Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
I just got my Family Tree Magazine when I got home - there is an article in there that was quite interesting. It's about The Norway Project where they are working to reconstruct family groups through community records - these family groups will be searchable online in the future.
The article says:
Grouped families aren't the only exciting aspect of this effort known as the 'Norway Project' according to Roger Magneson, a Family Reconstitution project manager.
"After we extract the genealogical information from the bygdebøker (pronounced beeg-duh-booh-ker), we'll merge into it data from the 1865 census, 1900 census and parish registers," he explains. "This will provide a rich database." FamilySearch, DIS-Norge, and the University of Tromsø have been indexing Norway's 1875 census (the current version at is incomplete); these data may be merged, too.
In a technological breakthrough, merged data will automatically link to individuals in the bygdebøker database. "Back in the 1980s, the intent was to use computers to merge single-event records into records describing an individual with multiple life events," Magneson explains. "But it required a genealogist to confirm that records matched."
It goes on to say that they will be posting the first searchable bygdebøker (translated that means 'community books' or local histories which document Norwegian farms back to the 1600s or before - entire households are sometimes listed with dates for births, marriages and deaths) by the end of June this year! Now for some even more interesting information for those of you with the patience and ability to endure getting through this post ... it states that:
"Preliminary data from the Norway Project show another interesting result. "In one clerical district, there were 957 family trees, but one tree accounted for 80 percent of the population. That means there was essentially one family in that district," Magneson says. If these data remain consistant across the country, "Norway is probably less than 400 unique families."
The Norway Project will line up those trees like a national genealogical forest, with overlapping branches but distinct trunks. But Magneson says this is just the start. Family Reconstitution already has data sets lined up from Scotland, Iceland, Britain, Mexico, the Polynesian islands, and Aztec and Eskimo sources. "The Norway Project is the pilot to do this for every country in the world."
So is that cool or what????
From Renee's post on MyFamily.com.
The article says:
Grouped families aren't the only exciting aspect of this effort known as the 'Norway Project' according to Roger Magneson, a Family Reconstitution project manager.
"After we extract the genealogical information from the bygdebøker (pronounced beeg-duh-booh-ker), we'll merge into it data from the 1865 census, 1900 census and parish registers," he explains. "This will provide a rich database." FamilySearch, DIS-Norge, and the University of Tromsø have been indexing Norway's 1875 census (the current version at
In a technological breakthrough, merged data will automatically link to individuals in the bygdebøker database. "Back in the 1980s, the intent was to use computers to merge single-event records into records describing an individual with multiple life events," Magneson explains. "But it required a genealogist to confirm that records matched."
It goes on to say that they will be posting the first searchable bygdebøker (translated that means 'community books' or local histories which document Norwegian farms back to the 1600s or before - entire households are sometimes listed with dates for births, marriages and deaths) by the end of June this year! Now for some even more interesting information for those of you with the patience and ability to endure getting through this post ... it states that:
"Preliminary data from the Norway Project show another interesting result. "In one clerical district, there were 957 family trees, but one tree accounted for 80 percent of the population. That means there was essentially one family in that district," Magneson says. If these data remain consistant across the country, "Norway is probably less than 400 unique families."
The Norway Project will line up those trees like a national genealogical forest, with overlapping branches but distinct trunks. But Magneson says this is just the start. Family Reconstitution already has data sets lined up from Scotland, Iceland, Britain, Mexico, the Polynesian islands, and Aztec and Eskimo sources. "The Norway Project is the pilot to do this for every country in the world."
So is that cool or what????
From Renee's post on MyFamily.com.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
George Corner Pence Death Notice in Grundy Register
George Corner Pence Death Notice published in The Grundy Register, Thursday, June 05, 1930.
These newspaper clips were found and imaged by Renee Pence--Thanks!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
I am going through some old letters and found this one from Mom. They were getting ready to return home after serving in the Chicago Temple. Thought you would all enjoy her testimony and words...
"We leave with mixed emotions and grateful hearts to have had the opportunity in learning and progressing through our journey in life. Being worthy to stand at various posts in His Holy House.
"Indeed it is humbling to lay my hands upons sister's heads saying - having authority - and pronouncing the most beautiful blessing of all given in the Initiatory Ceremony.
"Or presenting a sister at the veil as she shed's tears for a loved one or family member.
"Sitting in those two special chairs in the endowment room as your companion officiated and together administer those sacred covenants and tokens.
"Or standing at the celestial doors looking upward to the most beautiful chandelier, with its thousands of glass prisms glittering and shining in all its glory.
"Or kneeling at the alter in the robes of the Holy Priesthood as families are sealed for time and all eternity.
"Or witnessing a father hold his crippled daughter tenderly in the baptismal font as she is baptized over and over again for sisters who have been dead hundreds of years.
"Hearing the beautiful scriptures and prayers given each day in our prayer meeting. Just being one of those dressed in white called and set apart to assist in this glorious work is the ultimate and most gratifying of our life's experiences.
"Dad and I thank all our children from the bottom of our hearts for helping to make this possible. For your love and support. For the daily prayers of all our dear grandchildren and our sons and daughters.
"We will be eternally grateful!"
--Letter from Grandma Pence posted by Christie
"We leave with mixed emotions and grateful hearts to have had the opportunity in learning and progressing through our journey in life. Being worthy to stand at various posts in His Holy House.
"Indeed it is humbling to lay my hands upons sister's heads saying - having authority - and pronouncing the most beautiful blessing of all given in the Initiatory Ceremony.
"Or presenting a sister at the veil as she shed's tears for a loved one or family member.
"Sitting in those two special chairs in the endowment room as your companion officiated and together administer those sacred covenants and tokens.
"Or standing at the celestial doors looking upward to the most beautiful chandelier, with its thousands of glass prisms glittering and shining in all its glory.
"Or kneeling at the alter in the robes of the Holy Priesthood as families are sealed for time and all eternity.
"Or witnessing a father hold his crippled daughter tenderly in the baptismal font as she is baptized over and over again for sisters who have been dead hundreds of years.
"Hearing the beautiful scriptures and prayers given each day in our prayer meeting. Just being one of those dressed in white called and set apart to assist in this glorious work is the ultimate and most gratifying of our life's experiences.
"Dad and I thank all our children from the bottom of our hearts for helping to make this possible. For your love and support. For the daily prayers of all our dear grandchildren and our sons and daughters.
"We will be eternally grateful!"
--Letter from Grandma Pence posted by Christie
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
I thought you might find it interesting.
Click on the link below to view:
Click on the link below to view: