Roots Television | Og Blog

OK everyone, Og has a short quiz for you.

Here’s the first question:
What do Chris Haley and Tom Kemp have in common?
The answer:
They are both featured in a pair of interviews conducted by Dick Eastman for Roots Television™ during the 2007 FGS Conference.

An interview with Chris Haley is featured. Those who attended the recent FGS Conference will remember Chris Haley as the surprise opening guest. But Dick Eastman’s interview exposes him as much more than just a nephew of Roots author Alex Haley, and a charismatic showman and entertainer. Chris Haley is the Director of the Study of the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland, and active archivist and genealogist, and an amazing guy.

Our next featured interview, also conducted by Dick Eastman of Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter, features Tom Kemp from Genealogy Bank, which is a terrific resource containing over 200 “items”, such as million death records, historical news articles, obituaries, etc. Some neat features include the SSDI listing being updated weekly, and the ability to search the site for no charge. For more detailed information, annual and monthly agreements are available for purchase at a very reasonable price.

Now here’s your last question:
What’s stopping you from jumping right into Roots Television to watch these great interviews?!? Hurry, hurry!

Og from Roots Television™

Oh Baby! If Og ever needed an excuse to embark on a fantastic vacation to New Zealand, I just found it -- and you can too! Take a few minutes to watch a new interview we've just uploaded where Dick Eastman interviews Jan Gow, the Program Speaker Chair for the Australasian Federation of Family History Organizations (AFFHO). During the interview, find out much, much more about the January 2009 AFFHO Congress that will be held for the first time ever in Auckland, New Zealand.

Now, anytime is a great time to visit New Zealand, but January will be truly lovely weather-wise for those of us looking for some nice warm weather. But don't let that be your only draw to the Congress -- let the emphasis on technology, DNA, and Speed Genealogy (we CAN'T WAIT to see how that works!), along with the wonderful location of the conference at Kings College draw you to learn more about your Australasian roots. Og wants to go, too!

Og from Roots Television™

In a tribute to Ken Burns' impending documentary, The War, we are happy to present "The Socks To America". Written and produced by the Genealogy Gems Podcast, this epic spoof traces the origins of the Sockish people, following them from their native Sockland, across the Atlantic, through Ellis Island and beyond. Who knew that from such humble beginnings would come entrepreneurs, politicians, and celebrities the likes of Lambchop? So sit back, relax, and enjoy a good chuckle at our favorite past time.

Og from Roots Television

There are still 44 days left in our Societies and Libraries Contest - plenty of time to keep your clicking finger busy and send some traffic to our site. Remember, any society, library, archive, or genealogical organization is eligible to enter our contest. Just add our link to your site (you can find instructions on our How To Link page), and encourage everyone you know to click on the link and visit Roots Television. The organization that sends the most traffic our way will win $1000! And for you small but spunky societies, take heart, you have just as much of a chance of winning as anyone. Even if there are only 20 of you, and you each visit the site only once a day, that will add up to a whopping 880 referrals. Think what you could do with just a little extra effort?

From what Og can tell, it looks like a lot of you already have the idea. Check out these great links from the following societies and libraries:

Ohoopee Regional Library System

Arkansas Genealogical Society

Og from Roots Television

...or you just might miss something new on Roots Television. Check out our interview with Drew Smith, of Genealogy Guys Podcast fame. Og ran into him at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree this summer. Drew and co-host George Morgan began their podcast all the way back in 2005, and they just celebrated their 100th broadcast! Not only do their shows cover everything from the latest databases to why we have June weddings, their podcasts are completely free!

Og from Roots Television

For anyone living within striking distance of the Southern California Genealogical Society's library, their new video tour is a must see! The SCGS Family Research Library's collection includes the records of the German Genealogical Society of America, the Southern California Chapter of the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America, the French-Canadian Heritage Society of California, numerous maps, over 5,000 family histories, and countless other resources. The SCGS Library is so packed with volumes, be sure to tell your family where you're going and when you plan to return, so they know where to send the search party!

Og from Roots Television

The race is on in our societies and libraries contest. Thanks to everyone for your enthusiasm! Our current top ten list includes a wide variety of organizations, from well-known libraries to very small, localized societies. There is still plenty of time to rally the troops and take over that top spot. Og has had a sneak peek at the numbers, and he can tell you it is truly anyone's game!

Friends of the Allen County Public Library
Muskogee County Genealogical Society
Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness
Eastern Washington Genealogical Society
Harrison County Genealogical Society
Ohoopee Regional Library System
Westchester County Genealogical Society
Blair County Genealogical Society
Green County, Wisconsin
Tri State Genealogical Society

Og from Roots Television

Thanks to Susan at Family Oral History and Jennifer at JacksBox4U for spotting our interview with War Letters author Andrew Carroll. When Andrew's home burned down years ago, he was surprised to find that what he missed the most were the letters he lost. Andrew was inspired to start the Legacy Project, which collects and preserves correspondences from all of America's wars and on any subject matter. In his interview he tells how the project began and shares several of the unique and touching letters that he has collected. Thanks again Susan and Jennifer!

Og from Roots Television

Og's been keeping an eye on the Societies and Libraries Contest race, and he's excited to see how enthusiastic everyone has been! Large and small organizations alike are in a dead heat for the lead, and it looks like many of you have launched some great link-clicking blitzes. But before your next clicking campaign, Og has a little bit of advice. When you click on the Roots Television link from your websites, make sure you let the page load completely (until the video actually begins to play) before you navigate out of the Roots Television website. You may even want to click on an extra page inside of the RTV site for good measure. Og wants to make sure you get credit for each and every visit! Thanks for all of your hard work!

Og from Roots Television

Og is a swinging fellow, and he loves his genealogy music. Don't miss out on our latest music video, "Family Tree" from the award-winning Crisptones Band. Written by Mark Crisp, this song will tug at your heartstrings and make you feel good all over. The Crisptones were just nominated in 2007 for 17th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards - Session 3, and Mark was recently a winning finalist in the 11th Annual Unisong International Song Writing Competition.

You may also want to check out music from the Veltz Family, and if you're looking for something a little less contemporary (18th century anyone?) try a bit of Revolutionary War music.

Og from Roots Television

Og was delighted to run into Diane Haddad, Managing Editor of Family Tree Magazine, at the 2007 FGS Conference. Our good friend Chris Haley (you'll remember him as the Director of the Study of the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland, and as Roots author Alex Haley's nephew) had the chance to sit down with Diane for a little chat. Take a peek at this great interview and learn more about what inspires Diane and her colleagues to get out of bed every morning. Not only is Family Tree Magazine the top-selling genealogical mag in the U.S., it makes the conscious effort to appeal to genealogists of all research levels. So if you're a newbie still learning how to spell "microfiche," or you're an old pro ready to dive headlong into 18th century Cyrillic vital records, Diane and her team have something for you.

Og from Roots Television

This Friday, September 29th, is Roots Television's Fabulous First Birthday! Og is soooo very excited! He wishes he could share a super giant piece of fudgy chocolate birthday cake with all of his friends. Since no one has invented a sufficiently satisfying virtual dessert, we thought the next best thing was a good old-fashioned party game. So get ready for the first RTV Scavenger Hunt.

Og's come up with six very tricky questions, listed below. It's your job to dig through the Roots Television archives to find the answers. Hint: a good place to start is to check out our searchable Program Guide. We'll choose the winners at random from those entries that have the most correct answers, and we'll send those winners some dynamite Roots Television gear. So synchronize your watches - you have until Monday, October 15th to email Og your answers (og@rootstelevision.com)

Roots Television Happy Birthday Scavenger Hunt

1. What song did Chris Haley sing at the 2007 FGS Conference?
2. Was the man who raised Bob Zins his real father?
3. Name three famous descendants of the Sockish.
4. What was author Victor Villasenor’s grandfather’s claim to fame?
5. What six required tools of the genealogist does Dick Eastman mention in
his lecture "Putting the Genes in Genealogy"?
6. Name any of Flat Stanley’s ancestors.

Og from Roots Television

Roots Television founder Marcy Brown, and Director of Operations Samantha Butterworth, had a chance to tiptoe through the Bingham Cemetery with tour guide extraordinaire Brad Jencks. For those of you keeping track, Brad was the well-deserving winner of our Wild Roots video contest this summer. Only Brad was too busy traveling across the country on a genealogy quest to accept his prize!

When we finally caught up with Brad, he was waist deep in his work as the lookup volunteer for the cemetery and organizing a new Veterans' Memorial. But he made the time to take us on a fantastic tour of the site, introducing us to his favorite occupants and sharing story after story of the living family members who still visit the grounds to pay their respects.

Brad was gracious enough to step in front of the camera and share a few tips for any other scouts looking to undertake a cemetery project. We're happy to welcome Brad to the Roots Television family, and we hope his good work and dedication inspire other youths to take a peek into their own pasts.

Og from Roots Television