Friday, January 31, 2014

THE REWARDS OF HELPING FRIENDS


Circle of friends
There are lots of people in your circle of friends who could use your help.

It’s been an interesting few days for me.  You know that those of us reading blogs and sharing on genealogy Facebook pages are pretty passionate about what we do.  I don’t even think I want to call it a hobby.  Yes, it is that.  But, isn’t it so much more?

We may start out just trying to learn a little about our parents, grandparents or great grandparents, but then………….  Suddenly we want to know so much more about them, their families, their lives, their friends and on and on. 

When we mention the subject of family research or genealogy we get one of two reactions, generally speaking.  Either the rolling of the eyes and the person looking for someone else to talk to or the questions. 

This past week for me, it’s been the questions.  First it was my daughter-in-law, who is adopted.  I had talked to her mother (the woman who loved & raised her) and we had discussed the subject of me trying to learn more about the biological parents of my daughter-in-law.  Then within a week, I was given the green light from my daughter-in-law, with the caveat that I am to tell our son everything first.  She’s not sure she wants to know, but she’s curious.  Since they have a child, it would be good to know some of her biological ancestry.  I’m excited to help her with this important project.

Then, we had an insurance inspector come to the house.  Time for renewal and we live in a high fire area, so this is a regular occurrence.  As we were talking the subject of hobbies came up and I mentioned genealogy.  She was very interested and wanted to know a lot more.  How could she research her family if her mother is adopted and her grandfather is also adopted?  Certainly a challenge.  I told her she was welcome to call me any time and I’d try to help.

Then two days ago it was our neighbor who called.  Is there anyone in our area that I am friends with that doesn’t know that I am a genealogist?  Not really.  He is from South Africa.  He’s recently been reading some historical books and saw his surname mentioned in association with Capt. Cook.  That sparked his interest and he wants to know more.  He sent me the few names & dates he had (only as far back as his grandfather) and I spent two hours this morning and took him back to 1843 and his great grandfather.  He’s pretty excited to continue the search now. 

This is not the first time I’ve been approached by people who want to know how or where to begin.  I thoroughly enjoy sharing with anyone who has an interest.  Some family & friends have suggested that I begin charging people and make a business out of it.  I told them no, that wasn’t what I wanted to do.  Why?  Because it wouldn’t be fun any more, it would be work.  At least for me.  Being retired is great and I’ll just keep it that way. 

Old-Grandpa-Senior-Man-And-Question-Mark-1-Royalty-Free-CGI-Illustration
Do You scratch your head? Or do you help?


What do you do when you are asked to help someone? 

Have you had successes in your research for others?  If so, I’d love to hear about them.






Here are some of my success stories. 
  • Helping a friend who wanted to know more about his ancestors arrival on Ellis Island, prior to going to visit that location. 
  • This was a big one.  Helping a co-worker locate his biological parents.  All he had was a tiny bit of info and I was able to locate the family.  I’m sure a little help from above was present on that one. 
  • Helping another co-worker who knew nothing about his ancestors and I got him started in the right direction.
  • Helping re-unite family Bibles with the descendants of those who owned them.  This was a project done through the San Diego Genealogical Society.  Very rewarding.
  • Helping a close friend locate information about her Italian grandmother.
two friends dancing for joy
Your friends will jump for joy when you help them out.  And it's a great feeling.

I’m sure there are more times that I’ve been privileged to assist others, but I can’t recall all of them right now.

What we do is important.  It’s not about how far back we can go or what famous people we are related to.  My two least favorite questions to be asked, by the way.  It’s about connecting with those wonderful people who’s blood runs through our veins and who’s traits we carry.  

Let’s keep going and see where the road will take us next.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

Monday, January 27, 2014

CEMETERY RECORDS–What can they tell you? How do you use them?


That's me visiting my 3rd great grandmother
One of the most informative records I have used over the years are cemetery records.

They can provide a wealth of information.  

If you’ve been doing genealogy for any length of time, then you are familiar with Find A Grave and more recently Billion Graves.  On those sites you put in a name and search for your ancestor.  Or, you enter your own memorials.  These sites are very valuable and can tell us where someone is buried, when & where they were born & died, or link that person to other family members. And sometimes, you’ll even find bio information that will give you all kinds of leads.  

However, sometimes all you find is a memorial with very little information.

HOW MANY OF YOU MAKE PHONE CALLS TO CEMETERIES?

This is something I have been doing for years and I’ve found it to be very valuable.  Let’s say I find the name of the cemetery on a death certificate, memorial on FindAGrave or somewhere else online.  
Why would I call the cemetery?
  • To obtain the exact location of the grave – Lot, Section, Plot number etc.
  • To ask if their records indicate the cause of death.  Many times this is indicated on a cemetery record (especially the older ones)
  • To ask if their records indicate who purchased the plot or who currently owns it.
  • To inquire if there are other family members buried in that cemetery.
  • To ask if there is any correspondence attached to the record

Here are some records I have either received via email or obtained during a visit to various cemeteries.  The amount of information varies from place to place, but some of it is really a gold mine for a genealogist.

This card for John Doller gives us an address, date of death, age at death, cause of death, date of burial, location and the name of the funeral director
For Catherine Lindsay we get her residence, date & age at death, including months & days, cause of death, burial date, undertaker's name & grave location in the cemetery

This record was obtained from very large old cemetery books. This is my great grandmother, Bessie Lindsay
I had to photograph this large book in 3 sections.  But look at the great information in the record.  Name, funeral home, age, cause of death etc.


This page gives, the interment date & location, the name of the nearest relative and who it was that ordered the grave.  In this case it's my grandfather, H. W. Gould
  
So, what do you think?  Worth the effort to obtain cemetery information?  Absolutely!

TIPS & NOTES: 
  • Cemeteries are sometimes very busy, state your name & purpose and ask if they have time to assist you.  I tend to stay away from the phrase “I’m a genealogist.”  Believe me, there are some cemetery employees who have had bad experiences with pushy researchers.  I just say that I’m trying to find burial locations for some family members.
  • Often, I just get an email address & mail the my request to them.  I rarely have to wait longer than a day or two for a response.
  • If someone does take the time to help you, and many will, be sure you get the name of that person.  Make a note of who you spoke to and when.
  • Send a thank you card.  Yes, a real, handwritten note.  This was a tip given to me, by an experienced genealogist, when I first began researching.  I have had great results with this method.  You will often find out that other family members are in the same cemetery or one handled by the same office.  That employee will remember you if you’ve thanked them.  And guess what?  They will be more than willing to help you again.
Just sitting in front of your computer and finding records online can be very rewarding and yield great benefits.  But, at some point, we all have to begin looking elsewhere for information.  This is just one way that I have found to be very helpful over the years.

Here are a couple of related posts that you may find helpful.


Michigan Death Records – Where to find them  http://www.michiganfamilytrails.com/2013/12/michigan-death-records-onlinewhere-can.html

Ancestry acquires FindAGrave  http://www.michiganfamilytrails.com/2013/09/ancestry.html

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

Sunday, January 26, 2014

CHURCH RECORD SUNDAY–Dorothy Fink Baptismal Record


FINK_DorothyandAl_as toddlers
Dorothy with her older brother Al
Fink_Hall-Dorothy_headshot 1951 sepia
Dorothy circa 1954
 

Dorothy Beatrice Fink, born 7 Nov 1913 in Buffalo, Erie, New York

Baptized on 17 May 1914 

Daughter of Henry August Fink & Freada E. Doller

Married Gordon Charles Hall on 22 Aug 1948, San Diego, San Diego Co., California

Mother of one son, still living

Died 6 Oct 1993, San Diego, San Diego Co., California

Yesterday as I was going through a metal box that had belonged to my husband's mother, I found a treasure that was folded up at the bottom.  You just never know what you will find and I certainly didn't expect this to be at the bottom of the box with old bank records and deeds.  

Here's the box.  One more note.  If you'll notice the name of the baking company from Buffalo - it's HALL Baking Company.  Funny, because after Dorothy moved to San Diego she married Gordon Hall.
An old metal box with many treasures
And what was the treasure I found?

Dorothy's baptismal certificate from May 1914

FINK_Dorothy B_baptismal certificate_May 1914_enhanced

I just love finding items like this.  I’m going to frame this one and hang it in my office with other special documents.

Happy hunting and I hope you too find lots of precious keepsakes,

Michigan Girl



Copyright © 2014 Diane Gould Hall

Friday, January 24, 2014

FAMILY RECIPE FRIDAY–HOW TO MAKE BAKED CHICKEN FRICASSEE

chicken fricassee

My grandmother, Florence Bowden Milne left us a spiral bound notebook, written entirely by hand.  The notebook was begun about the time of her marriage to my grandfather, Joseph A. Milne in 1906.  In it she left a treasure chest of family information and wonderful clues to life back in the early 1900's.  
 
P.S.  That's my grandmother in the group picture of the ladies on the right side of my home page.  She's the one standing on the right.
TODAY'S FEATURED RECIPE
BAKED CHICKEN FRICASSEE

According to Wikipedia, a chicken fricassee is a “method of cooking meat in which the meat is cut up, sautéed and braised, and served with its sauce, traditionally a white sauce.”

This recipe from my grandmother doesn’t seem very detailed compared to the recipes I looked at online.  However, here it is, as written by her.  

Chicken fricassee baked
My grandmother's recipe for baked chicken fricassee

Transcription: Select nice, fat chicken, butter the baking pan, cut chicken in small pieces, pepper, salt, butter & flour each piece thoroughly.  Cover with boiling hot water, cut in celery if desired, bake in slow oven and serve with hot baking powder biscuits.

Does this recipe need some tweaking?  I say, yes it does.

Here are some sites for chicken fricassee I found online that sound much more tasty.


Well, there it is.  Today’s family recipe, brought to you by my maternal grandmother.  I will say, that of my two grandmothers, my paternal grandmother, Marie Lindsay Gould, was the better cook.  I sure wish I had her recipe book.  I can still taste her custard pudding.  

However, I cherish this notebook from my maternal grandmother.  There are many more recipes, both food and non-food, in this journal.  I will continue to share them with you as the weeks go by.  I find the recipes for complexion cream and how to make shampoo and other things like that, the most interesting.

Here are the previous posts from this series:

How to make complexion cream - http://www.michiganfamilytrails.com/2013/10/family-recipe-friday-my-grandmother_4.html

How to make shampoo - http://www.michiganfamilytrails.com/2013/11/family-recipe-friday-how-to-make-shampoo.html

How to make chocolate fudge - http://www.michiganfamilytrails.com/2013/11/family-recipe-friday.html

How to keep hair curled back in 1906 - http://www.michiganfamilytrails.com/2013/11/family-recipe-friday-how-to-keep-hair.html

Please, share your family recipes with me.  I’d love to read them.

Happy cooking,

Michigan Girl


Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall


Thursday, January 23, 2014

BOOKS–WHY WE STILL NEED THEM–WHICH ONES ARE IN YOUR LIBRARY?


Books on my 1st shelf in office

In this day & age we have so many electronic devices at our disposal.  Just in our home we have the following list of electronic devices:
  • HP desktop computer with dual monitors (my genealogy central)
  • Toshiba laptop – mine, to take on trips and to libraries
  • Toshiba laptop – my husband’s computer, so he doesn’t have to fight with me for the desktop.  LOL!
  • An iPad which I use all the time
  • A Samsung tablet for my husband
  • Kindle paperwhite – for my reading
  • 2 iPhones
  • Garmin - to take on trips when we rent cars
Have I forgotten anything?  I don’t think so.

With all of the millions and millions of records currently online and coming online all the time, do we still even need books?

The answer is a resounding YES!

Because, until every single book, in every repository around the globe has been scanned, we will be missing out, if we don’t use books.
  • What’s in your library?
  • Do you buy books?  If so, how often?
  • Do you borrow books?
  • Do you download books from the internet?  Or, read them online?
  • Do you go to libraries?
I have always been a book lover.  I’ve been an avid reader from the time I learned to read.  That gene was handed down from my mother and grandmother, who are & were avid readers.

There are copyright & public domain laws in place that will tell us which books might be available online.  Please see my reference below for more information about that subject.

For my purposes, I make it easy and remember the 1923 rule about works prior to that, first registered or published in the United States are now in public domain.

Date of Publication6
Conditions7
Copyright Term3
Before 1923
None
None. In the public domain due to copyright expiration

That means that for any book published before 1923 (depending on the circumstances regarding publishing), we may have to access online.  This would all depend on whether the book has been scanned & put online.

I am certainly not a lawyer or professional when it comes to all of these laws.  There is another blogger, Judy G. Russell, who writes a blog called “The Legal Genealogist” http://www.legalgenealogist.com/  If you have questions I would refer you to her site.  She has already written several blogs about copyright and would certainly know more than I do.  

Now back to books.  When I first began, in earnest, to research our families I couldn’t read enough about genealogy.   I “needed” to know and I was determined to learn.  In addition to subscribing to every magazine being published back in 2003, I bought books that would help me learn to be a good researcher.  

You can begin using your genealogy database and finding records on Ancestry, Family Search, FindAGrave etc.  But, I wanted to know what to do with those records, how to use them, what else is out there?  Now, we have webinars, YouTube, blogs and tutorials of all kinds right online.  

BUT, you aren’t  likely to find your ancestor’s stories on those sites. A reference or historical book about local history in the area your ancestor lived, will be much more likely to result in those great finds for your ancestor.

I guess the bottom line of what I’m saying here is, don’t dismiss books as resources, in spite of all that we have available online. 
  • Go to libraries
  • When you are on those genealogy trips, go to the local historical society, library or genealogy society and see what books they have available for reading or purchasing.  I’ve also found books about my ancestors at local bookstores in small towns.
  • Check on various websites that offer genealogy books, such as
                - Amazon.com
                - eBay
                - Genealogical.com
               - Google books

I have found wonderful stories about my ancestors and my husbands, that give insight to their lives.  I’ve found names of parents, children & siblings listed.  

Examples of the what I’ve found in books about our family
(Enlarge any image by clicking on it)
BOOK_VeryPoor&ofaLoMake_page 584-585
Excerpt from The Journal of Abner Sanger with several references to my husband's family
Kimball from Law Co book
Excerpt from The History of Lawrence County, Ohio Volume I about a Kimball ancestor on my side
DAY_Ebenezer_Keene bio sketch page 580-81
Excerpt from The History of Keene, New Hampshire about my husband's ancestor
           
Please see a list of the books contained in my personal library by going to the “Books I Own”  (click on link or go to tab at the top of my blog page)

Here is a reference to the copyright and public domain laws:

Copyright & Public Domain in the United States
We do have access to thousands or millions of books online. They can be read online or downloaded to our computers. But, we need to know which books are in the public domain and available for us.
Here are the current public domain laws as posted on 1 January 2014 at http://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm
Never Published, Never Registered Works2
Type of Work
Copyright Term
What was in the public domain in the U.S. as of 1 January 20143
Unpublished works
Life of the author + 70 years
Works from authors who died before 1944
Unpublished anonymous and pseudonymous works, and works made for hire (corporate authorship)
120 years from date of creation
Works created before 1894
Unpublished works when the death date of the author is not known4
120 years from date of creation5
Works created before 18945
Works Registered or First Published in the U.S.
Date of Publication6
Conditions7
Copyright Term3
Before 1923
None
None. In the public domain due to copyright expiration
1923 through 1977
Published without a copyright notice
None. In the public domain due to failure to comply with required formalities
1978 to 1 March 1989
Published without notice, and without subsequent registration within 5 years
None. In the public domain due to failure to comply with required formalities
1978 to 1 March 1989
Published without notice, but with subsequent registration within 5 years
70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first
1923 through 1963
Published with notice but copyright was not renewed8
None. In the public domain due to copyright expiration
1923 through 1963
Published with notice and the copyright was renewed8
95 years after publication date
1964 through 1977
Published with notice
95 years after publication date
1978 to 1 March 1989
Created after 1977 and published with notice
70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first
1978 to 1 March 1989
Created before 1978 and first published with notice in the specified period
The greater of the term specified in the previous entry or 31 December 2047
From 1 March 1989 through 2002
Created after 1977
70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first
From 1 March 1989 through 2002
Created before 1978 and first published in this period
The greater of the term specified in the previous entry or 31 December 2047
After 2002
None
70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first
Anytime
Works prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person's official duties. 21
None. In the public domain in the United States (17 U.S.C. § 105)
Works First Published Outside the U.S. by Foreign Nationals or U.S. Citizens
Living Abroad
9
Date of Publication
Conditions
Copyright Term in the United States
Before 1923
None
In the public domain (But see first special case below)
Works Published Abroad Before 197810
1923 through 1977
Published without compliance with US formalities, and in the public domain in its source country as of 1 January 1996 (but see special cases) 20
In the public domain
1923 through 1977
Published in compliance with all US formalities
(i.e., notice, renewal)
11
95 years after publication date
1923 through 1977
Solely published abroad, without compliance with US formalities or republication in the US, and not in the public domain in its home country as of 1 January 1996 (but see special cases)
95 years after publication date
1923 through 1977
Published in the US less than 30 days after publication abroad
Use the US publication chart to determine duration
1923 through 1977
Published in the US more than 30 days after publication abroad, without compliance with US formalities, and not in the public domain in its home country as of 1 January 1996 (but see special cases)
95 years after publication date
Works Published Abroad After 1 January 1978
1 January 1978 - 1 March 1989
Published without copyright notice, and in the public domain in its source country as of 1 January 1996 (but see special cases)20
In the public domain
1 January 1978 - 1 March 1989
Published without copyright notice in a country that is a signatory to the Berne Convention and is not in the public domain in its source country as of 1 January 1996 (but see special cases) 20
70 years after the death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication
1 January 1978 - 1 March 1989
Published with copyright notice by a non-US citizen in a country that was party to the Universal Copyright Convention (UCC)
70 years after the death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication
After 1 March 1989
Published in a country that is a signatory to the Berne Convention
70 years after the death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication
After 1 March 1989
Published in a country with which the United States does not have copyright relations under a treaty
In the public domain
Special Cases
1 July 1909 through 1978
In Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands ONLY. Published in a language other than English, and without subsequent republication with a copyright notice12
Treat as an unpublished work until such date as first
US-compliant publication occurred
Prior to 27 May 1973
Published by a national of Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan in either country19
In the public domain
After 26 May 1973
Published by a national of Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan in either country19
May be protected under the UCC
Anytime
Created by a resident of Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, or San Marino, and published in one of these countries13
Not protected by US copyright law until they become party to bilateral or international copyright agreements
Anytime
Works whose copyright was once owned or administered by the Alien Property Custodian, and whose copyright, if restored, would as of January 1, 1996, be owned by a government14
Not protected by US copyright law
Anytime
If published in one of the following countries, the 1 January 1996 date given above is replaced by the date of the country's membership in the Berne Convention or the World Trade Organization, whichever is earlier:

Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Comoros, Jordan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Montenegro, Nepal, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tonga, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen

Go and take advantage of the wealth of history and genealogical information about your ancestors by finding those books that make reference to them.

And, learn more about finding your ancestors by reading books about research.

As always, happy hunting,

Michigan Girl,

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall