creation

Google My LisaA. Alzo showsyou how to use this often-untapped feature of Drive for your genealogy

ANY,GENEALOGISTS ARE LIKELYFAMILIAR WITH , Creating Your First Map 'f)Ww.google.com,and , www.google.com/intl/en/ In order to use Google My Maps, earth, tools that respectively help with drivin. g directions, yciu need to first have a free Google and exploration of places in 3D or at street level. But () account. If you doQ.'t al­ Google also has another lesser known free mapping tool ready have an account, follow the calledM Google My Maps you can use to create maps that show different steps at http:l/mail.google.com/mail kinds of information to_share and publish online. tci create one. Sign in and then nav­ igate over to (do this lll 0 by clicking on the Google . Apps icon at the right (it looks like a box made up of nine dots) and then click on the Google Drive icon. Once in Google Drive, pull down the arrow next to ''My Drive" and then go to More, . Google My Maps. You will then see a screen · that has a blank untitled map. You can start by clicking on "Un-, tided Map" and you will see a· box where you can give your map a title and a description. Click "Save" and then .you can do any of the follow­ mg: o Draw lines, shapes, or Google My Maps Base Map default map. placemarks on the map. 0 Import geographically-specific Using Google My Maps for Genealogy · data including addresses, place As part of Google Drive, Google My Maps, .www.google.com/mjmaps, lets names, or latitud e and longitude you customize and personalize a map of your own. On My Maps, you can coordinates. save direct ions, add photos and other item·s to your map, import info to 0 Organize your map with l.ayers your map, style and label map content, and create custom icons. to hide or show different kinds of content. Some examples of how you can use Google My Maps for genealogy include: 0 Style your content with 0 Make your own map showing your ancestors' town of origin and where different colors, placemark they traveled to icons, and line widths. o Track migration patterns of an ancestor or family over time ·Click the bar with the three dot~ 0 Show key informa tion about a "cluster" community, marking churches, to rename the layer, delete the layer, · · schools, social organizations, and other important places or open the data table in the map. 0 Map historical events that impacted your ancestors' lives (for example, All your changes will be saved in the US Civil War, natural disasters, etc.) Google _Drive. Click the "Learn 0 Create your own .tour route for heritage travel more" link for help with adding

www.internet-gene .alogy.com - February/March 2017 - Internet GENEALOGY . 7 · map creation

places to the layer by drawing or 2. _Search for the business, 9. Click a mark~r on the map or · importing data. address, or point of interest in the left-hand panel. A that you want to add. A new, white circie appears around -CustomizingYour Map non-permanent layer entitled the selected marker. One of the best features is the abil­ "Search: your search term" 10. An info window appears with ity to change the base map with will automatically appear in the content's title and other one click. If you want a different the left panel and your results information. look than the regular - will show as green pins on map, you can select from nine dif­ the map: You can hide a layer at any time ferent styles to find the one that .by unclicking the check box to the 3. To add that pin to your layers, left of it. best suits your desired map. Chang­ click the result. Then click ing the base map can highlight your "Add to map". Adding and Editing information by removing extra la­ Information bels and state lines. 4. To clear the search results, click the X above the results You can add and edit information To change the base map: in the left panel. You can and other content (including pho­ 1. Qpen a new or existing map add up to 2,000 map features tos) to your map in an info window in "My Maps". per layer. on the map, label and style your 2. At the bottom of the left map content, and even add many NOTE:When you search for a place, panel, to the left of "Base placerriarks at once by importing you are typically getting modern data. . map," click the drop-down maps/locations as results.You can arrow. always add links to historical maps Adding lines and shapes to -your map can help you to trace your road 3. Hover over the thumbnails online, or upload map images or historical photographs you have trip, keep track of property lines, or to get a description of the saved on your own computer to your box off a neighborhood where your base map style. _map. To create maps with more . ancestor lived. extensive or detailed historical 4. Click any of the map Here is how to add a_line·or a thumbnails to view your data overlays, you will want to consider . using Google Earth. shape: with the new base inap. 1. Open a new or existing map If you prefer to draw in order to in "My Maps". Add Placesand add a place, do the following: Search·Results 2. In the left panel, click the 1. Open a new or existing map There are two ways to save and layer you want to use. The in "My Maps". map important places in Google selected layer will be blue My Maps: By searching for loca­ 2. In the left panel, · click the on the left edge layer you want to use. The tions, or by drawing them directly 3. In the tocilbar, click the line on the map. selected layer will be blue on the left edge. or shape icon draw a line or If you want to search to add shape. Choose whether you a place, like a restaurant, hotel, 3. In the toolbar, click "Add want to add a line or shape, or museum, or as .a genealogist, a marker." Your cursor ch.anges or add a route. church, cemetery, or vital records into a"+". office, you can use the search box 4. Your cursor changes to a"+". 4. Click on the map where you Move the cursor to where you provided. want to place your marker. Here is how to search for and add want to start drawing, then 5. In the info window, add _a click once. plates: dtle and description. 5. Click at each point of your Open a new or existing map in 6. To save, click "Save" line or shape. The more you "My Maps". or press "Enter". click, the more precise your 1. In the left panel, click the 7. See more information about line or shape will be. To move layer you want _to use. The a marker. the ·map, click and hold the selected layer will be blue 8. Open a new or existing map mouse. on the left edge. in "My Maps". 6. To finish drawing your line,

8 Internet GENEALOGY - February/March 2017 - www.internet-genealogy.com double click on the last point. · To finish drawing your shape, click on the starting point. ·-·#-·­it!- 7. Click "Enter" to save. ,,_.

"i-...o...... ·- ...-,. ... ~- . Import Info ·-·.-..(Ii You can pull multiple pieces of geographical info into a map all at once. In the first step, you will prepare your data. You can ·import a CSV, TSV, KML, KMZ, GPX, or XLSX file, or a sheet from Google Drive. (Note: You can import only one data file per layer, and each file can have up to 2,000 rows). Import Content o-­ 1. Open "My Maps" .,/---,-~e.,...,...,-----...... -'i on your computer. ·-­ 2. Open a new or existing map. . .,,..,._,.a..,,,._...__.,_.,..·-- J: ;,.._,._,. 3. In the legend on the left, die½ ''Add layer". 4. To give the new layer

a name, click it. . TOP: Customized Google My Map the author created to track the migration of her grandfather . 5. Under the new layer, sonoM Closer look at one layer of the migration map for Jan Alfo showing the church . k "I " ' (from ) where his marriage took place and the marriage license the author c1 1c mport . uploaded .to the map. 6. Drag a file from your computer, select a Google and videos, text notes about places . Style·and LabelMap Content Drive file or open a preyious on the map, and extra info, like a You can color the content on your · "My Maps" map. description or website. . m;p. Perhaps you will want to do 7. Click "Choose a file To add and manage content : this to distinguish the different to upload". cities or towns where an ancestor' · 1. Open an existing map in "My lived, or places you want to visit on 8. Pick one or more columns Maps" on your computer. a genealogy research trip. It is also that identify the location of · 2. Cli~k a placemark, shape, or possibl_e to style your placemarks, yo'ur data . . line on the map. In the box lines, and shapes. You can style all 9. Click "Continue". that appears on the map, . your items in a layer together, or 10. Pick a single column to label click "Edit". · style them separately. the data on the map. 3. To add text, type in the box. To style content together: 11. Click "Finish". 4. To add images or videos; click 1. Open a new or existing 12. Places will be automatically · the camera icon. "My Map". added to the map and 5. Choose how you want to add 2. Select the layer you want available in a list in the a photo or video. To add to edit. · legend on the left. more photos or videos, click 3. Click "Style" below the Add Photos, Text, and the + button. To remove a layer title. photo or video, click delete. Other Items to Your Map 4. Select how you want to style Once you've created a map in My 6. Click "Save". your layer content under the . Maps, you can add and edit extra 7. Your changes will appear in "Group places by" dropdown: information. You can add photos the table view as well. Uniform style - This choice

www.internet-genealogy.com - February/March 2017 - Internet GENEALOGY 9 map creation 9

makes all the content look the , 4. Label your markers, lines, .jpg, .png, .bmp, or .gif file of any same, but allows you to change and shapes size to an image hosting website, the color and icon shape of the You can choose to display labels like imgur.com. My Maps will scale places at once . for any feature directly on the the icon to the right size, which is Sequence ofcolors and letters - map for easy browsing: . 32x32 pixels. This choice automatically assigns 1. Open a new or existing If you want to use an icon with a a color gradient and letter to "MM" each placemark icon, keeping y ap. transparent background, create the same order as Individual 2. Select the layer to which you your custom icon in RGB color styles. You can changethe icon want to add the labels. mode. Icons with a transparent shape. 3. Click"Style" below the background created in indexed Individual styles - This choice layer title. colcir mode won't work. gives you.the option to color all · of your content one by one, and 4. Click .the "S~t labels" NOTE:Custom icons are available give them all different styling. · drop-down menu, then select only for the map you add the_m to. the column header you want Style by data column - This They aren't stored in the list of choice gives you the option to to have label the features on available icons for later use. use a data column to group your your map. data for styling, Click one of the Create Custom Icons Previewing, Editing and column titles to select it, then click the radio button next to the You can add your own icons for Sharing Your Map . type of style. map placemarks if you'd like to If you look underneath the title and Range - This option breaks up use . an image that's not already description in the panel section of your numeric data set into up available. For example, add an icon your map, you will see "Add Layer", to eight "buckets" (i.e., groups). that represents your store to mark "Share", and "Preview" which are . For the definition of "buckets", loc,ations on the map. To add a cus­ all actions you can employ simply see http://en. wikipedia.orglwiki/ tom icon, follow these instructions: by clicking on the desired icon. Bucket_sort. You have the option to have this displayed in a gradi­ 1. Sign in to your account. "Add Layer" (the stack symbol) lets ent or assign each respective 2. Open an existing map in you add a new layer to your map. bucket a unique color . "My Maps". "Preview" enables you to see how it Categories - This option groups 3. In the legend on the left, · will look in view-only mode when your data into matching attrib­ click the layer where you you · share your map. Click the utes and sorts them in destend­ want to add an icon. Make "Share" button (the person silhou- · in·g order by amount of map ette with the + next to it) to gener­ content present. sure there's at least one placemark on the layer. ate a link for your map and share Select from different colors, icon the link via email, on Google+, shapes, and line widths. You can 4. In the left panel, hover over also choose -from a large set of the placemark and click the Facebook, or Twitter. You can set fun icons by clicking the More color icon Color. the link sharing to "On" meaning it icons button, or add your own 5. Click "More 1cons". is Public on the Web and anyone custom icons. on the Internet can find and access 6. In the "Choose an icon" Once you've selected how to window, click Custom icon. the link and no sign-in is required, style the overall layer, you can or "On'' where anyone who has the 7. Click l~age URL modify the style, or change link can access it (no sign-in re­ individual elements. 8. Enter the web address for quired), or set it to "Off - Specific your icon. Make sure the people" where you share the link If you want to style individual image you're using is public. only with specific people. You can places, lines, and shapes, follow 9. Click "Select''. ' these steps invite people by entering names or 10. In the "Choose an icon" email addresses and designate 1. Open a new or existing window, click Ok . access privileges (can edit, or can "My Map". view) and check a box to prevent 2. Click the piece ofcontent in Formatting an Icon editors from changing access to the the left panel you want to style. (links, size, and color) map and adding new people who 3. Click the Color button or a Your custom icon must be a live can access it. The default is set to different icon shape. link on the web. You can upload a "Private."

1 0 Internet GENEALOGY - February/March 2017 - .~.internet-gi;nealogy.com To permanently remove a map, them into the places (I select~d the go to Google Drive and right click _ camera icon to indicated the pho- it and then click "Remove". To be . tographs). I searched for places/ X sure it is gone, go to "Empty Trash towns and then added them to the Edit map title and description in your Google Drive". map (I used the pin icon to mark MJ,lilfe '. You can also use my maps on the places). The map is then stored j Jan Alzo~ation Map your mobile device. For details, see in Google Drive and I use it as a Description . ' fliVJSUafti'J'leline map to trackmigratiml of John I http_;//support.google.comlmymapsl visual timeline whenever I need l\gg (Jan ~Al.!p) from Kucin, Sloval

Locating Your Roots: Discover Your Ancestors Using Land Records USINGLAND RECORDS Land records - grants, deeds, mortgages, surveys, and more - are among the most ....,._____O,,Paal

History for Genealogists History for Genealogists is a rarity: It's one of the very few history books in print that is written for genealogists. Here's what we mean: Let's say you have lost track of your 1880 ' ancestor in Iowa. Have you considered that he might have moved there during the Economic Panic of 1873? Or maybe your forebears were living in Texas in the 1840s. Did you know that they might have come from Kentucky as part of the "Peters Colony"? Are you aware that you can learn a great deal about your ancestors if they belonged to a labor or - fraternal organization like the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, or the Catholic Family Life Insurance Society? In other words, knowing a little history can go a long way in helping you find elusive ancestors. Author Judy Jacobson dissects the past into scores of time lines. Researchers can also make use of a time line for the history of each of the 50 states, and, in brief, for the restof North America, Europe, and more. Readers of the original 2009 edition will enjoy the new time lines concerning (1) life on the homefront during America's 20th-century wars; and (2) fashion and leisure in America from its beginnings through the middle of the 20th century. Price: $43.00 ppd. ISBN: 9780806357683. Item#: CF8250 . , Genealogical Publishing Company, 3600 Clipper Mill Rd., Ste 260, Baltimore, MD 21211 Tel: t-800-296-6687 , website: www.genealogical.com

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