News from Other Societies - Pasco County Genealogical Society

All of us have heard the family story about one ancestor or another that fought the Indians or saved the village from disaster. The trick is finding the proof behind the family folklore. The October speaker for the Pasco County Genealogical Society is Paul L. Enchelmayer, and he will walk attendees through a case study of how much proof is enough.

Paul is well-traveled in Florida, speaking at nearly two dozen societies and clubs, presenting programs to help others learn how technology can aid in family history projects. He is Chairman of the Genealogy Group of the University Club of Winter Park, Past-President (and current webmaster) of the Central Florida Genealogical Society in Orange County, a member (and webmaster) of the Florida State Genealogical Society's Speakers Bureau, a member of the National Genealogical Society, and a member of the the Hamilton County Genealogical Society in Cincinnati.

For more information, please visit the Pasco County Genealogical Society's website at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flpcgs.

Florida Genealogial Society - October's SPECIAL Meeting - Research-a Rama

The Florida Genealogical Society (Tampa) will host a special monthly meeting on Saturday, October 3, 2009, at the John F. Germany Library in downtown Tampa. The event is called Research-a-Rama and its intent is to provide members of the society and the public with a day of high quality presentations and insights into using the excellent Genealogy and Local History collection of the library.

Research-a-Rama will take place between 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM in both the auditorium and the Genealogy and Local History collection located on 2-W with concurrent activities in both areas.

The event will begin with a very short FGS business meeting at which the slate of candidates for the FGS 2010 Board will be announced. Nominations will be accepted from the floor from FGS members. (Voting will take place at the November meeting on Saturday, 7 November 2009.)

There will be four presentations given in the auditorium during the day, given by Drew Smith and George G. Morgan. The presentations will include:

§ “Finding the Books You Want” – An introduction to using the online library catalog and WorldCat (Drew Smith)

§ “Using Ancestry Library Edition (Part 1)” – An overview of the content of the Ancestry.com site and its organization (George G. Morgan)

§ “Using Ancestry Library Edition (Part 2)” – Search strategies for searching databases (George G. Morgan)

§ “Online Newspaper Research” – An introduction to the newspaper databases at the THPLC and how to search them, with a mention of TRAILS and the obituary database content and microfilm search process. (Drew Smith)


The library auditorium will be set up classroom style with tables and chairs, and the John F. Germany Library will provide the use of laptop computers from its computer labs for use during the sessions. In addition, you can bring your own laptop. The auditorium will have plenty of electrical cords for you and there is Wi-Fi connectivity for you.

Concurrent with the presentations in the auditorium, there will be several activities taking place in the Genealogy and Local History Department on 2-W in the library. The FGS Board members and society volunteers will provide two one-hour periods during the day when they will staff two tables. One session will be held in the morning and another in the afternoon as follows:



§ One table will be for “How to Get Started” with genealogical research. This will be similar to the “Ask a Genealogist” program that the society provides at the library each month. We will provide guidance to get started with research, supplemented by assistance from library staff.

§ One table will be for “Brick Wall Suggestions.” Board members and society members will provide more specific suggestions for seeking alternative records and research methods for overcoming brick wall problems. Again, supplemental assistance from staff members will be helpful.

The other activity will be two iterations of a guided tour of the collection and resources in the excellent Genealogy and Local History Department. Please note that the John F. Germany Public Library's genealogy collection has added millions of dollars worth of genealogical materials over the last four years!

Drew Smith and a member of the library staff will lead these tours. (These tours will be a direct follow-up to the first session in the auditorium in the morning.) The tour will focus on: the organization of the physical print collection and its modified Dewey Decimal Classification numbering; location and organization of the periodicals and city directories; contents of the microfilm and microfiche materials; the maps and gazetteers; vertical surname files; vertical clipping files; circulating collection; microfilm readers and printers, with focus on the ST-200 units; and other little known or used resources in the collection. (If there are any people who missed an earlier collection tour, another make-up tour can be conducted at 3:30 PM.)

This very special event will be advertised by the library, by FGS, and in the media. It is open to the public and is certain to be a very popular event. Make sure that you arrive in the auditorium early for the event. Bring your laptop and research materials!

Yes, this is just one week after the FGS Fall Seminar with Elizabeth Shown Mills, but we'll all be energized by Elizabeth's presentations. In addition, everyone will learn how to hone his or her research better than ever.

In addition, the Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library Cooperative has a very special announcement to make that day about a new online resource for all the county library card holders. You'll be thrilled too!

Make sure you plan to attend this very special education opportunity! The Florida Genealogical Society of Tampa is a leader in genealogical education, and you do not want to miss this unparalleled day of research-honing sessions!

News from Other Societies - South Bay Genealogical Society

The South Bay Genealogical Society will hold its October meeting on October 20th at noon at the SouthShore Regional Library. Debra Fleming will present a program titled "Census Analysis" and will discuss how to get the most from examination of pre-1850 U.S. federal census records.

For more information, visit http://www.rootsweb.com/~flsbgs.

News from Other Societies - Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay

Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay
HANDS-ON GENEALOGY WORKSHOP
Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay (JGSTB) will meet at 2:00 PM on Sunday, November 8th at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, Florida for a hands-on working session for individual research using the Internet and resources of the JGSTB library. Several experienced JGS mentors will be available to provide individual assistance. A social with refreshments and library access begins at 1:30 PM.

The workshop will begin with a brief overview of the genealogical research resources that are available for use at this session. Full access to Ancestry.com will be available on a few computers. While this workshop is intended to be a working session for those who have already begun their research and wish to further it or seek assistance with problems, rank novices will be given an abbreviated “jump start” session on how to get started. The overview will be followed by actual use of available resources for your own individual research under the guiding hands of our experienced mentors. A listing of the JGSTB library holdings of 150 genealogy books, maps and CD-ROMs can be seen at . Attendees should bring their own research materials and information and be prepared to work. Bring your own laptop computer if you have one. Several computers with Internet access will be available if you cannot bring your own.

The purpose of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay is to assist interested individuals in learning about Jewish genealogy and how to research and document their own family histories. The Society does this by facilitating the exchange of research information, encouraging and facilitating research activities, educating members to help themselves and others, making available research resources and materials, arranging genealogical research tours and presenting monthly programs of interest to Jewish genealogical researchers. The Society’s library and research resources include both printed materials and Internet access as well as guided assistance from experienced researchers. Special emphasis is given to helping beginners.

Anyone interested in learning how to do Jewish genealogical research is invited to attend. Beginners as well as experienced researchers are welcome. For further information on the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay or directions to the meeting call Sally Israel at 727-343-1652.

The 2009 FGS Fall Seminar with Elizabeth Shown Mills

The Florida Genealogical Society (Tampa) is very pleased to announce the details of its 2009 Fall Seminar, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2009, at the Dale Mabry Campus of Hillsborough Community College.

This year's speaker is Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA, distinguished, internationally recognized genealogy expert, speaker, author, and researcher.

Ms. Mills is a historical researcher and writer who has spent her life studying American culture and the relationships between people. A popular lecturer and author who has appeared on radio and television on three continents, Elizabeth has been widely cited as “The person who has had the most impact on family history in the post-Roots era.”

Across a thirty-year career, Elizabeth has been the long-term editor of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and president of both the American Society of Genealogists and the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Since 1987, she has headed the groundbreaking Advanced Research Methodology track that she created at the Samford University Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research.

Elizabeth is the author, editor, and translator of thirteen books and over 500 journal and magazine articles in genealogy, history, literature and sociology. Aside from her 2004 reality-based historical novel, Isle of Canes—which reviewers have called a “masterpiece” and a cross between Roots and Gone with the Wind—Mills is best known for two works now considered essential references in the field of family history: Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers & Librarians and the award-winning Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace (Library Journal “Best Reference Work, 2007).

She will present four excellent lectures:

• The Elusive Ancestor: There’s No Such Thing as “Too Poor to Trace”
• Sources & Citations Simplified: From Memorabilia to Digital Data to DNA
• The Identity Crisis: Right Name, Wrong Man? Wrong Name, Right Man?
• Okay, I Got the Neighbors – Now What Do I Do with Them?

Join us for an exciting day of genealogical presentations, vendors and exhibitors, and great door prizes! In addition, an informal luncheon workshop about getting started with your genealogy will be presented. Box lunches will be available for purchase at HCC on the day of the conference. We will arrange for quantities to be available based on the number of registrations received by 15 September 2009.

Registration for the Fall Seminar is $35 for members and $40 for non-members. If you join FGS in conjunction with registering for the seminar, you will be entitled to the Member registration fee of $35 and your membership will include the last quarter of 2009 and all of 2010!

You will find the 2009 FGS Fall Seminar Registration Form, a Map of Hillsborough Community College, Site of 2009 FGS Fall Seminar showing the location of HCC's parking and the building in which the auditorium is located, and the FGS Membership Application in the right-hand columns of our website at http://fgstampa.org (under IMPORTANT FGS DOCUMENTS). For more information, please email us at fgstampa@hotmail.com.

Join us for an exciting and informative day with the inimitable Elizabeth Shown Mills!

News from Other Societies - Manasota Genealogical Society

The next meeting of the Manasota Genealogical Society will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2010 from 9:30 am-12:00 noon at the Central Public Library. Our guest speaker will be Jean Morris, whose talk is entitled: “Tribunes & Gazettes: Newspaper Research in Genealogy”.

Following the guest speaker, our Computer Special Interest Group will meet and is open to all who are interested in learning what's new in genealogy on the Internet.

For more information, please call Jean Morris at (941) 722-5156 or visit us on the web at: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flmgs/.

Elmer's Genealogy Library Closing

Elmer's Genealogy Library in Madison, Florida, will be merging with the Huxford Genealogical Society Library located in Homerville, Georgia, in 2010. Members of Elmer’s Genealogy Library will be invited to transfer their membership to the new and larger library. The new library will be named the Folks Huxford and Elmer Spear Genealogical Library and will be managed by the Huxford Genealogical Society. Homerville is located on US 84 between Valdosta and Waycross.

The merger and transfer of the contents of Elmer’s Library to the Huxford Genealogical Society Library in Homerville, Georgia includes over 30,000 books, nearly 4,000 rolls of microfilm and over 10,000 sheets of Microfiche. The actual transfer will begin as soon as the City of Homerville completes the renovation of the building that will house both libraries.

News from Other Societies - Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay

Drew Smith To Speak On
GENEALOGY AND DNA
Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay Meeting
Sunday, October 11, 2009

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay will meet at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, Florida on Sunday October 11, 2009 with Drew Smith 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.

Are you afraid to try DNA as a research tool because the science seems too intimidating? This overview will explain how DNA relates to genealogy, what kinds of DNA tests are available, and how researchers can share test results with each other as a basis for determining a relationship.

Drew Smith, a nationally known genealogist, is an instructor for the School of Library and Information Science at USF. He has more than 30 years experience in the field of computing, and he has extensive experience as a genealogist. His genealogical credentials include: co-host of the weekly "Genealogy Guys Podcast," columnist for 2 computer magazines, and leadership roles in many local, national and international genealogy organizations too numerous to list. Drew is an expert in digital genealogy, and his latest book “Social Networking for Genealogists” was recently published.

The mission of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay is to assist interested individuals in learning about Jewish genealogy and learning how to research, document and preserve their own family histories. The Society does this by facilitating the exchange of research information, encouraging and facilitating research activities, educating members to help themselves and others, making available research resources and materials, and presenting monthly programs of interest to Jewish genealogical researchers. The Society’s library and research resources include both printed materials and Internet access as well as guided assistance from experienced researchers. Special emphasis is given to helping beginners.

Anyone interested in learning how to do Jewish genealogical research is invited to attend. 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.

Library of Michigan Crisis – Petition Needs Our Support

Within the genealogical community, the Library of Michigan has long been recognized as one of the premier state libraries in the country.

The cohesive Library of Michigan collection with over 180 years of Michigan history, literature and culture records and reflects the lives of not only those who remained to raise their families within the state but of millions more whose migration to other parts of the country left their footprints in the soil and records generated by their passage. Visitors come from all across the country to research at the Library of Michigan.

In addressing a $2 Billion deficit in the Michigan budget, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm issued an executive order in July, which would abolish the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. As originally proposed, the collections of the Library of Michigan would be scattered and the building built and designed to house the state library would be renovated to house a new function.

In meetings held during the Federation of Genealogical Societies/Arkansas Genealogical Society Annual Conference in Little Rock this past week, the Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC) representatives have initiated a petition drive in support of the Library of Michigan. This is the first time it has exercised this option since 2006, something of an indicator of the seriousness with which the genealogical community views this situation.

The RPAC petition became available for signature on Sunday, the 6th of September. The RPAC will close the petition drive on the 1st of October, the date the governor’s order is scheduled to take effect. The earlier one signs, the greater the impact.

Although the prospects for reversing this action are remote, we would not want it to be said that a state library can be closed without its users caring (or for other governors to think it a politically expedient thing to do).

Genealogists from within and without Michigan are encouraged to sign the online petition found at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/RPAC2009/petition.html. The RPAC then ask that you urge the members of every society of which you are a member to do likewise.

Additional background and the latest developments can be found at the web site of the Michigan Genealogical Council at www.mimgc.org/LOM.html. They may also suggest legislators to whom individual letters might be addressed at appropriate points in the legislative process.

News from Other Societies - Suncoast Genealogy Society

Saturday, November 7, 2009, 1:00 to 4:30 PM., the Suncoast Genealogy Society is pleased to announce their 2009 Seminar at the Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave., Palm Harbor, FL 34683.

Topics to be covered are: "Collateral Relatives" and "Underused Resources and Marriage Records". The Guest Speaker will be Donna Murray, long time genealogist and contributing columnist of the St. Petersburg Times. A Book and Periodical Sale will precede the seminar. For further information Contact John Mangan at (727) 667-0457 or Email: John8530@aol.com.

News from Other Societies - Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay

Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay Meeting
Hamburg, The Main Embarkation Port For European Jews
And Accessing Its Website On The Internet
Sunday, September 13, 2009

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay will meet at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, Florida on Sunday September 13, 2009 presenting Deborah Shapiro Radstrom and Rita Kirstein Shapiro speaking on Hamburg as one of the main embarkation ports for European Jews and accessing its website on the Internet. A social with refreshments and library access begins at 1:30 PM, and the featured program starts at 2:00 PM.

Deborah Shapiro Radstrom and Rita Kirstein Shapiro will present the history of the Port of Hamburg. An emigrant city adjoining the Port housed and fed the masses that converged on Hamburg was developed by one Jewish man, Albert Ballin. This emigrant city helped the thousands of emigrants to depart in an orderly and safe manner to various parts of the world, although most opted for the U.S.A. Our presenters will demonstrate how to use the Port of Hamburg website and its database to research outbound ship’s manifests to locate passengers listed on those manifests. You will learn how to use the tools and techniques at the website to research the Port of Hamburg’s ships manifests.

More than five million people left their homes in Europe between 1850 and 1939 via the Port of Hamburg to start a new life in American. From 1891 on, Hamburg became one of the most important ports for emigrants from all across Europe.

The mission of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay is to assist interested individuals in learning about Jewish genealogy and learning how to research, document and preserve their own family histories. The Society does this by facilitating the exchange of research information, encouraging and facilitating research activities, educating members to help themselves and others, making available research resources and materials, and presenting monthly programs of interest to Jewish genealogical researchers. The Society’s library and research resources include both printed materials and Internet access as well as guided assistance from experienced researchers. Special emphasis is given to helping beginners.

Anyone interested in learning how to do Jewish genealogical research is invited to attend. 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.

For those who need directions, here is how to find our meeting place:

We meet at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, Florida. (the red star on the map below) This is just across the bay from Tampa and just off of Ulmerton Road (SR 688) that exits from I-275. Icot Blvd. intersects with the north side of Ulmerton Road (SR 688) between U.S. 19 and 49th Street. From Ulmerton Road, turn north into the Icot Center entranceway (there is a large Autoway Nissan Dealership on the corner). You will find a left-turn lane on Ulmerton at the Icot entrance if you are coming from the West. If you are coming from the East, just make a right turn into Icot Blvd.

There are "Icot Center" gateposts marking the entranceway onto Icot Blvd. from Ulmerton Road. You will see a Holiday Inn Express Hotel on your right and a Nissan Autoway dealership on your left as you enter Icot Blvd. Proceed about a quarter of a mile on Icot Blvd, and your will see the Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services building on your right. It is identified with a large masonry sign at the entranceway into the parking lot.