Surviving the Loss of Family Tree Maker

This week Ancestry.com announced that in January 2017 they would drop support of their popular genealogy software package, Family Tree Maker. The reaction in the genealogical community has been overwhelmingly negative but if Ancestry does indeed follow through with their intentions, there are many alternatives for those of you using their software. First of all, don't panic! You have more than a year to move your files and to work out glitches, if any occur.

The office volunteers at StLGS have long recommended either RootsMagic or Legacy Family Tree for PC users and Reunion for Mac users. All three programs are solid, well supported, and flexible. You can do everything you did in FTM and lots more, including extremely valuable source citations, charts, media attachments, etc. We have sample copies of both PC programs at the office for those who want to see before making a decision and we have volunteers in-house who can help you with all three packages. We often have classes in using software too; the winter class schedule will come out in January and we already have two classes planned for March on using RootsMagic. In addition, instructor, Ted Steele, is working on a new monograph on using RootsMagic, which will be available soon.

Those of you who have very old versions of FTM (or other aging software) would do well to upgrade during the next few months, as it is always dangerous to keep valuable files in outdated versions of programs.

Meanwhile, for those of you who have begun to ask, you transfer your files via GEDCOM. If you are a member of StLGS, you can download a free monograph (PDF) on GEDCOMs, written by Ted Steele, in the Member Benefits section of our website. (Or go directly to http://stlgs.org/resources/on-this-site/monographs-for-members/) The monograph is also for sale in our store in print form. Just search for "GEDCOM."

We will be providing more ways to help you during the next few months. Watch for announcements and know that there are lots of StLGS volunteers who are available to help you through this transition.

Books, Books, and More Books: StLGS Book Jamboree Update

Do you have a neighbor or friend who loves to read? Do members of your book club like to talk to authors about their books? Know anybody who's stuck on finding that perfect gift for someone? Why not bring them along with you to the St. Louis Genealogical Society’s Book Jamboree?

Held once a year at our office, 4 Sunnen Drive, Suite 140, in Maplewood, Missouri, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., this round up of more than fifteen local authors in one place will give you a chance to chat, purchase current books and get them autographed, and even take a selfie or two with your favorites.

We have a great variety of regional topics, including new histories of the region, popular St. Louis institutions, ethnic St. Louis, and more. Attendance prizes too! The Book Jamboree is open to everyone and there is no cost to come and browse. But bring your wallet, as you will surely want to buy a book or two to begin your holiday gift list.

You won’t want to miss: 
Matthew Nolan: 250 Years – 252 Cakes: The Definitive St. Louis 250^th Anniversary Cake Book

Ryan Nusbickel: The St. Louis 12 Days of Christmas and Who Moved My Gooey Butter Cake

Dr. John Oldani: St. Lou-ism’s: Lingo, Lore, and the Lighter Side of Life in the Gateway City

Carol Ferring Shepley: St. Louis: An Illustrated Timeline

Elizabeth Terry: Ethnic St. Louis

Also featured are:

Vicki Erwin/Justine Riggs: Guidebook to St. Charles

Dr. J. Frederick Fausz: Historic St. Louis: 250 Years Exploring New Frontiers

NiNi Harris: Downtown St. Louis and Historic Photos of the Gateway Arch

Kenneth Johnson: Moonlight Serenade to City Lights: Rare Images of Bands and Orchestras from the Dance Hall Era in Missouri

Dorris Keeven-Franke: Utopia: A German State in America and Warren County (Images of America series)

And some more fascinating topics:

Gary W. Abbott: The Lost Decade: Players of the 1970s Cardinals

Marilynne Bradley: Once Upon a Time in St. Louis: An Illustrated Trip Through the Past

Ross Malone: The Book of Real Missouri Records: Show Me the First, Last, Smallest, Fastest, Strangest, Weirdest and Funniest

Jeffrey Smith, Lindenwood University: Confluence Magazine and Seeking a Newer World
 
Just Added:  
Ben Hilliker: Willy Willys 

Diane Rademacher: Famous Firsts of St. Louis

 For more information, click on the link on our home page at www.stlgs.org/. We hope to see you on 6 December!

StLGS Thanksgiving Hours

The StLGS office will be closed on Thursday, 26 November and Saturday, 28 November so our volunteers can spend Thanksgiving weekend with their families and friends. The office will reopen on Tuesday, 1 December. All of us at StLGS wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

StLGS Annual Book Jamboree Coming Up Soon!

Another week and it will be Thanksgiving! Once the turkey is eaten and the kitchen is clean, it's time to think about some serious shopping for holiday gift-giving and what better place to start than with books?

Would you like to meet some local authors and get their take on a variety of topics? St. Louis Genealogical Society will host more than fifteen authors and publishers at the annual Book Jamboree on Sunday, 6 December from 1 to 3 p.m. 
 
Bring your holiday shopping list for your family and friends. The event is free and open to the public at the society’s offices, 4 Sunnen Drive, Suite 140, in Maplewood, south of Manchester and west of Big Bend Blvd.
 
Chat with authors and get their take on regional topics, from the Cardinals to the 252 St. Louis birthday cakes, from historic horse racing to the twelve days of Christmas, St. Louis style. Books and publications cover new histories of the region, popular St. Louis institutions, ethnic St. Louis, and more.

You won’t want to miss:

Matthew Nolan: 250 Years – 252 Cakes: The Definitive St. Louis 250^th Anniversary Cake Book

Ryan Nusbickel: The St. Louis 12 Days of Christmas and Who Moved My Gooey Butter Cake

Dr. John Oldani: St. Lou-ism’s: Lingo, Lore, and the Lighter Side of Life in the Gateway City

Johnny Rabbit         

Carol Ferring Shepley: St. Louis: An Illustrated Timeline

Elizabeth Terry: Ethnic St. Louis

Also featured are:

Vicki Erwin/Justine Riggs: Guidebook to St. Charles

Dr. J. Frederick Fausz: Historic St. Louis: 250 Years Exploring New Frontiers

NiNi Harris: Downtown St. Louis

Kenneth Johnson: Moonlight Serenade to City Lights: Rare Images of Bands and Orchestras from the Dance Hall Era in Missouri

Dorris Keeven-Franke: Utopia: A German State in America and Warren County (Images of America series)

And some more fascinating topics:

Gary W. Abbott: The Lost Decade: Players of the 1970s Cardinals

Marilynne Bradley: Once Upon a Time in St. Louis: An Illustrated Trip Through the Past

Nancy Carver: Making Tracks: The Untold Story of Horse Racing in St. Louis, 1767–1905

Ross Malone: The Book of Real Missouri Records: Show Me the First, Last, Smallest, Fastest, Strangest, Weirdest and Funniest

Jeffrey Smith, Lindenwood University: Confluence Magazine and Seeking a Newer World

 For more information, click on the link on our home page at www.stlgs.org/. We hope to see you on 6 December!

Some October Events for Your Genealogy Calendar

 Remember that the StLGS October monthly meeting is this coming Saturday, 10 October, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Louis County Library Headquarters in the auditorium. Rena Schergen, the director of the Catholic Archdiocese archives in St. Louis, will discuss the Catholic records that are available to genealogists and how to access them.

 

For those of you with roots in northern Illinois, the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society announces their conference, “Harvest Time for Genealogists,” on Saturday, 24 October 2015. The day's featured speaker will be Lin Strong, current president of the Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America. Lin has led many tours to Ostfriesland (Germany), the Netherlands and Belgium. More information is on the society's website: http://www.tcghs.org/.

  

The Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) is sponsoring three upcoming free genealogy webinars. On 13 October, “Polish Genealogy: Four Steps to Successful Research;” on 10 November “In-laws and Outlaws: The Bylaws of Talking About the Family Skeletons,” and on 8 December, “The US Federal Census: Good, Bad, and Ugly for Genealogists.” These webinars are available to all as they are presented. Once they are archived, they will only be available to members of ISGS. Learn more about these webinars and how to register, if you are interested, at  http://www.ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=227/.

StLGS Irish Sig Meeting for July

On Tuesday, 28 July, the Irish Special Interest Group of St. Louis Genealogical Society will have a special meeting to celebrate the beginning of their seventeenth year! Join the group at 7 p.m. at St. Louis County Library Headquarters in the auditorium to hear Ann Fleming, nationally-known researcher, author, and speaker, (and a long-time StLGS member) discuss "Chart the Trails Using Timelines." Ann will show you how to use timelines to organize data and better identify those elusive ancestors. Questions? Contact Kay Weber at irishsig@stlgs.org/.

 Jefferson Barracks Expansion

Also, for those who live in south St. Louis County or are interested in the possible expansion of Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, there are public meetings scheduled for Tuesday, 21 July, and Thursday, 23 July, at 7:00 p.m. at the Pavilion at Lemay, 305 Gregg Road, St. Louis, MO 63125. If you cannot attend the meeting but want to express an opinion, you can fill out a survey for the Parks Department online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MT63YK3/.

Jefferson Co., Missouri, Needs Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to assist in preserving the long lost Jefferson County historical Circuit Court records. Archivist Bill Glankler will spearhead the project for the Missouri State Archives (MSA). When completed, the digital copies will be placed on the MSA website for all to view. Volunteers are needed to straighten folded circuit court packages. The documents are being digitized in Hillsboro at the Jefferson County History Center at Jefferson College. The Center is located in the Jefferson College library and is a repository for historic documents from the Jefferson County Courthouse.

The project will start on Thursday, August 13th and then continue every Thursday. The hours will be from 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. They are planning on working from 10–12, taking an hour lunch break, and then working again from 1–3. If someone isn't able to volunteer every week or all day, he/she can work every other week or just a morning or afternoon shift. If the project has more than four volunteers, they will plan to set up an every other week rotation schedule.

Please let Joette Klein, librarian for the Jefferson County History Center, know if you are interested.  Her e-mail is jklein1@jeffco.edu or by you can phone her at 636-481-3161.

(Thanks to Chris Merseal in Jefferson County for sending us this information.)