Ancesty.com's New Search Webinar

Last night, ancestry.com held a webinar for their new search. They announced this webinar back on 18 July. Although skeptical, I signed up. In my opinion, which I commented on the blogged announcement, 

"Not *trying* to be negative here, but my initial thought is: why do I need a webinar to learn how to use a site that I’ve used for 5+ years? Although it’s always nice to learn new search hints, I’m concerned that perhaps this new search requires too much work.

I think the key problem here is that a transition from an old to new search should be relatively seamless - and this change is not.

But, I’ve signed up for the webinar to see what you guys have to say."

After participating in the hourlong webinar last night, I have a few thoughts.

1. This was advertised as for "intermediate and advanced researchers." The actual webinar actually seemed to be geared more toward new researchers or, a least, those who had never used the new search (which based on a poll taken during the webinar was about 40% of participants). The webinar took participants through walkthroughs of the new search and explained such exciting things as how to change the font size (heavy sarcasm). They honestly did not go over anything that anyone might learn from a day or two of exploring.
2. They didn't address any major issues. They noted two "myths" - that they new search and new home page were connected, and that ancestry isn't listening. That's it! They really didn't go much more in depth about the issues raised by their paying customers.
3. During the web walkthrough, when we were shown example searches, the "most relevant" results that Hulet got seemed to be mainly from his own family tree. Then he had 500,000+ results. This is a major concern brought up by researchers that he really didn't address. Just, "ok, change up your search criteria."
4. OK, why should I have to keep changing my search criteria. Why should I have to take out the death date in order to get results from databases that don't include the death date (ie census, births, military, etc). Why can't the search just ignore this data if it doesn't apply to that database? The "old" search didn't have this problem. And, though I submitted this question, it was not answered.
5. And that brings us to the Q&A portion of the webinar. Very weak. Most of the questions were downright easy. Does the new search use soundex, can we still use wildcards, should I put 'born in USA'... The didn't answer any of the in depth questions that have people upset.
6. One question that was asked, and that I think is very telling (going back to points 4 & 5) was when library editions would be able to access the new search. Hulet responded that, because librarians have to field so many questions about ancestry and how to use it, that ancestry wants to wait to roll out to libraries until they have the new search at a "good point." In other words, until people can use the new search successfully. So, why are they pushing the new search on us when it is not at a "good point?" Why do we have to suffer

So, all in all - the webinar was not effective or useful in any way. They had a survey at the end and I pretty much told them that. I also left a comment on their blog that I would love to see an extended Q&A answer report posted on the blog. Maybe then they could answer some more helpful questions.

ATL directories - pt 2

Mom & I went down to the Fulton County Library Central Branch Today. We once again looked through the Atlanta City Directories to find our city dwelling ancestors. I really love these city directories. They make it so easy to track ancestors, especially between censuses or after 1930.

We've actually found quite a lot. Here's the summation of our research to date:

1947		Albea	June M	r	400 Whitehall SW	hsekpr The Frederick Hotel
1945		Albea	Mama A Mrs.	r	302 Glenwood av SE	icer natl Biscuit Co
1947		Albea	Pansy	r	400 Whitehall SW	hsekpr The Frederick Hotel
1950		Albea	Pansy	r	400 Whitehall SW
1945		Albea	Roy V	h	302 Glenwood av SE	mech White Motor Co
1950		Albea	Roy V (Betty D)	r	400 Whitehall SW	order filler Atl Economy drug
1953		Albea	Roy V (Betty D)	h	714 Shelton av SW	driver D & D Trans	p46
1955		Albea	Roy V (Betty D)	h	1177 Moreland av	driver overnite transportation
1956		Albea	Roy V (Betty)	h	1177 Moreland av	driver overnite trans.
1948	1949	Huyler	Mack (Ruby W)	r	127 Rawson SW	emp Black & Munn	p765
1936		Huyler	Ruby L, Mrs.	r	376 1/2 Decatur SE		p689
1948	1949	Huyler	Ruby W, Mrs.	r	127 Rawson SW	emp Exposition Mills	p765
1928		Mitchum	Edw M (Ethel) ???	h	1272 N Highland ave NE	slsmn	p887
1919		none
1954		none
1930		Price	Alma	r	savannah se		p925
1931		Price	Alma	r	Fair SE		p976
1932		Price	Alma	r	savannah se		p882
1938		Thompson	Thomas A (Alma)	h	397 Central av SW	pntr	p1368
1939		Thompson	Thos A (Alma)	h	397 Central av SW	pntr	p1231
1955		Turner	Bobby E (Pansy)	r	400 Whitehall SW	chkr Overnite Trans
1956		Underwood	Alma Mrs.	r	258 Hendrix av SW	cash Am Associated Co
1956		Underwood	Betty J Mrs.	h	833 Confederate ct SE apt b	opr SBT&T
1956		Underwood	Jack (Betty J)	h	833 Confederate ct SE apt b	radar tech state Natl Guard
1943		Waters	Jack F	r	182 1/2 Rawson SW	lab
1931		Waters	Leve E (Louise)	h	Fair SE	barber T Pearl White	p1217
1942		Waters	Leveret (Louise)	r	242 Memorial Dr	textile wrkr Piedmont Cotton Mills
1928		Waters	Leverett (Louise)	r	148 Baker NE	barber	p1246
1937		Waters	Leverett E (Louise)	h	366a Fair SE	barber T Pearl White
1929		Waters	Leverette E (Louise)	h	264 1/2 Decatur SE	barber	p1336
1930		Waters	Leveritt (Louise)	h	savannah se	barber	p1146
1936		Waters	Levert E (Louise)	h	376 1/2 Decatur SE	barber T Pearl White	p1302
1938		Waters	Levert E (Louise)	h	264 1/2 Decatur SE	barber	p1437
1932		Waters	Levi E (Louise)	h	savannah se	barber Mark L Wages
1939		Waters	Levrett E (Louise)	h	372 Fair SE	barber 286 Grant SE	p1294
1943		Waters	Levrett E (Louise)		182 1/2 Rawson SW	barber
1942		Waters	Lewis (Viola E)	h	115 Fulton SW	clk Big Star Store
1945		Waters	Lewis (Viola)	r	189 Rawson SW	USN
1956		Waters	Lewis C	r	189 Rawson SW	electn Cleveland Elect
1948	1949	Waters	Lewis C (Viola E)	h	189 Rawson SW	electn Cleveland Elec	p1535
1951	1952	Waters	Lewis C (Viola E)	h	445 Pryor SW	electn Cleveland Elec	p1577
1955		Waters	Lewis C (Viola M)	h	255 Richardson SW	electrician
1947		Waters	Lewis C (Viola)	h	189 Rawson SW	clk Big Star
1953		Waters	Lewis C (Viola)	h	535 Washn SW apt 4-D	electn Dixie Elec	p1309
1947		Waters	Milton	r	160 Rawson SW	clk Colonial Stores
1943		Waters	Milton (Augusta) ???	r	182 1/2 Rawson SW	USN
1948	1949	Waters	Milton (Kath)	r	394 Washn SW	clk Colonial Stores	p1535
1950		Waters	Milton (Kath)	r	307 Crew SW	clk Colonial Stores
1936		Waters	Milton (Lyda M)	r	362 Cooper SW	clk GtA&PTeaCo
1937		Waters	Milton (Lyda M)	r	433 Crew SW	clk GtA&PTeaCo
1931		Waters	Ruby L	r	Fair SE		p1218
1938		Whitfield	Cecil (Ruby L)	h	403 Central av SW	clk	p1470
1940		Whitfield	Cecil (Ruby L)		405 Central av SE
1941		Whitfield	Cecil (Ruby L)	h	413 Central av SW	hlpr	p1542
1939		Whitfield	Cecil (Ruby)	h	403 CENTRAL AV SW	lab	p1325
1937		Whitfield	Cecil M (Ruby)		229 Simpson NW	clk	p1467
1925		Whitlock	John B (Martha)	r	93 E Baker	lab	p1201
1927		Whitlock	John B (Mary E)	h	133 (95) Harris NE		p1307
1927		Whitlock	John M (Ema T)	h	133 (95) Harris NE	mgr Sou Gro Stores Inc	p1307
1928		Whitlock	John M (Emma)	h	148 Baker NE	br mgr Sou Gro Stores Inc	p1273
1929		Whitlock	John M (Emma)	h	86 Harris NE	br mgr Rogers Inc	p1365
1939		Whitlock	John M (Emma)	h	287 Forest av NE	wtchman	p1326
1941		Whitlock	John M (Emma)	h	258 Hendrix av SW	wtchman Rich's Inc	p1543
1925		Whitlock	John N (Emma)	h	93 E Baker	br mgr L W Rogers Co	p1201
1928		Whitlock	Mary E	r	148 Baker NE		p1273
1953		Wilson	Jas L (Arlene W; Frederick Hotel)	h	400 Whitehall SW		p1368
1955		Wilson	Jas L (Arlene W; Frederick Hotel)	h	400 Whitehall SW
1951	1952	Wilson	Jas L (Arline W; Frederick Hotel)	h	400 Whitehall SW		p1648
1956		Wilson	Jas L (Arline W; Frederick Hotel)	h	400 Whitehall SW
1947		Wilson	Jas L (Arline)	h	400 Whitehall SW	mgr The Fredrick Hotel
1932			Frederick Hotel				p1529

World Archives Project at Ancestry.com

From me, to ancestry.com support:

"I just received an invitation to participate in the World Archives Project. When I went to download the software I found out that this program is only for Windows. I'm very disappointed that ancestry is, once again, ignoring their non-windows users. I participate in Family Search's volunteer indexing program using my mac - why can't I participate in yours?

Other non-windows concerns:
-I can't upload gedcoms in Safari
-I can't always change trees in Safari
-FTM is not available for mac users

I hope that you are seriously considering fixing these issues."

From ancestry.com support to me:

"Thank you for your feedback.

I have forwarded your suggestion on to the development team.

Thank you,

Sean"

As a customer service response, it leaves much to be desired. Maybe, "we value macintosh users" or "we hope to soon have a program available for our mac users," etc. But nope, nothing. Don't I feel that my response has had an effect.... not really.

more photos

Dad brought home more photos from Granny's. These photos are much like the last set: old & contemporary photos as well as some newspaper clippings. I'll have to go through and organize these with the others.

Many of the photos seem to be from Great-Aunt Ollie's & her husband (Joseph John Funston Jr. of PA). I've posted on message boards and mailing lists to try and make a connection on these. So far, no one has contacted me.

at the library

Today Mom & I went down to the Fulton County Library, Central Branch. This branch has a genealogy special collections section up on the fifth floor. I'd done a little bit a little bit of research before going and hoped to find some information on my Elbert County, GA ancestors. Unfortunately, aside from a few marriage records, I didn't find much on this side of the family.

However, I did find some interested information on some Atlanta ancestors. Mom pursued the Atlanta City Directories for our Waters family ancestors. Some things we discovered:

• Leverett & Louise & their family never lived in the same house two years in a row!
• Ruby Waters Huyler Whitfield Huyler stayed with her first married name from her marriage in 1930 through to 1936. She was married to Cecil Whitfield by the time the 1937 directory was published. But, by 1948 she had remarried her first husband and was again Mrs. Ruby Huyler. (we never really knew the dates for her second marriage and subsequent remarriage to her first husband).
• The sisters Ruby & Alma Waters were living with their parents in 1931 - even though I can't find them in the 1930 census. Alma was married and not listed with her husband and Ruby is not yet married.

I hope to go back soon to pursue more directories. The only limitation: $12 parking and 60 miles there and back is mucho gas $$$.