Genealogy Friends

January Newsletter

2012-01-17T05:38:00.000-06:00

The January Newsletter is now online.

Saturday Seminar - January 21, 2012

2012-01-07T10:08:00.003-06:00

Tara Carlisle from the University of North Texas spoke to us last year about the Portal to Texas History. She is returning to show us how to digitize the records and pictures we have collected in our research.

We'll also have an update from Cheryl Smith on what's new in the genealogy collection.

Doors open at 10 am.

All Day Workshop

2011-10-08T11:28:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, November 19th Genealogy Friends presents "Sources & Techniques to Jump Start Your Research".

Speaker: Kelvin Meyers

Place: Plano Bible Church, 1900 Shiloh, Plano, TX

Time: 9:30-4:00

Topics:

Plowing Through Land Records to Find Your Ancestor
Tax Records or Why did Scarlett make a dress from her mother's drapes?
Who cares who their neighbors were? You do, that's who!
Where do I go after the 1930 census?

Cost:

Members before 11/1 $35 after 11/1 $38

Non-members before 11/1 $40 after 11/1 $45

Dining Out

2011-08-20T07:21:00.000-05:00

Join your genealogy friends on Thursday, August 25, 2011, 7:00 pm at Carrabba’s Italian Grill for delicious food, fun with friends, and door prizes.

This is your chance to enjoy an evening out and help Genealogy Friends purchase even more valuable resources for the Genealogy section of the library. $5 of each meal will be donated to Genealogy Friends.

For $25 you get your choice of three entrees – lasagna, penne carrabba or chicken marsala, a caesar salad or soup of the day, fresh bread with herb mix and olive oil, an alcohol-free beverage, and a mini-dessert. The cost includes gratuity.

To make a reservation send your check for $25 to PO Box 860477, Plano, TX 75086-0477.

August Newsletter is Online

2011-08-20T07:16:00.001-05:00

The August newsletter has been posted to the website. Click on the link above.

August Learn N

2011-07-14T21:53:00.002-05:00

On August 27th Gen Friends is hosting a LearnN. There will be two one hour seminars on Organization and Planning for a Research Trip.

Where? Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd, Plano, TX

When? 10:15-12:30

A $10 donation is appreciated. All the money raised will go towards purchasing materials for the Genealogy Section of the library.

Visit Gen Friends Website for more info on all our events.

July Newsletter

2011-07-14T21:51:00.001-05:00

The July newsletter is online. There are three pages of websites to help with your research.

June Newsletter

2011-06-12T19:54:00.003-05:00

The June Newsletter has been posted to the Gen Friends website. This month's issue includes an article about one of our members search to validate a letter written to an ancestor signed US. His family lore says the letter was from Ulysses S. Grant. Follow Johnny's journey to discover the truth about the letter and his ancestor, Rowena Lucy Knight.

This is especially interesting to me since I also have a family story that involves US Grant. According to the Hoffmeister family, Grant thought his farm near St. Louis included land owned by Christian Hoffmeister. The matter was settled through a court battle in the 1870's.

We'd love to learn about the mysteries in your family history, write up the article and email a word document to newsletter@genealogyfriends.org. It is a great way to make your accomplishments or brick walls accessible to others who might be researching the same families. They don't have to be Collin County residents, we'll even include yankees.

May Newsletter

2011-05-16T07:09:00.002-05:00

The May Newsletter has been posted to the website. The 1940 census will be released on 2 April 2012. Read the article in the newsletter to be sure you are ready to find your family when the digital images are available.

FamilySearch Civil War Records

2011-05-14T08:40:00.002-05:00

FamilySearch announced the addition of millions of Civil War Era records on their website. This is an ongoing project, records will be added as they are indexed. Best part there is no fee to access these records. The records currently available include:

Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929
Louisiana Confederate Pensions, 1898-1950
Missouri Confederate Pension Applications and Soldiers Home Applications
South Carolina, Civil Confederate Service Records, 1861-1865
US, 1894 Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War
US, Naval Enlistment Rendezvous, 1855-1891
US, Navy Widows' Certificates 1861-1910
US, Registers of Enlistments in the US Army 1798-1914
US, Union Provost Marshal Files of Papers Relating to Two or More Civilians, 181-1866
US, Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cads, 1907-1933
Vermont Enrolled Militia, 1861-1867
Arizona, Service Records of Confederate Soldiers of the Civil War, 1861-1863

You can help index the records to make them available. It doesn't take a lot of time. Please pitch in and do your part. Click on the link above for more information and to access the records.

May Saturday Seminar

2011-05-07T22:12:00.002-05:00

We have an exciting seminar coming up on Saturday May 21, 2011. Marilyn Waligore who is Professor of Aesthetic Studies/Photography in the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Texas at Dallas where she directs the Photography Program is our speaker. Photographs of our ancestors are special treasures for family historians. Join us to learn about the history of photography.

Saturday seminars are held in the program room at WO Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd, Plano. Doors open at 10:00 and the program begins at 10:30.

April Saturday Seminar

2011-04-03T18:11:00.003-05:00

On Saturday April 16th Brenda McClurkin, Archivist UTA Historical Manuscript Collection will be the speaker at the Gen Friends meeting. Join us to hear her speak, "Using Manuscript Collections in Genealogical Research" The meeting will be in the Program Room at WO Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd, Plano.

Saturday Seminar

2011-03-27T18:57:00.003-05:00

On Saturday, March 19th Lynell Moss dazzled us with her extensive knowledge of FamilySearch.org. The look and feel of FamilySearch.org is changing and Lynell was our guide to the new site.

Check out FamilySearch.org and explore all that it has to offer. Content is being moved over from the old site and new content is being added. In addition to digitized records, the Family History Library Catalog there are tools to help us learn - the Wiki, research courses and tips on getting started.

If you have time, you can give back to the genealogy community by indexing records or posting information on the Wiki. Volunteer indexing is making the digitized records on FamilySearch.org easier to use.

Lynell was gracious enough to let us post her handout on the GenFriends website. Click on the link above to get to the handout.

Thanks again to Lynell.

GLHTA Hours Changing

2011-03-14T21:29:00.003-05:00

Great news for those of us that work! Effective April 1st the Genealogy, Local History, Texana and Archives division located at the W.O. Haggard library will be open from 1-9 on Tuesdays. Let's support their efforts, stop by on a Tuesday and check out the collection. You might just be surprised, the collection isn't just for those of us researching Texas ancestors.

March Saturday Seminar

2011-03-10T20:49:00.002-06:00

Join Genealogy Friends on Saturday, March 19, 2011 from 10:15 to 12:30 for our next free Saturday Seminar.

FamilySearch.org has updated their format. Lynell Moss will be our guide to learn how to navigate through the new websites and explore all the great content that is available on the website.

Location: Program Room at WO Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Road, Plano, TX.

2011 Saturday Seminars

2011-02-13T17:48:00.002-06:00

Our schedule of Saturday Seminars is set for 2011 and it's posted on our website. Click on the link above to see the entire schedule. Here's what's coming up in the next few months:

February 19th - Michelle Nickerson, history professor at UTD, will present "America's 'New Woman' At Work and Play" join us to learn about life for women in the early 1900's. Social history is a great way to learn about the lives of our ancestors. Women's lives changed drastically in this time period.
March 19th - Lynell Moss will introduce us to the new FamilySearch.org website. The look and feel of FamilySearch is changing. Lynell will guide us through the changes.
April 16th - Did you know that UTA had a manuscript collection? Brenda McClurkin is their archivist. In her talk, "Using Manuscript Collections in Genealogical Research," she'll not only tell us about the UTA collection but how to find and use manuscript collections in your research. Manuscript collections can provide you with sources you can't find anywhere else. My g-g-g grandfather taught foreign languages to students in St. Louis, Missouri in the 1870's. In the manuscript collection at the Missouri Historical Society I located one of the handbills he used to advertise his classes.

Saturday Seminars are held at the Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd, Plano, TX. Doors open at 10:00. Join us for networking and learning opportunities.

LearnN - February 26th

2011-02-13T11:57:00.003-06:00

Our next LearnN will be on February 26th at Haggard Library. Here's the schedule:

Doors open at 10:00
First Session - Use a Weebly Website to Share Your Family Stories - 10:15-11:15
Breat 11:15 - 11:30
Second Session - Online Court Records - 11:30-12:30

Join us to learn about these two great topics. A $10 donation would be appreciated. All proceeds go towards purchasing materials for the Genealogy Section of the Haggard Library. Any questions, email Barbara Coakley at bjc1620@sbcglobal.net

Upcoming Events

2011-02-13T11:53:00.003-06:00

As program chairperson, I'd really like to know what you want to learn about. If you have an idea for a presentation or a speaker, post a comment. It's easy, just click on Post a Comment and type in your idea. Is there a specific type of record, a location, an institution, or a time in history you want to learn about? Share it with us.

Thanks

Barbara Coakley

New Years Resolutions

2011-01-08T19:57:00.003-06:00

This is traditionally a time when we make resolutions - this has been the topic of lots of articles on genealogy blogs and it's a great idea. Here are a few links you might want to check out for ideas on how to get your genealogy kick started in 2011.

About.com has a list of the top 10 resultions http://genealogy.about.com/od/basics/a/resolutions.htm

Elyse's Genealogy Blog focuses on citing your sources http://elysesgenealogyblog.com/genealogy-resolutions-citing-your-sources/

Megan Smolenyak encourages us to volunteer to help Unclaimed Persons http://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-smolenyak-smolenyak/make-helping-unclaimed-pe_b_803009.html

Families.com has a couple of great ideas http://genealogy.families.com/blog/genealogy-resolutions-for-2011

According to Genealogy Insider 66% of adults make new years resolutions http://blog.familytreemagazine.com/insider/2010/01/06/MayWeSuggestSomeGenealogyResolutionsFor2010.aspx

Need help with organization? Check out the online book In a Pile or a File http://timeforitnow.knotsindeed.com/genealogy/book/beginbook.html or Karen Clifford's website "Organize Your Paper Files" http://www.fileyourpapers.com/index.html.

What is your genealogy resolution for 2011?

Free Saturday Seminar - January 15, 2011

2011-01-06T18:50:00.005-06:00

Join GenFriends at Haggard Library on Saturday, January 15, 2011 for a free seminar on Computer Security - Daniel Scurlock is giving a talk about your computer, the good and bad about Facebook, tips on backups, virus protection and other useful stuff for all of us.

When: January 15, 2011 10:15 am - 12:30 pm

Where: WO Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd, Plano TX

This is a great opportunity to network with other genealogists and pick up some tips to protect all the work you have done on your family history.

Online Research Class

2010-12-27T20:40:00.004-06:00

Collin College (formerly CCCCD) is offering a class in using the internet for genealogy research. The class will meet Tuesday nights from 3/1 to 4/5 from 6:30 to 9:00 at the Courtyard Center. The class focuses on finding and using websites to research your Family History.

Salt Lake City Research Trip Comes to an End

2010-12-05T11:07:00.004-06:00

We've had a successful week researching at the Family Library in Salt Lake City. Today we're headed home. If you would like a chance to research at the largest genealogy library in the world, check out the Gen Friends 2011 research trip. More information will be available soon. Stay Tuned.

At the Family History Library I was able to work with original and published records from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Wurttemberg and Hessen all in the same week. Records available vary by location but can include vital records, probate records, land records, court records, compiled genealogies, cemetery records, histories, maps, coroners records, and more.

In addition to the film and published records, the Family History Library has subscriptions to many websites that aren't available to us from home. One researcher found info on the unit her ancestor served in during the Civil War on the Alexander Street site. I found newspapers from St. Louis, Missouri that included an account of the death of one of my ancestors at the BYU digital newspaper collection.

On the international floor there are translators available to help you understand and read the records generated by your ancestor in non-english speaking countries. You can easily save the images from the microfilms or books in digital format on a thumb drive, or you can print paper copies, or both. Other than being able to interview your ancestors, pretty much all you can ask for to do your research is available.

All this in the company of other Gen Friends members - it has been a great week. Think about joining us in 2011.

Last Chance - Research Trip to Salt Lake City

2010-10-21T07:42:00.002-05:00

Do you need to get away? Why not join us on our research retreat to Salt Lake City? When is it? November 30th to December 5th. We'll start the trip with a tour of the Family History Library - where you can research ancestors all over the world. There will be help available if you get stuck or just need a sounding board. Discounted hotel rooms are available at the Radisson and Salt Lake Plaza - but they will be released on October 31st so don't delay. If you have questions, email Barbara Coakley at bjc1620@sbcglobal.net or check out the link above. We'd love to have you.

LearnN

2010-09-27T09:58:00.002-05:00

On October 23rd Gen Friends is sponsoring a LearnN at Haggard Library. This is a great opportunity to learn about two great software packages.

Jennifer Pitts is going to demonstrate Picasa - this is a free - yes free - package that you can use to organize and touch up photos.

Barbara Coakley is going to demonstrate Family Atlas. Family Atlas is a package to help you map your family history. You can upload a gedcom file from your genealogy program then create. personalize and publish colorful maps that chart your family's migration around the world or pinpoint important events in your family history. Roots Magic has agreed to give us a $10 discount off the price of the software, that's $19.95 instead of the regular price at $29.95.

If you are planning on attending, email Linda Cosper at s-lcosper@juno.com. A $10 donation would be appreciated. As always, everything we collect is used to purchase materials for the genealogy section at Haggard Library. Check out the link above for more details.

Trip to Salt Lake City

2010-09-25T17:34:00.002-05:00

Join us in Salt Lake City! From November 30th through December 5th a group of us will be researching at the world's largest genealogy library - The Family History Library. Going with a group is a good way to visit the library for the first time. We'll have an orientation by library personnel at 3 pm on 11/30 and a professional genealogist will be available throughout the trip to help if you get stuck on your research. If you are interested check out the link above and email Barbara Coakley at bjc1620@sbcglobal.net

Beginning Genealogy Class

2010-08-28T09:31:00.003-05:00

Collin College is offering Genealogy- Getting Started. The class will be on Tuesday nights from Sept 7th through October 12th from 6:30-9:00. If you are just getting started on your family history you'll learn where to start, how to research and how to organize what you find. If you have been doing research for a while, the class can help you get back to basics, learn how to analyze what you find and research more efficiently and effectively. The class is taught by Barbara Coakley. Barbara is an experienced researcher. She has been teaching genealogy and lecturing for more than 10 years.

August 21 Saturday Seminar - Using Google

2010-08-04T09:39:00.002-05:00

Join us Saturday, August 21, for our next Seminar. Barbara Coakley will speak to us on "Using Google for your Genealogical Research."

We meet at the program room of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Rd. Doors open at 10:15 am and we'll end at 12:30 pm.

Download the flyer.

Digital Scrapbooking Workshop

2010-06-29T13:05:00.001-05:00

Last month, Ruthie Matthews, did a presentation for us on using Creative Memories Story Book Creator Plus software to create a digital scrapbook. These are a great way to preserve the work you've done on your Family History and a share it with relatives.

The Software is available for purchase on her website, you can download the software or order it on CD. There are also free Story Book Creator templates that you can download from her website and others that are available for purchase.

Ruthie has also agreed to help us learn to use the software with a hands on workshop on August 14th at a location to be determined.

Based on interest we'll either have an all day workshop (10-3) or half day workshop (10-12) and cost will be determined based on length of workshop. Proceeds go to purchase materials for the Genealogy Section at Haggard Library.

What you'll need for the Workshop:

A laptop
Story Book Creator Plus Software and templates (if you haven't installed the software before the workshop, we'll help you do that as well)
Digital Pictures

If you are interested please email Barbara Coakley at bcoakley@crww.com by June 30th.

Handout from June's Saturday Seminar

2010-06-29T13:03:00.001-05:00

We had such a great turnout at the June Seminar, we ran out of handouts! Here is a digital copy of it to download.

July 17th Saturday Seminar

2010-06-29T12:58:00.002-05:00

Join us Saturday, July 17, for our next Seminar. Tresa Tatyrek will speak to us on "How to Use Heritage Quest."

We meet at the program room of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Rd. Doors open at 10:15 am and we'll end at 12:30 pm.

Download the flyer.

June Newsletter

2010-06-12T10:33:00.000-05:00

The newsletter for June has been published. Download it here!

June Saturday Seminar

2010-06-12T10:31:00.001-05:00

Join us June 19 for our regular Saturday Seminar - Don Raney will speak on "Early American Migration Routes."

We meet at the program room of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Rd. Doors open at 10:15 am and we'll end at 12:30 pm.

Download the flyer.

Dining Event at On The Border - May 20, 2010

2010-05-15T19:58:00.000-05:00

Dine at your convenience on Thursday, May 20th, 2010, at ON THE BORDER in Plano, TX. Ten percent of your meal ticket will be donated to Genealogy Friends’ in support of the W.O. Haggard Library Genealogy Department.

Bring as many friends as you like; just be sure you give the coupon attached to the flier to your waiter. On The Border will donate 10% as a Thank You to Genealogy Friends for the generous work it does teaching genealogy and providing new material for the Genealogy Department.

We thank On The Border for their kind acknowledgment of Genealogy Friends efforts.

Download the flyer with coupon

May 15 Saturday Seminar

2010-04-21T20:01:00.002-05:00

Join us Saturday, May 15, when Ruthie Mathews speaks to us about Creative Memories Digital Scrapbooking and Bob McGuire speaks on Family Keepsakes. Download the flyer.

Doors open at 10:15 am and we'll finish around 12:30. We meet in the Program room of the W.O. Haggard Jr. Library (2501 Coit Rd., Plano).

April Newsletter

2010-04-13T06:59:00.002-05:00

Our April newsletter is now online!

Next Saturday Seminar - April 17

2010-04-07T11:51:00.004-05:00

Join us for our Saturday Seminar on April 17th when Dan Spigel, producer and director of the film “House of Generals” will present "Fighting Hate Through Film." It is the story of his mother’s family during the Russian Revolution through the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. Download the flyer.

We meet at the program room of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Rd. Doors open at 10:15 am and we'll end at 12:30 pm.

Dining Out Event - April 22

2010-04-07T11:38:00.003-05:00

Join Genealogy Friends at On The Border (1505 Central Expressway, Plano) for a nice meal, great company, fun and a drawing for door prizes. All for $20.00 which includes the meal, tax and gratuity (pre-payment is encouraged). Proceeds will be used to purchase needed resources for the genealogy department of the Haggard Library. Download the flyer for more information.

Next Saturday Seminar - March 20

2010-03-13T11:23:00.002-06:00

Join us on Saturday, March 20, for our next Saturday Seminar and get two topics for the price of one! Barbara Coakley will present "Analyzing Records: Find all the Clues" and Brenda Kellow and Jean Funk will present "Genealogy Jeopardy"

We meet at the program room of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Rd. Doors open at 10:15 am, we'll get started at 10:30 and end at 12:30 pm.

A Census Quiz

2009-10-18T14:49:00.003-05:00

October 18, 2009, by Brenda Kellow

READER’S COMMENTS:
Candace Fountoulakis of Plano gave me permission to use her email noting her findings on Footnote while it was free in August. After reading in my recent column about it being free, she searched on the 1930 census on Footnote. There she found her father in Nebraska. Candace said it was “the very first time I have been able to find him with his mother and brother, living in his grandparent’s household.” Until then, she did not know their first names. She goes on to say, “It was wonderful to see it and I just wanted to pass along the good news.”

Another reader, Jackie Kellow, stated that census records, if you really know how to search a census, is sometimes more important than ‘death records and tombstones.” As always, I do appreciate your messages and tips.

Discussion:
Let’s discuss the censuses and then answer a few questions proposed here. The federal census began in 1790 as a way to allocate the number of seats in the House proportionally according to our Constitution. This is conducted every ten years. We are the only country to have such detailed population and demographic information.

The census findings affect the allocation of federal funding for educational programs, health and welfare, law enforcement, federal highway projects, farmers’ aid, etc.

The early censuses before 1850 did not give the names of those in the household, only the numbers in an age range for both sexes. Nevertheless, these censuses are important.

Before the 1880 census, we did not know the relationship of those living in the household. We had only to assume the female listed below the male of household was his wife and the children living in the household were this couple’s children. In reality, this is not always the truth.

The fire of 1921 mostly destroyed the 1890 census. There are only a few roles in existence, mostly for the latter half of the alphabet. Texas has only a handful of extant that census year. The closest county to survive near Collin County is Rockwall. Are any of your counties available for 1890? Do you know how to find out?
Now, are you ready for a little census quiz? At the end, I will tell you where to find the answers. Through hunting, you will find many more answers to questions relating to your family research. In addition, by bookmarking the site, you will know where to find this information for later searches.

Questions:
Where were they in 1900?
How many children did they have?
Were there any stillborn children?
How many children were living at the date of enumeration?
Did they live in the country or living in an urban area?
If they lived in the city, do you know their house number and street address?
How long had they been married?
How can I find out their age when they got married?
Find out where they and their parents were born.
How old were they when they immigrated if they were not born here and what year did they come?
Do they speak English?
Are they citizens or aliens?
What was the occupation of everyone over ten years of age and how many months did they not work during the year?
Were they either literate or in school?
If they lived on a farm, did they mainly have livestock or farm machinery?
Did they own their residence?

Answers
The above answers are all available on the 1900 Federal Census. It and all the other censuses are located on the following link. While you are there:

find out what survives of the 1890 census
what are non-population censuses
which censuses are the military censuses.

The answers are here, http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/census.html.

The census soundex code is at http://www.census-online.com/tools/soundex/.

Blank census forms and charts are available at http://www.ancestry.com/charts/census.aspx.

Brenda Kellow's Tracing Our Roots weekly genealogy column is at: www.TracingOurRoots.weebly.com.

Changes Afoot at the Website

2009-09-25T22:18:00.003-05:00

We're working on the new website - www.genealogyfriends.org - so please be patient if you find broken links or come across some errors. Pages and information are being moved from the Rootsweb site to this one.

Now would also be a good time to add it to your bookmarks! Eventually the Rootsweb site will be deleted, so start using www.genealogyfriends.org. From the home page, click on the link to go to the topic you want to explore -

Genealogy Friends Activities
Collin County History
Research and Education

DNA

2009-08-15T16:18:00.002-05:00

The free public lecture on DNA by Leo Baca was well received. The room was packed. Visitors came from as far away as Houston. If you missed it, you missed a great learning experience.

Tracing Our Roots

2009-08-15T16:11:00.002-05:00

Tracing Our Roots

Weekly genealogy column

Want to be notified when new articles are updated to the column archive site?
Notify the author, Brenda Kellow, and ask to be added to her notification list: TracingOurRoots@gmail.com

Otherwise, go to read them at www.TracingOurRoots.weebly.com.

GenFriends Dining Together - August 13

2009-07-22T00:02:00.004-05:00

Join us for the 2nd GenFriends Dining Together event on Thursday, August 13, at 7:00 p.m. We'll meet at Outback Steakhouse near 15th Street and Central Expressway in Plano for food and friendship. Your pre-payment must be received before August 5 and we'll have your meal ticket ready for you that night at the restaurant.

See the flyer for more information and hope to see you there!

7th Retreat to Salt Lake City

2009-07-21T20:53:00.003-05:00

Our 7th Annual Research Retreat is January 11 to 17th in Salt Lake City to research at the largest genealogical library in the world! The retreat includes a pre-trip seminar, library orientation by the FHL staff, individual and group consultations with experienced genealogists, and friends to help you find your way around (especially helpful if it is your first time to be there). The fee is $80 for members, or non-members for $100 you also become a member.

You will need to make your own arrangements for travel and accommodations, but we have a block of rooms at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel set aside at a special rate.

Download the registration form here and hope you can join us!

July Saturday Seminar

2009-06-29T10:17:00.002-05:00

Join us July 18 to hear Marjorie McMenamy talk about her research. Hearing how others found records, solved puzzles, and pieced their research together can help us with our own research.

We meet at the Program Room of the Haggard Library in Plano, 10:15 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., hope to see you there!

June Saturday Seminar - Land Records

2009-05-26T23:04:00.002-05:00

Join us June 20 for our next Saturday Seminar featuring James Deen. He will speak to us about Land Records Research. Doors open at 10:15 and we'll finish around 12:30 in the Haggard Library program room.

GenFriends Dining Event at Primavera

2009-04-25T09:16:00.004-05:00

Through the efforts of Joyce Kaplan, we have arranged for a evening "dining together" event at a local restaurant as a special fund raising opportunity and a time to enjoy the company of friends. A 'price fixe' dinner has been arranged - a choice of entrée is available, and a portion of the dinner price will be rebated to Genealogy Friends.

The price is $20 per person, including the dinner, drink and gratuity. The date is Thursday, May 7, 2009, at 7:00pm at Primavera Italian Ristorante & Bar, 2220 Coit Road, Ste. #420 (a bit South and across the street from the Library).

If you and your significant other would like to join us for an evening of food and frivolity, please print out the flyer, make your choices, and mail with your check made out to Genealogy Friends to: GenFriends, P.O. Box 860477, Plano, Texas 75086-0477. Your order must be received by Tuesday April 28th to allow the restaurant to make plans.

Also, please note that we will have a drawing for a nice door prize: A one-year subscription to 'FootNote.com', a very popular research tool. To quote the website: "At Footnote.com you can view the most exciting original source documents available for the first time on the Internet".

We hope to see you there!

No Saturday Seminar this week!

2009-04-17T16:49:00.003-05:00

Don't forget - no Saturday Seminar on April 18! Instead we are hosting an All Day Workshop at the Plano Bible Chapel from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Join us to learn how to "Preserve Our Precious Heirlooms". Fee is $40 for members or $45 for non-members.

March Saturday Seminar

2009-03-17T17:38:00.002-05:00

Join us March 21st for our Saturday Seminar at the Haggard Library in Plano. Lynell Moss will speak to us about the Family History Library. Doors open at 10:15 and we will end about 12:30.

And a reminder - there will be no April Saturday Seminar! We will instead be hosting an All Day Workshop at the Plano Bible Chapel. See our website for more information.

1790-1930 U.S. Census Arrived

2009-01-18T13:02:00.002-06:00

Genealogy Friends procured all the United States Population Censuses on microfilm from 1790-1930, except the New England states.

It is in the process of being put in the new microfilm cabinets located on the left as you enter the Genealogy Library.

They have also given the Collin County Courthouse Records now on microfilm and these should be arriving any day. If you are a Collin County Researcher then you are going to love our library.

Genealogy Friends is happy and excited about the new additions.

Library Learn-ins

2009-01-18T12:50:00.002-06:00

Everyone loved the Lock-ins while Genealogy Friends was located at the Gladys Harrington Library, but things change.

1) The Genealogy Library moved a year ago to W. O. Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Road, on the bottom floor.
2) Learn-ins took the place of Lock-ins after the Genealogy Library's hours changed.
3) Wow! Do we have a GENEALOGY LIBRARY now! If you haven't seen it you are really missing a great place to search.

We have another Learn-in scheduled for February to celebrate African American History month. You will want to attend.

AFRICAN AMERICAN LEARN-IN
Don Hinson shares his research on families who came to America. He analyzes the immigration records as well as immigration through Ellis Island, plus other records that tell the story immigrants. The second lecture is a case study on the research of one branch of Ora Penn’s family. The Learn-in honors African American History month. It is Saturday, February 28 at the W. O. Haggard Genealogy Library, 2501 Coit Road, from 10:30 until 12:30. There is no charge but donations are always welcome. Contact GenFriends@GenealogyFriends.com for more information.

Y'all come.

All Day Workshop in April

2008-11-21T09:44:00.005-06:00

On April 18, 2009, join us for an All Day Workshop on "Preserving Our Precious Heirlooms" from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Plano Bible Chapel (1900 Shiloh Rd, Plano).
The speakers are Naomi Taplin and Alan Lefever from the Texas Baptist Historical Collection. Bring your own family treasures and learn how best to preserve them.
See the flyer and our website for registration and more information!

December Saturday Seminar

2008-11-20T12:39:00.002-06:00

Join us December 20th for our Annual Show & Tell Saturday Seminar. Bring projects or research you have worked on this year and share your accomplishments!
Doors open at 10:15 am and we'll finish up at 12:30 pm. Our Saturday Seminars are free and are held at the program room of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library (2501 Coit Rd., Plano)

Website fixed

2008-11-20T12:37:00.002-06:00

The website is working fine again. Check out our activities at www.genealogyfriends.org !

Website problems

2008-08-22T17:46:00.004-05:00

I'm having some trouble updating our website at genealogyfriends.org (hosted by Rootsweb). Hopefully it will be resolved soon!

In the meantime, I'll keep this blog updated.

September Saturday Seminar - say that three times fast ;-)

2008-08-22T17:40:00.003-05:00

Join us September 20th for our next Saturday Seminar. It will feature Dr. Steven Butler speaking on "Convict Ancestors from England". Doors open at 10:15 am and we'll finish up at 12:30 pm. Our Saturday Seminars are free and are held at the program room of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library (2501 Coit Rd., Plano)

August Saturday Seminar

2008-08-11T10:02:00.002-05:00

Join us August 16th for "Beginning Genealogy" presented by our own Barbara Coakley.
10:15 am to 12:30 pm in the program room at the Haggard Library

July Saturday Seminar

2008-07-11T09:01:00.002-05:00

July 19, 2008 - The Genealogy Collection at Haggard Library
Cheryl Smith, a Genealogy Librarian at the Haggard Library, will speak on the holdings of the Genealogy, Local History, Texana and Archives and the resources available online for research.

New Genealogy Friends email address and URL

2008-06-21T23:29:00.003-05:00

The Genealogy Friends website can now be found at www.genealogyfriends.org . The old URL will still work, our hope is this address will be easier to remember.

We also have a new email address: genfriends@genealogyfriends.org . Soon the old email address will no longer work, so update your address books today!

George Washington Inaugural Bible

2008-06-21T23:18:00.002-05:00

On June 28 and 29, the North Texas Masonic Historical Museum and Library will be exhibiting the original Bible on which George Washington took his oath of office.

For information on locations, times and tickets, see the North Texas Masonic Historical Museum and Library.

June class on Researching with Newspapers

2008-05-22T21:30:00.004-05:00

The Genealogy, Local History, Texana and Archives department of the Plano Library has announced a free class, presented by our own Barbara Coakley:

"Extra, Extra, Read All About It - Using Newspapers to Fill in Details of Your Ancestors' Lives"

When: June 14, 2008, 10:30 - 12:00 noon

Where: Jeanette Bickley Bland Meeting Room located in the Genealogy, Local History, Texana and Archives department of the Haggard Library

Download the flyer

Beginning Genealogy Class

2008-05-20T21:40:00.004-05:00

Join the library staff for a beginning genealogy class:

"Where Do I Begin ... Learn the who, how, what and where of finding your ancestors."

When: May 21, 2008, 10:30 - 12:00 noon

Where: Jeanette Bickley Bland Meeting Room located in the Genealogy, Local History, Texana and Archives department of the Haggard Library

flyer

Notes from the May Saturday Seminar

2008-05-17T23:27:00.004-05:00

Lynne Darrouzet, JD, gave a great presentation on Organizing Your Family History Research. Here are links to some of the software she uses:

Genealogy software - Legacy Family Tree
Note taking software - Microsoft OneNote
Search your computer to find files - Google Desktop
Online backup - Mozy

Genealogy Class at Collin College

2008-04-20T21:01:00.004-05:00

Collin College is offering Genealogy II. The class will meet on Monday nights 6:30-9:00 pm from July 7 to August 25, 2008 and is taught by Barbara Coakley. The class will acquaint you with original record sources including land, military, court, tax, probate, naturalization and immigration records. It will also enhance your skills in interpreting records, analyzing evidence, and planning research.

Gen Friends Research Retreat

2008-04-20T20:52:00.003-05:00

Gen Friends is sponsoring a Research Retreat to the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City, UT. The retreat is from Tuesday, November 11, 2008 to Sunday, November 16, 2008. The fee for the retreat is $80.00 for Gen Friends members and includes:

Pre Trip Workshop to Prepare you for the trip
Orientation to the FHL by library staff
Consultations with experienced researchers
Lecture by a Professional Genealogist

You are responsible for your own transportation and hotel reservations. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel (800-366-3684).

Join us for a great opportunity to explore the vast resources of the largest genealogy library in the world with a group of fellow researchers. For more information visit the Gen Friends website www.genealogyfriends.org or email newsletter@genealogyfriends.org.

Room Change for April's Saturday Seminar

2008-04-16T14:11:00.002-05:00

April's Saturday Seminar with Naomi Taplin speaking on Preservation Techniques will be held in the meeting room downstairs in the Genealogy area instead of the main floor Program Room. Unfortunately we won't be able to provide refreshments this time since it is in the library area and food and drink aren't allowed.

April Saturday Seminar - Preservation Techniques

2008-04-08T09:15:00.002-05:00

Join us Saturday, April 19, for our monthly Saturday Seminar. This month we present Naomi Taplin, librarian at the Texas Baptist Historical Collection, who will speak on preservation techniques. We meet in the program room at the Haggard library, doors open at 10:15 a.m.

Beginning Genealogy class at GLHTA

2008-03-14T12:49:00.003-05:00

The Genealogy, Local History, Texana and Archives department of the Plano Library has announced a free class:

How to begin searching for your ancestors - Learn the what, where, who and how to begin finding information on your family!

When: March 26, 2008, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Where: Jeanette Bickley Bland Meeting Room located in the Genealogy, Local History, Texana and Archives department of the Haggard Library

More classes are in the planning stages, we'll keep you updated!

March Saturday Seminar - Genealogy Software

2008-02-18T09:07:00.004-06:00

Join us March 15th for our monthly free Saturday Seminar. This month's topic is Genealogy Software Programs - Joanne Corney will talk about Legacy Family Tree and Tresa Tatyrek will talk about Family Tree Maker.

Doors open at 10:15 a.m. and we'll be done at 12:30 p.m. We meet in the program room at the W. O. Haggard Jr. Library (2501 Coit Rd, Plano).

Hope to see you there!

Notes from the February Saturday Seminar

2008-02-16T15:56:00.004-06:00

Genealogy Friends Membership Handbooks are ready. If you are a member and didn't pick it up today, they will be available at the March Saturday Seminar.

Attendance in the Genealogy, Local History, Texana and Archives room has slacked off since the opening. The numbers need to stay up or increase to justify it's current budget. Please don't reshelve your books or microfilm, the staff and volunteers count them as they are put away and it is one measure of GLHTA usage.

Aaron Holt gave a great presentation about the Southwest Branch of the National Archives in Fort Worth. They are the repository for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.

Some links of interest:
National Archives
Southwest Branch of the National Archives

Classes

2008-02-13T08:53:00.004-06:00

Classes on Beginner Genealogy are about to start at Collin College's Plano High School location. The popular and professional Barbara Coakley is the teacher. Please check with the college's catalogue for details.
http://www.ccccd.edu/cs/areasofstudy/conted/index.html#

Salt Lake City trip planned

2008-02-13T08:29:00.004-06:00

Genealogy Friends plans another visit to Salt Lake City and the Family History Library (FHL) in the fall of 2008, probably late October or early November.

Please visit our homepage for particulars. From our site at http://www.rootsweb.com/~txgfpl/ just click on Research Retreats on the far left side. As soon as the date is selected we will post it at this site.

There will be at least one class on researching at the FHL or some other topic of your choosing, personal consultants to help with your research problems, and plenty of opportunities to get to know and network with other family history researchers from our area.

If you are searching specific countries we will try and arrange that someone fluent in that country's languages is present to help translate, interpret, and guide you through the resources while at the FHL.

This is a great time to research the biggest genealogy library in the word with worldwide holdings and enjoy researching with others from home with your interests.

Plan on it and let us know as soon as you decide to go with us! We ALL have a good time on these retreats! JOIN US!

Personal Library Donation Help Needed ASAP

2008-02-13T08:15:00.003-06:00

Genealogy Friends has just received a significant “personal library donation” for the Genealogy, Local History, Texana, and Archives (GLHTA) section of the Plano Libraries.

Because of the amount of books already boxed and ready to be moved to the GLHTA and the weight involved, we need two or three strong men to lift the boxes--eleven boxes at this time but the number is expected to grow in the next couple of weeks--and put them into the vehicles.

So far we have an SUV and a truck owner who donated their vehicles for the transport. We just need lifters.

If you can help with the pickup and transport of these books from a nearby location to the W.O. Haggard Library please let us know ASAP.

We always appreciate your help and support!

Brenda
President

Write a Book Challenge Results

2008-02-04T11:22:00.000-06:00

A big Thank You to everyone who participated in Brenda's Write a Book Challenge! Ten books were submitted and are being readied for the GLHTA* collection. Two more books are almost finished and will be added as well.

* GLHTA - Genealogy, Local History, Texana and Archives

February Saturday Seminar

2008-01-30T11:43:00.000-06:00

Join us February 16th for our next Saturday Seminar. Aaron Holt from the Southwest Branch of the National Archives will do a presentation about their collection. We meet at Haggard Library, first floor program room, 10:15 a.m.

Grand Opening - Genealogy, Local History, Texana and Archives

2008-01-13T21:20:00.000-06:00

The grand opening of the "Genealogy, Local History, Texana and Archives" room at the W. O. Haggard, Jr. Library is scheduled for January 26, 2008!

The room will be open regular hours (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), with the festivities from 2:00 p.m. till 5:00.

January Saturday Seminar

2008-01-13T21:16:00.000-06:00

Join us on January 19th for our monthly Saturday Seminar in the program room at the Haggard Library in Plano. This month we present John Pritchett, a respected Colonial Virginia genealogist, speaking on "Writing a First Person Genealogy."

Doors will open at 10:00 a.m., with the seminar starting at 10:15.

December Saturday Seminar will be at Haggard!

2007-11-28T18:44:00.001-06:00

Our Saturday Seminar on December 15th will be at the Haggard Library! It will be in the program room - as you enter the outer front doors, make an immediate right and the doors to the room are in front of you. Please note that the times will change as well - the doors will open at 10:00 a.m. and we will be done by 12:30.

The program is our annual "Show and Tell" - bring a project or research you have done in 2007 and share it with us! The genealogy area won't be finished by then but if you want to do some research after the seminar, you may use the library computers in the other areas to research on Ancestry, Footnote, or other websites.

The Haggard library is located on Coit Rd., between Parker and Park. Here is more information on finding the library from the City of Plano's website - W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library.

Annual Meeting This Sunday

2007-11-28T18:39:00.001-06:00

This is a reminder of Genfriend's Annual Meeting next Sunday (Dec. 2, 2007). It is a luncheon meeting and will be held at 1:00pm in Mexi-Go Restaurant, Spring Creek and Coit in Plano. We will be reporting on this past year's Financial results, and recapping the events of our 10th year. We will also be electing Directors for the next year using the ballot previously sent out. You may print it out and bring to the meeting, or mail it in as instructed in the email. If you have not renewed your membership, you may do so at the meeting. Additional copies of the Ballot will be available at the meeting. Please RSVP if you are planning to attend. There will be a Board meeting immediately following the close of the Annual Meeting for the purpose of electing officer(s).

Sneak peak at the new genealogy area

2007-11-28T14:24:00.000-06:00

Here are a few photos of the new genealogy area at Haggard Library. While boxes are empty and books are on the shelves, there is still more work to be done (and furniture to arrive) before it is ready to open.

November Saturday Seminar is at Harrington

2007-11-14T16:57:00.001-06:00

The November Saturday Seminar will be at Harrington library as usual - doors open 9:10 am, seminar from 9:30 to noon.

We'll let you know when a decision on the location for the December Saturday Seminar is made.

A bit messy right now, but it will be great!

2007-11-13T20:41:00.000-06:00

The books and microfilm are all at Haggard Library, but there are still many boxes to be unpacked. It will take some time to get the collection organized on the shelves and in the drawers. There is some construction being done, along with equipment being installed.

A messy place right now, but it will be great when finished!!

The move has begun!

2007-11-10T15:36:00.000-06:00

After a long while of waiting, it happened suddenly. The microfilm has been packed up and the books are in the process of being moved onto carts for the trip to Haggard. The collection will not be accessible for about a month as the basement of Haggard is finished and the materials are organized. We'll keep you updated on changes and any information of the grand opening (probably sometime in December or January).

In the meantime, the genealogy databases (Ancestry Library Edition, Footnote.com, etc.) are still available from any Plano library. And you can still access the TexShare databases from home!

Message from Brenda

2007-06-29T21:08:00.000-05:00

The message below was sent this morning, July 27, 2007 to Adam Rosenfield reporter with The Plano Star Courier. He is covering the council agreement to accept the dollar figure proposed by the library. The figure asked for the construction of the genealogy department is $461,200. It is a shame they don't have enough staff to support the new genealogy area when the new section is completed!

SEE BELOW:

The purpose of this note is to advise of significant changes taking place within the Plano Public Library System and specifically the Genealogy Section.

As most of you know the Genealogy collection will be moving to a dedicated facility at Haggard Library from its current location at Harrington; the current target for the move is October. Many of you also know that a Supervisor for the Genealogy Section has been hired (David Hardin) and he has been hard at work for some time expanding the Collection as well as preparing for this move. The Genealogy facility will have its own dedicated staff, which was announced this week: David, and long time Genealogy Friends supporters Cheryl Smith and Tom Turner. They will report to Karen Risser, Asst Library Director.

The move and it's impact on Genealogy Friends' operations has been an ongoing item of discussion for some time. Certain decisions were made recently by Library management, and were revealed at a meeting on June 14 with some members of the GF Board.

A summary of the meeting may be found on the Genfriends Blog at:
http://genfriends.blogspot.com/ under the title "Changes are Afoot".
You will find links to other City of Plano governing bodies activities and minutes of meetings (Library Advisory Board, City Council) on the page as well. You may sign up to post comments on the Blog if you wish, just follow the instructions under "Getting Started".

The principal changes are:

No events at Haggard can extend beyond the normal Library operating hours. This translates into no more Lock-ins in their current form after the one currrently scheduled on July 13. Saturday Seminars, if held at Haggard, cannot start until after 10:00AM. We have been advised that they may continue as in the past if held at Harrington; however, a long term reservation at that location cannot be guaranteed.

Due to the limited Staff, the operating hours of the Genealogy facility will be limited to 40 hours per week, as follows: Normal Library System Hours are in ():

Monday: 1:00- 5:00 (10:00 - 9:00)
Tuesday: 10:00 - 5:00 (10:00 - 9:00)
Wednesday: 10:00 - 7:00 (10:00 - 9:00)
Thursday: 10:00 - 7:00 (10:00 - 9:00)
Friday: 1:00 - 5:00 (10:00 - 6:00)
Saturday: 10:00 - 5:00 (10:00 - 6:00)
Sunday: Closed (1:00 - 5:00)

These hours may be revised if the Genealogy traffic volume warrants. You will note the dramatic reduction in available Genealogy Research time (from 64 to 40 hours). The major issue here is that genealogists who work will have only the 7 hours on Saturday to research.

Note: Traffic activity is being measured by 'book pulls': If you remove a book or film from the shelf for research, you DO NOT reshelve it yourself, the librarians will count it and reshelve it.

Our practice of requesting donations for paid speakers and other fund raisers for the ultimate benefit of the library is no longer allowed, at least until further notice. This subject is being reviewed with neighboring library systems that do allow paid events.

These and related subjects will be discussed at the next GF Board meeting on July 17, 7-9 pm at Haggard Library. Members are welcome.

Links of Interest

2007-06-16T23:35:00.000-05:00

Here are some links to help keep you informed:

City of Plano website

The Plano Library Advisory Board

The Plano City Council

Changes are Afoot

2007-06-16T23:28:00.000-05:00

With the move of the genealogy collection from the Harrington Library to the Haggard Library comes changes to how Genealogy Friends will be able to operate. This is a summary of notes taken at meetings in April and June, 2007, with David Hardin, Genealogy Librarian, and Karen Risser, Library Operations Manager:

No word yet on when the move will take place. Bids on furniture and construction have been received and opened, the next step is approval by the Plano City Council.
Hours for the genealogy area at opening and the first few months will be:

Monday 1:00 - 5:00
Tuesday 10:00 - 5:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 7:00
Thursday 10:00 - 7:00
Friday 1:00 - 5:00
Saturday 10:00 - 5:00
Sunday closed
The hours may be adjusted later depending on usage.
The earlier closings will be a problem for GenFriends members who work late.
Normal library hours are Monday thru Thursday 10:00 - 9:00, Friday and Saturday 10:00 - 6:00, and Sunday 1:00 - 5:00.

There will be 3 full-time staffers. After a few months, usage will be evaluated and this may change.
The genealogy area will be exclusively for genealogy research.
One of the main concerns is the time Genealogy Friends is using the library that is outside the normal operating hours, since this creates problems with staff overtime. Saturday Seminars will be limited to starting no earlier than 10:00 am (when the library opens) instead of the current room set-up starting around 9:00 am. This would push the ending to 1:00 pm instead of noon. An option is to make it an afternoon meeting.
Lockins will have to end at the time the library closes. It might be possible to occasionally hold lockins during the time the genealogy area is normally closed until the library closes (5:00 - 9:00 pm).
We won't be able to ask for a donation to attend events at the library, such as lockins or workshops. This will seriously impede our ability to raise funds to buy materials to donate to the library. We will be able to keep the "fishbowl" for donations and continue selling books and t-shirts. Research is ongoing on how other libraries handle events that have donation for admission. It is also possible that the library might partner with GenFriends and help finance a workshop with a national speaker. Another option is looking for another site to hold workshops and be able to have an admission charge to cover the costs of the event and a donation to the library.
The library's budget for the genealogy section has been increased substantially.
The program room on the first floor of Haggard is comparable to the Harrington program room. Haggard also has a conference room on the second floor available for use. There will be a meeting room in the basement by the genealogy area that will be reserved for use by genealogy groups and classes.
Haggard doesn't have a computer lab like Harrington, but there is a possibility laptops and wi-fi might be available for classes.

Getting started

2007-06-16T01:34:00.000-05:00

testing ... testing