Vital Records on Footnote (now Fold3)

Hi there,

Footnote has started adding vital records to the database holdings. These databases have the actual certificate image. Right now there are only three vital records databases:

Cuyahoga County Birth Returns (OH) 1871-1908 - mostly for the City of Cleveland. 100% complete.

Texas Births, 1903-1910; 1926-1929. 51% complete.

Texas Deaths 1890-1976. 64% complete.

So while the Texas databases are only about half completed right now, in the future they will be fully available. This means that there is an alternative for those of you that do not like logging into a FamilySearch account.

To access the vital records, go to the Footnote mainpage available through the HPL website. Click on BROWSE, which is right next to the main search box. Then scroll to VITAL RECORDS and click on it. All three databases will then appear. Select either TEXAS BIRTHS or TEXAS DEATHS. All the counties then show up alphabetically to choose from. However, in the top right corner there is an option to SEARCH WITHIN. Upon selecting this, a search box will appear for you to type in the name that you are searching.

Just a word of caution, the search feature in Footnote is not as precise as that in FamilySearch. Sometimes you will not retreive the certificate if the name is not spelled correctly or if it includes the middle name. When this happens, try searching by last name only or go the Texas Deaths Index in ancestry. The search feature in FamilySearch is still better at finding round about spellings, middle names, and parents.

Google Books proposed copyright lawsuit settlement

Hi all,

Google entered into settlement negotiations in November of 2009. The current settlement plan includes a few things that WILL be relevant to us in the library.

• Out-of-copyright books will still be viewable through Google Books
• In-copyright material will be available for individual purchase and viewable through Google Books (requires internet connection and does not download to personal computers)
• Libraries and universities will have the option to purchase a subscription to view all texts in their intirety
• Find in a library feature will be still be available for all books
• Snippet view will still be available for all books

In addition a not-for-profit group named Book rights Registry will be created to represent authors and rightsholders.
Heather

Coming Soon! Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900

Rev War pension records (both selected and non selected)are now available on Ancestry! I was so excited to see the database because of the DAR ladies that so frequently visit us. However, I looked for it on Ancestry Library Edition and it is not added as a databse yet. It is definitely available through a personal subscription through. I am sure it will be available in the Library Edition soon.

For the moment, the index is available on Familysearchlabs and the actual images are available through Footnote. One thing I did notice is that the Ancestry images are much cleaner and clearer than those on Footnote.

The images of Revolutionary War Pension Records on Footnote have to be selected through the Revolutionary War Archive on the top drop down menu (currently there are five archives to choose). One cool feature is scrolling over the image with the cursor and having names highlighte for you. Then you can search the different names and follow individual and troop movements by reading the different affidavits given in pension files. In other words, compare and contrast what people say about where they were and what they were doing to complete the story.

The index to Revolutionary War Pension Files on Familysearchlabs is still really helpful as it allows to search by a soundex or 'round about spelling. This is not a feature through Footnote.

Google Books

Hi everyone,

For those that have not tried Google Books before, it is a pretty awesome reference tool. In the past few weeks, I have used it a number of times to find books (and one periodical) that were not available in the local area. Many of the books digitized by Google are the older county histories or historical books of a given area which is perfect for genealogists searching by name and location. Sometimes only snapshots of the book are available, but there is also a link to WorldCat.

Other additional features include creating a personal account and adding books to a personal bookshelf that can be shared via social networking sites. The books are available in .pdf which means that the whole book has to be downloaded to view, which can take some time on our computers. However, the benefits far outweigh any negatory stuff.

It's cool! Check it out!

Heather

DDD census update

More states have been added to the index of the DDD census:

CA
IL
IA
KS
ME
MA
MI
NE
NJ
NY
SC
TX
VA
WA

Sue

1880 Schedules of Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent

Hi Everyone,
Ancestry has just added some DDD schedules to their databases (see info below).
Yes, we do have Texas on microfilm but it's not indexed.
Thanks,
Cary


U.S. Federal Census - 1880 Schedules of Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.

Original data:
· Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Michigan, 1850-1880. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T1164, rolls 69-73. Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

· Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Texas, 1850-1880. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T1134, rolls 49-52). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

· Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Virginia, 1850-1880. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T1132, rolls 33-34). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

About U.S. Federal Census - 1880 Schedules of Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes
In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census, a supplemental schedule called “Dependent, Defective, and Delinquent Classes” was included. This schedule included different forms to enumerate the following classes of individuals:
· Insane
· Idiots
· Deaf-mutes
· Blind
· Paupers and Indigent persons
· Homeless children
· Prisoners

This data collection currently contains these schedules for the following states:
· Michigan
· TEXAS
· Virginia

In addition to the individual’s name, their race, gender, age and residence were also included. For individuals with mental or physical illness, questions regarding their medical history were asked. For the homeless children, questions about their parents were asked. For the prisoners, details regarding their imprisonment were asked.

Houston Area Digital Archives

Everyone -

The link to the HPL digital archive is: http://digital.houstonlibrary.org

Here we will find a growing source of Houston city directories that have been digitized. Please let our customers know about this source.

Currently there seems to be about 1866 - 1921/22. HMRC has received a grant to digitize more current directories also, so continue to look for more.

Also note there are videos and oral histories and much more mounted.

Sue

Welcome to the Blog

Hi -

I have sent an email to everyone on how to post to the blog. Since I have not been posting regularly, and people seem to be interested in how we can utilize the blog, we are going to create a "share the knowledge" blog.

The blog is for things we want to share that will help us in our job duties and activities. Please do not post anything of a personal nature here, use email for that.

We hope that we can share our collective knowledge about databases, resources, or other helpful hints or information through this communication medium.

Any customer service hints are welcome, and information about resources, ideas for presentations that you might have heard from customers or other things that will benefit us all by spending time to checking the blog.

I appreciate all your help! Share your knowledge!

Thanks -

Sue