26 February 2015

Your Genealogy Today

The March/April issue of this magazine from Moorshead Magazines, evolved from Family Chronicle, is out. What's changed? As editor Ed Zapletal writes "Our content will not undergo dramatic changes at this time." That's my impression, it's more a makeover than a new magazine.

The only real clue to the direction being taken is the launching of three new regular columns, each a single page: “Genealogy Tourism”, “DNA & Your Genealogy”, and “Advice from the Pros” to be authored on a rotational basis by contributors who are "experts in their respective fields."

In this premiere issue Advice from the Pros is written by Gena Philibert-Ortega who offers the revolutionary advice to adopt a balanced approach between offline and online sources. Genealogy Tourism is written by Lisa Alzo who, you'll be astonished to read, recommends you plan, prepare and pack. Colleen Fitzpatrick authors the first column on DNA and Genealogy by reviewing the three kinds of DNA used in genetic genealogy.

Other content includes:

The Old Dead Folks Club
Robbie Gorr, from the Upper Ottawa Valley Genealogy Group, admits that transcribing headstones is a solitary past-time, but also relaxing and pleasant, not to forget a valuable hobby. 

Searching for Ancestors in the British Department of State
The reference to the British Department of State, brazened across the cover, threw me.  As far as I know that was no such entity. The content refers to material from the British Foreign Office and the Colonial Office, and that's interesting and well described. The author, Ed Storey, lives in Colorado and must be thinking in terms of the US equivalent the Department of State. File this one under editorial blunder.

Stuck in a Rut? Recharge Your Research!
Lisa A. Alzo seems to have been in an alliterative mood. While the ps were her watchwords in the tourism column in this it's es, for evaluate, estimate, execute. Is the use of rs in the title, rut, recharge and research, deliberate?

"Why Guernsey?"
Most of us don't have genealogical interest in the charming island of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, yet George Matheson recounting of how he became enthralled by the island's culture and history, as well as offering practical travel advice, makes for good reading.

Pick a Card... Any Card!
David A. Norris looks at what you can learn about your ancestors from collections of old cards in various forms

Go Paperless
Carol Richey looks at five easy steps to reduce the paper clutter for family historians

Pompey Russell: Revolutionary War Patriot
Merrylyn Sawyer researches the life of a New Hampshire patriot of the Revolutionary War

Journaling a Genealogical Journey — Creating a “Vital Record”
Joe Grandinetti shows you how to create a valuable record of your ancestral travels

Will the Middle Initial Disappear?
David A. Norris wonders what the implications would be for future family historians if the middle initial faded into obscurity

DNA: Unraveling a Pomeranian Mystery
Lori Alexander shows how she used DNA testing to back up her genealogy research for her Pomeranian ancestors.

Read more about the magazine at http://yourgenealogytoday.com/











1 comment:

Anonymous said...

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