50 genealogy blogs you need to read in 2013!

Inside History’s 2nd Annual Genealogy Blog Awards are here! With the help of geneablogger Jill Ball, we’ve compiled our best 50 blogs from around the world. Get ready for “a glorious and unforgettable ride”. Drum roll, please…

What makes a geneablog great? Many people’s responses to this question via Twitter and Google+ have guided the choices here for Inside History’s 2nd Annual Genealogy Blog Awards.

The suggestion that most struck a chord was from Caroline Pointer who wrote, ‘Ones that take me on a glorious and unforgettable ride. And all the other stuff everyone else suggested.’ Our respondents looked for elements such as accuracy, commitment, consistency, content, originality, photographs, tone and writing style, while a few people touched on the technical aspects of a blog like a clean appearance, and no junk ads. Alona Tester suggested, ‘useful bits like blog archives [and] search, subscribe and share buttons’. Blogs that are easy to find, access and navigate rated highly here; blogs are a collaborative medium so bloggers need to make it easy for readers to interact with their audience. The relevance of these features varies from blog to blog depending on their style and purpose.

Surprisingly, no-one suggested passion, which is an extension of commitment. When examining the blogs for this list, commitment from an institutional or commercial blog, or passion from a personal blog rated highly. A blogger does not have to post daily to have commitment, but it needs to be on a regular basis be it daily, weekly or monthly. Readers also need to know what to expect, and this should be communicated in an About page on a blog. Other static pages such as calendars, contact details, disclosures and other relevant information also add value. Originality was the feature that received the most mentions and this has been a big factor in determining the awards. In the words of one respondent, we were looking for blogs that contain more than ‘simply press releases’. It’s great to see new blogs being launched all the time in the geneablogging world, and some of these are included here, such as Irish Genealogy News and Jax Trax.

The following list of Inside History’s top 50 blogs for 2013 is divided into categories and is listed in alphabetical order rather than rank or order of merit. So without any further ado, let’s reveal which blogs from around the globe made it onto our must-read (and must-follow) list for 2013…

Institutions:
Stay up to date with what some of our leading institutions are doing when it comes to family history. Here are a few that we like to read:

1. Archives Outside, archivesoutside.records.nsw.gov.au
2. Australian War Memorial, www.awm.gov.au/blog
3. Dictionary of Sydney, trust.dictionaryofsydney.org/category/blog
4. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, blogs.slq.qld.gov.au/jol
5. Kintalk, Auckland City Libraries, kintalkfamilyhistory.blogspot.com
6. Manly Families, Manly Library, manlyfamilies.blogspot.com
7. Moonee Valley History, mooneevalleyfamilylocalhistory.blogspot.com.au
8. Perth History Centre, community.perth.wa.gov.au/historycentre
9. Public Record Office Victoria, prov.vic.gov.au/publications/blog
10. National Library of Australia, blogs.nla.gov.au/the-eloquent-page
11. The National Archives, blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Organisations Want to be the first to know when new records or techy features are released? Here are our favourite blogs from genealogy organisations:

12. Ancestry.com.au, blogs.ancestry.com/au
13. Billion Graves, blog.billiongraves.com
14. FamilySearch, familysearch.org/blog
15. findmypast.com, blog.findmypast.com
16. Geneanet Genealogy Blog, genealogyblog.geneanet.org
17. Gould Genealogy and History News, www.gouldgenealogy.com
18. Legacy Family Tree, news.legacyfamilytree.com
19. MyHeritage Blog, blog.myheritage.com

Niche topics and societies Some blogs are smaller in scope, but have a largesse of informative posts on the topic at hand. Here are some examples:

20. Genealogists for Families Project, genfamilies.blogspot.com
21. Local History Newslink, Maitland NSW, localhistorynews.blogspot.com
22. The Empire Called and I Answered, empirecall.blogspot.com
23. Genealogical Society of Victoria, genealogyworld.blogspot.com.au
24. Ku-ring-gai Historical Society, kuringgaihs.blogspot.com

Personal genealogists As every researcher knows, family history is a labour of love, whether it’s a hobby or a career. Here are our favourite personal blogs:

25. Anglo-Celtic Connections, anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.com
26. A Rebel Hand, rebelhand.wordpress.com
27. Auld Genealogy, auldgenealogy.blogspot.com.au
28. Australian Genealogy Journeys, ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com
29. Backtracking, boobookbacktracks.blogspot.com.au
30. Chloe Okoli, chloeokoli.com
31. Dear Myrtle, blog.dearmyrtle.com
32. Family History Across the Seas, cassmob.wordpress.com
33. Family History Fun, scotsue-familyhistoryfun.blogspot.com
34. GenBlog, genblogjulie.blogspot.com
35. Genealogy’s Star, genealogysstar.blogspot.com
36. Geniaus, geniaus.blogspot.com
37.Jax Trax, jackievanbergen.blogspot.com
38. Kylie’s Genes, blog.kyliesgenes.com
39. Lonetester HQ, www.lonetester.com
40. Mad about Genealogy, madaboutgenealogy.com
41. Now and Then, lynnwalsh.wordpress.com
42. Strong Foundations, shazlex.blogspot.com.au
43. Stumbling Through the Past, stumblingpast.wordpress.com
44. Western District Families, mywdfamilies.wordpress.com

Professional genealogists We love these blogs that offer a regular glimpse into the work being done in the family history world:

45. British Genes, britishgenes.blogspot.com
46. Shauna Hicks, diaryofanaustraliangenealogist.blogspot.com
47. Geneabloggers, geneabloggers.com
48. Irish Genealogy News, iirish-genealogy-news.blogspot.com
49. Jayne Shrimpton, jayneshrimpton.tumblr.com
50. The Family Recorder, thefamilyrecorder.blogspot.com

Issue 14: Jan-Feb 2013 is now available!

Outlaws and legends: the January-February edition (issue 14), our crime special, has arrived!

• Ned Kelly’s secret love? A descendant of the iconic bushranger’s alleged flame puts forward his case
• Discover your family history to trace lawbreaking ancestors with Shauna Hicks’s guide to criminal records
• Delve into 1930s murder mysteries with award-winning crime authors Stephen Orr and Sulari Gentill
• We introduce the early Australian convict indents that have been digitised in colour for the first time
• Was your ancestor a Remittance Man? Helen Leggatt shows you how to find out
• Inside History readers share tips for deciphering tricky handwriting on historical documents
• Plus there's much more, including opportunities to network with other genealogists, giveaways, and book and app reviews!

And much more – in fact, 76 pages of terrific features, practical information on genealogy, chances to network with other family historians, and book and app reviews. On sale now online - click here to buy!

 Issue 14 is available in newsagents nationally - click here to see where. If your local newsagent doesn't stock us though, then they should be able to put a standing order in for you from Gordon & Gotch [G&G] - our title number is 11904 and G&G is on 1300 650 66, if your agent asks.  Once your newsagent sends in your request, we'll make sure that our next Issue 15: Mar-Apr 2013 is sent there for you!

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From Australia’s most iconic bushranger through to First Fleet convicts and 1930s murder mysteries, Issue 14 of Inside History takes a walk through the dark alleyways and shady backstreets of our nation’s past.

Of the many outlaws and legends in Issue 14, Ned Kelly — our cover boy — is one of the most famous, divisive and intriguing. In an exclusive interview, we hear from a descendant of Ned’s alleged secret love, who puts forward his case and reveals his spine-tingling discoveries about the Kelly gang.

Delve into your own family history mysteries with our report of Inside History readers’ best tips for deciphering historical documents: they should help you crack the code. Along with our investigation into the scandals of remittance men, our guide to criminal records by renowned genealogist Shauna Hicks will see you snooping through the archives to uncover your ancestors’ dastardly deeds.

The chilling crime fiction story idea that inspired grisly real life murders in the 1930s West Australian outback is recounted by author Stephen Orr. Meanwhile, author Sulari Gentill discusses the importance of historical research to her crime fiction writing, where fact and fiction are interwoven.

Cracking open the case of the Eureka Stockade, we examine a long-standing myth surrounding the uprising using clues and tipoffs from historical sources. And, of course, what crime edition would be complete without an appearance by our convict forebears? We trace early convicts’ attempts to sneak around the colonial justice system, as revealed through records.

Family history sleuths and armchair detectives alike will appreciate the latest edition of Inside History. This issue will set your mind ticking and pulse racing as you examine some of the most famous, and infamous, cases and characters from Australian history — and perhaps uncover outlaws and legends in your own family history.

Packed as always with in-depth family history research advice, the latest news and events, and features on Australia’s social history and heritage, Inside History is a bi-monthly magazine for people who are passionate about the past. It’s available from newsagents nationally, on iPad via Apple Newsstand, and for Android and desktop computers through Zinio. Or subscribe and have it delivered straight to your door.

For more information please contact:
Cassie Mercer, Inside History magazine
phone: 02 9590 9600 | email: cass[at]insidehistory.com.au

Issue 13 giveaways announced :: findmypast - SBS WDYTYA

And the winner is...... Congratulations to G. Muth of Salisbury Downs, SA you've won our Issue 13 giveaway with findmypast. Good luck with your search!

Win a findmypast World Collection subscription valued at $249.95! 

Here’s your chance to win access to  the 1.5 billion records on findmypast! The prize is a 12-month subscription to its World Collection, which means you can search records from across Australia, New Zealand, the US, the UK and Ireland, all from one site! Read about how findmypast can help with your research on page 48.

To go into the draw for this terrific prize, simply tell us the year your earliest ancestor arrived in Australia or New Zealand. 

Send your answer by 31 December to cass[at]insidehistory.com.au or post it to findmypast giveaway, PO Box 406 Erskineville NSW 2043.

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And the winners are......... Congratulations to the 5 winners of the WDYTYA Series 4 DVD sets:

[1] K. Gaspari, Chadstone, VIC

[2] M. Kemp, Ashmore, QLD

[3] L. Walker, Deception Bay, QLD

[4] J. Wright, Narre Warren South, VIC

[5] J. Purnell, Rochedale South, QLD

Win Series 4 of Who Do You  Think You Are? on DVD!

It’s the television series we all love, and if you’re like us you’re already counting down the days until Series 5 debuts on our screens in early 2013. In the meantime, here’s your chance to relive all the detective work, drama and emotion of Series 4. See comedian Shaun Micallef discover his Maltese connections, journalist Kerry O’Brien learn about his Irish links!

To go into the draw to win one of five DVDs of series 4, valued at $29.95 each, simply tell us which celebrity episode you loved the most from any  of the Australian series so far. 

Send your answer by 31 December to cass[at]insidehistory.com.au or post it to SBS giveaway, PO Box 406 Erskineville NSW 2043.

Issue 12 giveaway :: Ancestry.com.au 12 mth membership

Win an Ancestry.com.au World Heritage Membership for 12 months!

With a World Heritage Membership you will have unlimited access to all Ancestry.com.au records from around the world including the US, Ireland and the UK, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Who knows, your family research could take you all over the world!

Remember the joy of connecting to the past you felt when you uncovered your first BMD record? With the World Heritage Membership, you can relive that excitement all year round, as Ancestry.com.au’s vast collections are regularly updated. Recent additions include the England & Wales BMD Index 1837–1915 collections. The Marriage Index alone contains more than 33 million records!

All you need to do to enter the draw for this terrific prize is to send us your answer to the following question:

Q. How many records are there in the Ancestry.com.au England & Wales BMD Marriage Index: 1837–1915?

[A] Less than 5m [B] Less than 10m [C] Less than 20m [D] More than 33m

Simply send your answer, plus your name and contact details to Inside History Ancestry.com.au Giveaway, PO Box 406 Erskineville NSW 2043 or email cass@insidehistory.com.au by 5pm EDST, October 31, 2012.

Terms and conditions:
Entries close 5pm EDST, 31/10/12. The first correct answer drawn at random will win and the winner notified by 14/11/12. Allow up to 4 weeks for account set-up. Prize is a World Heritage Membership for 12 months to Ancestry.com.au valued at $299.88. It is not redeemable for cash. Please indicate if you’d like to opt out of our mailing list. We won’t share your details with a third party.

Issue 12; Sep-Oct 2012 is now available!

Something old, something new: the long-awaited wedding edition of Inside History, Issue 12, has arrived fresh off the press! Our Issue 12: Sep-Oct edition includes:

• We spotlight FamilySearch marriage records, and how to find “the one” you’re after
• Learn what our convict ancestors got up to, in the name of love
• Who is the beautiful bride on our cover, you ask? Discover why her veil is a treasured heirloom
• Jill Dupleix shares her favourite family recipes and the stories behind them
• Digital history guide: test the free online tools that could transform your research
• The Trove team answer your family history research questions
• Read about the brave Anzacs who served in Papua New Guinea during World War II
• Plus you could win an Ancestry.com.au membership!

And much more – in fact, 76 pages of terrific features, practical information on genealogy, chances to network with other family historians, and book and app reviews. On sale now online - click here to buy!

Issue 12 is available in newsagents nationally - click here to see where. You can also request us at your local newsagent, and we'll make sure that our next Issue 13; Nov-Dec 2012 is sent there for you!

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What milestone marking our adult ancestors’ lives could have been more important than marriage? Inside History provides a guide to tracing elusive marriage certificates among the billions of records on FamilySearch, plus tips to help you pursue the commonly missed clues on wedding records.

Delving into ancestral love lives, we explore the regulations imposed upon marriage and cohabitation by the colonial authorities – and how our crafty convict ancestors got around them.

We track down three families across Australia and New Zealand whose treasured heirlooms played an important role in their wedding days, including the gorgeous veil worn by 16 brides, and a vase passed down for 132 years.

And if that’s not heart-warming enough, former Sydney Morning Herald food editor Jill Dupleix shares her favourite family recipes and the stories behind them. You’ll find your mind flickering back to your own treasured family dishes – and probably your mouth watering, too!

Non-romantics will appreciate our digital history features and several high-profile expert Q&As. Digital historian Tim Sherratt guides us through the free online digital tools that could transform family history research. Our exclusive Trove special featuring the website’s own support staff answers all your niggling questions, while an innovative photo-dating method utilising shadows will shed light on your own family pictures.

The brave Anzacs who served in Papua New Guinea during WWII are showcased in a moving excerpt from Phillip Bradley’s latest book, Hell’s Battlefield. Plus, an interview with the author himself reveals his valuable research sources, and the stories that affected him most.

Packed as always with in-depth family history research advice, the latest news and events, and features on Australia’s social history and heritage, Inside History is a bi-monthly magazine for people who are passionate about the past. It’s available from newsagents nationally, on iPad via Apple Newsstand, and for Android and desktop computers through Zinio. Or subscribe and have it delivered straight to your door.

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Authors to look out for in Issue 12:

Historian :: Phillip Bradley

FamilySearch research consultant :: Marci A. Despain @FamilySearch

Author :: Jill Dupleix @Jilldupleix

Author :: Hazel Edwards @muirmoir
Journalist :: Miranda Farrell
Journalist :: Paula Grunseit @PaulaGrunseit
Australian genealogist :: Barbara Hall @IrishWattle
Australian genealogist :: Shauna Hicks @HicksShauna

National Library of Australia’s :: Virginia James @TroveAustralia

University of New England archivist :: Bill Oates @UniNewEngland

Intern Journalist :: Pristine Ong

National Library of Australia’s :: Mark Raadgever @TroveAustralia

Digital historian :: Tim Sherratt @wragge
Intern Journalist :: Sarah Trevor
Journalist :: Shirley Way
New Zealand genealogist :: Mark Webster @macnzMark

For more information please contact: 
Cassie Mercer, Inside History magazine
phone: 02 9590 9600 | email: cass@insidehistory.com.au

Have a sneak peek inside our new magazine; Issue 12; Sep-Oct 2012.

NAA passenger records to be digitised & indexed

Big news from National Archives of Australia and Ancestry.com.au!

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From the NAA Press Release: Thursday, 23rd August 2012

Family historians and other researchers will have greater access to archival records following a new partnership being negotiated between the National Archives of Australia and Ancestry.com.au. The new partnership was announced at the International Council on Archives (ICA) Congress.

‘This is a first for us and will mean the people of Australia will have easy online access to records that were previously difficult to find,’ said David Fricker, Director-General of the NAA. ‘Without a partnership such as this, providing such access would be a long-term project for us and costly.’

Ancestry.com.au will create an index and digitise the records of passengers who arrived in Western Australia between 1897 and 1963. This included most people arriving in Australia by ship, even if they travelled on to other ports.

These records currently have no complete index so anyone searching for information needs to know where a person arrived in Australia and the approximate date.

‘This project is the first of its kind for the Archives and will include the records of the millions of passengers arriving in Western Australia by ship and aircraft during this period,’ said Mr Fricker. ‘We are negotiating to have records available on both the National Archives and Ancestry websites, providing a much-needed resource for family historians and others.’

Passenger arrival records are an excellent source of genealogical information.  They usually include information such as name, nationality, race, age, sex, place of embarkation, occupation, name of the ship and date and place of arrival.

“We are excited to be working with the National Archives of Australia to provide Australians with greater access to these key records which document the arrival of millions of people to the shores of Australia during the twentieth century,” said Brad Argent, Content Director, Ancestry.com.au. “These records offer us a unique insight into the travels of our ancestors, providing us with links to a land beyond the one we call home today.”

Free from Issue 4 :: How to get more from death certificates

A death certificate is one of the most valued tools among family historians. But is there more information on them than meets the eye? Written by Helen Smith, as part one in a three part series on medical history.

Published in Issue 4: May-June 2011 edition of Inside History magazine.

Click here to purchase Inside History magazine back issues.

Sign our petition to make Australian BDMs easier

Recently we signed a petition to reduce the costs of research copies of Birth, Death and Marriage [BDM] certificates from the United Kingdom [UK] and make them easier to access, and it got us thinking. Why are BDM certificates so expensive in Australia and why does the process for requesting and receiving them vary so much state by state?

Do you think that it should be easier and cheaper to obtain BDM certificates in Australia for research purposes? And should there be a consistent process and pricing across all states for those same certificates? If you think that it should, then please sign this petition.

You just never know what people power can achieve, so have your say on this issue. As of today, over 650 fellow historians have already signed and had their say. Sign and spread the word!

Links for Birth, Death and Marriage certificates:

• ACT: http://www.ors.act.gov.au
• NSW: http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/familyHistory/searchHistoricalRecords.htm
• Northern Territory: http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/bdm/index.shtml
• Queensland: http://www.justice.qld.gov.au
• South Australia: http://www.ocba.sa.gov.au/bdm
• Tasmania: http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/bdm
• Victoria: http://ow.ly/czBoS 
• Western Australia: http://www.bdm.dotag.wa.gov.au
• New Zealand: http://www.dia.govt.nz/Births-deaths-and-marriages

BDM transcription services:

• Joy Murrin Family History Services: http://www.joymurrin.com.au
• Marilyn Rowan's transcription service: http://www.transcriptions.com.au
• Genealogy SA: http://genealogysa.org.au

Online databases:

• Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.com.au
• Family Search: http://ow.ly/czBAu
• Findmypast Australasia: http://www.findmypast.com.au
• Obituaries Australia: http://oa.anu.edu.au
• Ryerson Index: http://www.ryersonindex.org

Expert Facebook Q&As :: No. 1 - Shauna Hicks

Are you having problems starting your family research? Was starting your family history a New Year's resolution and you haven't had time or did you start but stopped quickly because you hit a brick wall?

Well, we're starting something today, Thursday July 18th at 8:30pm EST on our Facebook page, that might just help get you started or moving again with your family history. Expert Q&As.

Our first expert is Shauna Hicks and answering questions on how to start your family history. Join us on our Facebook page - Inside History Magazine - with your questions ready tonight. What is the subject?

• "Getting started: if you're new to family history have you got a burning question"

Time:  8:30-9:30pm EST | WA: 6:30-7:30 WST | SA/NT: 8:00-9:00pm CST
Date:  Weekly each Thursday night

Image Courtesy of Powerhouse Museum

Grave Tales 4 :: Fatality at Warragul. A youth drowned

Here is the next instalment in our series of Grave Tales. The 4th in the series, sees Ancestry's Brad Argent in Melbourne and walking the well kept rows of the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery. It was a cold winter's day, unlike the hot summer's day that Alan Burnett lost his life in 1901.

Don't forget to read instalments 1-3, the links are at the finish of this tale, and find a sample of what history awaits to be discovered when you go walking.

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It was a cold and rainy afternoon when I ventured into Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery in Melbourne – perfect weather to mingle with the departed.

This beautiful cemetery is located about 20kms south east of Melbourne’s CBD and rests against the railway line that was cut through in the 1880s. The grounds are well kept and despite the rain I was able to get around with relative ease. The grave stones and monuments are in very good order, thanks no doubt to the wonderful work of the Friends of Cheltenham and Regional Cemeteries.

Whilst the rain impeded my usual wandering approach, I still managed to get around the ground relatively protected from the water thanks to the boles of some of the larger trees and it was from under the branches of one such tree that I spied the final home of the Burnetts.

Many and varied things draw my attention to a particular gravestone but the thing that spoke to me this time was the ages of its occupants: 95, 87, 90 and 16 – the octogenarian and nonagenarians each emphasising the lost potential of passing at only 16.

Alan Gordon Edgar Burnett was the first child Henry Halford and Frances Rosina Burnett [nee Monk]. They married in 1884 and Alan was born a short time later in 1885. Henry and Fanny went on to have three more children Ellenor Mary, Mildred May and Cedric Henry.

Sunday January 20, 1901 was a very warm summer’s day in Melbourne. The previous day had seen the temperature hit 98 fahrenheit [36 Celsius] and perhaps the prospect of yet another hot day led Alan and his workmate Ernest Symons down to the Warragul Public Baths. Alan and Ernest were engaged as watchmakers for the Jeweller and Optician H.J Day.

According to Ernest’s account of events they went to the baths at about 11am – Sunday’s temperature was rising to a high of 87 fahrenheit [30 Celsius]. Ernest went in first and then swam to the jetty waiting for Alan. Alan dived in feet first and when he surfaced a few moments later he appeared to be struggling. Ernest tried to assist Alan, but in a panic Alan tried to drag him down. Edgar sought assistance but to no avail. Alan’s life ended at the Warragul Public Baths after just 16 summers.

No doubt the years crept slowly by for his parents, Henry and Frances, who were long-time residents of Cheltenham and lived on the same road as the Cemetery. But in the end they were reunited with Alan – Frances first, and then, just under a year later in 1945, Henry joined them both.

Alan’s younger brother, Cedric – a veteran of both world wars, joined them all some 87 years after the tragedy at Warragul.

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Read the previous instalments in the series of Grave Tales:
[1]  Story of Strange Butson Hartigan
[2]  The murder of William Hird
[3]  The loss of the 2 Graham girls

The Coroners Inquest, from the 22 January 1901 West Gippsland Gazette
[1] Fatality at Warragul. A youth drowned. Source: Trove

✻ Brad Argent is content director at Ancestry.com.au. Australia’s leading family history website, Ancestry.com.au contains more than 930 million records in its Australian and UK collections.

Issue 11; Jul-Aug 2012 is now available!

Fashion photography, early film clips and our 1858 “champion of Australia”: Issue 11 of Inside History is fresh off the press!

Inside History is a bi-monthly magazine for people who are passionate about Australia and New Zealand’s history and heritage. In our July–August edition:

• Ever wondered if your family was on film or radio? We show you how to find out where
• It’s the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Milne Bay. Read about it from a pilot who was there 
• Our experts show how to preserve your audio records 
• Read about the influence fashion and photography had on our ancestors’ lives 
• Discover who is the dashing gentleman gracing our cover 
• Copyright and your genealogy: find out who owns what 
• Plus reveal your top 10 history books! 

And much more – in fact, 76 pages of terrific features, practical information on genealogy, chances to network with other family historians, and book and app reviews. On sale now online - click here to buy!

Issue 11 will be available in newsagents nationally by July 13 - click here to see where. You can also request us at your local newsagent, and we'll make sure that our next Issue 12; Sep-Oct 2012 is sent there for you!

Authors to look out for in Issue 11:

Travel Journalist :: Teresa Cannon
Author :: Hazel Edwards @muirmoir
Journalist :: Miranda Farrell
Historian :: Michael Flynn
Journalist :: Paula Grunseit @PaulaGrunseit
Australian genealogist :: Barbara Hall @IrishWattle
Australian genealogist :: Shauna Hicks @HicksShauna
Military Historian :: Michael Martin @RegimentalBooks
National Archives of Australia :: Elizabeth Masters @NationalArchivesAus
Australian genealogist :: Merrill O’Donnell @1891Women
Intern Journalist :: Pristine Ong

Australian genealogist :: Annie Payne @annie_histheart

SLNSW Curator :: Margot Riley @statelibrarynsw

Journalist :: Emma Sutcliffe @littleriveremma
Intern Journalist :: Sarah Trevor
New Zealand genealogist :: Mark Webster @macnzMark
University of New England historian :: Janis Wilton

For more information please contact: 
Cassie Mercer, Inside History magazine
phone: 02 9590 9600 | email: cass@insidehistory.com.au

Have a sneak peak inside our new magazine; Issue 11; Jul-Aug 2012.

Grave Tales 3 :: The loss of the 2 Graham girls

Here is the next instalment in our series of Grave Tales. In this edition, Brad Argent tells us of his visit to a small cemetery in NSW's Shoalhaven area and the search that resulted for the descendants of the two poor farming girls buried there. He found them. Start your local research today.

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I was taking a short break in Kangaroo Valley with my family recently and couldn’t resist taking a stroll through the local cemetery. My usual approach is to let my feet take me where they will and there, in dappled light beneath a sparse shrub, were two crosses with the names Helen and Kate Graham. Time worn and obviously hand crafted, I was struck by the similarities of the crosses – same surname, similar age of death and a decade apart.

Helen, known officially as Jane Helen Kate Graham, was born in the Shoalhaven area in 1875 to John Graham and Mary Merchant. Helen She was the fourth child and second daughter for farmers John and Mary.

Life on a farm meant that everyone in the family worked. On August 10, 1889 fourteen year old Helen, with her younger sister Florence, aged ten, were minding some cows in a paddock near the house. For reasons unknown Helen lit a fire and her dress caught alight. She died some hours later and was buried in an unmarked grave.

Kate, formally Kate Martha Matilda Graham, was born in the Shoalhaven in 1886 - John and Mary’s eighth child and sixth daughter. Kate died of rheumatic fever when she was just 13 years old.

The anguish of losing two young children is something I cannot begin to understand. I hugged my kids tighter when I got back to the house that day.

After doing a little research it occurred to me that the wooden crosses were unlikely to have been original, so I sought more information on Ancestry.com.au and found the Latham/Madge Family Tree. I reached out to Mable, the tree’s owner. In less than 24hrs, Mable – a descendent of Kate and Helen’s older brother Archy - got back to me with details on the girls.

Mable said that it was Helen’s father John and`her brother Archy who found the badly burnt body. She also told me that Kate was a favourite of Archy’s. Mable also shed some light on the crosses. They were erected a few years ago by members of the family as the burials were in unmarked graves, or graves whose markings had long since become erased. Mable also supplied the lovely photo of John, Mary and family you see below. My thanks to Mable for helping me tell this story.

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Read the previous instalments in the series of Grave Tales:
[1]  Story of Strange Butson Hartigan
[2]  The murder of William Hird

✻ Brad Argent is content director at Ancestry.com.au. Australia’s leading family history website, Ancestry.com.au contains more than 930 million records in its Australian and UK collections.

Unlock the Past Queensland Expo 2012 :: June 25-27

I grew up on the Sunshine Coast and then lived in Brisbane while I studied at the University of Queensland. Those early years in Queensland, writing stories for my Mum and "publishing" them for the family set the scene for what I am and do today. That's one of reasons I love coming back to Queensland and what a happy coincidence it is, that I'm able to combine work and play in June, at the History and Genealogy Expo in Queensland, 25-27 June 2012.

Inside History Magazine will be exhibiting at the expo with Irish Wattle, along with over 50 other family history and genealogy specialists. There are 39 main talks by 18 presenters from 5 states and the UK, plus 28 free presentations including 2 from myself; "Who was the real Captain Starlight?" and "Writing local and family history for magazines".

The featured visiting presenter is Audrey Collins from the United Kingdom's National Archives and the expo kicks off her Australian speaking tour, which also takes in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. We're excited to meet her and look forward to her talks in Canberra and Sydney, hopefully we'll see you there - book your tickets now so you don't miss out!

Also, the good people at Unlock the Past are giving away exclusive Platinum, Gold and Silver passes to the expo and Audrey Collins tour. To enter, go to the Unlock the Past blog and answer the question, "tell us “specifically” what you are looking forward to at the events".

As with all of Unlock the Past's events, one lucky winner will leave the expo with a subscription to Inside History Magazine. We're giving away a 2 year subscription, which isn't available anywhere else! Visit our stand and leave your details to enter. The winner will be drawn on Wednesday, 27 June.

So, how do you get to enjoy all of the above? Join us at the expo. We've included some directions below:

Where: Centenary State High School, 1 Moolanda Street, Jindalee
When: The Expo is running over three days including Monday evening:

• Monday, 25 June: 12 noon - 9:30pm
• Tuesday, 26 June: 9am - 5pm
• Wednesday, 27 June: 9am - 4pm

We'd also recommend the Expo Gold Tickets, which for $50 pre-booked allows you to attend as many presentations as you can, saving and learning lots along the way! Or you can just book your expo ticket and pay for the presentations you attend on the day. Click here to book your expo tickets and then invest in your Gold Ticket via Gould Genealogy.

We love questions, so drop by say hello and browse through our current and back issues on paper and digital. Our back issues are only $6 for the expo! See you there!

When are we next in Queensland? Happily, it's not long until we're back! We return to Brisbane in August for the International Council of Archives Congress [ICA] on 20-24 August 2012.

Issue 10 Giveaway :: Flip-pal Winner Announced!

The entries have gone into the Inside History hat and the winner is... Congratulations to:

• Natalie James, Wanneroo, WA 

What was Natalie's best history discovery she's captured with a scanner?

"I have been helping my father research the history of my great-grandfather, a Methodist Minister from WA who faked his death and ran away with the maid to Canada. He was a highly regarded member of the Western Australian Methodist Church.... Our research unearthed some hidden certificates in a relatives basement; an invitation for the Reverend and his wife to attend the opening of Parliament and an evening soiree after the opening. These are by far my best history discovery and we scanned the documents before sending them to a conservator for preservation. Unfortunately, we do not believe he attended the event".

Order your Flip-Pal from Gould Genealogy and History today and start exploring and preserving your family history! Thanks again to Gould for making our giveaway possible!

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Where would family history be without scanners? If you agree, then don't miss our Issue 10 giveaway! Win a Flip-pal mobile scanner, valued at $219!!!

Digitisation of records to enhance our ability to research family trees has been well underway for years. But how often have you been at a library and wanted to scan a document for your personal records in a high-quality format? Or attended a family gathering and wished you could scan images there and then? Meet your new BFF (best friend forever)!

Flip-Pal is a light, compact scanner that captures what you want in seconds, at either 300 or 600dpi. It loads the image to a flash card ready for you to download to your computer. Have a document bigger than the 10cm x 15cm screen? No problem — just scan each part and Flip-Pal’s clever software will stitch it together seamlessly! We have a Flip-Pal mobile scanner valued at $219 to give away, thanks to Gould Genealogy and History.

To enter the draw, simply tell us the answer to the following question:

Q. What’s the best history discovery you’ve captured with a scanner?

Send your name and contact details to Inside History, Flip-Pal Giveaway, PO Box 406 Erskineville NSW 2043 or email cass@insidehistory.com.au by 5pm, June 26, 2012. If you can’t wait until then, order your Flip-Pal from Gould Genealogy and History and get scanning!

Terms and conditions: Entries close 5pm, 26/06/12. One name will be drawn at random and the winner notified by 31/07/12. Please indicate if you would like to opt out of our mailing list. Inside History won’t share your details with a third party. Prize is not redeemable for cash.

Entering the genealogy blogosphere :: Our top 50 blogs

Seen this badge? Then you're looking at one of our top 50 genealogy blogs.

In our current Issue 10, Australian blogger Jill Ball outlines our top 50 blogs that every genealogist needs to follow including libraries, societies, personal historians, speciality topics, international sites and organisation blogs. You can read the full article in Issue 10 or click here for a sneak peak.

Genealogy blogs can  be a wealth of information for family historians, as the immediacy of content is just an upload away. Jill Ball looks at the growth of blogs, and the best 50 to follow. The collaborative nature of blogging should not be underestimated; bloggers get a real buzz when someone makes a comment on one of their posts! If you read and enjoy a post please take the time to make a comment.

Another grave tale from the Klondike by Robin McLachlan

The grave of Norman Nicholas Graeber in Canada. Photo courtesy Robin McLachlan.

Welcome to my Klondike blog. I expect you have come here after reading "Grave Stories from the Klondike" in the May-Jun 2012 issue of Inside History. As promised, the story of Norman Nicholas Graeber is told below.

As I recounted in the article, my prospecting wander through the Dawson City cemetery in Canada brought me to Graeber’s grave, a find that inspired me to delve into the story of Australians and New Zealanders on the Klondike. Norman Nicholas Graeber is unusual in that he didn’t drift off to another goldfield after a season or two, but put down roots in the Klondike. He is very likely the “Nicholas Graeber” on No.10 Soap Creek, a claim that was “in the pay”. In the summer of 1902, the mine was employing a crew of eight men and future prospects looked good.

By 1904, Norman had done well enough to trade the hard life of the miner for that of a Dawson City businessman. He bought the Bonanza Livery Stables. It was also around this time he may have courted Catie Couture (born 1880), a French Canadian girl from Selkirk, Manitoba. Catie was on the Klondike with members of her family. Norman and Catie (her full name being Sarah Anne Catherine) were married in Dawson’s Roman Catholic Church on 10 July 1906. Her brother Alfred was a witness.

Marrying Catie may have presented Aussie Norm with something of a culture shock. She was from the sizeable French Canadian community on the Klondike, socially separate in language and culture. Even Dawson’s Catholic Church was largely a French Canadian institution, with priests from Quebec and records kept in French. If Norman was not bicultural at the time of marriage, lessons in French culture surely followed.

There was time, however, for recreational activities other than just French Canadian folk dancing. A son, Anthony Gerald, was born on 23 June 1907. Aunt Eléonore Couture was godmother at his baptism on 6 July. Norman’s story reads as a classic gold rush tale of hard won success opening the way onto a happy and full life. Alas, life can be like the run of quartz reef that for a time gives much but in truth promises nothing. Baby Anthony lived for only a month. His tiny grave lies only a few rows away from that of his father, who died from appendicitis in April of the following year.

Norman and Catie's son, Anthony, died when he was just four weeks old. 

Photo courtesy Robin McLachlan. 

But for a few words in the church register, I might have ended my tale here. The register for St Mary’s Church, or Église Ste-Marie, records in French that Norman was a widower, "vf de Helen Cameron”, at the time of his marriage. When this entry is combined with other fragments of evidence, the suspicion arises that Norman Nicholas Graeber may not have been perfectly truthful about his past. He may have been Nicholas J. Graeber, a former Omeo hotelkeeper and father of three. In 1896, the divorce court had granted his wife, Ellen (Cameron), a legal separation on the grounds of his repeated adultery. Ellen died in 1942, as the widow of Nicholas. If Norman is Nicholas and Helen is Ellen, then Catie has a bigamist as her husband.

Taking on a new identity was not unknown on the Klondike, where even today you wait for an invitation before asking too many questions. Perhaps given the passage of time we can though take the liberty of asking Norman and Nicholas whether they are the same Mr. Graeber.

I have created “family histories” for both men on ancestry.com.au where you will find the sources used for this blog together with evidence for their common identity.

Norman Nicholas Graeber is just one, or perhaps two, of more than 700 Australians and New Zealanders who went to the Klondike in 1897-99 so far identified by the Diggers on the Klondike project. If you should know of an Australian or New Zealand Klondiker, you are invited to contact me on rmclachlan[at]csu.edu.au.

The Ancestors' Geneameme

My contribution to "The Ancestors' Geneameme" - another great meme challenge from Geniaus, Jill Ball!

The list should be annotated in the following manner:
Things you have already done or found: bold face type
Things you would like to do or find: italicize (colour optional)
Things you haven’t done or found and don’t care to: plain type
You are encouraged to add extra comments in brackets after each item

Which of these apply to you?

1.  Can name my 16 great-great-grandparents [No, I wish - one day!]
2.  Can name over 50 direct ancestors 
3.  Have photographs or portraits of my 8 great-grandparents
4.  Have an ancestor who was married more than three times
5.  Have an ancestor who was a bigamist
6.  Met all four of my grandparents
7.  Met one or more of my great-grandparents
8.  Named a child after an ancestor 
9.  Bear an ancestor's given name/s
10.  Have an ancestor from Great Britain or Ireland [Irish & proud!]
11.  Have an ancestor from Asia
12.  Have an ancestor from Continental Europe [Denmark]
13.  Have an ancestor from Africa
14.  Have an ancestor who was an agricultural labourer [Diary & wheat farmers, Orange to Inverell, NSW, Australia]
15.  Have an ancestor who had large land holdings
16.  Have an ancestor who was a holy man - minister, priest, rabbi
17.  Have an ancestor who was a midwife
18.  Have an ancestor who was an author
19.  Have an ancestor with the surname Smith, Murphy or Jones [Smith alias Fitzgerald]
20.  Have an ancestor with the surname Wong, Kim, Suzuki or Ng
21.  Have an ancestor with a surname beginning with X
22.  Have an ancestor with a forename beginnining with Z
23.  Have an ancestor born on 25th December [I have a brother-in-law & 2 on Australia Day!]
24.  Have an ancestor born on New Year's Day
25.  Have blue blood in your family lines [Related to William the Conqueror but isn't everyone?]
26.  Have a parent who was born in a country different from that of my birth
27.  Have a grandparent who was born in a country different from my country of birth [Bournemouth and Islington - London, England]
28.  Can trace a direct family line back to the 18th century 
29.  Can trace a direct family line back to the 17th century or earlier
30.  Have seen copies of the signatures of some of my great-grandparents [GGGGG grandparent - Edward Turley Smith]
31.  Have ancestors who signed their marriage certificate with an X [Jane Maher, partner to Edward Turley Smith]
32.  Have a grandparent or earlier ancestor who went to university
33.  Have an ancestor who was convicted of a criminal offence [Many, 7 convicts all up. Crimes ranging from fraud, theft, receiving stolen goods, brothel madam, bushranger, highway robbery etc etc etc]
34.  Have an ancestor who was a victim of crime
35.  Have shared an ancestor's story online or in a magazine [AFTC, regional daily newspapers, SMH, Inside History, Irish Wattle]
36.  Have published a family history online or in print [One Family History: 220 years in Australia - http://irishwattle.com/products]
37.  Have visited an ancestor's home from the 19th or earlier centuries [Cunningham Creek , home of Thomas Readford in Ilford, NSW. Thomas was father to Harry Readford, the bushranger Captain Starlight]
38.  Still have an ancestor's home from 19th century or earlier in the family
39.  Have a  family bible from the 19th Century
40.  Have a pre-19th century family bible