NGS Magazine January–March 2019 Issue

The January-March 2019 issue of NGS Magazine, Volume 45, Number 1, has been mailed to members and is available online in the Members Only section of the website.

EDITOR'S NOTE by Deb Cyprych

In celebration of the NGS Family History Conference in May in St. Charles, Missouri, this issue explores the history, people, resources, and repositories of Missouri and some of its neighbors. 

French citizens settled in what was New France as early as 1720. After the French and Indian War ended France lost its land west of the Mississippi to Spain, but many French practices continued. Ann Fleming describes the history, cultural influence, and records of early French residents in Missouri and Illinois. 

Germans have left their mark in several states within the Louisiana Purchase: Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Kathy Petlewski outlines the history of German settlement in these states and cites sources with further information. 

The Homestead Act of 1862 was a prime motivation for millions of settlers to travel west and obtain their own land by meeting the law’s requirements. Gail Blankenau demonstrates the valuable types of information contained in homestead records and explains where to locate them. 

Over two hundred thousand children in New York City and Boston were sent west to new homes because one or both of their parents were unable to care for them, and the managers of orphan asylums believed the children would be better off on farms. Clark Kidder discusses the history and records of the orphan train movement and provides contact information for thirteen asylums. 

Two repositories in Missouri are particularly notable for genealogical research. Cheryl Lang highlights the materials and databases of the Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence, Missouri, three hours from St. Charles. Bryan McGraw lists a variety of records held in the National Archives at St. Louis, with a focus on Individual Deceased Military Personnel Files, and provides details about access. 

In their columns, Claire Prechtel Kluskens features an example of an unusual Civil War accounting record, and Jordan Jones evaluates three types of task management tools. This is the final column by Jordan, NGS Magazine’s expert technology columnist for the past ten years. Many thanks to Jordan for his contributions, which have helped readers enhance their use of technology in genealogical research.

Table of Contents

Features

Early French Citizens in the Upper Mississippi Valley, by Ann Carter Fleming, CG, CGL, FNGS

“A Comfortable Place to Live In”: Using Homestead Files in Family History
by Gail Shaffer Blankenau

Military Individual Deceased Personnel Files by Bryan K. McGraw

Researching Orphan Train Riders by Clark Kidder

Researching at the Midwest Genealogy Center by Cheryl Lang, MLS

Departments

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Ben Spratling

EDITOR’S NOTE by Deb Cyprych

NGS NEWS

2018 NGS DONATIONS AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS

REFERENCE DESK
German Settlement in Louisiana Purchase Lands by Kathy Petlewski, MSLS
TECHNOLOGY
Task Management for Genealogists by Jordan Jones
NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Accounting for Each Penny: Revelations from Civil War Accounting Records of a Maine Provost Marshal by Claire Prechtel Kluskens

NGS MEMBERS’ BOOK NOTICES

NGS Magazine is published quarterly to update members of the National Genealogical Society on NGS activities and to provide genealogists with special information and guidance on conducting effective genealogical research. The magazine is sent to libraries by subscription. Online access to NGS Magazine is available only as long as membership is active.

NGS Introduces War of 1812 Records Course

National Genealogical Society Introduces

Its New Online Course: War of 1812 Records

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is pleased to introduce our new Continuing Genealogical Studies (CGS) course, War of 1812 Records. The course will be available online at the commencement of the NGS 2019 Family History Conference in St. Charles, Missouri, 8-11 May 2019.

War of 1812 Records takes an in-depth look at the wealth of information family historians can access to trace ancestors in this time period. Records include compiled military service, pension, bounty land, Navy and Marine Corps, and prisoner of war records. War of 1812 Records will be available in the NGS online store on 8 May 2019.

Students will develop an understanding of the cause of the war and the genealogical significance of various records associated with it. They will examine and learn how to use numerous records including muster rolls, ship’s logs, diplomatic records, state militia records, and lineage society files. The course also covers African American and Native American participation in the war.

War of 1812 Records was developed by the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) with David Rencher, CG®, Rebecca Koford, CG, Ken Nelson, and Michael Hall as contributing authors. It is divided into fourteen modules which include readings, web links, self-correcting quizzes, practical assignments, and a reading and reference list. War of 1812 Records is the latest and ninth special subject course in the National Genealogical Society’s Continuing Genealogical Studies online learning series.

NGS Announces Winner of the Filby Award

National Genealogical Society Announces the Winner of the

Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is pleased to announce that Susan Kaufman, manager of the Houston Public Library’s Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, is the winner of the NGS Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship. The award, along with its $1,000 prize, was presented to Kaufman today at Librarians’ Day, an event held a day in advance of the NGS 2019 Family History Conference in St. Charles, Missouri.

Created in 1999 by NGS, the award is named for the late P. William Filby, former director of the Maryland Historical Society and author of many core genealogical reference tools that genealogists have relied on for decades. It is presented annually at the NGS Family History Conference and has been sponsored by ProQuest and William Forsyth since 2006.

In 2005, Kaufman was appointed manager of the Clayton Library. Previously, she held positions as a genealogy librarian at the Peoria Public Library in Peoria, Illinois, and the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. During her tenure, the Clayton Library has become one of the finest genealogy libraries in the nation with some 100,000 research volumes, 3,000 periodical titles, and an extensive microfilm collection. It also is a FamilySearch affiliate library, which allows patrons to access extensive genealogical records held by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A respected librarian, presenter, and administrator, Kaufman regularly lectures at community, statewide, and national events. She has served on the boards of many genealogical organizations, including the Texas State Genealogical Society and the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS). During the nomination process, patrons, colleagues, and volunteers offered tributes that tell the story of a generous and skilled researcher who is always willing to help other family historians.

NGS to Release Research in Arkansas, 2nd Edition, at 2019 Conference

NGS to Release Research in Arkansas, 2nd Edition,
at its Upcoming Family History Conference

The National Genealogical Society is pleased to announce the latest Research in the States guide book, Research in Arkansas, 2nd edition, by Lynda Childers Suffridge, will go on sale on 8 May at our 2019 Family History Conference in St. Charles, Missouri, 8-11 May. It also will be available for purchase in the online store in both PDF and print versions beginning 8 May.

Family historians and genealogists will discover a wealth of newly updated information in Research in Arkansas. The most significant revision is the renaming of the Arkansas History Commission and State Archives—now known as Arkansas State Archives—and its merger with the Arkansas Department of Heritage. Website addresses were changed, some records were given new call numbers, and its Biodex is no longer online. In addition, the Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives with holdings dating back as far as 1815 opened at Powhatan in 2011. The guide book also provides the latest information and website addresses for archives, libraries, and societies throughout the state.

Research in Arkansas describes where genealogists can find African American records; cemetery records; colonial, territorial, federal, and school censuses; and military records for the Mexican War, the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World I, and World War II. In the section on military records, family historians will learn where to access records on people of Japanese descent who were interned in World War II relocation camps in Arkansas. Land and property records, reconstruction era records, and religious, tax, and vital records are also covered in this comprehensive guide book.

Lynda Childers Suffridge is vice president of the Friends of the Arkansas State Archives. She has lectured at NGS conferences, IGHR at Samford University, and many local societies.

Published by NGS, Research in Arkansas, 2nd edition, is one volume in the Research in the States series edited by Barbara Vines Little, CG®, FNGS, FUGA, FVGS.

NGSQ March 2019 Issue Now Online

The March 2019 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume 107, Number 1, has been mailed to members and is available online in the Members Only section of the website.


CONTENTS:


FEATURE ARTICLES 

• A Family for Mary (Jones) Hobbs Clark of Carroll County, Arkansas by Melinda Daffin Henningfield, CG

• The German Parents and Birthplace of Adam Cosner of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Wayne County, Ohio by Pam Stone Eagleson, CG

• Recovering the Identity of Barsheba (Morris) Johnson of North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee by Worth Shipley Anderson, JD

NOTES and DOCUMENTS  

• 1861 Plat Maps and the 1860 Federal Census of Hanover Township, Ashland County, Ohio: A Comparison by Ronald A. Hill, PhD, CG Emeritus, FASG 

COMMUNICATIONS 

EDITORS’ CORNER

• Start with a Plan

ADMINISTRATION

SIDELIGHTS

• 2018 NGS Quarterly Index
• A Troublesome Cause of Death

The National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ) is published four times per year, in March, June, September, and December. The journal is edited by Nancy A. Peters, CG®, CGLSM, and Allen R. Peterson, CG.

Hurry! 50% off MyHeritage Ends Sunday 21 April for NGS Members, Family, and Friends

Time is running out! The National Genealogical Society exclusive offer for members, friends, and family—50% off the ultimate subscription to MyHeritage—ends Sunday, 21 April 2019. MyHeritage is an industry-leading platform that makes family history research easy and offers you some of the most advanced tools on the market to overcome genealogical brick walls. MyHeritage search and matching technologies enable you to grow your family tree effortlessly and make fascinating discoveries about your ancestors. Get 50% off the MyHeritage Complete subscription The Complete plan gives you full access to all MyHeritage advanced features, including: Unlimited family tree size (option to upload a GEDCOM file) 9.6 billion international historical records Automatic Smart Matches™ with millions of family trees Automatic Record Matches Instant Discoveries™, which can add an entire branch to your family tree with 1 click Consistency Checker, which automatically identifies inaccuracies in your tree Advanced DNA features PedigreeMap™ Family Tree Builder software premium edition Priority customer support via phone and email 24/7 Hurry! For a limited time, every NGS member can get a one-year Complete subscription for 50% off. Grab this deal before it’s gone! Your purchase can help advance your family history and help NGS too.  MyHeritage makes a donation to our society for every new subscription purchased. Save 50% off now *Offer valid for NEW MyHeritage subscribers only, valid through 4/21/2019.

Online Pre-Registration Ends 19 April for NGS Conference and Events

Online Pre-Registration for the NGS Conference

and All Ticketed Events Closes 19 April 2019

There are only a few days are left to pre-register online for the NGS Family History Conference in St. Charles, Missouri, 8‒11 May 2019. Pre-conference registration ends 19 April. On-site registration and check-in will be available beginning at 12:00 noon, 7 May, in the St. Charles Convention Center. For conference information and to register, go to https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/register/http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/event-registration/.

Registration for all social meal events and pre-conference tours also closes on 19 April. Ticket purchases will not be available on-site at the conference for social meal events, workshops, or tours. Only a few spots remain for the St. Louis Research Trip and the Civil War Museum Tour. Seats are still available for meal events including the Friends of the Missouri State Archives lunch, the GSG-ISFHWE co-sponsored lunch, and the NGS lunch. There are also seats available in the pre-conference African American Seminar and the Librarians’ Day event.

Be sure to make your reservations now at https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/register/. To add meals, tours, and pre-conference events to your current registration, log on to the NGS website, click on Store>My Account>Select View next to 2019 Conference>Select View Again>Select Add Sessions.

The conference, “Journey of Discovery,” will showcase more than 150 lectures featuring a variety of tracks and topics including ethnicity, genetics, immigration and migration, military, Missouri, religion, technology, and more. The program will include all levels of genealogical skills from basic to advanced, as well as four days of the Board for the Certification of Genealogists® (BCG) Skillbuilding lectures. The DNA track will feature eighteen presentations on genetic discoveries, science, and methodology.

The Family History Expo will feature more than seventy-five exhibitors and be open to the public Wednesday through Saturday. Check the website for a list of exhibitors and the accompanying floor plan. You do not want to miss this year’s exciting conference program. Register today!

Hope to see you soon in St. Charles!

Free Mobile App for the NGS 2019 Conference

Mobile Conference App Now Available for the

NGS 2019 Family History Conference

Whether you plan to go to the NGS Conference or not, you may want to take a look at our free NGS Conference App. The Mobile Conference App for the National Genealogical Society (NGS) 2019 Family History Conference is now available. With thousands of family historians and genealogists attending more than 150 lectures, special programs, luncheons with guest speakers, and an expansive Family History Expo, the NGS Conference App will enable you to stay organized and on top of the latest information. If you have not yet registered for the conference, which is being held in St. Charles, Missouri, 8‒11 May 2019, visit https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/register/.

If you cannot attend, the app is a good way to take a look at the fantastic program NGS has prepared and you can order our video or audio recordings from the PlaybackNGS website.

The free NGS Conference App is available for iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, and web-enabled devices. Go to the NGS Conference website to download the app or search your app store for NGS Family.

If you already have the NGS mobile app on your phone from a past conference, 

1. go to Settings within the app, 
2. tap “Exit to Conference,” or “Exit to Show List” 
3. choose NGS 2019, and 
4. scroll down and tap download.

Some of the convenient features on the app allow users to:

• stay organized with the Dashboard’s up-to-the-minute information
• notate every speaker, their lecture topics, and descriptions to plan your day, or perhaps you want to remember to order a recording for a session you miss
• find all conference information in one place with “About NGS 2019 Family History Conference”
• receive important real-time communications from NGS with Alerts
• follow and join in on the conference chatter with the built-in Twitter feed, #NGS2019GEN
• sync your schedule across multiple devices
• locate sessions and exhibitors on the convention center’s maps
• connect, message, and share schedules with your colleagues through the Friends feature
• link to syllabus material for each lecture, which will be available beginning in late April 
• take and save notes

If you have already registered, we encourage you to begin using the app now so you can improve your conference experience in St. Charles. If you haven’t registered, we invite you to discover all the NGS 2019 Family History Conference has to offer. Online registration closes 19 April 2019.