FIFTY-FIFTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

Brown, John G, Henry S. Nourse, and Lucian B. Crooker. The Story of the Fifty-Fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry In the Civil War, 1861-1865. Clinton, Ma.: W.J. Coulter, 1887.

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SEVEN GIFTS YOU WOULD HAVE WANTED…

…had you known that you needed them:

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OUTPOST FREE SECURITY SUITE

They offer an outstanding free security suite (anti-virus, spam protection, and a free firewall), or you can opt for their excellent paid version:

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GENERAL HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, MISSOURI

White, Edgar, and Henry Taylor. General History of Macon County, Missouri. Chicago: H. Taylor & Company, 1910.

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HISTORY OF MISSOURI SCHOOL OF MINES AND METALLURGY

Phelps County Historical Society, Rolla, Mo. The History of Missouri School of Mines And Metallurgy. 1st printed ed. S.n.: Rolla, Mo, 1941.

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SONGS SUNG BY THE "SINGING SCHOOL" OF THE MISSOURI COMMANDERY

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Commandery of the State of Missouri. Songs Sung by the "Singing School" of the Missouri Commandery. St. Louis: W. R. Hodges, 1905.

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MISSOURI COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Looking for historical info on a particular Missouri college or university? This site is a great starting point:

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INTO THE BREACH, DEAR FRIENDS...

If a website should ever refuse to allow you to close your account with them (or just make it difficult to do so), you can still make sure that any info they collected when you registered can’t hurt you if hackers should ever breach that website. Instead of closing the account, just update your account with incorrect info. For instance, if the account asked for birth date and birthplace, or mother’s maiden name, or other potentially sensitive info, just change those items so that a hacker breach won’t net them any useful info. If it's a site you're paying for automatically with a credit card, nose around and see if you can change payment terms from "automatic" to "manual."

This site offers tips for closing accounts with 20+ online services:

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DIVIDED LOYALTIES

New book lists 812 Civil War soldiers buried in Clay County, Missouri, with biographical info for each plus photos of the vet (or a photo of the grave marker) for 600 of those men:

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THE MODERN VIEW

From Missouri History Museum's most recent monthly newsletter:

If you're researching St. Louis Jewish ancestors in the first half of the 20th century, you may want to consult a periodical titled The Modern View, which published news and views of the St. Louis Jewish community. The Missouri History Museum Library holds an incomplete run of issues of The Modern View. The Central Branch of the St. Louis Public Library also holds a run of The Modern View.

Of particular interest to genealogists is the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of The Modern View, which includes biographical sketches and portraits of prominent members of the St. Louis Jewish community. View the St. Louis Public Library's index to this 25th anniversary edition.

MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM UPDATE

The following sources have recently been added to the Genealogy and Local History Index.

1. Annual Benefit, St. Louis Police Relief Association, 1914

2. Official Program, Thirty-Seventh Annual Session, Supreme Council, Mystic Order Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, St. Louis, Missouri, June 15-17, 1926

3. Central States Life Bulletin, Volume III, Number 8 (March 1914)

4. The Saturday Night Saver, Volume 4, Number 5 (May 1929) (published by the Lafayette-South Side Bank and Trust Company)

5. Program for the Thirty-Eighth Annual Commencement Exercises, Benton College of Law, St. Louis, Missouri, June 8, 1937

6. Program for charity concert given by the St. Louis Massenchor, March 11, 1925

7. Program for charity concert given by the St. Louis Massenchor, February 6, 1924

8. Program for charity concert given by the St. Louis Massenchor, April 19, 1923

9. The Printing Trades Magazine, 1909-1915 (incomplete run)

10. Emmanuel Orbit (newsletter published by Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Webster Groves, Mo.), 1944-1946 (incomplete run)

11. Program for the Third Annual Boy Scout Circus, St. Louis, Mo., February 13-14, 1925

12. Program for the annual picnic given by the Benton School Parents' Club, June 7, 1939

13. “Report of the Industrial Bureau of the Industrial Club of St. Louis,” 1928-1935

UNITED KINGDOM WWII CIVILIAN DEATHS, 1939-1945

This recently added Ancestry.com database contains seven volumes listing civilians in the British Commonwealth and Empire who died during World War II and are commemorated on Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) memorials or buried in CWGC cemeteries. The Commission explains these records as follows:

“These volumes contain the Roll of Honour of those civilians, citizens of the Commonwealth and Empire, who were killed in the United Kingdom by enemy action during the 1939–1945 War, while engaged in household or in business activities, or at their posts as members of the Civil Defence Services. Their graves are scattered throughout the country.”

While many of these records involve deaths in the United Kingdom, they also include deaths of British civilians worldwide, including some lost at sea.

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ANNUAL ANNOUNCEMENT & CATALOGUE OF THE LAW AND MEDICAL SCHOOLS

University of Missouri. Annual Announcement And Catalogue of the Law And Medical Schools of the University of the State of Missouri: Session of 1889-1890. Columbia, MO: The University, 1890.

Full view is actually available for various years 1889-1922.

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USES OF PLANTS BY THE INDIANS OF THE MISSOURI RIVER REGION

Gilmore, Melvin R. Uses of Plants by the Indians of the Missouri River Region. Washington: Govt. print. off., 1919.

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THE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL DIRECTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA

The Medical and Surgical Directory of the State of Iowa. S.n.: Lyons, Ia., 1876.

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CHICAGO MEDICAL REGISTER AND DIRECTORY

Chicago Medical Register And Directory. Chicago: W. B. Keen, Cooke & Co., 1874.

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THE THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY

Burnham, John Howard. The Thirty-third Regiment Illinois Infantry in the Civil War, 1861-1865. Springfield: s.n., 1912.

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THE SEVENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY IN THE CIVIL WAR

Ambrose, D. Leib. From Shiloh to Savannah: the Seventh Illinois Infantry in the Civil War. DeKalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 2003.

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A HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN MISSOURI

Goodwin, E. J. A History of Medicine In Missouri. St. Louis: W. L. Smith, 1905.

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BITTER BIERCE

The Civil War didn’t kill future famous writer Ambrose “Bitter” Bierce—-but it came close on several occasions:

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This link gives you access to his 12-volume Collected Works:

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GPO EBOOKS

The Government Printing Office has ebooks for sale (although quite a few are in fact free)—and there are no troublesome DRM protections, so they’re easy to transfer from one of your gadgets to another:

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OTR

I’ve said it before: many old-time radio shows are terrific fun to listen to, and there are (free) shows of interest whether you want to laugh, cry, shiver, or just be entertained:

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HISTORY OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF CHICAGO

The Biographical Publishing Corporation, and Chicago Medical Society. History of Medicine And Surgery And Physicians And Surgeons of Chicago. Chicago, Ill.: The Biographical Publishing Corporation, 1922.

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JOHN BELL HOOD’S LEG

Many Civil War soldiers suffered wounds that disfigured or maimed them for life—and it wasn’t always the lowest-ranking men who suffered such wounds:

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PRINT A CALENDAR

Need a simple and easy to use monthly calendar? Just click on a day and type in your reminder or event. Great for those holiday vacation reminders, chore lists, or job to-do nag lists—and it's easy to download and customize:

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ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY IN MISSOURI

Goldstein, Max A. One Hundred Years of Medicine And Surgery In Missouri: Historical And Biographical Review of the Careers of the Physicians And Surgeons of the State of Missouri, And Sketches of Some of Its Notable Medical Institutions. St. Louis: St. Louis Star, 1900.

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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

Kern, Albert. History of the First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry In the Civil War, 1861-1865. Dayton, Ohio: A. Kern, 1918.

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CENTURIES OF SERVICE

The National Archives at Kansas City will be offering an exciting four-part genealogy workshop series every Wednesday, starting on January 8 through January 29 – Centuries of Service: Exploring Military Records for Genealogy. Attend all four classes to receive a certificate of completion. The workshops will be held from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at the National Archives at Kansas City, 400 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, Missouri.

Centuries of Service: Exploring Military Records for Genealogy

Workshop Descriptions:

Fighting the Red Coats: Records from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812
Wednesday, January 8 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

The young republic spent eleven years battling the British in two wars between the years 1775-1815. During these conflicts and the tense period between the formal wars, young soldiers stepped up and answered the call to protect the new nation. Discover the variety of records documenting your ancestor’s military experience, and ways to access them.

Growing Pains: Exploring Resources for Mid-19th Century American Conflicts
Wednesday, January 15 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Following the War of 1812, the United States endured a period of rapid expansion and upheaval. Conflicts exploded first with Native American tribes in the southeast, then with Mexico, and finally as the nation split in two during the Civil War. This class examines military records created during the mid-19th Century, from service records and pension files, to more detailed records on units in combat, as well as instructions on how to access these records.

Turn of the Century Conflicts: Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection, and WWI
Wednesday, January 22 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

At the end of the 19th and into the 20th century, the battlefields moved from the continental United States to international soil. Beginning with the Spanish American War, leading to the Philippine Insurrection, and culminating in World War I, our ancestors left the United States to serve American causes abroad. Learn about the records that tell these stories.

A World Torn Apart: World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War
Wednesday, January 29 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Though these wars were international in scope, the United States military created records during World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War that provide insight into the units and individuals who served. This class explores how to order service records, identify online resources, and understand privacy restrictions.

To make a reservation for these free events, please call 816-268-8000 or email kansascity.archives@nara.gov.

The National Archives at Kansas City is one of 15 facilities nationwide where the public can access Federal archival records. It is home to historical records dating from the 1820s to the 1990s created or received by Federal agencies in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. For more information, call 816-268-8000 or visit www.archives.gov/kansas-city.

THIRD REGIMENT OF WISCONSIN VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

Bryant, Edwin E. History of the Third Regiment of Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry, 1861-1865. Salem, Mass.: Higginson Book Co., 1999.

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FIRST REGIMENT MICHIGAN ENGINEERS AND MECHANICS

Sligh, Charles R. History of the Services of the First Regiment Michigan Engineers And Mechanics During the Civil War, 1861-1865.Grand Rapids: s.n., 1921.

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PAINT.NET

Need a fairly powerful photo editor, but don’t have the spare change to get Photoshop? This free editor may have all the editing power you need:

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EVERYONE PIANO

Want to entertain everyone at that next family reunion You can use Everyone Piano to learn how to play the piano using your computer keyboard:

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SURVIVORS OF THE 86TH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

United States. Army. Illinois Infantry Regiment, 86th (1862-1865). Roster of the Survivors of the 86th Illinois Volunteer Infantry With the Post Office Addresses As Far As Known, Together With the Proceedings of the Reunion Held At Peoria, Ill., August 27, 1887. Peoria, Ill.: J.W. Franks & Sons, 1887.

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DIARY OF A TAR HEEL CONFEDERATE SOLDIER

Leon, L. Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier. Charlotte, N.C.: Stone Pub. Co., 1913.

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YOUR PAL, MICROSOFT

You can get hundreds of free templates for Microsoft Office from your BFFs in Redmond, WA:

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GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME

Buying a tablet for yourself or a loved one? Because there are so many good ones available, it’s getting harder to choose. This comparison chart from Kim Komando should make decision-making easier for you:

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INVENTORY OF THE COUNTY ARCHIVES OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Carolina Historical Records Survey. Inventory of the County Archives of South Carolina. Columbia, S.C.: Historical Records Survey, 1937.

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FLIPBOARD

From their website:

Millions of people use Flipboard to read and collect the news they care about, curating their favorite stories into their own magazines on any topic imaginable. Now magazines created by our readers, from The Best Gifts for Men to Inventions, can be shared and enjoyed on the Web by anyone, anywhere.

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NINITE

If you just bought a PC, or need to reinstall favorite apps on an infected PC you had to nuke, Ninite can quickly and conveniently do most of heavy lifting for you:

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TO EXTEND OR NOT TO EXTEND

Do you need an extended warranty on that electronic gadget you’re buying this holiday season? As general rule, no—but it's occasionally a good idea:

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THE OREGON TRAIL: THE MISSOURI RIVER TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN

United States. Federal Writers' Project. The Oregon Trail: the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean. New York: Hastings House, 1939.

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THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS

American Council on Education. The Civilian Conservation Corps. Washington, D.C.: The American Youth Commission, 1940.

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THE CCC: WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT DOES

Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). The Civilian Conservation Corps: What it Is And What it Does. Washington, D.C.: Civilian Conservation Corps, Office of the Director, 1939.

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PRELIMINARY INVENTORY OF THE RECORDS OF THE CCC

National Archives (U.S.). Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Washington: National Archives, 1948.

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INVENTORY OF THE CHURCH ARCHIVES OF NEW YORK STATE

Historical Records Survey (N.Y.). Inventory of the Church Archives of New York State Exclusive of New York City. Albany, N. Y.: The Historical Records Survey, 1939.

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INVENTORY OF THE COUNTY ARCHIVES OF NEW YORK STATE

Historical Records Survey (U.S.). New York (State). Inventory of the County Archives of New York State (exclusive of the Five Counties of New York City). Albany: Historical Records Survey, 1937.

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LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW...

So, how's your weather? St. Louis is getting snow right now--enough that I'll be going to work late today (but still have to report in anyway, drat the luck...).

HTTPS EVERYWHERE

If you use a fair number of sites that require you to provide sensitive info like birth dates, account numbers, and passwords, this extension for Firefox and Chrome can ensure that your business with sensitive sites is encrypted:

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TRAVEL SECRETS

Going to see the kids/grandkids? These travel tips from Kim Komando could make your holiday travels a lot less painful:

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BARGAINS UNDER $20

Your U.S. Government Bookstore has a page of Xmas gift ideas that will set you back less than 20 bucks:

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CHECK LIST OF CHICAGO ANTE-FIRE IMPRINTS, 1851-1871

Check List of Chicago Ante-Fire Imprints, 1851-1871. Chicago: The Historical Records Survey, Works Progress Administration, 1938.

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INVENTORY OF THE COUNTY ARCHIVES OF ILLINOIS

Inventory of the County Archives of Illinois. Chicago: Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey, 1937.

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THE 1864 CENSUS OF THE TERRITORY OF ARIZONA

The 1864 Census of the Territory of Arizona. Phoenix, Ariz.: The Historical Records Survey, Division of Women's And Professional Projects, 1938.

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THE STORMING OF FORT NIAGARA (19 DECEMBER 1813)

Fort Niagara, located on the eastern bank of the Niagara River at Lake Ontario, was an early French fortress captured by the British in July 1759. It became a Loyalist base during the American Revolution, but was ceded to the United States at the end of the war, although not completely controlled by American troops until 1796.

At about the midpoint of the War of 1812, the fort once again became a British stronghold. After only seventeen years under American control, Fort Niagara was re-captured by the British two hundred years ago this month, on December 19, 1813. As a strategically important U.S. garrison on the Canadian border, anyone commanding the fort controlled river and portage access between two Great Lakes—Ontario and Erie. It was a critical portal to Ohio, Michigan, and the American Midwest.

During the War of 1812, the British were garrisoned across the river at Canada's Fort George. Tensions were obviously high between the two forts, occupied by opposing armies, and they frequently exchanged artillery fire. The Americans succeeded in capturing Fort George in May 1813 yet abandoned it in early December, burning the fortress and the surrounding town. Although in ruins, Fort George was quickly reoccupied by British forces, giving them a prime position to attack the American garrison across the river. Late on the night of December 18, five hundred British troops crossed the river south of Fort Niagara, marched north, raiding and burning villages en route, surprising the American defenders, and easily taking the fortress before dawn on the 19th. They held it for the duration of the war.

The Treaty of Ghent, signed to end the War of 1812, declared that captured territory be returned "status quo ante bellum," meaning that anything captured by the British during the war was returned to the United States, including Fort Niagara. Although it has not been an active military post since 1940, the site is still in use today. The "French Castle," built by France in 1726 still stands and "Old Fort Niagara" is now an historic site. Its importance in several wars over three centuries is revealed through reenactments, exhibits, tours, and events.

Explore the War of 1812 Collection on Fold3.

HENRY McNEAL TURNER

Article about the first black chaplain in the Union Army:

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CLOSED ST. LOUIS PARISHES

List of closed St. Louis parishes, with explanation of current (but soon to be changing) Archdiocese research policy:

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ST. LOUIS ARCHDIOCESE RESEARCH POLICY CHANGE

As of December 31, 2013, the Archdiocesan Archives will no longer provide genealogical research services. For those wishing to conduct genealogical research, microfilm of the Archdiocese of St. Louis Sacramental Registers is available for use at the St. Louis County Library Special Collections. The County Library will do look-ups of sacramental information for offsite patrons. Please contact them for more information. The Library welcomes genealogists to use their wide range of genealogical and local history books, materials, databases and online subscriptions:

http://www.slcl.org/genealogy

The St. Louis Genealogical Society will also conduct family research. The Society is an expert regarding resources available in the area, and also houses a small research library, computers with genealogical software, and microform for St. Louis area research. Please contact them for more information:

http://www.stlgs.org/

STLGS ANNUAL FAMILY HISTORY CONFERENCE

44th Annual Family History Conference

Genealogy in the Computer Age
Featuring David Rencher, AG, CG, FIGRS, FUGA

Saturday, 26 April 2014
Maryland Heights Community Centre
2344 McKelvey Road, St. Louis, MO

Registration booklet coming in February 2014.

THE GOODLIEST SOYLE

The newest webinar in our series of land records in North Carolina by Helen F. M. Leary will be presented on 17 January 2014 and continue free for all to view through 19 January on the North Carolina Genealogical Society website, webinar tab: ncgenealogy.org.

In “The Goodliest Soyle”: Finding, Reading, & Interpreting North Carolina Land, Ms. Leary discusses the ways a person acquires land. In colonial times, English Common Law governed property rights. Knowing the law, the records it created, and the location of those records, is necessary for successful searches.

Once found, the genealogist must read and interpret the record. Correct analysis is important to glean the maximum information from each document. Ms. Leary provides the listener with tools and tips to reach a successful outcome.

Thank you,

Maryann Stockert Tuck
NCGS Webinars

MASTERING GENEALOGICAL PROOF

NGS announces the release of the Kindle version of Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS. The book was released in print version earlier this year. As a textbook on genealogical methods and reasoning, Mastering Genealogical Proof has proven popular with readers at all levels, from beginners to experts. The book has received a tremendous critical and popular reception and is in its third printing. Many readers have asked for mobile versions. NGS is pleased to be able to make this publication available now in the Kindle format and soon in Apple’s iBooks format.

Dr. Jones is a noted writer, lecturer, and editor in the field of genealogy. He draws on his expertise to make Mastering Genealogical Proof a definitive guide for marshaling evidence to reach sound conclusions regarding the identity and relationships of ancestors. Each chapter of the book contains examples of real issues and asks the reader to apply the book’s concepts to problems presented at the end of each chapter.

The Kindle version of Mastering Genealogical Proof is now available at Amazon.com for $9.99. Print versions of the book can still be ordered at the NGS online store.

AUDACITY

Getting ready to start recording/editing oral histories or other sound recordings? Audacity is a free, open source, cross-platform application for recording and editing sounds. Audacity is available for Windows, Mac, GNU/Linux and several other operating systems:

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JAVA

What is Java? Java allows you to play online games, chat with people around the world, calculate your mortgage interest, and view images in 3D, just to name a few applications. It's also integral to intranet applications and other e-business solutions that are the foundation of corporate computing. You can learn more about it, and check to see if your computer’s version of Java is up to date here:

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GENEALOGICAL BULLETIN

Genealogical Bulletin. Boston, Mass.: The Research Publication Company, vol. 1 (1903).

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ABINE

This site provides step by step instructions on how to remove your online public records from several dozen leading data sites. Be aware, however, that it can take hours to remove this info. Don't have the time? Check out DeleteMe, their pay service that does all the tough work of removing your private information from the web.

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HUNDRED ZEROS

Have a Kindle (or think you are getting one for Christmas)? If you want to save some money on books for your Kindle, this site provides convenient access to thousands of free downloads. Some are older, public domain titles, but many are recent books by authors anxious to connect with future paying customers:

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WI-FI GUARD

SoftPerfect Wi-Fi Guard can help ensure that your wi-fi connection stays secure. It keeps track of all the gadgets using your network, and can allow you to quickly spot hackers/freeloaders:

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NOTE: To download, you’ll need to scroll all the way down to the box that says “Download Wi-Fi Guard.” There are free versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

SOLDIERS’ DREAMS

Civil War soldiers often had dreams (including--gasp--many pertaining to the opposite sex), and often recorded them in letters home:

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YOUR COMPUTER’S LAST GAP

The average lifespan of a desktop/laptop is four-six years. This article helps you figure out if your computer is ready to shuffle off this mortal coil:

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BUY A MEMORY OF STL AT MHM

Through the month of December, spend $50 or more and receive free shipping on archival prints from the Missouri History Museum's collection! Visit our Cross-Collection Search and look for the green "Buy Print" button to view a gallery of some of our most popular images. Or, browse through our entire online collections, view any image you like, and use the "Buy a Print" button to place an order. Enter coupon code: Holiday2013 at checkout.

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FIFTY FOR XMAS

Fifty great gift ideas especially for genealogists, courtesy of the One Rhode Island Family blog:

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