QFHS Snippets - August 2011 Volume 11, No. 8

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Dear [member]

It’s another record-breaking edition of Snippets, with something for everyone!

A reminder that the QFHS library is open on Brisbane Show Day, 17 August; so take the opportunity to get some extra research done.

The time has flown! If you haven’t already done so, please renew your QFHS membership subscriptions today.

Remember to let us know your thoughts at: snippets@qfhs.org.au

Happy researching!


Table of Contents

    1. About This Newsletter
    2. QFHS Gaythorne Centre
    3. QFHS Dates to Remember
    4. Findmypast.com.uk. Discount for QFHS Members
    5. Queensland State Archives 2011 Saturday Openings
    6. Free Taxi Service to Queensland State Archives
    7. Queensland State Archives - Getting Started
    8. Updated Fees for Queensland BDM Certificates
    9. Do You Have Family Graves At Toowong?
    10. Dating Queenslanders
    11. Did You go to New Farm State School?
    12. Valé Shirley Lahey
    13. 2011 Janet Reakes Memorial Award
    14. Queensland Motor Annual and Diary 1920
    15. Kleidon Family Reunion
    16. Fig Tree Journal No 118
    17. Jamieson Family Reunion 2012
    18. More Digitised Australian Newspapers Coming Soon!
    19. Australian Immigration Collection 1788-1923 is now Online
    20. Australia 2011 Census
    21. About the Census
    22. Contact Information for UK Archives
    23. The British Convict Transportation Registry
    24. Women in Business Celebrated in Newly Released Records
    25. British Library Google Books Agreement
    26. Colour Pictures of London Under Siege During World War II
    27. Lancashire Archives Closed For Renovations
    28. Was Your UK Ancestor a Railway Worker?
    29. Do You Have Birmingham Ancestors Buried At Key Hill?
    30. Hampshire - Cemetery Index for Eastleigh
    31. 'What's Your Story' Genealogy Project Funded by U.K. Lottery
    32. UK Hearth Tax Records
    33. London-Gazette
    34. Kent Genealogy
    35. Isle of Wight - Cemetery and Monumental Inscriptions for Ryde Cemetery
    36. "Hebrides People" Project and Website Announced
    37. National Library of Wales Instant Chat Service Launched
    38. Historic Wales Building Set To Re-Open as a Genealogy Centre
    39. Clare Roots Society Genealogy Conference
    40. RootsIreland.ie
    41. Immigrants to Canada Online
    42. CanadianHeadstones.com
    43. Greater Ottawa Family History Conference
    44. Old Court House Museum in Nova Scotia Opens Research Centre
    45. Ontario Births, 1869-1912
    46. Black Sea German Research
    47. FamilySearch 1930 US Census Project Concludes
    48. 14,000 People Wrongly Reported Deceased Annually
    49. Preserving Digital Documents from the Civil War
    50. Historical Society of Pennsylvania Probing Possible Theft
    51. Indiana Farmer Newspaper, 1851-1917, Now Online
    52. Franklin County, Massachusetts, Probate Index, 1812 to 1925
    53. Shurtleff, Illinois College Yearbooks Online
    54. Swedish American Genealogist Online
    55. Google 'Search by Image'
    56. Kate Middleton Is Related to Novelist Jane Austen
    57. Prince Harry and New Girlfriend are Related ... Distantly
    58. Who's on the Family Tree? Now It's Complicated
    59. FamilySearch adds 25 Million New Records
    60. Long-Lost Brothers Find Each Other Living Nearby
    61. Sperm Donor's 24 Kids Never Told About His Fatal, Genetic Illness
    62. Announcing the 2nd History & Genealogy Cruise!
    63. 2011 GenealogyBlog Genealogy Events Calendar
    64. How a Family Tree Can Save Your Life
    65. Launch of Commemorative Coins: Royal Australian Mint
    66. Complete and Finished
    67. Acknowledgements


1.    About This Newsletter

Snippets is a monthly publication of the Queensland Family History Society Inc. (QFHS). QFHS Website http://www.qfhs.org.au/

Please do not click on reply to contact Snippets - the 'click on reply' facility is strictly for 'un-subscribing' to the mailing list.

You are encouraged to contribute items which you feel would be of general interest to the family historian hunting for that illusive relative. Humorous items and items relating to the technology of using computers in genealogy are also welcome. Submit your BRIEF items supplemented by hyperlinks to additional details.

Snippets will rarely include items of a commercial nature and only then when they are likely to be of interest to a majority of our readers.

Submit your items to us via: snippets@qfhs.org.au


2.     QFHS Gaythorne Centre

Our address is:

    58 Bellevue Ave
    Gaythorne QLD 4051
    QFHS library - (07) 3355 3369

For details about QFHS Centre, including location map, transport etc, click here: http://www.qfhs.org.au/location_hours.htm#Library


3.     QFHS Dates to Remember

QFHS Monthly General Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month (but not in January and December), at the QFHS Library, and start at 7:30pm. Attendance is free, and visitors are welcome.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 17 August.

Shauna Hicks will discuss "Victorian Resources for Family History Research".
________________________________________

QFHS Daytime Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month (but not in January and December) at 20 Marmont Street, Geebung from 10am - 12 Noon.

The next meeting will be held on 5 September.

Contact Maureen Mutton on 3265 4378 if you would like to attend.
________________________________________

Educational Workshop

Cost is $5.50 per person which goes towards purchasing more research materials for the Library. Time - 10am to 12 noon at QFHS Library.

Next workshop dates are: 
For bookings contact Desley Schafer - phone (07) 3204 4254 or email her at: educationofficer@qfhs.org.au
________________________________________

Member Orientations - 'Old' & New Members Welcome

You will almost certainly learn new stuff about the Society, and helpful hints about using the Library and researching, all in a friendly atmosphere and informal setting. New members are especially welcome.

Next orientations: Saturday, 20 August and Friday, 16 September.

Numbers are limited to allow full participation. BOOKING is ESSENTIAL. Please note: Sessions are usually fully booked, with a waiting list, so please advise the organisers as soon as possible if you find you are unable to attend when you have a booking.

Contact Bev Bonning on (07) 3355 7389 or email at: welcome@qfhs.org.au
________________________________________

Central European Group

Meetings are held 10am - Noon on the 4th Saturday of each odd-numbered month. A $2 donation goes toward purchasing relevant records.

The next meeting will be on 24 September at the QFHS library.

For further information, contact Eric Kopittke on (07) 3376 4339 or email kopittke@tpg.com.au or centraleuropean@qfhs.org.au
________________________________________

English West Country Group

This group researches the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Meetings are held from 12 Noon - 2pm at the QFHS Library, on the fourth Thursday of the odd-numbered months.

Next meeting: Thursday, 22 September.

For further information contact Robert Browning on (07) 3359 9801 or email: robertbb2@bigpond.com
________________________________________

Family History Writing Group

These meetings are held from 9am - 11am at QFHS Library on the third Saturday of odd-numbered months.

Next meeting: Saturday, 17 September.

For further information contact FHWriters@qfhs.org.au OR Robert Adamson on (07) 3266 8353 OR Sue Reid on (07) 3378 2278.
________________________________________

Family Tree Maker User Group

These meetings run from 10am - 11:30am at QFHS Library and are held on 1st Friday each month except January and last Saturday in each even-numbered month except December.

The next meetings will be held on:
For further details, please contact Kerri Kleidon or Joe Greaves via e-mail on: familytree@qfhs.org.au
________________________________________

The Master Genealogist (or TMG) User Group

After being hosted for more than six years by QFHS member, Peter Collins, the Brisbane TMG User Group has become a welcome addition to the Society's special interest groups. The group caters to the needs of all users, from novice to advanced. The group meets in the QFHS Library on the third Saturday of each month (except December) at 1:30 pm.

Next meeting is 20 August.
For a limited period, new members to the group will have the opportunity to purchase The Master Genealogist v7 Gold Edition at a bargain price.

For further information, contact George Kearney on 0438 073 344 or Kevin Haley on (07) 3359 7491.
________________________________________

Irish Interest Group

Meetings are held from 10am - 12 Noon at QFHS Library on the second Saturday of the even-numbered months (not December).

Next meeting: 13 August. The topic for this meeting will be "Using the Internet for Irish Research". This will cater especially for those members who are just starting or about to start using the internet for Irish Research.

The topic for the October meeting is "Catholic Church Records".

For more information about Irish Interest Group contact Mary King on (07) 3205 3353 or email irish@qfhs.org.au
________________________________________

Scottish Interest Group

Meetings are held from 10am - 12 Noon at QFHS Library on the second Saturday of odd-numbered months (except January). Donations to buy more Scottish resources are welcome.

Next meeting: Saturday, 10 September.

For further information: Email scottish@qfhs.org.au OR phone Sam on (07) 3266 9131
________________________________________

Welsh Interest Group

This group meets on the fourth Sunday of the odd numbered months from 10am - 12 Noon at the QFHS Library.

Next meeting is: Sunday, 25 September.

Contact Kaye Hart on welsh@qfhs.org.au for further information.


4. Findmypast.com.uk. Discount for QFHS Members

The QFHS now has a subscription to Findmypast.co.uk, and they have offered our members a discount of 15% towards membership.  To take advantage of this discount, simply key in the word "FMPSAVE".

Check it out at: http://www.findmypast.co.uk/home.jsp


5. Queensland State Archives 2011 Saturday Openings

In 2011, Queensland State Archives will be open to the public on the second Saturday of every calendar month from 9am to 4:30pm.

The 2011 Saturday opening dates for the next three months are:
Queensland State Archives are located at 435 Compton Road, Runcorn, Queensland.

For more details, go to: http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/research/hours.asp


6. Free Taxi Service to Queensland State Archives

For those who find it difficult to get to the Queensland State Archives (QSA), there is a taxi service for researchers available every Tuesday.

Information can be obtained at:  http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/findus.asp#taxi

To book taxi travel to QSA, phone (07) 3131 7777.


7. Queensland State Archives - Getting Started

Do you want to start research at Queensland State Archives at Runcorn, but don't know where to begin? Then come along to the 'Getting Started' seminar on Tuesday, 13 September from 2 pm to 4 pm. Presented by one of Queensland State Archives' experienced reference archivists, this seminar will provide you with the basics to get your research at Queensland State Archives underway.

The seminar includes morning tea and a short tour.

For more information, and to book, call (07) 3131 7777.


8. Updated Fees for Queensland BDM Certificates

As of 1 July, the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages updated their fees for the purchasing of birth, death and marriage certificates.

Details are available at: http://bit.ly/q0hU0I


9. Do You Have Family Graves At Toowong?

If you have ancestors buried at Toowong Cemetery, they would really appreciate having contact details in case something needs attending to.

Phone contact for Toowong Cemetery is (07) 3403 2587 Monday to Friday from 8am - 12 noon.

The cemetery office need name of deceased, your relationship to deceased, your name and contact details.


10. Dating Queenslanders

This brochure can assist you to date the year of your house's construction. It is additional information to that provided in article number 14 of the July edition of Snippets. It contains diagrams to help with dating Queenslanders.

You can download Style Guide to Old Queensland Houses - produced by The Woodworkers at: http://www.woodworkers.com.au/website/pdfs/qlder_style_guide.pdf


11. Did You go to New Farm State School?

Do you have some photos you would like to share? New Farm State School and New Farm and Districts Historical Society are teaming up to develop an online photographic history of the school. For more information phone: New Farm State School on (07) 3358 7333 or email: the.principal@newfarmss.eq.edu.au


12. Valé Shirley Lahey

It is with great sadness that we advise of the passing of Shirley Lahey. Shirley was the winner of our Family History award. Her memorial service was held on Wednesday, 27 July. Members from Q.F.H.S. were present to pay their respects to her family and represent the Society.

Messages to Shirley's family may be posted to: Family of Shirley Lahey, c/- Post Office Box 23, Chermside South, Qld 4032.


13. 2011 Janet Reakes Memorial Award

Entries for this award are free, and the closing date is Friday, 16 December 2011. This year's topic is: "My Most Unusual Ancestor".

For more details, go to: http://www.janetreakesgenealogy.com/MemorialAward/MemorialAward.htm


14. Queensland Motor Annual and Diary 1920

Recently a visitor to QFHS, Russell Massey, donated a photocopy of some pages from the Queensland Motor Annual and Diary 1920. Unfortunately, Russell did not provide any contact details, but his sister is a member of QFHS. I would like to get in contact with Russell, as many people are interested in this publication.

Please contact Sue Reid, President by email at: president@qfhs.org.au


15. Kleidon Family Reunion

The Kleidons are having another Reunion on Saturday, 24 September, 2011 at Peace Lutheran Church Hall, Spencer Street, Gatton, Queensland commencing at 9:30am.  All and sundry are welcome to attend. B.Y.O. lunch, with tea and coffee provided.

The first reunion was held in 1986 when the first book was published.  Since then, there has been a reunion every five years.  In 2006 an updated book was published, containing over 6000 names. There are still a couple of copies for sale.  If anyone is interested in purchasing these for $25 plus postage, please contact Kerri Kleidon at: kleidonreunion@gmail.com


16. Fig Tree Journal No 118

The July edition of Manning Wallamba Family History Society Inc's e-letter Fig Tree is now available at: http://www.manningwallambafhs.com.au/newsletter/2011jul.pdf


17. Jamieson Family Reunion 2012

To celebrate the 170th Anniversary of the Jamieson's arrival in Auckland from Ayrshire, Scotland, a family reunion is being held in New Zealand on the weekend of 5-7 October 2012. Any person related to or interested in Barr Jamieson, Ann Pettigrew and their descendants is invited to attend. Contact is Jodi Fuller, Bendigo, Victoria.

You can email Jodi at: jodi.foster@gmail.com  and find the website dedicated to the family reunion at: http://www.jamiesonreunion.wordpress.com/


18. More Digitised Australian Newspapers Coming Soon!

The National Library's Australian Digitisation Program has released a list of newspapers to be digitised for this financial year.

These titles will be searchable online at http://www.trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

Titles for QLD include: The Capricornian (Rockhampton) The Central Queensland Herald and The Worker.

For the full listing go to: http://www.nla.gov.au/ndp/selected_newspapers/Future_Titles.html

Don't forget the State Library of Queensland also holds an extensive range of Queensland newspapers on microfilm.


19. Australian Immigration Collection 1788-1923 is now Online

Australia's immigration records from 1788 to 1923 are going online for the first time as a package charting more than 14.5 million journeys to the new colony. Included on the Ancestry.com.au web site are passenger lists, musters, census information and other documents from the period, assembled from microfilm in state record offices and archives.

The Australian Immigration Collection 1788-1923 is available via subscription at: http://www.ancestry.com.au/immigration


20. Australia 2011 Census

The Australian census is due to be collected on 9 August and as with the previous 2 censuses in 2001 and 2006 there has been the provision to 'tick the box' to preserve the census schedule.  This provision only occurred as a result of considerable lobbying by family history organisations throughout Australia.  Nick Vine Hall led the campaign on behalf of the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations.
 
This is a reminder for our members to 'tick the box' and suggest that their families and friends do likewise. Any preserved schedules will only be released in a 100 years' time, by which time privacy issues will be irrelevant.


21.  About the Census

On Tuesday, August 9, Australia is having a Census. But what can a Census really tell us about Australia, and about ourselves?

Examine yourself relative to the Australian population at http://spotlight.abs.gov.au/


22. Contact Information for UK Archives

This website contains contact details of archives throughout the UK and a much more. A useful feature of the website is the ability to see a map showing the location of archives in a particular area.

Free Registration is required.

For more information go to: http://www.communityarchives.org.uk/


23. The British Convict Transportation Registry

This registry contains the names of over 123,000 convicts transported to Australia. See it at:  http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/info/fh/convicts

The raw data can be difficult to understand. A new award-winning web site - ConViz - is an attempt to visualise this data so that the stories and patterns within are accessible for readers to see and understand.

Check it out at: http://www.conviz.info/
 

24. Women in Business Celebrated in Newly Released Records

Set against the backdrop of the early twentieth century, when women were fighting for their civil rights, new historical records recently launched show women defied the prejudices and challenges of the time to become successful business leaders. The newly released Business Index Collection is available at findmypast at: http://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/business-index

(QFHS offers members access to this website for free at our library) The Business Indexes are directories of how Britain's business landscape shaped up between the early 1890s and 1927. They contain images and details of Britain's shopkeepers, businessmen and women, as well as captains of industry. The records also feature a short biography, detailing the entrant's prominence in local society, their memberships of corporations and/or clubs, the hobbies or leisure activities they enjoyed, as well as charities and other institutions that they may have been involved in. This information provides a unique insight into the individual's character, which is extremely difficult to find elsewhere in such a comprehensive form.


25. British Library Google Books Agreement

The British Library has negotiated an agreement with Google where texts of books published between 1700 and 1870 will be made available in digital form and able to be downloaded and copied and searched. This is one step in the library's goal of making the majority of its 14 million books and one million periodicals available in digital form by 2020.

Enjoy reading at: http://books.google.com/


26. Colour Pictures of London Under Siege During World War II

Most photographs from World War II have only been seen in grainy black and white. But now, new colour images have emerged that show the full horror of the destruction inflicted by Nazi bombings across London. The powerful images were released to mark the 70th anniversary of the launch of Winston Churchill's 'V for Victory' campaign on 19 July, 1941. The pictures vividly show the reality of war.

You can view several of the colour pictures at: http://bit.ly/q5eZSm


27. Lancashire Archives Closed For Renovations

Lancashire Archives will be closed to the public from 4 July until mid-October 2011. This is due to essential plant replacement and the installation of energy-efficient lighting throughout the Record Office building. There will be no direct public access to archives or local studies material during this period; but we will continue as far as possible to answer postal and emailed enquiries and to supply copies of documents. There may be some unavoidable delays in responding to enquiries as strongrooms and documents may be inaccessible for brief periods.

You can get in touch via email at: record.office@lancashire.gov.uk


28. Was Your UK Ancestor a Railway Worker?

The purpose of the Railway Ancestors Family History Society is to help members trace their family ancestry in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and also British Railwaymen Overseas, by informing them of records, documents, books, special collections etc that exist in the record depositories and by discovering and investigating previously unknown sources. Get on the right track for tracing your railways ancestors with the FHS with a difference.

Go to: http://www.railwayancestors.org.uk/  If your interest is simply Heritage Railways, then this site may be of interest: http://www.heritagerailways.com/index.php


29. Do You Have Birmingham Ancestors Buried At Key Hill?

The Jewellery Quarter Research Group (JQRG) has put over 11,000 existing memorial inscriptions for Key Hill cemetery online. The search engine is easy to use and free and some entries have potted histories of the people mentioned. The Birmingham cemetery was opened in 1837 by a group of non-conformist businessmen and contains over 20,000 graves and 62,000 burials. The website will be invaluable for people studying family history and interested in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. The JQRG plan to add memorial inscriptions for Warstone Lane soon.

Visit the site at: http://www.jqrg.org/


30. Hampshire - Cemetery Index for Eastleigh

This search facility is provided to allow families to search for relatives buried in one of the four council run cemeteries.  Please check that the burial dates are in the format dd/mm/yyyy. In some instances the day and month have been reversed, causing the search to fail.

Go to http://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/our-community/cemeteries-in-eastleigh/cemetery-database.aspx


31. 'What's Your Story' Genealogy Project Funded by U.K. Lottery

A project to help people across Tyne and Wear in northeastern England unearth their family history has been given a £45,000 lottery grant. The What's Your Story? Discovering Family History project is based at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle and run by Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums. The Heritage Lottery Fund cash will enable people to research and share families' histories.
Specially trained family historians and volunteers will work with local people and offer help with searches within Tyne & Wear Archives, which is located at Discovery Museum.

You can read more at: http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/news/what-039-s-your-story/


32. UK Hearth Tax Records

Hearth Tax Online is a web site dedicated to providing data and analysis of the records of the hearth tax which was introduced in England and Wales by the government of Charles II in 1662. The indexes and transcripts can all be downloaded free of charge in PDF format. The site also contains statistical information, parish maps and other resources for the featured counties.

You'll find the website at: http://www.hearthtax.org.uk/


33. London-Gazette

The official newspaper of record for the UK and a modern, efficient way to disseminate and record official, regulatory and legal information in print, online and electronic forms.

Enjoy searching at: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/


34. Kent Genealogy

This site is an excellent resource for genealogy in the County of Kent, England.

It includes many indexes and transcripts containing over 90,000 names and over 350 links to other useful sites.

Kent Genealogy can be found at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mrawson/


35. Isle of Wight - Cemetery and Monumental Inscriptions for Ryde Cemetery

This wonderful site holds almost 9000 records of burials at Ryde Cemetery. The search reveals not only date of death, but inscriptions and photograph and condition of headstone.  In some cases a complete family can be located.

Check it out at: http://www.rydecemetery.org.uk/search.asp


36. "Hebrides People" Project and Website Announced

The Hebrides People project and website has been announced. The website will contain a variety of genealogical records including family trees and oral histories.

For more information see Chris Paton's Scottish GENES blog at: http://scottishancestry.blogspot.com/2011/07/major-hebridean-project-announced.html


37. National Library of Wales Instant Chat Service Launched

The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth has recently launched a new Instant Chat service on its website. The new service will answer simple enquiries and will be useful for those wanting a quick answer. The Instant Chat service is an addition to the traditional enquiries service that the Library already offers and is administered through our Question Point system.

Do you have a question? To take advantage of the new service go to:  http://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=147


38. Historic Wales Building Set To Re-Open as a Genealogy Centre

The former general offices of Ebbw Vale steelworks in Wales is set to re-open after a £12 million restoration. The building will be used to house the Gwent Records Office (GRO), The Works Archive Trust and a genealogy and visitor centre called 3000 degrees - The Valleys Genealogy and Heritage Experience. The GRO is scheduled to open this month, while the south wing, comprising the genealogy visitors' centre, will open later this year.

You can read more at: http://bit.ly/pmi82p


39. Clare Roots Society Genealogy Conference

The Clare Roots Society is sponsoring a major Genealogy and Family History Conference at the Templegate Hotel Ennis, County Clare on 1 October, 2011. The theme of the conference is "The future of Our Past." The Keynote speaker is Dr. Nick Barratt, speaking on "Family History and the Media." Nick will examine the way genealogy has been transformed over the last 5 years by TV and the Internet, going behind the scenes of programs like "Who Do You Think You Are" to reveal how they are made, and the impact the shows have had on the way people research.

For more information, see: http://www.eventelephant.com/clarerootssocietyconference2011


40. RootsIreland.ie

The Irish Family History Foundation (I.F.H.F.), an all Ireland not-for-profit organisation, runs this site. It is the largest family records database in Ireland containing over 18 million records online. It oversees the creation of a database of Irish genealogical sources which enables those who wish to trace their Irish ancestry to have access to all the relevant data in one place.

Its member centres are based in local communities, working with volunteers, local historical societies, local clergy, local authorities, county libraries and government agencies to build a database of genealogical records for their county.  By using this website you are supporting that work and the communities from which your ancestors originated.

Check it out at: http://www.rootsireland.ie/


41. Immigrants to Canada Online

A new database for immigrants arriving in Canada from 1865 to 1935 is now available. It provides 23,482 references to immigration records held at Library and Archives Canada.

You can search the Immigrants to Canada database at: http://bit.ly/q6Hk85


42. CanadianHeadstones.com

The mission of this project is to capture digital images and the complete transcription of Canadian headstones. Since its inception, the database has grown to over 216,000 indexed records. CanadianHeadstones.com has a separate website and database for each province and territory. The database is fully searchable by surname, first name, starts with, contains and even sounds like.

Check it out at: http://www.canadianheadstones.com/


43. Greater Ottawa Family History Conference

The British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) Family History Conference will take place from 16-18 September at Ottawa, Ontario. The conference will feature a dozen expert international, national and local speakers, including Phil Jenkins, Audrey Collins and Helen Osborn.

For details of the conference program, go to: http://www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=53

More information about the conference is available at: http://www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=22


44. Old Court House Museum in Nova Scotia Opens Research Centre

The Old Court House Museum in Guysborough, Nova Scotia, is now available for visitors to conduct genealogical research.

More details about the centre can be found at: http://bit.ly/qcG3Ed


45. Ontario Births, 1869-1912

This index to birth records contains 1,403,211 records.

Check it out at: http://bit.ly/jNRORe


46. Black Sea German Research

Anyone who has wrestled with trying to trace records of their German-Russian ancestors will appreciate this site, which hosts a free online database of over 1.4 million names of Germans who settled on the northern banks of the Black Sea in South Russia (now Ukraine) in the 18th and 19th centuries. Information is based on GEDCOMs submitted by contributors from all over the world. An advanced search option provides for phonetic name searching using Soundex.

The Black Sea German Research site includes online maps of: the German Empire in the 1850s, 1857, 1914 and 1925;  north western and south western Russia in 1897; and village plat maps for Bessarabia and the Odessa area showing features such as houses, churches, cemeteries and schools. Perhaps most importantly from an Australian perspective, the site is in English.

Check it out at: http://www.blackseagr.org/index.html


47. FamilySearch 1930 US Census Project Concludes

The 1930 U.S. Census indexing project has been completed. This enhanced index will be a great benefit to online researches.

To search for free go to: https://www.familysearch.org/


48. 14,000 People Wrongly Reported Deceased Annually

How accurate is the United States Social Security Death Index? Apparently not accurate at all.  The Social Security Administration each month falsely reports that nearly 1,200 living Americans have died. These clerical errors, found in a federal database ominously titled the "Death Master File," might be darkly humourous - were not the consequences so severe.

You can read of Judy C. Rivers' experience of falsely being declared deceased. She's been denied college aid and home-refinance loans, been refused job interviews because of irregularities in her file and been rejected 14 times for credit cards.

Read more about Judy's real-life experience at: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jun/26/grave-mistakes-in-ssa-bring-problems/


49. Preserving Digital Documents from the Civil War

Archivists from the Library of Virginia are working on a project to preserve Civil War artifacts. They're scanning and digitising thousands of documents; including letters, diaries and photos.

You can read more in an article at: http://bit.ly/qVAala


50. Historical Society of Pennsylvania Probing Possible Theft

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is sorting through its massive collection after a frequent visitor to its archives was charged with stealing dozens of valuable documents in Baltimore.
Barry H. Landau, 63, an author and television commentator on presidential history has been charged with the theft of 60 rare documents from the Maryland Historical Society. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is suspicious that similar thefts may have occurred at its headquarters Philadelphia.

You can read more in an article at: http://bit.ly/pT2SNF


51. Indiana Farmer Newspaper, 1851-1917, Now Online

The Indiana Farmer captured rural life between 1851 and 1917. The newspaper recorded the evolution and growth of the Hoosier state during that time. These publications provide a rich history of the Hoosier farmstead that was not addressed in other agricultural magazines of that time period.

You can learn more about the project and access the digital Indiana Farmer at: http://e-archives.lib.purdue.edu/collections/indianafarmer/index.php


52. Franklin County, Massachusetts, Probate Index, 1812 to 1925

The links are all from the Massachusetts Mayflower website and are free to all.

The probate index above is at: http://bit.ly/owEyCE


53. Shurtleff, Illinois College Yearbooks Online

Shurtleff College, a now-defunct institution, has yearbooks from 1911 to 1957 that the university has digitised and put online for free. While the university does not have every edition in that time frame, they have put together 37 years' worth. The school ceased operating as Shurtleff College on 30 June 1957, when it became part of what is now called the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

The Shurtleff College yearbooks are available, along with the rest of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine digital collections, at: http://www.siue.edu/lovejoylibrary/about/digital_collections.shtml


54. Swedish American Genealogist Online

The Swedish American Genealogist is a quarterly journal devoted to Swedish American biography, genealogy, and personal history. The journal was founded in 1981. and has now been published online  and is available free of charge and contains issues published as recently as 2007. The original pages of the Swedish American Genealogist are available as PDF files. You can browse the pages online and also search for content on individual pages by using the collection's search button.

You can access the Swedish American Genealogist Online at: http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm4/index_aug_sag.php?CISOROOT=/aug_sag


55. Google 'Search by Image'

If someone has a photo of a place that they are trying to identify, you can upload it into Google and it will try to match it with others on the web.

You can find out how to use Google 'Search by Image' at: http://www.google.com/insidesearch/searchbyimage.html


56.  Kate Middleton Is Related to Novelist Jane Austen

It has been discovered that the Duchess of Cambridge is related to none other than the author of Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Pride and Prejudice. That's right! Kate Middleton is family, although somewhat distantly, with Jane Austen.

You can read about the connection at: http://celebs.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979518296


57. Prince Harry and New Girlfriend are Related ... Distantly

Prince Harry and his new girlfriend are related as distant cousins. A family tree showed that blue-blooded blonde Florence Brudenell-Bruce, 25, is an eighth cousin of the 26-year-old royal.

You can read more at: http://bit.ly/kslBOx


58. Who's on the Family Tree? Now It's Complicated

The New York Times has an interesting story about family relationships. Laura Ashmore and Jennifer Williams are sisters. When Ms. Ashmore and her husband, Lee, learned a few years ago that they could not conceive a child, Ms. Williams stepped in and offered to become pregnant with a donor's sperm on behalf of the couple, and give birth to the child. The baby, Mallory, was born in September 2007 and adopted by Ms. Ashmore and her husband.

Then the sisters began to ponder: where would the little girl sit on the family tree? "For medical purposes I am her mother," Ms. Williams said. "But I am also her aunt."

Many families are grappling with similar questions as a family tree today is beginning to look more like a tangled forest.

You can read this interesting article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/us/05tree.html?_r=2


59. FamilySearch adds 25 Million New Records

FamilySearch has announced the addition of 25 million new records to their family history database. Highlights include: New Zealand Probate Records; England, Cornwall and Bristol Parish Records 1538-1900; Peru Catholic Church Records; South Africa Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1690-; Solvakia Church Books - 1592-1900; Czech Republic Land Records 1450-1850; Netherlands, Civil Registration, 1792-1952.

You can find a comprehensive listing at: https://www.familysearch.org/node/1251


60. Long-Lost Brothers Find Each Other Living Nearby

Jim Parsons of Columbus, Ohio always wanted to find the brother he hadn't seen in 72 years so he hired a private detective. The search was successful and the private detective telephoned to give Parsons the news. The two brothers last saw each other in Virginia, their boyhood home. However, the long-lost brother is now living in Powell, about 20 minutes from Jim Parsons' home.

You can read the full story at: http://bit.ly/pA78sf


61. Sperm Donor's 24 Kids Never Told About His Fatal, Genetic Illness

Many couples who otherwise might be childless now have the joy of children, thanks to today's technology. However, that joy might also bring occasional problems. Genealogists may have a role in notifying people of life-threatening genetic illnesses.

Rebecca Blackwell and her 18-year-old son Tyler of Maryland tracked down sperm donor 'John' three years ago. The supposedly anonymous man was Tyler's biological father. While the sperm donor didn't respond to their letter for contact, his sister found them online and, unaware her brother had donated sperm, asked why they wanted to get in touch. When she found out he had a son, she told them of the fatal genetic disorder that had ruptured the sperm donor's aorta at the age of 43.

You can read more in an article at: http://bit.ly/prCdDQ


62. Announcing the 2nd History & Genealogy Cruise!

This 14 day-long cruise commences in Auckland concludes in Sydney with 8 port stops in between with all accommodation and meals included.

It will feature Scottish, Irish and "Google Your Family Tree" themes along with a varied general interest program. There will be 100 main talks, workshops, special interest and discussion groups.

You can find out more about the genealogy conference cruise at: http://bit.ly/pySpOJ


63. 2011 GenealogyBlog Genealogy Events Calendar

This blog is attempting to publish the most comprehensive listing of genealogy-related events available online. The majority of them are located in the United States; however other countries are also mentioned. All events that are of half-day duration or more will be included.

The calendar can be found at: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=12485


64. How a Family Tree Can Save Your Life

Finding out what conditions afflicted our forebears can tell us more about the risks we face than expensive genetic tests.

You can read the Sydney Morning Herald article at: http://bit.ly/qjBrYh


65. Launch of Commemorative Coins: Royal Australian Mint

To commemorate the inclusion of Australian convict sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Royal Australian Mint launched a commemorative coin series called the 'Convict Past Gold Coin Collection' at the Cascades Female Factory in Tasmania on 14 April 2011, the first day of the Australian Heritage Week.

The Royal Australian Mint have recognised six of the listed sites on collectible coins and the remaining sites will feature on commissioned stamps from Australia Post. The Australian Convict sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List on 31 July 2010. There are a total of 11 sites which make up the World Heritage Australian Convict Sites. There are more than 3000 convict sites remaining around Australia, which is unique in the world today.

The release of the commemorative coins is a reminder of Australia's rich convict history and it is wonderful that the launch coincided with the Australian Heritage Week celebrations.

For more information go to: http://bit.ly/nvQR3U


66. Complete and Finished

No English dictionary has been able to explain the difference between the two words 'complete' and 'finished' in a way that's so easy to understand:
Some people say there is no difference between COMPLETE & FINISHED but there is:
When you marry the right one, you are COMPLETE.
And when you marry the wrong one, you are FINISHED.
And when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are ... COMPLETELY FINISHED!


67. Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all those who have taken time out to send items of interest to our "Snippets" mailbox at: snippets@qfhs.org.au

The more we receive, the more frequently we can produce a Newsletter. If your submission does not appear in this issue, we will try to include it in a future edition. Please note that reference to any product does not imply endorsement. Members are cautioned to evaluate products prior to purchase.

Pauline Macfarlane

Disclaimer: This newsletter is produced in good faith, and information received is deemed to be accurate, but the editor takes no responsibility for incorrect information supplied. [Editor's note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editor or of QFHS]

Permission to reprint articles from QFHS 'SNIPPETS' NEWSLETTER is granted unless specifically stated otherwise, provided: (1) the reprint is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the following notice appears at the end of the article: "Previously published in QFHS 'SNIPPETS' NEWSLETTER" with the appropriate date and volume number (eg QFHS 'SNIPPETS' NEWSLETTER January 2009 Vol 9 No. 1). The last six months issues of Snippets are available from: http://www.qfhs.org.au/snippets.htm

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