OLA Quarterly Trends in Genealogy for Librarians In This Issue Why Don’t Librarians Like Genealogists? Beginning Genealogy for Librarians Identifying Historic Photographs: Clues for Genealogy Researchers Resources for Tracing American Indian Ancestry The Molecular Genealogy Research Project Genealogy and the Virtual Library Basic African American Family Research: Oregon and Other Resources OLAQWinter *++, Vol - • No OLA Quarterly Oregon Library Association Winter 2001 http://www.olaweb.org Vol 7 • No 4 ISSN 1093-7374 The OLA Quarterly is an official publication of the Oregon Library Association. Please refer questions Trends in Genealogy for Librarians and input regarding the Quarterly to: Table of Contents Colleen Bell , , OLA Publications Chair Editorial The Molecular Genealogy Knight Library Genealogy: Looking Backward Research Project 1299 University of Oregon from the 21st Century Ugo A. Perego, Eugene, OR 97403-1299 Fred Reenstjerna Natalie M. Myres and Scott R. Woodward phone 541-346-1817 * fax 541-346-3485 Why Don’t Librarians Like * [email protected] Genealogists? Beginning Genealogy Genealogy and the Virtual Library for Librarians Thomas Jay Kemp Graphic Production: Anne Billeter Tobias Weiss Design * 7345 SW Deerhaven Drive - Basic African American Corvallis, OR 97333 Identifying Historic Photographs: Family Research: phone 541-738-1897 Clues for Genealogy Researchers Oregon and Other Resources Irene Zenev Jacqueline E. A. Lawson [email protected] ,* Resources for Tracing American Indian Ancestry Lorna Avery Scott Upcoming Issues Spring 2002 The Enduring Value of Libraries Summer 2002 Research You Can Use OLA Quarterly is indexed in Library Literature. Editorial Genealogy: Looking Backward from the 21st Century dentity and history have become somehow superior, seem to repudi- who ask us about this topic. These more critical questions since 11 ate the very basis of our profession. articles will establish a basis in theory I September 2001. Before, we in Who cares if someone’s great-great- and articulate current practice, so the United States didn’t have to think uncle was a physician? (Besides, a that you can frame your knowledge about things happening over there, physician didn’t have the social in a structure that allows you to wherever “there” might be. History was cachet in the 1800’s that the occupa- relate future learning to your everything that happened to other tion has today.) We hurry along the knowledge base. people; genealogy was the province of reference interview, trying to In addition to the articles in this self-aggrandizing dilettantes. determine as quickly as possible print edition, an additional article will Suddenly, we have been dragged which other agency can be the be available on our Web site, at http:// back into the mainstream. We have a fortunate recipient of our client’s www.olaweb.org/. That article, by powerfully public collective history rapture about his or her great-great- Certified Genealogical Researcher since 11 September, but we also have whomever. Jean-Paul Sartre wrote Jacqueline E. A. Lawson, describes individual histories. Newly aware of that existence precedes essence, and basic resources and techniques for the certainty of our mortality, we have he made this the fundamental African American genealogical a heightened need to know who we principle of existentialism. Geneal- research in Oregon. Ms. Lawson are in every sense of that term. Part of ogy attempts to connect many describes valuable local, statewide, that self-knowledge is an awareness different existences into one essence and national resources. of our ancestry. that is a family and individual Out of all the questions we story—a story answering who we —Fred Reenstjerna librarians encounter, none are more are, perhaps implying why we’re Douglas County Library System deeply motivated than the genea- here. Along the way, we see how Guest Editor logical queries so many of us dread. interrelated all of us ultimately are. Our disdain is often justified: many This issue of the Oregon Library of our clients approach genealogical Association Quarterly looks at the Fred Reenstjerna, Ed.D., has worked as a librarian and archivist in academic, research as an attempt to prove they past from the perspective of some- special, and public libraries. He is are somehow better than their times futuristic techniques. We Cataloging Librarian at the Douglas present circumstances. As librarians, librarians must be conversant in the County Library System, Roseburg, we are dedicated to equal access to technologies and the resources Oregon. A member of OLA’s Publications information. These genealogists, in available for genealogical research, Committee, Fred’s email address is their quests to prove themselves so that we can better guide those [email protected]. OLAQ 1 Why Don’t Librarians Like Genealogists? Beginning Genealogy for Librarians by Anne Billeter, Ph.D. T’S TRUE: Most librarians don’t like sources (ancestor charts, family group genealogists. Why? Librarians are sheets, Sutro, census, Soundex, LDS); I human: they don’t want to admit their become familiar with the local genealo- ignorance of the specialized resources gists; and learn about the local organi- genealogists use. They believe (errone- zations and agencies to which library ously) that they don’t need to know about patrons should be referred (the local these resources in order to assist other genealogical society, the local historical patrons. They are wrong: genealogy society, county archives, the city resources are an eye-opening treasure- department responsible for cemeteries, trove for historians, the source of clues for etc.). Learning the language of any adoption and missing persons researchers, special clientele is an important part of and increasingly important for genetic continuing library education. medical research. Why else don’t librarians like genealo- 3) Have a core reference collection for gists? Because genealogists often are not genealogists and become comfortable library users prior to becoming genealo- with using these resources (see the gists, so they don’t know library jargon recommended resources below). (ILL, Ref, Circ, fiche) or procedures (using the catalog, using microfilm and microfiche 4) Learn about regional and state organiza- readers, requesting an interlibrary loan). tions, agencies, and libraries and REFER, Notice that even spelled out the jargon REFER, REFER. Refer neophytes to the isn’t self-explanatory to the new library local genealogical society: part of their user: interlibrary loan, reference, circula- mission is to help new genealogists get tion, microfiche. started. Refer patrons doing local Even the smallest public or academic research to the appropriate agencies. library can be a great resource for local Refer patrons doing research involving genealogy patrons, not by spending scarce distant places to the appropriate organi- money and space on lots of library materials zations, resources, and libraries. about genealogy, but by devoting some time and energy to learning the basic terms and The local genealogical library often has resources of this special field of knowledge. many resources pertaining to distant By doing this, the library will be able to places, past and present, but many assist an underserved group of patrons times the patrons’ needs are best met pursuing a hobby, an interest, a passion, and by referring them to a larger resource. sometimes even medically essential data. Oregon is blessed with a number of What an opportunity to gain a whole new strong libraries which are well worth group of library users and supporters! the travel effort, if the genealogist is well-informed about the specifics of Steps in Library Service their collections. (See “Libraries in 1) Learn a little about genealogy. Be sure Oregon with Strong Genealogy Re- the library has an adequate circulating sources” below.) collection of how-to books for genealo- gists and READ one of the books for 5) Explore the Internet and refer patrons beginners recommended on the to appropriate sites. Genealogists have following page. capitalized on the strengths of the Internet. The genealogical resources 2 2) Take a beginning class in genealogy. available on the Internet are numerous You will learn basic terms and re- and well-organized. They include Vol No • WINTER wonderful indexes, images of original ogy. Houghton Mifflin, New York, documents, electronic mailing lists for 1997. people with common research inter- ests, and much, much more. (See There are a number of books to help “Genealogy on the Internet” and the genealogists learn to use the Internet article by Tom Kenyon.) effectively. These five steps will put you well on the Helm, April Leigh and Helm, Matthew way to providing services to genealogists. L. Genealogy Online for Dummies. Learn their vocabulary and resources, and Hungry Minds, Inc., New York, 2001. Librarians believe they you will enhance the quality of your library’s service to its community. Howells, Cyndi. Netting Your Ances- don’t need to know tors: Genealogical Research on the about genealogical Beginning Genealogy Booklist Internet. Genealogical Publishing Each of these books presents the beginner Company, Baltimore, 1999. resources in order to with basic information. assist other patrons% McClure, Rhonda R. and Wilcox, Croom, Emily Anne. Unpuzzling Your Shirley Langdon. The Complete Idiot’s Past: A Basic Guide to Genealogy. 3rd Guide to Online Genealogy. Alpha They are wrong% Edition. Betterway Publications,