1784 Map of the U.S. to be displayed at LOC

An article in Sunday's Washington Post tells the tale of how the Library of Congress will be able to display the first map of the United States. "The first map of the United States, created in 1784, has been purchased for the record price of $1.8 million by Washington philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, who is lending it to the Library of Congress."

This map is an original drawn by Connecticut resident Abel Buell and Rubenstein wants the LOC to display it for five years. He said "I just think Americans don't know enough about their history. Showing documents spurs them to learn more." I agree with this statement. Whether I am teaching beginners or advanced family historians, the ability to see a document connects them more fully to the document and time period. It also spurs them to find such documents that relate to their own ancestry.

The Christie's auction house website describes the map as "the first map of the U.S. published in America, the first map printed in America to show the flag of the United States and the first map to be copyrighted in the United States." That would be the NEW United States of America! 

Rubenstein has purchased other historical documents and made them available for public viewing. The map had been put up for auction by the New Jersey Historical Society as a means of raising operating funds. I think we will see more historical societies, archives, and libraries employing such methods to keep them going in today's era of extreme lack of governmental support for historical organizations and libraries.

Click here to read the full article. Click here to see the map description at Christie's auction house.

Miscellaneous Serendipity!

Some of my favorite records are those labeled as “miscellaneous” or “loose.” Others are data in the back of a totally unrelated record book or on the back of a note or index card.
                               
Miscellaneous
These may be a collection of related or unrelated papers and the dates of coverage may not be clear. The Family History Library Catalog www.familysearch.org does include some miscellaneous court and vital records. Do a keyword search for "miscellaneous" in the catalog or that of any record repository. A state or other archive online catalog or in-house inventory may show a couple of volumes of “Miscellaneous Records” for a town or county. A check of the catalog of the Missouri State Archives http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/ using only the word miscellaneous yields “Miscellaneous Court Records.” The subject tracings include

The Illinois Supreme County and O'Hare Airport Expansion

The Chicago Tribune has declined to hear the case of the preservation of the cemetery that sits on land O'Hare Airport wants for expansion. This means that the ruling of a lower court will stand and likely the known 1,000 people buried there will be disinterred. St. Johannes Cemetery is 161 years old. I am willing to bet that there are many people who don't know they have family there. Other may not realize that the graves near the relatives they do know about are also related to them.

Gone will the the family groupings, gone will be the community and church history that the groupings of burials reflects, and gone will be the historic resting place.

Archivist of the U.S. to answer questions online

Tomorrow, Thursday, 27 January 2011, David S. Ferriero, the Archivist of the United States will be online via the Washington Post's website. This will take place at noon Eastern Time. Click here for details or to leave a question. Then at noon EST check back to see the questions and answers. This appearance is in connection to the alteration of a document at the National Archives that I discussed earlier this week.

I have another appointment at that hour but will check in later to read the conversation.

Watch WDYTYA with a group in Minnesota

Are you getting ready to watch the new season of Who Do You Think You Are? It would more fun to watch it with a group of others who love researching family history. The Minnesota Genealogical Society is hosting a fun, social get-together to help kickoff  the 2nd season of  

"Who Do You Think You Are?"

Please join us as we watch the premiere show for the 2011 season.  Bring your family and friends!  We will begin with some eats, then enjoy the show, and stay around for

Author and Lincoln researcher alleged to have altered a document

This press release was sent by the U.S. National Archives. As I read this I stood up in my office and yelled "it wasn't a genealogist!" So often those researching their family history are blamed for things that happen in repositories.

The Washington Post had a lengthy and informative article on the matter. Part of that article states "Archives officials, after a year-long investigation, say Lowry signed a written confession Jan. 12 that he brought a fountain pen into the research room sometime in 1998 and wrote a 5 over the 4 in 1864, using a fade-proof ink. Lowry, a retired psychiatrist who discovered the pardon in an unsorted file box, has denied any wrongdoing. He said he was pressured by federal agents to confess." 

Never, never, never alter an original document, never "correct" items that appear out of order, don't reorganize files, and shudder, never take any document. If something in a file or box at any repository seems out of order or that something is awry, bring it to the attention of the staff. Like with the airlines, even careful and innocent people will be subjected to greater scrutiny because of the misdeeds of a few
                                                        

January 24, 2011

National Archives Discovers Date Change on Lincoln Record

Thomas Lowry Confesses to Altering Lincoln Pardon to April 14, 1865

Washington, DC… Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero announced today that Thomas Lowry, a long-time Lincoln researcher from Woodbridge, VA, confessed on January 12, 2011, to altering an Abraham Lincoln Presidential pardon that is part of the permanent records of the U.S. National Archives.  The pardon was for Patrick Murphy, a Civil War soldier in the Union Army who was court-martialed for desertion. 

Ancestry.com discontinues Expert Connect

I received this press release from Ancestry.com today:

"Over a year ago Ancestry.com created Expert Connect as a way to expand its service offerings and provide additional assistance for members through an elite group of professional genealogists and researchers. Through this service, customers were given the opportunity to hire genealogists to retrieve records, perform research or simply acquire expert advice. Though this service has been a positive experience, Ancestry.com

Still need a 2011 Calendar? Even better, a genealogy one?

"Everyday Genealogy 2011" should fit the bill! Each day of the tear-off desk calendar gives a genealogy tip, website, blog, history fact, or other tidbit useful to genealogists.

Everyday Genealogy is available on Amazon or on its own website http://www.everydaygenealogy.com/. Pattie Schultz, the creator, says "there is also an iPhone version available on iTunes. There are research tips covering all 50 states, suggestions for getting family members involved, connecting through social networks, monthly blogs and book recommendation and much more. The best part is 99% of the suggestions refer users to FREE sites."

It is now priced at $9.99. Be sure to check out September 1st for a mention of this very blog! My calendar is sitting right next to me on my desk. Today's entry reminds us to check for the many useful genealogy videos on YouTube.com.

Early bird discount registration for RootsTech ends Jan. 15th

SALT LAKE CITY—The $99 early bird registration for the RootsTech 2011 Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, ends January 15, 2011. RootsTech is a completely new conference focused on bringing technology creators together with genealogy technology users to learn together and identify solutions to family history research challenges. Genealogists and family historians will discover exciting new research tools while technology creators will learn the latest development techniques from industry leaders and pioneers.

The registration fee includes three full days of conference attendance, conference materials, entry to the Clarke Planetarium dinner event, extended access to the Family History Library, admission to the closing reception event, eligibility for prize drawings, and admission to the Community Zone (exhibition hall).

Family Tree Make for MAC released

ANCESTRY.COM RELEASES FAMILY TREE MAKER FOR MAC ON THE MAC APP STORE

Downloadable Version of the #1-Selling Family History Software Available Today

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., January 6, 2011– Ancestry.com today announced the launch of Family Tree Maker® for Mac on the Mac App Store. Family Tree Maker for Mac provides an easy way to save and organize your family tree conveniently on your Mac and has a variety of tools that can help you share your discoveries with family and friends.

“We are excited that Family Tree Maker for Mac is now available for download on the Mac App Store,” ,” said Eric Shoup, Senior Vice President of Product for Ancestry.com. “We’re committed to making our

Support the Birdie Monk Holsclaw Memorial Fund

Support the Birdie Monk Holsclaw Memorial Fund

by Cari Taplin on Sunday, January 2, 2011 at 9:28pm

Birdie Monk Holsclaw (1948-2010) was a Certified Genealogist from Longmont, Colorado. She was very active in the genealogical community not only locally but nationally as well. She was most known for her mentoring spirit and knowledge of the latest technological gadgets. She often lectured and, among other things, taught classes at Samford University. She was active in many societies always bringing her cheerfulness and sharing her knowledge everywhere she went.

The books from Birdie Monk Holsclaw's private collection are being auctioned at eBay. They being sold to

Generations alive when I was born

When I was born I had these ancestors alive:

Parents: William Earl and Patricia Margaret (Hanley) Stuart
Maternal Grandparents: Maurice Michael and Gertrude Margaret (Cook) Hanley
Paternal Grandparents: Earl James and Olga Theodora (Carlsen) Stuart
Maternal Great Grandparents: John Thomas and Violet (Marie Delia Malvina Daoust/Dow) Cook 
Paternal Great Grandmother: Emma Louise (Slaker) Stuart (widow of Alexander Charles Stuart)

I was 10 when my last great grandparent died, Violet (Marie Delia Malvina Daoust/Dow) Cook. She was 83.
I was 18 when my first grandparent died, Olga Theodora (Carlsen) Stuart. She was 76.
I was 51 when my last grandparent died, Gertrude (Cook) Hanley. She was 98.


When my oldest son was born he had these ancestors alive:

Marin Co. California Coroner Records

Coroner's records offer fascinating stories. I have a thick one from 1911 in Chicago that details the death of Great granduncle Edgar Royal Stuart. He died on a streetcar and all the other passengers had to be interviewed and their statements are in the file. How many of you can find proof that at a specific time on a specific day your relative was riding on a specific streetcar in Chicago?

The Marin [California] Independent Journal reports the current and new location of coroners records for Marin County as "the files on more than 89,000 coroners' cases -- many handwritten in pen and ink on parchment -- have been transferred to the county library's Anne T. Kent California Room, a rich repository of local historical documents, and the nonprofit Marin County Genealogical Society."

The article also relates that "library volunteers have already begun organizing the files in acid-free archival boxes and folders, and entering case information into a computer index. . . But numerous issues remain to be resolved in setting up the database, including the legality of public access to medical records and homicide-related files."

Read the full article here. 

Genealogist Terrence Punch receives Canadian recognition

The Governor General of Canada, announced 54 new appointments to the Order of Canada and one of them is a family historian! According to the press release, "The Order of Canada, one of our country's highest civilian honours, was established in 1967, during Canada's centennial year, to recognize a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the nation."

Terrence Punch of Halifax, Nova Scotia was appointed "for his contributions to the development and popularization of genealogy in the Atlantic provinces." Terrence has written extensively in relation to genealogical research in Atlantic Canada.

I met Terrence back in 1989 right here in St. Paul, Minnesota when the Minnesota Genealogical Society hosted the National Genealogical Society Conference in May of that year and have enjoyed his writing. Congratulations on this honor.

Read the full press release here. Thanks to colleague Dave Obee for the news posting on Facebook.

FGS appoints new FORUM editor

A press release from the Federation of Genealogical Societies with some exciting news.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) Selects Family History and Publishing Expert to Head its Electronic Quarterly Magazine

December 27, 2010 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) today announces the appointment of Matt Wright as Editor of its electronic quarterly magazine, the FGS FORUM.

For the past 15 years, Wright has worked professionally in the publishing industry producing magazines, journals, books, and electronic newsletters. Matt graduated cum laude from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1996 with a degree in Communications and currently works at BYU, where he builds online courses in the University’s distance education department.

During his career, Matt has also worked for FamilyLink.com, Ancestry.com, Utah Business magazine, and

New York Genealogical and Biographical Society names new editors!

I receive many important press releases and love to share the genealogical and historical news. I take special pleasure in posting this press release. It involves two friends. I have known Laura for just a few years and have been impressed with her work ethic and great spirit. I have known Karen for about twenty years and we have spent time at each other's home, have worked together in business and volunteer work, and I admire her dedication. They are already hard at work on the upcoming issues. Congratulations my friends!


NEW YORK -  The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society has selected Laura Murphy DeGrazia, CG, and Karen Mauer Green as the new co-editors of The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, replacing Patricia Law Hatcher who retired after completing the October 2010 issue. The NYG&B Record, issued continuously since 1870, is the second oldest genealogical publication in America and one of the field’s most

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Fun with relatives

In the early 1980s as more grandchildren came along and my parents went through a tough time after my Dad's serious illness, we cut back on gifts. We began choosing names. Also, we started playing the "dice game."

Each person was to bring several gifts valued at about $1.00 each and wrapped in newspaper. They were all dumped into a pile and if you shook doubles, seven, or eleven with the dice, you got to take a wrapped prize. When they were all gone, you unwrapped them, picked out 2-3 to save and put the rest in front of you. Then the dice went around again for about 15 minutes. Doubles, seven, or eleven meant you got to "steal" an unprotected gift from someone else. Certain gifts kept getting "taken" by others. Grandma Gert (Cook) Hanley always looked forward to this game. There were always a few "special gifts." No one really wanted

Madness Monday: Football in the cold

I am not talking about ancestors here. Well, maybe someday my descendants will think I was mad. My inspiration for this is the recent collapse of the Metrodome here in Minnesota and the subsequent need for the Minnesota Vikings to play tonight's football game in the cold at the new stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota. Last weekend's 15-18 inch snows, coupled with an inflated dome roof (now deflated) already beyond its supposed life span, is the reason that the Minnesota Vikings will play the Chicago Bears outdoors. People have