Resource Tips From a Pro

When it comes to genealogy resources, we all appreciate the essential, love to come across the innovative, and are . . . well, delighted . . . by the delightful. Even if you don't live in Canada or have Canadian ancestry. you may be interested to read the recent article by Tammy Tipler-Priolo, "Essentials, Innovations & Delights," on BayToday.ca, as the author shares favorite resources used in her own "everyday research business." Among those mentioned are resources for Canadian, French Canadian, English, Irish, and Scottish research. When I was working in the software industry, in the field of human factors, the most successful programs went beyond functional to delight the users, which meant, exceeding expectation. To call a resource delightful is high praise, indeed.

Scotland Online acquires family history web site

Scotland Online, the IT business owned by Dundee media dynasty DC Thomson, yesterday said it had acquired findmypast.com a leading independent UK-based family history website, according to an article yesterday in The Herald (Glasgow, Scotland). The company said it had acquired the business Title Research Group as part of its plans to establish a world-class online network of family history resources. . . . The merger will see Scotland Online's current online genealogy service, ScotlandsPeople, amalgamating with findmypast.com to create an enlarged resource to serve millions of family history enthusiasts worldwide.

Who Are the Scotch-Irish?

While we've all heard the term "Scotch-Irish" or "Scots-Irish," we may not know exactly what it means or to whom it refers. In her article, "Who are the Scotch-Irish," Melissa Slate revisits the history of the Northern Ireland and explains events prompting immigrations to the U. S. in the early 1700s.

New Scotland genealogy center to open in 2009

An article in the Buchan Observer highlights a new genealogy research center scheduled to open in 2009, in harmony with Scotland's Year of Homecoming. According to the article, historians from all over Scotland, the UK and the world, with Aberdeenshire lineage, will soon be able to trace their family history when the region's first genealogy centre opens in Peterhead. The centre is being established by the Peterhead Tourism Initiative (PTI) which has been working hard to secure funding for the project. It will be hosted in a room at the Arbuthnot Museum at Peterhead's St Peter Street where a wealth of documentation can already be found. It is believed the project will attract new visitors to the North-east and will tie in with the Scottish Executive's Homecoming project scheduled for 2009. Scotland's Year of Homecoming is a year-long event which will showcase Scotland as a 'must-visit, must-return' destination. The year coincides with the 250th anniversary of the birth of national bard Robert Burn which will be celebrated through a series of events.

Ancestry releases Scotland Census Collection, 1841-1902

Almost 5 million Americans who claim Scottish ancestry can now discover their Scottish ancestors among the more than 24 million names in the complete Scotland Census Collection, 1841-1901, Ancestry.com announced in a press release yesterday. These censuses offer snapshots of history, from names and occupations to place of birth and residence, providing insight into the forces that shaped the lives of many Scottish ancestors. Interestingly, U.S. passenger list records indicate a spike in Scottish immigration during this period, making it easier for individuals to trace their ancestors from America's shores to Scotland's Highlands. The complete Scotland Census Collection adds to Ancestry.com's growing international census collection, which already includes the only complete online collections of fully-indexed and digitized U.S. Federal Censuses from 1790 to 1930, England and Wales censuses from 1841 to 1901, and the 1851, 1901, 1906 and 1911 Canadian census.

Help for family history researchers in Scotland

An article in the Paisley Daily Express, "Guide Makes History Easy," announces a new Family History booklet, published by Renfrewshire Council, with the help of local history organizations to help people trace the roots on their family tree. The publication provides ideas about where to go for information such as libraries, museums, registry offices, churches, workplaces, old newspapers, valuation rolls, trade directories and maps. Helping to launch the booklet, Councillor Jackie Green said it will appeal to people across Scotland, as well as to family-tree researchers in Paisley. Copies of the booklet are available in local libraries, hotels, the Renfrewshire Council departments and the Tourist Information Centre in Gilmour Street, Paisley. Further information is available by logging on to www.renfrewshire.gov.uk

Scotland's Old Parochial Records Now Online

According to an article published on PublicTechnology.net, Genealogy: Scotland puts Burns' birth and marriage certificates online, the birth and marriage certificates of Scotland's National Bard, Robert Burns, made their first appearance on the Internet yesterday, the 248th anniversary of his birth. Scotland's Old Parochial Records, which range from 1553 to 1854, are the last records to be transferred into digital images as part of a £3 million project to make all records held by the General Register Office for Scotland available online. The five-year digital programme aims to improve access and speed up searches on Scotland's genealogical archives. The records can now be viewed on the ScotlandsPeople web site and in the public search rooms of the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) in Edinburgh.