Wednesday, November 25, 2009

National Day of Listening


The Illinois State Library encourages you to take part in StoryCorps' National Day of Listening on Friday November 27.

On the day after Thanksgiving, set aside one hour to record a conversation with someone important to you.

Download a free Do-it-Yourself Instruction Guide with step-by-stepinterview instructions, equipment recommendations and great questions.

If you interview Illinois veterans, you can also submit their stories to Secretary of State Jesse White's Illinois Veterans History Project.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

DAR Genealogical Research Database


After nearly a decade of scanning, indexing, and other behind-the-scenes work by DAR members and employees, the DAR Genealogical Research System (GRS) is now available on their public website.
Click here to search online.

The GRS is a growing collection of databases that provide access to many materials collected by the DAR over the past 119 years. On the GRS page, several tabs enable searching in the following databases:

--Ancestor (established DAR Revolutionary War Ancestors and basic information about them with listings of the applications submitted by descendants who joined the DAR [updated daily])

--Member (limited access to information on deceased/former DAR members – not current members.)

--Descendants (index of generations in applications between the DAR member and the Revolutionary War ancestor. There is much eighteenth and nineteenth-century information here. [ongoing indexing project])

--GRC (everyname index to 20,000 typescript volumes (some still being indexed) of genealogical records such as cemeteries, Bibles, etc. This index is not limited to the period of the American Revolution at all.)

--Resources (In particular, the digitized DAR Library Revolutionary Pension Extract Card Index and the Analytical Index Cards. Other information sources will be coming in the near future, mostly relating to Revolutionary War service, bibliographies, *Forgotten Patriots* (updates), etc. Read the introductions to these to learn why these are both important genealogical indexes. For example, the Rev. War pension index includes the names of people *mentioned in* those pensions that were abstracted (not just the pensioner or widow)!!!!)

--Library Catalog (Their book, periodical, and manuscript holdings)

Each of these databases has interrelated content, and a description of each is given more fully on the website. You will notice restricted information in many search results. This is the result of a concerted effort to protect the
identity of DAR members while providing historical genealogical information to researchers.

The national numbers of members (without the names of living members) given in the search results are needed to order copies of applications and supplemental applications. They do not lead online researchers to any other information about the member.


(Received from: Eric G. Grundset, Library Director, DAR Library, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, 1776 D Street, N. W., Washington, DC 20006-5303

Contact him at egrundset@dar.org or 202-879-3313)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Genealogy and eBay


The next CAGG-NI meeting will be held starting at 10:30 am this Sat. Nov. 21 at the Hanover Park branch of the Schaumburg Library, just east of Barrington Road on Irving Park Road. PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF VENUE FOR THIS MEETING ONLY.

The topic will be: How to Use eBay to Locate Genealogical Illustrations, by Ed Udovic. Ed presents tricks of the trade to register, bid, and when to bid to secure illustrations.

The next regular meeting will be on Jan. 16, 2010.

For more information, contact Bill McGovern, Promotions Chair, at bmcgovern3790@sbcglobal.net
The CAGG-NI Newsletter for November 2009 is now on display in the Reference Room at the Library.

Linkpendium

The Linkpendium directory contains 8,442,133 genealogy links.

Search for genealogy websites by localities in the USA, UK, and Ireland, as well as by surname.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

1940 Census

The official release date for the 1940 U.S. Census is April 2, 2012.

This 16th decennial U.S. Census had a distinct focus on labor and economic issues. Beyond the usual questions we have come to expect in the census schedules are some very interesting new ones which in part give a glimpse into our ancestors’ lives as they lived through the Great Depression and Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs.

In addition, this census askedfor their 1935 residence, 1939 personal income, and specific military service. Also interesting is that the individual providing the census information is so noted.

(From News From the Northwest, v.30 no.2)

Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists: Newsletter


Located in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs, the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists was initially formed in 1977. Their focus is the history and genealogy of Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights and surrounding suburbs.

They promote the study of genealogy and history; conduct programs and workshops; encourage preservations of private and public records; and assist members in the study of family history

Their monthly meetings feature quality speakers.

Members receive am informative, bi-monthly newsletter, access to people with similar interests, and the potential to meet new cousins!
The November/December issue of the newsletter, News From the Northwest, is now available. It includes an outstanding article about German genealogy, and is on display in the genealogy section of the Reference Room on the newsletter stand.

Maxwell Street film


Sunday, November 22nd, there will be a meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois, at Temple Beth Israel, 3601 West Dempster, Skokie.

The Temple will be available at 12:30 PM to accommodate members who would like to use JGSI library materials, need help with genealogical internet web sites, or have genealogical related questions.

2:00 PM program features a film by Eshel Productions: Maxwell Street, A Living Memory

For more information about future meeting dates for 2010, JGSI plans for a One Day Conference, and some interesting websites, click here.