QFHS Snippets - September 2011 Volume 11, No. 9

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Dear [member]

Join one of our special interest groups to enhance your research.

Make sure your entry is submitted for the QFHS inc. Family History Writing Award.

Tune into 4BC to hear Ann Swain speak on Family History 101.

Have you discovered an ancestor using a Snippets link? Then share your news with us at: snippets@qfhs.org.au

Happy researching!

Table of Contents

  1. About This Newsletter
  2. QFHS Gaythorne Centre
  3. QFHS Dates to Remember
  4. Parking in Bellevue Avenue
  5. Findmypast.com.uk. Discount for QFHS Members
  6. QFHS Inc Award for Services to Family History
  7. Apprenticeship Offered
  8. Collection Development Policy
  9. Library Assistants' Meetings
  10. QFHS inc. Family History (Writing) Award 2011
  11. Christmas Hamper
  12. Queensland State Archives 2011 Saturday Openings
  13. Queensland State Archives Indexes
  14. Queensland State Archives 2011 Seminars
  15. Images from the British Royals
  16. Free Taxi Service to Queensland State Archives
  17. Local History Talk: Brisbane - Weird or Wonderful, or Both?
  18. Caloundra Family History Research Inc
  19. Kleidon Family Reunion
  20. Brookside Celebrates its 40th Birthday in September
  21. Identity Theft and Family History Research - What You Should Know
  22. 2011 Janet Reakes Memorial Award
  23. Nambour Chronicle Queensland online
  24. What do You Know About The South Brisbane Library?
  25. 4BC Family History 101
  26. Townsville Virtual Exhibition
  27. thegenealogist.co.uk Adds New Australian Convict Records
  28. Convicts' Private Lives Discovered in Hobart - ABC Audio File
  29. New Titles Available in Trove
  30. Huguenot Society of Australia Inc - Research Interests of Members
  31. New Zealand Papers Online
  32. New Zealanders marrying in Australia 1892-1894
  33. The National Archives of the UK Launches New Library Catalogue
  34. U.K. National Archives Releases Digitised Microfilms Online
  35. 4th Century Gough Map of Britain is Now Online
  36. U.K. Railway Employment Records, 1833 - 1963
  37. Resources for Liverpool, England
  38. Canterbury Closures
  39. Searching Your Irish Roots Online
  40. Austrian Genealogy Research
  41. Genlias: Netherlands Civil Register
  42. Texas Drought Unearths Long-Lost Slave Cemetery
  43. Laser Scan Study of a Cemetery
  44. Oregon Historic Newspapers
  45. Oakland County (Michigan) Online Databases
  46. Oklahoma State Tourism Web Site Launches New Genealogy Tool
  47. Tracing Native American Ancestry
  48. Experts Worry That the Family Photo Album is Being Lost to Technology
  49. Carrying on the Family Tradition: Executioner
  50. Controversy: How to Read Unreadable Tombstones
  51. World's Oldest Person Celebrates 115th Birthday
  52. September Silliness
  53. 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, 21 September.

Patrick O'Shea and Beverly Isdale from the Chermside & District Historical Association Inc. will discuss the 'History of Chermside'.
________________________________________

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 date is:  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: Friday, 16 September and Saturday, 15 October.

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 meeting will be held on Friday, 7 October - Discussing Versions 2009 & up to 2011 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

This 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 17 September.

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: 8 October. The topic for this meeting will be "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. Parking in Bellevue Avenue

Members are reminded to be considerate of local residents when parking in Bellevue Avenue, especially at busy times. Residents' and QFHS members' cars can make the avenue quite busy; Society members are asked to be mindful of our neighbours in relation to parking. Recently a Bellevue Avenue resident expressed concern regarding a car parked too close to her driveway. While the RACQ advises that a vehicle may park right up to where a driveway meets the road, they also advise that drivers can find it difficult to exit or enter their driveways if cars are parked too close. In this case, the home owner may have cause to complain to the City Council.

5.  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

6. QFHS Inc Award for Services to Family History

Nominations are now called for the QFHS Inc. Award for Services to Family History, which is reserved for QFHS members only, and presented at our November Christmas break-up meeting. 

The Award can be made to two members each year, but this number is flexible.  When you visit the Resource Centre at Gaythorne, have a look at the honour board in the meeting room to see who has received this Award in previous years, so you do not present a repeat nomination.  Your citation for your nominee should be no more than half a page long please.

Nominations are to be in the hands of the Secretary by 1 October. Leave it/them at the library, in a sealed envelope addressed to the Secretary QFHS Inc., or email to secretary@qfhs.org.au
The nominations are considered by previous awardees as designated by QFHS Management Committee and who form an ad hoc committee for the purpose each year.

7. Apprenticeship Offered

QFHS Inc. invites interested members to enquire about learning to catalogue our ever-increasing number of CDs.  Due to the influx of digital technology resources being made available to members, our CD Cataloguer Dawn Montgomery is now in need of an assistant or even two.  In August alone we had another 100 CDs arrive; on top of some hundreds still 'in the pipeline'!

Tasks include photocopying, listing, exploring the CDs to see what they really contain (not always what it says on the label). Some knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel would be an advantage.  You will also need to be able to visit the QFHS Library periodically to complete the tasks.

Interested?  Please contact Dawn on 3822 6569 or at dawnem22@hotmail.com.  Thank you.

8. Collection Development Policy

The Management Committee has devised a Collection Development Policy which is intended to guide the management and development of the Society's resources collection. The Policy outlines why, what, where, how, and when the Society collects, and how and why items may be de-accessioned and disposed of.

The policy is now in draft form. The Management Committee invites Society members to comment on the Policy. If you wish to read and comment on the draft policy please email president@qfhs.org.au and a copy will be sent to you. The closing date for comments is 14 September 2011.

9. Library Assistants' Meetings

The next round of Library Assistants' Meeting will take place on Friday, 23 September 2011, and Saturday, 1 October 2011 at QFHS Library and Resource Centre. All Library Assistants are welcome to attend to meet other LAs and members of the committee, and learn more about the Library functions. Sign-on sheets will be available in the yellow folder on the Library Assistants' desk.

10. QFHS inc. Family History (Writing) Award 2011

The Society invites entries for this Award which will be presented to the person or persons producing the best history of a Queensland family, published in book form within the last five years. It must be the story of a family, not of an individual. The Award is open to the general public as well as to members of the Society.

Entry forms are available from:
 Entries close on 30 November, 2011.

11. Christmas Hamper

Each year, the Society makes a donation to the Salvation Army for their Christmas Appeal. In early October, the Library Co-ordinating Group will commence the drive in the Reception Area at the Library.  Non-perishable goods are welcome. Many thanks for your help.

12. 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

13. Queensland State Archives Indexes

The Queensland State Archives continues to index their holdings and then publish those indexes online. Each index is published in pdf format and contains lists of people's names in alphabetical order and QSA references. Copies of the individual entries can be ordered online. Indexes are grouped into the following categories: immigration, indigenous, lands, probate and other. The 'other' category includes hospital and health records, divorces, inquests, naturalisations, teachers, prisoners and civil servants indexes.

Enjoy searching at: http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/research/indexes.asp

14. Queensland State Archives 2011 Seminars

Tuesday 13 September - Getting Started
Do you want to start research at Queensland State Archives, but don't know where to begin? Then come along to our '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 afternoon tea and a short tour.

Tuesday 11 October - ArchivesSearch
Learn how to use Queensland State Archives' online catalogue ArchivesSearch at an introductory seminar on Tuesday, 11 October from 10 am.

For more information on the seminars, go to: http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/events_2011.asp#September

Queensland State Archives is located at 435 Compton Road, Runcorn Queensland. To book your spot, call (07) 3131 7777.

15. Images from the British Royals

Queensland State Archives has launched a Flickr account to highlight significant images from its collection. The first selection of images is from visits to Queensland by members of the British royal family, which form the basis of the exhibition, The British Royals: a Queensland story.

This exhibition is on display at Queensland State Archives, 435 Compton Road, Runcorn, and the collection of Flickr images is available online at http://www.flickr.com/photos/queenslandstatearchives/.

16. 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.

17. Local History Talk: Brisbane - Weird or Wonderful, or Both?

Historian Helen Gregory will peel back the layers of history and human experience which make up our home town. Helen's latest publication, "Building Brisbane's History: structures, sculptures, stories and secrets" uncovers our fascinating past.

The Talk will be held on Saturday, 10 September from 10:30am - 12 Noon at Brisbane Square  Library, 266 George Street, Brisbane.

Book your free seat on (07) 3403 8888.

18. Caloundra Family History Research Inc.

Caloundra Family History Research held its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 18 August and a new Committee was welcomed for the forthcoming year. The meeting welcomed Mr Norm Bourguignon who presented Caloundra Family History with a copy of his late wife Gaylene's book "When River was Roadway".

Later in the proceedings, the inaugural Lorrie Barzdo Writers Award was presented to Geoff Kelly, for his article "The Elusive William Kelly".  This annual award encourages members to write an article for posterity; in keeping with their family history research and findings.

At the next general meeting, on 15 September, Mr Les McFadzen, the immediate past president of History Queensland, will give a talk on The History of Migration in Australia.  As with all general meetings, members and visitors are welcome.

All activities conducted by the group, are held at the Girl Guide Hut in Arthur Street, Caloundra.  General meetings are held on the third Thursday each month from 1:30pm to 4pm.

Enquiries for all events, including meetings, research and specialist groups are welcomed by contacting Valerie on (07) 5437 3879 or Roz on (07) 5493 1197.

The group can also be contacted by email at caloundrafamilyres@y7mail.com

You can also visit their website at: http://www.cirruscomms.com.au/~cfhri/Index.htm

19. 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

20. Brookside Celebrates its 40th Birthday in September

Enoggera and Districts Historical Society Inc. have been requested to provide a month long photographic and memorabilia display that will show pre-Brookside, Mitchelton and surrounds, the construction, opening and forty year progress of the Centre. The display will operate from 10am until 4pm and some late night shopping nights. They are asking for assistance from anybody with an interest to volunteer their time for two hour shifts working in pairs.

If you would like to assist, please phone David Livett on (07) 3366 3191.

21. Identity Theft and Family History Research - What You Should Know

The Management Committee has arranged with the Queensland Police Service to speak to members about identity theft when researching family history. To assist us to be more aware of the dangers, Officer Rod Shelton from the Fraud Squad has agreed to speak to members at 1pm on Saturday, 12 November 2011. As we do not normally hold members' meetings during the day and we need to know numbers it will be necessary to register your interest either by email secretary@qfhs.org.au or by adding your name to the booking sheet on the reception counter at the QFHS library.

22. 2011 Janet Reakes Memorial Award - cancelled

The 2011 Janet Reakes Award has been cancelled. For more details, go to: http://www.janetreakesgenealogy.com/MemorialAward/Closed.htm

23. Nambour Chronicle Queensland online

Researchers can search the entire paper by keyword or issue date and can download the print directly from the site. The paper was first published on 31 July 1903 and records can be downloaded up to 1955. In order to download full pages from the archives you are required to be a member of the website.

For more information go to: http://www.nambour-chronicle.com/

24. What do You Know About The South Brisbane Library?

One of the postgraduate students at Griffith Film School is hoping to make a short documentary film about the history of this building. Did you work in or frequent the South Brisbane Library before it closed on 17 November 1973? Did you attend one of the many dances and other social events held in the adjoining hall? Did you attend a Debutantes' Ball there? Did you 'come out' at your own Debutantes' Ball there? Did you ever attend a political or other meeting there? Did you ever receive training through the South Brisbane Technical College while it was located underneath the old South Brisbane Library? Have you any internal photos of the ballroom?

If so, please email w.metcalf@griffith.edu.au He would like to hear your story and perhaps include it in the documentary.

25. 4BC Family History 101

Radio station 4BC has started a regular segment, Family History 101, in its Thursday evening program at 9:30pm. The program is hosted by Walter Williams, with Ann Swain from QFHS, and Marg Doherty of Genealogical Society of Queensland, as the expert guests. It loosely covers a research theme with a response to a listener who has called in the previous week with a brick-wall.

Tune in to 1116 am on your radio's dial for an enjoyable half hour.

26. Townsville Virtual Exhibition

Townsville was named after Robert Towns, a pioneer to the Ross River region in the early 1860s. It became a hub of trade, industry and commerce and is now the largest regional city in Queensland outside the state's south-east corner. Townsville is an online exhibition consisting of a collection of photographs, plans and correspondence which highlight aspects of the history of the region.

You can look at the photographs at: http://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/Exhibition/ExhibitionDetails.aspx?ExhibitionId=27

27. thegenealogist.co.uk Adds New Australian Convict Records

TheGenealogist.co.uk has now added a large collection of new Australian records to the Diamond Premium subscription. Resources currently available to Diamond subscribers include Post Office, Telephone and Trade Directories, Convict Transportation Registers, Electoral Records and Almanacs.

The new records add convict lists, census, general musters, ledger returns and the First Fleet, which established the first European Colony in Australia. The new records added list male and female convicts and former convicts in the colonies, with details of their sentences, employment, settlement in the country, the land and cattle acquired by them and other information. Also included are lists of pardons granted, convicts embarked for and arriving in New South Wales and general musters, with an early census of settlers and convicts in 1828.

Access to these records is via subscription at: http://thegenealogist.co.uk/

28. Convicts' Private Lives Discovered in Hobart - ABC Audio File

What was life like for our Australian convict ancestors? Researchers have recently discovered a number of personal items under the floor of a solitary confinement cell in Tasmania.

To find out more listen to the audio file from ABC's The World Today program at: http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2011/s3273291.htm

29. New Titles Available in Trove

The titles intended to be made available to the public during the 2011-2012 financial year can be viewed at:  http://www.nla.gov.au/ndp/selected_newspapers/Future_Titles.html. Multiple titles may be processed and made available at any given time. Dates when specific issues will be available cannot be provided.

30. Huguenot Society of Australia Inc - Research Interests of Members

As we are now a member of The Huguenot Society of Australia Inc., they have kindly given us a list of research interests of members who were happy to have their details made available to other members.

For more information please contact Bev Bonning at: kosan@optusnet.com.au

31. New Zealand Papers Online

Papers Past contains more than two million pages of digitised New Zealand newspapers and periodicals. The collection covers the years 1839 to 1945 and includes 68 publications from all regions of New Zealand. You can browse by date, region or title.

Check it out at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/

32. New Zealanders Marrying in Australia 1892-1894

Have you lost someone somewhere and are not sure where to look? As human beings, we seem to follow patterns of movement and migration; following an economic path - think of the gold trails within New Zealand and the mining boom in Australia, or simply falling in love and not going on further. This site indexes New Zealanders marrying in Victoria, Australia from 1892 - 1894.

Check it out at:  http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~babznz/straysvic7.html

33. The National Archives of the UK Launches New Library Catalogue

The National Archives of the United Kingdom has replaced its library catalogue of published works with a new open-source system called Koha. Named after a Maori custom that can be translated as gift or donation, Koha is software that is freely available for download from the internet.

While the standard search function remains, there are also a number of new features that will benefit users, including an RSS feed to a monthly new books lists, images of book covers pulled through from Google Books, and access to bibliographies on specialist subjects created by records specialists at The National Archives.

You can read more on The National Archives web site at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/603.htm

34. U.K. National Archives Releases Digitised Microfilms Online

The National Archives in London has recently made available a number of microfilmed records online. Using the online versions is very similar to using the same microfilms in person at any library that has a copy: you "crank" through the microfilms one image at a time.

The microfilms have not yet been indexed, so the only method of finding information on them is to manually search each image. In other words, using the microfilms online is the same as using them in a microfilm reader except that you don't have to go to a library or archive to use the films and the readers. You can stay at home and perform the same searches.

The digital images produce very large pages and some files can be up to 800 pages long; so a fast internet connection is essential, as is a lot of hard drive space if you intend to save any images. If you have enough disk space and enough time, you can save entire reels of microfilm, all at no charge.

Details of the online archive releases can be found at: http://bit.ly/r0LKfg

35. 4th Century Gough Map of Britain is Now Online

The oldest surviving map of the British Isles has been digitally captured and turned into a Google Maps-style online resource. The 14th century Gough map is internationally-renowned as one of the earliest maps to show Britain in a geographically-recognizable form. Yet to date, questions remain of how the map was made, who made it, when and why.

This website presents an interactive, searchable edition of the Gough Map, together with contextual material, a blog, and information about the project and the Language of Maps colloquium.

Named after topographer Richard Gough - who bought it in 1774 for half-a-crown (121/2p) and bequeathed it to the Bodleian Library - the map is drawn in pen, ink and coloured washes on two skins of vellum and measures almost 4ft long by 2ft wide. Throughout, towns are shown in some detail, the lettering for London and York coloured gold, while other principal medieval settlements such as Bristol, Chester, Gloucester, Lincoln, Norwich, Salisbury and Winchester are lavishly illustrated.

You'll find the map at: http://www.goughmap.org/

36. U.K. Railway Employment Records, 1833 - 1963

Ancestry has added a new online database: UK Railway Employment Records, 1833 - 1963. This database includes indexed images of employment-related records from a number of historic railway companies in England, Scotland, and Wales. Most records are prior to 1949, though some date later. The most common record type in the database is a staff register. Others include station transfers, pension and accident records (which can include death date), apprentice records (which can include father's name), caution books, and memos.

Access is via subscription. You can find the U.K. Railway Employment Records, 1833 - 1963 at: Ancestry.com: http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1728  and Ancestry.co.uk: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1728

For more details about the release, go to: http://bit.ly/p3jBQh

37. Resources for Liverpool, England

For readers with connections to Liverpool, England a new museum opened on 19 July. The key collections and research of the museum are archaeology, King's Regiment, land transport and the Merseyside Archaeological Service. If you are planning a trip to Liverpool, you may find this information of interest and can read more about it on their website at:  http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/

Another new Liverpool resource is an online catalogue which details the Liverpool Local Studies Collection held by the Liverpool Record office at the Central Library in William Brown Street, Liverpool. It also contains reading guides that identify the most important books about Liverpool history and explain how to approach research on a range of topics.

The catalogue can be found at: http://www.liverpoolinprint.org.uk/

38. Canterbury Closures

The Canterbury LDS Family History Centre is closed from the end of August for 8 to 12 months to undergo refurbishment. Canterbury Cathedral Archives & Library will be closed to the public from 5 to 16 September 2011 inclusive. The closure is necessary for them to undertake vital work on the collections. It will also close again on 31 January 2012 for approximately 7 months to carry out essential repairs.

The Centre for Kentish Studies will be closed from 29 August to 3 September inclusive to prepare collections for the move in 2012.

39. Searching Your Irish Roots Online

With over 70 million people around the world claiming Irish ancestry, there's a chance that you have some Irish roots. Why not take look? Your Irish roots are only a click away. This site contains a list of online genealogy sites that will help you connect with your Irish roots.

You can find this useful list at: http://bit.ly/nTY8ow

40. Austrian Genealogy Research

The Researcher looking for information on their Austrian ancestors can now find a wealth of information online. Following are a few important links to Austrian online data now found at FamilySearch.org:
The links cover births, baptisms, marriages, burials, Catholic Church records, Seignorial records, population cards and Lutheran  Church records.

Details on the records available can be found in an article at: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=13125

41. Genlias: Netherlands Civil Register

Civil registration of births, deaths and marriages commenced in 1811 in the Netherlands. A new online database called Genlias is now available which allows you to search many of the records online for free.

The database is still a work in progress, but already contains 15 million of the civil registration records currently in the public domain (births to 1903; marriages to 1933; and deaths to 1953). In some instances, parish records pre-dating 1811 and statements of succession have been included.

You'll find the database at: http://www.genlias.nl/en/page0.jsp

42. Texas Drought Unearths Long-Lost Slave Cemetery

One of the worst droughts in Texas history is helping archaeologists unearth a small piece of American history, a graveyard for freed slaves. Cemeteries were marked and moved before the Richland Chambers Reservoir in Navarro County, Texas, was filled in the 1980s, but this small cemetery without tombstones was overlooked. Apparently, the cemetery was not moved and was flooded when the when the reservoir was created in the 1980s. The drought has lowered water levels and the cemetery is now uncovered. The cemetery is believed to contain remains of freed slaves from the Civil War era or a few years later.

You can read more in an article and watch a video at: http://abcn.ws/qlBCTV

43. Laser Scan Study of a Cemetery

A Catholic cemetery in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has been undergoing intense scrutiny from landscape specialists using sophisticated probes and devices in the first survey of its kind in an area Catholic cemetery. Like a patient having a computed tomography scan, the Allison Hill cemetery is being analysed inside and out by officials of the Historic American Landscapes Survey, National Park Service of Washington, D.C., and Land Logistics Group of Camp Hill. The goal of the cooperative project is to develop a digital inventory of the cemetery.

You can read more about this interesting project at: http://bit.ly/qAF3bI

44. Oregon Historic Newspapers

The University of Oregon has posted 180,000 digitised pages from 30 Oregon newspapers at their new Historic Oregon Newspapers website.

For details of the newspapers online, go to: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=13175

The digitised images are available at: http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/

45. Oakland County (Michigan) Online Databases

An index of the 1884, 1890, and 1894 tax assessment rolls for Orion Brandon Township, Oakland County, Michigan is available at: http://www.ocgsmi.org/

The index and images are also available at: http://www.OaklandCountyHistory.org/

46. Oklahoma State Tourism Web Site Launches New Genealogy Tool

Does your family have a connection to Oklahoma? The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department has launched a new feature on its website, which assists visitors seeking to connect with their familial ancestry. Home to 39 federally recognised Indian tribes and countless waves of pioneer settlers, Oklahoma holds the keys to unlocking many family histories. The new genealogy section is a user-friendly tool that guides visitors through a wealth of ancestral research destinations and resources throughout Oklahoma.

Searches on the site are broken down by county with quick links and information available on research libraries that contain copies of the Dawes Rolls, as well as county courthouses that house original land patents dating back to the land run. It also directs visitors to genealogical and historical societies, cemeteries, ghost towns and historical school houses, as well as tourism destinations in each county.

You can find the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department's new genealogy web site at http://www.TravelOK.com/genealogy

47. Tracing Native American Ancestry

The U.S. Department of the Interior has a webpage dedicated to offering helpful tips and information on tracing Native American ancestry. The Trace Indian Ancestry page has seven subsections including Ancestry, Genealogical Research, Enrollment Process, Benefits & Services Provided to American Indians and Alaska Natives, Cherokee Indian Ancestry, Dawes Rolls and Contacting a Tribal Entity - The BIA Tribal Leaders Directory.

You can read more in the Indian Country web site at: http://www.doi.gov/tribes/trace-ancestry.cfm

48. Experts Worry That the Family Photo Album is Being Lost to Technology

In 2006, Fujifilm looked at the photography landscape and came to a startling conclusion. That year some 25 billion images were captured, and most of them were printed. Analyzing trends, the company estimated that by 2009, 135 billion images would be captured, but only a fraction would be printed.

It's a problem that has historians and archivists worried that the late 20th and early 21st century - arguably the most photographed period in history - could be the least permanently documented since George Eastman first introduced his "box camera" to the world.

You can read more at: http://bit.ly/p1CC1c

49. Carrying on the Family Tradition: Executioner

German writer Oliver Pötzsch grew up in Bavaria, listening to stories about his family's legacy. Except his was no ordinary family. Pötzsch descends from the Kuisls, a well-known line of Bavarian executioners who beheaded prisoners by sword. A cousin of Pötzsch's grandmother was a genealogist who studied and documented the family's historical roots: There were 14 hangmen in the family spanning the 16th to 19th centuries, each inheriting the profession from his father. Each had to undergo a rigorous training that culminated in the executioner's having to produce a "masterpiece" beheading in order to receive proper certification.

Oliver Pötzsch did not follow the family tradition, at least not directly. He became an author and wrote a best-selling novel, "The Hangman's Daughter," a historical thriller about a 17th century Bavarian hangman and his daughter, who are both on the hunt to find a killer.

You can read more at: http://on.wsj.com/o5oWGq

50. Controversy: How to Read Unreadable Tombstones

This YouTube video shows a quick and easy way to read and photograph grave markers that are worn or have become discoloured. In years past, genealogists have used a variety of materials to improve legibility of tombstones, from shaving cream to chalk and a variety of other materials. However, most of those methods reportedly damage the stone to some extent. Many of the materials are abrasive and also may leave chemicals behind that cause long-term damage. The maker of the video claims the use of flour creates no damage.

Not everyone agrees. Some so-called "experts" will tell you that flour is harmful because it can penetrate into small pores of the stone, and, when wet, the flour will swell and can cause flaking of the stone. Some also claim that flour contains yeast, which encourages the growth of lichens and micro-organisms that can then live and grow in the stone, causing expansion and cracking.

You can watch the "flour video" at http://youtu.be/WVBMNVqGhck

51. World's Oldest Person Celebrates 115th Birthday

A birthday party is planned at a north Georgia nursing home for Besse Cooper, who's listed as the world's oldest person. She will celebrate her 115th birthday. Family members and a researcher from the Guinness Book of World Records will attend the ceremony.

You can read more in an article at: http://www.ajc.com/news/oldest-human-on-earth-1141959.html

52. September Silliness

I'm a genealogist with faded "genes", full of holes!        
I'm always late. My ancestors must have arrived on the Juneflower.
I'm lost in a forest of Family Trees!!!
I'm not crazy, but I may have lost my census!
I'm not sick, I've just got fading genes
I'm not stuck, I'm ancestrally challenged
I'm searching for myself... Have you seen me?
I'm stuck in my family tree and I can't get down!
In my family tree, all my old roots are underground.
Insanity is hereditary - you get it from your children.
Insanity runs in my family; it practically gallops.
Is there a cure out there for genealogyitis?
Is there life after Genealogy?
Isn't genealogy fun? The answer to one problem leads to two more!
It appears as if my ancestors had several bad heir days.
It is hereditary in my family not to have children
It's a jungle out there...and unfortunately, my family tree is in it!
It's easier to get older than it is to get wiser.
It's hard to believe that someday I'll be an ancestor
It's only a hobby ... only a hobby ... only a hobby ... only

53. 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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