DNA Webinar - register for free (June 19, 2026)

 

GEDmatch Official Website is a genealogy and DNA analysis platform that allows people to upload raw DNA data from various testing companies and compare it with other users’ data. Founded in 2010, GEDmatch provides tools for identifying genetic relatives, exploring ancestry, and conducting family history research beyond the limitations of individual DNA testing services. The platform is widely used by genealogists, adoptees, and family historians. 

GEDmatch offers a large collection of genetic genealogy tools, with core features available for free and additional advanced tools through its Tier 1 subscription. According to GEDmatch's official documentation, the main features include:

Free Features

• One-to-Many DNA Comparison
  • Compares your DNA kit against the entire GEDmatch database.
  • Identifies genetic relatives across multiple testing companies.
  • Provides contact information for matches when available.
• One-to-One Autosomal DNA Comparison
  • Compares two DNA kits directly.
  • Shows shared DNA segments and the amount of DNA shared.
  • Helps verify relationships and evaluate match quality.
• Admixture (Heritage) Analysis
  • Estimates ancestral and ethnic origins.
  • Displays the proportion of DNA associated with different geographic populations.
• Cross-Platform DNA Matching
  • Accepts DNA data from major testing companies, including AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, and others.
  • Allows matching across databases rather than being limited to a single testing company.

ALL USERS can sign up for free for webinar on June 19, 2026 at 12 noon CT on this topic: 

"The Next Generation of GEDMatch - Live Preview" 

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5563744796617411927?utm_source=GMnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=may_2026

Library of Congress Webinar

 Discover the Library of Congress's genealogy resources and learn how to uncover the stories, records, and connections that bring your family history to life. 

The purpose of this event is to introduce members of the public to the resources at the Library of Congress that can be used for genealogical research. The Serial & Government Publications Division and Local History and Genealogy Section are collaborating to enhance access to genealogical resources like Chronicling America and the reference resources provided by the Local History and Genealogy Section for both offsite and onsite research. 

Webinar on June 10th at 5:30 central time.

Registration Link https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_VBKj9TNzQKOltUt6OA3CYw#/registration 

GRIP Virtual Evening Sessions

 GRIP Virtual Evening Sessions are Free and Open to everyone, pre-register at https://grip.ngsgenealogy.org/youre-invited-grip-virtual.../

MyHeritage - Free Access to U.S. Military Access Records from May 22-26, 2026

 Happy Searching!

https://blog.myheritage.com/2026/05/enjoy-free-access-to-u-s-military-records-on-myheritage-for-memorial-day/

From May 22–26, 2026, MyHeritage is opening free access to 35 U.S. military record collections containing more than 213 million historical records.

Even if you only have a few minutes, pick one ancestor and see what else you can learn about his or her military service.

Honoring Those Who Served on Memorial Day

 

How well do you know your hometown and the nearby towns and counties? I grew up 10 miles from Waterloo, New York in Seneca County. Learn about Waterloo and its claim to fame about Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day. Where ever and whenever this tradition started, I'm glad we pause to remember our ancestors and others who served.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterloo_(village),_New_York

https://time.com/5291026/memorial-day-started-birthplace-history/

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has an excellent webpage with Memorial Day history. 

https://www.cem.va.gov/history/Memorial-Day-history.asp#MemorialDay

Explore the VA site to also learn more about veterans' burial and memorial benefits, info about headstones/ markers/ medallions in various types of cemeteries, and how to request service records.

Glad to see some flags already displayed for this long Memorial Day weekend.  Check this link for other 2026 flag-flying days:

https://www.flags.com/Flag-Flying-Days-Holidays-Flag-Flying-Calendar-Half-Staff-Alerts?srsltid=AfmBOooPspBhxwfpcO-N0vG6CiCKa7V9e-o4h52Nl0Io5vNr-QhzNMtU

Newspapers.com Announces New Clipper

 The clipping tool on Newspapers.com has been updated to allow the selection of multiple areas on a single page and save them as a single clip. This will be helpful when an article covers multiple columns.

Drag a box around the first part of the article, hit the blue + icon to add another block. You can add up to 5 separate blocks on the same page. 

 Here is a link to the blog article. 

MyHeritage Updates

 Family Infographics

Transform a Life Story into an Infographic using your photos and family tree data. Here is the Infographic created about Clara Magdalen Ziebold from my tree. It used the photographs I uploaded for Clara, her husband, and her parents. I used Google Notebook LM to create infographics but they didn't use the photographs of the people. I like this one better. 

Tribute Reel

Turn your photos into a Video. Here is a blog post introducing this feature. I uploaded six pictures. They were colorized and animated in a 40-second video. 

Scribe AI

Upload a historical record, letter, document, or photo, and AI will analyze it - Key Findings, Extracted Details, Historical Context, Research Tips. 

I uploaded an Annual Report from The Waterloo Milling Company 

Scribe AI provided an accurate transcription of the document, including both the printed and handwritten sections. There was also a summary and the following: 

Historical Context 

This document is a 1902 Annual Report for a corporation, specifically the Waterloo Milling Co., filed with the Secretary of State of Illinois.

• Purpose: It serves as a legal declaration of the company's active status, its primary business activities, its location, and its current officers. Such documents were required by state law to maintain corporate standing and provide public transparency regarding business leadership.
• Historical Context: Documents like this provide valuable insight into local economies and prominent businessmen of the era. The Waterloo Milling Co. would have been a significant agricultural and industrial entity in Monroe County.
• Terminology: The use of the word "do" in the table is an abbreviation for "ditto," meaning the entry is the same as the one immediately above it.

Key Findings

• The document is a 1902 Annual Report for the Waterloo Milling Co., located in Waterloo, Monroe County, Illinois.
• The company was actively engaged in the manufacture of flour, feed grain, and commissions.
• Jos. W. Rickert served as President, and Geo. Ziebold served as both Secretary and Treasurer, with their terms expiring in 1903.
• The document was officially signed, sealed, and notarized on February 8, 1902, by Geo. Ziebold and Police Magistrate A. C. Douglass.

Suggested Next Steps

• You should search MyHeritage for the 1900 and 1910 US Federal Census records for Jos. W. Rickert and Geo. Ziebold in Waterloo, Monroe County, Illinois, to discover their family members, ages, and birthplaces.
• You can look for local Monroe County historical societies or business directories from the early 1900s to learn more about the Waterloo Milling Co. and its economic impact on the area.
• Check MyHeritage for city directories or county histories that might feature biographical sketches of prominent local businessmen like Rickert and Ziebold.
• Investigate the Illinois State Archives online databases for further incorporation documents or subsequent annual reports for the Waterloo Milling Co. to track the company's history and leadership changes.