11 October 2014

Scholarships, Awards and Cash Prizes . . Oh My!




There are so many opportunities for genealogists to get recognized for their hard work, in some cases cash prizes are on the line.

Time is running for submissions to some of the organizations.  And for a few the deadline has already passed but you can prepare for next year.

While this is an extensive list, it certainly isn't complete.  If I missed one please let me know.


The scholarship is awarded to an experienced researcher in either  a paid or a volunteer position, in the service of the genealogical community.  This $500 scholarship covers full tuition at the (National Institute of Genealogical Research) NIGR, plus attendance at the Alumni Association dinner. Hotel and/or meal costs will be partially defrayed. 
Deadline is January 15, 2015.

All family historians and genealogists are invited to submit their favorite story for the contest. There is no entry fee and OGS membership is not required. Judges and judges’ immediate families may not participate.
Deadline: Entries will be accepted between January 1 and March 1, 2015.

Factual articles: either family history or local history, character sketches, or memoirs. Winning entries capture a sense of a family’s experience(s), the character of a locality, or reveal an individual’s character and personality.
Deadlines: Entries must be received between November 1 and December 31.

Established in 1996, the ASG Scholar Award is an annual scholarship providing a stipend of $500 toward tuition and expenses at one of three major academic genealogical programs in the United States. 
DEADLINE is past for submissions in 2014, however get yours in by September 30, 2015 for the next award.

Established in 2010 as a tribute to the memory of noted genealogist, Birdie Monk Holsclaw, this scholarship funds genealogical related education at the Samford University Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) for the awardee.
DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 1st of each year so get going for next year.

CONNECTICUT SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS LITERARY AWARDS
This long-running annual genealogy writing contest for New England–based genealogical works, awards a $1,000 grand prize for the best Genealogy, and two first prizes of $500 each for the best Family History and the best Genealogical Resource Publication. There is also a "fledgling essay contest" for new writers—winning entries may be selected for publication in The Connecticut Nutmegger.
DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 16, 2015.

DONALD MOSHER MEMORIAL AWARD FOR COLONIAL VIRGINIA RESEARCH
This competitive $500 Award, established in 2001 by Merrill Hill Mosher, CG, of Oregon, honoring her late husband, is administered by the BCG Education Fund. The Award funds scholarly research on colonial Virginia topics in the following categories: family genealogy, immigrant place or family origin, and publication of obscure or difficult Virginia resources.
DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31st.

$1,000 awarded to a librarian with at least five years' experience whose primary focus is genealogy and local history and who is employed in a public, academic, or special library.
DEADLINE IS JANUARY 31st.

A three- or four-generation family history is required. The prize is an expense-paid trip to the next NGS Family History Conference and possible publication in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly.
DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31st.

Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak offers grants, each month, to genealogical societies, libraries, and individuals.

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies offers $500 scholarships that will be applied towards courses in the Certificate in Genealogical Studies program offered jointly by the University of Toronto, Faculty of Information Studies, PLC and the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.

Genealogists between the ages of 18 and 25 who have attended school in the last 12 months are eligible to apply.  SCGS Jamboree will provide the grant recipient with free three-day registration.

This award encourage and recognize our youth as the next generation of family historians. There are two categories, senior and junior. The senior category winner (high school student in grades 10–12 or ages 16–18) receives a $500 cash prize, a plaque, the NGS Home Study course, and a one-year NGS membership. The junior category winner (middle school student in grades 7–9 or  ages 13–15 years)  receives a plaque, the NGS Home Study course, and a one-year NGS membership. Presentation details of the winning submission may appear in NGS Magazine.
DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31st

To encourage those pursuing a career in genealogy who have demonstrated serious interest in genealogy by attending regional and/or local conferences, undertaking genealogical training, and subscribing to genealogical publications.
DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31st

Owner Dee Dee King has implemented a scholarship award program to partially reimburse "Transitional Genealogists" for educational opportunities and career-building endeavors.
Applications for scholarships for 2015 open November 1 - 7, 2014.


02 October 2014

The Great Registers of California


"Great Register" is simply the California name for voter registration records. It probably comes from the fact that the old registration books were huge and very heavy. The pages in the book are arranged alphabetically with each new registration appearing under the previous one.

Photo: San Joaquin County Historical Society

California voter registration began in 1867, the state legislature required each county to record voter information on the local level. The registers contained the voter's name, age, occupation, birthplace, when and where the granting of U.S. citizenship occurred and the court where that took place. 

The 1896 Great Register was the first to include detailed physical descriptions:  height, complexion, eye color, hair color as well as visible marks, scars, tattoos, physical deformities.   By 1910, no physical descriptions other than height were included. 

Women first start showing up in 1912, after California passed a state and local suffrage bill. 

By 1914, age was no longer included in the voter registrations, but specific street addresses began appearing, as well as gender. 

The comments column in the registration books can be very useful. They may include the date when the voter first arrived from another county where they were previously registered; when they left the county and for where; or when they died.

Familysearch has the Great Registers 1866 to 1910. They are indexed and searchable and you will find the site HERE


Jim Faulkinbury, CG has indexed all foreign-born voters in California for the year 1872.  You can browse the index HERE.  


Below are a few California Counties that have the Great Registers online:

BUTTE COUNTY:  1872 Great Register

MARIPOSA COUNTY:  1872 Great Register
                                1884 Great Register
                                             1886 Great Register
                                             1912 Great Register

MENDOCINO COUNTY:  1867, 1880, 1890, 1902, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940

MODOC COUNTY:  1874 Great Register


SACRAMENTO COUNTY:  1866-1871 Great Registers
                                    1877 Great Register
                                    1914 Great Register

SAN DIEGO COUNTY:  1866-1879 Great Registers

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY:  1900 Great Register

SHASTA COUNTY:  Great Registers for the years 1866-1884, 1894, 1896, 1900, 1904, 1912, 1926

SISKIYOU COUNTY: Great Registers for the years 1867, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1886, 1888, 1892, 1904
                               1894 Great Register

TRINITY COUNTY:  1872 Great Register
                            1885 Great Register
                            1910 Great Register

TULARE COUNTY:  Great Registers for the years 1869, 1888, 1890, 1898

YUBA COUNTY:  Great Registers for the years 1867 to 1930





01 October 2014

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History - They Have Records!

As usual, I come across these jackpots of great information whilst clicking away aimlessly looking for I know not what.

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History has a collection of Santa Cruz County Records from 1850 to the present.  You will have to visit in person to see most of the collection, but they have put a few of them online:

PUBLIC WORKS (1886 – 1955)
SERIES I.:  Civil Engineers and Licensed Surveyors (1933 – 1944)
Subseries I.A.:  California News Bulletins for registered civil engineers (1937 – 1944)
Subseries I.B.:  State Board of Registration for Civil Engineers (1933 – 1939)
SERIES II.:  County Building Records (1889 – 1925)
Subseries II.A.:  County Court House (1900 – 1925)
Subseries II.B.:  County Hall of Records (1924 – 1925)
Subseries II.C.:  County Jail (1889 – 1900)
SERIES III.:  Building Contracts (1886 – 1892)
SERIES IV:  County Clerk and Commissioner of Roads (1904 – 1955)
SERIES V.:  Blueprints and Maps
SERIES VI.:  Certificates for the Sale of Real Estate (1913 – 1914)
POLICE, SHERRIFF AND COURTS (1850 – 1952)
SERIES I.  Register of Arrests, 1876 – 1897
SERIES II.  Santa Cruz County Prison Register, 1884 – 1895
SERIES III.   City of Santa Cruz, County of Santa Cruz, Police Court (1933 – 1952)
SERIES IV.   Santa Cruz Judicial Township, Santa Cruz County, California, Justice’s Court (1928 – 1952)
SERIES V.   Santa Cruz Judicial Township, Santa Cruz County, California, Justice’s Court (1952)
SERIES VI.   City of Santa Cruz, County of Santa Cruz, Police Court (1933 – 1952)
SERIES VII.   Santa Cruz Judicial Township, Santa Cruz County, California, Justice’s Court (1928 – 1952)
SERIES VIII.   Record of the Probate Court (1873 – 1875)
SERIES IX.  Certification by Judge of Superior Court for the County of Santa Cruz (1880 – 1907)
SERIES X.  Probate and Miners Court Ledger (1850 – 1950)
SERIES XI.  Coroner's Inquest Records (1901 – 1939)  Scroll down the page and there is a link for a spreadsheet download of these records.
COUNTY TREASURER (1871 – 1984)
SERIES I.   Assessment Notices (1977 – 1984)
SERIES II.   Bond Registers (1954 – 1981)
SERIES III.   Abstract of County Court House Property (1927)
SERIES IV.   Assessment of Property for 1871 & 1873
SERIES V.   Santa Cruz County Treasurer – County Fund Ledger (1916 – 1926)
SERIES VI.   California State Board of Equalization – Board Roll of State Assessed Property for Santa Cruz County
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY RECORDS INVENTORY (1977 – 1978)
COUNTY CLERK (1866 – 1976)
SERIES I.  Candidate Statements – Record of Income and Expenses for Candidates (1894 – 1956)
SERIES II.  Burial Permits (1897 – 1914)  There is a link for a spreadsheet download of these records
SERIES III.  Voter Registration (1866 – 1976)  There are links to many of these registers
SERIES IV.  Naturalization Records (1871 – 1927)
Subseries IV.A.  Declaration of Intention
Subseries IV.B.  Petition and Record of Naturalization
Subseries IV.C.  Naturalization Citizenship Certificates
SERIES V.  Marriage Applications (1900 – 1975)
COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES (1860s – 1939)
SERIES I.:  Medical License Register (1876 – 1939)
SERIES II.:  Register for County Hospital (1873 – 1928)
SERIES III.:  Prescription Scrapbooks for Palmer Drug Company/Palmer Prescription Druggist (1897 – 1910)


The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front Street
Santa Cruz, California
Open Tuesday through Sunday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Open Fridays until 9:00 PM