Migration & Genealogy news, announcements and queries archive 2002

'I think we have our child' Investigators say they've identified tiny body in Halifax Titanic grave The 90-year-old mystery about the identity of a tiny Titanic victim may finally have been solved. The so-called Unknown Child, who has lain unclaimed in a Halifax graveyard since the fabled ocean liner sank in 1912, was a 13-month-old Finnish boy named Eino Viljami Panula, investigators said Wednesday... Thursday, November 7, 2002 The Halifax Herald Limited - http://www.herald.ns.ca - Halifax, Nova Scotia, CANADA

Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish

The Institute of Migration has updated their passport (128,000 records) and passenger (318,000 records) databases

New Reference records 20,000 October 23, 2002

DNA Research Could Help Genealogists Find 'Family'

DNA research begun by a microbiology professor at Brigham Young University could develop into a powerful new scientific tool for those tracing their genealogical origins. Professor Scott Woodward began collecting DNA specimens for the research and created the Molecular Genealogy Research Project at BYU in March 2000. He has 34,000 DNA samples in the database, thanks to financial help from Salt Lake City philanthropist James Sorenson. BY PAUL ROLLY THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Monday, October 14, 2002

Emigrant Monument at Hangö/Hanko

Per Norden newspaper, there are discussions in Finland about building a massive granite pier as a memorial to the more than 250,000 emigrants who sailed to America during 1880-1930 via Hangö/Hanko. The engraved names of all emigrants who sailed from there will be on the monument. Finland is the only country in the world to have such accurately documented passenger and passport lists. The emigrants used a bridge to cross over the railroad tracks to board ships; the bridge still remains and will probably become part of the monument. It was referred to as "Suckarnas bridge." Norden newspaper has pictures of the bridge as it looked then, and as it looks now. Plans are not final because financing is a problem. To learn more, contact Major V K A Lange at: kaarle.lange@pp.inet.fi By June Pelo/Norden newspaperThu, 10 Oct 2002

The Genealogy Boom

Across North America millions of people are investing their time and money in a dogged search for the full story of their ancestors. By Tom Barrett, Journal Staff Writer The Edmonton Journal Thursday, October 03, 2002

Curiosity drives genealogists

"...Chambers was 10 when her grandfather died. Two letters, written in a foreign language, were found in his belongings. An aunt didn't want them transcribed, saying that if Grandpa Ellis wanted his family to know what was written, he would have told them. Chambers never forgot the letters, and as an adult, learned that they had finally been translated. The letters, written in Swedish and postmarked in Finland, were signed "Your loving Mother, Louisa B." By Beverly Smith Vorpahl The Spokesman-Review September 22, 2002

Ray Dolby roots in Finland By Ole Granholm

Any time you go to the movies, turn on the CD player or watch TV you will likely come into contact with the life’s work of Ray Dolby. You may have seen the words Dolby Sound so many times you don’t even notice it. But did you know Ray Dolby is a Swedish Finn descendant with roots in Terjärv and Kaustby?

The Growth of Digital Image Archives: Can We Toll the Bell for Microfilm? By Joan E. Thomas

Microfilm and microfiche: two simple words that stir feelings of fear, nausea, and regret in librarians and researchers everywhere. In Double Fold, Nicholson Baker's diatribe against libraries and our assault on paper, he accurately describes using microfilm to browse newspapers as "a brain poaching, gorge-lifting trial". Librarians may disagree with Mr. Baker on other matters, but most of us will agree with his accurate depiction of using microfilm to access articles. We all know that using microfilm is one of our profession's most tedious duties

Getting the fun out of Genealogy

So much of the time, while discussing genealogical research, we stress its serious side. The beginning genealogist is cautioned to be a serious researcher. We must ask the right questions. Record accurately. File in an organized manner. Cite all sources. Certainly, all of these things are important. Research must be in depth. Files must be accessible. And sources must be noted. And it IS a LOT of work. But is this all there is to it? Far from it. Desoto Sun Herald September 1, 2002.

DNA Test May Solve Columbus Mystery

A pair of Spanish high school teachers want to harness new technology to settle an old argument: who's buried in Christopher Columbus' tomb? Associated Press via The Herald-Sun (Durham, NC), June 10, 2002.

National Archives Announces New Web Site Design

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has launched its web site www.archives.gov, with a dynamic, new look. NARA's former web site www.nara.gov has been merged with www.archives.gov to form a site that provides online visitors with dramatic improvements in navigation, uniformity, appearance, and accessibility to users with disabilities.NARA Press Release, June 4, 2002.

Language cull could leave people speechless

90% of tongues including Tofa and British Romani to disappear David Ward Saturday May 25, 2002 The Guardian

The linguistic equivalent of an ecological disaster is looming according to researchers from the University of Manchester who say that 90% of the world's languages are likely to disappear by 2050. One such tongue is Tofa, spoken by only about 60 people who herd reindeer and hunt sable on empty lands in central Siberia. The language is also spoken by the university's Gregory Anderson. "I speak fluently enough to be able to express everything I want to say," he said.

DATABASE of IMMIGRANTS from Ostrobothnia, Finland

The names in this database were extracted from my files and source material, and consist mainly of emigrants from the Swedish-speaking area of Finland. In many instances their destination and date or place of death are not known. However, this data may be helpful to researchers by providing them with additional vital statistics about their emigrant ancestors, such as birthdate and place in Finland, and spouse's name, if known. June Pelo 4/9 2002

Ellis Island Web site harbors user-friendly features

The Modesto Bee (CA), March 12, 2002. By MARGO HARAKAS KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS "When the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation Inc. launched its Web site in April, the message was that finding one's ancestors, at least those who passed through Ellis Island, was "as easy as pushing a button." Ten months after the launch, planners are acknowledging, "It's not..."