Friday, May 29, 2009

New Books in Chapin Memorial Library's South Carolina Room (May 2009)

Title: English Ancestral Names: The Evolution of the Surname from Medieval Occupations
Author:
Dolan, J.R.
Call Number:
REF SC 929.4 Dolan

Title: List of the Colonial Soldiers of Virginia: Special Report of the Department of Archives and History for 1913
Author: Eckenrode, H.J.
Call Number: REF SC 929.3755 Eckenr

Title: Social Networking for Genealogists
Author: Smith, Drew
Call Number: REF SC 929.1028 Smith (currently located on New Book display stand)

Title: Voices of the American Revolution in the Carolinas
Author: Ed Southern, editor
Call Number: REF SC 973.3 Voices

Title: The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633 (Vols. I-III)
Author: Anderson, Robert Charles
Call Number: REF SC 929.374 Anders (currently located on New Book display stand)

Title: The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635 (Vols. I-IV)
Author: Anderson, Robert Charles
Call Number: REF SC 929.374 Anders




Monday, May 25, 2009

Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Increasing Importance in Genealogy Research

If you have an interest in Ohio genealogy research, you need to be aware of the ever-increasing importance of the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) as an information source.

On April 19, 2007 the genealogy services at the State Library of Ohio ended and their entire genealogy collection was relocated to the main branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, where it was integrated with CML’s genealogy collection. Justification for the relocation was extended hours, more staff to assist researchers as well as a larger budget to add additional material to the collection.

In the Spring of this year, the Palatines to America - German Genealogy Society’s library collection was relocated to the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s main branch. As a result of the move, the Pal Am Library collection is available to the society’s members and the public.

The Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, a chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, has recently announced its decision to relocate its library collection to the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s main branch, where it will be merged with CML’s collection.

The main branch of CML is located at 96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215. CML’s web address is <http://www.cml.lib.oh.us/>.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Genealogy Videos Available at Chapin Memorial Library

The genealogy videos listed below are available for loan from Chapin Memorial Library. They are located on the first floor in the room located to the far right-hand side of the library (after entering the library’s main entrance). When you enter the room where the videos are stored, you will see bookcases located slightly to the left with ends painted dark green and marked “Adult Biography.” The first bookcase contains the genealogy videos (stored on shelves located on the right-hand side as you face the "Adult Biography" sign).

Holders of Chapin Memorial Library cards may reserve videos online at:
<http://www.chapinlibrary.org/>.

If more than one video is to be reserved, it may be advisable to make the reservation by telephone (843- 918-1275).
________________________________________________

Title: Ancestors
Publisher, Date: Alexandria, VA: PBS Home Video, 1996.
Description: 10 VHS videocassettes (300 min .)

Individual titles:
Ancestors - Episode 1 - Getting Started
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.01
Ancestors - Episode 2 - Looking at Home
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.02
Ancestors - Episode 3 - Gathering Family Stories
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.03
Ancestors - Episode 4 - The Paper Trail
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.04
Ancestors - Episode 5 - Libraries and Archives
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.05
Ancestors - Episode 6 - Military and Census Records
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.06
Ancestors - Episode 7 - African-American Families
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.07
Ancestors - Episode 8 - Medical Heritage
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.08
Ancestors - Episode 9 - High-Tech Help
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.09
Ancestors - Episode 10 - Leaving A Legacy
Call Number: AVDEO 920 Ancest v.10


Title: Do Your Family Tree
Publisher, Date: Horizon Home Video, c1991
Description: 1 VHS videocassette (050 min.).
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Do


Title: Do Your Family Tree: Part II, Advanced Research
Publisher, Date: Horizon Home Video, c1992
Description: 1 VHS videocassette (075 min.).
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Do


Title: The Genealogist's Video Research Guide
Publisher, Date: New York, NY: VIPO Media Group, 1996.
Description: 7 VHS videocassettes.

Individual titles:
Part One: Home sources, Family Search, Published histories, Record Keeping
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.01
Part Two: Census Records, Probate Records
Call Number: (Missing from video library)
Part Three: Land Records, Military Records, and Vital Records
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.03
Part Four: Compiled Sources
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.04
Part Five: Passenger Lists and Passports
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.05
Part Six: Naturalization records
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.06
Part Seven: Federal
Land Records and National Archives Maps
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.07


Title: The Genealogist's Video Research Guide: Research in England and Wales
Publisher, Date: New York, NY: VIPO Media Group, 1994.
Description: 3 VHS videocassettes.

Individual titles:
Part I: Civil Registration
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.01
Part II: Parish Registers
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.02
Part III: Census and Probate Records
Call Number: AVDEO 929 Geneal v.03

Friday, May 15, 2009

The Ohio Genealogical Society will hold its Summer Workshop 2009

The Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) will hold its Summer Workshop 2009 from Sunday June 21 through Friday 26 June at the OGS Headquarters and Library, 713 S. Main Street, Mansfield, OH 44907.

Curt Witcher and eight other genealogy experts will discuss a broad range of topics during the week-long event.

Witcher's presentations include the following:

  • Doing Effective Genealogical Research in Libraries;
  • Using PERSI;
  • Pain in the Access: Getting More from the Internet for Your Genealogy;
  • Using World Cat;
  • Using Government Documents for Genealogical Research; and
  • All That Other STUFF!: Other Census Records Beyond the Population Schedules.

The complete program is (or soon will be) available for download on the OGS website at www.ogs.org.

REGISTRATION NOTES: The society offers discounts to members on the week-long or day-only registration fees. Non-members are also welcome.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Search U.S. Census Population Estimates (2000-2008) and/or the 2000 Census Population

If you have an interest in U.S. Census population estimates for the years 2000 through 2008 (as of July 1 each year) and/or the 2000 Census population, you can search by state and/or county. Copy and paste the following URL into your web browser.

<http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/databases/community/census2008a.html>

Information shown at the county level includes:

  • Gender Breakdown
  • Race Breakdown
  • Age Breakdown

NBC TV series "Who Do You Think You Are?" Rescheduled for Fall of 2009

According to the latest information, NBC's genealogy-reality TV series Who Do You Think You Are?, which was scheduled to premier on April 20th, will now begin airing sometime this fall. The exact date is not known. If you want to know more about the show, copy and paste the following URL into your browser:
<http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/>

Monday, May 4, 2009

Split and/or Merge PDF documents

When doing genealogy research on the Internet, records and information are frequently available for downloading as PDF files. These PDF files often consist of multiple pages – some of which are of little or no interest. In other cases, records and information to be downloaded are in groups of PDF files for which there may be a desire to end up with only a single PDF file.

For Windows users the solution is only a download away. The basic version of “PDF Split and Merge” allows the splitting of large PDF files into smaller parts and the merging of multiple PDF files into a single file. The basic version is free. Although there is an almost-free enhanced version that has more features, the basic version should cover most needs.

PDF Split and Merge” is available for downloading at the following URL:

<http://www.pdfsam.org/?page_id=32>

Select “Win32 Installer” located under “Download, Basic, pdfsam basic 1.1.2." Click on "Save" at the bottom of the subsequent screen. The software will be downloaded automatically to your computer (to wherever your downloads are saved). Next you will need install the software.

A tutorial on how to use the software is included as part of the download.

Note: It may be necessary to uncheck the box “Compress output file/files” to successfully perform both separation and merge operations.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Ancestry Revises Criteria Used for Searching

Responding to customer input, Ancestry.com has revised the criteria that it uses with respect to searching based upon user specified birth and/or death years. The changes, implemented April 29, 2009, are intended to help reduce the listing of irrelevant search results.

If the user specifies both a birth and death year for an ancestor, Ancestry’s search will cover a range of 5 years before the specified birth year through 2 years after the specified death year. For example, if the specified birth year is 1850 and the death year is 1875, the search range will cover from 1845 through 1877.

If only the birth year is specified by the user, Ancestry’s search will cover a range of 5 years before the specified birth year through 102 years after the specified birth year. For example, if the specified birth year is 1850 and there is no death year specified, the search range will cover from 1845 through 1952.

If only the death year is specified by the user, Ancestry’s search will cover a range of 105 years before the specified death year through 2 years after the specified death year. For example, if the specified death year is 1875 and there is no birth year specified, the search range will cover from 1770 through 1877.

Obviously, better results should be achieved when both birth and death years are specified by the user.