October Is Family History Month!

It happens every year. The days get shorter, the temperatures get cooler and our genealogical calendars fill up. This year is no exception. If you want to keep up with all of the events, go to the top of this blog and click on the "Calendar" tab. If you display the calendar in the agenda format, it will look like this.

From this you can see that there are many German programs. Kenny Burck will be presenting a program on "Local German Genealogical Resources" Thursday, October 3rd at the Kenton County Library. Kenny Burck and Deb Cyprych will teach a four-week course on "Reading Old German Script" at the Pleasant Ridge Library. Classes start the 14th. Jeff Herbert will discuss "Researching Your German Ancestor using Newspapers at the Otterbein Retirement Community on October 16th. Clicking on the event in the calendar tab (at the top of the blog) will provide you with additional details and a map to the event.

Saturday, October 5th is the Family History Fair at the Main Library. Tours of the Genealogy and History Department will be held between 10:00 AM and Noon. Deb Cyprych will be giving a presentation on the "Records of Children in Hamilton County Institutions" at 11:00 AM. She will discuss strategies for searching elusive historic children's records. From Noon - 2:00 PM, more than twenty experts with wide-ranging expertise will be available to discuss your individual genealogical challenges. At 2:00 PM, Marian Crawford Stover will discuss "Orphans with Parents -- A True Story." She describes her experience growing up in a northern Kentucky Orphanage with nine of her siblings, despite the fact that her parents were alive.

Other October events will be discussed in future posts. However, it may be a good time to get some of these not-to-be missed activities on your calendar now.  Hope to see you at the library.

Submitted by Kathy Reed

Researching in Counties Surrounding Hamilton County

Elaine Kuhn introduces HCGS Members to new History and Genealogy Department

Last Saturday HCGS members had the opportunity to hear Elaine Kuhn of the Kenton County Library speak to us about "Hamilton County's Neighbors: Researching in the Surrounding Counties." Those of us involved in Hamilton County research have often found it necessary to track our elusive ancestors in nearby counties. It was not uncommon for early residents of Clermont County to relocate to Hamilton or Cincinnati Germans to move back and forth across the river to Kenton and Campbell Counties.

Elaine's talk made us aware of gems that may not have been obvious to those unfamiliar with the resources of surrounding counties. She even included a "not to be missed" suggestion of places to visit after completing your research. With Elaine's permission, I am including her list of libraries and societies for the seven counties that surround Hamilton and their links.

Butler County, Ohio

Libraries: 

• Smith Library of Regional History
• Butler County Records Center and Archives

Societies: 

• Butler County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society
• Butler County Historical Society

Warren County, Ohio

Libraries:

• Edna L. Bowyer Records Center and Archives of Warren County
• Mary L. Cook Public Library

Societies:

• Warren County Genealogical Society
• Warren County Historical Society

Clermont County, Ohio

Libraries:

• Doris Wood Batavia Branch, Clermont County Public Library

Societies:

• Clermont County Genealogical Society
• Clermont County Historical Society

Campbell County, Kentucky

Libraries: 

• Steely Library, Northern Kentucky University

Societies:

• Campbell County Historical & Genealogical Society

Kenton County, Kentucky

Libraries:

• Kenton County Public Library

Societies:

• Kenton County Historical Society

Boone County, Kentucky

Libraries:

• Boone County Public Library

Societies:

• Boone County Historical Society

Dearborn County, Indiana

Libraries:

• Aurora Public Library
• Lawrenceburg Public Library District

Societies:

• Dearborn County Historical Society

Submitted by: Kathy Reed

Hamilton County's Neighbors

The New History and Genealogy Department
Photo Credit: Kenton County Library
Used with permission

This Saturday, September 21st, the Hamilton County Genealogical Society will kick off the 2013-14 season. Librarian Elaine Kuhn of the Kenton County Library will discuss the wonderful materials that are available to Hamilton Co. researchers just across the river in Covington, Kentucky.

Many early Cincinnatians lived on both sides of the river in the 19th Century, especially those of German descent. The population of the time was quite fluid, looking for jobs, cheap housing and churches that made them feel more at home. Those with Catholic ancestors are particularly fortunate as many of the early births, deaths, baptisms and marriages are available on microfilm. In addition the library has many resources including City Directories, online resources, historical newspapers and pictures, and even an online index of patients who were hospitalized at the "old" St. Elizabeth hospital. (I've personally uncovered some real gems from that resource).

For more than a year, the Kenton County Library has been undergoing a major remodel. A new second floor addition section is completely devoted to History and Genealogy. You can park directly across from the library in a public parking garage. Just remember to bring your ticket to the library to be scanned for free parking. This program will begin at 11:00 AM. You may want to stay and take advantage of all the library has to offer. Hope to see you then.

 

You can read more about the renovations by clicking on this link to the Kenton County Library blog.

Submitted by Kathy Reed