Saddleback Valley Trails

Monthly meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to Noon at the Mission Viejo Family History Center Institute Building, 27978 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, CA. Between Medical Center Drive and Hillcrest Drive. Membership is open to anyone wishing to join. Yearly membership fees are $20 per calendar year for individuals, $25 for joint membership.

16 January 1999 The first meeting of the new year will feature Dr. Willard Blankenship who will discuss medieval records.. Dr. Blankenship is President of the South Coast Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

20 February 1999 At this meeting our new Vice President, Rich Faber, will speak about preserving, cataloging and identifying your photos for later generations to also enjoy. In addition, there will be another photographer who specializes in restoration of damaged photos.. You are encouraged to bring your damaged photos to this meeting for an on the spot estimate of the cost of restoring the photo.

20 March 1999 Speaker to be announced.

25 September 1999 Second SOCCGS all-day Seminar, featuring guest speaker, classes, prizes and fun to be held at the Mission Viejo City Library.

OTHER LOCAL EVENTS

30 January 1999 "Seeking Clues to Your Irish and Scottish Ancestors", a seminar to be hosted by the Orange County California Genealogical Society. The guest speaker is Judy Wight. Begins at 8:00 a.m., to 4:30 p.m. at the Huntington Beach Central Library.

27 February 1999 The Annual Whittier Area Genealogical Society Seminar will be held at the Masonic Lodge, Greenleaf Ave at Mar vista in Whittier. The speaker is John Philip Colletta who will discuss emigration/immigration , "They Came to America Where are the Records?"Doors open 8:00. More information available at (562)941-6371 or try the WAGS Web Page http://www.compuology.com/wags

12-13 June 1999 The Southern California Genealogical Society will hold their Genealogical jamboree at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena CA.

The January Safari is a special trip to the San Diego Genealogical society who will open its' library to us for the day. For this reason, it is imperative that you make plans ahead of time and let either Shirley Fraser or Janet Franks know if you plan to attend. The date is January 27^th, 9:30 a.m. sharp, at the Institute Building parking lot. Bring a sack lunch and your "what to look for list" and plan to spend the day

Dear SOCCGS members,

A new year begins soon and a new slate of officers will lead SOCCGS in 1999, so it is time for me to say "Goodbye", but not before I say thank you for the two years that you have allowed me to be your President. They have been great fun, and also have been one of the most interesting challenges I have faced. While I have served as the President, or leader, of other groups, I have never been given the opportunity or responsibility to organize a new library. What a thrill now, to visit the Mission Viejo Library and see our collection in all its growing splendor. This could not have been accomplished without the special help and support of a great Executive Board and Chairmen. What a joy to work with them, and best of all, get to know them.

On December 10^th the Library honored all the Volunteers, and many of our members were there to share the honors and the festive evening. I regret that Betty McKenzie was not able to attend, as she has been an important and vital part of our growth. Betty is a joy to work with, and when we are working together, even the hours of hard work, such as moving shelves, cataloging, restacking and binding books, have been a pleasure.

To date, the volunteer hours given to the Library have totalled 22,000, which translates into a cost savings of $322,013 for the city of Mission Viejo. (SOCCGS has contributed 4,553 hours to that total.) Recognition was given to those who had contributed over 25 hours (SOCCGS had 35 of the 192 volunteers so honored); over 100 hours (SOCGS had 16 out of the 60) and 7 volunteers had contributed over 500 hours. Betty and I were honored as two of those, (our reward is a "Fine Exempt" card from the Library). My personal THANKS goes to every docent, form those with 2 or 3 hours who have filled in as a substitute, to the regular docents who have volunteered weekly since the opening of the Library. EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU ARE IMPORTANT, THANKS!!!

Our collection could not have progressed as it has without the many donations to TIME, BOOKS, PERIODICALS, AND OF COURSE, MONEY. Our members have been more than generous in each capacity.

So I leave with many thanks to you for the support given to me as your President, to the Board and to our meetings. As we begin our 6t ^th year, we can look forward to continuing to grow "bigger and better" in the years ahead. Janet Franks

The latest news from the library is that the City and SOCCGS has finally signed the agreement to have our collection housed in the City Library. In addition, more computers and printers will be installed soon, as well as a phone and some additional new shelving. It is looking very good in our section and we urge you come visit us soon.

Also, we seem to be having a rough time keeping the Volunteer badges at the library desk. We are limited to only a few, and all have disappeared again. If you find you have walked off with a badge, please return it

Beginning Genealogy and Research and Computer Use are two classes that will be offered free of charge at the Mission Viejo FHC, beginning February 2^nd. If interested, call amd make arrangements to attend, 364-2742

To show our appreciation for the FHC's generous provision of a monthly meeting place each month President Janet Franks presented the FHC with a check of $200. Rich Faber accepted it for the directors, Gordon and Connie Lake.

As usual, we're begging for help again! Two of our wonderful workers have had to resign from their jobs. The positions open are Safari Chairperson and Mailing Chairperson. We thank Shirley Fraser and Ruth Sheean for all they have done in these positions. They will be both missed at the Board meetings.

1. Orange County VA marriages, 1747-1850, by John Vogy & T. Wm Kethley, Jr.
2. 78 Assorted Maps of States in the U.S.
3. 1767 Map of the Manor of Renselaerwick NY
4. 1790 Map of the South Side of Mohawk River showing Early Patents
5. Index of Probate Court Records, 1854-1917, King Co WA
6. Asa Canterbury, 1788-1856 and Allied Lines, by Carmen Miesen
7. Blackhawk Gen soc. IL Vol 25 #3
8. Genealogical Helper, May/June 1998, Nov/Dec 1998
9. Odells, Lost and Found, Vol 1 #3,4 1997, Vol 2 #1,2 1998
10. Ray Co MO Reflections, Vol 6 #1 & 3; Vol 7 #1,2, 31998
11. Allen Families, Vol 2 #4, 1997; Vol 3 #1 & 2 1998
12. Milam Roots, Vol 5 #3, 1993, Vol 11, #5 1998
13. Illinois State Gen Soc Q, Vol 29 #4, 1997; Vol 30 #3, 1998
14. DAR Magazine, Vol 129 #8, 1995; Vol 130 #1, 1996
15. Bulletin, German Gen Society of America, Vol 1 #1, 1986 through Vol 4, #2 1990
16. The Hoosier Genealogist, Vol 37 #2, 4, 1997; Vol 38 #1, 3, 4, 1998
17. Indiana magazine of History, Vol 94 # 1, 3, 1998
18. PA Publications of Historical & Museum Commission, 1997-1998
19. 1998 Family History Fair
20. Chicago Genealogist, Vol 20 #1-4 1987; Vol 21 #1-4 1988; Vol 22, #1,3,4 1989; Vol 23 #2,3,4 1990; Vol 24 #1-4 1991; Vol 25 #1,2,4 1992, Vol 26 #1-3 1993
21. Forum, Vol 5 #4, 1993; Vol 6 #1-3 1994; Vol 7 #1,2,4, 1995; Vol 8 #1,3,4 1996; Vol 9 #1,3,4 1997
22. Genealogical Society, Marion Co IN Family Quest Vol 3 #1,2 1998
23. Morgan Co IN History and Genealogy, Vol 3 #1-4 1997; Vol 4 #2, 1998.
Donations of books and materials this month are the courtesy of Wilbur Allen, Beverly Long, Pat McCoy, Janet Franks and Donald A. Woodmancy. Thank you, our library will make good use of these additions.

Dues are due again! Only $20 a year. Besides 12 stimulating meetings you also receive this wonderful newsletter, free of charge, delivered right to your doorstep. You can also write an article any time you wish, and we gladly accept queries and pedigree charts from embers. Iris Graham asks that you please use the membership form that is on the last page of the newsletter when sending in your dues. It saves her a lot of time and cramped fingers! Please don't leave us, we would miss you.

Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house -
nothing would fit me, not even a blouse!
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste at the holiday parties had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber)!
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared.
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese,
And the way I'd never say "No thank you, please".
As I dressed myself in you husband's old shirt,
And prepared to once again do battle with dirt,
I said to myself, as I only can, "You can't spend the winter disguised as a man!"
So - away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip!
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished,
Til all the additional ounces are vanished!
I won't have a cookie - not even lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or cornbread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and live is a bore.
But, isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot!
Happy New Year to All,
And to all a good diet!
Author unknown (They always are the best poets, aren't they!)

The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate have been working for awhile on a bill designed to extend the term of copyright protection by 20 years. President Clinton signed the bill on October 27, 1998.

What impact does this have on genealogists? We all want information. In this day and age, information usually is found online, or on CD-ROM disks. Yet the people who produce those online databases and the CD-ROM disks are now prohibited from reproducing materials printed after 1922.

Newspapers after 1922 (obituaries especially) will now be in copyright for another 20 years. You'll need to wait 20 more years before they can be transcribed and put online for free. Old genealogies, which might be useful if reprinted, cannot be freely reprinted or placed online for an additional 20 years. Historical materials cannot be reprinted or placed online for an additional 20 years. Likewise, obscure works whose copyright status is uncertain or where the heirs cannot be tracked down, cannot be placed online for an additional 20 years. (From Utah Gen Association Newsletter, November 98. Excerpts from an article in Dick Eastman's On-Line Genealogical Newsletter, 7 Nov 1998)

The German Post Office's change in its way of handling International Reply Coupons has serious effects on our dealings with German correspondents. The new regulations state that only one IRC can be accepted for any letter or package. Any postal charges in excess of the value of the one IRC must be paid in cash by the mailer. One $1.05 IRC provides 3 DM of postage for foreign mail to our correspondent. This covers about one sheet of paper and the envelope. That means that postage for any enclosure must be paid for by them. This will make it very expensive for them to send copies of documents. Germans can no longer turn IRCs in for cash. We must remember this and not request unnecessary copies (WAGS newsletter Dec 98 via Immigrant Gen Soc May 1997, via Conejo Valley Gen Soc. Fall 1997)

From UP. Harisburg Sept 15, 1941
Persons born before the state began keeping records in 1906 - but couldn't prove it - began recewiving birth certificates today under an act of the 1941 legislature signed by Gov. James two months ago.

An opinion by the Justice Department for the Bureau of Vital Statistics opened a "bottleneck: that has piled up thousands of applications for birth certificates, principally from workers in the defense industries.

When defense industries started requiring proof of birth from their workers, those who were born before 1906 ran into many difficulties in obtaining a certificate and the 1941 Legislature passed a law permitting the bureau to accept certain documentary evidence, such as baptismal and school records. The legislature instead of easing and speeding up the issuance, was considered confusing in language and an opinion from the Attorney General was sought.
While awaiting the opinion no certificates were issued to persons born before 1906, or to those whose later births were not recorded in the bureau.
Robert Painter, assistant director, said that several thousand applications had clogged the bureau's files, but the first of these were being acted upon immediately, and all should be cleared in the next several weeks. Said Painter: "We are writing each applicant, and when we receive the affidavits or documentary evidence required, along with the $3.50 fee, we will issue certificates." The filing fee is $2.00 and the certificate copy is $1.00 (Editor's note: my how times have changed!!!) (from WAGS Volume 18 #5, October 1998, submitted by Cathi Smith)

Many of you have heard my woeful tale about my errant grandfather, William Hennessy, who disappeared after divorcing my grandmother back in 1924. My information on this ancestor has been painfully sparse. In 28 years of research, I still did not know when he was born, where he was born, or when or where he died.

Well, last month I visited the St Louis (MO) main library that houses the StLGS genealogical collection. There they have all the Missouri WWI draft registrations on film.

So, I told my sorry tale to the head librarian in the genealogy section. I had done it all correctly; I collected years of addresses from old city directories. I had spotted him in a certain city directory in 1918, and had ordered the microfilm of the draft registration for that precinct. He was not on it! I also told the librarian that he was a "traveling salesman" so could have been in any town, and also had entered the US illegally from Canada when quite young, thus making his appearance on a draft registration dubious. This lovely librarian responded with hope. "Try anyway" she said, "even if you have to read every microfilm reel of Kansas City." She then explained that they absolutely HAD to register! Men were required to carry the draft card to prove they had followed the law. And, on this third registration, every man not on the first two registrations had to register on the same day and at the local draft office of the town he was in that day. It was then the duty of the local registrar to send that registration to his precinct of residence.

So, on the fourth reel, there he was! William H. Hennessy, born 27 February 1883. His permanent residence was not the same as in the 1918 city directory....but when he named his closest relative, there was my grandmother's name and the same address. Occupation - traveling salesman for an electrical manufacturer housed in Wichita KS. On that day, he was on the road, in Larned KS. But, he wasn't totally truthful! He reported he was native born, thus a citizen.

Now, I had an actual birthdate for old Spike. When I got back to California, I immediately looked at m y notes done years ago of the index of birth registrations for Ontario Province in Canada, and there he was, registered in Alliston Township, Simcoe County, Ontario. Now does anyone have any good ideas of how to get them to move faster up there in Toronto with a copy of the birth registration? I am hounding my poor mailman to death!

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