Gentle Advice for Genealogical Societies

The following article was written January 29, 2009 by Amy Lenertz Coffin at her genealogy blog, We Tree, and is reprinted here with permission. I'm glad to say that the EWGS website has a brand new fresh look as we gear up for the Washington State Genealogical Society's State Conference to be held in Spokane on September 11 - 13, 2009. As a society, are we prepared for the rise in interest in genealogy due to WDYTYA? Is your society ready?

In April 2009, an American adaptation of the British series Who Do You Think You Are? will run on NBC. If this show is well accepted, interest in genealogy could rise. People will start Googling their family names and searching for ways to learn more about genealogy. When these new folks click on your genealogical society's web page, what will they see? Will it be enough to get them through your virtual door?

In the process of creating the Texas Genealogy Events calendar, I have looked at the web sites of dozens of local, regional and statewide genealogical societies.

However, culling event information from some genealogical web sites has been surprisingly challenging. If you--as part of a genealogical society--are interested in attracting an audience for your events and gaining new members, I offer the following suggestions:

Keep your web site current. Use dates and years. Does your event page say 2009 anywhere on it? If you post a list that says, "Meeting on March 1," or "Meeting the first Thursday of the month," how are we supposed to know if you mean this year? It may seem basic to long-time society members, but potential new members won't know the routine. In my web site visits, I saw several genealogy societies' web sites that showed no year information anywhere and I had no idea if the society was still going strong, or if the page I was visiting was an old one.

Provide detailed location information. "Meeting at the library," does not tell potential new members where to go. At the very least, provide the name of the library, the address and a phone number someone could call if they were lost on the way.

Include email addresses where questions can be addressed, then answer those questions. When trying to build this calendar, I had questions I wanted to ask before adding events of certain societies. I emailed five or six different societies, asking if "meeting 1st Thursday of the month" was still going on, or requesting clarification of some confusing details. Not a single society I emailed returned a reply. One of the societies was a biggie, and I was surprised at the silence.

Make your group and events sound fun! The Internet is the stage on which your genealogical society is standing, and the potential new members clicking on your web site are the audience. What kind of impression does your web site give, and will it entice visitors to take the next step? It's very hard to enter a meeting room full of people where you don't know a soul. Tell us what to expect and convince us to walk through the door. If you have a social time before your meeting, describe it. Will there be coffee and treats? Are there smaller groups gathering after the meeting to discuss specific genealogical topics? Describe those events. Are there regular casual meetings at local restaurants? Tell us and make sure new people know they're welcome.

Many smaller genealogy societies are barely hanging on, and frankly, they need new blood. Having a web site with current, detailed information and veteran members willing to reach out will attract the eager new members that are out there. A genealogy web site does not have to be fancy, but it should provide enough information to sell itself to the larger genealogical audience.

FamilySearch Records Update: Much Anticipated International Records Posted

Since the last update on January 5, 2009, FamilySearch added over 40 million new records to its Record Search pilot. Individuals with international roots from Argentina, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, and the Philippines will find some nice surprises in the newly added collections.

Birth, marriage, and death records were added for the Netherlands and Ireland. Irish researchers in particular have been anxiously awaiting the 23 million records from the Irish Civil Registration indexes. These records date from 1845-1958 and are also known as the Statutory Registration Records. Statutory registration for Protestants began in 1845 and for Catholics in 1864.

Many thanks to the thousands of online FamilySearch Indexing volunteers who helped make these wonderful records available.

See the chart below for more details. The new records can be searched for free at FamilySearch.org (Click Search Records, then Record Search pilot).

Collection Name: 1869 Argentina National Census
Indexed Records: 232,853
Digital Images: 157,133
Comments: New

Collection Name: California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records 1835-1931
Indexed Records: 43,407
Digital Images: 61,017
Comments: New

Collection Name: Canada Census 1916
Indexed Records: 1,811,736
Digital Images: 36,263
Comments: New

Collection Name: Costa Rica Church Records 1595-1992
Indexed Records: 1,387,505
Digital Images: 260,367
Comments: New

Collection Name: Germany Burials 1500-1900
Indexed Records: 3,633,851
Digital Images: ---
Comments: New

Collection Name: Ireland, Civil Registration Indexes 1845-1958
Indexed Records: 23,023,320
Digital Images: 70,971
Comments: New

Collection Name: Mexico Aguascalientes Catholic Church Records 1616-1961
Indexed Records: ---
Digital Images: 601,572
Comments: New

Collection Name: Netherlands Births and Baptisms
Indexed Records: 1,350,335
Digital Images: ---
Comments: New

Collection Name: Netherlands Marriages
Indexed Records: 374,659
Digital Images: ---
Comments: New

Collection Name: Netherlands Deaths and Burials
Indexed Records: 206,477
Digital Images: ---
Comments: New

Collection Name: Philippines Marriages
Indexed Records: 2,224,877
Digital Images: ---
Comments: New

Collection Name: 1920 United States Census
Indexed Records: 2,437,479
Digital Images: 50,364
Comments: Added Alabama

Collection Name: 1850 United States Census
Indexed Records: 1,425,756
Digital Images: ---
Comments: Added Alabama and Indian Population

Collection Name: 1850 United States Census (Slave Schedule)
Indexed Records: 869,079
Digital Images: ---
Comments: Added Alabama, Missouri, and South Carolina

Collection Name: 1850 United States Census (Mortality Schedule)
Indexed Records: 37,993
Digital Images: ---
Comments: Added Louisiana and Indian Population

Collection Name: 1870 United States Census
Indexed Records: 7,954,406
Digital Images: ---
Comments: Added Pennsylvania

The National Archives and Footnote.com Launch Online African American History Collection

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND FOOTNOTE.COM LAUNCH ONLINE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY COLLECTION

Over a million pages of original documents, letters and photos, most digitized for the first time.

Lindon, UT - January 29, 2009 – In celebration of Black History Month, Footnote.com is launching its African American Collection. Footnote.com has been working with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Washington, D.C., to digitize records that provide a view into the lives of African Americans that few have seen before.

“These records cover subjects including slavery, military service, and issues facing African Americans dating back to the late 18th century,” explains James Hastings, Director of Access Programs at NARA. “Making these records available online will help people to better understand the history and sacrifice that took place in this country.”

Footnote.com has spent the last two years with NARA compiling this collection and is currently working on adding more records that will be released in the upcoming months. African American records currently on Footnote.com include:

•Service Records for Colored Troops in the Civil War – Records for the 2nd-13th infantries including enlistment papers, casualty sheets, oaths of allegiance, proof of ownership and bills of sale.

•American Colonization Society – Letters and reports relating to this colony established in 1817 for free people of color residing in the U.S.

•Amistad Case – Handwritten records of this landmark case beginning in 1839 involving the Spanish schooner Amistad, used to transport illegal slaves.

•Southern Claims Commission – Petitions for compensation resulting from the Civil War.

“The Southern Claims Commission records are a very rich, often overlooked resource for African American family research. They often contain information that cannot be found anywhere else,” says Toni Carrier, Founding Director of the USF Africana Heritage Project. “These records document the experiences of former slaves during the Civil War and in the days immediately after. Many contain detailed narratives that make it possible for descendants to envision the lives and experiences of ancestors.”

Footnote.com is also working on additional record collections that will be released shortly. Those records include:

•Records of the US District Court for the District of Columbia Relating to Slaves, 1851-1863 – includes slave schedules, manumission papers and case papers relating to fugitive slaves.

•Records for the Emancipation of Slaves in the District of Columbia, 1862-63 – minutes of meetings, docket books and petitions pertaining to emancipation of slaves.

•Registro Central de Esclavos 1872 (Slave Schedules) – registers from Puerto Rico giving information for each slave: name, country of origin, name of parents, physical description, master’s name and more.

•Records Relating to the Suppression of the African Slave Trade and Negro Colonization, 1854-1872 - letters, accounts, and other documents relating to the suppression of the African slave trade.

•Correspondence of the Military Intelligence Division Relation to “Negro Subversion” 1917-1941 - record cards and correspondence of the Military Intelligence Division (MID) that relate to activities of blacks in both civilian and military life.

In addition to these records, Footnote.com also features member contributions that include topics ranging from the Underground Railroad to Women Abolitionists to African Americans receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor.

“The contributions to our site have been impressive,” says Russell Wilding, CEO of Footnote.com. “It’s exciting to see people connect with history and with each other.”
To view the African American Collection on Footnote.com visitors can go to http://go.footnote.com/blackhistory/.

About Footnote, Inc.
Footnote.com is a subscription website that features searchable original documents, providing users with an unaltered view of the events, places and people that shaped the American nation and the world. At Footnote.com, all are invited to come share, discuss, and collaborate on their discoveries with friends, family, and colleagues. For more information, visit www.footnote.com.

About The National Archives
NARA alone is the archives of the Government of the United States, responsible for safeguarding records of all three branches of the Federal Government. The records held by the National Archives belong to the public – and it is the mission of the National Archives to ensure the public can discover, use, and learn from the records of their government.

Wordless Wednesday

Another 1991 Reststop picture. Recognize either of the volunteers?

Wordless Wednesday

Another 1999 Rest stop picture. Who are the volunteers??

This picture disappeared last week so I am re posting it.

Wordless Wednesday

Another 1999 Reststop picture. Who are the volunteers??

Family Tree Magazine at the Spokane Library

Family Tree Magazine New At The Library!
Yesterday, January 17, 2009, 2:47:51 PM genealogy librarian
Spokane Public Library is proud to announce a new subscription at the Downtown branch to Family Tree Magazine. The magazine offers helpful hints and state guides to assist you in your research. Their web site offers free forms to get you started and an easy way to record and file the information you have found. If the magazine is something you like you can also sign up for a free e-newsletter. Keep an eye out for this new research tool @ Your Library!

Wordless Wednesday

This was at the 1999 Rest Stop, notice we are now inside out of the weather.

FamilySearch Indexing Update: New International and State Census Projects

New International Projects/Two New Languages
Several new international projects were added to the list of active FamilySearch indexing projects (see chart below).There is now a need for volunteers with an interest in or knowledge of the new Norwegian and Russian records—Norway 1875 Census and Ukraine Kyiv 1840–1842.
The indexing program’s interfaces have not been translated into Norwegian and Russian yet; however, the instructions for the Ukrainian project are available in Russian and English.

State Censuses
New state census projects were added for Florida (1885 and 1935) and Massachusetts (1855 and 1865). Additional online volunteers are always needed. Patrons or indexers are encouraged to forward these updates to anyone they feel will be interested in helping to index the current projects. New volunteers can register quickly online at www.familysearchindexing.org.

Current Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion Status
Argentina Censo 1869 - Buenos Aires 2
Spanish
42%

Argentina Censo 1869 - Cordoba y San Luis
Spanish
30%

Arkansas Marriages [Part 1]
English
74%

Arkansas Marriages – Part 3
English
8%

Arkansas Marriages IV
English
12%

Belgique – Registres Des Décès (Français)
French
14%

België - Overlijdens Registers - In het Nederlands
Dutch, Flemish
11%

Belgium - Antwerp Foreigners Index
English
12% (New)

Brandenburg Kirchenbücher
German
32%*

Bremer Schifflisten
German
11%

España Lugo Registros Parroquiales [Part 1]
Spanish
12%

Flanders Death Registration
French, Dutch, Flemish
34%

Florida 1885 Census
English
6% (New)

Florida 1935 Census
English
19% (New)

France, Coutances, Paroisses de la Manche
French
8%

Guerrero - Censo de Mexico de 1930
Spanish
68%

Illinois - 1920 US Federal Census
English
62%

Indiana Marriages, 1790 – Apr 1905
English
99%

Massachusetts - 1855 State Census
English
4% (New)

Massachusetts - 1865 State Census
English
1% (New)

Indiana Marriages, Apr 1905 – Dec 1957
English
98.9%

Massachusetts - 1920 US Federal Census
English
79%

Massachusetts Marriage Records 1906-1915
English
23%

New Hampshire - Early to 1900 Deaths
English
24%

Nicaragua, Managua Civil Records
Spanish
8%

Norway 1875 Census part 1
Norwegian
1% (New)

Nova Scotia Antigonish Church Records
English
48%

Ohio Tax Records – 2 of 4
English
63%

Queretaro - Censo de Mexico de 1930
Spanish
39%

St Petersburg Kirchenbuchduplikat 1833-1885
German
(New)

Tlaxcala - Censo de Mexico de 1930
Spanish
4%

UK - Cheshire - Church Records
English
35%

UK - Cheshire - Land Tax
English
5%

Ukraine Kyiv 1840-1842
Russian
(New)

Venezuela Mérida Registros Parroquiales
Spanish
1%

(*This percentage refers to a specific portion of a larger project.)

FamilySearch Record Search Update: Four Million New Records Added

FamilySearch added about 4 million new records to its Record Search pilot over the holidays. Patrons will find records from Brazil, Hungary, Czech Republic, Southern Bohemia, Třeboň, West Virginia, and the much anticipated Indian Territory records from the 1900 U.S. Census. See the chart below for more details. The new records can be searched for free at FamilySearch.org (Click Search Records, then Record Search pilot).

Collection Name: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro Civil Registration
Indexed Records: ---
Digital Images: 1,291,670
Comments: Updated – New localities added to browse

Collection Name: Hungary Funeral Notices
Indexed Records: ---
Digital Images: 539,096
Comments: New

Collection Name: Czech Republic, Southern Bohemia, Třeboň Archive Church Books
Indexed Records: ---
Digital Images: 24,835
Comments: New

Collection Name: Arizona Death Certificates
Indexed Records: 265,726
Digital Images: 264,534
Comments: New

Collection Name: West Virginia Births
Indexed Records: 242,781
Digital Images: ---
Comments: Ten new counties added

Collection Name: West Virginia Deaths
Indexed Records: 402,154
Digital Images: ---
Comments: Ten new counties added

Collection Name: West Virginia Marriages
Indexed Records: 393,867
Digital Images: ---
Comments: Ten new counties added

Collection Name: 1900 United States Census
Indexed Records: 826,030
Digital Images: ---
Comments: Added Indian Territory