{"id":5578,"date":"2013-12-12T16:43:22","date_gmt":"2013-12-12T16:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=5578"},"modified":"2023-11-01T14:25:02","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T18:25:02","slug":"5-must-haves-on-a-genealogists-dream-christmas-gift-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/5-must-haves-on-a-genealogists-dream-christmas-gift-list.html","title":{"rendered":"5 \u2018Must-Haves\u2019 on a Genealogist\u2019s Dream Christmas Gift List"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><em>Introduction<\/em><\/strong><em>: In this article, Scott Phillips lets his imagination loose and dreams up five fantastical genealogy gifts he\u2019d like to receive this Christmas. Scott is a genealogical historian and owner of Onward To Our Past\u00ae genealogy services.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<p>As lovers of genealogy and our families\u2019 history there are two things we can all take for granted: the first is that we are always on Santa\u2019s \u201cNice List,\u201d and the second is that there are always a multitude of new gadgets, books, and gizmos that we put on our list for Santa when this festive time of year rolls around. One of my very favorite Christmas gifts was from my wife, and was a \u201cone-a-day\u201d genealogy calendar with this quote on January 1st: \u201cI used to have a life and then I started doing genealogy!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Recently, while I was searching through GenealogyBank\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/explore\/newspapers\/all\">Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>, I got into the Christmas spirit\u2014and I spent some time thinking about what my Genealogy Dream List for Santa would be if I ever got on the Jolly Old Elf\u2019s special list: the one titled \u201cThese genealogists were SO nice they get whatever they want\u2014money is no object!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These are my five dream genealogy gifts, inspired by newspaper articles I read:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ground-Penetrating Radar Unit<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>My own Ground-Penetrating Radar Unit for those cemeteries I visit that are not very well marked or not marked at all. Cost: around $40,000\u2014but I am only asking for one! You see I was reading an article in a 2005 Vermont newspaper that told the story of some local folks using ground-penetrating radar to try and locate Native American remains.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/st.-albans-daily-messenger-newspaper-1219-2005-abenaki-remains.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5579\" title=\"st.-albans-daily-messenger-newspaper-1219-2005-abenaki-remains\" src=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/st.-albans-daily-messenger-newspaper-1219-2005-abenaki-remains.png\" alt=\"Abenaki Remains Lie in Alburg, page 1, St. Albans Daily Messenger newspaper article 19 December 2005\" width=\"785\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/st.-albans-daily-messenger-newspaper-1219-2005-abenaki-remains.png 785w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/st.-albans-daily-messenger-newspaper-1219-2005-abenaki-remains-300x103.png 300w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/st.-albans-daily-messenger-newspaper-1219-2005-abenaki-remains-500x171.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 785px) 100vw, 785px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5580\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5580\" style=\"width: 783px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/st.-albans-daily-messenger-newspaper-1219-2005-abenaki-remains-page-2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5580\" title=\"st.-albans-daily-messenger-newspaper-1219-2005-abenaki-remains-page-2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/st.-albans-daily-messenger-newspaper-1219-2005-abenaki-remains-page-2.png\" alt=\"Abenaki Remains Lie in Alburg, page 2, St. Albans Daily Messenger newspaper article 19 December 2005\" width=\"783\" height=\"227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/st.-albans-daily-messenger-newspaper-1219-2005-abenaki-remains-page-2.png 783w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/st.-albans-daily-messenger-newspaper-1219-2005-abenaki-remains-page-2-300x86.png 300w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/st.-albans-daily-messenger-newspaper-1219-2005-abenaki-remains-page-2-500x144.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5580\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">St. Albans Daily Messenger (St. Albans, Vermont), 19 December 2005, pages 1-2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Google Street View Car<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How about a Google Street View Vehicle with a camera for viewing any place on earth when I want to see where my ancestors used to live? Cost: Google headquarters did not return my call asking for their pricing for one of these vehicles\u2014but I am sure, dear Santa, you have all the clout you need, even with Google, to make this happen. After reading an article in a 2008 Illinois newspaper, I decided to add this vehicle to my list. By the way Santa, I hope you are up-to-date on this technology, since I have learned that Google now has their Street View cameras mounted not only on cars, but also on snowmobiles, trolleys, bikes, and even backpacks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Genealogy Tip:<\/em><\/strong> There is an app that will <a href=\"http:\/\/www.neatorama.com\/2010\/06\/06\/historypin-overlays-google-street-view-with-historical-images\/#!pJ7nB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">overlay Google Street View with historical images<\/a> called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.historypin.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HistoryPin<\/a>. It is free to use.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5581\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5581\" style=\"width: 484px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/register-star-newspaper-0328-2008-google-street-view.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5581\" title=\"register-star-newspaper-0328-2008-google-street-view\" src=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/register-star-newspaper-0328-2008-google-street-view.png\" alt=\"Google Map Feature Now Gives People Close Look at Rockford Streets, Register Star newspaper article 28 March 2008\" width=\"484\" height=\"525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/register-star-newspaper-0328-2008-google-street-view.png 484w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/register-star-newspaper-0328-2008-google-street-view-276x300.png 276w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 484px) 100vw, 484px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5581\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Register Star (Rockford, Illinois), 28 March 2008, page 31<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>NASA Spy Satellite<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I also \u201cneed\u201d my own NASA Spy Satellite, so that I can get truly awesome aerial views of anywhere on earth my ancestors might have lived (and I bet a few terrific sunrise and sunset photos in my free time). Cost: $500 million in 1988 dollars. Just so you know Santa, I got this price tag from an article in a 1988 South Dakota newspaper that referred to a \u201cLacrosse\u201d model satellite. I realize the price may be a bit higher now than in 1988, but I like the comment in this article that a Lacrosse satellite would provide \u201cextremely sharp\u201d images. So please, Santa, if you have to modernize this request, keep the \u201cextremely sharp\u201d images requirement in mind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Genealogy Tip:<\/em><\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.google.com\/earth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Earth<\/a> may be the next best thing for aerial views. It is free to download and use.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5582\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5582\" style=\"width: 774px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/aberdeen-daily-news-newspaper-1129-1988-lacrosse-satellite.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5582\" title=\"aberdeen-daily-news-newspaper-1129-1988-lacrosse-satellite\" src=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/aberdeen-daily-news-newspaper-1129-1988-lacrosse-satellite.png\" alt=\"Invisible Shuttle Countdown Clock, Aberdeen Daily News newspaper article 29 November 1988\" width=\"774\" height=\"386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/aberdeen-daily-news-newspaper-1129-1988-lacrosse-satellite.png 774w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/aberdeen-daily-news-newspaper-1129-1988-lacrosse-satellite-300x149.png 300w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/aberdeen-daily-news-newspaper-1129-1988-lacrosse-satellite-500x249.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 774px) 100vw, 774px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5582\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aberdeen Daily News (Aberdeen, South Dakota), 29 November 1988, page 8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Top-of-the-Line Magnifying Glass<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A really top-grade Magnifying Glass is also on my list. I got the basic idea for this from a fascinating article about the use of magnifying glasses in ancient times, from an 1893 South Carolina newspaper. I\u2019m not interested in just any magnifying glass, however\u2014I have discovered that there is a Swarovski Crystals magnifying glass encrusted in jewels. This would look just lovely on my desk! Even though the advertisement I read didn\u2019t list the price, I am sure you can swing getting me one, Santa\u2026or maybe a matching pair so that my wife doesn\u2019t feel slighted!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5583\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5583\" style=\"width: 526px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/state-newspaper-0910-1893-ancient-magnifying-glasses.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5583\" title=\"state-newspaper-0910-1893-ancient-magnifying-glasses\" src=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/state-newspaper-0910-1893-ancient-magnifying-glasses.png\" alt=\"Evidence of the Existence of the Magnifying Glass in Ancient Times, State newspaper article 10 September 1893\" width=\"526\" height=\"520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/state-newspaper-0910-1893-ancient-magnifying-glasses.png 526w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/state-newspaper-0910-1893-ancient-magnifying-glasses-300x296.png 300w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/state-newspaper-0910-1893-ancient-magnifying-glasses-303x300.png 303w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5583\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">State (Columbia, South Carolina), 10 September 1893, page 6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>\u201cWayback\u201d Machine<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I have just one more gift request if you would, Santa. If the spirit moves you to assign some of your elves to working on a new, sure-to-be-popular gift, how about this idea? My inspiration came from a 1981 California newspaper article titled \u201cAll-Time Top 40 TV\u2019s Best? Try These.\u201d I noticed the inclusion of one of my favorite shows as a youngster, <em>Rocky and His Friends<\/em>, which triggered my imagination. I recalled that my favorite segment on the show was \u201cPeabody\u2019s Improbable History\u201d and his instruction to his assistant, Sherman, to \u201cSet the <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Waybackmachine3.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wayback Machine<\/a>.\u201d The more I think about it, the more I am sure every genealogist in the world would stand in any line necessary to get their own Wayback Machine. It\u2019s a surefire winner\u2014and my last Christmas gift request.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5584\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5584\" style=\"width: 446px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/san-diego-union-newspaper-1025-1981-rocky-cartoon.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5584\" title=\"san-diego-union-newspaper-1025-1981-rocky-cartoon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/san-diego-union-newspaper-1025-1981-rocky-cartoon.png\" alt=\"Rocky and His Friends, San Diego Union newspaper article 25 October 1981\" width=\"446\" height=\"157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/san-diego-union-newspaper-1025-1981-rocky-cartoon.png 446w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/san-diego-union-newspaper-1025-1981-rocky-cartoon-300x105.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 446px) 100vw, 446px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5584\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Diego Union (San Diego, California), 25 October 1981, page 211<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>So tell me\u2026what would you have on your Ultimate Genealogy Christmas List for Santa?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>n this article, Scott Phillips lets his imagination loose and dreams up five fantastical genealogy gifts he\u2019d like to receive this Christmas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12703],"tags":[45],"class_list":["post-5578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holidays","tag-christmas"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5578"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":95639,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5578\/revisions\/95639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}