Monday, November 18, 2019

Online Learning Opportunity - DNA Day, December 7

Florida State Genealogical Society will offer a Fall Virtual DNA Conference on Saturday, Dec 7 from 9am until 4:30pm EST. Five speakers, five sessions. (On demand viewing available with registration for two weeks after the live sessions.)

Speakers include;
Blaine Bettinger
Diahan Southard
Angie Bush
Mary Eberle
Judy G. Russell

Visit FlSGS for pricing and details here.

Looks like a great way to get smarter with out even leaving your sofa!



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Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Official Transcription Session Dates for 2019

TRANSCRIPTION RETREATS

WCGS is pleased to host the following transcription events to be held at Olivia Raney Local History Library at 4016 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC from 10:30 am – 12:30pm:

▪ Saturday, October 19, 2019
▪ Saturday, November 16, 2019
▪ Saturday, December 14, 2019
▪ Dates for 2020 events TBD

These events are not educational workshops, but time set aside for us to work together on transcription projects to benefit either the WCGS journal, Wake Treasures, or your own research. You can bring your own photocopies or digital files of documents or records needing transcription. We will also provide photocopies and digital files of Wake County-related records needing transcription.
These transcriptions will be used in future issues of Wake Treasures.

Need a refresher on how to properly transcribe a set of records for genealogical research and analysis? This video was recorded by past President Diane L. Richard and provides excellent instruction:

VIDEO LINK: Accurate Transcriptions for Historical Records: https://www.ncgenealogy.org/accurate-transcriptions-historical-records/

Questions about providing transcriptions or articles for Wake Treasures? Email Journal@wakecogen.org
Questions about WCGS or these events in general? Email President@wakecogen.org


Return to the WakeCoGen Website

Look for more Transcriptions Time from Wakecogen

Update:
New dates for Transcriptions Parties this fall - all on Saturdays 10:30-12:30 at Olivia Raney Library.

October 19
November 16
December 14

Original story:
We had such a great turnout for our recent Transcription Workshop on June 29. Results were so positive that more transcription events will be planned for the future. If you love old documents and the wonderful unexpected discoveries within, you will want to join us. Stay tuned for more info.

Here are the attendees getting some video instruction prior to starting our transcriptions. 

Photo: Monique Bunch

Photo: Monique Bunch

Photo: Monique Bunch

Here is the cool deed that I got to work with that day. This is the original that dates back to 1796. Full of long S's (fs) and thence's! Definitely white glove work.

Thanks to Diane Richard for the video and allowing Wakecogen to host on our website. It is on our home page after you scroll down to the end of the page.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Latest Newsletter - Wake Genealogy Watch - Fall 2019 now available

The new Fall 2019 issue of Wake Genealogy Watch (Vol. 3 Issue 1), is now available online for reading or download. 

This issue contains the following topics:
• Use WorldCat to find old and not-so-old books to enhance your research
• Create an art quilt to celebrate a favorite ancestor
• Enrich the context of your ancestors life and times by visiting a historical reenactment
• Transcription Time Sessions for Fall
• A very full events calendar
• Underused records for researching your elder Revolutionary War era ancestors
• AncestryDNA power tools for sorting your no tree/private tree matches


Or, click this newsletter page link to view this and all past newsletter content.

Photo Note: When reading from a printed copy, please refer back to the online edition where you can enlarge the photos for better viewing. 

We welcome your feedback, input, and submissions for inclusions in future editions. Please address all concerns to newsletter@wakecogen.org.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Notice: Raleigh Family History Center closed September 21- 28

The Raleigh Family History Center will be closed September 21-28th due to the Raleigh North Carolina Temple Open House. If you were planning a research trip to RFHC, add these dates to your calendar. 

For more Information visit RHFC. https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/raleigh-north-carolina-temple/




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Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Great Learning Opportunities for New and Newly Interested Genealogists

There are some excellent classes and opportunities offered around Wake County this fall. First up, is this great series offered by Wake County Public Libraries and taught by members of our own WCGS.

The topics will vary by library. Please consult individual libraries for details. These presentations are free. See flyer below.

Other opportunities exist as well. Raleigh Senior TechEd will offer multiple series of genealogy content this fall including a five part series on using Ancestry.com from starting to research and build a tree, to working with DNA results. Also offered, Genealogy Basics, Library & Archive Research, and Organization Tools. Consult the Raleigh Senior TechEd schedule here for dates and pricing.





Friday, August 30, 2019

DNA Q&A Handouts here

We had a great time and a good turnout at our August DNA Q&A meeting. 

Handouts for the meeting are located on the Wakecogen publication page:


DNA Q&A slides


DNA and Family History handout (provided by Kathy Ruse)


All handouts from our Summer 2019 DNA series can be reviewed by clicking the Summer of DNA tab above or going directly to the Wakecogen website publication page


Photos will be uploaded soon.

Return to the WakeCoGen Website

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Wake Wednesday - Hardimont

I remember the huge mansion off Wake Forest Road just before you get to the Beltline. It used to fascinate me when we first moved to Raleigh in the 70s. Of course, this spot held other significance for Wake County and North Carolina, but I will get to that later...
source
"On the estate to the other side, the matriarch was even older, and of even a higher level of artistocracy, and she lived in a house so big it had its own name — Hardimont. Margie Biggs was the widow of James Crawford Biggs, who, in addition to serving as dean of UNC’s law school and being founder of the state’s bar association, served as solicitor general under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Inside the country manor home, when her husband was still alive, they entertained the likes of FDR, Adlai Stevenson and William Jennings Bryan, and held large and lavish parties, it is said, that featured silver service for up to 500 people."


Legeros blog post about Hardimont Mansion is in this pdf file archive of his blog.
https://www.legeros.com/blog-archives/content/2014-11-12-biggs-hunter-history.pdf 

https://www.markturner.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Wake_Forest_Road-North_of_I-440-1965.jpeg

https://www.markturner.net/2015/12/02/the-final-resting-place-of-isaac-hunters-tavern/

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Reciprocal Journals available at Tuesday night's meeting

The following journals were received by Wakecogen within the last month.

Rowan - June 2019,
Alleghany - Summer 2019
Broad River - Aug 2019
Wilson - Aug 2019


***Please note*** as our location is changing in prep for ORL renovation, Linda Hames (Correspondence Secretary), will have these available for review at our next meeting at Cameron Village Regional Library.


Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Wake Wed - Bloomsbury Park c.1912

Bloomsbury Park once hosted a roller coaster and a carousel. Both are shown in the photo below.

source


Bloomsbury Park was built in 1912 as the last stop on the Glenwood Trolley line. The park was the finest amusement destination in Raleigh for almost a decade. By 1920, its popularity had waned. Perhaps the stress of the war and the Spanish Flu epidemic had stolen residents attention for more practical pursuits.

Bloomsbury Park is just a distant memory now, but portions of it remain for those nostalgic for old Raleigh lore. The carousel is easy to find, now restored and residing at Pullen Park. The other fixtures - the roller coaster, the trolley stop, and the dance pavilion - require a keener eye. Thankfully, Heather Leah, has that keen eye and has done the exploring for us. Please take a minute to read her article for ABC11 news. You will be glad you did.






Monday, July 29, 2019

DNA Handout for July WCGS meeting - WATO tool

Presented by Jean Lansford, July 23, 2019

We had a great turnout and a powerhouse DNA topic! Thanks, Jean.




The full handout will be published at the WCGS website shortly. Our webmaster is traveling.  In the meantime the links here will get you started.

Links 

Science the Heck Out of Your DNA Series, Leah LaPerle Larkin, The DNA Geek
 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

International Society of Genetic Genealogy Wiki 

Tools at DNAPainter

WATO Tree Template

GreenShot Screen Shot and Image Editor


Demo

This includes the slides from the presentation. It will walk you thru the process.
Check here: Summer of DNA (2019) Handouts

Sunday, July 7, 2019

Followup to Leeds Color Sorting DNA Matches presentation WCGS - June 25

Followup to last weeks Leeds presentation - 

In my effort to cover the topic in the time allowed, I was using a very simplified data set that was edited (think one of those home shows) for time. 

If you are trying to create your own spreadsheet from memory of my steps, take heart, Dana Leeds will walk you thru in her blog posts (Links in the handout and here). 

I wish you much fun and success. As always start small and give yourself permission to start over when you start to get the hang of it.

 https://www.danaleeds.com/leeds-method-dna/

I like this description too.


https://www.yourdnaguide.com/leeds-method

Good luck with your DNA Match sorting!


Cyndi Deal


PS - Also, keep watching the Summer of DNA link at the top of the blog home page. All handouts and links will be posted there for reference.


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Monday, July 1, 2019

Rescheduled Olive Family Reunion - September 2019 - Details within

If you are a member of the James Olive family association and planned to attend the reunion last year only to be foiled by a hurricane, here is your chance to regroup and regather.

Here is an excerpt of the Olive Branches newsletter with a brief description:
click to view original size

If you need more information, you can check their Facebook group or send me a message I have pdf files of the newsletter and the pre-registration sheet.

Reunion is Sept. 27-29 in Williamsburg.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

DNA Handout #3 from June WCGS meeting - Things you can do with your autosomal DNA results



 This handout was curated and created by Cini Gage. She wanted to share some of the many tools that we have been working with over the last couple of years. Please click on the images to view a larger version. This was formatted as a landscape spreadsheet and requires screenshots to get it to fit blog format.

Things you can do with your autosomal DNA results

click to see larger size


DNA Handout #2 from June WCGS meeting - Leeds Color Matching

Leeds Color Matching Sorting Method for atDNA Matches
Presenter: Cyndi Deal


DNA with DANA LEEDS - blog for Color Clustering Matches - https://dnawithdana.com

Dana Leeds Presentation at I4GG2018

Color and Tag with Ancestrys new features
·        Video from Blaine Bettinger - Sub-Clustering Your Shared Matches at AncestryDNA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ApidzEyA_k
Other Blogs and Work Groups
¡  Roberta Estes blog post,  The Leeds Method
¡  Roberta Estes blog post, Painting Leeds matches to DNAPAINTER (using matches with chromosome data)
¡  Diahan Southard blog post, Organizing Matches with Leeds
¡  Facebook Workgroup Genetic Genealogy Tips and Techniques  >> search Leeds in box on left sidebar
Preprinted worksheet for Leeds Method
DNA Match Manager

Conditional Formatting recipe”  -  Included in handout

Gather Matches for excel the Fast way

DNA Match Manager
        Free, Fast
        Works with all main test sites and GedMatch
        Creates csv files that you can save in Excel


DNA Match Manager
Color match options Easy vs. Power tools

Format Cell color


Right click on cell> choose fill tool (Paint bucket)> Choose color. This is simple and works, but you can’t sort it.


Recipe for Conditional Formatting in Excel

Home tab on Excel task Ribbon> Conditional Formatting dropdown> New Rule> 2nd option: format only cells that contain> fill cell value and define a color.
Power Tool option: Allows you to sort columns into associated family lines when they become apparent.

My Latest leeds effort
Using Power Tools:

¡  Match Manager data
¡  Conditional Formatting
¡  Color Code the starting match
¡  Rearranging the Columns as family lines become apparent

This shows how my process has evolved since first Leeds chart example that I shared with you. You can see that I have been moving the columns around as their connections become obvious.


Final Step, transfer this valuable info to your AncestryDNA match Page. Color code and Tag your matches with Ancestrys new features. See Blaine Bettinger video (link on Resource page).

DNA Handout #1 from June 2019 WCGS Meeting - Evaluating your atDNA Matches

Presented and prepared by Sallie Szymczyk

Evaluating Your atDNA Matches
WCGS
June 25,2019

Use a unique username

Open a new e-mail account

Provide at least a skeleton tree

Start with your closest matches to determine which side of your family they are on

Look at available trees for hints

Look for common surnames and locations

Check to see if your match has posted to a message board

Use the “Shared Matches” tool on Ancestry, the “In Common With” tool on FTDNA or “shared DNA Matches” on My Heritage

Determine Paternal or Maternal match

Make a spread sheet to keep track of your findings

Contact your matches with an “informed” e-mail – Do your home workReturn to the WakeCoGen Website

Friday, May 31, 2019

Wake Genealogy Watch - Summer Edition


The new issue, Vol. 2 Issue 4 of Wake Genealogy Watch, is available and brings you informative topics and news of upcoming events to help enhance your genealogy skills over the hot summer season.  In this issue you will find an article by Cyndi Deal about her selection and use of a scanner which makes easy work of converting slides, negatives, and film into JPEGs for preserving and sharing photos.  She supplements this topic with a short discussion of her photo editing software and presents a few resources on how to date 19th century images. Cynthia Gage shares some newspaper resources that North Carolina residents can use from home with just their library card! Ted Bainbridge shares his analytical process using family lore, census records, and maps to help prove/disprove the story of one of his ancestors. 

The summer WGW issue also provides details on the June-August WCGS meeting theme, “Summer of DNA”.  And whether local or not, everyone can take advantage of the free webinars on “Tarheel” research by the late Helen Leary, our recognized expert on North Carolinian research.  

All these and many more recommendations and helpful hints from this WGW issue will keep you progressing and successful during the heat of summer!  As always we welcome your articles, comments, or other items for the newsletter, so please contact Cyndi at newsletter@wakecogen.org if you have something to share.

View past issues of our newsletter here.



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Thursday, May 9, 2019

Wake County Genealogical Society Announces Transcription Workshop on June 29


By popular request, WCGS is pleased to announce a 2-hour workshop for everyone interested in learning about transcribing historical documents.  This is a skill useful for both producing material for our Wake Treasures journal as well as for our own family history research.  

The program will consist of a presentation with tips and examples followed by a live hands-on transcription (with a buddy) session.  Coming to this workshop does not obligate you to participate in future sessions, but we are looking forward to possibly meeting on a regular basis to work together on transcriptions for our award winning journal, Wake Treasures.  Everyone is welcome! The workshop is FREE!

All skill levels are welcome!  Please bring a laptop to the session if you have one (not required).  You are welcome to remain in the library following the workshop for additional help or to do research. Olivia Raney library is open until 2pm on Saturdays.  If you have questions, please contact Carla Stancil at CarlaStancil@gmail.com

Date:  Saturday, June 29, 2019
Time:  10am – 12 noon ET
Where:  Olivia Raney Local History Library, Raleigh, NC

Hope to see you there!


Sunday, February 17, 2019

Wake Treasures Journal - Volume 28, Number 3

Wake Treasures Volume 28, Number 3 – Summer 2018 is now available for viewing and download at the website. 

Contents include:

  • Lois Allen bio
  • The Colclough and Bragg Collection - Oak Grove Township 1825-1965
  • Wake Bibles found in Library of  Virginia
  • 1782 Tax Insolvents
  • General Assembly Session Records - Wake
  • Treasurer's and Comptroller's Settlements - Wake
  • 1894 Register of Births - City of Raleigh
  • Wake Wardens of the Poor (Poor House) Records - Feb 1884 - Jan 1885

 To download this new edition, log into the Members Area and go to the Wake Treasures webpage. 



If you have personal stories of people, places, and events connected to Wake County, please consider sharing them for inclusion into future editions! Contact the journal editor.


Need this content? Become a member here.
Access to the Journal online is one of the best benefits for remote Wake County researchers. There are over 20 years of issues online with Wake specific primary source content. Search in your sweats and fluffy slippers!


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Thursday, February 7, 2019

Learning Opportunity - Genealogy Workshop in Wake Forest

This was brought to my attention by one of our members and it looks like it might be a fun way to spend and afternoon. This free workshop happens Sunday, February 24 from 1:30 to 3:30pm at Page 158 Bookshop. The workshop will be led by Dave Lucey. Details are here.


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Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Learning Opportunity: Online DNA eConference - Jan. 26, 2019

From Family History Fanatics:

Family History Fanatics will be producing "A Winter of DNA" eConference on January 26th.  Speakers and topics will include:

Tim Janzen - Maximizing Your Use of GEDmatch
Richard Hill - Finding Family with DNA Testing: A Genetic Detective Story
Andy Lee - DNA Tree Building: What to Do When GEDmatch Matches Don't Respond
Maurice Gleeson - Using Y-DNA in Your Family Tree Research


The online sessions will begin at 9am Central Time on January 26th. A final panel discussion will end the day.  All registrants will be able to view the conference for 30 days.  Register and get your questions answered by some of the most popular genetic genealogy educators! Presentations are live, not pre-recorded, and you can ask questions throughout.

Price is only $19.99 until January 18th and then it will be $24.99.  Also, we will be having DNA kits and other stuff as door prizes that will be given away.  You don't have to be present to win, but you do have to register.

More information is available on the website: http://www.familyhistoryfanatics.com/winterdna


Nice that there is an early bird discount and they have a handy timezone converter on their site. Check it out! - CD


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