MyHeritage Updates

MyHeritage has been busy adding lots of new features over the past months, and announced some additional new features and some coming ones at RootsTech this year.

New Releases

MyHeritage have introduced a new profile page with hints directly on it. This makes it easier to work within the profile and not have to leave it.

You will see on the image above that the profile now has a number of tabs across the top (Details, Matches, Biography, Photos, Sources). The Biography tab shows you a narrative version of the subject’s life, or if you chose “Create AI Biography” you can generate a more detailed biography based on information in your tree. This biography, if the appropriate option is selected, also pulls out information from other trees, and sources, as well as including Historical Context and name origins. If there are photos attached to the person’s profile they are included in the AI Biography.

Person with only a standard biography

Person with AI Biography (note scroll bar to show
rest of AI Biography)

My feeling about this biography is that it is a good starting point for a person, though I would probably build on it from there. But it’s certainly better than the stilted narrative that comes from my family history program.

RootsTech also saw the announcement of OldNews.com, a new Historical Newspapers site. It includes newspapers from USA, UK, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Czechia, and will soon include NZ papers.

The front page indicates that you can browse the publications, but I couldn’t find how to do so. The filters available to restrict the results are publication year or publication date, publication place (country level only) and publication name. But there is no drop-down or other method of finding what publications are available. It would be nice to have the option of filtering by article type, as many other newspaper sites allow, and to have options to sort the results. Playing around, it seems that the newspapers included the UK are limited to Gazettes at the moment, but more newspapers will be added to over time.

OldNews will be available either through its own subscription, or through an “Omni” MyHeritage subscription. The Omni subscription will include all newspapers, a complete subscription to MyHeritage, access to Geni Pro, a one year subscription to Legacy Family Tree webinars, unlimited photo scanning on reimagine app (and soon on the MyHeritage App). It will be priced at 50% of what it would cost to purchase all of these.

You are now also able to share DNA results with a collaborator. The introduction of two-factor authentication (necessitated by the 23andMe breach) made it difficult for people to share passwords with others to view DNA results. Not that anyone should have been sharing passwords anyway. More details are available here.

Coming Soon

We also got some hints of things that are coming soon: MyHeritage and FamilyTreeDNA collaboration, getting DNA from artifacts like stamps, and a major DNA ethnicity update which will give many more ethnicity groups.

 

Who are you related to?

What do Jane Austin, Shirley Temple, John Lennon, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Agatha Christie and Helen Keller all have in common? They are all distantly related to me, at least according to FamilySearch's Famous Relatives. Well, that is if there are no errors in the Family Tree on FamilySearch. Some of the lines I am fairly sure of, and some I haven’t yet traced back far enough to know for sure if they are correct or not, but it's still fun. You do need to be aware that there might be errors in some of these trees, as not every connection has been verified to a high standard.

The huge reach of FamilySearch (and RootsTech) means that the FamilySearch Family Tree has lots of ancestors for many of us. That allows RootsTech to find relatives with whom we might be able to share family stories or photos, or even famous relatives.

Relatives at RootsTech have identified 2,471 people who registered for the conference (either in person or online) to whom I am related. The closest relative for me are two 3^rd cousins once removed, but you might have closer cousins. They might even be able to help you solve some family mysteries.

If you want a little bit of fun, why not spend some time finding out who you look like at My Look-Alikes. The person it says I look most like (well, of those who have photos uploaded to FamilySearch, is my great-grandmother, Merab Brockbank née Annesley. I have so say, looking at some of the famous people it says I look like, the only similarity I can see is that we have two eyes, a nose and a mouth.

Why not have a look? But Relatives at RootsTech ends on 31 March 2024, so you’d better hurry up.

DISCLOSURE: I am a RootsTech 2024 conference Media Rep and in return for my promotion of the conference I receive a free entry pass and some additional non-monetary perks. My transportation and accommodation are not compensated.

 

Another RootsTech Conference in the bag

Well, RootsTech 2024 is all done and dusted, and I am back home and all the washing has been done.

This year’s theme was Remember, and I have already written about it and its impact on me. But it wasn’t just me. Many people I spoke to commented on it being such a powerful theme. During the first keynote speech, Steve Rockwood, CEO of FamilySearch International, showed the Remember Video and became clearly emotional about it.

The theme Remember was also relevant to the journey RootsTech has made: from a small conference of about 3,000 people, to a worldwide audience of millions.

Photo opportunity at the Findmypast booth
during my first RootsTech conference (2013)

Keynote speaker, Nancy Borowick, was spot-on to the theme. Her talk was about her parents, and their battles with cancer, though she said that her story was not a story about cancer and dying: it was a story about living. Her photographs of her parents were her tribute to them, and her very important message was that “the people you love live on inside of you, because they are part of who you are.” You can watch her story here.

Nancy Borowick with one of her pictures of
her parents

Another powerful keynote speaker was Lynne Jackson, great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott. Their story was one of the catalysts of the Civil War, and out of the Dred Scott Decision came the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th amendments of the US Constitution. Her story can be watched here.

Lynne Jackson

Remember is such a powerful and encompassing theme that it meant something to everyone who attended the conference.

DISCLOSURE: I am a RootsTech 2024 conference Media Rep and in return for my promotion of the conference I receive a free entry pass and some additional non-monetary perks. My transportation and accommodation are not compensated.

 

 

 

Countdown to RootsTech

RootsTech2024 is just on the horizon. This year's theme is Remember, which is very appropriate for family history. Three more keynote speakers have been announced, adding to Lynne Jackson, who has already been announced.

The first is Henry Cho, an American-born Korean comedian. Cho is notable for being one of the only Asian-American acts to appear regularly on the Grand Ole Opry and, on January 6, 2023, became the first Asian-American invited to become a member of the Opry.

The second is photographer Nancy Borowick.  She uses her photos to tell stories of health, struggle and personal relationships and to explore the lives of her subjects. Her photos have been featured in many high-profile publications, like Time Magazine and National Geographic, to name just two.

The final keynote is Kristin Chenoweth, actress and singer, who has appeared in many stage, TV and movie productions, including The West Wing.

As always, the keynote speakers can be watched in person at the Salt Palace Convention Center, or online via the RootsTech.org website, and even when I am not familiar with them, I have found the keynotes riveting.

For those unable to attend RootsTech in Salt Lake City, there will be an online version of the conference. It’s free to sign up for this, and will give you access to many of the presentations, as well as a Virtual Expo Hall.

What about the chance to connect with unknown relatives who might have information about or photos of your family. “Relatives at RootsTech” is available for everyone for free. You do need to have entered at least some of your family tree on the FamilySearch website, but that is free too. I have 716 relatives who have registered for RootsTech (online or in person), but many people have thousands.

Those who are lucky enough to attend in person will have access to many presentations which are not being live-streamed (some of them are), and to the Expo Hall. This year the Expo Hall will be open on Thursday night 6.00-7.30 for Night at the Expo Hall, a masquerade themed event which gives attendees a chance to visit the exhibitors without the conflict of whether to attend a talk, or to visit the Expo Hall.

I hope you are able to attend RootsTech 2024, one way or the other.

 

DISCLOSURE: I am a RootsTech 2024 conference Media Rep and in return for my promotion of the conference I receive a free entry pass and some additional non-monetary perks. My transportation and accommodation are not compensated.

 

 

First RootsTech keynote announced

The first of the Keynotes for the 2024 RootsTech conference has just been announced. It is Lynne M. Jackson. She is an author, president and founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation.

Now, I admit I have never heard of her, or this foundation, but when I read about it, I think it sounds like it will be a very interesting talk. That’s the thing I have found about past RootsTech conferences – even when I don’t know who the keynote is, I’ve still found them fascinating.

Dred and Harriet Scott were an enslaved couple who fought for their freedom and their case ended up in the US Supreme Court in 1857. The ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court was that enslaved people were not citizens of the United States and, therefore, could not expect any protection from the federal government or the courts. The opinion also stated that Congress had no authority to ban slavery from a Federal territory.  Details of this decision are available online here.

Although this sounds awful to us, we have to remember that it was only in 1967 (110 years after this ruling) that Australians voted in a referendum to change the Constitution so that like all other Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would be counted as part of the population and the Commonwealth would be able to make laws for them.

The story of Dred and Harriet Scott is described as “a story of courage, fear, and faith to claim one's right to freedom, by the law of the land, and by the conviction that all human beings are entitled to stand up for their freedom.” I think it sounds like it will be another riveting RootsTech Keynote.

And remember, this talk will be available to view online as well as in person at the Salt Palace Convention centre.

DISCLOSURE: I am a RootsTech 2024 conference Media Rep and in return for my promotion of the conference I receive a free entry pass and some additional non-monetary perks. My transportation and accommodation are not compensated.

Win a pass to RootsTech and make new friends

There are so many things I love about attending a RootsTech Conference in person. Attending the talks of course, although they are also available on the online RootsTech Conference. Experiencing the buzz of the Expo Hall and seeing all sorts of interesting booths and demos of their products. And then there are the people. It's a great opportunity to making new friends who also share a love of genealogy, and catching up with friends who I have met at past conferences. Thanks to RootsTech I have so many friends from around the world who I would probably never have met if I hadn’t attended RootsTech conferences.

Just some of my RootsTech friends

RootsTech 2024 will give me an opportunity to catch up with these friends again. If you attend, you might also make some wonderful new friends.

If you are a resident of the United States (except Rhode Island) you have the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes to win a free 3-day pass to next year’s in-person RootsTech conference. Simply enter by clicking here and filling out the form. If you win and have already paid for an entry your payment will be refunded. The sweepstakes will run until 31 October, and will be drawn on 1 November.

The pass is valued at $99 and includes:

• 250+ classes and workshops
• The Expo Hall with 120+ Exhibitors and sponsors
• Wonderful keynote speakers
• Information about industry trends and innovations (and there are often some announcements made about new products or features)
• Meet or catch up with genealogy friends
•  A chance to visit the FamilySearch Library while you are in Salt Lake City

If you are not a US resident, then I can offer you a discount code of 10% off registration. This discount will last until November 2. When you register simply pop in the following discount code towards the end of the registration process when the discount code box appears. The code is RT24SWEEPSTAKES.

DISCLOSURE: I am a RootsTech 2024 conference Media Rep and in return for my promotion of the conference I receive a free entry pass and some additional non-monetary perks. My transportation and accommodation are not compensated.

Remember - RootsTech2024 Registrations open

The theme for next year’s RootsTech conference is “Remember”. I think that is a very appropriate theme, as remembering our ancestors is such an important part of our family history.

Nanny (Dorothy Spiller, nee Highett) and me

My interest in family history started with the stories my maternal grandmother used to tell me. Nanny, as we called her, was raised by her grandparents, so the stories she told me went back to my g-g-grandparents. She’d tell me about how she used to get into trouble for singing at the dinner table, and how her favourite part of going to church was singing the hymns. Other stories about her were told to me by my mother. These included the fact that Nanny’s grandfather was a very strict Baptist and wouldn’t let her go out to dances or things like that, but when he joined the bowling club and spoke to other men with daughters Nanny’s age, he found that they DID let their daughters go to these things, and so Nanny was subsequently allowed to do so herself. She therefore thought the bowling club was a very good thing.

Nanny's grandfather (Adolphus Alway) on left with his bowling friends

Grandma (Pearl Gibbons)

I had fewer stories from my father’s mother, Grandma as we called her, because she died when I was just nine, but had suffered a stroke about 18 months previously and been hospitalised and in care after that. I had only seen her once during that period. However, before she had that stroke, she had told me stories. She had told me that her father, who was a foreman in the steel works at Port Kembla, was involved in making rivets for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. She also told me about her daughter, June, who had died before my father was born.

As my mother worked full time when I was young, I spent lots of time staying with both of my grandmothers.

Grandma and me

As I said, the theme for RootsTech 2024 is “Remember”. That’s such an appropriate theme, as it is the memories that got me interested in my family history, and more importantly, it is the memories that keep my grandmothers alive for me.

RootsTech 2024 is on 29 February - 2 March. You can attend in person in Salt Lake City, or online from anywhere in the world. The online event is free and the in-person event has early birth pricing until 19^th November of US$99 for the full 3 days, or US$69 for one day. There will be over 200 talks in Salt Lake City, and another 200+ online.

RootsTech conferences are always a wonderful experience, weather you attend in person or online.

DISCLOSURE: I am a RootsTech 2023 conference Media Rep and in return for my promotion of the conference I receive a free entry pass and some additional non-monetary perks. My transportation and accommodation are not compensated.