Finding Kin Amongst Our Own. Yes, a Success.

Well, today we had a great day at the Bonita-Sunnyside Library.  Randy Seaver presented data on Probate Records and the affiliated records that go with them.  40 people in attendance Virginia said and 2 guests.  Welcome Guests always.

After the presentation we had an time to chat about our research areas and potentially link up with other people.

After our meeting last month Arlene W and Ann S. made the connections. If you do not ask, you do not find out if they are kin, even distant kin count in Genealogy.

I was attempting to post a map site where  you can fill it in with clicking on the colors and wouldn't it be fun to use just for where you ancestors were from.  IE color in the states where your looking for information then others know to watch for your surnames when digging.

As it is,  it is color  coded for if you have been, been there often, lived there awhile or lived there alot. Even that gives others more information.

Here is hoping others made connections today.  It seemed everyone had family that could be in the neighborhood of someone else.  Having seen a lot of interaction by our members present it heartened me greatly. 

Here is the map that Randy and others have brought to our attention.

http://www.defocus.net/visitedstates/generate.html

Chula Vista Genealogical Society Monthly Meeting has MOVED And !

Chula Vista Genealogical Society Monthly Meeting has MOVED

Yes, we are meeting at the Bonita-Sunnyside Library  4375 Bonita Road
Bonita, California  91902-2698.

Chula Vista's Auditorium is being renovated.  I hear we will be back in September when completed.

It is great to see a City of this size finally upgrading it's main library and getting the Wi-Fi functioning correctly, and the computers up to modern day speed.  

The Chula Vista Genealogy Society invites you to join us at our General Meeting for:     

Randy Seaver Presenting:

"Probate Records: My Favorite Records Type"

        

Randy is a native San Diegan, a retired aerospace engineer, a genealogy researcher and family historian since 1988, with a fine set of obscure Northeast US/Canada colonial ancestors, with some 19th century English immigrants.  He too is a Past President, current newsletter editor and committee chair for research and queries for CVGS.

Taken from our Chula Vista Genealogical Society link. Click here and learn more about our group and what we do.  

We work hard to create a learning environment for our members and guests.

We hold many meetings each month to incourage members and guests to learn more about our society and how we can help you move your genealogy/history along with a postive stroke or two.  

We will be presenting two Scholarships to two Sweetwater Union High School District seniors in the near future. This is to help them move on to a College or Jr College or Trade School.

We hope next year there will be a greater participation at both our Seminar that funds the Scholarships and students participation to win one.  The Scholarship is not tied to grades or other influences.  It is tied to doing the required steps and being presented properly to the Society. It could help you to become a Baker, a Chef, a Car Mechanic, etc.

More to come on the Seminar, keep watching.  This is all free also.

Have You Searched, New York Libraries

Have You Searched New York Libraries

As you are desperately seeking  information, have you checked on the various libraries with in this state?

Having gone to Google and put in New York's First Library, the list came up long and strong.

There is more than one library system running around in New York.

There is the New York Public Library system.  History of The New York Public Library

Interesting to see mentioned are the : Astor Library and the Lenox Library. Tilden wanted one also.
With society changes the Tilden Lawyer was able to convince the other libraries to cojoin and create a new entity---- The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations. 23 May 1895.

After many stages of growth the new system was in place and has grown to what it is today.

Today the Library has 92 locations including 4 research centers.

Home | New York Society Library

Founded in 1754 is the oldest library. It also is in New York, New York. 53 East 79th St. with a phone number of 212-288-6900. It is closed this Holiday weekend.

I like that but if I was traveling would need to know ahead of time.

1. Reason you need to plan ahead when doing your research travels.  Learn when the agency will be open and closed.



New York Public Library - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the United States (behind the Library of Congress), and fourth largest in the world.

Now there is surely information to be found in this establishment. This is where they

constructed the Astor Library in 1854 in the East Village.

It is stated here that New York Public Library as one of the five most important libraries in the United States, the others listed are: Library of Congress, the Boston Public Library, and the university libraries of Harvard and Yale.

Interesting to see they did not have a state affiliated library system and may not still except the

New York Library Association founded in 1890 was the first state-wide organization of librarians in the US.  Today this group is affiliated also with the ALA (American Library Association).
New York Library Association


Libraries and Library Systems in New York State: Library ... much information here. 
A key url would be this one listing the libraries by counties.

http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/libs/county.htm

This site list each county and has maps and both school and public systems also reference and research resources systems.

It breaks the areas down.  Under Albany which is under Capitol District which is then under Capital District Library Council, are 11 libraries (without changing the page). Links are available.
http://www.cdlc.org/


There are 9 regions in which to research, maps are easy to see and most instructions are easy to understand.

So when you need help in New York, try starting with the town, or district or  library in that district for more help.  Town Historians are also a terrific asset if they are available.

Libraries can become your very best friends with the Librarians in them.  Remember treat them 
like your best friend, smile, even when they don't. 

Maryland Information

I am going to post some links to data in Maryland.  Remember watch the boundaries when doing research in early states.

Randy Seaver asked what is my favorite Free Sites on the Internet, it is simple. I still prefer
usgenweb.org as a place to start.  

http://www.mdgenweb.org/                   http://www.mdgenweb.org/

 Of course you only need one.

If the county not active go to the archives area and research until your eyes glaze over.

The next best site is the  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/      site that is part of the Ancestry.com system.

Yesterday we did a lot of work on the rootsweb site.  The reason is the amount of data that was created and maintained on those front pages and internally.

You get Mailing Lists. Are you using a Mailing List site for you Brick Wall?

You get Message boards which you can post your query and some times get a response fast sometimes it takes a few years.  (On Tuesday of this week someone answered one of my old queries and I have a new link with lots of fresh information to share and it ties so much together.)


It has so much more than what I want to confuse you with.   So start with those two and try it.

It does not cost a penny, just a few minutes of your time.

There are charts and forms and trees, etc.

Then there is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Historical_Society


https://familysearch.org/


http://www.censusdiggins.com/freebies.html


http://www.censusfinder.com/maryland-genealogy-society.htm

Do not forget that Maryland claimed many miles up into Pennsylvania and that Pennsylvania did the same down into Maryland.

Lemon Grove Library Meeting 20 May 2015, 6 to 8 pm Lemon Grove, CA

We meet again at the Lemon Grove Library at 6 pm.  We will be doing Brick Walls Research
for the topic of the night.

If you have a Laptop or Pad bring it.  A couple of names your struggling with or places.

We will talk a bit about maps and timelines and many other tidbits to help you gather information your not finding on your own.

We have done some talking of time lines and maps but Wednesday evening we will have a hands on approach to working with your material.

This is free so do swing by the Library for an evening of fun and learning.

New York State Family HIstory Conference

Here is a link to the Conference and it's Early Bird Deadline.



Sure be nice to do some east coast stuff some time.

New York State Family History Conference Early Bird Registration

Modern Resources, have you tried any of them?

 We are going to briefly touch on modern resources and methods to keep in touch and learn.

  Have you attended a Google Plus Hang Out?  I attended one of the very first and did the LONGEST HANGOUT with a group of genealogists and other people around the world. I spoke to people in Brazil, Germany, Russian, Poland, Iceland, and other places a round the world. Having found a cousin in Germany that was from Wyoming was really cool.  Shared recipes with the Brazilian man, and DNA information with the man from Iceland.

  Have you tried a U -Tube Video?    Some interesting information on them as well.

 What about Webinars?    This will give you something to think about and do try at least one in the next few days.

GeneaWebinars- Genealogy Serendipity - Listening For Our Ancesto

A Hummelstown Blog Has Some Answers

http://www.hummelstownhistoricalsociety.org/?hc_location=ufi

That is the url and it shows how they advertise to raise money and help members.

This site is  cool, it advertises authors, and events and fund raising and ability to help people.

Anyone else have Hummelstown, PA ancestors?

Mother's Day Then and Now

Mother's Day Then and Now

With Mother's Day around the corner, I am setting here remembering many Mother's Day, we as children, shared with our Mom.  We seldom had spare funds for such things but Mom always taught us to make cards and write letters to our families in Wyoming and to our Grandmother's when they were alive. Sometimes we could do a project in 4-H and give it as a gift.

I remember after learning to sew I made Mom an apron for her to wear in the kitchen.  We seldom were in the kitchen with out an apron. It was just protocol to save your clothes and use an apron.
She had that apron for many years. I suspect she set it back after I left home and used it on special times thinking of me. One year we learned to pour and do molds with Plaster of Paris and we did an animal for our parents.  She was not the leader for that Mrs. Fairbanks was.  Mom was our Sewing leader with the help of another neighbor. I think it was Mrs. Albini, I can not remember any more.

I know some of the Dad's helped with the animals and I had a calf, which became a cow. I could write a book about that cow. Laughing out  loud so could my mother of done so. We loved her but boy she (Cupid) kept us on our toes.

Mother's Day was a time to reflect on the things as they were when Mom was a youngster. She shared stories about events that happened on different Mother's Day's in her life.  One was a birth of a child. One was of Aunt Marie swinging from the open beams and landing in the dishpan of soup for the dishes with suds all over the kitchen.

Our Grandmother Inez did beautiful crochet and tatting and quilt making.  At one point she made each of us grandchildren a tablecloth. But when she died, my parents sold ours to help pay for the burial fees.  I still remember what it looked like. I have an apron that she made me as a teenage from crocheting. I think it was my 15th birthday. No I do not use it but I do  have it.  Yes, at home I still endeavor to use an apron in the kitchen. She also crocheted around hankies to make them fancy for the girls in the family.  I am wondering if Roberta  (Bobbi or Bertie) still has hers.

Grandma Ida, Dad's Mom was a different type of person than our other Grandmother.  She was loving, and sent us quarters taped to a card for our different events.  When older as a young adult it was a dollar bill, folded in with the card and note.  The money is gone but I have several of the cards and notes.

I know our family sent  our Grandma's flowers a few times for Mother's Day but mostly it was
home made things for them to use. I used to sew nightgowns for them to wear.  Both Grandparents wore gowns, his was called a night shirt. I made pillow cases and embroidered them and crocheted the edges to show them I had learned to do this also.

I remember my little brothers would draw pictures for them to hang on the wall from their grandchildren.

After marriage and we had children we taught our children things made and given generally held more meaning than a candle or candy.  Boy Scouts helped with that as did the skills I learned as a youth to help our children share with their Mothers and Grandmothers.

We did get so we sent flowers later in life because being more home bound flowers were a breathe of fresh air on times when they could not get out much or often.  We sent candy until the learning of Diabetes in the family.  But we still shared Jams and Jellies as gifts. The fruits in California were different than in Wyoming. I so miss the Chokecherry Jelly.

With our parents gone we now wait to see what will happen when the day rolls around.  Sometimes we treat another elder with a treat or flowers to make them feel remembered also.

My biggest thing was to travel home for the weekend when we could afford it so the Grandparents
could visit with their grandchildren.  Later it was flowers that both the Mom's loved when home bound, or taking them out to eat and sharing time.

How different is your Mother's Day to what you grew up with or your Mom grew up with?

Some sharing of DNA Information

I belong to an group called LinkedIn. It has many divisions and variants.
Steven L. Bonnell another member of this group posted a Comment.   It brings about my writing here about the topic.  Which means you need to click on this link to see the information that is newly being released regarding DNA and some new discoveries of our early travel.

DNA Reveals Undiscovered Ancient Migration Route | Nat Geo Educa 1

 I hope you enjoy reading and learning as much as I did.  If twenty years younger I would go back and learn about DNA in an indepth manner.

 As it is, I have tracked many lines using family quirks and traits and genetic difference long before DNA became a big scene.

Enjoy

Doing WEST VIRGINIA Research, Good News

A note came in and it states that West Virginia is being pulled into the new age.  They are working on getting data digitalized.  It started in 2013 and is advancing slowly forward.




They are working current cases back to old so what we  want may take a few years.


The following excerpt is from an article by Andrew Brown, written for the Charleston Gazette – and posted May 4, 2015 at govtech.com.

 I received it from West Virginia Moves County Courts Toward Digital Future Via GenealogyBlog.
Thanks Leland

Libraries Sources and a Tidbit from another Blogger.

As I was preparing to talk about each Library site I listed Saturday, I received a blog post from James Tanner.  Because he is easy to understand and speaks well I am going to refer you to his page, to read what he has to say:

Genealogical Discoveries from the Internet Archive

Remember this is a free site.  There is much information here to help you in your research.

This site also lists the WAYBACK MACHINE for use.

The code to reach it is:  Archive.org 

It covers the Library of Congress.

 I would love for each of you to post one comment on what  you thought of this site after you visited it.   

I will be reviewing the various sites over time.

Society Saturday, CVGS and Guests BREAKING BRICK WALLS

Hands on Workshop for CVGS and Guests


Today was our workshop that  replaced our spring Seminar.  Our members brought two guests and we shared, data and information from 10 am until 3:45 pm when all were sent home to try more hints and tips than they could fathom.


 Our goal was to talk about a topic then have the attendees see if they could apply it to their genealogy while they were in the event, so help could be given if troubles or confusion occurred.

 Randy Seaver started with talks about various programs within FAMILY SEARCH.  He shared many links and lots of hot tips for us to try.    He showed members and guests, how to access probate records, (https://www.FamilySearch.org )Family Search Home Page, FamilySearch Historical Record Collections (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list), FamilySearch Historical Record Collections (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list), census records, and other items like books and data needed to fill in our blanks.  He talked about how books carry a lot of information and they can be accessed at Family Search.  He answered questions on how to use Family Search as a source on our Genealogy Programs.  He also demonstrated many items of major interest regarding his topics.  He shared many links with us to further learn about Family Search.

He also talked about Wiki.search within Family Search. Then he discussed New York Probate Records on Family Search,  how to's.  New York records we are all so in need of.  He gave a step by step demonstration for us to use at home.  2 handouts and 5 pages of information.

This was one Tip he shared:TIP: Save the https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list link as a Bookmark or Favorite on your computer browser and use that to access FamilySearch collections with one click.
Thank You Randy Seaver

We then broke for lunch. Some people brought lunch and others went out for lunch.  We had about 45 minutes to do lunch.  Also our Hospitality Hostesses had water, coffee, tea and snacks during the day for us to nibble on.  Thank You JoAnn Bonner and Ana Castro.  Thank You Arlene Watters for help with set up and for caring. Thanks to Ken Robeson and Sam Seat for helping with bringing in the coffee and other data I needed to have carried.

After lunch, Shirley Becker presented her OVERCOMING SCOTOMA!
If you do not know the word look it up.  It is something we do on a steady basis when we are reading and researching and are not aware of it.  27 people now are more aware of it than in the past.
Amazing how one sentence can mean something to one person and different to another. Reading and grasping what we read was really sliced and diced and makes you think twice of what you have read.

She also mentioned many links that Randy had suggested also for garnering more information on resolving our Brick Walls. Reinforcing what Randy had said, so that guests would understand it better. She shared three forms with information for researchers to use: Source Checklist, Strategies for "Doing the History", and Focus analytical attention on all documents that support the details of the particular ancestor.
Thank You Shirley Becker

After a brief break we then listened to our own Bethel Williams talk about,  "What are the SOUTHERN STATES".
What a great coverage she gave about what states were Southern and why some were not. Many questions came about due to the Civil War.  She shared several links and much data on where to find more information such as: usgenweb.org, rootsweb.org, The importance of the Mason-Dixon Line, in the shaping of the South.  She talked about how Maryland was kept Northern by a manuever that Pres. Lincoln did. Some states were split in allegiance.

The small battles held in California and in other states that were not allowed to get carried into big battles was interesting also. She had maps of the various regions involved in the War.  She shared urls for many sites for research.  How many knew some of the veterans from the CW especially the Confederates went to Brazil to live. She talked of who got paid and who did not and the reason why they did not. Federal Reimbursement Claims for loss of property and damage during the war.
She mentioned the website that showed those that went to Libera, Africa, and into Canada.

She mentioned FREEDMAN's BANK REGISTERS, and other information tied to that action.
She named the Southern states with a page of urls for information on each state mentioned. Also gave a misc. page for other sites for research.

ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, VIRGINIA make up the Southern States.
40 + pages of data and clues and ideas.
Thank You Bethel Williams

Lastly,  I  presented on  ARCHIVES, LIBRARIES AND SOCIETIES.  Sharing information first on a great sites about Australian Research becoming big. Then moving across the water to
Prussian/German Genealogy Help, shared by Mark Rabideau.
Prussian- German Genealogy Help 1 

Within this site is information on Beginning Genealogy, German Internet Resources, 

Language Tool Internet Resources, Mennonite/Amish Internet Resources,

Polish Internet Resources, & WW1 & WW2 War Victims Internet Resources.

Do not forget FOLD 3 Free til mid month for WW 11 information.

Next I shared data about Kentucky that is on Facebook:

My name is Don A. Howell and i run a Genealogy page on Face Book called West Kentucky Genealogy. The purpose and goal of the page is to reunite old photos and documents back to their proper families. So if you have a spare hour or so feel free to pop over to : https://www.facebook.com/westkygenealogy and look around :-) 

email: dhowellpmi@yahoo.com

Having found so much data on Facebook pages and societies and groups sharing this one so people can see the generosity of these people.

Then I shared a list of Major Libraries: including the site that carries the WayBack Machine.

http://dp.la/,  Digital Public Library of America

 https://archive.org/, Internet Archive

 http://trove.nla.gov.au/, Australia

 http://www.europeana.eu/portal/, European Data

http://e-book.com.au/,  E Books

 https://books.familysearch.org/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=FHD_PUBLIC, Family Search

https://books.google.com/bkshp?hl=en&tab=lp&ei=q41DVfLFBMvloATOyIHACQ&ved=0CA4QqS4oCw,  Google Books

http://www.hathitrust.org/home

A PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

HathiTrust

@hathitrustRandom data point: just confirmed that we are at 621,188 US federal documents available at

http://t.co/PpUZecyLTI.  A partnering site with US Universities, reserved for same.

http://librarytechnology.org/libraries/library.pl?id=10704

Bonita-Sunnyside Branch Library -- San Diego County Library 1
 is affiliated with above link.

http://librarytechnology.org/aserl.pl

Association of Southeastern Research Libraries: Current Automation Systems

http://librarytechnology.org/libraries/uspublic/

Directory of Public Libraries in the USA massive list of available libraries for research.

Urban Libraries Council has 179 Library's. Public Libraries in the US, section of Libraries.org includes 16,887 library's

 http://librarytechnology.org/libraries/uspublic/

Lists all 50 states libraries.org

State Archives

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_libraries_and_archives

State and Territorial Archives and Programs

http://www.statearchivists.org/states.htm

National Archives   Free site

http://www.archives.gov/locations/

Here is master site I used for data.

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=state+archives+usa&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Societies Both Historical and Genealogical

Please start with the Historical Societies and information. If you do not you may miss some key genealogical sources you won't know to look at.

I use google.com and  Wiki.com

http://virginiapioneers.blogspot.com/

Great sites on Facebook for information, also on LinkedIn and other social media sites.

Hot off the Press was this.

Rhode Island News

http://wpri.com/2015/04/30/only-in-rhode-island-million-of-state-historical-records-stored-in-flood-prone-basement-may15/

Alas, Ken Robison said, "With all these sites to see when will we be able to do Research?"
At least he said it with a big smile and eyes twinkling.


Also Ken won the door prize.  A book written by an Englishman regarding Genealogy Mystery.


Thanks to all those that came to make it a success.