About Leland Meitzler

Leland K. Meitzler founded Heritage Quest in 1985, and has worked as Managing Editor of both Heritage Quest Magazine and The Genealogical Helper. He currently operates Family Roots Publishing Company (www.FamilyRootsPublishing.com), writes daily at GenealogyBlog.com, writes the weekly Genealogy Newsline, conducts the annual Salt Lake Christmas Tour to the Family History Library, and speaks nationally, having given over 2000 lectures since 1983.

FindMyPast Sets up Program to Find Our Ancestors and Notify Us as Soon as They are Indexed

FindMyPast.com is offering to find and notify us that they have located specific ancestors for us as soon as they have that ancestor’s state indexed. This sound like a good service for busy people (most of us!). Keep in mind Continue reading FindMyPast Sets up Program to Find Our Ancestors and Notify Us as Soon as They are Indexed

1940 US Census: MyHeritage Publishes 2 Million Images & Unveils the First Indexed Records for Free Searches

I just got off the phone with Gilad Japhet, the CEO of MyHeritage.com. He was calling from near Tel Aviv, Israel. He was calling about the fact that they now have 60% of the 1940 U.S. Census images posted on Continue reading 1940 US Census: MyHeritage Publishes 2 Million Images & Unveils the First Indexed Records for Free Searches

1940 Census: Chuck Norris tops “Class of 1940” – voted America’s favorite “fantasy relative”

The following news release was received from findmypast.com: Chuck Norris tops “Class of 1940” – voted America’s favorite “fantasy relative” Al Pacino second, Martin Sheen third in IBOPE Zogby poll for findmypast.com – marking the 1940 Census release April 2 Continue reading 1940 Census: Chuck Norris tops “Class of 1940” – voted America’s favorite “fantasy relative”

1940 U.S. Census Community Project Announces Call For Volunteers to Create Free, Searchble Database of 1940 U.S. Census Records

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 2, 2012) – The 1940 U.S. Census Community Project—a joint initiative between the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Archives.com, FamilySearch.org, findmypast.com, and other leading genealogy organizations—announced today a national service project to create a free, high Continue reading 1940 U.S. Census Community Project Announces Call For Volunteers to Create Free, Searchble Database of 1940 U.S. Census Records

University of Minnesota Researchers Collaborate with Ancestry.com to Create the Most Comprehensive Database of the 1940 Census

The following news release was received from Matthew Deighton at Ancestry.com: MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (4/2/12) – A collaboration between the University of Minnesota and Ancestry.com will create the largest database of detailed information about people and their households ever Continue reading University of Minnesota Researchers Collaborate with Ancestry.com to Create the Most Comprehensive Database of the 1940 Census

German Map Guide – Brandenburg I – RB Potsdam – Now Shipping

Volume 41 of the German Map Guide series in now in print! This volume includes a total of 3,921 places – mostly towns, found in the Kingdom of Prussia, Province of Brandenburg, Regierungsbezirk Potsdam. This book also includes a master Continue reading German Map Guide – Brandenburg I – RB Potsdam – Now Shipping

Westminster Parish Records Published Online by FindMyPast.co.uk

The following press release was received from Debra Chatfield at findmypast.co.uk: . Over a million baptism, marriage and burial records dating back to 1538 now available . First time that images of the original parish records from Westminster go online Continue reading Westminster Parish Records Published Online by FindMyPast.co.uk

Vermont Historical Records Advisory Board Receives Grant of $15,000

The following excerpt is from a press release posted in the March 22, 2012 edition of vtdigger.org. MONTPELIER – Secretary of State Jim Condos announced today that the Vermont Historical Records Advisory Board (VHRAB) has been awarded a grant of Continue reading Vermont Historical Records Advisory Board Receives Grant of $15,000

ISFHWE Now Accepting Entries for Their Annual Exellence-In-Writing Competition

The International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE) annual Excellence-in-Writing competition is now accepting entries for the 2012 competition. Members and non-members of ISFHWE are eligible; published items (categories I and II) must have been published in 2011; Continue reading ISFHWE Now Accepting Entries for Their Annual Exellence-In-Writing Competition

Finding Your Roots, With Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Premiers on PBS March 25, 2012

The 2012 season of Finding Your Roots, With Henry Louis Gates, Jr. premiers on PBS March 25. The 10-episode series will explore the genealogy of a number of celebrity Americans, including Kevin Bacon, Robert Downey Jr., Branford Marsalis, John Legend, Continue reading Finding Your Roots, With Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Premiers on PBS March 25, 2012