PGS Annual Seminar Features Sharon DeBartolo Carmack

The 2013 PGS seminar takes place on 9 February 2013 at the Largo Public Library from 8 am to 4 pm and will feature Sharon DeBartolo Carmack. Here is some information on Sharon's background:

She is a certified genealogist, has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction Writing. She is a partner in the research firm of Warren, Carmack & Associates where she specializes in Irish and Italian genealogical research, offers consulting, writing, and editing services for a variety of nonfiction projects, like memoirs, biographies, family histories, social histories, essays, and annotated letters and diaries.

Sharon is the author of sixteen books, and hundreds of articles and columns that have appeared in nearly every major genealogical journal and publication. Combined her books have sold about 115,000 copies. Her work has also appeared in literary journals.

Sharon has, for the past twenty years, extensive and varied editing and mentoring experience including her position as the executive editor of F+W Media’s Family Tree / Betterway Books line, where she acquired and edited more than 40 titles. She is also a contributing editor for Family Tree Magazine and an assistant editor for Brevity.

Sharon teaches nonfiction writing classes for Writer’s Digest University, and genealogical research courses for Family Tree University. She also hosted Roots Books, a talk-show that aired on RootsTelevision.com, which won a Telly Award in 2008.

Along with an MFA with Distinction in Creative Nonfiction Writing from National University, Sharon has a BA in English from Regis University (summa cum laude), and she holds a Diploma in Irish Studies from the National University of Ireland, Galway.

Sharon is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Association of Writers and Writing Programs. Her awards and honors include APG’s Grahame Thomas Smallwood Jr. Award of Merit (1990); the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ Award of Merit (1992 and 2002); and in 1998, Sharon was made a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association for her “outstanding contributions to the genealogical community and for the production of articles, books, and lectures that are an exemplary blend of her expertise in history and genealogy.”

For the price of the seminar and a registration form, go to the Pinellas Genealogy Society website at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flpgs/

Scottish Genealogy Web Site

The site Scotland’s People has been around for ten years now and bills itself as one of the largest online sources of original genealogical information. It features Scottish census records, wills, birth and death certificates, and more.

It is a fee site, but you can do a name search on all of their records for free.

Check it out if you have Scottish ancestry. Find it at Genealogy Scottish family birth records census ancestry Scotland uk - ScotlandsPeople

Attend Family History Assistance Day on 10 November

From 12-4 pm on 10 November the Pinellas Genealogy Society is holding its semi-annual event called Family History Assistance Day. Here is the opportunity to gather together the genealogy information you have and sit down 1-on-1 with a research helper to fill in the holes in your research, or even just get you started if you are new to the field.

The event takes place in the Jenkins Room of the Largo Public Library, Largo, Florida; and no reservations are required...it is first come first served.

In addition to the research help there will be a couple classes offered on Evaluating Your Evidence. You can sit in on the class before or after your assistance session, or as you are waiting to be helped.

This is the 4th time the event has been offered and each time it has increased in popularity. Mark the 10th of November on your calendar and join us for an afternoon of fun and productivity.

Ann Wilson Honored by the PGS

President David Dellinger Making the Presentation to Ann

Ann Wilson was presented with an Honorary Lifetime Membership in October. She was one of the earliest members of our Society, having joined the predecessor organization called Florida Society for Genealogical Research (FSGR).

In those early years, Ann helped canvas cemeteries, and she worked with Dorothy Boyer, first editor of the Society’s journal.

Ann and her late husband provided space for the Society’s first library and opened the doors one day a week to anyone who wanted to work with the Society’s holdings.

After her husband’s death, Ann became a home missionary, donated her personal collection of genealogical works to FSGR, and moved away for a short while.

She returned to the Largo area, and membership in what had become the Pinellas Genealogical Society.

We honor Ann for her significant contributions over more than 40 years of membership.

Kansas Historical Society Archives Online

Kansas Memory is the Kansas Historical Society  online archives of documents, photographs, and more. It recently added 250,000 images to the site.

The site is rich in information and easy to navigate, with several filters available to narrow your search. A quick look reveals documents from the early 1800’s to the 2000’s.

If you have Kansas ancestors, or ancestors who passed through Kansas on the way further west, you may profit from exploring this site. Check it out at Kansas Memory

Back to Adam

James Tanner in his blog Genealogy’s Star addresses genealogies that go way way back…perhaps to Adam. Actually, his article addresses the issue “again.” He has written about such research before and liberally references some of his earlier writing.

It is a good article on the challenges and pitfalls in researching early times (certainly before 1500), and it provides some helpful links for those interested in doing so.

Most intriguing (and revealing) is James’ concluding thought":

”The tragedy of the "back to Adam" issue is that it diverts resources, time and effort from legitimate research and give novices a very unreasonable expectation. One of the common questions asked of me is "How far back have you done your genealogy?" Not how well have you done your genealogy, not how valid are your conclusions, but just how far. Genealogy is not a competition sport.”

The article is well-worth reading. You can find it at Genealogy's Star: Back to Back to Adam

Free Newspaper Archives in the US

The Free Newspaper Archives website lists many free sources of online newspapers. The site organizes the links by section of the country (western, northeastern, etc.) to make the search easier.

At the bottom of the home page are some other interesting links you may want to follow… “European Historical Newspapers,” for example.

Check it out at Free Newspaper Archives in the US

Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center - Genealogy Center Surname File

Here is a database you may find helpful. It comes from the Allen County Public Library and consists of names and contact information for individuals who have visited the Genealogy Center of the library since 1998 and have provided the surnames they were researching. The database is updated quarterly.

Check it out. You may find a researcher on the trail of one of your ancestors. The website is Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center - Genealogy Center Surname File

How to Use National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC)

The NUCMC is found at the Library of Congress website <http://www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/>. Borrowing from the site, here is what it is about:

”The mission of the NUCMC program is to provide and promote bibliographic access to the nation's documentary heritage. This mission is realized by NUCMC production of cataloging describing archival and manuscript collections held by eligible repositories located throughout the United States and its territories. The program's mission is further realized by the provision of free searching, via NUCMC gateways, of archival and manuscript cataloging in OCLC WorldCat.”

If that is a bit too “governmenty” for you, then you may get a lot from Diane Beumenot on the One Rhode Island Family blog. She outlines her use of NUCMC with some clear examples. After reading her post, you can see what a valuable resource it is. Check out her article at How to Use NUCMC to Perform a Miracle « One Rhode Island Family

Another Take on Organizing Your Stuff

James Tanner in his blog Genealogy’s Star has shared his approach to organizing his genealogy documents. It is a computer-based system than relies on scanning and naming (including the assignment of “metadata”). What it does not entail is the use of traditional folders or binders to store his paper files.

This is a straight-forward approach that may seem “gutsy” to some of you, but which is worth the read. You can find the article at Genealogy's Star: A Note on Organization

Headstones Provided for Union Civil War Veterans

An act of Congress in 1879 allowed for the government to provide headstones for soldiers buried in private cemeteries. The information about such provisions for the period 1879 to 1903 was recorded on cards and subsequently put on microfilm. The information on those cards is now available online through a volunteer effort.

The information provided includes name, rank, company and regiment, place of burial (including the cemetery’s name and where it is located), date of death. Most of the burials were in private cemeteries, but some were at National Homes for Disabled Soldiers.

Keep in mind the limitations of this database: Union only, private cemeteries (mostly), and death between 1861 and 1902 (approximately).

NOTE: there are a few War of 1812 veterans included in the list.

Check it out at Genealogy Trails - Cards of Union Civil War Headstones

Upcoming Events for the Lee County Genealogy Society of Florida

"Establishing your genealogy along with developing a social history" given by Mary Helen Griffin Halloran, author of "A Mississippi Family..." on developing a written social history using your family records.
When: Thursday, October 18, 2012, 10:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Where: Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 4141 DeLeon Street, Fort Myers, Florida.

Don't forget the November 3, 2012 Fall Seminar "DAR Research" given by LCGS and Estero Island Chapter of the NDAR, Debbie Duay, speakeer. Pre-Registration is required:

Contact Arlene Pulner at (239) 245-7712 or georgiarlene@comcast.net

MillionShort, A Different Approach to Searching the Internet

MillionShort is a unique search engine: it allows you to remove the most poplar websites from consideration in your search. At first this sounds antithetical to a good search, but a little thought will reveal how it may be a good thing.

Often when we search for an ancestor’s name, it will be found in obscure websites, and those hits, if they are listed at all, are shown well down the list. In fact, they may be so far down the list that you never even look at them. MillionShort gives them better visibility.

The search options allow you to choose the number of popular sites to ignore during the search. The options range from remove none to remove one million.

This can be a fun and profitable exploration. Try it at MillionShort

Facebook and Genealogy

Sharon Tate Moody, writing for TBO.com (Tampa Bay Online), describes for us her use of Facebook to promote her family connections and genealogy.

She started out not thinking she would have any serious use for Facebook, but then discovered ways to make it work to promote her research and her connectedness to family. Her “conversion” is not necessarily unique, but is well-worth reading about if you are not familiar with the possibilities that Facebook presents.

Read Sharon’s article at Facebook is a friend to genealogists | TBO.com

Finding a Woman’s Maiden Name

William Dollarhide, writing in Lelan Meitzler’s Genealogy Blog, gives us a list of 90 places you may find information about a woman’s maiden name.

This may be just the nudge you need to break through one of your brick walls. You can find the article at http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=21263

Incorporation Ledgers Indian Territory & Oklahoma Territory Incorporation Registers

Those of you who have ancestors from the Oklahoma Territory who established businesses will be interested in this website. The Oklahoma Secretary of State and the state historical society have partnered to digitize the territory incorporation records from 1890 to 1907.

Here is the explanation of the site offerings from the site itself:

”The Incorporation Records for the Oklahoma and Indian Territories have been digitized in a joint project with the Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoma Secretary of State's Office. The ledger books were generated by the Territorial secretary as new businesses and municipalities began conducting business. There are 27 volumes of Oklahoma Territory Incorporation Records and 15 volumes for Indian Territory. Some examples of the entries found in the ledgers include: Agreement & Incorporation, Incorporation Amendment, Appointment of Agent, Dissolution, as well as lease and mortgage transactions. The entries begin in 1890 and continue until statehood is established in 1907.”

As an example, I found that the L. C Smith and Brothers Typewriter Company in 1907 executed an incorporation…and a PDF of the document is available for viewing and download.

You can find the database at OHS Research Center | Incorporation Ledgers Indian Territory & Oklahoma Territory

Understand the Source Before You Look at the Records

An article recently published by Audrey Collins in the blog The Family Recorder contains some great advice for us. Her point is that before we get involved in looking for data in the many databases available on line now, we should be sure and check the description and especially the source of that data.

For instance, we may start to search for a birth record in a database containing Wisconsin births from 1880 to 1890, and not realize that the county we are interested in is not included. A careful reading of the the database description and the data sources could have revealed that.

This is a well-written article and is worth you time. You can find it at: The Family Recorder: Online records - never mind the description, look at the source

Family History Assistance Day Is Coming Up

From 12-4 pm on 10 November the Pinellas Genealogy Society is holding its semi-annual event called Family History Assistance Day. Here is the opportunity to gather together the genealogy information you have and sit down 1-on-1 with a research helper to fill in the holes in your research, or even just get you started if you are new to the field.

The event takes place in the Jenkins Room of the Largo Public Library, Largo, Florida; and no reservations are required...it is first come first served.

In addition to the research help there will be a couple classes offered on Evaluating Your Evidence. You can sit in on the class before or after your assistance session, or as you are waiting to be helped.

This is the 4th time the event has been offered and each time it has increased in popularity. Mark the 10th of November on your calendar and join us for an afternoon of fun and productivity.

New Italian Immigrant References Added to Collection

If you have Italian immigrant ancestors you may be interested in a recent addition to the print collection in the Genealogy Center at the Largo Public Library. The two newest volumes of the Italians to America series have recently been acquired. Those two volumes cover the time-frames June 1904 to March 1905, and March 1905 to April 1905.

These additions bring the set up to date with a total of 28 volumes. Check it out the next time you are at the library.