Week 8 - Genealogy Resources

This week's assignment took me a while because I found it hard to get to a public library during open hours (ironic, I know).  I even looked into getting a trial subscription for my school, but I was directed by the ProQuest representative to contact Ancestry.com directly and they told me that they would provide free access for three months provided it would be used in connection with a curricular unit.  So, finally I made it to the public library!

1. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be dead to be listed in Ancestry Library and can frequently find useful information in the U.S. Phone and Address Directories, 1993-2002. You may even find your marriage license. Search for your own name in Ancestry Library and report the results.

When I searched my name and birth date, I was indeed somewhat surprised to find my marriage record!   Even more exciting, I could view a scan of the original license.  I found some other basic address information, but the marriage license was definitely the highlight of the search.

2.  In Ancestry Library, search for a grandparent or great-grandparent and see if you can locate them in the census.  Report your findings.

I was very interested to look up my great-uncle by marriage, as I knew that he was born in Maine, but left at an early age.  The family knows next to nothing about his ancestry, and once he left Maine, he never returned.

I was delighted to find him in the 1910 and 1920 census, listed as living in Houlton.  Interestingly, I discovered that both his parents were from Canada and his father was listed in the 1910 census, but not in 1920 (making me wonder if he passed away when my great uncle was just a small child).   In the 1930 census he is listed as living in Barnstable, MA.  Finally, there is a record of him in the Veterans Gravesite source, correctly identifying his burial place as Rock Island, IL.

My only disappointment here is that I couldn't find any additional information about my uncle's time in the Navy.  One of our great family stories is that both he and my great-aunt were spies during World War II, but neither would ever talk about that experience. 

3.  In Ancestry Library, perform a search under the “Photos and Maps” tab for “Maine” as the keyword.  Report your findings.

I found an overwhelming amount of information available when I searched "Maine" by photos and maps.  Clearly one would need to narrow their search to get specific information, but the wealth of offerings demonstrated to me that just about any historical map/atlas on Maine can be found here! 

I really enjoyed exploring this resource!  I only wish that it was available at home - I would be much more likely to delve more deeply if I could do so from my own desk (at an hour and day when my public library is not open).