Finding 1940 Addresses

By now many of you have tried to use the newly released 1940 Census, and have discovered that you are fairly well stopped, until the records are indexed, unless you have a 1940 address for your family of interest.

Randy Seaver in is Blog Genea-Musings gives us a multitude of suggestions on where you might find such an address. The places he suggests you look represent typical “pick and shovel” genealogy research, but is worth a review because there are many that you may have forgotten about.

Check out Randy’s suggestions at Genea-Musings: How Can I Find Out Where My Folks Lived in 1940?

Internet Connections Threatened for Some

At today's PGS Computers In Genealogy group meeting the topic of a computer bug that could threaten internet connections came up. This was the result of an article on the front page of the Tampa Bay Times (http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/in-july-internet-may-go-dark-for-hackers-hundreds-of-thousands-of-victims/1226184).

If you suspect that your computer is infected with this bug, the article provides a website you can go to that will check your computer and provide instructions on how to remove the bug if your computer is infected.  This bug effects a very small percentage of all computers.

Take a Minute for Unindexed Records

Judy Russell in her blog The Legal Genealogist gives us an interesting perspective on the value of un-indexed records…you know, images available on line that you cannot yet search by name. It’s like the days of “old” when you had to scroll through a reel of microfilm looking for the entries of interest to you.

Judy makes the point that you can glean valuable information about the records themselves, and about the times in which the records were made by casually reading records at random—while searching for those dealing with your ancestor.

It is a refreshing take on a situation most of us dread getting into. Read what she has to say at The joy of unindexed records | The Legal Genealogist

Using Several Genealogy Programs

Randy Seaver, author of the Blog Genea-Musings, uses several genealogy programs at the same time. Most of us struggle with the task of choosing one program, let alone the challenge of using several.

But Randy has some solid logic to fall back on. His article explaining why he uses multiple programs will most likely not convince many of us to do likewise, but his rationale reveals some advantages and disadvantages of several programs we are all familiar with. For that reason alone, the article is worth reading.

Check it out at Genea-Musings: Dear Randy - Why Do You Use Several Genealogy Programs?

Ten Reasons to Use a Genealogy Software Program—One Genealogist’s View

In his 12 March blog entry in Genea-Musings by Randy Seaver, he answers the question about why he chooses to use a genealogy software program.

I know there are those of you who started keeping records using paper, pencil, and binders; and have continued in that mode. You may find some motivation to use a software program after reading Randy’s article. You can find it at Genea-Musings: Ten Reasons Why I Use a Genealogy Software Program

House History Research Tips

In her 13 March entry in the Blog Genealogy Insider,” Diane Haddad gives some great tips about researching the history of houses our families, current or ancestral, may have lived in. This is great reading and you should not pass it up.

I might add that our Pinellas Genealogy Society speaker at the April Meeting, Lynne Brown, is going to give a presentation on a related subject: The Genealogy of a Town. The meeting is on 21 April, 10 am at the Largo Public Library, and like all of those meetings, is free and open to the public.

You can read the article on house history research at Genealogy Insider - House History Research Tips From the Virtual Conference

“Genealogist-to-Genealogist from WikiTree

WikiTree has launched a Genealogist-to-Genealogist Wiki which if free and open to the public. It is open to all types of questions which will be fielded by other genealogists. In the words of WikiTree:

”WikiTree is all about collaboration. Most of the sharing on our project is between family members. This section of the site is designed especially for genealogists who want to help other genealogists — regardless of whether they have a direct family connection.”

Since many of us have the same questions about databases, research, etc., perusing the Q&A can be helpful.

You can check it out at WikiTree G2G .

Once you get to that page, click “Recent Activity” and/or “Hot Questions” links near the bottom of the page.

Library Volunteers Honored on 29 March

Each year the Largo Library honors the many volunteers who contribute time and effort to supporting the library's programs and services. The PGS has many voluteers who participate in doing that as consultants, adopt-a-state volunteers, instructors, and members of the library coordination committee.

This year twenty-three of our volunteers attended the appreciation breakfast on 29 March. Two of our members, Bill Fawcett and Ben Schulz were selected as Genealogy Library Volunteers of the Year. They serve as consultants on Wednesday evenings and have been genealogy volunteers at the library since the early 1990's.

The picture shows the PGS attendees, with the awardees seated in the front. Seated next to Bill and Ben is Betty Adkins, who was the recipient of this years Unsung Researcher Award which was presented at the annual seminar in February. Library Director Casey McPhee joined the group for the picture and is standing in the back row at the right.

All of our volunteers are deserving of our gratitude and support. It is through their efforts that the PGS enjoys its excellent reputation and continues to offer quality services to genealogists across the county.

Using Roots Magic to Record Source Information

This probably won’t be interest to most of you, but for those who use Roots Magic as their genealogy program of choice, it will be valuable.

Randy Seaver in his Blog Genea-Musings (15 March entry) gives a good example of using Roots Magic to enter source information (in this case the source is the SSDI) and then easily using that same source and citation in more than one fact for the same individual.

Check out his technique at http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/03/mining-ssdi-finding-married-females-in.html

Third PGS Family History Assistance Day a Great Success

The third Family History Assistance Day held by PGS was a great success. Held in March and October of each year, this event offers one-on-one research help to anyone who wants to take advantage of it. Each time the event has been offered, the number of people assisted has increased. This year 27 researchers were helped.

Thanks goes to the many volunteers who made the event possible. They were Dan Hooper, Sherrie Hellrung, Alice Charest, Bob Smith, Larry Hosmer, Rose Mary Hayes, Bob and Suzanne Jump, Donarita Vocca, Damon Hostetler, and Fran Connolly. Education Director Bob Bryan did a great job pulling the effort together.

In addition to the 27 genealogists who received research help, 18 attended two classes on the 1940 census and four particpated in a tour of the Genealogy Center.

Each time the event is offered, additional people participate and more services are offered. The next event is in October, so keep you eye out for it.

NGS Holds Family History Conference

For those of you going to the midwest during the summer, either on vacation or heading home, you may be interested in this. The National Genealogical Society will hold its 2012 Family History Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio from 9 to 12 May.

This is a huge event with multiple subject tracks all four days, a vendor hall, tours of Cincinnati genealogical and historical facilities, etc. You can get all the information about it you wish at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/