Week 16: Tech Toys: Genealogists love their technology
toys! Which tech gadget do you appreciate the most? How has this tool
enhanced your family history experience? Would you recommend it to
others?
My scanner is the gadget that I couldn't live without for genealogy. I've used it to scan and share many photographs and documents. I have a nice memory of scanning in old family photographs with my Dad and hearing his stories about them as we scanned them in. The scanner is also an important tool for making backup copies of the paper documents that I've collected over the years. I can't recommend this particular scanner since it's an older Primax model that's not available anymore, but I definitely recommend having a scanner in your collection of tech toys!
52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin
is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that
invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy
community including websites, applications, libraries, archives,
genealogical societies and more.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Week 15 - Volunteers - 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy
Week #15 – Volunteers: Tell us about a volunteer
you appreciate. What does this person do for the genealogical community?
How has he or she touched your heart? This is your chance to show some
love for those who selflessly give their time to family history.
I've been helped by a lot of volunteers over the years and they've been invaluable in locating information that is not online. The one that stands out the most to me is Vada Morr who was the Corresponding Secretary of the Mercer County Genealogy Society in Celina, OH for many years. I sent a query to the society just to see what information they might have available and how to go about accessing it. I received a large envelope in response with a letter from Vada. The envelope had obituaries for my ancestors, a family tree, and information on other documents that I would not have otherwise been able to find. I was very touched by her generosity in spending her time looking up and sending the information to me and I've seen many others mention her help. Thanks Vada!
52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more.
I've been helped by a lot of volunteers over the years and they've been invaluable in locating information that is not online. The one that stands out the most to me is Vada Morr who was the Corresponding Secretary of the Mercer County Genealogy Society in Celina, OH for many years. I sent a query to the society just to see what information they might have available and how to go about accessing it. I received a large envelope in response with a letter from Vada. The envelope had obituaries for my ancestors, a family tree, and information on other documents that I would not have otherwise been able to find. I was very touched by her generosity in spending her time looking up and sending the information to me and I've seen many others mention her help. Thanks Vada!
52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Workday Wednesday - Newspaper Publisher
My great-grandfather George Pulskamp published the German language newspaper, the Mercer County Bote, from around 1900 until it was discontinued in 1936. The paper was published in Mercer County, Ohio where there were many German speaking families.
The N. W. Ayer & Son's American Newspaper Annuals show that the paper was established in 1883 and that George was the publisher of the Bote as early as 1900. The Mercer County Historical Society has the newspaper on microfilm at the Mercer County Library in Celina, Ohio and the Mercer County Historical Museum has a set of the original newspaper in bound volumes. I will have to take a look at them if I ever get up to Ohio.
My father remembered his grandfather saying that he received threats over the newspaper due to tensions after WWI. After the newspaper was discontinued, George continued to run a printing business in Celina, Ohio until his retirement in 1947. My father used to help him out in the print shop when he was a boy.
This ad appeared in the 1916 Mercer County Farmer's Directory.
 |
| Page from December 13, 1917 Mercer County Bote |
The N. W. Ayer & Son's American Newspaper Annuals show that the paper was established in 1883 and that George was the publisher of the Bote as early as 1900. The Mercer County Historical Society has the newspaper on microfilm at the Mercer County Library in Celina, Ohio and the Mercer County Historical Museum has a set of the original newspaper in bound volumes. I will have to take a look at them if I ever get up to Ohio.
 |
| Newspapers published in Celina, OH in 1900 |
My father remembered his grandfather saying that he received threats over the newspaper due to tensions after WWI. After the newspaper was discontinued, George continued to run a printing business in Celina, Ohio until his retirement in 1947. My father used to help him out in the print shop when he was a boy.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Follow Friday - Week of April 13
Here are a few of my favorite finds for this week:
- The Every Name Index site has a growing list of county histories indexed to include even minor mentions of an individual or surname in the history. There are indexes available for county histories in several states as well as other links and resources.
- Cincinnati Birth and Death Records are available online from 1865-1912 and an index to Cincinnati obituaries is available here through the Hamilton County Genealogy Society.
- The Hamilton County Probate Court has archived records available to browse online from as early as 1791! Records include birth, death, naturalization, and many others.
- Family Tree Magazine has a nice set of free Cheat Sheets listing the records available for different time periods. The Cheat Sheets are grouped by naturalization, brick walls, war service, vital records by US state, and 1880 supplemental census records available for each state.
- Leaves for Trees has an excellent post on finding open source historical photographs.
- Researching Luxembourg Genealogy posts about some great resources for vintage photos available on Megan Smolenyak's Honoring our Ancestors site.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Week 14 State and National Societies - 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy Week #14
Week 14. State and National Societies: Last week we paid tribute to local genealogical and historical
societies. This week we’re going to think bigger. For which state,
provincial or national society are you most thankful? What makes this
society special? How do the publications and events of this group assist
in your family history research?
I have to admit that I tend to go straight to the local county societies for information. Most of my parents' ancestors are from Ohio and Maryland, so I decided to check out the genealogy societies for those two states.
The Ohio Genealogy Society has several free databases online and some of their other databases are searchable. Benefits of membership include access to the online databases, newsletters, a lending library, and discounts on their publications among other things. The lending library looks especially intriguing since they have a reasonable mail order service for many items.
The Maryland Genealogy Society membership includes databases searchable by members, a surname exchange and queries for members and newsletters. They have an index to issues of their Bulletin newsletter from 1960 to present and many are available for purchase. It looks like you only have the option of a joint membership in both the MGS and the Maryland Historical Society, so membership is a little pricey.
In both cases, there are advantages to living nearby or being able to visit since you can access their many resources and events in person. Both sites have resources online that are worth taking a look at if your ancestors come from there.
52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more.
I have to admit that I tend to go straight to the local county societies for information. Most of my parents' ancestors are from Ohio and Maryland, so I decided to check out the genealogy societies for those two states.
The Ohio Genealogy Society has several free databases online and some of their other databases are searchable. Benefits of membership include access to the online databases, newsletters, a lending library, and discounts on their publications among other things. The lending library looks especially intriguing since they have a reasonable mail order service for many items.
The Maryland Genealogy Society membership includes databases searchable by members, a surname exchange and queries for members and newsletters. They have an index to issues of their Bulletin newsletter from 1960 to present and many are available for purchase. It looks like you only have the option of a joint membership in both the MGS and the Maryland Historical Society, so membership is a little pricey.
In both cases, there are advantages to living nearby or being able to visit since you can access their many resources and events in person. Both sites have resources online that are worth taking a look at if your ancestors come from there.
52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Follow Friday: Genealogy In Time
- Genealogy In Time is a free online magazine. One of my favorite features is their free weekly newsletter that includes a roundup of the "Newest Genealogy Records on the Internet" for that week. They also have a Search Engine tailored for genealogy and many other articles and resources. It's one of the sites I visit every week and it's all free!
- I'm sure a lot of us were busy searching the 1940 census this week. I made use of the free images on Ancestry.com as well as MyHeritage. A great starting point is Steve Morse's 1940 Enumeriation District Finder. Happy hunting!
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