Genealogy Tips

Genealogy Roadshow - TV

Wed, 5 Jun 2013 13:43:23 -0500

YIPPEE: PBS announced it will add the new series GENEALOGY ROADSHOW to its fall lineup. Part detective story, part emotional journey, GENEALOGY ROADSHOW will combine history and science to uncover the fascinating stories of diverse Americans. Each individual’s past will link to a larger COMMUNITY history, revealing the rich cultural tapestry of America.

GENEALOGY ROADSHOW will air Mondays, September 23-October 14, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET. .....will feature participants from four American cities — Nashville, Austin, Detroit and San Francisco — who want to explore unverified genealogical claims, passed down through family history, that may (or may not) connect them to an event or a historical figure. These cities were chosen as American crossroads of culture, diversity, industry and history, with deep pools of potential participants and stories.

RTE Sells Genealogy Roadshow Format Rights to PBS for US Remake
RTE, Ireland's national television and radio broadcaster, has licensed its popular "Genealogy Roadshow" program to PBS. "A new version of the programme, in which a team of travelling experts attempt to piece together ordinary people's family histories, will now premiere in the US in September."

Carolyn’s Favs

Tue, 4 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0500

Favorite Query Site: www.GenQueries.com

Rootsweb.com Whether you are looking for information on a name or a place - you can usually find it here.

http://blog.eogn.com/ Eastman’s Genealogy DAILY newsletter for genealogy consumers, packed with straight talk - hold the sugar coating - whether the vendors like it or not

www.findaGrave.com: Find A Grave is a free resource for finding the final resting places of famous folks, friends and family members.
Meigs Co Ohio Mailing List: (www,rootsweb.ancestry.com) County mailings all over the US; for instance Meigs Co Ohio mail list for anyone with a genealogical interest in records of that county.

www.USGenWeb.org This Project is a group of volunteers working together to provide free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States. USGenWeb is non-commercial and fully committed to free genealogy access for everyone. Organization is by county and state.

WorldGenWeb Project – Once you get involved in genealogical research, the fastest thing that becomes apparent is that the hobby knows no borders.

www.OKGENSOC.org (Oklahoma Genealogical Society) which presents free programs about genealogy and special interests of family historians every month at the OKlahoma History Center.

Favorite Query website: www.GenQueries.com post any query here free.

http://www.ancestorhunt.com/ This website has an Obituary Search Portal and a Surname Search Portal. One of their most unique pages is Genealogical Prison Records, where you just might find a black sheep ancestor in your family or you can search for current prison inmates & current jail inmates. On the other side of the law, you may browse Past Sheriffs of the US or see Police Officers of the Past.

www.accessgenealogy.com/ Access Genealogy is the largest free genealogy website not owned by Ancestry.com and they claim to have more Native American genealogy info than any other site.

Remember -- these programs are usually staffed by volunteers and when you really get into genealogy you need to have access to Ancestry.com. Most public libraries offer free access to Ancestry.

To return to Genealogy Tips main page, click here

Fold 3 - Cadet Nurse Corps

Tue, 4 Jun 2013 12:03:13 -0500

WWII Cadet Nursing Corps Records
by carolyn b. leonard @ 2012
Ancestry.com released an interesting new collection this week, the WWII Cadet Nursing Corps Card Files.
I found my cousin, Hazel James, who was in the program at St. Francis school of Nursing in Wichita. We are very proud of this cousin who later became a Registered Nurse, Registered nurse clinician and Licensed Physicians Assistant in Kansas at a time when those fields were rarely opened to women.
Between 1942 and 1948 more than 124,000 young women between the ages of 17 and 35, joined this program to ensure that the United States had enough nurses to care for its citizens on both the home and war fronts.

These records now being released by Ancestry.com detail the history of the Corps, providing personal information about Cadet Nursing Corps members, offering a glimpse into the backgrounds of the young women who joined this important program.
More than 300,000 records, including more than 124,000 young women between the ages of 17 and 35, provide an interesting look at the young women who joined this program. Cadets went through an accelerated training that fit a 36-month course into a 30-month period. Senior cadets then served their last six months in civilian, military and veteran hospitals and other public health agencies, which freed up registered nurses to help with the war effort. All cadets received a scholarship and a monthly stipend, effectively giving these young women an education they otherwise may not have been able to afford.
It is interesting to note that for many of the young women, there is more than one record available, including a Membership Card A and a Membership Card B, each indexed separately.
The record of my cousin is Form 300A, giving her name and signature, name of the school, St Francis School of Nursing in wichita kansas date of admission to the Cadet Nurse Corps 1 March 1944, her graduation date 1 March 1947, signed by the School of Nursing Director, Sister M. Gonzaga.

That is all the info on my cousin’s card, but some records have more information.

Others in cousin Hazel’s class are Helen J. Joseph of Medicine Lodge KS; Frances Delores Johnson of Wichita; Ruth Marie Johnson of Bartlesville, OK; Ione Johanning (who dropped out); Allie Belle Jones of Belleville, KS; and Blanche B. Jelinek of Caldwell KS.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is represented in the collection with more than 5,000 records, including that of Eveline E. Broadwell, who was born on 7 April 1927 and enrolled in the Cadet Nursing CorpsMy cousin Hazel, age 17, home on Christmas leave from the Cadet Nurse Corps in 1944, with her grandmother, Tillie Barr Branch, and other family members. Hazel’s mother had died of breast cancer when Hazel was barely 12 years old so she was close to her grandmother. However, when Tillie died some months later - also of breast cancer, the Cadet Corps officials would not allow Hazel to come home for her grandmother’s funeral. The little girl with broken arm sticking out her tongue? That’s me. from Imperial, PA, at Pittsburgh Hospital on 16 June 1945 (Membership Card A). Membership Card B names her father as John E. Broadwell, and states that she had been living in Imperial for at least 10 years prior to her admission to the Corps. This card also has a back, which tells us she learned about the Cadet Nursing Corps over the radio.
For more info: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=18737
To access the collection, users can visit www.ancestry.com/nursing.
Ancestry.com offers a free 14-day trial for all new visitors to the site.

To return to Genealogy Tips main page, click here

A Preponderance of Evidence

Tue, 4 Jun 2013 12:01:06 -0500

A Preponderance of Evidence: Building A Solid Case

In this blog, we have previously reviewed books and examined the topic if evidence as it relates to proving or supporting facts found in ones research. For example, two different sources indicate different marriage dates for an ancestor. How does the research identify which source is more accurate. Sometimes this involves an examination of the sources themselves. In other words, an evaluation of the evidence. In terms of the legal system, attorneys build cases on a principle called preponderance of evidence. Family historians build their own cases around evidence as well. The standard for building genealogical cases is referred to as the Genealogical Proof Standard. This is really less complicated than it sounds. Fortunately, Christine Rose has written the perfect primer on the subject, called Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case.
The first chapter jumps right in and explains exactly what the Genealogical Proof Standard actually is; including, the process and how to apply it. The book also cover when and why the standard should be used by researchers. Ultimately, the main point of the book is to help family historians use a structured and tested method for evaluating the veracity of records and information. The book is short, only five brief chapters. Yet, the measure of its worth is in the return one sees in applying these concepts to their own genealogical research.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE, at: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=18747
Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case is available from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: CR0001, Price: $9.75.

To return to Genealogy Tips main page, click here

Joseph Branch, Civil War Vet

Tue, 4 Jun 2013 11:58:58 -0500

Joseph Branch, Civil War Vet
by Carolyn B. Leonard
CIVIL WAR: Joseph Branch, born 1841 Ohio, Civil War Veteran and active GAR member, with his great grandson Howard Hundeby about 1919. Joseph, my Great Great Uncle, died 1924 in Beardsley, Big Stone County, Minnesota. Joseph was wounded in action at Resaca Georgia on May 14, 1864.
His pension record states: “A ball passing through his body, entering just below the breast bone and passing out on the right side, breaking one rib so affecting him that he is unable to perform any manual labor requiring strength or exercise.” Attesting for Joseph were his brother Stephen Branch and James Scott, brother in law of Stephen’s twin, Samuel C. Branch. (claim cert 73257).
The five Branch brothers, one sister, and the husbands of three sisters, all served in the Union Army, and although several were wounded, all but one came home alive. Joseph’s parents, Rev. Samuel S. and Elizabeth (Smith) Branch, were of old New England stock, the first of the Branch family having arrived in Massachusetts as a twelve year old orphan in 1638 with ties to the Mayflower families.
Of a family of eight children Joseph Branch was the fifth in order of birth. The family moved to southern Illinois when he was twelve years of age and there our subject grew to manhood.
Upon attaining his majority he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and saw service in Tennessee and Kentucky. He was shot through at Resaca, Georgia, and was confined to the hospital three months, after which he joined the regiment at Buford, South Carolina.
The bullet which pierced Mr. Branch passed through eleven folds of his rubber blanket before entering his body. It lodged in his back, from which place it was removed and is now in his possession. He participated in the grand review at Washington DC. At time of death in 1924 Joseph received a pension of $50 per month.
After the war in February 1866 he married a local schoolteacher, Harriet Elizabeth Stone, and removed to Austin, Minnesota, where Harriet’s parents had settled a few years earlier. By 1879, Joseph and Harriet had been joined by a ten year old daughter, Alice, and they moved to be some of the first settlers of what would be Big Stone County, Minnesota, near the Dakota Territory border. The county remained unorganized until 1881, when an act of the Legislature declared it organized.
They had lost one daughter, Ada Jane, at 18 months while in Austin. They would lose another, Mary Edith at age 8 in Beardsley.
In far northwestern Minnesota, Joseph took a homestead and a tree claim and lived in a claim shanty for a few months, hauling supplies from a town forty miles away. Browns Valley Township became organized and first election hosted at Joseph Branch’s home. The first Methodist Church and Sunday School met in the Joseph Branch home. Also the school election and Bible reading classes met at the Branch house. He donated land to the Methodist Church of Beardsley for the Beardsley Cemetery, where he and his wife, and his mother Elizabeth, were later buried.
In 1904, when Harriet died, Joseph owned 320 acres with improvements. He lost two crops by hail, one in 1881 and the other about 1890. In 1896 his barn, a structure 42 by 44 feet, and the contents of same, including seven hundred bushels of oats, five hundred bushels of wheat, two horses and two calves, harness, etc, all destroyed by fire, caused by lightning.
In 1924 Joseph said he had five grandchildren, two of the boys being quite prominent in the newspaper business.
Joseph Branch lived and died in the boarding house that belonged to his son-in-law’s mother, Hannah BRIGGS. (Alice was married to Oscar BRIGGS, but they separated or divorced.)Date of death 9 Oct 1924, age 83, cause of death bronchial Pneumonia.

What did Joseph look like? He and his brothers all were tall according to their enlistment records; 6 foot was considered very tall in 1861. They were of slender build, all had dark hair and grey eyes. The pictures I have seen of Joseph as an older man, show him to be a large man, with big expressive grey eyes. He usually looks sad in his pictures, but that was stylish then.

Click here to return to Genealogy Tips

Genealogy Wall Charts

Tue, 4 Jun 2013 11:48:18 -0500

Great Genealogy WallCharts
This cute guy Doug Butts, businessman and graphic designer, makes wall charts in many different sizes. He had them to show and for sale at the Family History Expo in the Oklahoma History Center. Not only can he design the charts, Doug also demonstrated his juggling skills to open the expo, concluding his act by juggling machetes. (scary) Doug says he has a few scars to show from learning sessions.
Go to Doug’s website to see the charts and pricing; they print them with your ancestor information, laminate them and they are ready for framing; or if you prefer they will print them as is and you can pencil in ancestors as you find them. Nice thing as a family activity.
www.GenealogyWallCharts.com

Roots2Leaves Archival Products
Roots2Leaves has been the one-stop shop of family historians and archivists since 2002. They carry a complete line of acid-free archival products, including paper, sleeves, gloves, and storage boxes. They also stock family tree charts, genealogy kits, and a select line of scrapbooking supplies. There is no minimum quantity required when ordering, and they are happy to help you locate hard-to-get items – even if they don’t carry them in their online store. They take pride in providing a pleasant shopping experience and friendly customer service.   Prevent mold and mildew in closed containers with these easy to use packets of Silaca Gel Desiccant Packets. One pound of this water absorbent chemical will dry approximately 3 cubic feet in an air tight container. Each contains .13 oz. - Pkg of 4.  Check out Roots2Leaves today.

To return to Genealogy Tips main page, click here

Flip-Pal Mobil Scanner

Tue, 4 Jun 2013 11:44:52 -0500

To return to Genealogy Tips main page, click here

I promised to give my review after ordering this Flip-Pal. Love the speed of the flip pal scanner. Love that it is battery operated so you don't have to depend on an electric outlet. Downside is: it is ONLY battery operated - no ac port so better have lots of AA batteries on hand. Also the scan bed is perfect for 4x6 size -- downside is: I Don't see how you would scan an 8 x 10 even tho they say you can.

Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner With Digtial Creativity Suite 3 Software For PC & Mac On DVD

Start your project by scanning your favorite memories with the Flip-Pal mobile scanner, then unleash your creativity with the Digital Creativity Suite 3.0 DVD.Price $210.
Over $300 value when you buy the Flip-Pal mobile scanner with Digital Creativity Suite 3.0 DVD bundle! The patented flip-and-scan technology of the Flip-Pal mobile scanner allows you to scan photos safely while still in the album or frame. Unlike alternative solutions that don't have the combination of mobility, accuracy, versatility, and keeping the original safe, the Flip-Pal mobile scanner is compact, simple to operate, has high resolution, quick scan time, battery power, cordless - no computer required, and onboard memory.
You receive the Flip-Pal mobile scanner and this exciting Digital Creativity Suite 3.0 DVD to make professional-looking projects at home and then share your creativity with your friends and family. This software runs on both PCs and Macs. The DVD includes:
Photoshop Elements 10.0 helps you turn your precious photos into sensational photos. Use automated options to crop, fine tune, repair and retouch your photos, tag and share photos with your social network and quickly organize, find, view and manage all your photos and video clips;
Logo Design Studio Pro lets you create professional logos for any business or personal use. Easy to use templates, fully editable vector graphics, and drawing tools allow you to create special effects logos in any size with import and export capabilities in all the popular formats;
Corel Paint It! shows you how to turn your favorite photos into beautiful paintings. Simply choose a painting style and watch the automated painting process create the perfect hand-painted photo art. Add brushstrokes and fun effects to personalize your scrapbook, family album, greeting card or any other masterpiece.

I am going to order this baby! Go here for a complete review of the scanner only -- I will post mine after I get a chance to use it.
http://www.tipsquirrel.com/index.php/2010/11/flip-pal-mobile-scanner-review/

order from: http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/store/

To return to Genealogy Tips main page, click here

Family Heirlooms - What to do?

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:01:41 -0500

Who Gets the Family Heirlooms?
By Guest Blogger, Phyllis Young,
Twigs&Stems, SW OK Genealogical Society, Lawton, OK

NOTE: Phyllis Young is a board member of the Southwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society (SWOGS) and have been working on family history for many years. What prompted her to prepare this blog about heirlooms is that she has custody of many family items and it is time to do something with them.

We all have them – family keepsakes that have been handed down through
several generations. It may be an oak table made in Virginia and carried
west in a wagon, an anvil used by a blacksmith to make a living or a doll
loved and held by a little girl who died of typhoid. Each is a chapter in
your family’s history and each deserves to be cared for and honored for
future generations. These keepsakes rarely have a monetary value but they
all have a family value.

For some reason, you may have found yourself in possession of many family
heirlooms. While they are in your custody, you do not necessarily “own”
them. There may be as many as 50 other direct descendants of the same pair
of great grandparents who might feel as “entitled” as you do to some or all
of the items you have. What to do?

You have several options to consider but there is something you must do
first. You must make two complete and detailed inventories of the family
keepsakes in your possession.

*The first inventory is of items such as furniture, dishes, hand-made
quilts, silver, jewelry, crystal, old books, the family Bible, etc.
Describe the provenance for each – what it is, where it came from, who owned
it before you, when and where it was made and anything else that would be of
interest. Take a picture of each item.

*The second inventory is of documents and old photographs. Documents
should include originals of marriage certificates, baptismal certificates,
your family research notes and documentation and such – almost everything on
paper except books and Bibles. Old photographs would be those of ancestors,
either studio portraits or family snapshots. In describing each photograph,
note as to who is in the picture, when and where it was taken if you know.
Make a copy of each document and old photograph.

Once these inventories are finished, keep them in a safe place. I will
refer to them again in the following options.

These days it would be smart to scan all documents and photographs (the old
family pictures and the ones you have taken of items on the first inventory)
and put them and the two inventories on a CD. The CD will come in handy, as
will be explained later.

----------------------------------------------
Now to the options --

Option #1
One way you might avoid family squabbles is to ask children, grandchildren,
nieces and nephews which favorite item(s) that belonged to a common ancestor
they would like to inherit.

You can either give them outright or, if two or more family members want the
same item, come up with a resolution that would be fair to all concerned.
Some siblings no longer speak to each other because both wanted grandmother’s
pressed glass bowl, and it could not be cut in half!

Once the agreement has been made, tape their name to their selected item(s).
For those items given outright, make a notation on your inventories as to
who received what and when.

Option #2
But tape can be removed from an item and replaced with one having another
name. Only you know if this is a possibility in your family. So consider
this – on your inventories, you write the name of the person who you wish to
inherit which item(s). It might be wise to have these updated inventories
witnessed and notarized. Then give the notarized inventories to the person
you trust to distribute the family heirlooms according to your wishes.

Consider also adding the inventories as a codicil to your will. Your
attorney would be the proper authority on whether this is legal and/or
feasible.

Option #3
Contact a museum or historical society in the area where your ancestors
lived to learn their rules and procedures for donating family items. No
doubt they will want to know exactly what you have. You can either send a
copy of the two inventories and photos or a copy of the CD.

If your family members have selected some items from your inventories, they
will have to be deleted from the list given to the museum/society. Or you
can make another list with only the items available for donation.

If your heirlooms are accepted, tell all family members what you have done
and why (whether they have shown an interest in their family history or
not). Emphasize that they will have access to all the items as will other
interested parties. And they can obtain copies of photos of items, old
photographs and documents from the museum/society.

Option #4
If nobody wants anything, hold an estate sale!
Suggestion: If you feel especially generous, you can give a copy of the CD
to each family member. That way everyone will have the same inventories and
photographs and know what is what.

A Note of Caution: NEVER loan an original photograph or document to anyone, even a family member. Instead, offer to have a copy made for them or they can request one from the museum, if it has it. On the other hand, if you
have given each family member a CD with everything on it, they already have
a copy of what they want!
--------------------------------------------------------
What to do with the family heirlooms is a very serious important decision.

My wonderful genealogist mother=in-law who died age 95 about 5 years ago, entrusted her life's work and the original old family photographs (some from the 1800s) to a niece, Ellen, who seemed interested in preserving the heritage. Mother gave her two sons zerox copies of the photos and the genealogy sheets -- but not indexed and not in any particular order. I am a writer and was compiling an article on early Wyoming for publication. We started trying to find the niece, who has now disappeared along with the box. We found Ellen's only known close relative, a sister, living in Wisconsin. But the two sisters had been estranged for a dozen years. Last her sister knew, Ellen had lost her home, was broke and living in a barn with her two horses. No phone or address, no way to contact her. Gee I hope it is a nice barn! But we have no idea where the box may be, which is of great value to us but no one else.

For myself, I resolved the situation on one line. With my Dutch heritage, we talked a small historical library in the area of the early Dutch settlement, to establish a separate archives where our older generation could donate their collections and everyone would have access to them. The library was able to get a grant to pay one part-time librarian to maintain the collection, so that was a plus for everyone. Still struggling with what to do with the rest. Most historical libraries will not accept any genealogy work except published books so that is what I am trying to get done now.

Blessings, Carolyn

Got Irish? Want to Know More?

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 22:07:10 -0600

Monday evening February 18 local author Harolyn Enis of Oklahoma City will present a program on “The Irish Famine and Immigration” for the Edmond Genealogical Society (EGS).

Enis, a career educator, combines her love of writing and a life-long fascination with history to create historical fiction that both entertains and educates. Curious about her great grandmother who fled County Mayo Ireland in 1853, she researched the Great Hunger for seven years. Striving to create historical authenticity and incorporate realistic detail into the narrative, she even studied eyewitness accounts and pictorial evidence. Educated as an historian, she creates a gripping, suspenseful story that is true to the documented record and reveals the actual causes of the worst human tragedy of the 19th century—the Great Irish Famine or the Great Hunger of 1845-1852. During the famine, which was caused by more than the potato blight, approximately 1 million people died and a million more immigrated to America.

EGS meetings, which are free and open to the public, meet at the Edmond Historical Museum, 431 S. Boulevard, Edmond, OK with a social time at 6 pm, program begins promptly at 6:30. The EGS meets on the third Monday evening of each month, with speakers on subjects of interest to genealogists; membership in the group is open to anyone interested in historical or genealogical research.

Enis is also the author of Law and Citizenship in America (1981) by Harcourt Brace. She was supervisor of social studies for the Oklahoma City Public Schools, and while there, published numerous innovative teacher guides. She has a degree in education, a Masters in history, and was working on doctoral studies when she was asked to teach on state-wide television. She and her husband Tom have four children.

More coming Events, Programs at Edmond Genealogical Society
18 Mar – Jan Morrill - “The Red Kimono” Japanese Internment Camps WWII
15 Apr – Jan Beattie – “Finding Female Ancestors”
20 May – Bill Welge –“ Preserving Family Heirlooms”
17 June – Carolyn Leonard – “Life between the Dash” “Findagrave”

King Richard’s Death

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 11:53:45 -0600

Bones of the Last English Monarch to Die in Battle have been Found and Verified
DNA testing has proven that bones found under a car park belong to Richard III, the last English Monarch to die in battle. Leicester, England (CNN) -- DNA tests have confirmed that human remains found buried beneath an English car park are those of the country's King Richard III.

Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 in the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. Wikipedia
Born: October 2, 1452, Fotheringay Castle
Died: August 22, 1485, Ambion Hill
Buried: Leicestershire
Spouse: Anne Neville
Children: Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales, John of Gloucester
Parents: Cecily Neville, Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/03/world/europe/richard-iii-search-announcement/index.html

British scientists announced Monday they are convinced "beyond reasonable doubt" that a skeleton found during an archaeological dig in Leicester, central England, last August is that of the former king, who was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.
Mitochondrial DNA extracted from the bones was matched to Michael Ibsen, a Canadian cabinetmaker and direct descendant of Richard III's sister, Anne of York, and a second distant relative, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Experts say other evidence -- including battle wounds and signs of scoliosis, or curvature of the spine -- found during the search and the more than four months of tests since strongly support the DNA findings -- and suggest that history's view of the king as a hunchbacked villain may have to be rewritten.

Tracking down Richard III's remains

Skeletal remains are of Richard III
Ibsen said he reacted with "stunned silence" when told the closely-guarded results. "I never thought I'd be a match, and certainly not that it would be so close, but the results look like a carbon copy," he told reporters.
The skeleton was discovered buried among the remains of what was once the city's Greyfriars friary. After centuries of demolition and rebuilding work, the grave's exact location had been lost to history, and there were even reports that the defeated monarch's body had been dug up and thrown into a nearby river.
Read more: Richard III: The king and the car park?

Who was Richard III?

Richard III was the last Plantagenet king of England, and the last English king to die in battle.

Born on October 2, 1452, he grew up during the bitter and bloody Wars of the Roses, which pitted two aristocratic dynasties, the House of York and the House of Lancaster, against each other in a fight for the throne.

The wars, which took their name from the families' symbols, a red rose for Lancaster and a white rose for York, were fought between 1455 and 1485.

While Richard was still a child, they led to the deaths of his father, the Duke of York, and his brother Edmund, and forced him into exile.

As the youngest son, Richard was never expected to become king, and instead spent many years as a nobleman, apparently intent on founding his own dynasty. His brother Edward became king in 1461, and Richard proved a loyal supporter.

"Shakespeare paints a picture of Richard as a scheming, plotting villain always aiming for the throne, but if that was the case, why didn't he kill the king?" says historian John Ashdown Hill, author of "The Last Days of Richard III."

"That would have been the easiest way, but he served his brother loyally for over 20 years."

When Edward IV died unexpectedly in 1483, he was succeeded by his 12-year-old son, Edward V, with Richard as his protector.

Within weeks, however, parliament had declared the boy illegitimate, and installed Richard as king in his place.

Edward and his brother were held in the Tower of London, and later disappeared. Richard has long been blamed for their murder.

The remains will be reburied in Leicester Cathedral, close to the site of his original grave, once the full analysis of the bones is completed.
Richard III's body was found in a roughly-hewn grave, which experts say was too small for the body, forcing it to be squeezed in to an unusual position.
Its feet had been lost at some point in the intervening five centuries, but the rest of the bones were in good condition, which archaeologists and historians say was incredibly lucky, given how close later building work came to them -- brick foundations ran alongside part of the trench, within inches of the body.
What was initially thought to be a barbed arrowhead found among the dead king's vertebrae turned out instead to be a Roman nail, disturbed from an earlier level of excavation.

More - REWRITING HISTORY THROUGH DNA
http://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog/2013/02/03/rewriting-history-through-dna/

Archaeologists say their examination of the skeleton shows Richard met a violent death: They found evidence of 10 wounds -- eight to the head and two to the body -- which they believe were inflicted at or around the time of death.
Read more: Back from the grave, King Richard III gets rehab
"The skull was in good condition, although fragile, and was able to give us detailed information," said bioarchaeologist Jo Appleby, who led the exhumation of the remains last year.
The king had suffered two severe blows to the head, either of which would have been fatal, according to Appleby. The injuries suggest that he had lost his helmet in the course of his last bloody battle.
Appleby said there were also signs that Richard's corpse was mistreated after his death, with evidence of several "humiliation injuries," which fitted in with historical records of the body being displayed, naked, in Leicester before being laid to rest.
Richard Buckley, the lead archaeologist on the project said the unusual position of the skeleton's arms and hands suggested he may have been buried with his hands tied.
Investigators from the University of Leicester had been examining the remains for months.
Others got their first glimpse of the battle-scarred skull that may have once worn the English crown early Monday when the university released a photograph ahead of its announcement.
Read more: Will Richard III discovery rewrite history?
Turi King, who carried out the DNA analysis, said it was a "real relief" when the results came through.
"I went really quiet. I was seeing all these matches coming back, thinking, 'That's a match, and that's a match, and that's a match.' At that point I did a little dance around the lab."
King pointed out that "in a generation's time, the DNA match would not have been possible, since both individuals used in the tests are the last of their line," a fact echoed by Ibsen, who told CNN before the results came through that "they caught us just in time."
The initial discovery of the remains provoked much debate in Britain as to what would happen with the body, if it were proven to be that of Richard III, with many calling for a state funeral at Westminster Abbey, and others backing a burial in York Minster, in keeping with the king's heritage as a member of the House of York.
Opinion: Richard still the criminal king
But on Monday those involved in the search said he would be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral, the closest church to the original grave site in a memorial service expected to be held early next year.
Canon Chancellor David Monteith said it was important to remember that as well as being the subject of important historical and scientific research, the skeleton also represented "the mortal remains of a person, an annointed Christian king," and as such should be treated with dignity.
Supporters of the infamous king, including members of the Richard III Society, hope the discovery will now force academics to re-examine history, which they say has been tainted by exaggerations and false claims about Richard III since the Tudor era.
Screenwriter Philippa Langley, who championed the search for several years, told CNN she wanted "the establishment to look again at his story," saying she wanted to uncover the truth about "the real Richard, before the Tudor writers got to him."
"This has been an extraordinary journey of discovery," Langley said. "We came with a dream and today that dream has been realized. This is an historic moment that will rewrite the history books."

So the answer is a WIN for genetic genealogy:
http://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog/2013/02/04/and-the-answer-is/

MO Death Certs. now Online

Fri, 1 Feb 2013 10:34:36 -0600

Forty-nine thousand 1962 Missouri death certificates are now posted online.
Missouri death certificates can’t be posted for 50 years – so the annual January posting is always looked forward to by genealogists doing Missouri family research.
The first searchable index to the Missouri death records was posted in April of 2006. There are now 2.36 million death certificates posted from the year 1910 through 1962.
To search and view the Missouri death certificates as well as many other online collections of the Missouri State Archives, see: http://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh/ .

Coins left on Tombstones

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:42:50 -0600

While visiting some cemeteries you may notice that headstones marking certain graves have coins on them, left by previous visitors to the grave.

These coins have distinct meanings when left on the headstones of those who gave their life while serving in America's military, and these meanings vary depending on the denomination of coin.

A coin left on a headstone or at the grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier's family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect. Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited.

A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together, while a dime means you served with him in some capacity. By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the solider when he was killed.

According to tradition, the money left at graves in national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries is eventually collected, and the funds are put toward maintaining the cemetery or paying burial costs for indigent veterans.

In the US, this practice became common during the Vietnam war, due to the political divide in the country over the war; leaving a coin was seen as a more practical way to communicate that you had visited the grave than contacting the soldier's family, which could devolve into an uncomfortable argument over politics relating to the war.

Some Vietnam veterans would leave coins as a "down payment" to buy their fallen comrades a beer or play a hand of cards when they would finally be reunited.

The tradition of leaving coins on the headstones of military men and women can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire.

Obituary info, Lawton OK

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 22:02:06 -0600

Index to 2012 Obituaries at Lawton, OK

The Surname Index to Obituaries & Death Notices Published in The Lawton Constitution in 2012 is available in the Family History Room at the Lawton Public Library.

This publication continues the series of surname indexes published for the years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 extracted by Phyllis A. Young

The full texts of these and earlier obituaries published in Lawton newspapers can be viewed on microfilm in the Family History Room at the Lawton Public Library.

The Lawton Public Library is located at 110 SW 4th St. Library hours are 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Monday - Thurs; 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday - Saturday; closed Sunday.

Ancestry sold to Permira

Tue, 8 Jan 2013 11:32:09 -0600

You can no longer buy shares of Ancestry.com stock on the Nasdaq.

Permira has completed its $1.6 billion acquisition of Ancestry.com, the firm announced. Qatalyst Partners LP acted as financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz acted as legal counsel to Ancestry.com. The deal was first announced in October.

Permira, the European private equity firm with global reach, and Ancestry.com Inc. ACOM +0.16% , the world’s largest online family history resource, today announced the successful completion of the acquisition of Ancestry.com by a company owned by Permira funds and co-investors for $32.00 per share in cash.
The transaction was approved by stockholders owning approximately 75% of Ancestry.com common stock at a special meeting of stockholders held on December 27, 2012. Pursuant to the terms of the previously announced merger agreement dated October 21, 2012, the investor group formed by the direction of the Permira funds has acquired all of the outstanding shares of Ancestry.com. As a result, Ancestry.com stock will cease trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market effective today.

Stockholders of Ancestry.com will receive a letter of transmittal from Ancestry.com’s paying agent for them to complete and return with their stock certificates to obtain their per share merger consideration.
Ancestry.com will continue executing on its growth strategy and initiatives led by content acquisition and technology investments, with the support of the Permira funds and the investor group. There are no anticipated changes in the Ancestry.com operations. Ancestry.com will continue to focus on investing in content and technology, enhancing its user experience, expanding its product offerings, and building the Ancestry.com brand and the family history category all on a global basis. Ancestry.com will retain its operations in Provo, Utah, with a continued large presence in San Francisco, Dublin, London and other international markets. Ancestry.com will continue to be led by its existing management team.  READ THE FULL ARTICLE, at: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=24064
From Genealogy Newsline Vol 1 #27, Monday, September 26, 2011; a publication of Family Roots Publishing Co. LLC.

Gifts of Genealogy

Mon, 3 Dec 2012 23:31:27 -0600

Photo: Nona Thompson shows Robin Roads some of the Heritage Gifts possible, at a recent program.

Looking for the perfect Gift? Try this!
Nona Thompson will present -- just in time for Christmas -- Gifts of Genealogy

On Monday evening December 17th at the Edmond Genealogical Society program, Genealogist Nona Thompson and Consultant Tricia Carleton will present ideas, tips, and resources for turning your family history research into memorable scrapbook or presentation piece using the Heritage Makers products suitable for year-round gifts.

Members are encouraged to bring items for "show and tell" a gift item they have created to preserve their genealogy and family history.

Nona Dugger Thompson is a charter member and past regent of Oklahoma Prairies Chapter NSDAR and past President of Oklahoma Genealogical Society, a member of First Families of the Twin Territories, and has been very active at both the State and National level of Children of the American Revolution. She became interested in genealogy back in the early 70’s and has worked in the DAR Library in Washington, DC, the SAR Library in Louisville, KY, and the LDS Library in Salt Lake City.

Tricia Carleton is a retired Spanish/German teacher from Norman and Little Axe Public Schools. She is also a member of Cleveland County Genealogical Society and Writer's Group, as well as the Oklahoma Genealogical Society. She has been a Heritage Makers Consultant for 6 years and has researched in Salt Lake City at the LDS Library. Her favorite quote of the company is "Photos without stories are memories lost."

Edmond genealogy meetings, which are free and open to the public, meet at the Edmond Historical Museum, 431 S. Boulevard, Edmond, OK with a social time at 6 pm, program begins promptly at 6:30. The EGS meets on the third Monday evening of each month, with speakers on subjects of interest to genealogists; membership is open to anyone interested in historical or genealogical research. For more info on EGS, refer tohttp://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~okegs/.

Mayflower Saints -and Strangers

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 16:56:49 -0600

Saints and Strangers on the Mayflower

Next Monday night Judy Forehand of Mangum, Deputy Governor of the Oklahoma Society of Mayflower Descendants, will speak in Edmond about the first Thanksgiving celebrated by the Saints and Strangers who came to America on the Mayflower.

Monday, November 19th at the Edmond Genealogical Society Ms Forehand will talk about the Pilgrims who came on the Mayflower, and the Puritans, who emigrated from England to New England during the Great Migration (1620–1640), and greatly influenced American traditions and government. She will explain who these people were, explore some of the myths surrounding them, and describe the difference between those termed "Saints," and the "Strangers," who shared the hardships of the ocean journey. Ms. Forehand will help those attending know where to search to learn if their ancestors may have been on that famous ship which we all celebrate later this month.

Ms. Forehand is descended from at least five of the passengers on the 1620 Mayflower ship including Governor William Bradford, John Alden, William Brewster, Priscilla Mullins Alden and William Mullins. Judy is the retired Postmaster of Mangum, Oklahoma, where she currently resides. She was educated at Central State College, Bethany Nazarene College, Rose State College, Cameron University, Western Oklahoma State College and Baptist Christian College. She is also active in numerous organizations besides the Mayflower Descendants. Her presentation will include information about the Society of Mayflower Descendants along with specific instructions for becoming a member of the Society. The website for the Oklahoma Society is: www.okmayflower.com and the General Society website is: www.TheMayflowerSociety.com

Edmond genealogy meetings, which are free and open to the public, meet at the Edmond Historical Museum, 431 S. Boulevard, Edmond, OK with a social time at 6 pm, program begins promptly at 6:30. The EGS meets on the third Monday evening of each month, with speakers on subjects of interest to genealogists; membership is open to anyone interested in historical or genealogical research. For more info on EGS, refer to http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~okegs/.

Grave Indexes online FREE

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 13:52:42 -0600

Harper County grave indexes now free online
by Carolyn B. Leonard

Genealogy buffs and families can now look no further than the World Wide Web to find vital information about persons buried right here in the cemeteries of Harper County, OK and many other communities around the nation.

Almost 30 years ago volunteers across the county went up and down rows at every cemetery writing down the names and dates on the tombstones and listing every resident at each burial ground, even entering any known information about the unmarked graves. That was back in 1984. Carolyn Leonard at that time was editor of the Harper County Journal and coordinated the project, publishing some of the progress of the work at that time in local and state newspapers. The indexing continued for a couple years. Once completed, Leonard filed copies of the handwritten sheets with the county clerk and with the Buffalo Library. Linda Johnson, city clerk?, has possession of the originals and said people are welcome to consult her to see where the graves were located in family plots. The handwritten copies were also filed with the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City where they can be found under the title "Tombstone Tales."

Leonard promised to get the information published for everyone to access. In the meantime a few volunteers like Jo Edmonds and Jerry McLain have been adding to the names, and often photos of tombstones. This year with the help of a hired typist, Leonard finally completed and posted on the free website www.findagrave.com, the hundreds of unlisted names in the 1984 indexing.

Many tombstones are disappearing or being damaged beyond repair, all over the country. The information on the findagrave website will confirm that the specific marker was present in 1984, even tho it may not be there now.

To check on grave sites and memorials of your loved ones, go to www.findagrave.com. On that page under the headline "Find Graves," choose "Search for a cemetery". On the next page that comes up, enter the name of the cemetery, such as "High Point," add the state: "OK," then the county: "Harper," and on the next page there is a text block where you can enter the name of the person, such as "Alpha Curtis Branch" and the proper memorial page should come up. Family members who want to add a bio can click the "edit" column at the top and send the bio requesting that it be added, and they also can post their own photo of the person or the tombstone on the memorial, or request a volunteer do that for them.

The home and community group (formerly the Home Extension Club) published a book recently, available in local libraries, which gives a photo of each cemetery and directions to reach it. Many cemeteries became known by two very different names. Although Findagrave would not agree to publish the name of the volunteer at each cemetery or a brief history of each cemetery, the listings were welcomed. There were a total of 5,695 burials listed in 1984.

Here are the names of each indexer and the Harper County cemetery they were responsible for recording back in 1984:
Austin Valley - Florence Lipsey
Buffalo High Point - Christina Richard (coordinator)
Brule - Celia Snell
Doby Springs - Eugene Baird
Fern/Mount Olive - Vena Bookstore
Goldenrod/Ownbey - Elsie Snell
Gyp Valley/Evergreen - Kay Myers Campbell
Hopewell / New Hope - Alice Wheaton Smith
Ketron Farm - Mrs. Ray Ketron
Kibby/Pleasant Hill - Blanche Tindell
Laverne - Nellon Roach
Lone Star/Eades - Leah Nighswonger
Love's Village - Lela Brinson Love
Lutheran - Amelia Yauk
Otter Creek/Pikes Peak - Edith Waugh
Paruna/Willow Creek - Myrl Ransom
Pleasant Valley/Girard - Evelyn Shuman
Powders Family Burials - Bill Bookstore
Rock Church/Prairie View - Bill & Yvonne Tindell
Rose Hill - Mary Neff
Rosston/Pleasant Ridge - Roberta Lareau
Highland/Smoot - Jim & Wanda Shuman
Speermore - Evlyn Lloyd
Spring Valley - Wallace Howard
Stinson Farm - Marie Turner
Twins - Lela Brinson Love
Willard - Verle Harger
Wolf Farm and Lone Grave - Roberta Lareau
Lawson Cemetery - Frances Lee

Also Gate Cemetery in Beaver County, and Cline/Meridian, both of which are very close to the Harper county line. Cindy Berends recorded the Cline/Meridian cemetery, but the name of the Gate cemetery indexer is lost.

Floating Caskets

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:27:37 -0600

A few of Hurricane Isaac’s unearthed coffins and tombs continue to line the Mississippi River levee in Plaquemines Parish, some still standing askew near houses or amid woods. By now, though, the majority of the disinterred remains are back in the Braithwaite cemeteries where they once peacefully rested.
About 150 tombs and coffins floated away, some about a mile, from the east bank’s cemeteries during Isaac. State and parish crews have worked about two months to bring them home. Hurricane Isaac’s storm surge damaged many Plaquemines Parish cemeteries, scattering caskets and tombs through out the east bank of the parish.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE, at: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=22994
From Genealogy Newsline Vol 1 #27, Monday, September 26, 2011; a publication of Family Roots Publishing Co. LLC.

Census records - where?

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:10:34 -0500

An 1850 census record showing all twelve children in a family proves only that your ancestors did not have access to birth control.
--William Dollarhide 2012
------------------------
Legacy Family Tree offers some of their popular webinars on CD. Their series of webinars, presented by professional genealogists, provide expert advice on areas from traditional genealogical research to make use of the latest technologies both for research and for the maintenance of critical family data. Digital Images: Scanning, Editing, and Preserving Your Photos is just one webinar presented by Legacy’s own Geoff Rasmussen. With this video, the viewer can watch again and again, repeating the entire seminar or just those parts for which they need a refresher.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE, with contents, at: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=22780

Get your own copy of Digital Images: Scanning, Editing, and Preserving Your Photos from Family Roots Publishing; Price: $12.69. Enjoy the presentation again and again on your own computer.

------------------------

NOT TRUE: “The (1790) schedules for Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia were burned during the War of 1812.”

Dollarhide, well-known for his genealogical work, says: All of the early census losses, particularly those from 1790 through 1820, were a result of mishandling or neglect by the clerks of the federal district courts. Since the first census law (an act passed by Congress on 1 March 1790, published in United States Statutes at Large, Volume 2, page 564), the U.S. marshals were responsible for taking the census. In 1All of the early census losses, particularly those from 1790 through 1820, were a result of mishandling or neglect by the clerks of the federal district courts. Since the first census law (an act passed by Congress on 1 March 1790, published in United States Statutes at Large, Volume 2, page 564), the U.S. marshals were responsible for taking the census.

For more info, see:
The Census Book: A Genealogist’s Guide to Federal Census Facts, Schedules, and Indexes, by William Dollarhide.
From Genealogy Newsline Vol 1 #27, Monday, September 26, 2011; a publication of Family Roots Publishing Co. LLC and Area-Info.net.
------------------------

From Genealogy Newsline Vol 1 #27, Monday, September 26, 2011; a publication of Family Roots Publishing Co. LLC and Area-Info.net.

WDYTYA?

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 18:37:41 -0500

(found running loose on the net)

TLC Network Said to Be in Talks to Pick Up Ancestry Show
September 20, 2012 0:01 AM EDT

Discovery Communications Inc. (DISCA)’s TLC is in talks to pick up “Who Do You Think You Are,” a show that works with Ancestry.com Inc. (ACOM) to unearth the genealogy of celebrities, two people familiar with the discussions said.
Producers of the television show, which was canceled by NBC earlier this year, are also in talks with other networks, said the people, who asked not to be identified yesterday because the discussions are private. Negotiations with the TLC cable network are at an advanced stage, one of the people said.

NBC’s cancellation contributed to a plunge that shaved a third of Ancestry.com’s market value earlier this year. A new show would help attract more users and boost prospects for the sale of the company, which has been talking to potential buyers, people familiar with the discussions said last month.

Shares of Provo, Utah-based Ancestry.com rose less than 1 percent to $31.42 at the close in New York yesterday. The stock then rose as much as 3.7 percent in after-market trading. Discovery climbed 1.6 percent to $59.44.

“Who Do You Think You Are” was adapted from a British show and lasted three seasons on NBC, where it delved into the ancestry of such celebrities as Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwyneth Paltrow and Spike Lee. The show, which touted Ancestry.com’s genealogical data, would typically find surprising facts about each week’s guest.

Michelle Russo, a spokeswoman for Silver Spring, Maryland- based Discovery, declined to comment yesterday, as did Heather Erickson, a spokeswoman at Ancestry.com.

Potential Buyers
Ancestry.com gets most of its revenue from online subscriptions, which let users study their family trees. The final season of the NBC show accounted for 5 percent to 7 percent of Ancestry.com’s marketing budget, Chief Financial Officer Howard Hochhauser said on a conference call in July.

Shares have surged 39 percent since June 5, when Bloomberg reported that the company had hired Frank Quattrone’s Qatalyst Partners LLC to find buyers.
Ancestry.com asked potential buyers including Permira Advisers LLP and TPG Capital LP to increase their competing bids for a possible buyout, two people with knowledge of the matter had said last month. They asked not to be identified because discussions are private. Ancestry.com turned down a bid of $35 a share, one person had said.

“Ancestry.com being a profitable market leader is very attractive for private equity,” Raghavan Sarathy, an analyst at Dougherty & Co., said in a recent interview.

Ancestry.com, founded in 1983 as a publisher of genealogical books and magazines, reported second-quarter sales and profit in July that topped analysts’ estimates, citing user gains and demand for new products. The company raised its sales forecast for 2012 to as much as $480 million and said it passed the 2 million-user milestone in the period by providing access to more information, including on DNA and U.S. census figures.

To contact the reporters on this story: Mark Milian in San Francisco at mmilian@bloomberg.net; Edmund Lee in New York at elee310@bloomberg.net; Andy Fixmer in Los Angeles at afixmer@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Nick Turner at nturner7@bloomberg.net; Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net; Anthony Palazzo at apalazzo@bloomberg.net

Tombstones on call?

Wed, 1 Aug 2012 10:32:46 -0500

(under construction)
Tombstone Technologies Have Advanced

Some thoughts on gravestones, including some of the more recent developments.
http://www.sentinel-standard.com/newsnow/x2078602972/Family-Tree-Talk-Tombstone-technologies-have-advanced

It is interesting how they now use laser technology to carve photos into polished stone. They look really good and can show off any topic that is chosen for, or by, the deceased; from a photo of themselves to their favorite car, or pet, or beach scene, etc. Tombstones don’t have to be simple, with just a name and two dates, any more.

The new technologies have advanced even more in the past few years. I have been reading a series of articles on special additions to the stone. QR codes are now being used in some places. These are new-style barcodes (those square ones we see popping up all over the place nowadays) which are laser engravings into the stone, which are then filled with a black paste-like substance, and then covered with glass. The are interesting because if you have a device, like a smart phone, you can scan the barcode and it takes you to a memorial site that contains anything and everything about the person buried there. It can have a biography, photos, recordings–basically anything we can have on the internet. And, it can be updated as people remember more about the deceased. Imagine, a website from the grave. If there is a genealogist in the family, this could be huge!

Just point that smartphone and you can find out all you ever wanted to know about your grand and great grandfather’s life. Google “tombstone barcode” if you want to learn more.

Jim Moses is a genealogy buff living in Lansing. Write to him at the Sentinel-Standard, 114 N. Depot St., Ionia, MI 48846 or email jmosesgen@gmail.com.

Coming Attractions!

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 18:52:23 -0500

Nice crowd at Edmond Genealogical Society this week for Nelda Brown's Presentation on “Characters residing at Summit View Cemetery.” Many attending were first time visitors to Edmond Museum.

Nelda knew her subject well and showed pictures of the graveyard and told interesting tales about the residents. I was glad to learn the resting place of Pearl, mother of the two boys immortalized in the book, “The Remarkable Ride of the Abernathy Boys,” one of my favorite books.

The speaker next month will be Gary Parsons, president of the Oklahoma Numismatic Association. An avid collector of historical coin and script, he will demonstrate the types of money and products used by our ancestors to purchase things they needed.

“Lacking a structured monetary system,” Mr. Parsons said, “our ancestors in Colonial America often lived in a barter society and often used locally found items of inherent or implied value.”

Scheduled speakers in the coming months.
20 Aug – Gary Parsons -“Wampum, Coins, & Continentals”
17 Sep – Frede Baker - “Identifying Germans From Russia”
15 Oct – Sandie Olson – “Fred Harvey & the Harvey House Girls”
19 Nov – Judy Forehand - “Saints & Strangers on the Mayflower”
17 Dec – Nina Hager – “How we Found the Man Who Named Edmond”

Where were U in the 1940 Census?

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:03:42 -0500

The California Census has arrived! Thanks to the volunteer effort of thousands of people, the California 1940 Census is finally indexed and searchable online. To commemorate California being indexed, the Archives created a fun and informative graphic showcasing California in 1940! 6.9 million people called California "home" in 1940. Let's take a look at life in California then and now. And since a trip to California isn't complete without looking for a movie star or two, take a look at some we've found.