THIS PRESENTATION IS GUARANTEED TO BE ONE YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS!

2005 CALENDAR
September 17---------Caroline Rober - “Kentucky Research.”
October 22 -----------Seminar, featuring Lloyd Bockstruck.
November 19---------”Preserving Your Photographs and Documents.”
December 16 -------- Holiday Party.

2005 SEMINAR - October 22

Please mark your calendars now for the Forth Annual SOCCGS Genealogy Seminar. Lloyd Bockstruck will be our featured speaker. The four topics chosen by the membership at the July meeting are: Finding Substitutes for Birth & Death Records, Newspaper Genealogy, Identifying Maiden Names of Females and Lesser Used Genealogical Records.
Mr. Bockstruck, Supervisor of the Genealogy Section of the Dallas, Texas, Public Library, is a nationally known genealogy speaker and author. He has published “Virginia's Colonial Soldiers”, “Genealogical Research in Texas”, and “Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants Awarded by State Governments”.

The day promises to be interesting, informative and fun! There will be food, door prizes and an opportunity drawing for a hand made quilt. Please see the flyer at https://sites.rootsweb.com/~casoccgs/seminar-3.html.

QUILT PROJECT

Opportunity tickets are now available for the Opportunity Quilt to be awarded at the Seminar. The quilt is a nine-patch design made with replica Civil War fabrics. Prizes will be awarded to three members who sell the most tickets by the October 22 drawing. First prize will be a table-topper quilt in the same design as the opportunity quilt. Proceeds will benefit the SOCCGS Library. Barbara Wilgus is the quilt chairman: (949) 380-6008 or [email protected].

Annie Lloyd gave a wonderful presentation on Wales immigration to the U. S. Even those with no known Wales ancestry learned genealogical information to help in their research. Keep in mind that nearly everyone learn something from each monthly program, no matter the topic And, don’t forget that “cousin” who could be lurking in the group! Thank you to Barbara Heebner, who provided the delicious goodies.

NEW MEMBERS & GUESTS

We welcome JOY ALLEN, who joined the society at the July meeting . Email: [email protected]. [Surnames:] RYAN (Jessie Barton, Nicy Ann, William W: Vernon Co., MO); JOHNSON (Ida Mae: Michigan); NIXON (Ralph: Penn); KAUFFMAN (Chicago, IL); LUTZ (Imm 1853, Alsace)

We are pleased that former member, DEAN DUET, has rejoined.

PLEASE SIGN UP
(SOCCGS MAILING LIST)

In order to receive information between meetings and newsletters you need to sign up for the SOCCGS Mailing List. You may also use this list to send out a query, or to pass on genealogical information to the group. To subscribe to the SOCCGS mailing list, send an e-mail to [email protected] with the message: subscribe. Don't put anything in the subject line. To send a message or query to the list address the message to [email protected]. The topic of your query should appear in the subject line.

LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS

Mary Lou Wilcox is the newest docent volunteer. Her name is being added to the substitute list. This list can never be too long!

Volunteering as a docent, or substitute, is a positive way for members to help the society. It entails about two or three hours a week, or month, depending upon your availability. PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT! And, then call Mary Jo McQueen, 581-0690.

**Ongoing classes for persons considering becoming docents are held on Thursdays (12-3) and Saturdays (10 to 1). These classes are also open to current docents and other members needing help in using the resources available at the library. If this is not convenient, call Mary Jo McQueen, and to set up a special time.

USGENWEB’S FAMILY GROUP SHEET PROJECT

We have the opportunity to put family group sheets online at the various state sites that support this project. It is free! Check it out at the USGW FGS home page, https://sites.rootsweb.com/~usfgs/ where you will find links to all the states that have a family group project. Some states have thousands of group sheets online, while other smaller states have as few as 10. Please feel free to send your group sheets to all the states to which they apply. The family group sheets may be submitted directly online or via email.

COOKBOOK PROJECT

Desperado Killed By Federal Agent - Chicago, July 23 (AP)--Dillinger is dead! He swaggered from a neighborhood theatre last night into the raking fire of government guns. Too late, he saw the gleaming steel of the trap set for him. His hand went for his gun. Too late. Three bullets tore into his body--one in the neck, two in the body. He staggered, fell. It was the end of John Dillinger.

The hour was 10:40 p.m., central daylight saving time. The place was just outside the Biograph theatre, a neighborhood movie on the northwest side, in territory where the blood of many a Chicago gangster has flowed before.

A MINIMUM WAGE AND MAXIMUM HOURS
The Marion Star (Marion, Ohio), 12 July 1933, page 1:

A minimum wage and maximum hours of work schedule will apply to every business and industry. The suggestion is $14 a week for the lowest wages paid anywhere and a working week of 35 to 40 hours. A day's work of about six hours could hardly be enforced on the farmer. He will tell you that it takes a farmhand about six hours to get his team fed, harnessed, out to the field, then back again, then unharnessed, fed and put away for the night.

THE CENSUS
Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 13 July 1830, page 2:

"The Marshal has just informed us, that in the course of taking the Census, he discovers a great difference between the families who take a newspaper, and those who do not; and that wherever he finds a paper lying about a house, the inhabitants give him every facility in performing his duty, while in those houses where no paper is found, great reluctance to expose their numbers is evinced."

WHERE IS THE WEST?
From the Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), 18 July 1853, page 3

On Friday last, at 4 1/2, P.M., Samuel Lawrence, Esq., was in Boston, having left Lasalle, Illinois, at three o'clock, Wednesday, P.M., preceding. He came by way of Chicago, looked in upon Cleveland, called at Buffalo, was sped over the plain by the "lightning express" train to Albany, and whisked over the Western and Worcester Railroads to Boston! Once, and within the memory of the middle-aged man of this day, Buffalo was considered quite "out west."--Chicago, but yesterday, was a "far-off-land." Now, a merchant shakes hands and bids good-bye to his customers 180 miles west of that, and in two days and one hour and a half--greets his friends in Boston! It is in fact only eleven hundred and fifty miles!
--Boston Journal.

IMPORTANT TO BUMMERS
From the New York Herald (New York, New York), 20 July 1870, page 4

I think most genealogists agree that cemeteries are attractive places to spend time. We make any number of visits to cemeteries each year. This includes cemeteries in which the remains of our ancestors and families are located, and often cemeteries of particular interest. The bumper sticker, “I Brake for Cemeteries,” may seem strange to non-genealogists but it certainly is a serious statement to genealogists following a car with such a bumper sticker down a highway or back road!

It is natural to want to take photographs of family tombstones. The clarity of the image may be very important for the purpose of recording the engraved information or for documentary evidence. The disappointment of getting a poor image and unreadable text can be overwhelming.

In "Along Those Lines . . ." this week, I want to discuss several methods of obtaining better photographic images from your cemetery visits.

Absolute Don'ts! - There are any number of methods that have been used by people to get photographs and other images of graves, tombs, mausoleums, columbaria, and other markers over the years. Let's first define some of the “no-no's” before we go to the positive approaches.

First, be sure that you are allowed to enter a cemetery. Some cemeteries are private, and you should therefore look for signs that say so.

Next, look for signs that may state that photographing, applying anything to a marker, attempting to clean a marker, or making rubbings may be prohibited. When in doubt, seek out the cemetery administrator, if there is one available, or use extreme common sense. I heard from a woman in Ohio a few years ago who ignored the “no rubbings” warning and, as she was working, a policeman walked up and arrested her. She was taken to the courthouse where she ended up paying a $400.00 fine for ignoring posted warnings and for the desecration of a grave site!

Second, remember that some markers, especially older ones that have been exposed to the elements and perhaps to acid rain, may have become fragile. Run your hand over the surface of a marker and, if it is gritty or if sandy-type granules easily are dislodged and rub off, the stone has deteriorated and may not take any pressure whatsoever. Treat them with care. Don't apply any pressure to the marker, and explain to any children visiting the cemetery with you to be exceedingly careful!

Don't try to “clean” a tombstone. The discoloration is natural, and moss or lichen will attach themselves to the stone's surface. Applying bleach, scraping with a brush, or using any type of abrasive tool may permanently damage the marker.

Finally, don't ever apply anything to a marker that contains any chemicals. Bleach is certainly one of these chemicals, as are muriatic acid and similar chemicals. This also includes shaving cream! Shaving creams contain chemical ingredients such as stearic acid and palmitic acid, both of which can damage stone markers. The residue of anything chemical will permeate into the porous surface of the marker and continue to further its disintegration long after you have driven away.

Safe Things to Do - Cemetery marker companies are usually experts in cleaning tombstones made of different types of stones. The cost of such cleaning is quite reasonable; you just need to get on the company's schedule. This may not help you, especially if you are making an impromptu visit to a family plot and live some distance away.

Marble stones (not others) have a particular consistency caused by their metamorphic origin. HydroClean Restoration Cleaning Systems, a division of Hydrochemical Techniques, Inc. of Hartford, Connecticut, makes a product called HT-777 Marble Poultice. It is a biodegradable product that, when mixed with water, forms a creamy, non- acidic paste that will remove both organic and inorganic stains from polished marble. Data sheets for this and other products manufactured by this company can be found on their website (www.hydroclean.com/data.htm). These are professional, architectural cleaning products and should be used with extreme care in accordance to the manufacturer's instructions.

A much easier and safer approach to improving the contrast between a marker's surface and the engraving or stone carving on it is to use cornstarch. I've used this many, many times and have achieved great success with it. I take a small handful of the dry cornstarch and toss it into the engraving, one small area at a time.

When I've completed this step, I use a very soft 1” or 2” paintbrush to whisk away the excess cornstarch on the surface of the stone. A paintbrush works well because you can use the broadness to cover large areas and the narrow side to get in between carved letters and numbers. For really fine work, I also take a cosmetic blush-applicator brush.

Once the cornstarch is applied, you will find it creates an excellent contrast for photography or videography. When you are finished, use water to wash as much of the cornstarch off of the stone as possible. The beauty of cornstarch is does not become a doughy blob when you apply the water, and it also is 100% biodegradable. There are no harmful chemicals and so your work is ecologically safe and also chemical-free.

Sunlight or other artificial light sources are necessary for some of the best photographs. Some of the markers we want to photograph, though, are in a shadowy area, perhaps by a wall or under a tree. Achieving good contrast between the marker's surface and the engraving can be difficult. Flash photography can help in some cases, but in others you have to be very careful to take the picture at a slight angle. A polished stone will act as a mirror, and the engraving will be partially or totally illegible.

Another way to approach shaded areas or markers which are unlit by direct sunlight is to introduce indirect lighting. There are two simple ways that I do this.

First, if the sun is behind a stone or at another angle and the stone is not being lit, I use a light reflector. Mine is a large, polished aluminum cookie sheet. I can set it up at an angle to reflect light onto the marker's face, always setting it to the side in order to reduce any glare. To hold it in place, I can use sticks or twigs in the area, another adjacent marker, or can use a couple of screwdrivers from my automobile emergency kit. A tire iron will also work. Arrange the reflector, aim it at the marker, and take your picture.

In the event that the marker is in complete shade, I can use the same reflector method but use a high powered flashlight as my light source.

Digital Photographs - Not everyone has yet invested in a digital camera. However, if you already own one, you still may have the challenge of getting clear and legible cemetery marker images. The tiny LCD preview display makes it difficult to really see the details of what you will or did get on the photograph. I always take two or more pictures of the marker from different angles. There is no cost for wasted film or prints, and I can choose the best image when I get home and download the images to my computer.

In addition, there are many graphics software programs on the market that can be used to edit the photographs you take. They are powerful editors, but by far the simplest commands to achieve better images are “contrast” and “brightness.” However, with some study of the features and a little trial-and-error experimentation on copies of the image you want to preserve, you can hone your skills to make your digital photographs sharper.

Tis the Season - Summertime is the ideal season to visit cemeteries, especially when traveling or attending a family reunion. Be sure to take your cellular phone, insect repellent, a hat or sun visor, and lots of sunscreen. Wear comfortable, flat shoes, and loose-fitting long sleeve shirts, long pants, and socks to protect you from briars and nettles. A good pair of cotton or lightweight leather work gloves is also advisable. And don't forget to take lots of bottled water to keep hydrated.

Happy Photographing!
George

( "Along Those Lines" 7/8/2005 - Archive, Copyright myfamily.com)

GENEALOGY SAFARI
The August 24th safari destination will be be announced at the general meeting on August 20.

NARA BUDGET

The House of Representatives has restored funding for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission in its budget bill--$5.5 million for competitive grants and $2 million for program administration. The House Subcommittee on Treasury, Transportation, HUD, and the Judiciary added the funding back on June 15, and the House Appropriations Committee approved that addition on June 21. This is a very positive result at this stage, and the organizations and individuals who raised their voices to request restoration of funding can be very pleased.
To ensure that this funding survives through the next stages of the budget process, we still need to contact our senators so they will know the importance of continuing this funding.

Donated by:
BERNARD KEEN:
History of Southold, L. I. by Rev. E. Whitaker (New York)
Calendar of Delaware Wills, New Castle County 1782-1800 by Colonial Dames
Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. I, 1670-1730 Parts I and II
Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. II, 1730-1750, Parts I and II
Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. III, 1751-1760
The Organizations and Minutes of the Glousester County, NJ Court, 1687-87
Burlington County, New Jersey Marriages by H. S. Craig
Cape May County, New Jersey Marriages by Craig & Way
Cumberland County, New Jersey Marriages by H. S. Craig
Gloucester County, New Jersey Marriages by H. S. Craig
Salem County, New Jersey Marriages by H. S. Craig
Records of Swedish Lutheran Churches at Raccoon and Penns Neck, NJ, 1713-1786
WILLIAM NEVIUS:
Island at the Center of the World - Dutch Manhattan & the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America
SOCCGS:
Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California: 1769-1850 Vol. I, II & III by M. E. Northrop
(These three books are located in the Hispanic Section. Vol. III is subtitled,
Los Pobladores de la Reina de Los Angeles.)
**Thank you to those who so generously donate to our library.

INTERNET SITES

Canadian Bill Opens Census Records - The Canadian Bill S-18, which allows public access to twentieth century census records, is finally about to become law. It is reported that the Library and Archives of Canada has already scanned images of the 1911 National Census of Canada and they should be available online almost immediately. Canadian genealogists may be able to spend the summer looking for ancestors in these 1911 records. Read more at: http://globalgenealogy.com/globalgazette/gazce/gazce117.htm A complete history of the project can be found at: http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/ Canada Archives is at: http://www.collectionscanada.ca/

"1790" / "1800" County Tax Lists of Virginia - Unfortunately the Virginia Censuses for 1790 and 1800 are lost and can never be replaced. However, the early tax records of the Virginian counties still survive and list all individuals charged with a tax. Reconstructed 1790 and 1800 Federal Censuses:
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~ysbinns/vataxlists/

Lots of fun and interesting stuff here: Search for a town! Any city or town! Anywhere in the US! http://www.epodunk.com/

British Isles - British IslesGenWeb Project http://www.britishislesgenweb.org/
Canada - CanadaGenWeb Project (English and Francais). https://sites.rootsweb.com/~canwgw/
Germany - GermanyGenWeb Project. https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wggerman/
Scotch-Irish/Ulster Scots Research - http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~merle/

HOW SAFE ARE YOUR GENEALOGY RECORDS?

FGS/UGS Conference, 07-10 September 2005 in Salt Lake City, Utah

Genealogists of all skill levels and interests are invited to join the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the Utah Genealogical Association in Salt Lake City, September 7-10, 2005, for “Reminders of the Past—Visions for the Future” conference. This is a unique opportunity to utilize all the newfound knowledge you acquire at the conference immediately at the Family History Library, the largest genealogical research library in the world. For more information and registration brochure, please visit the FGS website http://www.fgs.org.

ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

After a recess in August, the OCCGS New England SIG group will resume meeting September 4. The group meets on the first Saturday of each month, after the general meeting and lecture. The meeting place is in Room D at the Huntington Beach Library. Each attendee is asked to discuss his or her ancestral background, names, dates, areas they are currently researching, and their own area of expertise. Persons interested in research in any of the six New England States - Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island - are welcome. Those attending are encouraged to bring their five-generation charts. For further information contact Marcia Huntley Maloney, [email protected] or Bob [email protected].

"HISTORY DETECTIVES"

Our genealogical studies very often make us wish we had paid more attention in history classes while in school. A television series on PBS called the "History Detectives" may help us remedy some of that angst. We can learn some of what our ancestors were going through as the "detectives" prove or disprove family stories they are asked to investigate.

More information on the series is available at http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE IS AUGUST 22.