New York State Family History Conference

I would like to pass along an announcement about the New York State Family History Conference from the NYG&B July 2013 eNews:

 

The first ever statewide genealogical conference in New York will be held in Syracuse on September 20-21, 2013. Cosponsored by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society and the Central New York Genealogical Society, this landmark event will present two days of lectures on key New York research topics by top experts. Detailed information may be found on the conference website, www.NYSFHC.org; purchase tickets in the online store at www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org.

Nationally known speakers Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, D. Joshua Taylor, and Michael Leclerc will give lectures, as will the top names in New York genealogy: Eric Grundset, Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution;  James D. Folts, New York State Archives; Laura Murphy DeGrazia, CG, NYG&B Record; Karen Mauer Green, CG, NYG&B Record; Terry Koch-Bostic, National Genealogical Society; Ruth Carr, New York Public Library (retired); Maira Liriano, New York Public Library; Kathleen Roe, New York State Archives; Stefani Evans, National Genealogical Society; and others. 

The registration fee for the two-day Conference (excluding meals and syllabus) is $140; members of the CNYGS or the NYG&B receive a $25 discount.

Preparing for a Research Trip to Washington D.C.

I am giving a presentation next week to the The North Hills Genealogists (of Pittsburgh) and the students of the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh on "Preparing for a Research Trip to Washington D.C." The handout has quite a few links in it and they are easier to click on than retype, so I decided to post them here. The benefit is that although many of you will not be at GRIP to hear the presentation, you can still use the advice and links.

Researching in Washington D.C.

 

Preparing for your research trip:

1. Check to see what records are available online, and what is available only in the repositories.

2. Use the online catalogs to identify the books and records relevant to your research.

3. Create a research plan of records to search. This will help make your research time more efficient.

National Archives

 Think of ways that your ancestors may have interacted with the federal government so you will know what types of records you want to research. Did they serve in the military? Did they buy federal land or apply for a homestead? Did they immigrate to the U.S.? Did they work for the post office or another federal agency?

The most commonly used records for genealogists are military service and pension records, and federal land records. The census, passenger lists and naturalization records have been digitized and are available online.

Land: Search the BLM database for ancestors who obtained federal land http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/

Military: Search indexes at FamilySearch, Ancestry and/or Fold3.com for ancestors who served in wars. See links to military indexes below.

Other records: See links to research guidance by topic at http://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy/topics/

Online Catalog (OPA) http://www.archives.gov/research/search/

Downloadable PDF publications  http://www.archives.gov/publications/ref-info-papers/index.html

NARA resources for genealogists  http://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy/

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library

The books are cataloged by “call words” rather than a numerical cataloging system. Search the online catalog by subject, geographic location, or family surname. HINT: Create a research plan, but also go and “sit” in front the books for the area you are researching and browse all the titles available.

Online Catalog  http://www.dar.org/library/onlinlib.cfm

Genealogical Research System  http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search/?tab_id=0

In the Genealogical Research System (GRS) you can search for Revolutionary War patriots and their descendants, as well as the Genealogical Records Committee volumes (family bibles, cemetery transcriptions, etc. collected by DAR members).

Library of Congress

There are wonderful resources in the Library of Congress and you may want to visit the following reading rooms: Local History and Genealogy, Newspapers and Periodicals, and Geography and Maps.

Online Catalog http://catalog.loc.gov/

Research and Reference Services  http://www.loc.gov/rr/

Military Indexes on FamilySearch.org

Pension Indexes

United States, Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917

United States, General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934

United States, War of 1812 Index to Pension Application Files, 1812-1910

United States, Index to Indian Wars Pension Files, 1892-1926

United States, Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926

Service Record Indexes

United States, War of 1812 Index to Service Records, 1812-1815

United States, Mexican War Index and Service Records, 1846-1848

United States, Index to Service Records, War with Spain, 1898

Regular Army Registers of Enlistment

United States, Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914

National Park Service

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database

Military Indexes on Ancestry.com

U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934