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Subject: [UpFront: NGS] Vol. 2, No. 3, 01 February 2003
Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2003 21:22:50 -0800
UpFront with NGS
The Online Newsletter of the National Genealogical Society
Volume 2, Number 3 -- 01 February 2003
Co-editors: Dennis and Carla Ridenour
To view the HTML version of UpFront visit:
To view the PDF version of UpFront visit:
Quote of the Day -- 01 February 2003
"Time and accident are committing daily havoc on the originals (of
valuable historic and state papers) deposited in our public offices.
The late war has undone the work of centuries in this business. The
lost cannot be recovered; but let us save what remains; not by vaults
and locks, which fence them in from the public eye and use in
consigning them to the waste of time, but by such multiplication of
copies as shall place them beyond the reach of accident." --Thomas
Jefferson, February 18, 1791, from "The History Of Microfilm: 1839 To
The Present" at: http://www.srlf.ucla.edu/exhibit/text/WhatIs.htm
Today In UpFront
NGS & FGS Joint Committee
--The Records Preservation and Access Committee
NGS Regional Conferences
--Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 14 -15 February 2003
--New Brunswick, New Jersey, 22 March 2003
--GENTECH 2004 Call for Papers Deadline Nearing
A Web Site Worth Visiting
--Records Preservation and Access
Current Issues in the Genealogical Community
--Florida's Historical Treasures Are at Risk
Digital Imaging for Genealogists
--A Byte'O Microfilm History & Tips for Photographing Images
Displayed on a Microfilm Reader
News Items, Announcements, and Press Releases
--U.S. Supreme Court Decides Copyright Issue
--The Burling Books
--"Mother Cumberland---A Harvest of Memories: Reunion 2003"
--Update notice for CE My Family
--Oregon Genealogical Society's Spring Seminar
--Kutztown Pennsylvania German Festival
--The Newberry Library's Friends of Genealogy Announces Two Events
Previous Issues of UpFront with NGS
Family Reunion Calendar
How to Submit Items for Publication in UpFront with NGS
How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe
NGS Contact Information
The National Genealogical Society is the indispensable resource for
genealogists seeking excellence in publications, education offerings,
research materials, and peer interaction with others that share the
common bond of interest in the field of genealogy.
The opinions, articles, and statements expressed herein are solely for
the use of our readers. Neither the reviews nor the reports may be
used in advertising or for any commercial purpose. NGS and the
authors disclaim any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise
that is or may be incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly,
of the use and applications of any of the products, techniques, and
technologies mentioned herein. NGS does not imply endorsement of any
outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this electronic
To learn more about the goals, publications, conferences, services and
members benefits of the National Genealogical Society, visit the NGS
© 2003 National Genealogical Society
NGS & FGS Joint Committee
The Records Preservation and Access Committee
The mission of the Records Preservation and Access Committee, a joint
committee of the National Genealogical Society and the Federation of
Genealogical Societies is to advise the Genealogical community on
ensuring proper access to historical records of genealogical value in
whatever media they are recorded, on means to effect legislation, and
on supporting strong records preservation policies and practices.
The Committee's most immediate task is to develop a cohesive and
coherent long-term strategy to deal with records preservation and
access issues at all levels, from local to national. Most of the
effort currently expended on such issues is in reaction to specific
threats to records access (people do not get as excited about
preservation!) The strategy being developed is intended to get us "out
ahead of the curve," so that potential problems may be identified and
resolved before they become issues.
Even while the strategy for preservation and access is being
developed, challenges to records access continue. During 1996-1997,
the Committee dealt with Canadian Copyright Law (broader access
resulted), a Treaty on Intellectual Property In Respect of Databases
(it died without action), the National Archives and Records
Administration Strategic Plan (poses no immediate threat to
genealogy), and Immigration and Naturalization Service copies of
naturalization Records (no current threat of destruction). Members of
the Committee have been actively engaged in legislative actions in
California, Arizona and Wisconsin. Many other actions involving local
situations have been resolved.
A second major task of the RP&A Committee is communications. While the
FGS Forum is an excellent vehicle for providing preservation and
access information to the genealogical community as a whole, a
mechanism for sharing timely information on issues and actions among
those working on preservation and access is badly needed. The
committee is therefore developing a network of Records Preservation
and Access Liaison Persons in every state. If your state has not yet
appointed such a person we encourage you to urge your state society to
do so quickly.
Presentation and access to historical records is one of the most
urgent concerns within the genealogical community. Every indicator
confirms that this concern is justified and that the challenges are
growing. The challenges are both local and national, and even local
challenges often have national implications. The Records Preservation
and Access Committee is committed to addressing these challenges in an
intentional, informed, coordinated and rational manner and solicits
the cooperation and support of all genealogists in doing so.
See "A Web Site Worth Visiting" in today's issue of UpFront to learn
more about the activities of the Records Preservation and Access
Committee or go directly to the Committee's Web site at
NGS Regional Conferences
Last Minute Reminder: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
The NGS Regional Conference on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina will
take place on 14 - 15 February 2003. Online registration with a $5.00
discount is available until 10 February. Registration will also be
accepted at the conference from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. on both days but
will include an additional $5.00 fee for on-site processing. Call NGS
at (703) 525-0050 for more information or visit the Web site at:
New Brunswick, New Jersey: 22 March 2003
The Monmouth County Genealogical Society and the Central Jersey
Genealogical Club will host an NGS Regional Conference in New
Brunswick, New Jersey on 22 March 2003. Sessions will begin at 9:00
A.M. and continue until 4:00 P.M. A luncheon, hosted by NGS, will be
served from 11:45 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Cyndi Howells and Sheila Benedict, CGRS, will each present four
lectures so that attendees will have the opportunity to hear either or
both speakers throughout the day.
Registration for NGS Members: $50
Registration for Non-Members: $60
Non-Members can join NGS at this time: $50
Online Registration is encouraged. A $5.00 discount is available to
those who register online through 17 March 2003. Registration will
also be accepted at the conference on 22 March from 8-9 A.M. There is
an additional $5.00 fee for on-site processing.
The conference program, registration form, lodging information and
other details are available at:
Reminder: GENTECH 2004 Call for Papers Deadline Nearing
Do you have February 15 marked on your calendar? This is the deadline
for submitting lecture proposals for the GENTECH 2004 Conference in
St. Louis, Missouri.
In holding with the mission of GENTECH, we invite lecture proposals on
topics which address the intersection of genealogy and technology, and
especially on the following specific topics:
. genealogical software
. fundamentals for the novice
. companion software
. tools for the advanced
. data management
. pushing the envelope
. Internet subjects
. librarian workshop
For more information on each of these topics check the Web site at:
Ann Carter Fleming, CG
NGS GENTECH2004 Program Chair
A Web Site Worth Visiting
Records Preservation and Access
Presented by the Federation of Genealogical Societies
and the National Genealogical Society, http://www.fgs.org/rpa/
The goal of the Records Preservation and Access Committee and its Web
site is to ensure "record access and preservation for this and future
The members of the RPA committee come from all parts of the country,
and all sections of the genealogical community; however, they share a
common interest in preserving and maintaining access to historical
records of genealogical value. Realizing the Federation and the
National Genealogy Society cannot solve all the problems surrounding
the issue of preservation and access, their mission is to "help
coordinate the efforts of individuals and societies who can have a
tremendous impact on these problems."
The Records Preservation and Access Web site appears to be fairly new.
Some of its pages are still under construction, however it is a site
worth visiting. In fact, it is worthy of frequent visits! The "New
Additions" button at the bottom of the home page provides a link to
information added since your last visit. In many ways, the site is
like a forest service lookout station and by visiting often, to check
for new additions, we can spot "fires" and take voluntary steps to
help put them out before access to important records is denied. For
example, a notice submitted by Pam Cooper, FSGS President on 26
January 2003 to the Current Issue section for the State of Florida
warns that "Florida's Historical Treasures Are at Risk." A portion of
this notice is included in today's UpFront, however, subscribers are
encouraged to read the entire notice at:
In addition to Current Issues, the State-by-State Reporting section
also includes areas for Background Information, County-by-County
Reporting, Record Retention Schedules, etc. Of special interest to all
genealogists is the Vital Record Information area for every state with
links to applications for requesting birth and/or death records,
either online or by mail. The International Issues section currently
has a report about a disaster at the National Library of Ukraine and
the National Reporting section provides a link to an interesting
article on identity theft from the 26 November 2002 issue of "USA
Please visit the Records Preservation and Access Web site frequently
and keep in mind the following quote:
"The effective response to access and preservation challenges are
usually from the individuals who vote and pay taxes in the specific
locality. YOU, individually, and the genealogical societies of which
YOU are a member, can make the difference on these issues in your
The Records Preservation and Access Web site is located at
26 January 2003 - Florida's Historical Treasures Are at Risk
Pam Cooper, FSGS President
The Florida State Genealogical Society board has unanimously approved
joining a coalition to oppose Governor Bush's proposed budget
regarding the dismantling of the Florida State Library and Archives.
The coalition currently consists of the following organizations:
Florida Historical Society
Florida Archaeological Council
Florida Anthropological Society
Florida Trust for Historic Preservation
Florida Association of Museums
A statement will be drafted the week of Jan 27. It will be discussed
among the coalition chairs and the statement will then be finalized
and sent to the Governor.
I am asking for your help. Please write, email, and visit your Florida
legislators. Make them aware of this very grievous error that they are
about to commit. We cannot lose Florida's treasures.
I would recommend people outside of Florida to send letters and
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Telephone: (850) 488-4441
FAX (850) 487-0801
Emails and addresses for the House of Representatives and Senators can
be found at http://www.leg.state.fl.us/.
Below are the details, as I know them today.
1. The Governor has proposed for the 2003-4 budget ZERO dollars for
the Florida State Library and Information Services Division.
2. It has been proposed that the Florida State Library be eliminated
and holdings transferred to Florida State University in Tallahassee by
3. The proposed budget cuts $17.6 million from the Florida State
University (FSU) state funding and President T. K. Wetherell said "The
way it looks is that someone wants us to assume a responsibility but
with no money (provided)." In addition, FSU has limited parking, and
their own library is lacking so much space that they use warehouses
for some of their holdings. The FSU library would need to hire more
staff to facilitate the book processing and increased reference
questions and at the same time, reduce their expenditures.
4. The Florida State Library and Archives Division is now part of the
Department of State, and is responsible for the State Library, the
State Archives, state record keeping and library development
services/grants programs for public libraries throughout the state.
5. The proposal for the Bureau of Archives and Records Management is
for the Records Management responsibilities to become a part of the
Department of Management, and for the State Archives to fall under the
parks department of the Department of Environmental Protection.
6. The FloridaMemory.com project will be in jeopardy. This site now
contains the photographic collection (over 90,00 pictures), Florida
Pension Application Files, Spanish Land Grants, Call and Brevard
Family Papers, and many more documents of Florida's early history.
7. The Governor's budget must not pass the Florida Legislature.
Session will begin March 4th. We still have time to change the tide.
Editor's Note: This article continues with links to related newspaper
articles from the "Tallahassee Democrat" and the "Orlando Sentinel"
and an open letter from Barrat Wilkins, Recently Retired State
Librarian of the Florida State Library. For the remainder of the
article see: http://www.fgs.org/rpa/FlCurrent.htm
Contributed by Pam Cooper
Co-Chair, FGS/FSGS 2003 Conference
President, Florida State Genealogical Society
Chair, Librarians Serving Genealogists
P. O. Box 7066 Vero Beach, FL 32961-7066
Digital Imaging for Genealogists
I'd like to begin by thanking everyone for the "get-well" e-mails.
They were very much appreciated! Now, it's time to get back to our
digital cameras and the discussion I promised on how to photograph
documents displayed by a microfilm reader.
*A Byte'O Microfilm History*
"... because of the conditions of modern war against which none of us
can guess the future, it is my hope that it is possible to build up an
American public opinion in favor of what might be called the only form
of insurance that will stand the test of time. "I am referring to
duplication of records by modern processes like microfilm so that if
in any part of the country original archives are destroyed a record of
them will exist in some other place." --Franklin D. Roosevelt,
February 13, 1942
Although John Benjamin Dancer began experimenting with microfilm to
produce novelty texts as early as 1839, and Rene Dagron obtained the
first patent for microfilm twenty years later, microfilming wasn't
recognized as a viable method for recording and preserving documents
until George McCarthy, a New York City banker, invented the
"Checkograph," a machine that made permanent film copies of bank
records. McCarthy was granted a patent for his invention in 1925 and
sold it to Eastman Kodak in 1928.
By 1935, Eastman Kodak's Recordak Division had perfected a 35mm
microfilm camera and began filming and publishing the New York Times
in microfilm. The Harvard University Library soon followed Kodak's
example and began its Foreign Newspaper Project. The microform masters
of this ongoing project are stored at the Center for Research Studies
At the end of the World War II microfilming (a.k.a. microphotography,
micro-recording) soon became the preferred method to protect and
preserve an assortment of paper items such as rare manuscripts and
brittle books, newspapers, certificates, medical information,
government records, and historical documents. It is believed that,
when properly cared for, a microfilm copy will outlast the original
paper document and can be preserved for approximately 500 years. In
addition to protecting and preserving valuable information, microfilm
also makes this information readily available.
Advancements in computer technology have also resulted in the
development of Computer Output Microfilm (COM), a high-speed, low-cost
process, which can rapidly record computer generated information
directly to microfilm, reducing the equivalent of 208 pages of
computer printout to a microfilm product equivalent to a 4" x 6"card.
And, improved scanning devices have made it possible to turn a
microfilm image into a digital one.
A report by Don Willis entitled "A Hybrid Systems Approach to
Preservation of Printed Materials" published by the Commission on
Preservation and Access in 1992, recommended using microfilm for
document preservation and digital images for easy access. Willis'
report also discussed options for creating both film frames and
digital files, plus the pros and cons of filming first and scanning
from the microfilm, or scanning first and using the digital files to
create computer output microfilm (COM). The report concluded that cost
of each approach would be roughly the same and that the major issue
was recognizing the circumstances that determine when it is best to
"film first" and those that determine when it is best to "scan first."
Cornell University's "Digital to Microfilm Conversion Project"
conducted from 1994 to 1996 examines the "scan first" approach,
while Yale University's "Open Book Project" examines the "film first"
approach. Recommendations resulting from these projects have also
helped to establish quality standards, guidelines, and requirements
for preservation in a digital age. Visit the following Web sites for
Whew, now that I've said more than anybody really needed to hear about
document preservation, let's get down to the nitty-gritty and discuss
how a digital camera can be used to "preserve" an image displayed on a
microfilm reader and convert it to a digital file that can be
displayed on your computer screen or included in a family history book
or genealogy program <g>.
*Tips for Photographing Images Displayed on a Microfilm Reader*
Searching microfilm can be either a tedious or a relaxing endeavor.
I'm sure personality enters into this, as do the results of your
search. The excitement and the challenges begin once you find whatever
it is you're looking for. Most, but not all, repositories have
microfilm machines that will give you a paper copy of your
"discovery." Often these machines are not well maintained and the
copies are less than adequate. This is where your digital camera can
assist in capturing the information you need.
Although there are several types of microfilm readers, they can be
broken down into three basic styles. First, there are the backlit or
rear projection readers that shine a light through the film and use a
series of mirrors and lenses to display an image of the film on a
vertical, flat, Fresnel screen that looks a little bit like a computer
monitor. One style of rear projection machine just shows the image.
The other style shows the image and also allows you to make a paper
copy of it. The image displayed on either style can be easily
photographed by following the steps below:
1. Place your camera on a tripod located in front of the reader
2. Adjust the camera/tripod position so that the information you want
to copy fills the LCD frame, not the viewfinder.
3. Set the macro mode if necessary. This will depend on your camera
model and how far away it is from the microfilm reader.
4. Make sure the flash is turned off.
5. Set the camera's self-timer.
6. Gently press the shutter button halfway to lock the exposure and
7. Press the button completely down, move away from the camera and
wait for the self-timer to trip the shutter.
8. Take several shots. Consider using the "best shot selector" and/or
auto bracketing your shots if your camera has these features or manual
bracketing if it doesn't.
The third style of film reader is the direct projected image reader.
Although there are several iterations of this style, they all do
basically the same thing. They shine a light through film and a series
of lenses and project the image onto a flat horizontal or slightly
angled surface. These readers look like a large box and have a film
handler at the top, a crank on the side, the flat "projection screen"
at the bottom that is usually scratched, and an opening at the front
so you can stick your head in and view the image. These readers are
the most difficult to photograph, so we'll concentrate on them.
Although the direct projection viewers project a large amount of
information at once, using a digital camera to capture the entire
image limits us to photographing it in small blocks that can be
"stitched" together later. In previous columns, I have tried to steer
the readers towards cameras that will take "good" to "excellent"
pictures of an 8.5" x 11" page. When shooting film readers, I try to
stick to this same size, even though the projected image may be as
large as 24" x 24".
Direct projection viewers have adjustments that allow you to move the
image to nearly anywhere on the display surface. Therefore it is
possible to mark out a target area, and move the image around until it
is located in the marked out spot. I usually mark this target area by
placing a bright white (brightness of 80+) sheet of regular paper
where it will best accommodate using my camera to take the pictures.
Hand holding the camera, for me, is always a last resort. I like to
have a nice steady support, and use my tried and true procedure:
compose, focus, set the timer, click the shutter, move the hands away,
and let the camera trip the shutter. This gives me nice shots that
are never blurred by camera movement. This means I need some type of
support for the camera that keeps both the camera and the support from
casting a shadow on the projected image.
Those of you who built the Atlas stand already have the support you
need [see Vol. 1, No. 7, 12 September 2002]. See
Plans for the Atlas stands in .PDF format can be downloaded at:
A simple reconfiguration of the Atlas stand parts will give you the
perfect support for taking pictures of the projected image, see
For which parts to use, see
For those without the Atlas stand, a tripod can be used, although not
Because the camera needs to be positioned up into an area of the
reader that may be hard to see, I keep a compact mirror with me so
that I can view a reflection of the LCD screen.
Everything appears backwards in the mirror, but once I have my
settings the only thing I need to do is to make sure that the selected
area comes into focus when I press the shutter halfway down. Since
the focus indicator on my camera is a small light that turns from red
to green it is easy to see even upside down.
At best this method can be marginal, especially if care is not taken
during the setup and capturing process. You may also need to take a
series of shots to get all that you want. However, I have had good
results using the above setup. See
The steps for stitching multiple photos of a microfilm image that has
been photographed in sections together plus several editing techniques
for correcting typical problems were covered in UpFront with NGS, Vol.
1, No. 13, 05 December 2002 at,
As always, the key to a producing a usable image is being able to
shoot without camera shake. A good support allows you to set the
camera on auto, set the timer, and shoot rock solid shots.
Next time we'll discuss methods for producing direct shots of slides,
microfilm and negatives. Until then think digitally--Denny
Editor's Note: The figures for this article look better and make more
sense when viewed in the HTML format located at:
Contributed by Dennis Ridenour, or
Note: To download previous issues of "UpFront with NGS" go to
U.S. Supreme Court Decides Copyright Issue
A decision was recently handed down by the highest court in the land,
that is of interest to genealogists and others interested in copyright
issues. On January 15, 2003, The Supreme Court of the United States,
rendered its opinion on the ELDRED v. ASHCROFT case that concerns the
duration of copyrights. The heart of case was the authority of the
Constitution to assign to Congress the length of time that copyrights
were valid. The case stems from the 1998 passage of the Copyright Term
Extension Act (CTEA), which enlarged the duration of copyrights by 20
years. The law provided for application of the enlarged terms to
existing and future copyrights alike. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld
that the U.S. Congress did act within its authority and did not
transgress constitutional limitations.
For more information visit http://www.copyright.gov/pr/eldred.html
Contributed by Wendy Herr,
The Burling Books
The Burling Books: "Ancestors and Descendants of Edward and Grace
Burling, Quakers, 1600-2000" (Gateway Press, 2001) by Jane
Thompson-Stahr, foreword by Harry Macy Jr., FASG, has been awarded the
following three prizes:
* 2002 American Society of Genealogists, Donald Lines Jacobus Award
* 2002 New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Book Award
* 2002 Heart of America Genealogical Society 1st Place, Anna Ford
Family Book Contest
Edward and Grace Burling came to New York from Barking, Essex,
England, in about 1680. They were Quakers who had been involved with
(and persecuted by) early Quakers in England and joined Friends in New
York. The Burling Books traces about 3,200 descendants (many of them
Quakers) in New York (including Long Island and Westchester), New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and farther a field to Michigan, Mississippi,
Wisconsin, and California. Altogether, forty-nine states, two
provinces, and various foreign countries have been home to the
A number of favorable reviews have appeared about the work. In the
"New York Genealogical and Biographical Record," Henry B. Hoff wrote,
"The Burling Books is a superb piece of scholarship and presentation,
and includes extensive family history, biography, and context". In
"The American Genealogist," Joseph C. Anderson II wrote, "This book is
highly recommended for anyone interested in early Quaker families of
metropolitan New York and for aspiring authors seeking a model of
scholarly genealogical writing." In the "National Genealogical Society
Quarterly," William M. Litchman wrote, "Thompson-Stahr offers a
monumental work, filled with details of family life and lore,
carefully and thoughtfully constructed with an eye to high standards."
Christine Lamar in Rhode Island Roots said, "...the best style of
genealogical writing; she combines narrative history and strong
research skills with a clear modified register organization of
The Burling Books is a two volume set, hardbound, on acid-free paper,
1,640 pages, 100 illustrations including photos, drawings, scanned
images, documents, and charts. The set may be ordered from Jane
Thompson-Stahr, 13 Circuit Ave., Scituate MA 02066. The cost is $80
plus $5 shipping. If you have questions about the set, you can visit
http://home.attbi.com/~jane81 or e-mail Jane Thompson-Stahr at
18 - 20 July 2003
"Mother Cumberland---A Harvest of Memories: Reunion 2003"
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania is the parent county to over 20 other
counties. Anyone with an ancestor of any surname who lived in
Cumberland County, PA during the 1700's is invited to attend "Mother
Cumberland---A Harvest of Memories: Reunion 2003" on July 18, 19, 20,
2003 at the University of Shippensburg, Shippensburg, PA. For more
information contact: Donna Cuillard at:
Update notice for CE My Family
New updates for CE My Family are available for both the Desktop and
the Pocket PC. The current version for the desktop is now 1.1.3 while
the Pocket PC is now at 1.1 Rev 2. To obtain the updates follow the
"Downloads" link from http://www.cemyfamily.com, at the bottom of the
page there are two files you will need to download, one each for the
Desktop and the Pocket PC. Both downloads combined will be
approximately 264 KB. **Note: You Should NOT download the complete
Each download is a self-expanding Zip file that will place the update
at the correct location on you desktop. Close CE My Family on both the
Desktop and Pocket PC before expanding and DO NOT change the default
"C:\" 'Unzip to Folder' name. Follow the prompts when you next launch
CE My Family on the Desktop with the Pocket PC connected.
Changes on the Pocket PC Include:
- The addition of a 'Find Individual' function that will allow you
to locate a specific person in the list of individuals, plus improved
and standardized Menus and toolbars across all three main tabs. For
details on these two changes, see
- Improved the responsiveness of moving to the 'Family' Tab when the
desired family is already loaded.
- Improved handling dates with mixed case and resolved a "Not a
Collection" error message when using the date picker.
Changes On The Desktop Include:
- Insured all dates used on the 'Individual' and the 'Family' Tabs
are read as upper case when Importing.
Although we updated both of these applications just a few days ago, we
felt the improvements in functionality warranted this early release.
As always, feel free to provide feedback and suggestions by following
the 'Contact Us' link from cemyfamily.com.
Contributed by Bob Wittmann, dba on eMan software,
Oregon Genealogical Society's Spring Seminar
Saturday, 22 March 2003
The Oregon genealogical society's spring seminar, "Breaking Through
Those Brick Walls" is scheduled for 22 March 2003 from 8:30 A.M. -
4:00 P.M. at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 1385 Cal Young
Road, Eugene, Oregon 97401
Registration: 8:30 - 9:00 A.M.
Cost: $40.00 which includes lunch. (Early registration is
recommended.) You may mail your early registration to the Oregon
Genealogical Society (address is given below), stating your name,
address, and e-mail address.
**Cindy Webb: Cindy is a dynamic speaker who holds an audience's
attention with the use of multi-media and Power Point speaking
strategies. She will make two presentations:
"Using Collateral Lines." Change your strategy---research the siblings
and aunts and uncles of your ancestor.
"Clues for Finding Female Ancestors." Explore an array of strategies
to trace your female ancestors.
Additional speakers include:
**Joan A. Hunter: Joan is a certified genealogist with expertise in
basic genealogy instruction, methodologies and problem solving. Her
"One Piece Upon the Pine Plain, Liberty of a Cartway, and Apples for
Life --- The Genealogical Value of Deeds." Learn to use deeds to not
only break down your brick walls, but also to provide a fascinating
glimpse into your ancestors' lives and values.)
** Leslie Brinkley Lawson: Leslie is a professional genealogist with
expertise in the use of interlibrary loans. Her topic is:
" Newspaper Research: Find it in the Past, Preserve it for the
Future." Learn the strategies for obtaining newspapers on microfilm
via interlibrary loan and their value in doing your genealogical
Contacts for further information:
The Oregon Genealogical Society
P. O. Box 10306
Eugene, OR 97440-2306
Phone: (541) 345-0399
Ferne M. Kellow, President
Oregon Genealogical Society
Calendar of Events
June 28 through July 6, 2003
Kutztown Pennsylvania German Festival
Kutztown Fairgrounds, Kutztown, PA
Route 222 between Allentown and Reading, PA
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
America's Premier Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Life Festival.
Throughout the 9-day Kutztown Festival there will be special American
Heritage presentations, Early American music and historical
reenactments, as well as the Festival's traditional presentations and
"hands-on" demonstrations that focus on the unique heritage and
contributions of the Pennsylvania Dutch to American life.
Special emphasis will be given to the Independence Day celebration on
July 4. The 4th of July parade, a tradition for more than 50 years -
will be augmented by other special events during the day.
Chosen as one of America's Top 100 Events, The Kutztown Festival
celebrates Pennsylvania Dutch and other early American traditions.
There are over 200 demonstrating folk artists and traditional American
craftsmen, 1,400 locally handmade quilts for sale, antiques and
collectables, folk life demonstrations and 5 stages of entertainment
with music, clogging, storytelling and much more. Plenty of hands-on
children's activities, and an overwhelming variety of Pennsylvania
Dutch food. Fun for the whole family!
Admission: adults $10, seniors $9, children 12 and under free. Free
Free brochure:1-888-674-6136 or 610-683-1597 Visit our Web site at:
Editors: excellent color photos available on request or downloadable
For more information contact: Dave Fooks 610-683-1597
The Newberry Library's Friends of Genealogy invite you and your
membership to attend its next two events:
Thursday, 13 February 2003
Tracking Your Polish Ancestors Via American and Polish Resources
6:00-7:30 PM -- Doors open 5:30 PM:
Learn the ins and outs of Polish research on both sides of the ocean,
including name changes, foreign alphabets, and finding records.
Your guide is Paul Valasek, past president of the Polish Genealogical
Society of America and a mainstay of the Polish Museum of America and
PolishRoots.org. Benefit from his years of experience researching in
Eastern Europe, tracing ancestors as far back as 1604.
Admission is $10; free to members of the Friends of Genealogy. For
inquiries and reservations, call (312) 255-3510.
Saturday, 5 April 2003
Friends of Genealogy's Fifth Annual Workshop
In memory of Barbara Stenger Burditt
Early American Research with Eric G. Grundset
Registration begins at 8:00 AM
Program 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM:
Eric G. Grundset is the Library Director of the Daughters of the
American Revolution (DAR) Library in Washington, D.C. His daylong
workshop will focus on four informative topics:
"Virginia and Her Daughters,"
"How Old Did You Have To Be?"
"Planning A Research Trip to Washington, D.C." and
"DAR Member or Not - This Library Is For You."
Mr. Grundset is a twelfth-generation Virginian on his maternal side
and a former president of the Virginia Genealogical Society. He is a
general editor of the DAR's book African American and American Indian
Patriots of the Revolutionary War.
Admission to all four lectures, a detailed syllabus, and a box lunch
is $75; $65 for DAR members; $50 for members of FOG. Inquire about our
new FOG member workshop discount. Reservations are required; call
(312) 255-3510. Sponsored by George Burditt.
Both events will be held at the Newberry Library, 60 West Walton
Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60610-7324, http://www.newberry.org/
The Newberry is located two blocks west of Bloomingdale's in Chicago's
affluent North Michigan Avenue neighborhood. It is only 1.3 miles off
the Kennedy Expressway exiting at Ohio Street.
For more details, including easy driving directions and parking
information, call Newberry's reservations at (312) 255-3510 or visit
The Friends of Genealogy ("FOG"), a membership group supporting the
Newberry Library's genealogy collections, was founded in 1997 for
those interested in genealogical pursuits. FOG is dedicated to
providing its members with educational information, events, and
various networking forums. It also enhances Newberry's Local and
Family History collection and services through fundraising and
volunteering. For more information call FOG Coordinator, Grace
Dumelle, at (312) 255-3530 or visit,
Contributed by Marsha Peterson
Editor's note: The URLs for this article are correct but were not
working at "press time." This appears to be a temporary problem.
Previous Issues of UpFront with NGS
Did you miss an issue of UpFront with NGS? Previous issues are located
Searchable issues of UpFront with NGS are on Roots:
Family Reunion Calendar
To add your family reunion to this calendar, please send an
To view a complete list of other coming events visit
Additional reunion news, archived reunion announcements, and a list of
reunion conferences, workshops and seminars are available at the
Reunions Magazine Web site: http://www.reunionsmag.com
For more reunion references see http://www.CyndisList.com/reunions.htm
March 21-23, 2003
13th Annual African American Family Reunion Conference & Expo 2003
Columbia Sheraton, Columbia, MD. Presented by The Family Reunion
Institute of Temple University and Pathfinders Travel Magazine.
Contact: Dr Ione Vargus, 215-204-6244;
June 12-14, 2003
The BUNKER Family Association will hold its 90th annual meeting and
reunion in Portsmouth, NH on June 12-14, 2003. All Bunkers and
persons related to Bunkers are welcome. There will be visits to old
Bunker burial grounds and the Bunker Garrison House site built by
James Bunker c. 1660. Many Bunker artifacts, books and pictures will
be on display. For more information, contact Gil Bunker at
, 9 Sommerset Rd., Turnersville, NJ 08012-2122 or
check the website at http://www.bunkerfamilyassn.org
June 13-15, 2003
The descendants of Samuel SLADE will gather evening of June 13th, full
day on 14th, and those interested in staying for church on Sunday
June 15th, 2003. This event will be held at Fincher United Methodist
Church, Meansville, Pike County, Georgia. We are seeking names and
addresses of interested parties. For further information please
contact Barbara Slade Dayhuff,
June 14, 2003 (new)
The 2nd Annual Family Reunion for FIELDER/GANO/SINGLETON/BRAZZLE/HONTS
families of ancestors of the Washington County, Kansas area will take
place on 14 June 2003. All relatives of these and related families are
encouraged to attend. For more information please contact: Karen
For more information on the CAIN, BRAZZEL, BOETTCHER, SCHILD, and
BRANDT families see
June 14, 2003 (new)
The ELLINGTON family of central NC (Orange, Alamance, Durham and
Chatham county area) will hold its annual family reunion on June 14,
2003 at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Alamance County, NC. All
Ellingtons and related families are welcome to attend. A shared lunch
at noon will begin the festivities. We will do some family
story-sharing after lunch. Please bring old and current family photos
for display. For more details, contact Richard Ellington phone:
919-967-4168 or e-mail:
June 21, 2003
The PINEGAR Family will be holding the annual PINEGAR family reunion
in the Des Moines, IA area on 21 June 2003. We are seeking names and
addresses of all relatives so we can contact each and every one
possible. We are planning a fun filled day for all and hoping to
exchange family pictures along with family history.
For further info contact :
June 21, 2003 (new)
The eleventh annual National LAMPLEY Reunion will be held June 21,
2003 at Fairview Recreational Center from 10:00am-? in Fairview, TN
(outside Nashville in Williamson County).Bring main and side dishes
for the noon indoor potluck meal; and bring family genealogies,
photos, news, events of the past year, newspaper clippings, and a
recipe with a family history or connection. Group photo will be at
11:30 am. Outdoor pool is adjacent and indoor activities are available
for kids. Distant kin, relatives by marriages or those bearing the
name and wanting to learn more are welcome. Cemetery tour in late
afternoon. For more info contact R. Rose
June 26 - 28, 2003 (new)
The next annual meeting of the Owsley Family Historical Society will
be held in Charlottesville, Virginia. You do not have to be a Society
member to attend. For more information, please contact Ronny Bodine at
or Connie Howard at or visit
the Web site at http://www.owsleyfamily.com/
June 28, 2003
Armand Allard DUPLANTIER: A Family Reunion and Celebration of Armand
Duplantier's 250th birthday will be held Saturday, June 28, 2003, at
Magnolia Mound Plantation in Baton Rouge, LA. All descendants of
Armand Duplantier are invited to attend. If you are a descendant of
Armand Duplantier, please mail or e-mail your name, address, phone
number and e-mail address to Margo Duplantier Rhinehart, 712
Carondelet St, Mandeville, LA 70448, e-mail:
We would also like to have the names and addresses of any other
descendants you might know. If possible, please let us know how you
are descended. Some of the other family names descended from Armand
are Favrot, Peniston, Reynaud, Toca, Hatkinson, Fortin, Laquier,
Aucoin, Meffre-Rouzan, Kleinpeter, Burke, Randolf, D'Armond, Hathorn,
Noland, Lamon, and others. If you think you might be a descendant but
aren't sure, let us know and we will try to help find out. We will
put you on our mailing list for this exciting event, and further
information will be sent out soon. In the meantime, please visit our
Website at http://www.duplantier.org.
July 4, 2003
The GIACOLETTI family of BISBEE, ARIZONA will be having their family
reunion on 04 July 2003 at the GIACOLETTI Ranch in Bisbee, Arizona.
If more information is needed please contact
July 11, 2003
The MORGAN family reunion will be held July 11-13 in Minneapolis, MN.
This line comes from Jacob/Mary Morgan through Albert C. Morgan.
For additional information contact .
July 18, 19, 20, 2003 (new)
"Mother Cumberland-A Harvest of Memories: Reunion 2003" will be hosted
by the BRADY Family Heritage Association on July 18, 19, 20, 2003
at the Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania. For more information contact Donna Cuillard at
or visit the Brady Family Heritage Association Web
site at http://bradyheritage.org/reunion2003.htm
July 24 - 27, 2003 (new)
The PENNINGTON Research Association is
holding its 2003 Annual Reunion/Meeting in San Rafael, California (a
suburb of San Francisco) July 24 through 27, 2003. Cyndi Howells will
be the guest speaker on Saturday, 26 July, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
The cost for Cyndi's presentation will be $35 per person (lunch is
included). Seating is limited and sign ups will be on a first come
first seated basis. The Pennington Research Association at
http://www.penningtonresearch.org will start accepting reservations
for this event in February. For more information see
July 26, 2003
The PURTZER/PUERTZER Family reunion will be held on 26 July 2003 at
St. John's Lutheran Church in New Boston, Spencer County, Indiana.
Contact: Marlene Polster, 1437 West 97th Ave, Crown Point, IN.
August 9-10, 2003
The 100th BAKER-FULLER Family Reunion (for the descendants of Robert &
Elizabeth (Conklin) BAKER and Aaron & Sarah (Kimble) FULLER) will be
held near Tunkhannock, Pa., on August 9-10, 2003. For more
information, contact Bob Baker, who is hosting the event, at 112
Saddle Lake Road, Tunkhannock, PA 18657, phone 570-836-4919 or e-mail
or check out the website at
August 13-17, 2003
The SINYKIN Family reunion is scheduled for August 13 - 17, 2003 at
the Alex Johnson Hotel, Rapid City, South Dakota. For more
information contact: Diane (Sinykin) Small at
August 23, 2003
The 100th BAGLEY-LANE Reunion (for the descendants of
Thomas and Abiah (LANE) BAGLEY) will be held at the historic Dimock
Camp-Meeting Ground, west of Dimock, Pa., on August 23, 2003. For
more info, contact Bob Baker, who is Bagley-Lane family historian, at
112 Saddle Lake Road, Tunkhannock, PA 18657, phone 570-836-4919 or
e-mail or check out the website at
September 2 -7, 2003 (new)
The SEELEY Genealogical Society will hold its biennial reunion at
Williamsburg, Virginia, 2-7 September 2003. This conference promises
to be an excellent opportunity to share research, about genealogy and
history, and meet new friends. All spellings of the Seeley surname are
welcome. For reservations call the Holiday Inn Patriot at
1-800-446-6001 before 15 August 2003. For more information call or
e-mail James R. Seeley, 108 Westridge Dr.,Churchville.Va. 24421.
Phone: (540) 337-8633, e-mail: .
September 15 - 24, 2003 (new)
Owsley Family Historical Society: English Heritage Tour
September 15 to 24, 2003. Plans are now complete for the 2003 tour to
England and North Wales. We are going to a more northerly part of the
country to see an entirely different group of sites than the 2001
tour, with three exceptions. We will once again visit Glooston church
and village and Acton Court and church. One other difference this
time is the visit to North Wales historic Caernarvon Castle built by
Edward I. You do not have to be a Society member to attend. For
information, please contact Bill Gann at or visit
the Web site at http://www.owsleyfamily.com/heritagetour2003.html
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