Roots Television | Og Blog

If you haven’t found the time to see The Great Eight yet, these notes from the director (and Roots TV founder) Marcy Brown may just be the motivation you need:

Being the one who had the great privilege of orchestrating the making of The Great Eight documentary, I speak from experience when I say I know what it's like to be a mere mortal in the midst of living legends. I was surrounded by champions, both on and off-screen, and it seems fitting to offer up a personal tribute to those who made it happen.

First, there’s the Great Eight crew. What an extraordinary group of men! Those who have seen the film know their 1952 Olympic story. What is not so well known is that they made an attempt to go for the gold in ‘56 as well. It was a long shot, given the fact that they had gone their separate ways and only had a short time to prepare. A few days before the qualifying race, Willie Fields broke his hand playing softball, and on the day of the race Wayne Frye woke up with a blistering fever. Undaunted (apparently none of them knew the word “quit!”) they entered the race, Willie with his arm in a cast and Wayne doubled over in pain. No, they didn’t win, but they came in a close third behind Cornell and Yale, the crew that went on to win the gold medal in Australia. After the race, Wayne was rushed to the hospital with a ruptured appendix.

Behind the scenes there were other champions. Executive Producer Stephen Peet was a veteran BBC producer who pioneered the art of oral history filmmaking. His life and achievements will be honored at a special program in London next month.

Co-producer Valerie Anders claims a husband who has been to the moon! Astronaut William Anders was part of the Apollo 8 crew that delivered the historic 1968 Christmas Eve reading from the Bible’s Book of Genesis. Bill and Valerie have been lifelong friends and fans of the Great Eight, and their support in making this film was invaluable.

And finally, Gregory Peck. Gregory Peck rowed with the Cal crew during his college years and often said he considered himself more of a rower than an actor. A true gentleman in every respect, he graciously declined providing a picture of himself for the closing credits. He said the film was about the greatest American crew that ever raced, and he wouldn’t think of pretending to be in their class.

A highlight for me was the "chat" after the recording session when I raised the topic of my favorite scene from To Kill A Mockingbird. Mr. Peck casually leaned across the hood of his Mercedes, assumed his Atticus Finch character, and flawlessly delivered lines from his famous jury scene. He finished with a commanding 'Do Your Duty!'

It was a pinch-me-because-I’m-sure-this-can’t-really-be-happening moment for me, but also a perfect capstone to an incredible experience. "Do your duty," is an everyday way of life in the company of champions. Hopefully this film has captured in some small way just a portion of the true "greatness" behind it.

Marcy Brown with Gregory Peck and Bob Detweiler

Did you know that Thanksgiving is National Family History Day in the U.S.? What better time to gather family stories and tall tales than while eating your fifth piece of pumpkin pie and ignoring the mountain of dishes in the kitchen. This holiday season, pull out your camcorder, cassete recorder, reel-to-reel, gramophone, or hammer and chisel, and make sure you record your favorite family legends before they fade away!

To help you get started, we are airing a special "Living History" lineup of programs. At the top of our list is Grand Generation, by Academy-Award-winning filmmaker Paul Wagner. Many of you may have seen some of his other work, such as The Stone Carvers and Out of Ireland. Grand Generation is oral history at its finest. Wagner, with Steven Zeitlin and Marjorie Hunt of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife, share interviews with hispanic farmer Cleofes Vigil, civil rights activist Rosina Tucker, Jewish baker Moishe Sacks, and other members of an older and wiser generation. Each shares a unique perspective on aging and gives important advice to those who follow. There is a little of everyone's grandma and grandpa in this remarkable documentary.

Later this week, we'll introduce Ancestors: Family Stories. You'll learn how and why to gather family stories, and you'll follow Fabiana Chiu's quest to document her family's journey from China, through Peru, to New York City.

Life is busy, and the holidays are often the only time we give ourselves to gather together and share the things that make us a family. Don't let these moments pass - do your part to preserve your family's unique legacy!

It’s been a while coming, but our Pay TV channel is finally up and running. Don’t worry – we will continue to offer the bulk of our programming for free. But there are some gems out there that we can only get on a pay-per-view basis, so in the interest of offering our viewers the widest selection possible, we’ve opted to include Pay TV as one of our 20 channels.

We've also had requests from viewers interested in purchasing DVDs of our Roots Television original productions. Although we will continue to run pieces such as “In Search of Annie Moore” for free on the site, in the future you will also be able to purchase and download these videos, and burn your very own DVD copy. Og knows it’s not a perfect world - not every genealogical society meeting room has a high-speed connection!

Og from Roots Television

Don't miss Dick Eastman's keynote address from the recent BYU Computerized Family History and Genealogy Conference. His lecture, entitled "Putting the Genes in Genealogy", takes a serious look at the new role of the family historian in a DNA world.

While you're at it, check out the rest of our Conferences Channel. Now, you can learn the latest tips and tricks from leading genealogists, all from the comfort of your own home. It's like that dream when you show up to school in your pajamas - only this time, it's okay!

Og from Roots Television

The annual IAJGS conference is just around the corner, and what better way to get yourself in the mood than another Og Blog contest. Subscribe to the Og Blog or sign up for the Newsletter, and you'll be entered to win an autographed copy of Thomas Toivi Blatt's gripping narrative, From the Ashes of Sobibor.

And if you happen to be in the neighborhood, stop by the Roots Television booth at the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) conference in Salt Lake. See you there!

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

Happy Halloween! Og has put the finishing touches on his mammoth costume, and he's getting ready for one of the greatest genealogy days of the year! With all of the costumes, parties, and treats, it's easy to forget that the holidays surrounding Halloween, All Souls Day, The Day of the Dead, and others originated as festivals to celebrate and reconnect with our ancestors. Around the world, people are turning to their ancestors and showing their respect by visiting cemeteries, repairing gravesites, sharing family stories, and even writing mock epitaphs for their still-living friends.

If you just can't find a spare moment to visit your favorite cemetery this Halloween season, feel free to take a look at a few of ours. And remember, there's nothing that says you can't do census research while dressed up as Princess Leia. So put that sugar rush to good use and get back to work!!

Og from Roots Television

After more than a decade of collecting, categorizing, and sharing the best genealogy links, Cyndi Howells of Cyndi's List fame is still going strong. In case you've been researching in a cave for the last 10 years, Cyndi's List is a directory of over 268,000 categorized internet links for genealogy. What's more, Cyndi adds the human touch, personally reviewing each and every link to weed out those non-relevant, and dare we say unsavory submissions. And to top it all off, the website is absolutely free!!

You definitely won't want to miss Dick Eastman's recent interview with Cyndi on the 2007 Wholly Genes Genealogy Cruise.

Og from Roots Television

Ever wonder what genealogy cruising was all about? Now you can peek into the world of genealogy at sea. Come aboard the 2007 Wholly Genes genealogy cruise, and see first hand life on board the ship and what exactly it is genealogists do at sea. You can even hear just what the pros and experts think about genealogy cruising. So if you're looking to plan your next getaway, the Wholly Genes Genealogy Cruise will be making another run in October '08.

Og from Roots Television

Og is just blushing with pride. Thanks to Diane Haddad of Family Tree Magazine for including us in her 10 Biggest Genealogy Stories of 2007

Online videos are everywhere Thank Roots Television for this one. It actually launched in 2006, but expanded its coverage this year by sending crews to genealogy conferences and on cruises, and adding RootsTube (a genealogical version of YouTube where you can upload videos). Founder Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak says the site's roughly 400 shows (divided into 1,100 smaller chunks) are "pushing half a million video views."

And Og is positively glowing to be included in Dick Eastman's 2007 in Review.

Television on the Internet One major new genealogy service appeared on the Internet during 2007: RootsTelevision. This new "video-on-demand" service allows you to watch interviews, conference keynote speeches, "how to" instruction, and much more, all without leaving your computer. The video appears on your computer’s screen while accompanying audio plays on your computer’s speakers.

Late in the year, RootsTelevision even recorded a number of episodes from a genealogy cruise ship, giving viewers some great insight into what happens on board. We even saw what may have been the first "genealogy wave." No, that's not a tidal wave overwhelming the ship. I had the pleasure of being involved in a few of those videos and must say that I am enthused with the concept of genealogy videos on the Internet.

I believe that video is going to become more and more popular on the Internet in the next few years. One of the most popular Internet sites of today is YouTube.com, a gigantic repository of all sorts of videos. Banking on the potential of this kind of service, Google acquired YouTube late in 2006 for $1.65 billion in stock. In 2007, RootsTelevision.com became a rather specialized video repository for genealogists. Perhaps RootsTelevision will be acquired for a billion dollars, too. (OK, so I am just kidding about the money. Seriously, this is a fascinating service that just might become an acquisition target for a well-financed organization that wishes to expand into genealogy for few million dollars or so.)

Make sure you check out both of these blogs to see what other genealogy news piqued our interest in 2007.

Og from Roots Television

Who is Og anyway? And what does he have to do with genealogist Megan Smolenyak? The Story of Og will give you a peek into this peculiar caveman's past.

Subscribing to the Og Blog is the best way to keep up to date on what's new and coming soon on Roots Television. Og will let you know when he runs contests and specials, and will send you a message whenever he adds new shows. So don't be shy - sign up to be Og's favorite pen pal!

Og from Roots Television

Over the next few days, you might notice a few minor changes in Roots Television land. Never fear - we still offer over 1,000 genealogy and family history video clips on-demand and for free. We're just tweaking the site a bit to make us a little more user-friendly. Og will keep you posted on our progress. Thanks for your patience!

Og from Roots Television

In case you've been living in a cave this last week, Og's good friends the Genealogy Guys are starring in Roots Television's latest series, Down Under. In addition to their role as hosts to one of the most popular genealogy podcasts on the web, George Morgan and Drew Smith are adding "television host" to their already hefty resumes.

For a behind-the-scenes peek at what it takes to shoot an RTV production from start to finish, you won't want to miss the Genealogy Guys' latest podcast. Not only do they tell how they chose their stories for Down Under and what you need to be a TV star, they give credit to the many people behind the camera that make Roots Television possible - Kent, Brandon, Merry, and many more. You can check out a photo of Og's friends on location below.

Og was tickled when George and Drew agreed to work with us - it's rare you find that level of expertise, poise, and good looks all in the same package. Thanks to the Genealogy Guys for their excellent work on all fronts!

Og from Roots Television

Og knows he's been a little unpredictable about posting new shows to Roots Television. So he's going to make it easy on you by announcing New Roots Tuesday. Og gets it - you're busy people with busy schedules full of microfiche and photocopies and database crawling. So it's time to simplify.

Every Tuesday, of every week, Og will post a lineup of his newest and favoritest genealogy and family history videos. And what better way to launch New Roots Tuesday than with a player full of videos and interviews from last week's Family History Expo in St. George. Stop by RootsTelevision.com to see just who we've cornered this time. Suddenly, Tuesday is the best day on TV!!

Og from Roots Television

Special thanks to Kimberly Powell for including us in her latest Genealogy.About.com post, 5 Genealogy Podcasts to Enjoy.

It's not exactly podcasting, but RootsTelevision is so great I can't leave it out. If you're looking for online genealogy education and enrichment that fits your schedule, the online videos here offer just that. Video topics run the gamut from DNA and Roots Travel, to Genealogy How To and showcase many of genealogy's best-known names.

Og's tickled to be in such good company!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

It's New Roots Tuesday again! In case you're still wondering what New Roots Tuesday is, here's a refresher:

Og knows he's been a little unpredictable about posting new shows to Roots Television. So he's going to make it easy on you by announcing New Roots Tuesday. Og gets it - you're busy people with busy schedules full of microfiche and photocopies and database crawling. So it's time to simplify.

Every Tuesday, of every week, Og will post a lineup of his newest and favoritest genealogy and family history videos.

This Tuesday, Og's thrilled to add another lecture to our already bursting How-To channel. George Ryskamp shows us how to take advantage of local records in his presentation, Using Municipal Archives, shot on location at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. And Og has to say that the Family History Library is such a great resource, we're highlighting a few other lectures and interviews from experts and patrons of the FHL.

Og from RootsTelevision.com

This Tuesday, genealogist Mary McEwan brings us Canadian Census research in Armchair Genealogy, where you can learn how to use the Canadian census records on the web.

You'll also hear Beth Wilson's lecture at the 2006 AAHGS Conference, Trails Back, Tracing Ancestors in Slavery through Census, Probate, and Land Records. And featured this week are two episodes from the Ancestors Series, Census Records and Military & Census Records. Check out these and other census research how-to videos on Roots Television.

Og from RootsTelevision.com

This Tuesday, genealogist Mary McEwan brings us Canadian Census research in Armchair Genealogy, where you can learn how to use the Canadian census records on the web.

You'll also hear Beth Wilson's lecture at the 2006 AAHGS Conference, Trails Back, Tracing Ancestors in Slavery through Census, Probate, and Land Records. And featured this week are two episodes from the Ancestors Series, Census Records and Military & Census Records. Check out these and other census research how-to videos on Roots Television.

Og from RootsTelevision.com

It's Irish Roots Week on Roots Television. First in our lineup this week is Ancestors 202, Family Records:

Suzanne was lucky. Her great-grandfather left a tiny slip of paper upon which he'd written the townland from which her family originated in Ireland. It also included the name of his uncle, who just happened to be famous. That scrap of paper, given to Suzanne by her grandmother, was the catalyst which took her Irish genealogical line back to 1685!

Suzanne began her journey of discovery by going to the Family History Library where attendants helped her find references to the famous uncle, "Honest John" Martin. He had been a member of Parliament and a Young Irelander. Researching the Young Irelanders, she learned that John was accused of treason and sentenced to exile in Tasmania.

On a return trip to Salt Lake City, Suzanne focused on researching the records of the church the family had attended. After some digging, she was thrilled to find a book by Rev. Cowan that included a genealogy for both of Honest John's parents! When she read the book, she discovered that most of the genealogical information came from the diaries of James Harshaw, an uncle of Honest John's. Suzanne was determined to read those diaries!

Check out our entire lineup of Irish programming, and stay tuned for more updates on Irish Roots Week!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

Have any colorful kin? Og knows he has more than a few skeletons in his cave! This Roots Tuesday, we're celebrating a few colorful kin we met at the SoCal Jamboree last summer.

This week, learn about legendary swing dancer Wille Desatoff as Roots Television interviews his wife, Lila. Also hear from genealogist Vicki Hilb, who shines a light on her family's own unconventional ancestors.

Og is always looking for good - or at least entertaining - family stories. Don't be shy - share your tales with us on RootsTube. Stay tuned for more updates from the Og Blog.

Og from RootsTelevision.com

Og can hardly contain himself. In our very first year, Roots Television has won four Telly Awards! The Telly Awards "honor the very best local, regional and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the web."

So to celebrate, Og's holding a Roots Telly Tuesday, featuring a few of our now officially "award-winning" shows. From DNA Stories: A Tale of Two Fathers, to Heir Jordan and Flat Stanley, to Psychic Roots with Hank Jones, we're all in for some serious Telly Tuesday entertainment!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

No foolin', it's New Roots Tuesday!

Og is an in-tune kind of guy, and he couldn't help but notice that Prom season is fast approaching. And there's no better way to take a break from the frantic preparations than to sit back and let storyteller Waddie Mitchell tug at your heartstrings with his Belle of the Ball. Also meet Drew Smith of the Genealogy Guys Podcast, and hear from Hank Jones, author of The Palatines to America.

And coming this week, Og is excited to introduce Roots Central (more on this later).

Og from RootsTelevision.com

Every day it seems, Og gets messages from viewers excited to share news about their upcoming events, speaking schedules, new projects, and their most frustrating brick walls. Finally, it occurred to Og, why should he keep all this good information to himself?

So we've created Roots Central, a place for you, our viewers, to share your news with the world. Looking for a place to announce your society's upcoming event? Are you an up-and-coming speaker looking to publicize your schedule? Hit a brick wall and ready to ask for help? Roots Central is for you. Just submit your information and any accompanying graphics to us in an email to rootscentral@rootstelevision.com. We update Roots Central every Tuesday, so submissions are due each Friday before noon Pacific Time.

And Og's not stopping at just sharing a little information. You can even embed the Roots Central video on your own website, and help spread the genealogical word to your own audience. Contact us at rootscentral@rootstelevision.com with any questions.

Og from RootsTelevision.com

This Tuesday, check out the latest installment in our original Down Under series, Down Under Florida: The Flying Zacchini's. You can also catch up on the previous Down Under episode about the Ashley Family monument. And if you're ready to dig into some cemetery research of your own, you'll want to make sure you listen well to Ancestors: Cemetery Records.

Don't forget to stop by Roots Central for news of upcoming genealogy events. We've just posted announcements from the likes of KCGS, WSGS, JGSWS, CCNGS, WSGS, CGS, SVGS, BCGS, JGSCV, ATHS and many more!

You, too, can be included in our alphabet soup! Just send your information to rootscentral@rootstelevision.com. All we need (in 75 words or less) is your event's title, date and location, brief description, contact info or URL, and an optional JPG of your society logo. Roots Central is updated every Tuesday, and since Og likes his weekends off, be sure to submit your information by Friday at noon!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

At Roots Television, we're big fans of the internet and its ability to connect people and places that might never have the chance to meet in real life. And that's why this week we're also big fans of Footnote's latest project with the National Archives - making the Vietnam Memorial Wall online and interactive. Take a look at this incredible project, how it works, and the people behind it.

Also this week, we're pleased to share a pair of videos submitted to RootsTube by ThinkGenealogy.com - Are You Smarter than a Grade School Genealogist and 10 Things Genealogy Software Should Do. Og is delighted every time he sees a new addition to his RootsTube collection, and he's longing for more of you genealogy stars-in-waiting to jump on the bandwagon. So this week, we're featuring a some of our favorite viewer submissions, and Og hopes to inspire a few more of you to take your talents worldwide.

Og from RootsTelevision.com

New this week on Roots TV:

Rick Kittles of African-Ancestry
Rick Kittles, Co-founder of the DNA testing compacy African Ancestry, talks with Megan Smolenyak at the Mid-Atlantic African-American Genealogy Conference (MAAAGC).

Reginald Washington, National Archives
Reginald Washington, African American genealogy subject expert and archivist for the National Archives, speaks about the Freedmen's Bureau records and the Southern Claims Commission at MAAAGC, the Mid-Atlantic African American Genealogy Conference.

Ahmad Corbitt at MAAAGC
Ahmad Corbitt, President of the Cherry Hill Stake and Public Affairs Director (NYC) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks with Megan Smolenyak about the Mid-Atlantic African-American Genealogy Conference.

Shamele Jordon at MAAAGC
Shamele Jordon, professional genealogist and podcaster, speaks with Megan Smolenyak at the Mid-Atlantic African American Genealogy Conference. The discussion includes her initiative to record 150 Civil War soldiers buried in the historic community of Lawnside, NJ.

Casey Zahn at MAAAGC
Casey Zahn, professional genealogist and author, speaks with Megan Smolenyak about how to get kids interested in genealogy, the MAAAGC conference and this year's FGS conference.

Ron Higgins, President of CAAGS
An interview with Ron Higgins, President of the California African American Genealogical Society, a the 2007 Southern California Jamboree.

Og from RootsTelevision.com

Greetings from the UK! Og had a fabulous time at this year's Who Do You Think You Are? Live! and National History Show in London. From flight demonstrations to Dick Eastman's interviews with genealogists in the know, we have a lot of exciting videos coming your way.

This Tuesday, we're featuring some of our favorite selections from the 2007 WDYTYA? Live! show. Og and his crew are headed back Stateside tomorrow to start editing together all of our great footage, and we'll begin posting videos from this year's event ASAP. So keep checking back this week to see what's new!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

This week, Dick Eastman introduces our coverage of the 2008 Who Do You Think You Are? Live! and National History Show in London. Dick also interviews Ken Martindale, founder of the Black British Heritage organization. Stay tuned for more interviews from the UK!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

This Tuesday we're featuring a new short film called The Bootmaker's Footprints. It's a story of reclaimed Irish ancestry, giving hope to those who may have given up tracing the Irish roots of family who migrated to England.

We're also pleased to share two public service announcements from the Allen County Public Library, highlighting their Military Symposium to be held this September.

Og from RootsTelevision.com

This Tuesday, we have two new videos from this year's Who Do You Think You Are? Live! event in London.

First, Dick Eastman interviews Paul Blake, Event Coordinator for the Federation of Family History Societies. The FFHS "The Federation of family History Societies (FFHS) is an educational charity which exists to represent, advise and support its membership of family history societies and other genealogical organisations world-wide."

And if you've ever wondered what life was like for an RAF pilot during WWI, don't miss Ravell's First Flight, a comedy re-enactment performed at the conference.

Og from RootsTelevision.com

Okay, Og's a bit behind posting his New Roots Tuesday lineup this week. To be honest, he's been caught up in Unclaimed Persons land. But as promised, here are this week's New and Featured Videos.

First, we have a short snippet about Alfred/Albert Crazy Buffalo, an Unclaimed Persons case that has puzzled coroner Joe Brennan since 1994. It was the first unclaimed persons case he encountered after being elected Coroner. Every coroner we've talked to has a case (or two or three!) that stands out, for various reasons. This is the one Joe Brennan keeps coming back to. It's a John Doe/Unclaimed Persons combo, but maybe someone out there will have a fresh approach!

We're also running a video featuring Miriam Midkiff, a teacher and writer of genealogy who uses Google Book Search in her personal research to put more context into the lives of her ancestors - including one relative who once trained a roller-skating bear.

And if you're wondering when Roots Central will be updated, just give Og another hour or two and he'll have that ready, too!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

At the Southern California Genealogical Society’s 2008 Jamboree we asked a new member of the Society, Matthew Poe, to do some interviewing (and represent a whole new generation of genies!). Matthew did a great job interviewing JoAnne Rockower, Director of Community Outreach for Geni.com.

We’ve also included a segment from African American Lives 2 that ran earlier this year on PBS. It features Skip Gates (Henry Louis Gates, Jr.) and Kathleen Henderson, who was the winner of a nationwide contest that was held for a non-celebrity to participate in the show. RootsTelevision.com’s own Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak did the sleuthing that led to an unexpected discovery for both Skip and Kathleen!

This week, we’re also featuring a video on Hungarian Family History Centers. Og admits that this isn’t the finest footage he’s seen, but still it’s interesting -- who knew there were so many Family History Centers in Hungary??

Lastly, Denise Olson of the Family Matters blog, provided this video tutorial that demonstrates Firefox search tools. Family researchers can take advantage of these tools to make their search efforts easier. And don’t miss the bonus Firefox Search Tools Fact Sheet [PDF 1.2MB] that provides step-by-step instructions for the tasks covered in the tutorial!

Og is simply ecstatic! For the second year in a row, Family Tree Magazine has named RootsTelevision to its annual 101 Best Web Sites for genealogy list for 2008. Being listed with remarkable sites like Ancestry.com, Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter, and Cyndi’s List is just thrilling!

A synopsis of each winning site appears in the September 2008 Family Tree Magazine, which goes on sale at newsstands nationwide July 15. Be sure to grab a copy!

Og has some great videos for all our genies this week! We're featuring two interviews by Dick Eastman -- one at the 2008 SCGS Jamboree with Ron Arons, author of The Jews of Sing Sing, and another with JoAnne Rockower of Geni.com at the 2008 WDYTYA Live! event in London.

And you won't want to miss this three-part series of CBC's Who Do You Think You Are? featuring Chantal Kreviazuk. An internationally respected, Juno award-winning singer, songwriter and musician, Chantal was born in Winnipeg, originally from a Manitoba farming community. This series highlights her journey back to her prairie heritage, and also reveals the source of her musical and creative spirit. You won't want to miss it!

Another great video highlighted this week is Arlene Sachs' talk with Sonia Rosa-Velez and Eliud Bonilla about what happened when their families had their DNA tested.

And to round out this week, we included a touching nostalgic montage that celebrates families.

Og hopes you enjoy this edition of New Roots Tuesday!

This week, we've added two SCGS Jamboree interviews with representatives of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. First, D. Brenton Simons, Executive Director of NEHGS, talks to Matthew Poe about the launch of a new website, www.newyorkancestors.org. The extensive collection of New York genealogical resources includes probate records, newspapers and periodicals, vital records, and New York genealogies and biographies. You also won't want to miss Brenton’s new book, Boston Beheld: Antique Town and Country Views.

Then, Matthew Poe interviews Chris Child about his research into the ancestry of our presidential candidates...and the surprises he uncovered!

And finally, Eric Basir from Photo Graphix, shows us how to scan and photograph original photos and documents for optimum quality. If you want to polish your skills, make sure you catch the two-part series!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

We are immensely excited to feature an interview with Dan Waddell, author of The Blood Detective, a newly released genealogy thriller. That's right, a fictional novel about genealogy!

The Blood Detective is about a series of murders in London linked by an index number carved into each body...a number that happens to be the death certificate number of a murder victim from 1879! Nigel Barnes is the genealogist who assists with the case by searching the past to solve the mystery behind a string of murders from over a century ago.

For all of our readers with Swedish roots, this week we are also featuring two videos on Swedish genealogy. Anna-Karin Schander, of Anna-Karin's Genealogical Podcast, talks about her research into Swedish genealogy and how her Podcast started. She also provides some tips for Swedish researchers as well as some links to help you in your journey. Here's a few to get you started:

• The Swedish Federation of Genealogical Societies
• The Swedish Emigrant Institute
• Svensk Arkivinformation SVAR

Another great Swedish genealogy website is Genline.com, and we are featuring an interview from the SCGS Jamboree with Kathy Meade. She explains that Genline is an online subscription service that provides access to images of original Swedish church records. A great site you will want to add to your list of resources!

Also from the 2008 Jamboree, we have a short piece featuring Richard Williams, Director of Sales and Marketing of the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, discussing some of the extensive amenities the hotel offers, including being next door to the world's largest genealogy library, the LDS Family History Library.

And to round out this exciting week, we have another tutorial from Eric Basir of Photo Grafix that teaches you how to create a photo page and customize the size and captions for the photos. Thanks for this easy to follow how-to, Eric!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

The 28th annual IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy is fast approaching (August 17-22 in Chicago), and Og thought we should all get in the mood with a special Jewish Roots Tuesday. This week, we're featuring a new interview with journalist Schelly Talalay Dardashti, author of the Tracing the Tribe blog. Schelly shares tips about basic Jewish research and talks about her work as a blogger.

We're also showing video from last year's IAJGS conference in Salt Lake City, including interviews with Elise Friedman, coordinator for JewishGen DNA Central, and with Alexander Avraham, director of the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

You'll enjoy interviews with Ron Arons, author of The Jews of Sing Sing, and Joyce Antler, who gives the history of the Jewish mother in You Never Call, You Never Write.

And if you're looking for even more Jewish-themed content, don't forget to check out our Jewish Roots Channel.

Og from RootsTelevision.com

This Tuesday, we're rolling out the latest episode in our Down Under series. Shot in Tampa, Florida, The Milton Family Story looks behind the headstone inscriptions to find out more about a mother and daughter who died on the same day.

Also this week, learn more about Bernadine Anderson's efforts to preserve the Linwood Plantation in Louisiana. Bernadine is herself a descendant of the Linwood slaves.

If you're interested in preserving oral histories, don't miss Video Biography - Burnt Peas, submitted through our RootsTube service by Steve Pender of FamilyLegacyVideo.com. You can also learn more about oral histories from the Capturing the Past how-to series.

We're also featuring Ancestors: Cemetery Records and Ancestors: Probate Records, as well as a lecture by genealogy Kory Meyerink "Online Cemetery Records"

Og from RootsTelevision.com

This week on RootsTelevision.com...

Ever wonder how to take a DNA test? Virginia Family Tree, in partnership with Family Tree DNA, is tracking genetic genealogy from the consumer's point of view. From ordering the kit to taking the test and sending it back, they are documenting those steps, in real time, and reporting them back to viewers of the blog. This video is an actual DNA test in progress, used to demonstrate the simple and painless nature of collecting a cheek swab. Updates to the test can be found at the Virginia Family Tree blog. And not only does the video show you how to take the test, but also how to do it sideways. Og got a good laugh out of that one!

Then you won’t want to miss Chris Haley, nephew of “Roots” author Alex Haley, taking us on a tour of his mouth as he takes a DNA test of this own.

And speaking of Chris Haley, here’s a video of his unforgettable entrance at the Federation of Genealogical Societies annual conference last year. Og can only imagine what he has in store for us at this year’s conference, taking place on September 3-6 in Philadelphia, PA!

This week also features a video from the SoCal Jamboree with cousins Evelyn Duke and Betty Hutson sharing the story of how they connected through genealogy...and still research together seven years later!

And be sure to check out Alannah Ryane’s first webisode in her By Her Roots series, "The Search for Peter Martin." Alannah brings us along on her journey to explore her ancestry in Nova Scotia.

Don’t forget to browse through the rest of the featured videos this week on RootsTelevision.com!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

As you get ready for Fall, it’s a great time to work on organizing and digitizing your family photos. Check out this two part tutorial by Eric Basir of PhotoGraphix on flatbed scanning. He shows us some great ways to get the best possible images from our original photos.

And listen to Allie Louise Almore-Randle talk about why she loves the SoCal Jamboree so much. From exploring her roots to connecting with other genealogists to meeting new people she would never have met before, she has some great stories to share!

Og hopes everyone had a terrific Labor Day weekend and is ready to buckle down and get back to work...and get ready for the FGS conference this week. It’s sure to be a blast!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

Og has been busy with the 2008 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference that took place last week in Philadelphia. It was a blast, and to start off our coverage, we have a set of four interviews to share. That’s right, four! Og hopes you enjoy them as much as he did:

FGS Interview #1:
Dick Eastman interviews Tim Sullivan, CEO of The Generations Network, about Ancestry.com’s World Archives Project and its partnership with genealogical societies and individuals to help make historical record collections available to the public. You can visit http://ancestry.com/worldarchivesproject to learn more about the project.

FGS Interview #2:
Dick Eastman’s next interview is with Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak and they talk about the Unclaimed Persons initiative, including the recent RootsTelevision video and brand-new Unclaimed Persons website: www.unclaimedpersons.org. You should check it out and join the group of 350+ dedicated volunteers!

Dick also talks to Megan about an article she wrote for Ancestry Magazine about who would be the king or queen of America today if George Washington had been king. Now THAT is interesting!

FGS Interview #3:
This interview is with Brian Donovan of Eneclann, an Irish genealogy research and resource company. They discuss recent revelations about Barack Obama’s Irish Kearney relatives, including the fact that they were once wigmakers and heavily into Dublin politics. Want to know more about Eneclann? Visit www.eneclann.ie. For more information about Obama’s Irish roots, visit www.irishorigins.com.

FGS Interview #4:
And this week’s last FGS interview is with Melinde Lutz Sanborn, FASG. She talks to Dick Eastman about being a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists and about a new genealogy certificate program available through Boston University. The program is ideal for anyone who wants to develop their knowledge and skills in conducting genealogy research. It’s a 14-week course and even provides hands-on training. You should check it out!

Stay tuned for more videos from FGS coming next week, and thanks for watching!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

As promised, Og has three more exciting videos from the 2008 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference. 

But first, Og wants to let you know that the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) has incorporated a player of RootsTelevision.com videos into their website! Check it out! Oh, and if there are any other societies interested in incorporating video on their own websites, let Og know and we’ll get that going lickety-split.

OK, now back to FGS. Here are this week’s interviews

FGS Interview #5:

Dick Eastman interviews Paul Nauta, Manager of Public Affairs for FamilySearch, about the Family History Library, the website, and the latest developments with digitizing, transcribing and sharing millions of records on http://pilot.familysearch.org.

FGS Interview #6:

Dick Eastman’s next interview is with Feargal O’Donnell, Vice Chairman of the Irish Family History Foundation, about the availability of Irish records -- especially new ones online and myths about their existence and non-existence.  For those of Irish ancestry, he gives cause for optimism!

FGS Interview #7:

This week’s last interview from FGS is with Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective. She talks with Dick Eastman about her recent appearance on the Today Show, an article about her in the Wall Street Journal, and her upcoming History Channel series, The Photo Detective. Way to go, Maureen!

And guess what? There are more FGS videos coming next week! Og is so excited and hopes you are, too! Thanks for watching!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

Another week of videos from the 2008 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference! 

FGS Interview #8:
Dick Eastman talks with Blaine Bettinger, The Genetic Genealogist, about using DNA technology to confirm ancestry and his eBook, "I Have The Results of My Genetic Genealogy Test, Now What?"

FGS Interview #9:
Dick Eastman interviews Diane Haddad, Managing Editor, and Allison Stacy, Editor, of Family Tree Magazine about recent changes to the website, including reorganized content, videos, podcasts and a weekly newsletter.

FGS Interview #10:
Judith Lucey, Assistant Archivist at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, talks with Dick Eastman about the one-mile worth of unpublished records in their collection, which was started in 1845.

We have one more week of FGS videos on the way! Stay tuned!

Og from RootsTelevision.com

FGS Interview #11:
Dick Eastman interviews David Lambert, the Online Genealogist at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, about his job and the ways he helps other genealogists.  He also talks about some exciting stuff he has done with military research, American Indian research and as a baseball historian.

FGS Interview #12:
Dick Eastman talks with Mark Halpern, Program Chair, and David Mink, Co-Chair, about the IAJGS Conference taking place in Philadelphia, August 2009. The conference will include a film festival, computer workshops, and much more.

FGS Interview #13:
Leland Meitzler, Editor of Everton's Genealogical Helper, talks with Dick Eastman about the features of the magazine and the online edition, as well as his blog, GenealogyBlog.com, that provides news from the world of genealogy.

Og from RootsTelevision.com

Og has been busy preparing some more exciting videos for our RootsTelevision.com fans!

This week we are featuring an interview by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak with Senator Paula Benoit, Maine State Senate, about her role in getting an act passed that allows adult adoptees to access their original birth certificates. She explains the process to us, as well as some of her personal experiences with adoption.

We also have the second in a series of webisodes by Alannah Ryane as she traces her roots in Nova Scotia, Canada. This edition features her conversation with Iris Shea of the Mainland South Heritage Society.

Our next video is a two-part tutorial from our friend, Eric Basir of PhotoGrafix. In this series he shows us some cool techniques for scanning and restoring documents.

Lastly, in honor of Annie Moore, Og is featuring the four-part series, Making Up History: Searching for Annie Moore. This play tells the story of Annie Moore, the first immigrant through Ellis Island, and genealogist Megan Smolenyak's search for Annie's true identity.

Thanks for watching!
Og from RootsTelevision.com

Og is thrilled to share two videos from the Annie Moore dedication ceremonies that took place in Cork, Ireland and Queens, NY this past week. As a refresher, Annie Moore became an Irish-American historic icon as the first immigrant through Ellis Island in 1892. Her image will forever represent the millions who passed through Ellis Island in pursuit of the American dream. This dedication marks two years since genealogists, including our own Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, corrected history by unveiling her true identity and story.

The first video in the lineup is the memorial dedication ceremony for the unmarked gravesite at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York. Among the notable participants in the event were famed Irish tenor and New York City resident Ronan Tynan performing "Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears," the iconic song about Ellis Island and Annie Moore written by Ireland's composer/lyricist Brendan Graham, who was also in attendance.

The second video shares the ceremony that took place in Cork, Ireland on October 10 as a plaque was placed on the last house that Annie Moore lived in before coming to America.

To round out this week’s lineup, join Arline Sachs as she discusses her trip to the International Tracing Service (ITS) in Bad Arolson, Germany, the location of all Nazi records captured by the Allied Nations. For more information and additional videos produces by Sidney Sachs, please visit: http://tracingroots.nova.org

Lastly, Og also has a brand new tutorial from Eric Basir of PhotoGrafix that shows us how to take photos with accurate color, as well as correcting the color in photos after they are shot. This is a must-watch for genealogists!

Thanks for watching and Og hopes you enjoy this New Roots installment!

Og
RootsTelevision.com

In this week’s lineup, Og is excited to share a new series of Irish videos he recently found online!  The videos are provided by Mike O'Laughlin and the Irish Genealogical Foundation. They have published the largest collection of Irish Family History books in the world since 1978, and more recently three Irish podcast series, including one on Irish genealogy. This is the first video of a 14-part series on their Irish Roots Café, which focuses on Irish family heritage. To access their podcasts, blog and Irish books, visit them at: www.irishroots.com.

The next set of videos are from Og’s friend, Eric Basir of Photo Grafix.  In this workshop, he talks about photo preservation, digital restoration and photo identification, and provides some extremely helpful tips and advice. Watch the first four parts of Eric’s 16-part workshop, and tune in next week for the next four videos!

Og is rounding out this week with a montage of media coverage from the New England Historic Genealogical Society's discoveries of a Helen Keller photograph and the relationships between Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain.

Oh and in case you missed them when they debuted last week, be sure to check out the Annie Moore ceremonies in New York and Cork, Ireland!

Until next week, good luck with all of your genealogical endeavors!

Og
RootsTelevision.com