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Clayton Town CrierJanuary 2016
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Your source for all the news from Clayton Library Volume 9 Issue 2 Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research 5300 Caroline, Houston, TX 77004 832-393-2600
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Manager's corner... Going Beyond the Shaky Leaf
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This past November, the Genealogy Roadshow, a PBS Television family history research discovery show ( http://www.pbs.org/genealogy-roadshow/home/), filmed an upcoming episode to air in 2016 at the Houston Public Library’s historic Julia Ideson Building. This show, like many of the other genealogy television shows, uncovers a person’s family history. However, the Genealogy Roadshow specifically discovers “brick wall” solutions for non-Hollywood or prominent people. People just like you and I are featured. Houston was chosen for a taping because of the rich stories that were submitted to the production company through a writing campaign effort that was marshaled by the Clayton Library Friends over the past couple of years. ( http://www.claytonlibraryfriends.org) As I watched the taping, both here at the Clayton Library and the Julia Ideson building, there were a few things that struck me. The stories that are presented all revolved around a "brick wall" that the interviewees could not break through. To break through that wall, these people reached out to experts to help them with their specific issues. Each day, all of us at the Clayton Library do exactly the same thing. From the minute you walk into the door, to the time you leave, we are here to listen to your research question, to discuss with you what you have discovered, what you are interested in discovering, and suggest ways to accomplish your goals. Many people do encounter a “brick wall” in their research process. That “wall” can be a deep, long term research problem, or can be the beginning question that revolves around “I have all this stuff, what do I do with it, and how do I go about finding out more?” At the Clayton Library, we offer one-on-one consultation specific to your research. We listen, guide, and suggest paths for you to take. One of the biggest changes in the almost 30 years that I have been a genealogy librarian is the impact the Internet has made on research. Often today the computer is the introduction to family history research. There are plenty of databases out there to help you. Google returns websites that are relative to your search query. However, there does come a time when you need to talk to someone about your research. We invite you to the Clayton Library to do just that. Come in, and ask us your research question. We are here to help you. Some of the answers just might be on the computer, and some more might be in the books we have on the shelves or in our microprint collection. Visit us and let us help you make 2016 the year of the break-through in your research, whether you are a beginner or seasoned researcher. We look forward to having you walk through the door! Susan Kaufman, Manager Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research
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Spotlight on... Western Expansion
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by Joy Oria Our country has long been captivated by the idea of going west. By heading west, you could seek your fortune in the gold mines, become a landowner of fertile farmlands, practice religion without censorship, and escape the high taxes and prices of the east. “Go West, young man” was the advice popularized by newspaper editor Horace Greeley to anyone looking to create their own opportunities in 19th century America. Even in our modern era, the Village People sang, “Go West, begin life anew”. With enough determination and hard work, one could make a better life out west. The trip west wasn’t for the faint of heart. Given the ease with which we can now travel to most locations in the United States within a day, it’s difficult to imagine a time when cross country travel, or more accurately, cross territory travel, meant undertaking a hazardous, unpredictable, multi-month journey. Anyone who remembers playing the computer game The Oregon Trail can remember the frequency of mishaps on the trail, ranging from the mild – You have a broken wheel – to the severe – Mary died of cholera. Finding direct evidence of your ancestors’ journey west may be difficult as there are very few remaining primary sources. You’re more likely to find mentions of your ancestors in compiled histories and biographies. Many of the resources mentioned here gathered their information from newspapers of the time period. If you wish to search newspapers yourself, check out the newspaper databases (particularly Chronicling America), available on the Houston Public Library website's Newspaper Resources page: ( http://www.houstonlibrary.org/research/resources-by-category/249). Many diaries were written by people on the various trails and many of these have been either digitized and/or transcribed online. A Google search of “migration diaries” or “trail diaries” will bring up links to many of these diaries online. It will also point you towards collections of diaries at various historical societies and museums. There might not be a diary written by your ancestor or relative, but others written on the same trail or during the same time period can help you discover some of the daily activities your ancestor experienced. Migration Routes Some of the routes our ancestors traveled are still in existence today, developed into state or even interstate highways. These routes were often initially developed by buffalo herds and used by Native Americans, traders, hunters and trappers. If you’re interested in tracing the route your ancestor may have taken, try these resources.
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Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920
by William Thorndale
Call number: 307.20973 D665 USA. Use this guide to identify important overland migration routes prior to the industrial era of canals and railroads. You’ll find descriptions and histories of the routes, as well as general maps delineating the routes.
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An Atlas of Appalachian Trails to the Ohio River
by Carrie Eldridge
Call number: 974 E37 USA. This collection of atlases has a wide variety of maps illustrating everything from portage paths to early Indian trails to major pioneer trails, with the benefit of explaining the historical events exerting push-pull forces on our ancestors. One such map is “Creating Ohio”, which shows the many sections the Ohio Territory was carved up into at the close of the American Revolution. It shows when each section was opened for settlement and for whom each section was set aside. For example, the section “Fire Lands” in northern Ohio opened in 1792 and was reserved for people who lived in certain Connecticut towns burned during the Revolution.
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Old Pike : A History of the National Road, With Incidents, Accidents and Anecdotes Thereon
by Thomas B. Searight
Call number: 388.1 S439 USA. Imagine The Old Pike as a county history of the National Road. Like the county histories that were so popular in the late 1800s, it gathers the history of a specific area and the biographies of its inhabitants, in this case, the wagoners and tavern keepers of the National Road. With an every-name index it is easy to search for your ancestor. You may find only one sentence on your ancestor, but it may give you the lead you’ve been looking for. “Andrew Trentice, who died recently in Uniontown, the possessor of considerable money, drove a team on the old road in his early days.” From a description of the route, you can deduce Uniontown is in Pennsylvania. Since he “died recently” and the book was published in 1894, it would be reasonable to assume his date of death to be in the early 1890s or late 1880s. As he owned “considerable money,” it’s likely he had a will.
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The Black West
by William Loren Katz
Call number: 978 K19 USA. A meticulously documented look at a lesser-known aspect of African American history is based on the personal writings of the explorers, cowboys, settlers, and soldiers of pioneer America. Read The Black West for valuable insight into the experiences of African Americans in the West, such as that of slave Alvin Coffey, who earned five thousand dollars working in California mines. He had planned to use his earnings to buy his own freedom, but his master seized the money and sold him. Coffey persuaded his new owner he could earn enough money to make him rich and to purchase his own freedom and that of his family. In this he was successful; by 1860 the Coffeys were free and prosperous residents of Tehama County, California. While this book has an index, unfortunately it does not include every name mentioned in the book.
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The pioneer women of the West
by E. F. Ellet
Call number: 920 E45 USA. The biographies of sixty women from different eras of the frontier have been prepared from private records furnished by relatives or friends, and in a few instances by the subjects themselves. There are many graphic stories of interactions with Native Americans, the difficulties of travel, and the dangers of wildlife.
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In tar and paint and stone : the inscriptions at Independence Rock and Devil's Gate
by Levida Hileman
Call number: H644 NATRO WYO. Before the advent of texting travelers creatively left messages for fellow travelers on natural landmarks along the wagon trails. Noteworthy landmarks like Independence Rock in Wyoming became message boards. By leaving your name and date “in tar and paint and stone”, friends and family in following trains knew you had made it thus far, and were only so many days apart. Author Levida Hileman surveyed all accessible areas of these two landmarks and includes information previously published in Robert Spurrier Ellison’s seminal Independence Rock: The Great Record of the Desert, which can be viewed online at FamilySearch.org. (https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE1778862&from=fhd).
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California Wagon Train Lists. Volume 1: April 5, 1849 - October 20, 1852
by Louis J. Rasmussen
Call number: R225 CALIF V. 1. This compilation of emigrants and their families who journeyed to California by covered wagon was culled from newspapers that published lists of emigrants who had recently arrived. Information you may find includes names (but sometimes just the first initial and surname), departure point and date of departure, origin, other members of the wagon train or company (usually mining groups), and date and place of arrival. There are also mentions of graves and deaths along the trails. A thorough index makes it easy to search for your ancestor. A planned second volume was never published.
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My folks came in a covered wagon : a treasury of pioneer stories handed down in families of Capper's readers
by Not Available
Call number: 978 M995 USA. Readers of Capper’s Weekly newspaper responded generously when in 1955 the Kansan periodical requested true pioneer stories. Sent from around the country, these stories come from the pioneers themselves or their descendants, and reveal the adventures and challenges faced by the pioneers traveling by covered wagon. Discovering if your ancestor has a story in here will require some detective work. There is an index of contributors, and oftentimes in their stories the contributors will refer to their ancestor by relation, ie. “my grandmother”, rather than by name – in which case you would need to know your ancestor’s other descendants, and possibly even their married names to decipher which contributor may be sharing your ancestor’s story. Even if your ancestor isn’t to be found in this book, it’s still a fascinating read for stories such as that of Mrs. P.E. Dieffenbaugh’s great-grandmother, who as a widow with seven children packed up all her possessions and left Texas for Kansas in one wagon, only to have a panic-stricken ferryman push their wagon and yoked oxen into the river when he thought the ferry was overloaded. The family, bereft of all their goods, ran out of money and had to stop and work until they saved enough money to continue their journey.
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Women's diaries of the westward journey
by Lillian Schlissel
Call number: 978 W872 USA. The first half of Women’s Diaries is a detailed description of the woman’s pioneer experience; the second half features four diaries. A bibliography of known diaries, a comprehensive index, and insightful photographs round out this resource. The terse entries excerpted from Maria Parsons Belshaw’s diary poignantly illustrate the westward journey: Aug. 25 Passed 1 grave…we made 12 miles Aug. 26 Passed 3 graves…1 dead horse. 18 cattle…made 13 miles Aug. 27 Passed 5 graves…1 horse, 23 cattle…made 15 miles Aug. 28 Passed 1 grave…17 cattle…made 23 miles Lodisa Frizzell in her diary sums up the trepidation of undertaking such a journey, “The heart has a thousand misgivings, and the mind is tortured with anxiety, and often as I passed the fresh made graves. I have glanced at the side boards of the wagons, not knowing how soon it would serve as a coffin for some one of us.”
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Libera Martina Spinazze's Index to the Argonauts of California
by Libera Martina Spinazze
Call number: S757 CALIF. Like other Forty-Niners, Charles Warren Haskins came to California in 1849 with dreams of finding gold. While he did become prosperous, his biggest legacy is Argonauts of California – part memoir and part comprehensive list of other Forty-Niners. Over 27,000 names are included and grouped according to the ship or wagon train in which they arrived, the mining party they came with, or the pioneer society they later joined. Unfortunately, Haskins did not identify his sources, and very few primary sources remain to substantiate his lists due to the devastating fires of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Nonetheless, this book remains a valuable resource on the California Gold Rush. Due to its density and multiple indices, it can be difficult to sort out your ancestor, which is why it’s best to begin by looking at Libera Martina Spinazze’s Index to the Argonauts of California. Searching by surname, you’ll find their page number in Argonauts of California, the name of their ship or travel party, and the date and location of their departure.
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Railway Passenger Lists of Overland Trains to San Francisco and the West
by Louis Rasmussen
Call number: 973 R225 USA V. 1 & 2. With the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, cross country travel exponentially became more accessible. San Francisco was the implied destination of most rail travelers; from San Francisco they could travel by land, rail, or sea to other west coast destinations. Since the original overland train passenger lists are no longer in existence, author Louis Rasmussen reconstructed arrivals using sources such as journals, diaries, letters, magazine, and newspaper lists. Volume 1 covers July 28, 1879 to November 13, 1871; volume 2 covers November 14, 1871 to April 23, 1873.
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San Francisco Ship Passenger Lists : 1850-1864
by Louis J. Rasmussen
Call number: R225 SANFR CALIF V. 1-4. By 1851 passage fare between the east coast and California had reduced significantly, resulting in an increase in bookings to California. This four volume set names those who arrived at the port of San Francisco between 1850 and 1875. As the original government records of entry were destroyed by fire, the author derived his information from newspaper lists, journals, and library special collections.
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If despite all your research you are not able to find your ancestors mentioned in any of these resources, go ahead and savor the fact that you now have a much better understanding of their experiences – the challenges they faced, the risks they took, and the hardships they endured – all in pursuit of a better life out west.
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Genealogical research aids... Tracing Your Family Medical History
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by Rebecca Grimes People may ask: “Why is it important to trace your family medical history?” Many factors that determine our health (or illnesses) today were passed on or inherited from our ancestors. You may have noticed in your family that some branches lived longer than others. Why the difference and what caused their deaths? What does this mean to you and your descendants? The first thing you need to do to get started on your medical genealogy history is to look at your own health, then go back a generation at a time, of course the further you go back the harder it will be to trace because documents might not exist. What information will you need to record, here are a few suggestions: - Birth and death dates, along with the cause of death
- Ethnic background, some genetic diseases occur in particular ethnic groups
- Major illnesses such as Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes, etc.
- Birth defects
- Allergies, both environmental and drug related
- Emotional and behavioral problems, depression, heavy drinking, anxiety, etc.
- Chronic health problems, high blood pressure, asthma, etc.
- Vision and hearing problems
- General health habits like tobacco use and diet
Try to find out when these conditions occurred if possible. What records can you use to find medical information?
- Death certificates usually give the cause of death and contributing illnesses
- Pension documents
- Social Security benefits applications
- Family bibles, diaries, and even old correspondence you might come across
- Military records
- Census records: From 1850-1910 the federal censuses have a column that asks about health. The questions included: if you were deaf, dumb, blind, maimed, crippled, bedridden, insane, or otherwise disabled, some actually have what the illness is. Be warned that not everyone answered these questions. The mortality schedules and the 1880 Deaf, Dumb, and Delinquent (DDD) schedule also include information on cause of death or when a condition such as blindness began. State censuses can also include this type of information. You’ll need to check if your ancestors’ states conducted their own censuses and what information they collected on them.
- Obituaries may also yield information. If the family asked for donations to a particular charity, it might be for the illness the person had, or an obituary might list what illnesses the deceased was struggling with.
- Family history stories about family members
When searching some of these documents, you will come up with illnesses and diseases that you have never heard of. Such as: - Apoplexy = Stroke
- Brain fever = Meningitis
- Consumption = Tuberculosis
- Dropsy = Edema (swelling) often caused by kidney or heart disease
- Myocarditis = inflammation of heart muscles
- Rupture = Hernia
Clayton has some book resources to help you with this.
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A to Zax : a comprehensive dictionary for genealogist & historians
by Barbara Jean Evans
Call number: 929.103 E92 USA. This book is actually at three locations in Clayton Library: Reference Desk, Ready-Reference shelf (located on the shelf between the computers on the first floor, and also on the second floor on the Microfilm finding aid shelf.
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Online resources are also available. Including: The Oxford English Dictionary Houston Public Library paid database. You can access this from home using your HPL MyLink Card from the “Almanacs, Encyclopedias and Dictionaries” research page. Old Medical Terminology Try googling “Medical genealogical terms” and you will come up with all kind of different sites to search. Other books available at Clayton that will help you with researching your family health history include:
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Some periodical articles to read on family health histories can be found in the January/February 2000 issue of Ancestry, Vol. 18 No. 1, (the family history source for Ancestry.com). These articles are: - Genetic codes unraveled: New clues to human history (p.14)
- Blue Eyes and long lives: The benefits of health histories (p.22)
- Focusing beneath the surface: Genograms add insight to family research (p.28)
Ancestry can be found in Clayton Library alphabetically in the USA periodical section under the call number PER USA. We hope there resources will help you in your searches for your family health history.
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Monthly Class/Mini-Session Schedule
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January 2016 Quickstart #1 Saturday, January 2, 2016 | 2 PM – 4 PM Join us for an introduction to the databases of Ancestry and FamilySearch. This program will cover navigating the home page of each of these sources and includes some tips and tricks for effective research. This session will be presented by a Clayton Library staff member. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens. DAR Day Saturday, January 16, 2016 | 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM Ever wonder how to join the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)? Representatives from local DAR chapters will be at Clayton Library for consultation and research help in preparing lineage papers for submission to the DAR. No reservations required. Adults/Teens. Hispanic Genealogical Society of Houston Day Saturday, January 16, 2016 | 10:30 AM – 1 PM Please join us for an introduction to genealogical research on families of Hispanic descent. Members of the Hispanic Genealogical Society of Houston will give a brief presentation on how to begin putting together the puzzle of your family history, including data collection and organization, pedigree/ascendant and descendant charts, family group sheets, and using the computer for beginning research. After the presentation, a question and answer session will be held. No reservations required. Adults/Teens. Clayton Library Orientation Saturday, January 16, 2016 | 2 PM – 4 PM In Clayton Library’s monthly orientation we cover the process of research and discovery in the beginning steps of a family history project. Following this brief introduction, we examine the resources available at the Clayton Library and their organization, as well as how to plan an effective visit to the Library. No reservations required. Adults/Teens February 2016 Guest Speaker Sharon Gillins Saturday, February 6, 2016 | 10:30 AM – 12:45 PM Clayton Library is proud to offer a series of classes presented by professional genealogist Sharon Gillins in honor of African American History Month. Light refreshments will be served. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens. Sessions include: - Harvesting Ancestors – Lessons from the Garden
- Saturday, February 6, 2016 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- Practices learned from the garden are compared to genealogical practices and illustrated with examples from genealogical research. The content is suitable and accessible to beginners who are building good research habits, and will be equally entertaining and informative to more advanced researchers.
- Louisiana Conveyance Records – A Rich Resource for Researching Enslaved Ancestry
- Saturday, February 6, 2016 | 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
- This presentation uses Louisiana conveyance records to illustrate the record types and methods for analysis that researchers can use to locate details about their once-enslaved family members prior to 1870. Although the case studies are based on Louisiana records, the methodology is transferable to any state.
Quickstart #2 Saturday, February 6, 2016 | 2 PM – 4 PM Join us for an introduction to the databases HeritageQuest and Fold3. This program will cover navigating the home page of each of these sources and includes some tips and tricks for effective research. This session will be presented by a Clayton Library staff member. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens. From Post to Pre-Civil War: The African American Experience in Records Saturday, February 20, 2016 | 10:30 AM – 12:45 PM In celebration of African American History Month Clayton Library is proud to offer a series of classes presented by Clayton Library staff members Rodney Sam and Franklin Smith. Light refreshments will be served. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens. Sessions include: - First Louisiana Guard: The Life of a Free Man of Color in a Southern Union Regiment
- Saturday, February 20, 2016 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- This program will show how the life of Casimir Sam, a Louisiana Creole and a free man of color who served in the Civil War, can be reconstructed through the use of military records. This session will be presented by Clayton Library staff member Rodney Sam.
- Researching Pre-Civil War Slave Ancestors - Identifying the Slaveholder
- Saturday, February 20, 2016 | 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
- Learn tips and strategies for identifying the slaveholder using post-Civil War records and information. Use the surname and location approach with the 1870 community to narrow down the potential slaveholder candidates. This session will be presented by Clayton Library staff member Franklin Smith.
Clayton Library Orientation Saturday, February 20, 2016 | 2 PM – 4 PM In Clayton Library’s monthly orientation we cover the process of research and discovery in the beginning steps of a family history project. Following this brief introduction, we examine the resources available at the Clayton Library and their organization, as well as how to plan an effective visit to the Library. No reservations required. Adults/Teens. March 2016 Texas Heritage Day Saturday, March 5, 2016 | 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM Clayton Library is proud to offer a series of classes on genealogical resources in Texas. Bring your own lunch and learn all day. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens. Sessions include: - Connecting Texas African American Ancestors to Slaveholders: Sources, Tips and Search Strategies
- Saturday, March 5, 2016 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- Learn to utilize Texas’s rich and unique sources with standard sources that will assist you in linking your ancestors to slaveholder candidates. Tips and strategies for analyzing and comparing information from these sources will also be covered. This session will be presented by Clayton Library staff member Franklin Smith.
- Researching Your Texas German Ancestor
- Saturday, March 5, 2016 | 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
- This session discusses various records for researching an immigrant ancestor - Texas Germans in particular. Examples include German emigration contracts, declaration and naturalization records, church records, colonization records, published resources, and manuscript resources. This session will be presented by Elizabeth "Liz" Nitschke Hicks, genealogy editor for the German-Texan Heritage Society and active member of the Clayton Library Friends.
- Brown Bag Lunch Break
- Saturday, March 5, 2016 | 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM
- Texas Resources
- Saturday, March 5, 2016 | 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
- Are you just getting started with researching your ancestors in Texas? This class will focus on a few of the vast historical resources available for researching your Texas ancestors. We will discuss resources available at Clayton Library, both in-house and through online databases, and from other institutions, such as the Texas State Library, Texas General Land Office, and records held at the county level. This session will be presented by Houston Metropolitan Research Center staff member Clinton Drake.
Clayton Library Orientation Saturday, March 19, 2016 | 2 PM – 4 PM In Clayton Library’s monthly orientation we cover the process of research and discovery in the beginning steps of a family history project. Following this brief introduction, we examine the resources available at the Clayton Library and their organization, as well as how to plan an effective visit to the Library. No reservations required. Adults/Teens.
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Additional Information About Clayton Library
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Hours of operation: Monday: Closed Tuesday: 10:00 am-6:00 pm Wednesday: 10:00 am-8:00 pm Thursday: 10:00 am-6:00 pm Friday and Saturday: 10:00 am-5:00 pm To search the Houston Public Library catalog for Clayton’s materials, choose the "Advanced Search" option here: https://halan.sdp.sirsi.net/client/hou, then limit your search by library to Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research.
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