Johnson County Genealogical Society and Library, Inc.
Preserving KANSAS genealogy and its rich history at the crossroads of the Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails.
May 25 General Meeting
Order in the Court: Finding Your Family
in Federal Court Records
Jake Ersland, Archivist NARA
Since the ratification of the Constitution, federal courts have existed in every state and all organized territories to enforce federal law. In the process, the courts have created an enormous quantity of records documenting actions of individuals from all walks of life and varying degrees of notoriety. As a result, these records can contain a wealth of overlooked resources for genealogy research. Whether an ancestor struggled with the times and had to file for bankruptcy, was wronged and filed a civil suit or got caught up in a wave of crime, the records of the United States Courts can hold details a genealogist could not find elsewhere.
Know Your Records!
We have a new link on our LINKS page! It is listed under NATIONAL.
The National Archives has several videos on You Tube that will fill you in on available records. Go check out Know Your Records
There are 16 videos that make up about 10 hours of genealogical tips on research at NARA. Some of the titles:
A new database has been added to the Johnson County Library genealogy webpage. Genealogy Connect is a new resource added by the State Library of Kansas. This database offers nearly 600 searchable publications at this time with more to come in the future. At the library it is found on the page with the other databases.
You will also be able to access this website from home just as you do with Heritage Quest where you will be asked to enter your card and pin number for access. This new database is only available to libraries and not to individuals and there is no charge since you access it through the library website in the library or at home. This database is composed of books published by Genealogical.com (Genealogical Publishing Company and Clearfield Company) and is primarily a reference book collection.
Debby Williamson has provided us with another update on the Salem Lutheran Church project. The list of baptisms was published in the March 2013 Quarterly and now - we will publish the confirmations in the June Quarterly.
Bill Hawkins put Debby in contact with the church's historian, Terry Love, and he provided a number of photos of the church as well as an article about the church that he wrote in 2011. In each of the four issues of the 2013 Quarterly one of the photos will appear along with a portion of Terry's article.
JCGS says thanks again to Debby.
Americans By Choice
There is an interesting exhibit down at the Dole Federal Courthouse in Kansas City, KS. Americans by Choice: The Story of Immigration & Citizenship in Kansas is on display on the 6th floor and there are traveling versions of it as well. View the Federal Court House webpage here. There is a documentary video that you may watch, find locations of the exhibit, find visitors information and the hours of operation. You can even schedule a group tour.
The new permanent exhibit at the Robert J. Dole Courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas has ten large multi-dimensional graphic panels with maps, photographs, documents, text and quotes which convey the personal struggles, sacrifices and accomplishments along the path to U.S. citizenship for those Kansans.
The exhibit was commissioned by the United States District Court for the District of Kansas in 2011 in conjunction with its 150th anniversary and to commemorate its role in the naturalization process. The Kansas federal court hosts more than 20 such ceremonies throughout the district each year where an average of 2,400 petitioners become naturalized U.S. Citizens.
Concerns About Losing Access to SSDI
UPDATE: Congress is taking action on this this week. Read this article from The Legal Genealogist and communicate with your members of Congress!
There are some who are wanting to do away with public access to the SSDI. If you are not aware of this please read up and inform your legislators about where you stand on this issue. Up Off Our DuffsLosing Ground SSDI
In Memoriam
It was brought to the attention of the board that Don Lee Atchison passed away on April 15. Don was a long time member of JCGS and was treasurer for eight years.
2013-2015 JCGS Board
JCGS members voted in the new board members at the monthly meeting November 24.
l.to r: Bill Hawkins, Treasurer, Elaine Strouse, Corresponding Secretary, Valerie Eichler Lair, 2nd VP, Cathy Lawrenz, 1st VP, Char Mitts, President, Christina Fox, Recording Secretary. Not pictured: Carol Kuse, Librarian.
Georgia Gov Seeks to Close State Archive
Sign the petition to keep the Georgia State Archives OPEN!
JCGS Volunteer Coordinator Barbara Brown received the Shankel Award for Distinguished Service from the Friends of the Library at the Library’s volunteer recognition event on April 19. Barbara has been volunteering for the library for more than 20 years and has lent her interest and expertise in genealogy to the Library. She eagerly assists library patrons in their family searches and their quest for information. And, she is the “go-to person” for other genealogy volunteers who may be stumped and need some help. She is a mighty advocate for the genealogy department and she works hard to provide the highest level of service to the patrons. Way to go Barbara!
JCGS Member Discount
The Johnson County Genealogical Society is always looking for ways to provide value to our members. We are pleased to announce that we have worked on a special offer with Fold3, the premier history website featuring over 94 million records. Sign in on the Members tab to find out more. When you sign in look in the menu on the left for the Fold3 offer. This offer extends to new subscribers and to current subscribers--you can get the the discount on a renewal as well. Sweet!
From the Kansas State Historical Society
In January, The Kansas Historical Society announced a partnership with Ancestry.com that will allow individuals with a valid Kansas driver’s license free access to more than 8 million Kansas records on the popular family history website. Users can access Kansas State Census Records from 1865-1925 (years ending in “5”), Civil War Enlistment Papers of Kansas Volunteer Regiments (1862, 1863, 1868), Russell County Vital and Probate Records, selected World War I manuscripts, and the United Spanish-American War Veterans certificates collections.
Users visit kshs.org/ancestry and enter their name, date of birth, and Kansas driver’s license number. The number is authenticated, and the user is directed to ancestry.com.
“This partnership allows genealogists, historians, and other researchers access to records with genealogical information otherwise only available when visiting the State Archives in Topeka,” said Pat Michaelis, State Archives director. “Our thanks to the Kansas Department of Revenue for its assistance with the driver’s license validation process that makes this partnership possible.”
John Forbes, JCGS member, and a volunteer at the Shawnee Indian Mission Museum, recently brought this to my attention. I am excited to promote this resource to the JCGS membership! Susan Nelson, President, JCGS
Like us on Facebook!
Upcoming Events
Finding Your Family in Federal Court Records
Saturday, May. 25th
10:00 am to 11:15 am
9875 W. 87th St. Overland Park, KS
Kansas City Area Legacy Users Group
Saturday, Jun. 1st
9:00 am to 11:00 am
Olathe Family History Center 15915 W. 143rd St. Olathe, KS
RootsMagic
Saturday, Jun. 1st
10:00 am
Carmack Room, Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St. OP, KS
Did you know?
New Links under NATIONAL on the Links page!!
STATE Vital Statistics Websites
Billion Graves
Find-A-Grave
Homestead National Monument of America
The Midwest Genealogical Library has pdf forms that you can download and fill in on your computer. Most of the forms that you find out there are just downloadable forms that you print out and write on. Go look under RESOURCES on our LINKS page.
Ever want to know what $1,000 in 1860 is worth today? Go check out MEASURING WORTH under RESOURCES on our LINKS page.
On the EVENTS and LINKS pages you can easily sort the listings. At the top of each page is a drop down box. Open the box and you will find the categories from which to choose! You can find what you are looking for quickly.
You may contact us at any time for help with the new site.
info@jcgsks.org
JCGS web team
Debby Williamson has provided us with another update on the Salem Lutheran Church project. The list of baptisms was published in the March 2013 Quarterly and now - we will publish the confirmations in the June Quarterly.
