When I first started this challenge it was almost overwhelming. I was a bit late signing up, so I was behind when I began. I didn't see how I would ever catch up and complete all the assignments! But here we are, at the end already! There were a few frustrations, but on the whole, exploring the databases was fun!
Perhaps the biggest discovery for me was the variety of information available. It was so easy to get distracted from my assignment and go looking at other things! I am reminded of the Family Circus cartoon where the little boy has to go from point A to point B. Instead of going in a straight line, you see his footprints going in a circuitous route all over the page. That's me with these databases! I kept forgetting my mission and going off on other tangents!
I have used World Book with students who have come for library tours. I will continue to do that, but will also make it a point to show them other databases as well. World Book and SIRS Discoverer have some features I can use with library programs.
I will also these databases myself when I need information. I don't how it is with other families, but my relatives regard me as their personal reference librarian and frequently call with questions. Now I have a new source for answers!
This Challenge has been a challenge! But it's been a lot of fun too. Thank You!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Sanborn Maps
I love maps! When we travel, I usually have a map open on my lap so I can see where we are and where we are going. My techie husband loves his GPS, but I maintain that a map is less expensive and has no annoying beeps! And you nver have to replace the batteries!
Looking at the January 1917 and November 1923 maps of Aberdeen was a mini local history lesson. I found the Alexander Mitchell Public Library at it's original location on the corner of 6th Avenue and South Lincoln Street. The library had steam heat and electric lights! Although the library is no longer there, the Methodist Church and Masonic Temple, also shown on the maps, are still in use today.
I know at least one third grade class that does a unit on Aberdeen. I am going to show their teacher this site. I think the kids will have fun looking at the maps and seeing how the city has changed over the years.
Looking at the January 1917 and November 1923 maps of Aberdeen was a mini local history lesson. I found the Alexander Mitchell Public Library at it's original location on the corner of 6th Avenue and South Lincoln Street. The library had steam heat and electric lights! Although the library is no longer there, the Methodist Church and Masonic Temple, also shown on the maps, are still in use today.
I know at least one third grade class that does a unit on Aberdeen. I am going to show their teacher this site. I think the kids will have fun looking at the maps and seeing how the city has changed over the years.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
HeritageQuest
After spending time with AncestryLibrary yesterday, HeritageQuest today was sort of a disappointment. It seemed really slow, and the results were not so helpful. It does have the advantage of being accessible from home, so that's good.
I searched for my hometown (Doylestown, Ohio), figuring there would be a town history or two recording it's 175 year history. I didn't find any. But Doylestown was mentioned in some family histories, so I looked at one of those.
The book mentioned how a local church is known as High Church rather than its "real" name, Emanuel United Church of Christ. High Church sits on a hill about a mile from town. Surrounded by trees, it looks like a picture postcard, especially on a beautiful clear autumn day. At night, it is lit, and visible for miles. As kids, when we'd be driving home from somewhere, we would watch for High Church. As the car would round the curve, whoever saw it first would call out, "High Church," and we knew we were almost home. I admit, on my last trip home, I still watched eagerly and called out "High Church," as my husband and I drove around that curve....
So even though I'm not so fond of HeritageQuest, I am thankful for this little jaunt down Memory Lane.
I searched for my hometown (Doylestown, Ohio), figuring there would be a town history or two recording it's 175 year history. I didn't find any. But Doylestown was mentioned in some family histories, so I looked at one of those.
The book mentioned how a local church is known as High Church rather than its "real" name, Emanuel United Church of Christ. High Church sits on a hill about a mile from town. Surrounded by trees, it looks like a picture postcard, especially on a beautiful clear autumn day. At night, it is lit, and visible for miles. As kids, when we'd be driving home from somewhere, we would watch for High Church. As the car would round the curve, whoever saw it first would call out, "High Church," and we knew we were almost home. I admit, on my last trip home, I still watched eagerly and called out "High Church," as my husband and I drove around that curve....
So even though I'm not so fond of HeritageQuest, I am thankful for this little jaunt down Memory Lane.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
AncestryLibrary
Searching for your roots is easier than ever when using AncestryLibrary. From the comfort of your local library you have access to all sorts of information. Some people may feel it's an inconvenience to have to come to the library to use AncestryLibrary, but it's easier to come to the library than to have to travel to distant cities and/or states to obtain information!
I did find myself listed in the U. S. Phone and Address Directories 1993 - 2002. The neighbors were listed as well! In a way, it's a little scary that all this information about a person is so accessible. Makes me feel like I'm living in a glass house with no curtains!
On the other hand, it was sort of fun to look up my parents and grandparents. I found them all listed in the 1930 Census. I wasn't sure how to spell my maternal grandfather's name, so I used the ? feature (Thornd?ke), which resulted in records for both Thorndike and Thorndyke. I will need to do more research, but I think I found his baptismal record, his name on the passenger list on a ship from England, Census Records from 1900, 1910, and 1920, and his Word War I draft registration! Who knew all this was available?!
One thing I did discover is that spellings and dates are inconsistent. Both his and his mother's names were spelled differently on the various records, and his birth year was listed as 1887, 1888, and 1889, depending on where you looked. The month and day were the same on all the records. So I can't say for sure that I found him, or maybe someone else?
The Picture search for South Dakota yielded over 3,000,000 records! I'm assuming that the terms were searched separately, as some of the photos were from South Carolina, North Dakota, or even elsewhere. Using Quotation marks ("south dakota") resulted in 412,442 records, which is still a lot to look through if you are looking for something specific. Adding more details could help narrow the search further.
It was interesting to look at the various photos of South Dakota towns from the 1930s and 40s. Some looked pretty bleak.
I don't usually encounter library patrons doing genealogical research in my area of the library. But if someone does ask me, now I know where to point them!
I did find myself listed in the U. S. Phone and Address Directories 1993 - 2002. The neighbors were listed as well! In a way, it's a little scary that all this information about a person is so accessible. Makes me feel like I'm living in a glass house with no curtains!
On the other hand, it was sort of fun to look up my parents and grandparents. I found them all listed in the 1930 Census. I wasn't sure how to spell my maternal grandfather's name, so I used the ? feature (Thornd?ke), which resulted in records for both Thorndike and Thorndyke. I will need to do more research, but I think I found his baptismal record, his name on the passenger list on a ship from England, Census Records from 1900, 1910, and 1920, and his Word War I draft registration! Who knew all this was available?!
One thing I did discover is that spellings and dates are inconsistent. Both his and his mother's names were spelled differently on the various records, and his birth year was listed as 1887, 1888, and 1889, depending on where you looked. The month and day were the same on all the records. So I can't say for sure that I found him, or maybe someone else?
The Picture search for South Dakota yielded over 3,000,000 records! I'm assuming that the terms were searched separately, as some of the photos were from South Carolina, North Dakota, or even elsewhere. Using Quotation marks ("south dakota") resulted in 412,442 records, which is still a lot to look through if you are looking for something specific. Adding more details could help narrow the search further.
It was interesting to look at the various photos of South Dakota towns from the 1930s and 40s. Some looked pretty bleak.
I don't usually encounter library patrons doing genealogical research in my area of the library. But if someone does ask me, now I know where to point them!
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