Who Do You Think You Are? Tonight Spike Lee

Spike Lee travels to Georgia to find answers about his once–enslaved ancestors — and then visits Texas to meet a descendant of his family’s former slave owner, a woman who is most likely his distant cousin.Friday April 30th NBC 8/7c season finale

What Is Genealo Gee?

GenealoGee.com is a genealogy bookmarking site for genealogists and hobbyists to share blog posts, articles, news and other information with each other. It has a similar purpose as the popular online news site "Digg," but it is focused exclusively on family history and genealogy. As the site grows in popularity and more people contribute articles, GenealoGee.com will become an increasingly valuable resource for locating online information about genealogy. The site is entirely free for users.

How to Include Stepchildren in a Family Tree

Some may think that stepchildren should not be included in a family tree, as it interferes with the authentic ancestry denoted by the tree. But you wouldn't want to leave out those kids who, even though they are not blood relatives, are beloved members of the family. Let stepchildren know that they are an essential part of the family by including them your family's tree. These instructions begin at the point where your grandparents are listed, even though your tree's history may very well extend much farther back. See more at:

How to Include Stepchildren in a Family Tree eHow.com

America The Story Of Us

A riveting adventure of how America was invented, AMERICA The Story of Us focuses on the people, ideas and events that built our nation, covering 400 years of American history in the most extensive and in-depth television series ever produced by HISTORY. From the rigors of linking the continent by wagon trails to the transcontinental railway, the engineering of steel-structured buildings, through to landing on the moon, this epic 12-part series is a grand cinematic vision of how this country was built.




I watched this last night, great show.

Ellis Island gives Springsteen heritage award

NEW YORK — Everyone knows he was born in the USA, but it was Bruce Springsteen's European immigrant roots — and his family's 110-year American dream — that were celebrated on Thursday.


Accompanied by his proud mother and aunts — the women who "provided me with place" and "filled my family and all of my work with great meaning" — the rocker from New Jersey received an Ellis Island Family Heritage Award.

The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. presents the award to immigrants or their descendants "who have made a major contribution to the American experience." Also honored were investment banker Peter G. Peterson; Avon Chairman and CEO Andrea Jung, and NBA All-Star Dikembe Mutombo.

"You can't really know who you are and where you're going unless you know where you came from," Springsteen said.

Springsteen's maternal great-grandmother, Raffaela Zerilli, arrived at Ellis Island from Vico Equense, Italy, on Oct. 3, 1900, with five kids in tow.

"I docked at Ellis Island in a city of light and spires," their famous descendant later wrote in his song "American Land," a story not unlike their own.

They joined her husband, Raffaele, in Manhattan's West Village.

One of those kids, Antonio, grew up and married Adela Sorrentino. Their youngest daughter, Adele, went on to marry Irish-American Douglas Springsteen.

The Springsteens raised their three kids in New Jersey.

When Bruce was 16, his mom borrowed money to buy him a guitar — an event he later chronicled in a tender tribute, "The Wish."

He taught himself how to play it — and went on to sell more than 120 million albums worldwide — including "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions — American Land," released in 2001. The title cut, "American Land," is a raucous, gritty pantheon of immigrant pluck and pride.


Adele Springsteen, now 85, who worked as a legal secretary for 47 years, went on to dance onstage with her son in New Jersey and Italy.

Her son — the self-described former high school outcast — played the Super Bowl halftime show and President Barack Obama's inauguration.

And on Thursday, mother, son and aunts found themselves on the island between New York and New Jersey, in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, basking in warm applause.

Adele Springsteen married into poverty and "held our family together under just great, great, great difficulty," said her son. "Thank you, Mom. I love you very much."

Aunt Dora Kirby, 90, graduated with honors from college at age 67. "She's still cranking out people's income taxes," and will be available again next tax season, Springsteen said.

Ida Urbellis, 87, another aunt and a longtime garment worker, still works as a hairdresser on Wednesdays and Fridays.

"These fabulous women, they are my living connection to my heritage, to Ellis Island," said Springsteen.

"They have personified for me the tough optimism and the work ethic of first-generation-born American citizens," he added. "They lifted my spirit. I think they put the rock and roll in me."

http://www.ellisisland.org/

Who Do You Think You Are? Susan Sarandon Tonight

Watch tonight as Susan Sarandon solves the mystery of her missing grandmother and traces her roots all the way to Tuscany. NBC 8:00 central

Missed an episode? Watch it online at http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/video/sarah-jessica-parker/1206958/

Sherwood Electronics Launches Branches, a Genealogy Program that has a Google Earth-like Graphical Viewer for Genealogy and Family History Data

Sherwood Electronics Launches Branches, a Genealogy Program that has a Google Earth-like Graphical Viewer for Genealogy and Family History Data

Posted using ShareThis

Discovering family history made simple and affordable

Discovering family history made simple and affordable. With more than 1.2 billion historical records-birth, death, marriage, divorce, census, obituary, immigration, military and more – all in a single location.

Expert Series: Professional genealogists share little-known tips and highlight valuable resources for how to research most effectively and unlock user’s family secrets.
Family Tree: Software that is simple enough for beginners, yet powerful enough for experts – enabling anyone to build a complete display of their family history.

Explore the benefits of membership without risk or obligation with a seven day free trial at TracingDescendants.com

Using A Genealogy Web Site To Find Your Heritage

There is just something about knowing where you came from and knowing who your ancestors are. This is the reason why many people have taken the time to trace their roots and find more information about their lineage. We all have to consider that knowing where you came from can greatly affect your decisions in which road to take to determine where you will be going.

Many people have been greatly influenced with their decisions because of their lineage. Many military men have chosen this path because their ancestors have been great heroes in the battlefield. Many politicians and lawyers have come from a long line of politicians and lawyers as well. This just goes to show that one's genes plays a dominant part in what career and opportunities a person may have.

But even though we don’t have a tradition to follow, learning about our roots would certainly provide us a sense of being. There is always satisfaction in clearing out clouds and knowing the truth behind it. Although family trees may seem like a high school project, genealogy goes way beyond that, it covers generations upon generations.

Starting out with a genealogy project can be very difficult but with the help of computers and the centralization of many records and information, finding records and data for a genealogy research can be done in less than a quarter of the time before.

Aside from the usual sources like your local library and records center, there are a vast number of places where you can get records. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on airfare, accommodations and food traveling from one place to another to do your research. It is simpler now than ever before.

You can get all the information you want with the use of your computer and the internet. With so many websites around that can offer a vast number of information and records, you may never have to leave your chair just to find out about your great grandfather or your third cousin twice removed. You have the power in your hands and all it needs is a little research and some patience.

Accessing records can be done in a matter of seconds or in a few days. This depends on the records that you are looking for. There are numerous genealogy web sites which can aid you in your search. All you need is to have the information which the site can use to conduct the research. This mostly is the name, birth or death date of the person you are looking for.

When you have finally completed your search, you can proudly show it off by creating your own genealogy site. Your finished product can be showcased in your site and you can let the whole world lean about your heritage.

Search Records: Birth, Marriage, Death, Divorce, Vital Records, Cemetery Listings, Obituaries, Burial & Military Records  Tracingdescendants.com