A Library and a Laptop

I don't have a photo for Wordless Wednesday so I guess this will be a Wordy Wednesday.
I have been in the library for the last two days, the genealogical library in Houston. Clayton Library is one of the top libraries in the country for genealogical research. I hadn't been here for a while, but I used to visit at every opportunity. Now it is a catch as catch can visiting style.

The rules at the Library have changed significantly since I first started using it. The original library was an old house, overflowing at the seams with books and people. Part of the back section of the house was full of books that we were allowed to access ourselves, as opposed to the "closed stacks" of other libraries, but we were supposed to go back with the filing numbers, pick up the book, then return to our seats. That was an almost impossible task, Almost everyone would peek in the books to see if their long sought names were there. At frequent intervals, a staff member would burst upon the scene and announce, as a reminder, that we were not supposed to look at the books back there. This announcement was punctuated by books being quickly returned to selves and people squeezing by one another in the too-narrow aisles, to carry a books back to their seats. The situation was not ideal, but the information available far outweighed the negatives.

Then, we built a new library. I say "we," because it was a grass roots effort, in conjunction with the Houston Public Library system. Now there is a two story facility that houses a collection that can be browsed to our heart's content. Books, microfilm, microfiche, computers, Internet, access for personal laptops - you name it, they have it. As for the lovely old home that was used to house the books. It was the depository for family histories. Now, it is closed for renovation and the family history books are available in the main building.

I used my laptop to access my genealogy files, while searching through the library books. I was also able to use the laptop to cross-reference files on the Internet. Except for the chattering women behind me, it was a surreal time. I wonder what happened to the library etiquette we learned in school. If you are doing any genealogy, be sure to visit Clayton Library. It is Texas, and user, friendly.

It's in the Mail!

My DNA is in the mail!

It was an easy thing to do. Open the package, fill in the paperwork - name, address, etc, sign and get a witness to sign - Then open the vial of mouth wash and swish for 45 seconds. Spit the mouthwash, slowly, back into the cup, put the lid on tightly and place the cup in the plastic bag. All the instructions are there, everything you need is included, and there is no cost. Even children ages 7 and up can participate.
The hardest things to do:

• Open the box - open carefully because you re-use it to send the information back to them. It is already stamped and addressed. It weighs only 3 ounces so it doesn't have to go to the postal desk.
• Find a witness - most won't have a problem with this. I had to go out in the yard and get my neighbor, who was working in the garden, to witness my signature.
• Fill in the genealogical chart - not really that hard if you know your name, your parent's names, your grandparent's names, and gr-grandparent's names - 4 generations. If you don't have your gr-grandparent's info, get your child to swish and document through your grandparents or contact the genealogist in your family.
• Hold the mouthwash in mouth for 45 seconds. It reminded me of the Listerene commercial.
• Fill everything out before swishing. It must be in the mail within 24 hours after the sample collection.
• Wait a year or more to find out about any possible connections.

You can order several of these kits if you need them. What a great family reunion project or to use at your genealogy meeting!

Tracking the Migration of the Seven Daughters of Eve

It has long been said that things happen in 3's.....good things? bad things? interesting things? Maybe we just don't notice the things until the 3rd one pops up. Perhaps that is the case here because, although it did not seem related at first, it could be construed that way.

The first thing was a DNA test. At conception, a baby recieves chromosomes from each parent. The sex of the child is determined by the "X" & "Y" chromosomes. Females receive two "X" chromosomes and a male receives one "X" and one "Y." This particular DNA test follows the male / "Y" chromosome. After years of hitting my head against a brick wall with no leads on the progenitors of the family name, I asked my DH to take a DNA test to see if it could suggest a connection I could then explore. It didn't. His ancestors must have been dropped here by aliens.

The second thing happened when I visited DH's brother in California. He encouraged me to read a book he had just finished called "The Seven Daughters of Eve" by Bryan Sykes.
This book examines the true study of DNA extracted from a man found frozen and undiscovered for centuries. Sykes and his colleagues study the mitochondrial DNA, in the "X" chromosome,which is inherited from the mother and mutates very, very slowly, over thousands of years. Eventually, Sykes and his colleagues trace the DNA to seven females who are the ancestors of all Europeans. He assigns names and historical stories to each female - Ursula, Velda, Tara, Xenia, Katrine, Helena, and Jasmine.
The search continues today as the scientists attempt to track the spread of the mitochondrial DNA in the modern world.

The third thing occurred during my 6 a.m. daily walk with my friends. They are a diverse and interesting group whom you will surely hear more about, in time. In the course of one of our conversations, Friend K mentioned that she was related to Tara I. Tara I is one of the so-called seven daughters of Eve. Thus, we came full circle when I asked how she knew.

I refer you to this site and urge you to have your DNA tested to help map the migration of the seven daughters of Eve. It took my friend over a year to find which daughter she was descended from and, of course, there are no names, only numbers. Be a part of history!


This is taken from the letter I received after I requested a DNA kit:

Thank you for your recent request to become part of the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation global database. Your participation kit was sent 10/5/2007.

We appreciate your contribution to this important and historical study. You are helping us grow the world genetic family tree, one branch at a time! Genealogical and genetic data submitted to our study by you and others will provide valuable information to many people worldwide who are earnestly seeking their family roots, both today and in generations to come. You can help build the database at an expedited pace by collecting additional DNA samples and genealogies from family members,friends, and neighbors. We can ship the collection material directly to
your home, or you can go to our website at www.SMGF.org and request
additional kits in their behalf. Participation in the SMGF global database is free, confidential, and simple. As our database grows larger, it will become a greater asset to those searching for their ancestors using DNA. Your collection of samples will help the Sorenson
Database reach its potential.

If you would like additional material to be shipped to you, please reply to this email and let us know how many participation kits you would like to receive. A representative from our organization will be available to assist you with any questions you might have about collecting the extra samples and genealogies and how to ship them back to our offices at nocost to you.

Again, we are grateful for your participation and we look forward to receiving your participation kit.

Sincerely,

SMGF Team
2480 S. Main Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
800-344-7643
participate@smgf.org