Friday, April 28, 2017

Family Trees for Kids

If you are trying to interest kids or grand-kids in genealogy, some uniquely drawn family trees many be the attention-getter you need. The Family Tree Templates website offers several such items. You can generally download a free PDF version of the tree, or pay a fee for an editable version.

Check it out at:  Family Trees for Kids:

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PGS Events for the Week of 30 April to 6 May


Saturday, 6-May-2017 at 10:00 AM--Family Tree Maker User Group--Questions & Answers and Demonstration of how to use the Family Tree Maker genealogical database software. Last meeting until September. Hosmer-Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Warren Tribune Chronicle (Ohio) Obituary Index Online

Thanks to the Warren-Trumbull County, Ohio Public Library for this index of obituaries from the Warren Tribune Chronicle. They cover the period from 1900 to 1949. The files are in PDF format, and contain the name of the deceased as well as the newspaper date, page, and column number where the obit can be found.

Additional obituaries for 1970 through 2014 are also available. These can be searched by name.

Warren Tribune Chronicle Obituary Index Search | Local History and Genealogy (category) | Uncategorised:

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Saturday, April 22, 2017

What is a Genetic Genealogist?

With the current emphasis on DNA testing for genealogy, the term "genetic genealogist" is frequently heard. Blaine Bettinger, writing in his Blog The Genetic Genealogist, helps clarify just what the term means to a person who is one.

What is a Genetic Genealogist? – The Genetic Genealogist:

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PGS Events for the Week of 23-29 April 2017

Tuesday, 25-Apr-2017 at 11:30 AM--DNA Basics—an introduction to DNA that may be help attendees better understand the discussion in the DNA Interest Group following at 1:00 PM. Summer, Jenkins A, Largo Library.
Tuesday, 25-Apr-2017 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. Luce/Manning, Jenkins A, Largo Library.
Wednesday, 26-Apr-2017 at 6:00 PM--Ancestry.com--basic search techniques for getting the most from this huge collection of databases. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Record Access Will Probably Always Be A Major Issue

James Tanner, writing in his Blog "Genealogy's Star," addresses the issue of digitization and online availability of genealogy records. We know that not all records are available online, and James' article underscores that fact with some interesting examples. All of this underscores the fact that there is a continuing need for "on-the-site" research.

This is a good read. Check it out at:
Genealogy's Star: Record Access is a Major Genealogical Issue:

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Sunday, April 16, 2017

Kansas Military Index

The Kansas Historical Society offers us an online, searchable Index of Kansas soldiers. Although the site gives the alert that the index does not include all Kansas soldiers, its coverage is really impressive nonetheless. The conflicts covered range from the Civil War through the present day and even cover the historic Indian Wars. Realize, of course that privacy concerns limit the information available for the more modern wars.

Each conflict listed is a hot link that allows you to do a focused search, or you can search all of the conflicts at once.

Check it out at:
Kansas Military Index - Kansas Historical Society:

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Friday, April 14, 2017

PGS Events for the Week of 16-22 April 2017

Tuesday, 18-Apr-2017 at 10:00 AM--US CENSUS --NON-POPULATION SCHEDULES— Most of us are familiar with the population schedules of the US Census. But there is a wealth of information about our families in other schedules that were created in certain census years. This class identifies what those other schedules are (Agricultural, Mortality, DDD, etc.), what information can be found in them, and where they can be located today. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Wednesday, 19-Apr-2017 at 10:00 AM--Walking in their footsteps-One of the fun things about genealogy is getting to know our ancestors as people, not just as names and dates on a chart. This presentation will help you to identify sources that can assist you in locating the precise locations where your ancestors lived and worked. Fortin, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Thursday, 20-Apr-2017 at 1:00 PM--Irish Genealogy Interest Group, Padgett-Focareta, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Friday, 21-Apr-2017 at 10:30 AM--German Genealogy Interest Group, Dietz, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Saturday, 22-Apr-2017 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.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

United States Freedmen’s Bureau, Records at FamilySearch.org

The Freedmen's Bureau Records can be a valuable resource if you are doing post-Civil War African American research, or if you have ancestors, regardless of race, who were severely economically affected by the war.

The link below will take you to the  WIKI page that describes the searchable collection FamilySearch.org has to offer. Take the time to read this page to ensure you understand the nature and content of the collection. To go directly to the search page, click on the "Access the Records" link at the top right of the WIKI page.

United States Freedmen’s Bureau, Records of Freedmen (FamilySearch Historical Records) Genealogy - FamilySearch Wiki:

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Monday, April 10, 2017

Soldiers' Records From The National Army Museum, London

The National Army Museum in London gives us the enlistment books of five disbanded Irish regiments. Per the site: "The Connaught Rangers, the Leinster Regiment, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Royal Irish Regiment and the Royal Munster Fusiliers were units of the British Army, which were disbanded following the establishment of the independent Irish Free State in 1922. The enlistment books contain records of soldiers serving in these regiments in the period 1920-22."

There are some 11 thousand names in the database and you can browse or search. The information offered is name, role (eg. soldier), date/place of enlistment, unit, ID number, place of birth, civilian trade, address of next of kin, and address on discharge. An image of the actual enlistment book entry is also provided.

Check it out at:
Soldiers' Records | National Army Museum, London:

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Friday, April 7, 2017

Online Digitized Newspapers from Fort Fairfield, Maine

The Fort Fairfield, Maine Public Library has made its digital newspaper collection available to us. Ten papers are in the collection and range in date from 1863 to 2006. You can search by key word, name, or designated time frame. You can also browse by newspaper title or by year of publication.

Check it out at:
Digital Archives of the Fort Fairfield Public Library :::

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PGS Events for the Week of 9-15 April 2017

Monday, 10-Apr-2017 at 10:00 AM--Pre-1850 Census analysis--Many researchers become frustrated with the difficulty in researching the US Census prior to 1850 because of only the heads of households being explicitly named. However, those early censuses contain more information than one might initially think. This class examines the characteristics of the pre-1850 census, the information available, and some strategies for analyzing those census years. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Tuesday, 11-Apr-2017 at 10:00 AM--Property Research Basics--This is a general treatment of property research in the United States. It will explore ownership documents from land grants to land patents to deeds; it will explain the difference in land descriptions in state land states and public land states; it will examine the historical context of military bounty land, the Homestead Act, and the cash purchase of public land. We will also survey where to find the records generated during the ownership and transfer of property.     Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Wednesday, 12-Apr-2017 at 10:00 AM--Orphan Trains and the Children Who Rode in Them. This is a new class, presented for the first time. Fortin, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Saturday, 15-Apr-2017 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 Apr 2017 at 11:00 AM—Program Meeting presented by Debbe Hagner on “How Do You Know You Have the Right John Smith?.” Jenkins B, Largo Library.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Burials in the City Cemetery of Washington, Kansas

This site gives you an alphabetical listing of burials from about 1867. The file is in Excel format and gives you the name of the person, the birth and death date when known, and the location of the plot in the cemetery.

Check it out at:  Washington, Kansas:

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Monday, April 3, 2017

Hands-On Genealogy Working Session at Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay on 9 April 2017

Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay
HANDS-ON GENEALOGY WORKING SESSION
WITH GUIDED ASSISTANCE
Sunday, April 9, 2017   

Dear JGSTB Members and Friends,

     The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay (JGSTB) will meet at Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, Florida on Sunday April 9, 2017 at 2:00 PM for a hands-on working session for individual research using the Internet and library resources of the JGSTB.  Experienced genealogy mentors will be on hand to provide guidance and assistance. This “members-helping-members” session is one of our most popular programs.  We are pleased to offer it immediately following our 2017 Guide to Jewish Genealogy Research seminar in February and March.  This work session will be an opportunity to apply what was discussed in earlier sessions, or to just learn how to get started with genealogical research. A pre-session social with refreshments and library access begins at 1:30 PM.

   The workshop will begin with a brief overview of the genealogical research resources and library materials that will be available for use at this session. Free access to Ancestry.com and to MyHeritage.com (Premium), will be available on several computers.  While this workshop is intended as a working session for those who have already begun their research and wish to further it or to seek assistance with problems, novices will be given an abbreviated “jump start” on how to get started.

   Attendees should bring their own research materials and information, and be prepared to work.   Bring your own laptop computer if you have one.  Several computers with Internet access will be available if you cannot bring your own.

   The JGSTB’s library and research resources are available to everyone attending this session, and members may borrow books to take home.  Anyone interested in learning how to do Jewish genealogy research is invited to participate.  Beginners as well as experienced researchers are welcome.   For information about the organization or directions to the meeting, call Bruce Hadburg at 727-796-7981.

Speaking of History Lecture at Heritage Village on 9 April 2017

APRIL 09 ~ SPEAKING OF HISTORY LECTURE ~ 2:00 PM
Heritage Village Pinellas Room

April 9 ~ “Backroads of Paradise: A Journey to Rediscover Old Florida”                       Cathy Salustri, a graduate of USFSP’s Florida Studies Program and the Arts & Entertainment editor at Creative Loafing Tampa, will share some of her travels and adventures in the Sunshine State.  Cathy will share with us her study results as she retraced the sights and sounds she encountered in places described more than 75 years ago in the Federal Writers’ Project’s WPA Guide to Florida.  Copies of her book, “Backroads of Paradise: A Journey to Rediscover Old Florida,” will be available for sale after the lecture.

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Five Resources For Finding Early Immigrants to the US

Writing for the "Genealogy Insider," of the online Family Tree Magazine, Diane Haddad gives us an article with guidance that may help in finding early immigrants to the US. These may be especially helpful since passenger lists as we know them were not required before 1820.

The article is actually advertising a workshop on finding early ancestors, but the five record sets she briefly talks about may open some doors for you.

Genealogy Insider - Five Resources For Finding Early Immigrants to the US:

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