The census gives us a look at conditions resulting from the Great Depression of the 20th Century by providing more data on American life ever collected before that time. One of the most useful features is the question of where the family was living in 1935 indicating migrations of the 1930s, the dark years of the world’s economy. Another unique feature was that of Hobo Night in which transients were censused in places like hotels, hospitals, etc.

Also unique was the fact that this is the first census which will be all digital and not searched on long rolls of microfilm.

The biggest downside is that the census was released without an index. Numerous online outlets are working to index the all the states and data, but estimates are that it could take at least until the end of the year 2012. In the meantime, people will have to search page by page to find their relatives unless they use finding aids such as those at stevemorse.org.

Once in the census, researchers are urged to look at all data which includes such items as street and house numbers, residence, and occupation. Sometimes margin notes also give additional information. Also, skip pages at the end of an enumeration district include those missed on the main walks up and own streets and the transient individuals.

In numerous speaking engagements this spring, McKinney has explained what information is available for family researchers in the 1940 census and methods and sources to most effectively find that information.
She is a former newspaper reporter and business editor who currently does freelance writing and editing and genealogical research for clients. She is an award-winning writer in the field of genealogy and as a fiction writer. She is a member of the Van Zandt County Genealogical Society where she works in the library, writes for society publications, and is the society’s public relations officer.

As for all the regular monthly meetings of the Wood County
Genealogical Society, members will be available at the library from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. to help the public and other members with getting starting research of their ancestors and family tree or with research problems. A limited number of work stations will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to use the free library version of Ancestry.com. Personal wifi-enabled laptops may also be used.

A social Dutch-treat gathering of society members and guests is open to anyone interested in genealogy on each third Monday meeting day at 5 p.m. at Peralta’s Mexican Food Restaurant in Quitman.

This took place at the March semi-annual business meeting, March 19. A report of a balance of $1,960.10 was made by Treasurer Wayne McCluney, and the minutes from the September business meeting were presented by Secretary Shirley Patrick and accepted. Both these reports are on the members’ only page which can be accessed from the link at the top right of this page.

In addition to the May trip to the Alba Public Library and Museum and to Parrott’s park in Lindale and the June trip to the Genealogy research room at the Dallas Public library (both of which are listed in more detail on previous posts to this page), the date of June 15 was named as the date for the society participation in the Highway 37 Garage Sale. The date will be confirmed and more on these events will be published here as available nearer to the time of the events.

It was also announced that the program for the April meeting of the society will be a presentation on the 1940 Census by Lisa McKinney of Edgewood.

March 19 — Regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Quitman Public Library. Doors open at 6 p.m., and we will spend the time helping people with research questions, discussing our individual plans for “What’s Next” in our genealogy, or surfing the internet (including access to Ancestry.com) doing individual research. Bring you wifi-enable laptop (but we will have the six we used in our classes last year if you can’t bring yours.)

The program is one of the society’s two yearly business meetings. Be prepared for old or new business part of the meeting. If we finish early, we will have some interesting and/or productive things for the rest of the meeting time. DON’T FORGET that those interested can meet at 5 p.m. for socializing at Peralta’s Mexican Food in Quitman.

April 16 — Regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Quitman Public Library. Doors open at 6 p.m., and we will spend the time helping people with research questions or surfing the internet (including access to Ancestry.com) doing individual research. Bring you wifi-enable laptop (but we will have the six we used in our classes last year if you can’t bring yours.) DON’T FORGET that those interested can meet at 5 p.m. for socializing at Peralta’s Mexican Food in Quitman. We are working on arranging a speaker for April. Hopefully, we will be able to announce this by the time of the March meeting.

May 10 — WCGSTX field trip to the Alba Public Library and Historical Museum and to Parrott’s Park and Museum in Lindale. We will meetr and car pool on this trip. Bring a sack lunch and drink, and we will picnic at Parrott’s Park while touring the museum and grounds. Times and car pool locations will be announced as we get closer to the trip.

May 21 — Regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Quitman Public Library. Doors open at 6 p.m., and we will spend the time helping people with research questions or surfing the internet (including access to Ancestry.com) doing individual research. Bring you wifi-enable laptop (but we will have the six we used in our classes last year if you can’t bring yours.) DON’T FORGET that those interested can meet at 5 p.m. for socializing at Peralta’s Mexican Food in Quitman. Program for this meeting is election of officers for the 2012-13 society year. If you are interested in any officer position or chairmanship or to work on any of the committees, be sure to let any officer know no later than April 16.

June 5 – WCGSTX field trip to genealogical collection of the Dallas Public library. We’ll car pool in case you don’t want to drive in Dallas traffic. Details will be announced later this spring.

We will still meet the next Monday (third Monday), November 21, at the Quitman Library at 6 p.m. to help people with genealogy or cut out obituaries, but we will not have the program part of the meeting (this time only) at 7 p.m. that night. Those who wish to can meet with us at Peralta’s at 5 p.m. Monday night, November 21 for our pre-meeting eating and visiting time. By the way, it’s not necessary to eat when meeting with us there. If you just want to visit pre-meeting feel free to come on.

If you know a local member who does not get email, would you please call them and tell them about our special program plans for November.

A luncheon honoring those who have volunteered time and effort in support of the society activities will be held Monday, October 3 at noon at the Texas Tea Room. We will treat our invited guests to lunch, but the luncheon will be Dutch treat for members attending. It is important that local members who do not have schedule conflicts attend to show support for these folks.

The October 17 regular meeting of the society will be an obituary workshop. All members who have clippings of obituaries or who have been working on our newspapers collected for obituary searching are asked to bring all their papers and clippings to the 7:00 p.m. regular meeting that night. The usual social gathering at Peralta’s Mexican Restaurant will be at 5 p.m., and the Shamburger room at the library will be open at 6 p.m. to help members or the general public with genealogy research questions. Materials also will be made available for beginners to family tree research at the same time.

The society will be responsible for the display case in the library lobby during October in recognition of National Family History month. If you have family history items to display, ideas for the display or would like to help, contact Requisitions and Acquisitions Co-chairs Shirley Bates and Dorothy Harbin next week before the end of September.

Plans were made to provide exhibits at the library during Old Settlers’ Reunion week next year which carry the theme of early families in Wood County. Also, planned was for the society to participate in a fund raiser during the Annual Highway 37 Garage Sale.

A committee consisting of President Ronnie Vance and Requisitions and Acquisitions Co-chair Shirley Bates will work on adoption of criteria for a Distinguished Service Award for deserving members of the society.

Funding a Quitman Public Library subscription to Ancestry.com for use of the general public and members was discussed at the meeting. The biggest question about such a project revolved around funding and how to accomplish that. No motions were made, and further investigation is expected.

Officers and committee chairs were introduced. They are President Ronnie Vance, Vice-President Deason Hunt, Secretary Shirley Patrick, Treasurer Wayne McCluney, and these chairpersons: Ways and Means Ronnie Vance, Editorial Deason Hunt, Membership Shirley Patrick, Budget and Finance Wayne McCluney, Requisition and Acquisition Shirley Bates (co) and Dorothy Harbin (co), Publicity Kathy Lutonsky, Obituary Mary Ann Niswanger, and Hospitality and Gift Sally Allcorn.

President Ronnie Vance thanked all members who helped with the George Morgan workshop and Old Settlers’ Reunion Display

In order to coordinate what we need to bring, please contact Sally Allcorn, our Hospitality Chairman for the 2011-12 society year, and let her know what you plan to bring that evening. That’s to make sure we don’t get too much of the same items and come up short on others. Contact Sally at rsalcrn@peoplecom.net or 903-763-4191.

To those who live in other states, we realize that a trip from California or elsewhere at great distances might not be possible. However, if you are in the area, come on down. We would love to have a chance to see you and visit in person.