Thank you FGS and ISGS volunteers for a great FGS conference in Springfield. Also, thank you Speakers for the great presentations. I learned so much. Now I need time to organize the information so that I can benefit from it all.
I had a great time and I know many, many others did to. So, thank you All for your efforts.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
FGS 2011 - Attendees from Arizona
Last week in Springfield, I believe I heard someone say they were from Arizona. When I turned around, I couuldn't figure out who it was. And I was on my way to a conference session, so really couldn't have talked long anyway.
So now I'm looking for attendees from Arizona. Who are you? Where do you live? Did you fly or drive? Do you live in Arizona full time? What other conferences do you generally attend? Are you a blogger?
If you attended the FGS conference or know someone who did, please get in touch with me. I'd like to compare some notes, perhaps by having a mini-reunion in a couple of months. We may be able to help each other by filling in missing information we obtained during those busy four days.
So now I'm looking for attendees from Arizona. Who are you? Where do you live? Did you fly or drive? Do you live in Arizona full time? What other conferences do you generally attend? Are you a blogger?
If you attended the FGS conference or know someone who did, please get in touch with me. I'd like to compare some notes, perhaps by having a mini-reunion in a couple of months. We may be able to help each other by filling in missing information we obtained during those busy four days.
FGS 2011 - After the Conference - Part 1
The FGS conference in Springfield ended Saturday. Packing up the flyers, syllabus pages and my notes was a reminder of all that I had learned or been introduced to in four days. There was a lot of new information; a lot of reminders; and some just plain "Don't forget this!!!" information.
Now that I am on my way home, I stopped by Skokie, Illinois, for a few days before flying back to Phoenix, I realize that the after conference summaries and reviews are just as important, or perhaps more important, than the planning before the conference.
Where am I going to file the flyers so that I can find them and retrieve the information? Or am I just going to put the information someplace on my computer (and remember while file I saved it to?
The notes that I took regarding web sites need to be near my computer so that I can check out the sites. The notes I took about research facilities and collections need to be filed with the state and with research sites. The notes I took about research techniques need to be filed in some appropriate place. (Otherwise why learn new techniques? I want to be sure I try some new methods which may make searching more productive. And then, where do I put all of the bibliographic references? Just keeping them on the flash drive won't necessarily help me when I need information. So do I copy and paste these to a separate file and then save them (again in an appropriate place on my computer and remember where I saved the file)?
As you can see, I have different types of information that I want to be able to readily access. I'd love to here how you do it. And, obviously, it's going to take me some time filing before I actually can use a lot of the great information provided at the FGS Conference.
Oh yes. And I need a little time to rest (from the days filled with information) as well as to catch up on yard work and even some work around the house.
Now that I am on my way home, I stopped by Skokie, Illinois, for a few days before flying back to Phoenix, I realize that the after conference summaries and reviews are just as important, or perhaps more important, than the planning before the conference.
Where am I going to file the flyers so that I can find them and retrieve the information? Or am I just going to put the information someplace on my computer (and remember while file I saved it to?
The notes that I took regarding web sites need to be near my computer so that I can check out the sites. The notes I took about research facilities and collections need to be filed with the state and with research sites. The notes I took about research techniques need to be filed in some appropriate place. (Otherwise why learn new techniques? I want to be sure I try some new methods which may make searching more productive. And then, where do I put all of the bibliographic references? Just keeping them on the flash drive won't necessarily help me when I need information. So do I copy and paste these to a separate file and then save them (again in an appropriate place on my computer and remember where I saved the file)?
As you can see, I have different types of information that I want to be able to readily access. I'd love to here how you do it. And, obviously, it's going to take me some time filing before I actually can use a lot of the great information provided at the FGS Conference.
Oh yes. And I need a little time to rest (from the days filled with information) as well as to catch up on yard work and even some work around the house.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Mystery Monday - Paralee Steen(e)/Steele TRICE
This mystery woman married my great grandfather Charles Yancy Trice. On her headstone in Belle Vista Cemetery, El Dorado, Kansas, it states “Paralee, Wife of C Y Trice” and the dates 1847-1893.
In the History of Boone County Missouri, “He was married November 19th, 1878, to a daughter of Alfred R Steele.” Unfortunately the book doesn’t say anything more about her. I have not found her or her father in 1850, 1860 or 1870 census records. The 1880 census records show that she was born about 1857, not 1847, as the headstone. But we know that a wife may not want to indicate that she is older than her husband.
On the death certificate of Odon Charles Trice it states that his mother was Paralee Steen, born in Joplin, Missouri. On the death certificate of his sister Harriet Trice Sheley it says her mother was Perilee Steene, born near Joplin, Missouri.
An obituary for Charles Yancy Trice stated that “By his first marriage to Miss Paralee M Steen…”
So the family has her maiden name as Steen. The history book has her father’s surname as Steele. I have been unable to find her, or her father, with either spelling.
So, who is she? Who were her parents? Are there any birth or marriage records for her? Do any of you have any knowledge of her? Do you have access to a death record for her that may give more information?
Friday, September 9, 2011
FGS 2011 - Part 4 - Friday
This afternoon I attended my first session that wasn't actually scheduled. What? Yes, this is a new idea. In the one room set aside for these informal sessions, Amy scheduled the topic on Blogging. I believe 13 or 14 attended and the discussion was on different aspects of blogging. It was really interesting. Thank you, Amy, for setting up the session. Thank you, Bloggers, for the providing so much information that no one person would probably ever know.
For dinner I walked to Gianfranco. It's on Adams, just past the bookstore. I had a great dinner. And they are open until 8 I believe. While Gianfranco's is an informal place, the service was prompt and the food came out hot. And it was really good. I saw a few other FGS attendees there. I hope they enjoyed their dinners as much as I enjoyed mine.
Reading the WeTree blog I found out about HistoryGeo.com. If you have looked at the map books in the Arphax booth, and wish you had $2000 to buy all of the books for your counties, this NEW web site is much less expensive. You can sign up and look at some basic maps FREE. And then there are two subscription levels. If you are still here at the FGS conference, you may want to get "hands on" instruction at the booth on Saturday. If not, check out the web site or call them.
Tomorrow, Saturday, is the last day of FGS 2011. Some attendees will be leaving tomorrow and some of us will be staying until Sunday. I have had a great 3 days and I know the last one will be just as informative and fun as the past 3. Thank you Paula and Josh and all of the great volunteers. And a huge thank you to the city of Springfield and the little cafes near the hotels who were sometimes inundated with all of us who were wearing lanyards with ribbons hanging down from our name badges.
For dinner I walked to Gianfranco. It's on Adams, just past the bookstore. I had a great dinner. And they are open until 8 I believe. While Gianfranco's is an informal place, the service was prompt and the food came out hot. And it was really good. I saw a few other FGS attendees there. I hope they enjoyed their dinners as much as I enjoyed mine.
Reading the WeTree blog I found out about HistoryGeo.com. If you have looked at the map books in the Arphax booth, and wish you had $2000 to buy all of the books for your counties, this NEW web site is much less expensive. You can sign up and look at some basic maps FREE. And then there are two subscription levels. If you are still here at the FGS conference, you may want to get "hands on" instruction at the booth on Saturday. If not, check out the web site or call them.
Tomorrow, Saturday, is the last day of FGS 2011. Some attendees will be leaving tomorrow and some of us will be staying until Sunday. I have had a great 3 days and I know the last one will be just as informative and fun as the past 3. Thank you Paula and Josh and all of the great volunteers. And a huge thank you to the city of Springfield and the little cafes near the hotels who were sometimes inundated with all of us who were wearing lanyards with ribbons hanging down from our name badges.
FGS 2011 - Part 3 - Friday
Oh have the days run into each other. Sessions at FGS began at 8 am this morning. Since many of the cafes don't open until 7 there wasn't much time. It was also raining, but I went out anyway to get a light breakfast (at the Trout Lily, again). Almost no one was on the street. Guess people may think they shrink? I don't know.
Sessions yesterday with the door prize drawings not starting until 6:30 made for a long day. I won't write about the details. At the moment I don't remember all of them although I do have complete notes.
Something great is that about half (I'm guessing) of the talks are being audio recorded. With this noted in the program I sometimes have attended a talk that isn't recorded because I'll order a CD for one that is recorded. I wish there were some video recordings also being made (SCGS's Jamboree had some). These are really great. But I guess we need to be concerned and consider if anyone would go to a conference or even a session. I would, but would everyone?
Time to leave for another session. Also, I need to check out one of the vendors. I just heard about a new subscription site on maps. Need to check it out. More later.
Sessions yesterday with the door prize drawings not starting until 6:30 made for a long day. I won't write about the details. At the moment I don't remember all of them although I do have complete notes.
Something great is that about half (I'm guessing) of the talks are being audio recorded. With this noted in the program I sometimes have attended a talk that isn't recorded because I'll order a CD for one that is recorded. I wish there were some video recordings also being made (SCGS's Jamboree had some). These are really great. But I guess we need to be concerned and consider if anyone would go to a conference or even a session. I would, but would everyone?
Time to leave for another session. Also, I need to check out one of the vendors. I just heard about a new subscription site on maps. Need to check it out. More later.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
FGS 2011 - Part 2 - Wednesday
Oh, so much is happening. And there are three more days to go. I will survive!!
Last night I attended a reception for bloggers that was hosted by FamilySearch. All bloggers who were attending the FGS conference were invited. It was great to actually meet some of the bloggers I had never met and to be reintroduced to some of those I did know. Fun.
FamilySearch representatives provided so much information about new projects and improved services on familysearch.org. There was lots of information regarding RootsTech 2012. Many of us are going to want to help indexing the 1940 census starting next April. Progress is being made on putting Civil War records online.
One of the most impressive statements to me is that records are being added online within 4 weeks after being digitalized and the goal is to have them available in 2 weeks. Amazing. Indexing will come later but the images are going to be available for browsing. Well, we used to just wind microfilm; now we click on images. Which is easier on the shoulder?
Wednesday was society day. We had sessions on so many different topics from making sure our society is thinking about the future in meeting the changing needs of our members, both our current ones and our new ones. Sessions on social media in all forms were available all day. Brainstorming sessions were also offered so that we received ideas from many attendees. What a great variety of ideas. I loved it.
It's so difficult to unwind tonight. But tomorrow morning is coming. And there will be great sessions and the exhibit hall will also be open. I'm really looking forward to another great day.
Last night I attended a reception for bloggers that was hosted by FamilySearch. All bloggers who were attending the FGS conference were invited. It was great to actually meet some of the bloggers I had never met and to be reintroduced to some of those I did know. Fun.
FamilySearch representatives provided so much information about new projects and improved services on familysearch.org. There was lots of information regarding RootsTech 2012. Many of us are going to want to help indexing the 1940 census starting next April. Progress is being made on putting Civil War records online.
One of the most impressive statements to me is that records are being added online within 4 weeks after being digitalized and the goal is to have them available in 2 weeks. Amazing. Indexing will come later but the images are going to be available for browsing. Well, we used to just wind microfilm; now we click on images. Which is easier on the shoulder?
Wednesday was society day. We had sessions on so many different topics from making sure our society is thinking about the future in meeting the changing needs of our members, both our current ones and our new ones. Sessions on social media in all forms were available all day. Brainstorming sessions were also offered so that we received ideas from many attendees. What a great variety of ideas. I loved it.
It's so difficult to unwind tonight. But tomorrow morning is coming. And there will be great sessions and the exhibit hall will also be open. I'm really looking forward to another great day.
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