Courthouse Research: On Location

Announcement – The Library will be closed for Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11.
Computer Classes every Sat. mornings 10-12. "Open House" Whatever you need.
"Geek the Library" November 23rd, at the Library - Bring us all your tech "?'s"!

 

 

Genealogy tip for today: Courthouse Research: On Location

 

Well, I see that I’m getting old and repeating myself. The end of July and the first of August I had a series of 10 tips on researching courthouse that I got from another website. The current ones have been newly composed and original posts. So, maybe there will be some slightly different information here than before. You suppose I should start making a list of what I talk about?

 

While You Are There:

-Copy everything you can.

-If you can’t photo copy than transcribe or write an abstract including misspellings the information.

-Check the indexes of books you look at and copy them for evaluation later.

-Wait till later to analyze your findings.

-Cite your sources formally or otherwise – but get the information down.

-Concentrate on the unique collections that are not available somewhere else on microfilm – photo collection, private family collection, books not yet filmed, and the like.

 

Points of Courtesy

-Don’t walk in just before closing and ask for a ton of books.

-Don’t regale the staff with boring-to-them stories of your ancestors.

-Don’t pester staff with unnecessary questions. Try finding other researchers and see if they can answer your questions, but don’t bug them to death, either.

-Do as much research ahead of time – days, hours of operation for example.

-Always be respectful and courteous.

-Don’t forget the chocolate. J

 

Be well prepared, have a good trip and come back loaded with new information!

 

Happy Hunting!

 

 

 

 

If any of these posts are helpful drop us a line in the comments section below. We just want to know if the information we provide to you is helpful in anyway.

 

 

Theodosius of Rome

 

Today in History

392		Theodosius of Rome passes legislation prohibiting all pagan worship in the empire.
1226		Louis IX succeeds Louis VIII as king of France.
1576		The 17 provinces of the Netherlands form a federation to maintain peace.
1620		The King of Bohemia is defeated at the Battle of Prague.
1685		Fredrick William of Brandenburg issues the Edict of Potsdam, offering Huguenots refuge.
1793		The Louvre opens in Paris. But wasn't it already a Palace and it merely opens to the people?
1861		Charles Wilkes seizes Confederate commissioners John Slidell and James M. Mason from the British ship Trent.
1864		President Abraham Lincoln is re-elected in the first wartime election in the United States.
1887		Doc Holliday, who fought on the side of the Earp brothers during the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 6 years earlier, dies of tuberculosis in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
1889		Montana becomes the 41st state of the Union.
1900		Theodore Dresier's first novel Sister Carrie is published by Doubleday, but is recalled from stores shortly due to public sentiment.
1904		President Theodore Roosevelt is elected president of the United States. He had been vice president until the shooting death of President William McKinley.
1910		The Democrats prevail in congressional elections for the first time since 1894.
1923		Adolf Hitler attempts a coup in Munich, the "Beer Hall Putsch," and proclaims himself chancellor and Ludendorff dictator. .
1932		Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected 32nd president of the United States.
1938		Crystla Bird Fauset of Pennsylvania, becomes the first African-American woman to be elected to a state legislature.
1942		The United States and Great Britain invade Axis-occupied North Africa.
1960		John F. Kennedy is elected 35th president, defeating Republican candidate Richard Nixon in the closest election, by popular vote, since 1880.
1965		Vietnam War, Operation Hump: US 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team ambushed by over 1,200 Viet Cong in Bien Hoa Province. Nearby, in the Gang Toi Hills, a company of the Royal Australian Regiment also engaged Viet Cong forces.
1966		Republican Edward Brooke of Massachusetts becomes the first African American elected to the Senate in 85 years.
1977		Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos discovers what is believed to be the tomb of Philip II of Macedon at Vergina in northern Greece.
1983		Wilson B. Goode is elected as the first black mayor of the city of Philadelphia.
1987		A dozen people are killed and over 60 wounded when the IRA detonates a bomb during a Remembrance Day ceremony in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, honoring those who had died in wars involving British forces.
2000		Dispute begins over US presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore; Supreme Court ruling on Dec. 12 results in a 271-266 electoral victory for Bush.
2004		More than 10,000 US troops and a few Iraqi army units besiege an insurgent stronghold at Fallujah.

 

Edmond Halley

 

Birthdays today     

1656		Edmond Halley, mathematician and astronomer who predicted the return of the comet that bears his name.
1847		Bram Stoker, author (Dracula).
1878		Marshall Walter Taylor, "Major Taylor," the world's fastest bicycle racer for a 12-year period.
1879		Leon Trosky, Russian Communist leader.
1884		Hermann Rorshach, Swiss psychiatrist, inventor of the inkblot test.
1900		Albert Friedrich Frey-Wyssling, Swiss botanist and molecular biology pioneer.
1900		Margaret Mitchell, American writer who found success in her first and only novel, Gone With the Wind.
1909		Katherine Hepburn, American actress who won four Oscars. Her movies included Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story and The African Queen.
1916		Peter Ulrich Weiss, German novelist and dramatist (Marat/Sade, The Investigation).
1922		Christiaan Barnard, South African surgeon, performed the first human heart transplant operation.
1927		Patti Page, singer ("Tennessee Waltz," "How Much is That Doggie in the Window?").
1929		Bobby Bowden, US college football coach; holds NCAA record for most career wins and bowl wins by any Division I FBS coach.
1931		Morley Safer, journalist; 60 Minutes correspondent (1970– ).
1932		Ben Bova, noted author of works of science fact and fiction, a six-time winner of the Hugo Award for science fiction and fantasy writing.
1949		Bonnie Raitt, blues singer, songwriter, musician. Rolling Stone magazine included her on its lists of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
1950		Mary Hart, actress, journalist; hosted Entertainment Tonight TV program 1982–2011.
1954		Rickie Lee Jones, singer, songwriter, musician; listed on VH1 list of greatest women of rock music.
1970		Tom Anderson, entrepreneur; co-founder of Myspace website.
2003		Lady Louise Windsor, daughter of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

 

 

Word for the Day

dreck or drek

PRONUNCIATION:

(drek)

 

MEANING:

noun: Rubbish; trash.

 

ETYMOLOGY:

From Yiddish drek (filth, dirt, dung). Ultimately from the Indo-European root sker- (excrement) that is also the source of scoria and scatology. Earliest documented use: 1922.

 

USAGE:

"Using boot-sale dreck and found rubbish, Michael Landy has created kinetic, three-dimensional versions of saints portrayed in the National Gallery's collection."
Adrian Searle; The Best Art Exhibitions; The Guardian (London, UK); Mar 31, 2013.

Explore "dreck" in the Visual Thesaurus.

 

Quote for the Day

Until you've lost your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was or what freedom really is. -Margaret Mitchell, novelist (1900-1949)

 

 

Today’s Recipe

Holiday Cooking

 

Laughing Cow Mashed Potatoes

 

Ingredients

 

3 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes
4 tablespoons Butter
3 wedges The Laughing Cow Light Garlic & Herb
¼ cups Half-and-half

Directions

Bring one quart of water to a boil.

Add Yukon Gold Potatoes. When they are fork tender, drain and put back in pot.

Add 4 tablespoons butter, 3 wedges of The Laughing Cow Light Garlic & Herb Cheese, and enough half and half for your desired thickness.

Mash together and enjoy!!

 

 

 

ENJOY!

 

Now You Know!

 

 

 

Courthouse Research: Planning the trip

Announcement – The Library will be closed for Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11.
Computer Classes every Sat. mornings 10-12. "Open House" Whatever you need.
"Geek the Library" November 23rd, at the Library - Bring us all your tech "?'s"
 

 

 

 

Genealogy tip for today: Courthouse Research

 

Planning the trip:

You’ve decided that you have the right court house now you need some information to plan your visit. What days are they open? What are the hours? Are they closed for lunch? What is their location/address? Do they have a website? Do they give you map and/or directions to find them? How big is their staff? This is quite important. If it is a small courthouse and they have only one little old lady working there, her assistance will be limited. How long will it take to get there from where you will be staying? Is there a restaurant close by? Do they have carry out? Will the courthouse allow drinks and/or food? Do you need white gloves? (They may provide them if they wish for you to use them.) Do they have any tips for researchers on their website?

These are a lot of questions and maybe you should copy this post and put them in bullet form to create a worksheet for your trip. This would be a welcomed idea for you to do.

 

Planning the visit:

Besides the usual ‘stuff’ for a trip, there are some things specific to researching in your courthouse.

-White gloves, if you have any. These are fairly easy to purchase and don’t usually cost much.

-Lots of notebook paper, and pencils, eraser. (Usually no ink pens are allowed.)

-Sticky note tabs or similar.

-Lots of change for the copier.

-Magnifying glass

-Yellow transparent sheet (plastic). (You can usually find these in an office supply store.)

-Ruler (optional)

-Camera (if allowed)

-Laptop or other device. Make sure it is well charged, but also take the cord.

-Box of chocolates, even a small one! (This goes a long way to smoothing your visit at the courthouse. I knew one lady that did this and on repeat visits the employees looked forward to seeing her again!)

-Wear comfortable shoes. You may do a lot of walking or be on your feet a long time. You may have to spend time doing a lot of looking for books or there may not be tables or chairs available.

Friday we will look at what you need to do when you are on location.

 

 

 

If any of these posts are helpful drop us a line in the comments section below. We just want to know if the information we provide to you is helpful in anyway.

 

 

Today in History

1665		The London Gazette, the oldest surviving journal, is first published.
1811		Rebellious Indians in a conspiracy organized in defiance of the United States government by Tecumseh, Shawnee chief, are defeated during his absence in the Battle of the Wabash (or Tippecanoe) by William Henry Harrison, governor of Indiana Territory.
1814		Andrew Jackson attacks and captures Pensacola, Florida, defeating the Spanish and driving out a British force.
1846		Zachary Taylor, one of the heroes of the Mexican War, is elected president.
1861		Union General Ulysses S. Grant launches an unsuccessful raid on Belmont, Missouri.
1876		Rutherford B. Hayes is elected 19th president of the United States.
1881		Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, two participants in Tombstone, Arizona's, famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, are jailed as the hearings on what happened in the fight grow near.
1916		President Woodrow Wilson is re-elected, but the race is so close that all votes must be counted before an outcome can be determined, so the results are not known until November 11.
1916		Jeannette Rankin (R-Montana) is elected the first congresswoman.
1917		British General Sir Edmond Allenby breaks the Turkish defensive line in the Third Battle of Gaza.
1917		The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, take power in Russia.
1921		Benito Mussolini declares himself to be leader of the National Fascist Party in Italy.
1940		Tacoma Bridge in Washington State collapses.
1943		British troops launch a limited offensive along the coast of Burma.
1944		President Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected to a fourth term by defeating Thomas Dewey.
1956		UN General Assembly calls for France, Israel and the UK to immediately withdraw their troops from Egypt.
1967		In Cleveland, Ohio, Carl B. Stokes becomes the first African American elected mayor of a major American city.
1967		President Lyndon B. Johnson signs a bill establishing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
1972		President Richard Nixon is re-elected.
1973		Congress overrides Pres. Richard M. Nixon's veto of the War Powers Resolution that limited presidential power to wage war without congressional approval.
1975		An  uprising in Bangladesh kills Brig. Gen. Khaled Mosharraf and frees Maj. Gen. Ziaur Rahman, future president of the country, from house arrest.
1983		A bomb explodes in the US Capitol's Senate Chambers area, causing $250,000 damages but no one is harmed; a group calling itself the Armed Resistance Unit claimed the bomb was retaliation for US military involvement in Grenada and Lebanon.
1989		Douglas Wilder wins Virginia's gubernatorial election, becoming the first elected African American governor in the US; during Reconstruction Mississippi had an acting governor and Louisiana had an appointed governor who was black.
1990		Mary Robinson becomes the first woman elected President of the Republic of Ireland.
1994		The world's first internet radio broadcast originates from WXYC, the student radio station of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
2000		Hilary Rodham Clinton becomes the first First Lady (1993–2001) elected to public office in the US when she wins a US Senate seat.
2000		Election Day in the US ends with the winner between presidential candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore still undecided.

 

Madam Curie

 

Birthdays today     

1867		Marie Curie, French chemist who researched radioactivity and discovered radium.
1900		Heinrich Himmler, head of the Nazi SS and organizer of extermination camps in Eastern Europe.
1903		Konrad Lorenz, pioneering zoologist.
1913		Albert Camus, French philosopher, novelist and dramatist.
1918		Billy Graham, evangelist.
1926		Joan Sutherland, opera singer.
1928		Norton David Zinder, biologist.
1929		Benny Andersen, Danish writer, poet and jazz musician.
1943		Joni Mitchell, singer, songwriter.
1950		Alexa Canady, first female African-American neurosurgeon.
1971		Robin Finck, musician; guitarist with bands Guns N' Roses and Nine Inch Nails.

 

 

Word for the Day

pogrom

PRONUNCIATION:

(puh-GROM, POH-gruhm)

 

MEANING:

noun: An organized massacre, officially tolerated or encouraged, against a particular group.

 

ETYMOLOGY:

From Yiddish pogrom, from Russian pogrom (destruction). Earliest documented use: 1891.

 

NOTES:

The word is usually applied to the massacre of Jews in Russia and Eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

 

USAGE:

"Kyrgyz nationalists unleashed a ferocious pogrom against the Uzbekh minority."
Misha Glenny; Life in Putin's Russia; The Irish Times (Dublin); Oct 29, 2011.

Explore "pogrom" in the Visual Thesaurus.

 

Quote for the Day

Humanity also needs dreamers, for whom the disinterested development of an enterprise is so captivating that it becomes impossible for them to devote their care to their own material profit. Without doubt, these dreamers do not deserve wealth, because they do not desire it. Even so, a well-organized society should assure to such workers the efficient means of accomplishing their task, in a life freed from material care and freely consecrated to research. -Marie Curie, scientist, Nobel laureate (1867-1934)

 

 

Today’s Recipe

Holiday Cooking

 

 

 

Grandma’s Green Bean Casserole

 

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon white sugar 1/4 cup onion, diced

1 cup sour cream 3 (14.5 ounce) cans French style green beans, drained 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1/2 cup crumbled buttery round crackers 1 tablespoon butter, melted

 

 

Directions:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.	Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth, and cook for one minute. Stir in the salt, sugar, onion, and sour cream. Add green beans, and stir to coat.
3.	Transfer the mixture to a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Spread shredded cheese over the top. In a small bowl, toss together cracker crumbs and remaining butter, and sprinkle over the cheese.
4.	Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is golden and cheese is bubbly.

 

ENJOY!

Now You Know!