Rockland Room

I recently saw a recommendation about a book from a fellow genealogy librarian. It was a book about the basics of genealogy.  I usually ignore these basic books as the market is flooded with so many. The Rockland Room maintains many and the standards are updated with new editions. However, I ordered this one and it looks pretty good! The tile is, How To Do Everyting Genealogy written by George W. Morgan. It is the second edition.

It covers all the basics needed for a beginner. What I think makes it different from others is that it offers a clear and simple layout. So often these basic books are filled with too much information, charts and maps. The author who has been doing research for more than 40 years, has written 432 pages on the subject. People starting out in genealogy often become discouraged because the lecture or the book are too long and detailed.

When you are in the Rockland Room, check out this book on the new book shelf. You will find the book listed as 929.1 MOR.

The Genealogical Society of Rockland invites interested persons to go on a tour of the famous Greenwood Cemetery in the Bronx on Friday, September 9. We will meet at the library at 9 AM and car pool. This cemetery is world famous not for just the residents but also for the landscaping, sculptures, and architecture created by many famous artists and architects. Begun in 1838 as a rural cemetery, Woodlawn encompasses 478 acres in the center of the Bronx. Its historical. cultural and achitectural significance makes it an historical landmark to visit.

If interested, please contact Sally Pellegrini at 634-4997 ext 139. Deadline to register is August 31. Expenses include sharing the car pool costs, $5 tour fee and lunch. We would like to go to one of the restaurants on Arthur Ave.

As part of the summer birthday celebration for the New City Library, there will be a lawn concert Saturday night beginning at 6:30 PM. The beloved "Big Band Sound" will be playing music from 75 years ago. This is the same group that reguarly plays on Memorial Day at the library. Brings your chairs, sit back and enjoy. Indoors if inclement weather.

Many people come into the Rockland Room looking for NYC vital records of loved ones. I want to take a minute to explain why the request is not possible. All New York City records are in the city and all the rest of the state's vital records are in Albany.

To help you understand, there are three important sites to memorize.

1). NY City Muncipal Archives, located at 31 Chambers St, holds public records for birth, deaths and marriages. Birth records are public through 1909, deaths are public through 1948 and there is a 50 year restriction on marriages after the event happened. Apparently the archives will soon become part of the Dept. of Citywide Services.

2). City Clerk's Office holds the marriage licenses beginning 1930 to present. It is located at 141 Worth St.

3. NY City Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene holds non-public birth(after 1909) and death certificates (after 1948). This agency is located at 125 Worth St.

I was reading an article in the Spring edition of the New York Researcher. It talked about philatelic genealogy. This is one research tool that I never gave much thought. Those old postcards and posted envelopes can contain information about locations in relation to military service, work, recreation, and even political interests.

There is a web site, Philgen.org, that offers an archive of envelope and postcard images with genealogical value. Its purpose is to provide postal history available to genealogists by identifying senders and recipients. The images are posted by postcard collectors and may provide important clues for genealogists. Currently there are 1,325  envelopes and postcards and in addition to the image, there is accompanying genealogical information such as U.S. census information or similiar data.

A goal of this site is to eventually to post 20,000 envelopes and postcard photos concerning New York residents. All the images are from postal history vendor web sites and archived philatelic auction catalogs. Take a look!