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'08 Is Great For Learning More

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By SHARON TATE MOODY, Tribune correspondent

Published: January 6, 2008

In 2008, plenty of learning opportunities will be available to genealogists, from seminars on cruise ships to lectures closer to home.

Here's a sample of what you can find:

DNA seminar: Using DNA to identify ancestors is one of the hottest topics in genealogy. Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, the field's most recognized lecturer on DNA, will be in Tallahassee at a full-day seminar on March 1. Her lecture topics will include "Trace Your Roots With DNA," "Beyond Y-DNA: Your Genetic Genealogy Options," "Cases That Made My Brain Hurt" and "Reverse Genealogy Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones."

Smolenyak has an impressive resume. She is chief family historian and North American spokeswoman for Ancestry.com, and she co-founded Roots Television, an online history and genealogy channel. She also was the lead researcher for the PBS television series "Ancestors."

She authored "Trace Your Roots With DNA: Using Genetic Tests to Explore Your Family Tree," which has been featured in Newsweek, The New York Times and the Book of the Month Club.

The Tallahassee Genealogical Society is sponsor of this program. To get details or to register, go to www.talgen .org.

Legacy cruise: If you've never combined a cruise ship vacation and genealogy seminar, 2008 may be the year to try it. Bradenton's Pat Richley, better known to her many fans as Dear Myrtle, will be the featured lecturer on the 2008 Legacy Genealogy Cruise.

Richley is a retired software instructor from Manatee Technical Institute and best known for her online daily genealogy columns and blog. She hosts a Family History podcast through her Web site at www.dearmyrtle.com and is the author of "Dear Myrtle's Joy of Genealogy" and "The Everything Online Genealogy Book."

The July 16-28 cruise will be aboard the Norwegian Cruise Lines Jewel of the Sea and is being sponsored by Millennia Corp., producer of Legacy Family Tree software. The cruise will begin and end in Dover, England, and include stops in Copenhagen, Denmark; Berlin; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Estonia; and Stockholm, Sweden.

For descriptions of the onboard genealogy classes that will be held, go to www.legacy familytree.com/cruise Info_2008.asp.

Reservations can be made by calling Christy of Travelworks International at 1-888-505-6997, or e-mailing twivacations@comcast.net. Cabins also can be booked at www.legacyfamilytree.net/Secure/OrderCruise2008.ht....

RootsMagic cruise: Software RootsMagic is sponsoring a cruise from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5. Legendary genealogist Elizabeth Shown Mills will be the biggest draw for this excursion. The cruise ship will go to the Mexican Riviera (Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico). Other speakers, pricing and other details have not been announced. To request notification of when cabins can be reserved, call Carefree Tours at 1-800-658-8758 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays, or e-mail carefreetours@msn .com.

Records talk: Donna M. Moughty, a popular Bradenton genealogist, will discuss "Jumping the Pond: Finding the Origins of Your Immigrant Ancestor" at the Saturday meeting of the Pasco County Genealogical Society. Her talk will be about records available in the United States that help researchers identify an ancestor's town of origin in another country.

The meeting will be at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, 9016 Fort King Road, Dade City.

Historic clothing: Being able to recognize clothing items specific to a particular era is an important skill in detecting ancestors in old photographs. At this month's meeting of the Daughters of the Confederacy in Tampa, researchers can learn about clothing items worn by children in the Victorian era. Shelly Jakes will give the presentation. The meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Steak and Ale Restaurant, 204 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa. For information or to make lunch reservations, call Gail Crosby at (813) 839-8056.

Military Records Opened

Researchers who have been frustrated by the lack of access to 20th century military records are getting a well-deserved New Year's gift.

The National Personnel Records Center has opened military personnel files of Army, Army Air Corps, Army Air Forces, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard servicemen and women who served, retired, died in active duty or were discharged before 1946.

A typical personnel file contains documents on assignments, evaluations, awards and decorations, education and training, demographics, some medical information and documented disciplinary actions. Some records also contain photographs.

Original records can be viewed at the Personnel Center Archive Research Room in St. Louis from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. It is wise to make a reservation by calling (314) 801-8050.

Copies of records also are available on request. Write to the Personnel Center, 9700 Page Ave., St. Louis MO 63132. Or submit a request online through the federal government's Standard Form 180, which can be found at www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/index.html.

To learn more, go to www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/index... .html.

Send your genealogy questions and event announcements to Sharon Tate Moody in care of BayLife, The Tampa Tribune, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa FL 33606, or e-mail stmoody0720

@mac.com. She regrets that she is unable to assist with personal research.

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