Be Sure to Visit my new 1900 Galveston Storm Website at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootseb.com/~barnette
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ANCESTORS - The Series- RETURNS
Ancestors, the highly successful PBS series that aired on PBS in 1997 is
back with a new host, an updated format and thirteen new episodes. Shot on location around the world each episode weaves expert instruction with moving personal stories. Beginning this Sunday, July 9, at
3:30 P.M. the 13 new 30 minute episode series will begin airing on KUHT, Channel 8. PBS stations outside Houston may have different airtime schedules. The airtime in cities other than Houston can be determined by visiting the
Ancestors website at This new series responds to viewers' suggestions that the episodes include more "how-to" information about researching one's
family. Ancestors delves into historical documents such as military, cemetery and census records each of which reveals a piece of a family's history. Each episode will feature a
family historian's quest for their ancestry and the records encountered on their ancestral paper trail. Each episode will, also, include comments, tips and suggestions by genealogical experts on how to locate, use and
preserve records of historical and genealogical value.
EPISODE 201-RECORDS AT RISK
The first episode of the series, which airs tomorrow, will show how the lives of our ancestors were a lot like our own. The records our ancestors created represent the same
life events experienced by all, then and now. Tragically, thousands of irreplaceable records are destroyed, lost or thrown away every day. Heroic efforts around the world are being made to preserve existing and
endangered historic records. This episode of ANCESTORS
will include the story of the struggle to reconstruct genealogies destroyed in Russia's Bolshevik Revolution, the massive microfilming efforts of the National Archives and the work of Steven Speilberg's Survivors of Shoah Visual History Foundation.
ANCESTORS ONLINE
In addition to the thirteen television episodes, KBYU, creator of the ANCESTORS series, has an informative website, Ancestors Online. The website is worthy of a
visit. It is located at http://www.kbyu.org/ancestors. It contains summaries and video clips of each episode, offers advice from experts, genealogical forms, a state by state guide to family resources and links to important family history
sites. Ancestors Online includes sections for visitors to exchange research tips and order Ancestors
companion materials. Visitors may also use the site to link to major databases, review timely articles and even create their own family web site. Using each of the broadcast episodes as a starting point, the
Ancestors Teachers Guide
offers lessons adaptable to a variety of subjects. Each lesson consists of educational objectives, key concepts and student activities. Handouts, charts and worksheets are included. The guide also introduces new vocabulary and research skills that are applicable beyond family history. The guide is geared towards students in grades 7-12 and community education programs.
GENEALOGICAL COMPUTER CLASS
Paula Perkins Parke will conduct
an Organizing Your Ancestors with Family Tree Maker Software class on Wednesday July 26 from 6:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. The class will be held at Leisure Learning's 2990 Richmond campus. Using live demonstrations,
step by step instructions are given to organize and document one's family information and sources. Other functions covered include creating charts and reports, use the searchable family surname index, view companion CD-ROMs and
produce family books. For more information and to register, contact Leisure Learning at 713-529-4414.
NEWS FROM THE BOOKSHELF
In conjunction with the research and the filming of the PBS Ancestors
series, Megan Smolenyak was asked to collect stories recanting how people had located their ancestors and records of them. Smolenyak's IN SEARCH OF OUR ANCESTORS: 101 Inspiring Stories of Serendipity and
Connection in Rediscovering Our Family History
is a companion book to the PBS series. Thirteen of the stories in this enjoyable book were incorporated into the Ancestors series. The remaining stories, equally compelling did not. The producers felt the additional stories worthy of publication which resulted in the publication of the book.
IN SEARCH OF OUR ANCESTORS is an inspirational and enjoyable collection of over 100 stories documenting luck, random acts of kindness, coincidence, intuition and serendipity. Each of the short
stories are entrancing and addictive. One will read one story, then another and another until the book is completed. IN SEARCH OF OUR ANCESTORS is available for $10.95 from the publisher, Adams
Media at 260 Holbrook, MA 02343.
