New Resources on the Research Help and Links Pages of the MCGG Website (Here)

To everyone that attended this past Saturday's Pathway to Membership in a Lineage Society Workshop, thank you for attending. We hope you enjoyed it.

In producing this workshop, the Macomb County Genealogy Group created a few new resources and have placed them on our website for your personal use. If you think a friend or cousin would find one of the resources helpful, share the link to the page. That is allowable sharing. Please do not send him/her the file directly. These forms/documents are not for commercial use, for re-distribution by individuals/other groups, or for sale/re-sale.

So what have we created?

MCGG Lineage Resources — a list of books at Mount Clemens Public Library that are helpful resources to check when doing lineage research to apply to various lineage societies.

If you do not live near Mount Clemens Public Library you may find some of the books at a library near you. Just be aware that Dewey Decimal codes might vary between libraries.

MCGG Lineage Source Log — a form to use along side just about any lineage society's worksheet.

The idea behind this form is: a lineage society worksheet focuses on names/dates/places but does not have a lot of room for what source/documentation proves those names/dates/places and proof is everything to a lineage society. Our MCGG Lineage Source Log gives you a place to record your sources/proof in an organized manner that follows along with the worksheet. So you put your names/dates/places on the lineage society worksheet and just the source citation on the MCGG Lineage Source Log. Just use whichever source citation format is used by the lineage society you are joining. Then when you (or the lineage registrar) is ready to type up the final application all of your source citations (proofs) are listed in one organized, readable place.


MCGG's Digitized Civil Vital Records List  — this is actually a new page on this website that can be accessed using our Links page or Research Help page.

MCGG has created a list of all States with Online Digitized Vital Records. Though there are numerous vital record indexes out on the internet to utilize, the databases on this list are the ones that have digitized civil vital records — registers or certificates. Some are on free websites, some are on pay/subscription websites. We will try to keep this list updated.


We hope you find our new resources helpful along with our original ones the:  MCGG Family Group Sheet, MCGG Pedigree/Ancestral Chart, MCGG Relationship Chart, MCGG Simple Research Log, MCGG Simple Source Log as well as our MCGG Beginner's Kit.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Lapeer County Genealogical Society will Meet on May 9, 2017 in Lapeer

The Lapeer County Genealogical Society is still without a website so as a courtesy MCGG would like to let you know that LCGS's next meeting is on Tuesday, May 9, at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Lapeer.

Len Thomas is presenting "It's about those Headstones -- Civil War Graves." Thomas will share his experiences in searching Civil War graves and how to make certain that Civil War graves are clearly marked.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Free Access to All Birth, Marriage, Death and Census Records on FindMyPast Websites April 27 - May 1, 2017

FindMyPast is giving free access from Thursday, April 27, to Monday, May 1, to all of its birth, marriage, death and census records.

During this free access time period, you will need to sign-in to either your subscription account or free account.

If you do not have a free account at FindMyPast already, simply create one. (A free account is not the same as a free trial subscription so do not click on the link to sign up for a free trial subscription.) The simplest way to create a free account is to do a search, click to view a result image and the website will ask you to sign into your account or create a free account.

There are special search pages set up for this free access time period for each of the Find My Past websites -- FindMyPast.com's search, FindMyPast.co.uk's free search, or FindMyPast.ie's free search except Australia. You can access all the birth/marriage/death and census records regardless of country from any of the FindMyPast websites.

This free access includes UK birth, marriage and death records including exclusive UK parish records; the Catholic Heritage Archive (records from Ireland, Scotland, Westminster, Birmingham and Philadelphia (USA) only at FindMyPast; US and Canadian vital records; the 1901 and 1911 Irish census; Australian and New Zealand birth, marriage and death records; UK census records; US and Canadian census records; and Australian and New Zealand census records.

Have fun searching.
 
See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Just a Few Days until the SAR-MCGG Lineage Workshop; You can Still Register!

Just a few days from now the Detroit Metro Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and the Macomb County Genealogy Group (MCGG) are hosting a free Genealogy Workshop: Pathway to Membership in a Lineage Society at Mt. Clemens Public Library on April 29, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Basic genealogy research and other topics will be covered including how to apply to various lineage societies like the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution. You will also learn of the genealogy resources of the Mount Clemens Public Library.

Bring your documents and laptop (if you have one) so one of the volunteers can help you review what you have done and give advice on what to do next. Not sure if you have a Revolutionary Patriot? A volunteer can help with that too. Representatives of the SAR, DAR and MCGG will be present.

To register contact Tom or Barb Reardon at 586-465-4021or by email use tbreardon at comcast.net [note replace the " at " with the @ symbol.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

It is DNA Day! Now is a Good Time To Buy

Today, April 25, is DNA Day!

There are various sales going on at various testing companies and vendors with DNA related materials.

We have already told you about the sales at Family Tree DNA (runs until this Thursday) and at AncestryDNA (runs until this Wednesday) but there are others too.

Over at 23andMe its DNA tests are 20 percent off until May 14, 2017, with a note to order by May 7th for delivery by Mother's Day. The basic Ancestry Service test is on sale for $79, regularly $99, plus taxes and shipping. The Health + Ancestry Service test is on sale for $179, regularly $199, plus taxes and shipping. There is a limit of two tests at sale prices. 23andMe is the testing company that focuses a bit more on the health aspect of DNA than the genealogy aspect.

If you are an Amazon Prime member you can buy the same 23andMe tests and the AncestryDNA test at Amazon and get free two-day shipping, according to today's sales list at GenealogyBargains.com website.

A few of the newer, smaller entries into the DNA testing market are having sales too. A couple are listed on today's list at GenealogyBargains. MyHeritage.com website's MyHeritage DNA test is on sale for $79, regularly $99, plus taxes and shipping. This sale goes until Sunday, April 30, 2017. And Dick Eastman's blog has a coupon code to use for free shipping of MyHeritage DNA tests.

Please note if you live outside the United States, regular and sale prices of DNA tests may vary from what we have stated here.

To celebrate DNA Day, Family Tree Webinars is giving free access through Wednesday, April 26, to its DNA Course 1: Foundations in DNA webinars by Blaine Bettinger. That is five webinars to help you understand DNA and genealogy.

Other vendors like Family Tree Magazine and GenealogyGems are holding sales on guides and books, etc.

Yesterday Roberta Estes at her DNAeXplained — Genetic Genealogy blog published a post Which DNA Test is Best? that does a good job at comparing the Big Three (Family Tree DNA/AncestryDNA/23andMe) DNA testing companies for genealogy. She also covers a little bit about a newer, smaller entry into the DNA/genealogy testing market, MyHeritage.

Have a great DNA Day.


See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Sign-Up Now! Sons of the American Revolution and MCGG to Host Free Genealogy & Lineage Workshop April 29

note: originally posted on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 12:28 p.m.

It is just a little over a week away!

The Detroit Metro Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and the Macomb County Genealogy Group (MCGG) are hosting a free Genealogy Workshop: Pathway to Membership in a Lineage Society at Mt. Clemens Public Library on April 29, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Basic genealogy research and other topics will be covered including how to apply to various lineage societies like the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution. You will also learn of the genealogy resources of the Mount Clemens Public Library.

Bring your documents and laptop (if you have one) so one of the volunteers can help you review what you have done and give advice on what to do next. Not sure if you have a Revolutionary Patriot? A volunteer can help with that too. Representatives of the SAR, DAR and MCGG will be present.

To register contact Tom or Barb Reardon at 586-465-4021or by email use tbreardon at comcast.net [note replace the " at " with the @ symbol.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

DNA Day Sale AncestryDNA Tests are $79

note: originally posted on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 11:39 a.m. Added Post Title

Today begins Ancestry.com's 2017 DNA Day Sale. 

The AncestryDNA test is now on sale for 20% off which means it is on sale for $79 (reg. price $99); taxes and shipping are extra. Sale ends April 26, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

AncestryDNA is an Autosomal DNA test that anyone can take and compare to anyone else. 

As usual, some people are having success with the coupon code FREESHIPDNA listed at RetailMeNot.com so give it a try to see if works for you.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Getting Closer: Software MacKiev, Ancestry.com Work to Tweak FTM 2017 Programming & Ancestry Systems Prior to Release of Family Tree Maker 2017

If you have been concerned about the release of Family Tree Maker 2017, we hope you are doing as we suggested, checking the Family Tree Maker User Group FaceBook page and the Family Tree Maker Support page at Software MacKiev's website for official information from Software MacKiev.

For those that have not been doing so, here is the latest news.

Software MacKiev and Ancestry.com have been working to fix some syncing issues that could only be seen during live testing with the old TreeSync system shut off so it would not interfere with the new version. As of a week ago beta testers were having an 89 percent success rate with syncing. That was not good enough for Software MacKiev and thus a revised release date was not set. The company and most customers would prefer a software program that was better than that. So Software MacKiev automated an error report process to help them and Ancestry.com identify where the software needed tweaking and where the behind the scenes aspects of the Ancestry website system needed tweaking.

After another week with even more beta testers about 6,000 of them, today Software MacKiev announced that they are up to a 94 percent success rate of syncing. Very large trees are still having some issues. (It was not specified what constituted very large trees -- number of people or number of items/media/sources or both.)

Ancestry.com has been making adjustments to the Ancestry system the latest of which will happen tomorrow, Friday. Software MacKiev has been tweaking the program code in Family Tree Maker will do some more this weekend after Ancestry's Friday adjustment.

With those adjustments MacKiev will start selective roll out of the latest best test build to further test the system to handle more trees called the "Beta TEST Drive Program." The first 25,000 to sign-up will have an opportunity to test drive Family Tree Maker 2017 without the usual Beta Tester rules and processes to follow and previous Beta testing experience is not required. To be a beta tester and to participate in this new beta test program you have to have pre-ordered/purchased Family Tree Maker 2017.

So on Monday afternoon Software MacKiev will send out an email with a sign-up link to be part of the "Beta Test Drive Program." If you have pressing need to sync your tree(s), sign up for the Best Test Drive Program. There is a place in the sign-up form to indicate what your urgent need is and in many cases you can get same day access.

If you are able to sync okay during the test drive and pass some automated diagnostic tests that confirm everything went as expected you can continue using Family Tree Maker 2017. Depending how it goes with the first 25,000 test drivers, more test drivers will be added. 

Read the complete Release of FTM 2017 dated April 20th using the link above to the Family Tree Maker 2017 Support page.

If you have not been receiving emails from Software MacKiev, make sure you are on the mailing list. Check your spam folder just in case the messages are ending up there. (They do not send a lot of emails so don't worry about that aspect.) Software MacKiev sends emails out in batches to lower the chance of the email ending up in Spam Folders so with thousands on the mailing list it may take some time to get the email out to everyone. Be patient.

Remember there are a lot of other genealogy-related things to do that don't involve using Family Tree Maker for a short period of time. We are sure we all have something on that to-do list ... be it a genealogy to-do list or a honey to-do list ... that can be done while we exercise our patience.

Lastly, remember to pay more attention to "official voices" and not the complaining if you want to learn the status of the release.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

2017 DNA Day Sales Have Now Begun Lowest Price Ever on FTDNA Family Finder

April 25 is DNA Day and with that usually comes sales on DNA tests. Family Tree DNA has begun its 2017 DNA Day Sale which will run through 11:59 p.m. Central Time, Thursday, April 27, 2017. (That means an hour past midnight so 12:59 a.m. Friday for us in the Eastern time zone.)

The really big news is that Family Tree DNA's Family Finder (autosomal DNA) test is now its lowest price ever. Regularly $79, FamilyFinder is on sale for just $59 plus taxes and shipping.

The 2017 Family Tree DNA Day Sale actually involves a variety of DNA tests. The sale pricing does not include any taxes and shipping, which is usually under $10. 

So which tests are on sale? 

Autosomal Test 
Family Finder is now $59, regularly $79

Y-DNA Tests (male-only, father's line) 
Y37 test is now $129, regularly $169
Y67 test is now $209, regularly $268 
Y111 test is now $289, regularly $359
BigY test is now $425, regularly $575

For those with Y-DNA tests already:
SNP Backbone is now $79, regularly $99
SNP Packs are now $89, regularly $119
 
mtDNA Tests (male or female, mother's line) 
mtFull Sequence test is now $149, regularly $199
 
Autosomal Test with Y-DNA Test (multiple tests package for one male) 
Family Finder with Y37 test package is now $188, regularly $248
Family Finder with Y67 test package is now $268, regularly $347
Family Finder with Y111 test package is now $208, regularly $278 

Comprehensive Genome (multiple tests package for one male) 
FamilyFinder, Y-DNA (Y67) test and mtFull Sequence test is now $417, regularly $546 

If you already have a DNA test at Family Tree DNA and want to upgrade that test to include another type of DNA test that is on sale, simply sign into that particular DNA test kit and then place the order. You will need to do this for each test separately if you plan to upgrade multiple tests.

Also, remember that Family Tree DNA also has a DNA Automsomal Transfer option. Autosomal DNA Transfers can be done with 23andMe V3 or V4 tests and AncestryDNA V1 and V2 tests. The initial transfer is free for a look at your matches and is just $19 to unlock the test to see more and be able to contact matches. We have two posts here and here that explain DNA Autosomal Transfers.

Some of our other previous posts can explain a little bit about the difference between autosomal, Y-DNA and mtDNA tests. Click the labels to the left using either DNA, DNA Day, FamilyTreeDNA or AncestryDNA.

As other DNA sales go active (some are announced but not yet active) we will post them here. 

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Legacy Family Tree Releases Version 9

Legacy Family Tree announced yesterday that it has released its Legacy Family Tree 9.0 software.

The new 9.0 version has several new features:

• Hinting from websites like FindMyPast, FamilySearch, GenealogyBank, and MyHeritage so far
• Find A Grave website searching
• Online Backup
• Stories Tool
• Cause of Death Charts
• X-DNA Charts
• Hashtags (unlimited)
• Family Dictionary Report
• Family Bingo Report
• Chronology Report to Compare 2 People
• Enhanced Color Coding
• Enhanced Multimedia
• Enhanced Tagging

There is a six minute video over at FamilyTreeWebinars highlighting some of the new features of version 9.

As in the past, the Standard Edition is free and available as a download. The download is actually the same software but with the deluxe features locked.

The Deluxe Edition which is the pay version unlocks over 100 additional features. There are various price ranges depending on what bundle-type (printed book, CD, webinar membership, etc.) is purchased and whether you have purchased an earlier deluxe edition of Legacy Family Tree software or not.

For the Legacy 9.0 Deluxe Edition Download which includes the software via instant download and official manual in PDF format only, it is $34.95 for new purchasers and $26.95 upgrade price for anyone who purchased the deluxe edition version in the past. At time of purchase you will likely need to type-in your previous deluxe edition customer number as proof of prior purchase. Find that in your Legacy program under help, about Legacy, general info.

For those who like to save, remember if you watch a Legacy Family Tree Webinar (remember they are free to watch live and for about a week afterwards) you can get a discount code to save 10 percent. And if you are a FamilyTreeWebinar subscriber, you get an automatic extra 5 percent discount when on the Family Tree Webinar website. Hint: there is a webinar today over at FamilyTreeWebinars.com at 2 p.m. ET just register to view it live. Or wait until later today to view it for free.

OR go over to GenealogyBargains.com a new website by Thomas MacEntee of GeneaBloggers.com where you can find a code to save 15 percent off Legacy Family Tree 9.0 for a short while using discount code thomas15leg to save. According to MacEntee it now works on the upgrade pricing too.

Now with regards to syncing on Ancestry.com no mention has been made with this announcement. We believe Legacy is waiting Software MacKiev to iron out the kinks with Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker before implementing the sync feature in Legacy.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Free Access April 18-25 to 32 Probate Resources on AmericanAncestors.org

Probate Resources at AmericanAncestors.org

AmericanAncestors.org website has announced free access to Probate databases on its website from April 18 - April 25.

Not sure what probate records are, well AmericanAncestors has put together a lot of informational material including recorded webinars showing what probate records are and how to use them. There are 32 probate related databases to utilize.

To access the free databases simply create a free guest user account if you do not already have one. If you are an New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEGHS) member, simply sign into your account.

Registered guest users get access to a limited suite of databases; access to webinars, how-to videos and downloads; and can make purchases from the online store. Did you know that guest users also get free access to other new databases for the first 30 days that database is online? There are lots of great reasons to register as a guest user or become a member of the NEGHS society.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library! 
LE

MCPL's Local Databases are Back Online

Locally-produced indexes are back online.

Heads up everyone. We just got notice that the Local Databases on the Mount Clemens Public Library's website are back up.

You can get your typing fingers searching again.


See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Get Your Genealogy Education on This Weekend! Free Access to Legacy Family Tree Webinars

Yes it is Easter Weekend and that usually means family time. But you must some how find some time this weekend to hide away or figure out how to get the family to join you ...

In celebration of its 500th webinar, Legacy Family Tree Webinars is giving free access* to its complete webinar library from today, Friday, April 14 through Sunday, April 16. This is the first time ever for free access like this.

*Free access does not include the syllabus materials.

So do not miss out on this opportunity to learn about a particular locality, type of record, software/technology resource, researching an ethnicity, and even what is DNA for genealogy all about and how to use it. There are 500 different webinars to pick from ... more than you can watch in one weekend of binge-viewing. Now you just have to figure out which webinars you are going to watch.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Free Access UK/Ireland/Commonwelath Records at Ancestry.co.uk until April 17

At Ancestry.co.uk (the United Kingdom version) there is free access to all United Kingdom, Ireland and Commonwealth Records this weekend, April 14 to 17. Free access ends Monday, April 17 at 23:59 BST. You will need to set up (register) for a free account with Ancestry.co.uk even if you are a Ancestry.com member.

How do you do register for free access? Simply start a search on this weekend's free access page and the free access registration window will pop up. Supply your name and email and you will be sent a username and password to use for this free access period. Remember the free access account does not ask for your credit card. (The trail membership is the one that requires a credit card.)

So if you don't have an Ancestry.com subscription or if your subscription is just for US records, this is an opportunity to explore your UK family including those in Canada and Australia.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Technical Issues: MCPL's Local Databases Temporarily Down for Possibly a Week

Locally-produced indexes are temporarily offline.

Heads up everyone. We just got notice that the Local Databases on the Mount Clemens Public Library's website are down due to technical issues and it will likely be at least a week until they are back up and accessible.

What is impacted? The locally-produced obituary index, funeral home index, city directory index, cemetery index, etc.

What is not impacted? The digital archive and property database because they reside on another server.

We will let you know when things are back up and running normally.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

The Next Let's Talk...Genealogy Meeting is this Wednesday, April 12, 2017!

On Wednesday, April 12, at 7 p.m. in the Genealogy/Local History Room of the Mount Clemens Public Library is the next MCGG's Let's Talk...Genealogy meeting. Our topic for the night is ... What We Learned Last Year And Want to Learn This Year.

Let's discuss and share what we learned last year with regards to our genealogy or history and what we want to learn this year — our goals. There are still eight months left in this year which means there is plenty of time to set some goals if you have not already done so.

New attendees are always welcome.

See you soon at the Mt. Clemens Public Library! 
LE

Tomorrow is the MCGG Friday Meeting!

Tomorrow Friday, April 7, at 1:00 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Mount Clemens Public Library, Matthew Pacer, reference librarian at the Library of Michigan, will present Research Collections of the Library of Michigan, Including the Michigana Digital Collections.

If you are in the Mt. Clemens area and not heading to the Detroit Tigers Season Opener or have plans to watch it on television, PLEASE JOIN US. 

See you soon at the Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Together Ancestry.com & MacKiev Work to Avoid Potential Family Tree Maker 2017 Release Issues — Patience Please

According to the latest update on April 4, Ancestry.com put a hold on things because further testing designed to stress the system by simulating large numbers of simultaneous users syncing their trees revealed performance issues might affect not just Family Tree Maker users but all Ancestry.com users. 

Software MacKiev and Ancestry.com are working on these issues. Thus the new expected release date is not a specific date but an estimate of time from as early as this Friday to the middle of next week. 

We think we can all agree we would rather they take the time to get it right. Some have commented/complained why did they wait to beta test? They likely did not. Some software testing can not be done in simulated environments so real world testing is necessary. That they are finding and fixing these late issues before they release the software en masse is best.

TreeSync from the previous editions/versions of FTM 2014.1 and earlier was shut off March 29 and is still shut off and thus no FTM trees will sync to online trees. So do not try it, it won't work. The other features (hints, search, merge, maps, web dashboard) were turned back on so some work can be done in Family Tree Maker files can be done if you must.

But remember there are a lot of other genealogy-related things to do that don't involve using Family Tree Maker. We are sure we all have something on that to-do list ... be it a genealogy to-do list or a honey to-do list ... that can be done while we exercise our patience.

Read the message from Software MacKiev in this post's image. To check in on developments, keep an eye on the MacKiev Family Tree Maker Support area and the Release of FTM 2017 post which is being updated and the Family Tree Maker FaceBook page. But remember, pay more attention to "official voices" and not the complaining if you want to learn the status of the release.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Developments in DNA Genelaogy World: Genetic Communities, mtDNA, myOrigins

In the last week or two there have been some changes in the DNA Genealogy world.

Over at AncestryDNA, Ancestry.com has released AncestryDNA Genetic Communities. Genetic Communities (GCs) are supposed to link your origins to specific communities based on your shared DNA with others and family trees at Ancestry. Ancestry.com has a brief two minute video on YouTube the gives broad highlights of the AncestryDNA Genetic Communities. In addition, there is a six minute video from AncestryUK which is a bit more helpful with explaining what AncestryDNA Genetic Communities are and how it appears on your AncestryDNA test.

For some more detailed information, you can watch a webinar by Blaine Bettinger over at FamilyTreeWebinars called Exploring AncestryDNA's New Genetic Communities. Unfortunately today, April 6, is the last day for non-subscription members to view it for free. The webinar is about an hour and a half long. Syllabus handouts are for subscription members only.

Over at Family Tree DNA there are been a couple updates. First, with regards to mtDNA, Family Tree DNA recently released its mtDNA Build 17 which updates haplogroups and branches of the mitochondrial DNA haplotree. Some customers will see a change in their mtDNA haplogroup designation. Remember mtDNA is inherited directly through the mother but only female children pass mtDNA onto their children.

Second, Family Tree DNA just the other day released an update to myOrigins 2.0 for its FamilyFinder (autosomal DNA) tests. The myOrigins feature shows the ethnicity and geographic ancestry aka your ethnic percentages and locations on the world map. With myOrigins 2.0 FTDNA now shows smaller trace regions (which might be "just noise" and refined population clusters. So if you have a FamilyFinder test, you might want to look at your ethnicity mix and see what has changed.

Lastly, do not forget that if you have tested at AncestryDNA you can download your DNA data and transfer the data to Family Tree DNA for just $19 and get your autosomal test into a second pool of DNA matches. You never know where a cousin has tested. Data transfers can also be made to GedMatch.com for free where your test can be compared to matches who have uploaded their test results from a variety of testing companies. GedMatch can be viewed by active members only.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Fold3 Gives Free Access to its Civil War Collection from April 1 to 15, 2017

Fold3 is giving free access to its Civil War Collection from April 1 to 15.

You will need a basic Fold3 membership. If you do not already have one, just register for a basic Fold3 membership which is free with no credit card required. If you already have a free Fold3 basic membership, just sign into the website. (You do not need to sign up for a 7-day free trial which requires a credit card.)

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Next MCGG Friday Meeting is April 7

On Friday, April 7, at 1:00 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Mount Clemens Public Library, Matthew Pacer, reference librarian at the Library of Michigan, will present Research Collections of the Library of Michigan, Including the Michigana Digital Collections.

If you are in the Mt. Clemens area and not heading to the Detroit Tigers Season Opener or have plans to watch it on television, PLEASE JOIN US. 

See you soon at the Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Update on the Update of the Release of Family Tree Maker 2017 — Not Yet

For those of us anxiously waiting for the release of Family Tree Maker 2017 the wait will be a little longer.

Software MacKiev and Ancestry.com are working on some issues that popped up in the beta testing. The other day additional beta testers were brought in to help. Thus the expected release date of March 31 has come and gone. No, this is not an April Fools Day joke.

I think we can all agree we would rather they take a little more time to get it right.

TreeSync from the previous editions/versions of FTM 2014.1 and earlier was shut off March 29 and is still shut off and thus no FTM trees will sync to online trees. So do not try it, it won't work. A day or so ago, other features (hints, search, merge, maps, web dashboard) were turned back on so some work can be done in FTM files.

But remember there are a lot of other genealogy-related things to do that don't involve FTM. I'm sure we all have something on that to-do list.

Read the message from Software MacKiev in this post's image. To check in on developments, keep an eye on the MacKiev Family Tree Maker Support area and the Family Tree Maker FaceBook page. But remember, pay more attention to "official voices" and not the complaining if you want to learn the status of the release.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE