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NEWSLETTER FOR THE YELLOWSTONE GENEALOGY FORUM BILLINGS, MONTANA
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MONTANA
LEGISLATURE
By
the time you read this Montana's 57th Legislature held in 2001 will be drawing
to an end. A big THANKS
goes to all our genealogists who supported the two bills that could greatly
effect Montana family researching for years to come. The first one, SB148, was drawn up by Jon Tester. It was the Marriage Bill allowing
genealogists access to both the marriage certificate and the license.
The
2nd bill was SB443 written by Senator Ed Butcher asking that before county
records are destroyed that they be offered for preservation to a certain
listing which includes historical societies, libraries, museums or
genealogical societies, etc.
After
lots of e-mails, letters, phone calls, announcements and work by many people,
both of these bills passed. Many
of us received personal phone calls and letters from our senators and/or
representatives. Quite a few of
us followed our bills and became more knowledgeable. This has been a difficult session for our first woman
governor and many freshman congressional members trying to solve lots of very
serious concerns about money, education, taxes, fuel supplies and prices,
etc. Thanks for being involved in
our government.
May 22nd is Election of Officers
Yes,
it's that time of year. Our
dedicated Nominating Committee is chaired by Cleve Kimmel, along with Verba
Valentine and Laura Alvin. The
following slate is announced.
President - Suzanne McPherson
Co-Corresponding Secretaries -
Peggy Williams and Laura Alvin
Recording Secretary - Verba
Valentine
Treasurer - Roy Oliver
Program
Cordinator(s)_____________________
This
gives us a month to look for a Program Chairman. Or perhaps two people could share the job and be
"Co-Program" Coordinators?
Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the Annual (May)
meeting provided the nominee is present and will give written consent to serve
if elected.
Our
YGF celebrates its 24th birthday in May.
We're got a great forum* going!
Help us keep our objectives in sight. "To promote, encourage, and foster original research,
compilation of genealogical records and actively study genealogy and
genealogical sources."
*def. A public meeting place for open discussion.
***
Kindred Spirits newsletter of Nov. 2000 has a
logo that says, "Celebrate, Investigate, Recreate and Educate. Consider adding 1 more--to Participate. Good advice for us genealogists,
don't you think?
FROM YOUR PRESIDENT:
This
is only April and the YGF has accomplished a great deal. Maggie Miller continues to work with
Cleve Kimmel on the Smith Chapel records.
Evagene Emmett and others
(see article on who have helped in the past on page 4) have gotten the
obits gathered together for filming at the FH Library at SLC. The Erekson's have delivered them to
the right people and the FHC's here will get copies. YAH! Thanks to
all of you for volunteering and working so diligently.
It
won't be long and the Cultural Fair will be in full swing at Rocky on the
Green. We are short about 3
volunteers for the afternoon shifts.
It is a 2 hour commitment
for the year. A great opportunity
for those who would like to participate in soliciting YGF without a long-term
commitment. I have
"worked" at our booth for many years, in fact that is how I first
come to know of YGF. I personally
enjoy spending a couple of hours with another genealogist swapping "great
find" stories and sharing our group with those curious enough to ask
"what in the world is this all about"? If you are interested in helping for the short term, please
call or e-mail me at 652-4610 or searchandresearch@home.com..
As
the weather settles down, many of us will soon be traveling "in the name
of research". Remember to
prepare before leaving home. Call
the museums, courthouses etc. that you may be visiting. Find out all the rules, i.e. no coats
or briefcases brought in, cash only, you need to make an appointment to see
the records, etc. Make certain
that your budget will cover unexpected costs such as parking in a city (that
tab alone would buy you a document), entrance fees, copies, etc. Most of all go with an open and
understanding mind that these rules have been put in place for a reason, and it
is not YOURS to reason why. A good
plan always leaves a little room for changes. Personally, my travel log is filled for spring and I am
working on this fall. Happy trails
to you all!
Suzanne
McPherson
***
It
takes both rain and sunshine
to
make a rainbow!
LATEST
PERIODICALS FOR THE GEN-ROOM
October
2000-April 2001
If you have unwanted periodicals
that you would like to donate or would like to donate a subscription to a
periodical, call Athna May Porter 259-2552 or e-mail porter@imt.net
1. Germans from Russia Historical Society Heritage Review June 1999; Sept. 1999; Dec 1999; June
2000; Sept. 2000; Dec. 2000; Mar. 2001
2. GRHS Newsletter--Dec. 1999; June 2000; Sept. 2000;
Mar. 2001.
3. American Historical Society of Germans From Russia
Newsletter Fall 2000.
4. New England Ancestors--Holiday 2000, Vol. 1 #5-6;
Winter 2001 Vol. 2 #1; Spring 2001 Vol. 2 #2.
5. Family Chronicle--Sept/Oct 2000; Nov/Dec 2000;
Jan/Feb 2001; Mar/Apr 2001.
6. New England Historical & Gen. Register Vol.154 # 616 Oct. 2000; Vol. 154 # 617
Jan 2001.
7. National Gen. Society Quarterly Special Issue
Reassembling Female Lines Vol. 88, #3 Sep 2000.
8. Ancestry Magazine Sep/Oct & Nov/Dec 2000.
Donated by Maggie Miller
9. History Magazine Dec/Jan; Feb/Mar; Apr/May 2001.
10. Family Tree Magazine Dec 2000; Feb 2001; Apr 2001; June 2001.
11. NGS Newsmagazine Nov/Dec 2000; Jan/Feb 2001; Mar/Apr 2001.
12. Heritage Quest Update Newsletter Oct 2000 #9.
13. Heritage Quest
Nov/Dec 2000 # 90; Jan/Feb 2001 #91; Mar/Apr 2001 #92.
14. Daughters of American Revolution Owned by Parmly.
15. Genealogical Helper Owned by Parmly.
***
GREAT-GRANDPA'S
PHOTO
While
I was working for a photo-finishing company, we received a reprint order for
an old black-and-white photograph of a man milking a cow.
The
man was sitting behind the cow, and all that was visible of him were his legs
and feet. A note accompanying the
order read: "This is the only
picture I have of my great grandfather.
Please move the cow so I can see what he looked like."
Reader's Digest--Sept. 2000
NEW
BOOKS IN THE GEN-ROOM
By
Ellen Cushing
1. DAR Magazine Index by DAR
By George K. Schweitzer
2. Indiana Genealogical Research
3. Missouri Genealogical Research
4. Kentucky Genealogical Research
5. Illinois Genealogical Research
6. Pennsylvania Genealogical Research
By Thomas Jay Kemp:
7. The Genealogists's Virtual Library: Full-Text Books on the World Wide Web
8. International Vital Records
Handbook
9. Tracing Your Dakota Roots by Jo Ann Winistorfer
10. Genealogical & Family History of Northern New York
by William Richard Cutter
11. Ellis Island:
Tracing Your Family History Through America's Gateway by
Loretto Szucs
12. So Long, Scotland.
Hello, Huntley Project! by Grace Kirch
13. The Czar's Germans by Hattie Plum Williams
14. A Centennial Celebration (Great Falls, MT) by Ellan
R. Yuill
15. The Fight That Won't Stay Dead by James Johnson
Donated by Suzanne McPherson:
16. Wheaton, Minnesota:
Centennial History, 1887-1987
Donated by Anita Smith:
17: Oklahoma Place Names by George H. Shirk
18. Hawkeye Heritage, 1977
***
CD's
TO WICKS LIBRARY
The
Montana Big Sky PAF User's Group purchased 14 CD's for the Wicks Family History
Center, 1000 Wicks Lane earlier this year. The PAF Group has met throughout the years in the Women's
Relief Society Room and this was their "thank you" for having such a
nice meeting place.
Below
is a listing of the titles to this wonderful addition. It is hoped that you will enjoy using
them and find success as well!
1. Revolutionary War Pension Lists
2. Roll of Honor - Civil War Union
Soldiers
3. Passenger & Immigration Lists Index
4. Germans to America 1850-1874
5. Germans to America 1875-1888
6. New Orleans Passenger & Immigration Lists
7. MA Probate, Town & Vital Records 1600- 1900's
8. VA Colonial Records
9. Land Records KY 1774-1924
10. Historic Map Library--N. American RR 1870-1917
11. American Genealogical-Biographical Index
12. War of 1812 Muster Rolls
13. PA Colonial Records, 1600s-1800s
14. Philadelphia Passenger & Immigration Lists
***
Membership
Update
YGF
welcomes the following new members and renewing members!
Denise Harper, 5417 Danford Dr., Billings, MT.
59106, 656-2074
Judy Cohen, 736 Orilla St., Billings, MT
59105, 256-6572, bumpie6@home.com
Ardis Hanson, 4780 Powmer Rd., Billings, MT
59105, 373-6640
Paul O. McCormick II, PO Box 31655, Billings, MT
59107, 248-4972, delkirk@aol.com
Jason Herman, 937 N. 17th Apt. A, Billings,
MT 59101, 256-3526,
jherman35@home.com
Dotty Lowman, 2704 Yellowstone Ave., Blgs, MT
59102, 656-5808, meandz@peoplepc.com
Sandie Clausen, PO Box 21303, Billings, MT,
256-5609, sclausen@qwest.net
Marjorie Clark, 2111 Miles Ave., Billings, MT
59102, 656-7242
New e-mail addresses:
Suzanne McPherson searchandresearch@ home.com
Kay Martin kaym@ttc-cmc.net
Myrle Theimer mjtheimer@home.com
***
NEW
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN
We
are pleased to announce that Shawna Valentine will be replacing Sue-Ann Jacobson
as Membership Chairman at the end of our year on June 30th. Shawna has a heavy work schedule at
that time. To help out, Sue-Ann
suggests you pay your dues early.
Remember they are $10 per individual, $15 per couple. Welcome Shawna!
HOW
I SOLVED IT
Story
of Your Life
Future
generations want to know more than what is on a genealogy chart. Each generation of the Bullis family
scattered like leaves blown by the wind.
My father's sister, Aunt Nellie was the only relative that I
remember. A book written by Judith
Michael encouraged me to write my story, and caused me to want to leave
information about myself, and family members. I didn't think I could accomplish the job, and now I have
about 200 pages telling of my great grandfather, grand parents, parents, family
members and myself. The ending of
my story has not yet been written, but it will be completed. You will find that you can write a
wonderful story, even though you will write, and rewrite much of it. Writing the story of my life has been
an enjoyable task that is filled with pride and fun.
by
Milton Bullis
***
NEW
GENEALOGY SOCIETY
Jefferson County Genealogy Society of Boulder, Montana is
a new society one year old. In the
days when we hear of established genealogy groups failing or cutting back, it
is refreshing to hear how a group is putting their talent together all in the
name of genealogy. After a year,
they have published Vol. 1, issue 1 of their newsletter, "The Jefferson
County Genealogy News". Their
address is P.O. Box 1094, Boulder, MT 59632.
It
is hoped other Montana genealogy groups will send them copies of their newsletters. It's interesting to know what other
groups are doing. Maybe a program
topic would work for your bunch, too.
Cheers!
***
EDITOR'S NOTES:
The
YGF web site has been requested.
It is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mtygf
Due
to many of the January newsletters being torn in the Post Office's cancelling
equipment, a different folding is being tried. Any comments?
Phone me at 252-1070.
Louise
LaRue
Scientist
Looks To Squeeze History From Blood
Recently,
an article in the Missoulian was sent to me telling how a microbiology
professor at Brigham Young University is directing a project of combining
genealogy with DNA.
Three
major advances in genealogy have been attributed to the photo copier, the
computer and next may be DNA.
Names
are stripped from your blood samples.
Each person that donates is asked to furnish a written genealogy that
extends back at least to their great-greatgrand parents.
DNA
is analyzed with about 250 markers.
Many more samples will be needed for a 100,000 data base. Although individuals cannot be named,
you could be told you have a Swedish Great-great-grandmother that came from
Sweden. Be watching, 5 to 10 years
down the road, DNA could figure into our individual genealogies.
***
A
BLESSING
May there always be work for your
hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin
or two.
May the sun always shine on your
window pane,
May a rainbow be certain to
follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always
be near you,
May God fill your heart with a
gladness to cheer you.
--unknown
Borrowed from the Germans from
Russia, Yellowstone Valley Chapter newsletter.
***
Mabel
A. Kennedy
A
YGF member, Mabel A. Kennedy, died on Jan. 30, 2001. Mabel will be remember-ed for helping on the School Census
Project.
"BIG
SKY ROUNDUP"
Did
you know you can now get our Montana State Genealogical Society's news-letter,
"Big Sky Roundup", from the web site? <http://www.rootsweb.com/~mtmsgs> Print out
your own copy. Mine was dated
February 2001 and was 18 pages.
YGF pays a group membership fee so you are all members. This is another first for Montana
genealogy.
***
OBITUARY
CARDS
For
a number of years people have been clipping obituaries from newspapers, pasting
them on 4 X 6" cards and dating them as to the issue of the paper. This has been on going through the LDS
Branch at Wicks since 1982 through 1993.
And soon through the year 2000.
We'd
like to mention the names of people who have worked on this project. Our thanks goes to Floessie Weston,
Athna Bliss (Athna May's Mom), Patricia Seader, Pat Schneider, Karen
Hergenrider, Evagene Emmett, Athna May Porter, Marian Michaelis, Donna Bennett,
Shannon Behounek, Marlene Thiel and Laura Alvin.
The
cards for one year are alphabetized and then taken to the Salt Lake City LDS
Library where they are microfilmed.
After filming, the cards are returned to Billings. This is when YGF gets them and files
them into our system of 4 X 6" files. It then becomes a great resource for the Gen-Room! Incidently, did we mention that the
load to SLC was 7 years worth of files?
The Wicks Branch will receive a copy of the microfilm to add to their
collection.
Thanks
all for your countless time and effort!
You are appreciated.
Perhaps
we should note that when the cards get returned we'll be needing 4 X 6"
files. If anyone sees them for
sale at garage sales, estate sales, etc. keep us in mind. We're going to need quite a few. Thanks!
***
URBAN
LEGENDS
Warnings,
hoaxes and frauds come through our e-mail by well meaning friends but aren't
true. One place to check is
http://urbanlegends.about.com/ .
This site does a pretty good job of checking out the offers to see if
it's real or a hoax.
A
recent one our family checked was that the Post Office is going to charge 5
cents per each e-mail and that most people would run up an $180.00 bill or
larger per year. Urban Legends has
not heard of this one to date. Has
anyone else received this warning?