RELEASE DATE: MARCH 17, 2013
KINSEARCHING
by
Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
“Constructing Images from the Past” will be the theme of the 17th annual Angelina College Genealogy Conference, scheduled for 18-20 July 2013 on the Angelina College campus in Lufkin, Texas. Featured speakers Trevia Wooster Beverly, Carolyn Reeves Ericson, Dickie Dixon, James Harkins, Susan Kaufman, John A. Sellers, Lynna Kay Suffield, and Carol Taylor will offer a total of 24 sessions over the three-day period. Examples of topics to be presented are the Germanna Society of Virginia, records created during the Civil War (1861-1865), immigration and naturalization, mechanics liens, research on 20th century military and war dead, genealogical resources at the Texas General Land Office, cattle brands and their history, funeral and associated records, Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, effective usage of city directories for genealogical purposes, Southern Claims Commission records, how to research newspapers online, an overview of useful websites, and American Revolution military research. For details concerning costs and registration, go to the website at http://www.angelina.edu/genealogy/genealogy.html.
Since Poland was under the control of several different countries for much of its history and because most Americans are not familiar with the language, many people with family roots in the Slavic nation have not worked on their family tree. Now individuals can learn the fundamental background and resources with the help of a new addition to the popular “Genealogy at a Glance” series: Polish Genealogy Research by Rosemary A. Dembinski Chorzempa.
Following the standard format of the series, Chorzempa condenses into four laminated pages basic data that genealogists need to know in order to achieve a successful outcome. In her “quick facts and important dates” section, the compiler focuses on several events that vastly affected the Polish people, such as epidemics, uprisings, and immigration. One highlight is the founding of the first permanent Polish settlement in the U. S., which took place at Panna Maria, Texas, in 1854.
In the text, she points out problems with the spelling of Polish surnames, gives a short glossary of Polish words for basic genealogical terms as birth and death, and furnishes more details about Polish history, boundary changes, and emigration. Since researchers need to know the hometown in Poland, she mentions American sources where clues or the exact location may be found. A full-page chart shows the English, Latin, Polish, and German versions of important geographical areas in Poland. In addition, Chorzempa provides information about online maps, Polish online databases, and other resources (titles of manuals and names of organizations and libraries). The Surname Map, for example, allows genealogists to see where persons with the same surname currently live in Poland.
Approximately ten million Americans have Polish ancestors. Polish Genealogy Research can serve as an important tool for hesitant family researchers to begin tracing their roots abroad.
To the guide's price of $8.95, buyers should add the cost for postage and handling charges. For U. S. postal mail, the cost is $4.50 for one item and $2.50 for each additional copy; for FedEx ground service, the cost is $6.00 for one copy and $2.50 for each additional item. The guide (item order 982) may be purchased by check, money order, MasterCard, or Visa from Genealogical Publishing Company, 3600 Clipper Mill Rd., Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211-1953. For phone orders, call toll free 1-800-296-6687; fax 1-410-752-8492; website www.genealogical.com.