It is again time for the Christmas Tree Event and we invite any youth group from any community wishing to participate to join us. This community service project which began in 2003, is in its 14th year. A small artificial tree and handmade ornaments are all that is needed. The theme this year is “winter wonderland.” These trees will be displayed at the Soup Kitchen on Salisbury Street for the community to come see and vote for their favorite tree. All entries are due by November 9th and voting will take place all of November, trees to be distributed by Christmas to a needy family or elderly person. Contact Rae Allen at 387-3666 for more information.

October is Archives month and I would be pleased to help individuals begin or renew their family research. Call for an appointment.

Genealogy 101: Begin with you, your family and document what you know, such as dates of births, marriage, death and burial information. Four forms will help you keep organized: Family Group Sheets – one for each marriage of husband, wife and children – every marriage is a unit; History Sheets – for stories about each person (childhood, church affiliation, job, hobbies, etc.); Ancestral Charts – for direct line of descent; Interview Sheets – get a list of questions you need answered to continue your search and find out all you can from parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, etc.

What is Primary or Secondary Information? According to the Board for Certification of Genealogists, primary information comes from a person who was at the event, either participating in it or witnessing it. It is also judged on how soon the information was collected and the reliability of the person giving the information. Original records of events and may include: diaries, journals, state or federal census records, courthouse records such as deeds, will probates, birth or death records, baptism or marriage records, ship's passenger lists and military records. Secondary information, on the other hand, is given by someone who has heard about an event from someone else. Published records, including: family histories, indexes or compilations of census or marriage records, any sort of history (county, state, etc.), and collections of cemetery inscriptions, for example. Primary records are, of course, the most reliable sources, but secondary records can provide you with many clues for further research.

To be continued….