Exploring Genealogy
with
Special
Guest
Curt
Witcher
Sponsored
by the
National Genealogical Society Learning Center
Using Census Records for Genealogical
Research
Transcript of Chat - 7 March, 2001
| genealogyADM | I would like to welcome John Humphrey, the director of the National Genealogical Society Learning Center |
| genealogyADM | These chats are his wonderful idea and I am happy to be able to be a part of them |
| genealogyADM | For those of you who have never visited the National Genealogical Society Web site (NGS) it is worth a visit |
| genealogyADM | They just remodeled and it looks great! |
| genealogyADM | http://www.ngsgenealogy.org |
| genealogyADM | Your turn, John :-) |
| NGSJohn | Thanks Kimberly |
| NGSJohn | On behalf of the National Genealogical Society I want to welcome you to our second on line Virtual lecture |
| NGSJohn | They are being sponsored by the NGS Learning Center |
| NGSJohn | I first of all need to thank Kimberly for her help with the technicals and for moderating this chat |
| NGSJohn | I also need to thank our President Curt Witcher for agreeing to be the Presenter for this second presentation |
| NGSJohn | Curt is the Manager of one of the largest genealogy libraries in the Country |
| NGSJohn | - the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne Ind. |
| NGSJohn | He has been a member of the NGS Board for many years and has been instrumental in helping bring about a lot of change |
| NGSJohn | I look forward to the changes yet to come. |
| NGSJohn | But you are here this evening to talk about census records |
| NGSJohn | so without more delay let me introduce Curt. |
| CurtNGS | Thanks John! |
| NGSJohn | And Curt thanks! |
| CurtNGS | It is great to spend a little time in the middle of the week with folks who love the same thing I do--genealogy. |
| CurtNGS | Many thanks to Kimberly and John for making this possible--and to Cyndi for her continued help, advice and support. |
| CurtNGS | Census Records....we really could talk all night about this important record group. |
| CurtNGS | Federal population census schedules, more commonly know to genealogists as simply, "The Census," are among the most frequently sought after and most popular historical records. |
| CurtNGS | Yet, there are also state census records and local enumerations that we as genealogists should be aware of in our research efforts. |
| CurtNGS | Together, they all make an exciting group of records that assist us in locating our ancestors AND in finding mor data about their lives and their ancestors. |
| CurtNGS | As researchers, we have found census records particularly useful during times of considerable societal change as they assist us in locating ancestors who are not living in the cities and counties where we expect them to be. |
| CurtNGS | These times of significant change or movement can be evidenced after the conclusion of wars, during and after periods of economic depression and economic boon, and during periods of great internal migration |
| CurtNGS | and westward expansion brought on by such activities as the building of railroads and canals, homesteading acts and other land related activities, and the prospect of riches in a remote or distant place, e.g. gold in California. |
| CurtNGS | Federal census records are available from nearly the beginning of our country to relatively contemporary times (1790-1920). |
| CurtNGS | State census records really vary from state to state...what the code required and when the state thought it was important to enumerate its citizens. |
| CurtNGS | There are all kinds of types of indices for census records. Certainly the last couple of years, we have seen more indices in books, on disk and on the web. |
| CurtNGS | We can expect this "access trend" to continue. |
| CurtNGS | The best way to begin employing census records in your research is to determine a geographic location of interest... |
| CurtNGS | Determine the closest federal census.... |
| CurtNGS | And then be sure to check for any state census records that were taken close to the time period of interest... |
| CurtNGS | And finally, one must not forget the local census records or enumerations.... |
| CurtNGS | Just about every beginning genealogy class talks about census...but usually only in terms of the federal schedules. |
| CurtNGS | The state and local enumerations can be jewels.... |
| CurtNGS | And they can fill in gaps for when federal census don't exist....AND when you "just know" the people were in a particular area but the federal census records don't show them. |
| CurtNGS | Many researchers have used state and local enumerations to fill in for the 1890 Federal census which burned around 1923. |
| CurtNGS | For example, an 1895 state census of Iowa may provide even more genealogical details than the 1880 or 1900 federal schedules. |
| CurtNGS | When considering local enumerations, expand your horizons as much as possible.... |
| CurtNGS | And by that I mean look for things that don't just say "CENSUS" |
| CurtNGS | For research purposes, tax lists might be a great "local" census substitute... |
| CurtNGS | And militia lists, and school censuses, and voter registrations, ..... You get the idea. |
| CurtNGS | Before opening for questions, I wanted to quickly make just a few more points... |
| CurtNGS | First, when looking at any historical document, be thorough... |
| CurtNGS | Don't just look at the family in question....look up and down the census page to see if there are individuals living nearby who are family.... |
| CurtNGS | or individuals living nearby who are of the same ethnic group...and may have come from the same place in the Old Country... |
| CurtNGS | Recall that like ethnic groups tended to travel together, settle together, and migrate yet again in this country together. |
| CurtNGS | Doing "nearby research" is the only way some of us have been able to solve our research mysteries...:-) |
| CurtNGS | Just wanted to conclude by encouraging folks to use whatever devices, tricks, etc. they can to come up with variant spellings... |
| CurtNGS | Sometimes we hear people mumbling over microfilm readers...I swear they are not loosing their minds...they're just trying to hear outloud how a name might sound! :-) |
| CurtNGS | My turn of the century ancestor, Frank "Weutcher" had his named spelled 7 different ways during his rather brief life...but you all know about that! |
| CurtNGS | I'd be happy to begin answering any questions... |
| genealogyADM | FROM willowspirit] Where is the best place to look for local enumerations? |
| CurtNGS | There are a number of good places to look for local enumerations....1st, the Family History Library Catalog, 2nd the state library and/or state archives in the state of interest... |
| CurtNGS | 3rd would be major genealogical repositories like ours here in Ft. Wayne...4th, local public libraries in the local of interest. |
| CurtNGS | Many genealogical societies have abstracted, transcribed, or in other ways republished local enumerations.... |
| CurtNGS | So looking in published literature can also provide some clues.... |
| NGSJohn | Curt, how useful are the mortality schedules? |
| CurtNGS | Ann Lainhart's book on "State Census Records" also lists an amazing number of local schedules. |
| CurtNGS | Mortality schedules can be quite useful for genealogists though they are often confused with death records... |
| CurtNGS | Mortality schedules as the name implies are one of a number of census schedules taken from 1850 to 1880... |
| CurtNGS | They typically mirror the information one can find on the population schedules--"regular" census pages...only they provide death information... |
| CurtNGS | for those individuals who died one year before the census was taken. |
| CurtNGS | So the 1880 mortality schedule would not like all those people who died in the 1880s (we are asked that alot here...)... |
| CurtNGS | It only lists those who died the year before the 1880 census was taken. |
| CurtNGS | Again...With few exceptions, mortality schedules survive for the census years of 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Some are indexed in book form while others are in a microtext format. |
| CurtNGS | ..And watch for indices in periodical literature. |
| genealogyADM | FROM Annie] How would one go about obtaining census from a country like Ireland? |
| CurtNGS | Sorry...that I forget to indicate "next" for the next question...guess I'm a newbie too. :-) |
| CurtNGS | Irish census.... |
| genealogyADM | No problem Curt :-) |
| CurtNGS | While not an expert in foreign census records, I would think that the first best place to check would be the Family History Library Catalog. |
| CurtNGS | Secondly, most all of the good research methodology books about a particular country or ethnic group will include guides, helps, and finding aids for major records groups such as census records. |
| CurtNGS | The British Isles Section of the Family History Library has a super staff--FGS folks like David Rencher and Dean Hunter have a lot of expertise in the British Isles area... |
| CurtNGS | As does my assistant here in Ft. Wayne, Steve Myers.... |
| CurtNGS | Myers and George Handrin will be conducting a research trip to Ireland later this year. I am sure both would entertain questions....\ |
| CurtNGS | and welcome you on the tour... :-) |
| CurtNGS | You may also want to visit Irish Ancestors |
| CurtNGS | I am told the site title is Irish Ancestors. |
| CurtNGS | Next.... :-) |
| genealogyADM | FROM la] Regarding the social statistics schedules, I've never seen them. What part of the census are they located in? |
| Annie | thanks curt |
| CurtNGS | Personally, I have not used social statistics...hence, I am not well versed in those records. |
| CurtNGS | Based on what I do know, they should be a separate schedule and exist for the roughly the 1850 through 1880 time period... |
| CurtNGS | The same time period one is like to find mortality and manufacturing schedules... |
| CurtNGS | and slave schedules for the years 1850 and 1860. |
| CurtNGS | There may be some answers one could find in Ancestry's publication, The Source, in the chapter on census records... |
| CurtNGS | Doing a quick check of that referene.... |
| CurtNGS | Yes, social statistics do exist for the years I stated...The Source give a brief two paragraphs to them. |
| CurtNGS | Next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM dca] is there a french soundex or reverse soundex available? when english speakers took the census they wrote how names sounded but I don't know what the original french would be? |
| la | Thank you |
| CurtNGS | To the best of my knowledge, there is no French soundex or reverse soundex available.... |
| dca | oh well |
| dca | thank you |
| CurtNGS | I think this is another time when one might seriously employ the "Mumbling technique".... |
| CurtNGS | And also brush up on how the name might have sounded to someone who was not familiar with the language... |
| CurtNGS | The challenges of effective use of census records are many.... |
| CurtNGS | Having every enumerated, having the indices really index.... |
| CurtNGS | And perhaps the biggest challenge is trying to comprehend/find how a french immigrant speaking in English will hear...and write...and German who can't really speak more than German....:-) |
| dca | :) |
| CurtNGS | Next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM rikki] Is there anyplace here in the states that holds any copies of Canadian Census records? |
| CurtNGS | Yes, there are a number of places in the states that hold Canadian census records... |
| CurtNGS | The Family History Library in SLC, the ACPL here in Fort Wayne, IN, and the Historical Society of WI.... |
| CurtNGS | I believe the DAR in DC has a rather complete set as does the NEHGS in Boston, MA. And I know that I am missing some... |
| CurtNGS | Next... |
| rikki | Do they cover all of Canada or just portions? |
| CurtNGS | Like the US Census, it depends on the time period... the census year. |
| CurtNGS | From 1851 onward, they tend to cover the entire country of Canada. |
| genealogyADM | FROM jersey] What is the omission rate for federal censuses? That is, what percentage of families present in an area were not enumerated? And is the rate of omission higher or lower with the later censuses? |
| CurtNGS | An interesting note....Canadian census records are bound by a one hundred year privacy cap...and in listening to my Canadian colleagues, it may be worse... |
| rikki | I guess thanks Curt :) |
| CurtNGS | Wow...great question...omission rate for federal censuses... |
| rikki | I heard about that, being a US citizen can I do anything to help ?? |
| CurtNGS | I have not read a number regarding the omission rate....but I imagine that they is one...or some.... |
| CurtNGS | It is interesting to take a look at two or three different indices for the same census year...and compare how many names are in one and not the other... |
| CurtNGS | yet they are supposed to be indexing the same records....I think one can apply that to how the enumerators did not there job... |
| CurtNGS | To rikki...email RTaylor@acpl.lib.in.us...and he will be able to tell you specifically what you can do... |
| CurtNGS | Next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM Annie] what does the term enumerations mean? |
| CurtNGS | Enumerations basically means a listing... |
| Annie | such as? for example? |
| CurtNGS | One will hear census records referred to as census, enumerations, schedules, etc. |
| CurtNGS | Next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM SirBob] Are the state and local enumerations available at the LDS centers? |
| Annie | thank you okay wanted to be sure I wasn't missing something :) |
| CurtNGS | Many state and local enumerations (census) are available through LDS centers...you may need to request them on loan, though. |
| CurtNGS | Next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM Mark] Do you know the scheduled release date of the 1880 US census index on CD-ROM? I read in the LDS press releases for the Freedman's Bank CD-ROM that the entire 1880 census is due out in 2001? |
| CurtNGS | Another great question.... |
| CurtNGS | I could make a lot of money if I knew that date...! :-) |
| CurtNGS | It would great to see the Family History Department release the 1880 census on CD this year... |
| CurtNGS | It is an amazing...and amazingly large undertaking. I, however, I have heard a date...other than a few that have already passed. :-) |
| CurtNGS | Next.. |
| genealogyADM | FROM DanB] Curt I've found that you can learn a lot from looking in the polk directories for an area, people who don't show up on census's often appear here |
| CurtNGS | Absolutely correct! And a great comment! In the genealogy classes I teach at the local college, I always include city directories in the same unit as census records... |
| CurtNGS | And the reason is just what you stated.... |
| DanB | thanks |
| CurtNGS | There is a host of data that can be found in city directories to really complement the census...and even go beyond what they offer... |
| CurtNGS | As an example.... |
| CurtNGS | The 1840 city directory for Cincinnati lists the state or foreign country where the resident came from. Try finding that on an 1840 federal census...! :-) |
| CurtNGS | Next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM RoseQuinn] What happens to the information for persons who have died in the other eight years between the census? |
| CurtNGS | When individuals do not died the year before the census, you are correct in inferring that they will not be listed on the mortality schedule... |
| CurtNGS | From a federal records perspective, the deaths for the other years are simply not captured...not noted. |
| CurtNGS | As a researcher, though, we have other options.... |
| CurtNGS | First, we can look for civil death records...then explore newspaper obits and death notices, cemetery records, burial records, church records....\ |
| CurtNGS | The death event in an ancestor's life can really be a time for harvesting rich documents and records. |
| CurtNGS | next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM SirBob] Why the 75 year wait before we can see a census? |
| CurtNGS | The 75 year wait is mandated by the federal government to protext individuals' privacy... |
| CurtNGS | It was thought when it was first instituted that after 75 years, it was likely an individual would be dead or too old to care... |
| CurtNGS | So the information could be released with violating privacy unnecessarily... |
| CurtNGS | It should be noted that since folks are living longer, some of our "elected folks" have -- just every once in a while -- toyed with the idea of extending the cap even longer.... |
| CurtNGS | And who said it wasn't important to be involved in politics...? :-) |
| CurtNGS | Next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM BeccaRose] how do you decipher census info that has a series of #'s instead of regular info? (if that makes sense) |
| CurtNGS | If I am understanding your question...How do you use census records before 1840?.... |
| BeccaRose | yes.....I'm looking at one from 1830 |
| CurtNGS | When all that was written was the head of the household and "X" # of mailes and females... |
| CurtNGS | Yup... |
| CurtNGS | Some individual get discouraged by the apparent lack of data...and its true that there is deminished data... |
| BeccaRose | ie: John SURNAME 010120001000 00110001000 |
| CurtNGS | However the census records still have much to offer.... To "decode them"... |
| CurtNGS | For you example.... |
| CurtNGS | The first group of numbers refers to the males in the household by age category... |
| BeccaRose | ok |
| CurtNGS | The second group of numbers refers to the females in the household by age categoy.... |
| CurtNGS | There are a number of great sites on Cyndi's List under "Census" that can provide you with the exact key for determining how many males 0-5, etc... |
| BeccaRose | is there a key code to decipher that? |
| CurtNGS | And that will be faster...and probably more accurate than me typing... |
| BeccaRose | oh ok |
| BeccaRose | thanks |
| CurtNGS | If you want to contact me offline...I can send you the details on the decoding.... |
| BeccaRose | that would be wonderful....thank you for the offer |
| genealogyADM | FROM charanne] Do you think we are going to see the balance of states have soundex indexing done for the years 1900, 1910 and 1920 in the future? |
| CurtNGS | I think we will see the balance of the states have indexing before the middle of next year, 2002.... |
| CurtNGS | But I really doubt that it will be soundex...it will likely be straight alpha... |
| charanne | Then the indexing will not be in the same form as the other states that we now have.????? |
| CurtNGS | With the .coms, we wil likely see the entire census completely searchable, online inside 18months... |
| genealogyADM | Every name or head of household? |
| charanne | Yes but at what Cost to the user??? |
| CurtNGS | That is correct....a mix of indexing. And one loses some of the benefits of having names that sound alike grouped together... |
| CurtNGS | Next... |
| CurtNGS | Oooopss.. |
| charanne | I saw one the other day that wants 12.50 per census page. |
| CurtNGS | Forgot a question...and a good one...\ |
| CurtNGS | Will the "new indexing" be every name or just head of the household. I cannot say with 100% certainity, but... |
| CurtNGS | What I hear is that it will be head of household and those in a household with a different surname than the head. |
| CurtNGS | One can find a better deal than $12.50 per page....!! Hope I'm allowed to say that! |
| CurtNGS | Next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM gatchell99] What advances do you see coming in access, public domain type access to the US Census do you see coming? |
| gatchell99 | This question kinda got answered already... |
| CurtNGS | Advancing in public domain access to US Census records...Hmmmm....Where to begin... |
| CurtNGS | First, I think the access to actual digitized copies of census records over the web in a public domain set-up (which I am taking you mean free) will not happen for a while... |
| Cyndihow | Curt - can you comment/explain why it may cost us something to access the census online? such as scanned images? |
| CurtNGS | The reason is the cost involved in digitizing, mounting, and serving the data... |
| CurtNGS | The example I like to use in explaining cost is the wonderful FREE site of www.FamilySearch.org. |
| gatchell99 | thanks. |
| CurtNGS | Most people would literally faint if they knew the amount of money it cost the LDS Family History Department to serve all the data they do on that site.... |
| CurtNGS | And that's not even digitized or scanned data, which typically takes up more storage space. |
| CurtNGS | Then you have the challenge of band-wdith and access..The number of hits a digital census site would receive would be enormous.... |
| genealogyADM | Another important point is that the census records and soundex indexes available for free in our public libraries were actually paid for by each one of us (or our ancestors) in the form of government taxes. So they aren't really "free" either |
| CurtNGS | Advances in technology will continue to help us...keying in a surname, state, and other data, obtaining a group of links, and clicking on the appropriate one to lauch a digital copy to your computer at no cost.... |
| CurtNGS | we are going to be a while on that one... |
| CurtNGS | Next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM Nancy] Do house numbers in the censuses offer any clues to location within the township? |
| CurtNGS | House numbers in the census don't correspond to the actual house numbers on the dwelling--they are not the street addresses. But.... |
| CurtNGS | they can offer clues offer clues on who is living next to/close to whom, who the folks in the immediate and outlying areas are, etc. In that way, they can be useful. |
| CurtNGS | Next.. |
| genealogyADM | FROM karenmc] if a person is proven to have a land grant in the 1840 or the tax roll, but is not found in the census, would there be any possibility that they would be found in agricultural schedules or would it mean that they died? |
| Nancy | Thanks, I didn't think so. |
| CurtNGS | With agricultural schedules, one can document land holdings, glean information about how the land was used by a particular family, and possibly gather some migration data. Many people find it fascinating to see what crops their ancestors grew and what animals were on their farms. |
| karenmc | Do you have to know the area or county or township they were in to find that information? |
| CurtNGS | As agricultural schedules were taken from 1840 to 1910, it is possible you may find them in another schedule other than the population schedule... |
| CurtNGS | I would not assume a person has died if they are not on a census....It may be the basis for constructing a hypothesis... |
| karenmc | Would I find the agricultural schedules through the county, state libraries or Historical Society in WI? |
| CurtNGS | But as we discussed earlier, numerous folks were missed on census records. Not finding a person on a schedule may be consequential or just a "miss". |
| CurtNGS | State Libraries typically have them for their respective states. I am not sure what the holdings of the Historical Soc. of WI are. As an example, we just have the ag schedules for IN here in Ft. Wayne. |
| CurtNGS | Also try the FHL catalog and have them loaned from SLC to your local FHC. |
| CurtNGS | next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM dca] can I infer anything from a census which has 3 pages of welsh families, 2 german families and 3 more pages of welsh families? |
| karenmc | Thanks Curt, I've enjoyed your news articles and classes. Karen |
| CurtNGS | Interesting situation....and one that would make me as a researcher want to dig deeper... |
| CurtNGS | First, as always, the two German families could have been copied out of order by the enumerator when he was recopying...Dang these mistakes our ancestors made...! :-) But... |
| CurtNGS | It is also possible that it wasn't a mistake and delving into local history may be warranted. |
| CurtNGS | And that is a good point to make here.... |
| CurtNGS | When we do genealogical research, always attempt to research in the widest, fullest context possible. Census records a super documents.... |
| CurtNGS | and use them to lead you to other documents. Decipher all writing you don't understand, make sure your are aware of the occupations, note the number of living children, etc., etc..... |
| CurtNGS | All can provide great research clues... |
| dca | yes, wish they said more than "laborer" as occupation |
| CurtNGS | But to answer your question directly...nope, don't know why those two german families were there.. but I sure am curious. |
| CurtNGS | Next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM Annie] I noticed when they (post office) sent out the 2000 census, you didn't get one if you were a post office box holder. How would the census be taken for these individuals? |
| dca | thank you |
| CurtNGS | The 2000 census... |
| Annie | the census forms sent out last year |
| Annie | from the federal government |
| CurtNGS | I am not familiar with the instructions that were given to the enumerator and the district captains...though I do remember getting the long form...one of the lucky few... |
| genealogyADM | Lucky you! I pouted over my short form for at least a week... |
| Annie | thanks Curt curious here |
| CurtNGS | That would be a great question to post to the query section of the census bureau. I am sure they have an answer...though we won't know for 75 years whether it was actually done properely... |
| CurtNGS | next... |
| genealogyADM | FROM Cyndihow] Question -- Of the printed indexes for the census, are there some (from specific publishers/vendors) that are considered more reliable? |
| CurtNGS | Oooohhh...ouch....:-) Thanks Cyndi..... |
| CurtNGS | Don't know how honest one can be....but we're among friends... |
| Cyndihow | What is commonly "known" throughout the gen.. community? |
| Cyndihow | What should newbies know? |
| CurtNGS | I have heard it reported that the old AIS or AISI indexes, which are the basis for some of the online census indexes and CD have about a 17 to 26% error rate... |
| CurtNGS | Now error rates are figured by determining misspelling, omissions, etc. |
| CurtNGS | In my professional opinion, the Precision Indexes by AGLL/Heritage Quest are the best print indices for the census... |
| CurtNGS | And hence, the best CD indices for the census... |
| Cyndihow | I would echo that opinion, knowing (personally) the attention to detail that HQ pays to the indexing and digitizing. |
| CurtNGS | A couple of the .coms have done "a lot of clean-up" of the flawed old indices, but I really don't know how much... |
| genealogyADM | Since it is getting close to 10, we should probably wrap things up here and let Curt go... |
| genealogyADM | I do have one final question, however |
| CurtNGS | The indices that are coming out online and some of the super projects of the USGENWeb project hold out much more accuracy. |
| Cyndihow | thanks for clarifying! |
| CurtNGS | The rule of thumb is, though, use EVERY index you can find for your particular year and area! |
| Cyndihow | Will do! |
| CurtNGS | WOW...what a fast couple of hours...! :-) |
| genealogyADM | What roll do you see NGS having in the brave new world of genealogy on the Internet? These online chats, being an example... How do you see the organization expanding its online offerings going forward? |
| CurtNGS | The NGS is committed to enlarging and expanding its role in the online community and with technology... |
| CurtNGS | It is one of the highest priorities of this current board...to incorporate the best and widest use of technology in fulfilling our mission of education... |
| CurtNGS | We will be conducting an open forum at our conference in Portland in May to hear what others would like to see. |
| CurtNGS | An online newsletter is being seriously considered... |
| CurtNGS | As well as developing forums where genealogists can share information and exchange expertise. |
| CurtNGS | In the words of one of my favorites....we have "miles to go before we sleep"...but these are really exciting times for our society. |
| CurtNGS | next.... |
| genealogyADM | We're going to wrap things up here Curt |
| genealogyADM | If you would like to stay and take a few more questions, feel free! |
| genealogyADM | But we don't want to take advantage of your generosity |
| NGSJohn | Curt, on behalf of the 17,000 plus members of NGS and the staff many thanks! |
| CurtNGS | Thanks, Kimberly! Its been great....and hopefully just the beginning! :-) |
| NGSJohn | Thanks Kimberly |
| genealogyADM | Thank you so much for coming and educating all of us! |
| genealogyADM | I'm going to turn off moderation now, so that all of you can thank Curt personally :-) |
| Cyndihow | Curt, thank you for representing NGS and doing such a fine job here tonight! |
| CurtNGS | You're very welcome...my pleasure. Thanks for the assist! |
| dca | thank you so much |
| NGSJohn | and remember our next online chat is April 11 when we will have, David Rencher, the head of the Family History Library online to chat with you |
| jimram1 | Thanks Curt |
| rikki | Yes Thank you Mr Curt! I really appreciate you taking the time to be here with us! :) |
| Annie | Curt--Thanks for everything and which Portland/ Maine or Oregon |
| penbay | thank you Curt! |
| charanne | Thanks Curt |
| genealogyADM | Oregon |
| Kay | Thank you. I'm looking forward to Portland! |
| CurtNGS | Portland, OR |
| GayleWI | Thanx Curt! |
| penbay | shucks |
| genealogyADM | I'll be there too :) |
| Ansonette | Curt, Great information, thanks so much! |
| rhondam400 | Thanks Curt! |
| willowspirit | Thanks Curt. This is a great format and I'll be here on the 11th |
| OhioAmy | Thanks Curt! |
| MichelleNJ | Curt, Thank You!! |
| Ansonette | Cyndi, perfect question you asked! Thanks! |
| illya | Excellent info, Curt.. . Thanks |
| Nell | Thank you Curt! |
| Cyndihow | Information about the upcoming NGS conference in Portland |
| CharPo | Enjoyed the evening. Thanks |
| CurtNGS | It was great being here.... |
| Annie | thanks cyndi |
| genealogyADM | I'll be putting a transcript of this chat online tomorrow |
| karenmc | Thanks for putting in online tomorrow. Karen |
| genealogyADM | It will be added to the NGS Virtual Lecture index page where you can also find info on the upcoming April 11 chat and a transcript of the first NGS chat with Cyndi Howells |
| illya | Cyndi, are you speaking at the conference? |
| Annie | <<<<<<seeking Steve or George for Ireland trip |
| Cyndihow | illya -- yes, I am |
| Cyndihow | Also helping in the computer lab area each day |
| CurtNGS | The Ireland trip is on the NGS web site... |
| illya | Cyndi, they have so many sessions per time slot, how is one supposed to choose? |
| Cyndihow | illya --- cloning. |
| OhioAmy | That's why Repeat Performance tapes them! |
| Annie | :) |
| genealogyADM | I had such a rough time deciding last year... |
| pbg | :) |
| genealogyADM | Hey Unk - you just missed the chat! |
| UnkHIram | figures |
| illya | Hi Unk! |
| genealogyADM | I'll have the transcript up tomorrow |
| rikki | Hi pbg :) |
| illya | Cyndi, this will be my first time to the conference... how many people attend each session? |
| UnkHIram | Hi Illya |
| UnkHIram | Hi Cyndi |
| pbg | Hi Rikki, Cyndi and Everyone else that I know, sorry I was late coming on line, k? :) |
| UnkHIram | Jeez, everyone is here tonight |
| Cyndihow | Illya -- depends on the overall attendance at the conference, and the topic. |
| Cyndihow | Some rooms hold 50, some hold 200-300. |
| Cyndihow | etc. |
| Cyndihow | Hi unk -- you're late! |
| Cyndihow | Unk -- more than 74 people were here at one time, learning from our esteemed President. |
| UnkHIram | Cyndi, what can I say, Texas is in mourning tonight |
| UnkHIram | Kewl |
| pbg | unk always late....travels slowly..:)) |
| genealogyADM | We were up over 90 at one point... |
| rikki | pbg, it's ok. a lot were late. But Kim is going to put a transcript of tonight's chat up so you can catch it all anyway :) |
| UnkHIram | Wow, thats great, glad to see that many folks in a Gen Chat |
| rikki | Cool Beans Kim :) |
| illya | Unk, Texas... mourning? |
| rikki | Unk, why is Texas in mourning? |
| UnkHIram | Illya, the Cowboys released Troy Aikman tonight |
| MichelleNJ | Kim, those are great numbers!! :-) |
| rikki | Ohhhhhhh.... |
| pbg | no problem, understood what it was Curt was describing....just glad I've never had to be a census taker..:)) |
| genealogyADM | Maybe he can come play for the Steelers :) |
| illya | Unk, that's probably ok... his poor brain has been through too much anyway |
| rikki | pbg...you and me both! LOL |
| BeccaRose | too many shots to the head Kim.....it's time for him to retire |
| Annie | maybe he can play for a team that will pay him on number of concussions |
| genealogyADM | LOL! |
| Ansonette | How about the Seahawks ! |
| pbg | :) |
| KEN | TITANS |
| UnkHIram | I heard he is going to San Diego |
| BeccaRose | LOL Annie.....we did for several years! |
| illya | Cyndi, how well attended are the lunches? |
| Annie | lol |
| genealogyADM | VERY Illya |
| genealogyADM | They are one of the highlights :) |
| rhondam400 | illya, many of them sell out. |
| MichelleNJ | very, very... I had a great time at the ones I attended in Richmond. |
| UnkHIram | Cyndi, I meant to ask you, did you like the interview column? |
| Cyndihow | Unk -- yes, I did. Thank you! |
| Annie | Good night all // first time here// will be back//:) |
| genealogyADM | Hey Michelle - you should come to the Portland conference with me :) |
| Cyndihow | Iilya -- lunches are always well attended |
| Cyndihow | And fun too |
| genealogyADM | Good night Annie |
| genealogyADM | thanks for coming! |
| UnkHIram | da nayda |
| pbg | 'night Annie..:) |
| UnkHIram | Nite Annie |
| BeccaRose | glad to see you Annie....hope you can make it back soon! |
| genealogyADM | We have chats every night of the week |
| Annie | no thank you and Curt |
| genealogyADM | though not quite this popular! |
| BeccaRose | not yet Kim.....we're working on it |
| Annie | and the rest of the people in the chat |
| MichelleNJ | kim, would love to... but will be visiting Mickey May 3-7 and Poland in July, so no NGS conference this year. :-( |
| charanne | Where do you chat other then here once a month???? |
| genealogyADM | You come to NGS with me and I'll go to Poland with you <grin> |
| a | hello room |
| genealogyADM | As long as we can go to Krakow |
| rikki | charanne...we chat here every night at 9:30 pm eastern |
| genealogyADM | Charanne - we're in here every night You can check the chat schedule on my main chat page |
| BeccaRose | be right back again y'all |
| pbg | Hi a Welcome to the group on line..:) |
| UnkHIram | Thats 8;30 Texican time (GRIN) |
| MichelleNJ | hmmm, now you're making me think about it... Krakow?? That's where I'm flying!! |
| charanne | 7:30 pacific time |
| genealogyADM | Actually, it would be 6:30PM Pacific Time, Charanne |
| a | thamx pbg |
| KEN | hio a |
| a | howd ken |
| pbg | soooooooo how successful have you all been in your research on the internet for the last 10 years?? |
| Cyndihow | Well, its dinner time here on the west coast folks. Thanks for coming. See you all next month!! |
| genealogyADM | Sounds good to me Michelle! I'll just rob a few banks between now and then... |
| genealogyADM | Night Cyndi! Thanks so much for coming :) |
| rikki | Hey all...I'll be back later if I get a chance....thanks for a great night! |
| UnkHIram | Nite Ms Cydni |
| MichelleNJ | LOL |
| OhioAmy | Cya Cyndi! |
| penbay | bye Cyndi |
| genealogyADM | Nite rikki :) |
| MichelleNJ | G'nite Cyndi |
| rhondam400 | Nite Cyndi |
| penbay | bye rikki! |
| pbg | 'night Cyndi always nice to be on line with yu |
| Ansonette | Adios, Cyndi |
| a | nght cyn |
| KEN | nite Cyndi |
| CurtNGS | Thanks again for the great time....need to hit the road... |
| rhondam400 | Nite Curt |
| genealogyADM | Good night Curt - thanks again for a wonderful evening! |
| Ansonette | Thanks again, Curt. Really good info! |
| pbg | Sorry I missed your presentation...but hopefully next time maybe?? |
| OhioAmy | 'night Curt |
| penbay | goodnight Curt |
| CurtNGS left............. |
