LEGISLATIVE WEBSITE INFORMATIVE
(Please be aware this post was written in 2003 and published at that time in the Houston Chronicle (Houston, Texas) newspaper. Some of the news in this post, therefore, may not be current. Current and future posts on this blog may revisit and update news on this and other posts on this blog. If you have questions and/or suggestions, please send Mic a note using the comment page -Don’t forget to use the orange “subscribe” button to receive new posts-Thanks, Mic)
A new website at http://micbarnette.bravepages.com contains information about bills pending in the state legislature which concern public records of interest to genealogists and historians. Since fear of identity theft is the major reason for much of the pending legislation the website contains several items of interest regarding identity theft.
Bills pending in the state legislature include those relating to the closure of DD-214/Military Discharges, closing marriage applications and extending the closed period of birth records from 50 to 75 years. The website also has pages explaining the legislative process and how to contact one’s Texas and federal legislators.
Associated with the website is a mailing list for those interested in discussing legislative bills and how to change or maintain the status quo. The free mailing list, TXLEGNOTES, may be accessed from the website.
Those interested in lobbying the legislature to keep records open are urged to visit the website and subscribe to the mailing list.
OHIO CONFERENCE
The Ohio Genealogical Society, the largest state genealogical society in the country, will hold their annual conference April 24-26 in Easton, Ohio near Columbus. Their conference, Ohio: 200 Years of Heritage will feature seven concurrent speakers for each speaking hour during the conference.
To view the schedule of topics and online registration brochure visit the society website at http://www.ogs.org.
HGF HOSTS HUMPHREY
John T. Humphrey, Director of Education at the National Genealogical Society, will address the regular meeting of the Houston Genealogical Forum from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday April 5. His topic will be Developing Skills to Become a Genealogist.
During the afternoon, from 1 p.m. to 3p.m., Humphrey will address the society during a mini-seminar. His topic will be Researching Colonial Ancestors: Case Study, Pennsylvania. The morning session is free, however, there is a fee for the mini seminar. Both sessions will be held at the Bayland Park Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet in Southwest Houston. For more information contact the Genealine at 713-968-9750.
LITTLE IN DALLAS
Noted Virginia genealogist, Barbara Vines Little, will be the featured speaker at the Dallas Genealogical Society seminar on Saturday April 5 at the Downtown Dallas Public Library. She will lecture about Manuscripts and books on microfilm; chancery records and using tax records.
For more information about the lecture series and to register visit the DGS website at http://www.dallasgenealogy.org/
LEARN GENEALOGY
Offered by Leisure Learning, Mic Barnette will teach an introductory course on conducting family history research. Roots of Genealogy-How To Research Your Family Tree will be held from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M. Wednesday April 2 at Leisure Learning’s 2990 Richmond Ave campus. The following week the class will tour Clayton Genealogical Library and conduct on-site census research. For more information and to register, contact Leisure Learning at 713-529-4414.
NEWS FROM THE BOOKSHELF
Most of the 1851 Irish census was destroyed in the 1922 fire at the Four Courts in Dublin. The largest collection of surviving 1851 census fragments pertains to thirteen parishes in County Antrim. From microfilm images of these census fragments Josephine Masterson has compiled County Antrim, Ireland 1851 Census (Fragments): Transcription and Index.
This 610 page book contains the names and surviving data of over 28,000 residents of County Antrim in 1851. For each person the following information is given: name, age, marital status, year of marriage, relationship to the head of household, literacy and place of birth.
The book is available for $48.50, postpaid, from Clearfield Publishers, 200 East Eager, Baltimore , MD 21202 or by calling 800-296-6687.
