DearMYRTLE has been online since 1995 and involved with all kinds of online genealogy helps and projects.

In fact, she is a pioneer in genealogy audio training on the Internet.

I came to know her by phone and email in the early 2000s when I did an interview with her for her Internet genealogy radio broadcasts.

To this day, I don’t know how she pulled this off (she’s a smart lady, though) but long before “podcasts” and before audio on the Internet became more common, Myrt was broadcasting an online genealogy radio show to millions and millions of people - live.

I think this is some sort of record and she qualifies to be in the Guinness World Records book.

Today she has a very helpful and informative blog:

• See: DearMYRTLE’s blog

And is still doing audio genealogy instruction and interviewing the top movers and shakers in the genealogy world - through podcasts.

• Take a look at her collection of “Family History Hour genealogy podcast” shows.

You should bookmark that link, too.

When you go online and investigate the largest, most popular genealogy Web sites, you will find familiar names like: FamilySearch, RootsWeb, and Ancestry.

However, there is another site at the very top of the list that is not run a large company or organization.

Behind the scenes, you will find an individual who has done something amazing for the genealogy world. She is Cyndi Howells, author, speaker, creator of Cyndi’s List, and Family History Hero.

The comprehensive “Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet” has been going strong since 1996, and now has over 264,400 links for family history.

It is amazing what Cyndi has accomplished over the years and the help she has given to genealogy researchers all over the world. As Cyndi says on her site…

“Cyndi’s List is maintained from my home in Edgewood, Washington. It is not run by a large company, or by a large staff of people.”

In the FAQ section of Cyndi’s List one of the questions she answers is: How many people work on your web site?

Here, she gives some background about how she has kept things going with part-time help from her husband, Mark, her sister-in-law, Michele, and from time-to-time, a few friends.

In 1997, Cyndi was kind enough to do an interview for my Treasure Maps Genealogy newsletter and shared how she spends 8 to 12 hour each day keeping one of the Internet’s greatest genealogical treasures current and accurate.

You can read that interview here:

Classic Interview with Cyndi Howells, Creator of Cyndi’s List

In the past, I’ve affectionately referred to Cyndi as the “Sweetheart of the Genealogy Rodeo.” From those of you who are not from “down South,” this is a huge compliment. Now I’d like to add “Family History Hero” to her list of titles.

Here are Two Quotes from the Classic Interview
that Reveal the Kind of Person Cyndi is:

“The main reason I work on this list and actively participate in the Society is that I believe genealogy should be a sharing and cooperative hobby. If we all work together voluntarily we can make the Internet a very easy community to exchange our personal research information in. There should be a feeling of ‘giving back to the community’ in what we do.”

When I asked Cyndi how long she planned to keep this project going. She said, “Until every genealogy Web site on the planet is categorized!”

Visit: Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet

]]> http://genealogycompass.com/family-history-heroes/cyndi-howells-the-creator-of-cyndis-list-and-family-history-hero.html/feed http://genealogycompass.com/special-features/flash-drive-genealogy.html http://genealogycompass.com/special-features/flash-drive-genealogy.html#comments Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:11:11 +0000 Robert http://genealogycompass.com/?p=13

Flash Drive Genealogy: How-to Easily Store and Backup Your Important Genealogy Information

I did a survey and got tons of feedback from readers of my Treasure Maps Genealogy newsletter. My goal being to address and help solve problems and concerns that many online genealogy researchers have.

For example, look at the answer to this question:

QUESTION: What is your biggest problem with your computer skills? What would you like to know how to do better that is holding you back?

ANSWER: “Something stupid and basic! I have a flash drive but I haven’t used it yet. I don’t know how to copy my FTM (Family Tree Maker) stuff onto it, and that’s what I got it for.”

I’ve withheld the name because I don’t want anyone to feel embarrassed, but this kind of problem is very common (and it is not stupid). Today, we will go into depth on this topic and I even have a video for you to see that I created just for this lesson (see below).

NOTE: The video I created on this is coming in from YouTube. Please know that the videos in any of my genealogy courses on CDs are larger and crystal clear. YouTube really lowers the quality of videos that you submit to them.

Flash Drive Genealogy = Storing or
Backing Up Your Important Information

Anything can happen to your valuable data. I’ve been preaching about backing up your genealogy files for years. And I do it personally.

However, a few months ago, my hard drive on my main computer died. Sure, I have my genealogy data safe, but I lost all my email. That email included comments and testimonials for some of my courses that I had already ask permission from my students to use. There were also tips from readers that I was going to use in the newsletter. All gone.

Worst of all, there were pictures and video clips of my kids that I “had not got around to backing up yet” that are also gone forever. Sigh! After that, not only do I back up my pictures the moment that they come off my digital camera, I also got an “external hard drive” (more on these in a minute).

The flash drive (other names are jump drive, thumb drive, memory stick or flash stick) is a portable STORAGE device. A handy modern-day gizmo that is your “back up buddy.” They are commonly sold with 1 GB (gigabyte), 2 GB, and 4 GB storage space. A few years ago, a 1 GB flash drive cost over $40 US dollars.

I just saw a 2 GB flash drive on sale in an office supply store for under $20. A great deal. You’ll see pictures on the Genealogy Compass site of my flash drives. The smallest one is 2 inches by 1 inch. Very handy.

If all you want to save are documents, pictures, GEDCOM files, etc., then a 2 GB flash drive is all you will need. It holds a LOT of stuff.

You can keep your flash drive on your key chain, around your neck on a lanyard, in your purse, and I even clip one on one of the rings of my day planner.

It Comes Down to Knowing How to
Manage the FILES on Your Computer

Your valuable and important genealogy information can be: GEDCOM files, pictures, documents, and ANYTHING else that is important to you and your genealogy research. They are all files you can store on your computer (and on your flash drive).

You MUST KNOW how to manage the files on your computer!

I have found that this is a stumbling block for many genealogy researchers. If you DO know how to do this - great. You are part of a large minority, though.

“Managing Files” - Not So Scary…

All this means is that you learn how to make “Folders” and move stuff (your files) around.

You can “cut and paste” or “copy and paste” any file (as long is it is not a mega-huge file, like a large video file) from the hard drive on your computer, to your flash drive.

It’s EASY - and I’ll prove it.

I listed these because my closest office supply store is 25 miles away. But, I don’t go by mileage or travel time these days. Since gas prices are so high, I go by dollar amount.

So my closest office supply store is $14 away. My favorite office supply store is $20 away. Shopping online is a good thing .

Here are Flash Drives that Are
on Ebay Now in Live Auctions:

After you look at the flash drives available on live auctions, also do an eBay search for…

USB Hub: These hubs are around $20 or so. You use it by plugging it in to a USB port on your computer. If the USB hub has four ports (slots), your single USB port on your computer is now FOUR USB ports. Very handy.

Here is an External Hard Drive and a USB Hub

External Hard Drive: My digital camera also takes video clips. These can get large. If you have a lot of large files like these video clips, you may want to get an external hard drive.

The normal price on these is from $60 to $120 dollars. I got one as a gift from my techno-crazed Step-Dad. The external hard drive he gave me has more storage space the hard drive on either of my computers. It is smaller than a peanut butter sandwich.

Why GEDCOM files are a genealogy
researcher’s best friend…

How would you like to no longer stress over GEDCOM files? It is time to solve this genealogy mystery once and for all.

This introduction section shows you what GEDCOM files are and begins to solve the confusion and frustration that surrounds them.

The majority of genealogy researchers don’t know how to work with them and are missing out on so much.

Over the years, I’ve found this GEDCOM file issue to be a stumbling block with the majority genealogy researchers.

Here is genealogy GEDCOM file video workshop for you, with step-by-step lessons in an easy-to-understand presentation. This workshop will help solve your GEDCOM file phobias once and for all.

Part 1: Why GEDCOM Files Are a Genealogy Researcher’s Best Friend.

The lessons and examples in this workshop go by fast, so don’t be shy about using the “Pause” button on the videos.

What the Heck is a GEDCOM File?

Remember, a GEDCOM file is “just a file,” and like any type of file, the file name has a three letter extension.

For example, you type letters on your word processor, right? Let’s say you use Microsoft Word. When you save a letter (which is a file), you are saving a “.doc” or document file.

So if save a letter that you are writing to a family member and name it “familyletter,” here’s how the name of that Word/document file would look: familyletter.doc.

It works the same with genealogy files that you create with your genealogy software.

If you create a genealogy data file (with names, dates, and places) with the Family Tree Maker software, the file extension will be .ftm (for Family Tree Maker) or .ftw.

Here’s how a Family Tree Maker file, named “Ragan” would look: ragan.ftm or ragan.ftw.

If you create a genealogy data file with the PAF (Personal Ancestral File) software, it saves the information as .paf files. You get the idea, a PAF file named “Ragan” would look like this: ragan.paf.

The same applies to GEDCOM files. The three letter extension for these files will be .ged.

Using the Ragan example, the file name would look like this: ragan.ged.

You are just working with FILES. You do it already
with other software that you are already using, right?

Don’t make this a big deal because…the genealogy software does all the work for you.

It is important to think of these different genealogy file like this, because the most common misunderstanding that I have seen, time and time again, is someone who can type their data into a genealogy software program (say, Family Tree Maker) and save the information with no problem. But, they don’t realize the difference between their .ftm file and a GEDCOM file.

In fact, they don’t even realize what a big deal that GEDCOM files are. You will see why they are so important, how to work with them, and how to find them on the Internet in this mini-course.

RESOURCE: The Genealogy Software Programs
Shown in this GEDCOM Workshop are:

PAF (Personal Ancestral File): PAF is a free genealogy and family history program that
allows you to quickly and easily collect, organize and share your family history and genealogy information.

You can download this powerful free genealogy software from the FamilySearch.org site. Click on this Personal Ancestral File link, you will see the link to get the PAF software on the front page.

Family Tree Maker: This link will take you to the latest version of the popular Family Tree Maker 2008.

Genealogy software does
all the work for you…

You will discover how to import (look at) and export (save your own GEDCOM files) and how easy it is to do.

Hopefully, you already have a favorite genealogy software program that you are using. If not, there is a link below to a powerful free program (that happens to be my personal favorite) that you can get.

Note: In part two of the GEDCOM mini-workshop, you will see how to import and export GEDCOM files with the free PAF genealogy software program.

In part three, you will see how to do the same thing with the Family Tree Maker genealogy software program.

Don’t let these terms confuse or scare you off. Here’s all that this means…

Different Terms - Depending on Your Genealogy Software

Create a GEDCOM file. (Save data as GEDCOM file)

Look at a GEDCOM file. (Open a GEDCOM file)

Import a GEDCOM file. (Look/Open GEDCOM files)

Export a GEDCOM file. (Save data as GEDCOM file)

Part 2: Genealogy Software Does All the Work For You.

It will all come together for you after you watch the video. The light bulbs will start to come on in your mind.

RESOURCE: The Genealogy Software Programs
Shown in this GEDCOM Workshop are:

PAF (Personal Ancestral File): PAF is a free genealogy and family history program that
allows you to quickly and easily collect, organize and share your family history and genealogy information.

You can download this powerful free genealogy software from the FamilySearch.org site. Click on this Personal Ancestral File link, you will see the link to get the PAF software on the front page.

Family Tree Maker: This link will take you to the latest version of the popular Family Tree Maker 2008.

You CAN do it…

Here, you will see how to work with GEDCOM files in a different genealogy software program, Family Tree Maker.

You will also see a search on one of the many sites on the Internet where you can get GEDCOM files with the surnames that you are researching.

I believe that the light bulbs will start going off in your mind, and you will finally understand what all of the fuss about GEDCOM files is all about.

Part 3: You CAN DO It!

Where Do You Get GEDCOM Files?

• Create them with your genealogy software.
• From other genealogy researchers (online and offline).
• Email attachments.
• On the Internet (on Web pages that other researchers have created).
• From genealogy databases (like FamilySearch.org).

RESOURCE: The Genealogy Software Programs
Shown in this GEDCOM Workshop are:

PAF (Personal Ancestral File): PAF is a free genealogy and family history program that
allows you to quickly and easily collect, organize and share your family history and genealogy information.

You can download this powerful free genealogy software from the FamilySearch.org site. Click on this Personal Ancestral File link, you will see the link to get the PAF software on the front page.

Family Tree Maker: This link will take you to the latest version of the popular Family Tree Maker 2008.

You know that the words youth and genealogy are not usually found in the same sentence together.

The older we get, the more we appreciate the value of our family history. That’s why it is rare to see children and teenagers interested in genealogy, and why it is usually the “mature generation” who are involved in researching their family tree.

Meet Elyse: She’s 19 years-old, goes to school, has a boyfriend, loves Harry Potter, and has created 15 videos about genealogy on YouTube.

She is smart, charming, and very ambitious. I asked her the question that I’m sure many of you are wondering: How did you get interested in genealogy at such a young age?

Elyse said:

“I got into genealogy when I was about 13. My aunt had begun playing around on Ancestry.com. Since she wasn’t very technologically savvy, she didn’t take to it very seriously.

However, I was extremely interested in history and I understood computers and before you know it, I’m addicted to Ancestry.com.

At about the age of 15, I got to visit my paternal grandfather for the first time since I was a baby. He lives in the middle of the Appalachians in Tennessee (Carter County, Tennessee to be exact). Despite how rural it was (…the lack of a movie theater and mall in town was definitely odd for me).

I was immersed in this history that I had never had before. So pretty much one thing led to another and before I knew it I was addicted!”

Elyse in her video: Giving Back - Genealogy Style

Here is a partial list of the videos Elyse plans to make this summer:

Blogging Videos:

• Response to Dick Eastman’s article about complaining

genealogists

• My rootsweb mailing list

How-to Sorta Videos:

• The US federal census
• How to cite your sources
• The UK’s various federal census
• How history may have affected your ancestors
• Church Records
• How to do a genealogy related interview
• Familysearch Beta!
• Why message boards and mailing lists rock!
• Genealogy computer programs
• State and territorial censuses
• Tax lists
• Wills
• Some technology that is useful to a genealogist.

Ah, the energy of youth.

“Refreshing” is what keeps coming to my mind when I watch Elyse in her genealogy videos. I predict that this young lady will continue to do wonderful things in the genealogy world and will astound us all as years go by.

Elyse is a Family History Hero: You can see all of her videos on YouTube at: http://youtube.com/user/Elyse90505

I hope you will support her efforts. Take a look at her video lessons and leave comments on her videos directly on YouTube.