Hamilton East Public Library Provides Cemetery Listings and More

The Hamilton East, Indiana Public Library gives us a Hamilton County cemetery database, newspaper database, and local histories.

To get access, scroll down the landing page to "The Virtual Indiana Room." Under that heading you will find links to the various databases and county histories.

Check it out at:  Hamilton East Public Library Website | Indiana Room:

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PGS Events for the Week of 1 to 6 February 2016

Monday, 1-Feb-2016 at 10:00 AM--Eastern European Research for ancestors who came from Galicia/Halychyna, Bukovina, Poland, Ukraine, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Germans from Russia, Rusyns, Boykos. Help on how to start - with information obtained in the New World. This is the first time this topic has been presented at PGS. van Heerden, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Tuesday, 2-Feb-2016 at 6:00 PM--RootsMagic-2, This is the second of five classes, each 1 ½ hours long on this popular genealogy database program, held for five consecutive weeks. It’s intent is to take the student from the basics of initial entry of family information to the more detailed topics of incorporating images in your family history, citing sources, and generating various reports. The class will be most effective if all sessions are attended in order. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 3-Feb-2016 at 10:00 AM--Ancestry.com--search techniques for getting the most from this huge collection of databases. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Friday, 5-Feb-2016 at 10:00 AM--Franco-American Discussion Group.Geographic areas include: Europe (primarily France, but not limited to France)-Eastern Canada (primarily Quebec, some Ontario, but including the Acadians of the Maritime Provinces)-USA (Central North America and New England, also Louisiana and the surrounding Southern states)       Grandmaison, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Saturday, 6-Feb-2016 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, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Library and Archives Canada Provides Naturalization Records

The Library and Archives Canada provides us a free searchable database of naturalization records from 1915 to 1951. For the date 1915 to 1944 you can search by name, and for the dates 1945-1951 you can search by date. Those two choices are found at the left of the landing page. Depending on which one you choose, the format of the search form will change appropriately.

Search: Naturalization Records by name, 1915-1944 - Library and Archives Canada:

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Anamosa, Iowa Library & Learning Center Provides Newspaper Archive

The Anamosa Library in Jones County, Iowa provides an newspaper archive that will be of interest to you if you have ancestors from that area. The archive includes ten newspapers ranging variously in publication from 1856 to about 2011.

At the landing page, mouse over the "Resources" tab at the top of the page and then click on "Newspaper Archive" from the drop down menu. That will take you to the search box and several filter choices.

Anamosa Library & Learning Center | Anamosa Library and Learning Cente:

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PGS Events for the Week of 24 - 30 January 2016

Here's what's happening at PGS next week:

Monday, 25-Jan-2016 at 6:00 PM--Family Tree Maker 2014 Basics--Part 2. Smith, Local History Room, Largo Library

Tuesday, 26-Jan-2016 at 6:00 PM--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, 27-Jan-2016 at 6:00 PM--RootsMagic-1. This class explores the use of this popular genealogy software program. It consists of five classes, each 1 ½ hours long, held for five consecutive weeks. It’s intent is to take the student from the basics of initial entry of family information to the more detailed topics of incorporating images in your family history, citing sources, and generating various reports. The class will be most effective if all sessions are attended in order. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library

Thursday, 28-Jan-2016 at 10:30 AM--Library of Congress Website--what genealogy help it provides, veterans’ information, historic newspapers, digital collections, photographs, and use of the catalog. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library

Help Out With the Memorial Park Cemetery Canvas

Join us Monday  at 10:00 am as we continue to canvas Memorial Park Cemetery. Bring your digital camera and sun protection.    Note the change in the start time.  We will be starting at  10:00am  for the remainder of the winter, since it appears to have finally cooled off.  .

Brooms are provided, but you may wish to bring your own gardening gloves, etc .  Water and other refreshments will be provided.  Wear your PGS shirts if you have one.  

Look for us in Division E.  This section is located a bit south of the center of the south half of cemetery (south of 54th Avenue North).

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FYI,  here is the schedule for January and February 2016:

We have dropped the Saturday sessions, but speak up it your job makes that the only day of the week you can join us and we will re-institute Saturday sessions.

Monday, January 25th

Monday, February, 1st

Monday, February, 8th

Monday, February, 29th

WHEN:    10:00am - 12:30pm

WHERE:  5750 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (at the  intersection of 49th Street North and 54th Avenue North, west side).  Google "memorial park cemetery st petersburg fl" for a map.

North Carolina Newspaper Digitization Project

The North Carolina Newspaper Digitization Project provides us access to about 15 newspapers dating from 1751 to 1898. At the landing page, click on the "Search Collection" tab at the top of the page to get to the search form. You can then search by key word, year and newspaper name.

Check it out at:  North Carolina Newspaper Digitization Project: Home:

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Searchable Database on Immigrants to Canada

The Libary and Archives Canada gives us an immigrant database of Porters and Domestics covering the period 1899 to 1949. Access is free.

At the landing page you can search on a name or a keyword. The resulting list will provide name and age, along with an Item Number. Click on that number to go to a larger data display that will give dates of departure and arrival, destination, and more.

Search: Immigrants to Canada, Porters and Domestics, 1899-1949 - Library and Archives Canada:

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PGS Events for the Week of 17-23 January 2016

Tuesday, 19-Jan-2016 at 1:00 PM--Italian Genealogy Interest Group--a discussion of resources and techniques for researching your Italian ancestry.Please attend if you have an interest in continuing this group. Bedore, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 20-Jan-2016 at 1:00 PM--England/Wales Genealogy Interest Group-a discussion of resources and techniques for researching your England/Wales ancestry. Pearson, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Saturday, 23-Jan-2016 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.

2016 PGS Annual Seminar: speakers and more…much more

Over the past few weeks we have been introducing you to our 2016 Seminar coming up on 13 February. We first introduced you to Ann Staley, our featured speaker who will give four presentations during the all-day event. In another post we told you in some detail what those four topics were about.

Then we introduced you to our three breakout speakers and gave you a short explanation of their presentation subjects.

If you missed any of those Blog posts, you can find the information by looking in the Blog archive; or by getting the seminar brochure which is available at our monthly meetings, anytime in the Largo Library Genealogy Center, or online at http://www.flpgs.org/NMbrs/seminar/2016/Sem16.aspx .  In addition to information on the speakers, their topics, and the schedule of events; the brochure also contains a registration form.

OK, so you have heard about all that, but do you fully understand all of the other things that will be going on during this great event on 13 February 2016?

The festivities begin as soon as the door opens at 8 am. A continental breakfast will be available as you enter the presentation hall at the Largo Library. Coffee, tea, bottled water, and sodas will be available then and throughout the day.

One whole side of the hall will be devoted to our annual book sale. For embarrassingly low prices you can walk away with books filled with data about YOUR ancestors as well as books to give you a more general historical appreciation of when and where your ancestors lived.

Need a magnifier for that detailed reading? Need a 15-generation pedigree chart? Those items and more will be for sale in the back of the room.

Throughout the day we will have representatives from societies and from organizations that can offer you special deals on their subscriptions and memberships.

A box lunch is served at noon with plenty of time for you to peruse the book sale, and swap research tips with your follow attendees and our guest organizations.

Throughout the day you can purchase raffle tickets for software and subscription prizes.  Door prizes will be awarded during breaks between speakers (you get a ticket as part of your registration), and at the end of the day some special prizes will be awarded and raffle winners will be announced.

And finally, throughout the day you will have ample time to meet old friends and make new ones who may share some of the same research challenges that you are facing.

As you can see, there is plenty to learn, see, hear, do, eat, drink, and win during the seminar. All of that is well worth the registration of $40 ($45 for non-PGS members). But register early, because the price goes up after 6 February to $50 without the benefit of the box lunch.

We do have a limit on seating, so register early and secure your place, your lunch, and your price break.

Friends of the Largo Library Winter Book Sale

The Friends of the Largo Library Winter Book Sale is a much-anticipated event. The entire Jenkins Wing is filled with  tables full of books at insanely low prices. This event offers something for everyone.

Here is the schedule:
   Wednesday, January 27, 3:30pm - 6:00pm (Friends Member Preview)
   Thursday, January 28, 9:00am - 5:00pm
   Friday, January 29, 9:00am - 5:00pm
   Saturday, January 30, 9:00am - 3:30pm

Your Chance to Participate in the CHS Museum Task Force

We just received this from our friends at the Clearwater Historical Society:

CHS Museum Task Force Team

Come One, Come All !!!

Clearwater Historical Society (CHS) is recruiting members and friends to share ideas for the development of the first CHS Museum room in South Ward Elementary School.

Our first meeting will be to discuss the various aspects of the room:

•  Maintenance and Repairs 
  • paint color for room
  • other repairs
• Designing the museum layout
  • walls around room… no interior walls
  • tables
  • bookshelves
  • artifacts
• What do we have, what do we need
  • furniture
  • signs and banners
  • stacks of donated boxes of “treasures” to go through
• Set work days and time
  • Same days and time each week
• Goal for Opening Date to Public

Come with your ideas!! This will be the only brain storming and planning session.  We will also set a schedule of work days to begin translating ideas from dreams into the reality of a CHS Museum.

For volunteers who feel their expertise is in specific areas… we will assign those individuals to that specific task. There will be a variety of things to do… something for everyone!!

Please RSVP your desire to explore, and hopefully join the CHS Museum Task Force Team no later than January 18, 2016.  Please note if you are available during daytime, evenings or both.  The planning meeting will take place the last week in January. For those who RSVP, you will receive notice of the meeting date on Jan. 19^th. We will meet in the room where we will be working at South Ward School. Work will begin the second week in February.

To RSVP, or… if you have questions, please contact Joyce Snyder, Coordinator, atjoycesnyder6970@gmail.com or call Joyce at 727-871-6676.

Breakout speakers at PGS 2016 Seminar

In previous posts on this Blog we introduced you to Ann Staley, our featured 2016 Seminar speaker. We also told about the topics of her four presentations: The Everyday Life of Our Ancestors; Claws or Clues; Organizing, Analyzing, and Sharing; and Online Resources for Free.

But that’s not all you will hear at the seminar. In addition to our featured speaker, we have three great breakout speakers presenting at the seminar as well. Here they are and the topics they will feature:

DEBBE HAGNER: An amateur-interest in tracing her family's roots led Debbe to pursue a professional career in genealogy. In 1996, she attended Brigham Young University and received a Diploma in Family History. Debbe's private practice features genealogy seminars and workshops, private and confidential family background research, and individual one-on-one family history research assistance.

Debbe’s topic at our seminar will be  “Using FamilySearch.org with Emphasis on the WIKI.”

DEBRA FLEMING: Debra is the principal of The Ancestry Detective™, LLC, a genealogical research firm founded in Pasco County, Florida.  She has been a practicing genealogist for fifteen years, trading her research time between her many New England immigrant ancestors and her husband’s southern colonials. Debra is the Genealogy Instructor for the University of South Florida OSHER Lifelong Learning Center where she earned Roll of Honor Faculty Member status in 2010.

Her seminar presentation will be “Pre-1850 Census Analysis.”

LIZ PEARSON: Liz was born in England where she spent years researching her own family history.  During the late 70's her professional life transplanted her to the U. S.  where she found many opportunities to share her English and Welsh expertise with Anglo Americans researching their roots.

She holds several research qualifications and is an associate member of the Society of Genealogists in London, England.

Liz’s seminar topic will be “How to Access Records Held at the National Archives, Kew, London.”

As you can see, the seminar offers a variety of  topics aimed at different levels of experience. Join us by sending in a registration. The form can be found at the Genealogy Center, or downloaded from http://www.flpgs.org/NMbrs/seminar/2016/SeminarRegForm2016.pdf 

Ann Staley’s Presentations at PGS 2016 Annual Seminar

Ann Staley, introduced in a previous post on the Blog, is the featured speaker at the Annual PGS Seminar on 13 February 2016, held at the Largo Public Library in Largo, Florida. She will give four presentations during that all-day event. Here they are with some short explanations:

1. The Everyday Life of Our Ancestors

Piecing together information on how our ancestors lived their lives is both challenging and rewarding. They ate and drank, married and had families, dressed, had trades and occupations, practiced a religion, dabbled in the arts and sciences, participated in politics and economics, etc. Placing our ancestors into their historical context & adding the personal details takes time, but it can be done.

2. Claws or Clues

How to attack brick walls with a systematic research approach. Evidence criteria, timelines and spreading your research net outwards will be discussed.

3. Organizing, Analyzing, and Sharing

Put technology to work for you with software applications that can be used to analyze, organize and share your genealogical data. Computers can help us analyze our research to discover what information we don’t have and need to find, and then how we can share it with other family members.

4. Online Resources for Free

Exploration of some of the popular, as well as some not-so-well-known, free websites that hold digital images, databases, and text files that may contribute to your family research.

We are excited about Ann’s presentations, and anticipate they will offer something for everyone, beginning and experienced researchers alike.

In addition to Ann, we will also feature three break-out speakers. An upcoming post will introduce them and their topics.

Seminar registration forms are available in the Genealogy Center and online at the PGS website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flpgs (follow the “Special Events” tab at the top of the home page). There you will find not only the registration form, but a complete schedule of events.

Register early to reserve a seat at what will be a very popular event, and save money in the process.

PGS Events for the Week of 10 to 16 January 2016

Monday, 11-Jan-2016 at 2:00 PM--Swedish Genealogy Interest Group will continue to explore useful web sites. Also, we will attempt to assist with research problems so bring your questions.   Alice Charest, Local History Room, Largo Library

Monday, 11-Jan-2016 at 6:00 PM--Family Tree Maker 2014 Basics--Part 1. A detailed explanation and demonstration of the many features of this most popular genealogy database program. Bob Smith, Local History Room, Largo Library

Tuesday, 12-Jan-2016 at 10:00 AM--Spanish-American War-- This class is an exploration of the causes, conflicts, and results of the United States’ war with Spain in 1898. In addition to the history of the conflict and its consequences, the types of records generated during the conflict will be discussed along with guidance on where to find those records. Peter Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library

Wednesday, 13-Jan-2016 at 10:00 AM--GENEALOGY PHOTOS: ORGANIZING, MANAGING AND ENHANCING using Picasa, the powerful free program from Google. This class will demonstrate how to manage your digital genealogy photos so they can be easily found and how to enhance their appearance. This includes cropping, straightening, one-touch fix, removing blemishes, adding captions and text to the photo, making a collage, and much more. Bob Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library

Thursday, 14-Jan-2016 at 1:00 PM--Irish Genealogy Interest Group-a discussion of resources and techniques for researching your Irish ancestry. Today’s session will focus on geography and history with questions and answers. Kathy Focareta will be the facilitator. She has visited Ireland many times and is quite familiar with the country. Jenkins C, Largo Library.

Friday, 15-Jan-2016 at 10:30 AM--German Genealogy Interest Group-a discussion of resources and techniques for researching your German ancestry. Sue Dietz, Local History Room, Largo Library

Saturday, 16-Jan-2016 at 10:00 AM--Computers in Genealogy--Question and answer session on the use of computers in genealogy research and record keeping. Bob Bryan, Jenkins B, Largo Library.

Saturday, 16 Jan 2016 at 11:00 AM—Program Meeting; Ten Ways to Be a Better Ancestor, Paul Enchelmayer, Jenkins B, Largo Library.

Ann Staley – Principle Speaker at PGS 2016 Annual Seminar

We at PGS are pleased to present Ann Staley as our 2016 seminar speaker. She is a highly qualified and very popular national speaker. This short bio will tell you more.

She is an instructor, consultant, trip leader and a lecturer at local, state and national conferences. Raised in Mobile, AL, Ann has been researching her family since 1980 from Alabama, Mississippi, and Virginia to France, England, and Germany.

She is the Education Chairman and Webmaster for the Jacksonville Genealogical Society, Inc.; the Secretary of the Genealogical Speakers Guild; a trustee of the Florida State Genealogical Society; on the faculty of The National Institute for Genealogical Studies; and has been an associate of the Board for Certification of Genealogists since 2000.

EDUCATION

· Advanced Genealogy Research at Wallace State College, Hanceville, AL

· Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis; U. S. Military Records; Understanding Land Records; and many other topics at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Samford University, Homewood, AL (attending since 1998). Ann has also been on the faculty a number of years.

· National Institute on Genealogical Research (NIGR) at the National Archives, Washington, DC

· Problem Solving at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Salt Lake City, UT

· Numerous seminars and conferences sponsored by local and national societies

MEMBERSHIPS

 National Genealogical Society

 Association of Professional Genealogists

 Genealogical Speakers Guild

 Florida State Genealogical Society

 Jacksonville [FL] Genealogical Society, Inc. (life member)

We are excited about Ann’s participation with us on 13 February 2016 for the annual seminar. In another post we will publicize the four presentations she will be making. Mark your calendars now. 

You can see the complete schedule of events and get a registration form for the seminar at our monthly meetings, anytime in the Largo Library Genealogy Center, or online at http://www.flpgs.org/NMbrs/seminar/2016/Sem16.aspx.

Bill Israel To Speak at JGSTB on 10 January

 The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay will meet at Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, Florida on Sunday January 10, 2016 presenting Bill Israel speaking on "Finding Your Jewish Roots; Bringing Your Past To Life." He will emphasize the fundamentals of genealogical research and will explain the unique challenges and rewards of Jewish genealogy.  He will discuss how to get started with some widely available research resources, and he will illustrate his talk with examples of how he was able to discover his own family history as well as showing generic examples that everyone can relate to.  This talk will be of particular interest to novices, but it will also serve as a refresher and an update for more experienced researchers.

A social with refreshments and library access begins at 1:30 PM, and the featured program starts at 2:00 PM.

Online Searchable Death Indexes, Records and Obituaries

The site by Joe Beine is periodically updated. Just click on your state (and in some cases, your city) of interest, and then peruse the listing of related websites. The hit list starts with general state sources, and then gives you links by county. Pay sites are clearly indicated and some of the links are to specific databases on FamilySearch.org.

Check it out at:  Online Searchable Death Indexes, Records and Obituaries:

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PGS Events for the Week of 3-9 January 2016

Tuesday, 5-Jan-2016 at 10:00 AM--MAPS IN GENEALOGY RESEARCH (Part I) -- 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 road, city, political, insurance, and migration maps. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 6-Jan-2016 at11:00 AM--England & Wales Genealogy--Part 2. How to access the civic records of birth/christening/marriage/burials from 1837 to the present. Pearson, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Thursday, 7-Jan-2016 at 1:00 PM--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 Room, Largo Library.

Friday, 8-Jan-2016 at 10:00 AM--Franco-American Discussion Group.Geographic areas include: Europe (primarily France, but not limited to France)-Eastern Canada (primarily Quebec, some Ontario, but including the Acadians of the Maritime Provinces)-USA (Central North America and New England, also Louisiana and the surrounding Southern states). Agenda for this time will include inputs and questions from attendees, review of useful web sites, and how to gainfully read the original church records found in the Drouin Collection, PRDH, and other French language sites, including the Church Repertoire. Grandmaison, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Saturday, 9-Jan-2016 at 10:30 AM--Living Persons--suggested methods and tips for finding living people--kinfolks you never knew. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Saturday, 9-Jan-2016 at 1:00 PM--Witchcraft Trials. Fortin, Imperial Polk Genealogy Soc. 3140 Troy Ave, Lakeland, FL 33803.

Saturday, 9-Jan-2016 at 1:00-4:00 PM--PGS Mini-Seminar.“Reasons for Migration” and “U.S. Naturalization Process and Documents” presented by George G. Morgan. There will be a brief break between sessions. There is no charge for the mini-seminar and no preregistration. Doors open at 12:30 pm. Morgan, Jenkins B, Largo Library

Photographs from 1935 to 1945 Online

The Photogrammar website allows us to search and view 170,000 photographs from 1935 to 1945 created by the US Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information.

The landing page allows you to see the photo distribution on a map, or to visualize the collection from various perspectives.

You may not find your ancestor in the collection, but you may gain a better understanding of the life your ancestor led through studying this collection.

Photogrammar:

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Mini-Seminar Features George Morgan

January will see our first “Mini-Seminar.” This one features George Morgan as the presenter and he will give two sessions: one on immigration and the other on naturalization. 
The doors open at 12:30 pm, and the event runs from 1 pm to 4 pm on Saturday, 9 January, in the Jenkins Wing of the Largo Public Library. It is free and open to the public.  

"Largo Connects" Caters to Volunteers

If you feel the need to give back by volunteering some time with a worthwhile  organization, drop by the Largo Public Library on Saturday, 9 January from 10am to 2pm. Organizations that could use volunteer help will be there to tell you how you can get involved.

PGS will be there with a display table, of course. So drop by and say hello.