Using Historical Novels for Family History

This article by Janet Few in "The In-Depth Genealogist" is short but meaningful. It speaks to the advantages of using historical novels as research tools.

Those novels may be short on sourced facts but they may be just the thing you need to get a feel for the lives your ancestors lived. They can put him or her into national, local, social, or political context that can enrich your understanding of them and their families.

Give the article a read at:
Using Historical Novels for Family History - The In-Depth Genealogist:

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Managing and Preserving Digital Assets

Dick Eastman give us this article from his newsletter by way of the FamilySearch Blog. In it he talks about the things we should keep in mind as we create digital media items, and the advantages and pitfalls of doing so. He covers media such as photos, documents, emails, videos, and more.

Check it out at: How to Manage Your Family's Digital Assets:

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Rockaway Township, NJ Public Library Offers Two Newspaper Databases

Rockaway is in Morris County, New Jersey, The public library there has two newspaper databases available to the public: One is Rockaway Record, and the other is Iron Era.

From the landing page, click on the "Digital Libraries" tab, then click on "E-Magazines & Newspapers" to reveal links to the two newspapers. Both papers show issues dating from the late 1800's to the early 1900's.

There is no search capability here, but you can easily browse issue by issue.

Check it out at:
Digital Libraries - Rockaway Township Free Public Library:

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Lee County Genealogical Society Presents "Overview of FamilySearch" by Turia Clark Day

PGS Events for the Week of 22-28 April 2018

Monday, 23-Apr-18 at 6:00 PM--Homestead Act-History and Records- A review of the historical and political significance of the 1862 Homestead Act and associated legislation. Includes a discussion of the process followed to establish a homestead on public domain land, and an understanding of the method of legally surveying and describing the land. The presentation will also cover an examination of the records that were created in establishing a homestead, their genealogical value, and where those records are found today. This is an in-depth treatment of the Homestead Act, which is briefly referred to in the presentation on property Research Basics in the US. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Tuesday, 24-Apr-18 at 11:30 AM--DNA Testing for genealogy—What you can and cannot do with DNA testing relating to your family history—an introduction. This class repeats every fourth Tuesday at the same time. Manning, Jenkins A, Largo Library.

Tuesday, 24-Apr-18 at 1:00 PM--DNA Interest Group--Share your DNA knowledge and discuss your results with others interested in making DNA Connections.  This is a group for DNA novices to learn together. This class repeats every fourth Tuesday at the same time. Manning, Jenkins A, Largo Library.

Saturday, 28-Apr-18 at 10:00 AM--RootsMagic User Group--Questions and answers and demonstrations of how to use the RootsMagic genealogy database software program. This class repeats every fourth Saturday at the same time. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Strategies to Identify Your DNA Matches

Blaine Bettinger, in his Blog, The Genetic Genealogist, gives us a detailed article about strategies to use to identify DNA matches. This is a helpful article, to say the least, because of how easy it is to become overwhelmed by DNA matches, and how difficult it is to do research when given sparse information.

Check it out at:
Are You Doing Everything to Identify Your Matches? – The Genetic Genealogist:

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Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Database

This database from the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State, contains information relative to more than 285,000 Illinois soldiers who served the Union during the Civil War. The information comes from the records of the State Adjutant General.

You can search by name or by unit. Once you do a search and get a hit list, click on the individual's name to see much more information.

Check it out at:
Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Database:

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PGS Events for the Week of 15-21 April 2018

Monday, 16-Apr-18 at 10:00 AM--Genealogical Proof--This class explains how to evaluate the evidence we collect as we build our family trees. Some sources are more reliable, some records bring us closer to the actual event, and some information is more “on point.” How do we rank all of this as we try to assemble genealogical “truth”? The class uses the “Genealogical Proof Standard” as the guide. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Thursday, 19-Apr-18 at 1:00 PM--Irish Genealogy Interest Group--a discussion group regarding techniques to find your Irish ancestry. This class repeats every third Thursday at the same time. Padgett, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Friday, 20-Apr-18 at 10:30 AM--German Genealogy Interest Group-Sue will have a brief presentation on Swiss-Germans before returning to the discussion group regarding techniques to find your German ancestry. This class repeats every third Friday at the same time. Dietz, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Saturday, 21-Apr-18 at 10:00 AM--Computers in Genealogy--Question and answer session on the use of computers in genealogy research and record keeping. This class repeats on every third Saturday at the same time. Luce,Jenkins C, Largo Library. NOTE NEW LOCATION.

Saturday, 21-Apr-18 at 11:00 AM—Short business meeting and Program: Who Were These People Called Palatines?” by Joanne Daerr Ryder, Jenkins C,Largo Library.

Marriage Notices from Alamance County, NC

The Alamance County Public Library offers this collection of marriage records that cover 1868 to 1914. Two sources were tapped: certificates from the Register of Deeds, and local newspapers.

The indexes are Excel files. You When you click on an index, you will have to download the files to view them.

Marriage Notices - Alamance County Marriage Notices - LibGuides at Alamance County Public Libraries:

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Art Hops at the Largo Library on 21 April 2018

Support the Largo Public Library by attending the 2018 Art Hops on 21 April from 6-10pm.

Enjoy an evening of artists and artisans, snacks, live entertainment, a craft brew garden, and more.

PGS will have a display table in the Genealogy Center. Drop by and say hello.

Birth, Marriage and Death Index for The Long Island Advance, New York

This index of births, marriages, and deaths from the Long Island Advance (also called The Advance  and The Patchogue Advance) covers much of Suffolk County.

The data comes from the years 1879 to 1926.

Index to Birth, Marriage and Death Announcements in The Long Island Advance | Celia M. Hastings Local History Room:

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Manatee Genealogical Society Sponsors A Panel of Experts Q&A on 1 May 2018

Manatee Genealogical Society will meet Tuesday, May 1, 2018, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Manatee County Central Library, 1301 Barcarrota Blvd. W., Bradenton. 

A panel of genealogy practitioners and experienced researchers will offer an “Ask the Experts” Panel Discussion, fielding attendees’ questions and concerns about individual research projects. Please submit questions in advance to mgs.society@gmail.com or ask at the meeting.   

Newspaper Files from the Belmar Historical Society, New Jersey

This site gives us digitized editions of The Coast Advertiser, The Crab, The Shore Gazette, and more published from 1881 to 1974. The Advertiser services the communities of Belmar, South Belmar, Wall Township, and Spring Lake Heights, and some of the other papers serviced Ocean Beach, NJ.

You can either search or browse the issues.

Belmar Historical Society:

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PGS Events for the Week of 8-14 April 2018

Monday, 9-Apr-18 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.

Tuesday, 10-Apr-18 at 6:00 PM--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.

Saturday, 14-Apr-18 at 12:00-4:00 PM--Family History Assistance Day--One-on-one research assistance from a PGS consultant to help you find your ancestors. Beginners are especially welcome. This semi-annual event is open to the public; first-come, first served. Jenkins A, B, Largo Library.

Health History and Your DNA

Here is an article from Lisa Louise Cooke's Blog, Genealogy Gems. It discusses how DNA testing can give you insights to health issues that run in your family. There is a lot to be learned in this area, and the article gives us an idea of its potential.

Exploring Family Health History: DNA and Your Health | Genealogy Gems:

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Obituary Finder from Morgan County, Indiana Public Library

If  you have ancestors from the Morgan County, Indiana area, this obituary file may be of help to you. You can search by a variety of fields, and help is available if you need it.

Once you do your search and have a hit list, click on a name of interest to see additional information, if any.

Check it out at:  Obituary Finder:

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