Sunday, November 05, 2006

Family Atlas Genealogy Mapping - You heard it here first

Family Atlas Genealogy Mapping - Original Link

Glad to see your write up. I have been looking for a software tool that would help with this process. I just ordered the software and am looking forward to using it soon as well as reading any future followup you have on the software.

Curious if Family Atlas shows period maps from the past or even train/road/migration routes? This could be very helpful to Genealogy enthusiasts.

I actually have been using GoogleEarth for the same task - mapping my ancestors around the globe - but this can be very manual. Nice thing is you can send the kml/kmz GoogleEarth files to friends, researchers, etc.

Someday it would be great if we could integrate the capabilities of photo/imaging technology with family tree database software, GPS/mapping into one small handheld device, like a PDA/smartphone.

Brian Sanders

Posted by: Brian Sanders November 03, 2006 at 09:41 AM

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Family Atlas uses the current country / state / etc boundaries rather than period maps. This is an area we can look into.

Family Atlas will let you export the marker sets you create to Google Earth, so you can import your data, create your markers, then create the .kml file for Google Earth.

Posted by: Bruce Buzbee November 03, 2006 at 03:18 PM

SandersFamilia.Com Genealogy Website - Updates 11/5/2006

All,
If you have been to my website, www.sandersfamilia.com as of November 5, 2006, you would have noticed a dramatic change in the "home page". I recently added a most excellent program called "The Next Generation" or TNG 6.0, written by Darrin Lythgoe (see http://lythgoes.net/genealogy/software.php). This software has some powerful features, all integrated into the package, that allows the user the ability to "see" the family connections in many ways.

Here are some of the key features:
Descendancy Chart: See an individual's descendants in graphical "box" style, with photos (where they exist).
Pedigree Chart: Move smoothly back and forth among your ancestors without refreshing the page.
Media: Can link media directly to events and places. Videos and sound recordings are supported too.
Albums: Photos, histories, or other media in an "album" to create experiences around specific individuals, families or other topics.
Timelines: See lifetime events for each person on your timeline chart, plus add events for any date in history.
Bookmarks
Latitude & Longitude
New Menus
Spam Control
Security: Passwords are now encrypted with MD5, making them impossible to decipher.
Search

One definite bonus for me is the fact that you can manage your DB of names a lot easier. Therefore, after a short evaluation of the software, I finally have approved it for use on my site and integrated it as the centerpiece and conerstone. Let me know what you think.

Brian

Friday, October 27, 2006

Sanders Genealogy Research Since 1975




Hopefully this information is helpful in detailing the time and energy that it can take to manage and maintain this hobby. I must say that it is one of my favorite hobbies, but not the oldest... in case you were wondering, that oldest would be motorcycle riding and astronomy, but not at the same time! Some may differ on the idea of riding as being more of a passion, but then again, depends on your point of view.

Here is the graph in table form:

Date Individuals Familes Sources File Size (KB)
1975-0101 10 1 5 0
1978-0101 50 10 5 0
1980-0101 100 30 na 0
2000-0101 150 120 na 0
2002-0101 200 140 na 0
2003-0101 260 200 na 0
2004-1213 382 250 na 0
2005-0112 645 598 43 469
2005-0313 2146 1515 103 1096
2006-0628 2183 1544 120 1152
2006-0820 2405 1688 175 1729
2006-0827 2417 1698 188 1733
2006-1024 2579 1820 218 2165

Research Status - 10/27/06

10/25/06
Created two (2) new cemetery websites for Missouri, linking in the cemetery pictures taken at those locations AND ready for upload. Have not uploaded yet... pending final touches and approval from website owners.


10/26/06
Created "descendant" webpages for Foy, Maloney, Johnson, Milner, Sanders and Weber. Each family descendant webpage link has earliest known relative, showing name/spouse, birth, death, and link through each generation.

Created two (2) "tree" webpages (over 100 pages) that allow for movement in the FOY-WEBER family and JOHNSON/MALONEY family lines. These "tree" links detail facts in "person sheets", showing notes/census/residence and much more.

Re-formated one (1) "register" report for WEBER family, modifying nearly 40 webpages for better viewing and consistency of website.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Research Status - 10/26/06

Well, since my last update, things have been fairly busy. Most work has been focused on the Johnson line and organizing all data from census records, other vital records, and enabling the various website tools, features, etc.

Here are the stats in my database:

As of 08/20/06:
Individuals - 2405
Families - 1688
Sources - 175
File Size - 1729 KB

As of 10/26/2006:
Individuals - 2579 (+174)
Families - 1830 (+132)
Sources - 218 (+43)
File Size - 2165KB (+436)


On the website, we have the new integrated message board/forum with 2 total members (it is free to join... tell all your friends), a new hi-res image library with 57 albums containing a total of 741 images using 325MB of space. There is now a Google search tool and plans for a new portal/interface in the works.

Plans are to continue to catalogue and organize by family folder all vital records, allowing access to them through the library link.


Johnson
Continuing to investigate the family connections from the early 1800's as they pertain to the TN Johnson clan and identifying the names with the numbers. Have new updates included in documents submitted by Stevie Hughes, which were added to the website. Believe that Riley M. Johnson, who was originally suspected to be a son of Joseph Johnson Sr, may in fact not be... comparing the 1830/40/50 census numbers to names. Not sure exactly what relation Riley M. Johnson from TN is at this time, but work continues.

Until the next update!
Brian

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Research status - 10/10/2006

I am currently in the process of uploading many digital records/images of my family to a NEW creation, called Picasaweb. I get 250mb of space free and for a mere $20/year, I get 6000mb of space.

The tool is still in "beta" testing, but already I see tremendous potential and with my past website experience, other image storage site use (shutterfly.com), and current capabilities on this beta tool, I can recommend it as a means to facilitate a true digital library.

The location of the digital record library is http://picasaweb.google.com/brians777

I managed to also bring up (recently) my message board/forum, located at www.SandersFamilia.com/phpBB2/

One of my current projects to index ALL records and make them easily available through my website and library, for all to see. Do post a comment if issues, questions, or just to say hi!

Take care and talk with you later.
Brian

Saturday, August 19, 2006

What is the Sanders Family Genealogy Blog?

Hi. In an effort to keep my research and details posted to family members, I am going to start keeping a "diary" of sorts of my findings. The progress can be at times slow and sometimes overwelming with new information.

When important facts are located, I will update it here and try to keep you all aware of the status. This way you can also interact with questions and comments.

This research is filling in blanks for our family that few would ever know about. If you would like to participate and help with our family research, let me know.

Brian

Research Status - 08/19/2006

This last week has likely been the most rewarding in years, with a tremendous amount of information being uncovered through census records. Have printed out, saved images of well over 50 different census records, ranging from early 1800's to the latest 1930 census.

Foy's
Key new findings are Edgar and Jennie Foy, Pauline Foy, Lillian Foy, Verona and Pete McKenzie, Charles and Adelia Foy, Charles Jr and Matilda Foy (in Washington), Gilbert and Agnea Foy (in Washington), and more. This census information will take some time to complete, but keeping track of all the family members is a challenge. Located Civil war records on Charles E. Foy Jr, detailing his physical features (blue eyes, light colored hair, 5'10") and even Edgar Arnold Foy's WWI draft registration card!

Weber's
Big find regarding the transatlantic travels of John Weber (twice) in 1869 and 1889, the latter with his family and mother in law. Ships manifest shows all children, luggage, etc. Amazing! Have also located the multitude of Konen's, Streff's, and more in the Nebraska, Roseland vicinity. Data logging expected in the next few weeks.

Sanders
Found a few names with Earl and Ellis Sanders file.

Harvey
Found my G-grandmother, Mabel Harvey...Smalley, living in Nebraska with her mother and step father, in 1910, when Harvey Wood (grandfather) was born. However, he did not show up on this enumeration for some reason. There is a mystery to be solved here.

Johnson
Went back to the 1800's to find my GG grandfather, Wiley Johnson and more.

What is becoming an increasingly effective means to help in telling this family story is GoogleEarth.com. This free software is available online and highly recommend getting it for your own personal purposes. In time, I will be publishing the "migration" of our families across the US with this tool. What is interesting is that on more than one occasion, the paternal and maternal lines have "crossed paths", 1-2 generation prior to their merging. Example of this is with my father's line, in Missouri being only a few counties away from my mother's line during the late 1800's. They may well have known each other, but not sure. Other examples exist in Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Colorado. Most can be attributed to the fact that few towns existed, so most people lived in the same areas within a state (depending on the years). My Aunt Pauline (maternal-maternal side) moved to Bisbee Arizona in the late 1920's, a decade after my Great grandmother Smalley (maternal-fraternal side) had left their homestead.

The census data is being stored and will be processed later. The source of the information is Ancestry.com, which has become an indispensable tool, once you understand how to use it to your full advantage.

Until the next update!
Brian