Map Out That Property

Michael John Neill in his Genealogy Tip of the Day blog, suggests mapping out your farming ancestor’s property, and then looking for nearby churches, schools, cemeteries, etc. as possible research locations.

Be sure and keep your eye on the PGS list of classes (http://www.flpgs.org/classes.aspx). We have a couple new ones on  property research that will underscore Michael’s point.
Genealogy Tip of the Day: Do You Map Out Their Farms?

PGS Educational Events for the Week of 30 November to 6 December 2014

Tuesday, 2-Dec-14 at 6:00 PM--Library Catalog Searching for Genealogists – Libraries are a great place for finding genealogy resources. This class will show you how to find libraries and archives that can help you in your search, how to get the most from catalog searches, and discover other helpful resources available through online catalogs. Fortin, Local History Room, Largo Library

Thursday, 4-Dec-14 at 1:00 PM--Homestead Act--History Series, Summers, Aging Well Center,  1501 N. Belcher Rd., Clearwater, FL

Saturday, 6-Dec-14at 10:00 AM--Family Tree Maker User Group--Questions& Answers and Demonstration of how to use the Family Tree Maker genealogical database software, Hosmer, Jenkins C, Largo Library.

If you are looking for a way to contribute to a PGS project, consider this:

Friday, 5 Dec 14--Memorial Park Cemetery Canvass 9:00-11:00 AM—If you can help, it will be appreciated…and it’s lots of fun as you get to know PGS members better while you contribute to a good cause. Location: 5750 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (at the  intersection of 49th Street North and 54th Avenue North, west side)

We plan to meet in the South section of the cemetery (south of 54th avenue).  Google "memorial park cemetery st petersburg fl" for a map. Refreshments will be provided.  Wear your PGS shirts if you have one and bring your digital camera.

Idea Lab Opens at Largo Public Library

The following is extracted from the Largo Public Library online Newsletter:

ideaLAB Grand Opening!

Wednesday, December 3, 5:00 - 7:00pm
Stop by our new ideaLAB to see what exciting projects Largo Public Library has in store for 2015! Take a sneak peek at a variety of creative technology, including: iAuthor interactive ebooks, LEGO Mindstorms robotics, and demonstrations of the library's new 3D printer.

Can't make it to the Grand Opening? Come in for any of these featured upcoming ideaLAB programs:

Open ideaLAB
Fridays, December 5, 12, 19. 3:00 - 5:00pm, Ages 13+
Are you interested in exploring new digital tools? Come to ideaLAB during open lab hours and use the library's equipment to explore, learn, and create.

Mindstorms Monday
Monday, December 8, 3:00 - 4:30pm, Ages 13+
Do you want to give robotics a try? At this workshop, you can work in a group to learn how to assemble and program a LEGO robot.

Intro to 3D Printing
Wednesday, December 17, 6:00pm, Ages 13+
View a demonstration of the library's 3D printer and learn the basics of 3D printing. Registration is required.


If you have interest in new technologies, drop by the grand opening or one of the programs. I have seen their 3D printer in action and it is fascinating. I've read about them, but nothing beats seeing one in actual operation.


The Largo Public Library is an important partner with PGS, and any support we can offer for their activities is beneficial to both of us.


If you are interested in other events at the Largo Library, follow the link below to their online calendar of events.
http://www.largo.com/egov/apps/events/calendar.egov?view=cal&eGov_searchDepartment=17&timeframe=2&year=2014&month=12&day=1

What First Names Say About Someone

This article in GenealogyInTime Magazine gives an unusual slant on the subject of first names. Rather than focus on the meaning of various first names as many articles do, this one looks at the economic and social implications of first names. Those implications can then be translated into document search strategies.

Check it out at:  What First Names Say About Someone

Canadian Expeditionary Force Registers Online

The website Canadiana has published Canadian Expeditionary Force Registers relevant of WWI. When you get to the linked page, scroll down to the heading “Select Tiles” to find hotlinks.

Before diving right into one of  the registers, take a moment to read the introductory material to make your time searching these free lists more rewarding.

Canadian Expeditionary Force Registers | Canadiana

Genealogy Search Engine Frequently Asked Questions

I have written about the Genealogy Search Engine from GenealogyInTime Magazine before in this blog, and obviously I am a fan. But for those of you still not familiar with it, these “Frequently Asked Questions” may be helpful in deciding if it is a useful tool for you or not.

You will get answers to such questions as how this search engine differs from subscription sites like Ancestry.com; who many websites it covers; how many countries it covers; etc.

Check it out at:  Genealogy Search Engine Frequently Asked Questions

Largo Area Historical Society Holiday Party on 8 Dec. 14

The Largo Area Historical Society will host a holiday party  on 8 December. The event takes place in the Historic Feed Store in Largo Central Park, and kicks off at 6:30 pm.

Largo Area Historical Society Open House, 6 Dec. 14

The Largo Area Historical Society holds an open house at the Historic Feed Store in Largo Central Park the first Saturday of the month from 10 am to 2 pm. In December that will be on the 6th. All are welcome to view this museum of life in the Largo area.

PGS Educational Events for the Week of 16-22 November 2014

Monday, 17 Nov at 10:00 AM--Familysearch.org—the class will demonstrate how to search the vast databases available on this rapidly-expanding site made available from the LDS (Mormon) genealogy collection. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 19-Nov at 10:00-4:00 PM--England & Wales Genealogy--How to access the parish records of birth/christening/marriage/burials from 1837 to the present. Participants in the morning lecture are invited to bring their laptops for an afternoon workshop (after a lunch break) to search for personal records with individual guidance. Pearson, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Thursday, 20-Nov at 12:30 PM--MILITARY RECORDS --This class explores the types of military records produced from the Revolutionary War to modern times. It shows the information contained in those various records, and where to find them in print and online. Summers, Aging Well Center, 1501 N. Belcher Rd., Clearwater, FL

Saturday, 22-Nov-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.


Also...if you can help out, consider this:  Monday, 17 Nov at 9:00 -11:00 AM--Memorial Park Cemetery Canvass—Location: 5750 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (at the  intersection of 49th Street North and 54th Avenue North, west side). We plan to meet in the South section of the cemetery (south of 54th avenue).  Google "Memorial Park cemetery St. Petersburg Fl" for a map. Refreshments will be provided.  Wear your PGS shirt if you have one and bring your digital camera. Also, mark your calendars for further outings on Dec 5 and Dec 13 all from 9-11 AM.

Roman Vishniac Collection on Jewish Life

This Vishniac collection shows images of Jewish life in Central and Eastern Europe prior to WWII. The collection consists of more than 9000 images, and it is all free.

Check it out at:  Roman Vishniac Archive | International Center of Photography

New Year's Eve "London Time"

This is a dinner and dance celebration sponsored by the Greater Largo Library Foundation. It is on 31 December 2014 from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. Enjoy a celebratory dinner dance and still be home in time to watch the ball drop in Times Square, attend another party, or just crawl into bed early!

Beginning at 5:30 PM with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, the festivities will move into a delicious English dinner and dancing to the music of the Jim Weber Band. There will also be silent and Chinese auctions.

AT 7 PM, New Year's in London Time, the balloons will drop and Champaign will be served.

Tickets are $60 per person or $100 per couple, and sponsorship opportunities are available. Proceeds go to support of the Largo Public Library.

Tickets are available online at www.gllf.org or at the Largo Public Library Circulation Desk. Call the GLLF office for more information : 727-586-7398

Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Atlanta

If you have ancestors from the Atlanta, Georgia area, this site may be of value. You can access a list of interments at the following cemeteries: Budapest, Locust Grove, Purification, Sparta, and St. Patrick.

After following the link below, click on your cemetery of choice in the list on the left of that page. That will take you to a page with some brief historic information about the cemetery, and a PDF document listing the interments that you can download.
Office of Catholic Cemeteries | Archdiocese of Atlanta

Why Do You Love Genealogy?

We all have our own reasons for doing family research, but it is at time refreshing to hear the reasons that other people have. Mary Harrell-Sesniak, writing in the GenealogyBank.com Blog, offers us a collection of such reasons.

Enjoy the article at:  Why Do You Love Genealogy?

PGS Educational Events for the Week of 9-15 November 2014

Monday, 10-Nov-14 at 6:00 PM--Tracing Living Persons--suggested methods and tips for finding living people--kinfolks you never knew. Bryan. Local History Rm, Largo Library

Tuesday, 11 Nov 14—Library closed all day

Wednesday, 12-Nov-14 at 6:00 PM--Immigration Records and Ships Passenger Lists-How to use them. Summers, Local History Rm, Largo Library.

Thursday, 13-Nov-14 at 10:30 AM--Canadian Genealogy Interest Group. Grandmaison, Local History Room, Largo Library

Saturday, 15-Nov-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 Nov 14 at 11:00 AM, Program meeting: Tracing Your DNA: The Amazing Journey of Your Ancestors. It is now possible to, relatively inexpensively, have a sample of your DNA tested, analyzed and compared to learn more about your ancestry and lineage than ever before. Learn about the three types of DNA testing used in genetic genealogy research and how the results can be used to determine recent family lineage and historic migrations of the human race. The class includes related case studies and an overview of the National Geographic Genographic Project and world population haplogroups. David Boyette, Jenkins B, Largo Library.

Tip: Keep Private Notes Private for RootsMagic Users

This tip is not for everyone, but if you use the Roots Magic genealogy computer program, it is for you. Other programs have similar capabilities, so the idea is certainly transferable.

Check out the technique at:  RootsMagic Blog » Tip: Keep Private Notes Private

Saturday, Nov 8 From 9:00 -11:00 AM--Memorial Park Cemetery Canvass -- Lend a Hand

If you can help, it will be appreciated. Location: 5750 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (at the  intersection of 49th Street North and 54th Avenue North, west side). We plan to meet in the South section of the cemetery (south of 54th avenue).  Google "Memorial Park Cemetery Saint Petersburg, Fl" for a map. Refreshments will be provided.  Wear your PGS shirt if you have one and bring your digital camera. Also, mark your calendars for further outings on Nov 17, Dec 5 and Dec 13 all from 9-11 AM.

Full or Everyname Index?

Michael John Neill gives us a great “Search Tip of the Day.” It deals with knowing about the index you are using to do your search.

Dwell on it at:  Search Tip of the Day--Almost Every Day: Full or Everyname Index?

PGS Educational Events for the Week of 3-8 November 2014

Monday, 3-Nov-14 at 10:00 AM--FOLD3, DROPBOX & EVERNOTE FOR GENEALOGY—Demonstration of how to use these useful tools in your research. Summers, Local History Rm, Largo Library.

Tuesday, 4-Nov-14 at 6:00 PM--FEMALE ANCESTORS--locating and tracing the maternal line; tips and methods to finding maiden names. Bryan, Local History Rm, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 5-Nov-14 at 10:00 AM--INTRODUCTION TO GENEALOGY (Beginner) -- Basics of how to get started in researching your family history—what to do first, where to look& how to do it. Bryan, Local History Rm, Largo Library.

Saturday, 8-Nov-2014 at 10:00 AM--MORE MAPS IN GENEALOGY RESEARCH-Maps can reveal much about the lives our ancestors led and the conditions under which they lived. They can also reveal hints on where to look for other important documents. There are many different types of maps available to the researcher, and this class deals with military, ward, topographical, plat, and railroad maps. Summers, Pasco Genealogy Society, Dade City, FL