Oral Histories at the Tampa Library Web Site

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative's Web site has not one, but two excellent online collections of materials online. Most of our society's members are already well-acquainted with the TBPLC Web site at http://www.hcplc.org, and we use it all the time to search the library catalog and to work with the genealogical databases that are available to us remotely. However, there is more at the Web site than just those resources.

You certainly must be using databases in other areas of the THPLC's Information Gateway. However, be sure to explore both of the great online collections. From the HCPLC's main Web page, click on the link box labeled "Oral Histories and Photo Archives" and you will be taken to a screen that links you to both the fabulous digitized Burgert Brothers photographic collection of historic Tampa and to Hillsborough Remembers, a collection of three wonderful oral history projects that have been captured at our terrific library's Web site. These include:

• A Slice of Life
• World War II @ Home and Abroad
• Central Avenue Oral History Project

Each of these collections offers distinctive oral interviews in both PDF and Web page format, and most also include a downloadable audio file. These interviews offer an unparalleled insight into the history of Tampa and its environs.

Get online and enjoy these great interviews and, if you haven't explored the Burgert Brothers photos, explore the wealth of images that bring historic Tampa to life!

News from Other Societies

The Brandon Area Genealogical and Historical Society (BAGHS) will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 14th, at the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library, located at 1906 Bloomingdale Avenue adjacent to Bloomingdale Senior High School, at 6:30 p.m. Member Linda Soloski will present a program, "Espionage in the Revolutionary War: Was Your Ancestor One of These?" Refreshments will be served.

News from Other Societies

"HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2007 IAJGS CONFERENCE"
Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay Meeting
Sunday, September 9, 2007

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay will meet at 2:00 PM Sunday September 9, 2007 at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, Florida for a repport on the highlights of the 2007 International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies Conference (IAJGS). A one-hour beginner's genealogy discussion and problem solving session starts at 1:00 PM; a social with refreshments and library access begins at 1:30 PM, and the featured program starts at 2:00 PM.

This year's IAJGS Conference was held in Salt Lake City in July. Several members and officers from the Tampa Bay JGS were among the 600 plus attendees from all over the world. Approximately 200 educational seminars on genealogical topics were presented during the weeklong conference, and there were numerous special interest and "birds of a feather" group meetings as well as vendor exhibits and computer lab and resource rooms.

Those who attended the conference will report on and provide an overview of one or more of the educational sessions they attended. Anyone interested in more in-depth information on any topic presented will find it in the conference syllabus that will be available and/or from a set of audio recordings of many of the IAJGS sessions.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay’s library and research resources are available to all meeting attendees and can be loaned out to members. Anyone interested in learning how to do Jewish genealogy research is invited to participate. Beginners as well as experienced researchers are welcome.

For information on the organization or directions to the meeting call Sally Israel at 727-343-1652.

Florida State Genealogical Society Newsletter

The latest issue of the Florida State Genealogical Society Liaison Newsletter can be viewed by clicking the link.

FGS Program for 18 August 2007

The Florida Genealogical Society will hold its monthly meeting on Saturday, August 18, 2007, at 10:00 AM in the Auditorium of the John F. Germany Library at 900 North Ashley Drive in Downtown Tampa. The guest speaker will be Tom Mayers of Longboat Key. He will talk and give a photo presentation on his family in Longboat Key and Tampa. He is a descendant of Capt. John Savarese. A Southern Research Special Interest Group (SIG) will also meet at 1:00 PM in the History and Genealogy Department on Floor 2-West, and our Ask-a-Genealogist will be there to help with your research questions.. Admission is free.