Extreme Genes

If you haven't at digitized newspapers in a while you might be missing out on some "new" old material!

Family history information can come in many forms, and some of them may be surprising!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard filling in for David Allen Lambert. Diahan talks about the newfound benefits with the latest edition of Dr. Blaine Bettinger's Shared cM Project. Next, Fisher and Diahan talk about a great new article on Civil War female spies. Things apparently haven't changed much in the last hundred years as Fisher shares a story about a California mayor who got in big trouble for not wearing a mask during the Spanish Flu pandemic. Next, Fisher visits with Beverly Hewett. Ten years ago she learned from her beloved Dad that he was not her biological father. She turned to DNA five years ago, and just this past week her bio-father was identified. She explains what she learned along the way to final achieve "the big reveal." Then, Fisher catches up with Melissa Barker, "The Archive Lady" of Houston County, Tennessee. Melissa's been a busy archivist during the pandemic. She tells us about some great things are awaiting us when we get to the back end of the lockdown at archives everywhere. CeCe Moore, star of the ABC-TV Series "The Genetic Detective" then talks about the next episode of her show. She calls the featured case her "favorite" because it results in the exoneration of a convicted killer, and the identification of the real killer. Diahan Southard then returns for Ask Us Anything. Naturally, it's a question about DNA. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. David begins by talking about his experience with the first virtual family history conference he's ever been a part of. Is this the wave of the future? David has also immersed himself in the new History series "Grant," about our 18th president. In Family Histoire News, someone tried to recycle a Civil War cannonball! It did not go well. Hear the details. Another cold case has been solved in Cincinnati because someone wanted to learn about their ethnicity. Then, since we're all craving eating at restaurants again, David discusses an article about when the first restaurants came into being. You will be shocked at when that happened! Fisher next visits with Amy Johnson Crow, a noted genealogist and podcaster from Ohio. Amy and Fisher talk family stories, and exchange a series of them, illustrating that stories is what makes family history fun and interesting. Then, a Michigan woman, Linda Williams Bowie, chats with Fisher about the unusual fact that her African-American family has identified the original African in their line dating back over 300 years. Hear this fascinating account and the history of the subsequent generations. CeCe Moore then returns to the show to talk about the next episode in her new ABC Series "The Genetic Detective." It airs Tuesday nights at 10pm ET and PT, 9pm CT and MT. CeCe's program is a boon to educating America on the process of genetic genealogy. David Lambert returns for Ask Us Anything, fielding a question about touring ancestral homes. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin by talking about Fisher's latest heirloom acquisition. It's an Irish shillelagh, often called a "walking stick," that was brought back to New York from a trip to Ireland by Fisher's great great uncle, David Fisher. Fisher explains how he obtained this fascinating family piece. Then, David talks about a remarkable collection of World War I photographs that we can all now access for free. He will tell you where to look! David then shares the story of where the original "Getty Images" are stored and what it takes to get into that physical archive! (It's unbelievable!) Do you descend from an accused "witch" of Scotland? You may be able to find out now that a very old book has been digitized and placed on line. David gives further details. In Rome, a sink hole has revealed a piece of history that dates back to 25BC. (Maybe your ancestor's were familiar with it.) David explains. In China, a 32-year-old adoptee has been reunited with his birth parents from whom he was kidnapped thirty years ago! Catch the heart tugging details. Fisher next catches up with the renowned genealogist, Kenyatta Berry, author of the "Family Tree Tool Kit." Through the pandemic, Kenyatta has a lot going on. It begins with a new project… a book profiling five African-American individuals who played important roles in major events in American history. Then, to add to genie education, she outlines in the book how she was able to document and research each figure. And that's just the beginning of everything Kenyatta is working on! Then, Jim Beidler of Legacy Tree Genealogists visits with Fisher about a unique record set from Germany. And these records go back centuries in very specific places! If you are working your German ancestry (as Fisher is) you'll want to know about these records, where to find them, and what Jim himself has learned about his ancestors through them. David then returns to the show for another pair of listener questions in our "Ask Us Anything" segment. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. Fisher begins by talking about a new, really old, heirloom he is about to receive. Find out what it is and where it's coming from. Then, David shares the story about a woman who discovered a hidden panel in a bedroom in her house. What was found behind it turned into quite a family history adventure. Then, it's been 75 years since V-E Day, celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany. The guys discuss the impact World War II continues to have on the world. David then talks about a discovery he recently made. When ancestors had headaches they undertook, er, an unusual method to deal with it. Hear what David learned! Next, genetic genealogist CeCe Moore returns to the show to visit with Fisher for two segments. She will tell you all about her new ABC-TV series, The Genetic Detective. The show debuts on Tuesday, May 26th. (At the time this interview was recorded it was set for May 19th. The date for the debut is now May 26th.) CeCe explains the format and how the show came about and why she chose to do it. In the second segment, CeCe talks about the matches now available to her through GEDMatch and FamilyTreeDNA. And she has a request for you as well! Hear what it is. Fisher then visits with Dr. Eurie Hong, the head of Ancestry DNA. Dr. Hong's team is now undergoing a Covid-19 study to help scientists around the world to battle the pandemic. She'll explain how you can be part of this important work. Then, David returns for Ask Us Anything. In this episode, a teenager has a question about both Fisher's and David's ancestors. Hear what they have to say. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys open the show with news that the National Genealogical Society conference for 2020 is going virtual. Hear when it is and how you can be a part of it. Then, a "social distancing happy hour" has resulted in a couple of families getting to know each other and learning that they're related… and not that far back… in Norway! Next, it's amazing how close America came to losing baseball great Babe Ruth in the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. Hear the story of how close he came, and how close America came to never having seen the later "Sultan of Swat." Another cold case has been solved and it never gets old. Find out about the latest crime breakthrough using DNA. Next, Photo Detective Maureen Taylor talks about creating a "pandemic archive" or "coronavirus photo album." We're each having our own experiences in this mess. Maureen has some great thoughts on what to photograph and how to put it all together for the benefit of future generations. Then, Chris Desmond from Memory Web and Robert Friedman from Permanent continue the photo theme. Visiting with Fisher, they explain the new group they are a part of that will hopefully result in the creation of standards so that metadata… all the information about a photo such as who, where, when, what, etc…. stays with the picture as it is shared from platform to platform. Without the metadata you lose all context about a picture. It's an important project that we can all play a role in. Next, David Allen Lambert returns to join Fisher for Ask Us Anything. The guys tackle a question on an odd DNA result as well as another on pension records from the Spanish American War. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Modern on line family research tends to deter us from reaching out to our relatives, but it's still as good an idea today as it was years ago.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. Fisher begins by talking about a method he figured out to date a photo of his great great grandfather. David begins Family Histoire News talking about several aspects of life we can take from the pandemic of 1918-1920. First is the story of unique recipes of the time, including one including 'possum! Then the guys discuss the unique circumstances surrounding voting in the 1918 midterm election. David then talks about a family that is benefitting from a diary kept by their ancestor during the Spanish Flu outbreak. Fisher then begins his two part visit with Heather Maio Smith who is a key player with the USC Shoah Foundation. Heather was recently featured on 60 Minutes. Heather talks about her pet project of the past several years, interviewing Holocaust survivors and then using technology so they can seem to be having a conversation with you. Ask the question, they will answer! In part two of the conversation, Heather talks about how any of us will soon be able to use similar technology so that descendants generations from now can ask us questions about our lives and have us answer them! Then Melanie McComb from NEHGS visits to help us out with Ask Us Anything. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Let's face it, a Wiki model tree has many benefits. But when someone "corrects" your entries and improperly merges individuals, the tangled mess can be tough to straighten out. Here's where to go and what to do.

There are various types of DNA tests, but the Y-DNA test serves one particular purpose. Here's why you might want to "Y."

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. David begins by talking about his recent experience of visiting Lexington Green and Concord Bridge on the 245th anniversary of the beginning of the Revolutionary War, while wearing a mask for another historic event. David also made a fascinating family photo find on Facebook featuring David as a child! He'll explain. Then the guys talk about two half sisters who only recently found each other. Now they're stuck together on a lonnnng visit, in quarantine! A French soldier, killed in World War I, was memorialized by his parents who sealed off his bedroom with brick. That brick has now come down and its remarkable what is in that room! The guys will go through some of the items. Then, Fisher and David talk about a recent study that has determined the likely cause of death for the crew members of the Civil War submarine, the Hunley. Next, Fisher begins his two part visit with the Legal Genealogist, Judy Russell. First, Judy shares the history of legal quarantine. It goes back much further than you might suspect! In the second half, Fisher and Judy discuss the exciting prospects for 2020 concerning material from 1924 that has come out of copyright and into the public domain. Next, David returns for another couple of great listener questions on Ask Us Anything. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

It's a great thing to find an old book with loads of information. But just how trustworthy are these "sources?"

Public on line trees can reveal great information. They can also lure you into a trap.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and American Ancestors.org. Fisher and David talk about little projects they are doing during the lockdown. David then shares news about the latest cold case crime solved using DNA. He then shares a story about a document that was said to be found in the 1930s in an old family Bible, allegedly tied to the Salem Witch Trials. Then… was Ponce de Leon truly the European "discoverer" of Florida? A new analysis says "no!" David then talks about a fascinating project he has undertaken at home… the transcription of a non-digitized census record of Native Americans. You can now see the results. Find out where. Next Fisher visits with Ginevra Morse, the Director of Education and Online Programs for AmericanAncestors. Ginevra talks about all the free online genealogy lectures that you can benefit from … for free!... and how to find them from American Ancestors. Then Dr. Henry Louis Gates from the PBS series "Finding Your Roots" visits with Fisher again. But this time on two other projects he's involved in concerning African American history. Both are something that can particularly benefit your children. On Ask Us Anything, it's a unique DNA match question that is causing confusion… a common match between a mother and a step father. Hear what the guys have to say about it. Then David takes on a question about prison records and mental health institution records. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

It happens all the time. One record says one thing, and another says something else. Here's how to sort things out.

We all love to show off family photos and documents, but it puts them at risk. Here's a better way.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin with the story of the oldest living COVID-19 survivor. Coronavirus isn't the only thing he's gotten through! Then, a great grandfather who's nearly 90 is going to be a father again in July! Hear who this man is and more of the remarkable family dynamics. Then, Smithsonian has a great article on ExtremeGenes.com about ordinary items that go way back, and some unique stories surrounding them… like why forks were not avoided for years on end. The World War I Museum in Kansas City is struggling like many organizations through the lockdown, but they've come up with a unique way to keep their employees busy… and employed. Then, the guys fill you in on live FamilySearch sessions the site is providing during the lockdown. David has the schedule. Next, of two segments, Fisher visits with Rachel Popma of Legacy Tree Genealogists. Rachel talks about the FAN Club Principal and how many use it to break open brick walls and find the origins of ancestors. It'll make sense to you when you hear it and how Rachel used it in one of her own cases. David then returns for Ask Us Anything. The guys answer questions about how to determine who a DNA match is when the match doesn't post a tree or respond to a message as well as where a missing Civil War pension file might be found. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Tracking down keepsakes of ancestors isn't always easy. But sometimes there are mementoes just below your feet!

Yes, we're all future dead people. Doesn't it make sense to make plans for what will happen to your family heirlooms?

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys open Family Histoire News with word of the passing of a woman in England, Hulda Churchill, who was nearly 109, from coronavirus. She had survived the Spanish flu as a young girl, but her sister died in that pandemic a century ago! But another centenarian has survived. Hear his story. Next, it has been determined who the last surviving victim of the transatlantic slave trade was. Learn her story and when she passed. Then, the story is being shared about how the diary of Anne Frank was heavily edited… by her own father. Learn more about it and what his motivation was. David then gives a shout out to a 13-year-old who has latched on to Extreme Genes! The guys then chat about museums that are now taking out ancient items and materials for DNA testing, and what they're learning from it. Next, bones found under a rock in Ireland have led to a new conclusion about the origin of at least some of the Irish. Hear the story! Next, Fisher visits with Dr. Blaine Bettinger talking all things DNA, including his thoughts on new tools and his latest edition of his Shared CentiMorgan Project. You'll also find out whether it's a good idea to send in DNA samples during the current lockdown. Finally, David returns for Ask Us Anything, answering your questions. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

It's true… DNA testing can be confusing. Here's what you should consider in choosing a good match in a DNA testing company.

Sometimes it's tough to know what to do with photographs where you don't know who the subject is. Fisher shares some thoughts that might help.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist for the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. This is the first episode fully recorded and edited from Fisher's home studio in isolation. Fish talks about his recent illness that took away his voice for a time. (NOT believed to be coronavirus.) David then makes a fascinating observation about the time we're now living in. Fisher and David then compare the genealogically worthless 2020 census to what was asked in 1920. In Family Histoire News, David shares the news about a fabulous heirloom in an old Bible recently picked up by a collector. Hear what it is and what the new owner has done with it. David reports we have lost another Pearl Harbor survivor. At 98, he had quite a job on December 7, 1941. Find out about his story. An old family graveyard has been uncovered in Maryland. Hear how it was found and what plans are in place for the site. Finally, spell check has led to one genie uncovering a very sad family tale from early last century. Next, Fisher begins the first of a two part visit Karra Porter, one of the founders of a new lab for DNA analysis. The lab was scheduled to open in April as you'll hear in the segment, but this was recorded before the social isolation began. It will be delayed. Kara explains how we'll soon be able to possibly obtain ancestral DNA from old hairbrushes, envelopes, hats, jewelry, glasses… all kinds of heirlooms. She will explain some of the concerns and how Keepsake DNA plans to address them, and also how we can help her determine the percentages of success for certain items and specific time periods. The potential is beyond exciting! David Lambert then returns for a couple of questions on Ask Us Anything. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Fisher shares a key clue in many photographs that many people overlook. But it might be all you need to help you identify the subject of the photo.

Who knows the old folks in your pictures, as well as their stories, better than old folks?! Fisher talks about how to maximize your visits to senior relatives.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. Both of the guys have had great family history experiences in recent days. Fisher's involved finding a rare photo, and David's had to do with a special house. Hear what happened. In Family Histoire News, the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the National Genealogical Society have made a joint announcement. You'll want to hear this one. Then the guys talk about a great Civil War story that is being added on to in recent weeks. Catch how it started, and what has happened concerning it most recently. Then Fisher and David talk about the US Board of Geographical Names. It's a federal bureau (very small) that gets to decide what places get their names changed and what to! Find out about one place that recently lost its name and why. Then, Kimberly Nagy joins Fisher to talk about her passion… lineage societies. She belongs to roughly SIXTY different groups. She has tips for finding the organization that's right for you and how to go about gaining membership. Bonnie Wade Mucia, a South Carolina resident, then talks to Fisher about a tip she learned from Extreme Genes and how she turned it into family history gold on eBay! Find out what she found and how she found it. David Lambert then returns for Ask Us Anything. David talks about identifying locations of ancestral homes, and how you might be able to tour them. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

There are definitely techniques for preserving paper documents and records that you can trust will extend the life of your important documents.

If you've ever wondered why you don't get everything you think you should from a search of a digitized newspaper site, Fisher has some ideas that may open up a whole lot more.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys open the show with "Family Histoire News." First up: great news that the University of North Carolina has begun a project to digitize thousands of slave deeds and bills of sale. It will be a boon to slave researchers. Then, an Irishman who fought for the United States in World War I and was killed in France will finally get a tombstone in Chicago. Hear the details behind this man's amazing journey. A family in Wisconsin was shocked to learn that their kinsman, who was killed in a plane crash in World War II on the grounds of "Downton Abbey," Highclere Castle, will soon be honored at the site in England. And finally, a remarkable ancient building has been uncovered in Cologne, Germany. Wait til you hear what was once housed there! David then recognizes blogger Lara Diamond. Lara's site, LarasGenealogy.blogspot.com, which she calls Lara's Jewnealogy, features Lara's insight into her Jewish background. Next, Fisher visits with perhaps the only genetic counselor who specializes in people who get unexpected results in their DNA testing. As the first in her field, Brianne Kirkpatrick shares some of her insight into the challenges many people face when they learn something from DNA they had never imagined. Then, Melissa Barker, The Archive Lady from Houston County, Tennessee is back to share some of her latest stories of acquisition, and a remarkable event from a century ago that drew her into a fascinating research project. Learn from Melissa what family items your local archives may hold. Finally, Fisher visits with Tom Perry, the Preservation Authority from TMCPlace.com. Believe it or not, when it comes to the holidays time is almost up! There are deadlines you're going to need to hit to be certain your family home movies and videos can be digitized on time. Tom will get specific with you. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Marking pictures is essential for future generations, but using the right pens and markers will assure the identifications last without damaging your images.

Fisher talks about the risk of taking on line trees at face value and why copying isn't researching.

Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys open "Family Histoire News" with the story of a a woman who discovered a missing cemetery! (These things happen.) Hear the story. Next David reveals recent talk about Jeanne Calment, the French woman who has long been lauded as the oldest person ever to live at 122. But wait. Not so fast! Then a woman born in 1920 has just celebrated her 25th birthday. Those things happen when you're born on February 29th! Hear her take on her special day. New research is now telling us the age at which we will be happiest. Find out how much longer you need to deal with the "misery" of life. Then, the first genetic genealogy DNA case is coming to a head. Word is the Golden State Killer will plead guilty to avoid the death penalty. David then talks about a unique site… FamilyScrybe.com. It's about how you can create your own free family history web site. Fisher then visits backstage at RootsTech with David Hume Kennerly, one of the great historic photographers of our time, going back to the 1960s. David talks about his experiences as well as thoughts on how to get the most out of your family history pictures. Next, Paul Woodbury, DNA specialist at LegacyTree.com, visits with Fisher from the Legacy Tree RootsTech booth about dealing with the distant matches and putting them to work for you. David then returns as the guys talk about their highlights at RootsTech. The Mayflower 400 played a role, as did a new DNA lab that might be a game changer for many of us. Then, it is Ask Us Anything as the guys talk about the St. Louis archive fire of 1973, and what still might be worth going after. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Lots of great records are not on line, and won't be anytime soon. Fisher talks about a Catholic record type you might want to look for.

Fisher talks about school districts who created some unique records to help plan for buildings, teachers, and enrollment. Hear what's on these censuses and where to find them.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin with Fisher prodding David on his recent appearance in the pages of Woman's Day! David explains. David then shares that Extreme Genes has received something of a clerical blessing. Next the guys share the sorrowful news of the passing of genealogist Johni Cerny. Johni was the chief genealogist for Dr. Henry Louis Gates' PBS program Finding Your Roots, whose crew is mourning her loss. (Dr. Gates talks about her later in this show.) David then talks about the outstanding piece recently shared on Fox News about the oldest crimes that have been solved over the last two years using genetic genealogy. He then notes that a Canadian police force is now turning to the method. The last Negro League ballplayer to have played at the time of Jackie Robinson has passed. Hear who he was and just how old he was! Fisher then visits with Ron Arons, best known as a speaker on the subject of "black sheep" ancestors. Ron talks about a very useful technique for coming to understand more about the details in your ancestors' lives. He calls it "Mind Mapping." Find out how it works. Next, Ryan Woods, COO of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org comes on to talk with Fisher about how the Governor of Massachusetts is seeking legislation to limit access to vital records. It's a concept that, if spread around the country, could truly impact family history research. Hear Ryan's take on the situation. Dr. Henry Louis Gates visits with Fisher in the fourth segment, telling us a little about the late Johni Cerny, as well as the celebrities he hosts on this week's episode of Finding Your Roots on PBS. David Allen Lambert then returns for Ask Us Anything, tackling another listener question. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Websites aside, it's still a great idea to visit ancestral cemeteries. Fisher explains why and why Spring is the best time to do it.

If you're just beginning to share your family tree on public sites, here are a few standards for how you should record your ancestor's data.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys open with bad news from Plymouth, Massachusetts, where, in this year of Mayflower commemoration, someone or some group has sprayed some historic sites with spray paint. Hear the details. David then talks about a pair of great finds he recently made on an ancestor in a digitized newspaper site. The guys next talk about a recent follow up story from the Smithsonian about how an extremely rare piece of Thomas Jefferson 1800 campaign memorabilia was found by two boys in 1958. More recently, an eleven-year-old in Virginia, walking along a river, thought he found a gun shaped rock. Guess what?! David then shines his blogger spotlight on three bloggers out of eastern Europe. Fisher next visits with Colin Colbourne, Chief Historian of Project Recover. The non-profit recently announced that they have located three American World War II bombers in a lagoon in the Pacific. Hear about how the group did it and what happens next. Then, Photo Detective Maureen Taylor joins the show to talk about MyHeritage.com's recent colorization feature. Maureen and Fisher compare observations and share with you thoughts on how it may improve in the future… automatically! Dr. Henry Louis Gates then visits with Fisher about his latest episode of Finding Your Roots on PBS. This week, Dr. Gates talks about his guests who all are at least partly of Italian descent. But for at least two of them, there's a little surprise waiting in their DNA! David Allen Lambert rejoins Fisher to wrap up the show with another round of Ask Us Anything. The guys tackle a listener question about altered ages and birthdates in various records. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

What's in an occupation? The answer is often similar to that of the question "What's in a name?"

Genealogy research demands a lot of notes. Why would you want to add to them with a "research log?" Fisher explains.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin the show talking about a remarkable new tool from MyHeritage.com which allows you colorize your old photos! Everyone is having a blast with it as it works well for most photos. Fisher and David talk about some of the emotion they felt seeing their old photos in a whole new way. David then announces his appearance on the History Channel on February 19th talking about Black Patriots for Black History Month. The show is hosted by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Next, an African-American cemetery from the colonial era is getting the DNA treatment. A company in Texas hopes to identify descendants of those interred in the cemetery in New Hampshire. The guys then talk about the recent find of underground Nazi bunkers near the beaches of Normandy. Hear what was in them. David is excited that NEHGS has received a collection of Roosevelt family papers from the family of Theodore Roosevelt. Hear what the collection contains. David's blogger spotlight shines on Carl Benedict McCarthy of New York City. Find his blog at ofaplace.com. Next, Fisher visits with Diahan Southard, Your DNA Guide, who has written a book to help you strategize on meeting your DNA research goals. It is called "Your DNA Guide, The Book." It is in presale right now at YourDNAGuide.com and you'll be able to get your signed copy at RootsTech! Diahan explains how various DNA research goals require different strategies. She will share a couple. Then, Fisher visits with Memory Web co-founder Chris Desmond who talks about some strategies for organizing, digitizing and sharing your family photo collection. He also explains how the Memory Web app simplifies organization like no one else can. Sabin Streeter is in this week from PBS, filling in for Dr. Henry Louis Gates, talking about the latest episode of Finding Your Roots. Sabin shares some remarkable stories from the show, one that is particularly fascinating concerning the origins of an ancestor of Tonight Show drummer Questlove. Then, David Allen Lambert returns for another Ask Us Anything listener question. This one has to do with the War of 1812. That's all this week on Extreme Genes- America's Family History Show!

When your most "expert" friends can't help you solve your genealogical problem, may it's time to hire a professional.

Have you ever considered "going wide" instead of "going deep?" No, we're not talking football here. But it is a genealogical technique that can earn you a lot of research yardage.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. They begin Family Histoire News with a story you probably never heard of in your family… exploding pants! They were a real thing in the 1930s. Hear where and why. Then, the guys will tell you about America's oldest driver. You won't believe his age and life story. Then, World War II continues in London. Hear why. Next it's the story of the London Loo! It's really old and there is a lot stuff from a LONG time ago being found in it. David then spotlights VLOGGER Jarrett Ross. His blog is all video at youtube.com/geneavlogger. Fisher then visits with Greg Luce and Annette O'Connell, advocates for adoptees rights. New York has just opened original birth records to adoptees born there. Find out what this means to adoptees there and elsewhere, potentially, in the United States. If you are an adoptee born in New York, Annette will tell you how you can obtain your original birth certificate. Fisher then chats with Jessica Howe of Legacy Tree Genealogists. Jessica shares how to use migration patterns to help learn the origins of your ancestors. Jessica has a great story she discovered in her own lines using this technique. Dr. Henry Louis Gates next brings you up to date on the latest episode of Finding Your Roots on PBS. The latest celebrity discoveries will amaze you! David Allen Lambert then rejoins the show for Ask Us Anything, as the guys tackle a question about firemen records. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

DNA test results can give you a whole lot more than ethnicity numbers. Are you taking full advantage of all they have to offer?

What is and what isn't a genealogical "source?" Fisher explains why it's important to know the difference.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, the Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys talk about a new download record on the podcast side of the show… over 63,000 for January. Thank you genies! David then shares some historic anniversaries from the past two weeks, including the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945, the start of Prohibition in 1920 and the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower. Plus Arlington Cemetery is getting a reprieve on its space problems. Hear what has happened. Speaking of cemeteries, a grave yard in Tennessee is in trouble for reusing a casket! Get the details. Another lost African-American cemetery has been found in Florida. This time its under an office building. David then talks about a DNA study you might play a role in concerning Scotland and the Shetland Islands. Next, Fisher visits with Dr. Henry Louis Gates from the PBS show Finding Your Roots. Dr. Gates talks about the most recent episode and gets into an important discussion with Fisher about what genealogy can do to teach people about themselves. It's a remarkable conversation by an icon in our field. Then, if you're wondering what's happening at RootsTech 2020, Tyler Stahle and Jen Allen from familysearch.org take a few minutes to go through the highlights. It's going to be a great conference! David Allen Lambert then returns for Ask Us Anything. David and Fisher tackle a question about a dispute over an ancestral couple and where they're buried and how to resolve it. Also, a genie wants to know about finding an account of a family story he has heard since his youth. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Searching Google is a great way to find family history. Here are a few tricks for improving your searches.

Have you ever considered ordering your family Coat of Arms or Crest from one of those on line companies? Here is what they are and why you might want to think again about buying.