Library Archives Canada website

From Rick Wood today:

Library Archives Canada has changed their HOME website URL. It is now www.bac-lac.gc.ca.

The old URL www.collectionscanada.gc.ca is still operating at this time.

In many cases,when you go to a subset from the www.bac-lac.gc.ca, the location page does open to a URL of collections canada.

The new website has much cleaner look as well as a better search engine for the census records.

I would recommend that you start using the new website as once they link all the locations the collections canada url may be disconnected.

Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness

Patty Foley reports this morning that RAOGK is back on a smaller scale. This is a group of volunteers who are willing to do lookups, visit cemeteries, and other helpful research activities. Read  about the guidelines and possibilities here: 

 

http://raogk.wikia.com/wiki/Find_a_Volunteer

Workshop Feb. 26

We will have the U.S. forum at this Tuesday's workshop: here's your chance to ask questions on any facet of research in the United States. If our "experts" do not have an answer, we'll do the research!

The router will be connected, so you can plan to do online research. If you would like help with your software programs, Tuesday would be a good opportunity. Our usual special interest tables will be available.

See you there.

Mesa field trip report

Eleven club members spent Thursday at the Mesa Family Research Library. One of the volunteers provided a short "tour," describing the facility and its holdings--however, he spent most of the time talking about the new features of Family Search.

Most of the group were successful in finding something new for their research. For example Ann Snyder located the birth record of her mother, who was born in Italy. This record was in the online digitized data through Family Search.

Keep checking www.familysearch.org on a weekly basis; new information is added often.

Election Night

Tuesday night Palm Creek Genealogy Club elected the slate of officers who will serve for the 2014 season. Rick Wood will continue as president, Ken Doane continues as vice president, and Dick Rietz will fill the position of secretary. Ann Snyder was newly elected as our treasurer. Thanks to all for volunteering.

German Research: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

 



Everyone who attended Tuesday's meeting enjoyed the excellent presentation by Steve Packer on how to do research in Germany. He covered German history, available records, and some specific websites for possible areas of research.

Another highlight of the evening was the selection of German cookies provided by Louise Kant along with an explanation of the German flag.

Tuesday's meeting

Hope to see all of you at Tuesday night's meeting. Steve Packer, who volunteers at the Mesa Family History Center, will be speaking to us about research in Germany. He's been doing family research there for years and has much information to share.

Tuesday is also our annual election of officers. Another special treat: "Cookies by Louise."

Reminder: Internet class

Tips for searching the Family Search and Ancestry databases

Hope to see all interested researchers in the San Tan room tomorrow, Friday, February 15 at 9 AM. The presentation will take about 30-45 minutes and we will have the rest of the morning to practice using either website.

Website for Canadian researchers

For anyone researching In Canada, one of the best sites is our national site at the Library & Archives in Ottawa. Here is the website link.

 http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html

 

If you are searching land record claims related to United Empire Loyalists, the 2 direct links below will make it easier.

The first link takes you directly to the search page . Once you enter the information you get an index of names of people with microfilm numbers etc.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/upper-canada-land/001097-100.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=vbc7rlma9r5ri9lpvn8d5926d2#cont

Minimize the screen so that you can toggle back to get the required information for the microfilm.

The second link takes you the microfim index where you can browse for the record you want.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-110.02-e.php?&q2=29&interval=50&sk=0&&PHPSESSID=pnsucic8mmi5esjgls5sc2t3h3

Another Brick Wall Success!

Last night at our workshop Maureen Salter shared a breakthrough with the group. At the Mesa Expo last month, she attended a class called "Ten Reasons Why Your Ancestor Was in Canada." The speaker pointed out that it was fashionable to cross the border to marry. Maureen thought that might work in the other direction--and found that one of her husband's ancestors had indeed traveled to Detroit to get married.  Good thinking, Maureen!

Moral of the story: attend a class when you can and think outside the box!

Workshop

See you at tonight's meeting where some of the members will be participating in the Canadian forum.
We'll work with beginners and those with brick wall problems, too. And the new "quick guides" will be available. 

New Research Helps

We have three new "Quick Sheets," 4-page laminated summaries of genealogical information.

1. "U.S. Federal Census Records" is packed full of useful facts, ideas and strategies for research.

2. "Immigration Research" provides information on migration factors, arrival ports, passenger lists, and includes an article on naturalization records.

3. "Migration: Canada and the United States" includes lists of websites on the subject.


Family Chronicle has published a magazine called "Tracing Your Female Ancestors" that may give you some new ideas for breaking down that brick wall on the maternal side.


These materials can be checked out as you would magazines and folders.

Legacy Family Tree Webinars

If you are having problems with pre-1850 research, there is still time to register for Wednesday's Legacy webinar entitled "Pre-1850 U. S. Research Methodologies." Register for free at www.legacyfamilytree.com/webinars.asp  to watch in real time at 12 noon on February 13. It will also be available for viewing at any time for 10 days after the online presentation.

Next week's webinar is called "Making the Most of Canadian Census Records." That presentation will be given at noon on Wednesday, February 20, for those pre-registered. It should also be available for 10 days following the presentation date.

Mesa Family Search Library

If you are trying to decide whether to join the field trip to Mesa, here is a list of the subscription websites (including Ancestry) available at the family search library there. Our trip is scheduled for Thursday, February 21. You can sign up on Tuesday night.

19th Century Bristish Library Newspaper Archives

19th Century U.S. Paper

Alexander Street Press - The American Civil War

American Ancestors

Ancestry.com

FamilyHistory Link

FindMyPast

Fold3

The Genealogist

ArKiv - Swedish Records

Godfrey Memorial Library

Heritage Quest Online

Making of the Modern World

American Ancestors (The New England Historial Genealogical Society)

Sabin America

Supreme Court Records & Briefs

World Vital Records

Field Trip Scheduled

Mark your calendars!

We will be visiting the Mesa Family History Center (now called the Mesa FamilySearch Library) for a day of research on Thursday, February 21, leaving from the main mailbox area at 8:15 a.m.

More information and the sign-up sheet will be available at tonight's meeting.

Tuesday's meeting

At our regular meeting February 5 Maureen Edwards will educate us on various health issues that affected our ancestors' lives. She has a particular interest in this subject as a retired pediatrician who also worked in the public health care field. If you've ever wondered about a cause of death on a certificate or why several members of the same family passed away at the same time, her talk may answer those questions.

Another perk of attending Tuesday's meeting: door prizes!

Internet Class Scheduled

We have reserved the San Tan room for Friday, February 15, from 9 a.m. to noon for a class on using Family Search and Ancestry. We will talk about general searching tips, demonstrate both sites, and use the remaining time for research.

Bring your computers and pedigree charts, as the router for the internet will be connected. The class is designed for our beginners, but everyone is welcome. If you're having trouble getting started or have become frustrated with your searches, this may help!