Find Your Ancestor's 1940 Address

As you know, next week the 1940 Census records will become available. Since an index to this census won't be available for some time, knowing your ancestor's 1940 Enumeration District will help you find them. An earlier blog post described how to find the Enumeration District. Knowing your ancestor's 1940 street address is an important first step to finding their Enumeration District.

A City Directory for 1941 will probably list your ancestor's address in 1940. (The information published in the 1941 Directory was collected in 1940). Some people have access to city directories through subscription databases such as Ancestry.com or through their local library.  However, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has uploaded their collection of Cincinnati City Directories to their Virtual Library and it's accessible from your own computer! So, avoid a potential line at the library and find your ancestor's 1940 address now:

• Go to the Virtual Library.
• Click on Downloadable City Directories.
• Scroll down to and click on 1941 Williams' Cincinnati Directory.

This 1941 Cincinnati City Directory is separated into three different files:

Each file will open in a separate window once you click on it. To help you find what you need quickly, I've listed the contents of each file here:

Each file is searchable by pressing CTRL + F.^*

Happy hunting!

Note:  If you are getting these posts through email notification, you cannot see the pictures that are a part of the post.  In order to see the pictures, click on the title of the post and view it within the blog.  If you're having trouble, leave a comment in the box below.


Submitted by:  Jenny Davis

^* Tech Tip:  A search box will appear. Enter your search word(s) and hit ENTER. Each time you press ENTER, it will take you to the next occurrence of your search word(s). Press your ESC key to close the search box, or just click on the little "x" on the search box.

HCGS Local Sponsors of National Genealogical Society Conference

National Genealogical Society Conference 9-12 May 2012

Things are going great. Some of the paid sessions are now full. Conference hotels are full and other area hotels are being used. The exhibit hall is full. We hope to reach the attendance goal of 2000.

The Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) and the Hamilton County Chapter of the OGS (HCGS) are sponsoring two events: the Tuesday Bus Trip of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky and the Wednesday Night Museum Center Event. There are still some openings for each of these events. To register, see National Genealogical Society's Conference Information.

As local sponsors, OGS and HCGS are providing volunteers for the event. We are not asking anyone to volunteer and miss a session that you want to attend. We do need more volunteers to work at registration especially before the conference opens each day (including some on Tuesday). The stuffing day (for registration) and training day will be on Monday beginning at 9:00 a.m. I realize many of you will not be here that early but since most of you are already "trained professionals" at conferences you will need just a short refresher. If you can volunteer any time at the conference, please let Jean Nathan know at ngsvolunteers@gmail.com.

Hope to see many of you in Cincinnati.

Kenny Burck
President
Hamilton County Genealogical Society

Finding Your Roots:The Other Genealogy TV Series

Sunday March 25th "Finding Your Roots" with Dr. Henry Louis Gates will begin on PBS stations at 8 PM  (check your local listings for station and time).
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Some of the personalities profiled are Harry Connick, Jr., Branford Marsalis, Barbara Walters and Dr. Sanjay Gupta.  Looks like a very interesting series coming up. More information is available on the program website at  www.pbs.org/wnet/finding-your-roots.

Note: If anyone has missed any of the WDYTYA programs so far this season or want to watch them again they are archived at www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/video.

Enjoy the shows.

Submitted by:  Gail Burkholz


Note:  For additional information on the genetic genealogy component of this series, read this post by the Genetic Genealogist. Here is a video promoting the series.
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1940 Census is Coming! Learn More April 7

On April 2, the National Archives and Records Administration releases the long awaited 1940 census. Due to the personal information on the census schedules, federal law requires that they be locked from public view for 72 years.  The census is a key resource for family historians and often provides clues to other records. The 1940 census marks the first time census records will be offered free online.

In addition to information about all members of the household including age, sex, ethnicity, citizenship status and occupation, the 1940 census provides important information not offered on previous census schedules:

•Street address

•Persons absent from household

•Person providing information

•More detailed employment data, including income and public relief

•Residence in 1935

The 1940 census comes with a giant caveat.  Initially, it will not contain a surname index.  All searches will require a geographic approach by street address or enumeration district.  The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, one of the few libraries in the nation that owns copies of all available U.S. census records dating back to 1790 and a nationally ranked genealogy department, is ready to assist.  The Genealogy and Local History Department has acquired 1940 directories for over 3,000 U.S. cities, large and small, to assist with the search for street addresses.  The librarians have undergone special 1940 census training and have developed tools to assist with the online search, including specialized maps and expertise with websites to identify enumeration districts. As an added bonus, the Library will place orders for 1940 census records on April 2 for 1940 Ohio census records on microfilm, courtesy of the Friends of the Public Library and the Library Foundation.  These records will provide important archival backup and are easier to browse than loading individual pages on many websites.

Presentation, April 7

Five days after the release on April 7, the Genealogy and Local History Department kicks off the census with a special program by Department Manager Patricia Van Skaik, 1940 Census Is Here: Techniques for Achieving Top Search Results. This program will provide strategies for accessing the wealth of new information available in the 1940 census. Cincinnatians will have the opportunity to attend this program one week in advance of its presentation in Cleveland at the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference.

About the presenter:

Patricia Van Skaik is an expert in census research.  Out of town librarians have come to Cincinnati to consult with her on 1940 census preparedness. Ms. Van Skaik also conferred with database providers in February for information about how online access to the 1940 census would function. Ms. Van Skaik is a recipient of the RootsTech Distinguished Speaker Award and lectures widely on the intersection of history, technology and librarianship.

1940 Census Online Providers

National Archives and Records Administration, http://www.archives.gov/research/census/1940/

Ancestry.com

http://www.ancestry.com/1940-census

Archives.com

http://www.archives.com/1940census

FamilySearch.org

https://www.familysearch.org/1940census

Find My Past

http://www.findmypast.com/1940-census.asp

Volunteer to Help Create a Surname Index

https://the1940census.com/?gclid=CNugktWT-K4CFUMTNAodT2i9yw

For more information and Countdowns

Video on the 1940 census:

http://1940census.archives.gov/

Go to the National Archives website, http://www.archives.gov/research/census/1940/  or follow on Twitter  http://www.twitter.com/archivesnews or Facebook http://www.facebook.com/usnationalarchives

Watch Twitter @cincylibrary or contact the Genealogy and Local History Department at 513-369-6905 or “Ask a Librarian” through the Library’s website, www.cincinnatilibrary.org.

From Press Release - submitted by Liz Stratton

Technology Interest Group

Last night the Technology Interest Group (Liz Stratton - Chair, Jenny Davis, Gail Burkholz, John Tholking, Kathy Reed and Dave Bossart) met to plan possible programs for the future and to discuss the technology needs of the society as a whole.  Committee Member, Dave Bossart, attended the meeting via Skpe from Louisiana.

Dave Bossart via Skype

In previous meetings, the committee had identified possible topics that we thought could be of interest for our members.  Sticky notes were made for each suggested program and we began the process of prioritizing them.  Following this process, the topics were divided into level of difficulty.  The next step will be to plan for program delivery, dates and times.

Program Summary

The best part of serving on this committee is the excitement of the members! As we plan for you, we can't help but get excited for ourselves. There are so many things that we can do to improve our genealogical experiences. Stay tuned for the programs we plan for the 2012-2013 year.

Note:  If you are getting these posts through email notification, you cannot see the pictures that are a part of the post.  In order to see the pictures, click on the title of the post and view it within the blog.  If you're having trouble, leave a comment in the box below.



Submitted by:
Kathy Reed

Earlybird Deadline Approaches!

National Genealogical Society Conference: 

May 9-12, 2012 in Cincinnati

Are you still considering whether to attend?
There will be ten lectures per hour  –  that’s 180 sessions, presented by 100 high-quality speakers! Where else could you find such an accessible abundance of presentations, workshops and networking to enhance your genealogical skills?

The twenty tracks include German Research, Ethnic Research (Irish, English, Native American), African  American Research, Researching in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, Ohio’s Neighbors, GenTech, Repositories and Records, Migration, Military Records, Photos, Writing, DNA, Methodology and Research, and more. Each track has several lectures, and you’ll find it’s hard to choose just one per hour.

The searchable conference program at www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conference_info can be searched by track, speaker, date and program level to make sure you don’t miss a particular speaker or topic of interest. The registration booklet with a schedule of all events is available to download at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/galleries/new-gallery/2012_Conference_Registration_Brochure.pdf, or you can call  the NGS  office at 1-800-473-0060, extension 112, to request one.

Have you registered for the Conference yet?The deadline for the early-bird price and ordering a print syllabus is March 20. After that date the NGS member cost will increase from $175 to $210 for all four days, the non-NGS member cost will increase from $210 to $245, and only the flash drive syllabus will be available.  Reservations for meals must be made by April 24.

Choose the sessions you plan to attend at www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conference_info.  This is just for space planning and you can change your mind if you like.  You can add other activities like luncheons, workshops, etc. from the same web page.

Are you coming from out of town?
For those of us who live here, coming to this conference is an easy decision. We don’t need a hotel room, and there’s lots of parking alternatives. Members who live out of town will have to make other arrangements, since the Conference hotels have been full for some time.  See the NGS Conference Accommodations list for other nearby hotels and Roommate Connections for help in finding a roommate.

The Convention Center is located about twenty minutes from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Is this your first national conference?
If this will be your first time attending a national genealogy conference, read Tips for First Time Conference Attendees. For more information, see the Conference FAQs at www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/faqs and check the conference blog: http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org for updates.

We look forward to seeing you all at the conference! Below is a brief video presentation about the conference and the many exciting programs and events.

National Genealogical Society 2012 Family History Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio

Excerpts reprinted with permission from The Tracer. For the complete article written by Jean Woll please see the March 2012 Tracer.

We've Been Busy

As I write this, I am aware that many members of our Chapter live out-of-town.  Through this blog, we've heard from some of you. A couple have even volunteered to be a part of one of our Long-Range Planning Committees.  One of our members from California contacted us after reading a post on our facebook page that had relevant information for one of her ancestors.  In our correspondence, she told me that she will be attending the NGS conference in Cincinnati.  It is a pleasure to know that this blog may have relevance for not only our "in town" members, but also our "out-of-town" members.  We love hearing from you.

Those of us who live here have had some wonderful educational opportunities over the past couple of months.  During February, our Program Chair Linda Dietrich arranged two behind-the-scenes visits at the Cincinnati History Library and Archives.  As the CHLA has a strict no camera policy, we were able to get permission to take a couple of pictures in their Reading Room.  The tour proved so popular that the tour had to be scheduled twice.

On Saturday, March 10th, our Irish Interest Chair Mary Ann Faloon and Membership Chair Eileen Muccino collaborated on a wonderful presentation about the conditions faced by the Irish in Cincinnati from the years 1850-1860.  About 40 people attended their presentation. A summary of the conditions the Irish confronted can be summed up in the sign below.

Eileen Muccino and Mary Ann Faloon

Despite the difficulties faced by our immigrants in Cincinnati, it was nice to hear that things were much better for the sons and daughters of the immigrants.  A study of the second generation showed that the Irish adapted to their new environment and that only 9% of the men in the second generation were employed as unskilled laborers.  Most made significant moves toward becoming part of the middle class.  As Linda Dietrich commented during the question and answer period, the Irish story seems to be one that we've all heard before as each immigrant group tries to assimilate and become American.

If you live in this region, now may be a good time to update your calendar and take advantage of the April Chapter Meeting, the OGS Conference in Toledo and the NGS Conference that we are hosting in May. You can find out what some of the opportunities in this area by clicking on the calendar that is a part of this blog.  

We love hearing from you.  Consider adding a comment to this post. Help us get to know YOU.  Give us suggestions. Let your voice be a part of the discussion.

Submitted by:  Kathy Reed

khreed@cinci.rr.com

Put HCGS in the subject line.

March Tracer Now Available

The March Tracer is now available to members on our website, http://www.hcgsohio.org/membership.shtml. There are many fantastic articles in this issue!


Successful Bridgets: Irish Women in Cincinnati’s Third Ward in 1860 - EILEEN MUCCINO

Chapter Programs and Election News

Last Chance to Volunteer for the NGS Conference!

National Genealogical Society Conference in Cincinnati, May 9-12

Hamilton County Probate Court Project Update, JIM DEMPSEY

Library News

Countdown to the 1940 Census! DEB CYPRYCH

First New Jerusalem Society of Cincinnati, Swedenborgian, JEAN OVERMEIER NATHAN

Hamilton County Lineage Societies

2011 New Members and Pioneer Ancestors, JOHN H. THOLKING

Passenger List Alternatives, MARY ANN FALOON

Hamilton County Probate Accounts—Partial Abstract of Account Volume 3,
     1840-1857, Part III, JIM DEMPSEY

J. Richard Abell Genealogical Trust Fund Donors

Public Library Acquisitions, COMPILED BY MARK SCHMIDT

Book Reviews BY COLLEEN PHILLIPS:
     Cincinnati Christmas, JINNY POWERS BERTEN;
     Krohn Conservatory, DON NESBITT AND CHARLES STENKEN; 
     Price Hill Saloons, LARRY SCHMOLT

Queries, COMPILED BY BARBARA WEGLEY

Hamilton County Genealogical Society Treasurer’s Report, 2011

The Hamilton County Genealogical Society has several membership options including e-membership for only $10. For further details, see our website, http://www.hcgsohio.org/membership.shtml.

Liz Stratton, HCGSOhio@gmail.com

The Cincinnati Irish 1850-1860

Mark your calendars and plant to attend this wonderful talk put together by Mary Ann Faloon, Irish Interest Group Chair, and Eileen Muccino. Learn what it was like for Irish men and women living in Cincinnati during the decade before the Civil War.  Join us for a discussion of politics, religion and economics, and learn how the Irish faced down poverty and prejudice to build successful lives in Cincinnati.

Countdown to the 1940 Census

When the 1940 census is released on April 2, 2012 there will be no surname index available.  With a little advance preparation, however, you will be able to find your ancestors. In order to find your ancestors before an index is available you will need to know the census enumeration district (ED).  That requires that you know the place where they were living in 1940. If you cannot find where your ancestor was living in 1940 you will need to wait until the indexes are completed late in 2012.

There are several websites that will be of help in determining the ED for your ancestor.  They are  the National Archives website:  http://www.archives.gov/research/census/1940/start-research.html  and the Steve Morse census utilities:  http://stevemorse.org/census. I found using the Steve Morse utilities to be the easiest.  Following are examples of each of the types of procedures, large city, small city/rural and knowing the 1930 ED.

First example: My paternal grandparents lived at 6667 Bantry Avenue, Cincinnati, OH in 1940.  I used Steve Morse’s utility for large cities.

Click to Enlarge

When the census is released I will look for Ohio ED 91-228 and browse looking for Bantry Ave, house number 6667.

At the bottom of the screen at View Present . . . click on Google and then street view, and you will see the picture that Google has taken of that location.

This is the picture of my grandparent's house taken by Google in 2009.

Second example: My parents, older sister and I lived at East Franklin Av, Centerville, OH. I used Steve Morse’s utility “Finding ED Definitions for 1940 in One Step.”

Click to Enlarge

Click search then you will see.

Click to Enlarge

When the census is released I will look for Ohio ED- 63 and ED – 64  and browse looking for East Franklin Avenue, family of Elwood Burkholz. (I don't know if they lived in Centerville Village).

Third example: my maternal grandparents lived in ED 31-306 in 1930. I used Steve Morse’s Utility, “Converting between 1930 and 1940 Census EDS in One Step.”

Click to Enlarge

When the census is released I will look for Ohio ED 31–77 and 31-78 and browse for the Ulysses Cole family.

Doing your homework now will make it very easy to find your ancestor in the 1940 census without a surname index.

When the 1940 census is released free online this April 2 at 9 a.m. ET, you can view your ancestors’ records free at 1940census.archives.gov.

According to the National Archives announcement, no other website will host the 1940 census data on its April 2 release date. Shortly after, though, you’ll also be able to view records free on Ancestry.com.


Submitted by Gail Burkholz