Archives for October 2023

Long Island genealogy groups offer programs in November

Organizations of the Genealogy Federation of Long Island will be offering free genealogy programs in November

Thursday, Nov. 2 – Islip Town Records Tour – Connetquot Public Library – 11 a.m. – In Person at Town of Islip Records Center

Thursday, Nov. 2  – “German  WW II SS Records” – German Genealogy Group – 7:30-8:30 p.m. – Hybrid

Bethpage Public Library

Sunday, Nov. 5  – “Jewish Genealogy 101 Workshop” – Deadline Nov. 3 –  Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island – Virtual

Wednesday, Nov. 8  – “Genealogy Collections in the Center for Jewish History’s Archives” – Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island – 7-9 p.m. – Virtual

Wednesday, Nov. 8  – “Introduction to Military Records Research” – Connetquot Public Library – 7-8:30 p.m.- Virtual

Saturday,  Nov. 11  – “Using DNA to Solve 18th and 19th Century Mysteries Italian Style” –  Italian Genealogical Group – 10 a.m. – noon – Hybrid

Bethpage Public Library

Wednesday, Nov. 15  – “AI and Genealogy: Trouble Ahead?” – Patchogue-Medford Public Library – 10 a.m. – Virtual

Friday, Nov. 17 – “Tracing Native American Ancestry” –  Brentwood Public Library – 3 p.m. – Virtual

Saturday, Nov. 18 – “Griffith’s Valuation” – 10 a.m. – noon – Irish Family History Forum – Hybrid

Bethpage Public Library

Sunday, Nov. 19 – “When We All Met at Dubrow’s Cafeteria” – Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island – 2-4 p.m. – Virtual

Wednesday, Nov. 29 – “Genealogy Research Discussion Group” – Patchogue-Medford Public Library – 10 a.m.  – Virtual

For more information on the Genealogy Federation of Long Island, go to: gfli.net

Check out our links to other New York genealogy societies at: https://www.newyorkgenlinks.com/genealogysocieties/

Cemetery tour to highlight World War I veterans

Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx will offer a walking tour honoring World War I Veterans on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m.

Woodlawn Cemetery is the final resting place of veterans and dependents of every conflict going back to the American Revolution. In honor of Veteran’s Day, a tour will be led by  Kevin C. Fitzpatrick, the author of “World War I New York: A Guide to the City’s Enduring Ties to the Great War.” He will stop at graves and memorials of World War I veterans, men and women, who served in the Great War. You will meet enlisted men who served in trench warfare, brave aviators who risked their lives in biplanes, a member of the Harlem Hellfighters, and poor immigrants who were drafted and served their new country with honor.

Tickets are $20 or $15 for students and seniors. To register, go to: https://www.woodlawn.org/conservancy/tours-events/

 

Free genealogy programs to cover female ancestors, Quaker communities

Several free genealogy programs will be offered this week covering military research and naturalization records.

Legacy Family Tree Webinars will present “Finding Females in U.S. Naturalization Records” on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. Whether you’re missing a naturalization record or finding an unexpected one, this session helps you discover how female ancestors — both foreign-born and birthright — gained, lost, or regained citizenship in the United States between 1790 and 1945. US citizenship and attendant rights for women could be fragile, depending on marital status, prevailing laws, social norms, and other shifting factors.

To register, go to: https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/finding-females-in-us-naturalization-records-1790-1945/

The Minnesota Genealogical Society will present “Brick Wall Buster Card Technique” on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Ever feel like you are engulfed by a pile of research? You can master the “thought chaos” caused by all that data swirling around in your mind. All you have to do is interact with the research in a new way and engage in activities that transform you from a passive data reader/collector into an active data user/thinker. This webinar will demonstrate a technique that teaches you to handle information in a new way, allows you to see all your research at once, simplifies all the data, shows you any gaps or errors, and to help you plan and brainstorm your way to solving problems.

To register, go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cuyUtB92RoSWKmlKmtRFSg#/registration

The Anne Arundel Public Library will present “Researching Ancestors in the U.S. Military” on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. Learn how to use online resources and strategies to research your ancestors in the U.S. military service. Also learn how to use military archive in your research.

To register, go to: https://www.aacpl.net/event/genealogy-crash-course-researching-ancestors-us-military

Legacy Family Tree Webinars will present “Quakers and African American Communities” on Friday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. Well-known for their anti-slavery views, Quakers began to migrate to the slave-free territories in the 19th century. As they migrated out of the South, Quakers emancipated and traveled with their newly freed slaves. Once settled, the sect continued their abolitionist cause by supporting the Underground Railroad – transporting runaway slaves to free states. In turn, free blacks established their own settlements, while still maintaining ties with the Quaker community.

To register, go to: https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/friends-of-friends-quakers-and-african-american-communities/

The Genealogical Society of Greater Miami will present “Kings, Queens, Pilgrims and Tavernkeepers” on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 3 p.m. Sometimes family lore suggests you are descended from royalty or Mayflower passengers. Learn about lineage and the various types of ancestors you may find in your tree.

To register, go to: https://www.gsgmfl.org/

 

 

MyHeritage.com offers free access to death records

From today to November 1, 2023 MyHeritage.com is offering free access to all death, burial, cemetery and obituary records.

This covers 370 collections and over 880,000 records. Death records often include birth dates, names of family members, last known addresses and sometimes even cause of death. Beyond names and dates, death records sometimes provide personal anecdotes or obituaries.

To access these records, go to: https://www.myheritage.com/research/catalog/category-2030/death-burial-cemetery-obituaries

Several free webinars to cover DNA tests, historical maps

Several free genealogy programs will be offered this week covering the topics of: African American newspapers, German genealogy and female ancestors.

The New York Historical Society will present “The Truth About Genealogy DNA Tests” on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. Are you considering taking a DNA test to aid in your genealogical research? Learn what you can and can’t get from the major DNA testing companies’ results.

To register, go to: https://www.nyhistory.org/programs/discover-your-familys-history-the-truth-about-dna?date=2023-10-24

The New York Public Library will present “Using Maps to Research Armed International Conflicts at the New York Public Library” on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. During this class, learn how to  utilize NYPL’s catalogs to locate maps related to international conflicts, locate a place, amidst changes in a location’s name and boundaries due to conflicts, and utilize digital resources from NYPL and other reputable institutions.

To register, go to: https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2023/10/24/using-maps-research-armed-international-conflicts-nypl

The Sacramento German Genealogy Society will present “Biology for Genealogists: Analyzing DNA Data” on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. Eastern time. Sabine Akabayov, PhD, will explain in simple terms how DNA is duplicated and how chromosomes cross over to create the different combinations as well as what could go wrong.  Analyzing the data is so much easier when you understand what’s behind it!

To register, go to: https://sggs.us/eventListings.php?nm=54#er274

The Allen County Public Library will present “Delving Into African American Newspapers” on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 2:30 p.m. When researching African American family history, an often-overlooked resource are the African American newspapers. Accessible Archives African American Newspapers and ProQuest African American Historical Newspapers are two online databases that provide access to a wide range of historical newspapers that focus on African American history and culture. These databases are valuable resources for scholars, researchers, and anyone interested in exploring the history of African Americans in the United States.

To register, go to: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9191811

JewishGenTalks will present “The Shapell Roster of Jewish Service in the Civil War” on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. Learn how to access the Shapell Roster of Jewish Service in the American Civil War on the JewishGen website. Over 7,000 solders and sailors are included to date. To register, go to: https://898a.blackbaudhosting.com/898a/JewishGen-Talks-Shapell-Roster

The Mid Continent Library will present “Finding Females: Research Strategies to Discover More About Women in Family History” on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. Eastern time. Women represent half of our ancestors; yet their identities and life stories often prove more difficult to find than men’s. Learn why females can be challenging to research and walk through a step-by-step plan to uncover more information about the ladies in your family tree.

To register, go to: https://www.mymcpl.org/events/87686/finding-females-research-strategies-discover-more-about-women-family-history-zoom

The Mid- Continent Public Library will present “Researching Your German Ancestors” on Friday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Do you have a German ancestor in your family tree? Learn basic methods for German genealogy research. A brief history of Germany and formerly German lands will be presented, as well as resources available at Midwest Genealogy Center and online.

To register, go to: https://www.mymcpl.org/events/87663/researching-your-german-ancestors-hybrid

The Franklin County Historical Society will present a DAR Genealogy Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 1-3 p.m. Ever wonder if there is a Revolutionary War patriot in your family tree? The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Adirondack Chapter will hold a workshop to help explore that possibility. There is no charge but donations to the House of History are welcome.

Please register by Wednesday, Oct. 25 by calling Regent Anne Manson Smith at 518-358-9584, email anne.smith365@yahoo.com or Susan McGibbon Tobias at 518-562-3948, email mcgibby57@charter.net.

 

Several free genealogy webinars to cover military records, finding aids

Several free genealogy webinars will be offering this week covering military research, Scandinavian research and historical newspapers.

The Jewish Genealogy Society of Oregon will “Digging Into Finding Aids” on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. Genealogists use all kinds of tools to help with their genealogy research. One of the best tools to understand and use when working with manuscript collections is a finding aid. Archivists develop finding aids to help researchers navigate through manuscript collections to find information. This presentation will help genealogists read, follow, and use finding aids to discover their ancestors in archives.

To register, go to: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~orjgs/

The Allen County Public Library will present “Tips on Deciphering Records in Foreign Languages” on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 2:30 p.m. Breaking the language barrier is a crucial step in genealogy research, but it can be intimidating. In this presentation, we will explore different techniques and tools that can help you overcome language barriers and make the most of genealogy records in other languages. By learning about the challenges and applying the techniques discussed in this presentation, you can unlock valuable information about your ancestors and build a deeper understanding of your family history.

To register, go to: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9189110

Wisconsin Genealogical Society will present “Unearthing Your Ancestor’s Stories in Historical Newspapers” on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Finding mention of your ancestors in a historical newspaper collection is striking genealogy gold. The articles, obituaries, and advertisements in newspapers can teach you about your relatives’ professions, passions, and connections within the community. You may even be lucky enough to find a photo! In this session, learn the techniques and best practices that can help you find your ancestors’ stories in historical newspaper collections.

To register, go to:  https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2794094769034893323

Allen County Public Library will present “Navigating Fold3.com : Your Gateway to Researching Military Ancestors” on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. With a collection of over 500 million indexed and digitized documents, Fold3 stands as an invaluable tool for family historians embarking on a journey to trace their military ancestors.

To register, go to: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9189217

The Florida State Genealogical Society will present “Put Some Meat on ‘Dem Bones” on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. Combine your research with historical information and turn your ancestral data into a compelling story even the non-genealogist will want to read. Learn how to bring life to your ancestors, structure a story line, depict time and place, use general information as a backdrop, and let the tale evolve into a fully developed story.

To register, go to: https://fsgs.org/future-webinars/put-some-meat-on-dem-bones-19-oct-2023/

Genealogy Forum of Oregon will present “Three Free Websites for Researching Your Scandinavian History” on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time. Do you have ancestors in Sweden, Norway or Denmark? You’re in luck! Each of these countries offers robust national archive websites with many tools to help the everyday genealogist. Come learn how to make the most of these websites and get other “cheat codes” to help you with your Scandinavian research.

To register, go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAufuGgrTkjHd1geBAWWW-BC48Fgrh0RCNw#/registration

Several free genealogy webinars to cover NARA, Italian research

Several free genealogy webinars will take place this week covering the National Archives and Italian research.

The Pinellas Genealogy Society will present “Key Records in Genealogy Research” on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. This is a class aimed primarily at beginning genealogists. It identifies six records that are a must for early concentration in research. It identifies what those records are, why they are so important, and where they can be found.

To register, go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYldeGhrz0tG9Y5UYInlLlPRgFL0slH-eq-#/registration

The New York Public Library will present “Getting Started in Genealogy Research” on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. Experienced librarians demonstrate the steps involved in starting your family history research.  Discover essential research methods and strategies, identify relevant records and how to locate them, and organize your family research information.

To register, go to: https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2023/10/10/genealogy-essentials-getting-started-genealogy-research

The Oyster Bay- East Norwich Public Library will present “Photos of Our Italian Ancestors” on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. Photographs can bring our ancestors to life in exciting and moving ways. In some cases, a family photo may be the only remaining evidence of what someone looked like, while in other cases, they can provide significant genealogical clues, helping us to overcome those pesky brick walls. This talk will delve into all aspects of using historical photos in our genealogical research, along with introducing methods of *finding* photos of ancestors, and discussion of the very real challenges of photo organization.

To register, go to the library website, https://www.oysterbaylibrary.org/, and go to programs and select Oct. 10.

St. Louis County Library will present “One-Step Pages: A Potpourri of Genealogical Search Tools” on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. Eastern time. Learn about the One-Step genealogy website straight from its creator, Stephen Morse. The One-Step website started out as an aid for finding passengers in immigration lists, and shortly afterwards it was expanded to help with searching the census. Over the years, it has continued to evolve, and today includes about 300 web-based tools divided into 16 separate categories.

To register, go to: https://www.slcl.org/events/virtual-program-one-step-webpages-potpourri-genealogical-search-tools

San Diego Genealogical Society will present two programs: “Introduction to the National Archives (NARA)” and “Federal Land Records”  on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. Eastern time. Learn how to navigate the NARA online catalog, access or request records from home, and discuss tips for planning a research trip. In the second program learn about federal bounty land warrants for military service between 1775 and 1855 and then delve more deeply into homesteading records.

To register, go to: https://casdgs.org/event-5196550?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=10/27/2023

 

 

NYS historic newspapers website receives upgrade

The New York State Historic Newspapers website recently underwent a major overhaul. Here are some of the changes to look for.

First, the website is able to return search results at a much faster speed. And, with the new website platform, more than 1 million pages were able to be added during the upgrade.

The map of New York State is now much more colorful and there are tabs across the top of the home page for Titles, Dates, Counties, Collections and Help.

The advanced search page is laid out differently. You get a snippet view of the results of a search with your search term highlighted. Also you are able to limit the search results by text or images.

The search results are shown as a filmstrip so it is easy to go to the page before or the page after in the newspaper.

Now when you conduct a search you can now use quote marks for an exact search, use Boolean searching and wildcards.

A new feature is a user account. When you are logged into your account, you can view recent searches, create private lists of search results and email the results to yourself. You can also download a PDF of a page. A text correction feature will be coming but will only be allowed if you have a user account.

Two videos on YouTube.com explain the recent changes:

Reintroduction to New York State Historic Newspapers at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp_TVCxgLt4

New Search Tools for New York State Historic Newspapers at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4amIpgVczmQ

Allen County Library to present genealogy seminar on Oct. 14

The Allen County Public Library will present three free virtual programs given by Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

10 a.m. – Putting Those Records to Work:  Every document we locate in genealogical research has its clear use: a census record will help us identify family members and trace them over time; a court record will tell us what was happening with that person at that time; a will or probate record will help recreate a family at a specific point in time. But every document we locate can be mined – directly or in combination with other records – for more.

11:30 a.m. – More Than Just Names – Advanced U.S. Census Research: Those every-10-years U.S. censuses are goldmines of names, ages and birthplaces for members of our families. But there’s so much more in the census records if we know where to look: everything from socioeconomic status to crops grown or products made, from school attendance to marriage dates, from physical disabilities to causes of death, from military service to clues that lead us to other sources. Learn how an advanced search of the U.S. census records can add to your family history.

1 p.m. – Landing the Fourths: Proving a Case with Court, Land and DNA Evidence: The father of Gustavus Boone Robertson (1827 MS-1903 TX) was William M. Robertson (c1795 NC-1864 MS). But who was Gustavus’s mother? No record directly identifies her, but court, land, and DNA evidence combine to prove the case as to the identity of this third great-grandmother and, in doing so, landing the fourths-fourth great-grandparents, that is.

To register, go to: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9188544

 

MyHeritage.com offers free access to German records

MyHeritage.com is offering free acces to its German records from now until Oct. 5, 2023 to celebrate German Unity Day.

German Unity Day celebrates the reunion of East and West Germany in 1990. MyHeritage has 65 historical record collections from Germany. Alongside birth, marriage, and death records going back to the 16th century, there are also exclusive record collections from Prussia, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse as well as emigration records from Southwestern Germany and Hamburg to Australasia.

To start searching the collections, go to: https://www.myheritage.com/research/catalog?location=Germany&order_by=updated_date&s=343663401