The Genealogy Search

Mary Elizabeth (Durbin) Clark, with Charles and Margaret Dial late 1940's? in Fayette County, Illinois. Photo from Cora Miley.

Lorraine and Lloyd Clark, January 28, 1961

I use Google a lot but sometimes it takes going to a lecture about it to get back in the habit of using Google to it's full potential.  Last week I attended Lisa Louise Cooke's 10 Ways to Achieve Google Search Success for Common Surnames.  One of the search methods she talked about was a linked search. A search for my Poundstone ancestors looking for a related link to a specific website would be as follows: poundstone LINK:www.ancestry.com The second search method she reminded me about is related search.  A query utilizing this search method would be: poundstone RELATED:www.fold3.com Try both of  these search strategies to see what new results you can find regarding your family.  You can learn more from Lisa Louise Cooke about Google and many other genealogy related subjects by listening to her podcasts at  Genealogy Gems .

Frank, Dan, Eva and Robert (back row) Urman, Milwaukee, Wisconsin cir 1946

That's me on the left and Gena on the right! I thought I would share a few more things this week regarding the past weekend's Expo.  It was a wonderful experience, how Holly Hansen manages to put this together every year is beyond me.  She is a superwoman!  I enjoyed so many speakers.  I had time to chat with Gena Philebert-Ortega.  Gena is a wonderfully speaker and blogger in the genealogy world.  If you have a chance check out one of her blogs - I really like Food Family Ephemera . My Angel!  Claudia Zweifel I also need to thank a fellow genie for finding my car keys.  I checked for my keys in the second to the last lecture and could not locate them.  I left the lecture and went back to the hotel and every place I had been during the conference - no luck!  Finally this sweet lady said are you sure you looked in your purse and I said at least twelve times!  I asked her to look in my purse and low and behold she found the keys!  Too bad it was after I had called my hu

I wanted to share some of my favorite things from the first day of the Expo: 1.  Lisa Louise Cooke - Always an enjoyable speaker, author, GenealogyGems podcaster and a good friend. 2.  Gena Philibert Ortega - Gifted genealogist and author.  Stop by and see her books From the Family Kitchen and Tracing Your Female Ancestors with Maureen Taylor. 3.  Barbara Renick - I heard her speak for the first time in 2008.  She is an enjoyable and personable speaker - boy have I learned. 4.  FamilyRoots Publishing - Love updating my personal library, wish their booth wasn't so tempting. 5.  Photo Tree.com - Bought a cheater sheet for Elements 11 and the Photo Restoration Kwik Guide.   I cannot wait to get started. 6.  Meeting people who read my blog!  Thank you for introducing yourselves! 7.  New acquaintances and catching up with old acquaintances!   8.  Arlene Eakle - She is an encyclopedia of genealogical information, I always learn something new in her lectures. 9.  Holly Hansen

  The hardest part about attending an expo or conference is trying to figure out which programs to attend.  As usual the Family History Expo has scheduled several programs I would like to attend at the same time.  Barbara Renick is the keynote speaker.  I had the privilege of attending one of her computer classes at the 2008 NGS conference in Kansas City so I know I would like to hear her speak again.  Lisa Louise Cooke is back at the conference and she always has great information so I really want to see her again. Arlene Eakle is presenting and I always learn something new from her programs.  Donald Yates is presenting  a DNA talk that really sounds interesting and luckily will be presented both Friday and Saturday.  Now the question is can I clone myself so that I can attend every program I want before the morning?

Our Saviour's English Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois, 1948  Lorraine Skibbe is in the third row from the bottom, 4th person from the right.

The Family History Expo in Mesa will open this Friday the 18th and continue through January the 19th.  Here a few tips to make the most of your expo experience: 1.  Bring address labels!  It will speed up entering drawings and your name and address will be easy to read.  Just add your email to the form and you are good to go. 2.  Pack a snack and a water bottle.  The vendor lines get long at times and that snack may just save you from starving. 3.  Be patient! 4.  Review your book titles and keep track of the books you are on the look out for.  I have purchased the same book three times over the last few years until I started keeping my library on Librarything.  Now when I go to a conference I can bring a printout or access it on my phone. 5.  Bring business cards/calling cards with your email and or blog address for new genealogy friends to stay in touch after the expo. 6.  Dress in layers - some rooms are warm and some are cool - be prepared.

Ron and Scott Urman cir 1964, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I’m 6 Today! The Genealogy Search blog is officially six years old today.  Another year has quickly come and gone.  I am happy to report that my blog has found new relatives, shared numerous family pictures, allowed me to meet new "blogger" friends, and learn from other blogs.  What a wonderful group Geneabloggers has been and thank you Thomas MacEntee, Amy Coffin, and all the other genealogy bloggers for all your inspiration. Here's to another wonderful year of blogging and continuing the Genealogy Search!

It is not too late to register for the Family Expo at the Mesa Convention Center on January 18-19, 2013.   Pre-registration is $79.00 for both days, registration at the door is $99.00.    Onsite registration will begin and the exhibit hall will open at noon on Friday January 18th. The event will close at 8:30 p.m. Exhibits and registration will re-open at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The exhibit hall will close at 4 p.m. Prizes donated by exhibitors will be given away both days and Grand Prizes donated by sponsors will be given away at the closing ceremony. This event is sponsored by Family History Expos and supported by FamilySearch.  Click here to register now.   The Mesa FamilySearch Library closes during the Expo.  To utilize the library you will need to visit Mesa  a day earlier than the Expo.  The good news is the genealogy collection at the    Law and Research Library at the Arizona Capitol will be open so if you want to research before the Expo begins you can spend the morning there.