Tuesday's Meeting will Discuss DNA!

Why DNA?  Do you come up empty about DNA when it comes to a simple understanding of this great new genealogical tool?

Come to our meeting this coming Tuesday night:
 12 February 2013 6:30 PM at Willard Library – Bayard Room on the Second Floor.  

Kenneth “Ken” E. Nowlan, Jr. will present a very interesting program on “Making Sense of DNA: How Can It Assist Genealogical Research.”  How many of you have found people in your genealogical research and wondered if they were related, but could not find any proof. In today’s world there is a way to find that answer using DNA. We see on the news and on crime shows how DNA helps find the bad guys. Now you can find out how to use that technology in your research.  Ken earned his Bachelors Degree from Indiana University and his Masters Degree from University of Pennsylvania. He became a Certified Genealogist (SM) from the Board for Certification of Genealogists, he is the Project Administrator for DNA Surname Project on FamilyTreeDNA and is a Member of Tri-State Genealogical Society.

You do not have to be a member to come and participate at the society’s monthly meetings.

"Genealogy is Like a Very Big Puzzle"

I have always liked to solve mysteries and to put together puzzles.  I was making a comment on one of MyFamily.com groups of many of my West family and other related families.  We have pooled our resources and what we already have learned to attempt to fill in the gaps of our family history.  I suddenly wrote that it was like we were all working on one very big puzzle.

We are finding the puzzle pieces, but we need to be able to put them all together. As with puzzles, many of us start by finding the flat edged pieces to put together the outer edges (frame) and then concentrate on areas of similar characteristics putting the pieces in one by one until they all connect and the puzzle is complete. This is what we are trying to do, except it is hard to make that frame and there are so many pieces that seem to be the same! :) Also because we can not find some documented records, the pieces are not complete or some of the image of the piece was damaged (lost). No matter what, it is very hard to put together a puzzle if you do not have all of the pieces.

When we first start researching our families, there are just a few that we know who may be of help to us.  As time goes on we build a network of researchers and resources.  We use libraries, DNA, courthouses, friends & family, genealogical societies, the Internet.  Many now are using resources like Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest, bulletin boards, USGenWeb, MyFamily.com and so many others.  What we are doing are looking for the pieces of the puzzle and trying to connect the pieces.

The group I mentioned is a good sized group of cousins that are trying to find these puzzle pieces and then try to put them together as a large diverse group of people.  When I work on a picture puzzle, it seems to get put together so much faster when there are several working together.

Genealogical societies provide resources to help us put together our family puzzles.  Working with others who are researching the same family can increase your chances of finding missing pieces and then connecting them.

My point is that our family puzzles have been scattered about and some pieces are lost or damaged beyond recognition.  We can not rely on just one resource or one person to gather most of these pieces.  We need to work together as much as we can and we can put together that family puzzle.  Of course, once we get that puzzle done, we start expanding the frame!  Hopefully, putting together the puzzle will be fun and enlightening as you go.

- Written by JGWest

"April the First 2012"

Ben West (photo below) is dressed in western attire as is his cousin John West (with mic & wearing a vest). Ben & I suspected we were cousins for many years, but could not prove it. A few years ago our y-DNA proved we were cousins!

We do not look all that much alike, but we sure look like cowboys! We may be even wearing the same hat brand. Ben was "encouraged" to wear his cowboy outfit during a patient safety fair where he works. I am at the Warrick County, Indiana 4-H Achievement Dinner presenting the TSGS Glenda K. Trapp Memorial Award Certificate to Madison McClane for her work in the 4-H Genealogy Project. TSGS President Don Counts accompanied me in the presentation. I think Ben, Don & I all had fun involved in our activities. Click on photos for larger images.

This is not an April Fools trick! - JGWest

Staying Afloat in the Gene Pool - Genetic DNA News

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05 AUGUST 2011 - Family Tree DNA announced the launch of a new feature: Y-DNA "Third Party" uploads. This allows for the upload of 33 & 46-marker y-DNA test results from Ancestry, GeneTree and Sorenson's SMGF. The information for this blog is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter is available at http://www.eogn.com. More information is available from FamilyTreeDNA FAQ page.

Founded in April 2000, Family Tree DNA was the first company to develop the commercial application of DNA testing for genealogical purposes, something that had previously been available only for academic and scientific research. Currently, the Houston-based company is approaching 350,000 individual records – the largest DNA database in genetic genealogy, and a number that makes Family Tree DNA the prime source for anyone researching recent and distant family ties. In 2006 Family Tree DNA established a state of the art Genomics Research Center at its headquarters in Houston, Texas, where it currently performs R&D and processes over 200 advanced types of DNA tests for its customers.

NAVIGATING ALONG the RIVER - Research Tips

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Family Traditions

First we need to define "family tradition" in regard to genealogy. Here, we are not discussing customs or lifestyles. We are talking about family stories that have been passed from one generation to the next. And like the game "telephone" where a player whispers a short message to the person next to them and that person passes the message to the next down the line to the last person who tells the group what the message is... which is usually way different than the original! Family traditions like most undocumented information if originally based on some sort of facts which can be helpful in our research. It can give us a theory to verify the story. Occasionally, we get something from another researcher that states "family tradition says," when in actuality, the information is a non-documented statement that the origin is totally unknown and did not get passed down from family members. Thus, it is of even lesser value than family tradition might be.

How many of us have a family tradition that there is Native American blood in our ancestry? My mother's mother's family often spoke about our family having Indian ancestors. No one could tell me on which branch or who was Native American or any other clues that could help me research the facts. After years of researching all of these lines back as far as I could go... I did not find anything that suggested any connection to Native Americans. However, one day I did discover a connection in a story in an early history book that stated some of my ancestors being massacred by a renegade tribe of Indians. A woman and her children were kidnapped with some being brutally murdered including a young baby. The woman and one daughter were my direct ancestors. Could it be that my family passed down a story of this horrible tragedy that over the generations turned around to embrace Native Americans as family? Several years later, I learned of a branch of this same family had applied for a claim for Native American's benefits with some facts in the application that made it seem very probable that there was Native American ancestors. So it seems that the family tradition had some merit after all and now I know where it comes from.

Family traditions generally contain partial truths that are vague and often mixed-up with missing facts and the source of how the tradition began. Often these stories are passed along because of vanity to connect with someone famous. I suspect every WEST in the United States has a story of how they are related to Lord De La Warr (Thomas West)... a Colonial Governor. There is a state & river named for him - Delaware! The Delaware Indians were named indirectly for him. They called themselves "Lenape;" the British called them Delaware for the river where they resided. My West family has many stories of our descent from this very famous early American Colonial family. However, the "proof" is very circumstantial and weak in regards to genealogical standards. And, according to Family Tree DNA where the results of my family were taken... there is a y-DNA group who have shown their descent from Lord Delaware's family that does not match our y-DNA West group. It seems that this family tradition has no merit.

- Compiled by JGWest

STAYING AFLOAT in the GENE POOL -Genetic DNA News

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Tibor Fehér New Co-Admin
of Kerchner's R1b Project

For Immediate Release - 27 April 2010


Tibor Fehér of Hungary has joined Charles Kerchner of the USA as a new Co-Admin of Kerchner's R1b Project (a large project) hosted at FTDNA. For more details about this project see: http://www.familytreedna.com/public/r1b/


Charles Kerchner, P.E. (Retired)
Pennsylvania USA
R1b Project Founder and Admin
http://www.kerchner.com/dna-info.htm

STAYING AFLOAT in the GENE POOL -Genetic DNA News

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DNA: Another Side of the Story

DEAR ABBY: My parents divorced when my older brother and I were small. Mom remarried, and I was adopted by the wonderful man who raised me as his beloved daughter. I had limited contact with my biological father, "Nate," which seemed to please everyone.

After my adopted dad passed, Nate came back into my life. I have not seen much of him but he was present at my second marriage five years ago, traveling across country to be there. Last month he called to tell me he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and has named me as his heir since my older brother is deceased.

As a birthday gift, I presented him with a box from a company that does genome sequencing. It allows people to see their DNA and learn about their ancestry as well as any health-related issues. I enjoyed learning about genetics and thought Nate would, too.

Imagine how stunned I was when I learned that Nate is NOT my father. The company has assured me there is little chance the test is wrong, and they are certain we are not related.
I am close to my mother and horrified that she kept this secret from me for more than 50 years. I don't want anyone to be hurt, but I need the truth. What do I do?

-- QUESTIONING MY DNA IN S.F.

DEAR QUESTIONING: Have a calm, private conversation with your mother and tell her what you have learned. If she denies it, have the test repeated. When you receive the results, either apologize to your mother or raise the subject again. She may know who your father was, or you may have been the result of an opening shot in the sexual revolution, a chapter your mother may not care to revisit.

-Submitted by Don Counts.

STAYING AFLOAT in the GENE POOL -Genetic DNA News

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Adoption Search: DNA Finds Birth Parents...

At our last TSGS meeting (12 Jan 2010), Becky West led a discussion group concerning adoptions. Becky was put up for adoption at the time of birth and officially adopted when she was about 1.5 years old. With my research help, she found her birth family right here in Evansville.

I just found this article about using DNA for Adoptees to use for birth parent searches! I am passing it on to our bloggers. http://www.dna-testing-adviser.com/AdoptionSearch.html by Dick Hill.

There is a lot of other information available with the links on the left column of the above article involving a variety of DNA testing on this web site of DNA Testing Advisor.

- Compiled by JGWest

STAYING AFLOAT in the GENE POOL -Genetic DNA News

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Perspective

At our TSGS monthly meeting last Tuesday night, Larry Goss made a report about having all put the last 2 issues of the Tri-State Packet on a CD. I asked a somewhat dumb question as to how many issues he had on that CD with his reply: “all of them!” After the laughter subsided, I mentioned that the day had been unlucky for me and jokingly stated that Larry was just adding to it. I told everyone about my fall on my back as I stepped on a sheet of ice... I did not injure myself. Former TSGS President Karin Kirsch stated that it was not an unlucky day, because I was actually lucky not to get hurt. I thought she was right! - I had the wrong perspective of the incident.

Perspective comes into play when we consider a glass with a substance at the half-way mark... is it half full or half empty? If you dislike buttermilk, but have to drink a glass of it, the glass being half empty sounds best. However, if you love buttermilk, the glass being still half full is best. Simple perspective!

Perspective of how we view things changes the meaning of the results and is true with our genealogical research. We often get very disappointed when we get a “hot new lead” only ending up proving that that person or family is not ours. However, with the right perspective, it should be good news, since you just eliminated one family to be confused with your correct line... you are narrowing the search. That is an important discovery concerning your ancestry.

This happens all of the time with genealogical DNA testing. You seem to wait forever for the results only to discover that you did not match with anyone. Very disappointing! Sometimes this is a result of not having very many with your surname taking the test, yet. But if there are larger numbers testing in your group with no matches... you can eliminate the (documented) families from further research by you. I put "documented," since some may think they are descended from someone, but has not proven it. That might mean they are not descended from that line.

Other reasons you may not match is that back in time your surname was different than it is today. Anglicized names occurred often in America, especially with German names in Colonial times and both World Wars. Adoptions & illegitimate births ended with name changes from the original father. Sometimes people changed their names to escape the law or their past. This is always a perspective that you must look for when doing your genealogical research. It would be important to find any name changes as it will affect your family history and might just make it an interesting story!

Remember to always keep your genealogy in perspective!

- Written by JGWest

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

The Tread of Life

DNA Exhibit in cMoe

[Childrens Museum of Evansville]

by Dean A. Strand 1997

Above is the artist's exhibit of the typical model of A Strand of DNA (interesting that his middle initial is "A" and his last name is "Strand!").

Above is the explanation of the artwork. Click on photos for larger view.

- Photo taken and submitted by JGWest

NAVIGATING ALONG the RIVER - Research Tips

Optimizing the Internet for the Genealogical Researcher

I have been using the Internet for genealogical research since 1995... a relatively short time in my tenure of over 50 years of researching my family. However, on the Internet, it is a significant time span. I have explored all sorts of different “new” ideas of getting all sorts of people and/or data together. Right away, in 1996, I (along with about a thousand others) volunteered to be a county coordinator for the USGenWeb Project that concentrated on each individual county in the USA as a method of researching genealogy by location... common families, migrations, lifestyles, etc. Each county holds the legal records and even the legends of your family's journey in that county. We already had “bulletin” type email boards where we could interact with others interested in a location, a surname or even a surname in a specific location. Some of the most significant bulletin boards are RootsWeb.com, Genealogy.com and Ancestry.com. Other ways to interact with family and associates is through blogs, Twitter, YouTube and more.

A similar site, but more specific to a particular family, was developed - known as MyFamily.com, which is a private password protected site that require members be invited to participate. This is great for a specific family or inter-related families to get together to share current events, photos, family lore, genealogy, or team up to go back further in their genealogical research. This site has a small annual fee to maintain it. It is an excellent means of storing & sharing family data. Each family and its members determine how it will interact by posting items in various categories: photos, news, history, file cabinet, recipes, etc.

Not too long ago some other genealogical Internet ideas popped up. These are interactive family trees, where members post, counter post and add information to each others ancestry. Two of these are WeRelate and Geni. Geni is new to me, but WeRelate has some nice features to post notes and documentation. Like anything that you ever uncover in your research... you need to verify everything to ensure that it meets a high standard of validity.

Now comes yet another Internet idea known as Face Book (FB) that utilizes other ideas of mass communications like YouTube, iLike, all sorts of applications & others. FB allows you to set-up your site by recruiting “friends” in your profile. As often as you wish you post your status on your “profile” or “wall” for all of your FB friends to see and possibly add comments. FB becomes an excellent resource to keep up with family, friends & associates that you have known throughout your life. It is great for me to have a place on the Internet that I can briefly chat, post comments, upload family albums of events and just old photos or relay news with all sorts of “lost” cousins, friends and old associates from previous relationships. I have a lot of family members on my FB from sister to nephews, son, 1st, 2nd, 3rd (& more distant) cousins that post little things (along with major events) that are happening in their lives... it is a great way to keep up with your family in these busy days. They also upload photos of them and their friends & family.

Other than just relaying some information about the Internet, I have a purpose behind this discussion. FB, WeRelate, the bulletin boards, USGenWeb can all be used to work together to enhance your genealogical contacts and find cousins that have interest in the family history that just might be willing to work as a team on sites like MyFamily.com to share your knowledge of the family's history and you might be able to find a few cousins that will take DNA tests to further make connections or prove relationships. This is a better method to learning your history than just tracking down databases that may not even pertain to your family. Check these avenues of research out to see if you can optimize your genealogical endeavors on the Internet.

- Submitted by JGWest

STAYING AFLOAT in the GENE POOL -Genetic DNA News

I have not included much DNA news lately... so, I have quite a bit to add today! First here is a listing of the major DNA laboratories:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/dna/ydnaco.htm Company Contact Information Below: Family Tree DNA FTDNA - http://www.ftdna.com/ Relative Genetics RG - http://www.relativegenetics.com/relativegenetics/index.jsp DNA Heritage DNAH - http://www.dnaheritage.com/ EthnoAncestry EA or ET - http://www.ethnoancestry.com/ DNA TribesDNA-T - http://www.dnatribes.com/Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation SMGF - http://smgf.org/ Oxford Ancestors OA - http://www.oxfordancestors.com/ GenTree gen tree http://www.genetree.com/ GeneBaseGB - http://www.genebase.com/ Trace Genetics Division of DNA Print TGD - http://www.tracegenetics.com/ Argus Bio mtDNA studies onlyAB - http://argusbio.com/ DNA Print - http://www.ancestrybydna.com/ DNAP

And here is a YDNA (YSTRs & others) COMPANY COMPARISON CHART used in genealogy studies of surname groups... these markers will give you your haplotype but only estimate your haplogroup.

The main labs all have 32 markers in common which can be considered the "basic 32" in genetic genealogy. Many people want to at least make sure they know which are the most commonly tested.

*I advise that it is best to aim to test at least these 32.*

The main 32 are of course (in groups of five so you can count them):-DYS385 (2 parts), 388, 389I and II; 390, 391, 392, 393, 394(19); 426, 437, 438, 439, 442; 447, 448, 449, 454, 455; 456, 458, 459 (2 parts), 460; H4, 464 (4 parts); YCAII (2 parts). All of the above, plus a lot more comes from Nelda L. Percival at the link at the beginning of this article on RootsWeb.

Here is a great chart comparing most of the above companies as to what markers are tested for each test: http://www.gendna.net/ydnacomp.htm You can print chart at 60% landscape to get the first 80 markers which will cover the most significant markers. If you know how to allow background to be printed from "Advanced" Internet options, check it so that you get the color lines to help you follow across the long chart.

Here is a mtDNA cost comparison chart: http://www.isogg.org/mtdnachart.htm

From: DNA-NEWBIE@yahoogroups.com3a. Re: Where to start.... Posted by: "jhunter99" jhunter99@bigpond.com broncowarrior Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:12 am (PST)

Here are some tips that might be useful:
* Upload your results wherever you can so you can compare to the results of others and them with you. FamilyTreeDNA<http://www.familytreedna.com/Default.aspx?c=1> is good, as is Sorenson<http://www.smgf.org/ychromosome/search.jspx> and YBase<http://www.ybase.org/> just to mention a few. * There are many surname projects, if you are not a member of one then join one. Again search your testing organization site, other testing organization sites or Yahoo Groups. * There are also specific surname projects, here is a link to my paternal line discussion group and the analysis that is going on there. <http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/g/a/gah4/HamDNA/Results.html>

* Don't worry about the name just read the explanations. If you don't have something similar for your surname then start one. * Make sure you also have a paper record and it is published. The point is to use the genetic record to fill the gaps in the paper record. Rootsweb <http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/> is good and is free. * Make your search systematic, starting with what you know. Find a distanced male line cousin and get them to do the test. Build the tree that links you and find the common male ancestor. Was there a mutation? Where did it happen? Then push it out further. * You must have at least the 37 marker test, anything less is just too general. * Does someone have a close match to you at 37, say one marker off? Find your common ancestor. What about two markers off? Find you common ancestor, he has to be back there somewhere. * Be prepared for surprises in particular the "non-paternal event." They really are very common. * Know your haplogroup; there is no point talking to anyone about ancestors who doesn't at least match that. [End "jhunter99" advice.]

And, finally, The FTDNA West Surname y-DNA Group #5 (of 28 groups) will hold our second DNA Family Reunion on 22-24 May 2009 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. - Information compiled by JGWest

"Judging 4-H Genealogy Fair Exhibit Notebooks"

I got a letter from the State 4-H Office at Purdue yesterday appointing me a State Fair 4-H Genealogy Judge which reminded me that 2008 was a good year since I judged for the first time for the State Fair! Despite having my appendix removed, 2008 was not so bad... I went to a y-DNA West family reunion in Nashville meeting a lot of my DNA-proven cousins. But, I guess the highlight was judging at the Stat Fair. 4-H has been a big part of my life since I was 9 years old and that was over 50 years ago. I served for 25 years as the Vanderburgh 4-H Genealogy Project Superintendent and have judged the project in area County Fairs for over 20 years. So, getting to judge at the State Fair is a "big deal." The project requires the 4-H member to properly document their work and follow standard genealogical procedures. In the top left photo I am judging at the Indiana State Fair; and, yes, all those notebooks for Division 3 in the shelves behind me were for 2 judges (over 50 county champion exhibits). The next photo down (centered) was taken at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fair. When I was the Project Superintendent, I did not normally judge any of the projects, this year was also my first year to judge in my home county. In the background you see Connie Conrad, TSGS Treasurer judging notebooks, too. The notebook I am judging went to the State Fair and was in the top 5 exhibits to be the State Fair Champion of all the Genealogy Notebook Exhibits. The last photo to the right is of me at home judging surrounding county fair exhibits. I have been judging county exhibits beginning with Warrick County about 24 years ago. - Submitted by JGWest

RACING DOWN the RIVER -Brief Genealogical Notes

We have added a few pictures of our 2008 Christmas Social to the TSGS Web Site (see link below the next photo or you can click on our TSGS Cruiser graphic in the right-hand column). Larry Goss, look at that spread! Everyone had a good time talking and snacking. Former TSGS President Don Counts almost ate as much as I did.




We have added several photos of the 2008 TSGS Seminar presented by Pat Gooldy of Ye Olde Genealogie Shoppe on the TSGS Web Site: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~intsgs/index.html
- notes from TSGS Webmaster John G. West


We got a couple great hints for "The Daniel Hicks Mystery" from a few days ago (see comments for that article).


In yesterday's article, I forgot to include the Surname Group Rates for Genetic DNA Testing for the Family Tree DNA company. I corrected it later in the day, if you read the article early go back and check the reduced prices.

STAYING AFLOAT in the GENE POOL -Genetic DNA News

Genetic DNA testing prices (2008) from three companies to give you an idea of what it costs to take a test. - compiled by John G. West

1. FamilyTreeDNA Genetic DNA Testing Prices:

***GROUP DISCOUNT PRICES ARE IN GREEN! - JGW***

Y-CHROMOSOME - DNA TESTS
Y-DNA12: 12 Marker Test $149 $99
Y-DNA37: 37 Markers Test $259 $119
Y-DNA67: 67 Markers Test $349 $218
Oxford Conversion Kit $169
Ancestry Conversion Kit $169
MITOCHONDRIAL - MTDNA
mtDNA $129 $99
mtDNAPlus $189
Oxford mtConversion Plus $159
mtDNA Full Sequence $495 $395
COMBINED - Y-CHROMOSOME AND MTDNA TESTS
Y-DNA12+mtDNA $229 $179
Y-DNA37+mtDNAPlus $389 $199
COMPREHENSIVE ANCESTRAL TESTS
Y-DNA67+mtDNAPlus $489 $308
SuperDNA $839 $613
AUTOSOMAL TESTS
Autosomal Markers Panel 1 $184
Autosomal Markers Panels 1 & 2 $257

2. DNA.Ancestry.com:

Act now and receive 40% off your purchase. Offer expires December 31, 2008.
Paternal Lineage Test (Y-Chromosome 33) $149 Now $89.40
Advanced Paternal Lineage Test (Y-Chromosome 46) $199 Now $119.40
Maternal Lineage Test (Mitochondrial DNA) $179 Now $107.40

3. DNA Direct Pricing:

$189 Maternal Lineage (Mitochondrial DNA)
$149 Paternal Lineage (Y-DNA 33)
$199 Paternal Lineage (Y-DNA 46)
$328 Combined Lineage (Mitchondrial DNA + Y-DNA 33)
$378 Combined Lineage (Mitchondrial DNA + Y-DNA 46)
$240 AncestryByDNA 2.5

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG -TSGS News

Special Interest Groups (SIG's)

The TSGS Board had authorized the establishment of a TSGS Celtic SIG (Special Interest Group), but before it could be organized, the volunteer leader was no longer available. However, the SIG idea was well promoted as a way to increase involvement and provide a service for our members.

Many of our local TSGS members were members of the South West Indiana PC Users Group (SWIPCUP) that just recently disbanded. Perhaps TSGS could more effectively organize a TSGS Computer SIG, now that SWIPCUP is no longer available. SWIPCUP provided a lot of information, help and sharing of common problems with some excellent programs. TSGS has had a Computer Interest Group for 4 or 5 years, but it was limited in its scope with 2 sessions a year and was part of the HELP Sessions before the meetings. I led the group for several years, but it was just mostly a 30-minute presentation with some “questions & answers” time at the end. What do some of you bloggers out there think about a full-fledged TSGS Computer SIG? A group that would meet 4, 6 or more times a year and maybe have some hands-on workshops to show how a lot of simple, basic things are done on computers that many just have trouble figuring it out by reading the instructions.

Another excellent idea, that I found on the Internet last night came from the Southern California Genealogical Society Web Site (SCGS) who have developed a Genetic DNA SIG and have created a group with Family Tree DNA to provide group discount in testing costs. This group can share information about genetic DNA testing and encourage others to participate. I would appreciate comments be added to this blog concerning SIG's in general and what you think of a Computer or DNA SIG. Click on the word comments at bottom of this blog and submit what you think. Our Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) could use your opinions.

What do you all think about our new TSGS Cruiser graphic in the right-hand column?

John G. West, TSGS President

STAYING AFLOAT in the GENE POOL -Genetic DNA News

“About Family Tree DNA”

Founded in April 2000, Family Tree DNA (http://www.familytreedna.com/) was the first company to develop the commercial application of DNA testing for genealogical purposes: until then, testing had only been available for academic and scientific research. Since that time, the pioneering company has developed a breadth and depth of programs and services and created standards that have earned it international respect and made it the world's most popular DNA-testing service not only for genealogists but for anyone interested in delving beyond the surface into family roots. Today, Family Tree DNA's database exceeds 210,000 individual test records (roughly 137,000 Y-DNA and 77,000 mtDNA tests), making it the premier source for researching recent and distant family ties. Family Tree DNA has recently been featured in Time, Newsweek, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times and on NBC-TV's "Today Show" and CBS-TV's "60 Minutes." [The New York Times & “60 Minutes” stories were about the WEST Surname Group #5 that I match. - JGW] Article from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, 01 November 2008 edition: http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/10/family-tree-dna.html#more

Happy Thanksgiving!

By 1621, the Pilgrims survived the winter and were at peace with the Indians. Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving to celebrate their success, that would be shared by all colonists and their Indian neighbors. Having an annual thanksgiving after the harvest became a custom that continued for many years. Abraham Lincoln was the first President to recognize a National Thanksgiving. In 1863, Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for the observance of the last Thursday of November as a national holiday. However, in 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt decreed that the holiday should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month.

On November 20, 2007, President George W. Bush granted a "pardon" to two turkeys, named May and Flower, at the 60th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation, held in the Rose Garden at the White House. The two turkeys were flown to Orlando, Florida, where they served as honorary grand marshals for the Disney World Thanksgiving Parade. The current tradition of presidential turkey pardons began in 1947, under Harry Truman, but the practice is said to have informally begun with Abraham Lincoln, who granted a pardon to his son Tad's pet turkey. In this morning's newspaper, I read that the President pardoned a 45-pound turkey named "Pumpkin."

Part of the above from History.Com - http://www.history.com/

On behalf of the Tri-State Genealogical Society, have a very Happy & Blessed Thanksgiving!

John G. West, TSGS President

STAYING AFLOAT IN THE GENE POOL -
Genetic DNA News

11/12/08 - New York Post: DNA testing is the rage among Latinos: the latest social networking is not on Facebook or MySpace, it's DNA-testing.

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As of November 27, 2008, Family Tree DNA hits new milestones with 140,809 records in their database of Y-DNA results with 5,132 Surname Projects, which include 85254 unique surnames. And, their mtDNA database has 80,449 results. I want to put this into perspective, the average Surname Project has 25 participants, of course there are many projects with only one or two test results since the project is new or few have taking the test. Some projects are huge with as many as 4,000 participants. The WEST Surname Project has 176 test results.