Top 100 Genealogy Websites of 2015

Each year the GenealogyInTime Magazine publishes a list of the top 100 genealogy websites. Since this can be a subjective venture, the first page of the article explains the methodology used so you know how the listing was arrived at.

The values of the list, in addition to the ranking, is that it lists sites you may not be familiar with that could be of value in your research. Each site is marked as either "Pay" or "Free" and each also provides a hotlink to the sites' home pages.

You can find the article and list at:  Top 100 Genealogy Websites of 2015:

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Indexes Available at the Sullivan County Public Library, Sulliven, Indiana

The Sullivan County Library in Indiana has some great online indexes  (and in some cases, downloadable images) that may be of value if you have ancestors from that area.

Examples of the resources available are coroner's inquests, death notices and obituaries in county newspapers, death records, funeral home records, high school classes, marriage returns, wills, and more.

Check it out at:
Genealogy Online | SULLIVAN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY:

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PGS Events for the Week 27 December to 2 January 2016

Monday, 28-Dec-2015 at 6:00 PM--DNA Testing for Genealogy—What you can and cannot do with DNA testing relating to your family history—an introduction. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Tuesday, 29-Dec-2015 at 6:00 PM--Documentation-An introduction on the content of proper source citations. Using modern genealogy programs to enter citations will also be covered (Roots Magic, and Family Tree Maker will be addressed). Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Saturday, 2-Jan-2016 at 10:00 AM--Family Tree Maker User Group--Questions & Answers and Demonstration of how to use the Family Tree Maker genealogical database software. We will also discuss options for FTM users in light of the recent ancestry.com announcement that they are discontinuing sales and support of FTM. Hosmer/Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library. NOTE THE NEW MEETING ROOM.

2016 PGS Annual Seminar: speakers and more…much more

Over the past few weeks we have been introducing you to our 2016 Seminar coming up on 13 February. We first introduced you to Ann Staley, our featured speaker who will give four presentations during the all-day event. In another post we told you in some detail what those four topics were about.

Then we introduced you to our three breakout speakers and gave you a short explanation of their presentation subjects.

If you missed any of those Blog posts, you can find the information by looking in the Blog archive; or by getting the seminar brochure which is available at our monthly meetings, anytime in the Largo Library Genealogy Center, or online at http://www.flpgs.org/NMbrs/seminar/2016/Sem16.aspx .  In addition to information on the speakers, their topics, and the schedule of events; the brochure also contains a registration form.

OK, so you have heard about all that, but do you fully understand all of the other things that will be going on during this great event on 13 February 2016?

The festivities begin as soon as the door opens at 8 am. A continental breakfast will be available as you enter the presentation hall at the Largo Library. Coffee, tea, bottled water, and sodas will be available then and throughout the day.

One whole side of the hall will be devoted to our annual book sale. For embarrassingly low prices you can walk away with books filled with data about YOUR ancestors as well as books to give you a more general historical appreciation of when and where your ancestors lived.

Need a magnifier for that detailed reading? Need a 15-generation pedigree chart? Those items and more will be for sale in the back of the room.

Throughout the day we will have representatives from societies and from organizations that can offer you special deals on their subscriptions and memberships.

A box lunch is served at noon with plenty of time for you to peruse the book sale, and swap research tips with your follow attendees and our guest organizations.

Throughout the day you can purchase raffle tickets for software and subscription prizes.  Door prizes will be awarded during breaks between speakers (you get a ticket as part of your registration), and at the end of the day some special prizes will be awarded and raffle winners will be announced.

And finally, throughout the day you will have ample time to meet old friends and make new ones who may share some of the same research challenges that you are facing.

As you can see, there is plenty to learn, see, hear, do, eat, drink, and win during the seminar. All of that is well worth the registration of $40 ($45 for non-PGS members). But register early, because the price goes up after 6 February to $50 without the benefit of the box lunch.

We do have a limit on seating, so register early and secure your place, your lunch, and your price break.

Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery & Mausoleum Interments, Dayton, Ohio

This site give you a list of interments at the Dayton, Ohio Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum. From the landing page, click on the link titled "Search A Burial" at the top of the page. That will lead you to a search form that lets  you search by name, date of interment, grave location, and also allows an AKA search.

The search results will provide the following information: name, dates of birth and death, grave location, funeral home name, and place of death. Not all information is provided for each entry, but as much as is known will be listed.

Check it out at:
Contact Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery & Mausoleum | Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum:

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Bahamas Civil Registration, 1850-1959 on FamilySearch.org

I don't usually alert you to additions to the FamilySearch.org website, but this one relates to a recent Largo Library "Meet the Author" program that dealt with Caribbean families so I thought I would include it.

This relatively new database is searchable, and deals with civil registration including birth, marriages and deaths for the Bahamas from 1850 to 1959.

Check it out at:  Bahamas Civil Registration, 1850-1959 — FamilySearch.org:

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PGS Events fsor the Week of 20 to 26 December 2015

Happy Holidays, everyone. Understandably there are few events this week. But, if you want a break from all the hustle and bustle, the Roots Magic Users Group will continue to meet. Here are the details:

Saturday, 26-Dec-2015 at 10:00 AM--RootsMagic User Group--Questions and answers and demonstrations of how to use the RootsMagic genealogy database software program. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Norwich, Connecticut Cemeteries Online

The link below takes you to the site of the Otis Library in Norwich, Connecticut. You can find a lot if you explore the site, but in particular, scroll down the page to the title "City Cemetery Plot Listings" and follow that link.

You will be taken to a link showing 976 pages of cemetery names and interments. The cemeteries are listed alphabetically and the interments are alphabetized within each cemetery, so finding someone is not all that difficult, providing you know the cemetery to start with. Regardless, this is a remarkable listing.

Genealogy — Otis Library:

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Breakout speakers at PGS 2016 Seminar

In previous posts on this Blog we introduced you to Ann Staley, our featured 2016 Seminar speaker. We also told about the topics of her four presentations: The Everyday Life of Our Ancestors; Claws or Clues; Organizing, Analyzing, and Sharing; and Online Resources for Free.

But that’s not all you will hear at the seminar. In addition to our featured speaker, we have three great breakout speakers presenting at the seminar as well. Here they are and the topics they will feature:

DEBBE HAGNER: An amateur-interest in tracing her family's roots led Debbe to pursue a professional career in genealogy. In 1996, she attended Brigham Young University and received a Diploma in Family History. Debbe's private practice features genealogy seminars and workshops, private and confidential family background research, and individual one-on-one family history research assistance.

Debbe’s topic at our seminar will be  “Using FamilySearch.org with Emphasis on the WIKI.”

DEBRA FLEMING: Debra is the principal of The Ancestry Detective™, LLC, a genealogical research firm founded in Pasco County, Florida.  She has been a practicing genealogist for fifteen years, trading her research time between her many New England immigrant ancestors and her husband’s southern colonials. Debra is the Genealogy Instructor for the University of South Florida OSHER Lifelong Learning Center where she earned Roll of Honor Faculty Member status in 2010.

Her seminar presentation will be “Pre-1850 Census Analysis.”

LIZ PEARSON: Liz was born in England where she spent years researching her own family history.  During the late 70's her professional life transplanted her to the U. S.  where she found many opportunities to share her English and Welsh expertise with Anglo Americans researching their roots.

She holds several research qualifications and is an associate member of the Society of Genealogists in London, England.

Liz’s seminar topic will be “How to Access Records Held at the National Archives, Kew, London.”

As you can see, the seminar offers a variety of  topics aimed at different levels of experience. Join us by sending in a registration. The form can be found at the Genealogy Center, or downloaded from http://www.flpgs.org/NMbrs/seminar/2016/SeminarRegForm2016.pdf 

German Naming Traditions

Diane Haddad, writing for Genealogy Insider, offers us an article to help make sense of the names found in German genealogies....all of those Johanns and Marias, for example.

Naming traditions in different cultures is extremely interesting in itself, but perhaps even more so for the German tradition since so many Americans are of German descent.

Check out Diane's article at:
Genealogy Insider - Johanns and Marias Everywhere! Naming Traditions German Genealogists Should Know:

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PGS Events for the Week of 13-19 December 2015

Monday, 14-Dec-2015 at 2:00 PM--Swedish Genealogy Interest Group--There will be a brief review of usage of Emibas and the Swedish Census on the PGS Computer. We will review what to do after you have found the parish and birth date of your ancestor and also look at some web sites that are useful for the Swedish researcher. Charest, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Tuesday, 15-Dec-2015 at 1:00 PM--Italian Genealogy Interest Group—a discussion of resources and techniques for researching your Italian ancestry. Bedore, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 16-Dec-2015 at 1:00 PM--England/Wales Genealogy Interest Group—a  discussion of resources and techniques for researching your England/Wales ancestry. Pearson, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Friday, 18-Dec-2015 at 10:30 AM--German Genealogy Interest Group—a discussion of resources and techniques for researching your German ancestry. Dietz, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Saturday, 19-Dec-2015 at 10:00 AM--Computers in Genealogy--Question and answer session on the use of computers in genealogy research and record keeping. Bryan, Jenkins B, Largo Library.

Saturday, 19 Dec 2015 at 11:00 AM—Program Meeting—Election of officers for 2016 followed by “show and tell” of attendees' genealogy treasures plus lots of holiday goodies to eat.

United States Confederate Officers Card Index, 1861-1865

FamilySearch.org has digitized the United States Confederate Officers Card Index for 1861 to 1865. The cards were acquired from the Military Order of the Stars and Bars, and consist of over 207,000 images. The collection is not indexed at this point, but the collection is alphabetized to make the browsing job easier.

You will find such information as alternate names, name cross references, rank, unit, etc. Each card provides a front and back image, so don't forget to look at both. And since the cards are in alpha order, you may find some additional kin near your ancestor's card.

United States Confederate Officers Card Index, 1861-1865 — FamilySearch.org:

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Ann Staley’s Presentations at PGS 2016 Annual Seminar

Ann Staley, introduced in a previous post on the Blog, is the featured speaker at the Annual PGS Seminar on 13 February 2016, held at the Largo Public Library in Largo, Florida. She will give four presentations during that all-day event. Here they are with some short explanations:

1. The Everyday Life of Our Ancestors

Piecing together information on how our ancestors lived their lives is both challenging and rewarding. They ate and drank, married and had families, dressed, had trades and occupations, practiced a religion, dabbled in the arts and sciences, participated in politics and economics, etc. Placing our ancestors into their historical context & adding the personal details takes time, but it can be done.

2. Claws or Clues

How to attack brick walls with a systematic research approach. Evidence criteria, timelines and spreading your research net outwards will be discussed.

3. Organizing, Analyzing, and Sharing

Put technology to work for you with software applications that can be used to analyze, organize and share your genealogical data. Computers can help us analyze our research to discover what information we don’t have and need to find, and then how we can share it with other family members.

4. Online Resources for Free

Exploration of some of the popular, as well as some not-so-well-known, free websites that hold digital images, databases, and text files that may contribute to your family research.

We are excited about Ann’s presentations, and anticipate they will offer something for everyone, beginning and experienced researchers alike.

In addition to Ann, we will also feature three break-out speakers. An upcoming post will introduce them and their topics.

Seminar registration forms are available in the Genealogy Center and online at the PGS website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flpgs (follow the “Special Events” tab at the top of the home page). There you will find not only the registration form, but a complete schedule of events.

Register early to reserve a seat at what will be a very popular event, and save money in the process.

Making Sense of some Terms You May Be Having Trouble With

Our friend Drew Smith, writing in his Blog Rootsmithing: Genealogy, Methodology, and Technology, gives us a handy and helpful article on using some terms the we may have questions about. He not only explains the term, but also points out the correct spelling, something that you may find troubling for these particular terms. Read the article to get straight on terms such as FamilySearch, Findmypast, MyHeritage, GEDCOM, GEDmatch, and more.

Rootsmithing: Genealogy, Methodology, and Technology: A few tech/genealogy words you may be typing/using incorrectly:

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PGS Events for the Week of 6-12 December 2015

Monday, 7-Dec-2015 at 10:00 AM--Library Catalog Searching for Genealogists – Libraries are a great place for finding genealogy resources. This class will show you how to find libraries and archives that can help you in your search, how to get the most from catalog searches, and discover other helpful resources available through online catalogs. Fortin, Local History Room, Largo Library

Wednesday, 9-Dec-2015 at 10:00 AM--Newspapers Online in Genealogy—This class will explore the genealogy data to be found in newspapers (obituaries, weddings, human interest stories, etc.) and show where to find the online repositories and how to use them. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library

Thursday, 10-Dec-2015 at 1:00 PM--Irish Genealogy Interest Group (GIG)—a discussion group focused on how to conduct research to find your Irish ancestry. Padgett, Jenkins C, Largo Library

Looking for Digitized Books on FamilySearch.org

Writing for Diane Haddad's "Genealogy Insider" column in Family Tree Magazine, Diana McCullough gives us a four point strategy to follow when searching the FamilySearch website for digitized books.

Read her strategy at:
Genealogy Insider - Bookworm Genealogy: How to Find Digitized Books on FamilySearch.org:

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Ann Staley – Principle Speaker at PGS 2016 Annual Seminar

We at PGS are pleased to present Ann Staley as our 2016 seminar speaker. She is a highly qualified and very popular national speaker. This short bio will tell you more.

She is an instructor, consultant, trip leader and a lecturer at local, state and national conferences. Raised in Mobile, AL, Ann has been researching her family since 1980 from Alabama, Mississippi, and Virginia to France, England, and Germany.

She is the Education Chairman and Webmaster for the Jacksonville Genealogical Society, Inc.; the Secretary of the Genealogical Speakers Guild; a trustee of the Florida State Genealogical Society; on the faculty of The National Institute for Genealogical Studies; and has been an associate of the Board for Certification of Genealogists since 2000.

EDUCATION

· Advanced Genealogy Research at Wallace State College, Hanceville, AL

· Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis; U. S. Military Records; Understanding Land Records; and many other topics at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Samford University, Homewood, AL (attending since 1998). Ann has also been on the faculty a number of years.

· National Institute on Genealogical Research (NIGR) at the National Archives, Washington, DC

· Problem Solving at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Salt Lake City, UT

· Numerous seminars and conferences sponsored by local and national societies

MEMBERSHIPS

 National Genealogical Society

 Association of Professional Genealogists

 Genealogical Speakers Guild

 Florida State Genealogical Society

 Jacksonville [FL] Genealogical Society, Inc. (life member)

We are excited about Ann’s participation with us on 13 February 2016 for the annual seminar. In another post we will publicize the four presentations she will be making.

Mark your calendars now. You can see the complete schedule of events and get a registration form for the seminar at our monthly meetings, anytime in the Largo Library Genealogy Center, or online at http://www.flpgs.org/NMbrs/seminar/2016/Sem16.aspx.

Search the Internet With Moose Roots

MooseRoots is a genealogy search engine that has some unique aspects you may find interesting. You can search various categories of records (census, birth, marriage, immigration, etc.) and the engine will provide returns from FamilySearch and other sites as well. It is always nice to have a different search capability that may scour parts of the Internet you usually do not get to.

The information found is presented in a unique way on this site. As you scroll down the page of your search person and go past the data found, the site gives you additional information such as a timeline for your person, the meaning of his/her name, the overall popularity of the name as well as popularity by state, and more.

Check it out at:  MooseRoots | A Genealogy Research Engine:

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LLoyd's Register of Ships Online

Here is a resource for those of you looking for ship information relative to an immigrant ancestor. It is a digitized collection of many of the volumes of Lloyd's Register of Ships.

Scroll down the landing page a bit and you will see a table of  publication years ranging back to 1764, and up to the early 1900's or so. Most of the dates in the table are hotlinks to the actual publication.

http://www.lr.org/en/research-and-innovation/historical-information/lloyds-register-of-ships-online/



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PGS Events for the Week of 27 November to 2 December 2015

Tuesday, 1-Dec-2015 at 6:00 PM--Ancestry.com--search techniques for getting the most from this huge collection of databases. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library

Wednesday, 2-Dec-2015 at 10:00 AM--Brick Walls—You will eventually reach a point where you seemingly can’t go back further on a particular line. This class will offer some ideas and suggestions for overcoming dead ends in your family history research. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library

Thursday, 3-Dec-2015 at 10:30 AM--Immigration Records and Ships Passenger Lists-How to use them. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library

Friday, 4-Dec-2015 at 10:00 AM--Franco-American Discussion Group. Geographic areas include: Europe (primarily France, but not limited to France)-Eastern Canada (primarily Quebec, some Ontario, but including the Acadians of the Maritime Provinces)-USA (Central North America and New England, also Louisiana and the surrounding Southern states). Grandmaison, Local History Room, Largo Library

Saturday, 5-Dec-2015 at 10:00 AM--Family Tree Maker User Group--Questions & Answers and Demonstration of how to use the Family Tree Maker genealogical database software. Hosmer/Bryan, Jenkins C, Largo Library.

Catholic Parish Registers at the National Library of Ireland

Here is a unique resource for those with Irish ancestry.

On the landing page you can use the search bar to enter the name of a parish, or you can use the map by scrolling down the page a bit. Click on county you are interested in and it will expand to she Dioceses. Click on a Diocese to get further information and then click on the Diocese name in the popup box. You will be taken to view-able microfilm of the register(s).

There are a variety of controls to play with. You cannot search by name, but you can narrow your search by selecting the type of event (eg baptism) you are interested in, the year, and the month. There is a download and print capability.

Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI:

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Search genealogy resources at Live Roots

Here is a genealogy search engine that may be of value in your research. Enter a keyword or surname and you get two hit lists: one for surname results, and the other for resource results. The site gives these explanations:

"Surname Results -- Based on the keywords you enter, the search engine will check to see if any of them are surnames. For any surnames it finds, it will check the following three surname-based resources: (1) the Live Roots index, which contains names indexed from a variety of resources in the catalog; (2) the Transcribed Ephemera collection from Genealogy Today, which includes such free collections as the Funeral Card Images and WW2 War Ration Books; and (3) the Subscription Data service called Family Tree Connection, which contains information transcribed from a variety of smaller resources. After you complete a surname search and click one of the surname result links, you will have the option to narrow the search by first name, year and/or location.

"Resource Results -- The search engine will compare the keywords you enter to the thousands of resources in the Live Roots catalog. These resources include such things as online transcriptions, books available for purchase, cemetery listings, offline resources and a wide range of web site pages. The search will compare the keywords to those in the titles and descriptions of the resource listing. This search does NOT search the records within the resources unless they have been included in the Live Roots index mentioned above."

There are several tabs at the top of the landing page that you should explore: "Discover" and "Navigate" in particular.

Search genealogy resources at Live Roots:

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DAR Bible Records and Transcriptions

The DAR provides an index of more than 40,000 Bible Records online for free. Each entry provides a transcription of the name and some date information concerning birth, marriage, and death. The amount of information depends on the source record.

You don't get to see an image of the original page, but you can get a catalog entry for the holding at the DAR to follow up on.

Check it out at:  DAR Genealogical Research Databases:

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Genealogy Gophers Searches Online Genealogy Books

Genealogy Gophers allows you to search online genealogy books by name, date range, place, relatives' name, or by specific publication. It focuses on the books available at the Familysearch.org site, but adds value as it does so. Search results at Genealogy Gophers show your hits in context; that is, your search term is show in a snippet of the actual text. This allows you to make an initial judgment as to whether or not the text found actually applies to your ancestor or not. If it does, clicking on the link will take you to the full text.

This is a work in process. Not all of the books in the Familysearch.org collection are represented here, but according to the site authors, they are working on it. Take a moment to follow the link "About GenGophers) found at the top of the landing page to get a more complete idea of the site's goals and offerings.

It is worth checking out at:  Genealogy Gophers:

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PGS Events for the Week of 15-21 November 2015

We have a lots going on this week!

Monday, 16-Nov-2015 at 10:00 AM--Scanned Genealogy Books Online--How and where to find them  (Google books, HeritageQuest, ancestry.com, et al), Summers, LH Room, Largo Library

Tuesday, 17-Nov-2015 at 1:00 PM--Italian Genealogy Interest Group, Bedore, LH Room, Largo Library

Wednesday, 18-Nov-2015 at 1:30 PM--National Archives,–Ordering military records, Summers, Charlotte County Genealogy Society, Port Charlotte, FL

Wednesday, 18-Nov-2015 at 1:00 PM--England/Wales Genealogy Interest Group, Pearson, LH Room, Largo Library

Thursday, 19-Nov-2015 at 1:00 PM--Intro to Irish Genealogy Part 3. This is an in-depth class about the church systems in Ireland, their church records and guided practice searching Roman Catholic Parish Registers from Antrim to Wicklow. Commons, Jenkins C, Largo Library

Friday, 20-Nov-2015 at 10:30 AM--German Genealogy Interest Group, Dietz, LH Room, Largo Library

Saturday, 21-Nov-2015 at 10:00 AM--Computers in Genealogy--Question and answer session on the use of computers in genealogy research and record keeping. Bryan, Jenkins B, Largo Library

Saturday, 21 Nov 2015 at 11:00 AM--Program Meeting--Introduction to U. S. Immigration Records, George Morgan, Jenkins B, Largo Library

Saturday, 21 Nov 2015 at 12:30 PM--Workshop tour of the Genealogy Center at Largo Library showing the many genealogy resources there. Summers, Genealogy Center

Local Newspaper Transcriptions From Arlington, Texas Public Library

This link takes you to a rather unique newspaper collection. The papers available are the Arlington Journal (1897 to 1940, with some years missing), and Arlington Citizen (1937-1940).

When you click on the desired year, your are taken to a transcription of selected articles in various issues of the paper for that selected year. The articles appear to focus on reports of deaths, but not exclusively.

Check it out at:  Local Newspaper Transcriptions | Arlington Public Library:

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Free Databases at the Allen County Public Library

This link will take you to the Allen County Public Library listing of free databases. They can be accessed from anywhere, not just the library itself.

In the list you will find gateways (lists of websites dealing with specific topics such as African American and Native American research), as well as online records provided by the library (family Bible records, Indiana resources, etc.).

Check it out at:  Free Databases:

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PGS Events for the Week of 8-14 November 2015

Monday, 9-Nov-2015 at 2:00 PM--Swedish Genealogy Interest Group. We will review steps needed to start the search for your Swedish ancestors (in Sweden) and also do an overview of the resources available in the Largo Library Genealogy Collection.  Please bring a written research question for the group to address either at this or future meetings. Charest, Local History Room, Largo Library

Tuesday, 10-Nov-2015 at 6:00 PM--Facebook for Genealogy--demonstration of how to use this very popular social networking site for genealogy. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library

Thursday, 12-Nov-2015 at 1:00 PM--Irish Genealogy Interest Group--A discussion group for all those interested in finding their Irish roots. The format will be basically Q & A plus some structured sharing of techniques, resources, etc as the group determines. Commons, Jenkins C, Largo Library

Obit Index from Burnet County, Texas

If you have ancestors from around Burnet County, Texas, this site may be of help to you. It provides an index of obituaries from 1876 to 1910.

From the landing page, click on the year of interest in the list to the left, and you will be presented with an alphabetized name list that includes residence, newspaper name, and newspaper date, and whether or not the paper copy is available. If you find an obit you want, the landing page provides an email address you can use for the request.

Obit Index:

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Catholic Cemetery Listings in Seattle Washington

You can search burials by name at this website of the Associated Catholic Cemeteries of Seattle, Washington. The cemeteries involved are Calvary, Gethsemane, Holyrood, St. Patrick and Parish Cemeteries.

You will be asked for your name, phone number, and email address; and then a search form will be presented. You can search by first name, last name, and burial date. Clicking on a name on the resulting hit list will reveal burial information and a map of the cemetery with burial location indicated.

Search Step 1 | Associated Catholic Cemeteries, Seattle Washington:

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Native American Collection on Fold3 Free from 1-15 November

Check out the titles in this collection. They include:

• Ratified Indian Treaties (1722-1869): Ratified treaties that occurred between the United States government and American Indian tribes. Also included are presidential proclamations, correspondence, and treaty negotiation expenses.
• Indian Census Rolls (1885-1940): Census rolls submitted annually by agents or superintendents of Indian reservations as required by an 1884 Act of Congress. Only persons who maintained a formal affiliation with a tribe under Federal supervision are listed on these census rolls.
• Dawes Packets: Applications between 1896 and 1914 from members of the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole tribes to establish eligibility for an allotment of land in return for abolishing their tribal governments and recognizing Federal law.
• Dawes Enrollment Cards (1898-1914): Enrollment cards, also referred to as "census cards," prepared by the staff of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, commonly known as the Dawes Commission. The cards record information provided by applications submitted by members of the same family group or household and include notations of the actions taken.
• Eastern Cherokee Applications (1906-1909): Applications submitted for shares of the money that was appropriated for the Eastern Cherokee Indians by Congress on June 30, 1906.

• Enrollment of Eastern Cherokee by Guion Miller (1908-1910): The Guion Miller Roll is perhaps the most important source for Cherokee genealogical research. There are an estimated 90,000 individual applicants from throughout North America included within this publication.
• Cherokee Indian Agency, TN (1801-1835): The records of the agent of Indian Affairs in Tennessee, including correspondence, agency letter books, fiscal records, records of the Agent for the Department of War in Tennessee, records of the Agent for Cherokee Removal, and miscellaneous records.
• Rinehart Photos - Native Americans (1898): Photographs of over 100 Native Americans taken by Frank A. Rinehart, a commercial photographer in Omaha, Nebraska. Rinehart was commissioned to photograph the 1898 Indian Congress, part of the Trans-Mississippi International Exposition.

Native American Collection:

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Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay Meeting on 8 November Features DNA

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay will meet at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, Florida on Sunday November 8, 2015 with Chris Burklund speaking on DNA and Genealogy.  A social with refreshments and library access begins at 1:30 PM, and the featured program starts at 2:00 PM.

PGS Events for the Week of 1-7 November2015

Monday, 2-Nov-2015 at 1:00 PM--History -Geo now available free in Largo Library. This class will demonstrate how to use this resource to trace  your family history through land ownership maps. Luce, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Tuesday, 3-Nov-2015 at 10:00 AM--Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC): History and Research. The CCC was a major governmental program of the New Deal that sought to employ millions of destitute young men of the Depression Era. Although the term “CCC” is usually recognized, few specifics are generally known about the program. This presentation recounts the history and accomplishments of the CCC, as well as characteristics of the corps members and camp life. It will also explore where records can be found and how to order them if needed. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 4-Nov-20 15 at 10:00 AM--Familysearch.org—the class will demonstrate how to search the vast databases available on this rapidly-expanding site made available from the LDS (Mormon) genealogy collection. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Friday, 6-Nov-2015 at 10:00 AM--Franco-American Discussion Group. Geographic areas include: Europe (primarily France, but not limited to France)-Eastern Canada (primarily Quebec, some Ontario, but including the Acadians of the Maritime Provinces)-USA (Central North America and New England, also Louisiana and the surrounding Southern states). Grandmaison—Local History Room, Largo Library.

Saturday, 7-Nov-2015 at 10:00 AM--Family Tree Maker User Group--Questions & Answers and Demonstration of how to use the Family Tree Maker genealogical database software. Hosmer/Bryan, Jenkins C, Largo Library.

Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection

Here is a site that may help with your Colorado ancestor research. The link below will take you to an introductory page explaining the collection. The collection includes papers running form 1859 to 1923 and involves over 600,000 digital images. It is interesting to note that it also includes newspapers published by the 10th Mountain Division during WWII.

You can either browse or search the collection. The appropriate tabs are located at the left on the landing page.

Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection:

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Searchable Historical Databases at the New Jersey Department of State

The landing page for the link below lists the various searchable databases provided by the New Jersey Department of State. They include colonial marriages, death records, early land records, and legal name changes to mention only a few.

Clicking on a database title will take you to the appropriate search form with instructions on how to order records of interest (a maximum of five per request).

When you get to the hit list based on your search criteria, the left column will have a link titled "Select." Clicking that word will accumulate records that you intend to order. Scroll to the bottom of the hit list and you will find a listing of your selected records along with a link to an order form. You can remove selections from the list if you have changed your mind.

Check it out at:  New Jersey Department of State:

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PGS Events for the Week of 25 - 31 October 2015

Here's what's happening this week:

Tuesday, 27-Oct-2015 at 6:00 PM--Ancestry.com searching--the next level. This class will explore approaches to difficult searches--how to find them when they're not where they should be. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 28-Oct-2015 at 11:00 AM--English and Welsh Census Records...1801 -1911. Pearson, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Saturday, 31-Oct-2015, 12:00 noon-4:00 PM --Family History Assistance Day-- Bring what information you have about your family and receive free, one-on-one research assistance from a PGS consultant. Beginners are especially welcome. No appointment is necessary--first come, first served. Tours of the Genealogy Center, Jenkins A & B, Largo Library.

Directory of State and Territorial Archives and Records Programs

We all know that archives of any nature can be treasures of information for the researcher. Here is a website that is invaluable when it comes of archive research. It is a listing of state and territorial archives, complete with links to the various archives and state libraries.

There is no guarantee to finding digitized records at the listed archives, but more and more records are being brought online by these very institutions. Even if you don't find digitized records, you will find a catalog of holdings that may reveal a potentially useful record you can contact the archive about ordering.

Check it out at:  Directory of State and Territorial Archives and Records Programs:

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Great Site for Newspaper Research

The website titled The Ancestor Hunter provides links to over 12,500 free historical newspapers. Scroll down the landing page and you will come to an alphabetical list of U.S. states that are hot links. To the right of each state name is the number of newspapers available at that link.

When you click on a state link, you will be taken to a page giving some background to newspapers in the state, a list of free sites (usually a list of cities and newspapers associated with them), and a list also of pay sites. You will also find a list of other links that may be profitable to follow. The collections listed are not necessarily original; that is, this site consolidates other collections such as the Library of Congress' Chronicling America collection and Google News Archive. But there are certainly a huge number of direct newspaper sites...and the consolidations, while not original, are very helpful.

This is a great site which is updated frequently.

Check it out at:  Blog - The Ancestor Hunt:

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PGS Events for the Week of 18 - 24 October 2016

Monday, 19-Oct-2015 at 6:00 PM--INTRODUCTION TO GENEALOGY (Beginner) -- Basics of how to get started in researching your family history—what to do first, where to look & how to do it. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Tuesday, 20-Oct-2015 at 1:00 PM--Italian Genealogy Interest Group, Bedore, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 21-Oct-2015 at 1:00 PM--England/Wales Genealogy Interest Group, Pearson, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Thursday, 22-Oct-2015 at 1:00 PM--Introduction to Irish Gen-Part 2--The aim of this class is to help the novice learn how to trace down his Irish ancestors using the GRO (General Register Office). Commons, Jenkins C, Largo Library.

Thursday, 22-Oct-2015 at 2:30 PM-4:00 PM--Beginning  Your Family History—Bring your personal laptop and/or extra computers will be available. Pearson, Aging Well Center, 1501 N. Belcher Rd., Clearwater, FL.

Obituary Index From The Ferguson Library, Stamford, Connecticut

The Ferguson Library in Stamford, Connecticut has made available online an index of obituaries from seven local newspapers, some dating back as far as 1830, and one including up to the present day.

The landing page includes instructions on how to locate an obit and a phone number and email address you can use to order a full copy of the obit. To get to the search form, click on the "Obituary Index" link found in instruction number 1.

After you enter your search terms, you will get a list of hits. To see more detailed information, click on the magnifying glass to the left of the name of interest. That will take you to an entry showing record number, name, date of paper (and extended information if any), and page number. Use this information to confirm it is your person of interest and to order the actual obituary.

Obituary Index | Ferguson Library:

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Michigan Death Records, 1897-1920

This site may assist you if you have Michigan ancestors. To search the database, click on "Advanced Search" found at the top of the landing page. Fill in your search criteria, and then check the databases you wish to search in the list to the right of the search form.

Depending on the date of death, the resulting hit list will give you a link to the actual record, or to an index entry with instructions on how to order the record.

Check it out at:  Death Records, 1897-1920 « Seeking Michigan:

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PGS Events for the week of 11-17 October 2015

These are the events scheduled for PGS for this week:

Tuesday, 13-Oct-2015 at 10:00 AM--Getting the Most from Fold3. Summers, Citrus County Genealogy Society, Lecanto, FL.

Tuesday, 13-Oct-2015 at 6:00 PM--COURTHOUSE RECORDS--types available, where and how to find them and their use in genealogy. Hostetler, Local History Room, Largo Library

Friday, 16-Oct-2015 at 10:30 AM--German Genealogy Interest Group. Dietz, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Saturday, 17-Oct-2015 at 10:00 AM--Computers in Genealogy--Question and answer session on the use of computers in genealogy research and record keeping. Bryan, Jenkins B, Largo Library.

Saturday, 17 Oct 2015 at 11:00 AM—Program Meeting- Was Your Ancestor Accused of Being a Witch?: Exploring the Colonial New England Witchcraft Trials – We have been fascinated by the stories of the New England witchcraft trials, particularly those in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, for hundreds of years. This presentation will explore what happened and what our ancestors believed, and try to explain why these events took place. Fortin, Jenkins B, Largo Library

Missouri State Penitentiary Database

This is a rather specialized database, but it was too interesting to pass up. The site sponsored by the Missouri Secretary of State allows you to search the state archives for Missouri State Penitentiary records from 1836 to 1931. The following excerpt is provided by the website:

"The Missouri State Penitentiary was the first state penal institution west of the Mississippi River. It opened its doors in 1836 and operated continuously until 2004. The Missouri State Penitentiary, also called MSP or the Walls, was a notoriously brutal prison. In 1967, Time Magazine named it 'the bloodiest 47 acres in America.'”

After entering your search terms, you will get a hit list showing summary records. Each record has a link to a more detailed version.

If you have ancestors in Missouri, who knows what scalawags you may find here.

Check it out at:  Missouri State Penitentiary Database:

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DAR Genealogical Research Database Has Bible Records

In the past I've mentioned the Daughters of the American Revolution website because of its wonderful patriot database and associated lineages. But there is another part of the site that is less known: it is a database of Bible records and transcriptions.

It is a searchable database. When you look at the resulting hit list, you will see a transcription of the Bible entry with your search term highlighted. The page in the Bible where the entry is found is also listed. If you click that page number, you will be taken to a listing of everyone on that page.

There is more information available on the hit list, so it is worth while to take your time and browse a bit.

DAR Genealogical Research Databases:

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Family Heritage Festival at Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library on 18 October

The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library (John F. Germany Public Library, 900 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa) is holding a Family Heritage Festival on Sunday, 18 October from 9:15 am to 3 pm. There will be several presentations on genealogy topics, library tours, a retro photobooth, shadow puppet story time, and other activities as well as display tables from various genealogical, historical, and family history organizations.

The event is free and open to the public. There are no reservations necessary...just drop in when you can and stay as long as you can. Call 813-273-3652 for more information. There is also a detailed flyer in the Largo Public Library Genealogy Center.

Cemetery Records of Marion County, Indiana

If you have ancestors from around central Indiana, this site may be of help to you. The Genealogical Society of Marion County shares cemetery record indexes for over 200 cemeteries. Each cemetery listed has links to view the cemetery details, and most have links to view the records.

At the top of the landing page is a "Read Me" file. Take a  moment to look it over, as it will give you information about the cemetery project and tips about using the site.

Check it out at:  Genealogical Society of Marion County - Cemetery Records:

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PGS Events for the Week of 3-10 October 2015

Tuesday, 6-Oct-2015 at 6:00 PM--City Directories in Genealogy research--City directories are a valuable genealogy resource. They can give information on household composition, residence and business location, and insights into the lives our ancestors led. They can also be used as a substitute for the US Federal Census, or used in conjunction with the census to locate hard-to-find ancestors. This class explores the history of this resource, the research value of the information they provide, and where to find the records. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 7-Oct-2015 at 10:00 AM--Bounty Lands in Genealogy Research. Bounty Lands were used from before the Revolutionary War up until 1858 to reward military service and stimulate enlistment. Those records can confirm military service and even locate ancestors during and after hostilities. This class gives the history of the subject, what records are available, and where to find them. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Thursday, 8-Oct-2015 at 1:00 PM--Irish Genealogy Interest Group--A discussion group for all those interested in finding their Irish roots. The format will be basically Q & A plus some structured sharing of techniques, resources, etc as the group determines.   Commons, Jenkins C, Largo Library.

Memorial Park Cemetery Canvass. Monday, 5 October, 9:00-11:30 am.Bring your digital camera and sun protection. Brooms are provided, but you may wish to bring your own gardening gloves, etc .  Water and other refreshments will be provided.  Wear your PGS shirts if you have one.  WHERE:  5750 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (at the  intersection of 49th Street North and 54th Avenue North, west side). Look for us in Section R near the flag poles.  This section is immediately north of 54th Avenue North.

Website for Old Maps

Over 400,000 historical maps are available on the "Old Maps Online" website. The landing page allows you the choice of browsing the collection or searching for a place name. The interface is very easy to use, but I found it pays to move slowly and allow the screen to refresh before becoming impatient and stacking up navigation commands.

Old Maps Online:

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Congratulations to Diane Clemmons, Outstanding Volunteer Genealogist

We extend our congratulations to former PGS member Diane Clemmons was honored recently by the Florida State Society of Daughters of the American Revolution as its Outstanding Volunteer Genealogist. See the article below.

Village of Liberty Park resident named Outstanding Volunteer Genealogist | Villages-News.com:

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Suncoast Genealogy Society Fall Mini Seminar on 24 October 2015

The Suncoast Genealogy Society announces the Suncoast Fall Mini Seminar featuring Jack Butler as speaker.  It will be held on October 24, 2015, 1: pm to 4: pm, at the Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave, Palm Harbor Fl.  Registration begins at 12:30 pm. 

 

   Jack Butler is a professional genealogist, lecturer and author. Active in serious genealogical research for more than 20 years, Jack is also active in the genealogy community. He is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and former President of the Florida Chapter of the APG. He is also a member and former President of the Florida State Genealogical Society. In addition to FSGS, Jack is a member of the NEHGS, and the National Genealogical Society, as well as the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors.  His topics will be The Tombstone Just Said "wife of..." - Finding the Women in Your Family History, and A Dozen Resources That You Should be Using - But Which You Probably Aren't. 

 

 Early bird registration for non members is $30 prior to October 14.  After that it will be $35.  This includes handouts, refreshments and a used genealogy book sale.  For additional information, or to register, contact Ann James, (727) 791-1983 or email jamesamsj@aol.com.

PGS Events for the Week of 27 Sep. to 3 Oct. 2015

Tuesday, 29-Sep-2015 at 6:00 PM--Property Research Basics--This is a general treatment of property research in the United States. It will explore ownership documents from land grants to land patents to deeds; it will explain the difference in land descriptions in state land states and public land states; it will examine the historical context of military bounty land, the Homestead Act, and the cash purchase of public land. We will also survey where to find the records generated during the ownership and transfer of property. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library

Thursday, 1-Oct-2015 at 1:00 PM--Gathering Facts for German Genealogy-part 3.The class is comprised of samples of German documents using the alphabets of Latin, Old German (Kurrent, Fraktur or Schwabacher) script or French. Commons, Local History Room, Largo Library.     

Saturday, 3-Oct-2015 at 10:00 AM--Family Tree Maker User Group--Questions & Answers and Demonstration of how to use the Family Tree Maker genealogical database software. Hosmer, Jenkins C, Largo Library.

The Ancestor Hunt is Great for Newspaper Research

If you are looking to do some newspaper research on your ancestors, The Ancestor Hunt Blog is worth checking out. It give you a list (recently updated) of free online newspapers organized by state. Once you select a state, you will see an categorical list of papers from that state and the dates of publication of the newspapers. Another hot link then takes you eventually to a page where you can view the paper itself.

Many of the links take you to the Library of Congress "Chronicling America" newspaper collection, but there are many other categories and links as well.

Check it out at:
Blog - The Ancestor Hunt: " 12,564 FREE U.S. Historical Newspaper Links - Big June 2015 Update"

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Lots of Information at Missouri Digital Heritage Web Site

If you are doing research on your ancestors from Missouri, this site might be just what you are looking for. Click on the "Advanced Search" tab under the search bar on the landing page to get a better idea of what is available at the site.

You will see that you can narrow your search to specific data collections (death certificates, coroner's inquests, soldier's database, etc.) or do a global search.

Check it out at:  MDH Default:

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PGS Events for the Week of 20-26 September 2015

Special Note—The PGS Class schedule must be made out 2-3 months in advance—the schedule is now completed through Jan 2016. It is available in the Largo Library Genealogy Center in print format and is maintained on our website at http://www.flpgs.org/classes.aspx.  Occasionally, a class date must be changed for various reasons. So…if you depend only on the printed schedule, there is a slight possibility that the class may have been changed from the time printed.

Therefore, you are strongly urged to check the class schedule on our website and/or be sure to read the email sent out each weekend with information on the classes upcoming for the next week.

Classes/events for the week of 20-26 Sep 2015:

Sunday, 20-Sep-2015 at 1:30 PM--Brick Wall Solutions, Bryan, Jewish Gen Society, 14041 Icot Blvd, Clearwater.

Monday, 21-Sep-2015 at 10:00 AM, Ancestry.com--search techniques for getting the most from this huge collection of databases. Bryan. Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 23-Sep 2015 at 10:00 AM, Internet Site Exploration - a fun-filled look at some lesser known genealogy websites, bring your favorites.  Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library. NOTE: the internet connection at Largo Library is being updated on 23-25 September so there is a chance that the internet will not be available at this time, but the class will meet.

Saturday, 26-Sep-2015 at 10:00 AM, RootsMagic User Group--Questions and answers and demonstrations of how to use the RootsMagic genealogy database software program. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Saturday, 26-Sep-2015 at 2:00 PM--Facebook for Genealogy, Summers, Suncoast Genealogy Society--Palm Harbor Library.