Honing Your Research Skills

Saturday, 29 October 2005, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.,
Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, PA

2005 Genealogy Conference Sponsored by
Chester County Historical Society and
Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania

8:30 a.m. Registration

9:15 a.m. Welcome

9:25 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. - Keynote

Developing the Skills to Become a Genealogist – John T. Humphrey.
To successfully find one's ancestors family historians need the proper tools to do the job. Some skills are specific to a given task and other skills are more personal. Gain some new insight into analytical tools used by "the pros."

10:50 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Choice of sessions:

A-1 Business Records as a Genealogical Resource – Using the Hagley Library – Marjorie McNinch.
The Hagley Museum & Library is an independent research library housing business history and related collections, primarily of the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA. The Library was founded in 1961 to serve the academic audience, so use of Hagley's records for genealogical research was not promoted actively until about 10 years ago. As reference archivist, Ms. McNinch has investigated collections that offer various types of employee records that can be tapped for research, such as payroll records, ship passenger lists, bank records, seniority rosters, and organizational charts. A few collections Hagley has for genealogical research are those for the DuPont Company, the Pennsylvania Railroad, Philadelphia Saving Fund Society, Strawbridge & Clothier, and the Joseph Bancroft & Sons textile firm. Ms. McNinch will explain how genealogists can successfully use these sometimes intimidating records.

A-2 The New Basics: Genealogical Research in the 21st Century – Susannah E. Brooks.
This presentation will be an introduction to genealogical research, in which the traditional methods and standards of research are combined with the tools that have become available in the 21st century.

12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – LUNCH BREAK

1 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. – Choice of sessions:

B-3 Reconstructing Families on the Colonial Frontier – John T. Humphrey.
Records kept during the colonial period can be difficult to find, or when they do exist, they are often incomplete. This void or lack of information causes serious obstacles to research. This lecture explores strategies to get around those obstacles by creatively using data found in the records that do exist.

B-4 Women in PA County Records: Sources and Interpretation – Laurie A. Rofini.
The changing rights of women in Pennsylvania affected what records exist for women and how those records should be interpreted. This session will examine legal and property rights and will provide suggestions for research on women. Topics covered will include dower rights, estate settlements, and divorce.

2:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Choice of sessions:

C-5 Family History on Deposit: 19th & early 20th c. Bank Records – Susannah E. Brooks.
This presentation will provide an overview of the information found in bank records and its use to solve genealogical puzzles.  Signature cards, test books, questionnaires, correspondence, mortgage records, and deposit ledgers provide researchers with a glimpse into their ancestors' lives and communities, as well as providing data about individuals such as age, place and date of birth, occupation, and immigration. Records discussed will include those of the Freedmen's Bureau.

C-6 Beyond the Keyword: Maximizing the Potential of the Library Online Catalog to Improve the Genealogical Research Experience – Bryn Keytanjian.
This presentation will discuss the types of genealogical material found in a research library -- reference books, family histories, and archival material -- and show the researcher more effective ways to search a library’s online catalog to receive better results and improve the user’s understanding of the bibliographic information displayed. The OPAC used in this presentation will be the catalog of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Among the topics that will be discussed will be the use of Library of Congress Subject Headings as an alternative way to search the online catalog, and a detailed explanation of a collection level record for a manuscript collection. Ms. Keytanjian will also introduce other databases in addition to the online catalog that are used to manage and search HSP’s archive collections. Overall, this presentation will strive to augment the researcher’s online search skills in order to achieve a more satisfactory research experience as well as instilling a better understanding of the information retrieved.

Susannah E. Brooks is vice-president of the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society and a volunteer genealogy aide at the National Archives in Washington , DC .  As a genealogist she specializes in 19th and early 20th c. general US and German research.  She holds a BA from George Washington University and an MEd from Temple University.

Award winning author John T. Humphrey is the current president of the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society, and a vice president of the Genealogical Society of PA. Humphrey is the former Director of the National Genealogical Society Learning Center in Arlington , VA.   He has written numerous books and articles and lectures widely at national and local conferences.  Currently he is working on genealogical records created during World War II of interest to researchers in Germany and the U.S.

Bryn Keytanjian is the Director of Cataloging at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and has been cataloging in special collections libraries for over 11 years. In addition to her work as a cataloger, she is a part-time reference librarian at Bala Cynwyd Library.

Marjorie McNinch has been employed in the Library Division of the Hagley Museum and Library since 1971, and has served as reference archivist in the Manuscripts & Archives Dept. since 1986.  She received her MA from the University of Delaware in American History.  She has authored 5 books on Wilmington history, including a history of St. Joseph on the Brandywine Roman Catholic Church, built by the Irish Catholics on the DuPont Company workforce.

Laurie A. Rofini is the Director of Chester County Archives and Records Services, where she has been on staff since 1982. She received her MA in History from West Chester University and her MSLIS from Drexel University . She speaks frequently to area historical and genealogical groups on county records and on women's history and is the co-author of several articles on county government records.

Directions to the Chester County Historical Society

North of West Chester (from the Pennsylvania Turnpike take Exit 312, formerly Exit 23) follow Route 100 South (Pottstown Pike).  Route 100 becomes N. High St. in West Chester.  The Society is in the 200 block of N. High St. on the left when heading South.

South of West Chester follow the signs to Route 202 North until you come to the West Chester Holiday Inn.  Continue straight (do not follow Route 202 to the right), you will now be traveling on S. High St. headed North.  Continue through the borough and cross Market St.  You are now traveling on N. High St.  The Society is in the 200 block of N. High St. on the right when heading North. 

East of West Chester take Route 3 to the Borough of West Chester.  The road will bear to the right and deliver you to E. Gay St.  Follow E. Gay St. through West Chester until you intersect N. High St.  Turn right on to N. High.  The Society is in the 200 block of N. High St. on the right when heading North.

West of West Chester take Route 30 to Route 100, Exton.  Take Route 100 South (follow sign for Pottstown Pike).  Route 100 becomes N. High St upon entering the Borough of West Chester.  The Society is in the 200 block of N. High St. on the left when heading South.

Parking is available in the parking garage (Chestnut and Walnut Streets) or the parking lot on Chestnut St.  The Society is at the corner of High St. and Chestnut St.  Street parking is also available.  All meters are free in the borough on Saturday.  Parking is usually free in the garage on weekends.