Illinois: Digitizing the records

The availability of digitized records spurs interest in genealogy research.

More people, regardless of where they live, will be able to access more records and find the information required to advance their family's history.

In Pekin, Illinois, a project is making general research easier for Tazewell and Mason counties.

This week, Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society member Carol Hiller finished scanning in the last pages of two large history texts and converting them to CDs: “The History of Tazewell County, 1879” and “A Portrait and Biographical Record of Tazewell and Mason Counties, Illinois, 1894.”

Both books, which are 794 pages and 712 pages respectively, are now available on CDs, which the Genealogical Society is selling to any history buff who fancies one — or anyone who knows a history buff who would fancy one.

Both digitized books are searchable by name and are in PDF format, which can be read by the commonly used program Adobe Reader, Hiller said.

The article, by Tara Mattimoe, covers the advantages of such projects, covering the cost of reprints versus inexpensive scanning to CDs. With budget problems facing many groups, the for-sale CDs ($20 each) are expected to bring in needed funds.

The books offer personal accounts and memories, biographies, drawings, geographic features, houses and settlements, soldiers and more.

It took several months to scan the books and convert them to PDF format.

The project could be replicated by other societies using rare materials from their own libraries.

Read the complete story for more details.

JGSLA 2010: Breaking news!

The news is flowing from the JGSLA 2010 committee.

The 30th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy takes place July 11-16, 2010 at the new JW Marriott at LA Live, in Los Angeles.

The opening day - Sunday, July 11 - will feature a Market Square Fair. All special interest groups (SIG) and birds-of-a-feather (BOF) groups will display information, and these marvelous mavens will provide one-on-one help to conference-goers.

The Fair will include booths manned by genealogically-related non-profit and educational groups, along with craft guilds, historical map info, book signings and more.

Sunday will also feature beginners' workshops, the vendor/exhibit room will be open, book signings and more to be announced later.

The resource room will have Family History Library (LDS) microfilms, along with Shoah Foundation and USHMM databases.

Because Sunday will be such an action-packed day from the morning on, you'll want to be there for the entire day, so think about checking in early to the hotel.

Those who arrive early will enjoy a Shabbat-friendly pre-conference learning experience on Saturday, July 10 and, for services, there's a Chabad House within walking distance.

Evening programs are a big part of the conference program. This year, attendees will enjoy two theatrical presentations - "literary cabarets," as the committee calls them - including an adaptation of Mimi Sheraton's book, "The Bialy Eaters: The Story of a Bread and a Lost World."

"The Bialy Eaters" is a tribute to the endurance and power of memory and how the search for a perfect "chewy crusty roll"represents a deeper longing for a vanished way of life. Don't know what a bialy is? You'll have to come to the conference to find out.

If you're a SIG or BOF leader, watch for information from Vivian Kahn, the SIG/BOF coordinator, who will be providing information on how SIGs can co-sponsor a professor, archivist or recognized expert to speak at the event, with JGSLA 2010's support.

As always, there are options for these geographic and topic-focused groups to meet during the conference - such as a luncheon, business meeting or other format -, so if Vivian hasn't contacted you in the next 10 days, write to her with questions or requests.

So many BOFs are created on an ongoing basis, and if you want your group to included at this year's event, let Vivian know.

JGSLA 2010 will have a special free PowerPoint presentation on CD available in January 2010, offering conference news, previews and film clips, for any JGS or Jewish community group requesting one. It even comes with a great JGSLA2010 T-shirt to give away as a doorprize.

The Call for Papers is open until January 15, and registration for the conference opens on that date as well.

Go to the JGSLA 2010 site and sign up for the announcements, newsletter and blog, so you won't miss any of the exciting news.

Tracing the Tribe will see you in Los Angeles!

Gifts for your favorite genealogist?

The holidays are just around the corner. Perplexed about what to get for your favorite genealogist? Here are suggestions to consider. For some of them, the deadline is November 30 - so take advantage of the possibilities

Why not an initial subscription or a renewal to a major data site?

Choose from Footnote.com, NewspaperArchive.com (see the special offer of 60% off the regular price for page reproductions!) GenealogyBank.com, WorldVitalRecords.com or, for those with major UK roots, FindMyPast.com.

What about magazine or journal subscriptions or renewals?

Family Tree Magazine, Family Chronicle and others. For researchers of Jewish families, Avotaynu: The International Journal of Jewish Genealogy, is a must. Avotaynu is now offering a 50% sale on subscriptions along with 10% and 20% on books (November 30 is the deadline for this!).

For the more scientific-minded, why not gift a Y-DNA, mtDNA or combination test at FamilyTreeDNA?

The company is offering major promotional prices for the holidays. Tests must be ordered and paid for by December 31, 2009. On January 1, 2010, prices go up, so why not do it now? That's the company to go to because it has the largest comparative databases in the industry. For researchers of Jewish families, that's even more important as the largest Jewish DNA comparative database is within the larger one.

What about memberships in national or local genealogy societies?

Major societies, including some Jewish genealogical societies, often have members' sections on their websites that only paid members can access. These may include many indexes and unusual databases. Some societies also include a monthly or quarterly journal hat comes with membership.

There's also the option to make it possible for a friend or relative to attend a major annual conference of great interest.

Who wouldn't want to receive a gift of registration for a conference like the 2010 IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, (Los Angeles, July 11-16), or the Southern California Genealogy Society Jamboree 2010 (Burbank, June 11-13)?

Some sites are offering holiday sales now, like Avotaynu and also the Family Tree Shop at Family Tree Magazine.

Family Tree Magazine is discounting many items in its Family Tree Shop. Even better, register to win your very own "wish list" of items (up to $150). Learn more and register here. Four lucky winners will be announced on December 3, so put this on your to-do list.

The magazine is offering sale prices on items covering various topics and research areas, including CDs. A good buy is the Family Tree Magazine 2008 CD with all the 2008 issues, containing 480 pages. Articles are searchable, printable and portable. Click directly to all featured websites from the CD. After a 21% discount, the sale price is $18.99. Click here and browse for items of interest.

We all know how expensive genealogy books can be, but here's a chance - from Avotaynu - to stock up on resources genealogical at a discount through November 30.

If you're already a subscriber to Avotaynu - and you should be if Jewish genealogy is important to you - receive discounts on useful reference books. If you're not yet a subscriber, now's the time to get a 50% discount to the journal - and the other discounts.

Current subscribers must click here for the discounts, which include a 20% discount on Avotaynu on CD-Rom, a 15% discount on some excellent genealogical reference works, and a 10% discount on all other books. Shipping charges added. Read the information at the site for all the important details.

Avotaynu on CD-Rom contains all issues for the first 24 years (1985–2008) with 93 issues and 5,700 pages, fully searchable (Windows/Vista only). The sale price is $79.60. If you already have it, the upgrade's sale price is $31.95. Tracing the Tribe thinks this full set would be a great gift for a beginning genealogist of any age.

Have fun checking out gifts for others and adding to your own wish list!