Genealogy Gems: News from the Fort Wayne Library, No. 97, March 31, 2012 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
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Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:15:48 -0700 (PDT) |
Genealogy Gems: News from the Fort Wayne Library No. 97, March 31, 2012 In this issue: *The Long-Awaited 1940 Census *Genealogical Software Guides--Family Tree Maker *Non-Catholic Church Registers of Quebec *Technology Tip of the Month--The Microsoft Word 2010 Ribbon: File Tab *Quick-Tip of the Month for Preservation--Preservation Week: Pass It On! *Introduction to the 1940 Census *Beginners’ Workshop *Tree Talks Highlight Aid to Beginners *German Genealogy: A Two Day Mini-Course Is Back! *Out and About *Area Calendar of Events *Driving Directions to the Library *Parking at the Library *Queries for The Genealogy Center *************************************** The Long-Awaited 1940 Census by Curt B. Witcher *************************************** One would have had to be in seclusion for the past couple of years or be brand new to family history, not to know that the 1940 census will be released in less than two days. How can one not be excited about the release of such an information-rich set of documents?! Details about the lives of approximately 132 million Americans were recorded with the taking of the 1940 census, and these details are being made available to researchers for the first time. The 1940 census will be the first U. S. census to be released digitally, and the first one to be available to researchers everywhere for free on its release date. Some of us will be able to find our parents or grandparents listed on a census for the very first time; some may even find themselves listed on a census for the first time! And assuredly this phenomenal release of historical data will answer many researchers’ questions. What a treasure these documents are, and will be for generations. At 9 a.m. on Monday morning, April 2, 2012, the entire 1940 Census will be available online at the following National Archives website: 1940census.archives.gov As many already know, the 1940 census will be completely un-indexed upon release. Until the indexes are created, one will locate individuals of interest by conducting geographic-based searches through the census data. My colleague, Delia Bourne, has put together a search process, as well as a nice collection of links, to assist researchers in locating individuals on the census before those records are indexed. What is your search process? What can you add to the list below? There will be many neat discoveries and shared experiences as we explore this amazing collection of historical documents. (Delia is also the presenter of the two free 1940 Census programs we are offering this month, one on Census Day--April 2nd, and one on Saturday, April 7th.) Search Process 1. Identify targets: names, ages/birth dates & places. 2. Acquire possible address: city directories (book or microtext), telephone books, city maps, atlases, fire insurance maps, family records, WWII draft records, naturalizations or declarations of intent. 3. Find person in 1930 census: note address and enumeration district (ED). 4. Use Steve Morse site to find 1940 ED from 1930 ED. 5. Use Google Maps, or other maps contemporary to the 1940s, to locate cross-streets. 6. Use cross-streets in the “Unified Census Finder” to narrow down to one or two EDs. 7. Examine 1940 ED maps and compare with Google maps to determine location and ED(s). 8. Search: Pay attention to street names and house numbers. Online Information Sources About the 1940 Census. **Ancestry.com: www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php?title=1940_U.S._Census Information on searching the census can be found at this site. Digital images of the census records will be browsable for free on Ancestry shortly after the official release. **Archives.com: www.archives.com/1940census With census template and facts, this site will have the 1940 census available for free soon after release. This company is also participating in the community-based indexing project for this census. **Bureau of the Census. www.archives.gov/research/census/1940/instructions-to-enumerators.pdf One can find the enumerator’s instructions for the 1940 census here. It is interesting to read these instructions, and such knowledge can clarify what was recorded. **FamilySearch.org: www.familysearch.org/1940census Another site where the census will be available to search for free shortly after census day. FamilySearch is also leading the community-based indexing project. **Steve Morse’s Site: stevemorse.org/census/unified.html Unified 1940 census enumeration district finder. The release of the 1940 census should be another call to action for us. First, we definitely should seek to document all possible ancestors in this amazing collection of records. Second, I would urge you to get involved in the community-based, crowd-sourced indexing that is being led by three powerhouses in the genealogy space: FamilySearch, Archives.com and brightsolid. The adage many have heard nearly innumerable times is so true: together we can do so much more than we can do individually. Go to the website and volunteer TODAY: https://the1940census.com/ Finally, let the release of this tremendous data set encourage us to again commit to a discover-document-disseminate posture for our research. Let’s commit to researching and finding our families’ histories, to compiling with appropriate sources what we have found, and to sharing our histories with family members, libraries and online research communities so that our histories will live on for generations. At no other time have the records that document our nation’s history been at such great risk. Natural and man-made disasters, over-reaching governments at all levels “protecting” us from historic information, and the lack of attention being given to data integrity and redundancy/back-up at all levels and in all sectors of society is converging to place our historic records at greater and greater risk. Many are committed to continuing the fight for the appropriate preservation of, and access to, records on the local, state, and national levels. At the end of the day, however, most successes in this arena are compromises, and these compromises continue to erode our access to the evidence of our history. So let’s really celebrate the 1940 census by finding our families among its pages, by being a part of the indexing community of more than two hundred thousand individuals who will help index the 1940 census (making that index freely available to everyone forever), and by sharing our stories that will assuredly contain new chapters based on 1940 census data. *************************************** Genealogical Software Guides – Family Tree Maker by Cynthia Theusch *************************************** Many family historians use genealogical software to organize their research. Among the many benefits of this approach, they appreciate the ease with which they can generate a variety of reports to share with relatives. For the past few years Family Tree Maker has been the most popular program, and according to TopTenReviews it is rated number 1 in 2012. A useful aid to understanding the program’s many features and workspaces is “The Companion Guide to Family Tree Maker 2012” by Tana L. Pedersen (929 P324ca). The Genealogy Center also has her earlier edition “The Companion Guide to Family Tree Maker 2011” (929 P324c). For Mac users, there is Pedersen’s “The Companion Guide to Family Tree Maker for Mac 2” (929 P341c). Each of these guides will help beginning and intermediate users get comfortable with using routine features of the Family Tree Maker software. For example, Family Tree Maker 2011 and 2012 both have incorporated source templates to make it easier to cite sources for each fact or event added to your family database. Currently, there are more than 170 source templates. For the 1930 census, for example, there are two source templates from which to choose – digital or microfilm citation. Whatever record you wish to cite as documentation, Pedersen’s “Guide” will lead you step by step through the use of these handy templates. Once you become familiar with using Family Tree Maker, you can move on to additional features covered by Pederson’s “Beyond the Basics: A Guide for Advanced Users of Family Tree Maker,” available at the Genealogy Center in both 2011 (929 P324b) and 2012 editions (929 P324ba). Other genealogical software guides also are available in The Genealogy Center’s collections. For users of The Master Genealogist, for example, there is Terry Reigel’s “A Primer for the Master Genealogist” (929 R272p). The 2nd edition, just out, is on order. Take a few minutes on your next visit to examine one of these useful guides and learn how to get the most out of your genealogical software. For those who are considering purchasing one of these programs, the guides can help you compare and contrast their relative merits for your own genealogical project. *************************************** Non-Catholic Church Registers of Quebec by Dawne Slater-Putt, CG(sm)* *************************************** Quebec’s heritage is overwhelmingly French Catholic, which makes resources for non-Catholics all the more precious to those with ancestry in this minority group. The “Index des baptemes, mariages et sepultures des Protestants de la region de Quebec, ca. 1790-1875 (Index of baptisms, marriages and burials of Protestants of the Region of Quebec, ca. 1790-1875)” is a set of 182 microfiche covering Protestant church records for the city of Quebec and the surrounding areas of Levis, Lotbiniere, and Portneuf. Marriage, burial and baptismal entries are combined into a single alphabetical index by surname. Information on the filmed cards includes: *For marriages: groom’s and bride’s names, date of marriage and church or parish of marriage *For burials: name of deceased, age, date of burial and church or parish *For baptisms: child’s name, father’s name, mother’s first name, date of baptism and church or parish of baptism A typical marriage entry in the index is that of Ramon Beaufiel and Sarah Taylor, married 13 September 1831 in Metropolitan. John Begg’s funeral entry notes that he was 6 years old and was buried 25 July 1854 from St. Andrew’s Church. Thomas Beamish’s baptism entry reveals that he was the son of John Beamish and Ann, and was baptized 8 July 1849 in the church serving Lake Beaupart, Stoneham and Valcardier. The Genealogy Center also has original records from the non-Catholic churches in the city of Quebec spanning the period 1768-1941 on 24 microfilms. These are arranged by parish or church and then by date. Some of the original books have individual indexes. The microfiche index to non-Catholic church records may be used to locate the original records in this microfilm set. For example, the original baptismal record of Thomas Beamish in the church records for the parish serving Lake Beaupart, Stoneham and Valcardier in the late 1840s includes information not in the index entry: Ann’s maiden name – Smith – and Thomas’s birth date, 20 October 1848. It also provides the names of witnesses to the baptism. Other microfilmed, non-Catholic church registers from Quebec are available in The Genealogy Center for Cowansville (1825-1879), Frontenac (1831-1880), Sherbrooke (1818-1879) and Montreal. In addition, the department has a three-reel index to non-Catholic church records of St. Francois, as well as numerous non-Catholic records in the Drouin Collection. *“CG” & “Certified Genealogist” are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, and are used by authorized associates following periodic, peer-reviewed competency evaluations. *************************************** Technology Tip of the Month--The Microsoft Word 2010 Ribbon: File Tab by Kay Spears *************************************** The File tab is the very first tab on the ribbon and contains several useful features. Under the Options feature, you will find most all of the settings for Word. Altering these settings will change the appearance and operation of Microsoft Word, so tread carefully. However, do take a look at the choices available. Some of the things you can change under Options are the spacing between words, the auto-correct features, spell checking, how documents print, etc. Also located on the File tab is the Recent feature. This displays the last 20 Word documents and folders you have had open. Located to the right of each document or folder is a Thumbtack. Enabling this Thumbtack pins that particular document or folder to the top of the list. The Save and Save As options are also located on the File tab. The Info tool will display basic information about the document that you have open, including who created it, when it was created, and what permissions may be attached to it. The Print tool on the File tab features some interesting improvements. When you click on the Print button, a print view of your document is revealed on the right hand side of the screen. The number of pages in your document is shown at the bottom. At the top left of your preview document is the printer icon. Beside it, you may indicate the number of copies you want to make. The default printer connected to your computer is listed below the printer icon and a drop down arrow allows you to select an alternate printer, if one is available. The Settings appear below the listed Printer and may vary depending on your printer drivers and the capabilities of your printer. For instance, some printers have the capacity to duplex, or collate and staple, while others do not. Drop down arrows allow you to change the default settings. For documents longer than one page, the printing options are Print All Pages, Print Selection, Print Current Page, or Print Custom Range. One of the features I like is the ability to select and print a single page from the preview document without flipping back and forth between File and Home. For instance, after clicking on File>Print, scroll to page three in the preview document and select Print Current Page, then Print. Only page three will print. So, let's say a fond farewell to the Ribbon. Next article: Using the Mask Tool in Adobe Photoshop. *************************************** Quick-Tip of the Month for Preservation--Preservation Week: Pass It On! *************************************** This year, national preservation week is April 22-28, 2012. The theme, “Pass It On,” is intended to renew and reinforce interest in preserving materials about our families and our communities. A website that links to some resources to help you preserve your family treasures and learn what to do when disaster strikes is below. www.atyourlibrary.org/passiton There also is an activity guide filled with fun projects to get the whole family involved. Free webinars as well as free webcasts are linked here, too. A few of these free offerings are listed below. Free Webinars **Taking Care: Family Textiles, Tuesday, April 24, Bronwyn Eves **Preserving Your Personal Digital Photographs, Thursday, April 26, Bill LeFurgy Free Webcasts **Accidents Happen: Protecting & Saving Family Treasures, with Nancy Kraft **Preserving Your Personal Digital Memories, with Bill LeFurgy *************************************** Introduction to the 1940 Census *************************************** At last, the 1940 Census will be available online for free on Monday, April 2, at 9 a.m. from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) website. Shortly after appearing on the NARA site, the 1940 census will be available at Archives.com, FamilySearch.org, and Ancestry.com. The indexing process will begin immediately, but it will be months before the entire 1940 census index is completed. While you are waiting for the name indices, you will need to search page by page for your ancestors. The Genealogy Center is offering to assist you with this searching through our "Introduction to the 1940 Census" class being offered twice in the first week of April. The class will provide information and tips on narrowing your search. Sessions are available on Monday, April 2, from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m., in Meeting Rooms A & B and Saturday, April 7, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., in Meeting Rooms A & B. For more information, please see the brochure at http://www.genealogycenter.org/Libraries/2012_Brochures/Census.sflb.ashx. Please register for either of these classes by calling 260-421-1225 or send an email to Genealogy [at] ACPL.Info. *************************************** Beginners’ Workshop *************************************** The Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana is delighted to offer "Getting Started in Family History & Genealogy Research," on Saturday April 14, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, in Meeting Rooms A & B. This three-hour workshop will be presented by Margery Graham, who continues to get rave reviews on her classes and seminars. She will demonstrate how to begin a family history search, how to gather and organize information to produce the best results, and how to employ basic research methods. The workshop will end with a tour of The Genealogy Center. The fee is $10 and pre-registration is required. To register, or to obtain more information, contact Marge at 260-672-2585 or by email at gramar57 [at] aol.com. *************************************** Tree Talks Highlight Aid to Beginners *************************************** In an effort to continue the excellent instruction that Margery Graham will begin with her introductory workshop in April, The Genealogy Center's Tree Talks series (May through August) will feature classes aimed to assist the beginner in family history. The first class, on Saturday, May 12, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Meeting Room A, will feature "Getting the Most from a Book." We know it sounds easy, but not all books are the same. Differing formats, different types of information, and different indexing systems can actually make evaluating the information a little more difficult, especially for beginners. This class will discuss the basics of using books, and how to retrieve and evaluate all possible information. Other classes in the series will include "How to Use The Genealogy Center: Basics" on Saturday, June 23; "Ancestry: The Beginner's Way to Search" on Saturday, July 28; and "Beginner's Guide to Vital Records" on Saturday, August 25. All Tree Talks classes are 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Meeting Room A. For more information, see the brochure at http://www.genealogycenter.org/Libraries/2012_Brochures/summer.sflb.ashx. Please register for any or all of these free classes by calling 260-421-1225 or send an email to Genealogy [at] ACPL.Info. *************************************** German Genealogy: A Two Day Mini-Course Is Back! *************************************** The Genealogy Center is presenting the very popular two-day mini-course in German Genealogy on June 7 & 8, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. This workshop is an excellent introduction for researchers with little or no experience in German records and covers basic sources and techniques that lead to success. Instructors John Beatty and Steve Myers will cover the following topics: An Introduction to German Genealogical Research; Using German Church Records; Advancing Your Research with the “PERiodical Source Index (PERSI);” German Maps, Gazetteers & Other Important Printed Sources; Swiss Genealogical Records; and Palatines Along the Hudson: Researching 18th Century Settlers on Livingston Manor. There will be a tour of The Genealogy Center and assisted research time both days. Space is limited, so register early to avoid disappointment. Registration is $50 (Please make check payable to: "ACPL Foundation"). Cancellation after May 24, 2012 will incur a $20 administrative fee. For more information and the registration packet, go to http://www.genealogycenter.org/Libraries/2012_Brochures/German.sflb.ashx. *************************************** Out and About *************************************** Curt Witcher April 12-14, 2012, Cleveland, OH, Intercontinental Hotel--Ohio Genealogical Society Annual Conference. April 12, 3-4 p.m.: “Roll Call: Resources for Civil War Research in the Allen County Public Library’s Genealogy Center;” April 14, 4-5 p.m.: “And the Rockets’ Red Glare: Online Resources for War of 1812 Research.” April 17, 2012, Fort Wayne, IN, Allen County Public Library--Indiana Library Federation District 3 Conference. 10:10-11 a.m.: “The Changing Face of Genealogy, and Our Changing Response.” April 21, 2012, Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Lecture Hall--Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Spring Seminar. All day seminar to include the following topics: “Historical Research Methodology;” “Mining the Motherlode: Using Periodical Literature for Genealogical Research;” “And the Rockets’ Red Glare: Online Resources for War of 1812 Research;” and “Pain in the Access: Getting More from the Internet for Your Genealogy.” Delia Bourne April 17, 2012, Fort Wayne, IN, Allen County Public Library--Indiana Library Federation District 3 Conference. Co-presenting with Melissa Shimkus, 11:10 a.m.-12 noon: “Collaboration: Your Library’s Gateway to ‘The Sky’s the Limit!” Melissa Shimkus April 17, 2012, Fort Wayne, IN, Allen County Public Library--Indiana Library Federation District 3 Conference. Co-presenting with Delia Bourne, 11:10 a.m.-12 noon: “Collaboration: Your Library’s Gateway to ‘The Sky’s the Limit!” April 28, 2012, Fort Wayne, IN, Allen County Public Library--Indiana Genealogical Society Annual Meeting. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: “Becoming Expert at Using Ancestry.” *************************************** Area Calendar of Events *************************************** Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana (ACGSI) April 11, 2012--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana. 6:30 p.m. refreshments and social time, 7 p.m. program. Margery Graham will present: “Researching the War of 1812.” Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, 302 East Berry, Ft. Wayne, IN April 1, 2012, 2 p.m. Don Graham will be speaking on, “Fort Wayne’s Historic Baseball Past.” *************************************** Driving Directions to the Library *************************************** Wondering how to get to the library? Our location is 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the block bordered on the south by Washington Boulevard, the west by Ewing Street, the north by Wayne Street, and the east by the Library Plaza, formerly Webster Street. We would enjoy having you visit the Genealogy Center. To get directions from your exact location to 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, visit this link at MapQuest: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=900%20Webster%20St&city=Fort%20Wayne&state=IN&zipcode=46802%2d3602&country=US&geodiff=1 >From the South Exit Interstate 69 at exit 102. Drive east on Jefferson Boulevard into downtown. Turn left on Ewing Street. The Library is one block north, at Ewing Street and Washington Boulevard. Using US 27: US 27 turns into Lafayette Street. Drive north into downtown. Turn left at Washington Boulevard and go five blocks. The Library will be on the right. >From the North Exit Interstate 69 at exit 112. Drive south on Coldwater Road, which merges into Clinton Street. Continue south on Clinton to Washington Boulevard. Turn right on Washington and go three blocks. The Library will be on the right. >From the West Using US 30: Drive into town on US 30. US 30 turns into Goshen Ave. which dead-ends at West State Blvd. Make an angled left turn onto West State Blvd. Turn right on Wells Street. Go south on Wells to Wayne Street. Turn left on Wayne Street. The Library will be in the second block on the right. Using US 24: After crossing under Interstate 69, follow the same directions as from the South. >From the East Follow US 30/then 930 into and through New Haven, under an overpass into downtown Fort Wayne. You will be on Washington Blvd. when you get into downtown. Library Plaza will be on the right. *************************************** Parking at the Library *************************************** At the Library, underground parking can be accessed from Wayne Street. Other library parking lots are at Washington and Webster, and Wayne and Webster. Hourly parking is $1 per hour with a $7 maximum. ACPL library card holders may use their cards to validate the parking ticket at the west end of the Great Hall of the Library. Out of county residents may purchase a subscription card with proof of identification and residence. The current fee for an Individual Subscription Card is $70. Public lots are located at the corner of Ewing and Wayne Streets ($1 each for the first two half-hours, $1 per hour after, with a $4 per day maximum) and the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Harrison Street ($3 per day). Street (metered) parking on Ewing and Wayne Streets. On the street you plug the meters 8am – 5pm, weekdays only. It is free to park on the street after 5pm and on the weekends. Visitor center/Grand Wayne Center garage at Washington and Clinton Streets. This is the Hilton Hotel parking lot that also serves as a day parking garage. For hourly parking, 7am – 11 pm, charges are .50 for the first 45 minutes, then $1.00 per hour. There is a flat $2.00 fee between 5pm and 11pm. *************************************** Genealogy Center Queries *************************************** The Genealogy Center hopes you find this newsletter interesting. Thank you for subscribing. We cannot, however, answer personal research emails written to the e-zine address. The department houses a Research Center that makes photocopies and conducts research for a fee. If you have a general question about our collection, or are interested in the Research Center, please telephone the library and speak to a librarian who will be glad to answer your general questions or send you a research center form. Our telephone number is 260-421-1225. If you’d like to email a general information question about the department, please email: Genealogy [at] ACPL.Info. *************************************** Publishing Note: *************************************** This electronic newsletter is published by the Allen County Public Library's Genealogy Center, and is intended to enlighten readers about genealogical research methods as well as inform them about the vast resources of the Allen County Public Library. We welcome the wide distribution of this newsletter and encourage readers to forward it to their friends and societies. All precautions have been made to avoid errors. However, the publisher does not assume any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, no matter the cause. To subscribe to “Genealogy Gems,” simply use your browser to go to the website: www.GenealogyCenter.org. Scroll to the bottom, click on E-zine, and fill out the form. You will be notified with a confirmation email. If you do not want to receive this e-zine, please follow the link at the very bottom of the issue of Genealogy Gems you just received or send an email to kspears [at] acpl.lib.in.us with "unsubscribe e-zine" in the subject line. Steve Myers & Curt Witcher, co-editors
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