P. G. S. News

Volume 9, Issue 2

February 2004

Previous Issue

Meetings
Our 2004 Education Seminar on January 24th was a great success. Attendees were treated to lectures by featured speaker, John Philip Colletta, an informative and engaging presenter, as well as our five local instructors. A delicious lunch was enjoyed, an Italian dish catered by Angelinos Restaurant. A quality syllabus, an expansive used book sale, and lots of door prizes rounded off the seminar. Let’s thank all the society volunteers who helped to make it such a success.
THE 2003 CALENDAR All meetings begin at 11:00 AM in the Jenkins auditorium in the Largo Public Library. Guests are warmly welcomed and encouraged to attend. The Computer Interest Group meets before the general meeting at 9:45 AM.

Computers In Genealogy
Computer Interest Group (CIG) – Meets monthly at 9:45 A.M. in the Jenkins Assembly Conference Room on the third Saturday of each month just before the regular PGS meeting throughout the year. This forum is an informal discussion group in a question and answer format on anything related to the use of computers in genealogy. There is no fee and all levels of computer expertise are welcome. To become a member of the email discussion list, email Bob Bryan. Next meeting is February 21, 2004.

The Family Tree Maker Group (FTM)
FTM meets monthly October through May at 10:00 A.M. in the Jenkins Assembly Conference Room in the lobby of the Largo Library. Each session lasts approximately two hours. There is no fee for this workshop, but donations to the Greater Largo Library Foundation are appreciated. February’s group will continue conquering the basics and shortcuts and the use of your scanner for Occipital Character Recognition. Class is led by Karen Keegan. Next Family Tree Maker Group date: February 14, 2004.

The Beginners Study Group
The Beginners Study Group is designed to help beginners get started in genealogy and serve as a forum for advanced genealogists. We are pleased to announce it is up and running again with a nice core group meeting on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 to 12:00 in the small classroom in the rear of the library next to the genealogy department. The topic for the next meeting is “Military Records and Computer Programs for Genealogy.”, led by Bette Raup. Next Beginners Study Group: February 14, 2004.

Congratulations to HOWARD JENSEN. Heritage Books has just published his book, “Aid to Finding Addresses in the 1890 New York City Police Census”.

PGS Quarterly needs you!
If you have queries, please turn them in to William Wallace or to the Volunteer Desk for inclusion in the next issue of The Pinellas Genealogist. Remember, this issue will be mailed out all over the country! Local members will now be receiving their quarterly at the PGS Saturday meeting. The Editor would also appreciate stories of your research trips and reviews of printed or computerized genealogy materials. Naturally, Pinellas County material is always needed. PGS Members: Up to two queries are free!! Thank you for your continued support of our quarterly!

News from Special Collections
• When calling the Largo Library with questions relating to genealogy, please use the number for the Genealogy Help Desk: 727-586-7410. • Please do not re-shelve books or return other materials. Our volunteers count each item returned as a statistic. These counts help us to determine our peak times for service and areas of high demand. Thank you! • Please continue to bring in flyers or brochures about libraries you visit this year. Thanks! • When using the microfilm, please rewind the film before returning it to its box. Please do not remove the take-up reel; this will only leave the film in an upside-down and backwards state!

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Linda Halpern	Frances Bernstein
Florence Minkow	Catherine Paunov
Claudia Patterson	Mary Francis Lawrie
John Connors	Mary Pat Doyle
Roxanne Koelpin	Matthew McCarthy
Doris Camacho	Karen Quintero
Kay and Coralee Eikel	Don and Ruth Eleson
Lt. Co. USAR (Ret) John F. and Doris E. Hallgren	Richard and Trevetta Wunderlin

We would like to thank the following individuals for their donations to the genealogy library last month. It is due to the generosity of our members and friends that our collection is the best in the area.
Cheryl McDonald	Helen Johnson
William Wallace	Mrs. Joseph Bodo
Ed Deming	Frances and Richard Aaron
Lessie Jo Langan	Margaret Stonaker

The What, Where and Why of the Agricultural Census Schedules The Agricultural Schedules are a part of the Non-Population Records of the Federal Census. They were taken in 1850, 1860, and 1870 and give you information about farms. Who owns them, how many acres, number of livestock, size of crops, etc. They can provide very interesting details about your rural ancestors. In 1918 Congress authorized the disposal of these non-population schedules in order to conserve space. They were offered to state archives, historical societies and universities. All 1900 and 1910 agriculture schedules were destroyed. To find out where your states agricultural schedule now resides might take a little research. You can start by visiting the NARA site www.archives.gov/research_room/genealogy/census/nonpopulation_census_records.html. They offer links to some state archives that have the schedules as well as a program to purchase copies of these schedules. A book, Your Guide to The Federal Census for Genealogists, Researchers, and Family Historians, (REFGEN 929.1072) has a chapter on the non-population schedules and lists some repositories. For example, The University of North Caroline in Chapel Hill has the agricultural schedules for twelve southern states, including Florida and Georgia. Some state censuses will include the agricultural schedules at the end of the population roll. (Some of our library state census copies do). You could also check out local genealogical and historical societies to to find the final resting place for your states agricultural schedule.

The Germanic Special Interest Group of the Genealogical Society of Sarasota is sponsoring a GERMANIC Workshop ADVANCING YOUR GERMANIC RESEARCH By Roger P. Minert, PH.D., A.G. Saturday 28 February, 2004 8:45 – 3:30 Sahib Shrine Center, Sarasota www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flgss 941-351-8383

See our books for sale!

BEFORE YOU GO ON VACATION…
Check out the Vertical File! It is located between the microfiche cabinet and the military books. Inside you will find file folders with materials from libraries around the country. Check out the Road Maps! They are now in the first drawer of the Manuscript File cabinets next to the volunteer desk. Remind yourself to collect and bring back to share newsletters and handouts from the libraries you visit. Share your experiences at genealogy libraries your visited with the society by writing a small article for the newsletter.

Check out the new materials in Special Collections

New CD ROM
Worden’s Index to the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record 1870-1998. Since the library has almost the complete collection of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (929.3747 New York), this serves as a wonderful index.

SUGGESTION BOX
In the genealogy area of Special Collections, on a cabinet next to the Federal census film cabinets, is a Suggestion Box. Please take the time to drop us a note and let us know how we are doing. Any new ideas for new classes or programs? Any requests for books or films to order? We appreciate your advice.

Web Sites Worth Checking Out
www.genealogyblog.com A great place for timely updates, product reviews and genealogy events and news. A blog is a web log and is updated more frequently than a web site.

www.somosprimos.com Somos Primos is a Hispanic Heritage publication. This site includes a surname and place search for past issues as well as tips on Hispanic research.

P. G. S. News

Volume 9, Issue 2

February 2004

New CD ROM