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.

The National Genealogical Society Announces New Staff Appointments

The following news release was written by NGS staff: The National Genealogical Society (NGS) announces two staff appointments: Erin Wood as Conference Manager and Gayathri Kher as IT System Manager. In her new position as Conference Manager, Erin Wood will Continue reading The National Genealogical Society Announces New Staff Appointments

New Databases at the Original Record

The following Databases have been added at The Original Record: 1569 – Newbury Muster Roll In the year 1569, when the insurrections in the North caused so much alarm, and levies were raised throughout the country for the service of Continue reading New Databases at the Original Record

Willard Cemetery Memorial Project Faces Daunting Challenges Due to Privacy Laws

I understand the need for privacy – especially as deals with medical information. But it seems to me that some common sense should have been written into our privacy laws in this country. But I suppose that’s asking too much… Continue reading Willard Cemetery Memorial Project Faces Daunting Challenges Due to Privacy Laws

Archives.com Adds 17M New USA Vital and Military Records

The following news release is from : We’re excited to announce that today there are 17 million new U.S. vital and military records available on Archives.com! The addition of these records will help family historians trace more ancestors through than Continue reading Archives.com Adds 17M New USA Vital and Military Records

FamilySearch Updates 55 Collections & Adds 25M New Records

The following news release was received from Paul Nauta, with FamilySearch: Additions include Scandinavia, Eastern and Western Europe, Mexico, and Peru The recent collection updates at FamilySearch.org reflect FamilySearch’s commitment to digitally convert and publish its microfilm collection online. The Continue reading FamilySearch Updates 55 Collections & Adds 25M New Records

Free Seminar on the Bringing the FamilySearch Community Together – Riverton, Utah

The following news release was received from Suzanne Curley: The Riverton FamilySearch Library Hosts an Event on July 16 RIVERTON, UTAH – Genealogists and family history enthusiasts looking for new ways to work together in searching for ancestors will want Continue reading Free Seminar on the Bringing the FamilySearch Community Together – Riverton, Utah

MyHeritage.com Unveils World’s First Group Subscription Payments for Families

The following news release was written by MyHeritage.com staff. Note that a subscription at MyHeritage.com costs in the range of $45 – $120 per year, depending on the chosen subscription plan (Premium or PremiumPlus) and duration in years. For more Continue reading MyHeritage.com Unveils World’s First Group Subscription Payments for Families

Real-Life Harry Potter Found in the Census

The following news release was received from Amy Sell and was written by FindMyPast.co.uk staff. Findmypast.co.uk discovers ‘real-life’ wizard in the 1911 census John Watkins Holden – conjuror of the 19th and 20th centuries On the day of the world Continue reading Real-Life Harry Potter Found in the Census

New & Updated USA and Canadian Vital Records Databases at FamilySearch.org

The following USA and Canadian vital records databases have been added at FamilySearch since I last blogged about the FamilySearch vital records six weeks ago or so. Note that most of the databases posted are digital images with waymarks to Continue reading New & Updated USA and Canadian Vital Records Databases at FamilySearch.org

Using the US Veteran’s Administration Pension Payment Cards 1907-1933 Found at FamilySearch.org

I took a few minutes today to look up the Veteran’s Administration Pension Payment Cards for my great-grandmother, Abigail Titus Canfield Hinchey Goff, found at FamilySearch.org. Abigail was awarded a pension twice, once when my great-grandfather, Henry Canfield, died in Continue reading Using the US Veteran’s Administration Pension Payment Cards 1907-1933 Found at FamilySearch.org

30 Free Search Credits Available for ScotlandsPeaple Available with Free Newsletter Signup

AncestralScotland, the Scottish Government and ScotlandsPeople, Scotland’s official online source of genealogical information, are offering 30 FREE search credits at ScotlandsPeople, worth approximately £7GBP (over $11), to folks who sign up for the Ancestral Scotland Newsletter. It’s a tourism promotion, Continue reading 30 Free Search Credits Available for ScotlandsPeaple Available with Free Newsletter Signup

Family Bible Records for Graham, Richmond, Madison & Polk Counties, NC Requested by the State Archives

The following excerpt is from an AP article posted in the July 6, 2011 edition of the Asheville Citizen-Times. RALEIGH — Officials from the State Archives and State Library are looking for families in four North Carolina counties to help Continue reading Family Bible Records for Graham, Richmond, Madison & Polk Counties, NC Requested by the State Archives