The In-Depth Genealogist a digital community for all genealogists

You've heard me say it before but I'll say it again. I am amazed at the amount of information available to us in our genealogy research! Especially when fleshing out our Civil War ancestors. They left us quite a paper trail to follow. It's there even after 150 years and with a little perseverance we can follow that trail. So here's one more step on that path, using a really interesting site, as we continue to investigate the lives of our Civil War ancestors. Read More »

When looking for a death record for an ancestors, some researchers look for only the obvious-a death certificate or an obituary. So, what happens if they don’t find any? Some people give up. Smart researchers look for alternatives. What about the person who found a death certificate or obituary? Some stop. They think they have adequate proof of the ancestors death. But, is it and if it is, does it tell us everything we want to know about that ancestor? No, no, and again, no. Read More »

Louisiana's unique and colorful heritage is never so evident as it is during Mardi Gras, or Carnival season. Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday, is the day before the Lenten fasting season begins. In Louisiana, it's marked by a variety of celebrations including parades, beads, balls, wild costumes, food, drink, and some types of revelry that defy description. Some traditions are believed to date back to French medieval times. Read More »

Family history researchers are constantly planning their next research move. Whether you realize it or not, you probably are using some form of a research plan in your genealogical endeavors. Perhaps you do it the old fashioned way using pencil and paper to compile a “to do list.” Maybe you use a word processor to write a formal research plan or an electronic spreadsheet to organize your look-ups for your next trip to the Family History Library. The options for which tool you use to prepare a research plan are numerous. Read More »

January 30, 2013 - Washington, D.C. -- ReelGenie, an innovator in digital storytelling, has been selected as a finalist for the high-profile SXSW Accelerator. The company, based in Washington, D.C., is among eight competitors selected from hundreds of applicants in the Social Technologies category. ReelGenie will unveil its new technology at the live event. ReelGenie helps people create and share family videos online. Users select a storyline for their movie, and ReelGenie guides them through the process of uploading photos, videos, and historical documents; recording voiceovers; and adding music to generate an online movie that can be shared with family and friends. Geared toward the creation of personal history movies for birthdays, memorials, anniversaries, and reunions, the service is the first of its kind. It improves upon slideshows and photo books by guiding users to tell a compelling story while incorporating a variety of rich content. Read More »