iPentimento

Imagine that you have always wanted to find more information about one of your ancestors, but you had neither the resources, time, or any idea on earth where to find it. Imagine too, that you knew of a book or author who had written about your family member, but you had no idea where to start to look for said book.

Have you considered looking in Google Book Search? As a little exercise in discovery, today I did a cursory search in the database for books about Rose Farm, my cousin William Livingston Holmes' home that was built by him circa 1847 in Oregon City, OR. What came back is astounding: Books 1 - 10 of 1,041 on rose farm Oregon. (0.05 seconds). That doesn't mean that every one of those books has the exact information I am looking for, but my chances are pretty darn good that there will be at least a few that contain additional information that I might not have already.

One of the things I like about the Google Book Search too, is that if you do find a book you would like to refer to later, you can add it to your 'library' and come back to it later. In addition, you can also click on handy links to find the book in a library, or buy it outright from a site like Amazon or Alibris.

The goal for Google, from before its implimentation, has always been to make information available to the world.  What had kept them from doing that with books had been the threat of lawsuits and copyright complications. Just this week though, on October 28th, they have reached an agreement with a large group of authors and publishers to grant digital access to millions of in-copyright books. Not only does it make access to these books available, but it also opens a new market for those authors and publishers to sell their work. Rather than me telling you all about it here, please read New Chapter for Google Book Search on their blog.

I wonder if they will eventually take self-published genealogy and family tree books? ;) Not so much for the monetization, but just for the sheer ability to share our research with other potential family members!  Yes, I know we can do that alread in limited ways, but to be able to share it with the whole world...priceless!

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Technorati Tags: ancestors, books, digital images, family research, family trees, Genealogy, Google Book Search, History, research

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It's Time To Plan That Family Reunion!

When we were in Germany, there were a lot of organized gatherings for the airmen and their families. At the end of the night, awards were given to a select few who fit the criteria for recognition. Like, who had the least amount of time to go before heading back to the States; or who was the newest wife to come be with her husband, etc.. Here are some ideas I found in the book Family Reunion Handbook: A Complete Guide for Reunion Planners (Family Reunion Handbook) by Tom Ninkovich that you might want to use at your next family reunion:

• Who traveled the farthest?
• Who has the most children?
• Who is the youngest grandparent?
• Who has the most descendants present?
• Who has the most grandchildren?
• Who has attended the most reunions?
• Who arrived first/last?
• Who is the youngest/oldest present?
• Who has the longest/biggest hair?
• Who has the least hair?
• Who came in the oldest car?
• Who has the largest purse?
• Who has the longest fingernails?
• Who is the tallest person there?
• Who has the biggest feet?
• Who has been married the longest?
• Who recently got married?
• Who has the whitest hair?
• Which kid has the most teeth missing?

For more modern times, you might give an award for the funniest email address, or for the person who came with the most gadgets. In doing the award for the email address, you will certainly be able to collect a few addresses that you might not have already had, or you can update them since people sometimes change them frequently.

If everyone has brought a side dish, perhaps you can give an award for the most creative, best dessert, etc. You might consider giving homemade jams or jellies as prizes. Who wouldn't like that? :)

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Technorati Tags: awards, family gatherings, Family Reunion, games, prizes

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Filed under: Family Reunion