After battles with Ancestry.com... final name is...

Hello everyone, well, we finally have a name that the lawyers for Ancestry.com approved of! What a nightmare this has been, but mostly because I didn't think my little website and blog were even a speck on the back end of Ancestry.com's rear-end. Imagine my surprise when I received their first 'You had better...' letter!

After many design changes and domain changes we have been 'approved' to use the following:

AncestorEbooks.com

We hope you will give us another try and again spred the word; as you can imagine the problems we have dealt with to resolve this issue have set back our web business about 6 months, and cost us Christmas sales. But what really upsets me is knowing how many people looked but were afraid to try creating their first Ebook! After all, family and Christmas are synonymous, aren't they?

Hope to see you there at 12:01 New Year's Day!

Cristina B

ArtisticancesTree -- New website name!

Congratulations to David H. who suggested: ArtisticancesTree. 

We are still going to be working a bit on the logo, using different fonts and colors etc, but are happy with our new name. Please post in the comments below if you have any objections! 

The Name of this Blog is up to YOU!

I have received notice from the attorneys of Ancestry.com that Artisticancestry is using their trademark and is ordered to stop. This is a problem that I didn't see coming, and according to their attorneys I should have.

Instead of having a business that compliments Ancestry.com, a company I have admired and had subscriptions to for over 10 years, artisticancestry.com must come up with a name that compliments our goal of having a way to create a Family Tree eBook that can be shared with anyone having an iPad.

If you liked my idea and the freedom to create your own eBook then I invite you to help me find a new name using the following parameters:

• The name can not contain the name of another business
• The name should come up on a first search of a browser, such as Google.com
• The name must reflect what our business goals have been from the beginning:
• This company was created to pull family history off of the dusty shelves of genealogists and grandparents, and to bring it to life with color, photos, videos, documents, stories and history. Upload your Gedcom and our website will create an eBook with a page for each of your family. Then all you have to do is follow the instructions to tag your media, drop in stories, choose backgrounds and make your first ever eBook with your family tree.

Please think about your idea before posting it in the comments section below. Thank you, Cristina Besendorfer

Genealogy Hashtags

Watch for the changes to Facebook! From now on we will be adding #genealogy, #familyhistory, #createyourownebook, #ebook, #iPad, and #familytree to our posts to make us easier to find on twitter. Remember we are @ArtAncestry on twitter. Follow us today!

E-book Gifts

Today is black Friday! While you are beginning your Christmas shopping, I encourage you to think about artisticancestry.com. You could either give a membership to somebody as a gift or you could create personal family e-books to send as gifts to others. 

Family History is a Hobby!

Today's Brickwall Solution might surprise you.  It is this simple... Have a Build a Network of people to ask, whether it is on a message board or a friend in a Genealogical Society, or if you are close to a family history center, a family history volunteer or employee. The more people in your network, the better off you'll be finding somebody who will have the solution to your quandry.  Next, get more education. Watch the BYU Genealogies Online Seminars, take the online Genealogy classes that are free, or take a class through a local history society.  As the old saying goes, "The more you know, the further you'll go!"  And lastly, have a great attitude! Don't let it get you down.  Genealogy for most is a hobby. Something meant for you to enjoy yourself and time to relax.  A hobby isn't a hobby when it stresses you out and makes you upset.

Genealogy technology

Staying current in genealogy is like staying current with technologies. New things are always coming available, like ArtisticAncestry.com! However, you could also sign up with a society like Utah Genealogical Society or Federation of Genealogists. These societies almost always have newsletters or journals that are sent out a few times a year and emails monthly that will give you the heads up on what's new and innovative.  And if you are really determined, you can take part in institutes and classes that are offered throughout the year such as Brigham Young University Genealogy and Family History Seminar the first week of August or the Institute of Genealogical Research in Birmingham, AL in mid-July.  The options are there, just choose the one that fits you best!

Thank You Veterans

To our dear veterans who have served and are serving their country to retain our rights of liberty and justice. Our hearts go out to you for the trials you suffered, the hardships endured, and the difficulties you survived. We give you the warmest thank you we can.  May the Heavens smile down on you.

Family History Stories

What is your most interesting family history story? I have heard rumors in my family that a great great great uncle survived the Civil War and time in a Confederate Prisoner of War Camp, then on his way home in the explosion of the steamboat Sultana.  We always knew that both grandfathers served during World War II, but it wasn't until years later we discovered that on of my grandfathers served on Iwo Jima. Why would that be information we had never heard before?

What about you? What are some of your favorite family history finds?  Please leave a comment and share one of your experiences.

Genealogy Solutions

Today's Brickwall solution might seem like a simple solution, but I have to be honest. It took me FOREVER to think about doing it. You've hit the brickwall. Every scrap of paper, every source you can think to scour, but you simply cannot find the birth parents of your ancestor. Go backwards a little bit. Find your ancestor's siblings and then search the records for THEIR parents names and birthdates. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the hardest to come by.

Family Tree Scrapbooking

Finally it is here!!!  The first ever website that allows you to upload a GEDCOM file, family photos, oral histories, even videos!  You create the e-book using your pictures and your GEDCOM and then tag the pictures you want to use in the book!

After you are thrilled with your e-book, you can publish and share it with others!  Instead of being forced to buy a set number of hard copy books, you only have to purchase the number of books that you want to share with others, send it to them, and they can view it on their iPads!

Thanks to all who have stuck by us, and welcome to those who are new to us!  We hope you enjoy this grand adventure of combining the history of genealogy, with the future of electronics!

Family Tree Storage

I have to say, the more I learn about technology the more confused I am about how I should store my data.  Should I use a Compact Disc, SD card, flash drive, or an online Cloud Drive.  I keep thinking about the downfalls of each.

1- Compact Discs are vulnerable to scratches, low reflectivity, and delamination.  All of these issues will cause the CD to cease working.

2- SD cards are small, easily lost, and are also susceptible to damage.

3- Flash Drives are about my favorite.  It is possible for it to them to become damaged and quit working, but I have only had that happen once in several years.

4- Online Cloud Drives are dependable, accessible from almost every location with internet access. As long as Google and Amazon continue their free or cheap Cloud Drives it is my new favorite way to store information!

You just need to decide which works best for you and go with it!

An overview of what Artisticancestry.com is all about.

Artisticancestry.com has been created to pull family history off of the dusty shelves of genealogists and grandparents, and to bring it to life with color, stories and history. In the beginning aa.com was to be used on both iPhones and iPads, but the recent changes to iPhone technology has crashed that plan and the new standard for viewing eBooks will have to be met. This is why, until aa.com has generated enough income to have these codes and artwork created Artisticancestry.com will download eBooks only to iPads at this time.

In order to begin using Artisticancestry.com you will need a Gedcom file of your family tree; this can be created or downloaded from either ancestry.com (a subscription site) or from familysearch.org (a free use site). Please save yourselves time and grief by checking for duplicates before downloading your Gedcom!

(Gedcom is an acronym for GEnealogical Data COMmunication) Because Gedcom's are not created with a standard format only those Gedcoms created at these two sites can be used at this time. 

For full usage and guideline information please to the bottom of the home page and click the links in the footer.

When an eBook has been finished, the Owner/creator buys a download of the eBook to be sent to email accounts of those they wish to share their eBook with. Then a link with instructions, with passwords, will be sent to the recipient so they can view their interactive eBook through Artisticancestry.com. 

Artisticancestry.com is not a research site and does not allow research to be conducted; it is the only online site that combines family history with basic scrap-booking. Just as with a printed book, once an eBook has been shared it is a fixed commodity and can not be changed or updated. Neither can family histories be updated on site; to update you must do so wherever you have created your Family tree.

 When the Author (You) wishes to make another eBook they can do so for as long as their subscription is current. There is no cost involved in the assembly of your eBook, only on the registration/subscription and each download.

For the purpose of making Artisticancestry.com  available to everyone the costs for eBooks and subscriptions have been kept as minimal as possible:

· The first 72 hours after registering on Artisticancestry.com is absolutelyFree. 

· 24 hour subscription is $3.95.

· 3 month subscription is $9.99.

· Yearly subscription is $39.99.

Please use your free 72 hours to upload your gedcom files, photos, videos, audios, PDFs and documents. Photos can be uploaded by 'drag and drop', all other files are best uploaded using the 'Add files' button.

I hope you enjoy Artisticancestry.com and it becomes the next best website to use for family history sharing since the creation of the internet, so please tell your friends and share this message with all your friends and acquaintances. I'm counting on you!

Sincerely, Cristina Besendorfer

Approaches to Genealogy

There are three major approaches to genealogical research. First there is the "shotgun" approach. This is where you type your ancestors name into google and hope for a valid hit.  This may work if your ancestor has a truly unusual name, but it is a real shot in the dark. 

Next there is the "serendipitous" approach. You start searching through local city and county records hoping to find a trace of your ancestor. This is kind of a beginners luck scenario. You might have a general idea of what to do, but you just happened to find what you are looking for. 

Last there is the directed approach. You know what information you are looking for and a good idea of how to find it. Record other potentially important information along the way, but keep looking for what you need to find!

Respecting Privacy

You've found something really amazing and exciting, but it involves relatives and ancestors that are still alive. What do you do with it?  NOTHING!  The answer is simply, "Not without permission." 

 Some people truly appreciate their privacy or their might be a family secret (like a baby being born 5 months after the wedding date) that people don't want told. A good family historian will record the family secrets but they shouldn't be published publicly without the permission of those involved.  

We at artisticancestry.com are excited to give you the chance to publish your family history, but we encourage you to respect the privacy of others!

NARS

The National Archives and Records Service is a massive source of information for which you may be looking!  With the proper forms, NARS can supply you with Old Soldiers Home Records, Bounty Land Warrant Records, Civilians During Wartime Records, the records of Black Americans, American Indians, and Merchant Seamen, even Multi-society Records! This service will give you a great opportunity to double check those facts we always tell you to check!

Are you ready?

Preparation for creating an eBook on

Artisticancestry.com

1.    Check your family tree for duplicates. Duplicate names and families can prevent the Hierarchy from being accurate.

2.    Download a Gedcom file from either Ancestry.com, Family Search.org. (A Gedcom is an acronym for GEnealogical Data COMmunications.)

3.    Gather stories about each person in your family. Use a Word program to write short paragraphs (50-150 characters each) to allow you to copy and paste them into their corresponding page.

4.    Gather your images, videos, audios, and documents so you can drag and drop them into your Media Library. (The more direct way of browsing your computer for the information is available but takes a bit more time.)

5.    Register onto artisticancestry.com and you can have your first eBook built with your complementary 24-hour subscription.

6.    Have the email addresses of those who are to receive your first eBook. Each eBook download is a thrifty $6.95 each.

7.    Congratulations, now that you have downloaded your images and media it's time to  create another eBook! One for each son or daughter, another for your school reunion, then there are return missionaries, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, the possibilities are endless!

Keep Your Head in the "Cloud"

Google has entered the "cloud". If you don't want to carry an SD card or flash drive and take the chances of leaving it in the computer you're using in the research center, you can always opt to open a Google Cloud Drive. This cloud drive will open up to 30 different types of documents, sync with Mac, PC, and mobile handsets, you can edit and create documents in the Google Cloud, and the best part is that it will integrate with all other Google programs such as, gmail, Google+, and even the photo website Picasa! Google offers 5 GB for free, but if this isn't enough, you can purchase 25 GB for $2.50/month or 100 GB for $5.00/month. The benefits are almost endless!!!

Deciphering Old Handwriting

I've written a little bit before about deciphering old fashioned handwriting, but I have now realized it is more important than ever and even harder to do than ever.  Handwriting has changed a lot over the last several decades and centuries.  I have recently found a few resources that will help you decipher those old Bible records and cards.

The UK National Archives has one of the best online tutorials.  This online tutorial even has an online game you can play to improve your skills.  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/palaeography/

The online tutorial from Cambridge University breaks down each letter of the alphabet to make Old English documents easier to decipher. http://www.english.cam.ac.uk/ceres/ehoc/index.html

And then Brigham Young University has an online tutorial which helps you read not only old handwriting, but foreign documents as well. http://script.byu.edu/

Give Yourself Time

Are you a little overwhelmed with the amount of time it takes to build a family tree? A family tree usually will go back 5-6 generations. At 32 years per generation, that put it at between 150-180 years back or to your great-great-great-great grandparents. If you do the math at 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents, 16 great great grandparents, 32 great great great grandparents, and finally 64 great great great great grandparents. Excluding brothers and sisters for each, that makes a total of 127 people to research. Add in brothers, sisters, children, etc. and that is a whole lot more people! Give yourself the time you need to find the right names and dates!  

You know your family tree wasn't created in a weekend!

Citing Sources

Who needs to cite their sources?  That's what internet bookmarks are for right?  It is just too easy to bookmark the site where you found your information!  You know the old saying, "Something too good to be true"?  That is how I feel about internet bookmarks.  It might be okay once in awhile, but if you just bookmark all the sources you use, once your get 10 or 15 bookmarks it is almost impossible to find the bookmark you are looking for, let alone when you get 150 bookmarks for different sources.  ALWAYS cite your sources as quickly as possible.

Google's Limitations

Google Search has many limitations.  The primary of which is that it does not show more than two search results to a maximum of two search results per website.  This means if the information that you are looking for is clustered in with other information, there is a good chance your results won't show up on a Google Search.

Reasons for Genealogy

Three of the most common reasons for participating in genealogy are first, to preserve knowledge of ancestors who contributed to the family traditions, second to preserve a culture that your ancestors were part of, and third, the desire to pass on a family legacy.  What better way to do all three than by including ArtisticAncestry.com?  With ArtisticAncestry.com you can upload information about your ancestors and cultural traditions by creating e-books that will carry on the family legacy and share it easily with others?

Technology and You

There are times I'm sitting at home working hard on genealogy and doing research, when every three seconds I hear, "Mom! Mommy!" and children are fighting and whining. Suddenly I wish for the peacefulness of the library.  Other times it is pouring down rain, streets are flooding and the wind is blowing cold that I am grateful for the opportunity to search from the comfort of my favorite chair with wi-fi, a laptop, and a mug of yummy hot chocolate.

What do you miss about old time research?  What do you love about today's technology?  Share with us?

A Beginner's Guide

There are five basic types of genealogical information, Surname (Family Name), Given Name, Places, Dates, and Occupations.  Any and all of these pieces of information can (and usually do) lead you to another piece of information.  They are often found together, especially Family Name with a Given Name and Dates.

There are also five levels of the reliability of the source.  They are Knowledge of the Informant, Motivation of the Informant, Effect of Time, Copying and Compiling Errors, and Internet Research.  We all know that we can't believe everything we read off of the internet; we also know that people are humans and make mistakes in compiling information; we also know that time and motivation can effect a person's memory.  I've said it before and I'll say it again... "Check, Double Check, and if there is still any doubt, Triple Check your results!"  Find at least two or three sources that all agree on the information.

Share Your Plans!

What kind of e-books are you planning on making with your new ArtisticAncestry.com account?  I know that I am most excited about uploading the last pictures taken when my mother's entire family was together for a Christmas almost 15 years ago.  All of my aunts, uncles, cousins, my parents, and my grandmother.  I'm going to put the pictures together with their favorite memories, or for those who have passed away some favorite memories of them.  Then I'll progress backwards and tell more family stories in subsequent e-books!

Share your plans with us!

And Now Presenting...

May I have a drum roll please?  It is my pleasure to present...... Our App Button and other screen shots!  We're finally to the point where we can share some of this info!