MyHeritage is announcing new services hand-over-fist at this week’s RootsTech conference in Salt Lake City. Here’s the latest:

We’re delighted to announce the release of OldNews.com, an innovative website for historical newspapers, by MyHeritage. OldNews.com enables genealogists, researchers, and history enthusiasts to search, save, and share articles about people and events throughout history. At launch, OldNews.com includes a huge repository of hundreds of millions of historical newspaper pages from around the world, with millions more added monthly. The website features easy navigation and consists of a diverse range of high-quality publications, from major international newspapers to small-town journals and gazettes.

At launch, OldNews.com more than doubles the amount of historical newspaper content that was previously available on MyHeritage. The website includes all the historical newspapers from MyHeritage, plus new, unique content.

OldNews.com is available on desktop and via mobile web browser.

Visit OldNews.com

OldNews™ is good news

Historical newspapers are a treasure trove of stories that are rich in detail. In the past, you didn’t need to be famous to appear in the newspaper; anyone could be found in them, which makes them of tremendous value to genealogists, historians, and educators. Moving forward, OldNews.com will serve as MyHeritage’s focal point for historical newspapers. This release is just the beginning; we have an incredible pipeline of additional content and features, and ambitious plans to make OldNews.com the number one online repository of international historical newspapers beyond the English-speaking world.

Integration with MyHeritage

Existing MyHeritage users can log in to OldNews.com with their MyHeritage account credentials, and new users registering via OldNews.com can use the same login credentials to access MyHeritage. OldNews.com supports Two-Factor Authentication, for enhanced security.

Newspaper content on OldNews.com

OldNews.com offers a wide range of publications from local, national, and international news, with extensive coverage of the 1800s and 1900s. At launch, the website includes newspapers from across the U.S., Canada, U.K., Austria, Germany, Czechia, the Netherlands, and Australia. Millions of newspaper pages are added each month, and content from additional countries will be added in the future. The OldNews.com website is available in 11 languages: English, French, German, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. More newspapers in some of these languages will be added soon.

The new content on OldNews.com was scanned using best-in-class optical character recognition (OCR) technology and enhanced with sophisticated algorithms developed in-house by MyHeritage. The website also offers optimized performance through a new technical implementation where the content is served from a Content Distribution Network, through a point of presence closest to the user. This means that users from all over the world can access OldNews.com at an extremely fast speed.

How to use OldNews.com

To get started, visit OldNews.com. If you already have a MyHeritage account, click “Log in” on the top right of the page and use the same credentials you use to log in to MyHeritage. If you don’t have an account yet, no worries! You can search OldNews.com anonymously, and you can create an account later to view the newspapers you’ve found.

The full announcement is much longer and offers more details. You can find it on the MyHeritage blog at: https://tinyurl.com/5n742kz8.

The following announcement was written by Vivid-Pix:

VIVID-PIX AT ROOTSTECH  BOOTH: 401 SHARE YOUR STORY WITH MEMORY STATION STORIES -  LAUNCHING AT ROOTSTECH 2024 Combines Scanned & Restored Photos with Recorded Voice Narrations to Create Stories for Lasting Memories and Oral Histories Share Privately or on Social Media –  Takes Throwback Thursday to a Whole New Level! Stories How-to Video: https://vimeo.com/916895253 Release: https://madmimi.com/p/4e05f81 March 1, 2024, Salt Lake City, UT – Vivid-Pix www.vivid-pix.com, a technology leader specializing in scanning, restoring, and sharing treasured memories, announced today at RootsTech 2024, the largest family history event in the world, Memory Station Stories software, the easiest way to create narrative slideshow stories of treasured memories with the Memory Station one-click scanning solution designed for older adults to scan, restore, and record audio memories. Vivid-Pix will be exhibiting at Rootstech 2024, Vivid-Pix Booth 401, held February 29 – March 2, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Vivid-Pix Memory Station™ scanning solution and one-click easy Memory Station  Software™ with Stories now allows amateurs, professionals, and organizations to effortlessly tell and share stories with loved ones and create oral histories for archival purposes. Designed for home and professional use, Memory Station scanning solutions are in use throughout the U.S., at homes, senior living centers, home healthcare, genealogical and historical societies, archives, and museums, where older adults can enjoy reliving their memories. “Life is made up of people, places, events, and feelings. Photos, documents, and keepsakes from these cherished moments provide prompts to reminisce and share wonderful stories which can be narrated with each photo and combined in Memory Station Stories. “Unlike many other software programs and apps, all content is created and saved on a computer. Users can choose to store, upload, and/or share as they wish – with no ongoing subscription fees,” said Rick Voight, CEO, Vivid-Pix. “Enjoy sharing your story – short with a single image or long with many images – to hand down to future generations or bring #ThrowbackThursday to a whole new level!” Rick Voight will be speaking at Rootstech on the topic “Don’t Let Your Memories Fade” on Friday, March 1 at 4:30 PM MT (6:30 PM ET), Room 155 EF. Memory Station Stories lets anyone create their own family history from old, printed images, photos, and relics from family, friends, pets, and more, including family events, immigration records, paperwork, jewelry, medals, and more, for personal archival on a computer or easy upload onto social media sites, such as Facebook, letting you share an amazing memory from your youth or parents/grandparents for later generations to experience. The lightweight Memory Station overhead scanning solution features the Memory Station Software with Stories with user-friendly, extra-large buttons and a simple, easy-to-use interface – specially designed for seniors and the mobility-challenged. Memory Station software makes it fast and simple for everyone to scan up to 10 photos, documents, or keepsakes at once, and continue scanning as many times as they’d like; and its small footprint makes setup easy anywhere – homes, libraries, community centers, schools, and adult home care centers. See: https://www.vivid-pix.com/memorystation/ for more info. IAAM Uses Memory Station throughout South Carolina to Record Memories Vivid-Pix Memory Stations are traversing South Carolina with an important and wonderful initiative at the International African American Museum. “In order to ensure knowledge from memories are not lost, IAAM decided to utilize Vivid-Pix Professional Edition Bundle,” stated Brian Sheffey, Director of the Center for Family History at the International African American History Museum (IAAM). “Its ability to easily train and transport from one location to another, and with a few clicks of a mouse scan in archive quality photos/documents/artifacts, retain original condition and restored scans, voice record memories, and output by interview in such a simple, manageable way made the decision to use this system simple. Vivid-Pix new Stories feature was wonderful icing on the cake.” Curt Witcher, Director of Special Collections and Manager, The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana said, “When Rick described the Memory Station and how it can help our patrons as well as the community, we immediately understood and wanted to participate. We’ve gotten to know Vivid-Pix well over the past few years. Their willingness to listen to patrons, family historians, and library ideas, and then adapt their product to these desires has been refreshing and collaborative.” Vivid-Pix Stories and Memory Station Availability The Vivid-Pix Memory Station with Stories is available immediately at: https://www.vivid-pix.com/memorystation, priced at $799.95 - $1299.95. For more information, see: www.vivid-pix.com. About Vivid-Pix Vivid-Pix invents and harnesses technologies, making it simple for individuals and organizations to relive memories and share stories. Whether by inventing software to restore decades/centuries-old photos/documents, bringing back precious memories that were thought to be long gone due to the passage of time, cognitive decline, or helping to bring families and friends together at reunions, for over a decade Vivid-Pix has made it simple and affordable for consumers and organizations to relive memories. For more info, visit https://www.vivid-pix.com/. About RootsTech - Largest Genealogy & Family History Conference RootsTech is the world’s largest genealogy and family history conference, held in person and online from February 29 – March 2, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. With millions of participants from 182 countries, RootsTech is a place to learn, be inspired, and make connections through family history. This year’s RootsTech 2024 will feature inspiring keynote speakers, including Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth, unlimited access to over 1,500 sessions, an expo hall with companies from around the world, playlists, chats, and much more. For more information, see https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/.

The following announcement was written by the folks at MyHeritage:

The profile page is among the most visited pages on MyHeritage, and is one of the most valuable ones for genealogists. Many users requested that we add additional capabilities to the page. You asked, and we listened! Today we are proud to release the result: the all-new profile pages. This is a whole new experience that is more than just a single page; it’s a centralized hub for everything known about a person.

This major enhancement includes a more organized layout and cool features to help you maximize your discoveries about your ancestors and relatives. We’ve also added Hints, which are a unique, highly useful way of presenting new details from your matches within the context of an individual profile. The profile pages remain free and are now more useful than ever!

The new profile pages are available on the MyHeritage website on desktop. We will soon add Hints to the MyHeritage mobile app as well.

We would like to extend our thanks to the MyHeritage team that developed the new profile pages. A special thank you goes to Uri Gonen who was instrumental both in creating a vision for this project and bringing it to fruition.

Accessing the Profile Pages

You can access the profile pages from many areas in the MyHeritage website, including from the different family tree views, the Discoveries section, My Photos, when viewing DNA Matches and Smart Matches™, and more. Below, we show examples for the two most popular ones.

To access the profile of an individual from the family tree, visit your tree and click the name of the person you wish to research. This opens the left panel of the tree. In the left panel, click the “Profile” icon, marked below in red.

You can read a lot more, including screen shots of the process, in the MyHeritage Blog at: https://blog.myheritage.com/2024/02/introducing-all-new-profile-pages-with-hints/.

The following is an announcement written by the U.S. National Genealogical Society:

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) has commissioned two of the country's leading forensic genealogists—Michael S. Ramage, JD, CG, and Catherine Becker Wiest Desmarais, CG—to produce a new book, Forensic Genealogy: Theory and Practice. Ramage and Desmarais will lead a team of contributing authors including Cairenn Binder, Angie Bush, David Gurney, PhD, JD, Kelvin L. Meyers, and Rich Venezia, to create a scholarly and comprehensive book on the field of professional forensic genealogy. Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, FASG, FNGS, FUGA, will serve as editor. Ramage is a former trustee and treasurer of the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) and serves as general counsel to BCG. He authored chapters for Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards, edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills, and his articles have appeared in OnBoard, the BCG newsletter, and the APG Quarterly. He is a former instructor at Boston University's Genealogical Research Program and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), NGS, and the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. His expertise is in missing and unknown heirs in trusts and estates and real estate in the mid-Atlantic region.  Desmarais is a BCG trustee, former APG vice president, and member of NGS and the APG Forensic Genealogy Special Interest Group. She has coordinated popular forensic genealogy courses at Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (now GRIP Genealogy Institute) and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Her articles have appeared in the NGS Quarterly, Utah Genealogical Association's Crossroads, and the APG Quarterly. She specializes in forensic genealogy to resolve military repatriation, estate, and realty cases. As a US Department of Defense qualified genealogist, she and her research team have located families for more than twelve hundred World War II and Korean War soldiers. "We are extremely pleased to have seasoned forensic genealogists at the helm of this important project," said NGS Executive Director Matt Menashes, CAE. "Forensic Genealogy: Theory and Practice promises to be a 'must have' resource for those seeking to learn about or enhance their skillset in the field. The publication date will be announced later this year."

Issues of The State’s Voice, published in Dunn, NC from 1933-1935, have been added to DigitalNC. Published by O. J. (Oscar J.) Peterson, this paper is much more of an editorial vehicle than many other papers at the time. The entire front page is devoted to his thoughts on one or more news items or topics of the day. His other interest was in writing informational essays about various parts of the state, like the one in this issue about Orange County and Hillsboro(ugh). 

Over the years, Peterson managed a number of newspapers besides The State’s Voice including the Chatham Record, the Sampson Democrat, and the Lumberton Argus. Aligning with the Democratic platform of the time, Peterson expresses strong opinions in his paper about prohibition, public education, and economics. His editorials are so pointed that they are alternatively lauded or criticized in other papers. 

In the final issue of the paper, Peterson says: “The publication of the State’s Voice has been an interesting experience, or experiment, in several respects.” The paper was intended to be read statewide, and was launched upon a “highly intellectual basis with a confessed non-public appeal.” He seems to attribute the demise of the paper in part to a lack of intellectuality amongst his subscribers, despite many of them being prominent in the state.

This paper was added on behalf of the Harnett County Public Library. You can view all of the materials contributed to DigitalNC from Harnett County Public Library on their contributor page.

The City Archives and Special Collections is excited to present the inaugural GenFest on March 9 at the New Orleans Public Library’s Main location (219 Loyola Ave.).  

Stop by between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to browse information and exhibits from regional Louisiana genealogical, historical, cultural, and preservation organizations; informational programs from local experts; and a genealogy panel featuring representatives of many local heritage organizations. 

A panel discussion moderated by Gaynell Brady – owner and educator of Our Mammy’s – starts at 1 p.m. Panelists include representatives from the LA Chapter African American Genealogical and Historical Society, La Creole, Los Isleños, Museum of Southern Jewish Experience, Archives of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Laura Plantation, German-Acadian Coast Historical and Genealogical Society, and more. 

Archivist Amanda Fallis organized the event and said GenFest is a way for the City Archives to bring together southeastern Louisiana genealogical, preservation, historical and cultural organizations to share their mission and story with festival attendees and each other. 

“Putting together our very first GenFest has been a wonderful experience,” said Fallis. “Communicating with all the amazing people keeping preservation, history, genealogy, and culture alive in our community has been inspiring and humbling. I cannot wait for Library patrons to join our organizations, presenters, and panelists in a celebration of knowledge and legacy.” 

Tables from over 30 Southeastern Louisiana genealogical, preservation, historical, and cultural organizations will be at the event. Attendees will also enjoy four different presentations about genetics, collecting and preserving images, and cemetery history and records. 

The Friends of the New Orleans Public Library will also have a second-hand genealogy book sale featuring over 1,000 items. Shannan Cvitanovic, executive director of the Friends said they are “thrilled to support this event.” 

“The Library’s archivists feel the urgency of preserving family histories, particularly those of marginalized groups,” Cvitanovic said. “GenFest gives family historians, both new and experienced, the tools they need to preserve our stories before they are lost. We cannot wait to feel the energy of so many story tellers and story gatherers in one place. It will be both educational and emotional.” 

For details and up-to-date information, visit nolalibrary.co/GenFest2024. 

The Board for Certification of Genealogists is pleased to announce that it will accept applications beginning March 1, 2024, for a new credential, Certified Genetic Genealogist (CGG). This credential will denote associates who have demonstrated competence using genetic evidence to solve complex genealogical problems.

BCG’s President, Faye Jenkins Stallings, CG®, states, “Given the increasing use and benefit of DNA to solve genealogical problems, having such a credential supports the Board’s mission to promote competence and ethics among genealogical practitioners. It also provides the public with confidence that a practitioner’s competence in genetic genealogy has been independently evaluated.”

Any current Certified Genealogist® may submit application materials for the add-on CGG credential. For more information regarding the requirements and application process, please visit BCG’s website at https://bcgcertification.org/process/app-guide/.

The words Certified Genealogist and letters CG are registered certification marks, and the designations CGL, and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluation.

Today is the first day of the month. That is a good time to back up your genealogy files. Then test your backups!

Your backups aren't worth much unless you make a quick test by restoring a small file or two after the backup is completed.

Actually, you can make backups at any time. However, it is easier and safer if you have a specific schedule. The first day of the month is easy to remember, so I would suggest you back up your genealogy files at least on the first day of every month, if not more often. (My computers automatically make off-site backups of all new files every few minutes.)

Given the events of the past few months with genealogy websites laying off employees and cutting back on services, you now need backup copies of everything more than ever. What happens if the company that holds your online data either goes off line or simply deletes the service where your data is held? If you have copies of everything stored either in your own computer, what happens if you have a hard drive crash or other disaster? If you have one or more recent backup copies, such a loss would be inconvenient but not a disaster.

Of course, you might want to back up more than your genealogy files. Family photographs, your checkbook register, all sorts of word processing documents, email messages, and much more need to be backed up regularly. Why not do that on the first day of each month? or even more often?

Thanks to our partners, Perquimans County Library and Pettigrew Regional Library, as well as funding from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), a massive batch of The Perquimans Weekly adds 10+ years worth of issues to DigitalNC! This batch expands our current holdings to include the years: 1989 to 1992 and 2010 to 2020.

Commemorating the migration of Quakers from Perquimans County to the Northwest Territories during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, individuals donned their best Quaker costumes and hopped on their horses or into their horse-drawn buggies and wagons to participate in the Friends to Freedom Wagon Train that traveled through Perquimans County from March 17th to 20th in 2011.

The first two days of the event were set aside for riding the planned 25 mile trail. They started their journey at the Newbold-White House campsite, making stops in Beech Springs, Belvidere, Bagley Swamp, and Winfall. In Belvidere, around 400 people came out to celebrate the train with vendors, live entertainment, wagon rides, food, and promotion of the area’s historical homes and buildings.

On the last leg of the journey, the Train took the Causeway and historic S bridge to parade through Hertford before finally coming back to the Newbold-White House. The final day of the event ended with breakfast, a church service, and a driving course competition at the Newbold-White House site.

To view more issues of The Perquimans Weekly, please click here.

To learn more about the Perquimans Public Library, visit their website here.

To view more newspapers from across North Carolina, please click here.

In many ways, the overgrown cemetery on a South Carolina rice plantation where my paternal ancestors are buried is emblematic of Black history itself. On my first visit in 2013, I went in search of the Fields family graves. There I found many unmarked graves, some of them nothing more than sunken depressions, as far as the eye could see. A few had simple headstones. One marked grave had been broken wide open by a fallen tree limb, and had filled with water. I was horrified to see my ancestor’s skeletal remains floating at the top.

After researching the history of peasant rice farmers in West Africa for over a decade, I had recently extended my research to enslaved laborers on Lowcountry South Carolina rice plantations. But I had not thought to research my own family’s history. Seeing that open grave made me feel as though I had turned my back on my ancestors. I pledged then to find out who was buried in that cemetery and tell their story.

African Americans searching for their family histories often have only small irregular pieces of an enormous puzzle. Most of those pieces are missing because enslaved African Americans were not recorded by their first and last names before the 1870 census. Until recently, identifying enslaved and formerly enslaved people who lived before that time was virtually impossible. To complicate matters, professional historians typically analyze and interpret plantation owners’ records, which identify enslaved people as property and by first name only, and describe the violence that was done to them, how their labor was exploited and their bodies abused. These records deny our ancestors’ humanity.

Because of these limitations, it had become accepted as fact among historians and genealogists that efforts to recover African American family histories reaching back to the time of slavery would hit a brick wall.

Today, I’m excited to report, the brick wall, or at least a large part of it, has been dismantled. Projects to digitize enormous troves of once difficult to access records are giving African American families opportunities to recover more of our lost past and offering historians the potential to enrich and rewrite the history of slavery.

You can read more in an article by Edda L. Fields-Black published on the New York Times web site at: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/29/opinion/black-family-history-genealogy.html.