Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 5

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 1

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 2

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 3

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 4

During our Oklahoma family history road trip, we visited the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur. By coincidence, the day we decided to visit was their one-year anniversary and they were having a party with food, movies, giveaways and $1 admissions.

There were lots of people there, but you can't even tell from these pictures. The grounds were laid out nicely so that we weren't all up in each others visits.

While I was there, I stopped by the Holisso Research Center on the grounds and met with the head librarian. We had exchanged emails in the past, so it was nice to see her in person. The library and archives are amazing. There are special collections and staff to assist you in finding historical items. The online library catalog is being built and items are still being moved from the old location and/or being cataloged. Once everything is done, this will be an amazing research space.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center is a first-rate destination for families. I was pleased to share this experience with my son so he could see what it means to be a Chickasaw Citizen.

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 6

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 4

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 1 here

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 2 here 

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 3 here

One of the rules for our family history road trip is that we stopped when we saw a train coming. Then my son would get out and take some pictures for his railroad crossing blog.

This is a good thing because it allows me to get pictures like this:

...and I get to see nifty towns like this:

The official greeter in Davis, Oklahoma

Later in the day, we passed over a railroad crossing and my son said, "OH MY GOD THAT'S A RARE BELL!"

He said it's called a teardrop bell and there aren't many around anymore. I'll take his word for it. He knows his stuff.

We spent a lot of time chasing trains and waiting for trains on this road trip, but then again that's a big part of my own family's history.

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 5 here

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 3

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 1 here

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 2 here

Thanks to some genealogy kindness, we were granted an invitation to visit the current owner of the house my great-grandfather had built for his family.

The owner came out to greet us and we had a long conversation on the porch. She later admitted she was feeling us out before she decided whether or not she should let us in the house. Smart lady. We passed the test!

My dad and a friend of the house's current owner. 

This lady is doing some of the restoration work.

The house is undergoing restoration at a slow pace. The owner gets work done when she can afford to, thus it is in a perpetual cycle of construction inside. 

Here is some of the restoration work already completed:

This is the fireplace in my grandma's room. I know it was her room because I often heard about this fireplace in her room. It is the only bedroom with a fireplace.

Here is the driveway to the house. 

At the height of his medical career, my great-grandfather made his calls in a horse and buggy. I wondered if this driveway was the place he parked it, and how much he had to come and go through the years. Later on, the family purchased a Model A. When the doctor wasn't using it, his boys did. I sat at this point for a minute and tried to imagine the daily life of this family.

The picture above is one of my favorites. That's my dad, touching the house and staring off to the left. He did this a lot during our visit. The whole "let's go see your mom's childhood home" thing happened unexpectedly and quickly. He really enjoyed this visit, spending a lot of time shaking his head in disbelief that he was actually in his mother's childhood home. This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.


Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 4

.

Listen to GeneaBloggers Radio Tonight

As promised, here are the instructions for tuning in to GeneaBloggers Radio tonight. Apparently I'm the last guest after Ian Kath and Zach Weiner.

The topic is personal history. I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I think documenting and preserving your own history is just as important as doing the same for your ancestors.

If you can't make it to the live show tonight, that's ok. It will be recorded and you'll be able to listen to it later. Look for the link here, dated July 29, 2011.
.
.

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 2

Read Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 1 here.

On day 2 of our Oklahoma family history road trip, we drove through Velma on our way to Duncan. The town of Velma has a detailed history online. If you read the whole thing, just know that Frank Jones is my great-great grandfather. His future father-in-law, Christopher Colbert is my third-great grandfather.

My grandmother's middle name is Velma and I don't think it is a coincidence. Maybe her mother knew the Velma for whom the town was named.

After Velma, we headed on to Duncan, Oklahoma. My grandma was born here in 1914 and spoke of it often. Last time I was there, it was during freezing January temperatures. This time it was 100+ degrees and in the middle of an exceptional drought.

I spent some time in the Stephens County Genealogical Society Library. They were very helpful before and during my visit, assisting me in what to bring and what to view when I arrived. They are located at 301 North Eighth Street in Duncan, Oklahoma, 73533. 580-255-8718 or scgs_library@yahoo.com

They have a large collection of the Duncan Banner newspaper on microfilm. I viewed some 1936-1937 issues, hoping they would verify that my grandmother wrote the society column during that time. Unfortunately, the column was not credited, though everything else seemed to be. I have proof she worked for the paper and her wedding announcement mentions the society work. I guess I'll just have to be happy with that, though I did hope to see her name in print.

I did have success in the obituary category. I found announcements in the Duncan Banner for Nancy Bourland Colbert (my third-great grandmother) in 1912, my great-great grandmother Carrie Colbert Jones in 1958, and two of her daughters, as well as others in my family tree.

While we were at the genealogy library, my dad struck up a conversation with Super Volunteer Sandy. He talked about his grandfather, Dr. Sam Williamson who was a prominent physician back in the day and lived right around the corner from the library until the 1930's. Sandy mentioned the current owner of the house and offered to call her. She did and the owner of the house where my grandmother grew up invited us over to visit.

This is why the pursuit of your family history is awesome.

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 3

Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 1

Last week, I went to Oklahoma with my son and parents. We wanted to visit some Chickasaw sites, do a little genealogy and just have a road trip.

Ardmore was our home base and we set out each morning from there. On the first day, we went to Ada to handle some business with the Chickasaw Nation. This isn't as cryptic as it sounds. My dad needed new glasses and he gets them from the Nation. We went to the eye doctor and the pharmacy.

On the trip there, we paused to consult a map. This guy was no help:

Since this was a family trip, each member of the family had distinct activities they wanted to accomplish along the way. Longtime readers of this blog will not be surprised that my son wanted to photograph train crossings:

On the way back to our hotel, we drove through the Chickasaw National Recreation Area bordering Sulphur. It was a lovely place, but the 100+ temperature didn't make exploration very appealing. We did see some of the park residents, though:

On to Oklahoma Road Trip, Part 2 here.

Join Me on GeneaBloggers Radio, July 29

On Friday, July 29, I will be a guest on GeneaBloggers Radio. The episode is titled, "Your Story Matters - Capturing Your Personal Family History." Also on the show will be Ian Kath of Create Your Life Story and Zach Weiner of Storytree.me. I will be discussing my 52 Weeks of Personal History and Genealogy series that runs weekly at GeneaBloggers.com.

Information on the episode, the other guests can be found here.

Save the date! Soon I will post information on how to listen live, join chat and call in to the show.

If you have plans that night, no worries. You'll be able to listen to the show on demand at a later date.
.
.

2011 FGS Conference Luncheons

Let's talk meal tickets.

If you're going to the 2011 FGS conference coming up in Springfield, you may want to consider one or more luncheons. Several groups host or sponsor lunches at the conference, and for many of them you don't have to be a member of the group to attend.

Here are some of the details for luncheons:

Wednesday Luncheon with speaker Ransom Love

Thursday Luncheons and Speakers (there are 4!)

Friday Luncheons and Speakers (there are 4!)

Saturday Luncheons and Speakers (there are 4!)

Don't be afraid to attend a luncheon alone. I have never had a bad experience and often meet wonderful people. Once I sat next to the president of a state genealogical society. We talked throughout the luncheon and she gave me wonderful research and archives advice for her state.

You can purchase tickets for these luncheons through the FGS conference registration site.


[Disclosure: Speaking of meal tickets, this is mine as an Official Blogger for FGS2011. They paid for my conference registration, but I have to buy my own lunches.]

Wordless Wednesday: Jackson Square Edition

.

.

Legacy Family Tree Prize Package: We Have a Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my Legacy Family Tree prize package drawing.

I am pleased to announce that the winner is Ginger Smith, author of the Genealogy by Ginger blog.

Enjoy, Ginger! And everyone else, thanks again for supporting this blog. Look for more giveaways in the future!
.
.

SNGF - My Genealogy Pie Chart

I'm a day late with Randy Seaver's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun, but I thought I'd play along anyway.

Our task is to make a pie chart with the birthplaces of our 16 great-great grandparents.

Here's mine:

Two of my great-great grandparents who were born in the United States have German-born parents, and the other has German-speaking parents born in Luxembourg. If family origins were factored in, Germany would be my biggest piece of the pie.

I reconfigured this pie chart to include specific birthplaces within the United States.

It looks like this:

It's my Wisconsin and Minnesota born great-great grandparents that are from Germany and Luxembourg. Makes sense. 

Special thanks to Randy Seaver for the topic, and Kid Zone for the handy chart tool.

FGS 2011 Conference Social Media Policies

The Federation of Genealogical Societies has published their social media policy and photography policy for their September 7-10, 2011 conference in Springfield, Illinois.

FGS 2011 Conference Social Media Policy

FGS 2011 Conference Photography Policy

From an Official Blogger standpoint, I appreciate the existence of these policies and the fact that they are published well before the conference. These statements give me wide parameters to share information from the conference with those at home. At the same time, these policies respect the copyright of speakers and those providing content in sessions.

From a conference attendee standpoint, I appreciate that FGS is forward thinking enough to prepare these policies and make them available now. I know not everyone uses social media for learning / communicating / networking, but I do and I gravitate toward genealogy events that do as well.

The photography policy doesn't fall on me...at least I don't think it does. I intend to take photos as I always do, seeking permission when I feel it is necessary and utilizing larger anonymous crowd photos when possible. I don't plan on taking photos in sessions, so FGS and I are square there.

FGS publishes these policies and other news on their FGS Conference Blog. Read it for the latest updates. The social media and photography policies will be available in the conference handouts as well.


[Disclosure: I am an Official Blogger for the 2011 FGS Conference. They paid my registration, but didn't tell me what to write. I share conference information for the benefit of those who might have an interest in it.]
.
.

Not a Wordless Wednesday: Through the Eyes of Babes

Long time readers of this blog know about my son's love and encyclopedic knowledge of railroad crossings and signals. Any family history trip we take together involves some train watching time as well.

We spent some time in New Orleans during our vacation last month. My son didn't have his camera, so I loaned him my phone when a train crossed our path.

These are some of the photos he took. It's fun to see these often ignored trains and signals through the eyes of someone who loves them so much.

My son has a couple of self-published train blogs and he welcomes new readers. Email me privately if you'd like to check them out.

He also has a birthday this month and he reads my blog.
Happy birthday, dude.
.
.

Win a Legacy Family Tree Prize Package!

Good news! I cleaned out my genealogy closet again. Better news! It's giveaway time!

That's right. And it's a heck of a prize:

Legacy Family Tree Prize Package:

1 copy Legacy Family Tree 7.4 software*

1 copy Legacy 7.0 Family Tree instructional book

1 copy Learn Legacy Video Training CD, volume 1

1 copy Learn Legacy Video Training CD, volume 2

I told you it was an awesome prize! Want it to be yours? Here's the drill:

Send an email to [redacted. Contest over.] with "Legacy Family Tree" in the subject line. Entries will be received until Monday July 18, 2011 at 11:59PM Central time. All entries will be numbered in the order in which they were received. U.S. entries only please (or provide a US mailing address). On July 19, I will draw a random number and announce a winner.

Bloggers, Facebookers, Tweeps, Google Plussers and others, please let your fans know about this drawing.

Good luck!

Notes:

* The software is Legacy 7.4. The Legacy website provides a free upgrade to 7.5.

Genealogy News Bits for July 11

Here are some recent news tidbits from around the genea-sphere that may be of interest to you:

The National Genealogical Society launched their 2012 NGS conference blog. The fun happens May-9-12, 2012, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Follow their blog for news and updates.

Relative Roots announced their July webinars. The one on July 12 is free, so hurry up and get registered.

Randy Majors stopped by my blog to share two research tools he developed for genealogical research. Check out Historical County Boundary Maps and Ancestor Search. The latter utilizes Google Custom Search, which might be of interest to creative researchers out there.

That's it for now. Go forth and be awesome.

.

.

RootsMagic to Sponsor FGS 2011 Cyber Café

Are you reading the Federation of Genealogical Societies conference blog? If not, you're missing lots of helpful information and exciting plans for the upcoming FGS conference in Springfield, Ill.

This past weekend, big news was announced that there will be a Cyber Café on the exhibit floor. No, it's not a place to eat. Rather, it's a handy spot to check email, recharge electronics, use printers, rest your tired feet and more.


All this is available through FGS and the sponsorship of RootsMagic.

I am always amazed and grateful for the support RootsMagic gives to genealogy events, attendees and bloggers. 

If you are joining me at the FGS conference this summer, be sure to check out the Cyber Café. And on your way there, stop by the RootsMagic booth and say thank you to the staff for their generous sponsorship of this event.

[Disclosure: I am an Official Blogger for the 2011 FGS Conference. More details on my Disclosures page.]

SNGF: My Elevator Speech

'Tis a rare weekend when I am home and available to participate in Randy Seaver's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun series. Today those planets aligned!

This week's topic is to write your blog's elevator speech. Here is mine:

The We Tree Genealogy Blog chronicles my adventures in family history and (hopefully) inspires others do to the same. Knowing your past gives you humbled balance in the present and shapes your path in the future. If you think genealogy is boring, then you're doing it wrong. That is my sermon and this blog is my megaphone. 


Sound preachy? Good. It's supposed to. Welcome to my genealogical tent revival.
.
.

If Genealogists Ran Hollywood

What if family history influenced the movie industry? What kind of flicks would we see? Here’s a glimpse of what might be coming to a theater near you if genealogists ran Hollywood:

Coroner's Injunction: The Musical

Sherman County Morgue is a cold place by day, but at night its files come alive in this film based on the Broadway smash. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll never look at toxicology the same again. Features the hit songs “Does This Enlarged Spleen Make Me Look Fat?” and “All Five of My Wives Died of Natural Causes.”

Collapsed Pedigree: The Miley Cyrus Story

This indie documentary takes a hard look at the Cyrus family to learn who in their right mind would let a teenager, smoke, drink, get ugly tattoos and put out that gawdawful music. Finally, genealogists are going to get the answers to what society can’t explain.

The Best Little Courthouse in Texas

A crooked sheriff elects his newest bride as county clerk, lowering access to records and raising tempers in Pecan Knob, Texas. Dolly Parton stars as a spitfire small-town citizen who won't take NO for an answer when she wants her grandparents’ marriage certificate. You’ll be saying YES to this All-American comedy about truth, justice, and bound county record books.

My Big Fat Greek Ahnentafel

The Anastasidopolousinidesitis storied ancestral history has more layers than Auntie Ophelia’s falafel recipe. Mateo stumbles on his grandmother’s real birthdate--as well as her previously undiscovered brief first marriage--and shakes his family tree to the core. Will he suffer the wrath of the angry Greek matriarch? Hold on to your pedigree charts in this heartfelt drama.

Arbor Day

Think Halloween is the scariest day of the year? Think again. College co-ed Perry Pedigree thinks she has it all with a fabulous family tree. That all changes on Arbor Day when she discovers her great-great grandfather is one of 20 John Smiths living in the same town at the same time. Watch in horror as she stumbles through Smith wills, land records and censuses in her own personal John Smith hell in ARBOR DAY! 

Now in 3-D!

7 Sources for 7 Marriage Records of 7 Brides for 7 Brothers

Seven brothers get married in 1860 and leave a gold mine of records. 150 years later, their descendants go to battle over the proper way to cite their documents. This contemporary dramedy chronicles the inane citation arguments and figurative beating of dead horses among a cast of characters who have forgotten the true purpose of family history. Since this issue is a constant source of debate, look for a sequel every year, a Lifetime movie and dual reality series on competing networks.

Genealogy Conference: The Movie
From the people who watched Animal House comes Genealogy Conference. The family historians are in town for a tame and serene annual meeting. However when the sun goes down, the party heats up in the summer's wildest ancestry-based blockbuster film. You'll laugh, you'll cry (tears of laughter) and you'll laugh again, but you won't believe your eyes. What happens at Genealogy Conference stays at Genealogy Conference.

Cut. Print. And that’s a wrap, folks.




[Looking for some extra copy for your genealogy society newsletter? This piece is available for republication. Contact me for details.  
--Amy]
.
.

2011 RIGS Alliance Workshop in Fort Worth

FYI. I thought some of my TX/OK/AR readers might be interested in this:  [--Amy]

Jasper, Georgia (3 July 2011)—The Regional In-depth Genealogical Studies Alliance (RIGS Alliance) will present a week-long workshop at the National Archives at Fort Worth, Texas (26-30 September 2011).

RIGS Alliance workshops are designed for genealogists, historians, and librarians with a general genealogical or historical grounding who want to learn skills and techniques for researching original records at national and regional archives. To ensure a quality experience, enrollment is limited to eighteen participants. Although the workshops focus on records within the region, many of the record types are available at other NARA regional facilities.

Activities are based on an integrated curriculum with an emphasis on methodology and problem-solving skills. Attendees work in teams to complete assigned projects and to build confidence in research proficiency. All workshops provide an opportunity for on-site research.

Workshop staff includes J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA; and Linda Woodward Geiger, CG, CGL, co-directors of RIGS Alliance, with assistance of the expert staff members at the National Archives at Fort Worth.

Strike now! Early Registrations (save $100) must be received by August 15th.

For details about the RIGS Alliance workshops, visit the web site at www.rigsalliance.org. Questions may be addressed to info@rigsalliance.org.
.
.

Number 3

The We Tree Genealogy Blog is three years old today!

My third birthday.

I started this blog so I could talk about genealogy, even when no one wanted to hear me talk about genealogy. That happened.

I started this blog hoping that distant cousins would connect with me and provide answers to our common family history. That happened.

What I didn't expect was to meet so many wonderful friends, gracious readers and fellow bloggers along the way, many of whom are like family now. That happened.

So thanks for three great years. I plan on many more to come.
.
.

Fun with Search Terms

It's time for another round of "Fun with Search Terms!" People type certain words or phrases into search engines. If the combination is right, my blog turns up in the search results. Sometimes the searches are funny. Sometimes I can provide more information to users, if only they'd comment on my blog. Either way, I enjoy the process. Please note that these searches are anonymous so I don't know who is stumbling on my blog. I just comment in the hope that they find it again.

Now on with the show. Actual search phrases are in bold.

2011 genealogy jamboree blogging gang

How did you find out? I thought it was a secret. Don't tell anyone, ok? Here is the list.

This is one bad-ass gang.

Photo courtesy of Gini Webb

Asmus Christian Schmit

I would love to talk to the person that found my blog with this search phrase. Asmus is an integral name in my family tree, and one of the biggest mysteries. I know he was a wagon maker in Las Vegas, New Mexico. I know my great-great grandmother named Schmidt up and went from Chicago to Las Vegas when she was widowed. How many Schmits would be in 1890 Las Vegas, New Mexico? There has to be some connection. Hey you that found my blog...help me make that connection.

nolen fuqua obituary

I may have this item in my hands in a few short weeks as I am heading up to Oklahoma, but unless you contact me then NO OBITUARY FOR YOU!

why sell at genealogy conferences

Because people BUY at genealogy conferences. I'd be happy to share my views as a customer and conference attendee if you want.

houston central public library/texas genealogy

Ok, follow me here:

1. The Houston Public Library is a system of smaller libraries, plus a Central Branch. 

2. The Central Branch is downtown, and the smaller branches are scattered throughout town.

3. The Central Branch has newspaper obituaries, but not much genealogy stuff.

4. The Clayton Library is a 100% genealogy branch of the Houston Public Library.

5. The Houston Metropolitan Research Center is part of the HPL and it has a "Texas Room."

Depending on your research needs, any of these places *might* be able to help. If you have specific questions, contact me and I will point you in the right direction to the building that's the best fit.

I heard the news today congratulations

Thanks! Wait, what?

Thanks for playing. See you next time!

.

.