In this fascinating podcast episode, Dr. Dean Kirby, a historian, journalist, and professional genealogist based in Manchester, England, shares his deep-rooted interest in the Manchester slums.

• Key Inspiration: Discovery of great-great-great grandfather’s history in Angel Meadow, a notorious Manchester slum.
• Research Focus: Manchester slums during the Industrial Revolution, leading to a PhD and the book “Angel Meadow: Victorian Britain’s Most Savage Slum.”
• Living Conditions: Overcrowded homes, cellar dwellings, and poor sanitation in 19th-century Manchester.
• Impact of American Civil War: Blockade of southern ports affected Manchester’s cotton industry, leading to starvation.
• Scuttlers: Notorious gangs of street fighters in Manchester with distinct attire and territories.
• Genealogy Tips: Use of poor rate books, prison archives, and newspaper records for historical research.
• Historical Insights: The connection between Manchester and the American Civil War, and the Peterloo Massacre of 1819

Related Episodes:
Episode 180: Photos, Memories, and English Genealogy with Emma Jolly

Episode 197: What You Need to Know about Heraldry with Dr. Nathaniel Taylor, FASG

Links:

• The Manchester History Club
• Sign up for my newsletter.
• Watch my YouTube Channel.
• Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.
• Need help organizing your photos? Check out the Essential Photo Organizing Video Course.

About My Guest:
Dr Dean Kirby has a PhD in urban history and is an associate of the UK’s body for professional genealogists, the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives. His interest in family history was sparked when archaeologists dug up his Irish ancestor’s home in one of Manchester’s worst slums – the inappropriately named district of Angel Meadow. Dean now runs the professional family history research service www.manchesterfamilyhistory.com which helps families around the world research their Manchester and Lancashire roots. He also writes the Manchester history newsletter www.manchesterhistory.uk, which reveals forgotten stories from the streets of the Victorian city. His debut book, Angel Meadow: Victorian Britain’s Most Savage Slum, has been in the Amazon bestseller lists.

About Maureen Taylor:
Maureen Taylor, The Photo DetectiveÒhelps clients with photo related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on Th

I'm thrilled to be offering something new. Photo investigations. These collaborative one-on-one sessions. Look at your family photos then you and I meet to discuss your mystery images. And find out how each clue and hint might contribute to your family history. Find out more by going to maureentaylor.com and clicking on family photo investigations.

Support the Show.

In this episode of “The Photo Detective,” host Maureen Taylor welcomes Kendall Hewlett, CEO of Storied.com, to discuss the revolutionary platform that fills a crucial gap in the family history industry by emphasizing the importance of storytelling over mere data collection.

• Inspiration Behind Storied.com: Kendall Hewlett created the platform to focus on the storytelling aspect of family history, inspired by research showing that knowledge of family stories increases resilience in children.
• Unique Features: Storied.com offers an end-to-end family history platform where users can build family trees, document stories, and produce hardbound books.
• Storytelling Focus: The platform emphasizes creating bite-sized, engaging stories that are easier to digest and more appealing than lengthy tomes.
• Community and Relationships: Storied.com maps out not only family relationships but also significant non-blood connections, enhancing the storytelling experience.
• User Engagement: Users can create private or public groups, share stories, and invite family members to contribute, making it a collaborative effort.
• Advanced Tools: The platform includes AI-assisted writing tools, audio transcription, and a growing database of historical records and newspapers.

Related Episodes:

Episode 235: Exploring Ancestry.com’s New Photo and Storytelling Features with Crista Cowan

Episode 221:Permanent Digital Storage Solutions with Tammy Kirby of Forever.com

Links:

• Storied.com
• Sign up for my newsletter.
• Watch my YouTube Channel.
• Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.
• Need help organizing your photos? Check out the Essential Photo Organizing Video Course.
• Need help identifying family photos? Check out the Identifying Family Photographs Online Course.

About My Guest:
Kendall Hulet is the CEO of Storied, is passionate about the power of family stories to strengthen us and bring us together. Earlier in his career, Kendall led product management at Ancestry, where he oversaw the search engine, international growth, mobile app, AncestryDNA features, and where he co-created the iconic “shaky leaf” hint and family tree.Kendall has an MBA from Wharton and lives in Provo with his wife, Carolina, and their 3 kids

About Maureen Taylor:
Maureen Taylor, The Photo DetectiveTM helps clients with photo related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pa

I'm thrilled to be offering something new. Photo investigations. These collaborative one-on-one sessions. Look at your family photos then you and I meet to discuss your mystery images. And find out how each clue and hint might contribute to your family history. Find out more by going to maureentaylor.com and clicking on family photo investigations.

Support the Show.

In this solo episode of Ask Maureen, I’ll address a common genealogist’s dilemma: managing and organizing digital photos, including handling duplicates. Whether you’re a seasoned genealogist or a beginner, mastering photo organizers and duplicate detection tools can simplify your work and enhance your family history projects.

Key Topics

• Importance of photo organizers for genealogists
• Key features to look for in photo organizing software
• Popular photo organizing tools and their benefits
• Strategies for effective photo organization and duplicate detection
• Tips for maintaining an organized digital photo collection

Related Episodes:

Episode 234: Transforming Photo Organization: Insights from Mylios Founder David Vascovich

Episode 221: Permanent Digital Storage Solutions with Tammy Kirby of Forever.com

Links:

• Ask Maureen
• Sign up for my newsletter.
• Watch my YouTube Channel.
• Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.
• Need help organizing your photos? Check out the Essential Photo Organizing Video Course.
• Need help identifying family photos? Check out the Identifying Family Photographs Online Course.
• Have a photo you need help identifying? Sign up for photo consultation.

About Maureen Taylor:

Maureen Taylor, The Photo DetectiveÒhelps clients with photo-related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others. Learn more at Maureentaylor.com

Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts

I'm thrilled to be offering something new. Photo investigations. These collaborative one-on-one sessions. Look at your family photos then you and I meet to discuss your mystery images. And find out how each clue and hint might contribute to your family history. Find out more by going to maureentaylor.com and clicking on family photo investigations.

Support the Show.

Today, I am thrilled to have Crista Cowan, Ancestry.com’s Corporate Genealogist, also known as “The Barefoot Genealogist” on YouTube, as our guest. Crista has been a pivotal figure at Ancestry, helping countless people uncover their family histories.

• Introduction of the “Memories” feature, previously known as “Storymaker Studio.”
• Details on how users can share and collaborate on photo albums.
• Privacy settings and sharing options on Ancestry.
• Integration with Family Trees
• Overview of Pro Tools features: Error Checker, Fan Chart, Charts and Reports, Map Feature
• Explanation of privacy settings for trees and photos.
• Crista’s upcoming podcast, “Stories That Live In Us.”

Related Episodes:
Episode 184: Byte4Byte: Permanent.org’s Grant Program for Non-Profits

Episode 180: Photos, Memories, and English Genealogy with Emma Jolly

Links:

• Sign up for my newsletter.
• Watch my YouTube Channel.
• Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.
• Need help organizing your photos? Check out the Essential Photo Organizing Video Course.
• Need help identifying family photos? Check out the Identifying Family Photographs Online Course.
• Have a photo you need help identifying? Sign up for photo consultation.

About My Guest:
Crista Cowan has been employed by Ancestry.com since 2004; her involvement in family history, however, reaches all the way back to childhood. From being parked under a microfilm reader at the Family History Library in her baby carrier to her current career as a professional genealogist, Crista has spent thousands of hours discovering, documenting, and telling family stories.

During her time at Ancestry, she has been a European Content Acquisition Manager, the Digital Preservation Indexing Manager, and the Community Alliance Manager for the Ancestry World Archives Project. For the past several years she has been the Corporate Genealogist, with responsibilities for speaking and teaching at genealogy conferences around the world and helping with family history research for public relations stories. Known online as “The Barefoot Genealogist” with a weekly internet show designed to help people discover their family history.

About Maureen Taylor:

Maureen Taylor, The Photo DetectiveÒhelps clients with photo related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others. Learn more at

I'm thrilled to be offering something new. Photo investigations. These collaborative one-on-one sessions. Look at your family photos then you and I meet to discuss your mystery images. And find out how each clue and hint might contribute to your family history. Find out more by going to maureentaylor.com and clicking on family photo investigations.

Support the Show.

Today, we have a special guest, David Vascovich, the CEO and founder of Mylio.com, a revolutionary digital photo organizing site. In this episode, we delve into the inspiration behind Mylio, its innovative features, and how it stands out in the crowded field of photo organization tools.

• Key Features of Mylio
  • The Life Calendar: A unique way to visualize decades of memories.
  • Automatic face recognition and its efficiency.
  • Support for photos, videos, and documents.
  • Integration with other tools and apps for editing and management.
  • Compatibility with third-party editing tools like Photoshop
  • Metadata management and its importance for organizing photos.
• Support and Resources
  • Mylio’s help system, user forums, and support team.
  • Options for professional assistance and bundles for new users.

Related Episodes:

Episode 228: Joseph Quaderer: Democratizing Biographies with StorySavor.com

Episode 221: Permanent Digital Storage Solutions with Tammy Kirby of Forever.com

Links:

• Sign up for my newsletter.
• Watch my YouTube Channel.
• Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.
• Need help organizing your photos? Check out the Essential Photo Organizing Video Course.
• Need help identifying family photos? Check out the Identifying Family Photographs Online Course.
• Have a photo you need help identifying? Sign up for photo consultation.

About My Guest:

David Vaskevitch’s career as visionary software architect, business innovator, and author spans more than 50 years. He built one of the first three email systems in the world in 1971. After joining Microsoft in 1986, he held various senior executive positions during his 23-year tenure, including chief technical officer. The founder of several software ventures, Vaskevitch is founder and CEO of Bellevue, Wash. Mylio.

About Maureen Taylor:
Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective TM helps clients with photo related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others. Learn more at Maureentaylor.com

Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

I'm thrilled to be offering something new. Photo investigations. These collaborative one-on-one sessions. Look at your family photos then you and I meet to discuss your mystery images. And find out how each clue and hint might contribute to your family history. Find out more by going to maureentaylor.com and clicking on family photo investigations.

Support the Show.

In this third solo podcast episode on organization and documentation, listeners shared tips to improve genealogy research.

• Weekly Paper Organization: Ann Marie recommends setting aside one hour each week, similar to Cindy Ingle’s “Filing Friday”.
• Note-taking Advice: Stress on thorough documentation to avoid forgetting crucial sources during intense research.
• Initial Organizational Plan: Barbara underscores the importance of a solid plan from the start to manage growing family documents.
• Using Genealogy Software: Highlighting the benefits of integrating digital tools for data management.
• Documenting and Citing Sources: Various speakers, including Beverly and Donna, emphasize the necessity to immediately record sources.
• Labeling Photographs: Kathy and other guests discuss the importance of labeling photos and using metadata for future reference.
• Digital Tools for Storytelling: Suggestions to use modern technology to record and transcribe family stories.
• Physical Albums and Photos: Advice on creating tangible family albums for easier sharing and storytelling.
• Genealogy Research Tips: Various speakers share personal anecdotes and tips for efficient genealogy research.

Related Episodes:

Episode 224: Tracing Your Roots: Key Strategies for New Genealogists

Episode 230: Unlocking Family Secrets: Expert Tips for Interviewing Relatives

Links:

• Sign up for my newsletter.
• Watch my YouTube Channel.
• Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.
• Need help organizing your photos? Check out the Essential Photo Organizing Video Course.
• Need help identifying family photos? Check out the Identifying Family Photographs Online Course.
• Have a photo you need help identifying? Sign up for photo consultation.

About Maureen Taylor:

Maureen Taylor, The Photo DetectiveÒhelps clients with photo related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others. Learn more at Maureentaylor.com

Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

I'm thrilled to be offering something new. Photo investigations. These collaborative one-on-one sessions. Look at your family photos then you and I meet to discuss your mystery images. And find out how each clue and hint might contribute to your family history. Find out more by going to maureentaylor.com and clicking on family photo investigations.

Support the Show.

In this episode of "The Photo Detective," guests Steve Little and Mark Thompson return to discuss AI's integration in genealogy photo projects. They discuss historical breakthroughs in image analysis, such as the ability of AI to recognize visual jokes and extract text from images, such as tombstone inscriptions. They also cover the practical applications of AI in managing and tagging large photo collections, greatly reducing the time and effort required. The discussion emphasizes the importance of critical analysis in genealogy, noting that AI tools should complement but not replace traditional research methods. The episode highlights the evolving nature of AI technology, the ethical considerations in its use, and the potential future advancements that could further revolutionize genealogical photo analysis.

• Key Topics:
  • Historical development of AI in image recognition.
  • Practical uses of AI in photo tagging and collection management.
  • Detailed case studies of AI successfully identifying and analyzing elements in photos.
  • Ethical concerns and limitations of AI, especially in facial recognition.
  • Future prospects and potential improvements in AI photo analysis technology.
• Insights:
  • Discussion on AI's role in identifying visual jokes.
  • How AI has revolutionized the task of managing and tagging massive photo collections.
  • Ethical implications of advanced facial recognition technologies.
  • Importance of maintaining a skeptical and analytical approach to AI-generated data in genealogy.
• Conclusion: Emphasis on AI as a tool in genealogy that requires cautious integration and continual evaluation.

Related Episodes:

Episode 207: An Underutilized Source: The Newberry Library

Episode 221: Permanent Digital Storage Solutions with Tammy Kirby of Forever.com

Links:

• Sign up for my newsletter.
• Watch my YouTube Channel.
• Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.
• Need help organizing your photos? Check out the Essential Photo Organizing Video Course.
• Need help identifying family photos? Check out the Identifying Family Photographs Online Course.
• Have a photo you need help identifying? Sign up for photo consultation.

About My Guest:

Stephen J. Little, is the AI Program Director for the National Genealogical Society and has lifelong passions for language, technology, and genealogy. His passion lies in AI & genetic genealogy, with a keen interest in endogamy, pedigree collapse, and the art of deciphering multiple relationships through DNA segment triangulation, and an insatiable cu

I'm thrilled to be offering something new. Photo investigations. These collaborative one-on-one sessions. Look at your family photos then you and I meet to discuss your mystery images. And find out how each clue and hint might contribute to your family history. Find out more by going to maureentaylor.com and clicking on family photo investigations.

Support the Show.

In this episode of the Photo Detective Podcast, Maureen was joined by Mark Thompson, a professional genealogist and IT expert, and Steve Little, AI Program Director at the National Genealogical Society.

• Main Discussion Points:
  • Comparisons of AI's current impact to the dot-com era.
  • The role of small companies and startups in driving AI innovations.
  • Potential applications of AI in genealogy and historical research.
• Ethical Considerations:
  • Discussion on privacy issues related to AI.
  • Ethical use of AI in processing sensitive genealogical data.
• Future of AI in Genealogy:
  • Predictions on AI's evolving role in research and data analysis.
  • Integration of AI tools into mainstream applications like Microsoft products.

Related Episodes:

Bonus Episode: ChatGPT and Image Generators: What You Need to Know

Episode 205: Numbers to Names: A Holocaust Database

Links:

• Sign up for my newsletter.
• Watch my YouTube Channel.
• Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.
• Need help organizing your photos? Check out the Essential Photo Organizing Video Course.
• Need help identifying family photos? Check out the Identifying Family Photographs Online Course.
• Have a photo you need help identifying? Sign up for photo consultation.

About My Guests:

Stephen J. Little, is the AI Program Director for the National Genealogical Society and has lifelong passions for language, technology, and genealogy. His passion lies in AI & genetic genealogy, with a keen interest in endogamy, pedigree collapse, and the art of deciphering multiple relationships through DNA segment triangulation, and an insatiable curiosity to explore beneficial uses and current limits of artificial intelligence in genealogy.

Mark Thompson is a professional genealogist and educator who specializes in genetic genealogy and researching personal family archives. Prior to becoming a genealogist, Mark worked in leadership roles in information technology. Mark’s combined background in technology and genealogy uniquely positions him to introduce genealogists to the rapidly changing field of artificial intelligence and how it can help them in their genealogy research.

About Maureen Taylor:

Maureen Taylor, The Photo DetectiveÒhelps clients with photo-related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others. Learn more at

I'm thrilled to be offering something new. Photo investigations. These collaborative one-on-one sessions. Look at your family photos then you and I meet to discuss your mystery images. And find out how each clue and hint might contribute to your family history. Find out more by going to maureentaylor.com and clicking on family photo investigations.

Support the Show.