Transcripts of these notorious trials, which resulted in the hangings of nineteen "witches" and the pressing to death with heavy stones of a man who refused to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty to witchcraft charges. Also includes biographical sketches of witch trial participants, images, maps, and other items of interest:
LINK
Note No. 1: By the way, American colonial witches were hanged and not burned because they were tried by civil authorities and punished in accord with civil statutes. European witches were generally tried by ecclesiastical tribunals, and were burned after having been adjudged heretics.
Note No. 2: If you had been a "real" witch, would you have stayed around long enough to be hanged or burned at the stake, or would you have used your "witchly powers" to get the heck out of that dire situation?
Saturday, August 29, 2009
MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE AND THE ACLU
Interesting NPS history of this California national preserve, including a lengthy discussion of the controversy surrounding a veterans’ memorial that may or may not incorporate religious symbolism:
LINK
Note: There's also a discussion about the "Phone Booth in the Middle of Nowhere," which in a roundabout way became a shrine of sorts.
LINK
Note: There's also a discussion about the "Phone Booth in the Middle of Nowhere," which in a roundabout way became a shrine of sorts.
Friday, August 28, 2009
YOUR LIFE, YOUR CHOICE
The controversy swirling around a VA booklet intended to help vets make decisions about medical care they wish to receive (or decline) in case of catastrophic injury or illness:
LINK
LINK
MISSOURI VETERAN STORIES
Stories in video format, told by the men and women who lived them. You will of course find narratives by soldiers and airmen who endured hardships in war-torn Europe, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, but you will also find stories by soldiers who served their country during the 1960s in "hell-holes" like Hawaii and Athens, Greece:
LINK
LINK
Thursday, August 27, 2009
YES, GODMOTHER
If you annoy one of these Italian godmothers, you may find yourself sleeping with the fishes:
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=64394
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=64394
PERSPECTIVES IN MILITARY HISTORY LECTURE SERIES
Free series of video lectures on U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center website. There are buttons for either playing or downloading the lectures. I had trouble getting the download buttons to work properly, but had no trouble playing the videos. Lectures can be an hour in length or more, so dial-up users may wish to avoid:
LINK
Examples: The Devil's Own Work: The Civil War Draft Riots and the Fight to Reconstruct America. Barnet Schecter, Historian.
Across the Elbe River with the Thunderbolt Division. Tony Vaccaro, WWII Veteran.
Tuskegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Group. Alexander Jefferson, WWII Veteran.
We are Soldiers Still: a Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam. Joseph L. Galloway, Independent Scholar.
LINK
Examples: The Devil's Own Work: The Civil War Draft Riots and the Fight to Reconstruct America. Barnet Schecter, Historian.
Across the Elbe River with the Thunderbolt Division. Tony Vaccaro, WWII Veteran.
Tuskegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Group. Alexander Jefferson, WWII Veteran.
We are Soldiers Still: a Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam. Joseph L. Galloway, Independent Scholar.
WORLD WAR I ONLINE EXHIBIT
A look at the World War I exhibit recently held at the U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center in Pennsylvania. Includes a video reminiscence of Frank Buckles, last surviving U.S. WWI veteran:
http://www.carlisle.army.mil/AHEC/AHM/WWI.cfm
Note: Click “Exhibitions” for a look at their “World War II: Entering Germany” exhibit.
http://www.carlisle.army.mil/AHEC/AHM/WWI.cfm
Note: Click “Exhibitions” for a look at their “World War II: Entering Germany” exhibit.
RAILS TO OBLIVION
You can go here to see two very interesting reports on the topic of Civil War railroads:
http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/gabel4/gabel4.asp
http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/gabel6.pdf
Note: Why the “Rails to Oblivion” post title? Because the lack of an efficient system of railroads is one of the six main reasons why the South lost the Civil War:
1. Weak federal government.
2. Lack of manufacturing capacity.
3. Inefficient railroads.
4. Tiny navy / little shipbuilding / ship repair capacity.
5. Unable to arm the largest Southern pool of potential soldiers:
male slaves ages 18-50 years old.
6. Poor coordination of the efforts of Southern armies.
http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/gabel4/gabel4.asp
http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/gabel6.pdf
Note: Why the “Rails to Oblivion” post title? Because the lack of an efficient system of railroads is one of the six main reasons why the South lost the Civil War:
1. Weak federal government.
2. Lack of manufacturing capacity.
3. Inefficient railroads.
4. Tiny navy / little shipbuilding / ship repair capacity.
5. Unable to arm the largest Southern pool of potential soldiers:
male slaves ages 18-50 years old.
6. Poor coordination of the efforts of Southern armies.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
PALMETTO STATE IN THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR
An observance and remembrance of the part played in the Mexican-American War by soldiers from South Carolina:
LINK
LINK
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE...
Dick Eastman’s amusing post on what people were saying in 1959 (and are still saying, albeit in slightly different fashion, today):
LINK
LINK
IN PAPER WE TRUST
But should we? Dick Eastman says that trust in the longevity of copies that you make on a photocopier or laser printer is misplaced:
LINK
LINK
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
FREE PHOTOS
Need free photos for a website or blog? This article suggests 12 great sources of (mostly) cost-free, copyright-free photos:
LINK
LINK
CLEANING YOUR CLUTTERED COMPUTER
Every new computer includes several programs / trial programs that you will never use. These programs just take up disk space and possibly slow down your operating system. The situation is pretty much the same on older computers, too-- there are also programs you installed at some point but never use that should be removed. Kim Komando has some tips on how to clean up your cluttered computer safely and efficiently:
LINK
LINK
GOOGLE PATENTS
Saturday, August 22, 2009
FEMALE INVENTORS & PATENT HOLDERS
New finding aid from the Library of Congress:
LINK
Note: Did you know that actress Hedy Lamarr played a part in the invention of the cell phone?
LINK
Note: Did you know that actress Hedy Lamarr played a part in the invention of the cell phone?
IDEAS STORAGE ZONE
“Try to imagine how it would be if ideas were real, visible things. Imagine if every time you had a thought, it popped out of your head and fell on the floor. Now imagine this idea springing off to join lots of other ideas, throwing itself on top of a pile, a mountain of glowing, struggling, excitable, diverse ideas. Imagine if the mountain were made up of not thousands or millions of ideas, but billions.”
LINK
LINK
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR ONLINE LIFE WHEN YOU’RE DEAD
You’ll have to wait to find out what Heaven is really like (please, no harps), but rest assured that you are going to survive death-- on the Internet:
LINK
LINK
GRANT ON JACKSON
BONES OF CONTENTION
They’re the bones of some Japanese soldiers and civilians who died during the Battle of Saipan on the island of Okinawa. A U.S. Navy doctor took the bones home, and later donated them to the University of California at Berkeley. Now Japanese survivors of the battle are demanding that the bones be returned for proper burial on Okinawa or on the Japanese mainland:
LINK
Note: Interestingly, one Okinawa resident interviewed for the story notes that many bones of victims of the battle “still remain uncollected on the island.” I have to ask, therefore: if giving battle victims proper burials is such a priority, why not start with unburied bones on Okinawa that are still awaiting burial 64 years after the battle?
LINK
Note: Interestingly, one Okinawa resident interviewed for the story notes that many bones of victims of the battle “still remain uncollected on the island.” I have to ask, therefore: if giving battle victims proper burials is such a priority, why not start with unburied bones on Okinawa that are still awaiting burial 64 years after the battle?
BREAD AND PUPPETS MUSEUM
If creepy giant puppets are your thing, you won’t want to miss the Bread and Puppets Museum in Glover, Vermont:
LINK
Note 1: If your family includes young children (or young-at-heart adults who are not creepy giant puppet fans), you may want to skip this museum…
Note 2: OK, it’s not a Missouri museum, but how many times do you think I will be able to run a post about creepy giant puppets?
LINK
Note 1: If your family includes young children (or young-at-heart adults who are not creepy giant puppet fans), you may want to skip this museum…
Note 2: OK, it’s not a Missouri museum, but how many times do you think I will be able to run a post about creepy giant puppets?
Friday, August 21, 2009
ARMY AIR CORPS ORAL HISTORIES COLLECTION
Ball State University Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections is now home to an excellent online oral history resource. In 2007, more than forty veterans were interviewed at a reunion of the 376th Heavy Bombardment Group, Inc. Veterans Association. Attached to the 15th Air Force and based in North Africa and later in southern Italy, this bomb group flew 451 missions during World War II. Among the key targets bombed by the 376th were Ploesti, Vienna, and the Brenner Pass. Pilots, co-pilots, navigators, bombardiers, flight engineers, gunners, and grounds crewmen of the 376th's four squadrons -- 312th, 313th, 314th, and 315th -- are represented in this collection. These resulting videotaped interviews are web streamed on Ball State’s Digital Media Repository at:
http://libx.bsu.edu/collection.php?CISOROOT=/376OrHis
These oral history interviews using the latest technology are excellent sources for scholarly research and student projects. Other historical materials and personal papers relating to the 376th HBG, World War II, and military history are also available at Ball State’s Archives and Special Collections at:
http://www.bsu.edu/libraries/archives/areas.html
Dr. David J. Ulbrich organized this project through Ball State University with generous financial and administrative support from the 376th HBG Veterans Association and from Ball State's History Department, Military Science Department, University Teleplex, and Archives and Special Collections.
For more information, please contact:
John Straw
Assistant Dean for Digital Initiatives and Special Collections
Ball State University Libraries
Alexander M. Bracken Library
Muncie, IN 47306
jstraw@bsu.edu
or
David J. Ulbrich, Ph.D.
ulbrichdj@aol.com
http://libx.bsu.edu/collection.php?CISOROOT=/376OrHis
These oral history interviews using the latest technology are excellent sources for scholarly research and student projects. Other historical materials and personal papers relating to the 376th HBG, World War II, and military history are also available at Ball State’s Archives and Special Collections at:
http://www.bsu.edu/libraries/archives/areas.html
Dr. David J. Ulbrich organized this project through Ball State University with generous financial and administrative support from the 376th HBG Veterans Association and from Ball State's History Department, Military Science Department, University Teleplex, and Archives and Special Collections.
For more information, please contact:
John Straw
Assistant Dean for Digital Initiatives and Special Collections
Ball State University Libraries
Alexander M. Bracken Library
Muncie, IN 47306
jstraw@bsu.edu
or
David J. Ulbrich, Ph.D.
ulbrichdj@aol.com
IN COUNTRY IS NOW "IN"
It had to happen-- some reenacting groups have chosen the Vietnam War as their conflict du jour:
LINK
Note: Seems they think it's high time somebody acknowledged the service and sacrifice of our Vietnam vets!
LINK
Note: Seems they think it's high time somebody acknowledged the service and sacrifice of our Vietnam vets!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
NEWS FROM TRI-COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
Hello:
The Tri-County Genealogical Society's July 2009 Newsletter has been posted online at www.rootsweb.com/~motcogs/
We hope you will take advantage of our research trip to Midwest Genealogy Center on Sep. 21.
Regards,
Nancy Thompson
Tri-County Genealogical Society
218 W. Walnut St., Nevada, MO 64772
web: www.rootsweb.com/~motcogs/
email: tricountygenealogy@centurytel.net
The Tri-County Genealogical Society's July 2009 Newsletter has been posted online at www.rootsweb.com/~motcogs/
We hope you will take advantage of our research trip to Midwest Genealogy Center on Sep. 21.
Regards,
Nancy Thompson
Tri-County Genealogical Society
218 W. Walnut St., Nevada, MO 64772
web: www.rootsweb.com/~motcogs/
email: tricountygenealogy@centurytel.net
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
PAGING DR. ROBOT
The doctor treating your relative wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan may actually be thousands of miles from the battlefield:
LINK
LINK
BRITISH CRIMINAL RECORDS GO ONLINE
Ancestry.com (UK) is now hosting the records of more than 1.4 million 18th and 19th criminal proceedings. The records include 10,300 executions and 97,000 transportations to America or Australia:
LINK
LINK
MEDIEVAL REALMS
“Illuminated manuscripts, charters, chronicles, letters, eyewitness accounts, Bibles, maps and many other written documents are the survivors of the Middle Ages, shedding light on both the great events of the period and the everyday life of ordinary people.
In this web resource you will be able to take a closer look at details from a number of medieval manuscripts, and find out more about the lives of men and women as revealed by exciting original sources in the British Library.”
LINK
In this web resource you will be able to take a closer look at details from a number of medieval manuscripts, and find out more about the lives of men and women as revealed by exciting original sources in the British Library.”
LINK
WINK
Wink is a free program you can use to create tutorials on how to use software. If you are called on frequently to explain certain types of software to patrons at your genealogical society, library, or archives, you may well be able to find good uses for Wink.
From their website: “Wink is a Tutorial and Presentation creation software, primarily aimed at creating tutorials on how to use software (like a tutor for MS-Word/Excel etc). Using Wink you can capture screenshots, add explanations boxes, buttons, titles etc and generate a highly effective tutorial for your users.”
LINK
From their website: “Wink is a Tutorial and Presentation creation software, primarily aimed at creating tutorials on how to use software (like a tutor for MS-Word/Excel etc). Using Wink you can capture screenshots, add explanations boxes, buttons, titles etc and generate a highly effective tutorial for your users.”
LINK
Saturday, August 15, 2009
ALAS, BABYLON
Ancient cultures fascinate me, so I was attracted to this site on ancient Babylon the way a bee is attracted to a flower:
LINK
Note: Site includes a number of fascinating videos.
LINK
Note: Site includes a number of fascinating videos.
BURST INTO BLOGGING
It’s quite possible that what you (or your society) really need isn’t a traditional website-- you may be much better off starting a blog. Blogging doesn’t require any knowledge of HTML-- if you can use WORD or a similar word-processing program, you can blog! Even better, you can do it for free- absolutely no strings attached! Go here for a great guide to starting and running a free blog:
LINK
LINK
CREATING A FREE WEB SITE
It’s not a thinly veiled ad for an overpriced pay hosting service-- it really is a helpful guide to creating and hosting your own free website:
LINK
Note: The author freely admits that he’s really talking about fairly uncomplicated personal websites. Most businesses really do need a pay website-- but his advice will probably prove useful for businesspeople, too!
LINK
Note: The author freely admits that he’s really talking about fairly uncomplicated personal websites. Most businesses really do need a pay website-- but his advice will probably prove useful for businesspeople, too!
STAYING SAFE ON SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
Want to take advantage of the genealogical potential of sites like Facebook, but don’t want to make yourself a patsy for identity thieves? Read these tips on staying safe while socializing online:
LINK
LINK
Friday, August 14, 2009
LOOK ALIVE, YE LUBBERS— IT BE PIRATES WE’RE AFTER…
Now that the U.S. is leading the anti-pirate armada that’s cruising the waters off Africa’s Pirate Coast:
LINK
LINK
NETVIBES.COM
Create a web start page that just lists web sites of interest to you, including email, blogs, social networking sites, video and photo sites, news and weather info, and other sites that you use again and again:
LINK
LINK
Thursday, August 13, 2009
ANOTHER UNKNOWN SOLDIER
Remains of a Union soldier have been found in a shallow grave on the Franklin (TN) battlefield. A bullet found in the grave leads researchers to conclude that the cause of death was likely a gunshot wound, but the excavation process damaged the remains enough that they were unable to fix cause of death conclusively. A funeral and reburial on October 10th is planned in Franklin; the remains will lie in state from October 8-10; re-enactors (Union and Confederate) are welcome to participate on the 10th in the march of a horse-drawn caisson from the church to the cemetery:
LINK No. 1
LINK No. 2
LINK No. 1
LINK No. 2
UK COAL MINING DISASTERS
If you need info about UK coal mining disasters (including lists of victims), or if you are just curious about the UK coal mining industry, you should visit the Coal Mining Resource Centre:
LINK
LINK
FAMILY HISTORY MONTH CLASSES
Celebrate Family History Month!
Attend the Lecture Series sponsored by the
Belleville Public Library, St. Louis Public Library, and St. Clair County (IL) Genealogical Society
Lecture 1: Friday, October 9th, 2009, 1:00 p.m.
Figuring Out Other Options to Get What you Want
Pat Stamm, CG, CGL, will provide ideas and strategies about what to do when you hit those “brick walls” while doing genealogy research.
Lecture 2: Thursday, October 15th, 2009, 2:00 p.m.
Land Rich, Dirt Poor: the Use of Land Records in Genealogical Research
Tom Pearson, Special Collections Librarian at the St. Louis Public Library, will discuss ways in which the genealogist and historian can make use of land records.
Lecture 3: Wednesday, October 21st, 2009, 6:30 p.m.
It Happened at the River Bend
John Dunphy, local author, will give a brief talk and book signing for his latest local history book, It Happened at the River Bend, which details the history from 1673 to the present of the segment of the Mighty Mississippi known as the River Bend.
All Lectures to be held at:
Belleville Public Library
Conference Room (Lower Level)
121 East Washington Street,
Belleville, Illinois
(Elevator Access)
Attendance Is Free But You Must Pre-Register As Seating Is Limited
To Register:
Please Call the Belleville Public Library
(618) 234-0441 ext. 22
Ask for Ms. Dana Prusacki, Archivist
email: dana.prusacki@bellevillepubliclibrary.org
Attend the Lecture Series sponsored by the
Belleville Public Library, St. Louis Public Library, and St. Clair County (IL) Genealogical Society
Lecture 1: Friday, October 9th, 2009, 1:00 p.m.
Figuring Out Other Options to Get What you Want
Pat Stamm, CG, CGL, will provide ideas and strategies about what to do when you hit those “brick walls” while doing genealogy research.
Lecture 2: Thursday, October 15th, 2009, 2:00 p.m.
Land Rich, Dirt Poor: the Use of Land Records in Genealogical Research
Tom Pearson, Special Collections Librarian at the St. Louis Public Library, will discuss ways in which the genealogist and historian can make use of land records.
Lecture 3: Wednesday, October 21st, 2009, 6:30 p.m.
It Happened at the River Bend
John Dunphy, local author, will give a brief talk and book signing for his latest local history book, It Happened at the River Bend, which details the history from 1673 to the present of the segment of the Mighty Mississippi known as the River Bend.
All Lectures to be held at:
Belleville Public Library
Conference Room (Lower Level)
121 East Washington Street,
Belleville, Illinois
(Elevator Access)
Attendance Is Free But You Must Pre-Register As Seating Is Limited
To Register:
Please Call the Belleville Public Library
(618) 234-0441 ext. 22
Ask for Ms. Dana Prusacki, Archivist
email: dana.prusacki@bellevillepubliclibrary.org
ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY GENEALOGY CLASSES
GENEALOGY & MILITARY HISTORY Programs List
AUGUST-NOVEMBER 2009
Classes are free and open to the public. Please note that program locations vary!
August 13 7:00 p .m.- 9:00 p.m. Dirty Rebs & Damn Yankees: Researching Civil War Soldiers & Regiments. Join us as we discuss ways in which the genealogist and historian can research Illinois & Missouri Civil War soldiers & regiments using books, microfilm, manuscripts, and Internet resources. Edwardsville Public Library, Edwardsville, IL. To register or for more information, call 314-539-0381 or send an email to tpearson@slpl.org.
August 22 10 a.m.-Noon. Stand by Your State: Missouri Militia Units in the Civil War. Join us as we discuss ways to find information on Show-Me State militia ancestors and the state organizations they served in. Central Library, Meeting Room 1. To register or for more information, call 314-539-0381 or send an email to tpearson@slpl.org.
October 15 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Land Rich, Dirt Poor: the Use of Land Records in Genealogical Research. Join us as we discuss ways in which the genealogist and historian can make use of land records. Belleville Public Library, Belleville, IL. To register or for more information, call 314-539-0381 or send an email to tpearson@slpl.org.
October 24 10 a.m.-Noon. Last Hurrah in the Show-Me State: Price's Raid, September- October 1864. Join us as we discuss this last-ditch attempt to capture the St. Louis Arsenal and bring Missouri under the sway of the Confederate States government. Buder Branch. To register or for more information, call 314-539-0381 or send an email to tpearson@slpl.org.
November 14 10 a.m.-Noon. On Beyond Google: Internet Searching Tips & Tricks for the Genealogist. Join us as we discuss various ways that genealogists can search for information about ancestors on the Internet (some of them don't involve using Google). Buder Branch. To register or for more information, call 314-539-0381 or send an email to tpearson@slpl.org .
November 19 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. The Star of David and the Gold Star: Jewish American Military Service and Sacrifice. Sizable numbers of Jewish soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen were killed or wounded in action or died from disease while serving their country. This lecture includes a brief survey of the military service of American Jews from the American Revolution to the Spanish-American War, and then takes a closer look at Jewish service in World Wars I and II. St. Louis County Library. To register or for more information, call 314-539-0381 or send an email to tpearson@slpl.org.
SLPL Locations:
Central Library
1301 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
539-0381
Buder Branch
4401 Hampton Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63109
352-2900
Pre-registration is recommended but not required. To register or for more information, please call 539-0381 or email me at tpearson@slpl.org. Parking at Central Library is free on Saturdays (meters are not checked on weekends), and parking on the Buder Branch lot is always free.
It’s easy to add you to my programs notification list. Just email me at tpearson@slpl.org and use NOTIFY in the subject line- that’s all you need to do!
AUGUST-NOVEMBER 2009
Classes are free and open to the public. Please note that program locations vary!
August 13 7:00 p .m.- 9:00 p.m. Dirty Rebs & Damn Yankees: Researching Civil War Soldiers & Regiments. Join us as we discuss ways in which the genealogist and historian can research Illinois & Missouri Civil War soldiers & regiments using books, microfilm, manuscripts, and Internet resources. Edwardsville Public Library, Edwardsville, IL. To register or for more information, call 314-539-0381 or send an email to tpearson@slpl.org.
August 22 10 a.m.-Noon. Stand by Your State: Missouri Militia Units in the Civil War. Join us as we discuss ways to find information on Show-Me State militia ancestors and the state organizations they served in. Central Library, Meeting Room 1. To register or for more information, call 314-539-0381 or send an email to tpearson@slpl.org.
October 15 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Land Rich, Dirt Poor: the Use of Land Records in Genealogical Research. Join us as we discuss ways in which the genealogist and historian can make use of land records. Belleville Public Library, Belleville, IL. To register or for more information, call 314-539-0381 or send an email to tpearson@slpl.org.
October 24 10 a.m.-Noon. Last Hurrah in the Show-Me State: Price's Raid, September- October 1864. Join us as we discuss this last-ditch attempt to capture the St. Louis Arsenal and bring Missouri under the sway of the Confederate States government. Buder Branch. To register or for more information, call 314-539-0381 or send an email to tpearson@slpl.org.
November 14 10 a.m.-Noon. On Beyond Google: Internet Searching Tips & Tricks for the Genealogist. Join us as we discuss various ways that genealogists can search for information about ancestors on the Internet (some of them don't involve using Google). Buder Branch. To register or for more information, call 314-539-0381 or send an email to tpearson@slpl.org .
November 19 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. The Star of David and the Gold Star: Jewish American Military Service and Sacrifice. Sizable numbers of Jewish soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen were killed or wounded in action or died from disease while serving their country. This lecture includes a brief survey of the military service of American Jews from the American Revolution to the Spanish-American War, and then takes a closer look at Jewish service in World Wars I and II. St. Louis County Library. To register or for more information, call 314-539-0381 or send an email to tpearson@slpl.org.
SLPL Locations:
Central Library
1301 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
539-0381
Buder Branch
4401 Hampton Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63109
352-2900
Pre-registration is recommended but not required. To register or for more information, please call 539-0381 or email me at tpearson@slpl.org. Parking at Central Library is free on Saturdays (meters are not checked on weekends), and parking on the Buder Branch lot is always free.
It’s easy to add you to my programs notification list. Just email me at tpearson@slpl.org and use NOTIFY in the subject line- that’s all you need to do!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
GOOGLE BOOK SEARCH BIBLIOGRAPHY
If you want to know more about Google Book Search, you would be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive starting point than Google Book Search Bibliography:
LINK
LINK
TRENDS FOR LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES, & MUSEUMS
This report (PDF format) suggests that collaboration and cooperation are going to be the name of the game in these times of dwindling resources:
LINK
Note: Some of the ideas could also prove useful for genealogical and historical societies…
LINK
Note: Some of the ideas could also prove useful for genealogical and historical societies…
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
2009 MoSGA AWARD WINNERS
Members of the MoSGA Awards Committee are Mark Stauter, Pat Kroeger, and Karen Scott, Chair. Requests for nominations were sent to 205 genealogy / history organizations and 235 libraries.
Eighteen nominations were received. One was eliminated from consideration because the nominee had already received an award in 2004. Another was dropped from consideration because no supporting information was provided for that nominee.
MoSGA’s awards solicitation announcement read as follows: "The Missouri State Genealogical Association (MoSGA) is asking your assistance in recognizing individuals or institutions in your area who have made significant contributions to the field of genealogy / family history or have rendered significant contributions, effort, or service to MoSGA. MoSGA's Awards Committee is seeking recommendations of individuals or institutions to be considered for an award in one of the two following categories:
1. Award of Merit - Presented to an individual, group, organization or institution in recognition of meritorious service or distinguished work in genealogy and/or family history for which no compensation was received (i.e., on a "volunteer" basis).
2. Certificate of Appreciation - Presented to an individual, group, organization or institution expressing thanks officially for compensated (i.e., "paid") duties performed in an exemplary and outstanding manner."
The Awards Committee also chooses an exceptional nominee, if applicable, to receive the Directors' Award - given in recognition of distinguished service over an extended period of time in support of genealogy, for exceptional contributions to the field, and for extra effort to promote good will and improve service.
Awards were presented to the following persons or organizations at the MoSGA Annual Conference Banquet on Friday, 7 August 2009:
Certificate of Appreciation:
Dennis Northcott, Missouri History Museum (with President Darrell Jackson)
Awards of Merit --Northwest:
William W. (Bill) Williams – Morgan County
Sandra (Sandy) Gadberry – Putnam County (did not attend the ceremony)
Awards of Merit --Northeast:
Mary F. Berthold – St. Louis / County
Dave Lossos – St. Louis / County
Awards of Merit --Southwest:
John Nixon – Christian County (did not attend the ceremony)
Staff of Douglas County Museum – Douglas County (did not attend the ceremony)
Awards of Merit --Southeast:
James Mayo – Stoddard County
Shannon County Historical & Genealogical Society
Directors’ Award:
Frances Moore – Stoddard County
Karen Scott, Chairperson
Thursday, August 06, 2009
FIND HER IN THE HEADLINES
OK, maybe you're more likely to find her on one of the local rag's back pages...
Having trouble tracking down a female ancestor? This article may help you figure out how to locate newspaper articles that mention her:
LINK
Having trouble tracking down a female ancestor? This article may help you figure out how to locate newspaper articles that mention her:
LINK
MUCH ADO ABOUT TWITTER
There's no need to feel bad if you don’t have a clue what Twitter is-- 69% of American adults say they don’t know what it is:
LINK
LINK
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
STATE SALES TAX HOLIDAYS
They’re coming up soon in many states that offer them; this table tells if and when your state is offering one:
LINK
Note: Missouri’s is August 7-9, 2009 (clothing, computers, and school supplies- exempt amounts vary).
LINK
Note: Missouri’s is August 7-9, 2009 (clothing, computers, and school supplies- exempt amounts vary).
SAD NEWS FOR THE LADIES...
Facebook is going to have a few less good men (and fewer female Marines, naturally), because Marines can no longer visit social networking sites while using Corps data networks. This article reviews the decision:
LINK
And here’s the text of the official Corps order banning such use:
LINK
Why the ruling? Concerns about vulnerability to hackers that use of social networking sites may enhance...
LINK
And here’s the text of the official Corps order banning such use:
LINK
Why the ruling? Concerns about vulnerability to hackers that use of social networking sites may enhance...
HOW BIG IS THE INTERNET?
It’s gi-normous, folks, and that’s no exaggeration:
· There are currently 150 web addresses for EVERY PERSON ON EARTH.
· If you were to spend one minute reading each of the websites currently in existence, it would take you 31,000 YEARS to do it- and that’s without getting up from your chair for meals, potty breaks, or sleep… More mind-boggling facts here:
LINK
· There are currently 150 web addresses for EVERY PERSON ON EARTH.
· If you were to spend one minute reading each of the websites currently in existence, it would take you 31,000 YEARS to do it- and that’s without getting up from your chair for meals, potty breaks, or sleep… More mind-boggling facts here:
LINK
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
FGS CONFERENCE 2009
Press Release
For Immediate Release – Time Sensitive
1 August 2009
It’s just one month till family historians convene in Little Rock!
The Federation of Genealogical Societies Annual Conference is set to take place this September 2-5 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Based at the Statehouse Convention Center in the exciting Rivermarket District, this event is drawing genealogists, historians, librarians, and archivists from all over the United States and beyond. You can still join them for four full days of learning more about genealogy, finding cousins, seeing how much is online, seeing how much is not online, figuring out how to get the most out of records, determining what archives or libraries have the answers, helping your genealogy society, and spending some money in the large Exhibit Hall. There will be almost 200 educational sessions. Don’t let this event pass you by.
The Arkansas Genealogical Society is the host for this event that has previously been in Boston, Seattle, Phoenix, Fort Wayne, Davenport, Orlando, Philadelphia, Austin, St. Louis, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Rochester, Cincinnati, Kansas City, and places in-between. You will be hearing about this event for years to come and will feel sad if you weren’t a part of it. It’s a place to meet authors, lecturers, librarians, archivists, and bloggers whose names you will recognize.
Registration Deadline
August 26 is the last day to pre-register for the conference online or by mail. It is also the deadline to reserve your spot at the luncheons, gala banquet, or the special Night at the Ballpark. There may be only a few extra tickets available at the conference registration on Tuesday, September 1st for these events. <http://www.fgsconference.org>
Onsite Registration
Tuesday, September 1st is the first day pre-registrants may visit the FGS/AGS registration booths on the lower level of the Statehouse Convention Center to pick up your name tag, tote bag, CD syllabus of lecture handouts, miscellaneous goodies, 20 door prize tickets, and begin the networking. Not pre-registered? No problem. There will be a line for just that task. You may register for one day or the full conference. Registration opens at 2:00 p.m. and runs until 6:00 p.m. on that day. It reopens at 7:00 a.m. on September 2d.
Exhibit Hall
What will you find in this hall on Thursday-Saturday? Aisle after aisle of booths featuring books old, new, and rare; genealogy software and hardware and demonstrations; preservation supplies; genealogical and historical societies; ethnic organizations; libraries; archives; maps; gifts; genealogy professional organizations; DNA companies; popular magazines; scholarly journals; databases; continuing education opportunities; author book signings; publishers; hotels from Salt Lake City; and places to sit, rest, and network with other registrants. The Hall is also open to non-registrants.
Door prizes
Many of the vendors in the Exhibit Hall will be giving away conference door prizes. Each registrant will receive 20 door prize tickets with your conference name tag and syllabus CD at the registration booth. The ticket will ask for your name, mailing and e-mail addresses and phone number. Bring along some of those address labels you have sitting around or print some up before you leave home to save some writing. Each participating vendor will have a box labeled for door prizes. Each attendee chooses which door prize box to drop their tickets in depending on the door prize being given. Some will have more than one door prize drawing during the three Exhibit Hall days. The names of the winners will be posted on a bulletin board in the Exhibit Hall. If you are a winner, all you need to do to claim your prize is to revisit the specific vendor’s booth.
Conference sessions to be recorded
Many of the conference sessions will be audio recorded and available for purchase on CD. Listings of those sessions being recorded will be available at the conference. Jamb-Inc. will be doing the recording and will have a booth where you can make your on-site purchases. The CDs will also be available after the conference from Jamb-Inc. but mailing fees will be charged.
Last minute Conference Information
Be sure to read the Conference News Blog during August and even during Conference Week to learn last minute details, reminders, suggested things to bring along, types of clothing to wear, and detail on special items. <www.fgsconferenceblog.org>. Some exciting special announcements will be made in the next couple of weeks on the blog!
See you at the conference,
Paula Stuart-Warren
National Publicity Chair
2009 FGS/AGS Conference
For Immediate Release – Time Sensitive
1 August 2009
It’s just one month till family historians convene in Little Rock!
The Federation of Genealogical Societies Annual Conference is set to take place this September 2-5 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Based at the Statehouse Convention Center in the exciting Rivermarket District, this event is drawing genealogists, historians, librarians, and archivists from all over the United States and beyond. You can still join them for four full days of learning more about genealogy, finding cousins, seeing how much is online, seeing how much is not online, figuring out how to get the most out of records, determining what archives or libraries have the answers, helping your genealogy society, and spending some money in the large Exhibit Hall. There will be almost 200 educational sessions. Don’t let this event pass you by.
The Arkansas Genealogical Society is the host for this event that has previously been in Boston, Seattle, Phoenix, Fort Wayne, Davenport, Orlando, Philadelphia, Austin, St. Louis, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Rochester, Cincinnati, Kansas City, and places in-between. You will be hearing about this event for years to come and will feel sad if you weren’t a part of it. It’s a place to meet authors, lecturers, librarians, archivists, and bloggers whose names you will recognize.
Registration Deadline
August 26 is the last day to pre-register for the conference online or by mail. It is also the deadline to reserve your spot at the luncheons, gala banquet, or the special Night at the Ballpark. There may be only a few extra tickets available at the conference registration on Tuesday, September 1st for these events. <http://www.fgsconference.org>
Onsite Registration
Tuesday, September 1st is the first day pre-registrants may visit the FGS/AGS registration booths on the lower level of the Statehouse Convention Center to pick up your name tag, tote bag, CD syllabus of lecture handouts, miscellaneous goodies, 20 door prize tickets, and begin the networking. Not pre-registered? No problem. There will be a line for just that task. You may register for one day or the full conference. Registration opens at 2:00 p.m. and runs until 6:00 p.m. on that day. It reopens at 7:00 a.m. on September 2d.
Exhibit Hall
What will you find in this hall on Thursday-Saturday? Aisle after aisle of booths featuring books old, new, and rare; genealogy software and hardware and demonstrations; preservation supplies; genealogical and historical societies; ethnic organizations; libraries; archives; maps; gifts; genealogy professional organizations; DNA companies; popular magazines; scholarly journals; databases; continuing education opportunities; author book signings; publishers; hotels from Salt Lake City; and places to sit, rest, and network with other registrants. The Hall is also open to non-registrants.
Door prizes
Many of the vendors in the Exhibit Hall will be giving away conference door prizes. Each registrant will receive 20 door prize tickets with your conference name tag and syllabus CD at the registration booth. The ticket will ask for your name, mailing and e-mail addresses and phone number. Bring along some of those address labels you have sitting around or print some up before you leave home to save some writing. Each participating vendor will have a box labeled for door prizes. Each attendee chooses which door prize box to drop their tickets in depending on the door prize being given. Some will have more than one door prize drawing during the three Exhibit Hall days. The names of the winners will be posted on a bulletin board in the Exhibit Hall. If you are a winner, all you need to do to claim your prize is to revisit the specific vendor’s booth.
Conference sessions to be recorded
Many of the conference sessions will be audio recorded and available for purchase on CD. Listings of those sessions being recorded will be available at the conference. Jamb-Inc. will be doing the recording and will have a booth where you can make your on-site purchases. The CDs will also be available after the conference from Jamb-Inc. but mailing fees will be charged.
Last minute Conference Information
Be sure to read the Conference News Blog during August and even during Conference Week to learn last minute details, reminders, suggested things to bring along, types of clothing to wear, and detail on special items. <www.fgsconferenceblog.org>. Some exciting special announcements will be made in the next couple of weeks on the blog!
See you at the conference,
Paula Stuart-Warren
National Publicity Chair
2009 FGS/AGS Conference
TEXTS IN CONTEXT
Collection of over 400 impressive texts from its massive collection digitized by the British Library:
LINK
LINK
BIG SCARY OBJECTS IN THE SKY
There are certainly lots of them. The good news is this: the universe is so unimaginably big, the probability of a really dangerous big scary object striking the Earth during our lifetimes is very low. The bad news is this: given enough time (and there certainly seems to be no shortage of that), at some point another big scary object will strike the Earth.
So what, you say? What can one person do to prevent such a thing? That's why you're seeing this item on this blog, actually. Genealogists are (generally) good recordkeepers. If you have a telescope (or a really outstanding pair of binoculars and the eyesight of a hawk), you can help NASA keep an eye on big scary objects in the sky:
LINK
So what, you say? What can one person do to prevent such a thing? That's why you're seeing this item on this blog, actually. Genealogists are (generally) good recordkeepers. If you have a telescope (or a really outstanding pair of binoculars and the eyesight of a hawk), you can help NASA keep an eye on big scary objects in the sky:
LINK
Saturday, August 01, 2009
CBS RADIO MYSTERY THEATER
Dozens of episodes of this 1970s radio mystery show (MP3 format) that you can download for free:
LINK
LINK
OLD TIME RADIO NETWORK
I just got broadband at home, and one of the first things I'm using it for is listening to / downloading episodes of old radio shows:
Want to know how Dad / Grandpa spent their evenings before TV came along? They listened to old-time radio shows like Beyond Tomorrow, The Black Museum, Box 13, Dimension X, The Haunting Hour, My Favorite Husband, Voyage of the Scarlet Queen, and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. Now you can listen to them, too-- and for free:
LINK
Note: It will take you a while to exhaust their supply of free shows. They’ve got more than 12,000 episodes of 169 different radio shows…
Want to know how Dad / Grandpa spent their evenings before TV came along? They listened to old-time radio shows like Beyond Tomorrow, The Black Museum, Box 13, Dimension X, The Haunting Hour, My Favorite Husband, Voyage of the Scarlet Queen, and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. Now you can listen to them, too-- and for free:
LINK
Note: It will take you a while to exhaust their supply of free shows. They’ve got more than 12,000 episodes of 169 different radio shows…
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