tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post1790478344435163577..comments2024-03-12T04:00:04.167-07:00Comments on Nutfield Genealogy: Some Thoughts about Cindy Crawford on "Who Do You Think You Are?"Heather Wilkinson Rojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17704949156266722016noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-89729871025219407892013-09-02T06:39:57.513-07:002013-09-02T06:39:57.513-07:00I too have a probable descent from Edward I, but I...I too have a probable descent from Edward I, but I'm not willing to put in the time to thoroughly verify the connection. As you say, many of the old royal genealogies were written to "prove" royal blood and are not necessarily credible. There is a wonderful newsgroup at GEN-MEDIEVAL where scholars debate these topics.Jackie Corriganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13590243213239049149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-62877918949969996492013-09-01T18:55:30.002-07:002013-09-01T18:55:30.002-07:00I finally saw this episode. Nicely done. Looking f...I finally saw this episode. Nicely done. Looking forward to the next two. <br /><br />My interest may be that the start of the series somewhat corresponds with my first ventures into historic genealogy and the first episode was loaded with names that I had run across earlier. <br /><br /> http://truthengineering.blogspot.com/2013/09/wdytya.html<br /><br />I would hope, at some point, that these personalities would allow us (the researchers) to see what was left on the cutting floor. <br />AJSwtlkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10927070658835473340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-43100806279857009462013-09-01T13:54:57.677-07:002013-09-01T13:54:57.677-07:00Great post. And thanks for the links. Every once i...Great post. And thanks for the links. Every once in awhile I am re-motivated to track down my (supposed) Mary Queen of Scots connection.<br /><br />Apparently, people ARE naive enough to believe they can have their family history handed to them, and for free. JLhttp://jlog.jgen.wsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-77572420770103621702013-08-31T16:17:23.650-07:002013-08-31T16:17:23.650-07:00I was a baby genealogy librarian when Roots first ...I was a baby genealogy librarian when Roots first came out. I had a man at the ref desk one day who was irate because his name wasn't in the card catalog. I tried to explain but he interrupted me and said, "You don't understand! I'm here to do my roots and I parked at 20-minute meter!" We still laugh about that one.Sassy Jane Genealogyhttp://www.sassyjanegenealogy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-81859340387463936792013-08-31T12:22:36.783-07:002013-08-31T12:22:36.783-07:00I appreciate WDYTYA for what it is - entertaining ...I appreciate WDYTYA for what it is - entertaining show that highlights the ancestry of celebrity families. I think it would be refreshing if they created an episode on the process that they go through to create one episode where they talk about those 1,000 hours you mentioned Heather. This would give people a realistic idea of the process. Sometimes I am envious of the guest who gets private time with the University Professor, the Royal Archivist, and is then presented with the wonderful scroll with everything laid out but I still like watching the show and am glad it is on. Pennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11393831138631366911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-51639765096160757762013-08-31T09:26:52.611-07:002013-08-31T09:26:52.611-07:00Rene makes a very good and legitimate point about ...Rene makes a very good and legitimate point about how the show raises the profile of genealogy, but I still think it also leaves a false impression for anyone who is coming to the subject of genealogy first through this show. For all of us who have been involved with genealogy as a hobby or a profession, the show does not represent in any way what we know to be the true time, effort and cost of doing genealogy research. I grant it can serve as additional motivation and, as I said, it can be entertaining. In fact, I think it is designed to be entertaining using only celebrities, high production values, and the usual techniques to grab and keep a viewer's attention (e.g., "cliff hangers" over commercial breaks, etc.). I prefer to use the time that would be spent watching celebrities jet around in search of their family roots working on my family roots and my blog. As they say, "different strokes for different folks." :-)Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139639019457759712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-30811922074722100412013-08-30T11:00:21.757-07:002013-08-30T11:00:21.757-07:00I think the value of WDYTYA is that it awakens a y...I think the value of WDYTYA is that it awakens a yearning to know where we came from. I can't imagine anyone thinking that this information is simple to gather. This is a one hour show and it must be obvious to all viewers that much work is done behind the scenes. That isn't the point. The point for me is that the information is out there. Sure, I don't have the money to have a team of genealogists doing the searching for me. But, after watching the show, I know that the past is accessible. The search will be the fun part. I watch the show each week and it is a powerful motivator for me to do more research on my own family.Rene Baronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07783563184734675932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-8568698338777671872013-08-29T11:56:07.209-07:002013-08-29T11:56:07.209-07:00Bette, there is actually a society called "De...Bette, there is actually a society called "Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Kings of Britain", and probably other similar groups. I love the URL http://royalbastards.org/home.html Heather Wilkinson Rojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704949156266722016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-22823531606754393052013-08-29T10:07:28.853-07:002013-08-29T10:07:28.853-07:00After many, many hours of research I still can'...After many, many hours of research I still can't find out what happened to my great-grandmother in St Louis, Mo in the early 1900s!!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-9990239154939742552013-08-29T09:30:03.885-07:002013-08-29T09:30:03.885-07:00There is nothing more romantic than looking for a ...There is nothing more romantic than looking for a few noble Sir Knights or Princes in the family tree!They left good records. It's the paupers and working people who make the chase fun because we have to work so hard to dig up the evidence. <br />Heather Wilkinson Rojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704949156266722016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-12802511248770038122013-08-29T07:29:58.703-07:002013-08-29T07:29:58.703-07:00I so agree! Like everything else, TV makes it all ...I so agree! Like everything else, TV makes it all look simple and easy to do quickly. I have heard it said that most people who have colonial ancestors most likely have a link to Royalty. The caveat here is that there were many illegitimate children of the Royal sons and some daughters. Back in the day it was considered an honor to receive attention and favors from a Prince. So links there may be but some are hard to prove because of the illegitimate factor. Still it's worth trying to follow through with it, but be prepared for many road blocks and wrong turns.Thepyeplatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09737124511840111060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-81657086046354955492013-08-29T06:45:15.673-07:002013-08-29T06:45:15.673-07:00It's true that they should do a little front p...It's true that they should do a little front piece before each episode explaining the countless hours and credit the researchers involved, but I don't believe there are that many people who are naive enough to think they can just have their family history handed to them.<br /><br />When I found out the other day that my brother watches this show and said to my mom, 'I wonder if we have any interesting ancestors', it meant everything to me.<br /><br />This show is invaluable to me because it awakens the desire in others to learn about their family history whether they do their own research or not. <br /><br />And you got to have that entertainment value; it's like curling up with a good romance novel. Am I right ladies?Leslie Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12453532813141228929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-23875967400196982013-08-29T05:49:19.303-07:002013-08-29T05:49:19.303-07:00I have seen basically the same thing, people looki...I have seen basically the same thing, people looking for their folder. Some people were surprised that the volunteer wasn't going to do their research.<br /><br /> On a brighter note, if your ancestors was from Western Europe we might all have a royal ancestor. It is also a waste of time for me because they were vague what resources they used to find the elusive ancestors.<br /><br />Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02714440790407126206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533717770805440813.post-80377751382612055152013-08-29T04:26:18.938-07:002013-08-29T04:26:18.938-07:00Bravo Heather! I think I have watched two WDYTYA ...Bravo Heather! I think I have watched two WDYTYA episodes and have decided not to waste my time since. Granted, the show might be entertaining and at the very least puts genealogy on the radar screen of the great number of people who watch a lot of television, but my overwhelming reaction is that these episodes are illusory and convey a false impression of what genealogy research is and what it costs real people in time, effort and treasure to accomplish (even in this golden age of on-line resources). Few people can afford to jet off around the country or the world to investigate their family roots. And for sure very, very few people are going to get the kind of seemingly immediate and personal attention of experts that (based on my two samples of WDYTYA) appears to be routine for the subjects of WDYTYA episodes. I suppose this is what happens when a show is really just another showcase for the rich, famous and celebrated and does not depict ordinary people and the struggles they encounter in trying to do genealogy research with limited time, money and expert advice and guidance. I am glad to see someone has finally touched on this perhaps uncomfortable little truth about the entertainment show known as WDYTYA. I had contemplated a piece on this myself, but never seemed to get to it. Thank you for addressing this! Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139639019457759712noreply@blogger.com