This is the first newsletter published by Family Roots Publishing. It’s been in the plans for the last year or so, and is now a reality. The newsletter will be written by Leland K. Meitzler, the publisher at FRPC. Leland is best known as the founder of Heritage Quest (in 1985), and his editorship of Heritage Quest Magazine (1985-2005), and Everton’s Genealogical Helper (2006-2009). Leland is also known as a genealogy lecturer with over 2000 genealogy lectures to his credit. From this point forward, this newsletter will be written in the first person.
The FREE FRPC Genealogy Newsletter (FRPC standing for Family Roots Publishing Company) will contain genealogy-related tips, news, links, and product information. We believe that sales of products will allow us to do this, as our biggest expense will be the time it takes to write and share this information with you. The FRPC Genealogy Newsletter will be simple – no pictures or HTML coding, at least not for now. This is an “opt-in” newsletter. You are receiving it because you may have signed up for it at the Family Roots Publishing Company home page (upper left-hand corner), and/or purchased product from Family Roots Publishing Company recently.
CIVIL WAR ANCESTORS & THEIR FAMILIES
If you had ancestors living in the United States during the 1860s, there is a good chance that at least some of your relatives fought in the American Civil War. Even if they weren’t involved in the war effort itself, the war had a direct effect on all families – whether North or South. The war lasted from the firing on Fort Sumter, South Carolina on April 12, 1861 until the Surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia on April 9, 1865. The effects of the war, which is now nearing its sesquicentennial (2011-2015), are felt to this day. It’s said (a bit tongue-in-cheek) that in some parts of the South, the war is still being fought. I’ve had more than a few genealogists speak of the War of Northern Aggression when I’ve exhibited or lectured in their area.
Keep in mind that Civil War era genealogy research entails much more than just researching our soldier ancestors. It’s also the research of our families who themselves may or may not have survived the war. We research these folks using tax records, census records (federal and state), letters, deeds, – and yes, even the pension files of the soldiers themselves. Never overlook the families!
There are three online Civil War databases that I recommend to everyone. One is FREE (paid for by your tax dollars), and the other two are subscription sites.
They are:
1. The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, found at: http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss The soldier’s search site is specifically: http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm The website is maintained by the National Park Service. Go there FIRST to search for your Civil War Soldier (Union or Confederate).
2. The American Civil War Research Database (ACWRD), found at: http://www.civilwardata.com This site has a subscription fee of $25 annually or $10 for a week’s pass. The site currently has 4,253,387 soldier’s records, 4,649 Civil War regimental rosters, 3,835 regimental chronicles, 1010 Officer profiles, 19,305 Civil War Soldier Photographs, and 3,398 Civil War battle synopses.
3. Footnote.com, found at: http://www.footnote.com This site has an annual subscription fee of $69.95. The rapidly growing site has over 58,000,000 images posted as of today. Their images include over 5600 Brady Civil War photographs (with FREE access!); Civil War Veteran’s Pension Index; Confederate Amnesty Papers; Confederate Citizens File; Pennsylvania Civil War IRS records; and the Civil War Service Records for selected States (Confederate: AL, AZ, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MO, NC SC, TN, TX, VA + CSA & Officers) (Union: AL, AR, Dakota, GA, KY, MS, MO, NE, NV, OR, UT, + Union & Colored Troops). In addition, Footnote, in cooperation with FamilySearch, has undertaken the digitizing and indexing of 1,280,000 Civil War and later widows’ pension at the National Archives in Washington D.C. These are paper records, and will take time. As of today, there are 437,041 digitized pages online, with more going up every day.
My friend, Bill Dollarhide, has been writing for several years on a book titled “Genealogical Resources of the Civil War Era – Online and Published Military or Civilian Name Lists, 1861-1869, and Post-War Veteran Lists.” It’s finally finished, and is now available for purchase at: http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/store/product_view.php?id=281 Just for kicks, and to see if you folks actually read this far down in the text, if you purchase the “Civil War Era” book at the above website address, and include the words “Newsletter 1-1” on the “order notes” line on checkout, I’ll send along a free wall chart titled “Kinship Connections” This is a universal “family bush” which illustrates every type of relationship by consanguinity (blood) and affinity (marriage), for seven generations.
A column, which was used in the introduction to Bill’s new “Genealogical Resources of the Civil War Era” book is online at: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=2448
NEWS
Hands Around The Library Rally Held at the Library of Michigan – See: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=5550
brightsolid Acquires Friends Reunited for 25 Million Lbs. – See: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=5545
The Interactive 1930 Census FREE at Footnote.com During August – See: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=5540
Open Forum: Blogging, Social Networking, and Podcasting at the FGS Conference – See: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=5512
The Free Online Michigan Death Records 1897-1920 is 99% Complete – with 960,000+ Certificates Online – See: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=5487
Ancestry.com Files a $75,000,000 IPO – See: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=5480
FEATURED PRODUCTS AT FRPC
Carmack’s Guide to Copyright & Contracts, by Sharon Carmack – See: http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/store/product_view.php?id=96
The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy – 3rd Edition, by Val Greenwood – See: http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/store/product_view.php?id=129
Map Guide to German Parish Registers, Vol. 24 – Thuringia, by Kevan Hansen – See: http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/store/product_view.php?id=278
County Map of the United States – 39×27 inches – folded. See: http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/store/product_view.php?id=279
Twenty-Three Generation Ahnentafel Wall Chart – 28″x40″ – folded – The chart allows nine generations with all the statistics and another four lines extending all the way to the 23rd generation. See: http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/store/product_view.php?id=161
THE SALT LAKE CHRISTMAS TOUR
The Salt Lake Christmas Tour is known for having the highest ratio of consulting professional genealogists per attendee of any research tour to the Family History Library. Join us this year December 6 through 12, 2009. See: http://www.SaltLakeChristmasTour.com
CONTACT INFO:
Family Roots Publishing Company, PO Box 830, Bountiful, Utah 84011; Phone 801-992-3705; Fax: 815-642-0103; Cell: 801-949-7259; email: Lmeitzler@gmail.com; http://www.FamilyRootsPublishing.com ; http://GenealogyBlog.com ; http://Salt Lake ChristmasTour.com ; Written by Leland K. Meitzler; Owned by Leland & Patty Meitzler.
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