Genealogy Foundations Series-Register Today!

Stranded? At the end of the road? The Genealogy Foundations series is a multi-class series that lays the foundation for effective family research. Learn search strategies to locate your ancestor's records regardless of how their name was spelled, transcribed, garbled, or misread. Improve your research skills and methodology while exploring a few key resources: census, newspapers, vital records and their substitutes, published genealogies and histories. Build a bridge to the past based on a firm footing.

All sessions are held in the 3rd floor computer lab at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Main Branch, 800 Vine Street. Space is limited and preregistration is required.  A registration form can be found at https://goo.gl/forms/mYbq7M4O8zTrBr7v2.  For best results, plan on attending all sessions. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Stratton.

Session 1, May 19, 10 AM to 12:30 PM*, “What’s in a Name?” 

Session 2, June 2, 1 PM to 4 PM, “Making Sense of the Census” 

Session 3, June 9, 1 PM to 4 PM, “Extra! Extra! Read all about your Ancestors in the News” 

Session 4, June 23, 1 PM to 4 PM, “It’s Vital to Find Births, Marriages and Deaths” 

Session 5, June 30, 1 PM to 4 PM, “Published Genealogies and Histories, and Cousin Connections”

*The first session will be held in the morning. If you are unable to attend, please let Liz know and she will make alternate arrangements to get you the course materials.

HCGS Estate Records Series: Registration is Open!

With more and more estate records available on FamilySearch and Ancestry, there is no better time to learn how to use these valuable records. The "Estate Records Series" consists of three hands-on workshops. Sessions include time to research your own ancestors. For best results plan to attend all sessions. Space is limited and preregistration is required. Register online at https://goo.gl/MMgB2C or email Education@hcgsohio.org. 

Except as noted, all sessions will be held in the 3rd floor computer lab behind the Genealogy and Local History Department at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Main Branch, 800 Vine.

Sunday, September 10, 1:30-3:30 pm, "Where There's a Will, There's a Way"  

Wills often include a wealth of genealogical information by identifying married names of daughters, establishing parentage and migration routes. Learn where to find wills and how to get the most from them. Discover how to use wills as a stepping stone to further research.

Sunday, September 17, 1:30-3:30 pm, "Even is there is no Will, There's a Way"    

Learn to locate wills that have not been made available online or on microfilm. Explore the many documents created during the estate settlement process. Discover how to locate estate records even when there is no will.

Sunday, September 24, 1:30-3:30 pm, "Getting the Most from Estate Records" 

Learn how to use estate records to discover relationships, birth dates and death dates even when they are not directly stated. Understand regional and historic variations in inheritance law and their impact on women’s inheritance.

If you have any questions, contact Liz Stratton at Education@hcgsohio.org.

Submitted by Liz Stratton, Education Director, HCGS

 

First Session Almost Full! Put Your Name on the Wait List Today!!!

Estate Settlement Records: 

Even When There is NO will, There's A Way!

"Hamilton County Courthouse, Fifth and Main Streets," slide, Cincinnati History Slide Collection, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County; digital image, Greater Cincinnati Memory Project (http://cincinnatimemory.org/ : downloaded 14 November 2015). Image used with permission of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Preregistration for the Estate Settlement Series is open and the first session is full! Put your name on the waiting list or contact Liz Stratton at education@hcgsohio.org. If there is sufficient interest, a second session will be added at 3 pm.

The 4-session series will provide a detailed look at the estate settlement process and the genealogically rich records created. This hands-on series will lead you step-by-step through the estate settlement process. Work with your own ancestors or with a provided example to find ancestral wills and estate records. Learn research strategies and glean all the genealogical clues from every record.

Parts 1-3 apply regardless of where your ancestor lived. It is best to attend all sessions but it is not necessary. The final session focuses specifically on Hamilton County, Ohio. Work with records that survived the courthouse fires and reconstruct estate files using other sources.

Saturday, January 30, 1 pm, Estate Settlement Records, Part 1: “Even When There’s No Will, There’s a Way!”  Overview of the estate records and how they answer genealogical questions followed by a hands-on session. Learn where to find the records of your ancestors whether they are on Ancestry or not! Preregistration: http://goo.gl/mEXnKH.

Saturday, March 5, 1 pm, Estate Settlement Records, Part 2. Preregistration: http://goo.gl/HJbY7R.

Saturday, April 2, 1 pm, Estate Settlement Records, Part 3. Preregistration: http://goo.gl/h8XkBL.

Saturday, May 7, 1 pm, “Estate Settlements after the Courthouse Burns,” Part 4. Preregistration: http://goo.gl/PDZDEy.

Updated 22 December 2015.

"ernie," digital image 175966 licensed CC0 public domain (https://pixabay.com/en/ : downloaded 14 November 2015).

Hamilton County Recorders Office

Dave Pittinger, Wayne Coates, and Jim Dempsey

Last Wednesday, ten lucky HCGS members got to spend the morning at the Hamilton County Recorders Office. Wayne Coates, Hamilton County Recorder, Dave Pittinger, Chief of Staff and Jim Dempsey provided an overview of the workings of the Hamilton County Recorders Office. This was followed up with a tour of the office and the many materials they hold.

Board Member-at-Large, Jim Dempsey, discussed the process he has used to digitize and preserve materials for the benefit of all of us. He, and two volunteers from the Latter Day Saints, are responsible for digitizing over two million records at a rate of more than 70,000 records a week. Hamilton County served as a template for record preservation, and their efforts are being duplicated in other Ohio counties.

In order to view some of the records that have been uploaded to familysearch.org, follow this link.
After signing in, search on records: United States, Ohio, Hamilton.

You can then browse through the images in the collection, including land and property, naturalization, vital records, military, and probate records. These collections are frequently updated, so you may want to look for additional records added to the collection.

If you were unable to attend either of these sessions and would like to be put on a waiting list, please send an email to Kathy Reed at programs@hcgsohio.org. Put "Recorders Office" in the subject line and asked to be notified should another opportunity occur.

Submitted by: Kathy Reed

Visits to the Recorders Office in 2015

Hamilton County Recorders Office

Have you always wondered about the records held by the Hamilton County Recorders Office? Maybe you know how the records could be beneficial to your genealogical search, but you've been a little reluctant to show up in an unfamiliar office populated by a lot of people who seem to already know what they are doing.

Have we got a deal for you! Many of you have participated in Liz Stratton's series on Finding Genealogical Gold in Land Records. We thought now would be the time to take that newly-found knowledge and apply it during a visit to the Hamilton County Recorders Office.

Kenny Burck and David Pittinger

Luckily for us, Recorder Wayne Coates and Chief of Staff Dave Pittinger thought it would be a great idea, too. They offered to schedule two dates for small groups of 10 to visit and learn first-hand about the wonderful resources available to us in their office. From 10:00 until noon on Wednesdays January 14th and 21st. Ten lucky members will meet in their Conference Room and get an overview of the office and the opportunity to search for their own records with Dave's help. (The programs on the 21st will be a repeat of the one on the 14th).

We gave priority registration to those who have been participating in the classes on Land Records and then opened it up to all members in the December Tracer. We currently have two spaces available on the 14th and three on the 21st. If you want to have your name added to the list, please email Kathy Reed, Program Director, at programs@hcgsohio.org. Should these classes fill up quickly, Dave has expressed a willingness to schedule additional dates. If these dates don't work for you, ask to be put on a "Waiting List."

The Recorders Office is located in the Hamilton County Administration Building a 138 Court Street. For a map and complete directions, click here. We hope to see you there.

 Submitted by Kathy Reed.

Sometimes the Stars Just Align!

Bill Graver and Liz Stratton

The Final Practicum of Searching Land Records for Genealogical Gold will be on Saturday, April 19th. Liz Stratton's topic will be an Introduction to Property Maps. Participants will use online resources to locate properties using online historic and contemporary maps. There will be a brief introduction to land platting.

At a recent Practicum, Liz was discussing how to use published sources to locate Hamilton County land records. She cited several sources authored by Bill Graver. At this point, one of the participants made Liz aware that Bill Graver was attending the lab! What a treat for us all. Bill, gracious as always, was thrilled to see that we were getting hands-on experience in the use of these materials.

Next Steps: Many of the images are now online. We have resources to understand them and many of us have learned the basics. Bill Graver's invaluable books available on our website (http://hcgsohio.org/forsale.php), see "Property Records, etc.":

Hamilton County, Ohio, Guide to Recorder's Indexes and Documents, 1794-1988

Hamilton County, Ohio, Index to Early Deed Books, 1804-1806 and 1814-1817

Hamilton County, Ohio, Index of People, Roads, Churches, etc., on 1835, 1847, 1848, 1869, 1884 Maps and Atlases
Cincinnati, Ohio, Index to Property Owners & Streets in 1895 and 1897 Atlases: River to Liberty, Freeman to Mt. Adams

Locating land records in Hamilton County using geographical indexes can be a complex process. In the future, Liz Stratton has agreed to create a video summarizing the steps. We look forward to offering more programs in the future related to this topic -- so stay tuned!

Submitted by Kathy Reed

Update on Land Practicums

Liz Stratton

I think anyone who attended Liz Stratton's presentation on "Surveying Land Records for Genealogical Gold" would agree that our eyes were opened to a whole new way to use land records. Due to the popularity of the talk, we had to add an extra lab to accommodate all who wanted to participate. Unfortunately, I listed the lab times incorrectly for Practicums 2-4. Here is the correct schedule:

Practicum #2 scheduled for March 29th will address the "Intricacies of Land Indexes." Discover different types of indexes and learn to identify land records likely to answer specific genealogical questions from the index alone. Strategies for overcoming index limitations will be explored.

The session scheduled for 1:00 PM, for those who were accepted initially and were not on the Waiting List. A second session has been added for those who were on the Waiting List. It will begin at 10:00 AM. This same schedule will be in affect for the April 5th and 19th dates.

Liz Stratton thinks that there may be a few available spots in the labs. There is no need to register, but should we run out of space, priority will be given to those who preregistered.
 
Practicum #3 scheduled for April 5th will discuss "Reading and Interpreting Deeds." Several deeds will be reviewed to familiarize participants with deed terminology and structure. Learn how to eliminate ‘boilerplate,’ and extract family relationships from deeds even when they are not directly stated.

Practicum #4 to be held on Saturday, April 19th is an "Introduction to Property Maps." This practicum begins with a brief introduction to the myriad ways to create or find property maps. Using the land description on deeds, participants will use online resources to locate a period map of the property or find it on Google Earth. 

We look forward to seeing you over the next few weeks.

REMINDER: If you are interested in hearing about Irish genealogy, go to this link and mark your calendar for 7:00 PM at the Symmes Branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. 

Photo Credit: John Tholking

Submitted by Kathy Reed

Presentation on Land Records and Practicum #1 Scheduled for Saturday, March 15th

We are trying to offer topics that have not been addressed in recent years. Thanks to the expertise of Liz Stratton, we are excited to offer sessions about the use of land records to enhance your genealogical research. Liz is passionate about this area and has participated in several classes related to this topic.

So I guess we shouldn't have been surprised at the response to this topic by our members. This Saturday at 11:00 AM on the Third Floor of the Main Library, Liz will do a presentation on "Surveying Land Records for Genealogical Gold." The discussion will not be limited to Hamilton Co. Land Records. This talk is open to everyone, and we encourage everyone to come. No registration is required.

This session will be followed by a Practicum Session in the Computer Lab located near the Genealogy and Local History Department. The first Practicum will address the topic:  "Who Owned Land and Where Are the Records?" Case studies will demonstrate how to identify likely land owners and how to locate property records on-line, on microfilm or in person. Due to the space limitations, the 1:00 PM session filled quickly. Thanks to the generosity of Liz Stratton, we worked with librarian Chris Smith to add an additional session beginning at 3:00 PM. Twelve people on the waiting list were informed by email of this additional session. There are a few remaining spots. If you are still interested, come on Saturday and we'll hope for the best.

Practicum #2 scheduled for March 29th will address the "Intricacies of Land Indexes." Discover different types of indexes and learn to identify land records likely to answer specific genealogical questions from the index alone. Strategies for overcoming index limitations will be explored.

The first session, scheduled for 1:00 PM, is full. An additional session has been added that will begin at 10:00 AM. Those on the Waiting List will be notified by email that they have been accepted and can arrive at 1:00. There are a few additional spaces available. 

Practicum #3 scheduled for April 5th will discuss "Reading and Interpreting Deeds." Several deeds will be reviewed to familiarize participants with deed terminology and structure. Learn how to eliminate ‘boilerplate,’ and extract family relationships from deeds even when they are not directly stated.

Again, the first session, scheduled for 1:00 AM, is full. An additional session has been added that will begin at 10:00 AM. Those on the Waiting List will be notified by email that they have been accepted and can arrive at 1:00. There are a few additional spaces available. 

Practicum #4 to be held on Saturday, April 19th is an "Introduction to Property Maps." This practicum begins with a brief introduction to the myriad ways to create or find property maps. Using the land description on deeds, participants will use online resources to locate a period map of the property or find it on Google Earth. 

The first session, scheduled for 1:00 PM, is full. An additional session has been added that will begin at 10:00 AM. Those on the Waiting List will be notified by email that they have been accepted and can arrive at 1:00. There are a few additional spaces available. 

Participants must attend the initial presentation on Saturday the 15th at 11:00 AM. The lab experiences stand alone by topic, and those who preregistered were able to pick and choose from among them.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Kathy Reed at khreed@cinci.rr.com. We appreciate being able to collaborate with the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Hope to see you Saturday.

Submitted by:  Kathy Reed

Family History Day 2012

Last Saturday, October 6th, was Family History Day at the Main Library. This annual event is always a hit with local genealogists and provides "one-stop shopping" for members of the public who have an interest in family history.

Liz Stratton

Since 2012 is part of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War (1861-65), the theme for this year's talks was the Civil War.  HCGS Board Member, Liz Stratton, discussed "Researching Your Civil War Ancestor Online." Included were online sources and strategies for Civil War genealogy research, along with additional historical, photographic and military resources available online.  Liz's talk went way beyond "order your ancestor's Civil War pension file."  I don't think a person in attendance walked away without additional resources for their research arsenal.

The second part of the day provided patrons with the opportunity to "Ask the Experts." Representatives from a variety of area organizations were available to answer individual questions and share their expertise on a variety of topics.

Ask the Experts

The final speaker of the day was Mike Rhein representing the Cincinnati Civil War Roundtable. He discussed William Haines Lytle, Cincinnati's legendary military officer, Congressman and poet. As I had a gg-grandfather who served under William Lytle, I very much looked forward to hearing about this exceptionally brave leader who never shirked his responsibility to those he led. Lytle, who had been previously injured in battle in what is now West Virginia, was fatally shot at the Battle of Chicamauga. Soldiers from both the north and the south paid tribute to Lytle following his death, reciting his poetry around their campfires and preserving his body for its return to Cincinnati.  

Anyone familiar with Spring Grove Cemetery is undoubtedly aware of the monument marking the grave of this proud Cincinnatian. One of the panels on the memorial displays Col. Lytle leading his men in that final battle.

We Cincinnatians have a proud heritage. Thanks to the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County for helping us get in touch with our roots by bringing in experts on all aspects of our history.  I look forward to next year.

Submitted by: Kathy Reed

Why Google+ Could Be a Boon for Genealogists

Patricia Van Skaik
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton Co.
AKA DigiGenie

A few weeks ago my nephew invited me to sign up for google+.  Google+ is the new social media application that is part of the google product line.  Although still under development and testing, more than 25 million "early adopters" have already signed on.

Many genealogists/bloggers immediately recognized it's ease of use and set about inviting members of the genealogy community to join their "circles."  As a member of the facebook community, I know that my genealogy friends may not find it interesting to read about how the potty training is going with my grandson.  On the other hand, other "friends" may be bored to tears with my latest genealogical breakthrough.  The "circles" feature in google+ enables you to easily separate all of your contacts into different groups.  Contacts can be placed in one circle (i.e. family), or more than one circle (i.e.family, bloggers, etc.)  You are free to set up as many circles as you want and identify them with any tag that is meaningful to you. When it comes time to post a comment in your "stream" you can easily choose what circles or individuals you want to be able to see that post.

A second feature that I find particularly appealing is one called "hangout."  It is similar to using skype.  You click on the "hangout" function and you can have an online conversation with up to 10 people.  You can decide if you want to use video, audio, text, or any combination.  While in hangout mode, the person doing the speaking is in the center of the display with the other participants displayed below the speaker.  The software will try to identify the speaker and switch to the speaker accordingly.  You just have to be willing to play with it.

To that end, Pat Van Skaik, Liz Stratton and I met at the library to try out the technology with each other.  We had a great time placing each other in circles, posting messages and using the hangout function while sitting in the same room.  Pat, in her role as DigiGenie is in the process of writing an article about how google+ could work for the genealogy community.  We'll post a link to her article after it is published.

So if you want to play, email me at khreed@cinci.rr.com.  I'll put you in one of my circles and send you an invitation to google+.  We can hangout together.  I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

For a better understanding of google+ and its features, go to this link:  http://www.google.com/support/+/