Recent news for Shaping Your Family Tree (SYFT)

In Central Texas, Fall is here! The temperatures have finally dropped into the 80’s – not exactly the Fall weather so many get to experience, but it is no longer “hot”! I’ve been fortunate to travel in the Fall season in the past, to places where a sweater is needed, leaves turn orange and red, and people start thinking about the holiday season. Enjoy the photo here of St. James Park, in London, England, taken in November 2018!

Newsletter Signup!

I’ve added a Newsletter Signup to my website! If you’ve taken classes with me at Austin LLI or have allowed me to provide genealogy services for you, please consider signing up, here https://shapingyourfamilytree.com/newsletter/. I plan to reduce the amount of emails I send by sending out newsletter updates instead. I plan to send them at least once a month, containing the latest news, upcoming genealogy events and classes, expert tips and techniques, and guidance for genealogy research. If there are time-constrained specials, brand new research topics, or something else that can’t wait, I’ll send an update sooner. I plan to send out the first newsletter no later than next Sunday, Nov. 2nd. Sign up soon!

Specials and Recent Articles

For those of you who might use FindMyPast to find your ancestors across the pond, they just announced a special in conjunction with Remembrance Day (Nov. 11th), with all of their newspapers free to access until October 28th; https://www.findmypast.co.uk/page/military-records.

Fold3 also has a military story on their blog at https://blog.fold3.com/reconstructing-a-military-story/. Remember, most libraries allow their members free online access to subscriptions like Fold3. Check your library availability before purchasing a membership. If you subscribe to Ancestry, their All Access plan includes Fold3.

I’m always looking for new research templates – anything to make my research more effective and efficient. I have found several templates through American Ancestors. Check their collection here, https://www.americanancestors.org/tools/research-templates.

AncestryDNA recently updated their Ethnicity Estimates, now called Ancestral Regions. Log in and check your newest updates. If you have any concerns or questions, check Ancestry Support, https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/AncestryDNA-Ethnicity, or contact me at shapingyourfamilytree@gmail.com.

Team News

I recently connected with a professional genealogist, to join my team at SYFT. Her name is T.J. George and coincidentally, she found me through a shared match on Ancestry DNA. She is my 4th cousin and is extremely knowledgeable with Texas genealogy research. She recently visited me (in person for the first time) to teach a portion of my “Researching Ancestors in Maryland and Texas” class. She mentioned that twenty some odd years ago, her sister handed her a binder. In it were family group sheets and pedigree charts of her family. Just names on paper, most that she did not know. That’s where it began. Now, these people are more than names on paper, they lived, loved, and suffered; their spirits now live in the marrow of her bones. T.J. wants to pass on her knowledge genealogy research and techniques to others who also want to bring their ancestors to life. She will be teaching classes and working with clients in her local area, just north of Houston. She’s working with me to expand our SYFT reach and increase our capabilities.

We also have a research assistant who helps with administration and research tasks in preparation for classes. Jaslynn A. has been a great asset to me and will take over newsletter organization and management. T.J. and Jaslynn are both on the About SYFT page. Send them a welcome at shapingyourfamilytree@gmail.com!

Events

Upcoming events are now shown on this newly renamed Blog & Events page, on the top right. Of note, I’ve scheduled the first Genealogy & Java session for Monday, November 11; consider registering for the event! I’m working to acquire a place which has coffee and pastries, and hopefully space for 15-20. Let me know if you have suggestions! These coffee chat sessions will be $10 each. Thanks in advance for your support!

I’ve also decided on the topics for the Spring 2025 Austin LLI Classes. I’ll be teaching two topics I’ve taught before, “Researching records in the British Isles (1800-onward)” and “Family Trees and More!”  Check the descriptions as I’ve added additional topics since these two subjects were last taught.