Thursday, March 8: A Library is a Library–Unless It’s a SPECIAL Library

1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Shari Snelling, SHSI, instructor. Learn more about State Historical libraries and how they differ from the public and academic libraries you may be familiar with. Preregistration required. Cost: $5 IGS members/$10 non-members.

Saturday- Sunday, March 17 – 18 Luck of the Irish Research Weekend!

March 17: Beginning Genealogy, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Theresa Liewer, instructor. Learn the basics to begin your family history project. Pre-registration suggested. Free.

March 17: Irish Online Resources, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Theresa Liewer, instructor. Will you be “Wearin’ the Green” on St. Patrick’s Day? We’ve got a class to help you learn more about your Irish ancestors online—resources that ten years ago we could only dream about. Pre-registration required. Cost: $5 IGS members/ $10 non-members.

March 17 – 18: Luck of the Irish Research Slumber Party 4 p.m. Saturday through 6 a.m. Sunday. May the “Luck of the Irish” be with you as you search for your ancestors during this marathon research weekend. Space is limited; pre-registration is required. Cost: $25 per person includes a light supper.

Saturday, March 31: Digging for Treasure Online at Public Libraries.

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Debi Chase, instructor. The public libraries hold genealogical treasure if you just know how to find it. This class will show you some of the things available and how to find more. When we’re finished you will be able to seek out treasures of your own. You’ll be surprised at what you can find. Preregistration required. Cost: IGS members $5/ non-members $10.

IGS is requesting your gently-used-but-no-longer-needed items for a silent auction that will be held in conjunction with the April 14 Spring Technology Conference. Your donation helps IGS!

Resource books, gift cards, quilts, (no junk, please) can mean $$$ for genealogy. Donations can be brought to IGS.

This beautiful teapot and four plates and the quality Longaberger baskets have already arrived.

The latest issue of the Hawkeye Heritage, published in February, includes a variety of interesting stories:

• An article about the second oldest person in the world and in the U.S.: Dina Manfredini.
• A section on “Where were you when President Kennedy was Shot?”
• Carl Nollen discusses all of the cemeteries  in Mahaska County that he has personally visited.
• Sue Claman has an article about using directories in research.
• We also have a section for pictures with no homes,  entitled “Who do you Think  They Are?”

The Hawkeye Heritage, published quarterly, is IGS’s premier source for Iowa-specific genealogy, history, methodology, and resources of enduring value. Submissions are welcome!

Please help IGS to better serve our members by responding to the following questions:

1. Do you read the Hawkeye?

2. If yes, what interests you most in the Hawkeye?

Submit articles and survey responses to Shirley Woodruff: shirley@yostonline.com, or to the IGS office: 628 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1924.

2012 Hawkeye Heritage publication schedule:

April – June issue: Articles due 24 April to be printed by 15 May 2012.

Download and read current and past issues: http://www.iowagenealogy.org/library/collections/publications-2/#hawkeye

Members of the Northeast Iowa Genealogical Society participated in the Cedar Falls Library’s January genealogy and computer classes, “Commemoration of the Civil War Sesquicentennial.”

Garel and Jeanine Johnson and their daughter, assisted by Ruth Tucker, constructed a Civil War and genealogy display for the library.

Allaire George, Duane Akeright, Steve Schell, Marilyn Gerholdt and Ruth Tucker presented various classes. Attendance exceeded our expectations with a high of sixty-one members at the first class to seventeen participants at the Independent Work Session. Class topics included:

• Introduction to Genealogy
• Introduction to Genealogy Software
• Managing a Genealogical Project, Organization, & Preservation
• Courthouse Research

NEIGS member Kim Van Deest, Network & Information Literacy Administrator of the Waterloo Public Library, presented classes on Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest.com, and NewspaperArchives.com. The last Independent Work Session allowed participants to use the library computers or their own laptops to access these websites.

The Waterloo Courier featured the classes on their “Living” page in the 6 January 2012 issue.

Cemetery projects

Volunteers are needed for mapping and digital pictures of gravestones in Polk County cemeteries. In the future, these new databases will be available on the IGS website.

1940 Census Indexing

IGS has agreed to participate in the Family Search 1940 Census Project by indexing the Iowa portion of the Federal Census to be released 2 April 2012. Volunteers are  needed for this project. The project will be headquartered at IGS but will spread across Iowa and include participation by out-of-state members. Our Group Administrator is Barbara Hammer.

Be part of making genealogical history! Contact Barbara Hammer c/o IGS: 515-276-0287; igs@iowagenealogy.org. Volunteer your time and talents to help bring the 1940 census to the world!

Camp Dodge Militia Enlistments

Volunteers are needed to enter database information from 3 x 5 cards: the only index to the Militia Enlistment forms at the State Archives. Records range from 1878 to as late as 1931. Many contain real gems of genealogy information– residence, birth date and place, age, occupation, next of kin, and physical description, in addition to enlistment date(s), units, and discharge dates.

Spring Technology Conference: Picture This!

April 14th is Eric Basir’s photography workshops, including lunch by local caterer, “In the Bag.” April is also the Silent Auction and Spring Garage Sale. All events will take place in the IGS Library’s West Wing. Volunteers are needed to assist with these activities. Limited space is available for Spring Conference vendors; get your request in early to reserve a place.

Silent Auction Planned

April 14th.  IGS will hold a Silent Auction at the Spring Technology Conference. Do you have items you’d be willing to donate?

Suggestions: quilts, genealogy supplies, Longaberger baskets, crystal, gift certificates for hotels, restaurants, collectibles, anything new or used, (but, please, no “junk”). Items may be brought to IGS any time before the Spring Conference.

Spring Garage Sale

Thursday, April 26th and Friday, April 27th. Donation items needed (no clothing, please)! Bring your items to IGS any time. Questions? Contact IGS: igs@iowagenealogy.org or 515-276-0287.

Merle Hay Non-Profit Day

Saturday, May 12^th, 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Merle Hay Mall, Des Moines. A coordinator and volunteers are needed to set-up and operate an information booth. Volunteers will be organized by two-hour shifts and are encouraged to bring their own research to share as examples of what family historians can learn.

Lives and Times

Phil Parks returns for four weekly lectures in June on Prohibition. If you missed his Scots-Irish lectures, don’t miss these. They are scheduled for Wednesday evenings in June at  7 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help with set-up for these programs. If you’ve enjoyed the Lives and Times series in the past, consider volunteering as Coordinator and keep these fine programs coming to IGS.

Rolling Slumber Party

In 2004, IGS hosted a November “Rolling Slumber Party” to the Mid-Continent Library and Regional National Archives in  Kansas City. Both entities have moved to new locations in the Kansas City area. Is there interest in having another such trip sometime this year or next? A volunteer is needed to put it together with costs to see if it is feasible.

Somewhere in Time: IGS Wedding Memories

Response to “Somewhere in Time” has been enthusiastic! In order to properly plan and carry out this unique fundraiser, the date has been temporarily postponed.

IGS will receive free project management assistance by partnering with the Project Management Institute, Central Iowa Chapter (PMI). This organization pairs professional project managers with non-profits to plan and implement fundraising events. Read more about their “Collaborate 2 Succeed” program on their website: http://www.pmi-centraliowa.org/page/involved/c2s.

Members will be invited to display their heirloom wedding dresses along with written wedding stories. For those who don’t have the original dress, display a wedding picture of the bride or couple with their special story. Gowns will be displayed by vintage era and prizes will be awarded in various categories.

IGS volunteers are needed to help implement this memorable event. Get involved and be part of this unique fundraiser!

Fall Quilt Show

October 12 – 13, 19 – 20th. Always a favorite event– help make this year’s exhibit a success!

Fall Conference

Friday – Saturday, October 12 – 13th. Volunteers are needed for set-up, kitchen duty, clean-up, and more.

To volunteer your time and talents, contact IGS President Nicoe Hart, nicoehart@gmail.com, or the IGS office: 515-276-0287; igs@iowagenealogy.org.

With many of our building issues resolved, we are pleased to focus exclusively on genealogy-related projects and events in 2012. Opportunities abound as we gear up for an exciting year of classes, programs, events and special projects. How can you contribute to the success of IGS in 2012? Be part of the team! Together, we can make this a meaningful and memorable year for IGS.

For more information or to volunteer, contact: Nicoe Hart, nicoehart@gmail.com, or the IGS Library: 515-276-0287, igs@iowagenealogy.org.

–Regards, IGS President Nicoe  Hart

14 April 2012, West Wing IGS Library, 628 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines.

Main speaker: Eric Basir

Spring Conference Registration Information.

Eric Basir owns a photo retouching studio in Evanston IL. He serves the genealogical community as a teacher and author of two books and “Ask the Retoucher,” a video blog and column for genealogical publications. He recently published a full photo restoration course.

Schedule of Activities:

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Registration and Vendor browsing

9:00  – 9:15 a.m. Opening remarks

Lectures:

9:15 – 10:30 a.m. Photo Restoration from Start to Finish Demonstration

Learn how to scan, restore and print a photo like the pros from beginning to end. Fast, but fun. Audience members are encouraged to bring photos from which Eric will choose one to use during this demonstration. Includes scanning and restoration.

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 – noon. Dating Photos and Photo/Document Software for Genealogists

You don’t need to “pirate” a copy of Photoshop or spend money to work on your pictures. Eric will review the best free and for-pay photo editing programs available. Are you curious about the date of a photo? Learn some simple, but important tips to help you identify that photo.

Noon – 1:30 p.m. Lunch. Included with your conference registration!

1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Photo Document Preservation

The best thing you can do for family photographs and documents is to avoid restoring them! If you have photos in good condition, Eric will share some tips to keep them that way. Bring your questions and originals so he can share tips for handling and preserving them.

3:00 – 3:15 p.m. Break

3:30 – 4:45 p.m. Fixing Color Photos with Adobe Photoshop

Family photo collections are full of fading color photographs. This workshop will provide useful techniques for restoring lost color. It will include colorization of B&W photos. Audience members are encouraged to bring photos from which Eric will choose one to use during this demonstration.

Cost for this exceptional full-day conference: $65 IGS members/$75 non-members. Register before March 14^st and receive an early bird discount of $5! Conference fee includes lunch.

Contact IGS office to register: 515-276-0287; igs@iowagenealogy.org. Spring Conference Registration Information. (Scroll to bottom of page.)

Trip coordinator: Diane Densmor

We are happy to announce that the deadline to reserve a room for the Salt Lake City Research Trip has been extended from February 1 to February 15. There are still a few rooms available.

Join IGS for a special research trip to Salt Lake City, June 3 – 10, 2012. Accommodations are at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, conveniently located near the Family History Library. Cost includes room, hotel van transportation to and from the airport, and tips to van drivers.

A genealogy class is taught Monday evening at the hotel. Transportation expenses to and from Salt Lake City and meals are NOT included.

Single room: $700

Double occupancy: $350 per person

Triple occupancy: $250 per person

Quad occupancy: $250 per person

A deposit of $100 is due by February 1st to reserve your room. The balance is due by March 15th. No additional bookings will be added after March 15th. Rooms cannot be cancelled after April 3rd without penalty.

You arrange your own transportation. If you fly, Diane needs your flight information with your balance payment. You are responsible for signing up for hotel van transportation to the airport for departure. It is suggested you do this early in the week. Allow at least two hours before your flight.

Make deposit checks payable to Diane Densmore. For more information, or to make reservations, contact: Diane Densmore 7167 Espanade St. Johnston, Iowa 50131 Ph. 515-270-1974 ddindsm1@mchsi.com.

The Greene County Genealogical Society will meet Saturday, 4 February 2012, 10 a.m. at the Jefferson Public Library, 200 West Lincolnway Street, Jefferson. Elaine Deluhery will lead a discussion about digital photos.

Genealogists and historical researchers are eagerly anticipating the release of the 1940 U.S. Census on 2 April 2012.

Statistics from a census can be invaluable for gaining a historical snapshot of life in the U.S. In addition to names, addresses and ages, census records also include jobs held, household data like property values and income, education and more.

The State Historical Society of Iowa Library, 600 East Locust, Des Moines, will host Archives Specialist Jessica Edgar of the National Archives at Kansas City on Monday, 19 March 2012,  from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Cost is $15 and includes lunch from Café Baratta’s. Registration is required. A form will be available in February at both SHSI Library locations in Des Moines and Iowa City or by contacting Carol Kirsch, (319) 335-3936, carol-kirsch@uiowa.edu. Attendance is limited to 50 people. Download the registration form.

Edgar will offer an introduction to the census, including information about how to access the records. She will also offer two additional programs: “Who We Are: A Genealogists’ Introduction to the National Archives” and “Iowa, More to it than Cyclones and Hawkeyes: Exploring Federal Records Related to the State’s People, Places and Events.” Some of the Historical Society’s own records related to census information will be on display in the library reading room and staff will be available for questions.

Jessica Edgar graduated from William Jewell College with degrees in Secondary Education and History. She started with the National Archives at Kansas City in January 2007. As an archives specialist, she answers reference requests, assists in marketing and public programming, and works with data management within the Archives record tracking systems