Have you lost an ancestor in Maryland? We recently received a research tip from one of our book vendors, Diane, from the Prince George’s County Genealogical Society of Maryland [PGCGS]. No one knows about researching in a geographic area like someone who lives in the area.
Diane says that after the Civil War, many young men left their farms in southern Maryland to find work in Washington, DC. When they died, most of the time their bodies were not shipped home. You will find their burials in Washington, DC.
A patron and I were working on her mother’s family. She told me the story of her great-uncle, who was killed by a train when he was 12 years old. The accident happened in Jackson County, Missouri, sometime in the 1920s. His name was Francis Bishop.
While most of the books at MGC give us an abundance of information on births, deaths, deeds, wills, cemeteries etc., some give us a look into the celebrations in towns, city, or county events. I was excited when I saw one of our new acquisitions: Remembering the St. Louis World’s Fair by Margaret Witherspoon. Even though I have lived in Independence more than 35 years, when anyone asks me where I am from, I automatically say St. Louis.
Have you looked at census records for Ireland? If so, have you noticed that only 1901 and 1911 are available? That’s right. The 1821-1851 records were largely destroyed in the fire in the Public Records Office in 1922. There are only a few surviving fragments. Those for 1861-1891 were completely destroyed by the government.
The next available census will not be released until 2027 but don’t panic. There are census substitutes; that is, other types of records that exist:
Exploring the Diversity of the American Family Album
Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler have written a series of books telling the stories of our ethnic ancestors' experiences in America. These books are written in the style of "Family Albums." They share touching memories of personal immigrant experiences, as well as photographs, historical facts, and other information. These books will add depth that will round out and add the human interest touch to your family trees. Several of the books have won awards.
It’s always fun to come across the unusual in genealogy. This gravestone in McFall, Gentry Co., Missouri is the first I’ve seen that includes a complete family tree! The stone is a solid piece of granite with the letters and family tree etched in the stone, and it measures about 3 feet wide by 6 feet long. The second photo shows the detail of the family chart including date and place of birth, date and place of marriage, date and place of death, etc...
I do believe I’m going to revise my will and make my kids do this for my grave!
You know those old pictures that you inherited from your grandparents or your parents that you keep meaning to sort or do something with? Well, Heritage Scrapbooking at MGC is the place for you to be! On the first Saturday of each month, we meet to help each other create a timeline of pictures for your family. Most people do it in scrapbook form with some embellishments and creativity. Others simply record and mount the pictures with just names and dates. Either way, it is two hours that yo
MGC Spotlights Volunteers: An Interview With Beth F.
Beth’s Dad created a 115-name family tree reflecting every one he knew in the family—aunts, uncles, grandparents. She inherited the tree he started, and that’s all that she needed to catch the bug. Beth tells the story best: "My Dad passed away 13 years prior to me starting on genealogy in the late 90s.
While the men of Arkansas were away fighting for the Confederacy, the women and children they left behind experienced their own version of the Civil War. Their stories were collected for the book Confederate Women of Arkansas in the Civil War: Memorial Reminiscencesby Michael B. Dougan (1993, first published in 1907).
What is American Archives Month? It is a month to recognize the importance of archives in preserving history and providing access to materials. Archivists help to ensure that these materials will be preserved for future generations to research.
While most of the books at MGC give us an abundance of information on births, deaths, deeds, wills, cemeteries etc., some give us a look into the celebrations in towns, city, or county events. I was excited when I saw one of our new acquisitions: Remembering the St. Louis World’s Fair by Margaret Witherspoon. Even though I have lived in Independence more than 35 years, when anyone asks me where I am from, I automatically say St. Louis.
