Census Indexs Continue
August 21st, 1994CENSUS INDEXES CONTINUE
The United States Census began in 1790 and in the 200 years since has remained one of the most important records for genealogists and historians. Access to the original records is now available after 72 years, thus allowing researchers to use extant census records through 1920. The microfilm of the Georgia census is available at many public libraries as well as the Georgia Archives. Available census records for the entire United States, with many indexes, are at the National Archives-Southeast Region in East Point. Call 763-7477cq for hours. The University of Georgia has census records through 1920 for the southeastern states.
The 1850 Census was the first to include the names of all free persons in the household. For the past twenty years, Rhea Cumming Otto of Savannah has been indexing these for Georgia, county by county. With her latest volume, “1850 Census of Georgia: Richmond County” she has almost completed the entire state. The citizens are arranged by households in alphabetical order with everyone listed, with their age, place of birth and occupation, just as in the original. In an appendix is a list of households arranged in numerical order. The 120-page work contains 1556 households, covering 8,450 free citizens. This volume, like all her others, sells for $6.75 postpaid to Mrs. Walter W. Otto, 8816 Ferguson Ave., Savannah, Ga. 31406. A long, stamped, self-addressed envelope will get a list of other volumes in print.
The 1870 Georgia Census has been indexed in a three-volume set found at many libraries. The company which produced this has also issued separate index booklets for each Georgia county for 1870. These indexes list the name, age, sex, race, place of birth, county and roll and page where found. The people are not grouped by households and one must consult the original census for more information. The prices vary per county. For a list, contact Precision Indexing, c/o Historic Resources, Inc., P.O.Box 329, Bountiful, Utah 84011-0329 or (801) 298-5446cq. The indexes are also available on floppy disks.
SEMINARS
The Central Georgia Genealogical Society will host its annual seminar on Saturday, Sept. 10th in Macon at the Macon Convention Center, I-75 at Arkwright Road. Speakers will be Lloyd Bockstruck on “Pitfalls”, “New Englanders in the South”, “Colonial Land Records”, and “Finding Substitutes for Birth and Death Records”. Merle Baker on “Civil War Ancestors in Georgia” and researching in the Georgia Archives. Cost of the seminar is $20 members, $22 non-members, including lunch, to CGGS, Inc., P.O.Box 2024, Warner Robins, Ga. 31099 by Sept. 3rd.
The Genealogical Festival sponsored by the Friends of the National Archives-Southeast Region will be held Saturday, Sept. 24th at the Gwinnett Civic Center in Duluth, off I-85 just past Gwinnett Place Mall. The main speaker will be Arlene Eakle. There will be numerous other classes and vendors. For reservations or further information contact the National Archives at 763-7477cq or The Friends at Box 88100, Atlanta, Ga. 30356-8100.
The Georgia Archives is continuing its free “Lunch and Learn” lecture series. These one-hour lectures are offered from 12:15-1:15 at the Archives Building, 330 Capitol Ave., Atlanta. August 25: Staff members Joanne Smalley and Sally Mosely will discuss using the Archives’ vast microfilm collection; on Sept. 14 Dr. Steve Engerrand will discuss Guidelines for Archival Documents, and on Sept. 22 Dr. Carole Merritt will lecture on African-American Genealogy and the Herndon Home in Atlanta.
BOOKS IN PRINT
“Genealogical and Local History Books in Print” is being prepared for a fifth edition. This will be the 20th anniversary issue of this long-running product of the Schreiner family. The company is now accepting advertising and listings of genealogy books for sale for the new edition. One must write them for forms and fees. It is a good way to get word out to libraries and genealogists of the existence of your work. The remaining copies of the 1992 edition are available for $9.75 plus $2.10 postage. They expect to list 30,000 books in the new edition. They also publish the well-known SKY Index, considered one of the easiest indexing systems for books. For a brochure on the new edition and details on how to place an ad, write GBIP, P.O.Box 394, Maine, N.Y.13802.
WELSH RESEARCH
“Welsh Family History: A Guide to Research” has just been published. It was edited by John Rowlands and others and was originally published in Wales by the Family History Society of Wales, thus it must be considered the authorized edition for this type of work. The distinguished list of contributors is a who’s who of Welsh researchers. The book is divided into interesting chapters, with subjects such as placenames, parish registers, definitions of basic words, and various types of records including migration records. It includes chapter footnotes, an extensive bibliography, and an index. Anyone with a need for Welsh research advice should certainly take a look at this handsome volume. The book is available from Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, Md. 21202 for $19.95 (paper) plus $3 postage or call (800) 296-6687cq for more information or other titles.
ATHENS LIBRARY
The Athens Regional Library System has created a new Heritage Room at the central library at 2025 Baxter St., Athens, 30606. The phone is (706) 613-3650 ext. 350. The room contains a great deal of Athens and Clarke County material, including courthouse materials on microfilm, many of the CD-Rom indexes found at the Mormon Family History Centers, Georgia census records through 1920, and computers to search the southeastern region for books that can be obtained on interlibrary loan. Their hours are Monday-Thursday, 9-9, Friday and Saturday, 9-6, and Sundays 2-6 PM. A long, stamped, self-addressed envelope will get you a brochure. This should be a good place to stop while in Athens–perhaps when other family members attend a football game, or after you have been to the University’s main library.