I first started to play with this just a few days ago when I saw it on the list of Tasks for the Winter 2010 Geneablogger Games and decided that not only did I need to get back to it because I was catching up (slowly) on the challenges, but also because I really had fun with it then, and wanted to experiment more to become more familiar.
I decided to use this as a chance to overview St. Mary's County, Maryland and in particular St. Clement's Island and Leonardtown. These locations were the first places that my Raley (spelled Railey then) line landed in the United States a few hundred years ago.
The map is interesting, but when you add the satellite view on top of that, it just adds such dimension not only literally but in terms of bringing those places that we cannot visit at the drop of a hat to life. I for one intend to utilize this site more often.
Showing posts with label 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy. Show all posts
Saturday, February 27, 2010
52 Weeks to Better Genealogy- Challenge 8
If I did everything thing right, this is one of several blogs I have written in advance as one of my last tasks for the 2010 Winter Olympics. In this task, we are to prepare several posts in draft mode and pre-publish them. I am currently sitting at a semi-state basketball game and counting on a win (confidence).
This past weeks challengs was to discover online map collections. The map collections mentioned for this challenge were the American Memory Collection at the Library of Congress, the David Rumsey Library Collection, and the Perry-Castanada Library Map Collection.
I chose to see what I would find on Ohio County, Kentucky since we are planning a research trip to there in March and I thought it might assist me in my preparation.
Here are my results:
There were no results. How about that! I found nothing on any of the sites that cenetered on Ohio County, Kentucky. Well, not quite. I did get moved somehow to the Kentucky Geological Survey University of Kentucky site where I did find a report written on the groundwater resources of the county. I know that the oldest rocks(Mississippian) were deposited 350 million years ago, that the highest elevation is 800 feet, that 90% of the population uses public water, and that the groundwater is hard to very hard. Very interesting, but none of that will help me on my research trip.
However, we are going to the Kentucky State Archives next week and I am sure that my mother will uncover just the maps we will need for our trip to Ohio County later this month. I have learned so much from each of the challenges, and this one has been challenging, and the only one that did not meet my needs at this moment. I will not however, not give up on this one, and I am sure will revisit it at another time when there are other maps I am seeking.
This past weeks challengs was to discover online map collections. The map collections mentioned for this challenge were the American Memory Collection at the Library of Congress, the David Rumsey Library Collection, and the Perry-Castanada Library Map Collection.
I chose to see what I would find on Ohio County, Kentucky since we are planning a research trip to there in March and I thought it might assist me in my preparation.
Here are my results:
There were no results. How about that! I found nothing on any of the sites that cenetered on Ohio County, Kentucky. Well, not quite. I did get moved somehow to the Kentucky Geological Survey University of Kentucky site where I did find a report written on the groundwater resources of the county. I know that the oldest rocks(Mississippian) were deposited 350 million years ago, that the highest elevation is 800 feet, that 90% of the population uses public water, and that the groundwater is hard to very hard. Very interesting, but none of that will help me on my research trip.
However, we are going to the Kentucky State Archives next week and I am sure that my mother will uncover just the maps we will need for our trip to Ohio County later this month. I have learned so much from each of the challenges, and this one has been challenging, and the only one that did not meet my needs at this moment. I will not however, not give up on this one, and I am sure will revisit it at another time when there are other maps I am seeking.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
52 Weeks To Better Genealogy- Challenge # 6
This challenge asks me to utilize my local library and to see what databases and referances are available online through my local library.
In my case I have two different libraries to consider for this: Willard Library, which serves as the 3rd largest genealogy library in the state of Indiana, and the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library system, which has many benefits as well.
Willlard Library has several databases online, including: The Newspaper Index (microfilmed indexes of Evansville newspapers from 1821-1860), Marriage Index for Vanderburgh County Indiana marriages(1920- 1979), Postcard and Photograph Indexes, as well as GenealogyBank and HeritageQuest that are available online when I enter my library card information. Willard also has access to AncestryLibrary when you go in and use their computers free of charge, but are limited to one hour in fairness to others.
The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library has several online databases that are helpful for me including NewsBank, the Evansville Local History Database, Browning Genealogy Database, Cyndis List, Getting Started in Genealogy, Many of the State Archives, as well as FamilySearch.
What I love is that there are so many resources availble to us from our libraries, and am grateful for this challenge as an excuse to spend some time devouring them.
Check out what your library has. You may be surprised.
The Evansville Vanderburgh Library has many other internet resources
In my case I have two different libraries to consider for this: Willard Library, which serves as the 3rd largest genealogy library in the state of Indiana, and the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library system, which has many benefits as well.
Willlard Library has several databases online, including: The Newspaper Index (microfilmed indexes of Evansville newspapers from 1821-1860), Marriage Index for Vanderburgh County Indiana marriages(1920- 1979), Postcard and Photograph Indexes, as well as GenealogyBank and HeritageQuest that are available online when I enter my library card information. Willard also has access to AncestryLibrary when you go in and use their computers free of charge, but are limited to one hour in fairness to others.
The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library has several online databases that are helpful for me including NewsBank, the Evansville Local History Database, Browning Genealogy Database, Cyndis List, Getting Started in Genealogy, Many of the State Archives, as well as FamilySearch.
What I love is that there are so many resources availble to us from our libraries, and am grateful for this challenge as an excuse to spend some time devouring them.
Check out what your library has. You may be surprised.
The Evansville Vanderburgh Library has many other internet resources
52 Weeks to Better Genealogy- Catching Up
As you know, I tend to get behind in my tasks when a thing called "life" gets in the way, and participating in Amy Coffin's 52 Weeks to Better Genealogyhttp://www.geneabloggers.com/52-weeks-genealogy/is one of my behind tasks. I love her ideas, and actually made a list of the ones she did last year to use as future blogs if i ever need an idea.
This entry is from Challenge # 5- Play With WorldCat
I actually have played with it a few times since the challenge was announced. The first thing that I learned was to write my search term as "SURNAME" family history. When I did this I was pleasantly surprised to discover several books that existed about members of my family in which I had no idea.
For example, I am a descendant through the Cozart, Cossairt family who came to the United States by landing in New Jersey in the 1600s. When I entered "Cozart family history" in the search box, a book surfaced called "A genealogy of the three branches of the Bumpass family...John Bumpass (1736-1813)...Samuel , who died in 1776... Winnifred (1745-1819), who married Anthony Cozart III in 1739.. written by William Moses Jones. A 2nd entry for this book goes into further detail by discussing these three branches, including the connection to Plymouth. What was confusing about the entry was that it stated "no libraries with the specified item were found.' That was confusing to me since i thought the purpose of Worldcat was to tell me where to find the results.
In another case for my Raley Family, I was referred to an internet site for further research and to a county repository for loose family papers.
In all three cases I was thrilled. I have new information to seek out, and other sources to use in verifying what I know at this point. One source builds to another, etc. and I can see the definite benefit of WorldCat and will place it in my arsenal.
This entry is from Challenge # 5- Play With WorldCat
I actually have played with it a few times since the challenge was announced. The first thing that I learned was to write my search term as "SURNAME" family history. When I did this I was pleasantly surprised to discover several books that existed about members of my family in which I had no idea.
For example, I am a descendant through the Cozart, Cossairt family who came to the United States by landing in New Jersey in the 1600s. When I entered "Cozart family history" in the search box, a book surfaced called "A genealogy of the three branches of the Bumpass family...John Bumpass (1736-1813)...Samuel , who died in 1776... Winnifred (1745-1819), who married Anthony Cozart III in 1739.. written by William Moses Jones. A 2nd entry for this book goes into further detail by discussing these three branches, including the connection to Plymouth. What was confusing about the entry was that it stated "no libraries with the specified item were found.' That was confusing to me since i thought the purpose of Worldcat was to tell me where to find the results.
In another case for my Raley Family, I was referred to an internet site for further research and to a county repository for loose family papers.
In all three cases I was thrilled. I have new information to seek out, and other sources to use in verifying what I know at this point. One source builds to another, etc. and I can see the definite benefit of WorldCat and will place it in my arsenal.
Friday, January 22, 2010
52 Weeks to Better Genealogy- Challenge #3- Assess Myself
I have to admit, when first planning to write on this challenge I made an assumption. We genealogists all have a list of "Dos" and "Dont's" when it comes to researching as well as a list of commandments gathered from the books we read and the seminars we attend. "Do not assume anything" is right up at the top of every list, and yet when I sat down to write this entry I had to chuckle to myself.
All week I had planned on writing about this challenge, one created by Amy Coffin for this year titled "52 Weeks to Better Genealogy" that are being supported by the Genea-Bloggers Group on Facebook. I had delayed in writing because I wanted to take a few moments to review my genealogy resolutions for 2010 first. Why make a list of goals for the year if there are no plans to follow them, right? (By the way, so far I am doing all right. I am in the middle of getting wayward papers filed where they belong and have assembled some new modular furniture for my tiny den that is helping control location central).
The irony is that the challenge for this week titled "Assess Yourself" was not about doing an assessment of my research goals, it was to do an assessment of my personal records and timeline events in order to make sure that future generations find my life well documented and included in my genealogy records. That's what happens when I make assumptions, yet it is a perfect time and reminder for me and for all of us as we move forward in our genealogy pursuits.
So, how am I doing? How do I plan on improving? I would consider myself one of those ancestors with a spotty record at this time. I have gathered all the important papers including birth, marriage, real estate, school, etc. into one location, and I have copies recorded in relevant binder (I have my direct lines in 3-ring binders separated into categories such as census, military, everyday life, etc. Siblings are included into their own sections, and any records for my ancestor before marriage go in the binder with their parents).
I enjoy scrapbooking and am currently beginning what's called "Project Life" by Becky Higgins. In Project Life you take one photo a day and write a quick little note. You can also put a movie ticket stub or any other memorabilia if you don't want to take a picture. The kits are supposed to be available on Amazon next week. I like that it gives a snapshot of everyday life, and I did the same thing last year with a previous kit.
There are other steps to take, including gathering past writings, putting togther a photo album, and doing my own interview of myself that might bring out some areas for pursuit. Putting togther my own timeline of my life should bring up many ideas on records to gather,and pictures to put in an album that would best represent my life. I also like the journal prompt books that are available that ask everything from favorites to political views.
I think I will take this challenge and spend some time each week on myself as well as on those elusive ancestors.
All week I had planned on writing about this challenge, one created by Amy Coffin for this year titled "52 Weeks to Better Genealogy" that are being supported by the Genea-Bloggers Group on Facebook. I had delayed in writing because I wanted to take a few moments to review my genealogy resolutions for 2010 first. Why make a list of goals for the year if there are no plans to follow them, right? (By the way, so far I am doing all right. I am in the middle of getting wayward papers filed where they belong and have assembled some new modular furniture for my tiny den that is helping control location central).
The irony is that the challenge for this week titled "Assess Yourself" was not about doing an assessment of my research goals, it was to do an assessment of my personal records and timeline events in order to make sure that future generations find my life well documented and included in my genealogy records. That's what happens when I make assumptions, yet it is a perfect time and reminder for me and for all of us as we move forward in our genealogy pursuits.
So, how am I doing? How do I plan on improving? I would consider myself one of those ancestors with a spotty record at this time. I have gathered all the important papers including birth, marriage, real estate, school, etc. into one location, and I have copies recorded in relevant binder (I have my direct lines in 3-ring binders separated into categories such as census, military, everyday life, etc. Siblings are included into their own sections, and any records for my ancestor before marriage go in the binder with their parents).
I enjoy scrapbooking and am currently beginning what's called "Project Life" by Becky Higgins. In Project Life you take one photo a day and write a quick little note. You can also put a movie ticket stub or any other memorabilia if you don't want to take a picture. The kits are supposed to be available on Amazon next week. I like that it gives a snapshot of everyday life, and I did the same thing last year with a previous kit.
There are other steps to take, including gathering past writings, putting togther a photo album, and doing my own interview of myself that might bring out some areas for pursuit. Putting togther my own timeline of my life should bring up many ideas on records to gather,and pictures to put in an album that would best represent my life. I also like the journal prompt books that are available that ask everything from favorites to political views.
I think I will take this challenge and spend some time each week on myself as well as on those elusive ancestors.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)