75 Years Ago, Ida May Fuller Got the 1st Social Security Check – Number 00-000-001

On January 31, 1940 (Seventy-five years ago) the U.S. government cut a check for then 65-year-old Ida May Fuller. That check was number was 00-000-001 — the first Social Security check to be sent out. Ida Mae lived in Ludlow, Continue reading 75 Years Ago, Ida May Fuller Got the 1st Social Security Check – Number 00-000-001

FamilySearch Adds Nearly 11.1 Million Indexed Records & Images to Collections from Brazil, Canada, England, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, & the USA

The following was received from FamilySearch: FamilySearch has added close to 11.1 million indexed records and images to collections from Barbados, BillionGraves, Brazil, Canada, England, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. Notable collection Continue reading FamilySearch Adds Nearly 11.1 Million Indexed Records & Images to Collections from Brazil, Canada, England, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, & the USA

Access to Social Security Death Index Information Has Been Limited by Congress

According to a must-read blog at The Legal Genealogist website, the much-heralded budget bill that was signed into law on December 26th included the partial-closure of the Social Security Death Index along with the exemption of SSDI information from the Continue reading Access to Social Security Death Index Information Has Been Limited by Congress

FamilySearch Adds Over 352,000 Indexed Records & Images to Collections from Guatemala, Italy, New Zealand & the USA

The following is from FamilySearch Sept 11, 2013: FamilySearch has recently added more than 352,000 indexed records and images from Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and the United States. Notable collection updates include the 206,787 indexed records from the United States Continue reading FamilySearch Adds Over 352,000 Indexed Records & Images to Collections from Guatemala, Italy, New Zealand & the USA

FamilySearch Adds More Than 4.4 Million Index Records & Images from Brazil, Czech Republic & the USA

The following was received from FamilySearch: FamilySearch has recently added more than 4.4 million index records and images from Brazil, Czech Republic, and the United States. Notable collection updates include the 3,651,739 images from the new Brazil, Pernambuco, Civil Registration, Continue reading FamilySearch Adds More Than 4.4 Million Index Records & Images from Brazil, Czech Republic & the USA

Comparing Genealogy Software & Databases

Comparing genealogy software packages can be interesting and useful, especially if you’re just getting into genealogy. I’d like to have a dollar for every time someone has asked me which genealogy software program is the best. I now answer by Continue reading Comparing Genealogy Software & Databases

FamilySearch Adds Collection Updates to Australia, BillionGraves, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Spain, & the U.S.A.

The following News Release is from FamilySearch.org dated January 15, 2013: FamilySearch added an additional 7 million new, free indexed records and images this week to its collection. Notable additions include the 1,747,863 indexed records and images in the Slovakia Continue reading FamilySearch Adds Collection Updates to Australia, BillionGraves, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Spain, & the U.S.A.

FamilySearch Adds New Collections from Canada, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Peru, & the United States

FamilySearch added an additional 6.4 million new, free indexed records and images this week to its collection. Notable additions include the 1,034,803 records for the Netherlands, Zeeland Province, Church Records from 1527-1907, the 1,436,121 added from Italy Civil Registrations from Continue reading FamilySearch Adds New Collections from Canada, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Peru, & the United States

New & Updated USA & Canada Vital Records Databases at FamilySearch.org

The following U.S.A. and Canada vital-records oriented databases have been recently added or updated at FamilySearch.org. We’ve also updated all of the GenealogyBlog Online Database Links Files. See: United States Birth & Christening Records Found at FamilySearch.org United States Marriage Continue reading New & Updated USA & Canada Vital Records Databases at FamilySearch.org

Research Perseverance Leads to WWII Hero Getting a Proper Military Memorial Service

In 2008, WWII highly decorated First Lt. George Balthazor died alone, an “unclaimed indigent” in San Diego, CA. Through the research efforts of a nephew and records found on the Social Security Death Index, Balthazor’s story is told and a Continue reading Research Perseverance Leads to WWII Hero Getting a Proper Military Memorial Service

The Future of the Social Security Death Index?

Here is an important article about the future of the Social Security Death Index, and a petition genealogists can sign to show their concern over privacy laws while balancing access to critical research tools. The following article comes from Tampa Continue reading The Future of the Social Security Death Index?

RPAC Announces STOP ID THEFT NOW! Campaign With White House Petition

The following news release was received from Thomas MacEntee: Genealogy Community Responds To Efforts To Remove Access to Social Security Death Index and Other Records February 7, 2012– Austin, TX: The Records Preservation & Access Committee (RPAC) – a joint Continue reading RPAC Announces STOP ID THEFT NOW! Campaign With White House Petition

Access to Information Found on Social Security Applications (the SS-5) is Limited

The following is old news to genealogists who follow the news. However, when all this was taking place, I was busy with other things and didn’t get the opportunity to blog about it. Naturally, I disagree with the ruling. It Continue reading Access to Information Found on Social Security Applications (the SS-5) is Limited

Petition Making the Rounds to Remove Social Security Numbers of Deceased Folks From Genealogy Websites

And now we have another assault on the limited access genealogists have to anything Social Security… Thus far, not exactly a bi-partisan effort, but just wait… Where do these senators think those records with dead folk’s social security numbers in Continue reading Petition Making the Rounds to Remove Social Security Numbers of Deceased Folks From Genealogy Websites