The Manasota Genealogical Society will meet Tuesday, April 5 9:30 a.m. - 12:00, at the Manatee County Central Library for a presentation by Bryan Mulcahy, Reference Librarian, Fort Myers-Lee County Library, titled: “WPA and It’s Impact on Genealogical Research.”
The meeting is held in the Auditorium of the Manatee County Central Public Library, 1301 Barcarrota Boulevard West, Bradenton, FL 34205.
You may recall that Bryan was a speaker at one of our monthly meetings some time ago. He is a dynamic speaker and you may want to make the trip to hear him.
More information about the society is available at their website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flmgs/
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
German Vital Records at FamilySearch
FamilySearch.org has changed dramatically since the end of last year. If you have not visited the site recently, you should make it a point to do so. The PGS offers a class on using the website, and given the changes to it, you might want to attend the class for a refresher the next time it is offered.
Three of the many databases available at the site deal with German vital records. They are:
>Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898
>Germany Deaths and Burials, 1582-1958
>Germany Marriages, 1558-1929
Each contains millions of records.
These are just samples of the many databases available at https://familysearch.org/
Three of the many databases available at the site deal with German vital records. They are:
>Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898
>Germany Deaths and Burials, 1582-1958
>Germany Marriages, 1558-1929
Each contains millions of records.
These are just samples of the many databases available at https://familysearch.org/
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Family Tree Maker Users Group Meeting is 2 April
The next meeting of the Family Tree Maker Users Group is at 10 am on 2 April at the Largo Public Library.
If you are a current user and want a forum to share problems and solutions, or if you are simply doing some exploration before you make a decision to buy the software, this meeting may be for your.
It is a free-flowing Q&A session where everybody contributes and everybody learns.
If you are a current user and want a forum to share problems and solutions, or if you are simply doing some exploration before you make a decision to buy the software, this meeting may be for your.
It is a free-flowing Q&A session where everybody contributes and everybody learns.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Jackie Jordan Distinguished as Library Genealogy Volunteer of the Year
On 24 March the library held its annual library volunteer appreciation breakfast. Over 20 genealogy volunteers who work in direct support of library operations attended. Jackie Jordan was honored as the Library Genealogy Volunteer of the Year.Congratulations to all of our great volunteers and to Jackie in particular.
The photos shown here are of Jackie accepting her award from Library Director Case McPhee and a group shot of all of the genealogy volunteers in attendance.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Visualizing Slavery
Susan Schulten, in an article for the online "Opinion Pages" of The New York Times, gives an intriguing look at how the issue of slavery was presented to the public in the 1860's through maps and art, all based on statistics for the census.
This is a fascinating bit of history. Check out the articles at http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/visualizing-slavery/
This is a fascinating bit of history. Check out the articles at http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/visualizing-slavery/
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Memorializing Your Ancestors...High Tech
Timeless Footsteps is a company that is bringing high tech to funeral memorials...it was just a matter of time, afterall.
The device is call a Footprint and it works like this: Footprints from Timeless Footsteps are attractive business card-sized placards you affix to a headstone or memorial. The Footprint includes a code that links visitors to the memorial with your family member's life story and photos on a beautifully designed web page. You can link with a smart phone, a net book, or any other internet-enabled device.
You can get more information and see an example of a memorial webpage at http://www.timelessfootsteps.com/
The device is call a Footprint and it works like this: Footprints from Timeless Footsteps are attractive business card-sized placards you affix to a headstone or memorial. The Footprint includes a code that links visitors to the memorial with your family member's life story and photos on a beautifully designed web page. You can link with a smart phone, a net book, or any other internet-enabled device.
You can get more information and see an example of a memorial webpage at http://www.timelessfootsteps.com/
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Megan Smolenyak's Newsletter
I trust many of you took advantage of the opportunity to meet Megan Smolenyak at our annual seminar on 12 February. If you enjoyed listening to her presentations there, or have read any of her books, or have enjoyed her participation in Who Do You Think You Are?, then you will probably be interested in her online newsletter Honoring Our Ancestors.
You can find links to back issues of the newsletter (all the way to 2005) at the link shown below. There is also a box on the right side of the page where you can subscribe to the newsletter if you wish.
Check it out at http://www.honoringourancestors.com/newsletter.html
You can find links to back issues of the newsletter (all the way to 2005) at the link shown below. There is also a box on the right side of the page where you can subscribe to the newsletter if you wish.
Check it out at http://www.honoringourancestors.com/newsletter.html
Monday, March 21, 2011
Roots Magic Users Group Meets 26 March
The next meeting of the Roots Magic Users Group is at 10 am on 26 March at the Largo Public Library.
If you are a current user and want a forum to share problems and solutions, or if you are simply doing some exploration before you make a decision to buy the software, this meeting may be for your.
It is a free-flowing Q&A session where everybody contributes and everybody learns.
If you are a current user and want a forum to share problems and solutions, or if you are simply doing some exploration before you make a decision to buy the software, this meeting may be for your.
It is a free-flowing Q&A session where everybody contributes and everybody learns.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
A Date Guide to English Genealogy
The Genealogy In Time online newsletter has a three-part series of articles dealing with English Genealogy. It takes the unique approach of examining the types of genealogy records available by date. For example, Oxford and Cambridge were the only universities in England until 1828. So early academic records searches can be limited to those two institutions.
It is an interesting approach and one that you could use in any context. Check out part 1 of the series at http://goo.gl/HCqFN
It is an interesting approach and one that you could use in any context. Check out part 1 of the series at http://goo.gl/HCqFN
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Megan Smolenyak at Imperial Polk
For those who wanted to hear Megan Smolenyak speak at the PGS seminar in February but could not make it, you have another opportunity. Megan is going to be speaking at the Imperial Polk genealogy society seminar on 9 April 2011.
The event will take place in the Alumni Room of the Charles Thrift Building at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. For additional information contact Key Stone (863-858-2783) or Ken Davis (863-815-7051) or email ipgslakeland@gmail.com. You can also get information at the Imperial Polk website at http://ipgs.org
The event will take place in the Alumni Room of the Charles Thrift Building at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. For additional information contact Key Stone (863-858-2783) or Ken Davis (863-815-7051) or email ipgslakeland@gmail.com. You can also get information at the Imperial Polk website at http://ipgs.org
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Ancestry.com Has Sweden Church Record Collection
Earlier this year, Ancestry.com announced its image collection of Sweden church records.
The collection contains nearly 18 million images scanned from microfilm/microfiche of the original church records. It features various records from the 16th through the 20th century, including birth/baptismal, confirmation, marriage, and death/burial records; church ledgers; moving-in and moving-out registers; and household examination rolls. These are the main sources of genealogical information for Swedish family history research.
Since these are original images, expect the information to be is Swedish.
The collection contains nearly 18 million images scanned from microfilm/microfiche of the original church records. It features various records from the 16th through the 20th century, including birth/baptismal, confirmation, marriage, and death/burial records; church ledgers; moving-in and moving-out registers; and household examination rolls. These are the main sources of genealogical information for Swedish family history research.
Since these are original images, expect the information to be is Swedish.
Friday, March 11, 2011
"Genealogy Newsline" Launched
This took place in January, but it is still great news. Leland Meitzler has launched a new online newsletter titled Genealogy Newsline
It is a free newsletter and you can read Volume 1, Number 1 at http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=9655
It is an outgrowth of the Family Roots Publishing newsletter, and the Everton Newsline, which Leland once edited for Everton Publishers. Leland brings a rich genealogy background to this new publication. I have had personal dealings with him when I was seeking to publish a couple of articles in Everton's Genealogical Helper, and welcome his voice online.
It is a free newsletter and you can read Volume 1, Number 1 at http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=9655
It is an outgrowth of the Family Roots Publishing newsletter, and the Everton Newsline, which Leland once edited for Everton Publishers. Leland brings a rich genealogy background to this new publication. I have had personal dealings with him when I was seeking to publish a couple of articles in Everton's Genealogical Helper, and welcome his voice online.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Joe Beine's Online Military Indexes Updated
To the benefit of all of us, Joe Beine continues to do his remarkable job of keeping lists of various genealogy indexes up to date. I recently received his email about updates to his military index.
If you are not familiar with this index, you are in for a treat, and old hands will be pleased too. You can find the military index at http://www.militaryindexes.com/
If you are not familiar with this index, you are in for a treat, and old hands will be pleased too. You can find the military index at http://www.militaryindexes.com/
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Civil War Histories for New Yorkers Now Online
The New York State Military History Museum and Veterans Research Center is making capsule histories of 360,000 New York Civil War soldiers available online.
The entire roster of New Yorkers who served during the Civil War years, 1861-65, is now available online, as well as the five annual reports issued by the Bureau of Military Statistics from 1864 to 1868 that chronicle the accomplishments of New Yorkers in battle.
The database is free and available at http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/civil_index.htm
The entire roster of New Yorkers who served during the Civil War years, 1861-65, is now available online, as well as the five annual reports issued by the Bureau of Military Statistics from 1864 to 1868 that chronicle the accomplishments of New Yorkers in battle.
The database is free and available at http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/civil_index.htm
Monday, March 7, 2011
Tell Your Friends About Family History Assistance Day
Dont forget, the Pinellas Genealogy Society and the Largo Library will sponsor a Family History Assistance Day at the library on 13 March from 1 pm to 4 pm.
See the entry for 1 March to get more information on this event.
Perhaps you have a friend or relative who has been thinking about starting research on his or her family. This event would be an ideal time for them to receive some help to get started. Volunteer researchers will be on hand to help people do actual research.
All participants need do is collect known information about their ancestors, write it down and bring it with them. Useful information would be birth, marriage, and death dates and places (if applicable) for at least parents and grandparents. More is better, but the key is collecting what is known and bringing it along. Volunteers will then use that information to begin research for additional information.
See the entry for 1 March to get more information on this event.
Perhaps you have a friend or relative who has been thinking about starting research on his or her family. This event would be an ideal time for them to receive some help to get started. Volunteer researchers will be on hand to help people do actual research.
All participants need do is collect known information about their ancestors, write it down and bring it with them. Useful information would be birth, marriage, and death dates and places (if applicable) for at least parents and grandparents. More is better, but the key is collecting what is known and bringing it along. Volunteers will then use that information to begin research for additional information.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Naturalization Class at Long Center on 12 March
If you missed the class on Naturalization records at the Largo Public Library, it is being offered at the Aging Well Center on 12 March at 10 am.
The Center is located in the Long Center, 1501 N. Belcher Road, Clearwater, and the class is free and open to the public.
The Center is located in the Long Center, 1501 N. Belcher Road, Clearwater, and the class is free and open to the public.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Family Search's Community Trees Explained
For some time now I have been aware of the Family Search project called "Community Trees," but I have to admit that I did not really understand what it was all about.
Community Trees are lineage-linked genealogies from specific time periods and geographic localities around the world. That is the stock explanation of the project. It gets a bit clearer if you read a recent article by Dick Eastman in his Online Newsletter. Dick combines the project description from Family Search with his own insights.
This collection, like all of the Family Search offerings is free. You might find it beneficial to your research, but I recommend you read Dick's article first. You can find it at http://goo.gl/qqZpQ
Community Trees are lineage-linked genealogies from specific time periods and geographic localities around the world. That is the stock explanation of the project. It gets a bit clearer if you read a recent article by Dick Eastman in his Online Newsletter. Dick combines the project description from Family Search with his own insights.
This collection, like all of the Family Search offerings is free. You might find it beneficial to your research, but I recommend you read Dick's article first. You can find it at http://goo.gl/qqZpQ
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Ancestry.com Offers Records From The War of 1812
It seems to me that the War of 1812 is collecting more and more interest from genealogists. At least, I get more and more questions about it, especially in our class of military records.
If that is an area of interest for you, did you know that Ancestry.com has a database of transcriptions from that war?
When the United States declared war on Great Britain in 1812, Congress authorized the President to accept and organize volunteers in order to win the war. The database on Ancestry.com is a listing of men mustered into the armed forces between 1812 and 1815. Taken from records in the National Archives, each record includes the soldier's name, company, rank at time of induction, rank at time of discharge, and other helpful information. It provides the names of nearly 600,000 men.
There are no digitized documents to see, but the appearance of your ancestor's name in this database tells you that he did in fact serve and that his records are available.
If that is an area of interest for you, did you know that Ancestry.com has a database of transcriptions from that war?
When the United States declared war on Great Britain in 1812, Congress authorized the President to accept and organize volunteers in order to win the war. The database on Ancestry.com is a listing of men mustered into the armed forces between 1812 and 1815. Taken from records in the National Archives, each record includes the soldier's name, company, rank at time of induction, rank at time of discharge, and other helpful information. It provides the names of nearly 600,000 men.
There are no digitized documents to see, but the appearance of your ancestor's name in this database tells you that he did in fact serve and that his records are available.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
LIst of Early German Immigrants Available Online
A list of approximately 25,000 names of immigrants from Germany during 1727 to 1776 has been copied from Israel Daniel Rupp's book that was published in 1876 and can be found at the "Passengers" link at http://www.neilelvick.com/
The book contained 320 separate lists, one for each voyage. This has been incorporated into a single master list and can now be searched alphabetically. The information presented includes the immigrant's name, year of immigration, and name of ship.
The book contained 320 separate lists, one for each voyage. This has been incorporated into a single master list and can now be searched alphabetically. The information presented includes the immigrant's name, year of immigration, and name of ship.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Family History Assistance Day at the Largo Library
The Pinellas Genealogy Society and the Largo Library will sponsor a Family History Assistance Day at the library on 13 March from 1 pm to 4 pm.
Volunteer researchers will be on hand to help people do actual research to get them started in studying their family history. If you have been curious about the use of Ancestry.com and other research websites, or if you have been thinking about researching your family but have not gottena round to it, this may be the event for you.
There will also be volunteers available to help in the use of print resources in the Genealogy Center should you wish to explore that.
All participants need do is collect known information about their ancestors, write it down and bring it with them. Useful information would be birth, marriage, and death dates and places (if applicable) for at least parents and grandparents. More is better, but the key is collecting what is known and bringing it along. Volunteers will then use that information to begin research for additional information.
There will be plenty of handouts available that will also help in further research. Light snacks will be available.
Volunteer researchers will be on hand to help people do actual research to get them started in studying their family history. If you have been curious about the use of Ancestry.com and other research websites, or if you have been thinking about researching your family but have not gottena round to it, this may be the event for you.
There will also be volunteers available to help in the use of print resources in the Genealogy Center should you wish to explore that.
All participants need do is collect known information about their ancestors, write it down and bring it with them. Useful information would be birth, marriage, and death dates and places (if applicable) for at least parents and grandparents. More is better, but the key is collecting what is known and bringing it along. Volunteers will then use that information to begin research for additional information.
There will be plenty of handouts available that will also help in further research. Light snacks will be available.
Access to PGS Members-Only Website
By now, if you are a PGS member, you should have received an Email giving you a user ID and a password to use to access the PGS members-only website. You can get to the site by clicking on the "PGS Members Only" tab at the top of the PGS public website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flpgs/index.htm
You can also get to the members-only site directly by going to http://www.flpgs.org/
and clicking on "login" at the very top of the page.
When you visit the members-only site for the first time, you will be prompted to take the time to change your password to something of your own choosing. Remember, it should be at least seven characters long.
If you are reading this and you have not received the introductory email, that means that we do not have a valid email address for you. Simply send an email to pgsfla@yahoo.com (Subject: PGS Member Email Address) and we will get the invitation out to you.
You can also get to the members-only site directly by going to http://www.flpgs.org/
and clicking on "login" at the very top of the page.
When you visit the members-only site for the first time, you will be prompted to take the time to change your password to something of your own choosing. Remember, it should be at least seven characters long.
If you are reading this and you have not received the introductory email, that means that we do not have a valid email address for you. Simply send an email to pgsfla@yahoo.com (Subject: PGS Member Email Address) and we will get the invitation out to you.
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