"Open to the Public"

     Hopefully I'm not annoying anyone with my multiple posts regarding the upcoming closure of the Georgia Archive, but it's an important topic.  Our Governor promised to keep the Archive open, but is now saying that it's something he'll try to do this January.  Considering the Archive will close at the end of October, I don't consider that keeping it open.

     I've created a few images over the last few weeks that I've posted on Facebook. If you don't follow me on FB you might not have seen them. If you like, feel free to share these and encourage people to sign the petition here.

   

Upcoming: Georgia Family History Expo

     I'm getting excited about the upcoming Georgia Family History Expo this November 9th and 10th. This will be the third year this event will be held at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia. I've been invited to be an Official Blogger this year, which is very flattering.

     Let me tell you why I'm so excited about this year's expo:

• The Keynote speaker. Robert S Davis.  This guy is smart and entertaining. I sat in on one of his classes last year and I plan to do so again this year. 
• Low Price. For only $69 (before October 9th) this two day event is very affordable. Both my mom and sister are planning to attend.
• Socializing.  It's fun to get out and meet other genealogists. They have ideas, tips and stories to share. Who knows, maybe we're related? You might find that you miss a class when you get caught up chatting.
• The Classes.  It's going to be hard to pick classes. Topics range from geologically or ethnically specific to organizational tips. From new technology to old handwriting analysis. From source citation to DNA for genealogy. Each year there are new classes on new topics.  I might have to split up my group to cover multiple classes in the same time period.
• The Exhibitors.  This year I really need to find time for the Ask-the-Pros booth. There will also be big companies such as expo sponsors Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, as well as local societies and businesses. Interestingly, the soon-to-be closed to the public Georgia Archive will have a booth there. 

     And that last note, about the Georgia Archive, is one reason why I think that it's important for anyone who can attend to do so.  It looks like, despite our best efforts, that the Georgia Archive is going to close at the end of October.  We need people to turn out to the Expo this year to show that Genealogy = Money for the state of Georgia.  The higher the turnout, the more we show our government that access to the Georgia Archive is important to the citizens of Georgia.

     I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again this year!

Meeting New Cousins

Closure Notice in the lobby

Mom at the Georgia Archive

     Yesterday I went to the Georgia Archives for the second time this month.  Normally I can't get to the archive more than two or three times a year, thanks to their limited hours. There are two reasons that I've gone twice lately: first, they're going to be closed within a month so I have to get the research time in while I can; second, I was invited to meet some cousins that I found via DNA matches.

     These are the first cousins I've met that I found via DNA (not counting Tonia, whom I'd already met before we found our shared DNA).  Stephanie and her mom, Virginia, are my cousins on my dad's side of the family.  I'm also related to Virginia's Aunt Kat.  We aren't exactly sure of the connection, but it's likely through the Craft family in Granville, NC.  Stephanie is also a blogger, writing Digging Up Your Family.

Mom and Stephanie

     Stephanie, Virginia, my mom and I met at the Archives Friday at 10am. They'd never been there before, though they had been to the National Archives next door.  We decided to start with the microfilm records.  Although we all have family in Georgia, they aren't connected to each other nor did they live in the same locations.

     I've never seen so many people at the Georgia Archive as I did yesterday. All of the "good" microfilm readers (aka the electronic ones with with computers and printers) were taken when we got there and a number of the older hand-crank models were also in use.  Even more interestingly, the computer desks were swamped as well, which isn't something I've seen before.  I would estimate that there were at least 50 people there researching when we arrived at 10am.  When we left for lunch a little after 1pm the sign in sheet was 5 pages deep.

     I found some documents for my ancestors in Lincoln and Elbert Counties, but was really excited to make a family connection. I hope that we'll all be able to meet up again soon, though it likely won't be at the Georgia Archive.

     Unfortunately, they are still slated to close after November 1st. However, this date is a Thursday - a day they aren't open anyway. The last day for research at the Archive is currently scheduled to be October 27th.  Our Governor, Nathan Deal, did say that the Archive would not close, but so far it doesn't look like he's going to keep his word. It's important that we keep the pressure on our politicians. If you haven't yet, sign the petition, join the facebook group, and contact the governor, the sos and your local representatives today to tell them to keep the archive open and retain the staff.

Mom, Me, Virginia, Stephanie

The DNA of a First Cousin, 2x Removed

     I logged into my AncestryDNA account today to a happy surprise: a suggested 2nd cousin DNA match!  And I recognized the username (blacked out below) as my Waters cousin. My first cousin, 2x removed to be exact.

Here's what our match page looks like:

     AncestryDNA has predicted that we are 2nd cousins. Considering that we are 2x removed, this is probably a logical prediction.  I would love to be able to look at our match in more detail, but there really isn't anything else to do with this match at this point.

     I hadn't know that my Waters cousin had taken a DNA test and I'm very happy that she did. I had tested her brother's Y-DNA over at Family Tree DNA to find the origins of our male Waters family line. I had been thinking lately of upgrading his results to the Family Finder test. Hopefully now I won't have to!

     I say hopefully, because ftDNA has number of features that Ancestry.com's DNA does not. Unfortunately the AncestryDNA test does not offer a number of features that allow me to evaluate our match. I can't download my raw data, I can't see how many centiMorgans of DNA my cousin and I share, I can't view our DNA on a chromosome chart and I can't see which DNA matches in my list match the one's in my cousins' list.  I can do all of these things at ftDNA.  Hopefully, Ancestry.com will update their DNA features soon and I won't have to purchase an additional test.