Sunday, March 21, 2010

Hank Jones on "Psychic Roots" at CVGS on Wednesday, 24 March

....
The Wednesday, March 24th program of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society features world-renowned genealogy author and speaker, Henry Z. "Hank" Jones, Jr. on "How Psychic Roots Became an Unsolved Mystery."







The program starts at 12 noon in the Auditorium at the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library in Chula Vista (365 F Street). There will be a brief business meeting before the speaker's presentation.

Some comments about Hank's work:

"Amongst genealogical professionals who spend their days climbing the family tree, whenever something “off the wall” and strange happens that they simply can’t explain, one often hears the phrase “I’m having a Hank Jones moment.” In the course of his own genealogical work, Hank had his own experiences that defied logical interpretation – events the writer Rod Serling might have included in his classic “Twilight Zone” TV series. Serendipitous finds, synchronistic events, intuitive nudges leading him to information “where it shouldn’t have been.” Hank decided to find out if these unusual happenings were occurring just to him or if other family historians encountered these weird events also.

" He wrote to 200 of the world’s most respected genealogists asking them for input. To date, over 1,500 stories have come back to Hank describing unexplainable experiences that knocked the socks off of his colleagues. These stories make up the core of Hank’s two now-classic books, “Psychic Roots: Serendipity and Intuition in Genealogy,” now in their 9th printing from Genealogical Publishing Company.

"Hank’s talk is chock full of great, fun stories that most every family historian can identify with – experiences that happen to us in libraries, graveyards, churches, and anywhere we are pursuing our ancestors. Hank also talks about NBC-TV filming an episode of “Unsolved Mysteries” based on his books and the worldwide reactions resulting from the broadcast.

"This speech inspires the audience to acknowledge the common feeling we have occasionally of “being led” in our searches – and to go on and overcome those brick walls and blind alleys that pop up as we climb our family tree. We are all kindred spirits remembering and honoring our forebears."

This program is free for all to attend. We do request that you enter through the library Conference Room door in order to register your presence, pick up a copy of the program, and have a snack. There will be refreshments after the meeting also.

Please join CVGS members to hear and enjoy one of the foremost speakers in genealogy circles today! For more information, contact Barbara at 619-477-4140 or baribai@cox.net.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

New or Updated Online Databases - March, Post 2

Some of the new or updated genealogy databases available at different websites include:

3) New England Historic Genealogical Society (http://www.newenglandancestors.org/) (subscription required):

o No new databases this month.

o See all NEHGS Databases at http://www.newenglandancestors.org/database_search/2212.asp
Vital

4) Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com/) (subscription required):

o 1900, 1910, 1920 US Census – 3-5% complete

o 1930 US Census – 98% complete

o Anti-Slavery Manuscripts Collection

o See list of all document sets on Footnote.com at http://www.footnote.com/documents/

5) WorldVital Records.com (http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/) (subscription required):

o Three Centuries in Champlain Valley

o History of New Netherlands

o New Amsterdam and Its People (Dutch, early English)

o History of State of Georgia, 1850-1881

o Memorial History of Hartford County CT

o Naval Records of American Revolution, 1775-1788

o DeadFred Genealogy Photo Archive Index

o Air Force Register, 1952-1968

o See list of all document sets on World Vital Records at http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/contentsearch.aspx

6) GenealogyBank ( http://www.genealogybank.com/) (subscription required):

o Added 66 newspapers from 27 states in February

o Added over 300 million newspapers articles in 2009, now has over 480 million articles in over 4,300 newspapers

o See list of all titles at http://www.genealogybank.com/gbnk/newspapers/sourcelist/

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Genealogy Web Sites You Can Use

Here are some genealogy websites that may be useful in your research:

o American Battle Monuments Commission: www.abmc.gov/home.php

o Canadian Genealogy Centre, Library and Archives Canada: www.collectionscanada.gc.ca

o Canada GenWeb: www.canadagenweb.org


o Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&mode=2&objID=1426

o Census Spreadsheets: http://www.censustools.com


o Civil War Virtual Battlefield Tours: http://www.johnsmilitaryhistory.com/cwvirtual.html

o Free Genealogy forms (Family Tree Magazine): http://www.familytreemagazine.com/freeforms


o Free Beginning Genealogy Lessons: http://www.usafamilytree.com/

o Joe Beine’s German Roots Site: http://www.germanroots.com/


o United States Digital History: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/

Friday, March 12, 2010

Book Review: Who Do You Think You Are? by Megan Smolenyak

....
Who Do You Think You Are? The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History, by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak and published by Viking/Penguin Group, was released recently to the public, and is available on Amazon Books in hard-cover or Kindle format, and in major bookstores.


The book is a companion guide to the NBC Television series Who Do You Think You Are? that starts on March 5 and runs through 23 April (8 p.m. EST/PST, 7 PM CST/MST) in seven episodes. The episodes feature celebrities Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Susan Sarandon, Lisa Kudrow, Spike Lee, Brooke Shields and Emmitt Smith.

For genealogists, the profiles of the celebrities are interesting and fine examples of genealogy research. However, the celebrities are (continued in right column) Not the major focus of this book. Each celebrity has only two or three pages that summarizes their heritage and their ancestral search.

The real purpose of this book is to provide a basic introduction to genealogy research for readers/viewers who are interested enough in their own ancestry to buy or borrow the book.
The book contents include:

* Preparing for your ancestral hunt - start with what you know, go on a treasure hunt, talk to the folks, organize and chart your findings, don't believe everything you hear, and all about names.

* What resources are online? - a brief review of Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, CyndisList.com, USGenWeb and Rootsweb.com, Footnote.com, GenealogyBank.com, EllisIsland.org and CastleGarden.org, government records, Google, libraries, archives, societies, ethnic, magazines, RootsTelevision.com, ISOGG.org, SteveMorse.org, FindAGrave.com, DeathIndexes.com, DeadFred.com, RAOGK.org, genealogy bloggers and several social networks.

* Chapters about the Census Records, Military Records, Vital Records, Military Records, Immigration and Naturalization Records, other records (brief summaries for church, newspapers, court, cemetery records), and DNA testing.

* The "Sleuthing in Action" chapter describes Megan's research on President Obama's Irish roots and finding the "real Annie Moore" as success stories.

* The last chapter is "Passing it On" - advice to ancestry-seekers on how to protect, preserve and share the results of their sleuthing.

Throughout the chapters, Megan uses illustrations of records for famous people (arts, politics, and her own family) to demonstrate the record types and their value. These are really interesting, and made the book intriguing for me - I could hardly wait for the next illustration! Online resources are mentioned in every chapter, but the reader is advised that many records are not yet online.

In summary, this is a very readable genealogy tutorial book which beginning genealogists can use to get them started in their research. Intermediate genealogists will find it useful for the up-to-date treatment of repository and online records. Advanced and experienced researchers will not find anything to help them with specific research problems or new methodologies. The book is intended to be a "getting started" or "get going again" tutorial and succeeds. It would be excellent as the first genealogy book on the shelf of a new researcher trying to learn the methodology and record types involved in genealogy research.

This book should be on every library's genealogy book shelf and on their circulation shelf too! It would be very helpful as a guide book for a beginning genealogy class sponsored by a library or a genealogy society.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Hank Jones is coming to CVGS on 24 March

....
The Wednesday, March 24th program of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society features world-renowned genealogy author and speaker, Henry Z. "Hank" Jones, Jr. on "How Psychic Roots Became an Unsolved Mystery."



The program starts at 12 noon in the Auditorium at the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library in Chula Vista (365 F Street). There will be a brief business meeting before the speaker's presentation.

Some comments about Hank's work:

"Amongst genealogical professionals who spend their days climbing the family tree, whenever something “off the wall” and strange happens that they simply can’t explain, one often hears the phrase “I’m having a Hank Jones moment.” In the course of his own genealogical work, Hank had his own experiences that defied logical interpretation – events the writer Rod Serling might have included in his classic “Twilight Zone” TV series. Serendipitous finds, synchronistic events, intuitive nudges leading him to information “where it shouldn’t have been.” Hank decided to find out if these unusual happenings were occurring just to him or if other family historians encountered these weird events also.

" He wrote to 200 of the world’s most respected genealogists asking them for input. To date, over 1,500 stories have come back to Hank describing unexplainable experiences that knocked the socks off of his colleagues. These stories make up the core of Hank’s two now-classic books, “Psychic Roots: Serendipity and Intuition in Genealogy,” now in their 9th printing from Genealogical Publishing Company.

"Hank’s talk is chock full of great, fun stories that most every family historian can identify with – experiences that happen to us in libraries, graveyards, churches, and anywhere we are pursuing our ancestors. Hank also talks about NBC-TV filming an episode of “Unsolved Mysteries” based on his books and the worldwide reactions resulting from the broadcast.

"This speech inspires the audience to acknowledge the common feeling we have occasionally of “being led” in our searches – and to go on and overcome those brick walls and blind alleys that pop up as we climb our family tree. We are all kindred spirits remembering and honoring our forebears."

This program is free for all to attend. We do request that you enter through the library Conference Room door in order to register your presence, pick up a copy of the program, and have a snack. There will be refreshments after the meeting also.

Please join CVGS members to hear and enjoy one of the foremost speakers in genealogy circles today! For more information, contact Barbara at 619-477-4140 or baribai@cox.net.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

CVGS Research Group 3/10/10 Summary

....
The Chula Vista Genealogical Society (CVGS) Research Group meeting had the "gang of 14" in attendance today - and a lively group it was!

Randy summarized the month by going over Faces of America (6 of 14 watched it), Who Do You Think You Are? (10 of 14 watched it), the 2010 Census questions, and the Escondido Family History Fair (15 CVGS members attended).

There were three major problems discussed today:

* Joan found a reference to a 10-generation Hixson family history book, and found out that it was available in Santa Maria CA. However, the library there would only photocopy the index, not the pages she was interested in. She wrote to the publisher in November and received no response. Where could she find the book? The group suggested using http://www.worldcat.org/ to find libraries that have the book and see if they will Inter-Library Loan it to her; she could check the LDS Family History Library Catalog for it; she could look for a Random Act of Genealogical Kindness volunteer to photocopy pages for her; she could hire someone to do the job for her.

* Pam's grandmother was an orphan (mother died young, father in jail) that lived with her two brothers in a temporary foster home in Connecticut for several years. She wants to find out what happened to the two brothers - Charles Lesley Bixby (born 1889 CT) and Edson Howard Bixby (born 1893 CT). Family lore said that Charles died in France, perhaps during World War I, and that Edson served with Pancho Villa. The last record is the 1910 US census. She found a picture of a man named Charles Bixby in a World War II photo collection. Where should she look for more information about these young men? The group suggested obtaining military service and discharge records from the NPRC; checking newspapers (perhaps New York Times?) for World War I casualties; local newspapers about the young men - military, death, marriages, etc.

* Susi has a James Fuller that married Catherine (perhaps Gibson?) in the 1780's in Washington County MD; they had three children in MD then moved to Coshocton and Guernsey Counties, Ohio before 1803. There are many family trees on Ancestry.com - some have Catherine's maiden name as Gibson and some do not. There are three different fathers listed for James in these trees. She stated that a cousin had search the Maryland and Ohio counties for "all county records" and found nothing helpful. The group suggested searching military records for all Fullers and Gibsons associated with the counties, double-checking the county land, probate and tax records, and making sure that to search in the parent counties also. This is the classical NGSQ problem that is often solved using cluster genealogy methodology for associates and extended family members.

We went around the table to answer questions or discuss current activities:

* Kevin has a man that married in 1870, immigrated from England in 1874, and probably died in the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. He wondered how to find immigration and death data. The group suggested the Ancestry.com passenger lists, finding a naturalization record, checking the http://www.sfgenealogy.com/ website, and looking for obituaries in Bay area newspapers.

* Dick received more family information from several cousins and is trying to sort it all out. He found five family members on http://www.findagrave.com/, but there were no birth or death dates listed. He contacted the FindAGrave volunteer, and then the cemetery sexton, who will send him copies of the index cards.

* Virginia found her mother and father in the 1910 census two pages apart - they married in 1911. She received her Daughter of Union Veterans paperwork to file.

* Pam asked about the Boston Transcript. Randy said that it is indexed in the American Genealogical and Biographical Index (online at Ancestry.com), and the Boston Transcript is available on microfiche at Carlsbad Library and San Diego Public Library.

* Jeanne is helping a neighbor who is cleaning out his parents home, and has found some family history papers, and has gotten interested in genealogy. She attended the Family History Fair sessions on Native-American research in order to help an in-law cousin who has Cherokee ancestry.

* Helen also went to the Family History Fair and thought the Native-American presentations were excellent. She is sharing family history data with her niece, Ruth. They have found some online resources in Google Books. She noted that they too have problems with online family trees.

* Ruth has been going through her grandfather's family letters found in the attic with Helen. They've found that they each had different parts of the family history and are working together to document all of it.

* John has been searching the Norfolk County Parish Registers online at FamilySearch Record Search with some success. He has collaborated successfully with other researchers in the past, but one person now has some things wrong and won't listen.

It was a very informative and fast two hours of genealogy how-to and show me.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

CVGS at the Escondido Family History Fair

.....
The Chula Vista Genealogical Society was well represented at the Escondido Family History Fair on Saturday, 6 March at the Family History Center in Escondido.

There were at least 15 current CVGS members in attendance for the presentations and the exhibits. John, Ruth, Gary and Randy helped set up and man the CVGS exhibit table. In addition, Susi, Virginia, Marta, Ann, Helen, Jeanne, Bobbie, Dennis, Myrna, Connie and Grace were there (who did I miss?). Not bad for a society 40 miles away with 100 members!

Our members thought that this was an excellent opportunity to obtain genealogy education for a reasonable price, especially on a rainy day in San Diego.

Several blog posts were written with descriptions of the day and pictures of the exhibits - see:

* Escondido Family History Fair by Ruth Himan on the Genealogy is Ruthless Without Me blog - great pictures!

* Follow Up on Saturday's FHC Fair in Escondido, CA by Susi Pentico on the Susi's Chatty Performances blog.

* Family History Fair in Escondido, Ca by Susi Pentico on the Ancestor Seekers by the Root Bound blog.

* Mr. Bartosz Indian Research Information by Susi Pentico on the Ancestor Seekers by the Root Bound blog.

* At the Escondido Family History Fair by Randy Seaver on the Genea-Musings blog.

* Pictures from Escondido Family History Fair by Randy Seaver on the Genea-Musings blog.

As far as I can tell, no other San Diego area genealogy society blogged anything about this Family History Fair.

Monday, March 8, 2010

New or Updated Genealogy Databases - March, Post 1

Some of the new or updated genealogy databases available at different websites include:

1) Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/) (subscription required):

o US Federal Census - 1880 Schedule of Defective, Dependent and Delinquent Classes (US)

o Vermont Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1909-2008 (US)

o Connecticut Divorce Index, 1968-1997 (US)

o Upper Brittany, France, Vital Records (World)

o Burke’s Peerage and Barontage Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary, Volume 2 (World)

o Hamburg Passenger Lists (updated) (World)

o US Public Records Index, Volume 2 (US)

o See New and Updated Ancestry databases at http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/recent.aspx

2) FamilySearch Record Search (http://pilot.familysearch.org/) Indexing Projects (Free Access):

o Arkansas County Marriages, 1837-1957

o Illinois, Cook County Birth Certificates, 1878-1922

o United States, 1920 Census (98% complete, index only)

o Mexico, Catholic Church Records (12 states, browse)

o England, Cheshire Land Tax Assessments, 1778-1832

o England, Cheshire Probate Records (browse)

o England, Norfolk, Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1900 (browse)

o England, Warwickshire, Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1900 (browse)

o Spain, Catholic Church Records (6 states, browse)

o Netherlands, Gelderland Province Civil Registration (browse)

o Brazil, Civil Registration, 1870-2006) (browse)

o Colombia, Catholic Church Records (browse)

o See all Volunteer-indexed databases on the Pilot Record Search site at http://pilot.familysearch.org/

More to come...

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

CVGS Research Trip to Escondido Family History Fair

....
The annual Family History Fair is this Saturday, 6 March, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Escondido Family History Center (2255 Felicita Road, Escondido CA 92029).

The Chula Vista Genealogical Society (CVGS) will have a table at the Family History Fair and will show posters of some of the society activities, and have a laptop running to show off the CVGS website and the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog.

Some Chula Vista Genealogical Society members will carpool together from downtown Chula Vista to Escondido, about 40 miles. We will leave at about 7:30 a.m. on Saturday from the downtown parking garage. We will meet on the second level, about midway between the F Street entrance (by Marie Callender's) and the 3rd Avenue entrance (by Fuddruckers). We should get to Escondido by 8:15 a.m. in time for registration and to find good seats for the Keynote talk by David Rencher.

After the Fair is over, we will depart at about 5 p.m. and be back in Chula Vista at about 5:45 p.m.

Only persons who sent in a registration form can attend this Family History Fair. If you didn't send in a form, then you cannot attend.

If you want to come in the CVGS Carpool, please let Randy Seaver know via email (rjseaver@cox.net) or telephone (619-422-3397).

Monday, March 1, 2010

Genealogy Days in Chula Vista - March 2010

....
The Chula Vista Genealogical Society events for March 2010 include:

** Wednesday March 10, 12 noon to 2 pm, Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Research Group meets in the Library Conference Room. We will review the latest genealogy news, share success stories and information, and discuss members research problems, and potential solutions, based on the collective knowledge and wisdom of the group.

** Wednesday, March 17, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Computer Group meets in the Library Computer Lab. We will visit some helpful genealogy web sites. This is an opportunity for those members who haven't used computers for genealogy research to practice with a mentor to guide them.

** Wednesday, March 24, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Program Meeting in the Auditorium. After a brief business meeting, the speaker will be Henry Z. "Hank" Jones, speaking on "Psychic Roots, Serendipity and Intuition in Genealogy."

** Monday mornings (11 a.m. to 1 PM) - March 1,8, 15, and 22 - Genealogy Table Talk with Dearl Glenn and John Finch in the Family Research section of the Chula Vista Civic Center Library. They are ready and willing to help people with their research, discuss a problem or success, or just tell stories.

The Chula Vista Civic Center Library is located at 365 "F" Street in Chula Vista - between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue, midway between I-5 and I-805 (take the "E" Street exit from the freeways).

We welcome guests and visitors to our CVGS programs and events - if you are in the greater San Diego area and want to attend our events - please come and introduce yourselves.