Missing Member:
Does anyone have current contact information for Ellen Tracy? Her email is bouncing.
Thanks
National Archives to Release 1940 Census Online in April 2012
The National Archives and Records Administration will place the entire 1940 Census—more than 18 terabytes of data—online, free of charge, for viewing and download by page or enumeration district beginning Monday, April 2, 2012, at 9 AM EDT. Individual census records are confidential by law for 72 years. The 1940 census was taken April 1, 1940.
Researchers will be able to search the 1940 Census using the public computers at National Archives facilities nationwide or personal computers with Internet access. In addition, for customers with large data requirements, the National Archives Trust Fund is selling the 1940 Census data on hard drives and hard-drive arrays. Microfilm copies of the 1940 Census data will be available for purchase from the Trust Fund, as well.
A name index does not exist for the 1940 Census. You can locate people by identifying the enumeration district in which they lived in 1940 and then browsing the Census population schedules for that enumeration district. The National Archives has placed copies of the enumeration district maps and descriptions in its Archival Research Catalog.
Many of the questions on the 1940 Census are the standard ones: name, age, gender, race, education, and place of birth. But the 1940 Census also asks many new questions. The instructions ask the enumerator to enter a mark after the name of the person furnishing the information about the family; indicate whether the person worked for the CCC, WPA, or NYA the week of March 24–30, 1940; and list income for the 12 months ending December 31, 1939.
Finding Your Roots on PBS in March
Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr is coming to PBS March 25, 2012 at 8pm ET. According to their Facebook page, this is a 10-part PBS series exploring race, culture and identity through genealogy.
Presented and written by Professor Gates, the series is the 12th production from the renowned Harvard scholar.
'Finding Your Roots' builds on the success of ‘African American Lives 1 and 2’ and ‘Faces of America,' journeying deep into the ancestry of an all-new group of remarkable individuals. The 10-part series delves into the genealogy and genetics of famous Americans, combining history and science in a fascinating exploration of race, family, and identity in today's America.
Submitted by Ellen Hollister:
Here’s something to mention in your next email newsletter – a movie that any genealogist would enjoy. Everything Is Illuminated
“A young American Jewish man begins an exhausting quest – aided by a naïve Ukrainian translator – to find the righteous gentile woman who saved his grandfather when his small Ukrainian village was obliterated during the Nazi invasion of Russia in 1941. “ Both the young American and the Ukrainian woman turn out to be collectors of family mementos.
It is available from Netflix.
Submitted by Karen Hart, Executive Director
Mary Ball Washington Museum & Library
Library of Congress Main Reading Room Open House on Presidents Day (Feb 20)
Twice each year, the Library of Congress opens its magnificent Main Reading Room for a special public open house. The winter open house will take place on the federal Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day) holiday, Monday, February 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and photography will be allowed. The Main Reading Room is located on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street, S.E., Washington, DC. Reference librarians will be available to demonstrate the Library’s online resources and discuss access to the Library’s vast onsite collections, including services and collections for use in family history research. No other reference services will be available and all other Library of Congress reading rooms and buildings will be closed.
The Jefferson Building, which will be open to the public between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., also features the incomparable Great Hall and the Library of Congress exhibitions, which include "Creating the United States." This exhibition offers a remarkable opportunity to learn in a fresh, new way how the founding documents that emerged from this period, such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, were forged out of insight, invention, and creativity. Exhibitions at the Library of Congress provide innovative access to rare cultural treasures in ways that inspire and engage.
Unreserved guided tours of the Thomas Jefferson Building will be offered at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Each tour is limited to 40 people and designed to accommodate individuals and families, not large groups. More information about the Library, the exhibitions and tours is available at the orientation desks at www.loc.gov/visit/ or by calling (202) 707-8000.
Computer Genealogy Group Field Trip
May has been the traditional month for the Computer Genealogy Group to make a field trip. On these occasions we usually carpool although people are welcome to attend on their own. A brief tour will be arranged and time provided for independent research. Below are six possible destinations. Please let me hear back on which one of these appeals to you for May 2012. The May meeting/tour will not occur on the second Thursday in May, but sometime later that month. The reason is the second Thursday coincides with the National Genealogical Society Conference in Cincinnati, which some of are attending.
1. Central Rappahannock Heritage Center – Fredericksburg
http://www.crhcarchives.org/
The Central Rappahannock Heritage Center archives and preserves historical documents and photographs pertaining to the history and people from the counties of Caroline, Stafford, King George, Spotsylvania and the City of Fredericksburg.
These five areas share a rich history connected by the Rappahannock River, which linked their vibrant and vital ports. King George County's Port Conway and Caroline County's Port Royal faced each other across the river. Twenty miles upriver, the port at Fredericksburg was Spotsylvania County's shipping hub and just across the river was Falmouth, the port for King George County and Stafford County.
History books fully document Virginia’s famous sons and battlefields, but the founders of the Heritage Center believed that our area’s grass-roots history was being lost. So they began collecting all types of historical documents from the area, from family correspondence and diaries to birth, marriage, genealogy records and local court cases. An amazing array of documents are being preserved and the information entered into a world-class database that can be searched from this website.
So take a few minutes to delve a bit into the fascinating local history of our region. Whether you have roots in the area or are just a student of Virginia history, you’ll find there is much to learn by searching our website or paying a visit to our archives, where you can see the original documents for yourself.
2. Earl Gregg Swem Library at William & Mary - Williamsburg
https://swem.wm.edu/about
- a major historical repository
· Focused on Virginia history, the collections include diaries, letters, and other records of the daily lives of Americans of all backgrounds.
· View the search tool list.
· See also online guides, video tutorials, and just-for-fun YouTube videos.
3. Virginia Historical Society - Richmond
http://www.vahistorical.org/index.htm
The collections consist of a wide range of objects, including books and bound serials, Confederate imprints, sheet music, broadsides, newspapers, family and personal papers, business and organizational records, genealogical materials, maps, paintings, prints, postcards, weapons, militaria, glass plate negatives, and 19th–21st century photographs.
4. A local courthouse – Northumberland or Lancaster
An opportunity would be provided to research deeds, probate records and court cases. This information is invaluable for genealogical research.
5. Library of Virginia - Richmond
http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
When we went last year, we all vowed to return. This is another opportunity to visit the mother lode for Virginia genealogy.
6. Family History Library – Tappahannock
https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Tappahannock_Virginia_Family_History_Center
It is my understanding that the Family History Library in Kilmarnock closed.
Please let me know your choice or make another suggestion. All six are within a two hour drive.
I have just returned from a research trip and two genealogy conferences in Salt Lake City. While there arrangements were made for a live webinar for our March meeting. Details to follow.
Ann Thompson
804 580-8210