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GenWeekly, Vol. VII, No. 17

It's Genealogy. It's Weekly. It's GenWeekly. 

April 23, 2010

Elisabeth Lindsay, Editor

All articles are copyright (c) 2009 Genealogy Today, LLC.

This Week's Articles

The original article(s) in this section are available only to subscribers. You can learn about our $9.95 annual subscription at http://www.genweekly.com/subscribe.html.

The Compleat Database: Cultural Affinities

by Judy Rosella Edwards. Be sure to include cultural "connections" in the genealogy database -- little details can be very telling.

Migration to the Northwest: The Early History

by Alan Smith. It took awhile, but people came driven by diverse forces.

Recent News

• A Solemn Observance. "The past isn't dead," Faulker once wrote, "it isn't even past".

• The Value of Non-Traditional Sources - Fire Insurance Maps. Maps created for assessing liability also detail home and land ownership.

• Resource Tips From a Pro. A professional researcher shares her favorite resources, from the essential to the innovative to the downright delightful.

The Genealogy Guide

In the interest of helping readers gain better insight into genealogical terms, Genealogy Today has created a Genealogy Guide. Each week, GenWeekly features a new term from the continually expanding Genealogy Guide.

Yearbook

A yearbook or annual, as it is sometimes known, is a book published to commemorate a single academic year, including information on students, faculty, and events. Yearbooks may be published by schools at any academic level, from college to elementary school, although most common are college and high school yearbooks. Typically academic. similar books may also be published by the military in commemoration of a particular service group or vessel. Although some evidence suggests the idea of a school yearbook can be traced back to the 1600s, the precursors to modern yearbooks date from the mid- to late-1800s. Yearbook content and style may vary from one country to another. Yearbooks often become collectors items, especially the personal yearbooks of famous people.

Yearbooks are a valuable genealogy resource and can be fun for the whole family. The most obvious value of a yearbook is pinpointing a person in time and place, in addition to seeing the photo of an ancestor at a particular age, as yearbooks typically include photos, at least in the senior year. Yearbooks are also valuable in identifying an ancestor's friends, teachers, and possibly even other family members. Yearbooks may also include important social information such as activities, clubs, leadership positions, sports, hobbies, awards, opinions, and sometimes future expectations. They may also include descriptions of character and even individual autographs. Such details can provide new and insightful information about one's ancestor; some information may even yield important research clues such as a students hometown, middle name, or the maiden name of women. Yearbooks are considered a non-traditional source, as opposed traditional sources that document major life events. Many online resources, most of them fee-based, offer access to a variety of yearbooks. Yearbooks may also be available through school or college libraries, and some may be available through local public libraries. School Records and Yearbooks is one of the categories of resources available in the Genealogy Today Subscription Database. New records are continually being added.

Archive Articles

For additional reading on the topics covered in this week's newsletter, you may wish to read the following articles from the GenWeekly archive:

• Giving It the Old College Try: Finding Your Ancestors in Yearbooks

• Great-Grandpa's Alma Mater

• Genealogy of Communities: Seminaries and Other Educational Communities

• Using School Records and Archives in Britain

• Conducting Research Through Societies and Fraternal Organizations

• Databases for Everywhere

Copyright © 1999 - 2010 by Genealogy Today LLC, All Rights Reserved

The Compleat Database: Cultural Affinities

Social context is an important aspect of genealogy research. Understanding more about the social environment of our ancestors may lend clues to the bigger genealogical questions and help pinpoint people in time and place. In her article, "The Compleat Database: Cultural Affinities, " Judy Rosella Edwards encourages researchers to include social information -- what she is calling "cultural affinities" or "connections" -- in the genealogy database. While a certain piece of information may not reveal much at first glance, later that bit of information may be the one thing that puts you on the right path. As the article observes, information on certain traditions, hobbies, celebrated holidays, even trinkets may hold clues. 

One thing to keep in mind, as well, in considering cultural affinities is the possible existence and value of non-traditional source material such as performance programs, club and society membership records, organizational histories, reunions, business associations, etc. If an ancestor is identified with a particular group or activity, there may well be records available that provide additional information. For locating such sources, be sure to check our parent site, GenealogyToday.com, which has been a leader in transcribing original, non-traditional source material for many years and offering it online. With recent changes to the site, all databases have been combined and are now offered as a single, affordable package. But even browsing the holdings or doing a search on your family name, you can learn something new and may even be guided to other sources you might not have known existed. Not only can you learn about the various types and categories of records published, but you can also see what has been transcribed, thus far, for a particular region. And with the new Wiki you can learn even more. It's a work in progress -- new materials are being added weekly, so you'll want to check back often. Be sure to check out the Genealogy Today Subscription Data, the Family History Wiki, and the helpful Search features available on the home page.

Migration to the Northwest: The Early Years

While much is said of Westward migration and travel along the Oregon Trail, there's also an interesting story at the "end of the line," settlement of the Pacific Northwest. In his article, "Migration to the Northwest: The Early Years," Alan Smith examines the slow settlement and diverse forces behind the eventual, mass migration. The story of the Pacific Northwest, its dash and daring is played out vividly in my own family, with a Swedish immigrant making his way across the land to settle, first in Seattle, then after heartbreak and hardship, following the gold rush and starting a new life along the upper Yukon River. Its the stuff of Jack London and Robert Service, in real life. As with all pioneer history, the stories are colorful nigh unto unbelievable, but true. And that is one of the driving forces behind our passion for genealogy.

A Solemn Observance

April 12, 2010 marked the beginning of the Civil War. On this date In 1861, the American Civil War began as Confederate forces bombarded Fort Sumter in South Carolina. While war is nothing to celebrate, it is a significant anniversary, when you consider the 600,000 Americans who gave their lives. An article on The American Interest Online, "Civil War Still Echo in our Heads," recaps those first shots and illustrates how in some ways, even today, the Civil War has not ended. I particularly like one quote noted in the piece, "The past isn’t dead, Faulkner once wrote.  It isn’t even past."

The Value of Non-Traditional Resources - Fire Insurance Maps

Even if you don't have ancestry in Sacramento, a brief article on Examiner.com, "Fire insurance maps are useful in Sacramento genealogy research, " has merit for pointing out the value of non-tradtional sources in genealogical research. Did you know, in fact,  that "Fire Insurance maps were originally created in the 19th century in the United States for assessing fire insurance liability in urbanized areas. You can find out the names of the people that owned the house and land at different dates." A history of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps on the UC Berkley Library website tells us more about them, and an article on Ancestry.com, "Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps," suggests how the maps can be used. 

Indeed, insurance records of all types, and particularly claims records can tell a lot.  Insurance records is one of the categories in the GenealogyToday.com Subscription Data, specializing in non-traditional sources. To see what is currently available, see the Table of Contents - Insurance Records.

Resource Tips From a Pro

When it comes to genealogy resources, we all appreciate the essential, love to come across the innovative, and are . . . well, delighted . . . by the delightful. Even if you don't live in Canada or have Canadian ancestry. you may be interested to read the recent article by Tammy Tipler-Priolo, "Essentials, Innovations & Delights," on BayToday.ca, as the author shares favorite resources used in her own "everyday research business." Among those mentioned are resources for Canadian, French Canadian, English, Irish, and Scottish research. When I was working in the software industry, in the field of human factors, the most successful programs went beyond functional to delight the users, which meant, exceeding expectation. To call a resource delightful is high praise, indeed.

GenWeekly, Vol. VII, No. 16

It's Genealogy. It's Weekly. It's GenWeekly. 

April 16, 2010

Elisabeth Lindsay, Editor

All articles are copyright (c) 2009 Genealogy Today, LLC.

This Week's Articles

The original article(s) in this section are available only to subscribers. You can learn about our $9.95 annual subscription at http://www.genweekly.com/subscribe.html.

Songs of Yesterday: An Appalachian Tragedy

by Jean Hibben. Legendary figures romanticized in song and verse -- what's the story behind the story?

Sons and Daughters of Genealogy: Joining a Lineage Society

by Rita Marshall. Joining a lineage society allows you to test your metal as a researcher and firmly document your family history.

Recent News

• Spring -- Time to Get Organized. Organizing the genealogy (deep sigh), here are some ideas on where to start.

• Procrastination -- "You may delay, but time will not." Preserving and protecting our photos and documents before the worst happens.

• Family Secrets Deserve Sensitivity and Respect. Uncovering family secrets in genealogy is almost inevitable -- it's what we do with the information that counts.

The Genealogy Guide

In the interest of helping readers gain better insight into genealogical terms, Genealogy Today has created a Genealogy Guide. Each week, GenWeekly features a new term from the continually expanding Genealogy Guide.

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage society open to women eighteen years of age or older who can can prove a direct line descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence. Membership is not based solely on military service, other types of "acceptable service" such as civil or patriotic service may also qualify. Applicants must provide documentation for each statement of birth, marriage, and death. Also, prospective applicants must be invited to join through a local chapter.*

Membership is a four-step process.

1. Establish lineage.

2. Identify your patriot ancestor.

3. Find a chapter.

4. Complete the application process, as follows:

• Provide proof for the date and place of each event, for each generation, starting with yourself and going back lineally to your Patriot
  
• For the first three generations, these proofs would consist of photocopies of birth, marriage, and death documents.
• For other generations back to the Patriot, one or more of the following items would usually be considered acceptable proof: cemetery records, tombstone inscriptions, obituaries, probate records, wills, census records, Bible records, local histories, and well-documented genealogies.
• Relationships between generations MUST be proven.
• Data submitted as proof is subject to DAR standards and interpretation.

For further information concerning acceptable proof or for locating sources of proof, contact the Chapter Registrar or Chapter Lineage Research Chairman.

* According to the DAR website, you need not complete an application worksheet before attending a chapter meeting, nor must you have identified your Patriot Ancestor. By attending a local chapter meeting, you will meet other members who have the experience to assist you in obtaining you goal of DAR membership.

Archive Articles

For additional reading on the topics covered in this week's newsletter, you may wish to read the following articles from the GenWeekly archive:

• Benefits of Lineage/Heritage Societies

• Linking Up Your Lineage

• Exploring the Black Sheep in Your Family

• Organizing Your Research

• Family Records Are the Best!

Copyright © 1999 - 2010 by Genealogy Today LLC, All Rights Reserved

Songs of Yesterday: An Appalachian Tragedy

I wonder sometimes at the romanticizing in song and verse of some legendary figures -- it helps to look into the story behind the story. In her "Songs of Yesterday: An Appalachian Tragedy," Jean Hibben explores the back story to the legendary, "Tom Dula" or "Tom Dooley," as he is better known. While none of the characters in this story seem to have any redeeming qualities, a few of the details, after the fact, at least suggest how his life . . . and death might have stirred the imagination of songwriters.

From a genealogical perspective, the alternate pronunciation of the Dula surname strikes a chord. My own Appalachian ancestral name, "Childers," while not ending in "ee" has been altered over the years and is alternately pronounced "Childress," again, this slurring an blurring of speech that sort of flips things around. This pronunciation of the Childers name is so common, in fact, they are used almost interchangeably. In the case of my great-grandmother, even the alternate spelling of the name was used within the family. While all legal documents, including the marriage record, show my great-grandfather's surname as Childers, the headstone of his wife, my great-grandmother, reads "Mattie Childress." Which, in a way, takes us back around to some good advice in considering all things: keep an open mind.

Sons and Daughters of Genealogy: Joining a Lineage Society

If you have ever considered joining a lineage society, Rita Marshall's article, "Sons and Daughters of Genealogy: Joining a Lineage Society" may give you that extra incentive. As the article points out, in addition to showing pride in your ancestors' accomplishments, joining a lineage society also serves to test you metal as a researcher and may provide the motivation to firmly document your family history. The article also provides a link to help you identify the many lineage societies in the United States. You may want to check Cyndi's List for organizations in other countries. There are various types of societies, some based on events such as wars, some based on place, and some based on a single, notable ancestor -- pretty much, something for everyone. Lineage societies and fraternal organizations are, for the most part, service organizations, and most require an annual renewal.

Spring -- Time to Get Organized

One more word on getting our ducks in a row -- how are you at organization? The "Spring is season to get records in order," on the Broomfield Enterprise, suggests now is the time for some genealogy deep cleaning and organization, and if you aren't sure where to start, the article offers some easy tips. My own goal is to one day be organized enough so that when I want something, it's not enough to say "I know I have it," I want to be able to walk to and and put my hands on it. I'm on that path. I've learned to compensate for short-term memory loss and now have a system -- what I'm lacking is space. So once I get that figured out, I may be able to realize my goal. 

Procrastination -- "You may delay, but time will not."

Items in the news seem to suggest this is a time of caution and precaution. Last week we talked about genealogy scams, this week it's coping with family secrets, and now a strong reminder to protect and preserve our records. An article on Mormon Times, "Fires, floods and earthquakes: Preserve your personal history," features Scott Smikins, head conservator at the Family History Library in Salt Lake city, advising, "Take the time to preserve your precious histories and treasures before it's too late." Simkins' remarks centered around the "ings" of preserving: Handling, documenting, organizing, preparing, mending, sharing and storing, then discussed the purpose of each point, the article said. The article is worth reading, offering simple and do-able tips that may help you prepare for the unexpected. As Ben Franklin said, "You may delay, but time will not."

Family Secrets Deserve Sensitivity and Respect

A recent article on Telegraph.co.uk, "Genealogy can open 'Pandora's box' of family secrets," looks at possible effect on the present generation of uncovering family secrets. Uncovering new information about our ancestors is inevitable, some may be secrets or painful to learn. In some cases, the issue of what to do with the information may present problems. The key is sensitivity and a respect for the feelings of others. We are not compelled to share secrets just because we know them, and it's important to the whole family that we protect and preserve living relationships, something the article suggests may be at risk in unraveling the family history. Also important is that we understand that our ancestors were living in a different time and age -- we may not want to judge too harshly until we better understand the context.

Many years ago, I had the opportunity of interviewing both of my grandmothers. Throughout her story, it was clear my maternal grandmother held hard feelings toward her father for his stern ways, but revered her mother (and rightfully so). The children had to work in the field "from the time they could sit up, almost." And he had strategies for getting the most out of them. It would be easy for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren to dismiss this ancestor as a brute and really have no sentiments toward him whatsoever; they might even go so far as to assign his perceived negative traits to other family members: "You are just like Grandpa So-and-so."  However, as much as I love my grandmother and appreciate her experiences as a child -- and life WAS hard -- I find that even as she is expressing her resentments, you can see in what she describes that her father was a provider who took care of his family, and he was a shrewd businessman. They had so much more and were so much better situated than other tenant families of their time, that if you read between the lines, you can identify and appreciate his better qualities. Although stern and forceful, I see him as a man of his times. I do not excuse his behavior toward his children nor his general indifference toward his wife, but I can appreciate the life he provided and the strengths demonstrated and give him a place of balanced respect in our family's history. I believe if my grandmother were alive today and I could share with her what I have learned of her times, even she would cut him a little slack.