Roots Television | Megan's Roots World

Megan will be presenting "Reverse Genealogy: Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones," "Building a Village Based Community," "Remembering Our Ancestors," "Trace Your Roots with DNA" and "Beyond Y-DNA: Your Genetic Genealogy" at the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society Gene-a-Rama on April 13-14. The event will be held at the Olympia Resort and Conference Center in Oconomowoc, WI. Hope to see you there!

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to apologize for being so silent of late. My schedule is just a tad hectic, so I don't have as much time to blog as in the past, but I'll try to keep at it. In fact, it's been driving me nuts lately to not have the time because there's so much happening and so much to say! So you'll continue to hear from me, but probably in sporadic bursts, rather than a steady stream of musings.

Thanks!
Megan

If you've got time tomorrow, please come join us on VoiceAmerica. Genealogy guru and radio host, Kory Meyerink, and I will be talking about everything from DNA to Roots Television to finding the living!

As you may or may not know, I'm one of the founders of Roots Television, so I wanted to be sure to tell you about the improvements we've made -- not to mention our RootsTube contest! Please consider entering and spread the word!

SHOW US YOUR ROOTS AND WIN $500!

Roots Television, LLC (www.rootstelevision.com) wants everyone to flaunt their roots! Launched just a few months ago, this first-ever online home for family history programming boasts 20 channels of great shows for the roots-enthusiast – all available 24/7 and almost all for free. And now viewers have the opportunity to submit their own video through the freshly introduced RootsTube channel and win $500!

Yes, it’s finally here! The perfect way for millions of genealogists around the globe to share their sleuthing adventures, family reunion mishaps, cemetery explorations, interviews with WWII vets, trips to the old country, or even the local society’s monthly lectures. With a few easy-to-follow instructions, anyone can put their video out there for fellow roots-lovers to enjoy.

To celebrate the launch of RootsTube, Roots Television™ is holding a Wild Roots! contest. While submissions of all things genealogical are welcome, viewers are invited to tell the world about the craziest thing they ever did in their quest to learn about their heritage. Did you accidentally pull an all-nighter at your computer? Did you cross a field with a bull in it to get to an old cemetery? Did you purposely get yourself locked into a library overnight? If so, we want to hear about it. You can tell your tale directly to the camera, re-enact it, animate it, use hand puppets or whatever appeals to you. Do it by yourself or with your sister, research buddies, fellow society members, or that 6th cousin of yours in New Zealand. All countries and languages welcome! On May 15, 2007, Roots Television will select and announce the winner of the Wild Roots! contest.

While you’re at it, why not take a few minutes to explore what else Roots Television™ has to offer? Check out our recently unveiled new look that makes it easier than ever to navigate around our 20 channels that include DNA, Military, Kids, Dearly Departed, African Roots, How To and more. Watch your favorite speakers at national conferences, peek over Flat Stanley’s shoulder as he does his roots, or see how Bob Zins used DNA testing to find out who his real father was. Browse the program guide to see what must-see video you might be missing. While you’re there, subscribe to the Og Blog or our newsletter to keep up on the latest programs – and keep an eye out for an exciting new original series coming soon!

About Roots Television, LLC
Headquartered in Utah, Roots Television, LLC is an independent media company that is the brainchild of national media producer Marcy Brown and professional genealogist Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak (yes, her real name).

Largely a virtual operation with partners scattered around the globe, Roots Television™ takes a broad view of family history and is committed to providing programming – both original and from talented producers and independent filmmakers around the world – that appeals to avid genealogists and family history lovers of all stripes.

Whether you’re an archives hound, scrapbooker, cousin collector, roots-travel enthusiast, Civil War re-enactor, DNA fan, reunion instigator, sepia-toned photos zealot, Internet-junkie, history buff, old country traditions follower, cemetery devotee, story-teller, multicultural food aficionado, flea market and antiques fanatic, family documentarian, nostalgia nut, or mystery-solver, Roots Television™ has something for you -- and that “something” is quality programming.

Contact:
Sam Butterworth
801-494-5634
info@rootstelevision.com

Noticed that FindMyPast added another decade's worth of departure records from the UK, so had to go playing again. Now they have the records for 1890-1919 (minus the Titanic, which they intend to add shortly).

This time I spotted a record that had eluded me before: Annie Moore, the first immigrant through Ellis Island, leaving Ireland for New York. Check out the image below.

View image

It was interesting to see that she's listed as 15, although we now know that's off by a couple of years. But it was her brothers' names that I was most entertained by -- little Anthon and Fillik, good Irish names!

BTW, in an earlier post about FindMyPast, I included Bob Hope's departure record. Take a peek, if you're interested.

If you're one of the many who's done deep ancestry testing (say, through the Genographic Project), but don't understand what that letter you've been assigned means, take a look at Georgia Bopp's Haplogroup Chart that boils it down to the very basics -- that is, the locales for major Y-DNA and mtDNA haplogroups. And if that leaves you wanting more, scroll down and click through to some of the map and migration links offered. Handy resource, Georgia!

Megan will be presenting "Trace Your Roots with DNA," "Beyond Y-DNA: Your Genetic Genealogy Options," "Cases That Made My Brain Hurt" and "Right Annie, Wrong Annie" on April 21, 2007 for the New England Historic Genealogical Society. The event will be held at 101 Newbury Street, Boston, MA. Hope to see you there!

I just love the internet! What a kick to see our Roots Television Wild Roots! contest blogged in French!

My sincerest apologies to the blogger who was forced to translate phrases like "cross a field with a bull in it" and "use hand puppets," but I certainly enjoyed the results! And I greatly appreciate your letting folks know about our contest. Maybe the $500 winner will come from France!

You may or may not be aware that I assist the U.S. Army with locating families of servicemen who are still unaccounted for from WWII, Korea and Southeast Asia. Since I'm an Army brat, this work carries a lot of meaning for me.

In any case, the pace of identification seems to have really picked up of late and I was especially delighted to spot this article:

10 Missing WWII Airmen Identified

Researchers are usually not told what happens with cases after they're submitted, so I was very pleased to see that four of the servicemen -- 2nd Lt. Donald F. Grady, Staff Sgt. Thomas G. Knight, Staff Sgt. Norman L. Nell, and Staff Sgt. Blair W. Smith -- were among my cases. To know that they're finally being given a proper burial and honors -- well, I think it's one of the best applications of genealogy possible and I feel privileged to be even a tiny part of it all.

Want to learn more about the experience of trying to make your way to freedom via the Underground Railroad? Check out this gently interactive offering from National Geographic:

Megan will be presenting "Trace Your Roots with DNA" and "Beyond DNA: Your Genetic Genealogy Options" at The New England Regional Genealogical Consortium Conference on April 26-29, 2007 in Hartford, CT. Hope to see you there!

A thousand thank yous to my wonderful hosts at the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society's Gene-a-Rama! I had a blast and hope the same is true of all those who attended. I think we must have covered just about every DNA scenario under the sun!

And as you can see above, a few were kind enough to indulge me by taking their SMGF DNA tests on the spot and joining what I've taken to referring as The Swishers Club. Thanks for being such good sports!

Sometimes my life amuses me. Check out the following taken from a description of the National Action Network convention where I'll be speaking tomorrow. Which one of the following is out of her league??

Well, I actually think that genealogy has something to offer in this area, so I'll do my best to represent us well. Wish me luck!

So it was exactly 100 years ago today that the largest number of people -- almost 12,000 -- arrived at Ellis Island on a single day. Out of curiosity, I went poking around the arrivals for that date. Turns out a lot of Dutch families heading for Michigan arrived on April 17, 1907. Not sure why, but they're heavily represented. Of course, you can find a little of everything -- Italian, Swedish, British, Jewish, whatever. Probably a typical day for the folks who worked there except for the sheer volume they were trying to process.

I did trip across a sad tale in the arrival records that day. Search on Olga Hermansen (and incidentally, everyone can search the Immigration Collection at Ancestry.com for free until the end of April) and you'll find a 23-year-old Swedish woman who died on board just two days prior to arriving. The manifest even notes where her body was taken and what she died of. Apparently, she died in childbirth, which make the story even sadder. Her husband and toddler daughter (Carl and Ellen) must have been heart-broken. I found them in census records in Cornell, NY using the surname of Beck (discarded the patronymic) and was able to determine that he didn't remarry for about 12 years.

I realize this is a melancholy immigrant tale to share, but it's part of the bigger story of the American Dream and illustrative of just how much those seemingly dry pieces of paper have to tell us. And I hope it's some small consolation that 100 years and 2 days after her death, Olga is being remembered by others.

I had an opportunity to speak at the National Action Network's convention in New York yesterday. That means that I got to mingle with the likes of Rev. Al Sharpton, Howard Dean and Ed Koch, but for me, perhaps the biggest kick was getting to meet Deanna and Yamma, two of James Brown's daughters. What a family legacy they have, eh?!

If you're of African-American heritage, you'll definitely want to enter this contest! And BTW, I'll be one of the nosy genealogists poking around in your past! Good luck!

April 18, 2007 11:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Producers of Acclaimed PBS Series African American Lives and Oprah’s Roots Invite Applications from Individuals to Participate in Newest PBS Broadcast, African American Lives 2

One Selected Person Will Have His Or Her Roots Mapped Through DNA Analysis And Genealogical Research In New PBS Series Hosted By Harvard Scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Individuals Can Apply Online Beginning April 18th At: www.pbs.org/aalives

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In February 2006, the acclaimed PBS series African American Lives brought to the forefront of national consciousness the powerful process of discovering one’s family history. A Roots for the 21st century, the series made a deep cultural impact through its riveting use of DNA analysis, genealogical research and family oral tradition to trace the lineages of highly accomplished African Americans down through U.S. history and back to Africa.

One year later, Oprah’s Roots further crystallized and propelled America’s interest in family tree research through the powerful stories of Oprah Winfrey’s ancestors and their accomplishments.

Now, you too are invited to participate in the newest African American Lives project. The producers of African American Lives 2 are seeking an African American to join Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and an all-new group of distinguished African Americans on an extraordinary journey of discovery. The series is tentatively scheduled to air on PBS in February 2008.

“What we find in doing this research is that even a regular person has extraordinary stories within his or her family,” says Professor Gates. “In African American Lives 2, we’ll work with one such person to show that the technology and resources for discovering these stories are available to all Americans, especially those of African descent.”

Under the supervision of Professor Gates, the series’ research will be conducted by the eminent genealogists Tony Burroughs, Johni Cerny, Jane Ailes and Megan Smolenyak together with Ancestry.com, one of the world’s leading online resources for family history information. They’ll research the selected individual’s family history, while a DNA testing service will provide a genetic analysis. The results of both will be revealed, along with that of the other series participants, by Professor Gates on the PBS broadcast of African American Lives 2.

HOW TO ENTER

Beginning April 18th, interested individuals must apply online at www.pbs.org/aalives. Online applications must be received by 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 4, 2007. Any applications submitted after this date and time will not be considered. Finalists will receive a one-year subscription to Ancestry.com. The winning applicant will be notified and announced the week of May 28, 2007. Please note that the following are not eligible to participate: employees, and their relatives, of PBS, the series’ producers (Thirteen/WNET, Kunhardt Productions, and Inkwell Films) and corporate sponsors (The Coca-Cola Company, Johnson & Johnson and General Motors).

In addition to their name, age, gender, and contact information, applicants will be asked to tell the judges about themselves and their family, and why they would make the ideal candidate for the series.

Upon submitting the online application, individuals will receive an e-mail confirmation with a unique identification number. Applicants must attach this number along with their name to a photograph of themselves and mail it to: African American Lives 2, 305 West Broadway, Suite 144, New York, NY 10013. Photographs must be postmarked no later than Monday, May 7. Applications are not complete until the production team receives an individual’s photograph.

Major corporate funding for African American Lives 2 is provided by The Coca-Cola Company and Johnson & Johnson. Additional funding is provided by General Motors.

African American Lives 2 is a co-production of Thirteen/WNET New York, Kunhardt Productions and Inkwell Films. Graham Judd is series producer; Dyllan McGee is senior producer for Kunhardt Productions. Executive producers are Henry Louis Gates Jr., William R. Grant and Peter W. Kunhardt.

Well, this is an interesting application of genetic genealogy. A little on the ambitious side, but I understand the urge that's driving him. Will be interesting to see if he eventually succeeds.

Megan is scheduled to speak at the Tallahassee Genealogical Society on March 1, 2008. She will be presenting "Trace Your Roots with DNA," "Beyond Y-DNA: Your Genetic Genealogy Options," "Cases That Made My Brain Hurt," "Reverse Genealogy: Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones" and "Remembering Our Ancestors." Check back soon for location details!

Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings was kind enough to post about one of my orphan heirloom rescues, so I guess I'll piggyback off of him. This one was called From Carol to Karolyn, and -- in addition to walking you through a case study -- answers the age-old question I know so many of you have been pondering: What the heck is chow chow? Well, wonder no more.

Now this is an intriguing application of genetic genealogy (aka genetealogy)! If only I could get them to expand the project next door to include Slovakia, where my Smolenyaks come from. Of course, we're pure serf stock, but there's always that prince and the pauper possibility, eh?

Want to catch one of Megan's presentations? Here are two upcoming events:

May 5-7, 2007 - London, England - Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE - Hosting Q&A sessions at the Ancestry.co.uk booth.

May 11-13, 2007 - Jamestown, VA - Jamestown 2007 - Come see me in the Democracy Village!

And for those of you who can’t make Megan’s upcoming events, here are some new additions to her calendar:

October 21, 2007 - Wilmington, DE - Delaware Genealogical Society - "Remembering Our Ancestors" - Brandywine Country Club

October 28-November 4, 2007 - 2007 Genealogy Conference and Cruise - hosted by Wholly Genes Software - Voyage through the Eastern Caribbean while we learn about genealogical research methods, tools, and technologies. "Reverse Genealogy: Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones" and "Cases That Made My Brain Hurt"

September 20, 2008 - Bangor, ME - Maine Genealogical Society - "Trace Your Roots with DNA," "Beyond Y-DNA: Your Genetic Genealogy Options," "Reverse Genealogy: Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones," "Cases That Made My Brain Hurt' and "Remembering Our Ancestors" - Location TBD.

April 22-26, 2009 - Manchester, NH - The New England Regional Genealogical Conference 2009 - Topics TBD - Expo Center of New Hampshire

I was just speaking at NERGC in Hartford, CT this past weekend (thanks for having me! see you again in 2009!) and spotted this while strolling around the area:

Imagine if all of us attending the conference had known in advance that they were going to be in town! They would have been booked solid.

If you're not familiar with StoryCorps, take a little time to poke around their website. And if you want to see whether they'll be in your area, check out their locations and travel plans. Maybe you can schedule a session and share your story to be held for posterity at the Library of Congress!