a3Genealogy

Researching Your Ex-Slave Ancestor

2012-02-13T00:03:00.000-06:00

Ancestry.com

Ex-Slave Pension Correspondence & Case Files
Many researchers of ex-slaves are unaware of the National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief, Bounty and Pension Association. They may have never heard of the Ex-slave Pension Club, the Ex-Slave Petitioner’s Assembly or of other ex-slave aid organizations. However, a government investigation of these associations/organizations yielded records, correspondence and more dating between 1892 and 1922.

What are These Files?

The Washington, D.C., Ex-Slave Pension Correspondence and Case Files include a collection of 8 Case files of the ex-slave pension movement which was modeled after the Civil War pension program for veterans. Here is a full description of the collection: M2110. But, the following petition provides the best explanation of the mission.

WHEREAS, Generation after generation of Colored people served this country as slaves for two hundred and forty-four years, or more and,

WHEREAS, This government owes the unknown and deceased Colored soldiers a large sum of money which is unclaimed, and,
WHEREAS, Many of these soldiers have brothers, fathers, mothers, and sisters among us, who are destitute and starving, and
WHEREAS, It is a precedent established by the patriots of this country to relieve its distressed citizens, both on land and sea, and millions of our deceased people, besides those who still survive, worked as slaves for the development of the great resources and wealth of this country, and,
WHEREAS, We believe it just and right to grant the old ex-slave a pension
THEREFORE, We the undersigned citizens of the United States of America, appeal to your Honorable Body to pass the Senate Bill, No. 1978, introduced, Feb. 6, 1896 by Senator Thurston of Nebraska, providing pension for Freedman, etc.

Researching These Files

Before running to the online website, the researcher must know that although the almost 300 pages digitized on Ancestry.com is a good place to start (or NARA microfilm roll: M2110), DO NOT rely on the index tool to find mention of your ancestor. Some signatures and mentions of ex-slaves in the depositions have been overlooked or misspelled.

Yet, a page by page scroll of this collection may uncover your ancestor and reveal information such as slave master, state and county of birth, and age.

Other Genealogical Data on Ex-Slaves

As these files were preserved as part of a federal investigation of fraud, within the Ex-Slave Pension Correspondence and Case Files depositions provide names, place of birth and residence of ex-slave ancestors. This deposition by I. H. Dickerson, a leader of the National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief, provides names of siblings, verifies his name slave name change, gives sisters’ married names and residence of family members, etc.

Certificate of Membership

Although each Ex-Slave Pension organization did not issue certificates, a few did. They provide a statement of : “I hereby testify that I was born a slave” followed by county (or city/county) and state.

Personal Letters

Through their fraud investigation, the US government also seized and archived many personal letters that involve the postmasters, townsmen, and leaders of the associations and recruitment flyers.

Although you can research these files by name, location, etc., I, once again, encourage the researcher to review each page. Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com
Accurate, accessible answers

Plat Maps and Genealogy Research

2012-02-11T19:55:00.000-06:00

Ohio Counties, Hamilton vs. Perry

Townships, Cities, Counties

To narrow our research we must take note of the county, city and township. A good example is Reading township in Somerset, Ohio. A simple google search of Reading Ohio, takes you directly to Hamilton, County. In my case, this was the wrong Reading. Let’s not confuse Reading Ohio in Hamilton County (far south west side of Ohio) with Reading township in Somerset Ohio located in Perry County (east central). Identifying the township will help you research your ancestor’s land plats and other genealogical records.

Reading Township in Somerset, OH. Perry County

Using Plat/Parcel Maps
Some researchers look at land plats just to mark ancestors’ names. But they actually can give us so many additional genealogical hints:1) Take note of the neighbors. Our early immigrant ancestors often moved in clusters. By noting their neighbors, you may find a migratory pattern, especially if they disappeared by the “next census.” This is when you should do a search on the full cluster to find your ancestor. Another good reason to take note to the neighbors? They are often parents, sibilings or cousins. 2) Find Female Ancestors through Proximity. Often sons and daughters don’t move far. A tip to finding female family members is to check neighboring households. Father’s often gave (or sold) land to son-in-laws, and so that missing daughter might be right next door. And son-in-laws may parcel out land for the wife’s family. Of course this is just a clue, you must research suspecting females to confirm parentage. But, if you are looking for a Bridget (like I was) there were two in the county; one living in the household right next to ‘ole Dad. Voila! 3) Where Were Ancestors Between the Census. Speaking of “next census” land plats help us narrow spans between census, to determine when an ancestor settled in a new county. The 1846 census identified my family and their 80 acres. Now I can further research the deeds, plus I know the township, range and section (Township 16, Range 16, Section 22).

1846 Reading Plat Map: Township16; Range16; Section 22

4) Determine Topographical and Community Landmarks. One of my favorite purposes to look at plat/parcel maps is for assistance with pinpointing area churches, schools, etc. It’s a great way to fill in the gaps of your ancestor’s daily life in any particular community. This 1875 Reading Township map verifies that my subject still owned the original 80 acres acquired by 1846.

1875 Reading Township Parcel Map

This clue may also help the researcher narrow a death date. Was the owner still living in 1875? Time to search the deeds.

Perry County Research
If you too are doing Perry County Research, a great place to start your search is at the Perry County Ohio US website.

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com

Privacy Restrictions Keeping You From Research?

2012-01-31T19:48:00.000-06:00

Yes, Actual book on Amazon.com

In the Name of Privacy

What do census records, voter’s registrations, and court dockets have in common? They all are sources exempt from the Privacy Act that can be referenced when searching for our ancestor’s vital records: birth, marriage, divorce and death. Oh, and let’s not forget criminal records and professional and business licenses. They too are exempt from the Privacy Act.

In the name of privacy there are many access restrictions imposed by states, but the persistent family researcher may still uncover their ancestor’s vital records. The article Genealogy Research vs. Privacy Restrictions posted by Archives.com on 31 Jan 2012 gives the researcher a few options for ferreting our ancestor’s vital records when the Privacy Act gets in our way.

From State to State

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) policies of some federal and state repositories are often implemented in such a way that the “Freedom” part is buried in red tape. Privacy Act restrictions vary state to state and are implemented in the most creative ways. Restrictions of seventy five years seem to be favored by many states’ birth certificate access; as is fifty years for withholding death records.

And whereas some state and federal repositories have 50 or 75 year restrictions, others impose a 62 wait (i.e. Veteran’s service records). A few, like the Social Security FOIA now enforces a 100 year from birthdate (regardless of death date) restriction. If your ancestor had a 1912 birthdate, you can receive an unaltered social security documents this year. Later social security applications will be under the scrutiny of the agent who liberally uses a redaction tool to eliminate the useful information the family researcher is seeking.

Yet, privacy act implementations and restrictions should not prevent the family researcher from locating birth, marriage and death records. Plus, know that a few open states do exist. And others, like Pennsylvania, are becoming more genealogy-friendly, where access to birth, marriage divorce and death records is less of an obstacle course.

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Accurate, accessible answers

Missouri Sanatorium, Mt. Vernon

2012-01-27T07:35:00.000-06:00

Did Your Ancestor Have Tuberculosis ?
It’s not easy to imagine that our ancestor’s travelled a distance for health reasons. But tuberculosis was accompanied with the fear of rapid spreading. Isolation from the general public was necessary. To understand your ancestor’s removal from the household, you may need to understand the process of treating tuberculosis in the early 1900’s.

The Road to Better Health
According to the Missouri Rehabilitation Center website “a diagnosis of tuberculosis often meant impending death and the only known treatment for it was fresh air, sunshine, nutrition and bed rest. To keep the disease from spreading, patients were isolated from society.”

The website continues to explain the disappearance of our ancestors from the home.

Diagnosis of tuberculosis took six to eight weeks and because there were no medications to treat the disease, patients confined to the sanatorium spent months or years away from home. Reinfection was common and often necessitated a return to the hospital.
Drugs were developed in the 1950's that effectively controlled tuberculosis. Patients were able to go home sooner and were usually able to be treated in their local communities. http://www.muhealth.org/MRCHistory.

With the control of tuberculosis, the Missouri State Sanatorium buildings were used for other services:

Sanborn Map, 1918

Here is a brief timeline of the institution’s name change:

Missouri State Sanatorium, 1907-1971

Missouri State Chest Hospital, 1971-1985

Missouri Rehabilitation Center, 1971-1985

University of Missouri Health Care, 1996-Present

Genealogical Data?

Genetic genealogy was not of importance before 2000 but researchers may find basic genealogical information such as: next of kin (emergency contact"), home address, occupation, age, etc. You may find additional information on his death certificate or in cemetery/funeral records.

By narrowing a date of hospital admission, you may be able to follow progress your ancestor's progress in the local (home)newspaper, especially if he lived in a small community.
Records and Searches

Early Missouri death certificates may note place of death as the Missouri State Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Mt. Vernon. Lawrence County. However this institution originally built for tuberculosis patients no longer exists, even though many of records still survive. Today, associated with the University of Missouri School Medicine, the Sanatorium operates as the "Missouri State Rehabilitation Hospital" housing veterans and providing services.

The State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia, Mo has a collection that researchers will not want to miss. The Stark, Lloyd Crow Papers, 1931-1941 has five folders of Sanatorium related documents:

f. 761-792 State Hospital Number One, Missouri Sanatorium. Folder 791 has a list of employees and their rating

f. 943-994 Employment applications for positions at the State Sanatorium, Mt. Vernon, together with letters of recommendation. Folder 943 contains a list of employees.

Cemetery

The Old Sanatorium Cemetery interred patients as early as 1924. Here is an index of some of the burials: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/lawrence/cemeteries/sanitarm.txt

More photos
Visit the Missouri Digital Heritage website to see additional photos of the Sanitorium.

5 Tips to Reading (Outloud)

2012-01-21T07:41:00.000-06:00

Beachum Papers and Letters
Itawamba Settler, Vol 31, No 4

Bane in Mississippi

Have you read your ancestor's personal letters? Deciphering some of these letters may depend on your knowledge of local speech patterns, dialect or accents. Up until today, I did not know bane meant anything other than poison. I looked it up in the Webster’s Dictionary and it also gave “woe” and “harm” as definitions and synonyms. However, none of these words reconciled the meaning of the paragraph above that was transcribed in the Itawamba Settlers, Vol 31, No 4. (Note: I am a member of the Itawamba Historical Society. Itawamba is located in Mississippi and the society produces an informative newsletter, Itawamba Settlers).

Here are a few tips to ease our experience of reading, defining and deciphering "new word in order to gain full comprehension of our ancestor's experiences.

Tip 1: Phonetically - Read Outloud

We are accustomed to homonyms, so the occasional here vs. hear does not throw the reader for loop. We rarely take note.

However, if you are having trouble reading passages try pronouncing each letter. Usually a word will form. Try it with the paragraph above.

Tip 2: Punctuation - Edit the Letter

Sometimes we have to reread a sentence for clarification, especially if punctuation is missing and there are 2-3 run-on thoughts and sentences without a discernible pause. Oh, I’m sure we can forgive the soldier on the battlefield if he didn’t take time to proof his letters. Of course the periods may have been so lightly placed that they are no longer visible. Well, that doesn’t explain the lack of capitalizing words to initiate a new sentence or thought. But we can do it for him.

With pencil (and eraser) in hand capitalize letters, let's put in the punctuation to make concise sentences . By reading outloud and varying inflexion this can easily be accomplished. Remember we are going for a clear thought, not necessarily excellent grammar.

Tip 3: Misspelled – Correct to Avoid Distractions

Some words are misspelled, but others must be vocalized for recognition. What I found interesting is words like “anxious” “cartridge” and “skirmish” were spelled correctly, but the following were among the ones misspelled:

seted = seated

helth = health

commcnsed = commenced

agane = again

thrue = thru

begane = began

I suggest we make a note of the correct spelling. This will ease the flow of the next read of this paragraph.

Tip 4: Apply Dialect - Speaking Bane

Voicing outloud aided me in determining “titust” was tightest. But it was the word bane, used four times in this paragraph and over a dozen in the entire letter that stumped me.

Surely those accustomed to Southern dialect deciphered it easier. But not until I tried it in a regional twang (as good of a Southern accent a Kansan could do), did I claim victory.

bane =been

(Well I knew he wasn’t referring to poison, woe or harm).

Tip 5: Analyze – Elements of Writing Style and Transcriber Errors

In analyzing personal letters it will behoove the reader to loosely apply the “elements of literature.” Analyzing setting, speaker, and speech or diction will assist the reader in applying the correct meaning to a passage.

“…I thought I had seen servis [military service?] before, but this has bane [been] ~~a little~~ the titust [tightest] of all.
I have ran some very narrow risk but have passed unhurt as yet. “

I’m left to wonder if the original is clearer. Would I have transcribed these sentences with the same outcome? Viewing the original will answer some of the question, but this is what I have right now. And, we are grateful that the Itawamba Settlers printed this transcription of the Beachum Papers and Letters from their collection.

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Accurate, accessible answers

Find A Case

2012-01-20T07:36:00.000-06:00

Legal Records Hold Background Information
Of course as genealogists we know legal documents can reveal our ancestors’ social history, family relations, work environments and more. But have you actively searched for these legal documents. Find A Case search is an online holding of over 5.5 million legal cases. I did an inquiry for Harold Strader, my father and grandfather’s name on the Find A Case website. And expecting nothing, I was quite surprised. The day of Pappo’s stroke was chronicled in Find A Case: Strader v. Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. This Kansas Supreme Court case detailed information on my Grandfather’s health, the day he had a stroke, where he worked and more. I never knew there was such a Kansas Supreme Court case.

Find A Case includes court cases from a vast library of state and federal court records, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Federal Circuit Courts, the Federal District Courts and all state appellate courts. Many of our libraries date back to 1930, with some dating back even further, like the U.S. Supreme Court which dates back to 1886.

All US Supreme Court cases may be found as early as 1886 the state of Florida State Appellate Courts date as early as 1910 and Montana 1925. There are many Federal Circuit Courts, and Federal District Courts that date as early as 1930. Even Puerto Rico court cases are included in the State Appellate section for cases dating after 1998.

I Was Four When He Had The Stroke!
All I can remember is the principal coming across the hall to the kindergarten room and asking me to take a phone call. I was 4 years old and it was 9 Sep 1965. Grandma explained that I needed to tell Daddy that Pappo was very sick. Daddy was to call immediately.

I attended kindergarten at the same school that my father taught 5th grade. Brother Lance was in first grade down the hall. And Daddy was upstairs (that’s where they taught the big kids).

I hung up the phone and walked quickly (running not allowed) to my father’s classroom. He was teaching Math at the time. His back was towards me, and all the big 5th graders stared at me when I entered the room. It was hot, the windows were opened and it stunk. Grant Elementary, an all black school, was down-wind from the slaughterhouse.

Daddy rescued me from my paralyzed state at his classroom door, and picked me up. I remember feeling safe but having difficulty giving the message. I concentrated. Grandma said it was VERY important and she had repeated it twice on the phone. I was in Kindergarten and a big girl. Plus Lance would tease me if I got it all wrong. He was mad I got to go to kindergarten at the age of four. He had to wait until six.

I stumbled over the message, but managed to get out that Pappo was VERY sick and Daddy was to call Grandma immediately. Lyons Kansas still had a pseudo party line, so finding Grandma wasn’t an issue I imagine. I don’t remember writing down a phone number. But I do remember relating that Pappo was at the hospital.

Daddy was proud of me, but he took Lance and me out of school. We picked up Mama in the Dodge Dart from Northeast Jr. High School where she taught, and we went home, and got the “little boys” Baby Rhett was only 12 weeks old. The next few hours were hectic: suitcases diaper changing, and then the long ride to Lyons, KS. Grandpa had had a massive stroke.

I don’t remember Grandpa before the stroke. I remember sitting in the parking lot holding the baby while my parents went into the hospital. I remember Todd hanging out the car window trying to get us all into trouble. He was only 2.5 but already misbehaving. I didn’t get into trouble, but Lance and Todd did.

Grandpa was paralyzed on his left side but was able to regain his speech. He was left handed so I only knew him to have horrific handwriting using his right hand. His car was a stick shift, and he put a ball on the steering wheel so he could drive it. Sometimes his reflexes were slow, so by the time he shifted the gears and regained the steering wheel ball, we were heading towards the middle of the street. But it was the one sheriff town of Lyons Kansas. Pappo died in 1994.

The day of his stroke was chronicled in Find A Case: Strader v. Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. I never knew there was such a Kansas Supreme Court case.

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com
Accurate, accessible answers

Free Ancestry.com Access for Kansans

2012-01-19T21:36:00.000-06:00

Kansas Historical Society Partnership with Ancestry.com

The Kansas Historical Society announced its Ancestry.com partnership for Kansas family researchers, genealogists and historians. The News Release on 19 Jan 2012 states that selected Kansas Archives on Ancestry.com offers remote access via the internet.

Users visit kshs.org/ancestry and enter their name, date of birth, and Kansas driver’s license number (for access from home). The number is authenticated, and the user is directed to ancestry.com.

Kansas residents can access the following records:

Kansas State Census Records (1865-1925—taken every 10 years for each year ending in "5")
Civil War Enlistment Papers of Kansas Volunteer Regiments, 1862, 1863, 1868
Russell County Vital and Probate Records (J. C. Ruppenthal Collection)
World War I, Kansas Veterans, Manuscript Collection no. 49 Letters, military documents, photographs, and other documents providing information on Kansas soldiers in World War I, primarily members of the 35th and 89th Divisions. Items solicited from each veteran or his family included letters, especially from overseas; a photograph; and a brief biography containing date and place of birth, residence, parents' names, occupation, and names of spouse and children. The amount of information in each file varies greatly.
United Spanish-American War Veterans, Reports of Deaths, 1945-1970 (TAPS)

For access to the entire ancestry.com library edition database visit:

KANSAS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099
785-272-8681

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Accurate, accessible answers

Indexes, Indices, and the Enemy

2012-01-18T08:30:00.000-06:00

Rule One: Indexing is Not TranscribingScenario: Why were the father and children of an Ireland born ancestors classified as mulattos? Wait...the last child is “white.” How could this be?

It’s not fair. My client, a professional writer, was looking forward to uncovering the mystery of her racial controversary. Her initial research verified that her Irish born ancestors was a mulatto, so were his children. She hired a3Genealogy to get to the root of this. Ouch! We have to tell her, that the index for her 1870 family, the premise of her story, was incorrectly “transcribed” by the indexer.

The Errors: The census indexer who read page 1, mistakenly determined the “W” as “M” under the “Race” column. It could happen! Have you seen the handwriting on those census records?

Most would ask why would the last child be white. In this case, it is because, that child was listed on the top of the next census page. Perhaps a new indexer was assigned or enough time lapsed to forget the previous page. Not sure, but these types of indexing errors are not rare.

What Is The Researcher To Do

The Ancestry.com U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1 and Volume 2 has posted the following Important Note:

As Ancestry.com is neither the author nor the compiler of the data in its indexes, we cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy of this information. Please exercise caution when judging the accuracy of data in the U.S. Public Records Index. Some addresses and telephone numbers are invalid and birthdates may be inaccurate as well.

This “Important Note” should be applied to all indexes, encouraging researchers to go to the original source, or at least obtain authentic unedited clear copies. Be sure to review any available image to assess quality of the source image or errors inadvertently made.

Remember there are other sites that may have clear copies, or different index results. Try Familysearch.org, Heritage Quest, Archives.com, Fold3 or even the local genealogy sites.

Client's Book

To my client: a book can still be written on the racial controversary but of course it would definitely be fictionalized. But with twists, turns and a bit of drama and love, it could be a Bestseller.

Correcting Index Errors
Ancestry.com’s online error reporting system, allows the user to submit a correction in two basic ways. See the Help information on the Ancestry.com website:

One is from the record summary page, which shows the indexed information plus a thumbnail image of the record; the other is from the census record image itself (if applicable; some records like the Social Security Death Index don’t have images). Regardless of where you add information from, we keep the original indexed information and add updates as alternate information. This means that if an update is incorrect, the original information is not lost.

For More Information
The ancestry.com Census Indexes and Finding Aids article gives a bit of the history of the accuracy of indexing.

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com
Accurate, accessible answers

Sibling and Family Dynamics

2012-01-09T12:57:00.000-06:00

One brother shot the other!

As genealogists we try to take a peek into the past and uncover our ancestor’s lives: who they were, what they did, when they had life changing experiences, and where they experienced them. The who, what, when and where aspects tells a story. But, the “who” is the hardest to capture since each ancestor had individual unique experiences, personalities and foibles. The “who” is not the grouping of a surname, but reveals an individual’s personality, a persistent trait, a unique characteristic.

Why Would a Sibling Shoot?
As family researchers we often lump the family in groups - “They were “religious people.” Were they? All of them? We can take a look at our own sibling interactions to understand the gamut of possibilities. I had 3 brothers, none of them are alike. Their personalities were more disparate than Kansas seasons. Sometimes I wonder if siblings were raised under the same household. Ask about one event, you get three totally different experiences. Only the place and time - the where and when - seems to be in accord. The what happened is from the perspective of the who tells it, which means it would take an experienced excavator to uncover the truth.

Our ancestors were no different. We can easily identify the affluent sibling, the entrepreneur or educated one. There’s the sibling that has a trail of court records and those who have written self-promoting manifestos allowing family researchers to more easily assess a personality type because his “truth” can be either supported or in conflict with the documents.

Example of a transcript

Recently I read a bio that suggested a completed college degree. It even stated “the class of …” But this self-promotion could not be supported by the school or the transcripts on record. Yes, he attended the college and had many completed hours, but no degree requirement was met. We might look to the family for answers. What made him self-promote? Did the family value education and he failed to obtain his degree? Did siblings achieve what he did not have? Perhaps he habitually stretched the truth, or sacrificed his integrity for status or career growth. Our genealogy records don’t always offer the reason, but it does allow us to take note; to see if there is a pattern.

Unidentified Characteristics
With family research and closer reviews of the sibling dynamics, I’m left with wondering which one was the bully or perhaps the aloof one or controlling one. There always seems to be a selfish or narcissistic one. And it never fails, one is always a persistent victim. Even after reading and studying birth order characteristics, we can not necessarily define a personality sets, because there is no set answer when defining the “who,” not even with a Myers Briggs analysis.

Correspondence and Letters
Just like today, a visit from a sibling does not mean the relationship is one bound by love. Perhaps it’s by obligation. Perhaps it was a strained visit. Think of your last family gathering. Our genealogical records do not openly show us the dynamics. But, through correspondence we may assess a relationship substantially.

We sometimes uncover a personality through our ancestors’ journals or written accounts by others. A documented personal account of an incident, hurt or loss may give us a peek into our ancestor’s relationships. We mustn’t overlook small hints.

Not all correspondence is from family jus sanguinis. Our hints to an ancestor's personality or family dynamics may come from letters written by close friends - “family of the heart.” These types of notes give us a peek at who our ancestor was to other people. They may be our only clue to an ancestor’s true personality.

No Longer the Family Secret
Not so long ago it was uncommon to “air dirty laundry”; few family members were transparent. They would not have considered openly journalling family feuds or unpleasant events. The “happy perfect family” appearance was always the same to the “outer world.”

With present day social media the next generation genealogists will be able to capture much more. The move toward transparency and scanning of personal affects will assist in our research. The most personal depositions are beginning to appear online. I have even come across online where a person declared himself a prophet and was entangled with a church scandal. Although the dramatics are of Hollywood quality, for the genealogist the accompanying church depositions highlighted personality traits. Since church records are often the key to our genealogical research, these scanned public records should not be overlooked.

Where to Look
Be sure to closely analyze documents, letters, church records, school records, and even employee notes for more hints to sibling and family dynamics. Newspaper articles also may reveal our ancestor’s true character. By all means, don’t assume family dynamics without assessing the evidence.

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy
Accurate, accessible answers

Blacks in Costa Rica

2012-01-06T09:24:00.000-06:00

Railway to Limon in 1904: click here for photo origin

Did Your Ancestor Migrate from Caribbean to Costa Rica?

Although many people of African descent came to Central America and Costa Rica as early as the 16th century, historical documents trace the first English-speaking African-Caribbean family to 1828. The family of William Smith, a fisherman from Panama, migrated to the Talamanca Coast of Costa Rica (Palmer, 1977). Smith and his family settled in Cahuita in the Limón province.

The latter half of the 19th Century saw a wave of Black immigrants, mostly fishermen and farmers to the eastern Caribbean coast, but even today only about 3% of the population is classified as black.

Looking for Panamanian Ancestors?
If you have lost the hot trail of your Panamanian ancestor, you may wish to check the records of Costa Rica. The Panama War of Independence with Colombia, 1000 Days War, from 1899 -1902 brought a number of blacks to the Costa Rican eastern coast.

From Jamaica to Costa Rica?
The province of Limón is known for its large Jamaican population. Thanks to the railroad, a large number of Jamaican, Barbados and St. Kitts citizens migrated to Costa Rica for work to build the railroad line between San Jose and Puerto Limon starting as early as 1871. Some would say the Jamaicans were recruited to work on the railroad due to the belief they were “physically better to undertake the elements.” Other historians would suggest that the Costa Ricans refused to do railroad work. Either way, you may look for your early Jamaican and Caribbean ancestor in the Costa Rica genealogical records.

Know that the original idea for most was to work on the railroad and return home, but due to a slump in the railroad and economy, most were forced to stay and make Costa Rica their home.

For more information

Read the Jstor article: Jamaican Blacks and their Descendants in Costa Rica by Charles W. Koch (page 339).

El Afro-Caribeño (The African Caribbean).

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy
accurate, accessible answers

Genealogy and Corporate Acquisition Records

2012-01-03T01:51:00.002-06:00

Following Pilsen Brewery Records

As family researchers we know that employee records can be helpful in bringing down brick walls. Personnel records hold contact information, injury notes, occupation details and sometimes company newsletters hold biographies or employee announcements that may include information on our ancestors. But what if you can’t find the employee records? Did you research the company history to uncover acquisitions, corporate name changes or change in corporate ownership and culture? A good example is a recent research I conducted on the makers of Pilsen Beer of Costa Rica.

History of Pilsen BeerAlthough the Pilsen beer is currently being manufactured as one of the 8 beers of Cerveceria de Costa Rica, this company (the Cerveceria de Costa Rica) is a subsidiary of the Florida Ice and Farm Company.

German, Dutch, Jamaican Proprietors

Jamaican brothers, Lindo Morales opened the Florida Ice and Farm Co in 1908 in La Florida de Siquirres Costa Rica to make ice for banana boats coming to Limon. This explains the name “Florida Ice and Farm Company. To expand their business to include beverages, the Lindo Morales entrepreneurs acquired Traube Brewery in 1912. Jose Traube, a Dutchman, had established Traube Brewery in 1888 on the Torres River after having purchased Leona Brewery from German Guillermo Hege, who started his brewery in 1875.

Where to Locate RecordsSo from German, to Dutch, to Jamaican owners the Pilsen Beers makers have maintained the brewery in Costa Rica. Of course various towns and provinces have been home to the brewery and its headquarters. For the researcher looking for their beer-making ancestors, employee records may be held within repositories of any of the brewery locations based on timeframes. Records may be located in the proprietor’s personal papers; or even within diaries and accounts of employees. Deeds should be reviewed for land and company acquisition agreements.

Knowledge of corporate changes may explain our ancestor’s migrations to new towns in order to follow an industry or company. A search of a town’s region may lead the researcher to discovering an ancestor’s employee. Don’t forget to peruse tax records also.

For more information on the Pilsen History with Florida Ice and Farm Co review the website.

Offering a Toast to your Ancestor Research.

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogyaccurate, accessible answers

Using These Military Records

2011-12-30T12:10:00.000-06:00

Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)

From: Defense Prisoner of War - Missing Personnel Office

As military researchers we divide records into three categories as outlined by the Department of Defense Archival Research: 1) personnel records 2) graves registration records, and 3) records from the field. See the Defense Prisoner of War - Missing Personnel Office for more information.

Within personnel records there are 2 sets of files created for soldiers that become quite useful when researching your veteran ancestor:

Individual Personnel File or IPF
Individual Deceased Personnel File or IDPF

Individual Personnel File or IPF
We often speak of the IPF and researchers learn quickly that individual service files for soldiers exist; albeit, some have been destroyed, others reconstructed from the 1942 fire. Your veterans’ IPF may include enlistment and discharge details, payroll information, awards and promotions and various assignments and stations. Read Military Records Were Destroyed for more information.

IDPF Information
What is underutilized in our military research is the information that can be accessed for soldiers who were “killed in action” and those who died while in war or in service both stateside and overseas. Burial Files precede WWII Individual Deceased Personnel Files (IDPF).

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows us to obtain IDPFs which were initiated in order to document soldiers’ military service, circumstance of death, location of interment during the war and efforts of recovering remains. The casualty report (DD1300) is included.

IDPFs most often contain unit information and the soldier’s burial information is usually accompanied with an action report and death circumstance even if a soldier’s remains were not recovered or identified. Researchers may also find testimonies of witnesses in the field. Insurance papers and listing of personal effects may also be included. These files may be compiled on one page or stuffed in a tome-like folder to include family correspondence and multiple reports.

Where Was He Buried?
Researchers often use IDPF files to determine the final resting place of an ancestor. Many bodies were moved from the original burial location and returned stateside or to an overseas cemetery. IDPF documentation will provide information on any transport.

Body Recovered?
If the body was recovered, an autopsy report may be included. But beware, there may also be graphic photographs. Recently, for an exhibit, a curator was only looking for the graphic photographs.

What to Expect

As this request is processed under the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) know that some next of kin and sensitive data may be redacted.

Due to the backlog and processes, expect 6-9 months to receive an IDPF. However, thanks to a newer streamlining process, we have recently received them as early as 45 days.

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy
accurate, accessible answers

Ship Manifests Annotations

2011-12-27T10:56:00.000-06:00

Located on bottom of Declaration of Intention Papers

Don’t Overlook the Scribbles

Manifests Annotations
Do you ignore the handwritten numbers, slashes, x’s and notes on passenger lists? If these scribbles do not excite you as a family researcher, you have not read the following two articles:

The Manifests Occupation Column written by Marian L. Smith

Beyond The Arrival Date: Extracting More From Immigrant Passenger Lists penned by Lisa Alzo and published on Archives.com online written--or the annotation beginning--in the occupation column

Passenger lists may be located at ancestry.com and fold3 and ellisisland.org. (Often there is a free trial for searches.)

History
Our immigrant ancestors who arrived after June 29, 1906 needed a certificate of arrival as a requirement of the naturalization process. (Not a requirement if arrived before this date, but it may still be found on earlier ship manifests). By 1926, scribbles in the occupation column were used to verify a legal immigration/passenger record. For the genealogist, these scribbles provide hints to if your ancestor initiated his naturalization papers between 1926- 1942/43.

Using these annotations the researcher may be identified in order to determine in which District an ancestor was living.

Notes
Besides the series of numbers written in the occupation column indicating initiation of the naturalization process, or naturalization numbers on or above your ancestor’s line, you may find a X, far left, of your ancestor’s name. Most would dismiss this X as a cross out, but it actually indicates that an immigrant was temporarily detained for various reasons. To further decipher the X annotation, visit the Archives.com Expert article.

Another “go to” article is Markings on the Manifest’s Left Margin by Marian L. Smith.

The Good Stuff is at the End
Ecstatic about finding our ancestor’s often erroneously leads us to thinking “that’s all the information.” But you will want to check the end of the manifests for references and notes of the passengers, especially if there is a marking on the left column of the manifest.

As early as 1903, the end of passenger lists noted Records of Detained Aliens and Records of Aliens Held for Special Inquiry for court hearings, passenger fees or other reasons. Visit: Board of Aliens Held for Inquiry for more information.

Researchers will find that understanding manifests annotations and markings will assist in bringing down brick walls. You may wish to take a longer look at those passenger lists.

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy
accurate, accessibe answers

Our Soldiers at Christmas and the Holidys

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000-06:00

Click Here for Video

Where Was Your Ancestor on Christmas?

Using documents, troop reports and photos held within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), we can often place veteran ancestors wartime movements. Recently, I did just this for an Australian client searching for her WWII soldier. Once a photo was found in the NARA records, the client, now in her late 80's, was able to positively identify the photo.

A French client, had early WWI photos of her ancestor. We were able to match NARA held photos with the one in her possession. This project ended in the joining of French and American cousins. But for some of us, we just want to know where I veteran ancestor was on Dec. 25, or on his birthday, or the 4th of July.

Some veteran photos and documents are digitized as you can see on the Fold3 created the video Wartime Holidays.

What's Digitized and Online?

For USCT visit the USCT Pension Records page for documents.
There are approximately 600,000 WWI Records online for research. Some of these records are accessible for free.
The WWII digitzed records can also be searched by name, date or place. This collection holds a more complete set of photos and documents.

For complete access of the Fold3 digitized collection visit the Fold3 website.

Kathleen Brandt
stradercom@aol.com

Researchers Are Readers

2011-12-18T08:53:00.000-06:00

Understand Society to Understand Ancestors

Dr. Widger's Library
If you are researching your ancestors in a vacuum, without knowledge of the era, event or community, you have probably failed to understand their life, their struggles, their decision. Sure you have documents, but do you understand the context of each of their pivotal events; the larger picture if you will of society? Have you read historical books or memoirs directly written in your ancestor’s lifetime reflecting their community? Even Rabelais dissected society to write his books. Historical readings will broaden your understanding of their life and societal impacts.

E-Books at Project Gutenberg

By now you have heard of Project Gutenberg, but with the popularity of e-books you can down load them to your smartphone and increase your cultural reading. Dr.Widger’s Library has a broad selection of titles that are of interest of our genealogical research. The library includes files, volumes, books, chapters, stories and illustrations.” But my favorite are the hidden maps:

Many of these selections are already available online, like Azel Ames’ The Mayflower and Her Log, July 15, 1620 – May 6, 1621, but the bonus of becoming familiar with Widger’s Library is its downloadable feature. You can download a complete set of books offered by an author listed in the index in order to link off-line to your smartphone or ebook.

The e-Books of Dr. Widger’s Library are for “the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net.”

Topics and Titles

A full list of authors and works available can be found at the Home Page: Here are a few titles of genealogical interest.

Cultural

Have you traced your family to early French ancestor? Widgers Library offers a collection of Court Memoirs of France with active on-line links to all files.
Moravians in Georgia by Adelaide Fries is a popular reference book.

Folklore and tales are another way to understand the culture of our immigrant ancestors, and hopefully you are familiar with the Works of William Carleton, and his Stories and Tales of the Irish.

Civil War

A thorough way to study the Civil War is through the experience of the Generals. Memoirs of Three Union Generals, Grant, Sherman and Sheridan, is included in this collection.

Was your ancestor a “guest” of a POW camp? A Story of Rebel Military Prison, by James McElroy gives us a peek into the Andersonville POW Camp. This fifteen month account of a Guest of the So-called Southern Confederacy is published in four volumes.

Political

Memoirs and writings of the US Presidents help us understand the “whys” of the era. An Index of the Complete Writings and Papers of Abraham Lincoln with active on-line links to all files are included. There is also the Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt.

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

accurate, accessible answers

Not Just Military Files

2011-12-12T07:30:00.000-06:00

Tucked In Military Files

Sometimes you just get lucky. But the key is knowing what is possible and then your eyes are peeled and your hopes are high. So what documents may be found in a veteran’s service file? I’m not talking about the normal DD214, or discharge papers or their draft records and enlistment papers. So much more genealogical data and history can be uncovered.

Proof of Naturalization

Here’s a copy of a US Navy veteran’s Proof of Naturalization. It is here that I have been able to open a case wide open. The actual Naturalization Petition Number and Certification Number are both provided with the US District Court and the date of citizenship.

This was the “father’s” naturalization, suggesting that the son (the veteran) was a minor at the time of his father’s naturalization on 4 Feb 1929.

Proof of Birth

Proof of birth ensconced in military files is not uncommon for immigrants or 1^st generation. In lieu of a country’s birth certificate, official government papers (i.e. Declaration of Intent, Naturalization, or Passport) could be used to verify birth place and birth date. Here we are given the birthplace of Coatbridge, Scotland and the date of birth as 5 June 1918. A bonus is reaped when the parents are named.

Parent’s names can offer one of two prizes: 1) verification that you have the correct family (if you were looking for a John C with the parents of John. and Margaret). And, 2) If you didn’t already know the parent’s names, you do now!

Life Insurance

How many times have you accessed a veteran’s file to search for “military information” and looked over the Life Insurance? Excuses range from “it didn’t have information on where he was stationed” to I was looking for his troop and company information.” As genealogists we don’t have the luxury of limiting military records to military data.

Through the years life insurance programs have been offered to Veterans.

WWI - Beginning in 1917 the War Risk Insurance was offered to over 4 million veterans. Enrollment for veterans was available until 1951.

WWII - The National Service Life Insurance, as seen here, was a WWII program that began 8 Oct 1940. Policies were issued to over 22 million veterans. This program terminated 25 April 1951 (no new policies).

For more information on Korean War, 1951, to Present Day insurance offerings to veterans, visit the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) website.

Full names of the veteran, and of the parents or spouses, are given on insurance records. Children may be listed also. Because full, official, names are needed, you may find a mother’s or spouse’s maiden name; or a mother’s remarried name on these documents. You are surely going to find a residence address along with the veteran’s birth date and place.

So much more is in the veterans’ service file than military history.

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

accurate, accessible answers

WWII Neighbors and Ethnic Profiling

2011-12-09T23:28:00.001-06:00

Veteran tells 'their stories', Kevin Cullen

The Charlestown Veterans History Project

Proper Use of Ethnic Profiling

A common genealogy brick wall scenario is the story of ancestors who flock to the big city for jobs. This is best seen at war-time. So when a recent client from down-under asked me to assist, I pulled out my 3 step process: 1) Map out surrounding area to the distance of the largest city (cities); 2) Define area industries, i.e. ship building, textile, etc.; 3)Define racial and ethnic communities. What were their neighbors doing? What was the trend for this community?

So when searching for an Irish immigrant ancestor during WWII ensconced inBoston, it was no wonder that I stumbled on the neighborhood ofCharlestown,located north of downtown Boston, MA. Immediately, my curiosityantennae’s stood at attention!

How is it possible that in a one square mile neighborhood approximately 5000 men and 100 women served in WWII? Did mothers hold their breath watching one child after another leave for war? Whowas left in the neighborhood of Charlestown? Did they share the same ethnicity? These are just some of the questions I had, when I heard of the Charleston Veterans History Project. The Boston.com article Veteran tells 'their stories' speaks of the many families that watched five or seven of their sons go off to war. Of course they were lucky if half of them returned.

Charlestown Veterans History Project

It is said that Charlestown, a historically strong Irish neighborhoodwithin the city of Boston can boast of the highest enlistment rates per capitalin the country during WWII. In honor ofthose who served from this neighborhood the Charlestown Veterans History Project was born.

Charlestown Veterans History Project is anorganization dedicated to preserving the history of the approximately 5,000 menand 100 women who served in WWII that came from Charlestown Mass. Charlestownis a One square mile neighborhood located in the City of Boston and had one ofthe highest enlistment rates per cap in the country during WWII. Theneighborhood is most notable for where the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought andwhere the warship USS Constitution resides. It’s also the location of the oldBoston Navy Yard where 50,000 workers built and repaired ships during WWII. Toshare the history, the Charlestown Veterans history project maintains a WWIIexhibit hall that’s located at 20 City Square Charlestown. The exhibits helphonor the men who served in WWII and provide an opportunity for all to learnabout the history and contribution Charlestown made during WWII .The hall isopen free to the public and encourages anybody to provide information on anyveteran who served in WWII that came from Charlestown. Bill Durette, Charlestown Veterans History Project, bill5195@hotmail.com

What Did The Rest of the Neighbors Do?

It appears that if you didn’t go to war, there was work at the Boston Navy Yard, formerly known as the Charlestown Navy Yard. About 50,000 persons worked at the yards that never closed during the WWII. The Navy Yard dedicated its production to war ships: reconditioning, repairing, and building anew. I wonder did those who had a hand in building the notable WWII ships follow their creation to battle? Did they cheer the ships to victory?

Of course there were other dominate Irish neighborhoods (i.e. Somerville, So. Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury) and some fellows involved themselves with the “Irish mob activity.” Some say, that escaping the gang activities was one of the motivators to join the military. But if the mobster/gang activity best suits your black sheep ancestor, check the prison systems and cemetery/funeral home records. Of course their infamous actions may have been featured front page.

Truth or Myth

If this type ofhistory exists in a neighborhood, Charlestown, MA would be the ideal host.This district offers not only the Charlestown Navy Yards, but also the BunkerHill Monument, and the USS Constition Musuem and (why not?) the USS Constituionand the USS Cassin Young. You might have to dust off the history books for informationon the USS Cassin Young, but here’s a hint: Navy destroyer. During WWII 14 Navydestroyers were built at the Charlestown/Boston Navy Yard (but not the USSCassin, it was built in California). Did one of your ancestors work there?

AdditionalResources

Militaryrecords dating after 1940 are available through the Military Records Branch ofthe Adjutant General’s Office, 239 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02114
MassachusettsArchives http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcgen/genidx.htm

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com
accurate, accessible answers

Note: I am proud to be associated with the Charlestown Veterans History Project.

Adding the Numbers to Ethnic and Religious Research?

2011-12-07T07:45:00.000-06:00

Where to Begin
In 1900 there were 934 Hungary born persons captured in the Missouri census. This number increased to 11,141 by 1910. What would cause such a dramatic increase in the Hungarian population in 10 years? The 1910 census also records that almost 8500 of these Hungary born residents lived in St. Louis and over 400 of them were living in Kansas City, Missouri (Jackson County). Numeric studies like this using Archives.com, Ancestry.com or Familysearch.org may help you trace your ancestor’s migratory path.

Since I was tracing a Hungarian Jewish family from Ohio to Kansas City, I repeated this analysis for Ohio which led me to the Western Reserve Historical Society at the Cleveland Jewish Archives from the Feinstein Jewish Center at Temple University which held vertical files on my subject.

Concentrate Your Research

The idea is to narrow your search to the most likely city/town and repository that may hold documents on your ancestor. Of course this is of most importance when you are tracing a particular ethnicity or an ancestor from a specific religious sector (i.e. Jewish, Catholic, etc).

Another key is to know the endonyms so you don’t overlook local or community based records (i.e. Magyar / Hungary)

A Few Missouri Resources
Kansas City is not a genealogical goldmine of Hungarian immigrant research archives or collections, but it is rich in local Jewish historical documents. So before perusing the JewishGen.org website, focus your research locally. Be sure to reference this source.

Here are a few of the repositories I researched for this project:

The Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library, St. Louis houses a collection of more than 22,000 books. “The Archives holds historical records of secular and religious institutions, family and personal memoirs, business records and local Jewish newspapers”(From the website).

The University of Missouri, Kansas City is a great repository to begin your Jewish historical documents. Jewish Community Archives of Greater Kansas City. Be sure to visit the Index of Papers and Holdings.

If visiting Kansas City, you may also wish to add the Self Guided Automobile Tour of Contemporary and Historic Jewish Sites in Greater Kansas City.

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Accurate, accessible answers

Tombstone Clues

2011-12-04T11:33:00.001-06:00

What Did You Miss?

I recently read a post by Valerie Craft entitled Why You Read the Back of a Tombstone with a photo of the carved headstone. Six lines of unidentifiable acronyms on the back of a tombstone were just waiting to be discovered. Although my signature line is “for every answer you find, you will probably uncover 3 new questions,” in Valerie’s case she found her ancestor’s tombstone and uncovered six new unanswered questions:

S. L. E. No 34

L. O. O. F.

A. L. No. 14

I. O. O. F.

G. T. No. G

I. O. OF R. M.

A novice might ask “why are acronyms and abbreviations on a tombstone important? Valerie answered: “I’d be very interested in researching any organization that this man belonged to. It would tell me a lot about his religious and political beliefs and point me in the direction of further genealogical sources.”

A Leap of Faith

If this just looks like Greek to you, well don’t rule out Greek fraternities. Or, it could be a list of societies that your ancestor belonged to. It might be that your ancestor was indigent and charitable groups assisted in paying burial fees.

At First Glance

Of course the key to your positive identification of tombstone (or document) acronyms and abbreviations must include local research. You will need to verify the existence and involvement of any organization in your area.

SLE#34 may be a local chapter of the Sons of Liberty. Could it stand for Sons of Liberty - East? Was there a Sons of Liberty #34 chapter?
LOOF- Local chapters of national organizations often included indicators of their chapter since they usually had their own budget set aside for community assistance. It is possible that LOOF references a Local(Lodge) Order of Odd Fellows.
I. O. O. F – Independent Order of Odd Fellows most often used this acronym. (Also identified by Craft).
AL: American Legion of Honor was started in 1874. Was there an AL #14 in this area?
GT No G: Good Templar organizations were popular. Was there a GT of Georgia (or Gwinnett)?
I. O. OF R. M. – The Improved Order of Red Men. (Also identified by Craft). There website boasts “America’s oldest fraternal organization.”

Where to Find Your Answers

As I mentioned earlier, before beginning your search, gathering information on the events of the local area for your timeframe is imperative. Historical events of an area often increased the need of societal and charitable organizations. Political events and community divisiveness often birthed secret organizations. Recessions, national and world financial depressions, plagues and epidemics all had a direct impact on the increase (or decline) of the need of charitable organizations.

Here are 5 places to learn of your ancestor’s involvement in a society, fraternity or charitable organization.

1. Obituary - Often memberships to charitable and ethnic associations or fraternal organizations (i.e. Masons or Greek) are listed. Final services may be held at a temple or lodge. These hints should be researched.

2. Funeral Home Records - Funeral records often hold financial records indicating payment of services, and correspondence with interest parties.

3. Cemetery Records – Like the Old Fellows Cemetery in Morton County North Dakota, many charitable organizations had their own cemetery for burials of the indigent or members.

4. Newspaper - Many organizations solicited membership or announced meetings via the newspapers. Immigrants were often sponsored or they supported ethnic societies. Review Immigrant Society Records and Genealogy.

5. City Directories may list lodges – When deciphering acronyms or associations be sure they are applicable to your area. City directories usually include the local Lodges, Posts, or meeting places.

Further Research

For a List of Fraternity Organizations you may wish to visit A Complete List of Fraternal Organizations A-L; and Part 2 M-Z.
Societies and Groups listed on Cyndi’s List
A list on the Rootsweb organization Acronyms and Abbreviations

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Accurate, accessible answers

Flip-Pal Holiday Discounts

2011-12-04T07:30:00.000-06:00

Through 18 December 2011

The Flip-Pal Holidays Coupon code HoHo11A will give you 10% off the purchase of a Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner or a Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner with Creative Suite Craft Edition DVD.This coupon is good from December 5-18, 2011 or while supplies last.

Coupon Code: HoHo11A

Date of Expiration: Dec 18, 2011

The Flip-Pal is considered a flatbed scanner (in most repositories) and can be safely used with original documents. Perhaps this is why repositories that previously have not allowed scanners to be used in the past are now allowing the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner.

Happy Shopping!
Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Flip-Pal Affiliate: http://flip-pal.com/a3genealogy

Fashion Detective

2011-12-02T06:23:00.001-06:00

Reading the Fashion Clues

Q: Could this be Mary Martha Morris (Bird Gross) Gudger?

There’s nothing more thrilling to me than researching historical subjects. But when it comes to dating ancestral photos, I cringe. Not because of the detail, but because the haute-couture for the thin, metropolitan, rich European type as usually demonstrated is not the same couture for the rather round, plump wife of small town Kansas. So you can only imagine the gnashing of teeth that occurred when I had to determine who this woman was in the unidentified photo.

What I Knew

I knew this rather round woman was one of the Morris women from central Kansas. But which one would be determined by the location and the year this photo was taken. The house I easily placed in Iola, Kansas. But the woman was a mystery. Who was she?

Tobe Morris had 6 daughters and 2 sisters that fit the bill. All of them had round bodies, same facial features and as soon as they were able, they dressed out of Lane Bryant. I even have early letters where they traveled from Nebraska and Kansas by train to California just for shopping sprees at the Lane Bryant. Sure they visited the California cousins, but their letters were filled with their shopping finds.

So what I really knew was this woman was between 65-80 years of age, and that the Morris family moved to Iola (the setting of photo) as early as 1885.

The Fashion Era Costume Characteristics

Nola Morris Wells Jackson
Edwardian Fashion, 1910

This allowed me to eliminate, on location alone, the Jacksonian Era, 1830-1840’s, the Antebellum Period, 1850-1860’s, and the high full pleated sleeve costumes of the early Gilden Age. I have a checklist of “Costume Characteristics” for each era. For example, the Gilden Age had high collars and high pleated sleeves; whereas the Edwardian era, 1900-1910, began to show necks and shoulders. The Edwardian sleeves were tailored but not puffed high as a rule. By the late Ragtime and WWI era, 1910-1919 the collars and lapels were wide and often sported interesting necklines. This looked like my era!

Nola Bell Smith, Albert Bell and
Jessica Gordon Wright, 1922

Using my checklist, I began analyzing from late 1910 forward. I figured with this photo I could bypass the flapper cloak styles, however I have photos of those early Morris cousins wearing the era styled wraps and hats. Oh, how fashionable they were!

The Details

Back to my photo. The screen door, mailbox, and house structure did not give me a hint. So it was time to go through my dating fashion texts. The problem is that all of the graphics show small built women with small waist and often 5’8 or taller to illustrate the fashion of the day. So, I decided to just jot down a few key words:

wide round neckline collar (not high collar)
low waist (not high waist, even if the coat fit her)
raglan sleeves (at least not a set in high sleeve)
may be an overcoat?
decorative buttons (not subdued on belt or top)
overlap front (hidden closure to coat)

Other things I noticed: no bra. Yes the undergarment movement must be taken into account here. Oh, and let's not forget the short hair for a family of women that could usually sit on their mops of hair. That has to be taken into account.

I had to also consider that the Morris women were quite well traveled and were possibly donning fashionable clothing not common to small town Kansas yet. But still, how fashionable could my almost 80 year old subject be?

Analysis

Starting with undergarments, bras were not that popular until after 1930. They probably weren’t introduced in the Midwest until about 1915 and even then, I wouldn’t expect an elderly woman to incorporate it in her wardrobe. But she was also going in public without a corset, and without the short-lived mono-bosom look of earlier years.

The sleeves and the waist were my biggest clues. Between 1910 - 1914 the fashion still bore the high waistlines, usually with a soft ribbon belt or pleat just under the bust – mocking the earlier Empire styles of the 1800’s. But, it was the 1920’s that had the drop waist. Even as late as 1914-1919, fashion designers were emphasizing a softer, but still pronounced set-in sleeve. But this coat in the photo was definitely patterned as an unfitted sleeve, and may have been raglan. This definitely moved my photo date to at least the early 1920’s. By the late 1920’s the style became shapeless for women. Some called it “manly”. The raglan sleeve was popular and the round neck and cowl neck was preferred, but the belt on this coat would have been completely out of style. This narrowed my years from 1920-1924

Remember the hair? Women began wearing it short as after the war. Most would argue this was a more functional style of dress for the women who met the job demands of war time (WWI). So this is totally in line with my 1920ish timeframe.

Summary

I would love to tell you that I was able to pinpoint the date of this photo. After several hours of analysis, I chose to post the photo on Google+ and send it to various relatives for some sort of consensus. Within an hour I received an email from Cousin Jane of Colorado:

I don't know who this person could be…[In 2005] I sent you 3 photos taken at Thanksgiving, 1922…[This] same person is in the background of [another] photo looking over my mom… The 3 photos were taken on the same day. Jane 29 Nov 2011

Did I just spend several hours analyzing this photo to find that it was taken Nov. 1922? Yes. But the exercise was good. And I didn’t do too bad since I narrowed it between 1920-1924!

From here, I can check my database. Which Morris woman was living in 1922 and would had been between 65 - 80 years old? The only possible Morris woman would have been Tobe’s sister, Mary Martha from North Carolina. Was she visiting that Thanksgiving? Well, that’s a whole new search!

Other Resources

One of my favorite books is The Twentieth Century Fashion Sourcebook by John Peacock.

A good article written by Halvor Moorshead: Old Photos: When Was It Taken

My favorite online site: Fashion-Era by Pauline Weston Thomas and Guy Thomas.

Uncovering Your Ancestry Through Family Photographs
by Maureen Taylor, Photo Detective

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com
Accurate, accessible answers.

Is Genealogy Ancestor Worship?

2011-11-29T08:19:00.001-06:00

Why Do You Do Genealogy?

Is family history something to be proud of? Hasn't modern man moved on from ancestor worship? These are the questions that Jeff Corbett poses in his New Castle Herald article Family Tree Futility on 29 Nov. 2011. It appears Jeff truly finds no value in genealogy research or findings and I'm sure he doesn't stand alone. I have had church leaders quote I Timothy 1:4 (KJV) to prove the futility of genealogy; and we all know family members might quietly giggle at our occupation (or preoccupation).

Well, why do you do genealogy? Really, are you guilty of secretly seeking royalty? Or, have you been gifted with the "silly gene?" (Wonder which marker would reveal that buried gene?)

For me...I'll reprint why I promote genealogy research. This piece, entitled What Is Genealogy?, offers why I cherish family genealogies and family stories.

Genealogy is more than cold dates and endless hours of research. It is more than who was born, who was married and who died. It is more than who a family was, and more than what they did or where they lived. Through the study of the names, dates, migrations, census information and DNA, the cold dates become milestones in the life of someone connected to us. The births of the past become as momentous as a birth today, the marriages, jobs, and setbacks as poignant. It is not only discovering a history but also uncovering a human journey. It allows for a grand perspective and realization that we will be the birth dates, marriage dates, and death dates of a future generation. We will be the nameless faces that stare from a faded picture. And so Genealogy becomes our future. By honoring our past we teach our children to honor theirs. When we honor the struggles and triumphs of our fathers and mothers, we honor the struggles of all families at all times in all places. John Brandt, 2007

Originally posted 29 Jan 2010 at What Is Genealogy?

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com
Accurate, accessible answers

Merry Christmas from Camp Olmstead Field POWs

2011-11-27T07:30:00.000-06:00

Camp Olmstead Field

During WWII, Pennsylvania held 26 POW Camps and 1 Japanese internment camp. Camp Olmstead Field in Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania held at least 281 German POWs.

Relationship with POWs

It is clear that POW’s often bonded or developed relationships while being held as prisoners of war. Perhaps this was the result of the War’s re-education program of POW’s as described in RG 389, File Unit 255.

The records in this series document the attempted re-education of German prisoners of war (POWs) along more pro-democratic and pro-American lines, as well as the cultural and religious life of POWs interned in camps in the United States and Europe.” The subjects included attitudes, haircuts, education, and even “planning and releasing of American motion pictures to specific POW audiences.

During WWII, 1944-1945, Charles H. Koegel, an American mechanic, served in the Army Air Corps at Olmstead Field, Pennsylvania. According to his son, he did speak German, implying he may have been a rather recent German immigrant. During Koegel’s WWII service, six German (or Austrian) prisoners of war worked under his supervision as mechanics in the motor pool. These POWs presented him with this Christmas card (front of card above). According to family, Koegel often wondered what ever became of these men. The family still cherishes this Christmas card.

"In memory of the POW Camp Olmsted Field"

Although Charles H. Koegel died in 1994, his family would like to hear from any of these men or their families.
Johann Pentenrieder

Jakob Schmitz

Willi Beinert

Willi Stkelbach

Rudolf Kirchhofs

Anton Neumann.
Write us a note (a3genealogy@gmail.com) if you are acquainted with any of these POW’s.

Olmstead Field POW Camp Research

A good place to start your Olmstead Field POW research is in the National Archive holdings. Here are a few links from National Archives Record Group 389:

File 255, Provost Marshal Textural Records 1943-1946
http://research.archives.gov/description/788371

Camps - General: Olmstead Field, Middletown, Pennsylvania

http://research.archives.gov/description/898959

Detention Rosters: Olmstead Field, Middletown, PA. 1942-1946

http://research.archives.gov/description/900197

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy@gmail.com

accurate, accessible answers

African American Mayflower Descendents?

2011-11-23T07:35:00.000-06:00

Mayflower, Library of Congress Photograph Collection

It Could Happen
What happens when you combine a heritage of English Pilgrim and an African slave? Well common sense tells you that you get a few of those 30-35 million Mayflower descendants to be mixed with African American blood. So how many Mayflower descendants have actually been accepted as members to the Mayflower society? Now that is a million dollar question. I have posed it to the society, but still awaiting a solid answer. In the meantime, I want to share a few facts.

Mayflower African American Research

It is no easy task for anyone to prove eligibility for The Society of mayflower Descendants, but theoretically, in spite of slavery, it is possible for African Americans to do so. Through the tightly woven tapestry of African and pilgrim bloodlines, some will find that a branch of the family tree is indeed eligible for the Society of Mayflower Descendants. http://www.themayflowersociety.com/

Mayflower Ethnic and Religious Diversity

In a Los Angeles Times article, Mayflower Society Guards Door: For Some It’s An Ego Trip; for Others, Pride in Heritage, Charles Hillinger, author, reports the status as of 28 Nov 1985. This 1985 article implies that there are African American members:

Descendants include Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Mormons and members of other faiths. They come from all walks of life, rich, middle class and poor, teachers, preachers, lawyers, doctors, nurses, truck drivers, postmen, businessmen and women, secretaries, police officers, pilots, librarians… There are black members, an airline stewardess whose mother is Japanese, Indians who trace their ancestry to both the Pilgrims and the Indians who greeted the Pilgrims on arrival in this country.

Nathaniel Hawthorne best speaks of early Puritan and African relationships in 1862:

There is an historical circumstance, known to few, that connects the children of the Puritans with these Africans of Virginia, in a very singular way. They are our brethren, as being lineal descendants from the Mayflower, the fated womb of which, in her first voyage, sent forth a brood of Pilgrims upon Plymouth Rock, and, in a subsequent one, spawned slaves upon the Southern soil…” Nathaniel Hawthorne by Harold Bloom; page 55.

African Americans Before the Mayflower

Keep in mind that I am only speaking of the Mayflower that landed in 1620, MA. Let’s not confuse this part of history with the March 1619 enumeration of Jamestown that predated the Mayflower. There, thirty-two (32) African indentured servants were enumerated in Jamestown. But back to the Mayflower….

Were There Any African Americans on the Mayflower?
According to Caleb Johnson, “there were no blacks on the Mayflower."

The first black person known to have visited Plymouth was 30-year old John Pedro, presumably a servant or slave, who stopped at Plymouth in 1622 before heading on to Jamestown, Virginia. There are no records of any blacks living in Plymouth Colony until 1643, when an individual referred to simply as "the blackamore" is listed as one of the men between the ages of 16 and 60 who was capable of carrying arms in the defense of Plymouth (think of it as the first Selective Service list in America). The next mention of a black in Plymouth records seems to be a 1653 court record mentioning a "neager maide servant of John Barnes" who testified on her master's behalf in a lawsuit against John Smith. During the King Philip's War of 1676, a black named Jethro was captured by the Indians, but taken back by the colonists a few days later. In a subsequent court action, he was ordered to be a servant for two more years and then he was to be freed. Plymouth, for the most part, had servants [indentured servants] and not slaves, meaning that they usually got their freedom after turning 25 years of age. (Information from Caleb Johnson’s MayflowerHistory.com;
http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/index.php)

Were Black People the Only Indentured Servants?

Be sure to understand that indentured servants and slaves are not synonymous. Slaves were bound indefinitely, indentured servants served for a pre-determined amount of time. In these earlier years, it was not uncommon to see whites and black indentured servants working alongside one another. In exchange for passage to America, the service of poorer white people was sold to the “planter class” for a predetermined number of years. Upon arriving on shores, the ship captain (or agent in charge) sold these passengers to the highest bidder.

For More Information

Visit the Americans All “Of Plymouth Rock and Jamestown and Ellis Island” by Werner Sollors.

Happy Thanksgiving

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy

Accurate, Accessible Answers

Mayflower Research

2011-11-18T07:40:00.000-06:00

Copy of Mayflower Compact as written by Wm. Bradford
in History of Plymouth Plantation; Original of Bradford's text is believed
to be held at State Library of Massachusetts

What Happened in 1620?

Funny how easy some dates are so easy to remember: 1492? I know you are thinking “Columbus sailed the ocean blue!” What if I ask about the year 1620? Does that ring a bell? It was 11 Nov 1620 that the passengers of the Mayflower arrived at Plymouth Colony, Provincetown Harbor (now known as Massachusetts.)

Was My Ancestor on the Mayflower?

It is quite possible that you are one of the estimated 30 million descendants of the Mayflower. (The General Society of Mayflower Descendants gives a more conservative figure of 10 million descendants.) The Mayflower interest is not a privilege restricted to New Englanders. You may be a descendent and live in North Carolina, or California, or Alaska. Listing and contact information of Mayflower State Societies can be found at the General Society of Mayflower Descendants website.

Of course some have bragging rights of carrying the same surname as one of the original progenitors. Oh we know a few names by heart: Alden, Bradford, Brewster, Cooke. But surname alone does not prove lineage, you still must have papers to prove it. (Ask the Mayflower Society!)

Where to Begin Your Research?

I suggest looking at the Society of Mayflower Descendants websites for General Application Instructions. The rules are simple: document your descent from one or more passengers on the Mayflower voyage of 1620. A good bit of information to know is that some of the passengers left “proven descendants.”

Family researchers would be remiss if they didn't visit The Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants Library's online inventory and holdings.

Who Were the Passengers?

Copy of Mayflower Compact with Signers[1]

The Mayflower Compact - the first governing document of Plymouth colony was signed as an agreement by all of the 41 adult male members /passengers. Salvaged copies of this document provides the researcher with the names of these passengers.

However, not all have proven lines of descent, and many that are spouted about on the internet are incorrect. A good article to review is “Researching Your Mayflower Ancestors: Part IV: Internet Research: Sorting the Good from the Bad by Alicia Crane Williams on the American Ancestors (NEHGS) website. Actually this is a good 5 part series to read if you are attempting to do this lineage society research on your own.

Many contemporary celebrities, US Presidents, and notables are proven descendants of Mayflower passengers. Perhaps you have already traced your lineage to one of these distant cousins. See Notable Descendants, but be sure to do your homework.

5 Valuable References

The Mayflower Descendant Volumes; Mayflower Society Silver book is also known as The Five Generations Project books that are final volumes of completed works by the Mayflower Society.
Mayflower Families in Progress (also known as the Pink books) are “Silver books in the making.” Not yet completed volumes these works in progress are soft bound and available for the researcher.
Silver and Pink books may be purchased at various websites, such as Pilgrim Hall Museum's as well as at the General Society of Mayflower Descendants website.
Mayflower History.com. A website penned by Caleb Johnson is a great one-stop must have for any Mayflower researcher. Great links and information are in one place.
The Women of the Mayflower Project, according to Heather Wilkinson Rojo, is a General Society of the Mayflower Descendant project with the goal of identifying the maiden names and families of the wives on the Mayflower. To learn more, visit Nutfield Genealogy, Women of the Mayflower Project written by Heather Wilkinson Rojo (19 Sept. 2011).

[1] The Mayflower Compact And Its Signers with Facsimiles And a List of The Mayflower Passengers 1620-1920 by George Ernest Bowman, Editor of The Mayflower Descendant, Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Boston MA, 1920; pg. 19-20 holds a copy of the original "entire fifteenth and sixteenth pages of Morton's New Englands memoriall"; online access 19 Nov 2011 http://www.archive.org/stream/mayflowercompact00bow#page/n3/mode/2up

However, the origin of this photo/poster has not been identified. A copy is held in author's file, but may very well be a poster as that sold on the Plimouth Plantation website: http://www.archive.org/stream/mayflowercompact00bow#page/n3/mode/2up

Note: a3Genealogy's family tree and document research for clients may be used for lineage society applications. However, please note that we do not work directly with lineage societies or within the application process.

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Accurate Accessible Answers

Great Lakes Passenger Lists

2011-11-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

Ancestry.com Dutch Immigrants to America, 1820-1880

They Didn’t All Come Through Ellis Island

There were so many ways to enter America at any given time. Most researchers rely on Ellis Island records, but, so many of our ancestors did not come through Ellis Island. There were entry ports from the east, south, west , north – as in Canada and the Great Lakes. Researchers often venture out to the other major 19th and 20th century U. S. arrival ports for immigration: Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New Orleans. But what about the Great Lakes?

Dutch through the Great Lakes

It is true that immigrants can be traced in ethnic clusters and their early American settlements. This focus should begin with being acquainted with the purpose of emigration and the most popular routes taken.

Currently, I’m tracing a group from Dutch (Holland) that settled in the Great Lakes. Whereas other ethnic groups may have emigrated due to religious persecution, wars. political preferences, etc., a primary reason for Dutch immigration was to increase land and financial status.

Dutch Immigrants to America, 1820-1880

The Ancestry.com Dutch Immigrants to America, 1820-1880 database “contains information on over 56,000 Dutch immigrants who came to America between 1820 and 1880. The information was extracted from the National Archives passenger lists of ships arriving at various Atlantic and Gulf ports. The list includes vessels disembarking at Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia and other smaller ports.”

Further Research

Lost Passenger Steamships of Lake Michigan

A good idea when researching passenger list is to also learn of the many ships that did not survive the passage. Many Great Lake researchers have already heard of the sinking of Lady Elgin, 8 Sep 1860. Over 300 passengers, mostly Milwaukee’s Third Ward Irish went down with her. If not, you may wish to reference Lost on the Lady Elgin by Valerie van Heest.

Another good book to have handy: Lost Passenger Steamships of Lake Michigan, by Ted St. Mane.

And, let’s not forget the Great Lake passengers who crossed through Canada. Although not a complete list, a good resource of Great Lake port crossings is the St. Alban's Border Crossings. This collection is not limited to St. Alban, VT crossings, but holds records along the Northern border with Canada. Researchers may wish to become familiar with this collection through the New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestor’s page, St. Albans Passenger Arrival Records by Michael J. Leclerc

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy

Accurate, Accessible Answers

My Favorite WWI Veteran

2011-11-11T19:18:00.001-06:00

Veteran's Day Corporal George Strader

11-11-11 (Nov. 11, 2011)

George Strader was a WWI Corporal for the 805^th Pioneer Infantry, AEF. He was born in Glendale Kentucky, 27 September 1894 and the son of James Nelson and Mary (Gaddie) Strader. He married Blanche Blanton around 1921 after serving in Europe and returning home. Strader, a disabled veteran was from Lyons, Rice County, Kansas. He enlisted 19 Jul 1918, died in Denver, Colorado 28 Mar 1954 and buried in the Ft. Logan National Cemetery.

Strader was a part of Company D, and served in France.

The story of Strader'sWWI helmet: read WWI Chandelier.

Kathleen Strader Brandt

a3Genealogy

accurate, accessible answers.

Great Lakes Research - Through Wisconsin?

2011-11-09T07:30:00.000-06:00

Cofrin Library Genealogy and Archives

It’s not the first time I have touted the benefits and treasures to be found in University Archives or Special Collections. But why not highlight the Cofrin Library at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay.

But any researcher who has tried to narrow Great Lake immigrants knows the difficulty in narrowing repositories that may hold ancestors’ documents: vital records, court records, and especially Citizenship Records to include Naturalization records. So gathering an arsenal of possible repositories is key. The Cofrin Library home page clearly invites the researcher to visit their Local History & Genealogy or their University Archives.

What a sigh of relief when I found my Norwegian immigrant “Houdini” (and he was good at the disappearing act) at this repository.

Local History & Genealogy

At the Cofrin Library Local History &Genealogy page the researcher can search online indexes for nine counties for dates spanning from 1829-1963. An online Citizenship Records index covers several counties (years vary):

Brown County

Outagamie County

Kewaunee County

Manitowoc County

Various court record indexes are available for Shawano County. An 1875 Plat Map and even various Will Book(s) index are available online for Brown County; Probate Case File index for Outagamie County.

Where to Begin?

Try the Online Index Search first.

But Don’t Stop There?

As you peruse this website, you will see that many records are not indexed or online. However, you can request for a search and copies by using the Request Forms page. I used this service to obtain copies of Declaration of Intention, Petition and Naturalization papers of my “subject”.

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Accurate, Accessible Answers

Family Secrets Hidden in Your Shoebox?

2011-11-08T18:55:00.000-06:00

Shoeboxology

Did you know 1000memories will be at the Midwest Genealogy Center (MGC), 19 Nov to feature their Shoebox App? 1000 Memories is offering a free scanning session at the Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence, Missouri, on November 19, 2011. The event starts with a class entitled, “Genealogy Clues In Your Family Shoebox” at 1:00 pm, followed by a tutorial on how to use the 1000 Memories website (a free password-protected website for sharing your genealogy) at 1:45 pm. Finally, you can scan your photos and documents from 2-4 p.m. with unlimited scanning.

TheGoal
This “Memory-Sharing Platform [will] help Missouri families digitize photo and video collections for the holidays.

Event

This free event includes unlimited scanning of photos and videos, a "show & tell" of great old photographs, and a short class on vintage photography.

Launching the week before Thanksgiving, Shoeboxology will show MGC participants how they can make family photo sharing a big part of their holiday. “It’s a time when families are together with the people who remember the stories and people behind the photographs” says Mike Katchen, director of business development at 1000memories. “That’s why it’s so important to take advantage of holidays to share these stories and save them for future generations”. It is open to the public. Don’t miss out on this free opportunity! RSVP at mcg@1000memories.com.

For More Information

Visit 1000Memories.com and the Press Release.

Looking forward to seeing you there. Don’t forget to RSVP at mcg@1000memories.com.

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Accurate, Accessible Answers

African American Research in Society Journals

2011-11-06T11:35:00.000-06:00

Are Your Ancestor’s In Plain Sight?

Are you receiving society journals to assist you in your research? There are County genealogy quarterly journals, like that of Itawamba Settlers, Itawamba County, Mississippi. There are State genealogy journals; like the Missouri State Genealogical Association Journal; and even town genealogical newsletters. The advantage to receiving and reading these journals is that they often publish transcribed newspaper articles, publish local an index of a local cemetery records book , or highlight land and legal (deeds, wills, etc) papers. But are you a subscriber? Have you missed an opportunity to research your ancestor?

Society memberships usually carry a nominal fee, but I find the journals (sometimes monthly, sometimes quarterly) to be extremely valuable. They are very helpful, when I’m researching a religious group or ethnic group.

I find it particularly helpful in African American research. Why? Sometimes family researchers stumble over fascinating things; often out of place and of no value to their own family research, but perhaps revealing of their local area research. They may decide to publish their findings in a local Journal as have John M. Abney and Carole Meltzer Goggin, who have published articles in the Missouri Genealogical Society (MoSGA) Journal. In just one Journal, XXXI, No 3, 2011, published recently, several articles on slave and African American research were highlighted. And although I’m featuring the MoSGA Journal here, these types of articles printed in genealogical journals are the norm not an exception. The key is to be a subscriber, and I must admit, I join these Societies for the Journals. But, there are other benefits of being a member.

From One Journal

Life of Henry Valle (Colored)
John M. Abney highlighted the Life of Henry Valle (colored) known as Uncle Guito. Henry M. Valle travelled to California and returned to Missouri with his master and purchased his freedom. He later returned to California to amass enough money to purchase his wife’s freedom. He also was one of 50-84 African Americans who helped defend Fort Davidson, Pilot Knob, Mo, from Confederate attacks Sept 1864. This article held the transcription of Valle’s obituary printed in the Iron County Register, 27 March 1910.

African American Civil War Draft RegistrationsAbney also extracted and compiled the African Americans Appearing on Civil War Draft Registration Registers for Missouri’s Third Congressional District. Ancestry.com is the source of these extracted records, but Abney, has concentrated his MoSGA journal article for African Americans in the 3^rd Congressional District to include county of residence, name and age. Personally I was surprised there were almost 300 entries listed in this rural Missouri Congressional district.

Manumission Records at Jefferson County, MO.Carole Meltzer Goggin in her article of A Few Jefferson County Marriages That Were Recorded At the County Seat – Herculaneum not only prints an index of marriages (not African American), but inserts a paragraph to inform the researchers that scattered in early Land Record Books of Jefferson County, Mo, were manumission records.

Why were manumission transactions recorded in Land Record Books? This was common practice in rural areas where there may have only been one place to record property acquisitions and transactions. And slaves were property. Keep this is mind when researching for manumission records in any county.

Colored Marriages, Jefferson County, MOGoggin also provides us with a name index of almost 100 “colored” marriages extracted from the a book dated 1818-1847. However, she warns us that contrary to the dates on the book, the actual marriages recorded are from 1867-1879.

Slave Extractions in Government Records
“Isam Williams appeared in Court and acknowledged bill of sale to RACHEL BANFORD, thereby manumitting and setting her free.” This is just one of the entries Goggin extracted in her article Slave Extractions from Jefferson County Missouri Government Records. The extractions included a free colored who “Emanumits” his wife, sale of slaves, and a slave who was indicted for manslaughter.

Reasons to Join the Society

I’m not sure you need more reasons to join the society that prints and publishes on the area of your interests and research. I have stumbled over more than a few articles that have catapulted my research.

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com
Accurate, Accessible Answers

Berkely Bancroft Library

2011-11-04T07:30:00.000-05:00

Land Cases in California
If you are doing genealogical work in California and you haven’t perused the Bancroft Library collections, you are not panning for gold. There are original map surveys of the Ranchos, special collections, historical documents, and early maps of many counties.

Ranchos ResearchOriginal Rancho papers and agreements are held at the Bancroft papers. My favorite collection has become the Land Case Files circa 1852-1892 and the Land Case Maps, 1840 –ca. 1892.

These Land Case files and maps are part of the private land claim cases. Land stealing and bickering led to the Act to Ascertain and settle Private Land Claims in the State of California in 1851. “All holders of Spanish and Mexican land grants [had to] present their title for confirmation before the Board of California Land Commissioners,” or risk losing their land to public domain. There are 857 total cases that involved sometimes generations in families. Since the average claim took 17 years to settle, you may find your ancestor buried in the paperwork as a witness, an opposing neighbor or in another legal capacity. This is also a great place to begin your early Mexican Californians (Californios) research.

Where Did They Live?The Bancroft Land Case File and Map collection (diseños) should not be overlooked if you are tracing your ancestor’s land plats. Using Google Earth Overlay functions I was able to pinpoint today’s landmarks on the historical diseños. Many of the Land Case Maps are online. With a quick Google Earth tutorial by Jenna Mills of Seeking Surnames, I was armed with the tools to overlay the historical map.

Keep in mind that the Bancroft Library has an extensive digitized collection. Many of the Finding Aid to Documents, Pertaining to the Adjudication of Private Land Claims in California and the Finding Aid to the Maps of Private land Grant Cases of California are available at the Online Archives California link.

Kathleen Brandt
a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Conservatorship and Guardianship Records

2011-10-31T21:21:00.000-05:00

The Public Administrator Did It!

A letter tucked in funeral records gave me the clue that Helen diedincapable of handling her own affairs.

Hidden Clue?

Copy to: Andrew Wysowatchy, PA

Helen's death certificate from the Nursing Home shared that she had fallenand recently fractured her left side femoral, but this does not usually require a Public Administrator tomanage one's financial affairs. She died of heart disease.

It is important for family researchers to understand the roleof those who legally assisted our ancestors in order to prevent valuable cluesto go unnoticed, since this seemingly small hint may be the window to openingor closing our ancestor's life story.

So when I realized that the letter in Helen's funeral filewas penned by a well-known Colorado Public Administrator, I quickly changed mycourse of research, altered my Research Plan, and tried my luck at researchingin a close state. I've told you before,there are many ways to skin a cat, and when it comes to closed states like Colorado, theresearcher must be creative, especially when notes like the following are received:

Thank you for your request. Due to the case type, we are not allowed to release information on cases regarding mental health issues. In addition, we cannot verify if we had a case matching a name either. These cases are sealed and protected from the public.
Thank you
xxxxxxxx- Speacilist/Deputy Registrar
Denver Probate Court
1437 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 80202

Hint: Once you mention that your ancestor'scourt records were due to mental incompetence, you may not get a lot of helpfrom the Court staff in a closed state.

Step One

Know the laws of the state. So besides tracking down the archived court records, it will behoove anyresearcher to have a basic understanding of the state's rules and implementationsof such jobs as public administer, conservator, and guardianship. This willguide the researcher on "next steps."

Basic Terms

Keep in mind that the laws of each state are uniquely implemented,but as I have mentioned before, signatures of letters/correspondence carry alot of weight. In this case it impliedHelen was mentally incompetent to manage her own healthy pension $2500.00/monthby 1965. She had worked for Standard Oil Vacuum in

China

from1919-1938. And disappeared from theradar from 1939 to her death in 1965.

Public Administrator

PublicAdministrators, appointed by the court, may be responsible for decisionsregarding medical consents, educational/habilitation plans, finances andgeneral health of those entrusted to the office of the Probate Court. The Probate Court may also appoint a PublicAdministrator as to represent deceased estates. Fees for the PublicAdministrator's services are paid by the ward's estate in accordance state'sstatute. Two important responsibilities of the Public Administrator areGuardianship and Conservatorship.

Guardianship refers to monitoring the physical well being of award and conservatorship refers to the financial administration ofthe ward's assets. The Public Administrator must reportannually to the Probate Court on the financial and physical well being of eachward (person). Remember guardianship may apply to adults (elder care) orchild. Again, know your state's rule.

Conservator. The conservator is a court appointed"custodian of property." It often has restricted power of duties.Conservatorship records are often closed since it may indicate that yourancestor was "unable to effectivelyreceive and evaluate information or make or communicate decisions to such anextent that the individual lacks the ability to satisfy essential requirementsfor physical health, safety, or self-care, even with appropriate and reasonablyavailable technological assistance.” In other words, mentallyincompetent. Fees are paid from the "ward or subject's" finances. Inthis case Helen's pension, paid for her conservator fees.

Hint: If your ancestor fell under theprotection of the Public Administrator, you may also want to check "SmallEstates as well as Probate. Records."

Researching Within Privacy

A letter from the court explained that information on theward would not be released, nor would they admit or deny "if the recordsexists. " So what is a researcher to do? Work backwards from death.

Beginning with the last known residence, a Nursing Home thatwas identified on the death certificate, records were found from varioussources to illuminate the last part of Helen's life story. The funeralhome, held additional information, and the Public Administrator's office heldadditional information. An unpopularrecord, Helen's employment pension, also held vital information to piecetogether her years of confinement.

Other Places To Research

Be sure to check for Sheriff and Public Administrator Record books of the county.
Some earlier papers recorded Public Administrator involvement in the newspapers. Here's an example index of the 1883 Probates of the Public Administrator of the City and County of San Francisco from the San Francisco Examiner, I found online: http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/prob83.htm
Remember these records may not be held with the other Probate and Estate records, so don't forget to gently inquire.

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Good Source for World War I Overseas Research

2011-10-18T00:20:00.000-05:00

A sample of AEF veteran names and assigned duties

American Expeditonary Forces (AEF)

If you are researching the American Expeditonary Forces (AEF) Air Service for WWI, then you probably already know of the Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917-1919 collection. If you aren't familiar with Gorrell's History visit Fold3 (formerly Footnote.com). The AEF Air Service was responsible for the employment of AEF aviation units that included observation balloons as well as airplanes and this extensive historical collection holds many treasures for the family researcher.

"WWI was the first war in which air power was a strategic force." And for this reason, Maj. Gen. Mason Patrick, Chief of the Air Service, instructed Col. Edgar S. Gorrell, Assistant Chief of Staff of the Air Service, to gather all information that would "assist in establishing Army aeronautics on a sound basis for the future." The AEF maintained an air service from 1917 to its demobilization and return to the United States the summer of 1919 resulting in a 282 bound collection of historical narratives, reports, photographs, administrative and technical documents, and tactical activities of the Air Service in the American Expeditionary Forces.

Fold3 pg 162

Women Workers in the AEF

We are mostly familiar with the AEF female nurses, but what about the other 6000 women who served with the AEF forces? Jennifer D. Keene author of World War I outlines the roles of Army female civilian volunteers and clerical staff workers, as well as highlighting the roll those who enlisted as yeomen and marines in Naval and Marine Corp Reserves. In the Women Support Staff Roles section (pg 188) Keene discusses many other roles women played in the AEF.

Genealogical Interest (extracted from Fold3)

There are rosters, photographs of personnel, and even obituaries of pilots killed in action ensconced amongst the lengthy historical narratives, copies of administrative and operations. Even reports by downed American aviators who were prisoners of war are can be found along with AEF copies of the newspapers.

Beginning Research

The Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917-1919

NARA microfilm publication may be found in the 58 rolls of Record Group 120 or you may wish to do the online Fold3 search.

A good place to begin your research is to become familiar with the holdings. The descriptive pamphlet for Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917-1919, Publication M990, provided by the National Archives will help the researcher focus their search.

Table of Content

Take a gander at the rich holdings in this collection: Series A: Early History and General Organization of the AEF Air Service and Series B: Air Service Activities With the French, British, Series C: Tactical Units and Italians; Series D: Tactical History; E: Squadron Histories; Series F: Balloon Section; Series G: Photographic Section; Series H: Mechanics Regiments; Series I: Paris Headquarters and Supply Section; Series J: Training; Series K: Technical Section; Series L: Miscellaneous Sections of the Air Service (included AEF newspapers); Series N: First Army Material (Some documentation included in these volumes duplicates documentation included in the volumes of series C and E); Series O: Weekly [Statistical] Reports; Series P: Third Army; Series Q: Air Service Liquidation; Series R: Investigation of Damage Done by Allied Bombing.

Kathleen Brandt
a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Generational Research Game

2011-10-15T21:01:00.001-05:00

The New Yorker Store
http://www.newyorkerstore.com/2011/ah-just-the-person-i-was-looking-for/invt/137383/

Distinguish Common Names

My hubby would like to delve into more depth on his lineage. Pretty hodgepodge European on mother's side, but his father's (and hubby's interest) is Irish. Problem in searching is seems all of the Irish who came over had the same names. HaHa how do you know which one is right? Yvette

Analyze, Analyze, Analyze
Perhaps a3Gen really stands for Analyze, Analyze, Analyze genealogy documents, data and information! At least that's what I thought when Yvette sent me the above inquiry (part of a longer email). Not to simplify the issue, but truly, this is where your analytical and research skills should shine. You want to start with the most recent generation and work yourself backwards. And, the following suggestions only work if you take the time with each generation.

Let the Games Begin

The true purpose of this "game" is to eliminate the contestants who should not be in your family tree.

The goal is to identify who's the last Michael McCabe standing!

The winner gets a full scale scrutiny. Of course there may be 2-5 still standing at this point.

Rules

It helps to know a few documents that can lead you to your answer. The key however, is to not limit yourself to one generation. To unravel this puzzle, you must open your circle and not only follow immediate family members but also associates. Then with a organizational chart, you slowly start matching family units.

Eliminate The Obvious

First we narrow common name ancestors by age, residence and careers. Familiar family names also helps (but usually they are the culprit). Census records may reveal when they came to the USA, let's not forget that hint.

Secondly we start pulling documents. At this point we have no idea which Michael McCabe is the right one, but at least they are all about the same age, from the same region, and are all sheep butchers and all came to USA in with a couple of years of 1896 (let's leave room for reporting errors).

Of course we still don't know which Mike, Michael, and Mikal is the right one. And we've only narrowed it to 23 possibles (or may 67?). Not really a working number, so we use a few more parameter. If you are lucky, all parents will reveal Mary and Joseph (or whomever; but remember you must leave allowance for nicknames. Plus given names like Mary and Joseph in our Irish research is of little help.).

Thirdly, let's do a neighbor/community analysis. Remember to find the one, we look at 100. So since immigrants usually migrated with family and friends, we use this fact to our advantage.

A Dozen Records

Next Step (officially #4): Pull the following documents for parents, spouses, children, siblings. This generational information will at least help you eliminate possible family units that are not related or are cousin, not your direct line.

Census Records: residence, occupation, birth place, age
Birth Records: parents data and birth place
Death Records: parents names and spouses are listed as well as vital dates are provided
Military Service Records: birth date, enlistment place/residence, beneficiary and next of kin, last pay vouchers may show the location of where a veteran will live after service
Employment Records: beneficiary and spouse information, residence and vital records to include birth date
Obituary: family members listed, residence, birth data, career, service records
Cemetery/Funeral Records: family information in funeral programs, veteran record information, residence, and informant names
Wills/Probate: gives children and spouse names, maybe even grandchildren or great grandchildren
Land Records and Maps: an analysis of land records may in reveal spouse information and other family members.
County/Town Histories: an often overlooked resource, but should be reviewed for family information
Immigration Records: remember to note if they were going to be residing with a family member. This has been the final clue for me several times.
Naturalization records. Remember witnesses can also be your key.

There are so many more records that can help, but the goal is to gather data and organize it into family units.

Let's do crafts.

Get a large board, or wall (ok the computer will work, but not quite as fun), and arrange people in family units. Now remember you are only going one generation at a time, and everything must align with the generation you are working with. Then one step at a time you will end on the other side of the pond.

Yes, it's time consuming, but at a3Genealogy we call it the Generational Research Game.

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Library of Congress Holdings

2011-10-11T08:22:00.003-05:00

5 Boxes of the Eversman/DeSayn Collection

Collections for Genealogists

Insurance Papers for Violins

As genealogists we know the Library of Congress (LOC) housesa wealth of historical records, documents, maps (and more) in its 3 buildingsand off-site storage facilities. At 838miles of shelves, it's the largest library in the world housing "33million books and printed materials, as well as more than 113 million maps,manuscripts, photographs, films, audio and video recordings, prints anddrawings, and other special collections." But as a genealogist are you one of the annual1.7 million plus readers or visitors? While in the DC area genealogistsresearching at the National Archives, DAR and other repositories, bypass theLOC. Granted, you need time! But youmay be surprised at your findings.

The collections are indescribable. Sure there's the Digital Collection "digitized photographs, manuscripts, maps, sound recordings, motionpictures, and books, as well as "born digital" materials such as Websites." But, what about the textural collections?

Performing Arts Reading Room

At a3Genealogy we schedule 2visits a year for client research at the LOC. This year we visited the Map Collection for a thorough Napa County research project, and thePerforming Arts Reading Room to research in the Music Division.

Note from John Philip Sousa in
Eversman/DeSayn Collection

Elena DeSayn, a Russianviolinist was one of our research projects. We were able to go through 5 boxesof the Elena Desayn/Alice Eversman Collection and uncovered notes from John Philip Sousa, Eleanor Roosevelt, white houseinvitations from President Taft, Truman and Roosevelt,and accolades from countless conductors and music critics. Even photos of DeSayn's violins and theirvalue was provided on copies of the insurance policies. And let's not discard the countless pieces ofsheet music and a copy of her unique violin teaching methods.

Historical Trivia

Who is in charge of the Library of Congress? The Library isdirected by the Librarian of Congress, who is appointed by the president of theUnited Statesand confirmed by a vote of the Senate. Since the Library's founding in 1800,there have been 13 Librarians of Congress, including the incumbent, James H.Billington, who was sworn in on September 14, 1987.

Three Buildings?
Most are familiar with the Great Hall in the Thomas Jefferson Building(1897). But also there's the John Adams Buildingcompleted in 1939 and James Madison Memorial Building(1980). To boot, my last research visit, left me waiting for transporting acollection from Landover, Marylandto the Music Reading Room.

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Holes in Your Research?

2011-09-30T07:31:00.000-05:00

Anna Charlotta was NOT Alma Charlotta

Hidden Data in Your Collection

I suggest to beginners to collect their data, but don’t just pull document after document to prove your ancestor’s existence without understanding what the data is telling you. What is your ancestor’s story? It is written between the lines, hidden within one word, or in one obscure date.

I recently pulled no less than 30 pages of Swedish records on a Samuelsson family that I was following. I copied birth, marriage, household examinations and death records for a period of about 50 years. Then, I paused!

Write That Report

The best way to analyze your data is to write about it. Begin writing for yourself or your client, not when the project is finished - since it will never be finished – but when you believe you have sufficient data to tell a story. Then, you will find your holes, which will keep you focused toward finding “the rest of the story.”

Analyzing Data

With magnifying glass in hand, I realized that my Samulesson’s marriage record revealed that he was a soldier in the Swedish military and had served in both France and England. It was buried between his homeplace and date and marriage date. Just “aft. sold P. France, Lon England…”meaning formerly soldier. . Why not find out what was going on in the 1850’s in Sweden that would warrant such a service?

I mistakenly assumed two children as being one: Anna Charlotta and Alma Charlotta (Samuelsdotter). But in analyzing church records and various household examinations, it was clear that these were two different daughters born within two years of each other. With this knowledge, I was able to find the death record of Anna Charlotta and her losing battle with smallpox. She was born and gone, before her sister Alma ever entered this world but who was given Charlotta as her baptismal name also. With the quality of the microfilm copies on Genline, it was easy to mistake Alma for Anna and not realize that they were two individuals not one. But, by reviewing all the documentation, the one household examination with Anna’s birth date was uncovered. Was smallpox in an epidemic stage in Sweden in 1860?

By analyzing data, you not only can prove a hypothesis, you are able to uncover social history and culture and make your story more interesting. Sure the dates are useful, but it’s the story we are after.

Happy researching and analyzing. Hoping you uncover your story!

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Originally printed 9 Sept, 2009, Are You Analyzing Your Data?

Ancestors Who Joined Missions

2011-09-28T07:40:00.000-05:00

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCM)

Our ancestors, including women, were not as boring as the picture we paint. Some joined the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, as early as 1810 and traveled as far as Africa and China to meet the mission to "spread [of] the gospel in Heathen lands."

By 1910, the ABCM was operating 102 missions with over 600 staff in Africa: Angola, Zulus of South Africa and Rhodesia; four different regions in China; the "Papal lands" of Mexico; and many other countries. Earlier dedicated workers built missions to serve the Cherokees of Tennessee and Pawnee Tribe of Nebraska, for example; and built indigenous Hawaiian missions.

Researching ABCM Staff
Genealogists and family researchers will want to rifle through the voluminous letters that have been salvaged, indexed and made available on microfilm. There are even folios accounting for the missionaries from the field. Although the ABCM had a Congregationalist base, it was made up of an inter-denominational society, including Methodist, Presbyterian and Reformed churches.

How Ancestor's Served
ABCM maintained at least ten medical missionaries to include medical dispensaries and hospitals, and facilitated over 450 boarding schools for both boys and girls, and colleges for native students.

Women in the Mission
Woman's Boards of Missions were organized in 1868 to promote work with women in the mission field. The originals are held at the Houghton Library of Harvard University. By 1890 sixteen female agents served in twenty-eight missionaries.

Recently, while researching a North Dakota Norwegian immigrant who disappeared in 1918, it was proven she traveled to China for the ABCM. The 18 year old was easily traced from the time she was processed in Ellis Island in 1906 to her completion of business school and her first job in North Dakota. But by 1919, all traces of Helen disappeared, until her found passport revealed China and Japan as her destination to fulfill her American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions employment. I found pages of my subject's correspondence on a local copy of the microfilm collection held at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.

Not Just Americans
London Missionary Society and the Netherlands Missionary Society also served in far away lands (i.e. China). There were also at least four ordained native ministers and over one hundred (100) native workers who worked under the ABCM.

For More Information
For local collections, visit the WorldCat catalog offered by your public library.

Papers of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions: Missionary Index

Congregational Library, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Missionary Memoirs. Papers, Records 1804-1964, bulk dates

Nebraska Indian Convert Project: 1830 to 1859

Kathleen Brandt
a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Mexican Family Research

2011-09-25T13:15:00.000-05:00

El Quinto Censo General de Población y Vivienda 1930

1930 México Census

With reaching 40 million Americansof Mexican origin in the US,there has been an increased interest in Mexican American and Mexican family research. But, until now it has been a struggle toresearch south of the boarder. With therecent release of 1930 Mexico Census however, Mexican family researchers have been given a wealth ofinformation.

This is a great place to start!
The 1930 Mexico National Census,covering 90 percent of the population, is the most comprehensive genealogicallyrich Mexican census available online. On 16 Sept, Ancestry.com announced the addition of the 1930 Mexico National Census (El Quinto CensoGeneral de Población y Vivienda 1930, México), a collection of over 13 millionrecords to it's searchable database.

For more information

CNN Mexico's 1930 Census Revealed, a mine of data for32 million Americans 24 Sep 2011

Ancestry.com, 1930 Mexico Census, El Quinto Censo General de Población y Vivienda 1930,México

Kathleen Brandt
a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Your Ancestor's Military Records Were Destroyed?

2011-09-21T07:51:00.002-05:00

All Is Not Lost. What Are the Next Steps?

Military Pay Voucher of Benjamin Earl (Service Fire Destroyed in Fire)

With a bit of perseverance and legwork family researchers can rebuild an ancestor's military service history even though the July 12, 1973 fire at the St. Louis National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) destroyed between 16 to 18 million military service files, including those for WWI and WWII. But a researcher with the spirit of determination, can rebuild their ancestor's records.

The ABC of Rebuilding Military Service Records

The Archives.com article dated 4 Aug 2011 Your Ancestor's Military Records Were Destroyed? What to Do? gives the ABC's of recovering from such a disaster.

A Access all the information you DO have on your Ancestor. It's ok not to have the service number

B Battles, campaigns and awards/medals can be uncovered in the Adjutant General discharge records of each veteran. Injured veterans' information may also be found at the VA

C Collection of 19 million final pay vouchers hold a wealth of genealogical information on each veteran. These vouchers were not destroyed in the file.

More detail and resources are given in the Your Ancestor's Military Records Were Destroyed? What to Do? (No subscription required).

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

(Disclosure: Kathleen Brandt is a freelance writer for the Archives.com Expert Series, and writes White Papers and provides other writing projects as needed. As a freelance writer she is given compensation and free annual subscription.)

Three (3) Question Rule

2011-09-20T07:40:00.000-05:00

Expanding Your Research
In each class, workshop and presentation I encourage genealogists and family historians to create a minimum of three questions for each document/evidence/newspaper clip, etc. they touch. In a recent presentation, I was asked to give an example. The idea is: each document leads you to not only answers, but your next set of questions.

Here is an example (a reprint from 2010) from a one sentence newspaper article. This lengthy sentence gives us a plethora of clues, hints and information. So many more keywords, questions and research ideas could come from this one sentence, but let's start with a few.

"Colored Man Held to Answer
As an aftermath of the recent melee which took place in the Dunbar club, a society of colored men of Tonopah, Dewitt Morris was bound over under $5000 bonds to appear begore [sic] the grand jury on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, it being alleged that he shot his brother, Schuyler Morris, in the leg during the heat of excitement.” Nevada State Journal, Reno, 11/12/1915

Key Words

Before we ever get to the reason Dewitt was so excited he shot his brother, this one sentence article needs to be dissected. To put it briefly, this sentence gives us a peek at Tonapah and its “colored” community in 1915. Let’s not make the mistake of stereotyping or over generalizing, but there is a ton of researchable topics in this one sentence. Let’s just review some of the key words:

There was a melee, which indicates there might have been an opposing side to the “society” or they were attacking one another.
There was a Dunbar Club. Who owned it? Who frequented it? Was it the known meeting place for “melees.”
There was a “society of colored men of Tonopah.” Was membership based on social standing? Were they recognized by the community and periodically mentioned in the paper?
Tonopah in 1915 must have had a way of sustaining “social clubs.” What industry or resources were in the area? Was this common behavior for Tonopah’s citizens?

"Colored" Men of Tonopah

Melee Madness

The melee madness was summarized in an 118 page court document. Dewitt (Dee) Morris owned the Pullman Saloon (with a piano player) and he also owned other rental property. The shooting occurred at the open house “masquerade ball” of a new rival “joint” called the Dunbar Literary Club where supposedly the U.S. State Senator was going to attend. Membership was .50¢ per month. Fighting began over a blackjack misdeal, at the masquerade ball, and there was excessive drinking. The newspaper heading was misleading, since the court order was due to Dee hitting another fellow over the head with the gun resulting in its accidental discharge. Schuyler was shot, but was expected to recover.

Dee’s obituary in 1944 fills in a bit more. Tonopah was a “silver ore” town when he arrived as a “pioneer Negro resident.” He belonged to the Masonic lodge and owned another saloon in Tonopah at the time of his death. Even a photo was given.

The Rest of the Story

Discovering some of this background information, or as Paul Harvey used to say, “the rest of the story,” helps us to unravel the social environment of Tonopah in 1915 by giving us a glimpse of the lifestyle of some of the people. This allows the researcher to write not just events, but also circumstances, giving life to our ancestor’s stories. There’s so much more to learn about Tonopah and the life of Dewitt, and by investigating keywords on each document, the researcher can create a clearer picture.

Why not give life to your ancestor’s stories?

Kathleen Brandt
stradercom@aol.com

Civil War Speaker Series

2011-09-18T12:09:00.001-05:00

Presenter: Kathleen Brandt

Audience: All levels of researchers may benefit (Beg, Interm, Adv)

For More Information: a3genealogy@gmail.com; 816-729-5995

Civil War Series

CW101: 10 Best Bets to Civil War Research

CW102: Finding the Elusive Civil War Ancestor

CW103: African Americans Served Too

CW104: Civil War POW Records

________________________________________________

CW101: 10 Best Bets to Civil War Research

Abstract:

If your family lived in the

United States

in the 1860s, chances are you're related to someone who served in the Civil War. Perhaps your great- or great-great-grandfather was among the 2.1 million men mustered in the Union Army or the 800,000 to 900,000 men who were on the Confederate side. Or maybe a great-aunt served as a scout, nurse or spy. She may even have been among the several hundred females who, disguised as men, actually fought on the ground.

The Civil War touched the life of every citizen. The Union enlisted nearly 180,000 black soldiers. African Americans also served with Confederate forces as laborers and servants — and a handful even served as soldiers at the end of the war. Native Americans were involved in the western theater for the Union and defended Southern lands with the Confederacy. Many records to uncover your Civil War veteran are overlooked.

Description:

This PowerPoint presentation provides the researcher with tips, hints and hidden resources to uncover Union and Confederate Soldiers, and women who served or supported troops. It also discusses why your ancestor may not have served. Handouts will be available.

________________________________________________

CW102: Finding the Elusive Civil War Ancestor

Abstract:

Many family researchers have given up on finding information on their civil war era ancestor. Perhaps, they can’t find any record verifying that they ever served in the Civil. Or maybe they can’t understand why their perfectly aged ancestor didn’t serve in the war. Or were your ancestors in one of the five Confederate dominate states – the Carolinas, Virginia, Mississippi, and Alabama – where many records were lost? You may wish to extend your search to the Provost Marshal Records and Adjutant General Office records.

Description:

This PowerPoint presentation guides the researcher through revealing NARA Civil War records. Various Provost Marshal and other records held at the NARA will be discussed, as well as State held records. Handouts will be available.

_________________________________________________

CW103: African Americans Served Too

Abstract:
African Americans served in both the Union and Confederate armies. Some served by choice, some as substitutes for a slave master, or as part of an emancipation agreement. Of course there were also the Free-coloreds and runaway slaves.

Over 180,000 African Americans comprising 163 units served in the Union Army during the Civil War, and many more African Americans served in the Union Navy. African Americans were being recruited for the United States Colored Troops as early as 1863; many were granted veteran pensions. By the end of the war, the Confederate armies also made allowance for African American recruits. Final burial places, POW camps, State and Federal records may lead the researcher to their African American Civil War veteran.

Description:

This PowerPoint guided workshop presents the researcher with a compilation of resources, links and repositories to uncover their African American Civil War veterans. Historical and political impact of the African American soldier is also discussed. Handouts will be available.

_________________________________________________

CW104: Civil War POW Records

Abstract:

It's impossible to research the Civil War era, without reviewing POW records. There were more than 160 prisons holding 647,000 prisoners captured during the Civil War. Many were paroled in the field, but 215,000 Confederate soldiers (and citizens) were held in Union prisons; 26,000 died while being held. Of the 195,000 Union soldiers (and citizens) held in Confederate prisons, 30,000 died while imprisoned. Although some records were destroyed and burials places removed, many records have survived and may be used to locate your Civil War veteran. These records confirm burials, prisoner's exchanges, escapes and more.

Description:

This PowerPoint presentation gives the researcher an overview of the most notorious Union and Confederate POW camps, and lesser known camps in various states. Helpful resources to POW Civil War research will be provided. Handouts will be available.

________________________________________________

Bio:

Kathleen Brandt is a Professional International Genealogist and Consultant and is a published freelance writer for genealogy magazines and columns. She is also the author of the a3Genealogy educational and skill building blog that explores various cultural and ethnic folk life, traditions, history, and genealogy research tips. Utilizing twenty years as an international corporate executive and five years of teaching college level Spanish, French and English writing courses, Kathleen offers workshops and lectures to the genealogy community and is a consultant for various corporate historical, cultural, and genealogy projects. As a multilingual speaker, she translates Spanish, French, and Italian records and has experience researching German, Swedish and Hellenic records. Celebrated clients: NBC, Who Do You Think You Are? Season 2 and Season 3 (2011-2012); appeared on Tim McGraw episode.

The Help - African American Families, Too

2011-09-17T09:45:00.000-05:00

The Strader's from Kansas

In the early 60's when the nation was in racial turmoil, theStrader family moved to Kansas City.This family was from central Kansas,Amish territory in Buhler, Kansas(Reno County),originally from Comanche Countywhen the family moved in 1894; and Lyons, Kansas(Rice County)also late 1890's.

There was one African Family in both towns (Buhler andLyons). These African American familiessettled in Reno and Rice andComanche County Kansas in the late 1800's. Their children attended the all white schools, worked in the communitiesand participated in the town activities. So by 1960, there were 3 generationsof African Americans who had lived in these white communities. But the youngfamilies chose to move to Wichita, KansasCity or any larger city for work and marriage.

Back to the Strader's

The Strader's did fairly well in Kansas City. As teachers, they were able to have a nanny, cleaningwoman, and a laundry woman and milkman.

Mama Nina assisted with the 4 children. Mama Nina, a Mexicandescendent, had a strong accent, spoke broken English, but also contributed tothe children being bilingual. She worked in the home 5 days a week and wasprimarily hired to take care of the 6 week old son, Rhett. She was employed bythe family for over 12 years, even though some times there were calls of herbeing fired like when she scorched the good work shirts, or when the childrenasked for pork chops to be prepared for lunch instead of the planned tuna fishsalad. Mama Nina complied, and dinner was slim that night.

Before Mama Nina, there was Pat, the woman who was fired forbringing her little brother to work, there was cousin Janice who worked for thefamily while in Emporia for the summers,and there were others.

There was the laundry woman who charged $5.00 a basket topress laundry. The basket was droppedoff in the morning and ready for pick up after work.

Ms Geneva was the house keeper. She was an African Americanwoman from Texas, that all thechildren were afraid of. She would wrap a scarf on her head, squint her eyes,and mumble in a southern dialect that was incomprehensible to scared children.She worked without conversation and dared the children (with her eyes) to walkon her freshly vacuumed carpet or toothbrush cleaned light switches.

There was Milkman Ken who knew the children changed theorders as soon as their parents left the house, but delivered the chocolatemilk and other treats anyway. When discovered this was one more close call forMama Nina's employment. She knew the milkman orders were being changed.

Summer for theStraders

Mother and Father were teachers, and summers were dedicatedto furthering education. So in the summers the Strader's closed up the Kansas City house, and moved to Emporiafor the summer months. Emporia Kansaswas the home of Emporia State Teacher's College (later University of Emporia). The children wouldleave the summer Green house every morning to attend camps, piano lessons, andsummer schools while the parents worked toward post graduate degrees.

But the rewards were great. Right before school started inthe fall, there was always the family-loved 7-14 day vacations. Each year a newdestination, with of course an educational and historical undertone.

This is My AfricanAmerican Family

Perhaps I should mention the Strader's were an AfricanAmerican family, (maiden name: Kathleen Strader). Plenty of African Americanshad domestic help for children and chores.

Recently I read The Help, by Kathryn Stockett.But I wonder how the story would read if written about the helphired in black American families. Was the struggle different? Were theexpectations different? If not the racial struggle in the 60's were thereothers that polarized the community? I can only reflect on my own childhood. Myparents had their share of "help."

Perhaps this is a topic to be analyzed and discovered by futuregenerations, those a bit further removed.

Kathleen Strader Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Exhausting Irish Resources

2011-09-16T01:05:00.003-05:00

Was Your Irish Ancestor in a Benevolent Society?

On 19 Sept 1872 the KC times reported on the first St. Patrick's Day parade in Kansas City. "At 10:00 am, the procession formed at the hall ofthe Irish Benevolent Society. The order of march was as follows: Grand Marshal and aids, Band of Music, IrishBenevolent Society, St. Vitus Benevolent Association (German), The St. Joseph Benevolent Association." [1]

Who, What, When, Where? My Irish Ancestors!

There are more than 250,000 in the Kansas City region who claim Irish heritage and as manyancestors who have participated in the Irish Day Parades beginning in 1872.

Any Irish ancestry researcher would be remiss if they chose to ignore theinformation this small blurb gives us. A few questions to consider: 1) Wherewere my ancestor's on that day? 2) Did they participate in the parade? 3) Didthey belong to these organizations/societies? 4) Were they involved in theIrish community, church, politics or other labor unions? 5) What was their"pecking" order in the parade? 6) Were there other Irishorganizations/societies?

Was He a Miner or a Musician?

"Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians followedbehind the priest and "marched like soldiers, justly proud of theirappearance," observed the Times. Behind the Hibernians were membersof the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Children of Mary and the St. AloysiusBand, marching with a huge portrait of their favored saint, the Patron ofYouth, followed by the Irish benevolent societies. The McGee Hook &Ladder Company rolled along behind department co-founder and Irish immigrant,Joe McArdle, with firemen pluming and strutting for the admiring crowdsgathered on porches and sidewalks along the winding route." (Displayed at Kansas City Irish Fest; August 2011).

Just by knowing the origin of each group, you may be guidedin the right direction. This is enough information to keep an Irish familyresearcher busy. Contemporary local books may give your research a jump start. Newspaper articles, obituaries, journals,diaries, church records and court cases may also give the researcher a bit moreinformation about the members of these organizations.

Irish Parade Line Up, Kansas City Times

From the MissouriIrish: Kansas City, St. Louis &Trails West

Extract: pg. 141-142 O'Laughlin, Michael C.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH)
America’soldest Irish Catholic Fraternal Organization founded concurrently in thecoal-mining region of Pennsylvaniaand New York City in May, 1836. Early Hibernians are linked to mining for gold (Yreka, CA), copper andsilver (Butte & Anaconda, MT), iron ore in Escanaba, MI (St Patrick’s) andMt Pleasant, PA (St Joseph’s), hard rock mining (St Peter’s, Rutland, VT) andcoal in Schuylkill CO, PA. (where the infamous Molly Maguire trials were held.)

Molly Maguires
Members of an Irish-American secret society. Members, mainly coal miners were associated with Pennsylvaniaanthracite coal fields in the Civil War era. The trials and arrests werefrom 1876−1878.

St. Aloysius Band
Formed from the St. John'ssociety 75-100 'juveniles" of West Kansas City.

St. Vincent de Paul Society
Founded in 1833 by six university students in Parisunder the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul. This primarily Irish societywas introduced in Chicago duringthe economic depression of 1857. The Society's purpose was to provide directaid to the suffering parishioners.

For more information
Immigrant Society Records and Genealogy

Missouri Irish, Kansas City, St.Louis &Trails West

The Irish Center of Kansas City located at Union Station whose mission is to "...preserve this heritage at the Irish Center! as stone masons, railroad workers, and founding members of the police andfire departments."

From the Bottom Up: The Story of the Irish in Kansas City, O'Neill, Pat

Kathleen Brandt
a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Slave Research Online

2011-09-15T07:30:00.000-05:00

Unknown No Longer: A Database of Virginia Slave Names

The best part of family research is that it is a work inprogress. Daily, new collections,searchable databases, and even unknown papers are found, and made accessible toresearchers. Seldom however, dogenealogists get assistance researching their slave ancestors in a searchable,accessible database. But the Virginia Historical Society of Richmond VA launched and is consistently updating a slave database: Unknown No Longer: A Database of Virginia Slave Names.

It's not enough to say, my ancestors were slaves, or myancestors were slave-owners. Thedigitized documents of Unknown No Longer will allow researchers to uncover amore complex ancestral story than that told by census records. This tool should be one more stop in your slave ancestry research.

About This Project

"Since its founding in 1831, the VHS has collectedunpublished manuscripts, a collection that now numbers more than 8 millionprocessed items." From VHS website

The Unknown No Longer Database is free of charge. Keep inmind, where there were slaves there were slave owners. This database will alsoallow researchers of slave-owning families to gain more information on their familyhistory. As of today, thereare approximately 1600 names in the database, 300 are slave-owners.

Researchers may wish to use this database even if the slaveswere removed to other states "... our collections contain plantationrecords, for example, kept by Virginians who moved to other states, takingtheir slaves with them."

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Did Your Ancestor Provide Services to a President?

2011-09-13T22:52:00.000-05:00

Finding A Presidential Connection

George Washington Papers, LOC

Those on a President's political staff or even on thehousehold staff were not the only one's who served the Presidents. There were favored dressmakers, barbers, andother skilled persons who were documented in newspaper articles, presidentialpapers, journals and diaries. Have you checked for your ancestor?

One of the a3genealogy brainstorming games weplay to bring down colonial and Revolutionary war era brick walls is entitled"6 Generations of George Washington." How was this ancestorassociated with Washington? But arelationship can often be highlighted with our ancestor's and any era-specificPresident, especially if your ancestor resided in the same region, state, orcommunity. Of course, sometimes, the relationship can be quite obscure, subjective,and unfounded and best kept as a game.

Where to Start -Crossed Paths

Of course not all of our ancestor's were favored tailors,barbers, or vitners of a President, but many researchers overlook the possibility. A good place to start is by creating atimeline: could paths have crossed?

William Florville - ABarber

Young Abe and William Florville crossed paaths in a woodedarea. This chance meeting created a life long relationship. Even President Lincolnhad to control his thick head of curls and needed to groom his beard and thebarber Billy was just the person for the job.

William Florville (Fleurville), a free-Haitian, was Lincoln'sbarber for 24 years. Florville'sBarbershop was a "loitering" spot for Lincoln and other politicalmembers.

Springfield, IL Street Plaque

More information on Willaim Florville and President Lincolncan be found at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library (IllinoisPreservation Society). Other ancestral discoveries may be made among the stacksat the various Presidential libraries. You may find correspondence and confirmancestral relations associated with a President.

Political Movementsand Campaigns

Be sure to create a timeline of your ancestor's residenceduring Presidential elections. The localnewspapers are usually a-buzz on activities of local political parties andPresidential supports. War time electionsproduced a surge of local interests pieces in the newspapers, many namingcitizens by name.

In Rutherford, NC,much was found on J.B. Carson, the editor of the Rutherford Star, a leader inthe Civil War era Republican party. Asmuch was written on the Democratic leader, Randolph Shotwell in the Western Vindicator of Rutherford. But the news did not stop there. The Rutherford Star and the WesternVindicator used their white-space as warfare.

Over the 1864-1868 period, articles were splatteredregarding those involved in the Lincolnparty as well as Lincoln's opponents of the Democratic party, even naming active and supportive members of the Ku KluxKlan who pledged their allegiance to the party. Perhaps your ancestor was one of the infamous arrested in the KKK raidof 1869.

A Political Campaign

The Abraham Lincoln Council Union League of America (ALCULA)followers, like Wiley (Tobe) Morris, led committees in towns across Americato gain supports even in the south. Inthe Rutherford Star, a list of organizers led me to locating ancestor's andextended family members thought to have left the area.

African Americans andPresidential Service

Like Florville other African Americans also played a roleserving presidents allowing researchers to discover unknown information ontheir ancestors. In a recent visit to Springfield Illinois I discovered the Elizabeth Keckleywho contributed to the life of Mary Todd Lincoln (exhibit at The Lincoln Museumand Library).

The National Archives Archives.gov featured the dress makerAnn Lowe, "who had designed gowns for the matrons of high societyfamilies" including that of Jacqueline Bouvier.

E. Keckley, LOC

Elizabeth Keckley - ADressMaker

Mary (Todd) Lincoln, a socialite and southern belle, surelyneeded dresses designed, tailored, and made for conversation. Her dressmaker and confidant through theyears was Elizabeth Keckley, African American. More can be leard from the Documenting the American South Series.

Ann Lowe - A DressMaker

Jacqueline Bouvier’s ivory 50 yards of ivory silk taffeta silkwedding gown was draped and designed by Ann Lowe, an African-Americandress-maker born in Grayton, Alabamarequired and took more than two months to make.

Hope you find a Presidential Connection

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy@gmail.com