Happy Monday! It was a great weekend! We spent this past Friday & Saturday at the Michigan State Archives enjoying their summer two day conference.
As always there were many great speakers to enjoy, covering a wide range of topics.
I spent some time on Friday at the Michigan State Library gathering some newspaper items off microfilm from their great newspaper collection.
The lock-in on Friday was a first for the Archives, but we had a full house and the staff was awesome! We did manage to get a prison record for one person in our data base who we knew did some time in the "big house"! Great seeing the alias' that he used as well as confirming what family lore had said.
Ended the two day trip late Saturday afternoon with dinner out with some good friends. All in all a very productive two days!
How was your weekend?
Showing posts with label Library of Michigan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Library of Michigan. Show all posts
15 July 2013
15 September 2011
Travel Thursday - Michigan's Upper Peninsula (2005)
As Michigan starts to see signs that summer is drawing to a close and fall is making its presence known, I always enjoy taking a drive with Mr. Brown eyes just to see some fall creeping in. These images are from a trip we took with a busload of friends to Michigan's upper peninsula for some fall color fun! Hope you enjoy the photo's.
02 March 2011
Use It Or Loose It
This past weekend I had the opportunity to spend some time with a very dear friend, who just happens to be a librarian at the state library here in Michigan.
She asked if I had any idea why no one is using the library? I was surprisd to hear from her that there are days when only one or two people show up the entire day to use the state library.
Wasn't it just last spring when everyone was writing letters & showing up in masses to fight for the library staying open? Wasn't everyone up in arms at the idea that the state library might close? We NEED this collection, We NEED this library to stay open, we use this library. Isn't that what everyone was saying?
So where is everyone now? How about you? When was the last time YOU visited the state library in Lansing? The collection that we fought so hard for is there - waiting! It didn't get moved or closed, its just sitting there right where you wanted it. Yeah the hours changed a bit, no more weekends, but... is that really enough to keep you away? Although I don't get there every week, I do try to get there as much as I can, so really I guess I'm as guilty as the rest.
If we genealogists don't make the effort to go there and use the facilities avaialble then we have no excuse for complaining when someone says, "hey, no one is using the building, lets shut it down"... something about that old saying, Use it or loose it?
Think about it!
23 February 2010
Seeking Michigan Anyone??
On Friday the almighty Gov of our state announced that the State library aka the Library of Michigan will be disbanded. I figured I better check my data base & see exactly who I have that died in Michigan. The library has put up some vital records on its website SeekingMichigan.org - primarily of interest to genealogist are the scanned death certificates from 1897 - 1920. Who knows if those will go away when the library is disbanded?
So I spent yesterday going thru my list of 249 persons who died in Michigan. Out of those 14 that I knew died in the time frame for me to search the Michigan death certificate data base. I found 15, one a child that I didn't know about only because I searched using just the parents names trying to find an older sibling that had died.
Out of the 249, there are 27 I need obituaries for. Those I hope to get before the library closes supposedly around the end of September. The remaining ones I either have the obituaries for or I've searched and they haven't been found. I'm going to do a bit more digging around on SeekingMichigan.org today - see if I can locate any other "unknown" siblings.
For those of you who are not familiar with the website, when you go to SeekingMichigan.org use the SEEK box and make sure the "document" box is checked. You could use the advanced search at the bottom, but make sure you double click the Deaths 1897-1920 group.
My cousins, Carol & Anne have both voiced their thoughts on this closing - Anne's blog today can be viewed here. Carol's thoughts were posted on her blog this weekend. I wholeheartdly agree with both of their sentiments. Two different attitudes reflected in the blogs but both say it so well. Being the WO she is, Anne's blog is right on the money!
Its a sad day when sports teams & special interests groups take presidence over libraries & arts. Its no wonder our kids can't read & write and the US is no longer a top contender in anything that requires the use of their minds! WAKE UP MICHIGAN!
Happy Researching!
Karen
So I spent yesterday going thru my list of 249 persons who died in Michigan. Out of those 14 that I knew died in the time frame for me to search the Michigan death certificate data base. I found 15, one a child that I didn't know about only because I searched using just the parents names trying to find an older sibling that had died.
Out of the 249, there are 27 I need obituaries for. Those I hope to get before the library closes supposedly around the end of September. The remaining ones I either have the obituaries for or I've searched and they haven't been found. I'm going to do a bit more digging around on SeekingMichigan.org today - see if I can locate any other "unknown" siblings.
For those of you who are not familiar with the website, when you go to SeekingMichigan.org use the SEEK box and make sure the "document" box is checked. You could use the advanced search at the bottom, but make sure you double click the Deaths 1897-1920 group.
My cousins, Carol & Anne have both voiced their thoughts on this closing - Anne's blog today can be viewed here. Carol's thoughts were posted on her blog this weekend. I wholeheartdly agree with both of their sentiments. Two different attitudes reflected in the blogs but both say it so well. Being the WO she is, Anne's blog is right on the money!
Its a sad day when sports teams & special interests groups take presidence over libraries & arts. Its no wonder our kids can't read & write and the US is no longer a top contender in anything that requires the use of their minds! WAKE UP MICHIGAN!
Happy Researching!
Karen
22 July 2009
Hands Around The Library
Those of you who follow this blog or do any reading on the internet I'm sure have come across the plight of the Library of Michigan. The Gov. of the state of Michigan has decided that having a state library is not one of her priorities and wishes to remove it in order to save money.
This morning the Michigan Genealogical Council issued the following letter. I share it here with you so that those of you who follow this blog and live within the state can perhaps take the time out and go and join in this worthwhile effort to try & save the library and all the great resources found there.
Please use the contact information listed at the end of the note if you have questions!
******************
Fellow Michigan genealogists and library supporters - Now is the time for Michiganians to come to the aid of our state's history and learning.Your Michigan Genealogical Council is planning a public assembly in Lansing to show our legislators and fellow citizens that we care about our state's past.On Wednesday the 5th of August, let's assemble at the State Capitol, on the lawn. We have reserved the North and South lawns, and the steps. Time, 9:45 a.m. The State Senate goes into session at 10 a.m., the only time in the next few weeks we can be certain our legislators will be assembled at Lansing. At 10:30 a.m., we will process/march over to the Michigan Historical Center and form our Hands Around the Library -- in hopes of good media coverage! Since the perimeter of the building is around 1800 feet, it is obvious we can use as many genealogists or friends of libraries/history of all types as possible. Please definitely let your local Society know you are coming for sure, since you can see that we need coverage - flags and ribbons can be held between people as well as hands and arms.We'll stay around the building probably 20 minutes starting at 11:00 a.m. -- then off to lunch, research, or museum viewing!Thanks for your support of Michigan's past … and our future. Please let us know how many from your Society will be able to participate -- and questions to Sue Irvine sjirv@yahoo.com.
Your Michigan Genealogical Council
*********************
Happy Researching!
Karen
This morning the Michigan Genealogical Council issued the following letter. I share it here with you so that those of you who follow this blog and live within the state can perhaps take the time out and go and join in this worthwhile effort to try & save the library and all the great resources found there.
Please use the contact information listed at the end of the note if you have questions!
******************
Fellow Michigan genealogists and library supporters - Now is the time for Michiganians to come to the aid of our state's history and learning.Your Michigan Genealogical Council is planning a public assembly in Lansing to show our legislators and fellow citizens that we care about our state's past.On Wednesday the 5th of August, let's assemble at the State Capitol, on the lawn. We have reserved the North and South lawns, and the steps. Time, 9:45 a.m. The State Senate goes into session at 10 a.m., the only time in the next few weeks we can be certain our legislators will be assembled at Lansing. At 10:30 a.m., we will process/march over to the Michigan Historical Center and form our Hands Around the Library -- in hopes of good media coverage! Since the perimeter of the building is around 1800 feet, it is obvious we can use as many genealogists or friends of libraries/history of all types as possible. Please definitely let your local Society know you are coming for sure, since you can see that we need coverage - flags and ribbons can be held between people as well as hands and arms.We'll stay around the building probably 20 minutes starting at 11:00 a.m. -- then off to lunch, research, or museum viewing!Thanks for your support of Michigan's past … and our future. Please let us know how many from your Society will be able to participate -- and questions to Sue Irvine sjirv@yahoo.com.
Your Michigan Genealogical Council
*********************
Happy Researching!
Karen
18 July 2009
A Learning Experience...
Or, Yes, even an experienced genealogist can learn some new stuff!
Yesterday, I spoke at the annual summer conference at the Library of Michigan in Lansing. The conference there went for two days - with both days full of learning opportunties for people of all levels of experience in genealogy.
It was great to see so many people there, taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from some really great speakers.
The keynote speaker for this conference was, Stephen Morse, the creator of the 1 Step webpage. What a fabulous speaker this man is, and the work that he has done. I had heard many things about Stephen but had never really paid alot of attention until today when I heard him speak and explain his 1 step process. If you have not explored Stephen's website I strongly encourage you to do so!
Stephen's website is so full of search tools I promise you won't know where to start! Whatever you do take the time to go and see what all he has. I'm sure you won't be sorry you did!
Kudo's to the Library of Michigan staff - Randy, Kris, Edwina & Charles for all your hard work this weekend - and to the Eaton County Genealogical Society for co-sponsoring this awesome event!
Happy researching!
Karen
Yesterday, I spoke at the annual summer conference at the Library of Michigan in Lansing. The conference there went for two days - with both days full of learning opportunties for people of all levels of experience in genealogy.
It was great to see so many people there, taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from some really great speakers.
The keynote speaker for this conference was, Stephen Morse, the creator of the 1 Step webpage. What a fabulous speaker this man is, and the work that he has done. I had heard many things about Stephen but had never really paid alot of attention until today when I heard him speak and explain his 1 step process. If you have not explored Stephen's website I strongly encourage you to do so!
Stephen's website is so full of search tools I promise you won't know where to start! Whatever you do take the time to go and see what all he has. I'm sure you won't be sorry you did!
Kudo's to the Library of Michigan staff - Randy, Kris, Edwina & Charles for all your hard work this weekend - and to the Eaton County Genealogical Society for co-sponsoring this awesome event!
Happy researching!
Karen
29 June 2009
Researching There When You Are Here...
Today as we drove south from Michigan I began to think about all the places along the way that I had researched. I was really quite surprised with the list and how much of my time has been spent researching there...
We left Michigan at about 9:30 this morning. Although I say we have no ancestors in the state we actually have some family members of ancestors who spent time over near Grand Rapids and up in the Traverse City area. Researching in Michigan on those parties was not real difficult as I used the resources at the library of Michigan, primarily birth/death & marriage records and the old newspapers in the newspaper collection. Those vital records are now on line at Family Search
After leaving Michigan we crossed into Ohio. I have more fun researching in Ohio. With friendly county clerks and an abundant supply of online records how can we loose? That same record site I mentioned for Michigan has Ohio death certificates thru 1953 that can be saved to your hard drive or printed and viewed. What an awesome resource. With studmuffins relatives being in Cuyahoga, Lorain & Medina counties and mine being in Montgomery, Preble, Darke & Miami Counties we've always had tons of Ohio research to do. Most of those counties being within driving range, its easy for us to make a weekend run and photograph headstones or spend a day at the library.
Took us a bit to get thru Ohio but after a while we finally got into Kentucky. I have no ancestors in the state of Kentucky but Studmuffin does. Primarily in Hopkins & Christian Counties - with a spattering of Daviess County as well. Ancestry has quite a bit of Kentucky resources and the state of Kentucky has done its own Vital Records project as well. So Kentucky death records are availble on line without you spending a dime!
Tennessee was up next - and again I have no ties to Tennessee but stufmuffin does. Claiborne and McMinn Counties are the primary area's of focus but a few other counties also have area's of interest as well. Tennessee has some records on line, some of the genweb pages are loaded, Ancestry also has some Tennessee stuff. Not alot outside those that I have found so far.
Georgia - the birth place of my father and his ancstors. The research here can be frustrating but rewarding. Finding info on the internet can really be a challenge. George death certificates are on line but only thru 1927, how I wish that number would change. The University of Georgia campus in Athens has an awesome newspaper collection and my semi yearly trips there for newspaper stuff has been a tremendous help. Cemetery photography here can be difficult with its own challenges. Probate courts also offer big challenges.
Florida - very minimal research here but what I have needed I have been able to find, some on line, some with the very helpful staff at the Manatee County public library. Florida has all its Civil war Confederate pensions on line - a great move for them and for those lucky enough to need them!
This is just the tip of the iceberg on our research journey's. I won't go into the coastal states and our research there in this blog, that's material for yet another day.
All in all I have to say, despite the obstacles that researching "there when you are here" (Michigan) seems to toss at us, we still seem to be able to find the things we want and need, it just takes a wee bit of extra work and sometimes thinking out of the box, but it is doable!
Happy researching!
Karen
We left Michigan at about 9:30 this morning. Although I say we have no ancestors in the state we actually have some family members of ancestors who spent time over near Grand Rapids and up in the Traverse City area. Researching in Michigan on those parties was not real difficult as I used the resources at the library of Michigan, primarily birth/death & marriage records and the old newspapers in the newspaper collection. Those vital records are now on line at Family Search
After leaving Michigan we crossed into Ohio. I have more fun researching in Ohio. With friendly county clerks and an abundant supply of online records how can we loose? That same record site I mentioned for Michigan has Ohio death certificates thru 1953 that can be saved to your hard drive or printed and viewed. What an awesome resource. With studmuffins relatives being in Cuyahoga, Lorain & Medina counties and mine being in Montgomery, Preble, Darke & Miami Counties we've always had tons of Ohio research to do. Most of those counties being within driving range, its easy for us to make a weekend run and photograph headstones or spend a day at the library.
Took us a bit to get thru Ohio but after a while we finally got into Kentucky. I have no ancestors in the state of Kentucky but Studmuffin does. Primarily in Hopkins & Christian Counties - with a spattering of Daviess County as well. Ancestry has quite a bit of Kentucky resources and the state of Kentucky has done its own Vital Records project as well. So Kentucky death records are availble on line without you spending a dime!
Tennessee was up next - and again I have no ties to Tennessee but stufmuffin does. Claiborne and McMinn Counties are the primary area's of focus but a few other counties also have area's of interest as well. Tennessee has some records on line, some of the genweb pages are loaded, Ancestry also has some Tennessee stuff. Not alot outside those that I have found so far.
Georgia - the birth place of my father and his ancstors. The research here can be frustrating but rewarding. Finding info on the internet can really be a challenge. George death certificates are on line but only thru 1927, how I wish that number would change. The University of Georgia campus in Athens has an awesome newspaper collection and my semi yearly trips there for newspaper stuff has been a tremendous help. Cemetery photography here can be difficult with its own challenges. Probate courts also offer big challenges.
Florida - very minimal research here but what I have needed I have been able to find, some on line, some with the very helpful staff at the Manatee County public library. Florida has all its Civil war Confederate pensions on line - a great move for them and for those lucky enough to need them!
This is just the tip of the iceberg on our research journey's. I won't go into the coastal states and our research there in this blog, that's material for yet another day.
All in all I have to say, despite the obstacles that researching "there when you are here" (Michigan) seems to toss at us, we still seem to be able to find the things we want and need, it just takes a wee bit of extra work and sometimes thinking out of the box, but it is doable!
Happy researching!
Karen
17 June 2009
Tough Times & Libraries
As many of you know the state of Michigan is in serious shape right now. Lay off's and budget cuts are the norm, finances are askew all over.
For some reason the budget cuts always seem to aim straight at libraries - the arts. In Michigan once again the budget cuts are aimed straight at the libraries - especially the Library of Michigan.
It seems our
Newsflash - there are alot of other places to raise revenue than gunning for the general population that happens to enjoy libraries & the arts. How about if I make a few suggestions?
Hang in there on this one - stay with me. I despise drunks. People who can not go to a sporting event, or concert without getting knock down blasted out of their minds DRUNK. Every concert - every sporting event, I always encounter drunks. People who don't know their limits. So why not a higher tax on alcohol? Let them pay. My going to the library doesn't lead to any casualties or accidents, its nothing to anyone. Lets increase the tax on alcohol, especially alcohol served at sporting events & concerts. I'm not talking pennies, I'm talking quarters and more....
This next one won't be popular either, but sports are a major thing here. Are those sports teams giving back financially to the community? Or is all about how much money can one bank account hold? How about a percentage of every seat ticket sold goes to the state? Okay so some of our sports teams aren't doing well, but still, if you put 30,000 people in tiger stadium and 15,000 of them have a beer, and you charge an extra buck for each cup... hello!!!!
Yeah I know Michigan people are out of work, out of benefits, on unemployment, but they still find the money to go to their sporting events & concerts and get wasted, so why not let them pay a bit more so that the libraries can stop cutting services, perhaps stay open a little more? Some of the biggest names in music play here and they play to full houses, and boy do the people suck down the beer there too! So add another buck on the tab. The drunks will never notice.
Is our society really so dumb to believe that its more important to support sports events than to keep our libraries open? Why is it that the government in this state just can't to keep its hands off our libraries? Our country seriously needs to wake up and take a good hard look at how our libraries rank in importance in this country. Kids can't read, kids can't write, half of them don't even know the capital of the state they live in. But lets take more money from our libraries and our schools. Yeah that will get us ahead.
Granted the library of Michigan's main focus is Genealogy, not something that every single person is doing. BUT look at the Allen County public library in Ft Wayne. Maybe Ms. Granholm should take a drive down and see how to make the library profitable. Library of Michigan has that potential but only if we manage to somehow keep it open thru this crisis.
If you have used the Library of Michigan in the past, or hope to use it in the future I strongly urge you to join others in this fight to save our library. Write your politicians let them know how you stand - voice your support for saving the library - write Jennifer Granholm and let her know you're tired of this! Take a stand. Because if you don't - and alot of you won't - the library will be gone and then you know what they say...
You never miss a good thing until its gone!
Images from the library of Michigan, Lansing, Michigan
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