, entitled “The genetic ancestry of African, Latino, and European Americans across the United States,” was published on December 18, 2014 in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

“We show that the signatures of recent historical migrations can be seen in the DNA of present-day Americans,” said Dr. Bryc. “Furthermore, our results can inform the design of medical genetic studies. For example, the presence of Native American and African ancestry in European Americans may have implications for genetic studies of complex diseases.”

The study also provides insight on the long-open question of how genetic ancestry aligns with self-reported identities. For example, the authors found those with as much as 28 percent African ancestry are more likely to describe themselves as European American than as African American, whereas individuals with more than 30 percent African ancestry are more likely to describe themselves as African-American.

This study, made possible by data contributed by more than 160,000 23andMe customers*, makes it clear that the legacy of historical interactions between Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans is visible in the DNA of present-day Americans.

*Data was contributed by 23andMe customers who provided informed consent to take part in this research under a protocol approved by the AAHRPP-accredited institutional review board, Ethical and Independent Review Services.

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About 23andMe

23andMe, Inc. is the leading personal genetics company dedicated to helping people access, understand and benefit from the human genome. The vision for 23andMe is to personalize healthcare by making and supporting meaningful discoveries through genetic research. 23andMe, Inc., was founded in 2006, and the company is advised by a group of renowned experts in the fields of human genetics, bioinformatics and computer science. More information is available at www.23andme.com.

ICAPGen Study Group Announcement

The following is from ICAPGen.

Registration is now open for the ICAPGen Study Groups. The next group will begin in January 2015.

What is an ICAPGen Study Group?

This is a 3 to 6 month study group that meets twice a month via the internet for an hour. Each group contains people with similar chosen regions. These groups cap at 8 to 10 people. Groups are organized to begin at the start of each quarter throughout the year.

What is the purpose of the ICAPGen Study Groups?

The purpose of these groups is to provide support for ICAPGen Project submission and preparation for the ICAPGen exam.

What kind of commitment is needed to participate in one of the ICAPGen Study Groups?

The participant:

• Has already selected and begun the research project for the ICAPGen Project
• Wants to submit ICAPGen Application and Project within the next 3 to 6 months
• Commits to attending all bi-monthly meetings via internet
• Commits to completing all Study Group assignments on time
• Is prepared to pay the $100 Application Fee during the next 3 to 6 months

How Do I Register?

If you are interested in participating in the January 2015 Study Group please send an email to the address below. The email needs to include the following information:

·         Name

·         Email Address

·         Snail Mail Address

·         ICAPGen US Region or International Country chosen for application & testing

·         Brief genealogical background

·         Quarter in which you would like to begin in the Study Group (Jan, April, July, Oct)

·         Send this information to: StudyGroup@icapgen.org

2015 South Davis Family History Fair

The following is from the Utah Genealogical Association.

Registration Now Open!   Makes a Great Christmas Gift!

2015 South Davis Family History Fair
More info and to register - fair.ugagenealogy.org

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Woods Cross High School

600 West 2200 South
 Woods Cross, UT 84087

New Charting Companion with Direct Edit - Free upgrade

The following is from Progeny Genealogy.

ANNOUNCING CHARTING COMPANION WITH NEW DIRECT CHART EDITING

 

 

Progeny Genealogy is pleased to announce ver. 5.3 of Charting Companion, featuring a fast, convenient chart preview and edit, directly in the main window. 

 

You can now move rectangles in the Ancestor, Descendant, Hourglass, and Bowtie charts, edit the chart by pruning selected branches, and print or publish to PDF, JPG, PNG, GIF or BMP image format. Just scroll the mouse to zoom in or zoom out, and adjust the size of the chart so it fits exactly in the page or pages that you choose.

 

Charting Companion also speaks 18 languages!

 

The Ancestor and Descendant Fan charts can be tiled over multiple pages. 

 

Best of all, the new version is available as a free upgrade to all customers who have already bought their copy of Charting Companion (ver. 5). If you have another program such as Charting Companion for Family Tree Maker, Legacy Charting Companion or PAF Companion, you can purchase Charting Companion now for $29.95 before the price increases to $34.95 on  January 1. 

 

Just click here to download and install Charting Companion if you have already bought a license. 

 

If you don't own Charting Companion, visit our website for more information, and to buy.

 

Charting Companion charts will make you a hit with your relatives, and the star of your next family reunion. 

Pierre Clouthier
President, Progeny Genealogy 

New Interactive Option for Virtual Institute Courses

The following is from Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research.

Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research Offers New Interactive Option for Courses

RALEIGH, North Carolina, 17 December 2014:

The Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research is evolving!

Student responses to our first course have reinforced our plans concerning the need for additional instructor interaction and feedback. Beginning in 2015 we will offer instructors and students this option.

Previously our courses came in a single format: four 90-minute lecture sessions with Q&A, extensive syllabus material, and at least one practical exercise.

Plus courses will consist of:

• the same four 90-minute lecture sessions and syllabus material offered to standard students; plus
• an additional one-hour Q&A/discussion session held on an evening either midweek or at the conclusion of the course;
• individualized instructor feedback on practical exercises by email;
• a Certificate of Completion for the course.

The Plus option for any course will cost $99.99, as compared to the $69.99 cost of standard courses.

J. Mark Lowe’s “Preparing the Field: Understanding the Agricultural Records of Our Ancestors” will be the first course to offer this new option. Beginning on Wednesday, 17 December 2014, buttons will appear on the website to purchase either the Standard or the Plus option for this course. Many of the Institute’s future courses will also offer this option.

For more information visit www.vigrgenealogy.com or email vigrgenealogy@gmail.com.

About the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research

The Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research offers virtual, year-round courses on a wide variety of genealogical subjects from top experts in the field. For more information visit www.vigrgenealogy.com or email vigrgenealogy@gmail.com.

Innovator Summit features Nathan Furr

The following is from FamilySearch. I did already post a similar announcement. I didn't realize the official press release provided more information. 

FamilySearch Press Release December 15, 2014 Nathan Furr, PhD, Coauthor of The Innovator’s Method, to Headline the RootsTech Innovator Summit Salt Lake City, Utah—For the second year in a row, the world’s largest family history and technology conference, RootsTech, is getting a jump-start a day early with Innovator Summit, a full-day event featuring Nathan Furr, coauthor ofThe Innovator’s Method and Nail It Then Scale It. The event, sponsored by Ancestry.com, will be held onWednesday, February 11, 2015, at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Nathan Furr is a recognized expert and a professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at Brigham Young University and a visiting scholar at INSEAD and ESSEC. His new book, The Innovator’s Method (Harvard Business Review Press, Sept. 2014) combines the two, bringing the radical “lean start-up” approach to innovation into established organizations. His previous book, Nail It Then Scale It (NISI Institute, 2011), underscores that the seeds to entrepreneurial success are sown before you build anything. He will kick off the day with his keynote address titled “How to Apply the Innovator’s Method to Increase Your Success and Decrease Your Risk.” By bringing in keynote speakers such as Furr, Innovator Summit aims to inspire new ideas, new discussions, and new connections that will drive technology and business opportunities both inside and outside the traditional genealogy marketplace. “We are excited to bring technology leaders, innovation experts, and entrepreneurs together once again to better understand and discuss opportunities in a rapidly growing market segment,” said David Pugmire, event manager. “RootsTech Innovator Summit is a one-of-a-kind event. Thought leaders like Furr can distill their recipe for success and those interested in this space can network with others that can help bring projects to reality.” The Innovator Summit offers developers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs access to the latest content and resources that provide insight on family history data, services and inspiration for current and future projects. A full lineup of classes are offered on Wednesday, February 11, with additional classes offered on Thursday and Friday. The Wednesday event includes the keynote address, a lunch combined with the semifinal round of the RootsTech Shark Tank, an evening mingle, and a late-night hack-a-thon event. In addition to Furr, other business and technology speakers at Innovator Summit include: Harrison Tang, cofounder and chief executive officer of Family.me. Mike Davis, cofounder and chief executive officer of StoryPress. Robert Charles Anderson, FASG, director of the Great Migration Study Project at the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Though Innovator Summit innovation competitions have been included in the past, this year RootsTech is upping the ante with $25,000 in total cash prizes. This RootsTech Innovator Showdown event will include a live audience; judging by genealogy, technology, and business gurus; and a people’s choice award. New apps, software, or other products will be unveiled, and three winners will receive cash prizes and the chance to show their winning entries to media, bloggers, and thousands of RootsTech attendees. Past winners, such as last year’s grand prize winner, Harvey and Jane Baker of Saving Memories Forever , have gone on to successfully capitalize on the $4 billion family history market and stake a claim for themselves. For more information about Innovator Summit or to get registered for the conference, please visit RootsTech.org/innovator.

Nathan Furr at Innovator Summit

The following is from RootsTech.

Nathan Furr, Ph.D., Author of The Innovator’s Method,to Headline RootsTech Innovator Summit One of the world’s leading authors and recognized experts in innovation and entrepreneurship will be part of the largest family history conference in the world. Nathan Furr, Ph.D., will be joining RootsTech as a keynote speaker on Wednesday, February 11, 2015, at the Innovator Summit. His keynote address, titled “How to Apply the Innovator’s Method to Increase Your Success and Decrease Your Risk,” will zero in on how to capture new opportunities, how to balance the need for execution and flexibility, how startups develop innovative business models, and the impact of learning on new market success. Nathan Furr is a Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Brigham Young University and has a Ph.D. from Stanford University. His new book,The Innovator’s Method (Harvard Business Review Press, September 2014) combines the two, bringing the radical “lean start-up” approach to innovation into established organizations. His previous book, Nail It Then Scale It (NISI Institute, 2011), underscores that the seeds to entrepreneurial success are sown before you build anything. Nathan Furr is just one of the many exciting and inspiring speakers at RootsTech Innovator Summit. The Innovator Summit offers developers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs access to the latest content and resources that provide insight on family history data, services, and inspiration for current and future projects. A full lineup of classes are offered on Wednesday, February 11, with additional classes offered on Thursday and Friday. The Wednesday event includes Furr's keynote address, a lunch combined with the semifinal round of the RootsTech Innovator Challenge, an evening mingle, and a late-night hack-a-thon event. If you are a developer, business leader, or entrepreneur, you won't want to miss this event. For more information, visit RootsTech.org.