P. G. S. News

Volume 9, Issue 3

March 2004

Previous Issue

Meetings
Jim Schnur, Assistant Librarian at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg campus, was the speaker at the February meeting. He described the holdings at USF library and the digital resources available through the library website. He brought along a wonderful home movie from the 1920’s showing boomtown St. Petersburg. Thanks, Jim. At the February meeting the society voted to donate $5,000, to be distributed at $1,000 annual installments, to the Greater Largo Library Capital Campaign.
THE 2003 CALENDAR All meetings begin at 11:00 AM in the Jenkins auditorium in the Largo Public Library. Guests are warmly welcomed and encouraged to attend. The Computer Interest Group meets before the general meeting at 9:45 AM.

Computers In Genealogy
Computer Interest Group (CIG) – Meets monthly at 9:45 A.M. in the Jenkins Assembly Conference Room on the third Saturday of each month just before the regular PGS meeting throughout the year. This forum is an informal discussion group in a question and answer format on anything related to the use of computers in genealogy. There is no fee and all levels of computer expertise are welcome. To become a member of the email discussion list, email Bob Bryan. Next meeting is February 21, 2004.

The Family Tree Maker Group (FTM)
FTM meets monthly October through May at 10:00 A.M. in the Jenkins Assembly Conference Room in the lobby of the Largo Library. Each session lasts approximately two hours. There is no fee for this workshop, but donations to the Greater Largo Library Foundation are appreciated. March’s group will discuss how to separate a branch of a tree into a new file and how to find non-attached individuals in your file. Class is led by Karen Keegan. Next Family Tree Maker Group date: March 6th.

The Beginners Study Group
The Beginners Study Group is designed to help beginners get started in genealogy and serve as a forum for advanced genealogists. We are pleased to announce it is up and running again with a nice core group meeting on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 to 12:00 in the small classroom in the rear of the library next to the genealogy department. This group will wrap up for the year with a last session on “The Use of Computers in Genealogy”. Next Beginners Study Group: March 13, 2004.

Library Tour
Special Collections Librarian, Mercedes Bleattler, will hold a discussion and tour of the holdings of the Genealogy Department at the Largo Library on April 10th at 10 a.m. Sign up with a volunteer in the Genealogy Department or contact Pat Strait or phone 546-3461.

PGS Quarterly needs you!
If you have queries, please turn them in to William Wallace or to the Volunteer Desk for inclusion in the next issue of The Pinellas Genealogist. Remember, this issue will be mailed out all over the country! Local members will now be receiving their quarterly at the PGS Saturday meeting. The Editor would also appreciate stories of your research trips and reviews of printed or computerized genealogy materials. Naturally, Pinellas County material is always needed. PGS Members: Up to two queries are free!! Thank you for your continued support of our quarterly!

News from Special Collections
• When calling the Largo Library with questions relating to genealogy, please use the number for the Genealogy Help Desk: 727-586-7410. • Please do not re-shelve books or return other materials. Our volunteers count each item returned as a statistic. These counts help us to determine our peak times for service and areas of high demand. Thank you! • Please continue to bring in flyers or brochures about libraries you visit this year. Thanks! • When using the microfilm, please rewind the film before returning it to its box. Please do not remove the take-up reel; this will only leave the film in an upside-down and backwards state!

WELCOME NEW MEMBER

John D. Manning

We would like to thank the following individuals for their donations to the genealogy library last month. It is due to the generosity of our members and friends that our collection is the best in the area.
Frances Willis	Marilyn Ginty
Ettamae Maxine VanVorst

NEW Canadian Resource New to the collection is the Dictionaire National des Canadiens Francais (1608-1760) RGEN 929.3714, or the Drouin Red Books. The first two volumes of this set contain a compilation of marriage records (repertoires) of marriages in Quebec province between 1608 and 1760. The third volume contains family histories, maps, and signatures of famous individuals.


The Pinellas Genealogy Society has had a close association with the Largo Library for the past 13 years and has been a driving force in making the Genealogy Department the best in the county. Now the Society has taken on the challenge to raise the needed $150,000 for equipment, furnishing and fixtures for the new Genealogy Center in the new library; a center which will expand the Genealogy area to three times the current size. At the February PGS meeting, members voted to donate $5,000 to the campaign to be distributed at $1,000 yearly. Last year we voted a single $1,000 contribution. This brings the total contributions to 26% of the campaign goal. Please consider adding your name to the list of contributors. No donation is too small. A link on the PGS website gives more details: www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flpgs/pgs-fundraiser.htm.

It’s Party Time Again!
Bring your family and join us for another fun filled PGS Spring Picnic at Largo Central Park - Shelter #1 - May 1st from 9:30 AM to 1 PM. We are meeting earlier this year to catch the last of the cooler weather. Bring your favorite picnic dish to share. Hot dogs, hamburgers and beverages will be provided. To help us plan for quantities, please sign up by April 26th with either: Lesleigh Butts or Karen Keegan. To check out the fun we had last year visit the website at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flpgs/pgs-2003-picnic.htm. Don’t Miss It.

See our books for sale!

BEFORE YOU GO ON VACATION…
Check out the Vertical File! It is located between the microfiche cabinet and the military books. Inside you will find file folders with materials from libraries around the country. Check out the Road Maps! They are now in the first drawer of the Manuscript File cabinets next to the volunteer desk. Remind yourself to collect and bring back to share newsletters and handouts from the libraries you visit. Share your experiences at genealogy libraries your visited with the society by writing a small article for the newsletter.

Check out the new materials in Special Collections

SUGGESTION BOX
In the genealogy area of Special Collections, on a cabinet next to the Federal census film cabinets, is a Suggestion Box. Please take the time to drop us a note and let us know how we are doing. Any new ideas for new classes or programs? Any requests for books or films to order? We appreciate your advice.

Web Sites Worth Checking Out
PGS 2004 Annual Seminar Pictures www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flpgs/Seminars/sem2004/pgs-2004-seminar-pictures.htm

www.GenCircles.com Another site from the creator of GenForum, GenCircles allows you to share the ancestors in your GEDCOM file with the same ancestors in other people’s files using a SmartMatching database.

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com An ongoing project designed to provide free Internet access to the Civil Registration index from England and Wales (births, marriages and deaths). This site is searchable by surname, year of event, registration district and more.