Weekly LIVE Updates at Projectkin

Barbara at Projectkin

Archives of our weekly updates from Barbara, the Projectkin ringleader. Each week, she shares a short update about what's ahead for the coming week, inviting guests to share their perspectives or plans for special events. Though the program is live, recordings provide access to useful links and references discussed during the program. The live event is available only to subscribers and followers through the Substack app for web, desktop, or mobile. Subscriptions are free. projectkin.substack.com

  1. 3d ago

    Stories250 with guest Helene McClanahan of Letters from Labelle

    Thank you, Mira Romaine, Kyla Bayang, Jennifer Jones, Linda Teather, Tamara Buzyna Adams, Jim the Historian, Sheri Handel, Becky Hetchler, Karen - Your Family Stories, Bill Schock, Nolene, MamaCarole, John Higginbotham, Todd Wilson, Judith Dianne Ely, Bill Moore, and so many more for joining Helene McClanahan and me today. I can’t tell you how much it means to me here on the American West Coast to see all of you joining from across the Pacific in Australia and New Zealand, and from across the American states and Canadian provinces. The little ❤️s you drop keep us motivated and give this series a little more visibility. Feel free to create clips from this post to share with your friends. Projectkin programming is offered free thanks to the kind support of our generous patrons around 🌏 the 🌍 world 🌎. The War Wasn’t the Same in the West Helene’s personal perspective on this complicated side of the war lets us “ride shotgun” on the battles and appreciate the harsh realities of this conflict. Her presentation of the story plucked just the rudiments of the story she’s been knitting in the chapter releases about her ancestor, legendary Pennsylvania & Kentucky Frontiersman John Hinkson (1729-1789). This incredible story is a fantastic introduction to the western side of this battle for anyone with ancestors from this area. A little research into your own ancestors may drop you right into this story, or perhaps into the next valley. If you’re not already familiar with Helene | Letters from LaBelle, you’ll find her publication here: About Stories250 Learn more about the series at Projectkin.org/stories250, view all recordings and posts, then explore the posts in an interactive timeline. You’ll find the first of the eight chapters she’s released so far here: Remember, all of our speakers, their guests, and community members are invited to our two free programs on Thursday, July 9th where we’ll talk about the stories, our experience with this project, and where this might go from here. The two programs will be recorded and shared the next day in a single recording. This program will celebrate the conclusion of the series and complement the commemorative magazine I’m producing to include all articles in the series. Learn more: If you have stories to share, there’s still time. The window to submit posts remains open through midnight Pacific time on June 30th. Learn more at Projectkin.org/stories250. Participation in the program is entirely free. As Projectkin, we’re here to help families tell their stories in any form. I feel strongly that our collections of photos and other artifacts are key to our memories and, in turn, our stories. If you have a publication of your own, and you think your friends might find this interesting, why not let your friends know with a recommendation? These are public posts, and our events are free because sharing your stories is that important. Let’s get this started See all coming events in our calendar at Projectkin.org/events. With the American Semiquincentennial coming up next week, I’m taking a holiday on Friday, July 5th. Our next program will be the July 9th duo. Join us? (As Mission: Genealogy, I’ll also be hosting sessions on July 7th. Please see MissionGenealogy.org/events to learn more.) Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe

    46 min

  2. Jun 21

    Projectkin Live: The View from Kathy's Corner

    Thank you Bill Moore, Rose Mungaray, Gail Saucedo, Linda Teather, MamaCarole, Diane Burley, Marian Beaman, and so many of you for joining Kathy Stone, and me today. I can’t tell you how much it means to me here on the American Pacific coast to see all of you joining from the UK, the continent, across the American states and Canadian provinces. Your thoughts, comments, and encouragement are the glue that holds this community together. The little ❤️s you drop keep us motivated and give this series a little more visibility. Feel free to create clips from this post to share with your friends. Projectkin programming is offered free thanks to the kind support of our generous patrons around 🌏 the 🌍 world 🌎. Of Quilting Bees and Scrapbooks This Solstice weekend was a little different from your ordinary weekday break. I’m updating these notes after my drive home from a getaway with my husband in a secret location in the Sierra Foothills. Kathy used the livestream as a break from her marathon Zoom sessions with scrapbooking friends, keeping each other company while scrapbooking. This modern twist on the quilting bee had Kathy thinking about how we tell our own stories. She’d recently lost a dear friend whom she’d gotten to know when her kids were little. Like Kathy, her “mom-friend” was the family storykeeper. She was the one who collected the kids’ stories, treasures, and mementos. With her passing, the family struggled to collect remembrances. Losing her friend was a wake-up call. It’s time to focus on her own stories. Or, as Kathy’s guest in May, Lori Olson White puts it, it’s time to “tell your own damn stories.” The quiet mountain air, dazzling starlight, and the chatter of woodpeckers, wrens, and ravens have a way of focusing the mind. The Sierra foothills of California were where gold was discovered in 1849, irrevocably changing the region's history. Exploring small museums and historic parks, I came away more committed than ever not only to “being a good ancestor.” I’m concerned about more than my own story. I also want my descendants can appreciate our connection with history. Whether as witnesses to nature before fire, floods, and plagues, or as testimony to moments in history, our stories tell our descendants about where they came from. As with all Kathy’s Corner programs, we’ll get down to the brass tacks, sticky tape, and acid-free options. We might even cover topics like converting and preserving media, links, and objects. ⮕ As a bonus this week, Lori will be back as a special guest to share an update on her progress with her “Bridge to 2076” project. Who knows, you just might be inspired to start one of your own. Hmm… Here’s an idea: * If you’re getting started on a big project and need a little encouragement to keep going, why not join one of our Mission: Genealogy gatherings and let’s talk about it? It’s not quite a quilting bee, but it’s a way to gather with friends and “do Genealogy together,” talk through a storytelling approach with like-minded supporters, or ask for help in research. * Just sign up on Zoom. We’ll see you there! As Projectkin, we’re here to help families tell their stories in any form. I feel strongly that our collections of photos and other artifacts are key to our memories and, in turn, our stories. If you have a publication of your own, and you think your friends might find this interesting, why not let your friends know with a recommendation? These are public posts, and our events are free because sharing your stories is that important. Let’s get this started! See all coming events in our calendar at Projectkin.org/events. Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe

    34 min

  3. Jun 7

    Speakers’ Corner Preview: Live with with Jill Swenson and Katherine Brodt

    Thank you, Linda Teather, Diane Burley, Bill Moore, Jenn Sharp, Sara Biren, Erin O'Malley, MamaCarole, Richard Hogan, MD, PhD(2), DBA, Mary Wagner, and so many more of you for joining Jennifer Jones, Jill Swenson and Katherine Brodt today. Thank you for your comments, thoughts, and encouragement. They are the glue that holds this community together. The little ❤️s you drop keep us motivated and give this series a little more visibility. Feel free to create clips from this post to share with your friends. Projectkin programming is offered free thanks to the kind support of our generous patrons around 🌏 the 🌍 world 🌎. Connecting Heart, Home, and Family Today’s episode centered on the subtle ways in which a place becomes part of a family. Jennifer’s conversation with Kate and Jill is a terrific introduction to their program later in the week: Jill Swenson: The Town of Warroad near Lake of the Woods Jill starts with a touching view of home in this remote, and in winter, very cold part of Minnesota’s “Chimney” near Lake of the Woods. It’s hard to appreciate the geography without a map: Jill framed the experience of returning home in the context of her mother’s story and how this place pulled her in. (Jill’s new memoir, The Land of Everlasting Sky, is available in bookstores and has started shipping to pre-orders.) Thursday’s program promises to be a fascinating weave of place, cultures, and grief. Learn more about Jill and her publication at: Katherine Brodt: 1890s Home on Vinalhaven, Maine Kate’s story takes us to the Atlantic coast island of Vinalhaven, her family home from the 1980s, with a history dating back to the 1890s. As a trained historian with experience connecting families to the history of a house museum, Kate has turned her skills to getting to know the strangers who lived in her home. It started for Kate with an itch of curiosity, a collage, and now a growing Substack publication. We look forward to hearing more about both of these stories and considering how they might inspire our own work. In fact, the UK-based Society of Genealogists’ window for submission of talks for this year’s “All About That Place” (AATP) series is still open. Consider your own studies about place, one-place studies, and even changing places, and submit your ideas by June 30th. Learn more here. Projectkin will again be a co-sponsor of the event, October 7-16, offering our own series of livestreamed programs. Programs from last year can still be viewed at Projectkin.org/aatp. Stay tuned for more. As Projectkin, we’re here to help families tell their stories in any form. I feel strongly that our collections of photos and other artifacts are key to our memories and, in turn, our stories. If you have a publication of your own, and you think your friends might find this interesting, why not let your friends know with a recommendation? This nifty button, “your.substack.com/publish/recommendations,” takes you to your own recommendations dashboard. (Seriously, try it!) Naturally, I’d love a recommendation, but I also encourage everyone to be generous in sharing recommendations for the publications you enjoy. It helps us find each other as family history buffs in the nicest possible way. 🥰 Oh, one more thing — if you think this post might interest a friend or colleague, why not just pass it along? These are public posts, and our events are free because sharing your stories is that important. Let’s get this started! See all coming events in our calendar at Projectkin.org/events. Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe

    32 min

  4. May 31

    Projectkin Live with Paul Chiddicks: Previewing “The Story Finds You.”

    Thank you Linda Teather, Jim the Historian, Brahna Derr, Mark Lane, Lisa Maguire, Rain Aldous, Kristin Rapinac, Jill Swenson, Kyla Bayang, The Wicked Sommelier, Roland Millward, Jennifer Ann Blair, Steve Bowbrick, Country Girl and so many more of you for joining Paul Chiddicks and me today. I can’t tell you how much it means to us to see you join us from around the continent. Thank you for your added ❤️s to help others see this conversation, too. Thank you. Did I miss you? Add your thoughts in the comments below. Projectkin programming is offered free with the kind support of our Patrons worldwide. Explore our story and join us 👇. Listening for the Story with “sir” Paul 🥐 I’ve been chasing Paul Chiddicks to join me in a Projetkin event for a year or more. We’d never quite been able to find a time that worked. As I’ve gotten to know him, his personal story of coaching has added a richness to the whole that he adds to our family history community. It’s an honor to have made the calendar adjustments to make both today’s program and to arrange for our special episode on Adelaide’s story on Wednesday this week. If you haven’t already, take a moment to register. We’ll wait. Well done. In our conversation this morning, Paul talked about how he’s used his research skills since filling out the structural genealogical elements of his family tree to explore the stories that unfold from the limbs. He mentioned several that came to him, among them * The American pilot’s gravestone, he discovered while on his walk: * The Boy Behind The Picture, the story of the little newsboy on the day after the Titanic sank: * Finally, Adelaide’s story. There is so much behind this story. Paul referenced a few elements in our conversation, but each is worthy of a little exploration ahead of Wednesday’s program. First, is this piece on Substack about the photograph itself: Next is the original post on his Chiddicks Family Tree site that went viral with the story of Adelaide Springett: On Wednesday, Paul will share the details of this incredible story, the connection to the industrialization of England, Jack-the-Ripper, and a larger story that connects with everyone of us as we witness poverty in our own lives. Is this the kind of post you think your friends and followers might appreciate as well? Kindly add a recommendation so they know how you feel. You’ll be doing us the favor of spreading our work. Thank you. I’m able to share these and all of our programs and posts for free thanks to both the economics of modern platforms and the generous support of our wonderful Projectkin patrons. You’re more than welcome to share this post with friends and family to encourage them to take the time to consider their own stories. Thank you. Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe

    38 min
  5. Live with the Ride Along Partners at the US National Genealogical Society Annual Meeting

    May 27

    Live with the Ride Along Partners at the US National Genealogical Society Annual Meeting

    This is an update to the post originally published on May 27th, immediately after our livestream from the opening reception in the expo hall at the NGS Family History Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The conference gave us an excuse to build on the Ride Along theme GeneaBloggers transformed at this year’s RootsTech with DearMYRTLE and Kyla Bayang chatting with visitors and exploring news and highlights from the show floor. The NGS conference is a very different sort of event, and this expo hall filled with local historical and genealogical societies was a very different kind of experience. It’s an insiders’ event that allows all of us bitten by the genealogy bug to celebrate and inspire each other. This event created a number of very special opportunities we may be talking about in the coming months, but I wanted to take a moment to thank not only my buddy and roomie, Kyla, but also those who, as active Geneabloggers, were supporting our mission in their conversations with everyone at the conference. Without Paul’s tap on the shoulder, the crazy livestream never would have happened. In fact, two of our members received awards during the opening session recognizing their work over the years: Randy Seaver, Geneaholic, and Ron Chan. * As a well-known voice on Monday’s with Myrt, DearMYRTLE posted an article about Randy’s award of recognition on Thursday.) * You might recognize Ron for his extensive work in Chinese-American genealogy. Though most of his programming is with local groups here in the Bay Area, he’s also joined us as a guest at Projectkin for several posts and events. I’ll take responsibility for some minor technical glitches, but I’m also proud that we tried. You’ll see these lessons weave their way into the success of future programs and events. As community members and participants from Projectkin and Geneabloggers, we were honored to meet so many new people and to thank our kind supporters. I’m grateful to our host, Rick Voight, who went out of his way to make space for us in his platinum-sponsor booth space at the show, Vivid-Pix. In the video, you’ll see me chatting with founder Bruce Ha at Nanofiche, a fascinating solution for long-term image storage. We came away from the conference with hundreds of notes, document scans, and inspired ideas. It’s going to take weeks to absorb them all. Thanks for coming along with Kyla and me. If any of you, as members and supporters of our Projectkin and Geneabloggers, have an upcoming public event, we just might have some materials you can use to help share the story. I’ve tried to capture our joint mission to encourage family history storytelling at RideAlongPartners.org: That domain property also gives us a quick and easy way to share photos, stories, and encouragement with organizations. You can see the update for the NGS conference here. We also shared little blue pencils and bookmarks (convenient for use at the ACPL Genealogy Center), but they are inexpensive and generic precisely so that we can keep using them at local events. Add your thoughts in the comments below or just reach out to Kyla or me directly. Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe

    30 min

  6. May 24

    Projectkin Live: The View from Kathy's Corner

    Thank you Kyla Bayang, Marian Beaman, Danine, Laurie MacIntosh, Jim the Historian, Linda Teather, Traveling Close to Home, Lori Olson White, Jason Stephenson, Jill Swenson, Gwendolyn Copeland, Dr. Mary M. Marshall, Lisa Rex and so many more of you for joining Kathy Stone and me today. I can’t tell you how much it means to us to see you join us from around the continent. Thank you for your added ❤️s to help others see this conversation, too. Thank you. Did I miss you? Add your thoughts in the comments below. Projectkin programming is offered free with the kind support of our Patrons worldwide. Explore our story and join us 👇. This Week Kathy Looks Back to the Future Our conversation today gave us a preview of Thursday’s special program with Kathy’s guest, Lori Olson White of The Lost and Found Story Box, to talk about preserving today's stories and being a better ancestor. This is a perfect fit for her new series, “Building My Bridge to 2076,” which shares how she is implementing a new approach, the Century Safe Method, which Lori developed while researching Annie Diehm, a Civil War widow who sealed a safe containing stories at the American Centennial. Remember, Thursday’s program is held via Zoom, so you will need to register for your personal link. Because this is a “Preview” series on Sundays, we get to wander into other related… and not so related topics. As my cat Zarabeth swished her way back and forth, we hit on a few topics I wanted to provide references to: * Historical events & our personal memories: This is a topic that comes up frequently in conversations among family historians. Events like the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 conjure strong memories for many Americans. Recalling where they were at the time brings up a great deal of context about their lives leading up to that moment that aren’t captured in textbooks. This conversation today was in response to Denyse Allen’s moving post, “Your Bicentennial Memories Are Here: The Ones Who Didn’t Come Home,” in the context of tomorrow’s Memorial Day here in the US. * Technologies & storage devices As human beings, we’re “wet ware” in the sense that we are made of flesh and blood. Our input media are simple eyes and brains. The devices we use to store our stories for future generations need to anticipate mediation to reach their intended audience. Does that mean, as Jill Swenson asked, that media like USB drives are a bad idea? Well, yes, and no. Yes, because you can’t count on any input format we use today (floppy disk, diskette, CD, DVD, or USB) to be used or even accessible 50 years from now. The same goes for file formats (WordPerfect, anyone?) Factors include * Physical media (electronic, parchment, ordinary paper, ink, magnetic media, analog media like celluloid film, glass negatives). * Applications, file formats, even .doc, .xls, or .pdf * Writing styles, languages, and more. * Then there’s the larger topic of what future generations might be interested in. * Historical topics (e.g. Vietnam War) * Cultural topics (what we wore, what they thought, believed, and did) * News topics (current news events) There are so many ways to spin this and get motivated to start being a better ancestor. Is this the kind of post you think your friends and followers might appreciate as well? Kindly add a recommendation so they know how you feel. You’ll be doing us the favor of spreading our work. Thank you. I truly wish I could be there on Thursday to join in on the fun. As I shared in the program, I’ll have to catch up by watching the recording. You’ll find them at Kathy’s Corner: Projectkin.org/kathys-corner. About Kathy Stone Kathy has been the “cornerstone” of Projectkin since we were a “Rōnin” gang called “PostPonga.” That was just over three years ago, just after RootsTech 2023. Her commitment to the physical artifacts of family history now inspires our whole community. Learn more about what Kathy is doing today at her own publication: As Projectkin, we’re here to help families tell their stories in any form. I feel strongly that our collections of photos and other artifacts are key to our memories and, in turn, our stories. Do you have friends or family members who may benefit from this? Please share our work and invite friends and family to join us: Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe

    37 min

  7. May 18

    Stories250 with Anne Wendel of Grandma's Granny's Family Album

    Thank you, Jennifer Jones, Linda Teather, Mary Boehm, Jim the Historian, Kyla Bayang, Diane Burley, Kristin Rapinac, Anne’s Family History, The Wicked Sommelier, Jane Chapman, Becky Hetchler, Phyllis Robinson, and so many more for joining Anne Wendel and me today. I can’t tell you how much it means to me here on the American West coast to see all of you joining from across the Pacific in Australia and New Zealand, across the American states and Canadian provinces. The little ❤️s you drop keep us motivated and give this series a little more visibility. Feel free to create clips from this post to share with your friends. Projectkin programming is offered free thanks to the kind support of our generous patrons around 🌏 the 🌍 world 🌎. The War of American Independence Today’s story pulls us into exactly the kinds of personal perspectives on this bitter British civil war that some of us call the American Revolution. From her home in Virginia, Anne Wendel of Grandma’s Granny’s Family Album shares just a few of the many stories she’s collected in her family history with deep roots on both sides of this war. From the start, Anne took us down the rabbit hole to turn the tables on the close of the war as she shared her personal connection to Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Her post about Captain Joseph Durfee captured a kid’s perspective on this incredible place and how she was able to make it part of her family again. The pictures perfectly set the stage for the story she tells in the recording. Other Stories250 posts from Anne Anne has been among our most prolific storytellers in this series. She touched on several of the stories in our conversation, in addition to the tale of Captain Joseph Durfee, 1725 - 1801. Among the other stories: * A German Teenager in the American Revolution * The Map Our Ancestors Forgot * Attack! and Fall * Isaac Van Wart, 1762-1828, Revolutionary War Hero * Revolutionary War Cowboy * My 5th Great-Grandparents, Mary Coon and John Rushton, in the Revolutionary War If you’re not already familiar with her publication, here’s an easy link to subscribe: About Stories250 Learn more about the series at Projectkin.org/stories250, view all recordings and posts, then explore the posts in an interactive timeline. You’ll find this post of Anne’s here: Last week, I shared more details about our two special programs on July 9th. This is in addition to the commemorative magazine I’m producing to include all articles in the series. Learn more: If you have stories to share, please join us. More at Projectkin.org/stories250. The window to submit posts will remain open until June 30th. As Projectkin, we’re here to help families tell their stories in any form. I feel strongly that our collections of photos and other artifacts are key to our memories and, in turn, our stories. If you have a publication of your own, and you think your friends might find this interesting, why not let your friends know with a recommendation? This nifty button, “your.substack.com/publish/recommendations,” takes you to your own recommendations dashboard. (Seriously, try it!) Naturally, I’d love a recommendation, but I also encourage everyone to be generous in sharing recommendations for the publications you enjoy. It helps us find each other as family history buffs in the nicest possible way. 🥰 Oh, one more thing — if you think this post might interest a friend or colleague, why not just pass it along? These are public posts, and our events are free because sharing your stories is that important. Let’s get this started! See all coming events in our calendar at Projectkin.org/events. Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe

    45 min

  8. May 15

    Projectkin Live: Emma Explores Preview » Our Theme This Month: Twos!

    Thank you. Pip69, Jason Stephenson, Nina Gafni, Kyla Bayang, David Shaw, The Wicked Sommelier, Diane Burley, and so many more of you for joining Emma - Journeys into Genealogy and me today. I can’t tell you how much it means to me here on the American Pacific coast to see all of you joining from the UK continent, across the American states and Canadian provinces. Your thoughts, comments, and encouragement are the glue that holds this community together. The little ❤️s you drop keep us motivated and give this series a little more visibility. Feel free to create clips from this post to share with your friends. Projectkin programming is offered free thanks to the kind support of our generous patrons around 🌏 the 🌍 world 🌎. Emma Explores: 2nd Anniversary! After a brief holiday, Emma returns to share more stories woven from themes she’s discovered in her own family story. In homage to the 2nd birthday of the series, she’s weaving stories around “twos,” things she’s discovered in pairs. If Emma Explores is new to you, here’s the archive for the series. In today’s preview, we ended up talking quite a bit about how we arrived at a series for Emma Explores, her Journeys into Genealogy Podcast, and more. The 100th episode of Journeys into Genealogy is a terrific way to survey the podcast. Themes! The genius of a thematic view of family history is that it encourages you to look beyond the strict facts of family history. Picking a theme has you thinking about the deeper ties that can create connections with your audience as a family history storyteller. It has to be a real connection, though, not something contrived by an artificial prompt or driven to a deadline. We talked about the example of Stories250, something I’m passionate about because of my own history as an American. It didn’t resonate for Emma, nor was there a story in the different ancestors she explored at the time. Migration stories, however, a new series we’ve planned for this fall, sounds like an interesting hook for many new themes for Emma Explores later this year. Perhaps with a tie-in to our planned All About That Place sponsorship in October 2026, we might even pull a few strings for thematic topics there, too. Join us, Thursday, May 21st You won’t want to miss next week’s program. Our Emma Explores programs are held via Zoom, which allows you to join in on the conversation that follows each presentation. Zoom requires you to register to get your personal link: I’m able to offer these programs for free because of the generous support of our Projectkin Patrons. Learn more about each of them, their publications, and their work at Projectkin.org/patrons To see these livestream posts on the go and keep up with the latest stories and conversations in the community, join us in the Substack app. If it gives you any trouble, just ask. You’re among friends and fellow travelers in the world of family history storytelling. Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe

    35 min
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About

Archives of our weekly updates from Barbara, the Projectkin ringleader. Each week, she shares a short update about what's ahead for the coming week, inviting guests to share their perspectives or plans for special events. Though the program is live, recordings provide access to useful links and references discussed during the program. The live event is available only to subscribers and followers through the Substack app for web, desktop, or mobile. Subscriptions are free. projectkin.substack.com

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