Episode 212 - Researching Eastern Europe: Where Are The Borders? / Reclaim The Records Strikes In New Jersey

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. Fisher and David begin with talk of the first old coins they've obtained from countries and birth years of their ancestors. (David started this whole thing!) David then shares the details behind Swedish Death Cleaning, which has to do with seniors not leaving their descendants hundreds of things they don't want. That could include heirlooms! Then, a nine-year-old baseball player has learned that he's got a Hall of Famer in his family tree. Find out who it is. David's blogger spotlight this week shines on Mike Scott's blog, grandadsfamilyjewels.wordpress.com.

Fisher continues the show with LegacyTree.com's Michelle Chubenko, a resident of New Jersey who researches Eastern Europe. Michelle takes us through the problems of Eastern European records… the border changes, moving jurisdictions, records lost in war… and gives sound advice on how the determined genie can make headway in tracing their tough Eastern European ancestors.

Then, Brooke Ganz, CTM (Chief Trouble Maker), from ReclaimTheRecords.org, joins Fisher talking about the organization's latest victory… the index of 20th (and 21st!) century marriages in New Jersey, a difficult state to research. Brooke gives the specifics of the haul, a gap that was discovered, how that gap was patched, and what you can do to make records in your city or state available to the public when government people refuse to cooperate.

Then, Tom Perry from TMCPlace.com joins the show to talk preservation. The guys then share ideas about recording your family talking about photos and relatives as an audio gift for the holidays. They have a recorder recommendation and some possible techniques you might want to use.

That's all this week on Extreme Genes- America's Family History Show!