February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the past and present achievements of African Americans. Today, let’s  celebrate the memory of a woman who courageously helped to change our nation and make it a better, more equal place– Rosa Parks.

On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus. Her refusal was the spark that lit a firestorm of change. It resulted in the Montgomery bus boycott, a controversial protest which lasted a year and ended when segregation on buses was deemed unconstitutional. The civil rights movement rapidly became a subject of national attention, and Rosa became a central figure in the struggle for equality in America.

From Rosa’s autobiography, “Rosa Parks – My Story”:

People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.

Rosa Parks with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (c. 1955)

Among her personal papers a recipe was found, scribbled on the back of an envelope, for “Featherlite Pancakes.” While we can’t be 100% sure that Rosa used this recipe, it seems quite probable that she did, given that it was found within her personal items and written in her own handwriting.

Rosa’s handwritten recipe for Featherlite Pancakes

http://www.guernseys.com/Guernseys%20New/rosaparks.html

Here is the recipe as it appears on the envelope:

Featherlite Pancakes

Sift together

1 cup flour
2 tablespoons  baking powder
½ teaspoon table salt
2 tablespoons sugar

Mix

1 egg
1 1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon shortening, melted, or oil

Combine with dry ingredients

Cook at 275 degrees F on griddle

We hope  you enjoyed this departure from the DNA information normally posted here..and remember, those wonderful pancakes do have peanut butter – for anyone with nut allergies!

*from:http://theshiksa.com/2012/02/03/rosa-parks-featherlite-peanut-butter-pancakes/

The free online sessions include the keynote speakers and a sampling of technology and family history presentations. Following are the fourteen broadcasted sessions and speakers. All times are in Mountain Standard Time (MST):

Thursday, February 2

• 8:30-10:00 am, Inventing the Future, as a Community (Keynote Address) by Jay L. Verkler
• 11:00 am-12:00 pm, Do I Trust the Cloud? by D. Joshua Taylor
• 1:45-2:45 pm, Effective Database Search Tactics by Kory Meyerink
• 3:00-4:00 pm, Twitter – It’s Not Just “What I Had for Breakfast” Anymore by Thomas MacEntee
• 4:15-5:15 pm, Eleven Layers of Online Searches by Barbara Renick

Friday, February 3

• 8:30-9:30 am, Exabyte Social Clouds and Other Monstrosities (Keynote Address) by Josh Coates
• 9:45-10:45 am, Publish Your Genealogy Online by Laura G. Prescott
• 11:00 am-12:00 pm, Optimize Your Site for Search Engines by Robert Gardner
• 1:45-2:45 pm, Genealogists “Go Mobile” by Sandra Crowly
• 3:00-4:00 pm, Google’s Toolbar and Genealogy by Dave Barney

Saturday, February 4

• 8:30-9:30 am, Making the Most of Technology to Further the Family History Industry (Keynote Address) by Tim Sullivan and Ancestry.com Panel
• 9:45-10:45 am Genealogy Podcasts and Blogs 101 by Lisa Louise Cooke
• 11:00 am-12:00 pm, Future of FamilySearch Family Tree by Ron Tanner
• 1:45-2:45 pm, Privacy in a Collaborative Environment by Noah Tatuk

Yes, it’s  RootsTech time once again.  And we {hope to}  have the perfect weather for all of our out-of-towners who will be joining us this year here in Salt Lake City at the Salt Lake Convention Center.  Please stop by and say “Hello” to Anna, Angie, Ali, Jed, Diahan and Colleen..and be sure to sign-up for Dr. Scott Woodward’s presentation.

RootsTech
Booth #105 and #107
Salt Lake City, UT

Exhibit Hall hours

Thursday 10-6pm
Friday      9:30-5pm
Saturday  9:30-3pm

Dr. Woodward’s class-Thursday 1:45-2:45
Product demo- Sat 11-11:20

Scott R. Woodward, PhD

President and Chief Scientific Officer of the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation and and its subsidiary GeneTree.com. He received his PhD in genetics from Utah State University. He did postdoctoral work in molecular genetics at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Utah. He was involved with the identification of gene markers for cystic fibrosis, colon cancer, and neurofibromatiosis. From 1989 to 2005, he was a faculty member of the microbiology department at Brigham Young University where he has also been involved with the Seila, Egypt excavation team, directing the genetic and molecular analysis of Egyptian mummies, both from a commoners’ cemetery and from Egyptian Royal mummies. His research interests include the reconstruction of ancient and modern genealogies using DNA techniques with samples from all over the world, the tracing of human population movements by following gene migrations (including both Old and New World populations) and the DNA analysis of ancient manuscripts including the Dead Sea Scrolls. He has been the Scholar in Residence at the BYU Center for Near Eastern Studies in Jerusalem and a visiting professor at Hebrew University.

Results Checklist
Make the most of your DNA results by following GeneTree’s results checklist:

Read up on your results.
Brush up on your DNA knowledge by re-reading your results report and other background information provided with your results. Search the internet for more information about your haplogroup to see what else you can learn.

Upload your results to other databases.
You will want to search for matches in all possible databases, because they each have different members. Add your DNA profile to databases maintained by other companies: GeneTree, Ancestry.com, Ysearch.org, MitoSearch.org, FamilyTreeDNA. After you get your profile entered, search for matches and read through any information provided with your account.

Contact your best matches.
As you find people who are a good DNA match, contact them if you can. This allows you to compare genealogy, ask for more information about a certain ancestor, or share information you have that they might not. They may also have had more DNA testing done that could be helpful to your research.

Look up DNA projects online.
As you browse new databases, watch for projects that might be helpful. Many surnames have Y chromosome projects available, and there are also projects out there for individuals of a certain haplogroup. You can do an internet search for these as well.

Repeat your searches.
Databases and projects are constantly changing, so it’s a good idea to repeat your searches periodically. Check for new matches, keep up with matches you have already contacted, and check for updates to the genealogy information in these records.
Completing Your GeneTree ProfileIf you are a GeneTree user, you’ve probably noticed a status bar on the right hand side of your homepage and profile pages. This status bar tells you how much you have already done to complete your profile. To find out what you haven’t done, click the ‘Complete your profile’ link. As you get closer to 100% complete, you increase your chances of making good connections. The first two items on the list involve your pedigree: adding your parents and grandparents to your family tree. If you know earlier generations, add them too. The more generations you have in your online family tree, the more likely it is that your matches will see some names that look familiar. The next item on the list has you order a DNA kit. This encourages you to combine both DNA matching and records-based genealogy to learn about your family and make connections. If you have already had your DNA tested somewhere else, upload your DNA profile to GeneTree, and consider ordering a kit for a family member to explore other family lines. Adding a profile photo and your birthday and birth place is a good way to help the people you are ‘meeting’ and collaborating with online get to know you a little better. Adding your picture, birthday, and place makes you more than just a name on the computer screen, and helps you better connect to your DNA matches. Get connected to your family – invite 5 family members to GeneTree. There are a lot of things you can do together once you are all GeneTree members: connect your family trees, share DNA results, share photos, and stay up-to-date on the latest genetic genealogy happenings in your own family.
Ask the ExpertsQuestion:
So you have the DNA results, how do you record the results and where?
Answer:You’ve given your sample, waited for the results, and now you know a little more about your own DNA. But now what? The set of numbers that is your DNA profile is a record of your heritage. But, much like a key census record that gets filed in the wrong drawer and is never examined, if you don’t display your record for others to read, you may be missing out on important genealogical connections. When you are tested by GeneTree your results are automatically entered into our searchable database. You can customize your privacy settings to determine how much information your matches can see. Once your results are posted to your account you can search and contact your matches using our email brokering service. But having your results in GeneTree is only part of the puzzle. There are other free online databases where you create an online profile in order to give your results more exposure, and thereby give you a better chance of making that key connection. You should enter your results at:www.ysearch.org (Y chromosome results)www.mitosearch.org (mtDNA results)www.dna.ancestry.com Be sure to read the instructions on each website regarding converting your values from one lab to another, as ysearch will require you to change some of your GeneTree values to fit the standards in their database. Additionally you can search the web for a DNA project focused on your surname by simply googling “(Your surname) DNA.” You should also consider posting the news of your DNA research on genealogy boards and forums like:http://genforum.genealogy.comhttp://boards.rootsweb.com/ As you get the word out and begin to collaborate with other researchers you will find that your DNA test results will open doors previously closed or hidden, and allow you to explore your past in new and exciting ways. If you don’t have the time or inclination to perform these tasks yourself, GeneTree does offer a consultation service that can do all of this for you, as well as interpret your matches and produce a 25+ page report on the findings. Contact us about our Comprehensive DNA Report consultation for more details.
GeneTree HappeningsUpcoming Conferences
Jan 20-21: Arizona Family History ExpoFeb 2-4: RootsTech 2012 (Salt Lake City, UT)Feb 24-25: St. George Family History ExpoMay 9-12: NGS Conference (Cincinnati, OH) Upcoming Webinars Feb 20: “The Power of DNA in Unlocking Family Relationships” for the Georgia Genealogical SocietyMar 21: webinar for Legacy Family TreeJuly 7: California Jamboree webinar series

You may remember we offered a free Kindle Fire to one lucky Facebook follower – well, the winner is Leslie who sent us this:

Leslie was a past SMGF participant and has been a GeneTree member since 2008.

Congratulations, Leslie!

By Kerry Grens | January 1, 2012

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Lost Colony Research Group volunteers, grad students, and Outer Banks locals at an archaeological dig site on Hatteras Island. Roberta Estes

DNA Analysis Proving Helpful With Genealogy

by Bart Bedsole

http://www.kztv10.com/news/dna-analysis-proving-helpful-with-genealogy/

CORPUS CHRISTI – It is an exciting time for anyone who’s ever asked themselves “Who am I?”

There is better technology and DNA databases available than ever before to help answer that question.

Quite a few companies are now able to analyze your DNA, for a fee, and tell you what you may have never known, or never been able to find out before.

We recently tested out one of those companies, and the test subject was me.

When it comes to genealogy, I generally feel like I know more than most, thanks to the hard work of a handful of relatives who dedicated a lot of time and money into researching the origins of our family.

But tombstones and title records hardly compete with modern day technology.

Genetree.com is a relatively new company that uses DNA testing to help people reconnect with family or find information about their ancestry.

My personal journey through history began with a small cup of mouthwash provided by the company.

Following the included instructions, I put it in my mouth and swished it around for about a minute, to collect DNA cells from the inside of my cheeks.

Then I spit it back into the cup, tightened the lid, placed it inside the box, sealed it, and mailed it back to the company.

A few weeks later, I received a 51-page email filled with maps, codes, and even a list of possible relatives in the DNA database for me to potentially track down.

It was all then interpretted over the phone by a company technician.

The results were interesting, and maybe even a little unsettling, because it revealed I may not be a blood Bedsole after all.

Ugo Perego with Genetree explained, “The closest matches we found, which are very close, within I’d say 7-8 generations in the past, is with people whose last name is Hall.”

According to Perego, there may have been an adoption, or even an act of infidelity on my father’s side of the family somewhere along the line that blended the Bedsole and Hall bloodlines.

“You share 42 out of 43 of the markers we test with individuals whose last name is Hall,” Perego said.

On my mother’s side, the results indicated my ancestors came from eastern Europe, maybe Germany, something I also didn’t know.

It’s doubtful Genetree or any DNA analysis company could ever fill out your family tree, so there will always be a place for researching tombstones and title records.

But for anyone just starting out, or maybe at a dead end, a quick shot of mouthwash may be just the jumpstart you need.

You never know what’ll come out of your mouth.

So what does it cost?
The two DNA tests (maternal and paternal), plus the phone consultation, comes out to about $500.

Click here to read more about DNA testing on the company’s website.

Why relegate those old family photos to a shoebox in the back of the closet? Put them on display with this creative idea from Jenn at Rook No. 17. She made a set of free printables that you can use to recreate this wonderful family tree wreath! Rather than using the original photos, she made copies of them instead, keeping the heirloom prints safe and intact for the enjoyment of future generations. This would make an excellent gift for parents, grandparents, or family historians. Or make one featuring both sides of a newly-joined family as a wedding gift! [how to make a family tree wreath]

Project estimate:

* Canvas drop cloth, about $5 and up
* Wreath form, $1 and up
* Freezer paper, on hand or $1 and up
* Leaf template, free
* Wire, on hand or $1 and up
* Sewing notions, on hand
* Printable photo frames, free
* Cardboard, on hand
* Scanned or photocopied family photos, on hand
* Distressing ink, on hand or about $2 ad up
* Glue, on hand

Total: about $6 and up

November 15, 2011

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Most of us learn about family history by asking our living relatives, but Newschannel 3 recently tried something different.

In this special report, Newschannel 3’s Kate Tillotson and Andy Dominiani got scientific and submitted their DNA.

With the help of GeneTree.com, Andy and Kate traced their roots back hundreds of years, and neither one of them were prepared for the results.

Andy and Kate were asked to play a game of genealogy, each given their own kit to complete and then ship back to a company called Gene Tree. After just two weeks, they had results.

Kate and Andy then spoke to a world renowned geneticist and president of GeneTree.com, Dr. Scott Woodward, via satellite from Salt Lake City, not knowing at the time that there could be a centuries old reason why they’d hit it off so quickly.

“When we looked at Andy’s DNA, he belongs to a large group that we call T,” said Woodward. “We only see them in about ten percent of Europeans, and when we looked at Kate’s we were a little surprised to find that Kate also belongs to group T, so what we found out that Kate and Andy are connected.”

Turns out that Andy and Kate go back a ways, way back in fact, 1,000 years back to a common ancestor.

“The probability of taking two people at random out of the population and having that connection is a little less than one percent,” said Woodward.

According to Woodward, much of the data he collects relies heavily on the Y chromosomes, which come down from fathers, unaltered. Woodward says they’re very good at following paternal lines.

“If we know Andy’s Y chromosome, we know his father’s, your grandfather’s, your great grandfather’s Y chromosome and we can use that to connect you to other people in the world,” said Woodward.

That’s why Gene Tree also asked Kate’s father to participate in the project by submitting his DNA.

“You’ll see that we connected your father back to a common ancestor with a person from our database that goes back to 1674,” said Woodward, “and it’s most certainly a tight connection and we’ve added about seven new generations on to your family tree on your father’s line using DNA with traditional genealogy.”

“Way back to 1674,” said Kate. “That’s unbelievable, I can’t wait to let him know that.”

In addition to paternal lines, Gene Tree also traced the mitochondrial, or maternal connections.

“We also found an interested thing about Andy on that T line,” said Woodward. “He’s also connected to a person from the United States’ history named Jesse James.”

“Am I a direct descendant of Jesse James?” asked Andy.

“Not a direct descendant because it’s the mitochondrial line that we’re looking at,” said Woodward, “but you share a common ancestor sometime in the past.”

That taste of family history left Kate and Andy hungry to learn more. You can find more information about tracing genealogy with DNA at GeneTree.com.

We are at the Atlanta Family History Expo today and tomorrow. Come and say “Hi”  at our booth (Exhibitors’ area is free and open to the public). The event is at:
Gwinnett Center
6400 Sugarloaf Parkway
Duluth, Georgia
We hope to see you there!