GRIP - Pittsburgh - Some openings - 10 days to go

I haven't been posting about the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, but I'm very excited about going.  I leave 10 days from today and fly into Pittsburgh.  I'll have one night in a hotel before moving into the dorm on Sunday.  I'm nervous because I've never been to an institute before, and excited about meeting other researchers and the great organizers and instructors.  And, of course, I'm looking forward to all of the new information I'll have to help me with my research in the future.  

While I don't know if I'll have time to post during the Institute, I'll keep notes so that if any of you are interested in attending next year, I may be able to answer questions.  Because a few students had to cancel at the last minute, as of this minute, the GRIPitt site says that there are two seats available in Intermediate Genealogy, one seat in German Research and four in Problem Solving with Online Repositories.  Look at the web page for more information: http://www.gripitt.org/

Hope to see you in Pittsburgh.

Tuesday's Tips - Census Records - Instructions?

I just recently discovered a wonderful blog (web site) by Elizabeth Shown Mills.  https://www.evidenceexplained.com/  Quick Lesson 9 was about instructions.  Yes, instructions for enumerators and ESM gave a great example of how an enumerator gave "additional" information on a census record that could benefit us if we carefully read the directions.  In fact, though, the "additional" information was in the enumerator instructions that many of us don't read.

Thank you, ESM.  I would now like to apply your suggestions regarding reading instructions to the current indexing projects, particularly the 1940 census records, on familysearch.  Some indexers (and arbitrators) really want to make corrections to the census record when they index, like spelling a name "correctly" or adding county and state if "same place" or "same house" is listed.  As an arbitrator, I am also trying to help researchers, but unfortunately I feel I must read (and follow) the instructions provided even though sometimes I would also like to make changes. 

This reminder to read instructions is going to be valuable to me in my future research, just as finding out WHY a record was made has helped me analyze the information in a document.  Thank you again. 

Smashed Goal!! Indexing and Arbitrating

Congratulations to all of you who Indexed or Arbitrated.  We smashed the goal!!

It was a great day.  Now I need to get back to some normal chores.  It's going to be exciting to see all of the new indexed records coming online because of our efforts.



Mystery Monday - Trice Marrage to Steen/Steele Again

Last fall I posted information regarding the first wife of Charles Y Trice (1853-1915).  Well, I've discovered some more information, but it's still leading to questions.  This is a lengthy explanation since I'm trying to work out all of the details for myself as well as asking for help from all of you. 

According to a familysearch index (I need to look at the actual film) Parral Lee Steen married C Y Trice in Henry County, Missouri in 1878. 

Then, according to online death records for Missouri for the two children of Trice and Steen, Harriet Trice Sheley's death certificate says her mother's name was Perilee Steene born near Joplin, Missouri.  Odon Trice's death certificate says his mother's name was Paralee Steen born in Joplin, Missouri.  So I have some consistency.  Unfortunately I can't find any Steen(e) with a first name with Per* or Par* in 1870 or 1860 census records.  And in the 1880 census with Trice, her age is given as 23, which would indicate she was born about 1857.  Any suggestions?

Then to make matters worse, on FindAGrave the headstone for Paralee Trice, wife of C Y Trice, shows 1847-1893.  So how old is she?

Then, the other mystery.  In 1900 census, Charles Trice is married to Lena and, in error it says they have been married for 15 years.  So what's wrong?  I know that Odon and Hattie are not Lena's children, but children by Charles's first marriage.  Since Ruth was listed as being born in  November 1892, but Paralee didn't die until 1893, is there a divorce record?  Where can I find that? 

Lastly, family lore states that Charles Trice married Luna/Lena Drake in 1890 or 1891 in Franklin, Indiana, or around there.  I have been unable to find a record of this marriage. 

So, I need a marriage record for Charles Trice and Luna/Lena Drake.
I need a birth record for Ruth Trice stating her parents' names, just to make sure she is the daughter of Lena. 
I need a divorce record for Charles Trice and Paralee, if the Trice/Drake marriage took place before Paralee died. 
I would like to find out the names of the parents of Paralee Steen(e). 
I would like to have a death record for Paralee Steen(e) Trice, not just a photo of the headstone.

All suggestions are appreciated.  Thank you.

After Conferences - Now What? - Master Location Files

I was fortunate to be able to attend both NGS and Jamboree this year.  (I'm going to miss FGS.)  Anyway, I learned a lot but I really need to process what was presented, organize my CDs and syllabus material, etc.

So, I'm working on going through my family files on the software programs and making sure that I have good sources for each fact.  Since some of these were started before I became as aware of the importance of sources, I have lots of catching up to do. 

Tina Lyons http://genwishlist.blogspot.com/ worked through her files by surname.  I haven't quite figured out what to do later, but for now I'm going through my master location list and making sure that I have the correct counties for each town.  It's a start.  Of course I have 10 or 11 different family files so it's taking me quite awhile.  And I have more than one software program so I have to work a little differently for each one. 

I have google or yahoo open and put in a town and state and find out a county.  Then I look in the Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920, and make sure that the county was there at the time period I'm working with.  I have found that many times I can quickly make an adjustment to numerous files at once. 

So, I hope you don't need to do this, but if you do need to make changes to locations, check out your software program and see how to make changes that will apply to each mention for that location.  Good luck.

SCGS Jamboree 2012 - Saturday

At 8:30 Elyse Doerflinger gave a great presentation on organizing digital Stuff.  If you don't know her, she's dynamic, knowledgeable and young.  I'm sure that the attendees in the almost full room were very glad they found at seat in this 8:30 session.  Thank you Elyse. 

I had some good sessions and one I wish I had skipped, even though the room was full.  I know that sometimes timing of a presentation gets off, but I really feel that all of us deserved more than a 30 minute presentation in an hour time period. 

I feel my mind is overloaded.  I'm having trouble remembering the classes I took today, much less the past two days.  But I have notes and I bought some DVDs and CDs of many presentations that I was unable to attend.  It's going to take me weeks, I'm afraid, to really analyze and organize what I have heard/learned. 

If you haven't been to Jamboree, think about next year.  For all of us who live in the west, this is the premier genealogy conference.  It's close, across from the Burbank (Bob Hope) airport; it's reasonably priced; it's convenient (the hotel is next to the convention center); there are restaurant options with a block walking distance.  AND the SCGS volunteers put on a great, well-planned, well-organized conference that is FUN!!!!!!!

SCGS Jamboree - Friday

While Jamboree sessions requiring registration began at 1:30 today, the exhibit hall opened at noon and the morning choices including a tour, a research trip to the SCGS Library, roundtable discussions, and more.

I chose to attend four sessions all concerning Genealogy Society Development.  Wow!  So much information; SO MANY IDEAS.  Too bad I'm not 10 people (or perhaps I need to be 20).  Cath Madden Trindle's topic was Projects.  Then Schelly Talalay Darshashti spoke about Publicity.  George Morgan provided a long, long list of Affordable Member Benefits.  We finished with Josh Taylor's presentation about Creating a Website.  Most societies have web sites, but Josh gave us great ideas to improve our sites.  I wrote notes and more notes. 

If you are interested in these presentations, you can order video or audio copies of them by contacting Conference Resource at www.myconferenceresource.com or calling 866-813-2451.  No, I am receiving no compensation for this review.  However, if you want some exciting ideas to energize your society, you can get them through these presentations.