September 1, 2019, SeekingMichigan.org Begins Transition to Michiganology.org; Digital Items Move First, Later the Guides

A date has finally been announced — September 1, 2019. That is when the digital collections at Archives of Michigan website, SeekingMichigan.org, will be removed and Michiganology.org the Archives' new website takes over access to the digital collections.

The change in this case is a good thing. It is based on giving the Archives of Michigan website's users — us — a better and more powered experience. Instead of having to search three different collections for death certificates separately the new site will be able to search all three together in one search. A new feature, standard at many other websites, will be the ability to just browse a record collection.

The ability to search on the Michiganology website actually begins August 31, so there will be a day or so of overlap between the websites and on September 1 the digital collections will no longer be at SeekingMichigan. The various guides (county, subject, indexes and general information) will be moved over to Michiganology at a later date. The Archives will send out a notice when that move is complete. It is planned that there will be no loss of record access during the changeover.

According to a Q&A over at the SeekingMichigan website, the current Michiganology.com storefront for Michigan-themed merchandise and the new Michiganology.org websites will be merged. The Research Requests currently found at SeekingMichigan under Services will be found at the new website under Shop and then Research Requests.

One downside to the move is if you have used the URL for an image at the SeekingMichigan website that URL link will be broken. For example, as a link on the FindAGrave website. The Archives tried very hard to come up with a redirect but was unable to do so.

Have you been waiting for the 1943 Michigan death certificate images? From a presentation given at one of our MCGG Friday meetings earlier this year, at the time of this website changeover the images for the 1943 death certificates should be included on the new website. The yearly release of an additional year's worth of death certificate images usually has occurred around February. The new website delayed that release this year.

Hopefully we will find other useful features and options added to the new website!

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Take Inventory: Back-to-School Sales are ... Restock Your Genealogy Supply Sales!

It's time for our annual reminder ...
Back-to-School Sales on school supplies are not just for kids! These sales are for genealogists too! 

Just a few of the many supplies a genealogist would use.

Anyone who uses a lot of common office supplies should keep their eyes and ears open for some extreme savings that are only around this time year for certain supplies. So be smart and pay attention to those Back-to-School Sales going on for the next couple months so you can partake in the savings too. 

What would interest a genealogist? The first things that come to mind are USB drives (large sizes at great prices and small sizes at even better prices); printer/copier paper; pens and pencils; pencil lead (for those mechanical pencils); highlighters; file folders or pocket folders; paper and binder clips; index cards for those that like old school ways; plastic file boxes (keep that water damage away); sticky notes; binders; paper; computer accessories (like mice, computer bags, external hard drives, printers, software, large monitors, and more); etc. Even office desks and chairs can be found on sale. 

Yes, for some things it is best to make sure you get acid-free versions, but that can get expensive and sometimes compromises must be made. Note acid-free copier/printer paper is easier to find nowadays. 

Also, at about this time of year (July/August/September) computer manufacturers are about to release their new models so good to great prices can often be found on this past year's models. (If your computer is really old and can not upgrade to Windows 10 because of old hardware or low-memory issues consider these sales. Also if your computer is more than five years old consider the changes currently taking place in Windows 10 updates that will not account for older hardware.) Just remember to get as large of hard drive and as much memory as you are able to afford, and keep an eye on processor speed/power. There are other factors to consider when buying a computer -- these are three key ones. While desktop computers are a little less expensive, laptops have the advantage of portability meaning you can take them with you to the library or researching. Laptops with DVD/CD readers/burners are getting harder to find but you can find them. Chrome books and tablet/laptop conversions can be cheaper but may not run your programs/applications. Make sure the device you are considering can handle your must-have program/applications. And, lastly do not forget about those external hard drives for additional storage space AND for backing up all your data.

And for those who shop Amazon. Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner beginning on Monday, July 15, 2019.  Great deals can be found so keep an eye out for those short term deals but remember to do your due diligence and make sure your sale price is indeed a good one. If you are not an Amazon Prime member you can start a free month trial (yes, even on Prime Day) to take advantage of the benefits but remember to cancel before the renew date if you do not want to continue the membership.

May you find the deals on what you need, not on what you don't need. 

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library! 
LE

Free Access to Fold3's Revolutionary War Collection from July 1 until July 15

Fold3.com is giving free access to its Revolutionary War Collection from July 1 until July 15, 2019.

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

Independence Day Sale on Ancestry Memberships and AncestryDNA Tests

For Independence Day, July 4th, Ancestry.com is having a sale on Ancestry Data Memberships and on AncestryDNA (autosomal) tests. The sale on memberships is for new and returning subscribers, NOT for existing membership renewals. These sales end Thursday, July 4, 2019.

Ancestry Memberships are 50 percent off.

U.S. Discovery Membership
Access to U.S. records
1-month reg. $19.99 ... sale $9.99 ... save $10 (first month only)

6-months reg. $99 ... sale $49 ... save 50%

World Explorer Membership
Access to records across the globe.
1-month reg. $34.49 ... sale $17.49 ... save $17 (first month only)
6-months reg. $149 ... sale $74 ... save 50%

All Access Membership
Access to Ancestry, Fold3 and Newspapers.com Basic.
1-month reg. $34.49 ... sale $22.49 ... save $22 (first month only)
6-months reg. $199 ... sale $99 ... save 50%

Remember that membership subscriptions are auto-renewing at regular prices so if you do not want to continue the subscription after the initial sale period you need to cancel at least two days before your renewal date by calling customer service or visiting the My Account area.

Also on sale for this July 4th sale is the AncestryDNA (autosomal) test regularly $99 now on sale for $59, a savings of 40 dollars. Shipping and taxes are extra. Again, this sale ends July 4, 2019.

We are not sure if the FREESHIPDNA code will work with this sale but it does not hurt to try it.

Nearly 15 million AncestryDNA test kits have been sold now according to reports at the end of February during the RootsTech 2019 conference and a press release on February 28, 2019, by Ancestry. As the testing company with the largest "pool" of potential DNA matches it is a good place to start.

AncestryDNA test results provide an ethnicity/admixture report, a AncestryDNA match list, shared matches, an internal member messaging system, and automatic updates to results. As well as some basic information from ThruLines which is Ancestry's replacement or next generation of New Ancestor Discoveries and DNA Circles. See the chart below.

With an active paid subscription to Ancestry, there is fuller access to some DNA features such as all available information about people is shown in ThruLines; Matches' public family trees are viewable instead of just a preview of five generations; and up to seven generations of surnames instead of up to five surnames are shown for direct ancestor surnames from matches' trees.

From Ancestry.com, a look at AncestryDNA with and without a data membership/subscription.

Access to these extra features end if you discontinue your data subscription. Some of these extra features require a public family tree linked to the AncestryDNA kit.

Ancestry offers an AncestryDNAInsights subscription (available by calling customer service) for about $49/year which would give access to all of the DNA tools but not any data/records. (Price as of 2016 we are not sure if the pricing has changed since then.)

There is also a new add-on to the AncestryDNA autosomal test called AncestryDNA Traits. This add-on which is currently advertised for $20 for new tests gives a look at 18 personal traits. These traits are: Sweet Sensitivity, Savory (Umami) Sensitivity, Bitter Sensitivity, Cilantro Aversion, Asparagus Metabolite Detection, Eye Color, Male Hair Loss, Hair Type, Hair Color, Hair Strand Thickness, Iris Patterns, Freckles, Cleft Chin, Unibrow, Finger Length, Skin Pigmentation, Earlobe Shape, and Earwax Type. New traits may be available in the future for additional costs. 

AncestryDNA is the one DNA/genealogy testing site that does not provide a chromosome browser tool which allows you to see the chromosome segments you share in common with a match which is one of the scientific ways to confirm a match is a true match and not a match by chance. To access a chromosome browser you would need to download your kit's DNA data and upload that data to one of the three companies that do provide a chromosome browser: MyHeritageDNA, Family Tree DNA, and the third-party GedMatch.com website.

Want to save on shipping costs? Remember AncestryDNA also sells its test kits on Amazon.com and often at sale prices when it is having a sale. Unfortunately for this sale, the price for an AncestryDNA test at Amazon is regular price. But for future reference (Amazon Prime Day is July 15 and 16 this year) Non-AmazonPrime members get free shipping due to the total cost and because it is fulfilled by Amazon while AmazonPrime members just get quicker 2-day shipping for free. But be cautious and make sure the test kit you are buying is "sold by AncestryDNAOfficial and fulfilled by Amazon" to insure you are buying a genuine test kit. You will find this information just below the price. See the image below.

Look for this before adding your item to your cart.

Have a Good and Safe Independence Day Everyone!

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE