UpFront with NGS The Online Newsletter of the National Genealogical Society Volume 1, Number 5 -- 15 August 2002 :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Co-editors: Dennis and Carla Ridenour -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Quote of the Day -- 15 August 2002 "Research is the act of going up alleys to see if they are blind." --Plutarch -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Today In UpFront :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: NGS Centennial Year Activities --Celebrating the Century! NGS Virtual Lecture Series NGS Election 2002 --Don't Forget to Vote! NGS Standards --Standards For Sound Genealogical Research October is Family History Month Research Tools and Techniques --What to Look for in a Digital Camera News Items, Announcements, and Press Releases -- Genelines 2.0 Released --"Get a Research Skills Tune-Up" Workshop --2002 RIGS Alliance Workshop --NIGR Changes Hands --Catholic Parish Registers Available --Otherdays.com Launches Irish Website Past 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 :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: "UpFront with NGS" is a publication of the National Genealogical Society, a nonprofit service organization that leads and educates the national genealogical community. To learn more about the goals, publications, conferences, services and members benefits of the National Genealogical Society, visit the NGS Web site: http://www.NGSgenealogy.org © 2002 National Genealogical Society -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NGS Centennial Year Activities :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Celebrating the Century! The speaker at the NGS Luncheon at last week's Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference was Curt Witcher. The title of the NGS President's presentation was "Celebrating the Century: The National Genealogical Society's Plans for Its Centennial Year." In his presentation Curt Witcher made note of several items of importance. In cooperation with Rutledge Press he noted, NGS will be publishing a new series of guide books. They will include: * "Guide to Genealogical Research Online" * "Guide to Genealogical Basics" * "Guide to Planning and Organizing a Family Reunion" * "Guide to Creating Your Own Genealogical Website" * "A Genealogical Dictionary" The premier event during the Centennial Year will be the NGS Conference to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The program will appear in the November/December issue of the "NGS Newsmagazine." It holds the promise of being innovative. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear presentations that explore records in depth, outline new approaches, explore ways to research colonial families or find women ancestors. Keep watching for announcements concerning activities during the Centennial Year. John T. Humphrey Director, NGS Learning Center 1-800-473-0060, Ext. 223 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NGS Virtual Lecture Series :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Do you want to chat with a genealogist? A personal consultation with a professional can be rather expensive! One way to circumvent the expense problem is to go online to chat with some of the country's most noted family historians. Ask them your most pressing questions on the topics being discussed. Everyone is invited to participate in the About Genealogy chat rooms administered by Kimberly Powell. A chat room is not a lecture hall, the format is very different. The presenter will post a lecture online that covers a specific subject. Any genealogist having an interest in that topic can read the lecture at http://genealogy.about.com/mpchat.htm A Genealogy Chat Schedule listing the topic, day, time, description of each chat and the name of the host or hostess is available at http://genealogy.about.com/library/blchatsched.htm Beginning chatters will find links that will lead them to a Chat Guide for Beginners (http://genealogy.about.com/library/blchatguide.htm), Chat Room Rules (http://genealogy.about.com/library/blchatrules.htm), a Guide to Moderated Chats (http://genealogy.about.com/library/blchatmodrules.htm), and other helpful topics at http://genealogy.about.com/mpchat.htm On the evening the presentation has been scheduled, the family historian can find his/her way to the chat room by going to http://genealogy.about.com/mpchat.htm. In the chat room the listener will have an opportunity to ask the presenter questions, engage in the dialogue or simply follow the action. Each online chat will last two hours. Archived transcripts of several chats sponsored by NGS, plus other informative guest chats can be found at http://genealogy.about.com/library/blchattranscripts.htm It needs to be noted that all NGS-sponsored chats are scheduled for 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and they are live. Thus genealogists wanting to listen in have to adjust the start time for the area of the country where they live or where they want to join in. UpFront readers will be notified of future NGS-sponsored chats when the next series of NGS Virtual Lectures is announced. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NGS Election 2002 :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Don't Forget to Vote! Members eligible to vote in the 2002 NGS Election must submit their ballots by 30 August 2002. All officers and directors shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast. NGS members may see the slate either on the Web or in print. Should they not wish to vote online, they may cut out or copy the ballot in the July/August "NGS Newsmagazine, page 200, put their member number on the ballot, make their selection and send it to NGS for tabulation. NGS members wishing to vote online may go to the Web site, read the slate, then go to the secure ballot site, make their selection and submit it http://www.NGSgenealogy.org/election/ Both forms of ballot will allow for a write-in vote. For more information see "UpFront with NGS," Volume 1, Number 4, 01 August 2001. Past issues of "UpFront" are located at http://www.NGSgenealogy.org/upfront/archives/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NGS Standards :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Standards For Sound Genealogical Research Recommended by the National Genealogical Society http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/comstandsound.htm http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/gssound.pdf Remembering always that they are engaged in a quest for truth, family history researchers consistently-- * record the source for each item of information they collect. * test every hypothesis or theory against credible evidence, and reject those that are not supported by the evidence. * seek original records, or reproduced images of them when there is reasonable assurance they have not been altered, as the basis for their research conclusions. * use compilations, communications and published works, whether paper or electronic, primarily for their value as guides to locating the original records, or as contributions to the critical analysis of the evidence discussed in them. * state something as a fact only when it is supported by convincing evidence, and identify the evidence when communicating the fact to others. * limit with words like "probable" or "possible" any statement that is based on less than convincing evidence, and state the reasons for concluding that it is probable or possible. * avoid misleading other researchers by either intentionally or carelessly distributing or publishing inaccurate information. * state carefully and honestly the results of their own research, and acknowledge all use of other researchers' work. * recognize the collegial nature of genealogical research by making their work available to others through publication, or by placing copies in appropriate libraries or repositories, and by welcoming critical comment. * consider with open minds new evidence or the comments of others on their work and the conclusions they have reached. ©2002 by National Genealogical Society. Permission is granted to copy or publish this material provided it is reproduced in its entirety, including this notice. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Family History Month :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: October Is Family History Month The idea of Family History Month started ten years ago. It sprang from a small genealogy club that was an offshoot of the Monmouth County Historical Society. The members reasoned if there was a Hot Dog Month and a Pickle Month why not a Family History Month? October was picked because it immediately preceded the holiday get-togethers and therefore was a wonderful opportunity to interview family members. The club members contacted a County Freeholder who proclaimed October as Family History Month in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Flushed with a quick success, the process began. Since that time the small club has become the free standing Monmouth County Genealogy Society, the Governor proclaimed Family History Month statewide, and we have been joined by thirteen other states. The process has not been easy. The idea has spread by word of mouth to friends and contacts in other states and the creation of a brochure that is sent or given to anyone that seems mildly interested. It is our hope that thirty-seven other states will join us. To have a proclamation issued that honors one's passion is gratifying but is totally passive. It's like getting a birthday card from a friend. It is how you celebrate and with whom that makes the event meaningful and memorable. This is true of Family History Month. Oh, we have a luncheon and a speaker on a weekend so people who work can attend. Enjoyable? Yes, but it's like preaching to the choir or patting each other on the back. We need to move out of our comfort zone and reach out to others. Therefore, at various times we have celebrated with a program where out of state members called in for help, a panel that helped members who were stuck, training classes for beginners and beyond, an Everton Workshop, Heritage Quest Roadshow, and we have given a series of talks at a large chain of bookstores. There are a number of the stores in our county, so we cover several different areas. From these talks we have acquired new members for our Society and hopefully stimulated others to pursue their search on their own. Perhaps our favorite manner of celebration involves children. We conduct an essay contest for ten to twelve year olds. We pick a topic that is genealogy related, contact the Principals of the various schools and post it on the Home School Board. The contest can be a bit of trouble, but it is the way to reach the future. The pundits decry the lack of interest and knowledge in history by the youth of our country. If the young people think history is dry as dust the situation will not improve. We in genealogy have the key to their interest. It is up to us to show that history is the sum of the lives of the people. There is no better way to celebrate Family History Month. There are so many ways the month can be celebrated. We are a small Society with only two years on our own and limited funds. We do our best but know that you with all your background and resources can make a big impact in your states. Join us in celebrating and proselytizing our obsession. Once we get fifty states, we will go after the Post Office for a stamp. The above article, by Delores B. Olson the Vice President, Program Chair, and Family History Chair of the Monmouth County Historical Society, was originally posted on the NGS Web site and illustrates what a small but dedicated group of genealogists can accomplish. Update Celebrations are indeed called for! On 10 July 2001, Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah wrote to his colleagues in the United States Senate asking them to cosponsor a resolution that would dedicate the Month of October as "Family History Month." As a result, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved legislation to designate October as "Family History Month" on 26 September 2001. You'll find the entire story in an article by Kimberly Powell at http://genealogy.about.com/library/weekly/aa092701a.htm For more information on celebrating National Family History Month, see the Monmouth County Genealogy Society workshop announcement in the News Item section of this week's UpFront. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Research Tools and Techniques :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: What to Look for in a Digital Camera In the last issue of UpFront, I explained why digital cameras were my choice for recording source documents and other types of genealogical items. If you missed the article, you can download the 01 August 2002, Vol.1, No. 4, issue from http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/upfront/archives Now we need to move on to a discussion of those cameras. First, let's talk a little bit about camera prices. Many digital cameras carry price tags ranging from $500-1,000 dollars. These cameras offer assorted features that will never be required for photographing research documents or for other genealogical tasks. Fortunately, in the last 18 months digital camera manufacturers have begun marketing what I call 'family' cameras. Priced between $200-$400 dollars, these cameras offer features and image quality that is at least comparable to, and sometimes better than, what was considered high-end less than three years ago. Spending several hundred dollars for a digital camera may still seem like a lot of money, but let's take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantage of the digital format versus film format from a researcher's viewpoint. The Digital Advantage * Film cameras use film, and therefore have all the problems that go with film such as reoccurring film costs, processing costs, wasted shots, full rolls of film to expose before you can see any of the pictures, film expiration dates to worry about, the necessity of protective film bags when passing through airport security, and negatives or slides to scratch or collect dust. *. Most Digital cameras record and store photos on some sort of removable media card that allows you to shoot numerous photos, then easily download them to a computer, and clear the card to be used again. After exposing a roll of film with 24 or 36 pictures, you have to reload the film camera, and then you have to take the exposed film to be developed, then pick it up and at the same time hope you got the pictures you wanted. With a digital camera, you can look at the pictures as soon as you snap them and decide then and there if they're good enough to keep. If not, you can re-shoot them, before you leave the library or cemetery. * If you use a 2-megapixel camera and purchase a large enough memory card, say a 128mb card, you can pack the equivalent of 8-10 rolls of film on one card. That's the equivalent of 200-300 good pictures with all the booboo pictures erased. If you use film, even after the photos are developed, printed, and paid for, you still don't have files that you can put into your computer, unless you scan them or have them printed to CD, a process that can be expensive. Ten rolls of 24-exposure film developed and printed in 4 X 6 prints and printed to CD can be purchased on sale for $99.90, whereas a 128mb card can be purchased for $99.00, and used hundreds of times. Add about $.50 per print for your digital images if you do them at a digital print stand, like the ones popping up in malls, grocery stores, and drugstores. But remember, you only print the ones you need, not all of them. So what should you look for when purchasing a digital camera that will be used mainly for genealogical purposes and how much will it cost? Not as much as you might think. Here are some specifics: * Resolution: The goal is to produce clear, sharp images of the documents and items that are readable and recognizable when reprinted. I don't like mediocre images, and that is how I approach rating camera performance. There are cameras that produce excellent images of 8-1/2 X 11 inch originals, using the 2-megapixel format. These are cameras with high quality lenses, and good compression algorithms. We will talk brand names later. So I set 2-megapixels as the minimum resolution for a "gen-cam" (genealogy camera). * Picture Quality and Additional Resolution Settings: A 2-megapixel camera shoots at 1600 pixels by 1200 pixels. Your gen-cam should allow you to set it for other resolutions, such as 1024 X 768, or 640 X 480, so that if you are shooting pictures that will be posted on the Web, attached to an e-mail message or internally stored in a genealogy program, you can shoot at a lower resolution. You should also be able to select more than one compression quality such as high and low, or good, better, and best. These tools will enable you to save storage space if necessary. * Features: Some cameras have more features than you could ever possibly need, and some don't have the basic features you will need. Desirable features include both automatic and manual controls. Many cameras have the ability to choose "automatic" or program mode, as well as aperture priority, where you set the f-stop and the camera adjusts the shutter speed, or shutter priority, where you set the shutter speed, and the camera adjusts the aperture, or full manual mode, where you select both the aperture and the shutter speed. On the other hand, some cameras offer "Scenes" instead of aperture and shutter priority modes. A scene mode camera allows you to set the camera for the type of scene you are shooting, i.e. close-up, bright backlit, landscape, portrait, or action scenes so that the camera can automatically adjust the shutter speed and aperture for the best results. I prefer full manual controls, but use a camera with scenes for most of my genealogical research tasks. Go figure! * Batteries: My favorite gen-cams are those that can use rechargeable double AA batteries. Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable batteries are available for about $12.00 for a set of 4. And a battery charger that includes a set of 4 batteries sells for approximately $30.00. I like to keep 5 or 6 sets of batteries charged and ready to go. In a pinch, standard double AA batteries can be picked up at almost any grocery or drug store whereas the proprietary batteries used in some cameras are seldom found even in retail camera or electronic stores and must be ordered from the manufacture or other online sources. Extra proprietary batteries can run as high as $70.00 or $80.00. Some cameras require that you charge these batteries while inside the camera, which means your gen-cam is out of use while charging the batteries. * Flash: The gen-cam should have some type of built in flash. The ability to manually adjust the flash intensity is desirable and is sometimes helpful for photographing documents, but only if the use of flash is not prohibited. * Lens: The lens is the eye that sees the object that you are trying to record. Just like a person with bad vision, the camera with a bad lens, sees and records a poor image. Unlike a person with bad vision, there are no corrective glasses for a bad lens. The lens should be a good quality glass multi-element lens. * Optical Zoom: The gen-cam should have at least a 3X optical zoom. Notice I said optical zoom, not digital zoom. Digital zoom is a feature I rarely, if ever, use and one that can be easily reproduced by software after the image is taken. * Macro: A macro setting or the ability to move the camera close to an object and still focus is desirable. This feature is necessary for photographing inscriptions in heirloom jewelry, and other objects that require close, detailed photos. The closer the macro the better, 4 inches or closer is the minimum. * Lens protection: Again the lens is the eye of the camera, and if the eye gets scratched, the pictures suffer accordingly. The camera should have some type of automatic lens protection when the camera is turned off. If not, then extra care is required when handling the camera. This is a convenience item. * Zoom on playback: This is the ability to look at your picture on the camera's LCD screen and magnify or zoom into it so that you can examine the exposure, focus, composition, density, readability, and general picture details. Most cameras will have a zoom on playback equivalent to their digital zoom during picture taking. The closer you can zoom the better. A 3X zoom on playback is minimum. So, here's the gen-cam we are looking for: a 2-megapixel camera selling for $400 or less, equipped with a good quality glass lens; automatic and manual exposure controls or scenes; built-in flash; 3X or greater optical zoom; 4" or closer macro; resolution and quality controls; can use AA rechargeable batteries; minimum 3x zoom on playback, and a lens cover that closes automatically when the camera is turned off. Is there such a beast? That will be the topic of next issue's article, so until then, think digital. --Denny Contributed by Dennis Ridenour ridenour43@msn.com Note: See the upcoming "NGS Newsmagazine" (September/October 2002) for additional tips on what to look for when selecting a digital camera that will be used mainly for genealogical purposes. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= News Item :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Genelines 2.0 Released Progeny Software Inc., developers of quality genealogy software and CD-ROM products, released Genelines 2.0 in late July. New features in Genelines 2.0 include two new charts, one new report, improved customization abilities, a PDF export option, and many other features requested by Genelines users such as: : * Support for BC dates * Metric measurements that automatically configure to Windows settings * Ability to merge two or more charts * File scan that finds all genealogy database files * Ability to include historical events on biographical charts * User specified event labels * Split chart mode (similar to freeze panes in MS Excel) * Option to print events Genelines 2.0 Universal Edition can read PAF, Family Tree Maker, Legacy, Ancestral Quest and Ancestry Family Tree files directly, as well as GEDCOM. It operates on Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP, and requires 32 MB RAM. Genelines 2.0 Universal Edition is available for $29.95 US as a download from Progeny's online store at http://www.progenysoftware.com Database specific versions of Genelines 2.0 are also available separately for Legacy, Ancestral Quest and Ancestry Family Tree at $19.95 US. Registered users of Genelines 1.x may upgrade for half price. For more details select the Upgrades tab in the Genelines section on Progeny's Web site. These products are also available on CD-ROM for an additional $5 charge plus $5 shipping ($10 overseas). For more information on Genelines and other Progeny products, visit http://www.progenysoftware.com. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= News Item :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: 05 October 2002 -- Celebrate Family History Month "Get a Research Skills Tune-Up" Workshop Celebrate genealogy during National Family History Month in October! Join fellow genealogists and 'tune-up' your skills at the Monmouth County Genealogy Society's "Get a Research Skills Tune-Up" Workshop on October 5, 2002. This event is part of MCGS's Family History Month activities. The following topics will be presented: Methodology; Hatched, Matched & Dispatched: Vital Records; Halls of Justice: Court Records; Stand Up & Be Counted: Census Records; Can you cross the pond? Your Immigrant Origins; and Saints & Sinners: Church/Cemetery Research. Each registrant will receive a MCGS Genealogist's Toolkit as part in addition to lecture materials. The workshop will be held at the Eatontown Community Center, 68 Broad Street, Eatontown, NJ. Please bring your own lunch, MCGS will provide beverages and desserts. For further details, including registration fees. Contact Michelle Chubenko, 732-969-2652 or visit the MCGS Web site at http://www.rootsweb.com/~njmcgs/events.htm The Monmouth County Genealogy Society, a member of the Federation of Genealogical Societies and of the National Genealogical Society, was established in 1988 as a club within the Monmouth County Historical Association. In 1998, after ten years as a vital, successful group, it became an independent society. Monmouth County Genealogy Society PO Box 5 Lincroft, NJ 07738-0005 Monmouth County Genealogy Society http://www.rootsweb.com/~njmcgs/index.htm NJGenWeb: Genealogical Calendar of Events http://mywebpages.comcast.net/famhist/calendar.htm Contributed by Michelle Tucker Chubenko, MCGS Education Chair -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= News Item :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: 13-18 October 2002 2002 RIGS Alliance Workshop The first Regional In-depth Genealogical Studies Alliance (RIGS Alliance) workshop will be held 13-18 October 2002 in Atlanta, Georgia, in cooperation with the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA's) Southeast Region. The workshop is designed for genealogists, historians, and librarians with a general genealogical or historical grounding who want to learn skills and techniques for researching original records at regional archives. It is not a beginning genealogy workshop. To ensure a quality experience, enrollment is limited to thirty. Although this workshop will focus on records from the Southeastern United States, many of the record types are available at other NARA regional facilities. Activities will be held in the Atlanta area at the Hampton Inn Southlake (workshop headquarters hotel) and in a state-of-the-art classroom on the beautiful campus of Clayton College and State University, both in Morrow, Georgia. Additional instruction and research will take place at the National Archives Southeast Region in East Point, Georgia. Workshop staff includes J. Mark Lowe, CG, Director of RIGS Alliance, Inc., Linda Woodward Geiger, CGRS, CGL, and Pamela Boyer Porter, CGRS, CGL, Assistant Directors, and expert staff members from NARA's Southeast Region. For details about the RIGS Alliance workshop, write to RIGS Alliance Workshop, P.O. Box 1273, Jasper, GA 30143; fax (706) 268-3314; e-mail info@RIGSAlliance.org; or visit the Web site at http://www.RIGSAlliance.org -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= News Item :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: NIGR Changes Hands At the May 2002 Annual meeting of the NIGR Board of Trustees held in Milwaukee, Lynn C. McMillion, CLS, FNGS, and Marie Varrelman Melchiori, CGRS, CGL, announced their retirement as Director and Assistant Director of the National Institute on Genealogical Research (NIGR). They have served as directors for fifteen years. The Board approved Claire Mire Bettag, CGRS, CGL, as the new Director. Patricia O'Brien Shawker, CGRS, will serve as Assistant Director. Both are alumnae of the Institute where Bettag has been a faculty member for several years. She is completing a term as NGS Vice-President. Patricia Shawker has served as Treasurer of the NIGR Alumni Association. The new directors will assume their positions on 1 October 2002. Established in 1950, NIGR is now in its second half-century of service to the genealogical community. Under the leadership of McMillion and Melchiori, the program's content was refocused on Federal records in the National Archives in the Washington area; incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization; and its seal registered with the USPTO. NIGR's Board of Trustees includes representatives of APG, ASG, BCG, FGS, NGS, NIGRAA, and NARA (a nonvoting member); as president of NIGRAA, Sandra MacLean Clunies, CG, serves as chair. Contributed by Lynn C. McMillion, CLS -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= News Item :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Catholic Parish Registers Available Catholic Parish Registers of the Diocese of Belleville in Southern Illinois are now available on microfilm at the Belleville Public Library, 121 East Washington Street, Belleville, Illinois 62220, and the St. Louis County Library, 1640 Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63131. This yearlong project was completed in April 2002 by members of the St. Clair County Genealogical Society. One hundred seventy microfilm reels make up each set. The Catholic Diocese of Belleville parish registers cover over 140 parishes in 28 southern Illinois counties east from St. Clair to Lawrence and all to the south. The earliest extant registers are those of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady at Kaskaskia (1690s). The latest date released is 31 December 1930. Finding aids and Descriptive Lists for each roll of film may be found on the Society's Web site at http://www.compu-type.net/rengen/stclair/stchome.htm If an index is available, photocopies of specific records may be obtained by writing the Belleville Public Library - Archives. Their current research policy is $10.00 per hour plus photocopies at $0.50 per page and postage. Study the Descriptive Lists to determine whether a register is indexed. You must supply the parish, name of the person, record type sought, and approximate year. St. Clair County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 431 Belleville, Illinois 62222-0431 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= News Item :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Otherdays.com Launches New Irish Genealogical & Historical Website Otherdays.com is an Irish Website made up of a massive database of source Irish records including the most important surviving 19th Century Irish genealogical collection, Griffiths Valuation of Ireland. Dating from 1847-1864, Griffiths Valuation contains millions of primary source records and is vital for tracing Irish history. Otherdays.com has fully correlated this information, giving the Irish Diaspora a new channel of easy to access information. The entire collection of Griffiths Valuation records is fully correlated to the first Ordnance Survey of Ireland. This effectively means that when you locate your ancestor, with one click of a button, the matching local Ordnance Survey map displays on-screen. Otherdays.com is also bringing a comprehensive, searchable Placenames Index of Ireland on-line. This is an important facet to researching Irish ancestry and being able to take the journey back to where your ancestors originated. Members can search through interactive topographical maps, barony maps, Civil and Catholic Parish maps, and newspaper archives. A keyword searchable library of topographical and general interest rare books is also available. The Lawrence Collection of Photographs, with over 40,000 photographs from between 1870 and 1910, is also included. Prints from this collection may be purchased online. Otherdays.com is currently offering annual Memberships at the introductory price of US$51.95. The normal price of $64.95. Members can also take advantage of a Loyalty Bonus Plan, whereby redeemable Loyalty Points are earned on all purchases at Otherdays.com (including the membership fee). For further information please contact: Hugh Scully at Blue PR, Tel: + 353 1 679 4131 Mob: + 353 86 245 1278 Email: hugh@bluepr.com -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Previous Issues of UpFront with NGS :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Did you miss an issue of UpFront with NGS? Previous issues are located at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/upfront/archives/ Searchable issues of UpFront with NGS are on RootsWeb: http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=NGS -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Family Reunion Calendar :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: To add your family reunion to this calendar, please send an announcement to carla@jb.com To view a complete list of other coming events visit http://www.NGSgenealogy.org/newscoming.htm August 11-17 DOANE Family Association, Inc. holds its 47th International Bicennial reunion in Newtown, Bucks County, PA. Contact Kay Blair Hartman, 1044 South Ironwood Road, Sterling VA 20164;e-mail: kblairh@aol.com August 24-25 The Sgt. William HARLOW Family Association, Inc. holds its Annual Meeting and Reunion. http://www.harlowfamily.com August 25 The NIEHAUS Family from Indianapolis, Indiana, will come together on Sunday, August 25th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Southlake Recreation Center, Shelter House, 4439 Old S. R. 144, Mooresville, Indiana. There will be lots of family fun and the raffle of "Our Family Quilt." August 31 The STREETT Family holds a reunion in Street, MD. For further information, e-mail Sue Streett at Streett44@aol.com September 4-8 TOWNE Family Association holds its 22nd Annual Reunion and Meeting at The Ponchartrain Hotel, New Orleans, LA. Contact: Wayne Riggle, 19 Fairway Drive West, Etawah, NC 28729-9769; e-mail: rigglew@bellsouth.net September 14 James Henry BAULDRY and Arzetta BUSH descendants are holding a family reunion at the County Park, Lake Noquebay, Marinette County, Wisconsin. James and his wife Arzetta were early settlers in that area, coming from Canada in the 1860's. Contact Ray Bergman raybergman@webtv.net September 19-21 HULL Family Association holds its 17th Annual Meeting, Des Moines/Johnston, IA. Contact: David or Denise Hull, 402 Chester Ave, Ottumwa, Iowa 52501; e-mail: dhull@lisco.com September 21-22 Descendants and friends of the 15th MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY (1861-1864) will commemorate and celebrate the belated addition of "The 28th Man" to the Civil War memorial in Sturbridge, MA. Contact B. Burns, (508) 347-3917; e-mail bburns@meganet.net or visit http://www.nextech.de/ma15mvi/ October 3-4 CHILDERS/CHILDRESS Family Association holds its 2002 Annual Meeting, Williamsburg, Virginia. Contact: Jack Childers, RD 3 Box 480, Fenwick Island, DE 19944; e-mail: childers@dca.net October 4-5 STANDRIDGE Family holds its national reunion in Cullman Alabama. Contact Russell Baker, 6525 Magnolia Dr, Mabelvale, AR 72013 October 11-13 Pierre CHASTAIN Family Association holds its 27th annual reunion at Quality Inn, Thomasville Georgia. Contact: Tim Chastain, (229) 226-4263; e-mail: tchastsn@rose.net ; Web site: http://kopower.com/~jimchstn/ October 11-14 (new) O MAHONY Society Reunion as follows: When: Columbus Day Weekend October 11-14, 2002 Location: Baltimore, MD Contact Person: Diane Mahoney daililli@aol.com Nanci Mahoney rainbow28@earthlink.net For more information about the weekend: http://members.aol.com/daililli/O_MahonyHome.html October 18-19 (new) The 2002 SUFFRIDGE/SULFRIDGE Family Reunion will be Friday and Saturday, October 18 & 19, 2002 at the Southside Baptist Church, 24th St. and Doncaster Ave., Middlesboro, KY. Lynda Suffridge will be speaking on "The Suffridge/Sulfridge Men in the Civil War." For further information contact Peggy Jane Stevens at Noonesis@aol.com Please Put "Sufridge/Sulfridge Reunion" in the Subject Line. 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