"Tracing Our Roots" Newsletter Archive (A monthly genealogy newsletter written by the late Brenda Kellow, dec'd, for the Plano Star Courier newspaper. We've included all the ones we could recover.)
The genealogical community was thrown a curve when the recent 1930 census was released. Only 12 states have Soundexes and two other states have partial Soundexes—all southern states. However, the National Archives (NARA), in preparation for the loud cry for help from researchers, created a Census Microfilm Locator to aid in a Soundex Search or a Geographic Search. It is found on their web site www.nara.gov/genealogy/1930_census_viewing_procedures.html.
I used the Geographic Search to hunt for the census roll where Plano and Wylie appeared. There are only two rolls of microfilm for Collin County, but I wanted to search the area as expediently as possible. I typed in "Texas" on the Search State feature. Next I selected "Collin County" on the County Search. The "Search City" window gives only five large cities. I scrolled down to another window, "Search Geographic Area", where I typed "Plano, Wylie". My search results showed a table for that area and gave a description where I wanted to search. It was all on one roll of film and gave three areas from which to choose. Since I was looking for the farmers and not the city dwellers, I have to look at all three areas called Precinct 5. The cities of Plano and Wylie are separate from the farmland. I determined that I needed series T626 roll 2310.
NARA’s Census Locator made short work of my search. Be sure to use it to help in your search for any state without a Soundex.
OLD McKinney NEWSPAPER FILM ACQUIRED: Gladys Harrington Library in Plano acquired the first eight rolls of the McKinney Democrat for the years 1884-1910, and the index for the 1st volume. Their goal is to purchase this series through 1950.
Library Lock-in: Don’t forget the Library lock-in on Friday evening, April 26, from 6-11 p.m. Hosted by Genealogy Friends and the Library. Pizza will be served at 7:15. Be there early, preferably by 5:30 p.m. If you have questions, call Stella at 972-424-1373, StellFi@aol.com, or Jennifer at 972-517-4795, djz.pitts@verizon.net.
New CD Indexes in the Library: More donations by Genealogy Friends include: 1870 World Immigration Series 9-CD set; 1870 census indexes for Connecticut & Rhode Island, Delaware and New Jersey, Tennessee; 1870 Heads of Household Birthplace index for New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, New England; and the U.S. 1820 (AIS) census index.
QUERY: Charles and Dee Colvin, POB 1186, Gladewater, TX 75647, e-mail chrdcol@gte.net, are looking for the James Colvin family. His will was written 20 Nov 1814 with witnesses shown as John McNeill and Duncan Blue. It was proved 10 September 1815. James Colvin’s wife may have been Margaret McNeill of Cumberland County, North Carolina. Those researching Colvin may also be searching McNeill and Blue surnames. This is based on a finding showing James Colvin, II married Ann Blue, daughter of Duncan Blue of Cumberland County, North Carolina. Their son, Duncan Blue Colvin, married twice. First he married Margaret McSwain, with whom two daughters were born. Duncan then brought his family west to Hempstead County, Arkansas. There he married a second time to Mary B. Arnold. After Duncan died in Hope, Arkansas, his family moved to Ennis, in Ellis County, Texas. If you are researching any of these surnames, please contact Dee Colvin at the above address.
GOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARD: The Plano Chapter of the SAR awarded to Stella Fincher the Bronze Good Citizenship medal at their April meeting. Ms. Fincher was recognized for her tireless work in the genealogy community. She spoke briefly about her volunteer work in the library and Genealogy Friends where she is on the Board of Directors and chairs the quarterly Library Lock-ins. Ms. Fincher announced the recent $15,000 that Genealogy Friends raised to purchase another two-thirds of the U.S. 1850 census and the $400 in donations to purchase the census indexes for the Gladys Harrington Library. She was given a nice ovation in appreciation for her dedication.
Brenda Kellow, dec'd, Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Instructor, had a Bachelor’s Degree in history and taught genealogy courses at the local Community College and computer genealogy at the University.
