RootsWeb Review: RootsWeb's Weekly E-zine 30 November 2005, Vol. 8, No. 48 (c) 1998-2005 RootsWeb.com, Inc. http://www.rootsweb.com/ * * * Editor: Myra Vanderpool Gormley, Certified Genealogist Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com Certification: http://www.bcgcertification.org/certification/ =============================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: 1. NEWS, NOTES, AND SITES WORTH SEEING 1a. Editor's Desk: "Holiday Lights" and "Historical Christmas Celebrations" 1b. Tips from Readers: "Examining False Copyright Claims" 1c. Using RootsWeb: "Learning the Ropes" 2. Connecting Through RootsWeb: "Using Research Skills to Help Others" 3. New User-contributed Databases 4. New/Updated FreePages and HomePages 5. New at RootsWeb 6. RootsWeb Review's Bottomless Mailbag: "Speaking Same Language with Different Accents" "Rendering English for the English" "Fly Away, Fly Away Home" "Counted Twice in the Census" "Scrutinizing Gold Widows" 7. Humor/Humour: "Ah! The Good Life" 8. Subscriptions, Submissions, Advertising, Reprints =============================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: 1. NEWS, NOTES, AND SITES WORTH SEEING 1a. EDITOR'S DESK: HOLIDAY LIGHTS. Electrically lighting a Christmas tree was practically unheard of in America before 1900. A few in the larger cities used candles or glass candle cups (also called Fairy Lights). A brightly painted red bucket of sand (or sometimes water) was always kept by the tree for the inevitable fire emergency and many candle-lit trees also sported a "Christmas rug" under the tree, which was the forerunner of today's tree skirt, to keep wax drippings off of the floor. It was not until after World War II that lighted Christmas trees became common place in the United States. See the timeline about trees and lights and learn more about historical Christmas tree lights at: http://www.oldchristmaslights.com/timeline.htm http://www.oldchristmaslights.com/pre-electric.htm HISTORICAL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS. This collection pertains to more than 30 countries and their historical Christmas celebrations. http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/ * * * 1b. TIPS FROM READERS Examining False Copyright Claims By James F. Ramaley, Ph.D. jramaley@hotmail.com During my working career in the magazine publishing field, I became very appreciative of the value conferred to society in general, and to authors in particular, of copyright. As the Internet has developed, individuals have begun to become publishers and authors in increasing numbers, especially in the genealogy field. This is good because it allows the dissemination of information from sometimes obscure sources to the entire world. But along with this I have noticed a trend toward "false copyright" and I think it deserves some attention. False copyright is when a person inserts a copyright notice in a published work without having the legal right to do so. An example would be where a person has transcribed an obituary from an old newspaper and then inserted a copyright notice -- I have seen this on some Websites and in fact there is a general notice by the USGenWeb claiming that obituaries published there are copyrighted and cannot be used for "commercial purposes." The key components of copyright law are (a) originality, (b) time, and (c) ownership. This is not a legal treatise (see http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#wccc and http://www.pddoc.com/copyright/genealogy_copyright_fundamentals.htm) for additional information on copyright) and so I can't cover all of the "ifs, ands, and buts." However, at the risk of oversimplification in order to have a greater understanding of how genealogists can work inside the law and to encourage others to do so, here goes: Originality is usually pretty well understood. An author cannot claim copyright for pure facts (e.g., date of birth, death, etc.) but can claim copyright for the way the facts are presented (e.g., a fully composed literary obituary of several paragraphs is more than likely copyrightable; a "death notice" is likely not copyrightable.) But even if copyrightable, an older article may not have been copyrighted! The question of time is somewhat less well understood since the 1978 rewriting (written 1976, effective 1978) of the U.S. copyright law (and amended 1998). Basically if a work was published before 1923 it is in the public domain and anyone can use it. For a chart showing when various U.S. works pass into public domain, see: http://www.unc.edu/~unclng/public-d.htm. The copyright of works created after 1978 is more complicated (generally it is the author's life plus 70 years) but since I am interested in older writings it is safe to move on. Newspaper obituaries are often staff written or compiled from data (facts) submitted by local funeral homes, but even if the newspaper as a whole was copyrighted, articles and obituaries published before 1923 are certainly in the public domain. Incidentally, works that were published before 1 March 1989 without proper copyright notice are almost always in the public domain because, under the U.S. law that existed before that, a proper copyright notice was required for copyright protection. Surprisingly, ownership seems to be even less well understood in the genealogical community. Copyright can be claimed only by the original author of a work. In particular, if I run across a public domain work and transcribe it verbatim, I cannot assert copyright of my transcription since I did not create, but simply copied the original work. If I decide to go through a microfilm copy of an old newspaper (to avoid the question of time, say it is at least 100 years old), transcribe all of the obituaries and then write a book of "Obituaries from the XYZ newspaper from 1880 until 1900." I can assert copyright for my book as a whole but NOT for the individual obituaries. Why? Because I don't own the individual entries-- only the collected work. For that matter, the owner of the microfilm can't claim copyright either and for the same reason. What this means is that I cannot control the republishing of the individual entries; I would have an action only against someone who takes large extracts of my book for republication, because, in essence, they are not publishing the contents of my book -- they are republishing my book! Even if someone transcribed an obituary from my book and posted it on the Web, I would not have an action against that person because I do not own the rights to the original obituary. Copyright can only be asserted by the author/creator (or his or her legal heirs or assigns) -- not the owner of a copy (e.g., a book or a microfilm). Why is this important? Amateur genealogists (by definition) do the work they do, not for profit, but for the fun of discovery of ancestors or cousins and to learn about history. There is no commercial motive and, in fact, some amateurs become apprehensive about using information if they see a big Copyright Notice in the information they are using or want to include in the family tree compilation. Bottom line? I believe that we do a disservice to the genealogical community by asserting false copyright and I would like to see the practice stopped. People would be more willing to publish (online and off) their own family histories and include an obituary from Grandaunt Kate -- if they were not intimidated by a false copyright notice. * * * 1c. USING ROOTSWEB: Learning the Ropes Carol CLINGMAN loves using RootsWeb. She's asked a million questions (and that is only a slight exaggeration) on the RootsWeb mailing lists and message boards inquiring about where to find various features housed at RootsWeb. Kind and helpful folks have always come through with the answers to her questions. Therefore Carol was taken aback at first when Bill BLUNT, a RootsWeb list administrator for one of Carol's subscribed lists, came right out and told her that it was time for her to learn to find things at RootsWeb on her own. But, the more she thought about it, the more she realized that Bill was right. Instead of constantly asking others where to find things at RootsWeb she would learn how to navigate on her own. Previously if Carol found a link to a RootsWeb Freepages site and the link to the specific page no longer worked, Carol would ask others if they knew what happened to the page. Usually, someone would reply explaining that the main site was still there but the specific page Carol was looking for was not or that the URL (address) for the specific page she wanted had been changed. Bill advised her to start by removing the ending portions of the URL -- until she worked her way back to the root (or main) domain in the address. As an example only (this is not a real Freepages address), Carol might have been looking for a site on Freepages that started out with: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mygenealogy/ Bill pointed out that perhaps she can find her way to the correct or new site by navigating from this root URL -- and then working forward again from that point. After all, Bill said, that is how he found pages she asked about on the lists. If he can do it, she can do it -- with a bit of practice. With URLs (Web addresses) watch out for caps and lowercase letters -- the Web is case-sensitive. Be aware that "l" (the letter) and "1" (the number) and O (capital o) and 0 (zero) can be hard to distinguish. Occasionally Carol has a question about a volunteer project hosted on RootsWeb. Bill advised her that usually she will find information about any project that is linked from the main RootsWeb homepage at: http://www.rootsweb.com/ Using the SSDI (Social Security Death Index) at RootsWeb frequently, Carol had many questions about this huge database -- such as what names she might expect to find listed and why someone's name was not listed. Bill advised her to look first for help in the RootsWeb Guide: http://rwguide.rootsweb.com/ Checking the index page to the RootsWeb's Guide to Tracing Family Trees she found a link to learn more about the SSDI: http://www.rootsweb.com/~rwguide/lesson10.htm And, then she discovered she had overlooked a link to that guide from the main SSDI page. Carol began to catch on fast and to began to realize that learning how to find things for herself was the greatest gift anyone could have given her. Self-reliance is truly a gift that keeps on giving. 2. Connecting Through RootsWeb. Thanks for sharing your stories. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Using Research Skills to Help Others By Ed Spaeth Use your research skills and genealogical finding skills to help others -- you will be richly rewarded as I was recently. A friend, who lives far away, is now caring for his mother who has terminal cancer. I felt there was little I could do to help him get through his daily care-giving routine, so we tend to talk each evening. In one of our recent conversations I had asked a few questions about his family history and then using the information that I was given, I was able to find some relevant family data. Particularly, in the WWI Draft Registration database, I found my friend's grandfathers (paternal and maternal). My friend's mother was especially pleased with the findings because that one little card included her father's exact birthdate, which had been a source of family disagreement for years as the family had no firm documentation. The card also contained her father's birthplace, naming the precise village and the county in Austria (presently Slovakia). None of that information was known prior to my finding this data. My friend couldn't thank me enough for the lift that it had given his mother and her siblings that were visiting that day when he showed them the print copy of the card. They now knew the truth about their father's birth. It pleased me that in this small way I could help my friend and bring a little joy to his mother and her family at this stressful time. ======================== Advertisement ============================ PICK 3 DISNEY MOVIES, ONLY $1.99 EACH WITH FREE SHIPPING! Browse the world's most magical movie library as a member of the Disney Movie Club. Pick 3 of your favorites for $1.99 each--with FREE shipping and processing when you join. Satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. CLICK HERE to join today http://clk.atdmt.com/IGM/go/bvh0010000072igm/direct/01/ ====================== End Advertisement ============================== 3. New User-Contributed Databases at RootsWeb http://userdb.rootsweb.com/submit/ ---------------------------------------------- The following databases have come online recently. They are searchable, but not browseable. Search: To look for specific data or occurrence of text in a file. Browse: To view the entire contents of a file or a group of files. ALABAMA. Cullman County. Hanceville. Hanceville High School, 1953, grades 9-12; 229 records; Hanceville High School, 1960, grades 7-12; 504 records; Hanceville High School, 1962 seniors, 65 records; Hanceville High School, underclassmen, grades 7-11, 1962; 431 records; Marie Beckman http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/ IOWA. Jones County. 1880 Mortality Schedule 5; 33 records; Sandy Belshaw http://userdb.rootsweb.com/deaths/ KENTUCKY. Grayson County. "The Life and Times of the Grayson County, Kentucky Veteran Elijah Kelley"; 1 record; Pricilla Richards http://userdb.rootsweb.com/military/ MARYLAND. Washington County. Hancock High alumni list, 1934 graduates; 28 records; Clearspring High School alumni list, 1934; 29 records; Paula Lucy Delosh http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/ NEBRASKA. Greeley County. O'Connor Catholic Cemetery; 625 records; Kathy Sweeney http://userdb.rootsweb.com/cemeteries/ PENNSYLVANIA. Westmoreland County. New Alexandria. Index of Felton Funeral Home Records, 1918-1985; 5,294 records; Richard A. Newhouse http://userdb.rootsweb.com/deaths/ UTAH. Davis County. Bountiful. Lakeview Memorial Cemetery and Mortuary; 651 records; Daniel Aaron Andersen http://userdb.rootsweb.com/cemeteries/ * * * SHARING OPPORTUNITY. Does your alma mater, old military unit, church, parish, province, county or state have material available that you think would be of interest to genealogists and historians? Do you have any compiled lists of names or databases (other than your personal genealogy) that you would like to share and that you think would be of value and interest to others? In most cases, RootsWeb would be proud to host such material. http://userdb.rootsweb.com/submit/ 4. New/Updated Freepages and Homepages -------------------------------------- BATH, BATHE, de BATHE. These families of English/Irish origin are invited to participate in a DNA project to determine the validity of ancient claims that most of these families are descended from a single medieval family. With sufficient participation, the data obtained should act as a guide for family researchers in determining to which branch they are likely related and enable them to make contact. The main site has been updated with further information regarding the medieval families of DE BATHE/BAA/BATHONIA, including the re-discovery of the probable tomb of Sir Henry DE BATHE (d. 1261), a justice of the King's Bench, temp. Henry III. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bathonia/BaHm.htm DALZELLS, DELZELLS. "Early American Dalzells and Delzells" includes as many early Delzells as the author has been able to locate but additions and corrections are welcome. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rdelzell/ NICHOLS, DANIELL, BRYSON AND ALLIED FAMILIES. Added information on allied families of BAKER, BILLINGS, BISHOP, CALLAHAN, DAY, DUDERSTADT, FESSENDEN, JOHNSON, KELLY, KIDD, McDONALD, NOWELL RECTOR, REICH, SOWELL, TURNER, and WINTERS. Also added: Gideon P. BRYSON family photos page. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~nichols1836/ * * * Can your cousins find your website at RootsWeb? Has it ever been mentioned here or do you have a new, updated, or substantially revised website at RootsWeb (it will have "freepages" or "homepages" in the URL)? Send the URL (its Web address), along with a brief description, including the major pertinent surnames and what is available on your site, to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com 5. New at RootsWeb To Request a Free Web Account: http://accounts.rootsweb.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------- Some of these webpages might not yet be accessible. They are created by volunteers, so if one that interests you isn't up yet, please check again in a few days or next week. http://www.rootsweb.com/~[accountname] AUSTRALIA auswdfhg -- Wedderburn and District Family History Group U.S.A. azycdar2 -- Yavapai (Arizona) Chapter DAR macmerri -- Merrimac City (Massachusetts) macbever -- Beverly City (Massachusetts) orcscdar -- Cape Sebastian (Oregon) Chapter DAR tnhenry2 -- Henry County (Tennessee) DAR -- Daughters of the American Revolution * * * New Mailing Lists at RootsWeb Request a New Mailing List: http://resources.rootsweb.com/adopt/ ----------------------------------------------------------------- MAILING LISTS. Brand-new mailing lists can be found under OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS until moved to their proper categories. For information and an index to the more than 29,500 RootsWeb-hosted genealogy Mailing Lists and for easy subscribing (joining) options go to: http://lists.rootsweb.com/ NEW SURNAME MAILING LISTS BEHNER, BUSTIN GRATTO LOWENTHAL McALONAN OSTERTAG PANATTI, POPLE, PURDUN SCHRECENGOST, SZCZECINSKI NEW REGIONAL MAILING LISTS ENG-LAN-ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE -- Ashton under Lyne (Lancashire, UK) ENG-LAN-WIGAN -- Wigan (Lancashire, UK). Research for the town of Wigan, Lancashire and surrounding parishes and hamlets, namely Abram, Ashton in Makerfield, Aspull, Billinge, Billinge Chapel End, Billinge Higher End, Blackrod, Dalton, Haigh, Hindley, Ince in Makerfield, Orrell, Parbold, Pemberton, Shevington, Standish with Langtree, Upholland, Wigan, Winstanley, Worthington, and Wrightington. 6. FROM ROOTSWEB REVIEW'S BOTTOMLESS MAILBAG [Editor's note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the editor or of RootsWeb.com]. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Speaking Same Language with Different Accents By Jim LaLone When I saw the article "English Dialects Challenge to Genealogists" in the 23 November issue of the RootsWeb Review it reminded me of an experience I had a number of years ago. I work in a used book store in a university town so we get quite a few foreign student customers with various degrees of English proficiency, but the one that sticks out in my mind is a young lady from England with a very strong British accent. She wanted to know if we had any books by Gino Stein. My first thought was the unusual combination of the name, Italian and German (always analyzing things from a genealogical point of view). Anyway I told the customer I did not recognize the name and what subject matter did the author write about. She said fiction, so we looked there and I said I did not see anything by him and could he have written mystery or adventure fiction? At this point the customer got a little upset saying it was a woman author, "GINO STEIN," "GINO STEIN" and that she wrote fiction only. Since our sections are arranged alphabetically we looked again under "S" and I pointed the fact out. Now even more upset she's yelling "NO," "NO," -- "GINO STEIN" -- spelling it out "J-A-N-E" "A-U-S-T-I-N" -- "GINO STEIN." At least now I know why one of my early ancestors appears as both "Jane" and "Jean" in the records! * * * Rendering English for the English By Tim Weedon It might surprise non-UK readers that Christine Buckley's interesting piece is of relevance to those of us living in England. I was born and grew up in Hereford ("erry-ferd") and was completely thrown when I moved to south Buckinghamshire, to be greeted by a neighbour exclaiming, "Coalnufftfreeztines-a-farrer" (It is cold enough to freeze the tines off a harrow). Living now in the tiny county of Warwickshire (population about 0.5M), there is so much variation in speech that there are often clear differences over a distance of two or three miles. Has Christine more advice to give or recommendations of books or websites that can be comprehended by amateurs? It would be great to learn more. * * * Fly Away, Fly Away Home By Julie Hu While searching for a distant relation whose first name was Lady, I came across the following: Name: Lady BUGG. She's listed in the 1910 census, living in Thomson District of McDuffie County, Georgia. * * * Counted Twice in the Census By Sharon Atkins Lockett Finding an ancestor in the census brings satisfaction to any researcher, but finding one person twice in the same census is a sure source of confusion or disbelief. Still, twice in researching my husband's ISAACS family, census records have delivered a double count for a single individual. The first instance involves the 1920 census for Eastland County, Texas and Sam(uel) HOPE, the widowed spouse of Lucinda ISAACS HOPE. In an enumeration taken 29 January 1920, Samuel HOPE, age 67, widowed, is recorded as father, occupation none, living with his daughter Leona and her husband Joseph POE and their two young children. A second listing, enumerated 1 April 1920, records Sam HOPE, age 62, widowed, occupation teamster, as head of household, which includes his son Tom and daughter-in-law Winnie and grandson Oscar. Both of Sam's children -- Tom and Leona -- appear in the previous census (1910 in Andrews County, Texas) in the household of S. M. HOPE, with wife, Lou, and mother, Elizabeth ISAACS. Therefore I conclude that Sam was widowed before the 1920 census and began the year living with his daughter, but later set up his own household in the same census area and year. Differences in birthplace listings might cast doubt that these two records apply to the same person. Sam's birthplace in both listings is given as Texas, but on the earlier enumeration date both his parents are listed as born in Texas, whereas their birthplace is Mississippi in the second record. The first enumerator probably received second-hand information, since Sam's father was indeed born in Mississippi. Or Sam may have changed his answer. In 1930 Sam lists his father as born in Mississippi, but his mother as born in the "Irish Free State." The second instance of double recording I found is in the 1870 census for Madison County, Alabama, for Alice CLARK, who later married John Fowler ISAACS (brother of Sam Hope's wife Lucinda). Young Alice CLARK, age 8, appears with two other CLARK children in the household of Julia CLARK, age 29, in an enumeration of Township 2, taken 10 June 1870. This household follows immediately the household of Basil O'NEAL, the father of the stepmother of John Fowler ISAACS, whom Alice would later wed. Just over a month later, on 20 July 1920, a different enumerator in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama, records Alice, age 8, in a household including CLARK and BATTES surnames. Reference to the 1860 census for Madison, Alabama, indicates that individuals age 10 or older in both 1870 Madison, Alabama households were children of Samuel and Julia CLARK, who possibly did not survive until 1870 -- they were both age 43 in 1860. Although the parents of Alice CLARK have yet to be identified, I conclude that young Alice was living with relatives in two separate residences at two different times in the same census area. Finding two double counts in census records involving the same family is probably unlikely, even in a highly mobile society. However, this experience alerts me that census enumerations may be affected by short- term changes in residence, as well as by the enumerator's hearing and handwriting. [Editor's note: The enumerators were suppose to record the household (their usual place of abode or where a person regularly sleeps) as of the Census Day, which was not necessarily the same as the date of the enumerator's visit. Census Day was 15 April in 1910 and 1 January in 1920. Obviously enumerators did not always follow instructions. I have found one ancestor who was enumerated three times in the 1850 census -- in two counties in Iowa and one in Missouri. His age was given as 19 in two of them and 22 in the other and the enumerations were taken on three different days -- 26 August, 6 November and 7 November. The Census Day was 1 June in 1850. See "Finding Answers in U.S. Census Records," by Loretto Dennis Szucs and Matthew Wright, which is available from the publisher at http://shops.ancestry.com/] * * * Scrutinizing Gold Widows By Buddy Samuels In the 1850 U.S. census, particularly in Missouri, it is not uncommon to find enumerations with women as the head of households. They are usually living near each other and often with kin in the county. Called "gold" or "grass" widows, they sometimes had legally appointed guardians or letters [of credit] to merchants. In my case, the men were skilled in mining, coal, and lead and in the 1850 census are found in Calaveras County and American River area in California. Interestingly, a few were also listed at the end of their family census [back in Missouri]. In one case a married daughter was placed back in her father's family without her married name entered. Several seem to disappear by the 1860 census -- only to be found in the Oregon Donation Lands files. 7. Humor/Humour: Ah! The Good Life -------------------------------- Thanks to: Don T. Mitchell of Massachusetts (b. Shelby County, Indiana) During 24 years of researching ancestors and their descendants, I've collected more than 5,000 census records and encountered many occupations. The following census record is mildly amusing given the circumstances. 1880-INDIANA-Shelby Co.-Washington Twp.-Norristown village-ED212-p.22 VANGORDEN, Pomeroy 27 Loafer Unemployed 12 mos. b. IN fb. OH mb. IN " Elizabeth 19 (wife) b. IN fb. KY mb. IN " Sadie 5 b. IN fb. IN mb. IN " Thomas 3 [ditto] This couple was married in Shelby County in 1874, and had seven more children before 1894. The loafer's full name was Peter Mitchell Pomeroy VANGORDEN. He died in May 1900, just before the 1900 census. The maiden name of his wife was HENDRICKSON. I am also a descendant of the pioneer HENDRICKSON families of Shelby County, Indiana. * * * Found a humorous sign or entry in census, parish, church, etc. records? Send to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com 8. Subscriptions, Submissions, Advertising, Reprints ----------------------------------------------------- SUBSCRIPTIONS. To manage your e-mail communications (i.e. to subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, or to sign up for others), visit our newsletter management center any time at: http://newsletters.rootsweb.com/ If you use a spam-filtering program, in order to receive the RootsWeb Review please make sure that you're allowing e-mail from: newsletter@reply.myfamilyinc.com The RootsWeb Review is a free publication of MyFamily.com, Inc., 360 West 4800 North, Provo, UT, 84604 * * * The RootsWeb Review does not publish or answer genealogical queries, and the editor regrets that she is unable to provide any personal research assistance or advice. RootsWeb Review welcomes short (500 words or less) articles, humor, stories, or letters, and reserves the right to edit all submissions. The announcement of books and products is provided as a community service and is not an endorsement in any way. All mail sent to the RootsWeb Review editor is considered to be for publication — send in plain text (please, no attachments) to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com * * * ROOTSWEB HELPDESK: Check here for announcements: http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/ * * * For best results, when contacting the RootsWeb HelpDesk, provide information about your computer (PC or Macintosh), its operating system (Windows 2000, XP, Mac OSX, etc.) and your Web browser and its version. If the question pertains to something you have found on a RootsWeb site, please include the URL [that's the Web address; starts with http://]. http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/form1.html * * * ROOTSWEB REVIEW ADVERTISING CONTACTS. Ad Sales Worldwide: Shana Davis, creative@myfamilyinc.com * * * REPRINTS. Permission to reprint articles from RootsWeb Review is granted unless specifically stated otherwise, provided: (1) the reprint is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the following notice appears at the end of the article: Previously published in RootsWeb Review: 30 November 2005, Vol. 8, No. 48. * * * *