Gullah Roots

Four more "Genealogy at a Glance" publications are available from Genealogical Publishing Company. The series is designed to put essential information at the family historian's finger tips.

The releases include: "Immigration Research" and "Ellis Island Research," by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack; "English Genealogy Research," by Paul Milner; and "Revolutionary War Genealogy Research," by Craig Scott.

The four-page, single-sheet, laminated publications provide historical context, quick facts, critical sources and information on where to turn for more. They can be purchased for $8.95 each at www.genealogical.com/products. Information on five other publications in the series can be found there as well.

The 2nd International Black Genealogy Summit takes place Oct. 18-20, 2012 at the Radisson Hotel, Salt Lake City. The committee has requested proposals for lectures at the conference on a wide variety of genealogical topics. The deadline for submission is Feb. 1, 2012. For more information, or to download a flyer to help publicize the event, visit www.blackgenealogysummit.com.

My article, "Researching African Americans in the Wake of the Civil War," has been published in the October, November, December issue of the National Genealogical Society Magazine. The case study, which begins on page 50, involves consulting some types of records not usually thought of as resources for African-American genealogical research in the decades after the Civil War.

The South Carolina Genealogical Society board changed Saturday with elections held during its annual meeting in Central, South Carolina. I'm now recording secretary on the state board as well as first vice president of the local board.

Marguerite Bishop of Charleston was elected president, succeeding Dr. Constance McNeill, who  remains on the board as immediate past president. Jackie Hughes was  re-elected second vice president and Fran Osborne, corresponding secretary. Other board members are Larry Ulmer, treasurer, Tonya Browder, archivist-historian and Judy Long, editor. The new board is official with the January meeting.

Marisa Tormei, Martin Sheen and Blair Underwood will be featured in the third season of NBC's "Who Do You Think You Are?"  The popular show, often credited with the most recent surge of interest in genealogical research, traces the ancestry of famous personalities. New episodes will be aired early in 2012.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies' annual conference takes place in Springfield, Ill. Sept. 7-10. Lowcountry-based Roots and Branches: An African-American Genealogy Project is a member of the federation.

Two features of the 1940 federal census, set to be released by NARA April 2, are particularly exciting. Census takers were asked to place a circled "x" after the name of the person providing the information. They also were asked to collect information on the ages of women at their first marriage. These two features should help tremendously when analyzing the census information provided and developing research plans.

  The South Carolina Genealogical Society holds its annual meeting Oct. 28-29 in Central, S.C., near Clemson. The meeting will take place at Central History Museum and Collins Olde Towne. The $20 registration fee includes a lunch and reception. Registration should be made by Oct. 15. For more information, visit www.scgen.org/or contact Judy Norris Long at judyL@nctv.com or (864) 933-3013.

  “The Guide to FamilySearch Online,” by James L. Tanner, helps genealogists to search websites of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The 369-page guide covers FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch Indexing, New.FamilySearch.org and others. The book, which includes a subject index for the free websites, is available for $39.15 from Family Roots Publishing at www.familyroots.com.

 There's a new name for footnote, fold3. The name change reflects the website’s more pointed focus on U.S. military records. The subscription site’s collection is being expanded to include the Confederate Casualty Reports, World War II “old man’s draft” cards, War of 1812 pension files (free), Mexican War service records, World War I Officer Experience Reports - AEF and more.
 The name fold3 is taken from a traditional flag folding ceremony in which the third fold honors veterans for their sacrifices. Registration details and contributions to the site, found at www.fold3.com, will not be affected by the change.