tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167809482024-02-08T00:09:00.882-06:00Infinite AncestorsE pluribus unumInfinite Ancestorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15070860428917329109noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16780948.post-89090179827811977952009-03-17T15:01:00.018-05:002018-04-06T08:48:18.094-05:00Respect for the Living<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgId_ZdAElbB7aOodIqFBcWvs3oR6HqqVp4VopgaJvRJcJ_7Kmy5WH6zfzqvCV3awnw8cNK63eFhleRYK9ggpuszpK0GcY6qlLSj3S9JX5VmVQA7wyQrqE2SMF_svrdfs-7Ra_6/s1600-h/Picture+1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314266447013197410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgId_ZdAElbB7aOodIqFBcWvs3oR6HqqVp4VopgaJvRJcJ_7Kmy5WH6zfzqvCV3awnw8cNK63eFhleRYK9ggpuszpK0GcY6qlLSj3S9JX5VmVQA7wyQrqE2SMF_svrdfs-7Ra_6/s400/Picture+1.png" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 46px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 147px;" /></a>Why do we do genealogy? For most people, the answer is probably a mix of interest in family history and enjoying the research. There's also a social element, connecting with other interested relatives and collaborating with others on the research process.<br /><br />Most genealogists focus on their direct lines, but researching the siblings and their children and grandchildren yields new clues and adds greatly to the family narrative. It's natural sometimes to get caught up in broader interests like surnames or locations too.<br /><br />Most genealogists also have a healthy respect for the living, and reflect that respect in how they research, what information they choose to collect, and what information they choose to share with others or publish. However, some intentionally post information on living people without the permission of their subjects, violating expectations of privacy and the social norms of this endeavor.<br /><br />Suppose a family submitted a birth announcement to a local newspaper before the advent of the Internet. Strictly speaking, that information is publicly known. But posting that information on the web today for the entire world to search and read violates the contextual assumptions that were in place when that family happily told their town of the birth. That's just one simple case.<br /><br />But privacy isn't a simple <a alt="Understanding Privacy" href="http://docs.law.gwu.edu/facweb/dsolove" title="Understanding Privacy">concept</a>, it's far from all or nothing, and it's not the same as <a alt="The Eternal Value of Privacy" href="http://www.schneier.com/essay-114.html" title="The Eternal Value of Privacy">secrecy</a>. It's an essential human right guaranteed throughout the <a href="http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/rightofprivacy.html">US Constitution</a> and through other laws and agencies [e.g., <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/04_7_1.html">1</a>, <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/exemption6.htm">2</a>, <a href="http://www.dhhs.gov/ocr/privacy/index.html">3</a>, <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/coppa/intro.htm">4</a>, <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/">5</a>, <a href="http://www.fcc.gov/omd/privacyact/">6</a>], as well as through numerous <a href="http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd[347]=x-347-559062">international laws and treaties throughout history</a>.<br /><br />The National Genealogical Society (NGS) features privacy quite extensively in their <a alt="Privacy Standards" href="http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/standards_for_sharing_information" title="Privacy Standards">Standards for Sharing Information With Others</a>:<br /><br />
<blockquote>
<br />
1. respect the restrictions on sharing information that arise from the rights of another as an author, originator or compiler; as a living private person; or as a party to a mutual agreement.<br />
<br />
6. require some evidence of consent before assuming that living people are agreeable to further sharing of information about themselves. <br />
<br />
7. convey personal identifying information about living people—like age, home address, occupation or activities—only in ways that those concerned have expressly agreed to.<br />
<br />
8. recognize that legal rights of privacy may limit the extent to which information from publicly available sources may be further used, disseminated or published.</blockquote>
<br /><br />and in their <a href="http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/guidelines_for_publishing_web_pages">Guidelines for Publishing Web Pages on the Internet</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>
<br />
6. adhere to the NGS "Standards for Sharing Information with Others" regarding copyright, attribution, privacy, and the sharing of sensitive information.<br />
<br />
11. respect the rights of others who do not wish information about themselves to be published, referenced or linked on a website.</blockquote>
<br /><br />Even the Board for Certification of Genealogists' <a href="http://www.bcgcertification.org/aboutbcg/code.html">Code of Ethics and Conduct</a> prominently features client privacy in its professional pledge.<br /><br />So please, even if you think some information is "public", respect the wishes and privacy of living people and get their explicit consent if you feel the need to collect or share their information.<br /><br />Remember... genealogy is a hobby, the rest is real life.<br /><br /><img src="https://infiniteancestors.com/ia-logo.png?blog=respect" /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://ia.infiniteancestors.com/">Infinite Ancestors Blog</a></div>Infinite Ancestorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15070860428917329109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16780948.post-19781943453651384092008-12-22T13:38:00.011-06:002018-04-06T08:48:59.656-05:00Digital Data PreservationReadWriteWeb <a href="http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/who_will_preserve_your_digital.php">reports</a> on some of the challenges of ever-expanding digital data. One of the problems is simply the magnitude of digital data generation:<br /><blockquote>According to a 2008 IDC white paper, 2007 marked the "crossover" year, when there was more digital data created than data storage to host it. The IDC report also projected that by 2011 the amount of digital data created will be more than twice the amount of available storage.</blockquote><br />We accumulate more and more digital documents, photos, music, and video. Higher-resolution cameras and video equipment increase demand for more and more hard drive space. Over time, the risk of data loss and format obsolescence increases.<br /><blockquote><br />Here are three things you can do right now:<br /><br />Make a plan: Determine who is going to be in charge of your digital data once you are no longer capable of looking after it.<br /><br />Make multiple copies: When it comes to valuable data, store it in different formats at different locations<br /><br />Migrate to new technologies: Don't wait for storage media to become obsolete, migrate to new technologies and formats as they become available.<br /></blockquote><br />I'd go further, encouraging the use of folder organization and some paper and digital READ.ME-type files to delineate the purposes and intended longevity of your files. Make it obvious which files are the masters and which are just backup copies.<br /><br />Think about which files should survive you and make it easy for your heirs to handle your data.<br /><br /><img src="https://infiniteancestors.com/ia-logo.png?blog=digital-data-presrv" /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://ia.infiniteancestors.com/">Infinite Ancestors Blog</a></div>Infinite Ancestorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15070860428917329109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16780948.post-32676828016776542822008-01-24T18:36:00.002-06:002018-04-06T08:49:35.142-05:00We're all relatedNow that <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/">The Atlantic</a> Monthly has made their archives <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200801u/editors-note">freely available</a>, I'd like to pass along a link to one of my favorite genealogy-related articles from the magazine, <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200205/olson">The Royal We</a>, which develops the assertion that:<br />
<blockquote>
The mathematical study of genealogy indicates that everyone in the world is descended from Nefertiti and Confucius, and everyone of European ancestry is descended from Muhammad and Charlemagne</blockquote>
<i>Update:</i> A new article on this topic is at:<br />
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/commentisfree/2015/may/24/business-genetic-ancestry-charlemagne-adam-rutherford" target="_blank">So you’re related to Charlemagne? You and every other living European…</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://infiniteancestors.com/ia-logo.png?blog=were-all-related" /><br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://ia.infiniteancestors.com/">Infinite Ancestors Blog</a></div>Infinite Ancestorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15070860428917329109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16780948.post-30363385337689685102007-10-16T15:28:00.004-05:002018-04-06T08:50:16.653-05:00Start your child's genealogy today!Make it easier for your descendants by starting to collect the available records on yourself!<br /><br />Everyone knows how to get birth, marriage, and death certificates, but at <a href="http://www.getmyfbifile.com/">Get My FBI File</a>, you can generate Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request letters to obtain copies of files on you that may exist at the National Security Agency (NSA), Defense Security Service (DSS), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Secret Service (USSS), or the Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID).<br /><br />By the way, you can request a deceased person's FBI file at <a href="http://www.getgrandpasfbifile.com/">Get Grandpa's FBI file</a>.<br /><br />While you're at it, you can get the potentially extensive dossier that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has collected through its Automated Targeting System (ATS) program. Start that process at <a href="http://unsecureflight.com/">[update: original site is gone]</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">Update: </span></span><br /><br />You can get uupdated forms to request your Passenger Name Recortds (PNR) and other records of your international travel that are being kept by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) here:<br /><br /><a href="http://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/001607.html">http://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/001607.html</a><br /><br />[via <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2007/10/16/get-your-fbi-file-an.html">BB</a>]<br /><br /><img src="https://infiniteancestors.com/ia-logo.png?blog=start-your-childs" /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://ia.infiniteancestors.com/">Infinite Ancestors Blog</a></div>Infinite Ancestorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15070860428917329109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16780948.post-3025010223556525282007-03-20T17:20:00.001-05:002018-04-06T08:52:40.218-05:00Mystery Photo of the Week - Outdoor Group<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DbX7AJUilnqxL3um92XNNt9_LFxE-7n2YZgg1gwUheOUSLOMPIUp_sjbvs51CCcPDXclM08kjqs1lljXuxEQYVAt1ou-mWMWvGwZ0Xjho3NAZg77D21qkVJi1m4ZUmT0cOk_/s1600-h/UnkGroupPC_obv_RH.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DbX7AJUilnqxL3um92XNNt9_LFxE-7n2YZgg1gwUheOUSLOMPIUp_sjbvs51CCcPDXclM08kjqs1lljXuxEQYVAt1ou-mWMWvGwZ0Xjho3NAZg77D21qkVJi1m4ZUmT0cOk_/s200/UnkGroupPC_obv_RH.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044135464402173618" /></a>The fashions may be the best clue for the date on this one. Best guess on this one is that it was taken around 1910 or so. It appears to be in the era of contact prints on postcards (1900s-1930s). Possibly a Kodak 3A camera (marketed 1914-1934). Please post a comment if you can help with the people, place, or date.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdo1D-shoM5TwkwadX-5cyB7E6HUrGrg7VEeD7pHYhtDA0EEywvDvjS6oOokFAASNh0XhuNvMMNyw-Gehc92Cf9op-2i1AiEpN65S8fG7lSClOGC-E7Em8XCSa4EZiRk6tBeIf/s1600-h/UnkGroupPC_rev_RH.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdo1D-shoM5TwkwadX-5cyB7E6HUrGrg7VEeD7pHYhtDA0EEywvDvjS6oOokFAASNh0XhuNvMMNyw-Gehc92Cf9op-2i1AiEpN65S8fG7lSClOGC-E7Em8XCSa4EZiRk6tBeIf/s200/UnkGroupPC_rev_RH.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044135584661257922" /></a><br /><br /><img src="https://infiniteancestors.com/ia-logo.png?blog=mystery-outdoor" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://ia.infiniteancestors.com/">Infinite Ancestors Blog</a></div>Infinite Ancestorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15070860428917329109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16780948.post-9495000725236384652007-03-12T12:32:00.003-05:002018-04-06T08:53:05.509-05:00Myserty Photo of the Week - Porch Family<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81mgCMCjW3tKwTCy6cwJTQeKWuqcACP8g_cVwNua23nrm-3IiWUI6D1OTsDjdhOlaSA7y92SApVZExs5_PAk15qdxHTkMAyoF0jssMVwsTsFtc6pDQSnRDcm0BuH2zcpU04te/s1600-h/UnkownFamilyHouse_RH.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81mgCMCjW3tKwTCy6cwJTQeKWuqcACP8g_cVwNua23nrm-3IiWUI6D1OTsDjdhOlaSA7y92SApVZExs5_PAk15qdxHTkMAyoF0jssMVwsTsFtc6pDQSnRDcm0BuH2zcpU04te/s200/UnkownFamilyHouse_RH.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041094050907766290" /></a>My best guess is that this photo was taken in Chicago or possibly the close suburbs. Perhaps the architecture will be a clue to someone. Click on either image for more detail. Please post a comment if you can help with the people, place, or date.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hDTtFYjFVPWE3WAoNa4iCsWqHWS1Hdi0VCkGx8a74Xpx_e6wKv2Y9hpbg2iwpQvgk5SYjyR5syiSViZ2wjYNwhoxPxiCZ97Kd81f1Z92oq0wB39HvtBJ2qtCrw0CIwrchP6R/s1600-h/UnkownFamilyHouse-ZOOM_RH.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hDTtFYjFVPWE3WAoNa4iCsWqHWS1Hdi0VCkGx8a74Xpx_e6wKv2Y9hpbg2iwpQvgk5SYjyR5syiSViZ2wjYNwhoxPxiCZ97Kd81f1Z92oq0wB39HvtBJ2qtCrw0CIwrchP6R/s200/UnkownFamilyHouse-ZOOM_RH.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041094549123972658" /></a><br /><br /><img src="https://infiniteancestors.com/ia-logo.png?blog=mystery-porch" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://ia.infiniteancestors.com/">Infinite Ancestors Blog</a></div>Infinite Ancestorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15070860428917329109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16780948.post-1164243000921702352007-01-28T15:45:00.002-06:002018-04-06T08:53:53.028-05:00Comments on Genealogy & PrivacySome comments on privacy I made today on a post at Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter...<br /><br />In my county (and this is comparable to what I've found in many counties), you must be 18 to get a copy of your own birth certificate, or your parents can get a copy assuming they are the parents listed on the certificate. Otherwise, the county will only issue "genealogical" copies if they occurred over 75 years ago. I have not yet been able to get a copy of my own mother's birth certificate from another county, even though she is deceased, until 75 years have passed. But I respect that protection. Death records can be obtained if you are a relative or a person who can prove a financial interest. Again, if records are over 75 years old, they are openly available. Marriage certificates are public, but the applications are protected. That's not to say that some of the information on these documents can't be found elsewhere, but should it really be made too easy to find out everything about you? About your young children? I've been trying for years to get one genealogist to remove information about my minor children from his web site.<br /><br />Procedures may be lax in some locales, but that is not an excuse to discount the value of the protective laws in place.<br /><br />The Internet makes it too easy to find information about living people. Our laws and "commonly accepted practice" have not kept up with the technology. There used to be some measure of privacy afforded by obscurity. Identity theft and fraud are only two of many many reasons to respect the privacy of living individuals. As others pointed out, it is the increasing pervasiveness, commercialization, and lack of control of our personal information that many find objectionable. And this information is increasingly being used by others to make decisions about us that can affect employment, credit, reputation, insurability, etc. An excellent resource on these issues is the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0814740375">The Digital Person: Technology and Privacy in the Information Age</a><img src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=infiniteancestors-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0814740375" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> by Daniel J. Solove.<br /><br />In the days of our ancestors, unless you were a prominent public figure, you would personally know most of the people who knew your intimate details.<br /><br />I've never understood why some genealogists insist on publishing information on living people, without their knowledge and consent, particularly when there is little or no connection between the two people. I'm an avid genealogist and technologist myself, but we must remember that for most of us genealogy is a hobby, the rest of it is real life.<br /><br /><img src="https://infiniteancestors.com/ia-logo.png?blog=comments-on-gen-and-priv" /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://ia.infiniteancestors.com/">Infinite Ancestors Blog</a></div>Infinite Ancestorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15070860428917329109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16780948.post-1166720438526026572006-12-21T10:38:00.002-06:002018-04-06T08:54:42.858-05:00Preserving Our Memories (Part 1)I have heard many strategies for preserving genealogical research over the years, and as this is an important topic in genealogy, I intend to write a series of posts on various aspects of preservation. But for now, <a href="https://www.itl.nist.gov/iad/894.05/publications.html">here</a> are a couple of in-depth papers on digital data preservation from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) web site.<br /><br />The reality for all of us is that media will change over time and file formats will change over time. If you <i>REALLY</i> want your research to last:<br /><br />- Store your data in simple, open, industry-standard file formats (nothing beats Plain Text)<br />- Avoid proprietary formats tied to a particular company (e.g., Microsoft Word) or tied to a particular computer platform<br />- Store your data on multiple media: acid-free paper, CDs and/or DVDs, hard disk(s), flash drive(s)<br />- Upload your data to a central server (like Rootsweb.com)<br />- Regularly verify your stored archives and refresh your data onto new media<br /><br />And last but not least, the single most important way to get your research to last: <b>SHARE IT !!</b><br /><br /><img src="https://infiniteancestors.com/ia-logo.png?blog=preserving1" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://ia.infiniteancestors.com/">Infinite Ancestors Blog</a></div>Infinite Ancestorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15070860428917329109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16780948.post-1126819667563572462005-09-15T16:27:00.003-05:002018-04-06T08:55:14.149-05:00WelcomeWelcome to Infinite Ancestors.<br /><br /><img src="https://infiniteancestors.com/ia-logo.png?blog=welcome" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://ia.infiniteancestors.com/">Infinite Ancestors Blog</a></div>Infinite Ancestorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15070860428917329109noreply@blogger.com0