Many of my genealogy friends agree...we have to do the genealogy happy dance whenever we find a new lead/discover/document. Everytime we find it, we are usually jumping for joy. Do you remember the Christmas special where Charlie Brown is waiting for the "crew" of his Christmas play only to find them dancing? That's what my genealogy happy dances look like!
Seriously, I spent a few moments at the library today discussing with the librarians the newest genealogy databases. Have you seen them? I am consonantly amazed at the information out there!
The best advice I can give about genealogy databases is to always look at the page before and the page after.
Today I discovered that my gr-granduncle died in Kobe, Japan. Had I not checked the page before and after, I would have missed the leter sent by the US Department State to the local newspaper in Connecticut. But the best part was that there was also a listing for his son who died in 1935. I was able to find a wealth of information about my "cousin" including his Russian wife's name and the cemetery where the family was buried...just by looking at the pages before and after. In addition there was a letter from my gr-grandaunt asking for more information about the cousin's death and how she saw his obit in the local newspaper...the same newspaper that listed his dad's death 21 years earlier. Of course Google has the newspaper online but not those editions. Regardless,I hit the genealogy jackpot today!
Genealogy databases never ceases to amaze me. I can't wait to see what is next!
Arches
Arches at Glendalough 2009
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Genealogy Goals for 2011
Well another year over and new one about to begin. What will 2011 bring for us? Here are a few of my resolutions...
1. Volunteer via familysearch.org
Every time I log on the site I found more and more leads. From my gr-gr-grandmother's death cert to finding family in the RI Census, I love this site. It is going to be exciting to see what documents they extract next. My goal is to volunteer twice a month...a doable goal since I'm on there often.
2. Attend a genealogy conference.
My favorite conference is the New England Regional Genealogy Conference. This year it will be held in Springfield, MA. Visit http://www.nergc.org/ for more information.
3. Give back to others.
I like genealogy so when I can I try to help others.
4. Share my genealogy with others.
I'm blogging this and have started blogging my family tree. My goal is to blog two family members a month. I have another blog site http://casey365ofgenealogy.blogspot.com/ where I have blogged my grandparents except for my paternal grandmother. She is next. I've included online sites where I found the information about them.
5. Complete my first chapter for my Civil War uncles. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I found some great information on my family in town records. I'm now working on compiling information about them through a variety of sources. Stay tuned for this one.
These are my genealogy goals and I hope to keep to them.
Happy 2011 everyone and may your genealogy searches be successful.
1. Volunteer via familysearch.org
Every time I log on the site I found more and more leads. From my gr-gr-grandmother's death cert to finding family in the RI Census, I love this site. It is going to be exciting to see what documents they extract next. My goal is to volunteer twice a month...a doable goal since I'm on there often.
2. Attend a genealogy conference.
My favorite conference is the New England Regional Genealogy Conference. This year it will be held in Springfield, MA. Visit http://www.nergc.org/ for more information.
3. Give back to others.
I like genealogy so when I can I try to help others.
4. Share my genealogy with others.
I'm blogging this and have started blogging my family tree. My goal is to blog two family members a month. I have another blog site http://casey365ofgenealogy.blogspot.com/ where I have blogged my grandparents except for my paternal grandmother. She is next. I've included online sites where I found the information about them.
5. Complete my first chapter for my Civil War uncles. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I found some great information on my family in town records. I'm now working on compiling information about them through a variety of sources. Stay tuned for this one.
These are my genealogy goals and I hope to keep to them.
Happy 2011 everyone and may your genealogy searches be successful.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Medical Genealogy Information
Last week my lady friends and I got together for our holiday celebrations. During the course of our conversation, my friend Diana, mentined that she keep a medical genealogy with her for visits to doctors. After inquirying about the information, she pulled out her medical profile. She updates it twice a year and lists every medical event that pertains to her.
Some things she includes are her medications, medical events, and her last visits to her doctors. She has a medical outline of her family on the back including the age of her relatives and their cause of death.
She states that the receptionists are always impressed and it makes her visits to old and new doctors go smoothly. Best of all she keeps the newest one with her at all times.
It's snowing here...it's a good time to create one!
Some things she includes are her medications, medical events, and her last visits to her doctors. She has a medical outline of her family on the back including the age of her relatives and their cause of death.
She states that the receptionists are always impressed and it makes her visits to old and new doctors go smoothly. Best of all she keeps the newest one with her at all times.
It's snowing here...it's a good time to create one!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tonight's meeting
The folks at Ocean County Genealogy Society out did themselves again! As I mentioned in my previous post the theme of their meeting was gift ideas. I saw some great ideas...from calendars to books to mouse pads to ornaments. I am inspired!
My genie pal made a beautiful ornament with her grandmother's picture in the middle. On the back of the ornament was basic genealogical information about her grandmother. Another member made gorgeous victorian ornaments that would make anyone envious!
I loved the tribute to "Uncle Bill", the WWII soilder who died five years ago. Each year since his death, his nephews go to a local VFW, place his picture and a glass of beer on the table and honor their family hero. They take pictures of the event and distribute pictures of the event via CDs to famiy members. What had started out with three people has now grown to a huge family event!
There were so many other good ideas! (placemats of family for the little tikes!)
If you are ever in Toms River on the first Wednesday, stop by and see this fabulous group!
My genie pal made a beautiful ornament with her grandmother's picture in the middle. On the back of the ornament was basic genealogical information about her grandmother. Another member made gorgeous victorian ornaments that would make anyone envious!
I loved the tribute to "Uncle Bill", the WWII soilder who died five years ago. Each year since his death, his nephews go to a local VFW, place his picture and a glass of beer on the table and honor their family hero. They take pictures of the event and distribute pictures of the event via CDs to famiy members. What had started out with three people has now grown to a huge family event!
There were so many other good ideas! (placemats of family for the little tikes!)
If you are ever in Toms River on the first Wednesday, stop by and see this fabulous group!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Christmas Genealogy Crafts
This Wednesday, the Ocean County Genealogy Society in Toms River isn't having a speaker. They are having a Christmas idea exchange. I love idea exchanges because you can walk away with some neat ideas for sharing your genealogy.
With that in mind, here are some ideas I have used over the years.
Christmas cards: I've been making my own Christmas cards over the last ten years. I love working with paper and have some great comments from family and friends over the years. My friend from college recently told me that she likes to see what family design I incorporate each year. I've used old ads from family businesses to pictures for the cover and print my own holiday greeting inside. I purchase blank cards and envelopes from the local craft stores. I also include a small paragraph telling how the card relates to my genealogy.
Wreaths: Lisa Cooke has a wonderful idea on her website www.genealogygems.com for incorporating pictures into a holiday wreath.
Feather Trees: My friend told me about her idea of making mini ornaments from her family pictures and hanging them on her feather tree. I also saw a variation of this in a craft store with a brass tree and ornaments. You only need to add your pictures to create a family holiday heirloom.
At a dollar store I found glass paper weights for one dollar. I glued a picture of my daughter with her boyfriend to the bottom and decoupage the bottom to adhere it. It was a simple gift and one she loved. You can also do the same on the bottom of a glass plate. Add some simple "rub on" stickers to rim.
I found this great "how to" online at about.com that shows you how to make an ornament. http://genealogy.about.com/b/2008/12/03/memories-in-miniature.htm This is on my list to try this year.
And don't overlook ideas from Martha Stewart. www.marhtastewart.com I've seen several ideas posted that include genealogy. But there are several ideas that could be adapted for genealogy. Look at the craft of the day or easy sewing projects for quick ideas.
The sky is the limit...have fun crafting your genealogy this holiday season.
With that in mind, here are some ideas I have used over the years.
Christmas cards: I've been making my own Christmas cards over the last ten years. I love working with paper and have some great comments from family and friends over the years. My friend from college recently told me that she likes to see what family design I incorporate each year. I've used old ads from family businesses to pictures for the cover and print my own holiday greeting inside. I purchase blank cards and envelopes from the local craft stores. I also include a small paragraph telling how the card relates to my genealogy.
Wreaths: Lisa Cooke has a wonderful idea on her website www.genealogygems.com for incorporating pictures into a holiday wreath.
Feather Trees: My friend told me about her idea of making mini ornaments from her family pictures and hanging them on her feather tree. I also saw a variation of this in a craft store with a brass tree and ornaments. You only need to add your pictures to create a family holiday heirloom.
At a dollar store I found glass paper weights for one dollar. I glued a picture of my daughter with her boyfriend to the bottom and decoupage the bottom to adhere it. It was a simple gift and one she loved. You can also do the same on the bottom of a glass plate. Add some simple "rub on" stickers to rim.
I found this great "how to" online at about.com that shows you how to make an ornament. http://genealogy.about.com/b/2008/12/03/memories-in-miniature.htm This is on my list to try this year.
And don't overlook ideas from Martha Stewart. www.marhtastewart.com I've seen several ideas posted that include genealogy. But there are several ideas that could be adapted for genealogy. Look at the craft of the day or easy sewing projects for quick ideas.
The sky is the limit...have fun crafting your genealogy this holiday season.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
iGoogle
Last night I gave a presentation and the question came up about iGoogle. Why use it was the questions? Why not? was my answer.
iGoogle is a neat tool that allows you to create your own iGoogle homepage.Think of it as a daily newspaper with the "frontpage" customized to what tools you use in one location. It places everything you need at one spot instead of hunting down the icon on your toolbar or trying to remember the webpage address.
I have several tabs on my iGoogle. One tab hosts my genealogy links. It is like a "frontpage" newspaper for all of my genealogy links. From this page I can search Footnote.com and read Eastman's newsletter. It makes it easier for me to have my links together on a webpage than tucked into my favorites/bookmark list. It also allows me to access my iGoogle page from any computer anywhere in the world. ( It even worked when I was in Ireland last year!)
Each feature on iGoogle is called a gadget. It is easy to place them on your page and to move around. Using the calendar gadget allows you to list important dates in your family history or to keep track of your busy genealogy schedule. The notepad gadget can help you list your notes for your genealogy research. In a library in CT and forgot to print out you "to do" list for genealogy? You can access your iGoogle page from a library computer and print out your list. Want to collaborate your findings with your fellow researchers or cousins? You can note your findings on your iGoogle page and share it! Better yet, you can even access your iGoogle page through your phone! Which is easier to carry- a laptop or a phone? And best of all, it is free!
Please take a look at the online videos through Youtube.com or Googling "igoogle."
Try it, you might like it!
iGoogle is a neat tool that allows you to create your own iGoogle homepage.Think of it as a daily newspaper with the "frontpage" customized to what tools you use in one location. It places everything you need at one spot instead of hunting down the icon on your toolbar or trying to remember the webpage address.
I have several tabs on my iGoogle. One tab hosts my genealogy links. It is like a "frontpage" newspaper for all of my genealogy links. From this page I can search Footnote.com and read Eastman's newsletter. It makes it easier for me to have my links together on a webpage than tucked into my favorites/bookmark list. It also allows me to access my iGoogle page from any computer anywhere in the world. ( It even worked when I was in Ireland last year!)
Each feature on iGoogle is called a gadget. It is easy to place them on your page and to move around. Using the calendar gadget allows you to list important dates in your family history or to keep track of your busy genealogy schedule. The notepad gadget can help you list your notes for your genealogy research. In a library in CT and forgot to print out you "to do" list for genealogy? You can access your iGoogle page from a library computer and print out your list. Want to collaborate your findings with your fellow researchers or cousins? You can note your findings on your iGoogle page and share it! Better yet, you can even access your iGoogle page through your phone! Which is easier to carry- a laptop or a phone? And best of all, it is free!
Please take a look at the online videos through Youtube.com or Googling "igoogle."
Try it, you might like it!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Civil War Substitutes
Next year marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. (AKA to southerners- the "War of Northern Aggression")There's a buzz in the genealogy world about Civil War Pension files being digitized. (Some widows' files are have been completed at Footnote.com) And the National Parks' site
Often when there's an anniversary like the Civil War some clever genealogist finds a way to promote and show a record collection that others didn't look at or think research to research in. I'll admit it-I am jealous of these people. The ideas and strategies that pop up often make me think, "Gee, I should have thought of that!" But I may have found one of those resources.
I've been studying my gr-granduncles' pension files. Four of them served in various regiments in the Civil War from the state of Connecticut. When the 135th anniversary of the Civil War came, I was lucky enough to find some great records in the card catalog at Connecticut State Library. One catalog held cemetery and death information for soldiers. Also found was a microfilm of money paid to the poor families of CT Union soldiers. But it wasn't putting "meat" on the uncles and I put the information aside.
Recently I decided to look for sources other than the pension records for these uncles. One of the items on my "to do" list was to look at the town records where my family lived. Let me tell you that was when the fun began.
At first these records seem mundane...50 cents for a tax abatement, money for the poor, money paid for road and bridge work. But once you look closer and compare the information to the Civil War pension records then all kind of things pop up!
In 1861 the town of Preston, CT paid Hannah Sholes money for boarding a poor lady. This was exciting for me because 5 years later one of my uncles boarded with her son who ran the home after his mother's death. The reason? The uncle was becoming ugly and threatened people. (The poor man was caught between Northern and Southern forces and had a percussion explode near his head.) Hannah Sholes' son later testified that he (my uncle) was fine before the war but wasn't the same after he returned home.
The Town of Ledyard listed bounty amounts for the volunteer soldiers from their town. One of my uncle's family received $30 in May and another $30 in August of
1861. There was also a line item that the town was compensated by the state of Connecticut for the soldiers' families in 1862. And money was paid to compensate one of the selectman for outfitting a poor soldier from the town serving in the military.
The best find was in Groton Connecticut. There, like in Ledyard and Preston, were reimbursements for families. But in the 1865 town record recorded a list of money paid to the substitute soldiers! (Even the librarians were surprised to see that!)
In all, these records hold a tremendous amount of information. Using the town records with the strategy of a timeline and a pension file can help you get the meat on all your ancestors!
Often when there's an anniversary like the Civil War some clever genealogist finds a way to promote and show a record collection that others didn't look at or think research to research in. I'll admit it-I am jealous of these people. The ideas and strategies that pop up often make me think, "Gee, I should have thought of that!" But I may have found one of those resources.
I've been studying my gr-granduncles' pension files. Four of them served in various regiments in the Civil War from the state of Connecticut. When the 135th anniversary of the Civil War came, I was lucky enough to find some great records in the card catalog at Connecticut State Library. One catalog held cemetery and death information for soldiers. Also found was a microfilm of money paid to the poor families of CT Union soldiers. But it wasn't putting "meat" on the uncles and I put the information aside.
Recently I decided to look for sources other than the pension records for these uncles. One of the items on my "to do" list was to look at the town records where my family lived. Let me tell you that was when the fun began.
At first these records seem mundane...50 cents for a tax abatement, money for the poor, money paid for road and bridge work. But once you look closer and compare the information to the Civil War pension records then all kind of things pop up!
In 1861 the town of Preston, CT paid Hannah Sholes money for boarding a poor lady. This was exciting for me because 5 years later one of my uncles boarded with her son who ran the home after his mother's death. The reason? The uncle was becoming ugly and threatened people. (The poor man was caught between Northern and Southern forces and had a percussion explode near his head.) Hannah Sholes' son later testified that he (my uncle) was fine before the war but wasn't the same after he returned home.
The Town of Ledyard listed bounty amounts for the volunteer soldiers from their town. One of my uncle's family received $30 in May and another $30 in August of
1861. There was also a line item that the town was compensated by the state of Connecticut for the soldiers' families in 1862. And money was paid to compensate one of the selectman for outfitting a poor soldier from the town serving in the military.
The best find was in Groton Connecticut. There, like in Ledyard and Preston, were reimbursements for families. But in the 1865 town record recorded a list of money paid to the substitute soldiers! (Even the librarians were surprised to see that!)
In all, these records hold a tremendous amount of information. Using the town records with the strategy of a timeline and a pension file can help you get the meat on all your ancestors!
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