“Anyone researching Acadian names can soon find themselves lost in the myriad of identical names they come across wherever they search. Ie LeBlanc in Acadian research is as common as looking for “Smith”. (Some 14000 + on this CD) The first thing you see is a list of names. Entering surname and given, “Charles LeBlanc” filled several pages. I was happy to see I could change the list view from Name and number to name and dates, spouses, or parents. This helped to narrow things down. Then I tried the search function. What a find! I searched on “Place Contains” various towns. While using it, I was surprised to find several hits on my hometown. The results showed deaths as recent as 1994. One of these was for the son of an acquaintance of mine. I was unaware of a son and was very touched. A search on “Notes Contains” revealed some very intersting notes made by some of the researchers who contributed the data for the CD. I also had option to display a family group view, ancestors, decendants and print many charts and reports. I have been researching my British roots for some years now, and am looking forward to using this CD to supplement my Acadian research. The information varies from names only for living persons to detailed notes for others. Using this tool, I will be able to better focus my research trips. I wish I had a CD like this when I began my British/Colonial American research!”
Another Customer Comment on this CD
“The Yvon Cyr CD is a very well packaged and usable resource. Accessing the data on the CD is a trivial task with the many different tools provided with the data. An enormous amount of information is provided; a lot of the individual’s entries are duplications within the CD, obviously because of the origins of the data. You must look at every reference however, since each submission Yvon Cyr received was understandably not merged in with the existing data. The next entry might provide that bridge you we’re looking to confirm. Or it will extend your tree in a direction you didn’t know existed.”
Special Note for USA Residents
In some regions of the USA, VISA/Master Card has introduced a recent policy of NOT approving “International” orders unless pre-approved by the customer (this is for your protection). I’m told they also apply this new policy, for anyone who have _not_ used their credit card for a long period of time… again, this is for your protection. So, _before_ placing your order, just phone Visa/Master Card and alert them to the fact that you want this transaction approved. FYI.
Click here to see if the surname you are seeking, appears on the CD’s.
SPECIAL NOTE
I am constantly adding new data to my research and if you’d like to contribute YOUR own data for inclusion, merely send me a GEDCOM file (created using your own genealogy program) as an e-mail attachment or by snail mail to: Denis Cyr, Box 105, Georgetown, Ontario. Canada L7G 4T1
a) I can only accept GEDCOM files.
b) I retain the right to use (or not use) your information.
c) When you send your file, you release any/all copyrights to me.
Be certain to read the excellent “review” prepared by Rick Roberts of Global Genealogy Supply and published in the July 27, 1999 issue if his Global Gazette.
Press Release – July 19, 1999
New Acadian-Cajun Family Trees CD Contains Over 600,000 Records
July 19, 1999, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada —
“Progeny Publishing, a division of Progeny Software Inc., developers of quality genealogy software and CD-ROM products, today announced the release of a one-of-a- kind Acadian family history resource — the Acadian-Cajun Family Trees CD.
This genealogy CD is being launched this summer in conjunction with the second Congrès Mondial Acadien (CMA) that is being celebrated in Cajun Country, Louisiana, August 1st-15, 1999. Coincidentally, this event corresponds with the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference, August 12-14, St. Louis, Missouri, where it will also be premiered to the genealogy community for the first time.
The Acadian-Cajun Family Trees contains over 600,000 lineage-linked, family history records of Acadian descendants. Data was submitted by individuals doing personal genealogy research to Yvon Cyr at the web site www.acadian.org
As with other Progeny CD-ROM products, the Acadian-Cajun Family Trees CD includes the unique Progeny Family Explorer™ software that provides powerful search and report capabilities. Using Family Explorer, users are able to quickly search names and print standard genealogy reports, as well as create family tree and fan style charts. A new feature in Family Explorer now makes it possible to export records in GEDCOM format for import directly into any popular genealogy program.
“The release of this product at the CMA is auspicious,” said Bob Thomas, Partner of Progeny Software, “Particularly since our company is located in the heart of what used to be Acadia, three miles from the point of the Expulsion! Because Family Explorer makes data so accessible, we expect this to be a popular product among all those of Acadian-Cajun descent, even those who are not formally building their own family history database.”
Yvon Cyr, whose enthusiasm for Acadian genealogy along with his web site (www.acadian.org) got him an interview in Time magazine’s recent Roots Mania articles (April 1999), sadly will not be able to attend the CMA this summer due to health problems.
“This project was a labor of love for me,” says Cyr, “I was devastated to have to cancel my plans to be at the Congrès this summer. I only hope that those attending will connect through my web site, and that way continue to share our Acadian roots.”
The Acadian-Cajun Family Trees CD operates on all versions of Windows, requires a 486 CPU or better, and 8 MB free hard disk space.”
(Dick) Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter
July 27, 1999
New Acadian-Cajun Family Trees CD-ROM
Progeny Software also issued a press release this week. This one will interest anyone with Acadian or Cajun ancestry:
Progeny Publishing, a division of Progeny Software Inc., developers of quality genealogy software and CD-ROM products, today announced the release of a one-of-a-kind Acadian family history resource — the Acadian-Cajun Family Trees CD.
This CD is being be launched this summer in conjunction with the second Congrès Mondial Acadien (CMA) that is being celebrated in Cajun Country, Louisiana, August 1st-15, 1999. Coincidentally, this event corresponds with the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference, August 12-14, St. Louis, Missouri, where it will also be premiered to the genealogy community for the first time.
The Acadian-Cajun Family Trees contains over 600,000 lineage-linked, family history records of Acadian descendants. Data was submitted by individuals doing personal genealogy research to Yvon Cyr at the website https://acadian.org.
As with other Progeny CD-ROM products, the Acadian-Cajun Family Trees CD includes the unique Progeny Family Explorer™ software that provides powerful search and report capabilities. Using Family Explorer, users are able to quickly search names and print standard genealogy reports, as well as create family tree and fan style charts. A new feature in Family Explorer now makes it possible to export records in GEDCOM format for import directly into any popular genealogy program.
“The release of this product at the CMA is auspicious,” said Bob Thomas, Partner of Progeny Software, “Particularly since our company is located in the heart of what used to be Acadia, three miles from the point of the expulsion! Because Family Explorer makes data so accessible, we expect this to be a popular product among all those of Acadian-Cajun descent, even those who are not formally building their own family history database.”
Yvon Cyr, whose enthusiasm for Acadian genealogy along with his website ( https://acadian.org ) got him an interview in Time magazine’s recent Roots Mania articles (April 1999), sadly will not be able to attend the CMA this summer due to health problems.
“This project was a labor of love for me,” says Cyr, “I was devastated to have to cancel my plans to be at the Congrès this summer. I only hope that those attending will connect through my website, and that way continue to share our Acadian roots.”
The Acadian-Cajun Family Trees CD operates on all versions of Windows, requires a 486 CPU or better, and 8 MB free hard disk space.
(Dick) Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter
November 20, 1999
– Acadian-Cajun Family Trees
Progeny Software of Wolfville, Nova Scotia has released a new Windows CD-ROM disk: “Acadian-Cajun Family Trees.” I had a chance to use the disk this week and really enjoyed it. You see, I have quite a bit of Acadian ancestry, and I found lots of ancestors on this one. The data looks good, and the user interface is nice as well.
“Acadian-Cajun Family Trees” is not a simple collection of old records copied onto CD-ROM. Instead, it is a true lineage-linked database. The database is searchable, with almost each person listed linked to a spouse as well as to children and (usually) to parents. Software included on the CD-ROM allows the user to generate printed ancestor, descendant and fan style charts, just like previous Progeny software versions. A new feature in this release is the capability to also generate a GEDCOM file from the data on the CD-ROM. You can create a GEDCOM file of the data you see on screen and then later import the GEDCOM file into any modern genealogy program. This feature can save a lot of keystrokes. You do not need to obtain any additional software in order to use this CD-ROM disk; all software is included for operation on a Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT system.
The “Acadian-Cajun Family Trees” CD-ROM disk contains over 600,000 lineage-linked, family history records of Acadian descendants. Yvon Cyr collected these records at his popular Web site, https://acadian.org. Many people contributed their GEDCOM files of Acadian ancestors from Acadia and from Louisiana. Yvon Cyr then combined them into one huge database. Cyr’s database became the foundation for Progeny Software’s “Acadian-Cajun Family Trees” CD-ROM. The CD-ROM contains the names of all the contributors.
This CD-ROM is believed to be the largest database of Acadian genealogy anywhere in electronic form. Like any other collection of GEDCOM files, you must treat the information as POSSIBILITIES, not as proven fact. Many people contributed the information. Some of these people are genealogy experts while others are probably beginners. You can expect some variations in data accuracy. It isn’t practical for Yvon Cyr or for anyone else to go through and verify each and every one of the 600,000+ records contained on this disk. The information is presented “as is” and the user must validate each record presented through independent means. Nonetheless, this is a valuable resource for anyone with Acadian ancestry.
Installation of the software was simple: insert the CD-ROM disk, double-click on SETUP.EXE and then follow the on-screen instructions. A minute or so later the software was installed. While the software installs to your hard disk, the data remains on the CD-ROM disk.
Many genealogy CD-ROM disks these days do not have user’s manuals. I was pleasantly surprised to find a small, 16-page user’s manual inside the “Acadian-Cajun Family Trees” jewel case. This manual describes the disk’s contents, tells how to install the software, and even gives information on how to contact the disk’s compiler, Yvon Cyr.
I decided to pick one of my Acadian ancestors at random: Germain Theriault, born in Acadia in 1647. I entered his name into the search program. To my surprise, the software found 25 records for men of that name! Some of these records may be duplicates, but it does point out the French families’ tendency to use names over and over throughout several generations. I had to click on each record in order to view the details. Luckily, this didn’t require much effort. I quickly found the man I was looking for. Not only was his information shown, but the names of his parents and his wife and his children were also shown. To view the details of any of them, all I had to do was double-click on their names. At any time I was able to print family data on paper and also export it as a GEDCOM file.
The GEDCOM file output is an excellent feature. You can easily find a family or multiple connected families and then export them in GEDCOM format. Then you can import this GEDCOM file into your favorite genealogy program. You do not have to re-type all the information.
I will remind you to never import GEDCOM files into your primary database. Instead, create a new, empty database and import the GEDCOM file into that. Spend some time and effort validating the information shown in this second database. Once you are satisfied with data accuracy, you can always import the data into your primary database later. That should be true of any modern genealogy program.
All in all, I’d rate the “Acadian-Cajun Family Trees” CD-ROM disk as excellent. I’d say this even if it didn’t list about a hundred of my ancestors! While all the data needs to be verified, this CD-ROM is a “must have” for anyone researching Acadian ancestry. I know it has earned a permanent place on my bookshelf. I plan to spend a lot of time with it in the next few weeks.
One unique item is the connection of Progeny Software with Acadian ancestry. The company is located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, in the heart of the territory formerly known as Acadia. In fact, company headquarters is about three miles from the point of the Expulsion.