I have always felt that my great-great-grandfather was deposited on earth by a Martian spaceship. Maybe I can find the documentation in a new article in the MyHeritage blog. If not, it is still a fascinating look into the history of one of our greatest unknowns: UFOs.

The following is an excerpt from the article at: https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/08/chronicles-of-the-unexplained-ufo-sighting-reports-in-1960s-news/.

In the mid-20th century, as the world grappled with the aftershocks of World War II and the specter of the Cold War loomed large, an intriguing phenomenon captured the imagination of the masses: Unidentified Flying Objects, or UFOs (today also known as UAPs, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena). The 1950s marked the beginning of an era where stories of strange lights in the sky, mysterious encounters, and tales of extraterrestrial visitors swept through society like wildfire. UFO sightings, often synonymous with a sense of wonder, trepidation, and speculation, became an enduring fad that not only reflected the anxieties of the time but also propelled human fascination into the uncharted realms of the cosmos.

Search historical newspapers on MyHeritage

The post-World War II era was a period of rapid technological advancements and ideological tensions, with the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union dominating global discourse. Against this backdrop, reports of UFO sightings soared, echoing societal concerns about the unknown and reflecting humanity’s newfound obsession with outer space. As nuclear weapons cast a pall of existential dread, turning our attention to the skies to examine more theoretical and distant threats was perhaps somewhat comforting. Additionally, the awe-inspiring launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957 and the subsequent “Space Race” further stoked public interest in the possibility of contact with extraterrestrial civilizations.

The fascination with UFOs in the 1950s was deeply intertwined with the era’s zeitgeist. Science fiction literature and B-movies of the time played a significant role in shaping public perceptions, often blurring the lines between reality and fiction. The allure of UFOs tapped into a collective yearning for answers to questions about humanity’s place in the universe and the potential for technological marvels. Over the decades, the UFO phenomenon has not faded; instead, it has evolved, adapting to new cultural contexts and continuing to captivate generations, even in the face of evolving scientific knowledge.

In light of recent renewed interest in the topic of UFO sightings, we took a peek into the historical newspaper collections on MyHeritage to find real-life stories about such sightings in the 1960s.

Again, the article is available at: https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/08/chronicles-of-the-unexplained-ufo-sighting-reports-in-1960s-news/. 

John P. Hansel will discuss “The Mayflower Compact” at the Clallam County (in Port Angeles, WA) Genealogical Society’s next Speakers Series presentation, set for 10 a.m. (Pacific Time Zone) on Saturday, Aug. 12.

Watch the free presentation on Zoom or at the society’s research center at 403 E. Eighth St., Port Angeles. Email clallamcountyresearcher@gmail.com for the Zoom meeting number and passcode.

The Mayflower Compact was a written agreement signed by the male passengers on the Mayflower, who, after leaving England, decided to make and enforce their own laws — setting the stage for the American way of life. Having fled persecutions for their religious beliefs in Holland and England, passengers on the Mayflower had no sponsor, nor a set of regulations to guide them.

Hansel, a Princeton University graduate, teaches constitutional law and political thought. He has also founded the non-profit Elm Research Institute to protect and preserve the American Elm.

All are invited to listen to this Zoom presentation.

For more information, call 360-417-5000.

Reminder: you can watch Zoom presentations from anywhere in the world. However, pay attention to time zone differences.

• A new website is launched to share the latest research into the number of deaths in Alderney during World War Two
• The island housed four Nazi forced/slave labour sites, including the concentration camp Lager Sylt
• UK Holocaust Envoy Lord Eric Pickles said the site would publish the latest evidence in a "commitment to transparency"

A dedicated website has been launched, external to share the latest research as part of a review into the number of deaths in Alderney during World War Two.

The island - along with the rest of the Channel Islands - was occupied by Germany and housed four forced/slave labour sites, including the concentration camp Lager Sylt.

Lord Eric Pickles, the UK's Holocaust Envoy, said the Occupation Alderney site would publish all of the latest evidence and was "part of our commitment to transparency".

A previous investigation carried out after the island's liberation in May 1945 found 389 confirmed deaths in the island.

You can read more in an article on the BBC News web site at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3geyey6qk6o.

The following is a press release written by Wikitree:

August 8, 2023— To celebrate its 15th birthday – and this year’s one-million member milestone – the WikiTree community is hosting three days of free events, November 3-5, 2023. Everything is completely free and open to anyone interested in family history or genealogy.

The fun begins with a 36-hour virtual genealogy symposium, starting at 8am EDT (Noon UTC) on November 3. This virtual conference features popular genealogy speakers including Steve Little, AJ Jacobs, Thomas MacEntee, Melissa Barker, Adina Khuna, Mags Gaulden, Sara Cochran, Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, Marian Burk Wood, David Ryan, GenFriends, the DNAChef, and more.

A wide variety of genealogy-related topics will be covered including DNA tools, Irish research, preserving family history memorabilia, Jewish roots, Google maps and other online tools, Appalachia research, military pensions, tech troubleshooting, the 1890 US Census, passenger manifests, research checklists, and … genealogy trivia.

The second part of the event, the “WikiTree Day” birthday party, kicks off at 8am EDT (noon UTC) on November 5. Have some fun with fellow genealogists and casual family historians, and find out why the WikiTree community has become so popular.

There will be research parties, games, and open chats via Zoom and Discord.  The day will also include a special panel discussion about genealogy and artificial intelligence (AI) with Steve Little, Drew Smith, Thomas MacEntee and others.

This three-day event is entirely free and open to anyone. Register now to receive updates and be eligible for door prizes. 

NOTE: 

This article is not about any of the "normal" topics of this newsletter: genealogy, history, current affairs, DNA, and related topics. However, this article contains information that I believe all computer users should be aware of, whether they plan to use it themselves or not. 

If you are concerned about online hackers, government spies, cybercriminal gangs, anyone who commits identity theft, installs viruses, steals passwords, or causes other problems, you should know this news from Google.

Google announced today it's making its Messages by Google app more secure with improvements to RCS, or Rich Communication Services -- a protocol aimed at replacing SMS and is more on par with the advanced features found in Apple's iMessage. 

From a report:

Google says it will now make RCS the default for both new and existing Messages app users. In addition, end-to-end encryption for group chats is now fully rolled out to all RCS users. The latter had launched into an open beta earlier this year after earlier tests, but was not fully launched until now. With this update, all conversations between users in Messages, whether 1:1 or group chats, will now be kept private, Google says.

NOTE from Dick Eastman: While I applaud Google for adding more security to one of its more popular apps, I don't intend to switch to the Messages by Google app. Given Google's policy of reading every GMail message and reading lots of other private communications of its users, I really don't trust Google.

Instead, I plan to keep using Signal, a simple, powerful, and secure messenger that has become well-known for being one of the most secure messenger products of today. As stated on the Signal home page, "We can't read your messages or listen to your calls, and no one else can either. Privacy isn’t an optional mode — it’s just the way that Signal works. Every message, every call, every time."

Features of Signal: 

You can learn more about Signal at: https://www.signal.org/

The IAJGS (International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies) announced its 2023 award recipients at its 43rd annual International Conference on Jewish Genealogy held in London this month.  Winner are:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Vivian Kahn, California, US; and Henry Wellisch, Toronto, Canada

Nolan Altman Volunteer of the Year:  Alex Krakovsky, Ukraine

Member of the Year:  Santa Cruz Jewish Genealogical Society, California 

Stern Grant, International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and the Paul Jacobi Center, Israel

Background on winners:

Lifetime Achievement Award:  Vivian Kahn

Vivian Kahn of Santa Rosa, CA  was selected as a recipient of the 2023 IAJGS  Lifetime Achievement Award 

Vivian’s efforts as JewishGen’s Hungarian Research Director have enabled the indexing of over 1.5 million Jewish records from Greater Hungary, all freely accessible to the community on JewishGen.  Her creation of relationships with archivists and her ability to recruit and mentor volunteers has enabled researchers with Jewish ancestry from Greater Hungary to gain insight into their families from a broad variety of documents over centuries.  Her knowledge of historic Hungary allowed her to focus efforts in the most fruitful areas, and also has allowed her to educate others at IAJGS conferences.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Henry Wellisch

Henry Wellisch of Toronto was selected as a recipient of the 2023 IAJGS  Lifetime Achievement Award 

Henry is a former president of JGS Toronto and was integral to the startup of the Montreal JGS.  His volunteer transcription efforts not only helped researchers with Toronto-based ancestors, but he has been, and continues to be, an avid transcriber for JewishGen’s Hungarian Research Division. He has regularly shared his knowledge with the greater genealogical community, speaking at IAJGS conferences and to local societies.  He has personally mentored others who have become leaders in the Jewish genealogy community.

Nolan Altman Volunteer of the Year – Alex Krakovsky

Alex Krakovsky of Kyiv, Ukraine,  was selected for the Nolan Altman Volunteer of the Year Award. 

The Award is in recognition of his work making millions of Ukrainian Jewish records digitally accessible to researchers across the world.  His tenacity in suing archives –and later teaming with them to place digital scanners within their facilities –has ensured preservation and public availability of these records and has revolutionized the ability to do genealogical research in Ukraine, regardless of researchers’ geographic location.  These documents not only give insight into individual researchers’ family members, but they also give historic insight into the Jewish communities of Ukraine as far back as the late eighteenth century.

Member of the Year – Santa Cruz Jewish Genealogical Society

The Santa Cruz Jewish Genealogical Society was selected for the IAJGS Member of the Year Award. 

The Award recognizes Santa Cruz JGS  for its outstanding efforts to create a society that is accessible to members around the world.  Faced with the challenge presented by launching a new society during the height of the pandemic, the Santa Cruz JGS embraced technology and was able to thrive.  The breadth of programming, as well as personalized mentoring and additional resources, give their geographically diverse membership resources to help improve members’ research abilities, regardless of skill level.

Leah Kushner is president of the Santa Cruz JGS.

Stern Grant -International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and the Paul Jacaobi Center

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center (www.iijg.org) was awarded the 2023 Stern Grant at this year’s 43rd Annual IAJGS (International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies) International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, as hundreds of genealogists from the U.S and all over the world descended on London, England for the event. 

The project is “Walking Among Colors: The Jewish Cemetery in Zdunska Wola, Poland".  Its purpose is to prepare and publish a detailed book about the Jewish cemetery in Zdunska Wola.  The cemetery, dating from 1825, currently includes 3505 tombstones, which makes it one of the largest surviving cemeteries in Poland.  It is distinctive in having many colored tombstones – hence the title of this project.  Grant funds will support the printing of 300 copies of the book to be distributed to the Jewish descendants of the town as well as to the local Historical Museum and to interested current residents of Zdunska Wola.

Leading the project will be Prof. Daniel Wagner and Dr. Kamila Klauzinska.

The Stern Grant honors the late Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern, widely considered to be the Dean of American Jewish genealogy, and his efforts to increase the availability of resources for Jewish genealogical research.

---

This is the first time since 2019 that the conference was held in person and the first time since 2001 that professional and amateur genealogists will have gathered in London. 

The Conference is hosted by IAJGS, an umbrella organization of nearly 90 Jewish genealogical organizations worldwide.  The Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain is the local co-host.  

The IAJGS coordinates and organizes activities such as its annual International Conference on Jewish Genealogy and provides a unified voice as the spokesperson on behalf of its members.

The IAJGS’s vision is of a worldwide network of Jewish genealogical research organizations and partners working together as one coherent, effective and respected community, enabling people to succeed in researching Jewish ancestry and heritage. Find the IAJGS at: www.iajgs.org and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/iajgsjewishgenealogy.

The JGSGB aims to promote and encourage the study of and research into Jewish Genealogy and is the only Jewish Genealogical Society in the United Kingdom.  Find us at www.jgsgb.org.uk, on Twitter at @JewishGreat, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/JGSGB.

RootsIreland.ie  has added another batch of transcriptions from the registers of two parishes in South Mayo. They are:

Click the link above to login or subscribe to the site.

I am seeing more and more notices of online meetings of genealogy (and other) societies. This appears to be the wave of the future. Here's one such notice I received today:

NEOCAG — the NorthEast Ohio Computer-Aided Genealogy Society, Inc. — will hold its next monthly meeting Aug. 12 online via Zoom.

The organization will present Genealogist Kate Townsend, and her topic will be “Stop the Presses! Incorporating Newspaper Records into Your Research,“ according to a news release. The Zoom meeting opens at 9:15 a.m. and speaker presentation begins at 9:45.

NEOCAG is an educational organization for people interested in genealogical research using electronic means. They assist and sponsor programs concerning electronic genealogy for the general public.

Meetings are open to the public and visitors are welcome. Membership and visitors come from Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Summit, and Ashtabula counties.

For additional information and Zoom account, visit neocag.net.  To request a “limited seating” invitation, email webmaster@neocag.net.

The Tacoma Public Library's Northwest Room's local history and archives center is launching a $200,000 digitization project to digitalize a photo archive of The News Tribune. Once completely digitized, it is estimated that more than 10,000 photographs will have been added to the Northwest Room’s online database.

The project, “Below the Fold: Revealing Hidden Stories Through Digitization of a Newspaper Photograph Archive,” is made possible through grant funding from the National Archives' National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

The collection of photos was transferred from the newspaper’s offices to the Northwest Room in 2020, and staff soon began digitizing the materials. Each item is processed, labeled and then made publicly accessible through the Northwest Room’s online database known as Northwest ORCA.

Some of the images, which cover a broad range of subjects, have appeared in the newspaper. However, there are also thousands of photos that have never been published, a release said. 

You can read more in an article by Antoinette Alexander published in the southsoundmag web site at: https://tinyurl.com/must7pnp.

The following is a press release written by the organizers of The Family History Show:

Come and be part of a fascinating day dedicated to exploring your genealogy! Sit and be inspired by our free captivating talks, interact with experts who can help you find answers to your questions, and explore a diverse range of exhibitors, family history societies, and genealogy companies from all over the country in the exhibition hall. 

This event is an absolute must for all enthusiasts of Family history. Come along and discover fascinating insights into your heritage or your past family. Join us and experience a great day out with lots of friendly exhibitors, complimentary talks, convenient parking, regular trains from London Waterloo or Clapham Junction, and refreshments available all day. Secure your tickets now to take advantage of our amazing two-for-one offer!

Get your early-bird tickets now, The Family History Show – London.

Make a Day of it

Book an expert session and watch a talk in the morning, then have lunch in our restaurant before finishing the day with a bit of retail therapy, chat with societies and catch another talk before you go.

The Family History Show – London features:

• Free talks held throughout the day in two large lecture areas

• Ask the Experts - Book a free personal 1-2-1 session with an expert

• Free goody bag on entry worth over £10. 

• Free Parking

• Kempton Park Railway Station onsite

• All Day Refreshments

• Wheelchair Friendly Venue

Early-bird Ticket Offer

Get your tickets now and save, Two tickets for £12 (£12 each on the day) and you’ll also get a goody bag on entry worth over £8. 

Save 50% by getting two tickets for £12 for the London show here: https://thefamilyhistoryshow.com/london/tickets/

Talks you can look forward to at the London show include:

10:30 - Tips & Tricks for Online Research
Keith Gregson – Professional Researcher & Social Historian

11:30 - Pinpointing Your Ancestors
Mark Bayley - Online Genealogy Expert

12:30 - Behind the scenes of Who Do You Think You Are?
Nick Barratt - Historian, Author and Professional Genealogist

13:30 - Breaking Down Brick Walls in Your Family History Research
Mark Bayley - Online Genealogy Expert

14:30 - The Genetic Detective - Tips & tricks for solving unknown DNA matches
Donna Rutherford - DNA Expert

Early-bird Ticket OfferGet two tickets for £12 for the London show here: https://thefamilyhistoryshow.com/london/tickets/

Ask the experts free One to One advice sessions