52 Weeks to Better Genealogy – Challenge #7, Google Maps

This week’s challenge:

Play with Google Maps. This is a helpful tool for determining the locations of addresses in your family history. Where your ancestral homestead once stood may now be a warehouse, a parking lot or a field. Perhaps the house is still there. When you input addresses in Google Maps, don’t forget to use the Satellite View and Street View options for perspectives that put you were right there where your ancestors once stood. If you’ve used this tool before, take sometime and play with it again. Push all the buttons, click all the links and devise new ways it can help with your personal genealogy research. If you have a genealogy blog, write about your experiences with Google Maps, or suggest similar easy (and free) tools that have helped in your own research.

I use Google Maps all the time.  I have several maps that I’ve plotted my family’s residences and cemeteries.  I had mainly focused on my Chicago families, which is a difficult task since I have to convert addresses prior to 1909 in order to find the correct placement on today’s map.  Additionally, many street names have changed over the years, adding an extra step in some cases.

Since I’ve been working on my Oakland County, Michigan folks, I thought I’d do some plotting on Google Maps.  Right now, the map includes all the cemeteries were my family is buried, as well as outlines of the land my family purchased through the federal government in the 1820s.  This was the first time I’ve plotted anything from a township map on a street map.  Fortunately, I was able to find a township map online from 1990 that also included the street names, so I was able to figure it out!!

The nice thing about Google Maps is the Satellite view.  In one case, I was not able to find a cemetery because it was not labeled on the map.  All I had was a general description of where it was located.  I switched to Satellite view and was able to see the cemetery in order to plot the exact location.

You’re welcome to take a look at this particular map of my Family in Oakland County, Michigan, to see how I use this application.  Another map that I created to help me with my Emil MILLER research can be viewed here.  In this case, I am trying to find applicable Emil MILLER/MULLER/MUELLERs that could be my Emil.  I’ve plotted those found in the Chicago city directories in Google Maps, for those who resided close to the church were three generations passed through.  There are quite a few, but it’s helped me to narrow down the possibilities based on location to the church.

52 Weeks To Better Genealogy – Challenge #6, Online Databases

This week’s challenge is:

Online databases at your public library. Search your library’s web site and see if your card grants you access to online databases. Libraries (even small ones) often have wonderful online tools including genealogy databases, historical newspapers and more! Take some time and play with these little perks that come with a library card. You just may get some help in your own genealogy research and gain some free research tools to boot. If you don’t know how to access online library databases or you’re not sure if your branch has them, ask a librarian for guidance. If you have a blog, discuss which databases (if any) to which your library subscribes.

I am fortunate that my public library subscribes to several databases.  Here is a sampling of the resources I have access to, from the comfort of my own home.

HeritageQuest – Provides access to the 1790-1930 US censuses, PERSI, Revolutionary War pension and bounty-land warrants, and family and local history books.  I typically use the census portion when I can’t find what I need on Ancestry, since each was indexed by different people.  Sometime I get lucky and find it on HQ, other times I have to get creative on Ancestry.  I’ve also started to look into PERSI, but have yet to find anything relevant to my research.  Until Footnote came along, this was a great source for ARW pension files, however, not all papers are included on HQ, whereas Footnote has the complete file available.

ProQuest Historical Newspapers – My library subscribes to the Chicago Tribune historical collection, which is fantastic.  I’ve been able to find several of obituaries and articles about my relatives using this database while in my PJs at home.  It’s wonderful!!

Historic Map Works – This is a collection by ProQuest that has a ton of maps and atlases.  This was something I just discovered a week ago.  I have no idea if it was available before or if it’s a new subscription, but nonetheless, it was a great find.  I’ve already located some old atlases of Linn County, Iowa, which list my ancestor’s land. 

My library has a subscription to America’s Newspapers from NewsBank, which contains several newspapers that are more current.  I don’t use this database very often.  My library also subscribes to Ancestry, although only accessible in the library. 

I’m very thankful for the Chicago Tribune historical newspapers being available with access from home.  It has been a tremendous help to me during my research.  And I can’t wait to explore the map collection further.

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy – Challenge #3, Assess Yourself

The challenge for week 3 is:  Assess Yourself!

You’re great at researching everyone else’s history, but how much of your own have you recorded? Do an assessment of your personal records and timeline events to ensure your own life is as well-documented as that of your ancestors. If you have a genealogy blog, write about the status of your own research and steps you may take to fill gaps and document your own life.

This is something I actually took the time to do awhile ago.  I’m probably the most complete person in my genealogy database!  My birth, baptism, and marriage, are of course recorded, and the certificates are in my possession.  But I also have items listed such as residences (where and when), schools (where, when, graduation dates), jobs (where, when), memberships (professional, academic, personal), and other assorted events (music competitions, family weddings attended, my confirmation, etc.).

This challenge did prompt me to do some updating, as a few things needed to be updated, as well as added.  Below is a screenshot of part of my own timeline.

 

I wish I had half of this type of information for my ancestors.  Maybe in time, I will get there!

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy – Challenge #1, The Local Public Library

The debut challenge for 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy is The Local Public Library.

Go to your local public library branch. Make a note of the genealogy books in the collection that may help you gain research knowledge. Don’t forget to check the shelves in both the non-fiction section and the reference section. If you do not already have a library card, take the time to get one. If you have a genealogy blog, write about what you find in your library’s genealogy collection.

I guess being in the “Twin Cities” of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois is good for something.  There are two wonderful local libraries, one in each town, that have pretty good collections.  Here is a list of resources from each of the local libraries.

Bloomington Public Library

• How To Research a Family With Illinois Roots, by Lowell M. Volkel, 1977.  This is a little outdated, but who knows, maybe I’ll learn something new.  Can’t hurt to take a look.
  
• Tracing Your English Ancestors, by Colin Darlington, 1989.  Another source that’s a bit outdated, but it’s the only book in this library related to English ancestry, so it’s a start.
  
• In Search of Your German Roots, by Angus Baxter, 1987.  There is a current edition (4th, 2009) available, so if this 1987 version seems to be promising, I may buy the 2009 version.
  
• Illinois Genealogical Research, by George Keene Schweitzer, 1997.
  
• Roots of the Prairie: Tracing Your Illinois Ancestors, by Patricia A. Hamilton, 1996.
  
• Tracing Your Irish Family History, by Anthony Adolph, 2009.  Probably one of the newest in the library’s genealogical collection.
  
• A Genealogist’s Guide to Discovering Your Italian Ancestors, by Lynn Nelson, 1997.  This could be of help with my step-father’s Italian family.
  
• The Handybook For Genealogists, Everton Publishers, 1999.  This book’s been on my wish list for some time, but for now, the library’s holding will have to do.
  
• The Genealogist’s Question & Answer Book, by Marcia Yannizze Melnyk, 2002.
  
• The Great Hunger: Ireland 1845-1849, by Cecil Woodham-Smith, 1991.

Normal Public Library

• Unpuzzling Your Past, by Emily Anne Croom, 2001.
  
• The Weekend Genealogist: Timesaving Techniques for Effective Research, by Marcia Yannizze Melnyk, 2000.
  
• Writing Family Histories and Memoirs, by Kirk Polking, 1995.  Since my new goal for professional genealogy is on the writing side of things, any book that can offer advice is a must-read for me.
  
• Clans and Families of Ireland, by John Grenham, 1993,
  
• Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, by Lucy Mary Kellogg, 1975.  Wonder if there’s information in here connecting my Hopkins to the Mayflower Hopkins.  It’s worth a look!

Some of the holdings at each of the libraries overlap, however each has their own unique collection.  There are many other books that are not listed, as they do not pertain to my research focus, educational plans, or I already own them.