KCGS

1940 Federal Census

2012-02-01T16:45:00.006-06:00

You have, no doubt, heard by now that the 1940 Federal Census will be released by the NARA on April 2, 2012. The digitized images will be available immediately after and indexing will start as the state images are put up. Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies has agreed to coordinate the indexing efforts of all Kansas enumeration districts. If every genealogist in Kansas were to index just one district and review one district Kansas could easily be the first state to have a completed index. Let's work toward that goal!

How many times in your research have you used "Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness" or ask that a photo be taken by a "Find-A-Grave" volunteer? Now is your chance to help out other researchers. Although the images are not yet available you can sign up to help by visiting https://www.familysearch.org/1940census and entering your name and e-mail and by placing Kansas in the box that says "Favorite State to Index".

Sign up now and be ready to start on the first day the Kansas images appear.

More information will be released in the following weeks by our state coordinator, Helen E. Bortz.

MHGS Announces Programs

2011-11-27T08:26:00.003-06:00

January 2012
"Party Lines, Smudge Pots and LP Records --- Stepping Back in Time" presented by Annette Schmidt, MHGS Recording Secretary and Board Member
Saturday, January 28 at 10:00 a.m. at Midwest.
In the first month of the new year, it's the perfect time to reflect and wax nostalgic about the "good old days." Join Annette for a lively interactive discussion involving some of our fondest, most foolish and funniest memories from the past. It's pop culture gone retro!

February 2012
"Evaluating Sources" presented by Margaret Lucas, MHGS Librarian and Board Member
Saturday, Feb 11 at 1:00 p.m. at Midwest.
It's going to be more than just a discussion on primary and secondary sources, but also on evaluating sources, finding out how to determine the difference between information, knowledge and sources; the difference between a theory and proof of that theory; justifying a conclusion based upon indirect or conflicting evidence; how to intelligently argue with pieces of information--that is, looking for inherent flaws, biases, and contradictions.

March 2012
Before there was a Sedgwick County, before there was a Wichita, there was a First Presbyterian Church… "Preserving History Through Its Archives" with Gary Huffman, Archivist at First Presbyterian Church
Saturday, March 3 --- exact time to be announced at later date --- will meet at the First Presbyterian Church, 525 North Broadway Street.
The history of First Presbyterian Church is interwoven with the history of the county and the city. Many of the early church members were movers and shakers in the community. Come visit so you can share in a rich community resource.

KCGS Annual Meeting and Conference

2011-09-10T01:35:00.002-05:00

2012 KCGS Conference will be June 23, 2012, in the Kanza Room of the Memorial Union at Emporia State University, co-hosted by Flint Hills Genealogical Society. The Speaker will be Julie Miller of Colorado. She will present the following lectures:

The 5 Steps of Genealogical Proof

Make the Census Work for You

When Grandpa Went Off to War: U.S. Military Records

An Ounce of Prevention: Making a Genealogical Disaster Plan

Quiring Monument Purchase Orders

2011-09-02T18:08:00.003-05:00

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society has acquired purchase orders from Quiring Monument that includes orders for memorial stones from Wichita Monument, Marsh Monument, Quiring Monument, Creekmore & Son, Bruce Memorials (Klugman). These purchase orders cover the years 1919 through 1944, 1951 through 1973 and 1965 though 1991 and a great deal of information that could be helpful to the genealogist is found on some of these. The purchase orders from the five companies have been merged and indexed for your convenience in searching.

Kansas Ancestor Fair

2011-08-29T03:24:00.001-05:00

Welcome!

Join us in celebrating Family History Month at the Kansas Ancestor Fair, October 8th, 2011 at the Kansas State Historical Society in Topeka, Kansas!

Whether you're just wondering where to start, or are an experienced researcher, we'll have lots of information and learning opportunities for everyone. Representatives from Ancestry.com will be on-site, providing mini-sessions and tips for using their website.

Celebrate Family History Month

2011-08-27T22:33:00.001-05:00

Celebrate Family History Month with Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society and All of Its Partners

What do you get when you combine genealogy, trolley rides, and partnerships? An absolutely delightful day of fun and discovery on Saturday, October 22nd!

"Ride to the Past" will get you to places you might never have been. Not only does October Jubilee promise to be a great day at Midwest by shopping the used book sale, seeing the display of vintage bikes from the Coasters Bicycle Club, and learning about our latest and greatest collection being unveiled at the library, you can also hop aboard a River City Trolley that will stop at the Kansas African American Museum and the Genealogy Department at the downtown public library, just across the street from the Wichita-Sedgwick County Museum.

Being underwritten by the Wichita Genealogical Society, the trolley will run in a loop from Midwest to the Kansas African American Museum and then on to the downtown Wichita Public Library and its Genealogy Department (downstairs) before it loops back to Midwest and begins all over again. WGS's Trolley Tour called "Ride to the Past" is offered FREE of charge for 2 1/2 hours starting at 1:00 from Midwest.

Both the Kansas African American Museum and the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum are waiving admission prices for those entering with trolley tour stickers which will be issued when you step aboard. Our friends from WGS have a special afternoon planned in the Genealogy Department at the library with special exhibits on display along with family history packets and tours. So stop along the way and enjoy yourself!

Start your day early at Midwest, grab a bite to eat (we hope to have a vendor on site), and then in the afternoon hop aboard the trolley. Celebrate Family History Month in a way that's never been offered before!

Forgotten Settlers of Kansas

2011-06-16T10:36:00.004-05:00

Volume 27 of Forgotten Settlers of Kansas is now available for sale. It is indexed on Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies web site in combination with Volume 26, at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/kcgs/FS26%20A-E.htm . The cost of Volume 27 is $25 per book or $15 for a CD. Visit our web site for an order form - http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/kcgs/fsorder.pdf

Genealogy Inspired Crafts

2011-05-29T08:22:00.000-05:00

"Genealogy-Inspired Arts and Crafts Projects " — Saturday, September 24th @ 1:00 p.m.
Helen Bortz, presenter — former Midwest president, current MHGS Webmaster, and long-time crafter and dedicated genealogist.

An interesting array of ideas for arts and crafts projects, inspired by and created from Helen's own family research and photo collections, will be presented. Whether you're an amateur crafter or the most experienced artist, this program will show you ways to take your genealogy discoveries and memorabilia and turn them into visually appealing designs to enjoy, share with and make for your family and friends for generations to come. Preserve your treasures with an aesthetic twist! This presentation is open to the public at no charge.

Organizing Your Photos

2011-05-29T08:20:00.001-05:00

Organizing Your Photos

Saturday, August 27, 2011

10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

If your daughter asked you for her high school graduation picture, could you find it? How about your parents’ wedding picture — or last year’s Christmas pictures?

Do you know how many pictures you have? Have you inherited pictures?

Let’s get those pictures ORGANIZED!! We will be looking at organizing printed pictures, slides and digital pictures and how we can organize them so we can find them anytime.

You can keep your albums as they are, you can digitize them, and you can do both or a combination. Plus you WANT to get your pictures out of “magnetic” photo albums that were popular in the 1970s and 1980s!

Do you want to find out WHERE to start, HOW to keep them (in albums or digitizing) and HOW to find a particular picture?

Join us Saturday, August 27^th at Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society at 10:00 a.m. for a 2-hour program on “Organizing Your Photos.” After a short break for lunch, scanning of photographs will be available from 1:00-3:00 p.m. ($0.10/each for MHGS members; $0.15/each for non-members — all at 300 dpi; limit of 250 pictures per person. (Margaret and Francene, see separate attachment for more information.)

Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society will also be hosting a “Scanning Saturday” on July 30^th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A follow-up program on “Editing Your Digital Pictures” will be held IF there is interest.

2011 Kansas Ancestor Fair

2011-05-26T21:25:00.001-05:00

Saturday, October 8, 10am - 3pm. 2011 Kansas Ancestor Fair, at the Kansas Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Street, Topeka, KS. Mini-sessions, preservation consultants, "Ask-the-Experts" consultations, informational displays by local chapters of lineage societies and organizations with historical/genealogical interests. Co-sponsored by Topeka Genealogical Society, Kansas Historical Society, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, and the Topeka Family History Center of the LDS Church. All events are free and open to the public. For questions, email president1@tgstopeka.org.

Kansas Newspapers

2011-05-26T21:22:00.001-05:00

Kansas Newspapers

I am writing to ask for your help in promoting the digitization of Kansas' historical newspapers. In 2009, the Kansas Historical Society received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress to begin the process of making newspapers from across the state available for free, accessible from anywhere, and keyword searchable. So far, twenty titles from across the state have been digitized and are currently available. Would you please consider adding a link to the Chronicling America website (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/newspapers/#Kansas) on your own website? You can also visit our project website, http://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-digital-newspaper-program/16126, for more information. Sincerely, Jocelyn Wehr Library and Archives Division Kansas Historical Society 6425 SW 6th Avenue Topeka KS 66615-1099 785.272.8681 ext. 284

Social Networking for Genealogy Societies

2011-04-18T22:04:00.004-05:00

While thousands of genealogists and family historians have discovered new ways to expand and improve their genealogy endeavors using social networking, there is a dire need for genealogy societies to understand and begin using these same communication tools. This webinar will give genealogy society leaders and members an overview with real examples of how genealogy societies are successfully leveraging social media websites and applications to attract new members and expand their member services.
If you think Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites are “just for kids” then think again. Most businesses and non-profits are learning how to attract new customers and members merely by having a “presence” on many of these sites. In this webinar you’ll learn about the latest websites and tools available for free and how some genealogy societies are already using them. These same societies are not only attracting new members but they are also effectively marketing their events and services to the genealogy community and beyond.
This webinar will be presented by FGS board member and nationally-recognized genealogy educator Thomas MacEntee. MacEntee is a professional genealogist specializing in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogical research and as a means of interacting with others in the family history community.
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/401693254

KCGS Annual Meeting and Conference

2011-02-27T21:12:00.003-06:00

KCGS Annual Meeting and Conference will be held June 18, 2011 at the United Methodist Church, 612 Poyntz, Manhattan, Kansas. Speaker will be C. Ann Stanley of Jacksonville, FL. For registration information log on to http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/kcgs/KCGS_2011-5.pdf

Reno County Genealogical Society

2011-01-07T07:17:00.001-06:00

Reno County Genealogical Society officers for 2011 are:

President - Vivian Gobin

Vice-President - none

Treasurer - Kendall Griggs

Corresponding Sec. - Jay Moore

Recording Sec. - Shelia Sage

Kansas Genealogical Society Annual Meeting

2010-10-03T18:32:00.000-05:00

The Kansas Genealogical Society annual meeting and seminar will be Thursday October 7, 2010, V/S Lower Level Meeting Room, Village Square Mall, 2601 Central, Dodge City, Kansas. Registration and coffee starts are 9 A.M. Lunch is on your own from 12:00 to 1:15 P.M. The featured speaker is Mary Clement Douglass of Salina. Mrs. Douglass revised the “Kansas” chapter in Ancestry’s Red Book, 2004 Edition. She is the director of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the past director of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. She was curator for the Smoky Hills Museum in Salina for ten years. Mrs. Douglass will speak on 1) Help! I’ve Fallen Under my Genealogy Notes & I Can’t Get Up; 2) Read That Deed for All It’s Worth! Are You Using All the Clues Found in A Land Transfer? and 3) More Than Just Pretty Pictures: Effectively Use Maps in Research.

Midwest Photo Contest

2010-09-16T09:02:00.003-05:00

Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society, in Wichita, Kansas, has issued a call for your favorite photos of the great Midwest. Guidelines and entry form can be found at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/kansas/genweb/mhgs/Snapshots_in_Time_Photo_Contest_Poster1.pdf
Get your camera out and start shooting today!

Tartan Day Video

2010-08-30T14:30:00.001-05:00

There is a video of Dr. Frank Maurer's Tartan Day presentation at Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmlXf1B10VE

Midwest Trip to Oklahoma City Canceled

2010-07-26T15:10:00.004-05:00

The trip to Oklahoma Historical Society Research Center planned for August 2, 2010 by Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society has been canceled due to lack of interest. There were not enough registrations to fill the bus that had been reserved.

Frank Maurer & the Tartan Stone

2010-07-21T18:33:00.004-05:00

Frank Maurer, Californian, using only a mallet and chisel, has hand carved a Stone native to each state (in Kansas, that would be limestone) and presents it in a special ceremony. Frank will be at Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society, 1203 North Main, Wichita, KS to hold this ceremony for Kansas on August 14 at 11:00 a.m.
During the ceremony he covers some of his personal life history, his Scottish genealogy, his DNA history and the history and future development of the Tartan Day celebrations. The Stone will contain engravings of all eight official state symbols, the words "Tartan Day" and other carvings specific to Kansas.
The ceremony will take place outdoors in order for the Caledonian Pipes and Drums to have room to march and play in honor of Scottish history. A short reception will be held after the presentation in the main room of the library. All are welcome.

KCGS Annual Meeting and Conference 2011

2010-07-11T19:58:00.004-05:00

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies will hold it's annual meeting and conference June 18, 2011, with Riley County Genealogical Society as the co-host, in Manhattan, KS. The featured speaker will be Anne Staley, Jacksville, Florida.

MHGS Photo Contest

2010-07-07T19:47:00.004-05:00

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society announces a "Snapshots in Time Photo Contest", September 15 through October 31, 2010.

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society Trip to OK City

2010-06-23T11:56:00.003-05:00

OKC HERE WE COME — And You're Invited

We're headed for Oklahoma City on the bus! Join us for a one-day genealogical research road trip to the Oklahoma Historical Society Research Center (www.okhistory.org/research) on Monday, August 2nd. Our bus loads between 6:30 and 6:50 a.m. from Midwest's parking lot at 1203 N. Main in Wichita. We arrive back that night to the same spot between 9:30 and 10:00 p.m. The cost is $40 for members and $50 for nonmembers.

Of special interest: Book Collections of 85,000 bound books with information on all 50 states with emphasis on Oklahoma, the West, and Native American Indians; American Indian Archives with 3.5 million documents plus over 6,000 volumes including records of the Five Civilized Tribes; Photograph Collections from 1840 to present of 8 million images; Newspaper Archives with more than 4,000 titles — over 90% of all OK newspapers; 8,000 Oral Histories; Map Collections of 15,000+; the 1890 Oklahoma Territorial Census, and much more.

The Oklahoma Historical Center is a beautiful state-of-the-art facility with its comfortable genealogical library and friendly staffers, lockers to hold any of your valuables or extras you like to keep close by, a cafe to kick back and relax in for breaks and lunch, a fun gift shop for browsing and book buying, and a history museum to get lost in. This promises to be a great excursion!

Reserve your spot today and register with MHGS. The first 25 registrations received will be entered in a drawing for half-price on our next one-day trip. Registration and full payment are due no later than Saturday, July 24, so don't delay. (Please note: Meals are not included in the registration fee. The cafe will be open for lunch there and a stop will be made on the way home for dinner.) Questions? Contact Sara Jones at 316-682-5209 or e-mail at gjones63@cox.net.

Beat The Dog Days of Summer — Join Us!

Footnote Subscription

2010-06-04T08:50:00.000-05:00

For the rest of the month of June Members of KCGS may purchase an annual member-ship in Footnote for half price. Just $39.95 is all it costs until July 1st and then the price for our members would go up to only $49.95 for one year. Regular price is $79.95 for one year.
Also for the month of June, KCGS will reap 20% of our total sales. That wouldn’t hurt either.
If you have wanted a chance to see what Footnote.com has to offer, here it is.
Here is the special personalized landing page for our members to go to to enroll. http://go.footnote.com/Kansas%20Council%20of%20Genealogical%20Societies_society/?xid=749

Bus Trip to Oklahoma Historical Society

2010-05-29T14:21:00.002-05:00

August 2, 2010 - Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society plans a bus trip to Oklahoma City - Oklahoma Historical Society. Leave MHGS Library at 7AM, Arrive Oklahoma Historical Society at 10AM, Leave Oklahoma Historical Society at 5PM, Dinner TBD, Return to MHGS Library approximately 9:30 PM. Contact Sara Jones at 264-3611 for more information.

Veritage Car Show

2010-05-10T16:52:00.001-05:00

Sending A Special Invitation Your Way!
Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society announces its Julyapalooza 2010 — A Read, White and Blue Event on Saturday, July 10th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 1203 North Main in Wichita. A select display of antique and vintage cars will be featured along with food,fun, and an interesting array of genealogical books and materials we've never offered before for sale as well as tours of Midwest's own library. Julyapalooza is a first-ever, don't-miss, bring-the-entire-family event open to the public at large — but the welcome mat is especially out for you as our member. There is no admission fee and ample on-street parking is available. Drawings will be held at noon, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. Keep July sizzling by getting out and extending your celebration of fun, food, and wholesome family fare at Midwest. The more, the merrier, so please join us on Saturday, July the 10th!

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies Conference

2010-01-18T11:20:00.002-06:00

June 19, 2010 - Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies Annual Meeting and Conference, Co-hosted by Sumner County Genealogical Society. Wellington High School, 1700 E 16th St, Wellington, KS. Speaker will be Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective.
A Spokesperson with Credentials and Media Presence

For public relations professionals who need the perfect spokesperson for their genealogy or photo-related product, brand, or launch, Maureen Taylor is an ideal solution. She has a wealth of experience as a genealogist, historian, and photo expert. Plus, she has a face for TV, a voice for radio, and numerous interviews with top-tier media to her credit.

Maureen knows photographs. As the Photo Detective, her focus is photography—from the little details that date a 19th-century picture to dealing with digital overload. As an author, sought-after speaker, and corporate spokesperson, Maureen shares her photo expertise with all who want to learn more about preserving their past.

Her interviews, books, and articles reach millions each month. Her passion for photography and genealogy resulted in Maureen researching Meredith Vieira’s family tree for a segment of The View and Timberly Whitfield’s family for Hallmark’s New Morning Show.

In addition, her numerous television, radio, and print media interviews include Better Homes & Gardens, The Boston Globe, Claritin’s Moment of Clarity, Creative Memories Lasting Moments, Dear Myrtle, DIY:Scrapbooking, Life Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, MSNBC, PBS Ancestors,and Satisfaction Magazine. She also shares her tips and techniques in energetic lectures on family history and photography that encourage participants to ask questions about a wide range of concerns from finding their roots to caring for great-grandmother’s scrapbook.

In 1999-2001, Maureen represented Genealogy.com. In 2003, Maureen acted as a consultant for Picasa, Google’s software for organizing and sharing photos. Her work as a national corporate spokesperson on marketing campaigns has included:

Satellite TV and radio media tours
National and local television appearances
Interviews with national magazines

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society

2010-01-12T16:17:00.005-06:00

The Journals on the 2nd floor of the library are a rarely used treasure. Anyone can tap into this rich source of specialized articles. Find out how to "treasure-hunt" family histories, county and state histories and "how-to" articles from the best, most experienced genealogical researchers around.
Margaret Lucas, Tuesday Librarian presents "How to Use Journals to Accelerate Research" on Feb 13, 2010 (second Saturday) at 1pm at the MHGS Library, 1120 Main. St., Wichita, KS. The class is open to the public, but limited to the first 10 applicants. Call 264-3611 to leave a message, or sign up at the MHGS front desk.
The class will consist of a 15 min presentation followed by 30 minutes of supervised hands-on. Please bring your laptop and some research questions that really "bug" you. Punch and Valentine cookies provided.

Member Society Programs

2009-11-24T15:56:00.003-06:00

A reminder to all member societies! Please submit your planned programs for 2010 ASAP for publication on KCGS "Calendar of Events". It is important that you not only include the speaker and subject for the program but where it will be held and the time it will start. It would also be helpful if you supplied a contact e-mail where further information can be sought.

National Family Health History Day

2009-11-05T20:18:00.002-06:00

Submitted by Janeice Crossen, KCGS President
Just a note to alert you that several of the larger genealogy information repositories in the country are going together to make their data available online, such libraries as the Midwest Genealogy Research Center in Independence, and Ft. Wayne in Indianapolis, plus the Family History Center in Salt Lake City and others. It is an exciting time for us. You know also that the National Archives is working in tandem with Ancestry.com to digitize their records.

What I wanted to talk about today however:

Thanksgiving Day has been designated as National Family Health History Day, by the U.S. Surgeon General. What that means is you are asked to take the opportunity to create a health history for your family as you get together to visit and have a good time. Americans know that family history is important to health.

Such diseases as Macular Degeneration, Alzheimer’s, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Autism, Brain, colon, endometrial and skin cancers, breast, ovarian and prostate cancers, clotting disorders, diabetes, heart disease, Huntington’s, Muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s, Sickle-cell disease, Tay-Sachs, are health issues with ties to genetics. Early detection may help alleviate problems later on.

If you will go to The website that is highlighted on the page https://familyhistory.hhs.gov/

You will find the Access the My family Health Portrait Web tool.

There is a questionnaire for you to complete right on the computer, asking for your personal profile, name, age, height, weight, diseases, when diagnosed, etc. Then you are asked to number your siblings, uncles, aunts, parents, grandparents.

On the next section you are asked to fill out the questionnaire for each of the people you have listed. There is a pull down menu that lists possible diseases and a place to add any that are not there. If you aren’t sure what Grandpa died of, perhaps somebody else at your gathering will know.

When you have completed the answers, the computer will print out a nice chart for you that graphically illustrates your family’s health history. Why do we need this? Make a copy for each of your children and give it to them. They will be able to take them to their health care providers when next they go. Doctors will be delighted to see such a history as it will help them formulate treatments and preventive measures to prescribe for their patients.

Those of you who are reluctant to have your health data “out there” can be assured that if you don’t save your work it will disappear from the computer. All you will have is the printed copy which you can revise and edit if need be.

If you are not a computer user yourself, enlist the help of a grandchild and make a nice Thanksgiving activity for you both.

Then the latest I have found is this genetic problem. A UCI study has turned up evidence that bad driving may have a genetic basis. UCI neurologist Dr. Steven Cramer, who studies brain repair after stroke and brain remodeling, published a study suggesting that bad driving may in part be genetically based. People with a particular gene variant performed more than 20 percent worse on a driving test than people without it. About 30 % of Americans have the variant.

The study was published in the journal Cerebral Cortex. You might want to google it.

Message from KCGS President

2009-10-07T08:59:00.002-05:00

Dear members,

I have been thinking about how we can make your state society more useful to you. Your KCGS board is always open to ideas that will help us become more viable.

Do your societies post or publish or both the obituaries from your area? Do you use your websites to post indices of your publications? Do you solicit queries for research? Do you take advantage of the free websites Helen will help you set up?

We have this KCGS website with this blog for members to use. Helen, our webmaster asks us to send her our contributions so that she can get them posted correctly. Responses are welcomed as well. We would like to post obits and other news of our members, for example. Here is an opportunity for idea exchange and so on. Not only would we like everyone to read it, but also to contribute to it.

We also have a space on Facebook that we encourage members to join. We are encouraging all societies to go digital as much as possible. Newsletters can be sent that way and websites can be used for soliciting research requests and for advertising the publications we have for sale. I am not comfortable with journals going digital because there are still genealogists who do not use computers or who have slow internet connections and who would rather have a hard copy to read that they do not have to download and print, but the increasing cost of postage and printing may make that necessary, too.

As president I would like to attend some society meetings for feedback and to bring communications. I need dates and places ahead of time so I can plan my trips.

I put out the newsletter whenever there is something to communicate and we are publishing the Review as well. Both Ruth and I would welcome contributions to those publications from our readership. My supply of society newsletters from which I can draw information, has diminished severely. I do not know if that is because fewer are being published or perhaps just not being sent to us. What I receive come mostly from the same societies located here in the eastern part of the state. Our newsletter should be a place where members can get the word out about new publications, special programs, and projects, etc. Putting out newsletters electronically is cost free and can be done as often as we need to. If you would like to email me yours, my address is jcrosson@wamego.net

We have learned that we cannot continue to advertise in the national journals as our funds are limited. We would like all member societies to help us advertise our Forgotten Settlers project in their own publications. A camera ready ad can be had for the asking. This project is not so much for earning income for the state society as it is for advertising to the world our Kansas heritage, for encouraging those with Kansas ancestors to be able to give them recognition.

Please feel free to give us any feedback and most of all ideas of how we can become more of a helpful entity.

Sincerely,
Janeice Crosson
President KCGS

Explore Your Swedish Roots This October

2009-09-27T20:14:00.001-05:00

Kathy Meade, of Genline North America, returns to Lindsborg to repeat her popular class ‘Using Online Records to Trace Your Swedish Ancestry.’ The hands-on workshop will be presented at the Salina Public Library,Sunday, October 11, from 1-4:30 pm. Ms. Meade will be joined by experienced Swedish genealogist Mr. Jan Eurenius, from Stockholm, Sweden, for this workshop. If you are ready to learn more about your family’s roots in Sweden, don’t miss this great workshop presented by experts in the field. The session is free and open to the public, but participants are asked to call 785-227-3595 or email oldmillmuseum@hotmail.com to register.
This workshop teaches participants how to access Swedish records online and how to use them to trace families back through time. The Swedish record books, which include information dating back to the 17th century, have been digitized by the Genline company, making access to information much easier than ever before. Ms. Meade and Mr. Eurenius will be in Lindsborg for the Svensk Hyllningsfest celebration October 9 and 10, but will have extended time to work with people on their family history during the workshop on Sunday the 11th.
Based in Chicago, Illinois, Kathy Meade brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the subject of Swedish immigration and tracing Swedish ancestry. Jan Eurenius is an experienced researcher from Sweden who enjoys helping people solve the puzzles of their past. This workshop is co-sponsored by Genline and the McPherson County Old Mill Museum. For more information, call 785-227-3595 or email oldmillmuseum@hotmail.com.

Volunteers Needed for the Midtown Historic Home Tour

2009-09-21T14:07:00.002-05:00

The annual Midtown Historic Home Tour will be Saturday, Oct 10 and Sunday Oct 11. Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society intends to participate only on Sat, Oct 10 from 9am till 4pm. We need two volunteers (one for the morning and one for the afternoon). MHGS will have a table near the Tour registration table in the Fairview Christian Church, 16th and Fairview, Wichita. Beverly Arbuckle will provide a MHGS poster and MHGS brochures to the MHGS volunteers. The volunteer task is to tell Tour attendees about MHGS and invite them to stop by the MHGS Library. Please email Beverly Arbuckle.

The Lincoln Cottage

2009-09-18T16:19:00.000-05:00

Saturday November 14, 2009
Program: “The Lincoln Cottage” by Dr. Frank Milligan
Time & Place: 1:00 pm till 2:30 pm at the Alford Branch Library
Free and open to the public

Dr. Frank Milligan, is the Director of the Lincoln Cottage, near Washington DC. The purpose of his visit is to accept an original journal authored by Albert See, a Civil War soldier that was on duty at the Lincoln Cottage during Lincoln’s residence there. Albert See’s great granddaughter, Betty Kessler, a resident of Wichita, presently has the journal. She will present the original journal to Dr. Milligan on Nov 14, along with some garments worn by Albert See at Lincoln funeral. These items are to be retained in the Lincoln Cottage archives.

Located on a picturesque hilltop in Washington, DC, President Lincoln's Cottage is the most significant historic site directly associated with Lincoln's presidency aside from the White House. During the Civil War, President Lincoln and his family resided here from June to November of 1862, 1863 and 1864. On July 7, 2000, President William J. Clinton declared the Lincoln Cottage and 2.3 acres of surrounding land the President Lincoln and Soldiers' Home National Monument in honor of the site's notable role in the presidency of Abraham Lincoln.

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society Library

2009-09-18T16:16:00.001-05:00

Saturday October 24, 2009
Event: MHGS Members preview of the MHGS Library Addition
Time and Place: 11:00 am till 2:30 pm at the MHGS Library
The MHGS Options Committee invites MHGS Members to come to the MHGS Library for a preview of the potential MHGS Library Addition. The development of the requirements for the Addition is still at an early state, so now is the time for Members suggestions and comments. Architectural drawings will be available for your review and we hope to have the Architect available t answer your questions. Also we intend to have an outdoor “walk through mock-up” (weather permitting) that will visually demonstrate where the addition will be located.

Kansas Genealogical Society Fall Seminar

2009-09-18T10:00:00.001-05:00

The Kansas Genealogical Society Annual Meeting and Seminar will be held 08 October 2009, Lower Level Meeting Room of the Village Square Mall, 2601 Central, Dodge City, KS. Registration and coffee at 9:00 A.M. Lunch on your own from 12:00 – 1:15 P.M.
The featured speaker will be Alice A. Walker, Blue Mound, KS. Alice is a certified genealogist. She has conducted many workshops of various kinds including how to prove genealogical steps. Alice is an author, having written two well documented family genealogies.
“Back to New England”, will be featured at the morning session, and “New York – Impossible?” in the afternoon. Fee prior to 1 October 2009 is $15.00. At the Door is $20.00. Handouts, prizes and refreshments. Non-members are always welcome to join us.
For additional information call 620-225-1951.

WeRelate and Ancestry

2009-09-09T04:32:00.001-05:00

From FGS conference.

The Dallan Quass discussion of Discovering WeRelate <https://wiki.familysearch.org > was really interesting. WeRelate is the world's largest genealogy wiki. A wiki website is where anyone can edit or add information quickly. Pages are created collaboratively. It is Wikipedia for genealogists. Gedcoms may be uploaded, information about how and where to look for data. Our cousins might upload some information about the people we have been researching, maybe the very dates, places, connections that have been eluding us for a long time. If someone adds something to an article in an effort to correct it, i.e. perhaps claims the wrong ancestor, and we know their information is faulty, it is possible to correct the error. A discussion can be held with those cousins and information can be shared. A history of all the changes made is kept. Managers monitor the site against vandalism. All this is free for downloading also.

Ancestry is offering FREE access to all its databases through December 21. Also they are giving new subscribers $10 off the annual subscription so it costs $49.95. Subscribers will receive a Free Ancestry Reference Library CD-ROM.(contains 15 genealogy reference books)

"How Genealogists Seek Information" by Scott Lucas

2009-09-08T17:23:00.004-05:00

September 12, 2009, MGHS Library, 1203 North Main, Wichita, KS, 1:00 pm till 2:30 pm.
Free and open to the public.

Scott Lucas has been an avid genealogist for fifteen years. He has presented at several library and Genealogical conferences and workshops around Kansas. Dr. Lucas received a PH.D from Emporia State University in Library and Information Management in December 2008. His dissertation topic was "The Information Seeking Process of Genealogists". He also currently serves on the library boards ar Clearwater Public Library and Wichita Area Technical College. Dr. Lucas resides in Clearwater with his wife and 2 girls.

Your Society and the IRS

2009-08-31T15:54:00.001-05:00

Provided by Cath Madden Trindle, CG, FGS Treasurer

Many genealogical organizations have applied and been accepted by the IRS as 501(c)3 organizations. In the past, those organizations that had average annual income of less than $25,000 were exempt from filing any paperwork once their initial five-year qualification
period was over.
This is no longer true. Starting in 2008, while still exempt from Federal income tax, genealogical societies are among those organizations that must file an annual return no matter how little their income is. The good news is, if average income is below $25,000 per year, the society will only need to file 990-N, or e-Postcard. This form takes just minutes to fill out. You will need your FEIN and contact information when you access the postcard from the IRS website at http://www.IRS.gov .
For those who feel slightly intimidated anytime they deal with a government form, the IRS website offers a wealth of materials to help the non-profit society determine their filing requirements, which form to use, and how to complete it. Failure to file a return for three years will result in an organization losing their non-profit status. If your society hasn’t filed for 2008, be sure to do so right away. Late is better than never.

News from the Kansas State Historical Society

2009-08-26T04:21:00.001-05:00

Provided by Sara Keckeisen -

As you may have heard or read in the newspaper, the Kansas Historical Society (like all state agencies) was recently required to reduce budgetary expenditures to help the state achieve a balanced budget. At the Historical Society, that has meant a reduction in our professional staff (here in Topeka and at some of our historic sites) and in some of the services we are able to provide. We are, however, still striving to provide researchers, both in person and distance-researchers, with accurate and efficient reference help, and our facilities are still open their regular hours (Tuesday-Saturday from 9:00am-4:30) but we did lose one reference librarian in the recent cuts and we have had to raise our research fees. We can now do one obituary search (when the death date and place are known) for a $15.00 research fee. All other research requests for in-state patrons are $20.00 and for out-of-state patrons are $25.00. These fees are payable in advance and include 30 minutes of research and up to 5 pages of photocopying if we find anything. As of now, per-page photocopy charges and postage charges for copies above the 5 included copies are remaining the same. More complete information can be found on our website: http://www.kshs.org/contact/ask_question.htm or feel free to call the Reference Desk at 785-272-8681, ext. 117. There is still no charge to use our collections in person.

Part of the budget cuts has affected our ability to purchase new books and materials for the library research collections. So donations are more important and appreciated than ever! If you have been working on compiling a newspaper index or compiling cemetery inscriptions or transcribing vital record information from county records, please keep us in mind. We would love to have a copy of our work, even if it is not Kansas-related. If you have identified photographs of Kansas-related people and places, we’d love to consider them for our photographs collection. Nowadays, loaned-for-copying or donated photographs are digitally scanned (as well as having a preservation copy made) and most are uploaded to our swell Kansas Memory website (www.kansasmemory.org). You can find photographs on everything from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad to the St. Marys, Kansas pharmacy in the 1920s to the Greensburg tornado on this searchable database. And the images available there grow every day.

I want to highlight a couple of outstanding cemetery books that have recently been cataloged. Viola Schwind Gouvion’s St. Francis Hieronymo Parish Cemetery, St. Paul, Neosho County, Kansas not only covers interments there between 1852 and 2008 but Ms. Gouvion went beyond recording dates of birth and death and cemetery plot locations. She also, for many of the burials, went to the newspaper obituaries and funeral home memory cards and has published those additional sources of information in her book. This is such a valuable additional piece of research and will save the researcher precious time. This book also features an index.

Likewise, Von Rothenberger has compiled a 936-page compilation of Osborne County, Kansas Burials 1866-2000. His alphabetically-arranged work includes additional information for each name where it could be determined, like military service, cause of death, parents’ and childrens’ names, and burial locations. This massive work will be invaluable for Osborne County researchers. Bibliographical information on both of these books is available on our on-line catalog, ATLAS, which you can explore on your home computer.

Reno County Genealogical Society Receives Grant

2009-08-25T14:46:00.002-05:00

RCGS was awarded a grant in the amount of $260 from Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak of Honoring Your Ancestors. She awards a monthly grant that is funded by her personally. Megan serves as Chief Family Historian and spokesperson for Ancestry.com. She is also President of RootsTelevision.com. RootsTelevsion is online TV for genealogists.

The grant is for the Reno County Cemetery sign project. You can read about it here:

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ksrcgs/events/events.htm

"Lincoln Comes to Kansas"

2009-08-17T19:15:00.001-05:00

Atchison Genealogical Society will meet Tue, Sept. 1 at 6:30 at the Atchison Library. Jorgine Drake, Referencing and Senior Programs Director of the Troy Library, will give the program: ”Lincoln Comes to Kansas” in honor of the 200^th birthday of Abraham Lincoln celebrated this year. Free to the public, Refreshments served.

Parmelia and Pluma Bailey

2009-08-15T17:02:00.001-05:00

Is anyone out there interested in a file folder of family information for John Aberne(a)thy's family and the collateral family of John LaBore? The wives of these families were sisters, Parmelia and Pluma Bailey. Most of the family lived in Wisconsin, but at least three groups came to Kansas to Cawker, Ft Scott, and Salina.

Some of the persons were born in Canada and some in Vermont. Names included are Smith, Brown, Gilbert, Dugas, Duvall, Edgar
Shadowen, Hardwicke.

Also in the file are four photographs: Eliza Nattier, Celenie Nattier, widow of Arthur Nattier, and a baby possibly Lillian Nattier, plus one of the farm home of Lorenz and Aurora Nattier Junker, which was four miles east of Neodesha, Kansas. The Nattier story is that Aurora was born near Clunny (sp) France in 1843 and came to America with her mother Victorine Nattier, about 1856 after her father, mayor of Autreville, France, had been recently assassinated They first went to a farm in Wisconsin near Port Washington. Aurora later married Lorenz Junker, b Germany. They moved to Ft Scott, Kansas in 1870, and then to Neodesha that same year. They were accompanied by Albertine Nattier daughter of Emile and Eliza Nattier, the girl being Aurora's niece.

Aurora, her mother and her husband are buried in Bethel Cemetery. Is that Neodesha?

This material was rescued at an estate sale in Riley County and is available for anyone who has a connection to these families or who will give it a home in their library. email jcrosson@wamego.net

KCGS on Facebook

2009-08-07T12:33:00.006-05:00

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies announces the development of a space on Facebook as another means of networking with genealogist interested in the happenings of Kansas Genealogy. Visit the space, sign up to become a "Friend" and help spread the word.

Kansas Forgotten Settlers Volumes

2009-08-06T16:02:00.003-05:00

The KANSAS COUNCIL OF GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES has published volumes containing the application and pedigree charts of those individuals who qualified for one of these certificates.

Each volume is soft bound and is 8-1/2" by 11"(while supply lasts) or on CD. Each volume contains the names of approximately 100 KANSAS pioneers. Each application contains the name of the pioneer, birth date and place, death date and place, pioneer's father's name, mother's maiden name and spouse's name as well as the names of the parents of the spouse. The date and place of settlement in KANSAS is also stated. The individual making application for a certificate also sends in his/her pedigree chart. Each volume is fully indexed and contains 200 to 230 pages.

Index of Volumes One through Ten
Index of Volumes Eleven through Twenty
Index of Volumes Twenty-one through 25
Index of Volume 26

KCGS will not make copies of individual pages of the Forgotten Settler Volumes. If interested order the volume(s) you need on the order form below or visit your local library.

Order Your Volume(s) Today
Complete Forgotten Settlers Order Form
Return with payment to
KANSAS COUNCIL OF GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES
PO BOX 3858
TOPEKA KS 66604-6858

View lists of Forgotten Settlers of Kansas

Territorial Certificates

Pioneer Certificates

Early Settler Certificates

Kansas Forgotten Settlers

2009-08-06T15:58:00.000-05:00

Many of the early pioneers who have helped make Kansas a great state have been lost in history because no other information existed except in family records. In order to gather information on these pioneers, the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies has a project of issuing a Territorial, Pioneer or Early Settler certificate to a direct descendant of a person who lived in Kansas before 1900.

Eligibility

To receive the Territorial Certificate an applicant must be a direct descendant of an ancestor who lived in Kansas prior to 29 January 1861.
To receive the Pioneer Certificate an applicant must be a direct descendant of an ancestor who lived in Kansas between 29 January 1861 and 31 December 1880.
To receive the Early Settler Certificate, an applicant must be a direct descendant of an ancestor who lived in Kansas between 1 January 1881 and 31 December 1900.
Applicant must be able to prove descent with an official record of some type or some other acceptable source of proof (i.e.: census records; obituaries; county histories; birth, death or marriage records; school or church records; newspaper clippings and any other records showing proof.)
Applicant does not have to live in Kansas or ever have lived in Kansas.

To apply for a certificate, each applicant will need to complete a the four-page application form. This form includes the certificate application (page 1), permission to publish (page 2), a line of descendant chart (page 3) and a pedigree chart (page 4). In addition, each application will need to submit documentation to substantiate the information included in the line of descent chart. Pages 1 and 4 will be printed in a Forgotten Settlers book at a later date.

The documentation sent to establish eligibility for a certificate is placed in the Library and Archives Division of the Kansas State Historical Society. It is available to researchers as part of The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas manuscript collection, no. 206. For information about doing research in person at the Center for Historical Research, please go to the KSHS website, http://www.kshs.org/places/chr/index.htm. Information on reference policies and requesting copies by mail is at http://www.kshs.org/contact/ask_question.htm. When requesting copies, the file number, either a letter-number combination such as G28 or a number such as 5922, should be included if possible. It appears at the bottom of each Form #1 in the published The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas volumes, available in many Kansas and some out-of-state libraries.

The cost of the certificate is $12.00 for out-of-state residents and $13.00 (includes KS sales tax) for Kansas resident.

Apply for Your Certificate Today
Complete Forgotten Settlers Certificate Application in PDF Format
Please click on "Shrink to Fit" when printing

Return all four pages of the completed application with copies of documentation to
KANSAS COUNCIL OF GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES
PO BOX 3858
TOPEKA KS 66604-6858

Atchinson County Genealogical Society

2009-06-23T16:41:00.002-05:00

MEET THE AUTHORS, SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2009, ATCHISON LIBRARY: CAROL AYERS, 9:30 A.M. - "LINCOLN IN KANSAS". BILL MCFARLAND, 10:30 A.M. "KEEP THE FLAG TO THE FRONT"
“Lincoln in Kansas” is the story of Lincoln’s historic campaign stop in northeast Kansas where he tweaked his famous Cooper Union Address along this particular leg of the presidential campaign. Ayers is a Leavenworth resident and based her research from a rare document collection archived at the University of St. Mary.
“Keep the Flag to the Front” is the story of the Eight Kansas Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, traveled 10,750 miles, participated in 17 battles and was the last Kansas regiment to be discharged after the war. McFarland has taught in the public school system for over 30 years has been a Civil War reenactor for more than 15 years.
REGISTRATION 9:00. THE PROGRAM IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC with REFRESHMENTS and DOOR PRIZES

Past KCGS President

2009-05-04T08:29:00.001-05:00

VICTORIA - Schippers, Francis, 68, died May 2, 2009, at his home. He was born Sept. 18, 1940, in Hays. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He conducted tours of the Cathedral of The Plains and other area churches and was Chairperson for the Hays Oktoberfest for the last 40 years and chairperson for the Cancer Council of Ellis Co. Polkafest for the last 30 years. Survivors: brother, Gilbert "Gib" and wife, Rosalyn, Hays; sister, Eleanor Schippers, of the home. Service 10 A.M. Wednesday, St. Fidelis Catholic Church, Victoria. Visitation 3-9 P.M. Tuesday and 8:30-9:45 A.M. Wednesday at the mortuary. Memorial: Fort Hays State University Foundation Scholarship Fund.

Published in Wichita Eagle on 5/4/2009

KCGS Annual Conference - Register Before May 30

2009-04-29T19:49:00.002-05:00

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies Annual meeting and conference will be held on June 20, 2009 in Wichita, KS with Wichita Genealogical Society as co-host. Megan Smolenyak will present four lectures:Trace Your Roots with DNA, Welcome to Roots Television, Reverse Genealogy: Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones and Find That Obituary: Online Newspaper Research. Keep in touch for registration information but mark your calendar now.

Hodgeman County Genealogical Society

2009-04-21T21:44:00.003-05:00

Hodgeman County Genealogical Society, located in Jetmore, Kansas, is pleased to announce their new web site where they plan to add records for use by Hodgeman County researchers. View the new site at: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/society/jetmore/index.htm

Finney County Genealogical Society Immediate Past President

2008-09-19T03:08:00.001-05:00

Published 9/18/2008 in the Garden City Telegram

Lilia LaRee Shearmire, 76, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008, at Homestead Health & Rehabilitation Center in Garden City.
She was born Feb. 1, 1932, in Scott County, to Ira Prosper and Julia Lenihan Minnix.
On June 5, 1949, she married Ray Shearmire in Friend.
A resident of Garden City since 1955, moving from Scott City, Mrs. Shearmire had been owner and operator, along with her husband, and was an integral part of Garden Bowl, Garden Mimeo, Garden Skate, and Hard Rock Lanes & Tumbleweed Turf and was an English as Second Language teacher.
She was a member of Church Of The Brethren of Garden City, where she was the church's first woman moderator, taught the Menninger Bible Study for 28 years and was a Sunday School teacher for 38 years. She also held many offices in the State Bowling Proprietor Association and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2004. She was a member of the Women's Chamber, and enjoyed playing bridge, piano and organ, drama with local groups, signing, photography, cross stitch, genealogy and traveling, having visited 21 countries. She was a collector of crystal, elephants, coins and stamps, and loved being with her family.
In addition to her husband, other survivors include a son, Gregg Shearmire of Garden City; two daughters, Linda Owen and Susan Stout, both of Garden City; a sister, Wilda Werner of Atwood; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Berl Minnix.
Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Church Of The Brethren in Garden City, officiated by John Elder, pastor. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery, Garden City.
Visitation is until 8 tonight at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Garden City. Condolences may be sent at www.priceandsons.com. Memorials are suggested to the ALS (Lou Gehrig's) Association or to the church, both in care of the funeral home, 620 N. Main St., Garden City, KS 67846.

Did Granny Tell You There Was an Indian in Your Past?

2008-08-21T04:07:00.004-05:00

Family History Month Seminar by Robert Winter Owl Vann, Genealogical Lecturer and Native American Storyteller with session topics: Climbing the Family Totem Pole, Geographical Migrations of Native Americans, Government Records for Indian Research and Methods of Organization and Records Management. (Sessions are intended for beginning genealogists and those just starting their Native American Research.
Active in genealogical research since 1963, Robert Winter Owl Vann has taught genealogy classes to church groups as well as adult Community Extension classes through Sam Houston State University. He is an LDS Family History Center Associate Director, a Beta tester for the new familysearch.com program, a family Church Services Missionary, and is the current President of the Walker County (AL) Genealogy Society.
Mr. Vann has national experience as a Native American Historian and Storyteller, and regularly does workshops and lectures on things Cherokee. His three-issue article on Cherokee research was published in the Valley Leaves Quarterly of the Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society.
Join Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society on Saturday, October 11, 2008 from 8:15 AM to 4:30 PM at the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex at Wichita State University, 5015 East 29th Street N, Wichita, KS. Reservations made by September 30 will include a box lunch at no additional charge. $25 for MHGS members, $35 for non-members. For reservation contact MHGS at 316 264-3611 or by e-mail.
Funded in part by a grant from the City of Wichita.

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies August Board Meeting

2008-08-02T15:42:00.001-05:00

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies will hold its board meeting, August 23, 2008, at the Emporia Public Library from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. Agenda items include a review of the 2008 conference in McPherson, preliminary planning for the 2009 conference in Wichita, and an update on the computerization of the Forgotten Settlers project.

Any genealogical or historical society that is a member society of KCGS is entitled to send a representative to the board meeting.

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies Annual Conference 2009

2008-07-10T06:55:00.002-05:00

Kansas Genealogical Society, Dodge City, Celebrates 50 Years

2008-07-04T17:21:00.002-05:00

July 13, 2008 - Kansas Genealogical Society, will present "Half a Century of Memories" Village Square Mall, Lower Level, 2601 Central, Dodge City KS from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. There will be Prize Drawings, Refreshments and Exhibits. No admission charge.

Master of Ceremonies: Gay Rooney

Speakers: Norma Jane Daniels, Julia Mae Hembree, Gertrude Jones, Mary Shoemaker

Written Contributions: Virginia Herrman, Ethel Taylor

Historical Presentaions: Betty Herrman, Ruby Schaffer

Come share the experience and memories of long time members and view exhibits of early day KGS and genealogical items.

Osborne County Genealogical & Historical Society

2008-06-18T12:07:00.003-05:00

Osborne County Genealogical & Historical Society is pleased to announce a new web site located at http://www.ocghs.org . Visit the site and see what they have to offer.

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society Hours

2008-06-14T15:25:00.002-05:00

Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society has announced that their library will be open on the third Tuesday afternoon of the month from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m.
New library hours are:
Every Saturday morning from 9 am till 12:30 pm
The second Saturday afternoon from 12:30 pm till 4 pm
The third Tuesday afternoon from 1 pm till 6 pm.

Please call 316 264-3611 to make sure we are open if there is inclement weather forecast.

Reno County Genealogical Society

2008-04-17T20:28:00.011-05:00

Reno County Genealogical Society invites you to join them for their
June program, "Through The Eyes of Young Pioneers",  June 16,
2008 at the Hutchinson Public Library,  901 N. Main Street.
Among many of the thousands of homesteaders and town builders
in the19th century Kansas were children and teenagers who
recorded their experiences. Using diaries, letters, and reminiscences,
this program considers the land, people, towns, and daily life as seen
through the eyes of the young.

Provided by the Kansas Humanities Council
Presented by Marilyn J. Holt

Reno County Genealogical Society
P. O. Box 5
Hutchinson, KS 67504-0005

Wilson County Genealogical Society

2008-03-24T13:25:00.008-05:00

The Wilson County Genealogy Society Chapter of the Wilson County Historical Society is pleased to announced a new web site located within the KSGenWeb project on Blue Skyways. The home page can be seen at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/society/fredonia/index.html. The society members will be adding Wilson County tombstone pictures in the very near future.

New Hours at MHGS Library

2008-03-24T13:16:00.003-05:00

Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society has found it necessary to cut back on the hours the library will be open. As of April 1, 2008, the MHGS library will be open on Saturday mornings from 9:00 AM until 12:30 PM, and on the second Saturday afternoon of each month from 12:30 PM until 4 PM. You are encouraged to email mhgs1121@aol.com or call 316 264-3611 in advance if you are planning to visit the MHGS library to ensure the library will be open.
If more library volunteers can be trained and a head librarian can be found, the society hopes to return the library to the previous schedule.

Central Plains Region National Archives

2008-03-01T09:13:00.003-06:00

Researchers with Kansas connections might find some interesting resources at the Central Plains Region National Archives in Kansas City. Why not put a visit in your plans while attending the NGS conference in May!

The National Archives Central Plains Region holds the retired records of federal agencies in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. We hold records of over 100 different government agencies dating from the 1820s to the 1990s. These agencies include the National Park Service, the Weather Bureau, the National War Labor Board, and the United States Geological Survey, among others.

Many records at the Central Plains Regional Archives are of interest to genealogists. Among them, for example, are the records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which contains information about reservations, schools, and agencies of northern woodland and plains Indians. These records document tribal economic, political, and social life of American Indians, the government's perceptions regarding them, and the American Indians' relations and opinions of the government. In addition to reports, correspondence, and other textual records, there are photographs and maps among these records.

The records of the Bureau of Land Management document land records for the states of Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska from 1840 to 1915. Among these records are homestead claim papers, abstracts of land entries, tract books, and material related to surveys of the land.

A large record group at the Central Plains Region Archives that is of interest to the genealogical community is Record Group 21, Records of the District Courts of the United States. These records include civil, criminal, equity, and habeas corpus proceedings that took place in courts in the seven-state region. Also in the records are naturalization proceedings, which include declarations of intention, petitions for naturalization, and citizenship certificate stubs. This record group also includes World War I-era enemy alien registrations from the state of Kansas.

Another record group that genealogists may find useful is the Records of the Bureau of Prisons. These contain original prison inmate files created by the U.S. Federal Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. These records date from the first inmate incarcerated in 1895 through the 1920s. The files contain record sheets detailing inmates' crime, conviction, sentence, violations while in prison, and usually, a mug shot.

The Central Plains Regional Archives also has available to researchers over 45,000 rolls of microfilm, including the US Census from 1790-1930 as well as indexes for military records, Freedman's Bureau records, and microfilmed Indian census of the Five Civilized Tribes (Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole). The microfilm research room is designed for self-service, but volunteers are available to provide efficient service and personalized attention.

We invite you to visit the National Archives-Central Plains Region. We are located at 2312 East Bannister Road, Kansas City, MO 64131 and phone number is 816.268.8000. For email reference: kansascity.archives@nara.gov. Visit us online at: www.archives.gov/central-plains/kansas-city
"This article is reprinted from UpFront with NGS, the Online Newsletter of NGS, Volume 8 Number 3, dated 1 March 2008. by permission"

Pamela K. Boyer Coming to Kansas

2008-03-01T04:56:00.003-06:00

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies Annual Conference, June 21, 2008, will feature Pamela K. Boyer as the guest speaker. The conference will be held at The Ceders in McPherson, Kansas from 8:15 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. There will be four sessions that will include: "What's at the County Courthouse?", "Maps: Where to Find Them and How to Use Them", "Our National Treasure: The Library of Congress" and "The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: Evaluating Internet Sources". Plan now to attend. Registration information is available on the KCGS web site.

Kansas Maps

2008-03-01T04:46:00.003-06:00

Kansas researchers will find maps showing the formation of the counties in Kansas from 1855 through 1893 as well as Kansas census maps for 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1890-1930 at http://www.mykansasgenealogy.com/ks_maps/ks_cf.htm . If your ancestors were early settlers in Kansas or just passed through the state you might find these maps very interesting and helpful in your research.

Osage County Historical Society Completes Naturalization Index

2008-01-13T12:05:00.000-06:00

Osage County Historical Society Museum & Research Center has completed the Naturalization Index for Osage County Kansas. The index can be found under the RESOURCES heading at our website.

Copies of these microfilmed original documents are available. Email us

Topeka Genealogical Society Announces Programs for 2008

2008-01-10T15:43:00.000-06:00

Topeka Genealogical Society meetings are held at the society library, 2717 SE Indiana, Topeka, KS at 7:00 p.m., The public is invited to all programs. The schedule for the 2008 meetings is as follows.

23 Jan Genealogy, "Question and Answer Panel"
Rachella Briggs, TGS Member
Eadie Flickinger, TGS Member
Larry Henderson, TGS Member
Rita Neely, TGS Member

27 Feb Call the Coroner, I'am Dead!
Dr. Donald Pojman, Deputy Coroner of Shawnee County

26 Mar Tracking Shawnee County Casualties of World War I
David Murray, TGS Member

26 Apr Conference

28 May Cremation: "Where's My Grandma Now!"
Fred Holroyd, Vice Pres.Community Development

25 June "Is the Remian's in the Closet?" Dan Werner, Property Manager

23 July Kansas Pop Bottles With Privy Diggings
Jim Ricketts

27 Aug Vote for Sam, Third War Governor of Kansas
Herschel and Jacque Stroud, TGS Members

24 Sept My Amazing Trip!
Charles Fantz, TGS Member

22 Oct Share your Genealogy at SHOW (items) and TELL (stories)
All TGS Members

Kansas Genealogists Lose Long Time Friend

2008-01-07T11:15:00.000-06:00

Doris Dockstader Rooney, 98, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008, at Western Plains Medical Complex, Dodge City.
More information about her life, survivors will be announced later by Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City. The funeral is scheduled for Thursday afternoon at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Dodge City at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday at the Swaim Funeral Home until 8 p.m.
Doris Rooney was a long time member of Kansas Genealogical Society and also was instrumental in establishing Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies.

Topeka Genealogical Society Brings Megan Smolenyak to Kansas

2007-12-16T18:56:00.000-06:00

Topeka Genealogical Society will hold their annual conference on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at the Kansas State History Center, 6425 SW Sixth Street, Topeka, Kansas. This conference will be co-hosted by the Kansas State Historical Society and the hosts are pleased to announce that the guest speaker will be Megan Smolenyak. She will make four presentations during the conference: "Trace Your Roots with DNA", "Beyond Y-DNA: Your Genetic Genealogy Options", "Building a Village-Based Community", 'Reverse Genealogy: Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones".

Megan Smolenyak, author of Honoring Our Ancestors: Inspiring Stories of the Quest for Our Roots, In Search of Our Ancestors: 101 Inspiring Stories of Serendipity and Connection in Rediscovering Our Family History, and They Came to America: Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors has been an avid genealogist since the 6th grade and is skilled in many aspects of family history research. Megan is co-founder of Roots Television, a pioneering and popular online channel of genealogy and history-oriented programming. Her latest book, Trace Your Roots with DNA: Using Genetic Tests to Explore Your Family Tree, is co-authored with Ann Turner, MD, has been featured in Newsweek, The New York Times, on NPR, and in the Book of the Month Club.

For registration information visit the TGS web site .

Placing Out: The Orphan Trains

2007-11-27T18:16:00.000-06:00

An encore broadcast of its most recent historical documentary, "Placing Out: The Orphan Trains," will be on Smoky Hills Public Television on Thursday, Nov. 29, at 7:00 p.m.

Among those interviewed for the documentary were actual orphan train rider Ann Harrison, Lincoln, NB, and rider descendants Francis Schippers, Hays; Doloris Pfeifer Pederson, Russell; Walter Straub and Kevin Lockwood, both of Great Bend; and Sharla Thill, Ellinwood.

Between 1854 and 1929 an estimated 200,000 orphaned, abandoned and homeless children, primarily from cities in the East, were put on trains headed for the Midwest in hopes of finding new homes.

Nicodemus Historical Society Displays Pioneer Settlers Family Trees

2007-10-17T12:02:00.000-05:00

Nicodemus Pioneer Settler Family Trees on permanent exhibit at the Nicodemus Historical Society Museum at historic Nicodemus. Four family trees are currently on display (Moore, Samuels, Bates, Williams). Fall and Winter hours at the museum are by appointment, but Angela Bates is usually here daily. (785) 839-4280.

Forgotten Settler Certificates Available

2007-10-15T14:16:00.000-05:00

Eligibility

To receive the Territorial Certificate an applicant must be a direct descendant of an ancestor who lived in Kansas prior to 29 January 1861.
To receive the Pioneer Certificate an applicant must be a direct descendant of an ancestor who lived in Kansas between 29 January 1861 and 31 December 1880.
To receive the Early Settler Certificate, an applicant must be a direct descendant of an ancestor who lived in Kansas between 1 January 1881 and 31 December 1900.
Applicant must be able to prove descent with an official record of some type or some other acceptable source of proof (i.e.: census records; obituaries; county histories; birth, death or marriage records; school or church records; newspaper clippings and any other records showing proof.)
Applicant does not have to live in Kansas or ever have lived in Kansas.

The cost of the certificate is $7.00 for out-of-state residents and $7.50 for Kansas resident.

Apply for Your Certificate Today
Complete Forgotten Settlers Certificate Application in PDF Format
Please click on "Shrink to Fit" when printing

Return all four pages of the completed application with copies of documentation to
KANSAS COUNCIL OF GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES
PO BOX 3858
TOPEKA KS 66604-6858

50 Years of Kansas Genealogical Society of Dodge City

2007-10-15T12:36:00.000-05:00

Programs for 2008 50th Anniversary of KGS

Sunday, 13 Jan, 2:00 - 4:00 P.M.: Village Square Mall, No charge.

Frederico 'Fred' Rodriguez, Dodge City; Topic: DODGE CITY'S MEXICAN VILLAGE

Saturday, 12 April, 2:00-4:00 P.M.: Village Square Mall, Dodge City, No charge.

Rick Mandigo, Garden City; Topic: UNBLOCKING THE SEASONED GENEALOGIST

Sunday, 13 July, 2:00-4:00 P.M.: Village Square Mall, Dodge City, No charge.

Topic: REMINISCINSE OF EARLY MEMBERS

Saturday, 11 Oct, 9:00 A.M.-2:45 P.M., USD 443 Learning Center, 308 Frontview, Dodge City,

Speaker: Arlene H. Eakle, Tremonton, UT; Topics: To be announced

McPherson County Old Mill Museum to Host Swedish Workshop October 12, 2007

2007-09-29T16:12:00.000-05:00

Respected Swedish Researcher Elisabeth Thorsell Presents Genealogy Workshop October 12^th in Lindsborg

Well-known Swedish genealogist Elisabeth Thorsell comes to Lindsborg for Hyllningsfest 2007. Mrs. Thorsell’s significant knowledge of Swedish records and vast research experience make her one of the most sought-after speakers and researchers in the field of Swedish genealogy. On Friday, October 12, from 10 am to 12 noon, she will present a workshop for all those interested in finding their Swedish roots. The goal of the workshop is to teach the participants how to cross the Atlantic back to Sweden and the basics of using the Swedish church records, including the invaluable husförhörslängder (clerical surveys).

The workshop will be held at the historic 1904 World’s Fair Swedish Pavilion, on the grounds of the McPherson County Old Mill Museum, 120 Mill Street. The public is invited to attend and pre-registration is not required. There will be a modest workshop fee of $2 per person, payable at the door.

Many festival attendees are likely to know of Elisabeth Thorsell, one of Sweden’s leading genealogists. She lives near Stockholm, Sweden, and is married with three sons and four grandchildren. Elizabeth has worked finding the origins of Swedish American since 1978. She has also been deeply involved in the Swedish genealogical community, with ten years as the Secretary of the Swedish Federation of Genealogical Societies, and editor of their journal "Släkthistoriskt Forum" for nine years. These days she serves as the editor of "Swedish American Genealogist (SAG)", serves on the staff on the annual SAG Workshop in Salt Lake City, and continues doing research for Swedish Americans. She received the "Award of Merit" from Swedish Council of America in 2006.

Don’t miss this chance to learn more about your Swedish ancestors with the help of one of Sweden’s best genealogists. For more information call 785-227-3595 or email oldmillmuseum@hotmail.com.

Osage County Historical Society Museum & Research Center Announces Two Projects

2007-09-29T16:07:00.000-05:00

Osage County Historical Society Museum & Research Center is proud to announce the NEAR completion of two major projects.

We own an obituary collection amassed in nearly thirty scrapbooks. The scrapbooks have been re-indexed by the names of the deceased rather than chronological order. The indices now also contain the maiden names, as well as previous married names, of ladies (insofar as we could determine from the obituary. The master index now contains over 30,000 records with more being added weekly.

One year ago we obtained four reels of microfilm which contain the naturalization records of Osage County. We've been working on that master index since January 2007. While not complete, the index now contains nearly 10,000 records.

The first half of the Naturalization Index can be found under the Resources heading at our website, www.osagechs.org

The second half will be added when the index is complete.

If your people ever spent any time in Osage County, you may wish to examine these records. Check with us for research and copy fees via email at: research@kanza.net

Finney County Genealogical Society Celebrates 40 Years

2007-09-23T17:00:00.000-05:00

Finney County Genealogical Society will be having its 40th anniversary celebration on October 20th. Our regular meeting will be in the morning from 10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. with Rick Mandigo giving a presentation on "Preparing a Genealogical Photographic". The 40th anniversary celebration will be in the afternoon from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M. It will all take place in the Finnup Room at the Finney County Public Library 605 E. Walnut, Garden City, Kansas.

Harper County Courthouse - 100 Years Old

2007-08-16T04:14:00.000-05:00

The Harper County Courthouse will be 100 years old next year. The centennial committee is asking for photographs relating to the courthouse, any county building and/or county events that you might like to share. Plans are being made for photos and other memorabilia to be displayed during this event. Your photographs could possibly be included in the centennial courthouse book that is being written. Please contact me on how to send or make copies of your photographs. Thank you!
Carol Burke Peterson
peterson@kanokla.net

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society

2007-08-15T14:39:00.001-05:00

Calendar of Events for Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society
April 5 - Beginning on Thursday the MHGS Library will be open from 4 pm to 7 pm during Daylight Savings Time for researchers to use.
August 18 - Family History Detective Class, 10:00 a.m. - Bits and Pieces of Family History Research
August 25, Computer Support Group, 1:00 p.m. Using the Many Features of FamilyTree Maker Software
September 1 - 4 - Library Closed for Labor Day holiday.
September 8 - Westwood Presbyterian Church, 8007 West Maple. Wichita, KS. Speaker at 1 p.m. - Della Shafer and her husband will demonstrate grave finding by dowsing.
September 15 - Family History Detective Class, 10:00 a.m. - What Map did Grandpa Use in His Travels
September 22 - Computer Support Group 1:00 p.m. - Learn how to use libraries on the Internet
November 10 - Grace Methodist Church, 944 South Topeka. Lunch at noon, speaker at 1:00 p.m.. Sherry Kline, free lance writer of Family Tree in the Wichita Eagle magazine, Active Life.

Brown County Genealogical Society

2007-08-15T14:34:00.000-05:00

Rebecca Brown, a Hiawatha High School Sophomore, did a project for Biology class concerning diseases that are inherited. She went back 6 generations and has what her ancestors died from, so one can see if there is an inheritable disease in the family. Rebecca will present her project at the regular meeting of the Brown County Genealogical Society to be held in the research library, 116 South 7th, Hiawatha, KS, August 16, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

Finney County Genealogical Society Meetings

2007-08-15T14:29:00.000-05:00

Finney County Genealogical Society Monthly Meetings
(Except June and August)

All of our 2007 genealogy meetings are scheduled to be at the Finney County Public Library, 605 E. Walnut, Garden City, Kansas, in the Hutchinson Room--from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

October 20 "Preparing a Genealogical Photographic" Rick Mandigo

November 17 "Show and Tell" Everyone Share Their Latest Finds

December 15 "Christmas Traditions" Johnetta Hebrlee

January 19, 2008 "Grandma, Who Am I?" Johnetta Hebrlee

Harper County Genealogical Society

2007-08-15T13:16:00.000-05:00

Harper County Genealogical Society announces their meeting dates for the remainder of 2007. Visitors are always welcome.

August 21, 2007 - Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church Library, 1420 East 14th, Harper, KS 2:00 p.m. - Business meeting . Program: Bring your Genealogy Questions for Discussion.

September 18, 2007 - Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church Library, 1420 East 14th, Harper, KS 2:00 p.m. - Business meeting . Program: What's New at FamilySearch.com, presented by Sandy Trotter.

October 16, 2007 - Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church Library, 1420 East 14th, Harper, KS 2:00 p.m. - Business meeting . Program: By Virginia Downing.

November 13, 2007 - Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church Library, 1420 East 14th, Harper, KS 2:00 p.m. - Business meeting . Program: By Virginia Downing.

No Meeting in December
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON

Kansas Genealogy Blog

2007-08-15T11:04:00.002-05:00

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies is sponsoring a Kansas Genealogy Blog, as yet, another means of communication. Member societies are encouraged to take advantage of this blog to advertise their meetings, conferences and other activities. Affiliate members and Kansas researchers are welcome to submit Kansas genealogy news, or make comments on articles already posted. Instructions for placing new articles on the blog appear at the bottom of the blog home page.
The members of KCGS board are pleased to offer this service and hope that you will help make it a successful genealogical adventure.

Welcome

2007-08-15T05:53:00.000-05:00

Welcome to this Kansas Genealogy blog site, sponsored by the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies. We hope you find this site to be a useful tool in your quest to find your ancestors. We especially hope that the users of this site will share research techniques and the best way to obtain information from various sources. The Kansas Council wants genealogists to have all the resources possible available for their research. May this blog help you to achieve your family history goal.

Bill Ballard
President
Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies

KCGS

1940 Federal Census

MHGS Announces Programs

KCGS Annual Meeting and Conference

Quiring Monument Purchase Orders

Kansas Ancestor Fair

Welcome!

Celebrate Family History Month

Forgotten Settlers of Kansas

Genealogy Inspired Crafts

Organizing Your Photos

2011 Kansas Ancestor Fair

Kansas Newspapers

Kansas Newspapers

Social Networking for Genealogy Societies

KCGS Annual Meeting and Conference

Reno County Genealogical Society

Kansas Genealogical Society Annual Meeting

Midwest Photo Contest

Tartan Day Video

Midwest Trip to Oklahoma City Canceled

Frank Maurer & the Tartan Stone

KCGS Annual Meeting and Conference 2011

MHGS Photo Contest

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society Trip to OK City

Footnote Subscription

Bus Trip to Oklahoma Historical Society

Veritage Car Show

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies Conference

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society

Member Society Programs

National Family Health History Day

Message from KCGS President

Explore Your Swedish Roots This October

Volunteers Needed for the Midtown Historic Home Tour

The Lincoln Cottage

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society Library

Kansas Genealogical Society Fall Seminar

WeRelate and Ancestry

"How Genealogists Seek Information" by Scott Lucas

Your Society and the IRS

News from the Kansas State Historical Society

Reno County Genealogical Society Receives Grant

"Lincoln Comes to Kansas"

Parmelia and Pluma Bailey

KCGS on Facebook

Kansas Forgotten Settlers Volumes

Index of Volumes One through TenIndex of Volumes Eleven through TwentyIndex of Volumes Twenty-one through 25Index of Volume 26

View lists of Forgotten Settlers of Kansas

Kansas Forgotten Settlers

Eligibility

Atchinson County Genealogical Society

Past KCGS President

KCGS Annual Conference - Register Before May 30

Hodgeman County Genealogical Society

Finney County Genealogical Society Immediate Past President

Did Granny Tell You There Was an Indian in Your Past?

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies August Board Meeting

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies Annual Conference 2009

Kansas Genealogical Society, Dodge City, Celebrates 50 Years

Osborne County Genealogical & Historical Society

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society Hours

Reno County Genealogical Society

Wilson County Genealogical Society

New Hours at MHGS Library

Central Plains Region National Archives

Pamela K. Boyer Coming to Kansas

Kansas Maps

Osage County Historical Society Completes Naturalization Index

Topeka Genealogical Society Announces Programs for 2008

Kansas Genealogists Lose Long Time Friend

Topeka Genealogical Society Brings Megan Smolenyak to Kansas

Placing Out: The Orphan Trains

Nicodemus Historical Society Displays Pioneer Settlers Family Trees

Forgotten Settler Certificates Available

Eligibility

50 Years of Kansas Genealogical Society of Dodge City

McPherson County Old Mill Museum to Host Swedish Workshop October 12, 2007

Osage County Historical Society Museum & Research Center Announces Two Projects

Finney County Genealogical Society Celebrates 40 Years

Index of Volumes One through Ten
Index of Volumes Eleven through Twenty
Index of Volumes Twenty-one through 25
Index of Volume 26

Finney County Genealogical Society Monthly Meetings
(Except June and August)