Family History Month Book Sale
October 1-31, 2014
Join us for that one special month when Clayton makes all its duplicate family history books available for sale. These are donated copies of books that have never been part of our collection.
Gathering History: Start the Conversation with ToysSaturday, October 4 | 1 PM-2 PMFamily stories and painless interviews can revolve around a simple toy. This class discusses how to start the conversation using some of our most cherished keepsakes. This session will be presented by staff member Mel Hayes. Adults/Teens. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600.
A Potpourri of Tex/Mex ResourcesTuesday, October 7 | 10:30 AM-11:30 AMThis presentation will discuss connecting some of Clayton’s Texas/Mexico collections with other sources; ranging from films, Internet, and CD-ROMs, to databases. This session will be presented by staff member Julia Ramirez. Adults/Teens. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600.
Convicts to the ColoniesWednesday, October 8 | 6:30 PM-7:30 PM A major form of criminal punishment observed by Britain was to transport convicts to the colonies across the sea. Records and sources are discussed. This session will be presented by staff member Sue Kaufman. Adults/Teens. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600.
Freedmen’s Bureau RecordsFriday, October 10 | 1 PM-2 PM An overview of the agency’s history, purpose, records, and type of documents found in each record group. This presentation provides an explanation of the sources, and guidance on how to use the records to achieve the most productive results. This session will be presented by staff member Franklin Smith. Adults/Teens. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600.
Medical Genealogy : Defining Obscure Medical Terms Used by Our AncestorsSaturday, October 11 | 10:30 AM–12 PMYou may have heard that Great Aunt Mary was consumptive and know that means she had tuberculosis, but what if someone had phthsis pulmonalis, phthisis, potter's asthma, or white plague. Come and learn about some of the diseases our ancestors faced and where to find out what the medical terms you see in obituaries or death certificates mean. (By the way, all the terms above have been used for tuberculosis.) This session will be presented by staff member Irene B. Walters. Adults/Teens. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600.
Overview of the Microfilm Special CollectionsWednesday, October 15 | 6:30 PM-7:30 PMJoin us for a discussion and brief overview of the many unique collections stored in the “Special Collections” microfilm cabinets. Find out which collections might pertain to your geographic areas and time periods of research. This session will be presented by staff member Steven Bychowski. Adults/Teens. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600.
3rd Annual Genealogy After Dark (Lock-in)Friday, October 17 | 6:30 PM-11 PMIn celebration of October as Family History Month, the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research / Houston Public Library will be sponsoring the “3rd Annual Genealogy After Dark” event at Clayton Library
Center for Genealogical Research, 5300 Caroline Street, Houston, TX 77004. This event is free and open to any members of the public who have an interest in genealogy.
Various webinars will be offered throughout the afternoon and evening. Attendees are encouraged to bring a brown bag dinner or snacks. The library will close at 5 PM; check-in will begin upon reentry at 6PM. To attend the evening programming, the person MUST be registered for Genealogy After Dark. Clayton Library will be open to registered attendees for research until 11 PM. Adults/Teens. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600.
FamilySearch.org Live: Search Strategies, Tools and Tips
12 PM-1:30 PM
Presented by Robert Lawrence Kehrer, Sr. Product Manager, Search Technologies
This live demonstration uses real research scenarios. Join expert Robert Kehrer as he shares his research strategies and experience in using FamilySearch.org website tools to find records and then link those sources to the Family Tree.
Genealogical and Historic Records Available at the Texas Military Forces Museum
1:45 PM-2:50 PM
Presented by Lisa Sharik, Director
This program will provide information on the records which are available for research at the Texas Military Forces Museum and from Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas. The material spans from 1910 to the present day and includes everything from WWI service records to material from the deployment of our Texas troops in the Global War on Terror.
Building the West Texas Digital Archives
3 PM-3:50 PM
Presented by Edward J. Smith, Executive Director Abilene Library Consortium
The West Texas Digital Archives is a collaborative project run by the Abilene Library Consortium containing more than 50,000 digital items from many organizations across the region. ALC Executive Director Eddy Smith will highlight the Archives and discuss some of the experiences in building a large-scale, collaborative digital project.
Using Evernote for your Genealogical Research
4 PM-4:50 PM
Presented by Melissa Meadows, Programming and Outreach Librarian at Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, Houston Public Library
This presentation will highlight the importance of embracing emergent technology to genealogists of all experience levels. It will include a walkthrough of Evernote, as well as a discussion of the various ways in which the organizational platform can benefit anyone with their family history. Please feel free to bring your devices with Internet access enabled.
5 PM-6 PM
Clayton Library will close to begin Genealogy After Dark Check-In
Fundamentals for Beginning Genealogy Research
6 PM-7:20 PM
Presented by William D. Buckner, Manager, Genealogy Center, Waco-McLennan County Library
This class covers the basic concepts, skills, search strategies and resources needed to become a proficient family history researcher. Join us as we walk through the process of recording what you already know, getting organized, collecting information, and evaluating the information you find for additional clues about your ancestors. Learn to use some of the more common records of ‘genealogical value’ – vital, cemetery, obituaries, census and immigration records.
Five Civilized Tribe Indian Research
7:30 PM-8:20 PM
Presented by Aaron Holt, Archives Technician Fort Worth Regional Archives NARA
Learn how to research the Dawes Final Rolls. This program will touch on aspects of researching for Indians and Indian records utilizing the US Census and Indian Rolls within the National Archives at Fort Worth.
Think Like a Historian to Expand Your Research
8:30 PM-9:20 PM
Presented by Sara Gredler, Genealogist/Historian/Architectural Historian
Thinking like a historian puts your ancestors in their historic, social, and community context. Sara Gredler explores the resources available to expand the “big picture” of your ancestors’ lives along with their location.
DNA – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
9:30 PM-10:30 PM
Presented by Jim Wright, Family historian
Discussion will include what DNA results you can and can’t expect from an Ancestry DNA test (Autosomal test) with or without an Ancestry tree. Mr. Wright will use actual online Ancestry trees and DNA test results for the discussion.
Clayton Library Orientation Saturday, October 18 | 10:30 AM-11:45 AMLearn about the vast resources and how to efficiently utilize genealogical research materials housed at the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research. This session will be presented by a Clayton staff member. Adults/Teens. No reservations needed, meet at the Information Desk in the library.
Cemetery Removal: Where did it go? How can I find it?Wednesday, October 22 | 1 PM-2 PMThis class discusses resources to help you find a missing cemetery. We will discuss strategies to find out where the grave was moved, and what you can do to document your findings. This session will be presented by staff member Mel Hayes. Adults/Teens. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600.
Louisiana Death Records: Where to locate themThursday, October 23 | 11 AM-12 PMThis presentation will discuss both the resources Clayton has on-site for Louisiana death records, as well as online avenues that are made available on this subject through the Houston Public Library’s databases. This session will be presented by staff member Becky Grimes. Adults/Teens. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600.
Authenticity in Genealogical ResearchFriday, October 24 | 2 PM-3 PMNot every source is held by Clayton Library is reliable. Do you know how to tell if a source is reliable, or authoritative? This presentation will explore several source formats and types and discuss the methodology behind determining a source to be reliable, or how to identify the most reliable source available for a specific query. This session will be presented by staff member Clinton Drake. Adults/Teens. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600.
Old and the New Day: Research Strategies with Michael LeclercSaturday, October 25 | 10:30 AM-4:30 PMPlease join us for a full day of presentations, ranging from Finding Your Family in Canada; Reading and Understanding Old Documents; Sources for New England Research, and a discussion of the innovative family history database Mocavo. These sessions will be presented by guest speaker Michael Leclerc, chief genealogist for Mocavo. Adults/Teens. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600.
Cemetery SymbolismFriday, October 31 | 2 PM-3 PMThis talk discusses the ways in which ancestors marked their final resting places to indicate various accomplishments in life, through death. Topics will include iconography, recurrent themes, and symbols of organizations. This session will be presented by staff member Melissa Meadows. Adults/Teens. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600.