Monday, June 25, 2007

Do You Really Know Where You Were Born?

For many people the answer isn't that simple.

Genealogists have all heard the old question ... If you were born on a ship crossing the Atlantic where would your birth certificate be recorded? But, have you heard that same question about children born on a train?

In going through old newspapers this weekend I found an article in 1893 about "Grover Benjamin ____" who was born on the Great Northern Railroad's passenger car heading across North Dakota for Vancouver, Washington. Where was his birth recorded? Was it recorded at Fort Buford, ND from where the post doctor was summoned to assist? The train continued another 2 hours before the baby was born. Was the train in Montana, had it made it to Idaho or could it have been in Washington State?

You can read the rest of the story at: "Baby born on the fly - Interesting Experience on a Great Northern Train" Morning Olympian Tribune. 28 Oct 1893.

I found quite a few stories on GenealogyBank about babies being born on trains.

So, how does that question go again ... If you were born on a train crossing the United States, where would your birth certificate be recorded? There are hundreds of these
articles.

Here are a few more for you:

"Born on a Burlington Train - Lucky Baby Given a Choo-Choo Other Records" (Burlington Zeleynak of Denver). Sunday World Herald (Omaha, NE). 23 Dec 1900

"Twin Babies Born on Train (en route from Oregon City, OR to San Jose, CA - Mrs. W.E. Eastburn). Evening News (San Jose, CA). 9 Feb 1905

"Baby is Born on Train - Mrs. Emily Scott, Grand Forks, Gives Birth to a Baby Boy on the G.N. Train near Newport, Wash." Grand Forks Daily Herald. 8 Jan 1907.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

ALA - Genealogy Events - June 22 - 26th - Updated

Here is the updated list of genealogy events at ALA.
See you there!

Tom

ALA - Genealogy & Local History Sessions
Washington, DC - June 22-26th

Friday, June 22nd
All Day Pre-Conference - 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. National Archives Bldg.
Our Nation's capital holds great treasures for genealogists and historians. Find out what is available at the US National Archives and the DAR Library for family history research.
Speakers from both research centers will be available to share information about their facilities.
This genealogy preconference will be held at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. It will include a private viewing of the Charters of Freedom held in the Rotunda.
Registration: RUSA Member: $95; ALA Member: $140; Non-Member: $215; Retired/Student Member: $57

Saturday, June 23rd
8am - 10am - Hamilton Crowne Plaza - Farragut Room.
Executive Committee Meeting - I
10:30 am - 12 noon. Convention Center - Room 303. Bibliographies and Indexes

10:30 – 12 noon. Renaissance Mayflower.
Genealogy and Local History Discussion Group
Engaging Youth in Family History and Genealogy--A Discussion of the Challenges, the Benefits, and Ideas, and Ideas for Future Successes.

1:30 – 3:30. Grand Hyatt – Burnham Room
Federal Documents in African American Genealogical and Historical Research
Reginald Washington, author and genealogy specialist at the National Archives will conduct a workshop on the use of unique federal documents in African American historical and genealogical research

4:00 pm - 5:30 pm. MET Exec. Boardroom
Genealogy Preconference Planning Committee.

6:30 p.m.-- Genealogy Committee Dinner -- Hunan Dynasty Restaurant
215 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Phone: (202) 546-6161 - (RSVP
youngsc@ldschurch.org

Sunday, June 24th
10:30 am - 12:00 noon. Genealogy Committee. REG Columbia Room - C

1:30 - 3:30. Convention Center - Room 144, A-C.
History Section Program:
How can libraries work to provide local history to non-local residents in a digital age? How can the curious traveler, student, or genealogist learn about a locale that might not be their own?
The RUSA-HS panel will answer those questions. Hear about examples of local digital projects that are combinations of academic libraries, public libraries, museums and archives collaborating to do what one cannot alone.

Panelists include:
Nancy Allen, Dean & Dir. of the Penrose Library at the University of Denver. She will be speaking on the Collaborative Digitization Program and its effect.

Judy Graves, Digital Projects Coordinator, Library of Congress, who will talk about using online local history e.g., the American Memory and the National Digital Newspaper Project, to connect people to places.

Erich Kesse, Director of the Digital Library Center, University of Florida. He will discuss Florida's "Ephemeral Cities," which examines the footprint of history through dynamic mapping of digitized resources, using the map interface as a visual layer for research in local history.

The panelists will note successes and failures in digital space and allow time for questions.
Moderator will be Susan Malbin, Senior Program Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services. This program is sponsored by the RUSA, History Section, Local History Committee.

6:30pm - History Section Dinner
Burma Restaurant
Sixth St. NW (H St. NW)
Washington, DC
202-638-1280
RSVP, mkmannix@gmail.comBurma Restaurant Dinner: $20/person

Monday, June 25th
10:30 am - 12:30 pm - Renaissance Mayflower Hotel - Chinese Room
GODORT Program -

It is not known, for certain, what Congress published during the early years of the Republic, especially prior to the 15th Congress (1817).

Although many Congressional publications from the period 1789-1817 are reproduced in the American State Papers, an indeterminate number are not included, some of which are known from scattered individual library collections. Others appeared with historically significant textual variations from the officially reprinted versions in the American State Papers, or are known through contemporary newspaper or later secondary bibliographic citations.

Still others remain undocumented, scattered in individual library collections, unbeknownst even to their collection managers. As a result of the burning of Washington by British armed forces on August 24, 1814, which resulted in the complete destruction of the Library of Congress as it existed at that time, this problem is all the more acute for these very early documents. Due to the preeminent importance of Congressional publications as primary sources of information concerning the early history of the United States, establishing a complete inventory of all Congressional publications from this period is a task of basic importance.

The 2007 GODORT Program, co-sponsored by the RUSA-History Section and the ACRL - Rare Books and Manuscript Section, will examine the origins of this state of affairs, the mystery concerning what Congress published prior to the 15th Congress, the variability in the text of individual surviving publications, the consequences for librarians and scholars, and the implications for an understanding of the earliest American history.


August A. Imholtz, Jr., Vice President, Readex Digital Documents Division, will address The American State Papers: The Incomplete Story, or What Was Selected and What Was Omitted, "pre-Serial Set" publications which are not included in the Gales and Seaton American State Papers, and the importance of examining individual library collections, to locate and identify otherwise unknown fugitive early publications of Congress.

Dr. Fred Beuttler, Deputy Historian, United States House of Representatives will present: "The Early House and the Early Presidents: Conflict and Compromise" which will focus on one significant early Congressional publication concerning the "John Jay Treaty," and the historical repercussions for the longer term of the debate which it inaugurates.

Finally, a presentation by Ms Jessie Kratz, Archives Specialist, NARA, Recovering the People's Voice: Unpublished Petitions and Their Impact on Publications, Legislation, and History which will discuss early archival material and its implications for an understanding of early Congressional publications and related issues in the early history of the United States.

Tuesday, June 26th
8am - 10am - Hamilton Crowne Plaza - Farragut Room.
Executive Committee Meeting - II

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

ALA - Genealogy & Local History Sessions - Washington DC June 22-26

ALA - Genealogy & Local History Sessions
Washington, DC - June 22-26th


Friday, June 22nd
All Day Pre-Conference - 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. National Archives Bldg.
Behind the Genealogy Reference Desk: Researching Our Nation's Treasures
Our Nation's capital holds great treasures for genealogists and historians. Find out what is available at the US National Archives and the DAR Library for family history research.

Speakers from both research centers will be available to share information about their facilities. This genealogy preconference will be held at the US National Archives Building in Washington, DC. It will include a private viewing of the Charters of Freedom held in the Rotunda.

Registration: RUSA Member: $95; ALA Member: $140; Non-Member: $215; Retired/Student Member: $57

Saturday, June 23rd
8am - 10am - Hamilton Crowne Plaza - Farragut Room. Executive Committee Meeting - I
10:30 am - 12 noon. Convention Center - Room 303. Bibliographies and Indexes
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm. MET Exec. Boardroom, Genealogy Preconference Planning Committee.

Sunday, June 24th
10:30 am - 12:00 noon. Genealogy Committee. REG Columbia Room - C
1:30 - 3:30. Convention Center - Room 144, A-C. All History is Local in a Digital World

How can libraries work to provide local history to non-local residents in a digital age?
How can the curious traveler, student, or genealogist learn about a locale that might not be their own?

The RUSA-HS panel will answer those questions. Hear about examples of local digital projects that are combinations of academic libraries, public libraries, museums and archives collaborating to do what one cannot alone.

Panelists include:

Nancy Allen, Dean & Dir. of the Penrose Library at the University of Denver. She will be speaking on the Collaborative Digitization Program and its effect.

Judy Graves, Digital Projects Coordinator, Library of Congress, who will talk about using online local history e.g., the American Memory and the National Digital Newspaper Project, to connect people to places.

Erich Kesse, Director of the Digital Library Center, University of Florida. He will discuss Florida's "Ephemeral Cities," which examines the footprint of history through dynamic mapping of digitized resources, using the map interface as a visual layer for research in local history.

The panelists will note successes and failures in digital space and allow time for questions.

Moderator will be Susan Malbin, Senior Program Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services.
This program is sponsored by the RUSA, History Section, Local History Committee.

Monday, June 25th
10:30 am - 12:30 pm - Renaissance Mayflower Hotel - Chinese Room - GODORT Program - What difference does it make what Congress published? American history in the earliest congressional documents.

It is not known, for certain, what Congress published during the early years of the Republic, especially prior to the 15th Congress (1817). Although many Congressional publications from the period 1789-1817 are reproduced in the American State Papers, an indeterminate number are not included, some of which are known from scattered individual library collections. Others appeared with historically significant textual variations from the officially reprinted versions in the American State Papers, or are known through contemporary newspaper or later secondary bibliographic citations. Still others remain undocumented, scattered in individual library collections, unbeknownst even to their collection managers.

As a result of the burning of Washington by British armed forces on August 24, 1814, which resulted in the complete destruction of the Library of Congress as it existed at that time, this problem is all the more acute for these very early documents. Due to the preeminent importance of Congressional publications as primary sources of information concerning the early history of the United States, establishing a complete inventory of all Congressional publications from this period is a task of basic importance.

The 2007 GODORT Program, co-sponsored by the RUSA-History Section and the ACRL - Rare Books and Manuscript Section, will examine the origins of this state of affairs, the mystery concerning what Congress published prior to the 15th Congress, the variability in the text of individual surviving publications, the consequences for librarians and scholars, and the implications for an understanding of the earliest American history.

The Keynote Address by U.S. Congressman Rodney P. Frelinghuysen.

August A. Imholtz, Jr., Vice President, Readex Digital Documents Division, will address The American State Papers: The Incomplete Story, or What Was Selected and What Was Omitted, "pre-Serial Set" publications which are not included in the Gales and Seaton American State Papers, and the importance of examining individual library collections, to locate and identify otherwise unknown fugitive early publications of Congress.

Dr. Fred Beuttler, Deputy Historian, United States House of Representatives will present: "The Early House and the Early Presidents: Conflict and Compromise" which will focus on one significant early Congressional publication concerning the"John Jay Treaty," and the historical repercussions for the longer term of the debate which it inaugurates.

Finally, a presentation by Ms Jessie Kratz, Archives Specialist, NARA, Recovering the People's Voice: Unpublished Petitions and Their Impact on Publications, Legislation, and History which will discuss early archival material and its implications for an understanding of early Congressional publications and related issues in the early history of the United States.

Tuesday, June 26th
8am - 10am - Hamilton Crowne Plaza - Farragut Room. Executive Committee Meeting - II

ALA - History Section Dinner - Sun. June 24th 6:30pm

Annual History Section Dinner

The RUSA History Section would like to invite to attend the annual dinner on Sunday, June 24th at 6:30pm at the Burma Restaurant.

You don't have to be an "active" member of the Section or even a member at all. Attending the History Section dinner is actually a good way to meet other history minded librarians.


All are welcome and don't hesitate to bring a guest.

This year's dinner will be held at the Burma Restaurant, the site of our last, very enjoyable and reasonably priced, DC dinner. The Restaurant is within walking distance of the Convention Center, in Chinatown.

The nearest metros are Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red, Green and Yellow lines) and Metro Center (Red, Blue and Orange lines).

Dinner will be served "family style" and will be $20.00, which includes tax and tip, menu details follow. If you are interested please RSVP, preferably by Friday June 22, to mkmannix@gmail.com

Burma Restaurant
740 Sixth St. NW (H St. NW)
Washington, DC 20001

202-638-1280
Dinner on Sunday June 24, 2007 6:30 pm

Dinner at $20/person.
This includes all the items listed below as well as a soft drink or tea for each person. The price also include tax and tip.
Extras would be after dinner coffee and/or a dessert. Nor does this price include any alcoholic beverage. Beer, wine or mixed drinks are available.

Appetizers
Sticks of lightly battered friend squash. (Vegan) Potatoes wrapped in pastry fried into thin triangles. (Vegan) Pork and cabbage wrapped in pastry fried into spring rolls.

Salads
Tender ginger roots tossed with shreds of cabbage, carrots, sesame seeds, peanuts and crispy onion. (Vegan) Burmese green tea mixed with sesame, onion, cabbage, tomatoes, in garlic oil. (Optional vegan)

Noodles; Noodles tossed in cabbage, onion, cilantro, hot pepper, and lemon juice. (optional vegan); Thin bean thread noodles tossed in peanuts, sesame, garlic, onion and lentils. (Optional vegan)

Entrees
Tender pieces of chicken breast steamed and served in sesame, garlic, hot pepper, soy sauce, cilantro, ginger and lemon juice. Marinated chunks of pork slowly cooked in green mango and spices.


Monday, June 11, 2007

OH Genealogist: Dorothy E. Ackerman, 1917-2007

Advocate, The (Newark, OH) - June 1, 2007
GenealogyBank

Dorothy E. Ackerman Nov. 30, 1917 - May 31, 2007

Services for Dorothy E. Ackerman, 89, of Johnstown, will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Appleton United Methodist Church, Appleton, with the Rev. Marsha Ellsen officiating. Interment will be at Greenhill Cemetery, Johnstown.

Dorothy passed away May 31, 2007, at Licking Memorial Hospital. She was a member of Appleton United Methodist Church, Bennington Grange, Johnstown Genealogy Society, and other organizations over the years.
Dorothy always valued her numerous friends and neighbors and had such pride in her family. Her dedication to genealogy started at age 16 and continued through her life, providing her family with continual information.

She is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Frances Seevers, of Columbus; one niece; and two nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, A.K. "Red" Ackerman.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the church. Moreland Funeral Home in Westerville is in charge of arrangements. Donations may be made to Hospice of Central Ohio, 2269 Cherry Valley Road, Newark, OH 43055.