Genealogy Researchat the Dick Smith Library

Amanda Pape – Tarleton State University – 19 July 2014

Getting to Campus

<-Library

Parking!

Red – Residential Students – OK in summerYellow – Visitor - BestBlue – Faculty/Staff – No; reserved spotsPurple – Commuter Students - OK

OK YES NO OK

http://www.tarleton.edu/STULIFE/parking/index.html

View of P-12 from aboveLibrary loading dock

Shuttle Service

- From remote lots- Can hail it anywhere

- Doesn’t run in summer- See Parking Services website for more info

Best Time to Visit• Summer

– Parking is easier– Fewer students = more help for you

• M-F, 8-5– Minimally staffed evenings and weekends– Special Collections only open at this time

• Call or e-mail me first!– pape@tarleton.edu (best)– 254-968-9251

Library Entrance is the Same…

East side of building

Inside…

…the Main Level is very different!

When you enter - here - ^Circulation Desk is to your left

Stairs and elevator are to your rightCafé, Periodicals, Reference, computers are straight ahead

Stephenville Empire-Tribune microfilm is nowin a film cabinet in Periodicals area.

Also here…

On the Main Level

Digital Microfilm Scanner

- Bring a flash drive- Save images

- We will help you use it!

Document Scanner

- Large flatbed touchscreen scanner- Save as PDF or JPG to flash drive- Don’t need Guest Pass to use

Information Desk

Get a Guest Pass here to use computers or the digital microfilm scanner

Lower Level is Still the Same!

When you come off the stairs or elevator, you will see our reference desk.

I’m usually here.

Special Collections Suite

Local History Room

Open Monday - Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM

County Records

Microfilm

There is an old-style microfilm reader in the

Suite…for now

General Reference & Local History Books for Other States

Texas County and Town Histories – Erath & Surrounding Counties in

the section to the far right

Vertical Files – Pamphlets, etc.

Meet the Lower Level StaffAmanda PapeCoordinator, Archives

& Special Services254-968-9251pape@tarleton.edu

Vickie SowellSpecial Services

Assistant254-968-9869sowell@tarleton.edu

Gary SpurrCollections Archivist254-968-1808spurr@tarleton.edu

What’s Unique Here?

1. County Records - TextsColeman County (1875-1940)Comanche County (1924-1972)Comanche County School Grade Books (1922-1953)Eastland County (1874-1947)Erath County (1867-1985)Erath County School Grade Books (1920-1976)

Advance notice required to use these as all are housed offsite and must be retrieved – lack of staff or bad weather could prevent that.

2. County Records - Microfilm

Brown County (1880-1985)Callahan County (1857-1981)Erath County (1866-1992)Shackelford County (1867-1981)Stephens County (1867-2005)

These can be used onsite, or they can be sent to another library for you to use there for two weeks (can be extended).

http://www.tarleton.edu/library/countyrecords.html

More Info on Our County Records web page

Coming soon: a glossary!

3. Stephenville Empire-Tribune

- Since 1882 on microfilm (some gaps) - Must be used on-site (Periodicals area)- Need guest pass to log into digital scanner

– bring a photo ID; must be age 16+- Guest passes not available in spring and

fall semester between 10 AM and 3 PM- Purchase copy card at Circulation to print

- $1 with $0.50 credit; reloadable- Can also be used with copy machines

4. Databases- Go to library

home pagewww.tarleton.edu/library

- Click on Research Guides by subject

- Click on Genealogy

Genealogy Research Guide

http://www.tarleton.edu/library/subguides/geneal_sg.html

Databases – Only with Guest Pass• *A to Z Maps – check the Antique Map Collection• *Access World News -

– Fort Worth Star-Telegram (December 1990-current)– Austin American-Statesman (1989-current), as well as – 62 other Texas sources.

• Fold3 databases– *African American Archives – *Revolutionary War Archives - (Select from top pull down menu).– *World War II Archives - (Select from top pull down).

• *Archive of Americana – includes – *American Historical Newspapers ranging from 1690 to 1989,– *U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1980.

• *Biography and Genealogy Master Index – citations to other resources with biographical information• *Dallas Morning News:

– Current (since August 1984; including indexed death notices from 12/29/02) – Historical (October 1885 through 1984).

• Sometimes a legal case involving a family member will provide clues in your family history.– *Lexis-Nexis Academic – *WestLawNext -

• * New York Times Historical (1851-2010), via *ProQuest.

Example – Archive of Americana

<- Enter search term(s), limit by date (optional)

Archive of Americana, 2

In the image at right, only five of the 132 results are visible.

Click on the "View all [whatever number]

link in the bottom left corner--in the red box

in the image->

Archive of Americana, 3

This should (it doesn't always) bring up preview images from the documents that include one or more of your

search terms. If you see something promising, you can click on the preview or on the "View Article" link (see

the red boxes in the image above).

Archive of Americana, 4When you find an article, you will find a number of tools at the top right of the page. The database has a very informative "Help" page that explains all of its features.

You can zoom in or out, reposition the image in the viewing pane, view the full page the article was published on, and reset the image view to the default. You can also open the article as a PDF, open it in a print-friendly view, and maximize (or minimize) the image view pain. You can also add the article to "My Collection," a temporary saving space that's held until you log off.

Your search term(s) will be highlighted in yellow. There is a check box at the top left of the screen to toggle that feature on or off.

Give this database a try for your pre-1922 ancestors, as well as Texas family through 1983. I was expecting to find my grandfather's cousin who lived in the Dallas area (and I did). I did not expect to find this article (pictured right) about my grandfather, who never lived in the Metroplex but only in Houston and Austin!

5. J-Tacs and Grassburrs

More local information than you might expect in these student publications

Can access from home at Portal to Texas History http://texashistory.unt.edu/

J-Tac Student Newspaperhttp://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/collections/JTAC/browse/

December 1919 on

Grassburr yearbook http://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/partners/TSU/browse/?fq=str_title_serial%3AGrassburr

1970-2012 up now, 1916-1969 coming soon

Thank you! Any questions?Contact Information:Amanda PapeCoordinator for Archives and Special ServicesDick Smith LibraryTarleton State UniversityBox T-0450Stephenville, TX 76402254-968-9251Office:  Lower Level, Room B05Bpape@tarleton.eduhttp://www.tarleton.edu/library/Twitter:  @AmandaPapeMSLS