Largo Area Historical Society Monthly Meeting

Catch the monthly meeting of the Largo Area Historical Society on 14 April, 2014. The meeting starts with a covered dish supper at 6:30 pm followed by a business meeting and speaker.

This month John Pecarek will discuss what it was like growing up in the Pecarek Household.

PGS Events for the Week of 30 March 2014

Monday, 31-Mar-14 at 6:00 PM--Family Tree Maker 2012 Basics--A detailed explanation and demonstration of the many features of this most popular genealogy database program. Part 5 of 6. Smith, Local History Room, Largo Library

 

Tuesday, 1-Apr-14 at 6:00 PM--Ancestry.com--search techniques for getting the most from this huge collection of databases. Bryan, Local History Rm, Largo Library.

 

Wednesday, 2-Apr-14 at 10:00 AM--NATURALIZATION RECORDS -- Many of our ancestors became naturalized citizens, and left a paper trail when they did so. This class explains the naturalization process, what information can be found in the records, and where those records can be found. Summers, Local History Rm, Largo Library.

 

Thursday, 3-Apr-14 at 10:15 AM--England & Wales Genealogy--How to access the parish records of birth/christening/marriage/burials from 1538 to the present. Pearson, Local History Room, Largo Library.

 

Thursday, 3-Apr-14 at 1:00 PM--England & Wales Genealogy workshop--hands on demonstration of the material discussed in the morning class. Pearson, Genealogy Center, Largo Library.

 

Saturday, 5-Apr-14 at 10:00 AM--Family Tree Maker User Group--Questions & Answers and Demonstration of how to use the Family Tree Maker genealogical database software. Hosmer/Bryan, Jenkins C, Largo Library.

Find Ancestors Death Information

Here is another source list from The Ancestor Hunt. You will find 14 ways to ferret out death information about your ancestors.

Check it out at:  14 Ways to Find Ancestors Death Information - The Ancestor Hunt

Finding Marriage Information

The Blog The Ancestor Hunt offers a list of 18 ways to find your ancestors’ marriage information. If you are stuck, you may find a tip here to allow you to move on.

18 Ways to Find Ancestors Marriage Information - The Ancestor Hunt

PGS Events for the Week of 23 March 2014

We have another full week of classes/events at PGS.

Monday, 24-Mar-14 at 6:00 PM--Family Tree Maker 2012 Basics--A detailed explanation and demonstration of the many features of this most popular genealogy database program. Part 4 of 6.   Smith, Local History Room, Largo Library.

 

Wednesday, 26-Mar-14 at 10:00 AM--Immigration Records and Ships Passenger Lists-How to use them. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library

 

Wednesday, 26-Mar-14 at 6:00 PM--Mexican American War Records for Genealogy--NEW, NOT ON PRINTED SCHEDULE, Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

 

Saturday, 29-Mar-14, 12:00-4:00 PM, first-come, first-served--Family History Assistance Day, Jenkins A, B and the Genealogy Center. Using your research notes as a starting point, you and another researcher will ply the Internet to hunt for data to work on that brick wall, extend your research, or just get started. Volunteers will also be available in the Genealogy Center to introduce you to our print collection by giving tours, and to assist in the use of that material. Even if you can’t make it, tell your friends…especially those who are new to genealogy and could use some research guidance.

Some Genealogy Productivity Tools

The online GenealogyInTime Magazine gives us five productivity tools for genealogy. From finding a name in a modern social website, to converting images to text, to finding old software to open old files, there may be something here for you.

Check it out at:  Five Great Productivity Tools for Genealogy

Tips on Where to Find Birth Information

If you are stuck on getting a birth date for an ancestor, you may find this list of birth information sources form The Ancestor Hunt helpful.

19 Ways to Find Ancestors Birth Information - The Ancestor Hunt

Largo Area Historical Society Open House

The Largo Area Historical Society will hold an open house at the Historic Feed Store in Largo Central Park from 10 am to 2 pm on April 1, 2014. Drop by and see the exhibits of artifacts from Largo’s past. Society members will be on hand to give explanations and answer questions.

Suncoast Genealogy Society Spring Mini Seminar - 22 March

The Suncoast Genealogy Society Spring Mini Seminar will be held Saturday, March 22, 2014 from 1 - 4 pm at the Palm Harbor Library.

The principle speaker will be Debra Fleming. Her topics are "Government Records, Immigration, SSDI and Railroad Board" and "Obscure Record Sources."

A book Sale and refreshments will be available. The registration is $25 at the door.

Important Tip When Using Ancestry.com

When using the databases at Ancestry.com, it is important (actually this is important when using a database anywhere) to learning what is in the database and where the information came from.

The Blog 4YourFamilyStory.com highlights the important of that, especially in light of the fact that FamilySearh and Ancestry are sharing more and more information.

Read the blog post at:  Don't Forget This When Looking at FamilySearch.org Collections on Ancestry.com - 4YourFamilyStory.com

Imperial Polk Genealogical Society Features Judy Russell at Seminar

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL will be the featured speaker at the Imperial Polk Genealogical Society /seminar on 12 April 2014. The event will take place at the Highland Park Church of the Nazarene located at 4477 Lakeland Highlands Road in Lakeland, Florida. The seminar runs from 9 am to 4 pm with registration starting at 8 am.

For a registration form and more details, see: http://www.ipgs.org/ .

Largo Area Historical Society Garage Sale

This event is a fundraiser for the Society. If you would like to contribute items, bring your donations to the Feed Store on Friday, March 28 from 9 am to 4 pm.

If you want to browse and buy, the event kicks off at 8 am on Saturday, 29 March. Remember, it is at the Historic Feed Store in Largo Central Park.

PGS Events for the Week of 16 March

Here is what’s happening at PGS for the week of 17 March 2014

 

Monday, 17-Mar-14 at 6:00 PM--Family Tree Maker 2012 Basics--A detailed explanation and demonstration of the many features of this most popular genealogy database program. Part 3 of six consecutive sessions, Smith, Local History Room, Largo Library.

 

Tuesday, 18-Mar-14at 6:00 PM--Spanish American War records for Genealogy, Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library

 

Thursday, 20-Mar-14 at 10:15 AM—Canadian Genealogy Interests Group

• Review of questions and answers about Google Earth Genealogy Tours.
• More details about maps for Eastern Canada.
• In depth review of ""nosorigines"" and how to be a registered participant and contributor.
• How to correct any errors discovered there, once and for all time! Citations with proof are the key.
• Genealogy favorite sites of those attending the meeting.

This is the last session of the season until November. Grandmaison& Charest       , Local History Room, Largo Library

 

Saturday, 22-Mar-14 at 10:00 AM--RootsMagic User Group--Questions and answers and demonstrations of how to use the RootsMagic genealogy database software program. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

 

Bob Bryan

PGS Education Director

What Happens to Your Online Stuff When….Well, You Know…When You Die

Hiawatha Bray, writing in the online Boston Globe, gives us plenty of things to think about in the article “Time to Plan Our Online Estates.”

Several major social networks are discussed and what their policy is toward material authored by the deceased, and what their policy is concerning heirs.

Even if you are not a “twitterer,” for example, you probably have files stored somewhere online or have a tree out there somewhere that you should make plans about just as seriously as you determine who and how someone will get your treasured plate collection. And if you are indeed into social networking and using Twitter and Face Book, then you have even more to consider.

Read this thought-provoking article at:  Prepare to meet thy online doom - Business - The Boston Globe

Rutland Historical Society, Rutland, Vermont

The Rutland Historical Society offers a website with lots of useful history and data relative to the central area of Vermont and beyond.

Navigation from the home page is made easy with menu selections in the left hand pane. Transcribed information from selectmen’s reports and town reports dating from the mid- to late-1800’s is available as well as city directories from 1867 to 1986. Select “Exhibits & Collections” from the menu to see that and more.

You can find it all at:  History of Rutland Vermont from the Rutland Historical Society, Rutland, Vermont

Family History Assistance Day Coming to Largo Library on 29 March

Our semi-annual Family History Assistance Day is coming up on March 29.

Using your research notes as a starting point, you and another researcher will ply the Internet to hunt for data to work on that brick wall, extend your research, or just get started.

Volunteers will also be available in the Genealogy Center to introduce you to our print collection by giving tours, and to assist in the use of that material.

The event begins at 12 pm in the Jenkins Room of the Largo Public Library, and runs until 4 pm, on a first-come first-served basis.

Even if you can’t make it, tell your friends…especially those who are new to genealogy and could use some research guidance.

Genealogy research is most successful when shared, and this event provides that opportunity.

Come early and enjoy the activities.

 

Top 100 Genealogy Websites of 2014

The GenealogyInTime Magazine has published its list of the top 100 genealogy websites of 2014. The article compares the 2014 list with their 2013 list so you can track rises and falls.

The article also identifies the county of origin of the website and whether it is a free or pay site.

Do not overlook the beginning of the article where they explain their methodology.

Check it out at: Top 100 Genealogy Websites of 2014

PGS Events During the Week of 10 March

Monday, 10-Mar-14 at 6:00 PM--Family Tree Maker 2012 Basics-- A detailed explanation and demonstration of the many features of this most popular genealogy database program. Part 2 of six consecutive sessions, Smith, Local History Room, Largo Library

Tuesday, 11-Mar-14 at 6:00 PM--COMPUTER DATA PROTECTION--How to assure your genealogy (and other) computer data is safe from natural disasters, computer failure, viruses, spyware, etc. We will discuss what data you need to backup and specific means to safely backup that data. We will show how to protect your computer from viruses and spyware. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 12-Mar-14 at 10:00 AM--DNA Testing for genealogy—What you can and cannot do with DNA testing relating to your family history—an introduction. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library

Friday, 14-Mar-14 at 10:00 AM--Swedish Genealogy Interest Group—This class will explore the Swedish web site - ArkivDigital with an overview of the extensive collection, which includes all the Church Records as well as Estate Inventories, Court, Tax, Prison, School & Military records. There will explanation of  ArkivDigital's download process.    Brochures will be available. This is an extra class, not on the published schedules. Charest, Local History Room, Largo Library

Saturday, 15-Mar-14 at 10:00 AM--Computers in Genealogy--Question and answer session on the use of computers in genealogy research and record keeping. Bryan, Jenkins B, Largo Library

Saturday, 15-Mar-14 at 11:00 AM—Program meeting presented by Jeffrey A. Bockman entitled “Extra! Extra! Read All About Your Ancestors!” - See the wealth of research information that can be found in newspapers. Learn how to locate some of those little gems with published extracts, online and printed indexes, and online searches. Jenkins B, Largo Library

Saturday, 15-Mar-14 at 12:30 PM--Workshop tour of the Genealogy Center showing the many genealogical research resources there. Stokes, Genealogy Center, Largo Library

Alta Vista Cemetery, Hall County, Georgia

Here is the link to another cemetery in Georgia: the Alta Vista Cemetery. The search page is straight forward and leads to information such as birth date, death date, date of interment, funeral home, and grave location.

Uniquely, there is also an AKA search field that will pick up aliases, nicknames, and the like.

You can find the listing at:  Alta Vista Cemetery

Legal Terms From Colonial America

If you have ever puzzled over some of the terms you have found in old wills, probate records, court documents, etc., this website may help you out. It offers a glossary of colonial terms that goes well beyond the legal world.

Check it out at:  Glossary of Colonial Legal Terms

Last Notice: Ancestry's Crista Cowan Appearing in Pinelllas

Also known as the “Barefoot Genealogist,” Crista Cowan from Ancestry.com will be in the area in March. Join her as she shares tips and what’s new at Ancestry.com. She will explore how to get the most out of Ancestry.com, including how to effectively search for information. Her free programs will be in interest to new as well as experienced researchers.


On 3 March she will be speaking in the Largo Library in Jenkins Room C from 3 to 5pm. Seating is limited, so access will be on a first-come first-served basis.

If you cannot make that appearance, she will be at the Palm Harbor Library on 7 March from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. Seating there is also limited, but you can reserve a seat by contacting Ann James 727-791-1983, or emailing her atjamesamsj@aol.com.