The use of geography as it relates to genealogy will be the theme of a Georgia Genealogical Society seminar March 1 at the Atlanta History Center.
The speakers will be Karen Molohon and Jennifer Dondero. Molohon will cover gazetteers, place name changes, boundary changes, maps and their sources, GPS, interactive maps and software such as Deed Mapper, Google Maps and Google Earth. Dondero will cover using Google Earth and map overlays, and things to be careful about, like renumbered streets (as in Atlanta’s three renumberings), census neighbors who really aren’t neighbors, and how to solve problems in these areas.
Check-in will be 9:30-10 a.m., with the program beginning at 10:15 and lasting until 4:30 p.m.; lunch is on your own. Cost is $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers, with a $5 late fee. Postal deadline is Feb. 21, Paypal deadline is Feb. 26 via the society’s website. Mail checks to the Georgia Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 550247, Atlanta, GA 30355-2747 or register online at www.gagensociety.org.
Membership in the society is $35. Check the website for further details about the event, directions, and the calendar of other genealogy events planned. The society’s next event will be April 26.
Craftsman database online
The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Winston-Salem, N.C., has long been involved in research for a database of craftsmen who created furniture, silver, quilts, and other things. This list is now online at www.mesda.org; look under “research” and “craftsman database.”
The database contains information from primary sources on 85,000 artisans in 127 different trades up through 1860. Known slave artisans are included, too. You can search by name, geographical location, or by trade.
You should check out your community to see if your local artisans are there, as the information continues to be updated. Searching for a family surname could produce someone in the database. Results are digitized images of the typed cards, showing research and sources.
Check the website for more information on the museum, other activities and publications.
Georgia weather history
Georgia’s historic weather events can be found at www.georgiaweatherhistory.com. The site continues to be updated with photographs and information on major weather events in Georgia’s past. Check it out and contact the host if you have comments or some weather event to add.
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