UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Mark your calendar for these programs (or sign up for my email notices, if you don't already receive them).

2015-16 GENEALOGY CLASS SCHEDULE

Note: We can no longer offer free parking at Central Library, but parking is free at Buder Branch Library, where many of my programs will be scheduled during 2016.

Central Library parking info: http://www.slpl.org/slpl/library/central_parking.asp

In case of inclement weather, you can call 314-241-2288 to see if Library locations are open for business.

THURS

DEC 10

2 pm

Civil War Weapons, Strategy, and Tactics

Tom Pearson discusses book, manuscript, microfilm, and Internet sources of information on Civil War weapons, strategy, and tactics. Buder Branch Library, 4401 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109. To register/more information, email us at tpearson@slpl.org.

SAT

FEB 20

2 PM

eBooks for the Genealogist

Join us as Tom Pearson discusses eBook readers, eBook applications, and sources of free eBooks of special interest to genealogists and local historians. Buder Branch Library, 401 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, Mo 63109. To register / more info: tpearson@slpl.org.

SAT

MAR 19

2 PM

A Guided Tour of Ancestry Library Edition

Join us as Tom Pearson discusses features of and record sets contained in Ancestry Library Edition. He also discuss ways to search ALE more efficiently. Buder Branch Library, 401 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, Mo 63109. To register / more info: tpearson@slpl.org.

ADVANCED GENEALOGY RESEARCH TECHNIQUES

An eBook that can help you with your "brick walls":

Click image for a link to our Catalog.

Description Break through brick walls in your genealogical research Learn how to use innovative methods to unearth hard-to-find ancestors. Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques shows you, step by step, how to uncover elusive details by taking advantage of specialized tools and software programs and using proven best practices for breaking through the brick walls that have hindered your progress. You'll get professional advice on formulating a research strategy, understanding the details you discover, keeping careful track of your data, analyzing the evidence, and developing hypotheses. Real-world case studies demonstrate how you can apply the systematic procedures presented in this practical guide to your own research—and achieve success! Examine the brick wall in detail to find potential weak spots that can be exploited into a breakthrough Use brute force techniques that leave no stone unturned Obtain exact copies of original records rather than derivative sources Research the family, associates, and neighbors (FANs) of your brick wall ancestor Consult with your family, friends, and colleagues to get a fresh perspective on your research Use crowdsourcing—genealogy societies, online forums, social media, blogs, wikis, and podcasts Apply technological solutions, including DNA testing and specialized genealogical software Get tips on hiring a professional genealogical researcher with the appropriate credentials and references Revisit your brick wall problem after honing your research skills Review your evidence, develop a research strategy, and keep a meticulous research log
Publisher McGraw-Hill Education McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Date 2013/09/10
Digital Format Adobe EPUB PDF HTML - Read (In your browser) Kindle
Language English

ADVANCED GENEALOGY RESEARCH TECHNIQUES

You can find this eBook and others like it in the SLPL Online Catalog!

GENEALOGIST'S U.S. HISTORY POCKET REFERENCE (2013)

Available for checkout in the Genealogy Room:



More recent guides to genealogy research

COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO GENEALOGY (2012)

Available for checkout in the Genealogy Room:



More recent guides to genealogy research

HOW TO DO EVERYTHING GENEALOGY (2012)

Available for checkout in the Genealogy Room:



More recent guides to genealogy research

TRACING YOUR IRISH ANCESTORS

Yes, we've got lots of books to help you trace your Irish ancestors, including this one:



More books about researching Irish ancestors

CHECKLIST FOR BEGINNING GENEALOGISTS

PART FIVE

Potential Useful Information about People You Are Researching

Knowing any of the following types of information about an ancestor can often help us acquire further information about that person:

Age at time of death
Awards/decorations
Baptism/christening date
Birthdate
Birthplace
Children
Churches/Synagogues/Mosques
Clubs/associations
Country of birth
Criminal history/incarceration
Death date
Ethnicity
Health
Immigration date
Maiden name
Martial status
Naturalization date
Occupation
Parents
Physical description
Place of death
Place(s) of residence
Professional associations
Real estate/home ownership
Religion
Siblings
Schools/colleges
Spouse(s)
Unions (labor organizations)
Veteran status

Have questions? Ask a Librarian!

NAVIGATING THE 1940 U.S. CENSUS

Some 1940 Census guides and finding aids of interest:

How to Start Your 1940 Census Research

1940 U.S. Census—a Genealogy Research Guide

1940 Federal Population Census—General Information

1940 Census—Questions Asked, Enumerator Instructions, and Abbreviations and Codes Used By Enumerators

National Archives—1940 Census Finding Aids and E.D. Maps

Stephen Morse One-Steps—1940 Finding Aids (hover over U.S. Census in left-hand navigation bar to find 1940 finding aids)

View Short Films Used to Train 1940 Census Enumerators

UPCOMING GENEALOGY/HISTORY CLASSES

Here's the latest list of upcoming programs I'll be doing at various locations. All are sponsored or co-sponsored by St. Louis Public Library. All are free and open to the public. Please note that locations vary.

Thurs, Apr 21, 7 PM-8:30 PM—So Proudly They Served: Researching Career Military and Veterans. Join us as Tom Pearson discusses print, microfilm, manuscript, and Internet sources of info on ancestors who served in the American military (Revolutionary War to the present). Waterloo (IL) Public Library, 215 Park Street, Waterloo, IL 62298. Pre-registration recommended but not required. To register or for more information: tpearson@slpl.org.

Weds, May 25, 6:30 PM-8 PM-- Prairie State Patriots: Researching Illinois Civil War Ancestors. Join us as Tom Pearson discusses print, microfilm, manuscript, and Internet sources of info on Illinois ancestors who served during the Civil War. O'Fallon Public Library, 120 Civic Plaza, O'Fallon, IL 62269. Pre-registration recommended but not required. To register or for more info, email us at tpearson@slpl.org.

Sat, May 28, 10 AM-Noon-- Minie Balls, Breastworks, & Bayonets: Civil War Weapons, Strategy, & Tactics. Buder Branch. Join us as we learn how rapid changes in technology slowly resulted in big changes in military tactics during the Civil War.

Thurs, Jul 21, 10 AM-Noon-- Missouri 24/7: Researching Show-Me State Ancestors on the Internet. Join us as Tom Pearson discusses Internet sources of info on our Missouri ancestors. Buder Branch. Pre-registration recommended but not required. To register or for more info, email us at tpearson@slpl.org.

SLPL branch library locations and hours: http://www.slpl.org/slpl/library/article240098545.asp.

Some of you may also be interested in the following program, which does not involve genealogy but does involve Tom Pearson:

Date: Saturday, April 23, 2011
Place: Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, 3716 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108 (located between Grand and Spring near the Fox Theatre)
Time: 1 p.m.

In conjunction with the exhibition Dreamscapes, the Pulitzer hosts Dreamtime Storytime, a series in which writers, artists, readers and dreamers share stories related to dreams. Dreamtime Storytime is every fourth Saturday of the month for the duration of the exhibition.

Today three librarians from St. Louis Public Library will read for us:

Michele Hatfield, Young Adult Librarian, will read from Dreamhunter Duet by Elizabeth Knox.

Joe Sedey, Library Manager, will read from The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. LeGuin.

Tom Pearson, Reference Librarian, will read poems from his book, Lords of Pitiless Heaven.

CLASS CANCELLATION

The class scheduled for this morning at Buder Branch Library (Dirty Rebs and Damn Yankees) has been cancelled due to illness of the instructor. We regret any inconvenience this may cause our patrons.

RESEARCHING YOUR REVOLUTIONARY WAR ANCESTOR, PT. I

The following is a selected bibliography of materials in the SLPL collection of interest to the Revolutionary War ancestor researcher. You can find many other items in our catalog by searching this subject entry:

United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Registers.

SLPL Catalog: http://www.slpl.org/

I-- MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS

Microfilm

1. General Index to Compiled Service Records of Revolutionary War Veterans. 58 reels. (Central-Microfilm)

2. Revolutionary War Service Records. 138 reels. (Central-Microfilm)

Books

3. Atwood, Rodney. The Hessians: Mercenaries from Hessen-Kassel in the American Revolution. NY: Cambridge University Press, 1980. (Central-ST 973.342)

4. Carrington, Henry B. Battles of the American Revolution: Battle Maps and Charts of the Revolution. New York: New York Times, 1968. (Central-ST 973.33)

5. Daughters of the American Revolution. Index of the Rolls of Honor (Ancestor’s Index) in the Lineage Books of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1972. 160 volumes. (Central-HG 929.373)

6. Myers, Paul W. Pennsylvania Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, Living in States Other Than Pennsylvania. Apollo, PA: Closson Press, 1987. (Central-HG 973.3448)

7. Smith, Clifford Neal. Brunswick Deserter-Immigrants of the American Revolution. Thomson, IL: Heritage House, 1973. (Central-HG 929.343)

8. Smith, Clifford Neal. Mercenaries from Ansbach and Bayreuth, Germany, Who Remained in America after the Revolution. McNeal, AZ: Westland Publications, 1979. (Central-HG 973.342)

9. Smith, Clifford Neal. Muster Rolls and Prisoner of War Lists in American Archival Collections Pertaining to the German Mercenary Troops who Served with the British Forces during the American Revolution. DeKalb, IL: Westland Publications, 1976. (Central-HG 973.342)

10. The State Records of North Carolina. Raleigh: P. M. Hale, 1886-1914, 30 vols. Volume 16 has list of soldiers in North Carolina Continental Line. (Central-ST 975.6)

11. White, Virgil D. Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files. Waynesboro, TN: National Hisotrical Publishing Co., 1990-1992, 3 vols. (Central-HG 973.4)

12. White, Virgil D. Index to Revolutionary War Service Records. Waynesboro, TN: National Historical Publishing Co., 1995, 4 vols. (Central-HG 973.4)

Tom Pearson
Special Collections Department
St. Louis Public Library
tpearson@slpl.org
We're on the Web at: http://www.slpl.org

CIVIL WAR SOLDIER RESEARCH CHECKLIST, PART V

XI. Discharge Records

1. Listing in Adjutant-General report
2. Discharge recorded in county Recorder of Deeds office
A. Recorder of Deeds (or County Clerk) offices
B. MO State Archives or IRAD
C. Discharge papers of regular army & navy men sometimes in homestead land/pension files

XII. Disability Claims

1. Listing in files maintained by National & State Archives
2. Listing in 1883 Pension Roll of United States
3. Request for artificial limbs/eyes to State Adjutant-General or War Department
A. National Archives- RG 94, Series M725, Index to Letters Received, 1846, 1861-1889, 9 rolls
B. National Archives- RG 94, Series M686, Index to General Correspondence of Records & Pension Office, 1889-1920 (385 rolls)
4. List of rejected disability claims

XIII. Pension Records
1. Federal- NARA (Union soldiers)
2. State- State Archives (Confederate soldiers)
3. Pension recipient questionaires (AL,AR,LA,TN,US)

XIV. Deaths

1. Account in regimental reports to commanding generals (O.R.)
2. Account in regimental reports to state Adjutant-General (state archives)
3. Local newspaper lists of local casualties
A. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library at Springfield, IL
B. State Historical Society of Missouri at Columbia, MO
4. Probate/will record
A. Probate Judge
B. Clerk of the Circuit Court
C. MO State Archives Local Records Inventory Database or IRAD (IL)
5. Patriotic society annual reports
A. GAR/SUVCW
B. UCV/UDC
C. MOLLUS
D. Society of the Army of the Cumberland/other army societies
E. Regimental society annual reports/reunion booklets

CIVIL WAR SOLDIER RESEARCH CHECKLIST, PART IV

VIII. Medical Records

1. Mention of wounds in muster roll
2. Mention of wounded in regimental reports to commanding generals (O.R.)
3. Mention of woundings in reports of state Adjutant-General
4. Hospital records
A. National Archives- RG 94, Series M1828, Index to Surgeons' Reports in File A & Bound Manuscripts of Adjutant General's Office, 1861-1865 (1 roll)
B. Medical & Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion
5. Mention of wounded in letters to local newspaper from men in regiment
6. Mention of local wounded in newspaper accounts of particular battles
A. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library at Springfield, IL
B. State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia, MO
C. Requests for artificial limbs/eyes to State Adjutant-General/War Department

IX. Courts-Martial

1. General Orders of Specific Department of the Army
2. Execution orders/sentence subject to commutation by commanding general or the President
A. National Archives- RG 94, Series M1523, Proceedings of the U.S. Army Courts-Martial and Military Commissions Against Union Soldiers Executed by U.S. Military Authorities

X. Prisoner-of-War Records

1. Death rolls maintained by prison camps
2. National Archives- RG 92, Series M918, Register of Confederate Soldiers, Sailors, & Civilians Who Died in Federal Prisons & Military Hospitals in the North (1 roll)
3. Mention of men captured in regimental reports to commanding generals
4. Mention of men captured in regimental reports to State Adjutant-General
5. Mention of men captured in CMSRs
6. Mention of men captured in letters home from men in regiment
A. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library at Springfield, IL
B. State Historical Society of Missouri at Columbia, MO
7. Letters of inquiry from parents/spouses to State Adjutant-General
A. Illinois State Archives
8. Mentions in after-the-war disability claims
A. Pension list of 1883

CIVIL WAR SOLDIER RESEARCH CHECKLIST, PART I

PART I

1. Starting Points
A. Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
B. Ancestry.com Civil War Service Records & Civil War Pension Index
C. Missouri State Archives Soldiers Database
D. Illinois Descriptive Rosters & Muster Rolls

2. Standard Reference Works
A. Dyer's Compendium
B. Compendium of the Confederate Armies
C. The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union & Confederate Armies
D. Supplement to the War of the Rebellion
E. The Medical & Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion