Author Archives: Site Admin

Morning Coffee + Newspaper = Genealogy

Genealogy happens even when reading the newspaper while having coffee. I usually read the newspaper in the morning while having breakfast. This past week two articles from The Birmingham News were of genealogy|history interest.

No, not just interest — but fascinating & valuable.

Researchers say they have new clue to Lost Colony

AP released the subject news article late yesterday afternoon. Quoting the beginning of the news article …

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — A new look at a 425-year-old map has yielded a tantalizing clue about the fate of the Lost Colony, the settlers who disappeared from North Carolina’s Roanoke Island in the late 16th century.

1940 Census Symbols & Explanatory Notes

Knowing what the symbols and abbreviations you find on the 1940 census is helpful. Good researchers never guess. Table shown with the Codes Used, Their Meaning, & what column number/heading in which they appear.

Which Site Has the Best 1940 Census Images

There are four sites that are indexing the census (see prior article, “Confused? Thought the indexing of 1940 census was a cooperative project by all?“). But if all are indexing the 1940 census, why wouldn’t the images look exactly the same?

When it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter why they don’t but which one is the best. Fortunately for me personally the top two are the ones I use the most. What about you?

Mary (Elise) Mason’s Scrapbook

Mary (Elise) Mason’s Scrapbook ~ compiled by Limestone County Historical Society, April 2010

Review published March 2012

About the book

~ from Preface

“Miss Mary E. Mason developed a comprehensive scrapbook that resulted in a significant historical data base for Athens and Limestone County. This scrapbook was developed in seven volumes roughly organized by subject. … Most of the material in these volumes are newspaper clippings … [they were] turning dark and [were] very fragile. The binders that contain these were literally falling apart. This fragile condition did not lend them to access to the public. … The original material had no index; only a limited topic list for each volume was included at the beginning of each volume. A detailed index was developed for four of the volumes … [then this 2010 publication includes] an index for those volumes not previously indexed …″

~ from Subject Table

Subjects listed are:
» Business
» Railroads
» Schools
» Legal
» Newspapers
» Postal Service
» Civil War
» Gov. Officials
» Health Care
» Athens College
» Activities/Events
» Churches
» Municipal
» Residents
» Early History
» General History
» Homes
» Deaths & Obituaries
——————————–
» And a list of contents included that are Outside Limestone County

Table of Contents:

Volume 1
Early History, Homes, General History, Families, Social and Community Activities, Municipal Activities.

Volume 2
Churches, doctors, Legal Profession, Newspapers

Volume 3
Historic Homes, Residents, Civil War Memories, Belle Mina, Mooresville, Decatur, Country Club, Railroad, County Fair, Local Society

Volume 4
Community Leaders, Deaths and Obituaries, Local DAR, Early History

Volume 5
Athens Progress, Athens College, Local Schools

Volume 6
Civil War Memories, Residents and Personalities, Events, Bibb Home, Decatur and Lawrence County

Volume 7
Drinking Fountain, The Springs, Rest Room, Bass Tablet, Masonic Corner Stone, Post Office, City Hall, Bakery, Fire Company, Bus Station, Hospital, L & N

NEAGS Reviewer Comments

Miss Mary Mason was a historic leader not just in Limestone County but in all of Alabama. The amount of material she compiled is amazing.

A hand-written note from her states regret that she did not start the scrapbook earlier because those who had affected the county & area had already passed.

Many pictures from newspapers are included as well as copies of other images that Miss Mason obtained or had in her personal collection.

Note: Which newspapers the clippings came from is not always rarely shown. Dates are not always available either. But that does not lessen the value of these seven volumes.

Some Excerpts …