Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

A Guide to Genealogical Research at the Louisiana State Archives

If you’ve ever wanted to research your family history at the Louisiana State Archives, you’ll want to check out the latest publication by Le Comité des Archives de la Louisiane. A Guide to Genealogical Research at the Louisiana State Archives will help you navigate through the multitude of genealogical collections at this facility.

This long-needed book was compiled by Judy Riffel, a professional genealogist who has been a regular researcher at the State Archives since the building opened in 1987. Her years of experience are evident in this well-organized and easy-to-follow guide.

Book Repair Workshop Returns to Oakland, California

The California Genealogical Society is now taking reservations for a spring Book Repair Workshop to be held on Wednesday morning, April 30, 2008. The popular class, taught by Book Repair Committee Chairman, Bill O'Neil, will be limited to ten enrollees. The fee is $15.00 for materials.

Hookers, Crooks, and Kooks - the Books

Jana Sloan Broglin is a Certified Genealogist with an interesting way of looking at history. One of her specialties is focusing on those "other people" in the family tree. You know the ones: those who were not fine, upstanding pillars of the community. We all have such people in our family trees although perhaps our older relatives didn't mention them when we were growing up. Jana suggests that these scoundrels also deserve to be remembered, and I think she is right.

Jana has now published two books, entitled "Hookers, Crooks, and Kooks," Parts 1 and 2. These are the first two of what is promised to be a series of books. Here are the announcements of these new books:

Newspaper Abstracts from the Villages of Columbiana and East Lewistown, Ohio

Genealogists looking for information from the Columbiana area have a new resource tool. Compiled by Columbiana resident DeWayne McCarty, “Newspaper Abstracts From the Villages of Columbiana and East Lewistown, Ohio” was published by Clossen Press in January.

New Borders Book Stores to Feature "Borders Genealogy Services"

Borders today issued a long and rather rambling announcement of new "concept stores." Buried in the middle of the announcement is a one-line reference to "Borders Genealogy Services" provided by Ancestry.com but with no details of what that new service includes.

Here is the complete announcement, with the one line reference highlighted in bold text:

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 14 -- After more than 18 months of development and testing, Borders will unveil the first of its highly anticipated new concept stores when grand opening festivities kick off Feb. 22 at its new store on Lohr Rd. in Ann Arbor, Mich., the company's hometown. The 28,900-square-foot concept store -- the first of 14 the company expects to open nationwide this year -- represents a significant enhancement over existing Borders stores inside and out and fulfills the company's mission to be a headquarters for knowledge and entertainment.

Companions of Champlain: Founding Families of Quebec, 1608-1635

The following announcement was written by Clearfield Company:

Clearfield Company, an affiliate of Genealogical Publishing Company (www.genealogical.com), has just released Companions of Champlain: Founding Families of Quebec, 1608-1635.

Guide to Historic Town of Oyster Bay Cemeteries

Town Historian John Hammond of Oyster Bay, New York has released a guide for genealogists called “Historic Cemeteries of Oyster Bay”. Cemeteries are an important resource for many people delving into genealogy, and John has done the leg work by documenting every known pre-1920 cemetery in the Town.

Alvy Ray Smith wins 2007 Donald Lines Jacobus Award

The 2007 Donald Lines Jacobus Award has been presented to Alvy Ray Smith for his Elder Bethuel Riggs of Morris County, New Jersey, published by the Newbury Street Press. The first of several projected volumes on the Riggs family, this book has a preface explaining Mr. Smith’s use of DNA. For a review, see the upcoming October 2007 issue of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register.

FFHS to Discontinue Book Sales, Remaining Books are on Sale

The following announcement was written by the (U.K.) Federation of Family History Societies:

The publication and distribution of books was an important and profitable venture for the British based Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS) for over 30 years.  Recently the demand for books has slowed with many people now doing their research on the Internet. As a result FFHS Publications Ltd, book distribution depot at Bury, Lancashire, England is being closed.

New Book Celebrates Central Massachusetts Polonia

WORCESTER, Mass.--Polish Americans are one of Worcester County's largest ethnic groups, but their shared history in central Massachusetts has never been documented--until now.  "Worcester County's Polish Community," by Barbara Proko and Janice Baniukiewicz Stickles with Our Lady of Czestochowa Guild of Catholic Women, tells Polonia's story for the first time, in more than 225 vintage photographs, maps, and other illustrations.

A new release in Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America" series, this photo history broadens the scope of Proko and Stickles' first book, "The Polish Community of Worcester" (2003).  It highlights the seven Polish parish seats of the Worcester Diocese--Clinton, Dudley, Gardner, Southbridge, Webster, West Warren, and Worcester--and encompasses Gilbertville, South Grafton, Uxbridge, and other towns where Poles settled in substantial numbers.