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Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
| May 18, 1998 |
In last week’s newsletter I mentioned the new CD-ROM disks from Digital Archives of Colorado that contain scanned images from original passenger lists at various U.S. ports of entry. Oswegatchie, New York was listed as one of the ports of entry and I wrote, "I must admit that I never heard of Oswegatchie before." I would like to thank the several people who sent e-mails to let me know where it is located. Oswegatchie is a tiny town about 44 miles east-northeast of Watertown, New York and about 40 miles from the St. Lawrence River (which is also the international boundary between the United States and Canada). If you have a detailed map, look at 44:10:58 N, 75:04:14 W. Apparently, this tiny town served as the official port of entry for a number of immigrants.
- Family History SourceGuide CD-ROM The Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) has just released a new CD-ROM disk: The Family History SourceGuide for Windows. Unlike previous genealogy disks created by the LDS church, this one is for sale to the general public. The Family History SourceGuide CD-ROM disk is a compilation of many different booklets and brochures already available in print from the Family History Department. I believe it also includes some new material not available previously. I suspect that most genealogists who have used the local Family History Centers have already seen some of the "how to" brochures printed by the church. Each outline describes records of genealogical value, where they are located, and how they can be used. Many of the guides include maps. Those for non-English-speaking countries usually have translation guides for words commonly found in genealogy research. For instance, the brochure that covers the State of Maine tells where to find census records, cemetery records, probate records, court records, church records, vital records and much, much more. It also lists all the major repositories of genealogy information. Most of the other guides are similar. The SourceGuide CD-ROM disk contains family history sources from the following areas:
Sources on the Family History SourceGuide include: Research outlines that describe types of records in countries, states and provinces around the world. Guides for doing family history research. Resource guides describing the contents and use of FamilySearch files and other information sources. Historical maps of selected areas. Letter writing guides for some non-English-speaking countries. Word lists of English translations of foreign language words. Forms and census worksheets. Addresses of major Family History Centers in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the British Isles and Europe. In addition to searching by location, you can search by some specific topics, including Huguenot Research, LDS Records, Mayflower Research prior 1700, Quaker Research, Tracing Your Immigrant Ancestry - Country of Origin and Arrival. Here is a cut-and-paste from the Family History SourceGuide that illustrates the kind of information available. This particular reference describes old newspapers from the State of Maine available to the genealogist:
This is just one of the many thousands of the references available. Note that this CD-ROM is designed to help you locate sources of genealogy information. It does not tell you how to do family research, it does not contain records of individuals, and it also does not contain the Family History Library Catalog. The SourceGuide has a "Word Meanings" section with thousands of words explained. Some of the explanations are quite lengthy. Here is one typical example; this is for the word Acadia:
A third section of the SourceGuide CD-ROM disk is the "Catalog Helper." This is a simple listing of suggestions for the best subjects to search in the Family History Library Catalog at your local Family History Center. You select a place or topic of interest, select your research goal from another list, click on an icon and then a list of suggested places to search appears. This feature is a bit simple but it can be very effective for genealogy newcomers. All sections of the SourceGuide CD-ROM disk allow for easy saving of data to a disk file or to a printed copy. The SourceGuide requires either Windows 95 or Windows NT. It will not operate on the older Windows 3.1 operating system, nor is there any Macintosh version available. The specifications for the SourceGuide CD-ROM say that a Pentium processor is required, as is 8 megabytes of memory. However, the same specifications also say that 16 megabytes of memory is strongly recommended. Of course, if Windows NT is used, then those numbers need to be increased a bit more. Windows NT 4.0 users also need Microsoft’s free Service Pack 3 (which I think should be installed on all Windows NT 4.0 systems anyway). The other requirements include 25 megabytes of hard disk space plus a VGA card capable of displaying at least 256 colors. Installation was simple and required only a couple of minutes. Near the end of the installation, I was prompted for a lot of personal information that was used to create a registration card. In fact, the "card" was actually printed on standard paper in my printer; all I did was stuff that paper into the pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope included in the box. I thought that the inclusion of a postage-paid envelope was a nice touch. I was surprised at some of the questions, however. The registration procedure asked for name, address, telephone number, computer capabilities and other questions that looked similar to other software registrations I have made in the past. But I believe this is the first program I have seen that asked for my religious affiliation. I certainly don’t mind telling anyone that information, but it just surprised me when I was asked. Another surprise was the opening screen seen when first starting the SourceGuide. It displays some simple explanation about why the Mormons do genealogy research, which includes some religious information. Again, I don’t see anything wrong with this, but it did surprise me. I do not recall seeing this on any other genealogy CD-ROM disks previously created by the LDS church. Using the CD-ROM disk was simple. A tiny 15-page user’s guide is included inside the cover of the CD-ROM jewel case. However, I never opened the user’s guide until I started writing this newsletter article. The program was easy to use, and the F1 Help Key worked well to answer any of my questions. The Family History SourceGuide uses Folio Views software, an excellent "CD-ROM engine" that is used on many of the better genealogy CD-ROM disks. With Folio Views you can follow a "top down" path by going through menus to find the guide you want. However, you can also search for any word that is on the CD-ROM. The search method was very simple and seemed effective when I used it. However, I was disappointed that I could not do more complex Boolean searches that combine several search techniques. For instance, I could not do a search for all entries that had both the words "newspaper" and "Penobscot" in them. Many other genealogy CD-ROM disks that use Folio Views do have this capability. The CD-ROM disk supports both bookmarks and "sticky notes." You can create a bookmark to mark a place in a How-to Guide so you can return to that location quickly. You can create a number of bookmarks and locate them by name. For example, if you want to remember where you found information on Maine newspapers, you can create a bookmark called, "Maine newspapers." To return to that area in a How-to Guide, you can quickly find the bookmark by the name you’ve given it. One possible use for notes is when you want to remind yourself of a task to perform that relates to what you have learned in a particular section of a How-to Guide. When you add a note, an icon appears in the paragraph where you added the note. If you click on that icon, your previously entered note is displayed. You can add, change, or remove a note at any place in a How-to Guide. Obviously "sticky notes" and bookmarks are not written onto the CD-ROM itself (you cannot write to a CD-ROM). They are actually stored on your hard disk. But any time you look at a particular page on the CD-ROM, the "sticky note" icon is automatically retrieved and displayed. Keep in mind that if you use the SourceGuide CD-ROM on more than one computer, the "sticky notes" and bookmarks do not move with the disk. If you create notes with your desktop computer and then later insert the CD-ROM into your laptop PC to take to the archives, the notes will not appear on the laptop’s screen. I would suggest that anyone who is new to genealogy research needs this CD-ROM! I also suspect that longtime experts will want this one on the shelf as well. This is a "keeper." I expect to refer to my copy often. The Family History SourceGuide costs only $20.00 U.S. funds. Extra charges and applicable sales tax may apply if you order by phone. To order by phone, use the following:
The SourceGuide is also available from a number of commercial genealogy mail-order companies, including Ancestry, Inc.
The Federation of Genealogical Societies and the St. Louis Genealogical Society are accepting program proposals for the 1999 FGS conference, "Meet Me in St. Louis--the People of America", to be held 11-14 August 1999. Note that this is the 1999 convention, not the 1998 convention to be held August 19 through 22 in Cincinnati. Presentations at the 1999 convention will be one-hour long, including a ten-minute question and answer period. Topics of interest include society management; methodology; problem solving; computers; immigration; historical events; land and military records; Midwest records & repositories; migration to and through the Midwest; and cultural and ethnic groups--The People of America. Proposals should include a detailed outline, program summary for the brochure, audience skill level, speaker's name, address, telephone, e-mail, fax number, brief biography, and resume. FGS conference lecturers will receive compensation, travel expenses, and complimentary conference registration. The deadline for proposal receipt is 1 July 1998. Submit proposals by mail to: Patricia Walls Stamm, FGS/StLGS '99 Program Co-Chair, 3541 Forestdale Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63125-4212; or by fax to Ann Carter Fleming, CGRS, FGS/StLGS '99 Program Co-Chair, fax: (314) 519-8413. Questions concerning submissions may be e-mailed to: Patricia Walls Stamm at Pat.StLu@worldnet.att.net or Ann Carter Fleming, CGRS, at annflem@worldnet.att.net.
- 1921 Newfoundland Census on the Web
The above may look "funny" if you are viewing this in a proportional font. If you use a non-proportional font, then all the columns will line up correctly. The information on the Web is shown in a non-proportional font. To look at the records completed so far, look at: http://www.huronweb.com/genweb/nfdata/main_n.htm A history of the project can be found at: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/3266/. Perhaps you would like to become involved and give some assistance as well. I would like to thank Cheryl L. McGregor for telling me about this project. Cheryl can be reached at: cmac@primenet.com
The Irish Times is a daily newspaper available both in print and on the Internet. The newspaper recently added a genealogy section to the online version. With 70 million people of Irish origin living around the world, Irish Ancestors should become a popular service from The Irish Times. The website is a genealogical guide for anyone interested in exploring their Irish heritage and reportedly is the only website to have browse and search facilities for lists of Irish ancestry records. Place names are searchable either countrywide or by city or county. The Browse section gives a general overview of some of the records relevant to Irish family history research and allows researchers to browse for themselves through listings and descriptions of these records. The Gen.ie service is an expert system designed to provide information about all records relevant to a particular Irish ancestor. All category references to religion and occupation in Gen.ie are based on available records. Much of the information on the website is available free of charge. In addition, researchers can obtain a personalized report for a charge of $25.00 U.S. There is also a Magazine section of the site updated monthly with articles of interest to people researching their Irish roots. I was a bit disappointed with the "What's in a name?" section. This is advertised as a place to order reports on how a surname came into being, variants or related names, published or printed family histories, the distribution of the surname as recorded in 1890, and a graphic of the family coat of arms. This appears to be similar to the junk sold in local shopping centers. These "reports" and coats of arms may or may not be relevant to your ancestors, and you are not authorized to display these coats of arms in any case. Buyer beware. The Irish Times is available at: http://www.irish-times.com although a quicker shortcut to the genealogy section is: http://www.irish-times.com/ancestor
- Massachusetts Town Vital Records Update Ancestry, Inc. announced this week that their online compilation of Massachusetts Town Vital Records now includes four new towns in addition to the ones previously available. All are in one database. The four newly-added towns are Sturbridge, Templeton, Tisbury, and West Springfield. Towns that have been available for some time include: Abington, Acton, Ashburnham, Dartmouth, Dover, Essex, Gill, New Ashford, New Bedford, New Braintree, Tyringham, Wayland, Westminster, Westport, Winchendon, and Worthingham. Originally published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, this compilation covers the births, marriages, and deaths of each town from its founding until 1850. Ancestry's Massachusetts Town Vital Records collection is a growing series of books that were published earlier this century. This series is of particular interest to those with ancestors in Massachusetts during the 1700s and 1800s. This update is from Massachusetts Town Vital Records (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1923). Much of Ancestry’s website is fee-based although the charge is only $5.00 a month ($50 a year) for unlimited time. To search this database, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/search.asp or to http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/recent.asp
- Heritage Quest Research Library’s New Location Five weeks ago in this newsletter I wrote an article entitled "Heritage Quest Research Library Needs Your Help." I was delighted this week to receive the following announcement:
Are you researching Virginia ancestors and trying to learn more about the society in which they lived? You may be interested in the Virginia Newspaper Project. This is a major research effort. Some of it is available online although there is much, much more available offline.
You probably will not discover the names of your ancestors on this website, but you will learn more about how to research old newspapers. To view the online information of the Virginia Newspaper Project, look at: http://vlsa.edu/vnp/exhibit.html.
Trying to find a town, a village or some other place in the United States? There is an online website that lists thousands of small towns, villages and other locations in the United States. You can even use it to find a town called Oswegatchie. The site is easy to use; simply type in the name of the town, and it will tell you where the town is located. You can also find many rivers, mountains and other geographic place names. The information displayed even includes the exact latitude and longitude. Here is a hint: I am going to be writing in the near future about new technology whereby genealogists will want to know latitudes and longitudes. To use the geographic name server, go to: http://www.mit.edu:8001/geo.
I have walked around a number of cemeteries in my time, but nothing like the new cemetery planned for North Vancouver, British Columbia. According to an article in the Associated Press, a glass and marble high-rise cemetery is planned for construction soon. The building will have room for 95,000 "occupants" and also will have a view to die for. The structure is a mausoleum. When completed next year, the nine-story Seasons Memorial Park will have room for 65,000 urns and 30,000 caskets. For mourners, a 250-seat penthouse chapel and crematorium will offer a million-dollar view of neighboring Vancouver and its spectacular natural setting. Developer Alvin Mitchell says the $30 million tomb on a hill above the city will combine the beauty of cemetery gardens on the outside with the efficiency of an office tower on the inside. He goes so far as to call it a modern-day Westminster Abbey, whose floor and walls bear markers for illustrious Britons buried there. Plans call for a computer directory of the dead, with recorded messages from those who planned ahead and theme floors for various religious and ethnic groups. "Our building should be standing 1,000 years from now, which is the whole purpose of a cemetery," Mitchell says. "It's going to be a very classy, respectful building." Mitchell's concept is not new, though the scale apparently is new to North America, comments Donald Eiesland, president and chief executive officer of Inglewood Park and a past president of the International Cemetery and Funeral Association. High-rise mausoleums are more common abroad, particularly in densely populated areas where land is scarce, he says. Construction of Seasons, beginning this month, is scheduled for completion in October 1999, though Mitchell is mulling over a request from potential Chinese investors to delay the opening until Jan. 1, 2000. "Their view is opening the facility with a big party at the start of the year is a good omen," he says. "The issue for me is whether or not it's in good taste. Who wants to come to the grand opening of a cemetery?" The building is to be 100 feet tall, with four of its nine stories below ground. Crypts will be stacked five deep, with those at eye-level on the main and upper floors fetching the highest prices. Each will have a flower holder and marble face with the usual engravings.
The following is a list of some of the genealogy-related World Wide Web home pages that have been listed recently on http://www.rootscomputing.com. Some of these sites may charge a fee for their services:
To submit your home page to this newsletter, enter the necessary information at: http://www.rootscomputing.com/register.htm. Due to the volume of new Web pages submitted, I am not able to list all of them in the newsletter.
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Earlier this week I was delighted to find a project "in progress" that is placing the 1921 Newfoundland Census on the World Wide Web. It is a major effort and probably will not be finished for several years. However, many of the records are available now. As an example, here is a short excerpt from the census records for Bay D'East (a tiny community of 40 souls in the year 1921):
The newspapers currently under examination by the Project include the collections of: the University of Virginia, the College of William and Mary, the Library of Virginia, and the Virginia Historical Society. Quoting from the project’s website: "Together, these collections comprise a resource of considerable breadth. Dating back to the Colonial period, including titles from almost all 50 states, as well as many international titles, the total collection (over 3700 have been examined, to date) of original and microform materials is quite impressive. These papers literally tell the tale of the nation, as well as reveal its shifting views of the world. The exhibits displayed here (compiled by Project staff from these resources) are meant to demonstrate the role that newspapers can play in various areas of research; highlight topical subjects, historical events, and the graphic arts; and underscore the need to preserve these materials for the use of future generations."