Articles

Controlled Unclassified Information Office

In a press release from the National Archives Allen Weinstein, Archivist of the United States announces the formation of the (CUIO) or “Controlled Unclassified Information Office”. Mr. Weinstein also announced that the recently created office will be headed by director of the Information Security Oversight Office, William J. Bosanko.  The creation of this office is in response to a memorandum issued by President Bush on May 9, 2008 to the Heads of Departments and Agencies on the Designation and Sharing of Controlled Unclassified Information; designating the National Archives as the responsible group for managing, administrating and implementing the CIU framework.

 

Mr. Weinstein states, that in initiating the office,  “I have provided Mr. Bosanko with a clear roadmap for the National Archives, as the executive agent and consistent with the President’s direction, to ensure that only information which genuinely requires the protections afforded by the President’s memorandum will be introduced into the CUI Framework.”

For the full story visit: http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2008/nr08-107.html

 

 

 

…

Where to Next?

Blank Family Tree with Step-by-Step Instructions

…

 

How to Research Your Family Name

By Dakota Caudilla

You’ll be surprised with the kind of information you’ll unearth when you do a research on your own family name. People you’ve never known existed, long-lost relatives, and friends who share the same lineage as you! This is what researching your own surname can do for you. If you’re not ready for some surprise findings, you’re better off leaving all this researching to others in your family.

 

Researching your own surname can be done through different methods. For one thing, the most popular among all the other methods of researching your own family surname is through the Internet. The wide availability, freedom of use and flexibility of the internet makes it the most popular genealogical research tool known to humankind today!

Try websites like http://www.genealogy.com and you’ll see what we mean. By typing in your surname or your ancestor’s first and last name, you’ll come up with a whole list of possible family members that you can easily fill up your family tree. These tools are generally easy to use and some websites even have communication tools whereby you can contact the possible relative directly too. These websites contain hundreds of millions of family names in their database to help people find long-lost family members.

Continue reading “How to Research Your Family Name” »

National Archives Hosts Free Genealogy Fair April 23, 2008

Write down this date and clear a space on your calendar! Wednesday, April 23, 2008. This is the date for the National Archives fourth annual Genealogy Fair. The highlights of this year’s program are the National Archives Federal records relating to the subject of general genealogy.

 

 

 

From the WWI and the Works Progress Administration there will be sessions offered in:

• Civil War pension files

• Freedmen’s Bureau marriage records

• World War I draft registration records

• New Deal publications

You will be in for a treat as the National Archives staff give demonstrations on the use of databases such as, Access to Archival Databases (ADD) and Archival Research Catalog (ARC). No matter if you are an experienced genealogist or a genealogy beginner the fair – which is free and open to the public – will provide guidance and information that you are bound to find of benefit to your future research efforts.

 

 

…

Where to Next?

Blank Family Tree with Step-by-Step Instructions

…

 

New Magazine for Genealogy Beginners

All of a sudden there seems to be a run on posts related to magazines. Here is another one I came across this morning. Discovering Family History is a new magazine geared toward the beginning genealogist. You can download a free (no sign-up required) preview at the link above. The publisher writes: “Welcome to Discovering Family History, the latest magazine from the publishers of Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy and History Magazine. This new bi-monthly magazine is targeted at people who are starting their genealogy, need a refresher course or are tackling a new aspect of genealogy.

 

Discovering Family History articles are being written by some of the most respected book and magazine authors ­ and many of them have extensive experience of teaching genealogy courses, either face-to-face or online.

Even if you have been conducting your genealogy research for many years, you may want to take a look at what Discovering Family History has to offer: as you get more and more into your family history, you will find the need to investigate resources that are completely new to you. Discovering Family History can help.”

I love this free preview. The articles appear to be exciting and well written. Some article titles include:

• A Few Fantastic Free Family History Websites
• Let Obituaries Speak to You (<– With an Excellent Graphic)
• Who Else is Researching Your Name
• What is a Vital Record

Good stuff!

 

…

Where to Next?

Blank Family Tree with Step-by-Step Instructions

…

 

History of Genealogy

In this great article, first published in the July/ August 1999 edition of Family Chronicle Magazine, Donna Porter-Phillips looks at the initial stages and development of genealogy as a hobby and professional practice. Ms. Porter-Phillips states that from the beginning, people have felt the need to leave a record of themselves. “Cave paintings in France, tombstone art all over the world, and even the petroglyphs and pictographs of Native Americans, all point to the fact that early man wanted to be remembered by those who would come after.

 

She goes on to write:

“‘How far back does genealogy go?’ a beginner might ask. And at first thought, Biblical references might come to mind as evidenced by all the chapters of begats. Family descent was important to the ancient Hebrews, in part because Hebrew males had to prove descent from Aaron, the brother of Moses, in order to hold the Levitical priesthood. The first eight chapters of the book of I Chronicles give genealogies from Adam down through Abraham and other Old Testament patriarchs. I Chronicles 9:1 reads, “so all Israel were reckoned by genealogies…”

You can read the rest of the article by clicking here (and then clicking “How To Archives” > “History” > “History of Genealogy”). I suggest you take a close look at the magazine itself. You can pick up a free trial subscription if you’d like.

Maps of Historic London

The folks over at Genealogy Insider have brought us a great post on London Maps. In an article by Grace we learn about the virtual exhibition of historical maps of the city from the British Library. This is a must visit, titles like this one from a map dating from 1653 should spark your interest for more.

‘A guide for Cuntrey men In the famous Cittey of LONDON by the helpe of wich plot they shall be able to know how farr it is to any Street.’

In this exhibit you will find 40 historic plats organized via Google maps that can easily help you clarify the areas they correspond to. If you prefer, you also have the option of looking at maps by time period.

You can access the full post by clicking here. It is really amazing how things are changing with the internet. There is no end to the resources available to us all in our search for our ancestors.

 

…

Not interested in the map?

Blank Family Tree with Step-by-Step Instructions

…

 

National Archives to Host Public Interest Declassification Board

 

…

Where to Next?

Blank Family Tree with Step-by-Step Instructions

…

 

Spring/ Summer Hours begin at the National Archives on March 27

 

…

Where to Next?

Blank Family Tree with Step-by-Step Instructions

…

 

Preview of Magna Carta

I just received this update from the National Archives last week; I won’t be able to make it, but if you’re in the D.C. area, this is quite an opportunity. The National Archives will be holding an exclusive preview of the Magna Carta for members of the press before it goes back on display. This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to photograph or videotape the Magna Carta outside of its display case. Press will also have the opportunity to talk to its new owner, David Rubenstein, as well as the Archivist of the United States, Allen Weinstein and National Archives Exhibits Curator, Terry Boone.

 

This exclusive event will take place from 1-2p.m. on Monday, March 3^rd, at the National Archives Building Conservation Lab.  Please note that NO ARTIFICIAL LIGHT MAY BE USED.

For background on the Magna Carta, as well as directions, please view the entire press release at: http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2008/nr08-67.html.

 

…

Where to Next?

Blank Family Tree with Step-by-Step Instructions

…

 

Noontime Programs at the National Archives in April 2008

During the month of April, the National Archives will be presenting three free programs available to the public:

 

 

 

 

1.      Preserving America’s History, April 9^th, will explain how the National Archives protects and preserves the documents and artifacts it holds.

2.      White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters, April 16^th, will be presented by Robert Schlesinger (son of famed JFK speech writer Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.), and will discuss how the relationship between President’s and their speechwriters can impact a presidency.

3.      Summers with Lincoln, April 17^th, explores the meanings of monuments erected in memorial to Abraham Lincoln.

 

All three events will be held at noon at the National Archives Building, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit: http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2008/nr08-66.html.

…

Where to Next?

Blank Family Tree with Step-by-Step Instructions

…

 

« Previous Page — Next Page »