"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 latest acquisitions to appear in the Genealogy Section of the library is another part of the 1850 census. Ordered but not yet arrived is the next to last segment of the 1850 census. The residue is that of the New York census, totaling 143 rolls. Hopefully Genealogy Friends will purchase the New York census microfilm by the end of 2002.
Also arriving this week in the library is the 1930 Texas census for every county in the state. These film images of the census pages are available in the library for patrons to use. The library graciously accepted the donation of these census films from Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc.
On order, but not in the library at the submission of this column are the locator films necessary for searching the 1930 census. The library is kindly donating these films for patrons to make their search of the most recent census easier.
Only a few states have a soundex, unlike the census from 1880 through 1920. Texas is not among those with an index. Therefore, Genealogy Friends committed to index the 1930 Collin County census. The committee is already at work preparing for this project, which should begin within a couple of weeks.
Unfortunately, I was recently told that the library s contract on the film readers has expired because there are no longer parts available to fix the older readers. This means, says Cheryl Smith, that when the film readers break, they cannot be fixed. I ask the readers to be aware of this disappointing news in hopes that by next year we may find a donor or donors who might provide new film readers to the library.
SATURDAY WORKSHOP: Government Records: National and Regional is the theme for the Saturday workshop at Gladys Harrington Library, 1501 E. 18th Street, in Plano. Using unknown and little used records to find those pesky old ancestors is of prime importance in genealogical research.
If you are like me and can t find some of your ancestors hiding places, then this workshop is for you. Too often we use major records such as the census, deeds, and wills but fail to look further when information is lacking on a certain person or family. Sometimes, we might go to newspaper files, or even look briefly for religious records, but stop when the search becomes too difficult or complicated. But, we must be diligent in our search. There are other records available which might reveal a multitude of information if we only knew they existed. It is these kinds of accounts that will be discussed at the all-day workshop sponsored by Genealogy Friends. There you will learn the kinds of new records to use, how to use them, and what you can expect from them.
The morning talks are by professional Lynne Darrouzet who will first be speaking on Expanded Census Talk With Emphasis on the 1930 Census and then covering every detail of Using Tax Records to pin down people, time periods, and holdings. The afternoon lectures will be by another experienced researcher Barbara Coakley who will discuss Military Records and Homestead Records. Both speakers will show you examples of how to analyze and use the records to determine their acceptability.
Genealogy Friends is asking for a $25 donation from members and a $32 donation from non-members. Remember, your money goes to purchase census microfilm and census indexes, among other acquisitions for the library.
CITY DIRECTORIES: City Directories are another tool that researchers should use whenever practical. To observe which directories are printed, filmed, and online see www.uscitydirectories.com.
ADOPTION TOOLS: For those conducting adoption research, please check the search tools, registries, mailing lists, and support at www.genealogytoday.com/adoption/puzzle/.
SAR Patriot Index: Last call to place your ancestor s picture in the publication. Send your brief history and picture to SAR Patriot Index Committee, 3 La Costa Court, Ormond Beach, FL 32174-3811 or e-mail to PatriotIndex@cfl.rr.com. You have until 15 July 2002 to act on this. Publication date is August 30.
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.
