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Sunday, May 31, 2009
Him Mark Lai - 麥禮謙 (1925-2009)
Him Mark Lai - 麥禮謙 (1925-2009), noted Chinese-American genealogist and local historian has passed away. San Francisco Chronicle (CA) - May 29, 2009.
Edition: 5 star Page: B5(c) San Francisco Chronicle 2009. Reprinted here with permission.
by Carl Nolte.
Him Mark Lai, a noted historian of the Chinese American experience, died at his San Francisco home on May 21 after suffering from cancer and its complications. He was 84.
Mr. Lai was an expert on the history of Chinese and Chinese Americans from the time of the first Asian settlement in California just before the Gold Rush to the present day. He wrote and edited 10 books and more than 100 scholarly articles on Chinese American life - a field that was mostly ignored by non-Asian historians.
L. Ling-chi Wang, professor of Asian American studies at UC Berkeley, called Mr. Lai "the dean of Chinese American history."
"Him Mark Lai's contribution to Chinese American history is immeasurable" said Philip Choy, an eminent historian. "He was a pioneer who legitimized Chinese American studies, whose influence will carry on for many more generations."
Mr. Lai led a complex life, reflecting the racial, legal and political currents of his time. He was both a trained mechanical engineer and self-taught scholar. He was a quiet and unassuming man, but his demeanor masked a fierce devotion to civil rights and to telling the often ignored story of how Chinese Americans fought discriminatory laws to become successful in a new country.
Mr. Lai was born in San Francisco's Chinatown in 1925, the first of his family to be born in this country. His father, Maak Bing, was born in China, but because of the Chinese Exclusion Act, could not legally immigrate to the United States. So he took the name of Lai, claiming to be the son of an American citizen.
These "paper sons" who had adopted false names, were among thousands of Chinese admitted to the United States until the Exclusion Acts were repealed in 1943.
His father, however, gave each of his five children the middle name of "Mark," an Anglicized version of his own name, to remind them of their family heritage.
Mr. Lai attended Commodore Stockton elementary school and the Nam Kue Chinese School simultaneously, so that he had an education in both American and Chinese cultures.
While at San Francisco's Galileo High School, Mr. Lai won a citywide essay contest in history; and he decided to go to college. However, his father discouraged that idea on grounds that racism would prevent him from being promoted. Instead, he urged his son to get a blue-collar job in the shipyards.
"San Francisco wasn't always so liberal," Mr. Lai said years later.
Instead, Mr. Lai worked his way through City College of San Francisco and graduated from UC Berkeley in 1947 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He then went to work for Bechtel Corp. as an engineer.
He also became interested in the civil war then raging in mainland China between the Nationalists and the Communist forces. His early support for the Communist-backed People's Republic drew the attention of the FBI and political pressure common in the McCarthy era. His position was complicated by the fact that his father was a "paper son."
"You had to be very careful," he would later recall. "You did not want to bring problems on your family."
However, Mr. Lai's work in Chinese causes helped give him a new fluency in spoken and written Chinese, and he met Laura Jung, a new immigrant from China. They married in 1953.
In 1960, he took a course at UC Extension about Asian American history, and he realized that whole areas of Chinese American history had never been properly studied.
He began extensive research into what he called an "ignored past" and did careful landmark studies on the Chinese-language press in the United States and all aspects of Chinese American life.
He produced several volumes of monographs called "Chinese America: History & Perspectives." His most important book is "Becoming Chinese Americans: a History of Communities and Institutions."
His work is considered seminal in the studies of Asian American history.
He also taught at San Francisco State University and UC Berkeley. "Prior to 1969, when we taught our first class at San Francisco State University, ethnic studies did not exist," Choy said.
"It was through Him Mark's scholarship, research and collections that these courses now exist at major academic institutions in the country."
Mr. Lai is survived by his wife of 55 years, Laura Lai of San Francisco.
A memorial service will be held at the Chinese Cultural Center, 750 Kearny St., San Francisco, at 2:30 p.m. on June 20.
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Saturday, May 30, 2009
Portuguese-American newspaper going online
Diario de Noticias 1919-1973 is going online at University of Massachusetts Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives.
UMASS Dartmouth is putting the backfile of the Portuguese-American newspaper Diario de Noticias 1919-1973 free online.
University officials also announced that they have set September 18 as the official grand opening of the Ferreira Mendes Portuguese-American Archives, which the University is planning to make the most comprehensive and accessible U.S. collection of the information related to the Portuguese-American experience.
The digitization project, completed by the Claire T. Carney Library's Ferreira Mendes Portuguese-American Archives in collaboration with the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture, will make the 84,010 pages from 16,641 issues of the Diario de Noticias freely accessible to the world.
Click here to search this newspaper.
"By digitizing these documents, we are now able to share this unique resource with the rest of the world,'' UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack said. "Thanks the financial support of the Azorean government, Luis Pedroso, and Elisia Saab -- students, faculty and citizens from the SouthCoast to all corners of the globe, will have a major collection of Portuguese-American history at their fingertips. This is an exciting step in our development as the premier U.S. center of teaching and research related to the Portuguese-American experience which has shaped so much of our local and global history.''
Chancellor MacCormack also announced that the University will officially open the new archives facility with a major celebration on September 18.
Diario de Noticias was the most influential Portuguese-American newspaper of its era and the only Portuguese-American daily newspaper for much of that time. The newspaper was a critical independent voice during the dictatorship of Antonio de Oliveira Salazar (1928 to 1968).
The Diario de Noticias, widely known at the time as the "Portuguese Daily News," began as Alvorada Diária (Daily Awakening) in 1919, when Guilherme Luiz purchased A Alvorada, a weekly Portuguese-language newspaper published in New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1919 it became a daily, and in 1927 the name was changed to Diário de Notícias.
João R. Rocha purchased half ownership in 1940, and then bought out the paper, becoming publisher and sole owner in 1943. The paper enjoyed great success and a circulation of up to 10,000 that spanned the entire region, and was also read across the country, where the Portuguese had settled since the nineteenth century, and even in Portugal. It ceased publication when Rocha retired in 1973.
Its local successors are the Portuguese Times and O Jornal. "The Diario de Noticias is an invaluable resource for the study of the Portuguese-American daily experience in the region and beyond,'' said Dr. Frank Sousa, director of the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture.
"In the advertisements and photographs we can glimpse the clothes people wore and the goods they purchased and for how much. There is news from the community not available in other newspapers, with reporting on local clubs, religious organizations, societies, businesses and politics. Weddings, births, and deaths are reported, providing a valuable source for social historians and genealogists.
"The goal of the ongoing digitization project is to provide the most comprehensive single source of Portuguese language newspapers published in the United States from the early nineteenth century to the present. The project is funded by the Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Elisia Saab, co-founder of Advanced Polymers, Inc.; and Luis Pedroso, president of Accutronics, Inc.
This newspaper is not on GenealogyBank.com
.
UMASS Dartmouth is putting the backfile of the Portuguese-American newspaper Diario de Noticias 1919-1973 free online. University officials also announced that they have set September 18 as the official grand opening of the Ferreira Mendes Portuguese-American Archives, which the University is planning to make the most comprehensive and accessible U.S. collection of the information related to the Portuguese-American experience.
The digitization project, completed by the Claire T. Carney Library's Ferreira Mendes Portuguese-American Archives in collaboration with the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture, will make the 84,010 pages from 16,641 issues of the Diario de Noticias freely accessible to the world.
Click here to search this newspaper.
"By digitizing these documents, we are now able to share this unique resource with the rest of the world,'' UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack said. "Thanks the financial support of the Azorean government, Luis Pedroso, and Elisia Saab -- students, faculty and citizens from the SouthCoast to all corners of the globe, will have a major collection of Portuguese-American history at their fingertips. This is an exciting step in our development as the premier U.S. center of teaching and research related to the Portuguese-American experience which has shaped so much of our local and global history.''
Chancellor MacCormack also announced that the University will officially open the new archives facility with a major celebration on September 18.
Diario de Noticias was the most influential Portuguese-American newspaper of its era and the only Portuguese-American daily newspaper for much of that time. The newspaper was a critical independent voice during the dictatorship of Antonio de Oliveira Salazar (1928 to 1968).
The Diario de Noticias, widely known at the time as the "Portuguese Daily News," began as Alvorada Diária (Daily Awakening) in 1919, when Guilherme Luiz purchased A Alvorada, a weekly Portuguese-language newspaper published in New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1919 it became a daily, and in 1927 the name was changed to Diário de Notícias.
João R. Rocha purchased half ownership in 1940, and then bought out the paper, becoming publisher and sole owner in 1943. The paper enjoyed great success and a circulation of up to 10,000 that spanned the entire region, and was also read across the country, where the Portuguese had settled since the nineteenth century, and even in Portugal. It ceased publication when Rocha retired in 1973.
Its local successors are the Portuguese Times and O Jornal. "The Diario de Noticias is an invaluable resource for the study of the Portuguese-American daily experience in the region and beyond,'' said Dr. Frank Sousa, director of the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture.
"In the advertisements and photographs we can glimpse the clothes people wore and the goods they purchased and for how much. There is news from the community not available in other newspapers, with reporting on local clubs, religious organizations, societies, businesses and politics. Weddings, births, and deaths are reported, providing a valuable source for social historians and genealogists.
"The goal of the ongoing digitization project is to provide the most comprehensive single source of Portuguese language newspapers published in the United States from the early nineteenth century to the present. The project is funded by the Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Elisia Saab, co-founder of Advanced Polymers, Inc.; and Luis Pedroso, president of Accutronics, Inc.
This newspaper is not on GenealogyBank.com
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Wow - we found him!
Yesterday the GenealogyBank Blog wrote about using the old documents in the "Serial Set" that are in GenealogyBank.com. It has been very popular.
Today I received this note from a genealogist about what she found on her Revolutionary War ancestor - Captain William York.
Tom - We used this set (Serial Set) to prove our ancestor, Captain William York, was a Revolutionary Soldier. Forming his own Troop of Horse, he was, initially, said to be a 'mercenary', but after being denied his pension in 1832, he asked his congressman to pursue it.
After William's death in 1837, his son, Josiah Cowan York, kept this request alive, and it was finally approved in 1860.
My cousins and I almost screamed when I found the page where the 'heirs of Captain William York' are approved for his pension. Actually, there were 7 or 8 different bills on his behalf from 1832 to 1860, and I think I have most of them, but will check, just in case.
I cried when I saw the 'memory' marker that is now placed beside the grave of Josiah Cowan York. Not only did we prove his service, we found the first name of his wife, the dates both died, and two daughters we did not know existed. It's amazing how much you can glean from these pages.
Diane Stark Sanfilippo
May 30, 2009 5:30 AM
What will you find in GenealogyBank?
.
Today I received this note from a genealogist about what she found on her Revolutionary War ancestor - Captain William York.
Tom - We used this set (Serial Set) to prove our ancestor, Captain William York, was a Revolutionary Soldier. Forming his own Troop of Horse, he was, initially, said to be a 'mercenary', but after being denied his pension in 1832, he asked his congressman to pursue it. After William's death in 1837, his son, Josiah Cowan York, kept this request alive, and it was finally approved in 1860.
My cousins and I almost screamed when I found the page where the 'heirs of Captain William York' are approved for his pension. Actually, there were 7 or 8 different bills on his behalf from 1832 to 1860, and I think I have most of them, but will check, just in case.
I cried when I saw the 'memory' marker that is now placed beside the grave of Josiah Cowan York. Not only did we prove his service, we found the first name of his wife, the dates both died, and two daughters we did not know existed. It's amazing how much you can glean from these pages.Diane Stark Sanfilippo
May 30, 2009 5:30 AM
What will you find in GenealogyBank?
.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Using the Congressional Serial Set for Genealogical Research
Using the Congressional Serial Set for Genealogical Research
By Jeffery Hartley
(This article appeared in the Spring 2009 issue of Prologue. It has been excerpted and reprinted here with the permission of the author.
The Historical Documents section in GenealogyBank includes over 243,000 reports from the US Serial Set and the American State Papers).
Click here to search the American State Papers and US Congressional Serial Set in GenealogyBank.com
Genealogists use whatever sources are available to them in pursuit of their family history: diaries, family Bibles, census records, passenger arrival records, and other federal records. One set of materials that is often overlooked, however, is the Congressional Serial Set.
This large multivolume resource contains various congressional reports and documents from the beginning of the federal government, and its coverage is wide and varied. Women, African Americans, Native Americans, students, soldiers and sailors, pensioners, landowners, and inventors are all represented in some fashion. While a beginning genealogist would not use the Serial Set to begin a family history, it nevertheless can serve as a valuable tool and resource for someone helping to flesh out an ancestors life, especially where it coincided with the interests of the U.S. federal government.
Since its inception, the U.S. government has gathered information, held hearings, compiled reports, and published those findings in literally millions of pages, the majority of which have been published by the Government Printing Office (GPO).
These publications include annual reports of the various executive branch agencies, congressional hearings and documents, registers of employees, and telephone directories. Their topics cover a wide range, from the Ku Klux Klan to child labor practices to immigration to western exploration.
In 1817, the Serial Set was begun with the intent of being the official, collective, definitive publication documenting the activities of the federal government. Following the destruction of the Capitol in 1814 by the British, Congress became interested in publishing their records to make them more accessible and less vulnerable to loss.
In the early Federal period, printing of congressional documents had been haphazard, and the Serial Set was an effort designed to rectify that situation. Although initially there were no regulations concerning what should be included, several laws and regulations were promulgated over the years. The contents, therefore, vary depending on the year in question.
In 1831, 14 years after the Serial Set was begun, the printers Gales & Seaton proposed that a compilation of the documents from the first Congresses be printed. The secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House were to direct the selection of those documents, 6,278 of which were published in 38 volumes between 1832 and 1861. This collection was known as the American State Papers.
Because it was a retrospective effort, these 38 volumes were arranged chronologically within 10 subject areas: Foreign Relations, Indian Affairs, Finance, Commerce & Navigation, Military Affairs, Naval Affairs, Post Office, Public Lands, Claims, and Miscellaneous.
Although not technically a part of the Serial Set, the volumes were certainly related, and therefore the volumes were designated with a leading zero so that these volumes would be shelved properly, i.e. before the volumes of the Serial Set. (1)
The Congressional Serial Set itself includes six distinct series: House and Senate journals (until 1953), House and Senate reports, House and Senate documents, Senate treaty documents, Senate executive reports, and miscellaneous reports. The journals provide information about the daily activities of each chamber. The House and Senate reports relate to public and private legislation under consideration during each session.
Documents generally relate to other investigations or subjects that have come to the attention of Congress. Nominations for office and military promotion appear in the Senate Executive Reports. Miscellaneous reports are just thatwidely varied in subject matter and content. With the possible exception of the treaty documents, any of these can have some relevance for genealogists.
The documents and reports in the Serial Set are numbered sequentially within each Congress, no matter what their subject or origin. The documents were then collected into volumes, which were then given a sequential number within the Serial Set. The set currently stands at over 15,000 volumes, accounting for more than 325,000 individual documents and 11 million pages.
The Serial Set amounts to an incredible amount of documentation for the 19th century. Agency annual reports, reports on surveys and military expeditions, statistics and other investigations all appear and thoroughly document the activities of the federal government.
In 1907, however, the Public Printing and Binding Act provided guidelines for what should be included, resulting in many of these types of reports no longer being included as they were also issued separately by the individual agencies. The number of copies was also trimmed. With that stroke, the value of the Serial Set was lessened, but it nevertheless stands as a valuable genealogical resource for the 19th century.
So what is available for genealogists? The following examples are just some of the types of reports and information that are available.
Land Records
The Serial Set contains much information concerning land claims. These claims relate to bounty for service to the government as well as to contested lands once under the jurisdiction of another nation.
In House Report 78 (21-2), there is a report entitled "Archibald Jackson." This report, from the House Committee on Private Land Claims, in 1831, relates to Jackson’s claim for the land due to James Gammons. Gammons, a soldier in the 11th U.S. Infantry, died on February 19, 1813, "in service of the United States." The act under which he enlisted provided for an extra three month’s pay and 160 acres of land to those who died while in service to the United States. However, Gammons was a slave, owned by Archibald Jackson, who apparently never overtly consented to the enlistment but allowed it to continue. That Gammons was eligible for the extra pay and bounty land was not in dispute, but the recipient of that bounty was. Jackson had already collected the back pay in 1823 and was petitioning for the land as well. The report provides a decision in favor of Jackson, as he was the legal representative of Gammons, and as such entitled to all of his property. (2)
Land as bounty was one issue, and another was claims for newly annexed land as the country spread west. In 1838, the House of Representatives published a report related to Senate Bill 89 concerning the lands acquired through the treaty with Spain in 1819 that ceded East and West Florida to the United States. Claims to land between the Mississippi and the Perdido Rivers, however, were not a part of that treaty and had been unresolved since the Louisiana Purchase, which had taken the Perdido River as one of its limits. The report provides a background on the claims as well as lists of the claimants, the names of original claimants, the date and nature of the claim, and the amount of the land involved. (3)
Other land claims are represented as well. In 1820, the Senate ordered a report to be printed from the General Land Office containing reports of the land commissioners at Jackson Court House. These lands are located in Louisiana and include information that would help a genealogist locate their ancestor in this area. Included in this report is a table entitled "A List of Actual Settlers, in the District East of Pearl River, in Louisiana, prior to the 3d March, 1819, who have no claims derived from either the French, British, or Spanish, Governments." The information is varied, but a typical entry reads: No. 14, present claimant George B. Dameson, original claimant Mde. Neait Pacquet, originally settled 1779, located above White’s Point, Pascag. River, for about 6 years. (4)
Annual Reports
Among the reports in the Serial Set for the 19th century are the annual reports to Congress from the various executive branch agencies. Congress had funded the activities of these organizations and required that each provide a report concerning their annual activities. Many of these are printed in the Serial Set, often twice: the same content with both a House and a Senate document number. Annual reports in the 19th century were very different from the public relations pieces that they tend to be today.
Besides providing information about the organization and its activities, many included research reports and other (almost academic) papers. In the annual reports of the Bureau of Ethnology, for instance, one can find dictionaries of Native American languages, reports on artifacts, and in one case, even a genealogy for the descendants of a chief. (5)
These reports can often serendipitously include information of interest to the family historian. For instance, the annual report of the solicitor of the Treasury would not necessarily be a place to expect to find family information. The 1844 report, however, does have some information that could be useful. For instance, pages 36 and 37 of this report contains a "tabular list of suits now pending in the courts of the United States, in which the government is a part and interested."
Many on the opposite side of the case were individuals. An example is the case of Roswell Lee, late a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, against whom there has been a judgment for over $5,000 in 1838. Lee was sued in a court in Massachusetts and in 1844 still owed over $4,000. In a letter dated May 5, 1840, the district attorney informed the office (6)
that Mr. Lee is not now a resident of the district of Massachusetts, and that whether he ever returns is quite uncertain; that nothing, however, will be lost by his absence, as the United States have now a judgment against him, which probably will forever remain unsatisfied.
Another set of annual reports that appear in the Serial Set are those for the Patent Office. The annual reports of the commissioner of patents often include an index to the patents that were granted that year, arranged by subject and containing the names of the invention and the patentee and the patent number. The report included a further description of the patent, and often a diagram of it as well. Each year’s report also included an index by patentee.
Unfortunately, the numbers of patents granted in later years, as well as their complexity, led to more limited information being included in later reports. The 1910 report, for instance, simply contains an alphabetical list of inventions, with the entries listing the patentee, number, date, and where additional information can be found in the Official Patent Office Gazette. (7)
The Civil War gave rise to a number of medical enhancements and innovations in battlefield medicine, and the annual report for 1865, published in 1867, contains a reminder of that in the patent awarded to G. B. Jewett, of Salem, Massachusetts, for "Legs, artificial." Patent 51,593 was granted December 19, 1865, and the description of the patent on page 990 provides information on the several improvements that Jewett had developed. The patent diagram on page 760 illustrated the text. (8)
This annual report relates to a report from May 1866, also published in the Serial Set that same session of Congress, entitled "Artificial Limbs Furnished to Soldiers." This report, dated May 1866, came from the secretary of war in response to a congressional inquiry concerning artificial limbs furnished to soldiers at the government’s expense. Within its 128 pages are a short list of the manufacturers of these limbs, including several owned by members of the Jewett family in Salem, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington, D.C., as well as an alphabetical list of soldiers, detailing their rank, regiment and state, residence, limb, cost, date, and manufacturer. Constantine Elsner, a private in B Company of the 20th Massachusetts living in Boston, received a leg made by G. B. Jewett at a cost of $75 on April 8, 1865. 9 This may have been an older version of the one that Jewett would have patented later in the year, or it may have been an early model of that one. Either way, a researcher would have some idea not only of what Elsner’s military career was like, but also some sense of what elements of life for him would be like after the war.
Congress also was interested in the activities of organizations that were granted congressional charters. Many of the charters included the requirement that an annual report be supplied to Congress, and these were then ordered to be printed in the Serial Set.
One such organization is the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). As one would expect, the DAR annual reports contain a great deal of genealogical and family history information. The 18th annual report is no exception. Among other things, it includes, in appendix A, a list of the graves of almost 3,000 Revolutionary War soldiers. The list includes not just a name and location, but other narrative information as well:
Abston, John. Born Jan. 2, 1757; died 1856. Son of Joshua Abston, captain of Virginia militia; served two years in War of the American Revolution. Enlisted from Pittsylvania County, Va.; was in Capt. John Ellis’ company under Col. Washington. The evening before the battle of Kings Mountain, Col. Washington, who was in command of the starving Americans at this point, sent soldiers out to forage for food. At a late hour a steer was driven into camp, killed, and made into a stew. The almost famished soldiers ate the stew, without bread, and slept the sleep of the just. Much strengthened by their repast and rest, the next morning they made the gallant charge that won the battle of Kings Mountain, one of the decisive battles of the American Revolution. Washington found one of the steer’s horns and gave it to Abston, a personal friend, who carried it as a powder horn the rest of the war. (10)
Another organization whose annual reports appear is the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, which later became Gallaudet University. These reports, found in the annual reports of the secretary of the interior, contain much of what one would expect: lists of faculty and students, enrollment statistics, and other narrative. While that information can help to provide information about one’s ancestor’s time there, there are other parts of the narrative that include information one would not expect to find.
For instance, the 10th annual report for 1867 has a section entitled "The Health of the Institution." It concerns not the fiscal viability of the institution but rather the occurrences of illness and other calamities. One student from Maryland, John A. Unglebower, was seized with gastric fever and died: "He was a boy of exemplary character, whose early death is mourned by all who knew him." Two other students drowned that year, and the circumstances of their deaths recounted, with the hope that "they were not unprepared to meet the sudden and unexpected summons." (11) Both the faculty and the student body contributed their memorials to these two students in the report.
Other organizations represented in the Serial Set are the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, Veterans of World War I of the United States, proceedings of the National Encampment, United Spanish War Veterans, the American Historical Association, and the National Convention of Disabled American Veterans.
Lists of Pensioners
The history of pensions provided by the federal government is beyond the scope of this article. However, the Serial Set is a source of information about who was on the rolls at various times. For instance, an 1818 letter from the secretary of war was published containing a list of the persons who had been added to the pension list since May 28, 1813. The list provides information on the likes of Susanna Coyle, certificate of pension no. 9, heiress of deceased soldier William Coyle, alias Coil, a private who received pay of four dollars per month. (12)
Sundry lists of pensions appeared in 1850, related to the regulation of Navy, privateer, and Navy hospital funds. The report included four lists: those placed in the invalid list who were injured while in the line of duty; those drawing pensions from wounds received while serving on private armed vessels; widows drawing pensions from their husbands who were engineers, firemen, and coal-heavers; and orphan children of officers, seamen, and marines pensioned under the act of August 11, 1848. (13)
One of the most widely consulted lists is that for 1883, "List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883" (Senate Executive Document 84 [47-2]). This five-volume title, arranged by state and then county of residence, provides a list of each pensioner’s name, his post office, the monthly amount received, the date of the original allowance, the reason for the pension, and the certificate number.
An example is the case of Eli G. Biddle, who served in the 54th Massachusetts. Biddle can be found on page 439 of volume 5 of the "List," and a researcher can learn several things without even having seen his pension file: his middle name is George, he was living in Boston in 1883, and he was receiving four dollars each month after having suffered a gunshot wound in the right shoulder. His pension certificate number is also provided 99,053 and with that one could easily order the appropriate records from the National Archives.
Registers
The Serial Set serves as a source of military registers and other lists of government personnel as well. Both Army and Navy registers appear after 1896. The Army registers for 1848–1860 and the Navy registers for 1848–1863 are transcripts of the lists that appeared the preceding January and include pay and allowances, with corrections to that earlier edition for deaths and resignations.
The Official Register, or "Blue Book," a biannual register of the employees of the federal government, appears for 10 years, from 1883 to 1893. If one’s ancestors were employees at this time, their current location and position, place from which they were appointed, date of appointment, and annual compensation can be gleaned from this source.
The Serial Set often provides unexpected finds, and the area of registers is no exception. There is a great deal of material on the Civil War, from the 130 volumes of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion to other investigations and the aforementioned registers and lists of pensions. There are not, however, large amounts of compiled unit histories.
One exception, however, is the report from the adjutant general of Arkansas. Shortly after the Civil War, the adjutant general offices of the various Union states prepared reports detailing the activities of the men from their states. The same was done in Arkansas, but the state legislature there, "under disloyal control," declined to publish the report. Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts, chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, brought it to the committee in 1867, and it was ordered to be printed in the Serial Set so that the loyal activities of these 10,000 men would be recognized. (14) The report includes brief histories of each unit as well as a roster of the unit and rank, enlistment date, and other notes on each soldier.
Accessing Information in the Serial Set
The indexing for the Serial Set has long been troublesome to researchers. Various attempts have been made to provide subject access, with varying degrees of success. Many of the indexes in the volumes themselves are primarily title indexes to the reports from that Congress and session. The Checklist of United States Public Documents, 1789–1909, does provide information about what reports listed therein do appear in the Serial Set, but the researcher has to know the name of the issuing agency in order to access that information. The Document Index provides some subject indexing by Congress, and other efforts such as those by John Ames and Benjamin Poore can also be used, but none index the tables and contents of many of the reports that have been discussed in this article. (15)
The best comprehensive print index is the Congressional Information Service’s (CIS) U.S. Serial Set Index, produced in conjunction with their microfilming of the volumes through 1969 beginning in the mid-1970s. In this index, a two-volume subject index covers groups of Congresses, with a third volume providing an index to individual names for relief actions, as well as a complete numerical list in each report/document category. The index, however, does not index the contents of the documents. For instance, although the title given for the Archibald Jackson land claim includes James Gammons’s name, the latter does not appear in the index to private relief actions. In addition, users must often be creative in the terms applied in order to be sure that they have exhausted all possibilities. In the mid-1990s CIS released these indexes on CD-ROM, which makes them somewhat easier to use, although the contents are essentially the same.
The indexing problems have been rectified by the digitization of the Serial Set. At least two private companies, LexisNexis and Readex, have digitized it and made it full-text searchable.
[The Serial Set and American State Papers are available in GenealogyBank. Click here to search them online]
This article can only hint at some of the genealogical possibilities that can be found in the Congressional Serial Set. It has not touched on the land survey, railroad, western exploration, or lighthouse keeper’s reports or many of the private relief petitions and claims. Nonetheless, the reports and documents in the Serial Set provide a tremendous and varied amount of information for researchers interested in family history.
Author
Jeffery Hartley is chief librarian for the Archives Library Information Center (ALIC). A graduate of Dickinson College and the University of Maryland’s College of Library and Information Services, he joined the National Archives and Records Administration in 1990.
Notes
1 For a more complete description of the American State Papers, and their genealogical relevance, see Chris Naylor, "Those Elusive Early Americans: Public Lands and Claims in the American State Papers, 1789–1837," Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives and Records Administration 37 (Summer 2005): 54–61.
2 H. Rept. 78 (21-2), 1831, "Archibald Jackson" (Serial 210).
3 H. Rept. 818 (25-2), 1838, "Land Claims between Perdido and Mississippi" Serial 335.
4 S. Doc. 3 (16-2), 1820, "Reports of the Land Commissioners at Jackson Court House" (Serial 42).
5 H. Misc. Doc. 32 (48-2), 1882, "3rd Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology" (Serial 2317).
6 H. Doc. 35 (28-1), 1844, "Annual Report of Solicitor of the Treasury" (Serial 441), p. 37. 7 H. Doc. 1348 (61-3), 1911, "Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the Year 1910" (Serial 6020).
8 H. Exec. Doc. 62 (39-1), 1867, "Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the Year 1865" (Serial 1257-1259).
9 H. Exec. Doc. 108 (39-1), 1866, "Artificial Limbs Furnished to Soldiers" (Serial 1263).
10 S. Doc. 392 (64-1), 1916, "Eighteenth Report of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, October 11, 1914, to October 11, 1915" (Serial 6924), p.155. 11 H. Exec. Doc. 1 (40-2), "Tenth Annual Report of the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb" (Serial 1326), pp. 429–430.
12 H. Doc. 35 (15-1), 1818 (Serial 6), p. 17.
13 See H. Ex. Doc. 10 (31-2), 1850, "Sundry Lists of Pensioners" (Serial 597).
14 See S. Misc. Doc 53 (39-2), 1867, "Report of the Adjutant General for the State of Arkansas, for the Period of the Late Rebellion, and to November 1, 1866" (Serial 1278).
15 A good discussion of how some of these indexes work can be found in Mary Lardgaard, "Beginner’s Guide to Indexes to the Nineteenth Century U.S. Serial Set," Government Publications Review 2 (1975): 303–311.
By Jeffery Hartley
(This article appeared in the Spring 2009 issue of Prologue. It has been excerpted and reprinted here with the permission of the author. The Historical Documents section in GenealogyBank includes over 243,000 reports from the US Serial Set and the American State Papers).
Click here to search the American State Papers and US Congressional Serial Set in GenealogyBank.com
Genealogists use whatever sources are available to them in pursuit of their family history: diaries, family Bibles, census records, passenger arrival records, and other federal records. One set of materials that is often overlooked, however, is the Congressional Serial Set.
This large multivolume resource contains various congressional reports and documents from the beginning of the federal government, and its coverage is wide and varied. Women, African Americans, Native Americans, students, soldiers and sailors, pensioners, landowners, and inventors are all represented in some fashion. While a beginning genealogist would not use the Serial Set to begin a family history, it nevertheless can serve as a valuable tool and resource for someone helping to flesh out an ancestors life, especially where it coincided with the interests of the U.S. federal government.
Since its inception, the U.S. government has gathered information, held hearings, compiled reports, and published those findings in literally millions of pages, the majority of which have been published by the Government Printing Office (GPO).
These publications include annual reports of the various executive branch agencies, congressional hearings and documents, registers of employees, and telephone directories. Their topics cover a wide range, from the Ku Klux Klan to child labor practices to immigration to western exploration.
In 1817, the Serial Set was begun with the intent of being the official, collective, definitive publication documenting the activities of the federal government. Following the destruction of the Capitol in 1814 by the British, Congress became interested in publishing their records to make them more accessible and less vulnerable to loss.
In the early Federal period, printing of congressional documents had been haphazard, and the Serial Set was an effort designed to rectify that situation. Although initially there were no regulations concerning what should be included, several laws and regulations were promulgated over the years. The contents, therefore, vary depending on the year in question.
In 1831, 14 years after the Serial Set was begun, the printers Gales & Seaton proposed that a compilation of the documents from the first Congresses be printed. The secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House were to direct the selection of those documents, 6,278 of which were published in 38 volumes between 1832 and 1861. This collection was known as the American State Papers.
Because it was a retrospective effort, these 38 volumes were arranged chronologically within 10 subject areas: Foreign Relations, Indian Affairs, Finance, Commerce & Navigation, Military Affairs, Naval Affairs, Post Office, Public Lands, Claims, and Miscellaneous.
Although not technically a part of the Serial Set, the volumes were certainly related, and therefore the volumes were designated with a leading zero so that these volumes would be shelved properly, i.e. before the volumes of the Serial Set. (1)
The Congressional Serial Set itself includes six distinct series: House and Senate journals (until 1953), House and Senate reports, House and Senate documents, Senate treaty documents, Senate executive reports, and miscellaneous reports. The journals provide information about the daily activities of each chamber. The House and Senate reports relate to public and private legislation under consideration during each session.
Documents generally relate to other investigations or subjects that have come to the attention of Congress. Nominations for office and military promotion appear in the Senate Executive Reports. Miscellaneous reports are just thatwidely varied in subject matter and content. With the possible exception of the treaty documents, any of these can have some relevance for genealogists.
The documents and reports in the Serial Set are numbered sequentially within each Congress, no matter what their subject or origin. The documents were then collected into volumes, which were then given a sequential number within the Serial Set. The set currently stands at over 15,000 volumes, accounting for more than 325,000 individual documents and 11 million pages.
The Serial Set amounts to an incredible amount of documentation for the 19th century. Agency annual reports, reports on surveys and military expeditions, statistics and other investigations all appear and thoroughly document the activities of the federal government.
In 1907, however, the Public Printing and Binding Act provided guidelines for what should be included, resulting in many of these types of reports no longer being included as they were also issued separately by the individual agencies. The number of copies was also trimmed. With that stroke, the value of the Serial Set was lessened, but it nevertheless stands as a valuable genealogical resource for the 19th century.
So what is available for genealogists? The following examples are just some of the types of reports and information that are available.
Land Records
The Serial Set contains much information concerning land claims. These claims relate to bounty for service to the government as well as to contested lands once under the jurisdiction of another nation.
In House Report 78 (21-2), there is a report entitled "Archibald Jackson." This report, from the House Committee on Private Land Claims, in 1831, relates to Jackson’s claim for the land due to James Gammons. Gammons, a soldier in the 11th U.S. Infantry, died on February 19, 1813, "in service of the United States." The act under which he enlisted provided for an extra three month’s pay and 160 acres of land to those who died while in service to the United States. However, Gammons was a slave, owned by Archibald Jackson, who apparently never overtly consented to the enlistment but allowed it to continue. That Gammons was eligible for the extra pay and bounty land was not in dispute, but the recipient of that bounty was. Jackson had already collected the back pay in 1823 and was petitioning for the land as well. The report provides a decision in favor of Jackson, as he was the legal representative of Gammons, and as such entitled to all of his property. (2)
Land as bounty was one issue, and another was claims for newly annexed land as the country spread west. In 1838, the House of Representatives published a report related to Senate Bill 89 concerning the lands acquired through the treaty with Spain in 1819 that ceded East and West Florida to the United States. Claims to land between the Mississippi and the Perdido Rivers, however, were not a part of that treaty and had been unresolved since the Louisiana Purchase, which had taken the Perdido River as one of its limits. The report provides a background on the claims as well as lists of the claimants, the names of original claimants, the date and nature of the claim, and the amount of the land involved. (3)
Other land claims are represented as well. In 1820, the Senate ordered a report to be printed from the General Land Office containing reports of the land commissioners at Jackson Court House. These lands are located in Louisiana and include information that would help a genealogist locate their ancestor in this area. Included in this report is a table entitled "A List of Actual Settlers, in the District East of Pearl River, in Louisiana, prior to the 3d March, 1819, who have no claims derived from either the French, British, or Spanish, Governments." The information is varied, but a typical entry reads: No. 14, present claimant George B. Dameson, original claimant Mde. Neait Pacquet, originally settled 1779, located above White’s Point, Pascag. River, for about 6 years. (4)
Annual Reports
Among the reports in the Serial Set for the 19th century are the annual reports to Congress from the various executive branch agencies. Congress had funded the activities of these organizations and required that each provide a report concerning their annual activities. Many of these are printed in the Serial Set, often twice: the same content with both a House and a Senate document number. Annual reports in the 19th century were very different from the public relations pieces that they tend to be today.
Besides providing information about the organization and its activities, many included research reports and other (almost academic) papers. In the annual reports of the Bureau of Ethnology, for instance, one can find dictionaries of Native American languages, reports on artifacts, and in one case, even a genealogy for the descendants of a chief. (5)
These reports can often serendipitously include information of interest to the family historian. For instance, the annual report of the solicitor of the Treasury would not necessarily be a place to expect to find family information. The 1844 report, however, does have some information that could be useful. For instance, pages 36 and 37 of this report contains a "tabular list of suits now pending in the courts of the United States, in which the government is a part and interested."
Many on the opposite side of the case were individuals. An example is the case of Roswell Lee, late a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, against whom there has been a judgment for over $5,000 in 1838. Lee was sued in a court in Massachusetts and in 1844 still owed over $4,000. In a letter dated May 5, 1840, the district attorney informed the office (6)
that Mr. Lee is not now a resident of the district of Massachusetts, and that whether he ever returns is quite uncertain; that nothing, however, will be lost by his absence, as the United States have now a judgment against him, which probably will forever remain unsatisfied.
Another set of annual reports that appear in the Serial Set are those for the Patent Office. The annual reports of the commissioner of patents often include an index to the patents that were granted that year, arranged by subject and containing the names of the invention and the patentee and the patent number. The report included a further description of the patent, and often a diagram of it as well. Each year’s report also included an index by patentee.
Unfortunately, the numbers of patents granted in later years, as well as their complexity, led to more limited information being included in later reports. The 1910 report, for instance, simply contains an alphabetical list of inventions, with the entries listing the patentee, number, date, and where additional information can be found in the Official Patent Office Gazette. (7)
The Civil War gave rise to a number of medical enhancements and innovations in battlefield medicine, and the annual report for 1865, published in 1867, contains a reminder of that in the patent awarded to G. B. Jewett, of Salem, Massachusetts, for "Legs, artificial." Patent 51,593 was granted December 19, 1865, and the description of the patent on page 990 provides information on the several improvements that Jewett had developed. The patent diagram on page 760 illustrated the text. (8)
This annual report relates to a report from May 1866, also published in the Serial Set that same session of Congress, entitled "Artificial Limbs Furnished to Soldiers." This report, dated May 1866, came from the secretary of war in response to a congressional inquiry concerning artificial limbs furnished to soldiers at the government’s expense. Within its 128 pages are a short list of the manufacturers of these limbs, including several owned by members of the Jewett family in Salem, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington, D.C., as well as an alphabetical list of soldiers, detailing their rank, regiment and state, residence, limb, cost, date, and manufacturer. Constantine Elsner, a private in B Company of the 20th Massachusetts living in Boston, received a leg made by G. B. Jewett at a cost of $75 on April 8, 1865. 9 This may have been an older version of the one that Jewett would have patented later in the year, or it may have been an early model of that one. Either way, a researcher would have some idea not only of what Elsner’s military career was like, but also some sense of what elements of life for him would be like after the war.
Congress also was interested in the activities of organizations that were granted congressional charters. Many of the charters included the requirement that an annual report be supplied to Congress, and these were then ordered to be printed in the Serial Set.
One such organization is the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). As one would expect, the DAR annual reports contain a great deal of genealogical and family history information. The 18th annual report is no exception. Among other things, it includes, in appendix A, a list of the graves of almost 3,000 Revolutionary War soldiers. The list includes not just a name and location, but other narrative information as well:
Abston, John. Born Jan. 2, 1757; died 1856. Son of Joshua Abston, captain of Virginia militia; served two years in War of the American Revolution. Enlisted from Pittsylvania County, Va.; was in Capt. John Ellis’ company under Col. Washington. The evening before the battle of Kings Mountain, Col. Washington, who was in command of the starving Americans at this point, sent soldiers out to forage for food. At a late hour a steer was driven into camp, killed, and made into a stew. The almost famished soldiers ate the stew, without bread, and slept the sleep of the just. Much strengthened by their repast and rest, the next morning they made the gallant charge that won the battle of Kings Mountain, one of the decisive battles of the American Revolution. Washington found one of the steer’s horns and gave it to Abston, a personal friend, who carried it as a powder horn the rest of the war. (10)
Another organization whose annual reports appear is the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, which later became Gallaudet University. These reports, found in the annual reports of the secretary of the interior, contain much of what one would expect: lists of faculty and students, enrollment statistics, and other narrative. While that information can help to provide information about one’s ancestor’s time there, there are other parts of the narrative that include information one would not expect to find.
For instance, the 10th annual report for 1867 has a section entitled "The Health of the Institution." It concerns not the fiscal viability of the institution but rather the occurrences of illness and other calamities. One student from Maryland, John A. Unglebower, was seized with gastric fever and died: "He was a boy of exemplary character, whose early death is mourned by all who knew him." Two other students drowned that year, and the circumstances of their deaths recounted, with the hope that "they were not unprepared to meet the sudden and unexpected summons." (11) Both the faculty and the student body contributed their memorials to these two students in the report.
Other organizations represented in the Serial Set are the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, Veterans of World War I of the United States, proceedings of the National Encampment, United Spanish War Veterans, the American Historical Association, and the National Convention of Disabled American Veterans.
Lists of Pensioners
The history of pensions provided by the federal government is beyond the scope of this article. However, the Serial Set is a source of information about who was on the rolls at various times. For instance, an 1818 letter from the secretary of war was published containing a list of the persons who had been added to the pension list since May 28, 1813. The list provides information on the likes of Susanna Coyle, certificate of pension no. 9, heiress of deceased soldier William Coyle, alias Coil, a private who received pay of four dollars per month. (12)
Sundry lists of pensions appeared in 1850, related to the regulation of Navy, privateer, and Navy hospital funds. The report included four lists: those placed in the invalid list who were injured while in the line of duty; those drawing pensions from wounds received while serving on private armed vessels; widows drawing pensions from their husbands who were engineers, firemen, and coal-heavers; and orphan children of officers, seamen, and marines pensioned under the act of August 11, 1848. (13)
One of the most widely consulted lists is that for 1883, "List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883" (Senate Executive Document 84 [47-2]). This five-volume title, arranged by state and then county of residence, provides a list of each pensioner’s name, his post office, the monthly amount received, the date of the original allowance, the reason for the pension, and the certificate number.
An example is the case of Eli G. Biddle, who served in the 54th Massachusetts. Biddle can be found on page 439 of volume 5 of the "List," and a researcher can learn several things without even having seen his pension file: his middle name is George, he was living in Boston in 1883, and he was receiving four dollars each month after having suffered a gunshot wound in the right shoulder. His pension certificate number is also provided 99,053 and with that one could easily order the appropriate records from the National Archives.
Registers
The Serial Set serves as a source of military registers and other lists of government personnel as well. Both Army and Navy registers appear after 1896. The Army registers for 1848–1860 and the Navy registers for 1848–1863 are transcripts of the lists that appeared the preceding January and include pay and allowances, with corrections to that earlier edition for deaths and resignations.
The Official Register, or "Blue Book," a biannual register of the employees of the federal government, appears for 10 years, from 1883 to 1893. If one’s ancestors were employees at this time, their current location and position, place from which they were appointed, date of appointment, and annual compensation can be gleaned from this source.
The Serial Set often provides unexpected finds, and the area of registers is no exception. There is a great deal of material on the Civil War, from the 130 volumes of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion to other investigations and the aforementioned registers and lists of pensions. There are not, however, large amounts of compiled unit histories.
One exception, however, is the report from the adjutant general of Arkansas. Shortly after the Civil War, the adjutant general offices of the various Union states prepared reports detailing the activities of the men from their states. The same was done in Arkansas, but the state legislature there, "under disloyal control," declined to publish the report. Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts, chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, brought it to the committee in 1867, and it was ordered to be printed in the Serial Set so that the loyal activities of these 10,000 men would be recognized. (14) The report includes brief histories of each unit as well as a roster of the unit and rank, enlistment date, and other notes on each soldier.
Accessing Information in the Serial Set
The indexing for the Serial Set has long been troublesome to researchers. Various attempts have been made to provide subject access, with varying degrees of success. Many of the indexes in the volumes themselves are primarily title indexes to the reports from that Congress and session. The Checklist of United States Public Documents, 1789–1909, does provide information about what reports listed therein do appear in the Serial Set, but the researcher has to know the name of the issuing agency in order to access that information. The Document Index provides some subject indexing by Congress, and other efforts such as those by John Ames and Benjamin Poore can also be used, but none index the tables and contents of many of the reports that have been discussed in this article. (15)
The best comprehensive print index is the Congressional Information Service’s (CIS) U.S. Serial Set Index, produced in conjunction with their microfilming of the volumes through 1969 beginning in the mid-1970s. In this index, a two-volume subject index covers groups of Congresses, with a third volume providing an index to individual names for relief actions, as well as a complete numerical list in each report/document category. The index, however, does not index the contents of the documents. For instance, although the title given for the Archibald Jackson land claim includes James Gammons’s name, the latter does not appear in the index to private relief actions. In addition, users must often be creative in the terms applied in order to be sure that they have exhausted all possibilities. In the mid-1990s CIS released these indexes on CD-ROM, which makes them somewhat easier to use, although the contents are essentially the same.
The indexing problems have been rectified by the digitization of the Serial Set. At least two private companies, LexisNexis and Readex, have digitized it and made it full-text searchable.
[The Serial Set and American State Papers are available in GenealogyBank. Click here to search them online]
This article can only hint at some of the genealogical possibilities that can be found in the Congressional Serial Set. It has not touched on the land survey, railroad, western exploration, or lighthouse keeper’s reports or many of the private relief petitions and claims. Nonetheless, the reports and documents in the Serial Set provide a tremendous and varied amount of information for researchers interested in family history.
Author
Jeffery Hartley is chief librarian for the Archives Library Information Center (ALIC). A graduate of Dickinson College and the University of Maryland’s College of Library and Information Services, he joined the National Archives and Records Administration in 1990.
Notes
1 For a more complete description of the American State Papers, and their genealogical relevance, see Chris Naylor, "Those Elusive Early Americans: Public Lands and Claims in the American State Papers, 1789–1837," Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives and Records Administration 37 (Summer 2005): 54–61.
2 H. Rept. 78 (21-2), 1831, "Archibald Jackson" (Serial 210).
3 H. Rept. 818 (25-2), 1838, "Land Claims between Perdido and Mississippi" Serial 335.
4 S. Doc. 3 (16-2), 1820, "Reports of the Land Commissioners at Jackson Court House" (Serial 42).
5 H. Misc. Doc. 32 (48-2), 1882, "3rd Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology" (Serial 2317).
6 H. Doc. 35 (28-1), 1844, "Annual Report of Solicitor of the Treasury" (Serial 441), p. 37. 7 H. Doc. 1348 (61-3), 1911, "Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the Year 1910" (Serial 6020).
8 H. Exec. Doc. 62 (39-1), 1867, "Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the Year 1865" (Serial 1257-1259).
9 H. Exec. Doc. 108 (39-1), 1866, "Artificial Limbs Furnished to Soldiers" (Serial 1263).
10 S. Doc. 392 (64-1), 1916, "Eighteenth Report of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, October 11, 1914, to October 11, 1915" (Serial 6924), p.155. 11 H. Exec. Doc. 1 (40-2), "Tenth Annual Report of the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb" (Serial 1326), pp. 429–430.
12 H. Doc. 35 (15-1), 1818 (Serial 6), p. 17.
13 See H. Ex. Doc. 10 (31-2), 1850, "Sundry Lists of Pensioners" (Serial 597).
14 See S. Misc. Doc 53 (39-2), 1867, "Report of the Adjutant General for the State of Arkansas, for the Period of the Late Rebellion, and to November 1, 1866" (Serial 1278).
15 A good discussion of how some of these indexes work can be found in Mary Lardgaard, "Beginner’s Guide to Indexes to the Nineteenth Century U.S. Serial Set," Government Publications Review 2 (1975): 303–311.
GenealogyBank.com has 1883 Pensioner List Online
GenealogyBank.com is pleased to announce that it has the five volume List of Pensioners - 1883 online. This basic reference set is actively used by genealogists.List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883; giving the name of each pensioner, the cause for which pensioned, the post office address, the rate of pension per month, and the date of original allowance. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1883. Senate Document. Serial Set Vol. No. 2078, Session Vol. No.5; Report: S.Exec.Doc. 84 pt. 1-5.
The List of Pensioners - lists the pensioners by State/Town. Volume 5 includes the lists of pensioners that lived overseas.
Each entry gives: Name of Pensioner
Pension Certificate Number
Date of the Original Pension
Reasons why the person received the pension
The monthly pension payment
Post Office where the pensioner receives their mail
Tip: This is a crucial source for identifying pensioners from all wars still living in 1883 and it pinpoints where they were living - anywhere in the US or around the world.
Connecticut; District of Columbia; Maine; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New Jersey; Rhode Island; Vermont
New York; Pennsylvania;
Illinois; Iowa; Ohio
Alaska; Arizona; California; Colorado; Dakota; Idaho; Indiana; Kansas; Michigan; Minnesota; Montana; Nebraska; Indian Territory (Oklahoma); Nevada; New Mexico; Oregon; Utah; Washington; Wisconsin; Wyoming
Alabama; Arkansas; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maryland; Mississippi; Missouri; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Virginia; West Virginia.
Countries of the World - including Hawaii 
which was listed as the "Sandwich Islands".
which was listed as the "Sandwich Islands". Africa; Austria; Belgium; Brazil; Denmark; England; France; Germany; Ireland; Italy; Madeira Island (Portugal); Malta; Mauritius; Mexico; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Peru; Romania; Russia; Scotland; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Wales; West Indies; Foreign - Address Unknown.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Columbia University puts Tibetan newspaper online
Columbia University Libraries has placed a new digital library of 97 issues of the Tibet Mirror (Tib. Yul phyogs so so'i gsar 'gyur me long) online for scholars to consult and study. Click here to see this collection. (Image: Yul phyogs so soʾi gsar ʾgyur me long (Kālimpong : G. Tharchin, 1925-<1963>)
The digitized newspapers date from 1933 to 1961, and offer a total of 844 scanned pages drawn from the rich collections of the C. V. Starr East Asian Library.
This Tibetan-language newspaper was published from 1925 to 1963 in Kalimpong, India, and chronicles the most dramatic social and political transformation to have occurred in Tibet during a time when vernacular writing was relatively scarce, and a Tibetan media otherwise non-existent. Columbia's holdings represent about 30% of the paper's full run.
“The recent digitization of large portions of the Tibet Mirror is a welcome and significant advancement in the study of modern Tibet,” said Gray Tuttle, Leila Hadley Luce Assistant Professor of Modern Tibetan Studies at Columbia University. “This Tibetan language resource was a key source of news of the world to Tibetans in the middle of the 20th century. As such, it demonstrates that at least some Tibetans were well aware of international developments, from the spread of Communism from Russia to China to the price of wool in Indian markets.”
“To date, no serious study of the contents of this important resource has been published. Having used the existing collections in the past, I am very excited to see how easy it is to navigate around, read and download from this online resource. The contributors Paul Hackett and Tina Harris, Columbia's Tibetan Studies librarian Lauran Hartley, and all the Columbia staff who made this beautiful site a reality have made an immense contribution to modern Tibetan Studies worldwide,” continued Tuttle.
The digitized newspaper is a cornerstone of the Starr Library’s “Tharchin Collection,” which features the papers of Gegen Dorje Tharchin (1889-1976), a Tibetan Christian convert and the renowned editor of the Tibet Mirror. The Tharchin Collection, which is being readied for public access this year, was acquired with support from the Columbia University Libraries’ Primary Resources Acquisitions Program. In addition to final and draft publications (in both modern and traditional formats), the Collection also includes correspondence; accounts from 1918-1924, and later years; receipts and financial statements; an imprint of a seal designed for the “Future Democratic Tibet Government;” Tibetan hymnals and bibles; scattered photographic prints; advertising solicitations; a list of cotton licenses; and a “Certificate for Traders, Muleteers and Porters.”
The newspapers were a recent gift to C.V. Starr East Asian Library from Dr. Paul G. Hackett, who donated 75 issues, and CUNY graduate student Tina Harris, who donated 22 issues of the paper. The digitized library was created as joint project of the C. V. Starr East Asian Library, the Preservation and Digital Conversion Division, and the Libraries Digital Program Division. For more information about the project, contact Hartley at lh2112@columbia.edu.
The C.V. Starr East Asian Library is one of the major collections for the study of East Asia in the United States, with over 820,000 volumes of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, and Western language materials, as well as some holdings in Mongol and Manchu, and over 6,500 periodical titles. The collection, established in 1902, is particularly strong in Chinese history, literature, and social sciences; Japanese literature, history, and religion, particularly Buddhism; and Korean history. The Library’s website is located at: www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/eastasian/.
Columbia University Libraries/Information Services is one of the top five academic research library systems in North America. The collections include over 10 million volumes, over 100,000 journals and serials, as well as extensive electronic resources, manuscripts, rare books, microforms, maps, graphic and audio-visual materials. The services and collections are organized into 25 libraries and various academic technology centers. The Libraries employs more than 550 professional and support staff. The website of the Libraries at www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb is the gateway to its services and resources.
This collection is not on GenealogyBank.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Portland, Oregon Street Names
Ever wonder who the streets in your town were named for?
The Oregonian (Portland, OR) newspaper ran a regular series giving the history of the names of the streets in Portland, Oregon.
Read these street histories in GenealogyBank.com
Tip: Find these articles quickly by going to the special site we've created for searching just the Oregonian newspaper 1861-1922.
Put "Portland Street Names" in the other search terms box and all of the articles in this series will be displayed.
Click on these links to see a few examples from the series.
Brazee Street. Oregonian. 18 Nov 1921.
Burnside Street. Oregonian. 5 Oct 1921.
Chapman Street. Oregonian. 14 Nov 1921.
Corbett Street. Oregonian. 15 Nov 1921.
Couch Street. Oregonian. 6 Oct 1921.
Curry Street. Oregonian. 26 Nov 1921.
Everett Street. Oregonian. 14 Oct 1921.
Failing Street. Oregonian. 9 Nov 1921.
Irving Street. Oregonian. 15 Oct 1921.
Kearney Street. Oregonian. 19 Oct 1921.
Morrison Street. Oregonian. 4 Nov 1921.
Oatman Street. Oregonian. 11 Nov 1921.
Quimby Street. Oregonian. 24 Oct 1921.
Raleigh Street. Oregonian. 25 Oct 1921.
Salmon Street. Oregonian. 5 Nov 1921.
Savier Street. Oregonian. 27 Oct 1921.
Strowbridge Street. Oregonian. 10 Nov 1921.
Terwilliger Street. Oregonian. 19 Nov 1921.
Thurman Street. Oregonian. 28 Oct 1921.
Upshur Street. Oregonian. 2 Nov 1921.
Vaughn Street. Oregonian. 29 Oct 1921.
Whiteaker Street. Oregonian. 25 Nov 1921.
The Oregonian (Portland, OR) newspaper ran a regular series giving the history of the names of the streets in Portland, Oregon. Read these street histories in GenealogyBank.com
Tip: Find these articles quickly by going to the special site we've created for searching just the Oregonian newspaper 1861-1922.
Put "Portland Street Names" in the other search terms box and all of the articles in this series will be displayed.
Click on these links to see a few examples from the series.
Brazee Street. Oregonian. 18 Nov 1921.
Burnside Street. Oregonian. 5 Oct 1921.
Chapman Street. Oregonian. 14 Nov 1921.
Corbett Street. Oregonian. 15 Nov 1921.
Couch Street. Oregonian. 6 Oct 1921.
Curry Street. Oregonian. 26 Nov 1921.
Everett Street. Oregonian. 14 Oct 1921.
Failing Street. Oregonian. 9 Nov 1921.
Irving Street. Oregonian. 15 Oct 1921.
Kearney Street. Oregonian. 19 Oct 1921.
Morrison Street. Oregonian. 4 Nov 1921.
Oatman Street. Oregonian. 11 Nov 1921.
Quimby Street. Oregonian. 24 Oct 1921.
Raleigh Street. Oregonian. 25 Oct 1921.
Salmon Street. Oregonian. 5 Nov 1921.
Savier Street. Oregonian. 27 Oct 1921.
Strowbridge Street. Oregonian. 10 Nov 1921.
Terwilliger Street. Oregonian. 19 Nov 1921.
Thurman Street. Oregonian. 28 Oct 1921.
Upshur Street. Oregonian. 2 Nov 1921.
Vaughn Street. Oregonian. 29 Oct 1921.
Whiteaker Street. Oregonian. 25 Nov 1921.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
US Army Register: More full-text, digital copies added to GenealogyBank.com
GenealogyBank has added more years of the US Army Register: 1850-1854, 1856, 1858-1859; 1896-1899; 1969.A continuing series on the US Army Register in GenealogyBank.com
More years are being added.
Click on the links below to go directly to the annual volumes of the US Army Register.
Click here to see the listings for 1910-1919
Click here to see the listings for 1920-1929
Click here to see the listings for 1930-1939
Click here to see the listings for 1940-1968
1969. U.S. Army Register. Volume I. Regular Army active list. 1 January 1969.
1969. U.S. Army Register. Volume 2. Army NGUS, USAR, and other active lists. 1 January 1969.
1969. U.S. Army Register. Volume III. Retired lists. 1 January 1969.
1850. Official Army Register for 1850.
1851. Official Army Register for 1851.
1852. Official Army Register for 1852.
1853. Official Army Register for 1853.
1854. Official Army Register for 1854.
1856. Official Army Register for 1856.
1858. Official Army Register for 1858.
1859. Official Army Register for 1859.
1896. Official Army Register for 1896.
1897. Official Army Register for 1897.
1898. Official Army Register for 1898.
1899. Official Army Register for 1899.
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Friday, May 22, 2009
Funeral Sermons - a core genealogical resource
GenealogyBank.com has over 7,000 funeral sermons - full text digital copies and excerpts.These are a core source for genealogists searching for the details of their ancestor's lives in Colonial America and the early Federalist period. (Photo, Ian Britton. FreeFoto.com).
It was common in Colonial America to have a funeral sermon printed and distributed "at the request of the family" to the mourners.
These slim pamphlets can range from six to thirty pages. While it was common for these to be printed - they were printed in small press runs, so it can be difficult for genealogists to locate copies. In many cases only one copy of the sermon - with its critical biographical information survives.
In my experience the earliest published funeral sermons that survive were for ministers and their wives. This practice expanded to include older members of the community and by the late 1700s to early 1800s it was common to see printed funeral sermons for children, men, women of all backgrounds and occupations.
Clergy routinely printed and circulated their sermons on all topics as a way to encourage the faithful to live better lives. I always assumed that the reason their funeral sermons survived while the others that may have been printed didn't is that ministers/their wives were more widely known then regular townspeople.
Their funeral and other sermons were likely circulated to clergy in other cities; seminaries; townspeople in prior towns where they had been stationed etc. The wider the circulation - the more likely a copy would be preserved.
These sermons would not just be homilies to promote religious values but "news" - that people would want to read to be informed and reminded of the lives well lived by the ministers that had served them over the years. This would give more opportunities for people to have kept them - making it more likely for these fragile pamphlets to have survived.
Newspaper accounts of funerals vary - some give the complete sermon and some stories give brief details of the service - like this account of Mark Twain and his wife "listening" to the funeral service of her mother - Olivia (Lewis) Langdon, by telephone. (Inter-Ocean, 12 Jan 1891). Another newspaper account gave the details of the "Most Impressive Funeral Service Ever Held" - the funeral of the Rev. Thomas Allen Horne. It was also the most unusual since he realized that he would soon pass away and had recorded his sermon to be played at the funeral.
His powerful remarks, in his own voice, made "grown men weep" and "women faint". The family had a recording of the Rev. Horne and his late wife singing the old hymn "There is a Better Land".
Tip: Click & Read this:
Imagine the impact in 1890 of listening to the funeral sermon of the deceased - recorded in his own voice; the shock in 1890 of hearing the recorded voices of he & his wife singing their funeral hymn - the poignant, personal remarks in his sermon - again recorded in his own voice. No doubt, that would have been the "Most Impressive Funeral Service Ever Held".
GenealogyBank has thousands of funeral sermons - elegies, memorials etc. Many of these are full digital copies and others are the full sermon or excerpts that appeared in the newspapers.
Here are some typical examples of what you will find in GenealogyBank.
Harris, Thaddeus Mason, (1768-1842). A tribute of filial respect, to the memory of his mother, in a discourse, delivered at Dorchester, Feb. 8, 1801, the Lord's day after her decease. Charlestown, MA: Printed by Samuel Etheridge, 1801. 20p. The biographical and genealogical details of the late Rebekah (Mason) Wait (1738-1801) begin on page 16. We learn that she was born on 28 Dec 1738 - the daughter of Thaddeus Mason "of Cambridge, who survives her, in his 95th year."
On page 17 we learn that she was married twice. She married her first husband, William Harris of Cambridge, MA on 20 Aug 1767. He died 30 Oct 1778. She married her second husband, Samuel Wait of Malden, MA on 2 Mar 1780. She died on 2 Feb 1801 "leaving behind her a widowed husband and five children (four by her first marriage and one by the second) to mourn their loss."
Maxcy, Jonathan, (1768-1820). A funeral sermon, occasioned by the death of Mr. John Sampson Bobo a member of the Junior Class in the South-Carolina College, who was unfortunately drowned in the Congress River, near Columbia. Columbia, SC: Faust, 1819. 16p.
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So, this couple just had a baby ....
I met a couple with a new baby boy.
They decided to name him for his mother's brother -
They call him: Uncle.
Not only does GenealogyBank.com have over 130 million obituaries and death records it has tens of millions of birth announcements as well.
What will you find?
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GenealogyBank.com adds 1.5 million records
GenealogyBank.com added 1.5+ million records and documents this week: 62 newspapers; 1,500 books/documents; over 300,000 obituaries/death records.
GenealogyBank now has over 250,000 books, documents and reports.
Earlier this week we announced the addition of over 60 newspapers in the Historical Newspapers and the America's Newspapers sections.
GenealogyBank:
Covers all 50 States!
1690-Today!
Updated daily!
3,800+ newspapers
130+ million obituaries & death records
250,000+ books & documents
With GenealogyBank you can read the same newspapers your ancestor's did.
See what was happening every day of their lives.
Start your 30-day introductory trial on GenealogyBank.
Get unlimited access for 30 days!
Tell your friends!
Discover Your Family Story!
Special 30 day introductory offer only $9.95.
Pay just $9.95 for full access to GenealogyBank for 30 days.
You may also choose one of two membership package options:
Monthly Plan: $19.95
or
Annual Plan: $69.95
Change your mind and want to cancel?
Simply call us at 800-243-7694 before your trial ends.
.
GenealogyBank now has over 250,000 books, documents and reports.
Earlier this week we announced the addition of over 60 newspapers in the Historical Newspapers and the America's Newspapers sections.
GenealogyBank:
Covers all 50 States!
1690-Today!
Updated daily!
3,800+ newspapers
130+ million obituaries & death records
250,000+ books & documents
With GenealogyBank you can read the same newspapers your ancestor's did.
See what was happening every day of their lives.
Start your 30-day introductory trial on GenealogyBank.
Get unlimited access for 30 days!
Tell your friends!
Discover Your Family Story!
Special 30 day introductory offer only $9.95.
Pay just $9.95 for full access to GenealogyBank for 30 days.
You may also choose one of two membership package options:
Monthly Plan: $19.95
or
Annual Plan: $69.95
Change your mind and want to cancel?
Simply call us at 800-243-7694 before your trial ends.
.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
GenealogyBank.com - Special Offer
GenealogyBank.com - Special Offer
Start your 30-day introductory trial on GenealogyBank.
Get unlimited access for 30 days!
Tell your friends!
Discover Your Family Story!
GenealogyBank sheds new light on the daily lives and communities of millions of American families from 1690 to today. With more than 3,800 newspapers and other core documents from all 50 states, you’ll find not only your ancestor's names, dates, places and events, but also learn about their everyday challenges and the events that defined their lives.
Special 30 day introductory offer only $9.95.
Pay just $9.95 for full access to GenealogyBank for 30 days.
You may also choose one of two membership package options:
Monthly Plan: $19.95
or
Annual Plan: $69.95
Change your mind and want to cancel?
Simply call us at 800-243-7694 before your trial ends.
Start your 30-day introductory trial on GenealogyBank.
Get unlimited access for 30 days!
Tell your friends!
Discover Your Family Story!
GenealogyBank sheds new light on the daily lives and communities of millions of American families from 1690 to today. With more than 3,800 newspapers and other core documents from all 50 states, you’ll find not only your ancestor's names, dates, places and events, but also learn about their everyday challenges and the events that defined their lives.
Special 30 day introductory offer only $9.95.
Pay just $9.95 for full access to GenealogyBank for 30 days.
You may also choose one of two membership package options:
Monthly Plan: $19.95
or
Annual Plan: $69.95
Change your mind and want to cancel?
Simply call us at 800-243-7694 before your trial ends.
So, did you hear the one about the girl and the snake?
Newspapers are packed with the stories documenting our ancestors.
Thankful Taylor of Murfreesboro, TN had quite a story to tell her grandchildren. Her story appeared in the Inter-Ocean (13 July 1874) and the Indianapolis Sentinel (10 July 1874).
Here is just the first few paragraphs from the Inter-Ocean (13 July 1874). Click on the link to read the complete story.
Click here and start searching GenealogyBank.com now!
What will you find?
GenealogyBank.com adds 5 newspapers from 2 states
GenealogyBank.com adds 5 newspapers from 2 states - Delaware & Illinois.Delaware
Dover Post (Dover, DE)
Obituaries: 06/04/2008 - Current
Death Notices: 06/06/2008 - Current
Hockessin Community News (Hockessin, DE)
Obituaries: 06/04/2008 - Current
Death Notices: 06/12/2008 - Current
Middletown Transcript (Middletown, DE)
Obituaries: 06/04/2008 - Current
Death Notices: 06/11/2008 - Current
Illinois
Benton Evening News (Benton, IL)
Obituaries: 03/24/2009 - Current:
Death Notices: 03/24/2009 - Current:
Daily Leader (Pontiac, IL)
Obituaries: 05/05/2009 - Current
Death Notices: 03/30/2009 - Current
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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
GenealogyBank.com adding more content for 16 states
GenealogyBank.com is adding 8,122 back issues -- newspapers from 16 states - filling in gaps; 12 new titles. This new content will go live on GenealogyBank.com this week.
New titles are indicated by an asterisk *
Berkeley, CA. Grito. 1 Issue. 6/1/1970
Los Angeles, CA. Amigo del Pueblo* 1 Issue. 1861-11-30
Los Angeles, CA. Clamor Publico. 5 Issues. 1856-01-12 to 1857-02-14
Los Angeles, CA. Eco Mejicano* 1 Issue. 1885-10-29
Los Angeles, CA. Heraldo de Mexico. 1 Issue. 11/17/1927
Oakland, CA. Mundo. 99 Issues. 1/7/1971 to 4/2/1975
Sacramento, CA. Post (El Informador)* 2 Issues. 11/4/1967 to 12/2/1967
San Francisco, CA. Hispano America. 7 Issues. 11/22/1919 to 11/27/1920
San Francisco, CA. Nueva Mission* 22 Issues. 11/27/1967 to 10/1/1969
Santa Barbara, CA. Gaceta. 2 Issues. 1879-11-01 to 1881-06-25
Colorado Springs, CO. Gazette-Telegraph. 3 Issues. 11/23/1913 to 6/28/1915
Chicago, IL. Latin Times. 1 Issue. 4/23/1960
Chicago, IL. Vida Latina. 1 Issue. 6/21/1961
New Orleans, LA. Times Picayune. 277 Issues. 1861-12-10 to 1897-02-01
New Orleans, LA. Times Picayune. 364 Issues. 12/20/1902 to 8/20/1920
Boston, MA. Boston Journal. 458 Issues. 1874-01-01 to 1889-12-31
Boston, MA. Liberator. 2 Issues. 1897-03-21 to 1897-04-04
Baltimore, MD. Baltimore American. 4 Issues. 9/9/1905 to 1/7/1912
Portland, ME. Gazette of Maine. 104 Issues. 1825-01-01 to 1826-12-26
Grand Rapids, MI. Grand Rapids Press. 869 Issues. 1893-01-11 to 12/26/1922
Trenton, NJ. Trenton Evening Times. 1,509 Issues. 1883-09-15 to 12/26/1922
Las Cruces, NM. Flor del Valle. 14 Issues. 1894-02-03 to 1894-10-11
Las Cruces, NM. Gaceta Popular. 1 Issue. 12/1/1919
Las Cruces, NM. Tiempo. 81 Issues. 9/20/1902 to 11/13/1909
Las Vegas, NM. Chronicle* 1 Issue. 1886-10-19
Las Vegas, NM. Las Vegas Daily Optic. 1 Issue. 1893-05-04
Las Vegas, NM. Revista Catolica. 3 Issues. 1888-10-14 to 1893-02-26
Maxwell, NM. Maxwell Mail* 53 Issues. 1/7/1915 to 12/30/1915
San Marcial, NM. San Marcial Bee. 1 Issue. 1893-04-29
Santa Fe, NM. New Mexican Mining News* 1 Issue. 1881-12-21
Wagon Mound, NM. Combate. 4 Issues. 10/31/1914 to 11/21/1914
Albany, NY. Albany Evening Journal. 125 Issues. 1854-04-11 to 1874-06-29
New York, NY. Cuba Libre. 3 Issues. 1895-07-27 to 1895-09-12
New York, NY. Estrella de Cuba* 9 Issues. 1870-04-16 to 1870-06-29
New York, NY. Grafico. 1 Issue. 5/21/1917
New York, NY. Hodge's Banknote Reporter* 65 Issues. 1861-01-01 to 1863-01-15
New York, NY. Iberica. 4 Issues. 1/15/1956 to 12/15/1964
New York, NY. New York Herald. 723 Issues. 1867-05-24 to 1870-12-24
New York. NY. New Yorker Volkszeitung* 2, 561. Issues. 1889-01-06 to 1898-12-31
New York, NY. Nueva Democracia. 3 Issues. 1/1/1922 to 12/25/1933
New York, NY. Papagayo. 1 Issue. 1855-03-16
Cincinnati, OH. Cincinnati Commercial Tribune. 419 Issues. 1879-09-01 to 1887-04-30
Philadelphia. PA. Public Ledger. 270 Issues. 1859-01-01 to 1869-11-26
Brownsville, TX. Cronista del Valle. 1 Issue. 10/28/1926
Brownsville, TX. Heraldo de Brownsville. 2 Issues. 9/29/1937 to 2/25/1940
Corpus Christi, TX. Weekly Labor Herald. 1 Issue. 6/19/1942
El Paso, TX. Clarin del Norte. 3 Issues. 11/17/1906 to 2/9/1907
El Paso, TX. Continental. 2 Issues. 3/4/1960 to 3/5/1960
El Paso, TX. El Paso Daily News* 6 Issues. 2/11/1901 to 7/3/1902
Kingsville, TX. Eco. 1 Issue. 12/1/1934
Laredo, TX. Cronica. 1 Issue. 12/28/1911
San Antonio, TX. Prensa. 2 Issues. 3/19/1932 to 3/21/1932
San Antonio, TX. Prensa. 8 Issues. 8/13/1925 to 8/8/1948
San Antonio, TX. Regidor. 13 Issues. 11/24/1910 to 10/31/1912
San Antonio, TX. Revista Mexicana. 1 Issue. 7/13/1919
Salt Lake City, UT. Salt Lake Telegram. 1 Issue. 2/23/1904
Milwaukee, WI. Milwaukee'r Socialist* 3 Issues. 1876-09-22 to 1877-09-21
Monday, May 18, 2009
GenealogyBank.com has thousands of military records, documents and reports from the Revolutionary War to today.
GenealogyBank.com has thousands of military records, documents and reports from the Revolutionary War to today.Today we put one of them online for anyone to use. Everyone is welcome to read it online, download and keep it.
This is a good example of the types of documents found in GenealogyBank.
Barbour, James. Secretary of War. Names and Rank of the Officers of the Revolutionary War. American State Papers. 1827. Publication 342.
The report includes each officer of the Continental Army, their name, rank and the name of their regiment. They are listed alphabetically by state.
Genealogist Obituaries - genealogists in 16 states pass away
Genealogists in 16 States pass away. AK, CA, DE, FL, ID, IL, KS, LA, MA, MO, OH, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI.Bedgood, Pierrine Charlotte Claudine Cabral. (1938-2009)
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) - May 13, 2009
Cheng, Nelson Yum-Ping. (1920-2009)
St. Petersburg Times (FL) - May 14, 2009
Cox, Donald H. (1946-2009)
Lima News (OH) - May 16, 2009
Dawson, Elsie Carter Leonard. (1913-2009)
News Journal (Wilmington, DE) - May 17, 2009
Fortuine, Robert. (1934-2009)
Anchorage Daily News (AK) - May 14, 2009
Gerrie, Alfred Lind, Jr. (1931-2009)
Pasadena Star-News (CA) - May 14, 2009
Harden, Glenda. (1931-2009)
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT) - May 14, 2009
Harding, Nancy Grotz. (1950-2009)
Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA) - May 17, 2009
Hess, Arthur Brackett. (1948-2009)
Landmark (Holden, MA) - May 14, 2009
Hunt, Edwin Simonds. (1915-2009)
Rockford Register Star (IL) - May 14, 2009
Krah, Gladys Thelma. (1913-2009)
Columbian (Vancouver, WA) - May 17, 2009
Krebs, Emanuel. (1916-2009)
Times-News (Twin Falls, ID) - May 15, 2009
Lasche, Martha Mae. (1912-2009)
Seattle Times (WA) - May 17, 2009
Osteen, Elizabeth Moore. (1917-2009)
Longview News-Journal (TX) - May 16, 2009
Raymond, Guy Raymond, Jr. (1925-2009)
Post-Crescent (Appleton, WI) - May 14, 2009
Roos, Diane. (1945-2009)
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT) - May 17, 2009
Scott, Frances L. (1946-2009)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) - May 17, 2009
Shackelford, Patricia Ann. (1935-2009)
Lee's Summit Journal (MO) - May 14, 2009
Stocks, Ina Sharp. (1919-2009)
Idaho State Journal (Pocatello, ID) - May 15, 2009
Strother, Mary McAvoy. (1923-2009)
Sacramento Bee (CA) - May 16, 2009
Yust, Frances L. (1920-2009)
Hutchinson News (KS) - May 16, 2009
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Sunday, May 17, 2009
Native American Tribal History
GenealogyBank.com has more than 260,000 books and documents. This includes hundreds of books on Native American genealogy, tribal history and ethno-studies. Here are a few examples of what you can find in GenealogyBank.
What will you find?
Handbook of the Indians of California, by A.L. Kroeber. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 78.
The Pueblo of Sia, New Mexico. By Leslie A. White. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 184.
The Troyville Mounds, Catahoula Parish, La., by Winslow M. Walker. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 113.
A Dictionary of the Osage language, by Francis La Flesche. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 109.
Myths and tales of the southeastern Indians, by John R. Swanton. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 88.
Villages of the Algonquian, Siouan, and Caddoan tribes west of the Mississippi, by David I. Bushnell, Jr. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 77.
Early history of the Creek Indians and their neighbors, by John R. Swanton. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 73.
The Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, by David I. Bushnell, Jr. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 48.
The Troyville Mounds, Catahoula Parish, La., by Winslow M. Walker. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 113.
A Dictionary of the Osage language, by Francis La Flesche. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 109.
Myths and tales of the southeastern Indians, by John R. Swanton. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 88.
Villages of the Algonquian, Siouan, and Caddoan tribes west of the Mississippi, by David I. Bushnell, Jr. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 77.
Early history of the Creek Indians and their neighbors, by John R. Swanton. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 73.
The Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, by David I. Bushnell, Jr. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 48.
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Saturday, May 16, 2009
US Air Force Register, full-text, digital copies on GenealogyBank.com 1951-1968
GenealogyBank.com has the US Air Force Register, 1951-1968 online. This annual register gives genealogical information about the personnel in the US Air Force. There are similar publications for the US Army; US Navy etc.
The Air Force Register was first published as a separate publication in 1951. Earlier lists for Air Force personnel were included in the US Army Registers. The Air Force Register includes both active and retired Air Force personnel.
Click on the links below to go directly to the annual volumes of the US Air Force Register.
1951. Air Force Register.
1952. Air Force Register.
1953. Air Force Register.
1954. Air Force Register.
1955. Air Force Register.
1956. Air Force Register.
1957. Air Force Register.
1958. Air Force Register.
1959. Air Force Register. Volume I: Active lists.
1960. Air Force Register. Volume I: Active lists.
1961. Air Force Register. Volume I: Active lists.
1962. Air Force Register. Volume I: Active lists.
1963. Air Force Register. Volume I: Active lists.
1964. Air Force Register. Volume I: Active lists.
1965. Air Force Register. Volume I: Active lists.
1966. Air Force Register. Volume I: Active lists.
1967. Air Force Register. Volume I. Active lists.
1968. Air Force Register. Volume I: Active lists.
Each month GenealogyBank will be adding more years to the Air Force Register series.
GenealogyBank.com is packed with military information: Books, newspapers and historical documents.
GenealogyBank has the resources genealogists actually use and rely on to document their family tree.
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Armed Forces Day - "United in Strength" - Saturday, May 16, 2009
President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country.
On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense.
(Courtesy, US Dept. of Defense)
This month GenealogyBank Blog has been featuring the military history resources in GenealogyBank.com
Military History Books
Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, from its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1903. 2 volumes. (Serial Set Vol. No. 4535, Session Vol. No.96; Report: H.Doc. 446 pt. 1 & 2).
Click Here to Read Volume 1
Click Here to Read Volume 2
The Centennial of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1904. 2 volumes. (Serial Set Vol. No. 4751, Session Vol. No.125; Report: H.Doc. 789 pt. 1 & 2).
Click Here to read Volume 1
Click Here to read Volume 2
US Navy Register
Click here to see the listings for 1950-1961
US Army Register
Click here to see the listings for 1900-1909
Click here to see the listings for 1910-1919
Click here to see the listings for 1920-1929
Click here to see the listings for 1930-1939
Click here to see the listings for 1940-1968
GenealogyBank.com is packed with military information: Books, newspapers and historical documents.
GenealogyBank has the resources genealogists actually use and rely on to document their family tree.
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GenealogyBank.com: core military history books
Cadets graduating at West PointAll month GenealogyBank.com has been highlighting its extensive military resources.
GenealogyBank has the core military reference books that you will rely on in documenting your ancestors with military service. For example GenealogyBank has the two volume set:
Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, from its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1903. 2 volumes. (Serial Set Vol. No. 4535, Session Vol. No.96; Report: H.Doc. 446 pt. 1 & 2).
This handbook has the military record of all Army officers from 1789 to 1903 and the details on all battles fought by the Army during that same period.
Another standard reference book for documenting US Army officers is: The Centennial of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1904. 2 volumes. (Serial Set Vol. No. 4751, Session Vol. No.125; Report: H.Doc. 789 pt. 1 & 2).
GenealogyBank.com is packed with military information.
Books, newspapers and historical documents.
GenealogyBank has the resources genealogists actually use and rely on to document their family tree.
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Friday, May 15, 2009
US Army Register, full-text, digital copies on GenealogyBank.com 1900-1909
A continuing series on the US Army Register in GenealogyBank.comClick on the links below to go directly to the annual volumes of the US Army Register.
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US Navy Register Online - A Genealogist Writes
Yesterday the GenealogyBank Blog wrote about the US Navy Register going online. It has been very popular. Today I received this note from a genealogist about what she found:
Tom:
I just spent a couple of hours pulling up and printing out [pages from the US Navy Register] from 1922 to 1947 for my father-in-law. What a treat, my husband will be thrilled.
Only missing one year, 1945, but that may be an OCR problem. I'll work on it later.
Then, just for chuckles, I pulled up my husband's first ten years -- but the server's timing out on me. Hmm. Guess this is really popular right now!
Thanks Tom!
Pat
In Tucson
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Tom:
I just spent a couple of hours pulling up and printing out [pages from the US Navy Register] from 1922 to 1947 for my father-in-law. What a treat, my husband will be thrilled.
Only missing one year, 1945, but that may be an OCR problem. I'll work on it later.
Then, just for chuckles, I pulled up my husband's first ten years -- but the server's timing out on me. Hmm. Guess this is really popular right now!
Thanks Tom!
Pat
In Tucson
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US Army Register, full-text, digital copies on GenealogyBank.com 1910-1919
A continuing series on the US Army Register in GenealogyBank.comClick on the links below to go directly to the annual volumes of the US Army Register.
Click here to see the listings for 1920-1929
Click here to see the listings for 1930-1939
Click here to see the listings for 1940-1968
1910.
Official Army Register for 1910.
1911.Official Army Register for 1911.
1912.
Official Army Register for 1912.
1913.
Official Army Register for 1913.
1914.
Official Army Register for 1914.
1915.
Official Army Register for 1915.
1916.
Official Army Register for 1916.
1917.
No report issued.
1918.
Official Army Register. December 1, 1918.
1919.
No report issued.
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Thursday, May 14, 2009
US Navy Register, full-text, digital copies on GenealogyBank.com
GenealogyBank.com is celebrating Memorial Day all month long.
We have been highlighting the US Army Register and tonight begin to focus on the US Navy Register.
The US Air Force Register will be featured on the GenealogyBank Blog next week.
These core genealogy record groups are terrific examples of the resources found uniquely on GenealogyBank.com.
The US Navy Register is similar in style and format to the US Army Register.
These detailed annual publications give genealogical information about the commissioned and warrant officers in the US Navy.
The first Navy Register was issued in 1814. The format and specific information has varied over the years - but generally the entries include the person's name, rank, birthdate/place and details of their military service.
Over the next two weeks I will post the links to the earlier volumes and continue to post earlier decades of the US Army Register and begin posting the US Air Force Register.
Click on the links below to go directly to the annual volumes of the US Navy Register.
1950.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. January 1, 1950.
1951.
Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. January 1, 1951.
1952.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corp. 1 January 1952.
1953.
Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. 1 January 1953.
1954.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. 1 January 1954.
1955.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. 1 January 1955.
1956.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. 1 January 1956, Navpers, 15,018.
1957.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. 1 January 1957, Navpers 15,018.
1958.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and reserve officers on active duty. 1 January 1958, Navpers 15,018.
1959.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and reserve officers on active duty. 1 January 1959.
1960.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and reserve officers on active duty. 1 January 1960.
1961.
Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and Reserve Officers on Active Duty. 1 January 1961.
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We have been highlighting the US Army Register and tonight begin to focus on the US Navy Register. The US Air Force Register will be featured on the GenealogyBank Blog next week.
These core genealogy record groups are terrific examples of the resources found uniquely on GenealogyBank.com.
The US Navy Register is similar in style and format to the US Army Register.
These detailed annual publications give genealogical information about the commissioned and warrant officers in the US Navy.
The first Navy Register was issued in 1814. The format and specific information has varied over the years - but generally the entries include the person's name, rank, birthdate/place and details of their military service.
Over the next two weeks I will post the links to the earlier volumes and continue to post earlier decades of the US Army Register and begin posting the US Air Force Register.
Click on the links below to go directly to the annual volumes of the US Navy Register.
1950.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. January 1, 1950.
1951.
Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. January 1, 1951.
1952.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corp. 1 January 1952.
1953.
Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. 1 January 1953.
1954.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. 1 January 1954.
1955.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. 1 January 1955.
1956.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. 1 January 1956, Navpers, 15,018.
1957.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. 1 January 1957, Navpers 15,018.
1958.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and reserve officers on active duty. 1 January 1958, Navpers 15,018.
1959.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and reserve officers on active duty. 1 January 1959.
1960.
Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and reserve officers on active duty. 1 January 1960.
1961.
Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and Reserve Officers on Active Duty. 1 January 1961.
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Wednesday, May 13, 2009
US Army Register, full-text, digital copies on GenealogyBank.com 1920-1929
GenealogyBank.com has over 250,000 historical documents and books.One of the more popular titles is the US Army Register.
This annual register gives genealogical information about the personnel in the US Army. There are similar publications for the US Navy and US Air Force etc.
The first Army Register was issued in 1813. The format and specific information has varied over the years - but generally the entries include the person's name, rank, birthdate/place and details of their military service.
Over the next few days I will post the links to the earlier volumes.
Click on the links below to go directly to the annual volumes of the US Army Register.
Click here to see the listings for 1930-1939
.
GenealogyBank.com brings you tomorrow's obituaries - today.
Jamieson, Margaret Jean. (1924-2009)Dayton Daily News (OH) - May 14, 2009
Earlier today I posted the list of recent Genealogist Obituaries.
A sharp-eyed researcher asked if there was a typo in this obituary - noting that she could not find this obituary in the Dayton Daily News (OH) and pointing out that the dateline was tomorrow's date.
The answer is that GenealogyBank.com partners with newspapers and receives the obituaries directly from them as they are prepared. GenealogyBank is updated throughout the day so it is common for tomorrow's obituaries to be available today in GenealogyBank. As soon as we receive it - we make it available to you!
In this case Margaret Jean Jamieson's obituary will appear in tomorrow's Dayton Daily News (OH) - May 14, 2009 - but you may read it now on GenealogyBank. Click on the link to read the full obituary.
GenealogyBank.com is the larget archive of obituaries on the planet - with over 130 million obituaries it is the most reliable online resource for genealogists.
Genealogist Obituaries - genealogists in 26 states pass away
Genealogists in 26 States pass away. AL, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, ID, IN, LA, MA, MI, MO, NC, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WIAntram, Jeanne. (1930-2009)
Roswell Daily Record (NM) - May 12, 2009
Becker, Julia Drane. (1920-2009)
Tulare Advance-Register (CA) - May 9, 2009
Brown, Dale Sturtz. (1936-2009)
Times Argus (Montpelier-Barre, VT) - May 11, 2009
Carrington, Hiram D., Jr. (1930-2009)
Voices (Woodbury, CT) - May 12, 2009
Cherney, Edna D. (Pieper). (1923-2009)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) - May 12, 2009
Clark, Elaine Hincks. (1936-2009)
Hartford Courant (CT) - May 8, 2009
Crane, Ora Mae. (1923-2009)
Modesto Bee (CA) - May 8, 2009
Dimick, Doris Lee Banks. (1949-2009)
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT) - May 7, 2009
Culberson, John L. (1927-2009)
Daily Herald (Columbia, TN) - May 7, 2009
Dodson, Burt, Jr. (1931-2009)
Charlotte Observer (NC) - May 10, 2009
Doty-Smith, Frances Earline. (1917-2009)
Evening News and Tribune (Jeffersonville-New Albany, IN) - May 8, 2009
Edwards, Mary Kathryn Smith. (1947-2009)
St. Joseph News-Press (MO) - May 11, 2009
Fielding, Evelyn Juanita Goodchild. (1911-2009)
Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA) - May 10, 2009
Fonville, Lorene Davis. (1911-2009)
Montgomery Advertiser (AL) - May 8, 2009
Galusha, Brian W. (1944-2009)
Washington Post (DC) - May 10, 2009
Gowan, Marjorie E. (Horton). (1918-2009)
Taunton Call (MA) - May 12, 2009
Guthrie, Martha Dee Schwartz. (1913-2009)
Dallas Morning News (TX) - May 10, 2009
Hartman, Jean. (1927-2009)
Lansing State Journal (MI) - May 7, 2009
Hickerson, Virginia Barr. (1935-2009)
Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK) - May 8, 2009
Howard, Roberta Caroline. (1920-2009)
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) - May 9, 2009
Huffman, David Linn. (1939-2009)
Alexandria Daily Town Talk (LA) - May 8, 2009
Jamieson, Margaret Jean. (1924-2009)
Dayton Daily News (OH) - May 14, 2009
Kania, Betty Slicer. (1923-2009)
News Journal (Wilmington, DE) - May 12, 2009
Kaulaity, Charlotte York. (1951-2009)
Lawton Constitution (OK) - May 11, 2009
Landry, William E. (1940-2009)
Morning Call (Allentown, PA) - May 7, 2009
Lane, Margaret Taylor. (1919-2009)
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) - May 12, 2009
Limber, Gertrude. (1919-2009)
Monterey County Herald (CA) - May 10, 2009
Newberry, Emily Jane. (1928-2009)
Times (Shreveport, LA) - May 13, 2009
Newman, William Gold. (1921-2009)
Albuquerque Journal (NM) - May 11, 2009
Osborne, Zetta Frances Wilkinson. (1920-2009)
Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, CO) - May 13, 2009
Peeler, Juanita Worthy. (1931-2009)
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - May 11, 2009
Proudfit, Louis A. (1943-2009)
Augusta Chronicle (GA) - May 8, 2009
Reid, Mildred Chase Lustig. (1924-2009)
Watertown Daily Times (NY) - May 10, 2009
Roberts, Earl. (1910-2009)
Knoxville News Sentinel (TN) - May 9, 2009
Rowley, Virginia Adam. (1928-2009)
Erie Times-News (PA) - May 10, 2009
Shea, Barbara Brown. (1924-2009)
Washington Post (DC) - May 8, 2009
Simonds, Nancy. (1930-2009)
Malden Observer (MA) - May 12, 2009
Taylor, Mildred Nye. (1917-2009)
Idaho State Journal (Pocatello, ID) - May 9, 2009
Thiele, Vicki. (1944-2009)
Waco Tribune-Herald (TX) - May 10, 2009
Tressler, Grace Helmich. (1915-2009)
Yakima Herald-Republic (WA) - May 8, 2009
US Army Register, full-text, digital copies on GenealogyBank.com 1930-1939
GenealogyBank.com has over 250,000 historical documents and books.One of the more popular titles is the US Army Register.
This annual register gives genealogical information about the personnel in the US Army. There are similar publications for the US Navy and US Air Force etc. The first Army Register was issued in 1813. The format and specific information has varied over the years - but generally the entries include the person's name, rank, birthdate/place and details of their military service.
Click here to search all of the historical documents in GenealogyBank.com
Click on the links below to go directly to the annual volumes of the US Army Register. Over the next few days I will post the links to the earlier volumes
1930. Official Army Register. January 1, 1930.
1931. Official Army Register, January 1, 1931.
1932. Official Army Register. January 1, 1932.
1933. Official Army Register, January 1, 1933.
1934. Official Army Register, January 1, 1934.
1935. Official Army Register, January 1, 1935.
1936. Official Army Register, January 1, 1936.
1937. Official Army Register, January 1, 1937.
1938. Official Army Register, January 1, 1938.
1939. Official Army Register, January 1, 1939.
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Monday, May 11, 2009
North Carolina newspapers 1719-1926, 1988-Today
(Photographer: Marion Post Wolcott. Courtesy, Library of Congress: LC-USF34-52728-D)
See what's cooking in the Wilkins family kitchen ... near Tallyho, Granville County, North Carolina ... and all the other news recorded in the Tar Heel State's old newspapers.
GenealogyBank.com has North Carolina's historical newspapers from 1719-1926, 1988-Today.
Click here to search all of North Carolina's historical newspapers
or click on the titles below to search them individually.
Asheville, NC
Asheville Citizen-Times. 1/1/1999-Current
Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill News. 5/3/2000-Current
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte News. 12/11/1888 - 9/29/1922
Charlotte Observer. 3/13/1892 - 12/31/1922
Charlotte Observer. 1/1/1992-Current
Cleveland, NC
Cleveland Post. 3/1/2007-Current
Durham, NC
Chapel Hill Herald. 1/1/2002-Current
Herald-Sun. 1/1/2002-Current
Raleigh Extra. 6/18/1995-5/25/1997
Elizabeth City, NC
Daily Advance. 11/9/2004-Current
Fayetteville, NC
American. 12/22/1719 - 12/31/1922
Fayetteville Observer. 1/18/1988-Current
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro News & Record. 1/1/1990-Current
Greenville, NC
Daily Reflector. 8/30/2004-Current
Halifax, NC
North-Carolina Journal. 8/1/1792 - 9/11/1797
High Point, NC
High Point Enterprise. 4/14/2007-Current
New Bern, NC
Carolina Federal Republican. 1/12/1809 - 4/25/1818
Morning Herald. 9/17/1807 - 4/30/1906
Newbern Herald. 1/20/1809 - 2/26/1810
Newbern Sentinel. 3/21/1818 - 12/25/1823
State Gazette of North Carolina. 8/9/1787 - 2/20/1799
True Republican. 7/4/1804 - 8/7/1811
Raleigh, NC
News & Observer. 1/1/1991-Current
Semi-Weekly Standard. 8/10/1861 - 3/8/1868
Star. 12/1/1789 - 5/12/1926
Red Springs, NC
Red Springs Citizen. 9/10/2008-Current
Rockingham, NC
Richmond County Daily Journal. 5/3/2003-Current
Rocky Mount, NC
Rocky Mount Telegram. 9/3/2002-Current
Roxboro, NC
Courier-Times. 11/22/2006-Current
St. Pauls, NC
St. Pauls Review. 9/4/2008-Current
Tryon, NC
Tryon Daily Bulletin. 5/14/2007-Current
Wadesboro, NC
Anson Record. 6/19/2003-Current
Wilmington, NC
Cape-Fear Recorder. 11/28/1818 - 4/11/1827
Star-News. 1/31/2002-Current
Winston Salem, NC
Winston-Salem Journal. 11/1/1997-Current
Passenger Lists to America
Newspapers routinely published the list of passengers on board ships bound to and from America. Here are just a few examples of the thousands of passenger lists published in newspapers that can be found in GenealogyBank.
Newspapers published not just lists of immigrants coming to America but also regularly published passenger lists of American's going overseas; American's returning home to the US and American's traveling within the United States by ship.
Notice in this example from the Irish-American newspaper, The Shamrock (17 Aug 1816) - published in New York City - that these passengers left from the port of Sligo, Ireland on board the brig Juno and landed in New London, CT. There they boarded the "sloop MacDonough" which in turn set sail for New York City - where they arrived on 16 August 1816.
3 April 1894. Steamer Queen City.
Columbus (GA) Daily Inquirer. 3 April 1894.
Passenger Lists New Orleans, LA
20 February 1869. Steamship Crescent City. From New York City.
Times Picayune. 20 February 1869.
23 October 1872. Steamship Saxonia. Left for Hamburg (Germany) by way of Havana (Cuba), Santander (Spain) and Havre (France).
Times Picayune. 23 October 1872. p. 1
29 April 1873. Steamship John G. Meiggs. Left for Aspinwall (Panama); Port Limon (Costa Rica); and Havanna (Cuba).
Times Picayune. 29 April 1873. p. 8
25 August 1875. Steamship City of Merida. Arrived from Vera Cruz, Tuxpan, and Tampico - all ports in Mexico.
Times Picayune. 25 August 1875. p. 1
Passenger Lists New York City, NY
11 June 1819. Ship Amity. Left for Liverpool (England)
Philadelphia Inquirer. 12 June 1819. p. 3
11 June 1819. Ship Atlantic. From Liverpool (England)
Philadelphia Inquirer. 12 June 1819. p. 3
11 June 1819. Ship Magnet. From Liverpool (England)
Philadelphia Inquirer. 12 June 1819. p. 3
12 June 1848. Steamship Washington. From Southampton (England), by way of Halifax (Nova Scotia).
New York Herald. 16 Jan 1848. p. 2
Passenger Lists Philadelphia, PA
5 Nov 1881. Steamship City of Savannah. Departed for Savannah (Georgia).
Philadelphia Inquirer. 7 Nov 1881. p. 2
13 July 1883. Steamship Niagara. Marine Disaster. Burned off the coast of Florida.
Philadelphia Inquirer. 14 July 1883. p. 1
23 June 1891. Steamship Polynesia. Enroute from Hamburg, Germany.
Philadelphia Inquirer. 23 June 1891. p. 4
10 September 1901. Steamship Alleghany. Enroute from the South.
Philadelphia Inquirer. 10 September 1901. p. 16
Passenger Lists San Francisco, CA
6 September 1871.
San Francisco Bulletin. 6 September 1871. p. 3
Click here to download and search the complete 1819/1820 Passenger List for all US ports. This free resource is a good example of genealogical content in the historical newspapers, books and documents that can be found in GenealogyBank.
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Newspapers published not just lists of immigrants coming to America but also regularly published passenger lists of American's going overseas; American's returning home to the US and American's traveling within the United States by ship.
Notice in this example from the Irish-American newspaper, The Shamrock (17 Aug 1816) - published in New York City - that these passengers left from the port of Sligo, Ireland on board the brig Juno and landed in New London, CT. There they boarded the "sloop MacDonough" which in turn set sail for New York City - where they arrived on 16 August 1816.
This pre-1820 passenger list tells us that these immigrants landed twice on their trip to America, that they took two ships to finally reach their destination - an alert that their names will appear on two different passenger lists. Once on the passenger list for the brig Juno that landed in New London, CT and again on the passenger list for the sloop MacDonough that landed in New York City.
Notice also that this passenger list gives the hometown or county of origin of each passenger. Critical information that is almost never given in the Federal post-1820 passenger lists.
Tip: Passenger lists were not collected by the government until 1820 - these early lists can be difficult if not impossible to find. Newspapers are a terrific source for Colonial passenger lists.
Click on these links to see a few examples of the thousands of passenger lists, published in newspapers that can be found in GenealogyBank.
Passenger Lists of Columbus, GA3 April 1894. Steamer Queen City.
Columbus (GA) Daily Inquirer. 3 April 1894.
Passenger Lists New Orleans, LA
20 February 1869. Steamship Crescent City. From New York City.
Times Picayune. 20 February 1869.
23 October 1872. Steamship Saxonia. Left for Hamburg (Germany) by way of Havana (Cuba), Santander (Spain) and Havre (France).
Times Picayune. 23 October 1872. p. 1
29 April 1873. Steamship John G. Meiggs. Left for Aspinwall (Panama); Port Limon (Costa Rica); and Havanna (Cuba).
Times Picayune. 29 April 1873. p. 8
25 August 1875. Steamship City of Merida. Arrived from Vera Cruz, Tuxpan, and Tampico - all ports in Mexico.
Times Picayune. 25 August 1875. p. 1
Passenger Lists New York City, NY
11 June 1819. Ship Amity. Left for Liverpool (England)
Philadelphia Inquirer. 12 June 1819. p. 3
11 June 1819. Ship Atlantic. From Liverpool (England)
Philadelphia Inquirer. 12 June 1819. p. 3
11 June 1819. Ship Magnet. From Liverpool (England)
Philadelphia Inquirer. 12 June 1819. p. 3
12 June 1848. Steamship Washington. From Southampton (England), by way of Halifax (Nova Scotia).
New York Herald. 16 Jan 1848. p. 2
Passenger Lists Philadelphia, PA
5 Nov 1881. Steamship City of Savannah. Departed for Savannah (Georgia).
Philadelphia Inquirer. 7 Nov 1881. p. 2
13 July 1883. Steamship Niagara. Marine Disaster. Burned off the coast of Florida.
Philadelphia Inquirer. 14 July 1883. p. 1
23 June 1891. Steamship Polynesia. Enroute from Hamburg, Germany.
Philadelphia Inquirer. 23 June 1891. p. 4
10 September 1901. Steamship Alleghany. Enroute from the South.
Philadelphia Inquirer. 10 September 1901. p. 16
Passenger Lists San Francisco, CA
6 September 1871.
San Francisco Bulletin. 6 September 1871. p. 3
Click here to download and search the complete 1819/1820 Passenger List for all US ports. This free resource is a good example of genealogical content in the historical newspapers, books and documents that can be found in GenealogyBank.
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Minnesota newspapers 1849-1922, 1986-Today online
Minnesota is 151 years old today.Minnesota became the 32nd state on May 11, 1858.
The vote wasn't unanimous - the New York Herald (12 May 1858) reported that the vote was 157 for and 38 against admitting Minnesota into the Union.
(Illustration is from GenealogyBank Historical Books; an advertising card by Henry Beard, printed in St. Paul, MN in 1881).
That's the wonderful thing about GenealogyBank - we are able to read newspapers from across the country and get the details of the history of our state as that history was made. GenealogyBank has Minnesota newspapers dating from 1849 - before statehood.
Cloquet, MN
Pine Journal (Cloquet, MN). 5/17/2006-Current
Duluth, MN
Budgeteer News (Duluth, MN). 6/9/2006-Current
Duluth News-Tribune. 5/16/1881 - 12/31/1922
Duluth News-Tribune (MN). 1/1/1995-Current
Lake Superior News. 7/4/1878 - 1/27/1881
Lake Superior Review and Weekly Tribune. 1/6/1876 - 2/10/1889
Minnesotian-Herald. 4/24/1869 - 5/11/1878
International Falls, MN
Daily Journal (International Falls, MN). 8/25/2000-Current
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Journal. 1/1/1895 - 12/31/1900
Star Tribune (MN). 1/21/1986-Current
St. Cloud, MN
St. Cloud Times (MN). 2/4/1999-Current
St. Paul, MN
St. Paul Daily Pioneer. 4/28/1849 - 12/29/1872
St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN). 3/25/1988-Current
Two Harbors, MN
Lake County News-Chronicle (Two Harbors, MN). 5/11/2006-Current
That's the wonderful thing about GenealogyBank - we are able to read newspapers from across the country and get the details of the history of our state as that history was made. GenealogyBank has Minnesota newspapers dating from 1849 - before statehood.
Cloquet, MN
Pine Journal (Cloquet, MN). 5/17/2006-Current
Duluth, MN
Budgeteer News (Duluth, MN). 6/9/2006-Current
Duluth News-Tribune. 5/16/1881 - 12/31/1922
Duluth News-Tribune (MN). 1/1/1995-Current
Lake Superior News. 7/4/1878 - 1/27/1881
Lake Superior Review and Weekly Tribune. 1/6/1876 - 2/10/1889
Minnesotian-Herald. 4/24/1869 - 5/11/1878
International Falls, MN
Daily Journal (International Falls, MN). 8/25/2000-Current
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Journal. 1/1/1895 - 12/31/1900
Star Tribune (MN). 1/21/1986-Current
St. Cloud, MN
St. Cloud Times (MN). 2/4/1999-Current
St. Paul, MN
St. Paul Daily Pioneer. 4/28/1849 - 12/29/1872
St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN). 3/25/1988-Current
Two Harbors, MN
Lake County News-Chronicle (Two Harbors, MN). 5/11/2006-Current
Saturday, May 9, 2009
World's Oldest Mom, age 110 - over 1,000 descendants
Happy Mother's Day!
Clementine (Robicheaux) Breaux, the widow of Paul Breaux, must have set a record.
As of March 19, 1915 - she was still going strong at age 110 - the mother of 13 children and the matriarch of more than 1,000 descendants born in her lifetime. She lived in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana and her family lived there in Thibodaux and "scattered over the entire state" of Louisiana.
Even though she was 110 years old according to the article in 
the Duluth (MN) News Tribune (19 March 1915) she was still active.
the Duluth (MN) News Tribune (19 March 1915) she was still active. Her eyesight was still good enough "to permit the threading of a needle" and she enjoyed "getting out in the yard and feeding the chickens and poultry."
You learn the most amazing things about your family in these old newspapers.
GenealogyBank has over 3,800 newspapers from across the country. Give it a try right now.
So - here's to our mothers everywhere, of all generations.
Happy Mother's Day!
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Friday, May 8, 2009
David Rencher named Chief Genealogical Officer of Family History Department (Salt Lake City)
The Family History Department (Salt Lake City, UT) names David Rencher to new position - Chief Genealogical Officer. Today's announcement from Jay Verkler reads:
I am pleased to announce the creation of a new position in the Family History Department: Chief Genealogical Officer (CGO). This key role will be filled by David Rencher, a 28-year veteran in the department and the genealogical community.
The position of Chief Genealogical Officer ensures that the genealogical integrity of FamilySearch is maintained at the highest levels. The CGO will make sure that a genealogical perspective is reflected in our operational and strategic direction and that the department’s many efforts are connected to the genealogical community.
David’s responsibilities will focus on four major areas:
Genealogical Soundness of the Organization
· Strengthening the genealogical focus of the department’s products, services, and processes
· Providing input to the Strategy Team for genealogical issues
· Maintaining and growing genealogical expertise in partnership with the genealogical community
Record Strategy
· Providing input on the overall record strategy for FamilySearch
· Using genealogical experience and contacts to help build an open FamilySearch environment
· Providing input on third-party affiliation opportunities
Marketing
· Leveraging the genealogical community to assist FamilySearch goals
· Providing input regarding outbound marketing to the genealogical community · Speaking at key genealogical conferences to share FamilySearch messages
Public Outreach
· Providing a public face to the genealogical community for communication · Interacting with the media to promote FamilySearch objectives
· Assisting with V.I.P. visits and tours
· Expanding the network of key genealogical contacts worldwide
In addition to his new role as the Chief Genealogical Officer, David will continue as director of the Planning and Coordination Division. David will continue to report to Russ Stay for Information Divisions-related issues and will report to Jay Verkler on CGO issues.
We wish David well and ask for your support as he takes on these important new responsibilities.
Jay L. Verkler
Managing Director for FamilySearch
Lowell, MA newspaper archive (1830-1879, 2001-Today) live on GenealogyBank
Photo: The confluence of the Concord and the Merrimack Rivers in Lowell, Massachusetts. Photo by Britt Stock, U.S. Geological Survey. (Photo courtesy, USGS.Gov)
Lowell, MA newspaper archive (1830-1879, 2001-Today) live on GenealogyBank.com
Click here to search all Lowell, Massachusetts newspapers.
Click here to search each newspaper by title:
Lowell Daily Citizen and News 1856-1879
Lowell Mercury 1830-1833
Lowell Patriot 1835-1837
Sun 2001-Today
Archivists that have recently passed away
These archivists have recently passed away.
Sister Veronica Grzelak. (1926-2009)
Archivist for Immaculate Heart of Mary Province for ten years
Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, CT) - May 3, 2009
Nicholson, Harman C.B. (1920-2009)
Archivist to the Chief of the Highland Clan MacNicol (Scotland)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA) - April 29, 2009
Rehberg, Lois E. (Lawrie). (1923-2009)
Bay View Historical Society and Archives
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) - May 6, 2009
Smiley, Jane Rittenhouse. (1919-2009)
Librarian and archivist for Swarthmore's Friends Historical Library
Poughkeepsie Journal (NY) - April 29, 2009
Tavener, Gilbert Y., Rev. Dr. (1921-2009)
St. George's School, Gilbert Y. Taverner Archives, named in his honor
Concord Journal (MA) - April 27, 2009
Sister Veronica Grzelak. (1926-2009)
Archivist for Immaculate Heart of Mary Province for ten years
Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, CT) - May 3, 2009
Nicholson, Harman C.B. (1920-2009)
Archivist to the Chief of the Highland Clan MacNicol (Scotland)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA) - April 29, 2009
Rehberg, Lois E. (Lawrie). (1923-2009)
Bay View Historical Society and Archives
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) - May 6, 2009
Smiley, Jane Rittenhouse. (1919-2009)
Librarian and archivist for Swarthmore's Friends Historical Library
Poughkeepsie Journal (NY) - April 29, 2009
Tavener, Gilbert Y., Rev. Dr. (1921-2009)
St. George's School, Gilbert Y. Taverner Archives, named in his honor
Concord Journal (MA) - April 27, 2009
Genealogist Obituaries - genealogists in 10 states pass away
Genealogists in 10 States pass away.
IN, KY, LA, NH, NY, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT
Allred, LaRue Winn. (1923-2009)
Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT) - May 7, 2009
Alloway, Frances Patricia. (1917-2009)
Indianapolis Star (IN) – May 7, 2009
Baker, Rosaline Tilley. (1930-2009)
Dallas Morning News (TX) - May 7, 2009
Barnes, Major Arch Dalrymple. (1921-2009)
Dallas Morning News (TX) - May 7, 2009
Bradford, Jimmie E. (1925-2009)
Dallas Morning News (TX) - May 8, 2009
Gigas, Marguerite M. (1920-2009)
Concord Monitor (NH) - May 7, 2009
Honeywell, Lois Marie. (1939-2009)
Watertown Daily Times (NY) - May 7, 2009
Lancour, Marguerite C. (1917-2009)
Rutland Herald (VT) - May 7, 2009
Lipscomb, Richard Rowley. (1911-2009)
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) - May 7, 2009
Robbins, William L., Sr. (1930-2009)
Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA) - May 6, 2009
Roberts, Earl. (1910-2009)
Knoxville News Sentinel (TN) - May 8, 2009
Stringham, Genevieve Marie. (1912-2009)
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT) - May 7, 2009
Temple, Horace LaFoe. (1916-2009)
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (KY) - May 6, 2009
Wilson, Kimberly Ann. (1965-2009)
Jackson Sun (TN) - May 7, 2009
IN, KY, LA, NH, NY, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT
Allred, LaRue Winn. (1923-2009)
Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT) - May 7, 2009
Alloway, Frances Patricia. (1917-2009)
Indianapolis Star (IN) – May 7, 2009
Baker, Rosaline Tilley. (1930-2009)
Dallas Morning News (TX) - May 7, 2009
Barnes, Major Arch Dalrymple. (1921-2009)
Dallas Morning News (TX) - May 7, 2009
Bradford, Jimmie E. (1925-2009)
Dallas Morning News (TX) - May 8, 2009
Gigas, Marguerite M. (1920-2009)
Concord Monitor (NH) - May 7, 2009
Honeywell, Lois Marie. (1939-2009)
Watertown Daily Times (NY) - May 7, 2009
Lancour, Marguerite C. (1917-2009)
Rutland Herald (VT) - May 7, 2009
Lipscomb, Richard Rowley. (1911-2009)
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) - May 7, 2009
Robbins, William L., Sr. (1930-2009)
Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA) - May 6, 2009
Roberts, Earl. (1910-2009)
Knoxville News Sentinel (TN) - May 8, 2009
Stringham, Genevieve Marie. (1912-2009)
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT) - May 7, 2009
Temple, Horace LaFoe. (1916-2009)
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (KY) - May 6, 2009
Wilson, Kimberly Ann. (1965-2009)
Jackson Sun (TN) - May 7, 2009
Space age technology unraveling ancient manuscripts
Alexandra Alter reports in today's Wall Street Journal on global 
projects to digitize and make available the world's ancient manuscripts that have long been unreadable. Click here to read her article: The Next Age of Discovery. (Wall Street Journal, 8 May 2009).
"Archivists at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore used multispectral imaging to read this palimpsest, or text that had been scraped off and written over by a later scribe. The text had been covered up by a 13th-century monk who scraped the parchment with pumice and used the pages to write a prayer book. Multispectral imaging revealed a hidden mathematical treatise by the Greek mathematician Archimedes (above)."
"Brent Seales, a computer scientist at the University of Kentucky, is pioneering the "virtual unrolling" technique for fragile or burned scrolls. Prof. Seales plans to test 3-D X-ray scanning on two papyrus scrolls from Pompeii that were charred by volcanic ash in 79 A.D."
projects to digitize and make available the world's ancient manuscripts that have long been unreadable. Click here to read her article: The Next Age of Discovery. (Wall Street Journal, 8 May 2009). "Archivists at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore used multispectral imaging to read this palimpsest, or text that had been scraped off and written over by a later scribe. The text had been covered up by a 13th-century monk who scraped the parchment with pumice and used the pages to write a prayer book. Multispectral imaging revealed a hidden mathematical treatise by the Greek mathematician Archimedes (above)."
Universities across the country: University of Kentucky, Brigham Young University, Oxford, British Library, Library of Congress, St. John's Abbey & University in Minnesota, Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts (Texas), University of Michigan, Berkeley, Columbia University are all working to preserve the world's oldest records. They are harnessing 3-D X-ray scanning, NASA multispectral imaging and the latest tools to digitize and preserve the world's oldest manuscripts.
These projects have saved thousands of manuscripts that were otherwise unreadable and that were slowly deteriorating.
"Brent Seales, a computer scientist at the University of Kentucky, is pioneering the "virtual unrolling" technique for fragile or burned scrolls. Prof. Seales plans to test 3-D X-ray scanning on two papyrus scrolls from Pompeii that were charred by volcanic ash in 79 A.D.""Multispectral imaging -- originally developed by NASA to capture satellite images through clouds -- has proved remarkably effective on everything from ancient papyrus scrolls to medieval manuscripts that were scraped off and written over when scribes recycled parchment pages. Using the technique, which captures high-resolution images in different light wavelengths, scholars can see details invisible to the naked eye: For example, infrared light highlights ink containing carbon from crushed charcoal, while ultraviolet light picks up ink containing iron."
It's a great day for genealogy - and the world's scholars are extending our reach even further back in time with space age technology.
.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
US Army Register, full-text, digital copies on GenealogyBank
GenealogyBank has over 250,000 historical documents and books.One of the more popular titles is the US Army Register.
This annual register gives genealogical information about the personnel in the US Army. There are similar publications for the US Navy and US Air Force etc.
The first Army Register was issued in 1813. The format and specific information has varied over the years - but generally the entries include the person's name, rank, birthdate/place and details of their military service.
Click here to search all of the historical documents in GenealogyBank Click on the links below to go directly to the annual volumes of the US Army Register. Over the next few days I will post the links to the earlier volumes.
1940
Official Army Register, January 1, 1940.
1941
Official Army Register, January 1, 1941.
1942
Official Army Register, January 1, 1942.
1943
Official Army Register, January 1, 1943.
1944
Official Army Register. 1 January 1944.
1945
Official Army Register. 1 January 1945.
1946
Official Army Register. Volume I. 1 January 1946.
1947
Official Army Register. Vol. I. 1 January, 1947.
1948
Official Army and Air Force Register.
Official Army and Air Force Register. Volume II. R to end. I January 1948.
1949
Official Army Register. Vol. I. United States Army, active and retired lists. 1 January, 1949.
1950
Official Army Register, Volume I. United States Army, active and retired lists, 1 January 1950.
Official Army Register. Vol. II. Officers' honorary retired list. 1 January 1950.
1951
Official Army Register. Vol. I. United States Army, active and retired lists. 1 January 1951.
Official Army Register. Volume II. Officers' honorary retired list, 1 January 1951.
1952
Official Army Register. Volume I. United States Army active and retired lists. 1 January 1952.
1953
Official Army Register. Volume I. United States Army, active and retired lists. 1 January 1953.
Official Army Register, Volume II Army of the United States and other retired lists. 1 January 1953.
Official Army Register. Volume III, Officers' honorary retired list. 1 January 1953.
1954
Official Army Register. Volume I, United States Army active and retired lists. 1 January 1954.
Official Army Register. Volume II, Army of the United States and other retired lists 1 January 1954.
1955
Official Army Register. Volume I, United States Army active and retired lists. 1 January 1955.
Official Army Register. Volume II, Army of the United States and other retired lists. 1 January 1955.
1956
Official Army Register. Volume I. United States Army active and retired lists. 1 January 1956.
Official Army Register. Volume II. Army of the United States and other retired lists. 1 January 1956.
1957
U.S. Army Register. United States Army active and retired lists. 1 January 1957.
U.S. Army Register, Volume II. Army of the United States and other retired lists, 1 January 1957.
1958
U.S. Army Register. Volume I. United States Army active and retired lists. 1 January 1958. U.S. Army Register. Volume II. Army of the United States and other retired lists. 1 January 1958.
1959
U.S. Army Register. Volume I. United States Army active and retired lists. 1 January 1959.
U.S. Army Register. Volume II. Army of the United States Army of the United States and other retired lists, 1 January 1959.
1960
U.S. Army Register. Volume I. United States Army active and retired lists. 1 January 1960. U.S. Army Register. Volume II. Army of the United States and other retired lists. 1 January 1960.
1961
U.S. Army Register, Volume I. United States Army Active and Retired List, 1 January 1961.
1962
U.S. Army Register. [Volumes I, II, and III.] United States Army, active and retired list. January 1, 1962.
1963
U.S. Army Register. Volume 1. United States Army. Active and Retired List. 1 January 1963.
1964
Army Register. Volume I. United States Army Active and Retired List. 1 January 1964.
1965
U.S. Army Register. Volume I. United States Army. Active and Retired List. 1 January 1965.
1966
U.S. Army Register. Volume I. United States Army active and retired list. 1 January 1966.
1967
U.S. Army Register. Volume I. Active lists. 1 January 1967.
U.S. Army Register. Volume II. Retired lists. 1 January 1967.
1968
U.S. Army Register. Volume I. Regular Army active list. 1 January 1968
U.S. Army Register. Volume II. Army NGUS, USAR and other active lists. 1 January 1968.
U.S. Army Register. Volume III. Retired lists. 1 January 1968.
GenealogyBank adds 9 newspapers from 6 states
GenealogyBank is expanding it's coverage adding 9 newspapers from 6 states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri and North Carolina
California
Daily Independent (Ridgecrest, CA)
Obituaries: 04/11/2009 - Current
Death Notices: 04/07/2009 - Current
Colorado
Bent County Democrat (Las Animas, CO)
Obituaries: 04/13/2009 - Current
Death Notices: 04/07/2009 - Current
Illinois
Clay County Advocate-Press (Flora, IL)
Obituaries: 04/10/2009 - Current
Death Notices: 03/27/2009 – Current
California
Daily Independent (Ridgecrest, CA)
Obituaries: 04/11/2009 - Current
Death Notices: 04/07/2009 - Current
Colorado
Bent County Democrat (Las Animas, CO)
Obituaries: 04/13/2009 - Current
Death Notices: 04/07/2009 - Current
Illinois
Clay County Advocate-Press (Flora, IL)
Obituaries: 04/10/2009 - Current
Death Notices: 03/27/2009 – Current
News Tribune (La Salle, IL)
Obituaries: 12/02/1997 - Current
Death Notices: 09/24/1997 - Current
Massachusetts
Raynham Call (Raynham, MA)
Obituaries: 07/10/2007 - Current
Death Notices: 04/18/2007 - Current
Missouri
Boonville Daily News (Boonville, MO)
Obituaries: 04/06/2008 - Current
Death Notices: 04/02/2008 - Current
Constitution-Tribune (Chillicothe, MO)
Obituaries: 04/11/2009 - Current
Death Notices: 04/06/2009 – Current
Daily Guide (Waynesville, MO)
Obituaries: 04/11/2009 - Current
Death Notices: 03/25/2009 - Current
North Carolina
Topsail Voice (Hampstead, NC)
Obituaries: 10/29/2008 - Current
Death Notices: 09/10/2008 - Current
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Genealogist Obituaries - genealogists in 11 states pass away
Genealogists in 11 states pass away.
CT, MA, MI, MN, NH, OK, PA, TN, UT, WA, WV
Bell, Frederick R. (1945-2009)
Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA) - May 6, 2009
Brown, Robert Arthur. (1927-2009)
Knoxville News Sentinel (TN) - May 6, 2009
Carrington, Hiram D., Jr. (1930-2009)
Republican-American (Waterbury, CT) - May 5, 2009
Church, James. (1925-2009)
Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) - May 5, 2009
Moher, Mariette I. (Corriveau). (1921-2009)
Telegraph, The (Nashua, NH) - May 5, 2009
Payne, Marlene Alcorn. (1935-2009)
Spectrum, The (St. George, UT) - May 5, 2009
Quesenberry, Bobby J., Jr. (1959-2009)
Charleston Gazette (WV) - May 5, 2009
Shoemaker, Clyde P. (1927-2009)
Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA) - May 6, 2009
Stevens, Grace Louise. (1932-2009)
Kalamazoo Gazette (MI) - May 5, 2009
Ward, Dana Shaw. (1915-2009)
Plymouth Bulletin (MA) - May 5, 2009
Wilson, Joyce Fern. (1940-2009)
Muskogee Daily Phoenix and Times-Democrat (OK) – May 5, 2009
GenealogyBank with over 130 million obituaries is the largest source of obituaries and death records online.
CT, MA, MI, MN, NH, OK, PA, TN, UT, WA, WV
Bell, Frederick R. (1945-2009)
Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA) - May 6, 2009
Brown, Robert Arthur. (1927-2009)
Knoxville News Sentinel (TN) - May 6, 2009
Carrington, Hiram D., Jr. (1930-2009)
Republican-American (Waterbury, CT) - May 5, 2009
Church, James. (1925-2009)
Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) - May 5, 2009
Moher, Mariette I. (Corriveau). (1921-2009)
Telegraph, The (Nashua, NH) - May 5, 2009
Payne, Marlene Alcorn. (1935-2009)
Spectrum, The (St. George, UT) - May 5, 2009
Quesenberry, Bobby J., Jr. (1959-2009)
Charleston Gazette (WV) - May 5, 2009
Shoemaker, Clyde P. (1927-2009)
Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA) - May 6, 2009
Stevens, Grace Louise. (1932-2009)
Kalamazoo Gazette (MI) - May 5, 2009
Ward, Dana Shaw. (1915-2009)
Plymouth Bulletin (MA) - May 5, 2009
Wilson, Joyce Fern. (1940-2009)
Muskogee Daily Phoenix and Times-Democrat (OK) – May 5, 2009
GenealogyBank with over 130 million obituaries is the largest source of obituaries and death records online.
"When I die there will be a final waltz playing in my head, that only I can hear."
An Irish student's fake quote on Wikipedia has been used in newspaper obituaries around the world.
Like putting a note in a bottle, Shane Fitzgerald, 22, a student studying sociology and economics at University College, Dublin wanted to see how far his fake quote would spread - on the Internet.
According to the Australian (7 May 2009) Fitzgerald created a plausible but fabricated quote, attributing it to Maurice Jarre (1924-2009).
The false quote read: "One could say my life itself has been one long soundtrack. Music was my life, music brought me to life, and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz playing in my head, that only I can hear."
Fitzgerald posted the fake quote on Maurice Jarre's Wikipedia page soon after the musician had died. It was then picked up in obituaries that appeared in newspapers, blogs and websites around the world.
Click here to read the complete story.
The Australian (7 May 2009)
Like putting a note in a bottle, Shane Fitzgerald, 22, a student studying sociology and economics at University College, Dublin wanted to see how far his fake quote would spread - on the Internet.
According to the Australian (7 May 2009) Fitzgerald created a plausible but fabricated quote, attributing it to Maurice Jarre (1924-2009).
The false quote read: "One could say my life itself has been one long soundtrack. Music was my life, music brought me to life, and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz playing in my head, that only I can hear."
Fitzgerald posted the fake quote on Maurice Jarre's Wikipedia page soon after the musician had died. It was then picked up in obituaries that appeared in newspapers, blogs and websites around the world.
Click here to read the complete story.
The Australian (7 May 2009)
Disciples of Christ Historical Society sustains severe water damage
DeciplesWorld is reporting that "the Nashville-based Disciples of Christ Historical Society
suffered severe water damage the last weekend of April when what the organization believes was a faulty valve in the heating and air-conditioning system allowed gallons of water to pour from top to bottom of the half-century-old Thomas W. Phillips Memorial Archives that houses the society." (See the complete article by Ted Parks. Disciples Historical Society sustains severe water damage).
"On Tuesday, staff packaged 115 boxes of damp items, including books, periodicals, church records, and video tape, for shipment to a company in Michigan that freeze-dries archival and museum materials to remove moisture. Out of the 12,000 cubic feet of material the society stores, only about 130 cubic feet of books and other items got wet and required repair, Harwell explained."
The Disciples of Christ Historical Society Library contains "37,000 books, 35,000 biographical files, 25,000 congregational records, and 2,000 audio-visual items."
Sara Howell, DCHS Chief Archivist sent me this link to other pictures of the damage.
suffered severe water damage the last weekend of April when what the organization believes was a faulty valve in the heating and air-conditioning system allowed gallons of water to pour from top to bottom of the half-century-old Thomas W. Phillips Memorial Archives that houses the society." (See the complete article by Ted Parks. Disciples Historical Society sustains severe water damage). "On Tuesday, staff packaged 115 boxes of damp items, including books, periodicals, church records, and video tape, for shipment to a company in Michigan that freeze-dries archival and museum materials to remove moisture. Out of the 12,000 cubic feet of material the society stores, only about 130 cubic feet of books and other items got wet and required repair, Harwell explained."
The Disciples of Christ Historical Society Library contains "37,000 books, 35,000 biographical files, 25,000 congregational records, and 2,000 audio-visual items."
Sara Howell, DCHS Chief Archivist sent me this link to other pictures of the damage.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Genealogist Obituaries - 12 Genealogists in 7 States have passed away.
12 genealogists in 7 States have passed away.
Baker, Francis J. (1916-2009)
News Journal (Mansfield, OH). May 1, 2009
Beeson, Myron. (1926-2009)
Salt Lake Tribune (UT). May 3, 2009
Cantwell, Nancy Carolyn McKissack. (1933-2009)
Denton Record-Chronicle (TX). May 3, 2009
Clever, Evelyn L. (1910-2009)
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT). May 2, 2009
Davis, Pauline Rose. (1931-2009)
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT). May 2, 2009
Heck, Glenn Eugene. (1929-2009)
Macon Telegraph (GA). May 3, 2009
Hoff, Marjorie Doris. (1921-2009)
Idaho Statesman (Boise, ID). May 4, 2009
Lister, Nancy Lou. (1940-2009)
Hartford Courant (CT). May 3, 2009
Lloyd, Bud D. (1927-2009)
Idaho Statesman (Boise, ID). May 3, 2009
Robinson, Norma Garrett. (1918-2009)
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT). May 2, 2009
Stevens, Zina Greene Campbell. (1915-2009)
Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT). May 5, 2009
Williams, Virginia Johns. (1929-2009)
Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA). May 2, 2009
GenealogyBank with over 130 million obituaries is the largest source of obituaries and death records online.
Baker, Francis J. (1916-2009)
News Journal (Mansfield, OH). May 1, 2009
Beeson, Myron. (1926-2009)
Salt Lake Tribune (UT). May 3, 2009
Cantwell, Nancy Carolyn McKissack. (1933-2009)
Denton Record-Chronicle (TX). May 3, 2009
Clever, Evelyn L. (1910-2009)
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT). May 2, 2009
Davis, Pauline Rose. (1931-2009)
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT). May 2, 2009
Heck, Glenn Eugene. (1929-2009)
Macon Telegraph (GA). May 3, 2009
Hoff, Marjorie Doris. (1921-2009)
Idaho Statesman (Boise, ID). May 4, 2009
Lister, Nancy Lou. (1940-2009)
Hartford Courant (CT). May 3, 2009
Lloyd, Bud D. (1927-2009)
Idaho Statesman (Boise, ID). May 3, 2009
Robinson, Norma Garrett. (1918-2009)
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT). May 2, 2009
Stevens, Zina Greene Campbell. (1915-2009)
Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT). May 5, 2009
Williams, Virginia Johns. (1929-2009)
Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA). May 2, 2009
GenealogyBank with over 130 million obituaries is the largest source of obituaries and death records online.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Hawaii Newspapers Online (1805-1893, 1999-Today)
GenealogyBank.com has Hawaii newspapers, 1805-1893, 1999-Today onlineClick here to search all Hawaiian Newspapers 1805-1893
Click on the links below to search specific newspapers
Folio 1820-1855
Friend 1805-1880
Honolulu Advertiser 1999-Today
Hawaiian Gazette 1865-1893
Pacific Commercial Advertiser 1856-1876
Polynesian 1840-1858
Sandwich Island News 1846
Temperance Advocate 1843
West Hawaii Today 2008-Today
Old Man of the Mountain - RIP 3 May 2003
It was six years ago that the Old Man of the Mountain fell.
His passing is as deeply felt today as when I heard the shocking news in 2003. It came across as a cable news bulletin. Hikers had heard the awful rumble in the early hours while it was still dark and when the sun came up they realized what had happened.
The next morning the quiet phone calls began ... to my folks, my brothers - had they heard the news. They had.
We were all born and mostly raised in New Hampshire. Old "Sawyer" prints of the Old Man of the Mountain hang on the wall. He's on the license plates - the NH edition of the quarter. He was a solid part of our lives. Familiar. Always there. A part of the family, our heritage.
Newspapers have been commenting on the impact of his image for centuries.
Samuel Adams Drake wrote "This gigantic silhouette which has been christened the Old Man of the Mountain is unquestionably the greatest curiosity of this or any other mountain region" (St. Alban's Messenger (VT) 16 July 1881).
The Old Man was first "discovered" in 1805 by Luke Brooks and Francis Whitcomb who were charged by the town of Franconia, NH to survey the town. See NH Gazette 25 June 1805.
One of the earliest descriptions of the Old Man was published in the Salem Gazette (MA) 22 Nov 1825.
By 1827 a new stage line had "purchased good horses and carriages ... and procured a careful driver" and organized the "Plymouth and Franconia" stage line, with runs twice a week past the Old Man - "a very level and pleasant route". (NH Patriot 15 Jan 1827).
His passing is as deeply felt today as when I heard the shocking news in 2003. It came across as a cable news bulletin. Hikers had heard the awful rumble in the early hours while it was still dark and when the sun came up they realized what had happened.
The next morning the quiet phone calls began ... to my folks, my brothers - had they heard the news. They had.
We were all born and mostly raised in New Hampshire. Old "Sawyer" prints of the Old Man of the Mountain hang on the wall. He's on the license plates - the NH edition of the quarter. He was a solid part of our lives. Familiar. Always there. A part of the family, our heritage.
Newspapers have been commenting on the impact of his image for centuries.
Samuel Adams Drake wrote "This gigantic silhouette which has been christened the Old Man of the Mountain is unquestionably the greatest curiosity of this or any other mountain region" (St. Alban's Messenger (VT) 16 July 1881).
The Old Man was first "discovered" in 1805 by Luke Brooks and Francis Whitcomb who were charged by the town of Franconia, NH to survey the town. See NH Gazette 25 June 1805.
One of the earliest descriptions of the Old Man was published in the Salem Gazette (MA) 22 Nov 1825.
By 1827 a new stage line had "purchased good horses and carriages ... and procured a careful driver" and organized the "Plymouth and Franconia" stage line, with runs twice a week past the Old Man - "a very level and pleasant route". (NH Patriot 15 Jan 1827).
Biloxi, MS (1836-1922, 1994-Today) Newspapers Online
GenealogyBank.com has Biloxi, Mississippi newspapers, 1836-1922, 1994-Today online
Click here to search the Biloxi, Mississippi newspaper archives
Click on the links below to search a specific Biloxi, MS newspaper.
Daily Herald (1836-1922)
Herald Weekly (1891-1898)
Sun Herald (1994-Today)
GenealogyBank has other Mississippi newspapers covering two centuries: 1818-Today.
Other Mississippi newspapers Online
Click here to search all of the historical MS newspapers
Greenville, MS
Delta Democrat Times (2002-Today)
Greenwood, MS
Greenwood Commonwealth (2000-Today)
Hattiesburg, MS
Hattiesburg American (2000-Today)
Jackson, MS
Clarion (1831-1890), (1999-Today)
Clarion Ledger (1888-1890)
Natchez, MS
Mississippi State Gazette (1818-1825)
Southern Clarion (1831)
Southern Galaxy (1828-1829)
Statesman & Gazette (1828-1829)
Starkville, MS
Starkville Daily News (2008-Today)
Vicksburg, MS
Daily Commercial (1835-1882)
West Point, MS
Daily Times Leader (2008-Today)
Click here to search the Biloxi, Mississippi newspaper archives
Click on the links below to search a specific Biloxi, MS newspaper.
Daily Herald (1836-1922)
Herald Weekly (1891-1898)
Sun Herald (1994-Today)
GenealogyBank has other Mississippi newspapers covering two centuries: 1818-Today.
Other Mississippi newspapers Online
Click here to search all of the historical MS newspapers
Greenville, MS
Delta Democrat Times (2002-Today)
Greenwood, MS
Greenwood Commonwealth (2000-Today)
Hattiesburg, MS
Hattiesburg American (2000-Today)
Jackson, MS
Clarion (1831-1890), (1999-Today)
Clarion Ledger (1888-1890)
Natchez, MS
Mississippi State Gazette (1818-1825)
Southern Clarion (1831)
Southern Galaxy (1828-1829)
Statesman & Gazette (1828-1829)
Starkville, MS
Starkville Daily News (2008-Today)
Vicksburg, MS
Daily Commercial (1835-1882)
West Point, MS
Daily Times Leader (2008-Today)
Genealogist Obituaries
Bock, Terri Ann (Van Sickler) (1956-2009).
Kalamazoo Gazette (MI): May 3, 2009
Gooch, Jane Bradford (1912-2009).
New York Times: 3 May 2009
McCullough, Frederick Charles (1914-2009).
Oak Ridger (TN): April 29, 2009
Price, Oberia Garrett Estrada (1926-2009).
Alexandria Daily Town Talk (LA): 27 Apr 2009
Kalamazoo Gazette (MI): May 3, 2009
Gooch, Jane Bradford (1912-2009).
New York Times: 3 May 2009
McCullough, Frederick Charles (1914-2009).
Oak Ridger (TN): April 29, 2009
Price, Oberia Garrett Estrada (1926-2009).
Alexandria Daily Town Talk (LA): 27 Apr 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Index to Early Philadelphia Obituaries - Public Ledger 1836
These early Philadelphia (PA) deaths were recorded in the Public Ledger, an early Philadelphia newspaper.
Click on the links in the index citations to read each person's obituary.
Public Ledger. 25 Mar 1836
Eure, Jonas. (-1836)
Hendel, William B. (-1836)
McClaskey, James. (1775-1836)
Talcott, Samuel Austin (1789-1836)
Taynton, Luther. (1791-1836)
Townsend, Edwin. (1832-1836)
Townsend, Maria. (1833-1836)
Public Ledger. 26 Mar 1836
Wooldridge, Jane. (1821-1836)
Public Ledger. 29 Mar 1836
Bewley, William. (-1836)
Chauncey, Susan N. (-1836)
Evans, Charles H. (1799-1836)
Fleu, Ann. (1824-1836)
Mapother, John. (1751-1836)
Russell, Jas. W. (1805-1836)
Turner, Ann. (wife of John). (-1836)
Public Ledger. 30 Mar 1836
Dempsey, John. (1835-1836)
Fassitt, Thomas. (1776-1836)
McArthur, Catherine. (1834-1836)
Sevelinque, Joseph. (1784-1836)
Watson, Elizabeth (wife of David). (1784-1836)
Public Ledger. 31 Mar 1836
Geiger, George. (1796-1836)
Harrison, Henry K. (1801-1836)
Murphy, Mary (wife of Daniel). (1792-1836)
Neville, Adelaide Olivia. (1829-1836)
Stevenson, John & Mrs. Stevenson. (-1836)
Click on the links in the index citations to read each person's obituary.
Public Ledger. 25 Mar 1836
Eure, Jonas. (-1836)
Hendel, William B. (-1836)
McClaskey, James. (1775-1836)
Talcott, Samuel Austin (1789-1836)
Taynton, Luther. (1791-1836)
Townsend, Edwin. (1832-1836)
Townsend, Maria. (1833-1836)
Public Ledger. 26 Mar 1836
Wooldridge, Jane. (1821-1836)
Public Ledger. 29 Mar 1836
Bewley, William. (-1836)
Chauncey, Susan N. (-1836)
Evans, Charles H. (1799-1836)
Fleu, Ann. (1824-1836)
Mapother, John. (1751-1836)
Russell, Jas. W. (1805-1836)
Turner, Ann. (wife of John). (-1836)
Public Ledger. 30 Mar 1836
Dempsey, John. (1835-1836)
Fassitt, Thomas. (1776-1836)
McArthur, Catherine. (1834-1836)
Sevelinque, Joseph. (1784-1836)
Watson, Elizabeth (wife of David). (1784-1836)
Public Ledger. 31 Mar 1836
Geiger, George. (1796-1836)
Harrison, Henry K. (1801-1836)
Murphy, Mary (wife of Daniel). (1792-1836)
Neville, Adelaide Olivia. (1829-1836)
Stevenson, John & Mrs. Stevenson. (-1836)
Plattsburgh, NY newspaper archive (1796-1922) live on GenealogyBank.
Plattsburgh, NY newspaper archive (1796-1922) live on GenealogyBank.
GenealogyBank has added the Northern Herald (1812-1814) to its online collection of Plattsburgh, NY newspapers. These digital facsimile editions include complete copies of each issue and are searchable from a special new link:
Click here to search all of the Plattsburgh, NY newspaper archives.
Click on the individual newspaper titles to search just those titles:
American Monitor 1809-1810
Clinton Advertiser 1810-1811
Northern Herald 1812-1814
Plattsburgh Herald 1815
Political Observatory 1803-1811
Republican 1796-1922
GenealogyBank has over 300 New York (1719-1999) newspapers.
Click here to search all New York newspapers.
GenealogyBank has added the Northern Herald (1812-1814) to its online collection of Plattsburgh, NY newspapers. These digital facsimile editions include complete copies of each issue and are searchable from a special new link:
Click here to search all of the Plattsburgh, NY newspaper archives.
Click on the individual newspaper titles to search just those titles:
American Monitor 1809-1810
Clinton Advertiser 1810-1811
Northern Herald 1812-1814
Plattsburgh Herald 1815
Political Observatory 1803-1811
Republican 1796-1922
GenealogyBank has over 300 New York (1719-1999) newspapers.
Click here to search all New York newspapers.
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