WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Artwork by
Jane Williams Cutler Taylor
1923-2005

NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 2013 CONFERENCE: LISA LOUISE COOKE

ne of my favorite moments from the recent NGS conference was when I met Lisa Louise Cooke (http://lisalouisecooke.com/bio). I have been listening to her genealogy podcasts for over a year, and I have purchased all of her books. I love her upbeat attitude and technology know-how.  Lisa has a personality that makes you like her instantly.  She was as warm as she could be. I felt like a groupie meeting a rock star! She even complimented me on my jewelry.

My husband and I attended her presentation entitled “Google Search Strategies for Common Surnames: Quality Results in Less Time!”  Time is so precious, and Lisa has some great tips for preserving it using Google! While waiting for her presentation to start, I shared my admiration for Lisa with one of the ladies sitting next to me. She was in complete agreement.  It is her personality! She’s vivacious, energetic, friendly, down to earth and informative. The packed session went by quickly. Lisa is a natural when it comes to public speaking. 

If you haven’t listened to Lisa’s free podcasts (http://lisalouisecooke.com/podcasts/faq), you are missing some helpful information. You can wear your headphones while walking or doing chores.  She’ll keep you up to date on all things genealogical.  You can also read each show’s notes for free.

If you really get hooked, you can subscribe for a small fee to her premium podcasts, which contain additional information. See http://lisalouisecooke.com/premium-membership.  I am, of course, a premium member. Lisa has also written several books. Be sure to check them out at http://lisalouisecooke.com/lisa-louise-cookes-store.

Also, be sure to read her blog: http://lisalouisecooke.com/blog. In addition, she is on Youtube. See http://www.youtube.com/user/GenealogyGems.

Genealogy should not be intimidating. It is okay to have fun while you learn this great hobby, avocation or career.  Lisa’s presence was a blessing for first time attendees to the conference.

Thanks, Lisa, for being part of the genealogical community!

ILLUSTRATIONS BY:

Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, Electronic Clip Art, 1200 Ornamental Letters, 2007.

Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, Electronic Clip Art, 1100 Pictorial Symbols, 2007.

Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, Electronic Clip Art, 1268 Old-Time Cuts and Ornaments, 2006.

GOOGLE ALERTS: SAMPSON SPAULDING

enealogy research requires an enormous amount of time, so I take every opportunity I can to maximize my time. Using Google alerts (http://www.google.com/alerts) is one way to do this.  I have numerous alerts set up for assorted towns and surnames. Weeks can go by without alerts of interest, but today was different. Today I received an alert about an article entitled “Memorial would mark Tewksbury's 1775 Patriots 2.6-mile Line-of-march Memorial” by Katie Lannan (http://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_23230753/memorial-would-mark-tewksburys-1775-patriots-2-6). This article talks about the Tewksbury Historical Society’s quest to set up posts and historical markers along the route through Tewksbury that its citizen militia marched on April 19, 1775. (1) According to this article, Dave Marcus, Historical Society President, stated, “That was the day the United States was made.” (2) The article also shows a picture of the Rev. Sampson SPAULDING Homestead; Sampson was my 6^th great grandfather. Sampson had a son, Sampson SPAULDING, who was my fifth great grandfather. The younger Sampson was one of the Tewksbury minutemen. See http://www.tewksburyhistoricalsociety.org/Archives/MinuteMen/index.html. Please note that "Sampson" is spelled "Samson" at times.

I am definitely going to contribute to this project!

If you are interested in more information on the Spaulding family, see my previous posts http://www.theartofgenealogy.com/2012/11/tewksbury-massachusetts.html

and http://www.theartofgenealogy.com/2012/11/revolutionary-war-veterans.html.

If you aren’t using Google Alerts, you are missing a great tool. Let Google do the work while you attend to the other thousand items on your genealogy to-do list.  If you need help setting up a Google Alert, see https://support.google.com/alerts/answer/175926?hl=en&ref_topic=28416.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY:

Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, Electronic Clip Art, “1200 Ornamental Letters," 2007.

Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, Electronic Clip Art, "American Historical Illustrations and Emblems," 2001.

CITATION SOURCES:

(1) Lannan , Katie. "Memorial would mark Tewksbury’s 1775 Patriots 2.6-mile Line-of-march Memorial." Lowellsun.com, May 13, 2013. http://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_23230753/memorial-would-mark-tewksburys-1775-patriots-2-6 (accessed May 16, 2013).

(2) Ibid.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Artwork by
Jane Williams Cutler Taylor
1923-2005

NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 2013 FAMILY HISTORY CONFERENCE

just returned from the NGS conference in Las Vegas and, oh, what a week! I met new friends, heard speeches by renowned genealogists, bought numerous books and CDs and enjoyed the Las Vegas sunshine and glitz. In the upcoming weeks I will be sharing with you some of the knowledge I have gained. 

Tonight I am simply going to list some of the genealogical publications I purchased at the NGS booth:

First, I was able to obtain a copy of the fresh-off-the press Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones (http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/mastering_genealogical_proof).  I understand that this book will become a bible for genealogists everywhere.

Some of the other items I snagged were:

• Creating a Winning Family History by Carmen J. Finley
• Genealogy and Genetics, A Theme Issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, vol. 93, no. 4, December 2005.
• Understanding and Using Baptismal Records by John T. Humphrey

See http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/publications/ngs_special_publications/current_publications.

In addition, I bought four books from the NGS Research in the States Series (http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/research_in_the_states):

• Maryland by Patricia O’Brien Shawker
• Michigan by Shirley M. DeBoer
• New York City, Long Island and Westchester County by Laura Murphy DeGrazia
• Tennessee by Gale Williams Bamman, revised and updated by Charles A. Sherrill

Now, I need a vacation to read all these books. 

ILLUSTRATION BY:

Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, 1200 Ornamental Letters, Electronic Clip Art, 2007.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Artwork by
Jane Williams Cutler Taylor
1923-2005

Date: 1980

BOUNTIFUL GENEALOGY RESEARCH IN MICHIGAN

ast night I attended the annual Lock-in event sponsored by the Waterford Genealogical Society and Waterford Township Public Library in Waterford, Michigan.  For details see my prior post at http://www.theartofgenealogy.com/2013/04/genealogical-treasure-trove-waterford.html.

Attendees were allowed to choose three classes on a variety of topics.  One of the classes I attended was called “Michigan Roots: Genealogy Research in the Great Lakes State” by Kris Rzepczynski, Senior Archivist at the Archives of Michigan in Lansing. I have heard Kris speak before so I was eager to hear him again. His presentations are fact-filled, humorous and fast paced. He knows how to keep the ball moving.

Kris said that the genealogical records in Michigan are “bountiful” compared to many states. For example, Michigan, unlike many states, conducted its own census. For more information on census information in Michigan see http://www.censusfinder.com/michigan.htm.

NAMING PATTERNS

Kris’ presentation started with a discussion of how many of the Michigan town and city names reflect where their inhabitants came from.  I am from New York and know that New York has a Troy, Utica, Ithaca and Rochester. Well, so does Michigan. Michigan has a Genesee County and so does New York (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesee_County,_Michigan).  It makes me free right at home.   Of course, Michigan was populated by other states too (Pennsylvania and the New England states, for example).

ERIE CANAL

Then Kris discussed the importance of the opening of the Erie Canal in New York in 1825 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal). This allowed people to more easily move west into Michigan and other states. I grew up in a town located on the Erie Canal, and my ancestors lived in Utica, also on the Erie Canal (see http://www.theartofgenealogy.com/2012/09/richard-williams-and-erie-canal.html).

INDUSTRIES IN MICHIGAN

Kris went on to talk about the various industries in Michigan—the lumber industry in Northern Michigan, the mining in the Upper Peninsula and the furniture industry in Grand Rapids.  And, of course, everyone knows about Detroit and the car industry.  He said that if your ancestor was from one of those cities, it is very likely that they were involved in the local industry.

MICHIGAN PIONEER PROGRAMS

Kris brought to our attention the importance of the Michigan Pioneer programs. These programs encouraged people to apply for a certificate of lineage by virtue of their having descended from an early settler of Michigan. The applications and supporting documents are a goldmine of information for people seeking genealogical information.  Kris noted that there were three state level programs: The Michigan Sesquicentennial Pioneer Files (you must show lineage from 1837), the Centennial Family Certificates (you must show lineage from 1876), and the Michigan Pioneer records (vaguer date guidelines on this one). He emphasized that you should check the records from all three programs.  For information on reviewing these files, see http://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Michigan_Genealogy.

See a discussion of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections at the Michigan State University website (http://libguides.lib.msu.edu/MPHC). Links to the digitalization of the multi-volume set can be found at  http://libguides.lib.msu.edu/content.php?pid=79190&sid=586622  and http://libguides.lib.msu.edu/content.php?pid=79190&sid=586647.

Many counties in Michigan also have pioneer programs.  These are a few I found through a Google search:

• http://monroe.lib.mi.us/pioneer.htm

• http://www.wmgs.org/pdf/PioneerPackage.pdf

• http://www.genealogymuskegon.com/Pioneer%20Certificate/pioneer_certificate.htm

I also found a few of the county pioneer records online:

• The Oakland County, Michigan Pioneer Death Index is online at http://www.waterford.lib.mi.us/content/oakland-county-pioneer-death-index.

• Memorial Reports of the Michigan Pioneer Society for select years for Lenawee County can be searched at http://lenawee.migenweb.net/exindex.html.

• Some Bay County Pioneer Reports can be seen at http://www.mifamilyhistory.org/bay/baypioneers.htm.

VITAL RECORDS

Kris went on to talk about vital records in Michigan. We are lucky here because mandatory statewide record keeping started in 1867, earlier than in many states. For more information see http://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Michigan_Vital_Records.

CITY DIRECTORIES

Kris said that Michigan City Directories can be of great assistance in helping you learn about your ancestors.  For more on this topic see http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,2351,7-160-18635_51181-117864--,00.html.

BOOKS ABOUT MICHIGAN

There were book recommendations. Here are a few Kris mentioned:

• DeBoer, Shirley. NGS Research in the States Series: Michigan. Arlington, Virginia: National Genealogical Society, 2008.

• Dunbar, Willis F. Michigan: A History of the Wolverine State. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1995.

• McGinnis, Carol. Michigan Genealogy: Sources & Resources. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2005. (I have this book and concur that it is a wonderful source.)

• Romig, Walter. Michigan Place Names: the History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press, 1986. (I have referred to this book in prior posts. See http://www.theartofgenealogy.com/2013/03/finding-family-using-google-maps-john.html).

MICHIGAN RESOURCES

For a list of the 50 best genealogical resources in Michigan see http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,2351,7-160-18635_51181-50180--,00.html.

KEEP UP THE SEARCH

You’re probably hoping by now that you have Michigan ancestors.  Don’t despair if you think all your ancestors were from other parts of the country. As you drill down deeper into your history, you will very likely find someone who migrated to Michigan. I now have at least 50 known Michigan ancestors, and I was not born here.

THANK YOU

I would like to extend a big thank you to the following:

• Waterford Genealogical Society
• Waterford Township Public Library
• Kris Rzepczynski
• Archives of Michigan

There were many more speakers and organizers, but they are too numerous to mention. The Lock-in was a fabulous event, and I look forward to attending it again next year.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY:

Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, Electronic Clip Art, 1200 Ornamental Letters, 2007.

Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, Electronic Clip Art, Old-Fashioned Nautical Illustrations, 2002.

Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, Electronic Clip Art, 1565 Spot Illustrations and Motifs, 2007.

Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, Electronic Clip Art, Decorative Silhouettes, 2003.

Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, Electronic Clip Art, 1268 Old-Time Cuts and Ornaments, 2006.