MORE VITAL RESOURCE BOOKS TO EXPLORE
Brenda Kellow
July 1, 2012
The reference section in the Genealogy Library is an important place for genealogists to explore. Understanding and becoming acquainted with the reference books adds jewels in the crown of the weekend researcher as well as the full-time genealogist. Courthouses contain the facts on ancestors as they bought and sold land, were born, married, and died, were taxed, marked and branded their cattle, and were drafted into military service and later discharged as they trekked westward in the early years of our country. This information was recorded at the time of the event, not years later, with the exception of vital records. The date of vital records did not always begin when the county was formed, but deeds, taxes, military records, marks and brands began with the county’s formation. Red Book, mentioned in last week’s column, contains the date the records began for each of the counties in the states, including vital records.
Understanding the records, identifying what records are in a courthouse and how to use them are in Christine Rose’s book, Courthouse Research for Family Historians-Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures. The type of indexes varied throughout the country. Use Christine Rose’s book, Courthouse Indexes Illustrated, to understand the many index styles.
Visit the Genealogy Library and become personally acquainted with the items on the reference shelves. Familiarity with the family history resources can cut short any problems you encounter.
WAS COLUMBUS THE FIRST: A five-hundred year old document relating to John Cabot recently surfaced indicating North American travel prior to 1492. Were other Italians here before Columbus? Those descendants of Italian explorers can find more on this at http://news.discovery.com/history/columbus-cabot-new-world-discovery-120503.htm. There has been speculation through the years relating to this but evidently not enough to re-write history.
NAVIGATING THE COLUMBIA RIVER: In the spring of 1792, Captain Robert Gray of Rhode Island sailed from Boston to the Northwest on a privately owned merchant ship, the Columbia Rediviva. The first to navigate the river, he and his crew collected over 450 animal pelts that they later sold in China. The crew aboard the Columbia traded nails and iron items for salmon, deer and moose during the nine-day trip. Experienced seamen, the Captain and his men had previously circled the globe. The story and the names of his crew are at http://en.geneawiki.com/index.php/Robert_Gray%27s_Columbia_River_expedition.
FAMILY SEARCH RECOGNIZES BILLION GRAVES: FamilySearch.org announced on their blog they are uploading all information from http://BillionGraves.com to the https://FamilySearch.org site. I understand that some of my readers recently had problems with the BillionGraves site. I have not had a personal problem when I used my iPhone to take pictures of gravestones on location, but hopefully they will correct any glitches shortly. It is important that our cemetery information and images be readily available to the world. Thanks to Joe Proctor for this information.
LOLAVILLE IN COLLIN COUNTY: Reader Laura Tynes wrote me that a friend told her there was an early town in the county called Lolaville at the intersection of Highways 121 and 289. Since I could not confirm this for her, I sent an email to Collin County Historical Commission member Joy Gough for confirmation. Joy replied, “Lolaville was supposed to be a black community located at the intersection of 121 and Preston Road in the 1940s.” Joy went on to say, “as late as the 1980s and 90s articles would appear in the paper about the last houses in Lolaville.” Thanks Laura and Joy.
PLANO SAR SETS WORKSHOP: The 6 p.m. program at the July 3 regular meeting of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) at Outback Steakhouse in Plano, the program topic is the Battle at Kings Mountain by speaker Howard Roach. They will also discuss the September genealogy workshop at Haggard Library sponsored by the SAR and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Visitors and wives are welcome.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].
Understanding the records, identifying what records are in a courthouse and how to use them are in Christine Rose’s book, Courthouse Research for Family Historians-Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures. The type of indexes varied throughout the country. Use Christine Rose’s book, Courthouse Indexes Illustrated, to understand the many index styles.
Visit the Genealogy Library and become personally acquainted with the items on the reference shelves. Familiarity with the family history resources can cut short any problems you encounter.
WAS COLUMBUS THE FIRST: A five-hundred year old document relating to John Cabot recently surfaced indicating North American travel prior to 1492. Were other Italians here before Columbus? Those descendants of Italian explorers can find more on this at http://news.discovery.com/history/columbus-cabot-new-world-discovery-120503.htm. There has been speculation through the years relating to this but evidently not enough to re-write history.
NAVIGATING THE COLUMBIA RIVER: In the spring of 1792, Captain Robert Gray of Rhode Island sailed from Boston to the Northwest on a privately owned merchant ship, the Columbia Rediviva. The first to navigate the river, he and his crew collected over 450 animal pelts that they later sold in China. The crew aboard the Columbia traded nails and iron items for salmon, deer and moose during the nine-day trip. Experienced seamen, the Captain and his men had previously circled the globe. The story and the names of his crew are at http://en.geneawiki.com/index.php/Robert_Gray%27s_Columbia_River_expedition.
FAMILY SEARCH RECOGNIZES BILLION GRAVES: FamilySearch.org announced on their blog they are uploading all information from http://BillionGraves.com to the https://FamilySearch.org site. I understand that some of my readers recently had problems with the BillionGraves site. I have not had a personal problem when I used my iPhone to take pictures of gravestones on location, but hopefully they will correct any glitches shortly. It is important that our cemetery information and images be readily available to the world. Thanks to Joe Proctor for this information.
LOLAVILLE IN COLLIN COUNTY: Reader Laura Tynes wrote me that a friend told her there was an early town in the county called Lolaville at the intersection of Highways 121 and 289. Since I could not confirm this for her, I sent an email to Collin County Historical Commission member Joy Gough for confirmation. Joy replied, “Lolaville was supposed to be a black community located at the intersection of 121 and Preston Road in the 1940s.” Joy went on to say, “as late as the 1980s and 90s articles would appear in the paper about the last houses in Lolaville.” Thanks Laura and Joy.
PLANO SAR SETS WORKSHOP: The 6 p.m. program at the July 3 regular meeting of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) at Outback Steakhouse in Plano, the program topic is the Battle at Kings Mountain by speaker Howard Roach. They will also discuss the September genealogy workshop at Haggard Library sponsored by the SAR and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Visitors and wives are welcome.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].