Ozarks Genealogical Society

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1940 Census

The 1940 census enumerated all inhabitants of the 48 states, plus territories (such as Alaska and Hawaii). It included over 3.8 million pages of information on 134 million people. In addition to general information such as names and ages, this census also included some detailed information such as their residence in 1935, the individual providing the information, and annual income in 1939.
 
The digitized images were released by the National Archives on April 2, 2012. All images are available for free viewing and download at several sites. For the moment, you must search for individuals, but a complete index should be available within a few weeks. Here is the current status of some web-sites:

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Writing your family history

At last month's workshop meeting, we discussed writing your family history.  Regional and state publishers are crying for submissions of family histories. Harold Henderson at Midwestern Microhistory discusses some of the stumbling blocks we encounter here.  Don't let your perceptions of your inadequacies keep you from writing. As with many other things, the more you practice the better you become. 

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Genealogy Workflow

Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings has written a post about his "Genealogy workflow."  A lot of us struggle with how to organize our research and here's one man's method:

Dear Randy - Can you describe your genealogy workflow

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GEDCOM Files

We are often given the chance to share our genealogy information using a GEDCOM file. This discussion will clarify what these files are and how they can be used. Since the 1940 census was released today, we will also share some basic information on browsing those images.

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Upcoming 1940 census information

Judy Russell, attorney and certified genealogist,  has posted on her blog her notes from an all-day presention given by NARA archivist Connie Potter: The Road to the 1940 Census: In Search of Your Family History. It was co-sponsored by the Library, the National Archives and the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society.

See Judy's blog post here.

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Organizing your genealogical research

 

Things to be kept track of in genealogy:

1. Records searched either on location or through microfilm.
2. Keeping track of microfilm ordered.
3. Keeping track of records or information requested through correspondence.
4. Records to search in the future: a "ToDo"
5. Building the fabric of an individual's life by compiling all information having to do with that person.
6. Managing the records

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Tombstone Maintenance and Restoration

Presented by Rose Jones and Fran Black

Seriously deteriorated stones and broken stones require professional restoration, but there are actions that even the novice can take to maintain and restore tombstones and grave markers.

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Technology for a Research Trip

While much information is available online, there comes a time when we must make a research trip. This can be a visit to a national repository such as the National Archives, a local source such as the county courthouse or a graveyard, or maybe just a trip to see pictures and hear family stories from Aunt Edna. We should plan ahead to make best use of our time and resources. This planning involves determining what information we need, where that information may be located, and what information is available at a specific repository.

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Map Sources on the Internet workshop

 

 GENERAL

David Rumsey Map Collection: http://www.davidrumsey.com/ Click "Launch Collection in LUNA Browser."  You can search.  You can browse and narrow options by the "What," "Where," "Who," and "When" in the left column. 

Use maps in Google Earth: http://www.google.com/gadgets/directory?synd=earth&cat=featured&preview=on

Library Of Congress American Memory: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/browse/ListSome.php?category=Maps

Big Map Blog: http://www.bigmapblog.com/

USGS Map Locator & Downloader: http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/b2c/start/(xcm=r3standardpitrex_prd)/.do

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Lesser Known Genealogical Websites

Most everyone is familiar with the larger genealogy sites such as Ancestry and FamilySearch. This presentation will focus on sites that are not as well known.

New York post cards and digitized newspapers (free): http://fultonhistory.com

DAR Genealogical Research System http://www.dar.org/library/online_research.cfm You can search to find if any of your ancestors of the right era have been claimed by DAR members and therefore proved to have served in the Revolutionary War. You can also search for descendants to see if any of your ancestors appear as descendants of patriot ancestors. Records can be obtained from the DAR showing proofs.