Family Records Tucked in Books

Recently, a friend of mine was telling me a great story about her Grandfather and Grandmother. Unfortunately, her Grandmother passed away just a few weeks ago leaving her Grandfather the task of having to go through his wife's things to pack them up and give away to family members.

While he was going through some drawers, he found an envelope that had a large sum of money in it and a note from his wife letting him know that the money in the envelope was money she had saved for many, many years by collecting and saving all the spare change. In the note, she told him to use it for her funeral. Also in the note, she indicated that there was more money hidden in other places in the house, including inside of books.

This story reminded me of something that I have come to know all too well....

People like to tuck things inside books!

I have found this to be the case in my person genealogy research and from working as a county archivist.

Whether the items are used as books marks, to hide personal documents or another reason, the fact is, people have always tucked things into books.

One book that was used the most often to tuck documents into is the family Bible. I have two family Bibles that I received from both of my Grandmothers and they are full of all kinds of records, photographs, newspaper clippings and other family records. Those items are genealogical treasures for me.

Items found tucked in my Grandmother Ida Kathryn (Drummond) Bartram's Bible

Soon after I started as the archivist for the Houston County, TN. Archives, I was going through the court minute books and I found a interesting and important piece of local history. A folded piece of paper with a note written in pencil and dated April 2, 1873. The note was written by John Hinson or better known in our area as Jack Hinson, Civil War sniper. There was even a book written about him entitled "Jack Hinson's One-Man War" by Col. Tom McKinney.

Handwritten note by John "Jack" Hinson, April 2, 1873, Houston County, TN. Archives

Jack Hinson's One-Man War: A Civil War Sniper



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When I found this note tucked in the court minute book, I knew that I had found an important document for our local history in Houston County, Tennessee. That document is now on display in the archives for everyone to enjoy.

When I teach genealogist about searching for family records, I always encourage them to thumb through all the books that belonged to your family members and ancestors. Never get rid of books without going through them thoroughly. You just never know what you might find!



REMEMBER: IT'S NOT ALL ONLINE, CONTACT OR VISIT AN ARCHIVE TODAY!



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What Are "Born Digital" Genealogy Records?

Most people know that I am a Certified Archives Manager and I am the archivist for the Houston County, Tennessee Archives. I am also an avid genealogist and have been researching my own family history for the past 26 years.

I love discovering new record sources that I can research in for my ancestors. As an archivist, I get very excited when a patron walks in to donate records to the archives because I never know just what wonderful records they are handing over to us.

Lyle Family Records Donation, Houston County, TN. Archives

There is a relatively new type of record source that is being archived in many of our archives and libraries. This record source is called "born digital" records.

"Born Digital" refers to materials and records that originate in a digital form. Most often this term is used in relation to digital libraries and archives and digital preservation. These types of records, most of the time, were never in a paper format but were produced originally in a digital format and saved as such.

Some types of records that are considered "born digital" are:

Digital Photographs: Many archives accept donations of digital photographs and have compiled a database of such photographs that is either on their website or available at the archives on in-house computers.

Digital Photograph of CCC Group Donated to Houston County, TN. Archives

Digital Documents: More and more documents of all kinds are being produced digitally. Many local county offices such as the Register of Deeds and County Court Clerk have done away with paper forms and records and do everything digitally. These born digital records will eventually make their way to the county archives.

Digital Manuscripts: Archives are now receiving personal paper donations that include records and documents that are digital. Just think of all the downloaded records you have in your genealogy database that are not on paper. Well, archives are now receiving the very same type digital records in donated personal paper donations.

Digitized Newspaper Clipping Donated to Houston County, TN. Archives

So, how does a genealogist find these born digital records? A few libraries and archives have put them online on their website. But most of them have them at the facility on in-house computers that you can only access at the facility. Some archives do have an index of what is available on their website and the genealogist can contact the archives and make a records request.

The most important step a genealogist can take is to talk to the archives where you think born digital records could be located. Ask them what they have available for research. Many archivists are ready to be of help and tell you about their records collections. When making a records request, it is very important to be as specific as possible with your request. If the request is too vague or sounds like "I want everything for the Smith family", you may be asked to be more specific.

Born digital records is something that is going to become more and more prevalent in our archives and libraries. Knowing what these records are and how to find them is something every genealogist should keep in mind.


REMEMBER IT'S NOT ALL ONLINE: CONTACT OR VISIT AN ARCHIVE TODAY!

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Researching from a Distance

I hear it all the time from genealogists, "I am not able to travel to do research" and "I can't go any further with my research until I can travel to the archives in a different state".

It has been said that only about 5% of the world's genealogical records are online, the rest are sitting in archives waiting for genealogists to find them. Most of our archives just don't have the budgets to digitize all of their records and put them online. This process takes money and staff to accomplish. Here is a great visual from the California Genealogical Society showing the ratio of what is online and what is not.

Not being able to jump in the car or on a plane and travel to the place where your ancestor's records are located is tough. I know this because my ancestors are from Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania and other states. I haven't been able to travel for research these past 26 years I have been doing genealogy research. In spite of that fact, I have done pretty well gathering records that are not online from right here in Tennessee.

How did I do it?

I used my computer, my telephone, my email account and the old fashioned way of writing letters. I found what specific archives, historical society, genealogical society, university archives and libraries and museums that were in the area where specific records could be located. I checked to see if they had a website with a list of records and contact information. I would then contact them by phone, email or writing a letter and make a records request. Usually, if the records were found, copies would be mailed to me. But here recently, I have started receiving more and more scanned records sent by email.

Dickson County, TN. Archives, Shelves of Records Not Online

If the repository does not have their records listed on a website, it will take a little more communication with the facility to find out what they have and make your request.

A couple of places online where you can find listings of repositories are:

Cyndi's List

http://www.cyndislist.com/us/

FamilySearch Wiki

https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Main_Page



Both of these sites have the repositories organized by state and then by county. There should be links to websites or contact information like a phone number where you can get in touch with the facility.

I always encourage genealogists to not give up just because you can't travel to where your ancestors records are being kept. It might take a little more work to get records this way instead of just being able to click on a link and get a document but I assure you, it is well worth it.

As an archivist, I love to hear from genealogists when they email me, call me or send me requests through the postal mail. My job and my passion is to help others find the records about their ancestors.

REMEMBER: IT'S NOT ALL ONLINE, CONTACT OR VISIT AN ARCHIVE TODAY!

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Preserving Christmas and Other Greeting Cards

Christmas 2016 is over! It's time to get back to genealogy and finding those ancestors.

But wait....

Did you get Christmas cards sent to you this season? What are you going to do with them?

I have a confession to make, I have kept every single Christmas card that I have ever received. Yes, I know, I have a problem. Maybe you have a stack of Christmas cards from this Christmas and from Christmases past. Maybe you also keep other greeting cards from birthdays, Valentine Day, etc.

Christmas Card, Houston County, TN. Archives

Most importantly, if you have old greeting cards that are in your genealogical records collections, are you preserving them properly?

If you are like me and you have kept greeting cards from various events, holidays and special occasions and you intend on keeping them, it is important that they are archivally preserved just like the other documents in your genealogical records collection.

Preserving greeting cards is very easy, it's really a matter of obtaining the right materials and being consistent in the archiving process.

Archival Materials You Will Need and can be purchased at any online archival materials store:

-Archival plastic sleeves in the size that fits the greeting card

-Archival box, a Hollinger box is recommended

Before the preservation process can take place, it is important to document each greeting card and digitize it. Placing a note in your family genealogy software that says something like "Christmas 2016, received Christmas card from Aunt Marie, she signed the card". If the person put a note in the card, you might want to transcribe that into the notes field as well. Also, make notes about the senders mailing address too.

Easter Card, Houston County, TN. Archives

Digitizing greeting cards can be very tedious and time consuming. However, if you want to insure that these records are preserved in case of a disaster that destroys the cards, this is what needs to be done.

I normally scan the entire card; the front, inside and back. I place those scans in the computer file of the ancestor who sent me the card in a separate folder entitled "Greeting Cards".

I also take a soft #2 pencil and on the back of the card I write the year I received the card. Hopefully, the card's subject will tell what the occasion was but if not, you might want to make a note of the occasion.

Take the greeting card and put it in an archival plastic sleeve that is the right size for the card. The archival supply stores have all kinds of sizes to choose from.

Next, put the cards in the Hollinger box. I normally organize the greeting cards by surname and then within that surname I put the cards in date order by year.

Hollinger Box

If you have a lot of greeting cards, like I do, you might want to dedicate a Hollinger box to one surname.

The process is quite simple and gets the greeting cards in order so that they can be enjoyed and if you are looking for a certain card, they are easy to find.

Online Archival Supply Stores:

Gaylord Archival

http://www.gaylord.com/

Hollinger Metal Edge

http://www.hollingermetaledge.com/

University Products

https://www.universityproducts.com/

Light Impressions

http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/


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Last Minute Christmas Gifts!

Only 3 more days until Christmas! Do you need one more gift to give to that certain someone or maybe you would like to treat yourself to a Christmas gift?

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It's Not All Online: Researching in Archives

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Preserving Old Family Letters: Tips from an Archivist

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Scrapbooks: A Genealogist's Gold Mine

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Vertical Files: What Are They and How To Use Them

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REMEMBER: IT'S NOT ALL ONLINE, CONTACT OR VISIT AN ARCHIVE TODAY!!

My First Blog Caroling!

Looks like in the Blogging World at this time of the year, there is what is called Blog Caroling!

This is where a blogger (myself) posts a blog post with my favorite Christmas carol, including the verses and even a YouTube video if desired.

So, here goes......

My favorite Christmas carols is......"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

This carol was written by Charles Wesley, a Methodist minister in 1739.

Here are the lyrics:

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled

Joyful, all ye nations, rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King

Christ, by highest heaven adored
Christ, the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold him come
Offspring of the Virgin's womb

Hail the Flesh, the God Head see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King

Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace
Hail the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His Glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King

Here is a modern rendition of the song by the group Pentatonix, an acapella group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJsC0Xr7lq8



REMEMBER: IT'S NO ALL ONLINE! CONTACT OR VISIT AN ARCHIVE TODAY!

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Finding Christmas in the Archives

We are now only days away from Christmas 2016! Many of us are scrambling to get the grocery shopping done, present shopping completed and completing and mailing out those Christmas cards.

Vintage Postcard

As I work here in the archives, I am reminded of the Christmas items I run across as I process records. The records that are donated to an archive can literally encompass anything and it makes me smile when I am processing a records collection and come across a piece of Christmas cheer!

So, how do you find Christmas in the Archives? Here are some examples:

Local Store Advertisements: Many local stores advertise their Christmas sales and offerings. They will also produce special brochures and advertisements at Christmas time to entice the local shoppers to come into their stores. These types of ephemera, as it is usually called, can be located in the Vertical Files Collection of an archives or in the Manuscript Collection.

Mitchum Drug Co. Advertisement, Houston County, TN. Archives

Scrapbooks: Many archives have scrapbooks as part of their records collections. These scrapbooks are personally put together by an individual and could contain any number of documents, photographs and ephemera. In a few of the scrapbooks we have here in the Houston County, Tennessee Archives, there are Christmas cards and postcards. Seeing the vintage cards really puts you in the Christmas Spirit!

Christmas Postcard from Evelyn Ellis Scrapbook, Houston County, TN. Archives

Correspondence: A lot of our families were not able to be with each other at Christmas for whatever reason. Maybe it was war time and members of the family were off to war in a foreign country. Maybe our ancestors just lived too far away from each other and couldn't make the trek to meet up with family members for Christmas. If your lucky, possibly you have Christmas letters in your genealogy collection. These types of correspondence exist in the archives too! Most of the time these types of correspondence will be found in specific Manuscript Collections.

Christmas Greeting Letter, Houston County, TN. Archives

This is just a few ways you can "Find Christmas in the Archives"!

REMEMBER: IT'S NOT ALL ONLINE, CONTACT OR VISIT AN ARCHIVE TODAY!

*****

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