Helping Researchers on a First Name Basis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2000

For Further Information Contact:
Elaine Fraim, Media Coordinator
(908) 771-0829

Helping Researchers on a First Name Basis

GenealogyToday.com is pleased to announce the acquisition of the First Name Basis (FNB") project created by Christine Biship Smith. The FNB project consists of a series of research services based on the novel concept of finding a relative by searching for their first name.

Christine started the project in 1995, because so many of the women in my family tree were without maiden names", and she found making connections based on a common (but unusual) first name was a simple and productive form of speculation.

First Name Basis is a perfect complement to our mission of highlighting alternative techniques to genealogical research," said Illya DAddezio, editor of the GenealogyToday.com web site. Having a unique name myself, I had often wondered that a first name itself (or combined with a middle name) could be a tool for finding lost ancestors. Christine actually proved it with her project."

The databases of the First Name Basis project include Usual First Names", Roots of Married Women", Spinster or Spouse?" and Stuck in the Middle with Yew". All are designed to help people make connections based on first names, and now they are fully searchable on GenealogyToday.com with submissions being accepted online rather than via e-mail.

Christine commented, In some ways I'm saddened to step away from this labor of love, as it has been so rewarding to see genealogy grow real roots on the Internet. But other things have greater priority," referring to her SOLOS project, non-profit organization for Survivors of Loved Ones' Suicides. She added, at the same time, however, Im very pleased to have found a proper home at GenealogyToday.com for my work."

About Survivors of Loved Ones' Suicides

Christine formed SOLOS, Inc. in November 1998, almost one year to the day after losing her 15 year-old son to suicide. "There's so little out there for survivors of such a devastating loss," according to Christine. "We were helped enormously by being able to connect with other survivors online, and we felt that every survivor should have access to both information and support." SOLOS volunteers of all ages have been helping provide those resources ever since. For more information about SOLOS and its projects, visit http://www.solos.org or http://www.1000deaths.com

About GenealogyToday.com

GenealogyToday.com is serving a growing audience of genealogy enthusiasts and earning accolades along the way. For more information visit the Web site at http://www.genealogytoday.com/media/, e-mail efraim@dvc.com, or call 908-771-0829.

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