4th of July Special Podcast Episode - Patriotic Vintage Music and Speeches

Over a hundred years ago Edison Records was using it's new cylinder recording technology to capture the music and words of America. In this special Genealogy Gems Podcast 4th of July episode published last year I had the pleasure of compiling some of the most inspiring sounds of that time:



Patrick Henry's speech performed by Harry E. Humphrey on Edison Blue Amberol, 1912


The Continental Congress - The You Are There radio show took historic events and dramatized them with "live radio" coverage style. C1947-1950


The Star Spangled Banner performed by Thomas Chalmers and chorus (including Elizabeth Spencer). Edison Records, 1915


Washington's Farewell Address performed by Harry E. Humphrey for Edison Blue Amberol 1912


If Washington Should Come To Life performed by Billy Murray on Edison Gold Moulded Record, 1906


Thomas Jefferson March performed by United States Marine Band on Edison Standard Record, 1909


Under Freedom's Flag performed by Edison Military Band on Edison Gold Moulded Record, 1908


Fourth Of July Address at Hyde Park, NY by President Roosevelt (4 Jul 1941)



My Country 'Tis Of Thee performed by Edison Male Quartette on Edison Gold Moulded Record, 1903



I hope you'll enjoy this episode and in particular, I hope that you will share it with your children and grandchildren. Listen while you barbecue or watch fireworks. Happy 4th of July!

How My Mom Prepared Me For the Geneablogger Summit

9 Genealogy Bloggers descended upon the Southern California Genealogical Jamboree this year in the form of a Geneablogger Summit



The summit, sponsored by Thomas MacEntee of Geneablogger fame, was a follow up to last years event and was aptly named "Son of Blogger."



I walked in to the banquet room about 15 minutes prior to the start time and immediately cringed as I realized I was the last panelist to arrive. (I had carefully budgeted my time between the Family Tree Magazine booth and the various events)




Dick Eastman rushed up to me and whispered "oh good! I'm not alone!" And I first I thought he meant that he, too, had just arrived. But soon he showed me his empty hands and confided it hadn't occurred to him to bring his laptop.

Laptop? What laptop? Who said we needed to bring a laptop? My mother taught me it was impolite to talk on the phone or type on a computer while talking to someone, so I certainly assumed that applied to being part of a presentation as well! (Turns out my mother is old school!)

Above: Dick and I laptopless while Shelley blogs

A quick rummage through my purse revealed my trusty digital voice recorder which I promptly whipped out on to the table before us and cleverly held up during my introduction saying that it was my blogging / podcasting weapon of choice. I like to think everyone thought it was planned.

We then we proceeded to spend one hour and five minutes introducing ourselves. No, that's not a typo - 1 hour and 5 minutes! Note to selves: "they invited us because they know who we are - cut intros short!"

During my intro moderator George Morgan showed my "Socks to America" video. I published it on YouTube about 2 years ago before Genealogists took over Facebook, so while it got a lot of views, it didn't get "Facebook shared" as it might today. It was fun to see a fresh response to one of my fave projects. My motto: Genealogy should be fun!"



But the most interesting folks were these (photo right): The Audience! Check out the adorable laughing gal in the front row! That's my kind of gal. These folks asked great questions and were feverishly taking notes on how to blog.

I trust that next year we'll see an expansion of genealogy blogging at Jamboree - perhaps with a How To Intro Class, followed up by an "Ask the Experts" type panel summit. Knowing the Jamboree's leadership, I have no doubt that genealogy blogging will only get bigger and better at future conferences.


Son of Blogger Panelists:
Lisa Louise Cooke
Ancestry Insider
Stephen Danko
Shelley Talalay Dardashti
Dick Eastman
Craig Manson
Leiland Meitzler
George Morgan
Pat Richley

Top 10 Things I Noticed at the Geneablogger Dinner

Southern California Genealogical Jamboree 2009
Geneablogger Dinner on Saturday night

Top 10 Things I Noticed at the Geneablogger Dinner:

#10 Genealogists draw their family trees on the paper tablecloths

#9 Randy Seaver and his wife sat at what we lovingly named "the kids table" (an extra table added to accommodate our large crowd)

#8 We had more in common than genealogy (Amy and I reminisced about the old Disneyland ticket books)

#7 Elyse resembles the girl from the movie Mama Mia

#6 Thomas is the host with the most

#5 Having your picture taken 15 times can blind you

#4 Gini's hubby is a saint (aka a non-genealogist who supports his wife's interest)

#3 My daughter Lacey (who didn't think she'd have much in common with this group) happily chatted away with her table mates

# 2 Amy is super cool for giving me a "Rock Star" ribbon for my badge (I had spotted them earlier and desperately wanted one)

And the #1 thing I noticed at the Geneablogger Dinner: Geneabloggers can make a LOT of noise!

Tukufu Zuberi Wows Researchers at Jamboree

When I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Tukufu of the popular PBS TV series The History Detectives on The Genealogy Gems Podcast (Episode 63) I found him to be articulate, warm and sincere in his passion for history.

Tukufu managed to convey that same warmth and sincerity to a packed banquet room of happily tired out genealogists (after day 1 of The Southern California Genealogical Jamboree) and re-energized them with research stories from his show and thoughtful ideas about why history and more specifically family history resonates with so many of us.

He illustrated the positive and the negative outcomes of the stories they have covered on the the series with carefully selected video clips. Then the genealogical story got more personal as he shared his own journey through the DNA testing process.

But where he really drove his overall message home was when an audience member asked him why he thought genealogy was growing in popularity at this point in time. He then proudly pulled out his brand new iPhone and discussed the "disconnected" way that we as human communicate these days, and how we still have a driving desire to be connected. And genealogy benefits by both technology and that desire for human connection.

And as I looked around and saw many face (live, and in person) that I had gotten to know via Twitter, Facebook, blogging and podcasting, it struck me how all of these mediums add a new and rich dimension to the long standing genealogy conference. Had they not existed it would have been easy to feel alone in that crowded room. And yet social media, in tandem with live events such as Jamboree, offer a richer experience...it's a terrific time to be a genealogist!

Made it - Let's Get This Party Started!

My daughter (and stand-in podcaster) Lacey and I just arrived in Burbank. Freeway traffic was reasonable and we made it here in one piece. Had a minor scuffle with the entrance gate, but we now have our parking space and we're ready to get this weekend started!

This is our first time here at the Southern California Genealogical Jamboree which is sort of odd since we live in California. But I feel sure already it won't be our last.

I think online social media is going to add an electric dimension to this conference. Folks have been busy on Twitter and Facebook for weeks and the conference is going to offer us some long awaited face time!

And I hope to get loads of "face time" with you! I'll be teaching my two fave classes:

Sunday 11:00 am
SU-19 Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems I

Sunday 1:00 - 2:00 pm
SU-26 Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems II

We're going to make Google stand on it's head for your research!

I'll also be sitting on the panel for the Son of Blogger Summit talking about one of my other favorite things - blogging.

Saturday 9:30 - noon
SA - 09 Summit 2 - Son of Blogger

And when I'm not teaching I'll be working the Family Tree Magazine booth in the exhibit hall (Table 118) and conducting a host of interviews with some of the top names in genealogy so that I can bring their expertise to you on the podcasts!

So if you're at Jamboree come on by and let's get some "Face Time!"

Need Help with Kentucky Research?

Friend of Genealogy Gems Arlene Eakle has launched a new Kentucky blog. Her preliminary blog describes the chronic problems of Kentucky genealogy, and the first post is an example of the kind of thorough research that Arlene says solves the chronic problems for Kentucky genealogy--about the Hanks ancestry of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. President Lincoln said, "I, too, am a Kentuckian." In each blog post Arlene promises to provide you with examples and sources that will increase your genealogy success in Kentucky!

Visit Arlene Eakle's Kentucky Blog now...

Listen to Arlene on the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast: Episode 25 All about Civil Birth Records, and Episode 26 All about Church Birth Records.

Thank You Family Tree Magazine from Genealogy Gems

In just over two years Genealogy Gems has grown from a mere 21 listeners when Episode 1 of The Genealogy Gems Podcast was published, to thousands of listeners in 100 countries.

We're humbled that thousands of people around the world take time out of their busy days to listen in to both the The Genealogy Gems Podcast and the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast as well visit the website, watch the videos and read the e-newsletter and this blog.

But it's icing on the cake to be recognized by Family Tree Magazine as one of the 101 Best Web Sites for Genealogy!

This annual list appears in the September 2009 issue, which is now going out to subscribers and goes on sale at newsstands nationwide on Tuesday, July 7. The full list can also be found on their Web site.

Family Tree Magazine is America's largest-circulation genealogy magazine, helping readers discover, preserve, and celebrate their family history. In addition to the bimonthly print magazine, they publish how-to genealogy CDs, blogs, books, and a free monthly podcast.

They also offer a free weekly e-mail newsletter that will keep you up to date on everything going on at the magazine and in the world of genealogy.

Thanks to all the listeners, guests, sponsors, and friends of the shows. YOU ARE Genealogy Gems!