Just back from my periodic foray to the Family History Library, for a week of immersion in genealogical research, and a chance to reunite with a group of fellow conspirators from the Midwest. The weather was cool but mostly dry (as a Californian, I earned a few laughs for wearing a jacket outside when the temperature was in the low 60s).
It is always a treat to be there and learn what changes are taking place in and around town. The local rapid transit system goes right to the airport terminal now, for one thing. The Salt Lake Plaza Hotel has remodelled most of their rooms, for another (and my closet was cleverly concealed behind a huge mirror -- took me a while to find it). In the library itself, there is at least one photocopier right out on the third floor (US/Canadian books), as well as the film-to-print-or-flashdrive equipment on the second floor. (I haven’t investigated the lower floors where my Minnesotan friends hang out, looking for their Swedish, German, and Norwegian lines.)
We hiked over to the LDS office building most days for hearty but very inexpensive lunches, and were in time to see the holiday decorations being put up in Temple Square. Hearing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir practice on Thursday night was a pleasure, as always.
My big find was on Ancestry.com (their “institutional” version is free to use at the Library). Browsing for Lewis Hartwell Thompson, whom I know had come west by 1860, I found him in a database of “California Pioneers,” with place and date of his birth, and the names of his parents. A real piece of luck! The list had been compiled by the California State Library (applause), originally from Hubert Howe Bancroft’s seven-volume History of California. Of course, if I had thought of it at the time, I could have followed up by looking at the books themselves, since the Family History Library has a set in print and on film.
Another rather intriguing clue I picked up was the discovery that my great-grandmother, Nancy Jane Sherwood, had signed her name “Nancy Sexton” in some probate documents after the death of her first husband, David Hammond. I was looking for some clue as to when she might have married my great-grandfather, whose surname was Howard. I had always thought he was her second husband, but it seems there was another brief union first. Unfortunately this all took place in Jasper County, Indiana, before the time of their 1864 courthouse fire. So, no marriage records are available, and I will have some digging to do in order to learn about this Mr. Sexton.
There were a couple of other pieces of information which came to light in my searches, but as we all know, the longer you work on this, the fewer the discoveries. At first it is like skimming the cream off the top. Later is it more like sifting through already-mined sources to find a tiny nugget or even a bit of gold dust.
Nonetheless, I had a really satisfactory visit, and now there are some real clues to stalk.
Showing posts with label Family History Library. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family History Library. Show all posts
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Friday, November 13, 2009
Coming up for heir ...
Just surfacing after a week in Salt Lake City, where I was embedded with books, films, and many many other genealogy obsessives. There is something so comforting about being around people who are as overboard about a subject as you are. And every time I go, there is something new to discover, not only genealogically, but also about the Family History Library’s own physical setup.
I was fortunate to connect with a group from the upper midwest a couple of years ago, and now I schedule my Utah trips for the time when they will be there -- a pleasantly companionable arrangement. Having ancestors who arrived in North America well before the Revolution, I spend my time on the second and third floors (US books and films), while my Minnesota pals are in the lower levels digging into Scandinavian history, but there are plenty of fellow researchers everywhere, ready to share a thumbs up when they hear someone exclaim over a Big Discovery.
The Library is set up for laptop owners, with plenty of power outlets and free wireless access not only to its own catalog, but also to its many database subscriptions, like Ancestry, World Vital Records, Footnote, etc. Of course it is also quite feasible to use the Library’s own computers -- there are banks of them now, and plenty of volunteer staff more than willing to help with technical and/or genealogical assistance. The only cost is for the printer, and at a nickel a page, you can’t beat that.
I particularly appreciated the new scanning equipment, which allowed me to make paper copies of individual microfilm shots, after cropping, straightening, adjusting constrast, etc. Another option is to copy these filmed images directly onto a flash drive. (I did both.) And being able to buy a 2G flash drive for $9 isn’t bad, either.
My own research results reinforced the standard advice -- work back in time, from the known to the unknown, and don’t limit the scope of your search to a single place. I have long wanted to prove, or rule out, a connection between one particular ancestor and another, earlier, person, with little success. So instead of concentrating on that earlier guy, a Revolutionary War pensioner, I decided to learn more about the known ancester. I found his death date and burial place in an Ohio county I had not tried before, which was a big step forward. Now, if only I can find an obituary ...
In Georgia, I was trying to discover what happened to a relative’s first husband and four young children when she remarried. Again, the problem was partly solved when I did a state-wide census search for the first husband and found the family in a county I had not tried before. That led me to newspaper accounts of his illness and death, and the fact -- albeit negative -- that it was not an epidemic that wiped out everyone. So, although I still don’t know what became of the children, I have a better idea of where to look.
You know what they say -- location, location, location. If you are looking in the wrong place, you won’t get far.
Now for the fun part -- working these and other FHL finds into my family history files -- adding newly discovered names, dates, places, and events. And of course making sure I have permanent lists of the sources I searched, whether they yielded anything or not.
And, by the way, how is YOUR research going?
I was fortunate to connect with a group from the upper midwest a couple of years ago, and now I schedule my Utah trips for the time when they will be there -- a pleasantly companionable arrangement. Having ancestors who arrived in North America well before the Revolution, I spend my time on the second and third floors (US books and films), while my Minnesota pals are in the lower levels digging into Scandinavian history, but there are plenty of fellow researchers everywhere, ready to share a thumbs up when they hear someone exclaim over a Big Discovery.
The Library is set up for laptop owners, with plenty of power outlets and free wireless access not only to its own catalog, but also to its many database subscriptions, like Ancestry, World Vital Records, Footnote, etc. Of course it is also quite feasible to use the Library’s own computers -- there are banks of them now, and plenty of volunteer staff more than willing to help with technical and/or genealogical assistance. The only cost is for the printer, and at a nickel a page, you can’t beat that.
I particularly appreciated the new scanning equipment, which allowed me to make paper copies of individual microfilm shots, after cropping, straightening, adjusting constrast, etc. Another option is to copy these filmed images directly onto a flash drive. (I did both.) And being able to buy a 2G flash drive for $9 isn’t bad, either.
My own research results reinforced the standard advice -- work back in time, from the known to the unknown, and don’t limit the scope of your search to a single place. I have long wanted to prove, or rule out, a connection between one particular ancestor and another, earlier, person, with little success. So instead of concentrating on that earlier guy, a Revolutionary War pensioner, I decided to learn more about the known ancester. I found his death date and burial place in an Ohio county I had not tried before, which was a big step forward. Now, if only I can find an obituary ...
In Georgia, I was trying to discover what happened to a relative’s first husband and four young children when she remarried. Again, the problem was partly solved when I did a state-wide census search for the first husband and found the family in a county I had not tried before. That led me to newspaper accounts of his illness and death, and the fact -- albeit negative -- that it was not an epidemic that wiped out everyone. So, although I still don’t know what became of the children, I have a better idea of where to look.
You know what they say -- location, location, location. If you are looking in the wrong place, you won’t get far.
Now for the fun part -- working these and other FHL finds into my family history files -- adding newly discovered names, dates, places, and events. And of course making sure I have permanent lists of the sources I searched, whether they yielded anything or not.
And, by the way, how is YOUR research going?
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Salt Lake City
Some thoughts on returning from Salt Lake City and the Family History Library:
You promise yourself to focus on your predetermined research, but when you walk into that building, with its thousands of books and millions of films, it takes time to adjust, to take it all in -- the first-timer needs at least a day to settle down, perhaps taking an orientation tour or class; the returnee must reacquaint him/herself with the Library’s many features and discover what changes have taken place since the last visit.
My favorite “new” technology was the microfilm scanner which copies images directly to flash drives, or, as they are also known, memory sticks These can be then loaded directly to your own computer as photo images, for later adjustment and enhancement. (And if you need a flash drive, they can be purchased on site very reasonably. No charge for using the scanner, and plenty of help if you require it.) In fact, there seemed to be a lot more staffers available to give assistance of every kind. The photocopiers which print out images from microfilm are still available, too.
The Library has banks of computers for researching their extensive online collection, and the wireless setup enables use of one’s own laptop for most searches. I found this especially helpful when I was looking at the online catalog for additional sources. Instead of jumping up and going to the microfiche catalog, as in times gone by, or even using one of the Library’s computers, I could sit at my microfilm reader or book-littered table and just log on to my trusty MacBook. Saved time and steps -- both important when time is limited.
There are many subscription websites, in addition to the locally-available Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest. In fact, the ease of looking at census records online is such that the many cabinets of census film that used to occupy a whole section of one floor have been done away with. I was happy to see, however, that the printed indexes are still at hand. You never know -- what is mis-typed or omitted in one or another online index might show up in the printed version, and vice versa.
Some people prefer to concentrate on books, rather than films, when working at the Library, because, they point out, films can always be borrowed through a local Family History Center, while books cannot. I agree, to a point.
Books are usually secondary sources, with their credibility depending heavily on the accuracy, thoroughness and documentation of the research. I use printed family histories for clues only, and try to track down any sources that are given. Print indexes or abstracts are a first step in finding the original, usually on film.
There was a time when I looked at the printed "Index to Probate Records of Kent County, Delaware, 1680-1800," extracted data from the brief entries found there, and let the matter rest. No more. For one thing, these items, while full of names and dates, do not list tracts of land, which were usually named. For another, there is nothing like looking at the original to get a sense of what life was like. Full text of a will may have explanations as to why one child is given more than another. Complete probate records, where there is no will, may contain appraisals, listing the decedent’s personal and real property, the results of sales with names of purchasers (which may include the widow and close family members), and record of the final distribution, which will name the heirs. Much of this detail is necessarily omitted in printed works.
The Plaza Hotel, right next door to the Library, is still my favorite place to stay. Besides the free airport shuttle, they provide small refrigerators, coffee-makers and microwaves in every room now. A real time- and money-saver is having a quick breakfast in your own room! The Library’s lunch room seems to have a greater variety of vending maching offerings than in earlier times (I used to take my own trail mix and got heartily sick of it).
You promise yourself to focus on your predetermined research, but when you walk into that building, with its thousands of books and millions of films, it takes time to adjust, to take it all in -- the first-timer needs at least a day to settle down, perhaps taking an orientation tour or class; the returnee must reacquaint him/herself with the Library’s many features and discover what changes have taken place since the last visit.
My favorite “new” technology was the microfilm scanner which copies images directly to flash drives, or, as they are also known, memory sticks These can be then loaded directly to your own computer as photo images, for later adjustment and enhancement. (And if you need a flash drive, they can be purchased on site very reasonably. No charge for using the scanner, and plenty of help if you require it.) In fact, there seemed to be a lot more staffers available to give assistance of every kind. The photocopiers which print out images from microfilm are still available, too.
The Library has banks of computers for researching their extensive online collection, and the wireless setup enables use of one’s own laptop for most searches. I found this especially helpful when I was looking at the online catalog for additional sources. Instead of jumping up and going to the microfiche catalog, as in times gone by, or even using one of the Library’s computers, I could sit at my microfilm reader or book-littered table and just log on to my trusty MacBook. Saved time and steps -- both important when time is limited.
There are many subscription websites, in addition to the locally-available Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest. In fact, the ease of looking at census records online is such that the many cabinets of census film that used to occupy a whole section of one floor have been done away with. I was happy to see, however, that the printed indexes are still at hand. You never know -- what is mis-typed or omitted in one or another online index might show up in the printed version, and vice versa.
Some people prefer to concentrate on books, rather than films, when working at the Library, because, they point out, films can always be borrowed through a local Family History Center, while books cannot. I agree, to a point.
Books are usually secondary sources, with their credibility depending heavily on the accuracy, thoroughness and documentation of the research. I use printed family histories for clues only, and try to track down any sources that are given. Print indexes or abstracts are a first step in finding the original, usually on film.
There was a time when I looked at the printed "Index to Probate Records of Kent County, Delaware, 1680-1800," extracted data from the brief entries found there, and let the matter rest. No more. For one thing, these items, while full of names and dates, do not list tracts of land, which were usually named. For another, there is nothing like looking at the original to get a sense of what life was like. Full text of a will may have explanations as to why one child is given more than another. Complete probate records, where there is no will, may contain appraisals, listing the decedent’s personal and real property, the results of sales with names of purchasers (which may include the widow and close family members), and record of the final distribution, which will name the heirs. Much of this detail is necessarily omitted in printed works.
The Plaza Hotel, right next door to the Library, is still my favorite place to stay. Besides the free airport shuttle, they provide small refrigerators, coffee-makers and microwaves in every room now. A real time- and money-saver is having a quick breakfast in your own room! The Library’s lunch room seems to have a greater variety of vending maching offerings than in earlier times (I used to take my own trail mix and got heartily sick of it).
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
For the record
Research "logs" – does anyone really use them? What form is best? The ones I have seen in books and articles look good – while they are blank and before they really become logs. But what about the books you come across while looking for something else? How do you keep track of the titles you searched which yielded nothing /zip / nada? That is still a problem for me.
Straightforward "to do" checklists for a predefined set of people, such as one's direct ancestors, are all well and good. It is important to be sure one has looked at all the obvious sources for the standard data – census records, vital records, land records, city directories, etc. (Images of, or at least citations for, originals, please!) But when you have done that – what next?
I am in the midst of preparations for a trip to Salt Lake City next month, and since so much is now available online, my time there needs to be spent on searches I cannot easily do from home or at local libraries. To that end, I am working up some research sheets – not logs at this point – for particularly knotty problems. Each will deal with an individual and will list what I know about him/her already – that is, DOCUMENTED data – put down as concisely as possible. If I have some unsupported information from other researchers, I will be sure to include that as a source of clues.
Each sheet will state precisely what I am hoping to find out, and some ideas for sources to examine. Going to the Family History Library's online catalog from home, I can look for films, books and periodicals which offer possibilities. Of course when I get there, the open stacks will allow for all kinds of serendipitous discoveries. I must remember to fully note the name, date and author of each title examined, a task too easy to ignore. By noting the location numbers for books and films ahead of time, I can save time when I get there by going straight to the shelves or drawers.
Even when I have found some information online, I want to try to find the original source. For instance, Ancestry.com has a huge database of Delaware marriages, but they are just transcriptions. There are references to the sources, and many times these are FHL films of the original records – which may have more – or clearer – information.
I used to think once I had examined a book or film, it could be set aside permanently, as "finished." But of course that is not the case. As we learn more about the lines we are searching, additional information in those same books and film may reveal itself as relevant. It is one thing to repeat a search out of forgetfulness, and quite another to take a second look with wiser eyes.
A librarianly postscript: when noting the publication you have examined, be sure to write down the title as shown on the TITLE PAGE, not the spine or front cover. They often vary, and the true title is the one you need.
Straightforward "to do" checklists for a predefined set of people, such as one's direct ancestors, are all well and good. It is important to be sure one has looked at all the obvious sources for the standard data – census records, vital records, land records, city directories, etc. (Images of, or at least citations for, originals, please!) But when you have done that – what next?
I am in the midst of preparations for a trip to Salt Lake City next month, and since so much is now available online, my time there needs to be spent on searches I cannot easily do from home or at local libraries. To that end, I am working up some research sheets – not logs at this point – for particularly knotty problems. Each will deal with an individual and will list what I know about him/her already – that is, DOCUMENTED data – put down as concisely as possible. If I have some unsupported information from other researchers, I will be sure to include that as a source of clues.
Each sheet will state precisely what I am hoping to find out, and some ideas for sources to examine. Going to the Family History Library's online catalog from home, I can look for films, books and periodicals which offer possibilities. Of course when I get there, the open stacks will allow for all kinds of serendipitous discoveries. I must remember to fully note the name, date and author of each title examined, a task too easy to ignore. By noting the location numbers for books and films ahead of time, I can save time when I get there by going straight to the shelves or drawers.
Even when I have found some information online, I want to try to find the original source. For instance, Ancestry.com has a huge database of Delaware marriages, but they are just transcriptions. There are references to the sources, and many times these are FHL films of the original records – which may have more – or clearer – information.
I used to think once I had examined a book or film, it could be set aside permanently, as "finished." But of course that is not the case. As we learn more about the lines we are searching, additional information in those same books and film may reveal itself as relevant. It is one thing to repeat a search out of forgetfulness, and quite another to take a second look with wiser eyes.
A librarianly postscript: when noting the publication you have examined, be sure to write down the title as shown on the TITLE PAGE, not the spine or front cover. They often vary, and the true title is the one you need.
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