Using Prezi.com for Genealogy

     Yesterday I posted a genealogy timeline that I created using Prezi.com. My sister, who is a student teacher, showed me an awesome US History presentation she had created for her class and I immediately wanted to create something of my own.

     As stated on their website:

"At Prezi, we're all about helping people understand each other better. Presentations have not evolved much in the 50 years since the slide was invented, but Prezi is changing that. Prezi lets you bring your ideas into one space and see how they relate, helping you and your audience connect. Zoom out to see the big picture and zoom in to see details — a bit like web-based maps that have changed how we navigate through map books."

     Pretty much, this is an online program that takes a powerpoint style presentation to a whole new level. Instead of simple, individual slides, prezi allows users to create dynamic, twisting presentations that can do things that made me say "wow."

     I signed up for the free student/teacher edition using my college email address. Otherwise there are both free and paid accounts. The differences in the accounts are mainly based on storage and privacy.

     Prezi is pretty easy to use, but does take some experimenting to get used to using. Mainly you create an element using the control panel on the top left and then edit it using the control curser, called a "zebra" (it's got lots of "stripes"). Here's a screenshot of the "canvas" where you create your prezi:

     You can place text, photos, videos, etc onto a canvas space however you want: upside down, sideways, etc, then determine what size you want it to be. You then create a path between each element that will be followed when you present the presentation. You can create your own color scheme or use a pre-created one. When you're done, you can download the prezi or embed it in a blog or website.

     I would like to see some additional features. You can add 'shapes', but all you have are circles, shaded squares, arrows and brackets of one basic design. When you choose a color scheme, it applies to all of that type of element in your prezi. You can print to PDF, but it automatically sizes to fit on a 8x10 page with no apparent option for larger sizes.

     Overall, I think this is a great tool for creating family history slideshows. Think of how you could use this to explain the family tree at a reunion. Or perhaps a presentation to your local genealogical society?

     Here's the presentation that my sister created for her class:

WWII Timeline on Prezi

Creating Genealogy Timelines with Prezi

     My sister introduced me to this great website, Prezi.com, today. I created this interactive timeline about my Albea family. Click the play button to load the slideshow and then continue to click the play button to move through the presentation.

(you might not be able to view this in a blog reader)

Georgia Archives threatened by House Budget

     I know the economy is hurting, but are we really to this point?

Georgia Archives threatened by House Budget URGENT ACTION REQUIRED! An open letter from FOGAH Chair, Virginia Shadron: The Fiscal Year 2012 budget that passed the Georgia House of Representatives on March 11 as HB 78 includes budget reductions that could result in the State Archives closing its doors to the public. The budget contains two items that together would reduce the Archives’ budget by at least $300,000. The Archives’ base budget, after preceding budget cuts, is $4,643,588. Over 65% of that goes to pay fixed costs (such as rent) that cannot be reduced. The current bill proposes an additional cut in “personal services and … savings from reduced hours …” in the amount of $260,458. The second way in which the Archives’ budget is eroded is that the House budget does not fund the annual increase in the Archives’ rent, an amount of more than $40,000 for FY12. Altogether, the additional cuts to personal services and the failure to fund the rent increase means that the Archives’ sustains a critical $300,000 in cuts. You might wonder, “What is the fuss about?” That shortfall can come from one place only—and that is staff. Without intervention the Archives will almost certainly be forced to close its doors to the public, reduce scanning operations and preservation activities, and eliminate most transfers of records from state agencies—the records that protect Georgia financially and legally. The House version of the budget now goes to the Senate for adjustment and passage. Call and write your state senator immediately and ask that a minimum of $300,000 be restored to the Archives budget! Go to http://www.legis.ga.gov and click on "Find Your Legislator" to find your senator. - Virginia Shadron

     I wrote a letter to my Senator and to Governor Deal. I implore everyone else to do the same.

I'm writing you to express my concerns regarding the 2012 budget and the Georgia Archive. It seems that the 2012 budget will cut spending in a way that will create a $300,000 shortfall that would require “personal services and … savings from reduced hours …”

As a patron of the GA Archive, I cannot fully express how much the closure or reduction of hours upsets me and other genealogists and family historians. Already, the operating hours have been reduced to three days a week. I drive over an hour each time I visit the Archive. I spend money on gas and food during these visits, helping the local economy. When walking in the parking lot, I notice that there are a great deal of out of state visitors, which can only help the economy as well. This money will be lost if the Archive hours are reduced or eliminated. Genealogy is a very popular hobby, with big business companies helping to drive its popularity with TV Commercials and a show on NBC.

I implore you to restore a minimum of $300,000 to the Archive's budget to ensure that it remains open to the public.

Valerie Craft
Lawrenceville

DNA & Tangled Trees: The Craft and Cash Families of Elbert County, GA

     I recently contacted one of my Family Finder DNA matches to see if we could find our family connection. They responded that the Cash family line looked like the most likely match. I hadn't done much research on my 4x-Great Grandmother, Elizabeth Cash or her husband, George Alexander once I'd added them to my tree, but decided to take a look. Most online trees at ancestry.com agreed that Elizabeth's parents were Moses and Nancy (Hudson) Cash. Of course, none of these trees gave any sources for this information!

     Finally, I found a tree on Rootsweb that provided tons of sources, including wills, deeds, and tax records. I'll look to find originals of the records at the GA Archive during my next visit, but because of the numerous records, I am confidant that the tree is accurate and I believe that my DNA match is through the Cash family. (And it doesn't hurt that Moses Cash is an ancestor of Johnny Cash, so it's been very well researched)

     Also in the will extract provided for Moses Cash was a mention of another daughter, Sara, wife of William Craft. This sounded familiar - and it should: this couple was also in my family tree. I had a listing for Sarah F Cash, wife of William Jasper Craft. After more research, I'm confidant that Sara and Elizabeth are sisters, the daughters of Moses and Nancy Cash.

     This connection creates yet another instance of Pedigree Collapse in my tree. I now have two sets couples who are my 5x Great-Grandparents twice over. In order to see these connections, I like to sketch out the tree, which you can see below: