Travels with My Granddaughter & A Little Genealogy

I had a chance to spend time with my granddaughter, Tori, over the holiday season. She wanted to visit the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota so after she programmed my GPS we were off.

We had  a 15 minute wait for our tour of the Ca' d'Zan Mansion and a guide suggested we tour Mable Ringling's Secret Garden and the Ringling Private Cemetery. Tori looked aghast!  This was her day to view paintings, statues and circus memorabilia - not genealogy! As we walked over to the garden she spotted the fence and gate. There were the graves of John and Mable Ringling and John's sister Ida Ringling North.

As we toured the house, art and circus museum I would occasionally catch her eye and we would both laugh. No matter where we go, somehow we end up talking about dead people, cemeteries or genealogy. Tori and I highly recommend the Ringling Museum if you are ever in the Sarasota area.

Tori in the courtyard of the Ringling Art Musuem

Tips for the week:

• Explore online back up services
• Mozy
• Carbonite
• Genealogy Blog
• Judaism by Ariela Pelaia
• Researching in Michigan's Upper Penisula?
• Stanton Township Death Records - 1905-1952
• Genealogy Book
• Citing Ancestry.com Databases & Images Quick Sheet  By Elizabeth Shown Mills
• Texas became a state on December 29, 1845
• Learn how your ancestors lived at the Texas Civil War Home Front Living History Website 

Take Care and good luck with your research this week.

Pattie

SCGS Jamboree, Streaming Videos and You!

Genealogists used to spend hours in dusty archives hoping to find a faded document that would knock down a brick wall in their research. Today a large portion of a genealogist's research is done on your computer and the biggest challenge is keeping up with technology and terminology.

Streaming Video

What is Streaming Video?

When video/media is sent directly or 'live' over the Internet and is played on your computer when it arrives. There is no need to download the video/media before it can be played, it is watched LIVE!

Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree

The Southern California Genealogical Society has announced that it will be offering 5 sessions from their Jamboree FREE this weekend! On June 11, 2011 from 8:30a.m. (PDT) to 5:30 p.m. (PDT) it will be possible to attend these sessions while sitting in front of your home computer!

The list of sessions are:
Lisa Louise Cooke - SA009 - Google Search Strategies for Genealogists
8:30 to 9:30 a.m. PDT

Curt B. Witcher, MLS, FUGA, IGSF - SA019 - Fingerprinting Our Families - Using Ancestral Origins as a Genealogical Research Key
10:00 to 11:00 a.m. PDT

David A. Lambert - SA024 - Researching Your Union Civil War Ancestors
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PDT

Kory Meyerink, AG, FUGA - SA035 - But it Ain't Really the ORIGINAL Record!
2:00 to 3:00 p.m. PDT

Kerry Bartels - SA043 - The Many Facets of the National Archives Website (NARA)
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. PDT

You will need to register for each session you wish to 'attend' by clicking this url: http://tinyurl.com/3measan

Isn't techology great!

Take Care,
Pattie

Civil War Research - Pension Files, Battles and Videos

This week marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. Growing up I was a history buff - European History. The Civil War never held my interest and seemed remote growing up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. The extent of my knowledge was what I gleened from reading Gone with the Wind and later seeing the movie.

Civil War Research

During the course of my research I found that Chuck's family had multiple soldiers that fought in the Civil War. Their pension files and their widow's pension requests have given me a motherlode of information. I have found affidavits outlining marriages and divorces, unknown first wives and copies of certificates for marriages I never knew existed!

The pension files and war records have guided me to read about battles they fought and where some were held as prisoners. I have read about their injuries and how it affected their lives after the war. It took over forty years, but I am finally doing the required reading from my high school American history class!

Helpful Research Sites:

National Archives
Footnote.com,
Ancestry.com
Civil War Cooking
Civil War Soldiers and Sailor System
Civil War Diaries (Michigan and Midwest Soldiers)
Civil War biographies, chronologies, recipes and more
Civil War Interactive
Civil War Battles



Civil War - Alternative Research

Pension files, war records and such can be a bit dry. That is when some vintage movies and mini series can help round out the Civil War. While Gone with the Wind, The Blue and the Gray, North and South and Glory may not be documentaries but they can help you visualize the period, the agony of families divided and the loss of life.

Check out Netflix, Amazon or your local Red Box and watch some of the many movies about the Civil War. Be sure to include the kids and explain which of their ancestors may have fought or lived during this time period. It may be just the hook to get them interested in genealogy!

Take Care,
Pattie

Planning Vacations, Genealogy Research and Family Time

Too many times we think that genealogy research and family time do not mix. Granted, your son or daughter, niece or nephew or granchild may roll their eyes when you bring up visiting a cemetery, but what if you were going to visit a train museum or a working 19th century village?

Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program

I accidently came across Conner Prairie Interactive History Park last week and was blown away. Nestled just north of Indianapolis it takes the visitor back in time to experience living on a farm, candle making and opening June 2011 "1863 Civil War Journey - Rail on Indiana".

The great thing is the link in the upper right hand corner "Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program". It takes you to the Smithsonian site where there is an interactive map of Smithsonian affiliated musuems and historical sites across the country.

It is easy to find a Smithsonian Affiliate, just pick a state or the type of museum you are interested in visiting.

Research vs Experience

Did your great grandfather work for the railroad? If so a visit to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum may help you connect with his life.

If your ancestors hailed from Arkansas the Historic Arkansas Museum would be a great choice.

Or, if you are in the Windy City visit the Adler Planatarium and see how navigation instruments have advanced over the years.

Whether it is a day trip, a week's vacation or a family reunion include the family in your summer research. You will be creating family memories while getting more insight into your past.

Take Care,
Pattie

What's For Dinner - Civil War Era Recipes

While researching your Civil War ancestors, have you ever wondered what their meals were like? There were no K-Rations, C-Rations, MRE's or MCI's. Heck, they did not even have my dad's favorite - SOS!

To find out more about the meals that were prepared during the Civil War check out the link below or click on the title of the article:

http://www.civilwarinteractive.com/cooking

There are articles spanning subjects from the herbs used during the Civil War to 98 Civil War Booze Recipes. Enjoy!

Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar

Pattie