Pastports, Vol. 3, No. 8 (August 2010). News and Tips from the Special Collections Department, St. Louis County Library
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NEWS AND TIPS FROM THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT VOL. 3, No. 8—AUGUST 2010 PastPorts is a monthly publication of the Special Collections Department FOR THE RECORDS located on Tier 5 at the St. Louis County Library Ortssippenbücher and other locale–specific Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh in St. Louis sources are rich in genealogical data County, across the street Numerous rich sources for German genealogy are published in German-speaking from Plaza Frontenac. countries. Chief among them are Ortssippenbücher (OSBs), also known as Ortsfamilienbücher, Familienbücher, Dorfsippenbücher and Sippenbücher. CONTACT US Literally translated, these terms mean “local clan books” (Sippe means “clan”) or To subscribe, unsubscribe, “family books.” OSBs are the published results of indexing and abstracting change email addresses, projects usually done by genealogical and historical societies. make a comment or ask An OSB focuses on a local village or grouping of villages within an ecclesiastical a question, contact the parish or administrative district. Genealogical information is abstracted from local Department as follows: church and civil records and commonly presented as one might find on a family group sheet. Compilers usually assign a unique numerical code to each individual BY MAIL for cross–referencing purposes (OSBs for neighboring communities can also reference each other). Genealogical information usually follows a standard format 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. using common symbols and abbreviations, making it possible to decipher entries St. Louis, MO 63131 without an extensive knowledge of German. A list of symbols and abbreviations used in OSBs and other German genealogical sources is on page 10. BY PHONE 314–994–3300, ext. 2070 Besides genealogical information, many OSBs also offer histories about the locality, its churches and schools, and they often include lists of clergy, teachers, community leaders, and soldiers who died during military service. Some OSBs BY EMAIL include lists of emigrants from the village with their destinations. [email protected] Other German sources Regularly scheduled tours Besides OSBs, other locale-specific sources are available. These include: of the Special Collections Department are conducted Hofgeschichten (farm histories)—include lists of farm occupants within a village on the first Wednesday back to the beginning of available recorded history. The information is usually extracted from tithe and tax lists. Because farm leases were usually inheritable, and third Saturday of Hofgeschichten can offer help connect one generation to the next. the month at 10:30 am. No advance registration Häusergeschichten (building histories) and Bürgerbücher (citizen rolls)— is required. Group tours similar to Hofgeschichten, these books include lists of occupants (usually leaseholders) of houses in a town over numerous generations. are gladly arranged with advance notice. Please Emigration lists—Germans have become very interested in the history of call the Special Collections emigration to the U.S. and have produced books and journal articles with lists of emigrants from specific villages or districts. Information often includes birth, Department at 314–994– marriage and emigration dates with intended destinations of individuals. 3300, ext. 2070 for AUGUST 2010 | PAGE 2 Status animarum, Bürgerbücher (citizen rolls) and Bürgerrolle (citizen rosters)—similar to a census, a status TIP animarum (status of souls) listed residents within an St. Louis naturalization records on microfilm are a ecclesiastical parish. Bürgerbücher and Bürgerrolle are heavily used resource in the Special Collections Depart- commonly abstracted from tax lists, muster rolls, and other ment (see the St. Louis Naturalization Index page on the documents listing individuals at a specific place and time. Special Collections website <http://www.slcl.org/branches/ Transcriptions, indexes and abstractions of church and hq/sc/nat/nat-project.htm>). Records on rolls 78 – 86 (FHL civil records. #1750305 – 1750312 and #1750539) in the microfilm in- clude records other than those for St. Louis. Labeled Peti- tions and Depositions, 1912-1941, these reels include dec- Ortssippenbücher and similar sources larations of intent, petitions and depositions from Eastern in the Special Collections Department District courts in Missouri other than St. Louis, including The Department has been aggressively collecting OSBs and Adair, Phelps, Pike, Ralls, and Randolph counties. They other locale–specific German sources that are rarely found also include records for Illinois, Kansas and Nebraska, and in U.S. libraries. The current emphasis of purchase is on “Old Military Petitions, 1868-1902.” Although these rolls western Germany, but the goal is to collect everything have not been indexed, some researchers might find them available for all German–speaking countries and regions. useful. OSBs and similar sources are included in the library’s online catalog <http://webpac.slcl.org>. Entering the WEB NEWS village or town name in a keyword search should return titles available for that locality. A current list is also kept at Web finds the Special Collections Department reference desk. Historic American Roads and Migration Routes Researchers who are looking for an OSB that is not yet <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ available in the library are encouraged to contact the ~tqpeiffer/Documents/American%20Migration% Special Collections Department. The Department is happy 20Routes.htm>: This free site offers information about to acquire titles for the collection if they are available. A various migration routes in the United States and their im- list of OSBs in print is available on the GenWiki website < portance for genealogical research. Includes lists of migra- http://wiki–de.genealogy.net/Kategorie:Ortsfamilienbuch>. tion routes some with links to historical and descriptive The site also offers a limited collection of online OSBs < information. http://wiki–de.genealogy.net/Kategorie:Online– Ortsfamilienbuch>. New at Ancestry U. S. Births in Newspapers: Includes recent birth an- Many OSBs are unfortunately out of print. Fortunately, nouncements from hundreds of online newspapers with many of these are available on microfilm or microfiche source information and links to the full text from the origi- through the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake nal website where the information was found. Birth an- City. FHL film can be borrowed through the Special nouncements typically contain the name of the child, birth Collections Department at a cost of $6 per roll of microfilm date and place, and the parents’ names. or 15 cents per sheet of microfiche. Contact the Department at 314–994–330, ext. 2070 or email [email protected] U. S. Marriages in Newspapers: A database with links for more information. to recent engagement, marriage, wedding, and anniversary announcements from hundreds of online newspapers. Mar- Patrons unable to visit the Special Collections Department riage and wedding announcements typically include the may request lookups in OSBs and similar publications. names of the bride and groom, their ages, residences, par- Lookups are limited to one surname per request. Email ents’ names, and the wedding date and place. requests to [email protected]. Ancestry Library Edition can be used for free in the Special A complete list of OSBs and other locale–specific German Collections Department and any St. Louis County Library publications available in the Department begins on page 7. branch. AUGUST 2010 | PAGE 3 NEW IN THE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT The following is a selection of new items added to the Vernon County, Missouri, Vol. 2. 2010. R 977.844 W362V collection. Additional items may have been received which Walnut Ridge Cemetery: Howard County, Fayette, Missouri. are not listed here. The Department is grateful to the St. 2009. R 977.8285 M649W Louis Genealogical Society, the National Genealogical Society, Julius K. Hunter and Friends, and our patrons for OHIO their donations. Please note: Due to processing and 1827 and 1843 Quadrennial Enumeration of Adult White Males binding requirements, some donated items may not be of Mercer County, Ohio. 2004. R 977.1415 B819E available in the library or listed in PastPorts until Marriages, Mercer County, Ohio… 1823… 1860.,Vols. 1 and 2. several months after they are received. 2004. R 977.1415 B819M McDaniel Funeral Home Records, [1901-1914]. 3 vols. 2006-08. Print resources R 977.1415 M134 Call numbers follow each title. Complete bibliographic Probate Court Birth Records, Mercer County, Ohio, 1867-1908. information for each item is available in St. Louis County 2007. R 977.1415 P962 Library’s online catalog. < http://webpac.slcl.org>. Titles Probate Court Death Records: Mercer County, Ohio. Book 2, are abbreviated unless italicized. 1889-1907. 1999. R 977.1415 P962 States and counties French genealogy Dictionnaire national des communes de France [National ILLINOIS Dictionary of the Towns of France]. 2001. R 944 D554 Quick Reference 1820-1920 Censuses: 22 Families… in the Bond Noms de famille de l’Ille-et-Vilaine [Family Names of l’Ille-et- County 1900 Census. [StLGS] 1995. R 977.3873 H396Q Vilaine]. 2007. R 944.15 N799 Robinson Cemetery, Bond County, Illinois. [StLGS] 1993. Noms de famille de la Charente-Maritime [Family Names of R 977.3873 L527R Charente-Maritime]. 2008. R 944.64 N799 Where Illinois Began: A Pictorial History of Randolph County. Noms de