Thomas MacEntee

Only a few days ago I wrote about Thomas, a Gentle Giant of Genealogy. Not long after I posted my Genimates profile proforma on the internet Thomas sent me a competed profile. Thanks you for your interest and input, Thomas.

Date  20/2/2011

Name Thomas MacEntee    Hometown Liberty, New York

Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist?
Professional Genealogist

What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?
ProGen 4 (graduating March 2011) - an 18-month ground study of the book Professional Genealogy, edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills

Boston University, Center for Professional Education, Certificate in Genealogical Research (Online, April 2010)

How long have you been chasing ancestors?
Since 1986

How did you get hooked on genealogy?

Shortly before my great-grandmother Therese McGinnes Austin passed away, I was handed a privately printed genealogy from 1916 of my Putman ancestral line. My sixth cousin five times removed, George W. Putman, had researched the line back to Johannes Putman (b. 1661) who died in 1680 during the Schenectady Massacre.

What is your day job?
Same as my night job - Professional genealogist

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?

Research expertise in New York, especially Northern New York. Expertise in technology, social media, marketing and genealogical society management and development.

Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups

Member, Association of Graveyard Rabbits (http://www.thegraveyardrabbit.com)

Member, Association of Professional Genealogists (http://apgen.org)

Member, Austin Family Association of America (http://www.afaoa.org)

Member, California Genealogical Society and Library (http://www.calgensoc.org)

Chair, Marketing & Public Relations Committee
National Publicity Chair – FGS 2011 Conference
Member, Long Range Planning Committee
Member, Membership Committee
Member, Technology Initiative
Federation of Genealogical Societies (http://www.fgs.org)

Member, Freer-Low Family Association (http://www.freerfamily.org)

What are the lands of your ancestors?

The Netherlands
France
Ireland
England
Germany

What Family Names are you Researching?

AUSTIN
DENCE
HENNEBERG
MACENTEE / MCENTEE
PRESNER / PREZNER
PUTMAN

Who is your favourite ancestor? Why?

My great-grandmother, Therese McGinnes Austin. Not only because I lived to know her until I was age 26, but because she had personality and was a woman to be reckoned with. Standing 6'1" with auburn hair, Grandma knew her way around a cocktail and was very opinionated. She loved life and lived it with gusto. She raised 12 grandchildren each summer at her farm in Grahamsville, New York and lived to tell about it!

What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?

I would love to visit Liepzig, Germany where my Henneberg ancestors lived prior to arriving in New York in the 1860s. I want to know more about their life and why they left Germany.

What is your favourite resource for genealogy?

Old Fulton NY Postcards (a collection of over 13 million New York newspaper pages - all for free!) at http://www.fultonhistory.com/fulton.html.

Do you keep your genealogy files on paper?

No

Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer?

Yes

What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree?

Family Tree Maker 2011
RootsMagic 4
Excel 2010

Do you have your tree posted on the internet?

Yes

If Yes What is the URL?

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/6914678/

What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?

Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, Geni, LinkedIn, MyHeritage , Twitter, WeRelate

Do you have a blog

Yes

What are your blogs' URLs?

http://www.geneabloggers.com, http://hidefgen.com, http://connectedgenealogist.com, http://fbbootcamp.blogspot.com, http://destinationaustinfamily.blogspot.com, http://nyruralcemetery.blogspot.com, http://lowvilleobits.blogspot.com, http://grandmaaustinsdiaries.blogspot.com, http://andihelped.blogspot.com
What are your other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?
I enjoy cooking and entertaining for friends and family which I learned from my mother. Otherwise my interests are very genealogy-centric!

What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy?

Listening to music

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?

Universe Bends Toward Justice: A Reader on Christian Nonviolence in the U.S.

What is your personal philosophy in a few words ?

Be the person your parents, your family and your ancestors hoped you would be, struggled and fought for you to be. But be yourself and know that you are unique. Live life each day making the most of that hyphen between birth date and death date. Don't look back and live a life of regret; only look back to view the example your ancestors set for you.

If you have anything else to share please add it below I am blessed to live in a time when genealogy and technology are converging into a new force for finding one's ancestors. It is an exciting time and each day I can't wait to see what new techologies will spring up and how we'll adapt them to genealogy.

Gentle Giant of Genealogy

One of the highlights of Rootstech was meeting up with my virtual GeniMates. Prior to arriving in Salt Lake City I was given some wonderful advice from one of my pals Geneabloggers founder, Thomas MacEntee.

"Hmmm I'm not sure if you'll need the thermal underwear . . . perhaps that's just a man's perspective. Are you going to be sightseeing in SLC? Otherwise if you will be going from the hotel to the Salt Palace and to the FHL, you might not need it. The forecast for that week will be 40F during the day" was just one of the helpful comments he posted on my blog.



Hearts aplenty for MacEntee

My first real meeting with Thomas was in the bar of the Radisson Hotel where we enjoyed a cool ale. At that meeting Thomas decorated me with some genealogy bling ie red necklaces with heart-shaped beads. I earned two necklaces - one for each of my genealogy blogs. Thomas' neck was weighed down with many red strands.

During my time in Salt Lake City Thomas was most senstiive to the fact that I was a stranger in the midst of many GeniMates from the US and  went out of his way to make me feel welcome. I loved being with Thomas with his sense of fun and his jokes and understand why he is so popular in the genealogy community.

Thomas MacEntee - Moderator/Facilitator

Not only is Thomas a SNAG and a lot of fun, he is also a consumate professional as was evidenced in the two conference events I attended where Thomas was the moderator/facilitator in roundtable sessions. Thomas directed his troupes of professional genealogists ably as they discussed blogging and virtual presentations. The content of these sessions will be the subject of future posts on the Geniaus blog.

During the conference Thomas made the Media Hub his home away from home. He spent a busy few days there networking with colleagues and conference delegates, at each encounter he showed genuine interest in people giving them his full attention. Perhaps Thomas should give up on dead people as he has such a facility for communicating with the living!